Belles

Lullaby

Bedtime last night....two sons, two very different stories....(And don't get me wrong I love them both crazily, it's just like the weather in Colorado with the two, one minute it's sunny, the next it's snowing).

In three year old's bedroom:
"Mommy, let's sing a song about how much I like you."
Song proceeds....something about hugs, kisses, being nice and generally like-ability from a three year old's perspective.

Later....
In six year old's bedroom during the tuck in:
"So we're going to family bowling tomorrow night....doesn't that sound like fun?"
"No. We're not going, " he states grumpily.
"But buddy, you said you wanted to go, " I say.
"NO (emphatically) I did NOT (yes, he did). Plus, just where are they going to bowl in my school?"
"In the hallways, " I reply.
"NO, they're not (yes, they are). Plus, bowling balls will crack the hallways!!"
"They're not using real bowling balls, buddy," I explain.
"YES, THEY ARE!!!! (no they're not).

.....sigh....variety....it's the spice of life.

Tides

So even if there isn't too much art going on in the "studio" at least it's getting a bit organized. I can now actually find things I need and since it's the first room in my house that people see (being right next to the front door), it's kind of nice that the chaos has subsided a little (note to self-next studio is in an attic or a nice little carraige house will do).
I've been thinking.....it was almost exactly two years ago that I hit my stride with my art. I remember keeping it on the down low....it was just for myself. I didn't really tell my husband as I didn't want to "proclaim" anything. I set no expectations, I cleared out my bleachers of doubters. I've really enjoyed it. Now, my well seems a bit empty these days. But I'm starting to feel it flow again....the ebbs and flows-ah, such is life.

Unbalanced-IF

Cry of the Wild

Flash to me and Jamie-we are in Target. It is back to school time in September. We are picking out NEW stuff-and as far as kids go, it doesn't really matter what it is, it is new and it is exciting. Except for J, who is proceeding to rain on my shiny unsharpened pencil parade and I am about to snap a three ring binder on his head. I want to yell. I want the other mothers who know my pain to hear me. I am calling out to them, a wolf cry. Or it's more like a dog whistle. And most of you can hear it...but of course, there are a few mothers of perfect children who are deaf to it .... they are in denial, of course.
I don't know what provokes me but it seems like when I am in public I am more likely to blow up....is it an audience? Is it my way of making everything worse than it should be ?....Ah, the drama....This past Halloween we did our costume shopping in monsoon weather (you laugh, it's true). There wasn't an inch of our bodies that couldn't be wrung out and then used to fill a small kiddie pool. But with my mother's help (who stays positive throughout the mayhem-benefit of being a grandma for sure) we do it, Megatron, Scream costume check, and check....but not without me completely losing it in the Party City parking lot....my goodness, lady, get a grip.

So you may see me in stores but I rarely have my children with me (yeah and it's like 9:40pm). And I may look like I'm smugly smiling when your child is throwing a tantrum over forbidden SpongeBob fruit snacks but I'm really just smiling because I understand. And I think three ring binders are perfectly okay on a child's head- And hey, it's a pretty good cover especially if it's raining out.

Nobody Loves Anybody Quite Like That

I'm embarrassed to admit that I am sadly hooked on Stephanie Meyers Twilight series (it's kind of like admitting that I do like Justin Timberlake-yeah, I said it)....and I can't for the life of me, figure out why. They aren't the best written books, they are swooning and swamped with repetitive dialogue ..Edward, the teen vampire, is like a statue of ice, a model, an angel, we get it- the dang boy is cute, Bella (his love interest) is hopelessly mediocre at best. The books aren't terribly hard to read but they are awfully tough to put down.....

So I've been thinking, HEY! How come my high school boyfriend didn't love me that much? And are we setting our young ladies up for failure and disappointment? Because c'mon, let's face it, there aren't too many 17 year olds willing to buy you a new car so you don't get hurt or whisk you away when strangers press too close or suck the venom out of your arm when necessary....AND I mean, how many of them actually drive infamously "safe" Volvo SUV's?

So when my daughter gets up to dating age, I will be checking you out, Mr. Teenager...and if you don't pony up for the car stereo (read the books) or fight off werewolves (read the books) and other creatures of the night (read the books)...I just don't know, I just don't know if you'll be good enough for my little girl.

