Re: Rob's Halfway House -- #8
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:18 pm
Caryn – Loved those happy go smiley pics! Especially the staring – OMG – their chemistry must be amazing to witness first hand. KStew must have nerves of steel because that look would definitely render the rest of us speechless! It has been very interesting and educational researching my Dad’s past/family history. It’s too bad their story is somewhat of a sad one but, in a way that’s a motivator for me. I feel like I am trying to defend somehow or add perspective to my biological grandmother’s decisions. In a family of almost entirely men, I’ve come to realize there is a general lack of understanding about the constraints a woman (especially one living in 1950’s post war Germany) could be facing. So sorry to hear about your cousin, I can’t imagine what it must be like for his parents not to be able to hop on a plane and be with him. But hopefully at this point while he is alone, he is being kept well medicated and it will be like what people say when little ones suffer – they won’t remember it. Once I listened to a missionary give a speech about when she was injured in the Middle East. She had to stop in Germany for medical care before coming home. I don’t think her family was able to join her there either. She didn’t seem to remember much of that time…
Desiree – Thanks, yeah that time period (and the years leading up to it) is a pretty dark one for humankind. It’s not so much that I am in a dark place myself, just very hormonal and thinking of it brings me to tears at times. It’s always been very hard for me to understand how things like that can happen but it’s harder to compartmentalize and move on with my day now… So I yeah there may be times I need someone to talk to, if nothing else to get my mind back to the present but like you said, it’s worth it. Wow your kids go back to school an entire month after mine! When did they get out for the summer? We have dollar days here too… Gotta love it! I know it won’t be showing for a buck anytime soon but I kinda wanna go see the Smurf’s on the big screen, guess it wouldn’t have been anything I would have been able to do as a kid. Mom was not big on the Smurf’s for some reason… I think it had to do with Gargamel or something.
Amy – Thanks girl! We are super excited about ‘peanut #3’!! My due date, for now, is April 2 but I am not entirely convinced they have it right this time… Oh well, I guess time will surely tell on that one, lol. That is great that your hubs taught you how to back up the boat trailer. It’s nice to be able to do things yourself huh. I don’t know how well my hubs and I would fare at that particular endeavor. We usually handle tasks together extremely well, heck that’s how I knew he was ‘the one’ and not just any old boyfriend but that being said there is something when it comes to him giving me driving instructions (usually of the backseat variety and NOT at my request) that drives me bonkers with quickness. So I usually just offer to let him drive. That’s probably what he’s aiming for anyway, lol. Of course, I think I am a better driver but it’s something I am willing to let him have if you know what I mean ;] It’s funny, parents get practically competitive about the ‘good teachers’ as if there’s anything we can do about it. Always makes me wonder about the flip side of that… Like what the process for deciding which kids gets in what class and are the teachers like Nooooo or Yeah! when they find out who will be in their class.
Susie – Yes, I am most definitely with child lol. I’ve been thinking lately how even though we aren’t quote unquote RL friends there is an advantage here because I can come to the HH whenever I want. And this is cheerful place but not in a fake way. I mean what people share is real and it’s not always happy fluffy stuff but there is just a positive vibe around here or something. Not to be getting all new age on you or anything, I don’t know much about that stuff other than to know it when I see it, I guess. Ok so The Help is definitely on the TBR list. How’d your assignment wrap up? Do you have many more of these to do? Getting paid for your time much make it so much more, well, rewarding, lol.
Christina – Thanks! Yes pregnancy brain is a very real thing. I sometimes wonder how much empathy I would’ve had for its sufferers before having kids myself…? I am not always known for being the world’s most patient person. It sounds like your office would be a nice place to work while preggers. It must be cute watching them grow together. It would be funny if the babies grew to be friends someday, imagining before and after (birth) pictures of two besties. Well it’s probably a long shot but still, it would be something. Honestly sounds like something outta a fic a read, lol.
Tracy – You know what; we are excited about the baby but have decided to wait a few weeks before sharing the news with the kiddos. Baby boy won’t know the difference and Little Man, well honestly half the reason is I am expecting more… technical questions this time around I am giving myself ‘time to prepare’. He’s 8 so I am not sure if he’s ready for all the specifics but I am going on the assumption this will be thought provoking news for him. Have you had ‘the talk’ with yours yet? And the other half of the reason we’re waiting to tell him is, the chances for a loss drop dramatically after the first 12 weeks or so. I’ve been lucky and never experienced anything like this but, it’s always a possibility and LM is the person I most want to shelter from experiencing loss. One day last year he came home and told me one of his classmates mom was going to have a baby but didn’t and that this day would’ve been its birthday. Obviously the little girl was talking about it to him and it made me realize just how much kids are affected by things like that and I wondered if her mom realized it too. I imagine it was a very hard day for her. Ahhgg… See the emo just creeps in these days, lol. But anyway sounds like you’ve got the afternoon schedule between buses planned to perfection!
