Confused

So I was on my way home from work yesterday when I saw a guy on a motor cycle in front of me on the off ramp. He was wearing one of those REALLY lame mohawk helmets , but what confused me is that his license place was a handicapped plate. I'm sorry, but I'm confused. If you are handicapped how can you ride a motorcycle? According the the DMV you must meet one of the following criteria:

*Heart or circulatory disease.
*Lung disease.
*A diagnosed disease or disorder that significantly limits the use of lower extremities.
*Specific, documented visual problems, including low-vision or partial-sightedness.
*The loss, or loss of the use, of one or both lower extremities or both hands.

I suppose that he could've had lung disease or some heart problem ... but he looked young. Wouldn't you think riding a motor cycle would be too stressful/dangerous if you had a heart condition. I guess I just can't imagine my gramps with his oxygen tank cruising around on a motor cycle wearing a mohawk helmet.

Just weird.

Sad Mama

Jack left yesterday for a trip to his Grandparents house in Georgia. Cheryl came in Tuesday night and took him back yesterday. This was his first time flying across the country. I was a little nervous that I wasn't with him. But I knew he'd be fine. He's adjusting well and having lots of fun with his grandparents, so that makes me happy. I got news this morning that he had 8 Oreo cookies for dinner last night, with a glass of milk. Oy. I guess that's the fun part of going away to grandma's house ... you get SPOILED to death!

It was so quiet last night. Luke kept looking around for Jack. I must say though, that Luke did enjoy scooting around the house and not being stepped on or tripped over once by his big bro. But I imagine he'll be missing him soon, just like me.

Jack doesn't come home until the 19th. That seems so far away. SIGH.

I'm just glad he's got his cell phone and can call me whenever he wants.

I miss my boy.

When is Ok to tell them...

how much you like them? There is all the BS that goes along with dating. Though I don't really feel like there is any BS with Travis, I'm still unsure of all the dating etiquette. I'm really liking him, a lot. But I don't know if it's OK to tell him that yet. It hasn't even been two months. I surely don't want to scare him away, or make him think I'm getting too serious too fast. 'Cuz I'm not. I like the pace we are going. It's nice, it's comfortable, it's easy. Nothing feels forced or insincere. It's all good. I know he knows that I like him, I think that is obvious. And I know he likes me, again, obvious. Maybe we don't need to say anything at all? I guess there's that little part of me that wants to hear the words, just to be sure.

The reality is that I haven't stopped smiling in weeks. I'm loving every single minute we get to spend together. Had another really wonderful date on Sunday. The best part of it was that we didn't really do much and still had fun. Just hung out, watched a movie, made dinner, watched the Lakers game. It feels so good to be so close to someone. It feels so good to trust someone again. It feels good to feel so safe.

OK, this is getting more sappy than I intended. Just wanted to ramble on about stuff. I just have to trust that we're going in the right direction as long as it keeps feeling so good ... and I do trust that.

Conversations with Jack

So last night Jack and I were sitting in the swing at my parents house and talking about the trip he's going to be taking to Georgia. I was explaining that he's going to be all the way on the other side of the United States and how it's really far away. And how he'll fly over lots of mountains, lakes, and rivers. He's listening with wonder. This is a big and exciting trip for him.

Then he turns to me and says "Mom, have you heard about Middle America?", I reply "Yes" and wondering what exactly he is talking about. Then he says "You know they got wiped out by a flood, and now they are rebuilding" I say "Yes, I did hear about that" and then he says, with a very excited yet serious tone "Yeah, they're rebuiding and they're doing things different this time, they're going Green Mom."

He's such a crack up. It's funny the things he picks up. But this story made an impact, and that is a good thing. We proceeded to have a really good conversation about what it meant to live Green.

I'm going to miss him this next week.

My Boys

Let me just say it here and now, for the record. I have the two CUTEST kids in the WORLD! Not that any one would actually question that, I mean, just LOOK at them!

I can hardly believe that Jack will be 6 in just over 3 months, and Luke will be 1 in less than 2 months. Where has the time gone?

Well they're both growing up to be amazing boys. I can't give them enough kisses and hugs. Just love them so much!

Bath Time

So much fun to have the kids take a bath together. They have a ball.

