Years ago when my family lived in Bishop, California I began to think about career choices for myself. Nursing was one possibility. Knowing close to nothing about its implications I became a “candy striper” for the local area hospital.

 

I didn’t take me long to figure out that nursing was not the profession for me. The sight, smell, heck even the THOUGHT of another humans body fluids grossed me out. So much so that I nearly unveiled some body fluids of my own to go along with theirs! No sense letting my patients have all the fun. “Nope,” I thought, forget nursing. "I’ll be a MOMMY". Little did I know then that there is little difference between the nursing profession and being a parent; especially in the body fluids department.

 

Diapers I can handle, even the really disgusting ones. It’s the unexpected eruptions and unexplained occurrences that freak me out. This is precisely what happened this weekend. When you increase the size of your family from 4 to 7 the likelihood of unexpected eruptions and unexplained occurrences increase exponentially.

 

I won’t go into detail, lest you feel the same as I regarding body functions and fluids. Suffice to say that Bella’s head was spinning ala Linda Blair all day Saturday and Seannie had a nose bleed that sent me into hysterics. This is where Daddy shines. I’m VERY good at the day to day operation of the home and routine. Throw in a head spinning vomit monkey or a gusher of a nose bleed and I run screaming out the door.

 

Without Daddy here to control the scene we would have escalated to National Emergency status in no time.

 

Ah well can’t be good at everything.

Mama and Bella had a “get away weekend”. Daddy and the boys sent them to Santa Barbara for rest and relaxation. Not just any old place in SB. The best SB has to offer.

The accommodations were clean, quiet and beautiful. The food was delicious and the conversation both enchanting and entertaining.

 

Mama was pampered and preened over. She wasn’t allowed to cook or clean-up a thing. After a delicious dinner at the “Outback Steakhouse” (which the hostess insisted on paying for) Mama was given royal treatment with a footbath and pedicure.

A crib with the finest linens was available for Bella. She was spoiled and cooed over; an abundance of delightful toys at her disposal.

 

The establishment is one we frequented often when we were finalizing the details of Seannie’s adoption and awaiting his birth. Even at that time the hospitality was unequaled. Babysitting and laundry services were offered, as well as encouragement and support. We began to see it as our “home away from home”.  Peterson Posse North. After Sean’s release from the hospital we would return from time to time. We missed the love, warmth and fun we had come to enjoy immensely.

 

It was with eager anticipation Bella and I arrived Saturday morning. It was with a heavy heart we left on Sunday. I would love to share with you the details of “The Best Santa Barbara has to Offer”, to give you the phone number, address and directions. But I’m afraid that information is private, inscribed deep within the recesses of my heart.

 

To my dear sister and her wonderful family…..Thank you. For making me feel like I never left home. For always welcoming me back and for reminding me what it feels like to be babied.

 

All my love forever,

Cyn

 

Guardian angels, watching

over our Bella. 

 

 

 

Oh boohoo Nebraska! We are freezing here in Cali! Batten down the hatches we are on “Storm Watch 2007” Temps expected to get below 70 degrees…Good news for you surfers, water temperatures stay consistent, no matter how much the air temp dips.

 

Hurricane speed winds expected…Huh? What does THAT mean? Are we supposed to buy those window thingys so the glass doesn’t break? Should we dig a storm shelter? Auntie Em, Uncle Henry…it’s a twister, it’s a twister!!!!

 

Are we permitted to use our earthquake supplies during a winter storm? Is ice skating on our pool legal? Can we charge admission and open our own rink? Do people in southern California know HOW to ice skate?

 

What about driving skills? Do we know how to manage a moving vehicle if we hit an ice slick? What is an ice slick? It sounds like something you can purchase at Cold Stone Creamery to me.

 

My teenager doesn’t even own a pair of long pants, how will he survive the freeze?

 

Does this mean I can’t make sun tea? Is the beach off limits? What do I do if I can see my breath, am I dying? Is it against the rules to use the bbq below 85 degrees?

 

Does hairspray hold up under such barbaric conditions? How do you get from the house to the car without your hair getting mussed or your comb-over waving at the neighbors?

 

 

Help us Nebraska….we don’t know what to do!

 

 

 

 

One of the other writers at Bellonline.com wrote a story on the health benefits of blogging. I found it interesting, particularly what she said about courage. Blogging, she said, takes courage because you are laying bare your innermost thoughts for others to view, ponder and judge.

 

I’m not sure I agree. Although I am writing what I think, my blogs have never been my deepest innermost thoughts. Those I don’t share. I’ve never felt close enough to anyone to tell them what is REALLY going on in my head.

 

I write simply to free the mundane thoughts that I have. It gives me an opportunity to visit my feelings, acknowledge them…and let them go. This post is probably as close as I have ever gotten to letting anyone know the REAL me.

 

Mostly I think about time. How can it be used most effectively? What can be done with it to benefit mankind? How much do I have left? What is the most efficient distribution of my time? How are so many people able to just “be” and waste so much time? How come people take time for granted? Why does time seem to pass more quickly as you age? Is it really possible to “make” time? What about “sharing” time? How much time is spent cleaning up after people who don’t even notice? How come I never have enough time?

 

Is it courageous to admit that? Maybe, if you are worried about what people think. But I’m not worried about what people think. I’m worried about time, and how little of it I seem to have to do the things I need to do. I worry about how much I have wasted. What would I change about my life and my choices if I could? How could I have made better use of the time that God has given me? What should I do with the time I have left?

 

Well, one thing is for sure. The next 20 or so years are spoken for by my children. After that the possibilities are wide open