This years Drama Club production of “Into The Woods” is over and to say I am relieved would be an understatement. Every year it is a challenge but this year brought hurdles we have never before encountered. There were many moments of “Why am I doing this” and “Never again!”. Then on performance day there was that one moment that makes you stop, hold your breath and wish it would never end. There have been many such moments that are ingrained in my heart from the past 12 years; A student that the year before had only wanted to be on the crew now singing his opening song as the lead in Peter Pan. The student that ran off stage after her curtain call and said “I want to do it again” while giving me a hug. The year that after the cast took their final bow instinctively turned to each other and became one big group hug jumping up and down while screaming with joy and then the year one boy who hated the fact that he had to dance did it for the first time and his fellow cast-mates burst into applause. I have a heart full of amazing moments but this year a moment captured will have a special place in my heart and I am sure get me through 12 more years of “Why am I doing this” and “Never again”

One very sweet girl had auditioned but told us privately that she really did not want a speaking part but wanted to be involved in the show. We made her a Stage Manager for the Cinderella cast. She took her job very seriously and kept meticulous notes. She brought ideas and suggestions to every rehearsal. One day she brought in a bag of her jewelry that she thought would be good for the evil step sisters to wear and even showed me a little drawing she had made of how she thought they should be costumed. She was so happy to be a part of the cast and she was a joy. The day of the show, after the dress rehearsal and before the evening performance,  the kids were having some downtime. Lauren was trouble shooting the microphones. I was making sure the props were put back where they belonged and Lance was practicing the songs on the piano. It was a quiet moment between all the chaos.  I looked out onto the stage and there she was dancing. She was all be herself, lost in the music, center stage twirling and dancing as Lance played. I stopped to watch her and she had a huge smile on her face as she kept on performing her own private dance. I tried to get a few pictures but none of them captured the moment but it really does not matter because the picture of her dancing happily on the stage is forever in my heart.

Last night when I got home after being out of the house for about 12 hours I walked into a mess. It had been a trying day so it would have been very easy to let myself get angry. I didn’t which was surprising for me, Instead I found myself grateful and the chaos even brought a smile to my face. I looked around and this is what I thought…………………

There was bread, a knife and a tomato on the counter. This meant The Thinker had eaten something. He was full and he was happy.

Princess Pissy Pant left her Straightener, or as I like to refer to it “The Reason She Lives”, on the back of the couch. This meant she was felling better and after 2 days of resting her aching back she was out and with friends.

The mail was in a pile on the table. This meant The Saint had not gone through the mail which is a good thing because he has no idea why we get mail and what I do with it. When he does try to sort it he throws away the bills and saves the stuff with pictures on it i.e. Junk Mail.

There was a new book by the coffee machine which meant The Thinker had finished another book and at some point tomorrow I am going to have to hear all about it.

The Television was on and nobody was watching it. I actually like this. I keep the TV on all the time. I like mindless noise.

Jack was sitting on The Thinker’s backpack. I have no idea why he always does this but he does.I think The Thinker purposely leaves the backpack on the table so Jack can sit on it. The Thinker loves Jack and this makes me happy.

The list, and by list I mean the millions of pieces of paper with scribbles on them, of things to do for the play were strewn all over my computer but more things were crossed off than not AND THIS MAKES ME HAPPY and very relieved.

As usual the kitchen floor was dirty but it made me think of all the people I love walking in and out of the house. I love them even if they do not how to stop for one moment and wipe their feet when there is a Monsoon outside.

When I went into the bathroom the plunger was in the sick. This actually did not make me happy but at least I was not home when it was used which means nobody asked me to fix the problem!

The account book was still on the counter from the few moments I had this morning to pay bills. I use The Thinkers toy Playschool calculator ( They spell it Playskool but that makes me crazy). He bought it with his own money when he was 3 and I use it balance the checkbook. This makes paying bills more cheerful and even makes little musical sounds when you hit the keys.

I saw the shopping bag in the corner with the shoes I just bought waiting to be put away. This makes me happy!

The junk drawer was left open (how hard is it to shut a drawer?) and when I went to close it I saw the Stacy’s chips which reminded me we had Olive Tapenade Hummus in the fridge that I am eating right now as I write this.

 

Some days I walk in and all I see is the mess. Occasionally I am blessed enough to walk and see all that I have to be grateful for.