ME-at

I haven't felt like me in a long while. Creativity in a slump. General unease. Not feeling so fun/ny these days....it is true that when you don't have your health, you ain't got nothin'. Well, it seems as much as my insides are connected, all of my symptoms are too and it all globs up into a general malaise. So I'm happy to get back to my diet. I promise I'll be good. I just want me back.

Recently, I've been hearing a lot about the vegan diet. An interview with Jonathan Safran Foer (who has recently published the book Eating Animals)was really "illuminating" (he he). I had no idea how much energy we put into processing meat and I never gave a second thought to where my milk came from. I really thought there was a friendly farmer milking Bessie out yonder pasture. Until now, my animal rights initiatives have really been limited to my humane mice traps and making sure my dog gets fed on time. It's something to look into.

Alas, it's the new buzz word-VEGAN and Celiac is oh so late August. But I've been thinking, hey, as long as I'm on an extremely restrictive diet, why not make it more so? That is so me, to think like that, hmm...maybe I'm in there after all.

Medical Mystery Tour-A Rant

This past 5 months I've had quite the tour of doctor's offices, hospitals, co-pays, prescription drugs, diets, and our health care system in general. My diagnosis: DOA. And I, folks, have good health care coverage. So it really irks me to no end that certain members of Congress have put forth their heath care reform bill and it is no longer than my Beowulf (barf) paper in 11th grade honors English....This bill is infected with the disease of allowing health insurance companies to STILL reject a patient with PRE-EXISTING conditions. Folks, that means little ole' me with my crappy little ole' Celiac disease. That means you, yes you, with the UTI (considered a "pre-existing condition) oh, and don't EVER plan to get pregnant and then switch plans, oh no, because THAT is a PRE-EXISTING condition as well. Really. Really?

I'm sorry I'm not asking for much. I have friends and family who have different views than I, I respect other people's views I do, really. But let's face it, letting the government in on the health care option (as AN OPTION, people) does this: it BREAKS UP THE MONOPOLY that the health insurance companies have on us. It creates competition, competition my friends is good for ALL of the rest of us.

Because all of those Congress Peoples up there on that Hill, they have good health care coverage, they do. And they will never be denied because of a pre-existing condition even if it is plain ole' stupidity.

Ditching the Diet

So I'm off the diet. It's like I've been given the day pass from the mental hospital. Be good, eat what you want, be back by 5. I've got about a week to ingest regular ole' stuff and we go back to doing the Celiac tests again. In order for my tests to ring true, I've got to get on the gluten. Turns out, not all of the proper tests were done. Do I have Celiac disease? Probably. But before you tell me that it's for the rest of my life-I want to be 100% sure...well, I'll take anything over 95. So I've made a list of all the foods and beers I am going to enjoy during this reprieve. I promise I won't have a pity party...just a regular party full of things I'm going to enjoy for most likely the last time. I've already called my mom to make her famous bread, perused the ultimately tempting beer aisle at Wegman's and found a Starr Hill sampler, I'm going to make gooey Toll House chocolate chip cookies and make a real grilled cheese and nibble garlic bread hot from the oven, lavish over pizza, a glazed doughnut, eat my regular morning cereal...and then check back in....hello, my name is Beth and I am a celiac. I've been off the wagon and now I'm back on.

Vampire's Grown-Up Style-Happy Halloween

My grandmother (Genevieve) had a bookshelf full of romance novels in her Mama Bear super soft pillowy bedroom. Each book was a mass market paperback, the kind that spine's crack and leave curved white lines, like scars. I would look at their baroque covers not all interested in adult affairs. I was still into Little House and Little Women. These women were way too "big" for me.
Recently, when my book club chose to read Charlaine Harris' Dead Until Dawn (the HBO series True Blood is based on them-intriguingly good show-esp. the opening credits), I got to enjoy that cracked open mass market paperback mystery romance that my grandmother so apparently enjoyed. And it was FUN.
The book was cheesy, romance laden, blood soaked and full of tongue and cheek. I would sneak it around, reading while laundering, reading while eating dinner, reading about an ancient vampire (Bill Compton) and a modern day waitress' (Sookie Stackhouse-what a name) illicit affair....it was like cotton candy, no chewing, no work, just sugary enjoyment.

Right now, my sixth graders are really into the Twilight series with romance stars, Edward and Bella. I started reading the series over the summer so I could better know my 6th grade audience. But alas, the teen vamp lit is still on the shelf, as I am really enjoying the Harris books.
So for now, in my little undead battle, Bill Compton is kicking Edward Cullen's you know what.
Older is better, it's true.

