A Friend in Need…is Usually Me

CNN printed a story today that scientifically proves good friends can actually help you survive parenthood.  I know I can’t through an illness without Lauren’s “carepackages” (typically consisting of trashy magazines and novels, soduku books and something for the kids to do so they don’t kill each other while you die).  We didn’t need science to prove it, but it’s nice to know.

Workout of the Day

I can’t find anyone else to bore with my new workout routine.  So I thought I’d subject both people who read my blog to this discussion.

Few things to note:  I am not an athlete.  I have done many things over the years to stay in shape:  run (always), bike (barely), inter-mural basketball in college with the women who were kicked off the varsity team for excessive violence (I got one rebound and did aerobics after the game), Rollerblade (taught by then boyfriend/hockey player – 6 miles around Central Park every day – I was in sick shape), Tae Bo (tapes while living abroad), tennis (with my girlfriends – I really suck and was fired by my pro when I showed up drunk for a lesson – what?! It happens).  But it always gets boring or stops working. 

So here’s my latest fad.  I have started these very simple total body workouts as prescribed by the trainer in my gym at work.  I am totally hooked. I started them the first of the year and I really feel like I am better toned and in shape!  Mix of cardio and strength training and they don’t take more than 30-45 minutes.  I don’t do them every day.  I have to pick and choose and I try to do them every other day.  Below is the routine (there is a scaled down version for the easily intimidated).

Day 1 

Run 1 mile
then
3 rounds:
25 Pullups
15 Squats

Day 2
5 rounds:
10 Deadlifts
15 Pushups
20 Walking Lunges
25 Squats

Day 3
Jump Rope for 5 minutes
Bike for 10 Minutes
Run for 15 Minutes

Music Takes Me There

Where were you when you first heard the band Boston?  I was in the 9th grade at play practice dancing through the auditorium listening to my Walkman and singing way too loud.  Certain songs can take you to certain places, certain people and certain times.  Tonight on my ride home, I was listening to Desperado, a song I love, and thinking about how I taught myself to play it on the guitar, what an amazing voice Don Henley has and that it is totally in my range to sing to alone in the car.  And then, I went back to the Seinfeld episode with the guy who gets a distant look every time he hears that song.  That show was pure genius.  I’m still laughing.  As soon as the song was over, the DJ came on and said, “Doesn’t that make you think of that Seinfeld episode?”  I guess I’m not the only one who thinks this way…

Where do these songs take you?Post your answers and feel free to post your own songs! (only people over 30 can play)

 

• Like a Virgin
• Jesse’s Girl
• Don’t Talk to Strangers – just heard it again with Andrea on Saturday at Einsteins!
• Oh Mickey
• My Favorite Things
• Billy Jean
• Hey There Delilah
• Bad Company
• In the Name of Love (U2)
• Horse with No Name

Can I Blog Happy?

My friend Jill who runs www.honestbaby.com wants me to name my column on her site “The Angry Working Mom”.  So I get a little emotional?  So sue me!  I tend to get passionate about a subject and that is what inspires me to write.  The question is, “Can I write when I am not pissed off about something?”  Sitting here with nothing to say, I’m guessin the answer is “no.”  Sorry.

Premeditated Surprise

As it was my husband’s birthday last week, I planned a surprise overnight trip to New York City to meet up with some friends who live in Connecticut.  We had a great meal at B-cafe.  Made the reservation through www.opentable.com.  I mentioned when I made the reservation that it was Brad’s birthday and they did a nice cake for him at the end (without me having to say anything that night). 

From there we went to Iridium Jazz Club, 1650 Broadway, New York, NY, 10023.  Great club.  Great show.  Amazing, now there is no more smoking at clubs or restaurants that you can leave there not reeking of smoke.  It was nice!

Next morning went back to my old fave, EJ’s Luncheonette on 3rd Ave.  Crunchy french toast.  You just can’t beat it!

Cut Off

In order to enroll in Kindergarten this fall, my daughter will need to be 5 years old by September 30th.  Her birthday is October 9. 

She is tall for her age and, don’t die of shock, but in my humble opinion, exceptionally bright.  She is articulate and confident.  Among her peer group, she is a leader.  Her little friends will be starting school in the fall and she will have to wait another year. 