Another First Date

But this one was with Jack! Yeah, no other new boys, I'm happy where I'm at with Travis :)

Anyway, Jack has been needing some good one on one time with me. So my friend suggested I have a special date night once a month with jack. She does this with her two boys and says they love and appreciate the one on one time with her. So she offered to watch Luke while Jack and I went out on a "date".

We had so much fun. I talked Jack into going to Claim Jumper instead of Mc Donalds. I know I probably should have let him choose, but I thought we'd have more time to visit at CJ. It was a good call.

We played several nail biting rounds of Tic-Tac-Toe . It's hard to believe but Jack won almost EVERY round! He informed me that was because he is the "Best Tic-Tac-Toe player in the WORLD" Geeze, if I would have known that, I would have never challenged him to a game in the first place ;)

For dinner I had Tri Tip and a glass of J. Lohr. Jack had the mini corn dogs. And like the good eater that he always is, he finished the sliced apples and baby apple before his corn dogs and barely touched his fries. I'm not sure how long he'll eat like this, but I'm thankful every day for his good choices.

To wrap up the evening we ran over to Starbucks for a Hot Chocolate. It was rainy tonight, so it was a perfect end to a perfect evening.

Travis

About a month ago I met Travis for Sushi, it was our first date. But it wasn't the first time we met. We actually already know each other, kinda. We used to be neighbors on Ave. Monterey. He and the X used to surf all the time, a little strange, but still OK. We have several friends in common. Well, no one that either of us still communicate with. But still, it gave us both a good base of the kind of people we are.

Anyway, we've been pretty regular since then. Seeing each other twice a week. Exchange phone calls and texts each day. Usually a good night phone call too. I'd say I am smitten ... I know, that sounds corny. He's a super sweet guy. We have lots of fun together, but still really mellow. He keeps me smiling.

Did ya notice the graphic? Yep, that's a big 'ole 4th of July firework! It's all good :)

Skate

Today I Bought Jack his first Skateboard. He picked it out himself and he is stoked!

Oh and for the record, after this picture I made him put on his helmet and pads.

The Happiest Place On Earth

Like a good American I invested part of my ecomonic stimulus check back into the economy. Rather than pay off bills I purchased Annual Disneyland Passes for Jack and I (Luke is free). Kim, George, & Matthew have passes as well as some of our other friends. We met K,G, & M there on Friday night and got our passes, then hit a few rides. Want to know what the best part was?? Leaving after just a few rides!! NOT feeling like we had to stay ALL day just to get our money's worth. And even after just a few rides the kids were pooped. It was perfect!

Baby, Baby, Baby

There is nothing more peaceful or beautiful than a sleeping baby. He's so perfect laying there asleep. I can't help but give him kisses and caress his head when he's sleeping like this. I could watch him for hours, we'll if he'd actually sleep that long I could! HA. I used to sit and watch Jack while he was sleeping too.

You look at the picture then, just a few hours later, here's this one. He's hanging out at the pool. He's going to be walking with in a matter of weeks. He's pulling up and walking along all the furniture now. Building those muscles and learning balance. Sigh. My baby isn't going to be a baby for much longer.

Treasure Mapping

This is a process we were doing at my womens group. Bascially you plan out what you want to achieve in the year to come. Some people get real creative and make big posters with pictures, drawings, etc. I didn't have time for that, and I kept it simple. I jotted my thoughts/goals/wants down on a piece of paper. Anyway, the idea is that if you put it out there for the universe it will happen. Buddists say that if you chant your desires, they will be fulfilled. I have a seperate list I "chant" or read, mediate, focus on, about the kind of man I'd like to have share my life.

So here it is world, my treasure map for 2008. These are in no particular order:

love
peace
happy
health
food-cooking
organic - nutrition
money - finances
Jack
Luke
friendship
beach
divorce
safe
me-time
lose weight
excercise
smiles
garden
content
knit
passion
laughter
vacation
family
home - clean - laundry
ocean
job
happiness
fulfilled

LOVE is the center of my treasure map and around it I surrounded it with the qualities I am looking for in a partner
They are:
relaxed
tall
dark
handsome
financially stable
attractive
protector
caring
morals
loves children

We'll Just Call him $12.65

I thought this one had potential. We met for the first time on Friday night. Totally last minute, I almost didn't go, but I was glad I did. He is super cute in person, way better than his profile, so that was a plus. We enjoyed our first date. I actually felt bad during a lull in conversation when I was trying to think of something to say, but not pepper him with questions like he was on a job interview, I blurted out "don't first dates suck". Eek, oops, sorry. He said "you aren't having a good time??" and looked at me all hurt. The fact was I was having a good time. Anyway, I explained myself and we laughed, but yikes. Anyway, he walked me to my car, we had a very nice kiss. He said he'd call. I'd rate chemistry as a Fountain, so pretty good, eh. But still wasn't sure if I would hear from him. There were several times during our date when he mentioned this really great sushi restaurant in costa mesa, that I just had to try. Um ok, perfect opportunity for him to say, I should take you there ... but he didn't.

