What is the quickest way...

...to get into a fight with your spouse? Go on a long driving trip with him and your two kids, one of whom is on a feeding schedule so tight, you could *literally* set your watch to it. Seriously, that. will. do. it.

Oy, I have a headache just thinking about it. Actually I have headaches all of the time now. I believe eye problems are the cause, but we'll see when I go back to the opthamologist later this week. Either that or it's hormonal....because, you know, I haven't just birthed a baby or anything.

Oh, and speaking of babies, wanna see another picture of mine? I certainly can't get enough.

Women and Family

So a friend of mine has asked me to contribute a short story to a book she's publishing entitled, Women & Family, 2nd edition.

Ay Carumba! I know I'm a decent BUSINESS writer, but I always find my personal writings to feel...well, contrived.

So what do you think? Do I give it a shot? Or do I just blow off the whole thing. You just know this is going to fill me with such *angst* it will be all I fixate on for a while.

Ooops! Gotta run. I hear the wild call of the Raya-bear in the distance.

Me, the Space Geek

Call me a space geek, but this weekend I plan to check out the Perseids, a meteor shower that will be visible in the skies over the northern hemisphere. Best visibility is apparently between midnight and four am, so it will be a bit of a challenge, but well worth it: the shower should be very intense thanks to the pitch black skies of a new moon.

I've never been all that interested in anything "space-y", but this article on MSNBC persuaded me to check out the shower. So look for me, out on my lawn, in a beach chair, wrapped in a blanket, gazing at the skies like a complete fool.

What does Billy Joel sing?

"Every dog must have its every day...."

Mine soon will. I plan to buy a dozen.

Dogs will have their day: Vick doll coming to St. Paul

Update

And I decided "to" Restylane. Well, at least to consider it. I've got a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist next month.

Yes, go ahead and say it: Vanity, thy name is Michelle.

The Summer Cold

Oh how I hate the summer cold. It seems so wrong to be sick in the middle of summer, yet here I am pulling out all the stops (i.e., Theraflu, vapor plug-in, boxes of tissues, etc.).

And I'm not the only one: my ENTIRE FAMILY is sick - the baby, my husband, my mother; it seems the only one who might've escaped the cold is Petra, but I refuse to count those chickens just yet.

So here I sit, working away whilst sniffling and coughing (actually, it's more like hacking). I can't wait to go home and sleep. Wait, I can't. I have a family to take care of.

Oy.

To Restylane or not to Restylane: that is the question

So, I have these parentheses on either sides of my nose that just seem to get deeper and deeper. I went for an eyebrow wax yesterday and my aesthetician gave me the name of a cosmetic dermatologist, who supposedly, can eliminate those deep lines with a few injections.

I'm seriously considering it....

Your thoughts?

So, apparently you can't do it all.

At least that's what I'm starting to believe. This week I've:

• Been to NY and back in the same day (thus pulling a 16+-hour workday)
• Handled major work crisis
• Had my hair colored and my eyebrows and lip waxed (and at the same time got the name of a good cosmetic dermatologist!)
• Worked another two 10 hour days (putting me just shy of 40 hours in the first three days of the week. Ramping up for yet ANOTHER 60 hour work week)

Here's what I haven't done:

• Spent enough time with my children

Ugh. I got home last night with enough time to feed Petra and get her settled and then snuggle Raya for five minutes before she passed out for the night.

Methinks my priorities might be a bit whacked.

Look at the pretty colors!

Of my MIGRAINE AURA, that is! Ever had one? Um, freaky. Very, very freaky. My aura seemed to appear above and around my right eye and was a rainbow-colored arc with a very jagged edge.
This is the first "aura" I've ever had and hopefully the last. I'm worried that it has something to do with the apparent pinched nerve in my neck....but that hasn't been confirmed. I have a feeling I'll end up in the doctor's office sometime this week (because, you know, I'll fixate on this until I know exactly what caused it) and have myriad tests to confirm that it is indeed nothing.

You are a dancing queen!

Seriously, this is *talent*.

Some pics

Holy Crap! It's been awhile!

...Since I've posted, that is. What with work (did I tell you that I went back?) and the new baby (did I tell you that's she the biggest, baddest baby EVER?) and the firecracker, Petra (did I tell you that she won't wear anything but dresses?), I have no time for anything.

Oh, and of course let's not forget the new season of Big Brother. ;-)

How cute are they?

There is nothing better than snuggling sisters. I absolutely *love* this picture:

Why is it?

... the one time you *really* need your camera, the batteries on the damn device run out? Annoying.

Posting and Crocs

Part I:

I have had *no* desire to post recently. Perhaps it's the new baby, but I'm not entirely sure. I've had the desire to do thousands of other mundane tasks--set-up Raya's bank account, start her 529, do laundry and dishes (and you know how much I hate to do chores)--yet, I haven't been able to bring myself to write. I'll be honest: I haven't much to say and I fear my writing is no longer any good thanks to having far fewer brain cells than before I had the baby.

Anyhoo, I'll do my best, but I can't promise anything.

___

On another note, I am once again obsessed with Crocs; so much so that I purchased a pair of moc-Crocs for the wee one. Really? Don't believe me? Take a look at this photo of the three ladies in their rubbery shoes...

And this one of the baby and her chunky monkey thighs...

Dancing Queen, Part 2

Yes, you will need to turn your head, but I promise it will be worth it!

Dancing Queen

A short video from Petra's first recital

I love Shirley MacLaine

I really do. She's an amazing actress and I love every piece of work I've seen her in, including the not-so-fantastic-except-for-Shirley film, In Her Shoes, the movie about two sisters--played by Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette-- who have some SERIOUS ISSUES.

So the film...let me tell you, the scenes in the adult living community have endeared me to the movie completely. My grandmother lived in the exact sort of place for many, many years; I remember visiting Century Village in Deerfield Beach on almost every school holiday...I feel like my sister and I were there constantly.

Anyhoo, I fell in love with Shirley MacLaine all over again as I watched this movie. I so wished she were my grandmother...not because I didn't love my two, but because I would love to be related to her...to hang out with her...to play gin runny with her. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Do you think she'd adopt me?

don"t try this at home

the one-handed post, ladies and gentlemen. pretty impressive, huh? i have a sleeping infant in the crook of my left arm so i'm limited...but still able to type.

as an update, raya continues to amaze as the best eater in the world! we go back to the doctor on monday so we'll see just how much weight she's gained.
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Petra has a dance recital on the 20th and I promise to take video. I cannot promise however that she'll actually dance...only that she'll be dressed and ready to do so. Remember, I've been to her school recitals before and it's apparent that my child suffers from stage fright in a fierce way.
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Hey, anyone seen SJP's line of clothes, Bitten? Supposedly the line launches at Steve and Barry's (or something like that) later this week. The stuff looks cute (saw it on Oprah) and every piece in the line is $20 or less. Um....how in the hell do you produce cute clothes that cheap? Is the quality crap? Or has she just figured out that she really doesn't need any more money and is sacrificing profit margin just so we can all outfit ourselves like Carrie Bradshaw? Anyone? Anyone? If you buy a piece or two, let me know what you think. I'm always interested in the cute and the cheap.

Raya Laine

Raya's first home video!