At the same time, I see many, many parents holding back children whom they do not believe to be ready to start school with their peers.  Children with birthdays as early as May (parents categorizing them as “late” birthdays) are holding them back to give them an advantage over the other children.  There are two boys in my sons first grade class with the same birthday, one year apart in age.  Have you noticed how big 1st graders are these days?

Everyone and her brother has an opinion on what I should do.  Fight and push her ahead, follow the guidelines and let her be the oldest.  I wonder why there is not a better system.  If we lived 15 minutes from here, the cut off would be September 1.  A few states away, it is December 31.  There has to be a better way to determine when children should start school.  A guideline that parents can follow to determine what is right for their children.  Those who are ready can start and those who are not can wait. 

Stay tuned.  If I am writing this a year from now, you can learn the exciting conclusion.

Opposites Atract and then REPEL

Okay, so in an ideal world, my friend Andrea would be married to my husband and I would be married to hers.  Is it because of some undeniable, animal-like attraction to one another’s spouses? (Um, I love Jeff, but I don’t want to love Jeff – the airport bathroom thing will just have to go untold).  No, it’s because opposites attract.  My amazing husband likes order, likes control, likes predictabilty (to his credit, he also loves surprises, when well planned).  Yes, his jeans hang neatly in his closet on hangers in order of color while mine lay on the floor and are worn in order of cleanliness.  I am not an Oscar to his Felix, but we are different.  My sister’s friend Marly put it best “Melissa is the creative one.”  Needless to say, Andrea is just like Brad.  So why didn’t they get married?

The easy answer is because they didn’t know each other when they were single and I met him first.  But the less obvious reason is because they are too alike.  It is much more fun to get messy when you’re a neat freak and seek order when you’re a mess!  So we have our little flirtation, then infatuation with our opposite and then, like fools, we fall inextricably in love, make little combo-monsters and try to live life this way.  Rather than embracing the differences that keep us afloat (and let me tell you, Brad keeps us afloat) we grow to resent and critizise them.  Why can’t I put wood-handled knifes in the dishwasher?!  I get the logic but I want to anyway….c’mon, honey, take a walk on the wild side with me.

My Friend Tanya

Speaking of talented friends.  You have to check out my friend Tanya’s photography.  Amazing!   Good music, too, so turn up the volume on your computer.

http://www.tanyabreenphotography.com/

Do I Need a Point?

So a few of my friends/colleagues have started blogs.  Each have a theme and a focus.  Clever titles and posts that weave together.  Yeah, so I don’t.  This must be indicative of the fact that I am not sure I want anyone to read my blog.  But also it may be the fact that not one single thing about me defines me as a person.  I am not just a working mother, a PR person, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend in isolation.  It is the combination of those things that makes me who I am.  That makes me unique. 

This is the space in which I get to be me.  Say what’s on my mind.  Ponder about the crap that rattles around in my head.  I think that’s why I’ve only shared this with people who don’t know me that well. I took a bold step and shared my blog with a few of my girlfriends today (pictured below). Sometimes I think I could give them a voice through this as well.  If it worked, I hope they will post a comment.  Even if it’s just to tell me to shut the hell up.

 

Happy New Year

When I lived in Belgium, everyone took off the last two weeks of the year.  In fact, we got six weeks of vacation every year.  Uninterrupted time away.  My admin used to reprimand anyone who would try to get in touch with me while I was away.  I remember thinking I would never take the time allotted.  Who could afford SIX weeks of leave?  I took every minute of it.  It was glorious.  What a different quality of life.  For example, after the two weeks off at the end of the year, I would come back refreshed and rejuvenated for a new year to come. (brief aside, in Belgium, they would give the traditional three kisses at the start of each year, I almost died when my VP greeted me that morning, in the U.S. he would have been locked up).

This year, I actually took off the three days between Christmas and New Years.  It was the first time in many years and it was just what I needed to get my spirits back.  It was great time with my kids, my husband and my friends.  The proof was felt when I didn’t get the urge to maim anyone who pissed me off the first day back at work.