Gut Feeling

The problem with a sticky disease like Celiac is that you can either IMMEDIATELY start feeling the good apparently wonderful effects of a gluten-free diet OR it may take up to a year or two....OH JOY! Sorry, it's been a crappy week (no pun intended).

Breaking News!

Breaking News In Fullerland:

Husband shaves almost 4 year old son's hair into a mohawk-a real one!

Same son is acting very cranky which is very out of character.....new hairdo issues?

Husband takes son to doctor, thinking head lice- NO, it's dried up mousse from mohawk!

But finds out son does HAVE double ear infection.....explaining the cranky and thus redeeming himself, though only slightly (hee hee hee).

Beth finds out she can NOT eat the grass in the front yard-fertilizers, shucks.

But she is finding healthy alternatives to her soft, warm, buttery morning bagel and she is losing weight-bonus!

But Beth also finds out she's LACTOSE intolerant as well...rat farts!

Well at least now, she can steal back her mousse from her husband.

In conclusion, the Fullers are looking good and, my friends, that's all that matters...right? (chuckle, chuckle)

Friday Night Equation

25 miles to the movies, J and me (Where the Wild Things Are-yipee!)
50 fine tip pens my son draws with on the way
30 minutes of NPR
5 minute walk into the theatre
20 dollars for tickets
7 dollar popcorn
6 dollars worth of candy (M-n-M's are thankfully not on my no no list)
2-3 dollar bladder bursting drinks
5 minutes into movie.....
"Mommy, I think I am going to be sick."
Criminy!

25 miles home....

Mourning the Malt

Sigh....I've had this clipping from a magazine for a year or more....finally got my Martha Stewart on and I am making them with the kiddos today..alas, I find out I am allergic to them. Drat! How can something this darn cute be poison?
Okay, I promise not to complain much more....just give me a little more time to mourn my malt (it's in the rice crispy treats that are the body of the FrankenTreat-yep/and of course, pretzels are a no no).
I do promise this blog won't turn in a Celiac-Count-Em 3 whole different ways to get your carbs on -blog. I am SURE to find something funny in all of this. Just give me time....my pretties (insert witch cackle) just give me time......

Cracked Open

My husband and I gladly threw out every parenting advice book we ever owned a few years ago. It was so fun to hear the thunk of the books hit the bottom of the trash can. I didn't even offer them to other people, or swap them on PaperBackSwap because no one should be so confused as I was after reading them.
Each book contradicted the other, each one with its own nauseating flair of self righteousness...I couldn't take it anymore.
Yet today, I am awaiting the book...yes, the book with all of the answers....it has been suggested to me by many friends. I have not wanted to own such book as I don't want any more dang advice (from people I don't know)...but alas Raising Your Spirited Child is in the mail waiting for me to crack its cover and discover that yes, I do have a very sensitive child (I knew this already so no news there). The thing is I want to know why...why does my child not want to wear jeans? Or socks with seams? Why does he start crying when I suggest we go to the movies? Or I cut the crust off his bread the wrong way...why does he lose it? And what can I do, aside from mixing Xanax into my smoothie, to make it better for all of us.
I'm really interested to find out what makes this special brand of kid tick. I should understand some of it, I really should. Many years ago I was riffling through my box of old report cards and found a report of me in pre-school....."Beth is a very sensitive and independent kid. You can see her gripping her pencil until her fingers turn white before she will ask for help."...I know I've mentioned that I used to make my dad pick all of the pills off my socks before I would wear them. Wait a minute......I bet my mom has a copy of this book.

(P.S-Got the book-wish I had had this three years ago.)

Never Ever

It was a really crazy week last week....getting diagnosed with an auto-immune disease was just one little thing...then somehow, my brain thought it would be a good idea to have my son vaccinated at school for the N1H1 flu. Hello? What? (btw-I am not commenting on the actual vaccinating, I'll keep my opinions about that to myself-what a quagmire)....
It could be said that I was preoccupied last week.....but really, what was I thinking? I know who I'm dealing with here and WHAT I am dealing with-a traumatizing school day for the less hardy.