So I go pick up the boys, we get home. I'm nusring Luke to sleep, and I get a text that says I've got an email from him. I smile, feel anxious for Luke just to go to sleep so I can see what he has to say. I finally get to the computer and he's asking me out for Sushi during the week. Sweet. I make arrangements for a baby sitter, it's all good.

So we met at his place in Irvine. He lives in this massive apartment complex in Irvine, nice community. His apartment is very much the bachelor pad. Clean, in bachelor terms. ...Which is OK in my book, since I'm not the best housekeeper in the world, nice to see that he isn't completely anal. We sat and chatted for a bit, then he excused himself to get his laundry. Not a biggie ... but you knew we were having a date tonight. So he comes back we chat a little more, then talk about dinner. He said he doesn't usually do much on week nights (umm as if I'm out on the town??) and would I mind getting some take out and bringing it back to his place and just hang out. This actually sounded fine to me, since I really am not used to doing much on a week night myself. But at the same time, it still seems a little odd. Anyway, we went and picked up dinner at Pei Wei, it was good. The rest of the evening we talked more, and watched a little tv.

But the more I think about it, I'm bugged. He's quickly become a sparkler. I mean, doing your laundry, chinese take out? I'm not a high maintnence girl, but come one ... he put out a whopping $12.65 for dinner on our 2nd date. Underwhelming...

How I Score Chemistry

So I kinda came up with this scale with my sister. It started out because all men I've been on dates with get compared to GQ. The chemistry with him is like the 4th of July fireworks. So one day, Steph and I were talking about a recent date I'd had, she asked what the connection was like. And I respond with a "ehh, ok". Then Steph says, what like a Sparkler, Pickalo Pete, Fountain, etc?

So that's it, that's how I rate men. It's become quite commical, but I'll start adding their ratings as I review my dates. I'll see if I can find some graphics on the web to add.

Happy Easter

Mobile

It's official, Luke is on the move, and we can't stop him.

I need to patten an idea ... some kind of a onsie made out of Swiffer material or a way to affix a Swiffer to his tummy.

Have I mentioned how much I hate my wood floors ... that's for another post.

First Dates

I had another one on Friday night. It went pretty good. One of the better first dates I've had. But I'm still skeptical. I mean, we're on our best behavior on a first date. LJ's another one that seems too good to be true. But I'm going to go with the flow here and see what happens.

Did you know that country club life really exists? I honestly thought it was something that they did in soap opera's. Had no idea people actually went to "the club" for dinners, dancing, parties, etc. Who knew? LJ might be another one that is out of my league! At the very least it will be a fun ride :)

I Spoke to Soon

Well back to Match I go.

SIGH.

I'm not sure why it's so hard for men to be honest. I mean, why did you tell me you were off match for good if you weren't going to stay off? And why when I saw you on there did you lie about it, twice? And why didn't you just tell me you wanted to keep dating a little when I asked you if you were SURE you wanted to take your profile off? Bad news Soundman.

BZZZZZZZZ

NEXT

And just cause I'm feeling a little mean and bitchy, I'm going to share the song that has been playing in my head for a few days. 'nough said.

Nipple Biting

So is this post about dating or babies?? Hard to tell with a title like that! Sadly for me it's about babies. Tooth #2 has come in and Luke thinks its real cute to bite down on my nipple and play around when he's not real hungry. I'm lucky that he doesn't bite has hard as he can, but it still HURTS like a #$%. I yell OUCH, NO! and look down to see him grinning at me. WTF, it's not funny little man. If your not careful you'll loose all boob privileges, and I know you don't want to do THAT.

Sit Up

Yes that's right, Luke is sitting up now. He can't quite get himself into a sitting position just yet, but he can hold himself up pretty well now and can even kinda catch himself when he starts to go over.

....crawling is just around the corner. EEK!!!