Ginnie – Guilt free mommy time… Woooo Hoooo! It’s kinda had to believe it but thanks for reminding me that’s coming… Someday ;] Actually, I put Baby Boy in a mother’s day out program but it’s only twice a week and for a few hours… We just started last week so he’s been three times now and I think about him the entire time. We’ve never been away from each other like this before. But it’s good for him… and me. We just have to get used to it and I a couple hours twice a week is a good place to start. Wow that’s quite a list from the pool party. You’ve got half the cast there with you, lol!
Ann Marie – Thanks! We think it’s awesome news too! I already find myself making plans… if a boy I’ll do this or if a girl I’ll do that… but I don’t need to do that yet because I am trying so hard to remain gender neutral. Honestly, I do find myself thinking of the baby as a girl more but maybe that’s just because I am a girl? Yeah I heard Kellan’s looking good in his new movie but haven’t seen anything from it yet but still that doesn’t make up for no BD trailer does it, lol.
Marielle – So sorry to hear about your brother’s ex-girlfriend’s dad. It’s good you two are still close. I know it really messed with me when a friend my own age lost her dad to an illness. Scary to think about but it sounds like you can relate and be a good friend to her. Is she on friendly terms with your bro? I only ask because it reminds me of something in my own family. Once my bro had a girlfriend that kinda bonded with the entire family but they were young and it didn’t work out. Somehow, she made it on one of those pictures slide shows my uncle had on his TV screen saver at Christmas. I don’t think bro’s wife appreciated it, especially since it was their first married Christmas together. Guess I would’ve been like wtf if I were her too but honestly, I still think it’s kinda funny. Wrong of me I know. I still talk to the ex-gf every once in a while. I just consider her a friend and not bro’s ex.
So I guess I am making up for lost time a bit here, lol. Anyone still with me? Not too much going on here in Rachel land this week. I did learn something interesting in my family history research that is slightly Twi-related. Apparently, according to Wikipedia, the town my father was born in, local legend has it that Vlad Dracula (as in the Dracula) is buried there. I didn’t realize this was a real legend… Not that Dracula is real but the legend is. Anyway, there is some sort of leaning tower with a cross atop it and in its windows. The crosses shadows are supposed to fall right dead center on Dracula’s grave. Wikipedia literally called it “spooky”. This made me laugh. Who knew right.
Desiree – Thanks, yeah that time period (and the years leading up to it) is a pretty dark one for humankind. It’s not so much that I am in a dark place myself, just very hormonal and thinking of it brings me to tears at times. It’s always been very hard for me to understand how things like that can happen but it’s harder to compartmentalize and move on with my day now… So I yeah there may be times I need someone to talk to, if nothing else to get my mind back to the present but like you said, it’s worth it. Wow your kids go back to school an entire month after mine! When did they get out for the summer? We have dollar days here too… Gotta love it! I know it won’t be showing for a buck anytime soon but I kinda wanna go see the Smurf’s on the big screen, guess it wouldn’t have been anything I would have been able to do as a kid. Mom was not big on the Smurf’s for some reason… I think it had to do with Gargamel or something.
Amy – Thanks girl! We are super excited about ‘peanut #3’!! My due date, for now, is April 2 but I am not entirely convinced they have it right this time… Oh well, I guess time will surely tell on that one, lol. That is great that your hubs taught you how to back up the boat trailer. It’s nice to be able to do things yourself huh. I don’t know how well my hubs and I would fare at that particular endeavor. We usually handle tasks together extremely well, heck that’s how I knew he was ‘the one’ and not just any old boyfriend but that being said there is something when it comes to him giving me driving instructions (usually of the backseat variety and NOT at my request) that drives me bonkers with quickness. So I usually just offer to let him drive. That’s probably what he’s aiming for anyway, lol. Of course, I think I am a better driver but it’s something I am willing to let him have if you know what I mean ;] It’s funny, parents get practically competitive about the ‘good teachers’ as if there’s anything we can do about it. Always makes me wonder about the flip side of that… Like what the process for deciding which kids gets in what class and are the teachers like Nooooo or Yeah! when they find out who will be in their class.