Sending my sensitive child to school to get a shot?? I might as well sign up for homeschooling right now (And I am so sure that the school police would come knocking on my door because I just know that my kid would end up doing an art project for every single thing in the curriculum. Let's paint math facts! and so on-well, actually that's not such a bad idea)

Of course, I would never get him to go to school EVER again, I mean that, never ever ever again. I'm hoping going on this gluten-free diet will somehow return my brain to working capacity, give me more energy and return my creativity (which has been in the dumps). It's a tall task but I'm counting on it. Well, I know my son is, for sure.

Glutton for Gluten

Finally, Elizabeth Hasselbeck from The View and I have something in common (other than sharing our name and having three kids)-we both have Celiac Disease. Yep, we finally figured out the culprit- my own body is attacking the glutens in my system and let me tell you-I was a glutton for gluten.
I know it's kind of a buzz word right now-Celiac disease. It's the "in" disease as one would say but I can't tell you how not cool it is to have this, really. I'm keeping my head up because I want to be healthy again...but for those of you who think it's just cutting out the wheat in your diet take a look below at what people with Celiac can't eat.....and there's even more not in the list as glutens are in practically EVERYTHING, Twizzlers, deli meat from the deli (cross contamination issues), wine coolers (well, shucks), dry roasted nuts (peanut butter), some toothpastes, even blue cheese is sometimes dusted with flour, so when it is all said and done I can basically eat the grass in my front yard.

Now, I know I am going to get responses about someone having a friend who is "just fine" being a Celiac but just let me mourn my Fat Tires, pizza delivery, not being able to eat my mother's home baked breads and the worst, not being able to eat my own kid's birthday cakes....ah shucks, Celiac-well, at least I know now. It's a whole new gluten free world and I am hoping to at least end up as svelte as Ms. Hasselbeck, one can always hope. Maybe I'll just work on that pouty look (see cover of book above:)


Abyssinian Hard (Wheat triticum durum)
Alcohol (Spirits - Specific Types)
Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Atta Flour
Barley Grass (can contain seeds)
Barley Hordeum vulgare
Barley Malt
Beer (most contain barley or wheat)
Bleached Flour
Bran
Bread Flour
Brewer's Yeast
Brown Flour
Bulgur (Bulgar Wheat/Nuts)
Bulgur Wheat
Cereal Binding
Chilton
Club Wheat (Triticum aestivum subspecies compactum)
Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Cookie Crumbs
Cookie Dough
Cookie Dough Pieces
Couscous
Crisped Rice
Dinkle (Spelt)
Disodium Wheatgermamido Peg-2 Sulfosuccinate
Durum wheat (Triticum durum)
Edible Coatings
Edible Films
Edible Starch
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum)
Emmer (Triticum dicoccon)
Enriched Bleached Flour
Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour
Enriched Flour
Farina
Farina Graham
Farro
Filler
Flour (normally this is wheat)
Fu (dried wheat gluten)
Germ
Graham Flour
Granary Flour
Groats (barley, wheat)
Hard Wheat
Heeng
Hing
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol
Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch
Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Kamut (Pasta wheat)
Kecap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Ketjap Manis (Soy Sauce)
Kluski Pasta
Maida (Indian wheat flour)
Malt
Malted Barley Flour
Malted Milk
Malt Extract
Malt Syrup
Malt Flavoring
Malt Vinegar
Macha Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Matza
Matzah
Matzo
Matzo Semolina
Meringue
Meripro 711
Mir
Nishasta
Oriental Wheat (Triticum turanicum)
Orzo Pasta
Pasta
Pearl Barley
Persian Wheat (Triticum carthlicum)
Perungayam
Poulard Wheat (Triticum turgidum)
Polish Wheat (Triticum polonicum)
Rice Malt (if barley or Koji are used)
Roux
Rusk
Rye
Seitan
Semolina
Semolina Triticum
Shot Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Small Spelt
Spirits (Specific Types)
Spelt (Triticum spelta)
Sprouted Wheat or Barley
Stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Strong Flour
Suet in Packets
Tabbouleh
Tabouli
Teriyaki Sauce
Timopheevi Wheat (Triticum timopheevii)
Triticale X triticosecale
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
Udon (wheat noodles)
Unbleached Flour
Vavilovi Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Vital Wheat Gluten
Wheat, Abyssinian Hard triticum durum
Wheat amino acids
Wheat Bran Extract
Wheat, Bulgur
Wheat Durum Triticum
Wheat Germ Extract
Wheat Germ Glycerides
Wheat Germ Oil
Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
Wheat Grass (can contain seeds)
Wheat Nuts
Wheat Protein
Wheat Triticum aestivum
Wheat Triticum Monococcum
Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Bran Extract
Whole-Meal Flour
Wild Einkorn (Triticum boeotictim)
Wild Emmer (Triticum dicoccoides)
The following items may or may not contain gluten depending on where and how they are made, and it is sometimes necessary to check with the manufacturer to find out:

Artificial Color4
Baking Powder4
Caramel Color1, 3
Caramel Flavoring1, 3
Clarifying Agents4
Coloring4
Dextrins1,7
Dextrimaltose1,7
Diglycerides4
Dry Roasted Nuts4
Emulsifiers4
enzymes4
Fat Replacer4
Flavoring6
Food Starch1, 4
Food Starch Modified1, 4
Glucose Syrup4
Glycerides4
Gravy Cubes4
Ground Spices4
HPP4
HVP4
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein4
Hydrolyzed Protein4
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein4
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate4
Hydroxypropylated Starch4
Maltose4
Miso4
Mixed Tocopherols4
Modified Food Starch1, 4
Modified Starch1, 4
Mono and Diglycerides1, 4
Monoglycerides1, 4
Natural Flavoring6
Natural Flavors6
Natural Juices4
Non-dairy Creamer4
Pregelatinized Starch4
Protein Hydrolysates4
Seafood Analogs4
Seasonings4
Sirimi4
Smoke Flavoring4
Soba Noodles4
Soy Sauce4
Soy Sauce Solids4
Sphingolipids4
Stabilizers4
Starch1, 4
Stock Cubes4
Suet4
Tocopherols4
Vegetable Broth4
Vegetable Gum4
Vegetable Protein4
Vegetable Starch4
Vitamins4
Wheat Starch5

Field Trip

Yesterday, we were on a field trip at the "Field of Flowers" farm, Colin asked if he could run into one of the empty, flowerless fields. I hestitated as the class was picking flowers and looking for bugs in another area of the farm, you know, an area WITH flowers.
"No Colin, we should join the rest of your class over by the barn, buddy", I said.
"But MOM, it is a FIELD TRIP."
Oh, boy...and how can you argue with that.
(Really, I don't make this up)

Gown

Getting Our Grey Gardens On

(note the bathing suit on top of Drew Barrymore's (Little Edie) clothes)

(Anna doing her impression of Little Edie-who (played by Drew Barrymore) in the opening scene of the movie is wearing her bathing suit on top of her clothes-see 1st pic
Who dresses this child?)

I had the pleasure of taking in HBO's award winning movie Grey Gardens the other night. I was so excited to see it after reading about Grey Gardens in the Post awhile back. First the house caught my attention and then the real life too big to be true characters brought me all the way in, Edie Bouvier Beale and her daughter little Edie....Big Edie being Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy's aunt and little Edie her 1st cousin. The two lived in Grey Gardens in the Hamptons and let the place disintegrate into complete squalor (dead animals, holes in the roof/ceiling etc.) but all the while loving and fighting with one another...just like mothers and daughters will do....at least, once again, I know that some families live(d) a lot messier than mine, I KNOW there I go again, another great thing to hold myself up to (chuckle, chuckle).....

Excursion

Close-up of one of my favorites-
Wayne Thiebaud
His paintings are so thick with paint- it looks like real frosting

Love this piece but forgot to write down who the artist was.

National Art Gallery-East Wing (best wing)

Just a few pictures from my excursion before school started. I love the NGA. I can't wait to take my kiddos there I think I can, maybe soon. Up until now, they would set off all of the sensors and try to eat the Thiebaud cakes.....I have more but my computer seems to be possessed right now and there is so much work I really need to be doing. BTW-I am not worrying anymore, really, not after seeing the Oprah the other day with the woman who had the first face transplant in the US. I am sitting there thinking, my goodness, I absolutely cannot think my worries are all that important,really....enough said....nothing like a good Oprah to put you in your place. over and out.

Gaggle

Wart

I am a worrier. There, I said it. Worrywartitis skipped generations with my mom and happened onto me. My grandmother was the queen of all worriers. For example when I was in high school and my grandmother was living with us:

"Bye Grandma, we're going to DC to see some music. Be back later." while placing a kiss on her soft cheek.
"Ohhhhhh......I hope you come back alive." she responds.

