More details will be posted after my baptism through fire subsides. Suffice to say, I've been undergoing what seems to me a Promethean like existence, which has been testing my strength of character and my emotional and psychological fortitude. I'll post about it after this Dantian period is over!

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day!

Posted by: Michele at 09:22 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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And I'd like to:

1. fire a gun or rifle
2. go hunting
3. try ocean surfing
4. ride in a tank
5. ride in an F15
6. go inside 10 Downing St. for tea w/a political staffer
7. get a small tattoo or piercing
8. go to Disney World or Disney Land
9. snowboard (I used to skateboard a lot)
10. Â…Â…?

I've been trying to think of the 10th for the last few days now and have come up blank. IÂ’d welcome any suggestions for things I might consider in order to finish my list. Feel free to share your list via a trackback or in the comments section. [via Poliblog]

Posted by: Michele at 01:20 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 My #10 would be - go to a week spa. Ahhhhhhh.

Posted by: vw bug at May 26, 2005 07:08 AM (V4mW3)

2 Me... Just once - own a car without rust.

Posted by: Harvey at May 26, 2005 11:27 AM (tJfh1)

3 I think you should keep a strangers children for a wekk LOL

Posted by: Katy at May 26, 2005 12:11 PM (4aVl/)

4 my number 10 would be go to spain and run with the bulls I swear I am going to do that before I die. as for your list number one and 2 are great choice any idea what you would like to hunt? Regards GBfan

Posted by: gbfan001 at May 26, 2005 10:18 PM (+ghkI)

5 GBfan - I'm thinking maybe Michael Isikoff :-)

Posted by: Harvey at May 27, 2005 10:35 AM (tJfh1)

6 What or where would you get the piercing, hmm? Inquiring minds and all that.

Posted by: RP at May 27, 2005 02:04 PM (LlPKh)

7 GBfan: I'd hunt Pistons/Red Wing Fans Penseur: I've allways wanted 3 or 4 additional piercings in my left earlobe. As for the tatoo, it would probably be a heart with a scroll (wording on scroll as of yet undecided) with an arrow going through it, placed just above the coccyx. I just haven't been brave enough to do it. Brave as in removing clothing or exposing enough skin for the tatoo artist to work on me. As for taking care of a stranger's children, been there done that!

Posted by: michele at May 27, 2005 11:58 PM (ht2RK)

8 Good thing you haven't fired a gun or rifle...

Posted by: _Jon at May 28, 2005 07:37 AM (E69MM)

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Looking for a job is very much a job in itself. Looking for a job and being a single mom is like having 2 full time jobs. I am IN NEED OF A VACATION!

I'm currently staying at my mom's in Manhattan due to chemical fumes seeping into my own apt from construction in the apt. below. So life will continue to be stressful and posting will be light, as anyone who works or has been in Manhattan can attest, that life here is noisy, over stimulating and energy depleting.

In the mean time, I encourage everyone, AND I MEAN YOU! to go over to Bill Whittle's site of Eject! Eject! Eject for his long awaited essay installments since his hiatus: Sanctuary I and Sanctuary II. Grab you're favorite drink and prepare yourself to have your heart and mind stimulated for an hour or so.

Posted by: Michele at 06:47 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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IÂ’m at peace today. Actually IÂ’ve been that way since last night, which was a good feeling to go to sleep to. IÂ’ve got a To Do list thatÂ’s almost a full typed page, that will take me the remainder of this week to finish. Of all the tasks on that list the one that least appeals to me is the Spring Cleaning of the remaining 3 rooms in the house. Ugh! But motivate myself and trudge on I must, lest I choose to live amongst dust bunnies and cob webs. So, until something terribly interesting happens in my life blogging will be non-personal. IÂ’m sure you all could use a break from my intense writing anyway!

Posted by: Michele at 08:31 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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In my 20's, I always wondered if I was mother material. Kids were adorable and I enjoyed being around them, but I had goals, plans and a timetable to keep to, and raising good children came at the end of those plans.

It came at the end, because I knew that I would never willingly divide my time between career and motherhood. If I had to choose between the two, motherhood always won out.

In fact I had always planned on being home during the first 5 or 6 years of their life, and maybe, if I was really lucky, home school them through 3rd grade. Unfortunately, life has a way of making adjustments to life plans, without regard for timetables or goals. The blessing is that I did have the child, but with him came a whole new way of looking at this great big world we lived in.

Being a mom has been the hardest job I have ever had, but it's also the toughest job I've ever loved. In the role of mom I wear the subsidiary hats of domestic engineer, nurse, advisor, teacher, nutritionist, behavioral specialist, and travel companion, sometimes all in one day.

There are good and easy days, just as there are tough and bad days. The good days are marked with smiles, laughter, hugs and kisses, while the bad days are ones with frowns, tears, and sad faces.

What makes it all worthwile? The compensation! My compensation today is the smiles, laughter, hugs and kisses I receive when his life is good and happy. For they are what motivate me, when the tears and frowns appear; and they are my reward and incentive, when I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing.

The demands are great. The responsibilities many, and in the process of it all, I discovered that I'm more than equal for this job, and that I would not change a thing, even for all the gold and tea in China.

It turns out I am not unique. That's the thing about motherhood, it puts our roles and lives in perspective. One remarkable woman who is already exhibiting the wonderous and life altering change of creating life is Right Thinking Girl. I wish her and Z all the best and will continue to pray for all 3.

Posted by: Michele at 12:05 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Have spent the day doing what I love mostÂ…writing.

Writing thank you letters to interviewers, those that passed along my resume and those who simply talked with me when I called. I have written motherÂ’s day cards to all the mothers I know; a get well card for my former boss and former office mate.

