It always comes back to bite you in the butt

When my daughter was younger, about 8, she began listening and understanding music. She might argue with you that the only music she even knew existed before she turned 16 was from what she heard in my car from a local radio station which only played oldies...but she could have listened to any music she wanted to, within reason...I never stopped her. Nor did I offer her any other types of music to listen to. I didn’t come from a musical family and music is not a big part of my life. It is interesting, however, that whenever I drive her car and turn on her stereo she has been listening to Bach, my favorite composer.

One of the songs that my daughter, Jen, loved was Cat Steven’s "Cat’s in a Cradle". She loved the song and the lyrics and would talk to me about how sad that song was. In a nutshell: It’s about a father who doesn’t have time to spend with his son and his son grows up to not have time to spend with him.

I’ve spoken about this before here and I still regret that day.

One thing that I didn’t share with you, because it was so painful, was that at first when she was waiting for me to finish talking with the neighbor she was humming very loudly so that I could hear the song, "Cat’s in a Cradle". It was her subtle way of letting me know that this was important to her and that this moment might never happen again. Even though I told my neighbor that I had to leave so I could play a game of basketball with my daughter, I continued to stand there with her while we talked away, feeling torn in two, wanting to have a friend and wanting to play with my daughter at the same time.

I’m sharing all this with you because the song came back to mind today when Jen called me at lunchtime today to cancel our dinner date tonight. "Something came up, I have a lot of work to do at home, we’ll have to do this next week", is what she said. "Ouch", I thought. Then the music started playing in my head.

Normally, I wouldn’t mind. But for some reason I can’t stop thinking that since tonight is the season finale of LOST, she is choosing, like I did, something that she’d rather do than entertain me.

Which is fine.

Really.

*sniff*

Me Me Want

Last night's conversation with my 2 year old nephew:

"Tewie, Me Me hair" - translation: Aunt Theresa, I want your hair.

"Jay, you want my hair?"

"Yessth, Me Me hair, off" translation: Yes, I want you to take off your hair.

"You want me to take off my hair?"

"Yessth, off hair Tewie, Me Me head" translation: Yes, take all your hair off and put it on my head.

"Umm, Jay, my hair doesn't come off".

"Waaaaahhhhhh" As he tugs on my hair.


*sorry about not posting the pics of my house yet, I plan to get it done this weekend.

TGIF

It's Friday - whoopie!

Usually I am an organized person. That is one of my strongest qualities. All my other qualities are useless, and, unfortunately strong, and, most likely, the reason I am still single at my age. That, and the fact that I use too many commas.

So, in order to do this 'commute to work from state to state' thing, I have to stay in NY by switching between my sister's house and my children's apartment during the week. And I have to be very organized.

Monday mornings I leave my house in CT before the crack of dawn and drive to LI, NY. I have to make sure that I have packed enough work outfits and accessories to make myself presentable at work. And all my moisturizers.... oh my land.... I can't live without moisturizing every inch of my body twice a day; they take up a whole suitcase themselves.

Everything is working out except I am supposed to bring my own pillow and blanket, I forgot them this week.

The only thing I hadn't factored in was the cost of eating out as much as I have to. Or the fact that I have an uncontrollable need to spoil my niece and nephew everyday. Or the fact that I have no time to workout at Curves anymore. Or the fact that it is difficult to stay on the South Beach Diet when I don't have my own kitchen and all the basic staples that one needs to prepare the foods. So I expect to become a blimp by next month.

Other than all of the above, it's working out well.

Oh, and I don't know how my sister can stand all the cuteness that wakes up in the morning in their little feetie pajamas and climb down the stairs rubbing their little eyes as they run and dive in for their morning hugs and kisses! I just melt every morning.

Since today is Friday, straight after work I'm taking a ferry home, running up my driveway, unlocking my door, running up the stairs and jumping into my bed. I plan to sleep until 9am, which would be a small miracle since I always wake up at 4am.

I will post pictures of the house over the weekend since I have my laptop there.