 

 

I woke up at 3:30 this morning in a cold sweat filled with dread. I just laid there and tried to figure out what was wrong. I had a perfect night filled with music, food and friends before I went to bed.Everyone was home safe and sound under one roof so what could possibly be filling me with such a dreadful feeling. I started making a list in my head which most likely was not the best idea so I did what I always do when my head is full of static, I wrote it down.

Maybe I woke with a feeling of dreadful doom because………..

It’s Monday.

I have to wear a bathing suit…..in public.

I am still recovering from seeing Matt Damon in a bejeweled thong in “Behind the Candelabra”.

The Drama Club show is one week away and we are nowhere near ready.

I have to fly in 43 days.

They cancelled “Smash”.

I have to go grocery shopping at some point today and it is the first of the month.

Something is wrong with someone I care about and they are not telling me. I always go to the worse place scenerio.

It’s Jenbration and I wish I could celebrate with her,

My life is most likely more than half over,

There are evil people on the world and really is there a safe place?

I am never going to lose the baby weight.

I only have 2 more boxes of Pumpkin Spice waffles left and they will nor be available again until October.

My shampoo says rinse and repeat and I never repeat. Maybe that is why my hair looks this way?

I ordered a wrap from my favorite sandwich shop to be delivered to school during Book Fair. The delivery guy that scares me because he looks and sounds just like the bad guys in Taken and Taken 2 now knows where I live and work.

What if the Bachelor/Bachelorette never find their Soul Mates?

Did I mention the bathing suit thing?

What if Bell Bottoms make a come back? Eekk!

Will Princess Pissy Pants find a job that makes her happy and help pay for her Student loans?

Are Jakey Boom Boom and Lil Bit really having a vegan wedding cake? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

I still do not know how to do the “Electric Slide”.

What if June 30th comes and goes and nobody remembers my Birthday!?!?

It is now Tuesday and I have the same feeling of dread. What the hell is it?????

The Noise In My Head (and it is filled with the theme from Jaws).

 

 

 

 

 

Did you miss me? I missed you but I really, really missed my laptop. I do not like change and without a doubt I am not an iPad girl. Anyhow……we are reunited again and I could not be happier.

During my laptopless ( it’s a word) days I spent a weekend with my sister Jimi at her house in Conn.  I love visiting her for the obvious reasons but I love being in her house because it is furnished with a lot of my grandparents furniture. You would think that I would be insanely jealous that she has so much of their furniture but it makes me ridiculously happy. If you have ever been to my house you know there is absolutely no room for it. Georjan has some of their outdoor furniture and it would not go in Andi’s house at all so, I am happy that Jimi uses it and I can see it whenever I go to visit her. Each piece brings back memories of comfort but none more than the Grandfather clock. I love that clock. It sat in the little area at the bottom of the staircase in my grandparents house. I loved their house. It was the most magical home filled with all sorts of nooks and crannies. I have never been able to aptly describe how special it was but sometimes at night when I can not sleep I close my eyes and go through the house room by room in my mind and I can still remember every detail, color and piece of furniture in each room. My happiest childhood memories are wrapped up in that house. But the Grandfather clock will always have a place of honor in my heart. It chimes every 15 minutes and you would think that would bother me as I tried to go to sleep but it was the exact opposite, it soothed me to sleep. The chimes were a sweet lullaby. If I woke up during the night I would wait to hear the chimes and they would reassure me that all was well. On special days my Grandfather would take an ornate key from his desk drawer and wind the clock. My sisters and I would stand close by and watch him open the door and carefully perform the task. I loved watching him do it.

After my Grandparents sold the house in New York (I am still not over it) their new house in Conn. did not have room for the clock so it was in my Mom’s house for a few years. Marissa was an infant when they lived in that house and there were many nights I nursed her with only the chimes from the clock keeping me company. When she had colic the only thing that distracted her from her crying were the few seconds the clock chimed. As she grew older she would imitate the sound of the chimes. I think it comforted her as much as it had always comforted me. When my Mom moved to Colorado I feared for my beloved clock and was thrilled when Mom said it would reside at Jimi’s house. Last Saturday I went to visit my sister. We had a lovely dinner and lots of laughs and when I went to bed the Grandfather clock lulled me to sleep just as it has for the last 50 years and I was wrapped up in my grandparents love. I love that clock.

Things I have learned at Book Fair;

 

The student’s money is always crumpled and sticky.