I have also responded to emails, written briefly in all my 5 journals, and have made some concrete plans on what on earth IÂ’m going to with myself and with my son this summer; especially when heÂ’s out of school at the end of June and end of August. I almost ran out of things to work on with him during spring break and I donÂ’t want a repeat of that.

My son and I love trains so weÂ’ll probably do a couple of those trips, in addition to the beach. We get newsletters from train museums far and wide so that we can plan train trips to special train exhibits. Last year we went as far as New Hampshire for a special historic train ride. It was fun, but the dual role of pack mule and mommy, really tired me out.

Cuddlebunny has already put in for 2 additional trips for his birthday present: a monster truck exhibition in Long Island and a NASCAR race in Pennsylvania. When he said this my mouth dropped open and I said to him, “who are you? and where have you put my son.” As I looked in his eyes (forehead to forehead) and searched in his ears and behind his back, he just giggled. When I asked him if he was serious about this he went on to give me 20 minutes worth of reasons why we should go. It ended with his famous: “Okay mommy?” Sigh! “I’ll look into it,” was all I could say. He’s such a good kid it’s hard to say no without a really good valid reason.

Monster trucks? NASCAR races? Where does he get this stuff? Sigh. ItÂ’s at times like these that my eyes go up to the ceiling and I internally wonder why I didnÂ’t have a girl. I like race cars but to watch 30 cars go 200 laps in an elliptical circle is just a bit too much for me to watch. I like his toy trucks, but the thought of sitting there and watching a truck with huge tires crush junk carsÂ…well, its just not exciting to me. But I love him, soÂ…. IÂ’ll look into it and IÂ’ll pray that none of the dates are good for us.

So yesterday afternoon, in the hopes of getting him interested in some my favorite sports, we went to Chelsea Piers Sporting Center to watch a local hockey league game. When we got there we discovered we had lucked out. There were was a visiting Russian Team that was practicing. Boy was it exciting! I hadnÂ’t realized how much I was missing hockey until about 20 min into the practice session. Curses on the NHL for the lockout!

Happily my son got into it, but the game was so fast paced he had problems seeing what was happening. I realized in the process that I was anticipating the plays because IÂ’m familiar with the game. IÂ’m keeping my fingers crossed that IÂ’ll be able to steer him away from Monster trucks and towards hockey. Otherwise I fear that wrestling will be my next fate. ThatÂ’s where I draw the lineÂ…. thatÂ’s a pseudo sport I really hate!

BTW, writing of kids, if you like kids and haven't checked out the Karnival of Kidz you should. Kids make the best photo subjects and some of these pics are pretty funny.

Posted by: Michele at 02:52 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Trains? I'm in so much trouble as they just put in a Train Museum about 2 1/2 hours away from us. That is where we went and saw Thomas the Tank Engine. If you head down to Florida, let me know!

Posted by: vw bug at May 02, 2005 04:47 PM (lv6eM)

2 If you ever get close to Green Bay Wis they have a wonderful train museum. and come on Nascar isnt so bad though I am right with you on the whole monster truck thing and I am an educated redneck and I cant stand monster trucks lol. Regards GBfan

Posted by: gbfan001 at May 02, 2005 11:34 PM (UL3Xk)

3 GB, I do love race cars, in college I spent many a weekend with my best friend and her boyfriend working on his race car and learning about cars. But instead of paying and sitting in bleacher seats I'd rather watch them on TV where you get the racecar cam and can pretend you inside the car as opposed to outside. It's the only way I'll reach close to 200mph.

Posted by: michele at May 03, 2005 07:14 AM (ht2RK)

4 Still keeping my fingers crossed for you on the interview front, which makes it hard to type my comment!

Posted by: RP at May 03, 2005 07:57 AM (LlPKh)

5 Not that I'm a wrestling fan, but in their defense, at least they keep themselves physically fit. There are WORSE role models :-)

Posted by: Harvey at May 03, 2005 10:30 AM (tJfh1)

6 I'm not much for the wrestling. But it can be entertaining if you watch it with someone who can fill you in on the "inside scoop". It's a soap opera with big (not-so) dumb hunks. Why *wouldn't* chicks dig it? I used to watch nascar before it was popular. I still have a race / show car in the garage and plan to drive it this year. At least once. To another garage. But I may have to have it towed. I haven't started it in two years. Can't afford the fuel. The race itself is rather boring. Usually very hot. Very loud. Oh, and there are a lot of *PEOPLE*. (certain expletive deleted) Monster truck - LOUD. Put that in 96 point font. Yep, I've been around them too. Stood in their tires. The wheels are over 6' inside diameter. Did I mention they are loud? Most around here are indoors. Even louder. No, really - they are LOOOOUUUUDDDD!!!! Take a train ride to Chicago. I'll get on in Dearborn, we can pick up Machelle a little west of here and meet some more BEF Family in Chicago.

Posted by: _Jon at May 03, 2005 12:13 PM (uHRYR)

7 My son read this over my shoulder and asked if we could go with Jon's plan to Chicago. When I told it would be a 19 hour train trip, he responded, "if the train goes at 350mph and only stops for Jon we can get there sooner." Sigh! It's always so simple and uncomplicated in there world. I don't know. 19 hours is a long time to be in a capsule with a 5 yr old. I'd have to really think about this. I really would love meeting everyone though.

Posted by: michele at May 04, 2005 07:01 PM (ht2RK)

8 Your a Hockey Fan?!! I didn't know! I knew there was a reason I like you.

Posted by: Machelle at May 05, 2005 04:47 PM (ZAyoW)

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