And I have a question for y'all - Did any of you have housewarming parties when you move into your homes? My QFIL (Capt's Dad) is lovingly twisting my arm to have one. It sounds like fun but I don't remember ever going to one so I'm not sure what to expect or do.

Mother's Day Recap

You guys are great, thanks for all the encouragement and support during this wacked out time in my life. Selling and buying a house in different states at the same time is insane. INSANE!!!! I don't recommend it while sober.

Now that I got that off my chest....to answer your question: I think that in my heart I'll always be Yew Nork Babe, so I'll keep that title for awhile longer, although Connecticut Cutie sounds like a good change.

I'm at work today on Long Island. It was very difficult leaving my new house and driving out here last night. I'll be here during the work weeks....so far it seems like a good option.

My wonderful sister Lyn is allowing me to stay with her. This morning I heard the baby crying so I looked at the kitchen clock and saw that it was 6:15am. I decided that I would go upstairs and get the baby so that my sister could sleep. I got him up and had him help me make cornbread when my niece and Lyn walked down to see what was going on. Apparently the baby makes noises in the morning but stays asleep for another hour or so. And, more importantly, the clock in the kitchen is an hour and change off....so it was 5:00am! Oooooppps! My bad.

My sister Mindi came by on Saturday for the day. It only took her 2 hours from Staten Island. She loved the place. When she got out of her car she took a deep breath and said, "It feels like vacation here". That's about right.

Two of my children came up for Mother's Day....they didn't want to leave. But they did. It was great to see them. Capt cooked a great meal for us all. I'm talkin GREAT MEAL. New York Strip steaks marinated and rubbed on the barbeque, baked potatoes, rolls and pastries from the best bakery in Connecticut.....he really made the day special for me and my kids.

The hummingbirds were stopping by to drink from the new feeder my kids got me for Mother's Day. Jen and Tom were fasinated by them. We had a great time.

Enough rambling, I've got to lots to do at work (I did just take off a week to do this move).

Photos to be posted soon.

Hummingbird Acres

I'm in the new house. Unpacking. Setting up rooms. Trying to find my dishes....and my clothes. But ( just in case you have this image in your mind) I'm NOT walking around naked because I was smart enough to pack a suitcase with a few changes of clothes.

Capt hooked me up to wireless yesterday. He's been an amazing help.

Last night was my first night here. It was so quiet. Not like Long Island. At 5am the birds started singing, the crickets started chirping and the woodpeckers started pecking. And it got noisy. Oh the birds and their noises! It was loud and lovely. I could get used to waking up like that every morning.

The house is beautiful and manageable. Smaller than my house on Long Island was, yet big enough to have friends and family over. It's on 2 acres and there is a brook in the backyard, and lots of trees.

I already have the kitchen and bedroom set up. Oh, oh, oh, and in my bedroom there's a walk in closet that I could do back flips in.

Yes I could!!!!!

Today I went to do some errands and when I got close to my house I saw a turkey walk across my street. Then I went into my house and looked out the kitchen window and saw a hummingbird at the feeder. I love hummingbirds.

My cousin named his house "Silicon Woods". One of my friends named their place "Bumble Bee Manor". I think I'm going to call this place "Hummingbird Acres".

I like the way it sounds.

Well, I'm going to bed....every muscle hurts from this past week of packing, cleaning, moving, cleaning and unpacking....and more cleaning...and back flips.

The Move

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'm okay.

The closing on the LI house went well. Tomorrow is the closing on the CT house.

Right now I am homeless. And I feel very 'ungrounded' because of it.

I stayed at my sister's house last night and tonight I'm driving to CT and staying at Capt's house. After tomorrow, I will be a Connecticut resident and living in my new house!

It's been a rough road, especially with the movers I chose. Do not ever use A-one Moving and Storage they will rip you off, like they did to me. I will explain later on...like after they bring my stuff to CT.

I took off from work starting tomorrow so I can unpack and set up the house. Capt is taking off from work on Thursday and my kids will be coming over to see the new place this weekend and they will help too.

This has been stressful and I can't wait until it is all over.