 

In every class there is one student that pays entirely in nickels and pennies.

 

I had to say more than once “There is no crying at Book Fair!”.

 

Every 5th grade boy wants to buy a poster of a Ferrari, not a book.

 

If the student gets 86 cents in change they are going to ask “What can I buy for 86 cents?”.

 

The “Moms” are amazing volunteers.

 

I get excited at the sight of so many books. Sad but true.

 

Pete The Cat and His Groovy Buttons is an awesome book.

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Pablo was with us in spirit. We sold out of Greek Mythology books (his favorite).

 

I can not explain State Tax to an 8 year old and make sense of why he still owes 63 cents to pay for things like snow removal. I kind of understand how they feel.

 

I can eat donuts all day long and still be hungry.

 

When you least expect it the universe can surprise you.

 

I would do it all again……..next year.

 

I would add a picture of Pete the Cat but I still do not know how to add pictures from my iPad.

 

The Noise In My Head (and it is filled with little kids voices saying “Mrs. Cimmino, how much is this? Do I have enough money?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The noise in my head this morning is deafening…………….

Somebody recently told me that if people march to a different drummer than I must march to a full band. I do not think it was a compliment but I liked it!

I did not win the Powerball

My laptop is broken and The Thinker will not let me run out and buy a new one until he has tried everything to fix it. Right now we are waiting on a battery. I hope that does the trick. I miss my laptop and I do not  like the iPad. It feels like I am cheating with a newer, sleeker piece of technology which is just wrong like wearing white after Labor Day or Donald Trump’s hair. I think I see a new post in the future of things I think are wrong. Like socks with sandals.

I can not stop eating.

Today starts week three of Physical Therapy and I am still not wearing cute shoes.

I just read that at The Billboard Music Awards last night Justin Bieber was given a Milestone Award. Really? Isn’t he 12?

. So many people have been throwing me under the bus lately I am thinking of changing my name to Speed Bump.

I do not know how to add an image on the iPad so this post will be picture less.

I do not believe that the celebrities/actresses in the hair color commercials actually color their own hair. I just can not picture JLo sitting at the kitchen table with a ratty t-shirt on while Casper puts the Clairol in her hair, I just do not belive it but I do believe in Santa Claus so go figure.

I just came home and wanted to finish up this post when I turned on the news………..

I am horrified by the images in Oklahoma. The noise in my head is silenced because my heart is praying.

I just want to put all the rumors to rest. I am simply stating the facts.  The truth is The Thinker, all on his own, did present me with a bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day! It is true.  His sister did not shame him into it. His father did not ask him to do it. He just went out and did it all on his own. “Here Mom, these are for you”. Needless to say I was blown away and I really do not remember much of what happened after that because I blacked out. The Thinker bought me flowers. Fact.

Princess Pissy Pants is feeling a little bit under the weather. Nothing major just a little run down from her busy schedule. The following conversation just take place.

PPP: “I think I need fluid’s”.

Me: “Why don’t you have some cranberry juice with a splash of seltzer. It is refreshing”.

PPP: “I really don’t like cranberry juice unless it is mixed with vodka. I don’t like soda either. It needs alcohol”.

My work here is done.

Dear Princess Pissy Pants and Thinker,

I just wanted to take a minute out of my busy, busy day to remind you both that Mother’s Day is one week from today. I would make a list of suitable gifts to acknowledge your love and appreciation for me but as I stated earlier, I am very busy. I have to finish all your laundry, clean the bathroom, shop for groceries, prepare dinner, pay the cell phone bill, car insurance and student loans and change Jack’s litter box (the cat you promised to take care of). And this all takes time because clearly I am still weak from the 40 plus hours of combined labor and 2 C-Sections.  Really, I trust your choices for me.Your gift does not have to be extravagant or unique. I have always taught you both that it is the thought that counts. I just thought that as your Mother I should put the thought into you head. One week. Mother’s Day. Don’t forget!

Love,

Mom.

 

F.Y.I, During the 1600′s my body type (Zaftig, Rubenesque…..you know, PLUMP!) would have been considered the ideal. I would have been a freaking super model, married to a celebrity musician like Arcangelo Corelli and feeding each other grapes in our opulent baroque country house. Is it my fault I was born hundreds of years too late to be appreciated? Gisele and all the other Victoria’s Secret models would have been considered unhealthy and unattractive, So eat a Cadbury Mini Egg and think about that Gisele.