I can't help it I am in a constant state of always feeling like I have forgotten something, someone or some big holiday. If I can't put my finger on what's bothering me, my mind will search through it's archives, oh yeah.....Colin needs swim lessons, Anna's out of diapers, work needs to be graded....all of which are easily taken care of or no big deal.....and certainly not needing the alert label of Code Red my mind wants to slap on them. But my mind does not know the difference between the code yellow and blue.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I've always loved that prayer but was secretly jealous of those who knew the difference. Because there are people who know the difference. And I am just wondering if they'd let me in on that wisdom so I can stop worrying about stupid stuff and concentrate on more important stuff like....
like....the caulking in my upstairs bathroom....that's code red right? no? drat.

Pause

Funky Lunch

Happy Friday....being an artist, I REALLY should be doing this for my kids eh? Maybe I'll come up with my own....in my spare time that is! The website is really fun too-and a cool little story about funky lunch as well. What fun....people-they are so creative. Me, I haven't felt so creative recently. But I can tell I need the break. Sometimes I make so much stuff and then it's time to re-boot. I've got Winter Brain,Child coming up and a little card company in Boston is working with me making a line of cards...so I'm trying to conserve my energies....hmmmm, yeah, that's what it is!

Dear Sock Making People-Click On Letter to Read

Brown Bagging It

Halloween Comes Early

Okay-I love David Sedaris. He's a writer that I usually don't wait for the paperback for...that's how I measure writers-hardback worthy? Yes, he is. But I have to say-he's not for everybody. Like for instance, he's not for my ultra conservative mother-in-law......so you can imagine my horror when I found out that she had recommended Sedaris' latest, When You Are Engulfed in Flames to her book club after seeing me enjoy it so much at the beach in June.....she recommended it before reading it herself and based solely on my hearty chuckles to
HER ENTIRE BOOK CLUB FULL of ultra conservative Chicken Soup for the Catholic Soul book lovin' ladies, swallow, gulp, gasp.....I have now entered into Dante's bad, bad daughter-in-law inner ring of you know what (let's not get me into any more trouble here).

My mom broke the news to me....she is in the same book club as my MIL but is one of the less conservatives of the group. She does enjoy Sedaris even in all of his over the top glory of course probably not as much as me since I only have 37 years of Catholic guilt to her 60 plus....So, I am now wide eyed and cringing, I think I am even feeling a bit sick to my stomach.....My mom went on to explain that she wasn't at the meeting when they picked the book and knowing the audience she said she would have simply put a disclaimer out there.....not for the faint of heart, ladies.....hold onto your rosaries.

I can't help it...it does make me smile now that the shock has worn off.....that his book could have ruffled so many feathers in one fell swoop... that this gaggle would have never picked up a book with a cigarette smoking skull on it-(as if THAT didn't tip them off)....if it weren't FOR ME...you can thank me later, David, for that little boost in sales last month...but right now, I am going to sit in my "inner ring" and try to not be engulfed in flames.

Changeaphobia

(An American version of the British saying "Keep Calm and Carry On"-cracks me up)

It's that time of year again....the time I enjoy very much and have for many years. I love going back to school, loved the new set of 64 crayons (boundless possibilities), the shiny new shoes, backpack with unstuck zipper and more.....zoom to now.....it's not a happy time in the Fuller house. Gone are the free days of bug hunting, Bionicle building and SpongeBob on demand because it's time for CHANGE, baby. And gosh darn it, it starts at 7am on the dot, up and at em'.

And although my oldest (1st grade) does love school-I mean, I just witnessed his yellow clad body wizzing across the playground in jubilant glee (no wonder he's tired when he gets home from school)...he hates change even more. And he will fight it with every ounce of his body and take you down with it if he has to.

The key is this year .....it is NOT going to catch me off guard like in years past.....no longer will you hear the words, "You're too old for this! Haven't we grown out of this behavior?" coming from my mouth or lingering in my thoughts.
In fact, I am so ready that I am completely expecting when I deposit his red headed 18 year old body in a college dorm years from now the fight will continue....albeit it will cost me like 100 grand and show up in even less agreeable forms (yikes).

Needless to say, things are really busy here. Yesterday was my first day back teaching too and I loved it. Sixth graders are cool....they just don't know it yet and that's what makes it cool.
So folks,there you have it, I know the secret. I know how to remain calm and carry on, brace for the change...weather the storm and repeat over and over "This too shall pass...this too shall pass.....like in 18 years......" chuckle chuckle.