Susie – Yes, I am most definitely with child lol. I’ve been thinking lately how even though we aren’t quote unquote RL friends there is an advantage here because I can come to the HH whenever I want. And this is cheerful place but not in a fake way. I mean what people share is real and it’s not always happy fluffy stuff but there is just a positive vibe around here or something. Not to be getting all new age on you or anything, I don’t know much about that stuff other than to know it when I see it, I guess. Ok so The Help is definitely on the TBR list. How’d your assignment wrap up? Do you have many more of these to do? Getting paid for your time much make it so much more, well, rewarding, lol.
Christina – Thanks! Yes pregnancy brain is a very real thing. I sometimes wonder how much empathy I would’ve had for its sufferers before having kids myself…? I am not always known for being the world’s most patient person. It sounds like your office would be a nice place to work while preggers. It must be cute watching them grow together. It would be funny if the babies grew to be friends someday, imagining before and after (birth) pictures of two besties. Well it’s probably a long shot but still, it would be something. Honestly sounds like something outta a fic a read, lol.
Tracy – You know what; we are excited about the baby but have decided to wait a few weeks before sharing the news with the kiddos. Baby boy won’t know the difference and Little Man, well honestly half the reason is I am expecting more… technical questions this time around I am giving myself ‘time to prepare’. He’s 8 so I am not sure if he’s ready for all the specifics but I am going on the assumption this will be thought provoking news for him. Have you had ‘the talk’ with yours yet? And the other half of the reason we’re waiting to tell him is, the chances for a loss drop dramatically after the first 12 weeks or so. I’ve been lucky and never experienced anything like this but, it’s always a possibility and LM is the person I most want to shelter from experiencing loss. One day last year he came home and told me one of his classmates mom was going to have a baby but didn’t and that this day would’ve been its birthday. Obviously the little girl was talking about it to him and it made me realize just how much kids are affected by things like that and I wondered if her mom realized it too. I imagine it was a very hard day for her. Ahhgg… See the emo just creeps in these days, lol. But anyway sounds like you’ve got the afternoon schedule between buses planned to perfection!
Ginnie – Guilt free mommy time… Woooo Hoooo! It’s kinda had to believe it but thanks for reminding me that’s coming… Someday ;] Actually, I put Baby Boy in a mother’s day out program but it’s only twice a week and for a few hours… We just started last week so he’s been three times now and I think about him the entire time. We’ve never been away from each other like this before. But it’s good for him… and me. We just have to get used to it and I a couple hours twice a week is a good place to start. Wow that’s quite a list from the pool party. You’ve got half the cast there with you, lol!
Ann Marie – Thanks! We think it’s awesome news too! I already find myself making plans… if a boy I’ll do this or if a girl I’ll do that… but I don’t need to do that yet because I am trying so hard to remain gender neutral. Honestly, I do find myself thinking of the baby as a girl more but maybe that’s just because I am a girl? Yeah I heard Kellan’s looking good in his new movie but haven’t seen anything from it yet but still that doesn’t make up for no BD trailer does it, lol.
Marielle – So sorry to hear about your brother’s ex-girlfriend’s dad. It’s good you two are still close. I know it really messed with me when a friend my own age lost her dad to an illness. Scary to think about but it sounds like you can relate and be a good friend to her. Is she on friendly terms with your bro? I only ask because it reminds me of something in my own family. Once my bro had a girlfriend that kinda bonded with the entire family but they were young and it didn’t work out. Somehow, she made it on one of those pictures slide shows my uncle had on his TV screen saver at Christmas. I don’t think bro’s wife appreciated it, especially since it was their first married Christmas together. Guess I would’ve been like wtf if I were her too but honestly, I still think it’s kinda funny. Wrong of me I know. I still talk to the ex-gf every once in a while. I just consider her a friend and not bro’s ex.
So I guess I am making up for lost time a bit here, lol. Anyone still with me? Not too much going on here in Rachel land this week. I did learn something interesting in my family history research that is slightly Twi-related. Apparently, according to Wikipedia, the town my father was born in, local legend has it that Vlad Dracula (as in the Dracula) is buried there. I didn’t realize this was a real legend… Not that Dracula is real but the legend is. Anyway, there is some sort of leaning tower with a cross atop it and in its windows. The crosses shadows are supposed to fall right dead center on Dracula’s grave. Wikipedia literally called it “spooky”. This made me laugh. Who knew right.