Bridgewater Soccer Mom's view of the world

I don't have time to write much this week. We have a lot of plans... today alone I met someone for lunch, went for a long walk with C and 2 of her friends and went to a concert after a barbecue. Yesterday I also started the day with a lunch date and shopping with friends, then seeing other friends. Then C had a couple of friends sleep over... Tomorrow we are looking forward to a family dinner, and on Sunday we are celebrating my niece's confirmation (belated). It has been a wonderful few days but not without a dose of bad luck. T & N hit a deer last night (dented car a bit - I haven't seen how badly, but apparently it's fine to drive), they are OK... the deer isn't. :-( Then C tripped in her flip flops and sliced her big toe. Am hoping it doesn't get infected. Time will show. Have a nice weekend everyone! I'm taking a few days off from the blog, I think. As they say on FB TTYL!

It was a great day. We walked around New York City the entire day, doing just what I wanted. No whining at all! (A present I didn't even think to ask for!) Then we went to dinner with 2 families whom I love. I ordered just what I wanted to eat and even had dessert. Now nearly all the kids are spending the night. It was a great day and when I go to sleep now, it will be after a wonderful evening. I am lucky to have so many people who love me, as I was reminded by phone calls throughout the day - and many facebook messages too. 40 isn't old!

I am about to turn 40. In general I am very grateful. Grateful to have made it this far, mostly unscathed. Grateful to have my husband, children and my wonderful family. Grateful for my countless friends and for the good fortune I've had to be able to travel all over the world. I have so many material things that I wouldn't know where to start.... But on the eve of my 40th birthday I find myself in a rut in which I am mourning what I don't have or can't have instead of basking in the happiness of my good fortune. I'm actually feeling sorry for myself because the one "gift" I want for my birthday got vetoed. And when we brought up for discussion the "what do you want to do tomorrow on your big day" I brainstormed ideas, while I shrugged my shoulders (inwardly) because second best isn't the same. I also was crying today because one of the people closest to me in this world did nothing to note that I am turning 40 tomorrow. She had her kids ...

I had a day to do whatever I wanted (N was returned at 7:30 tonight). I didn't know what to do so I: went for a run with the dog had lunch with my Dad and his best friend at a very snooty club went to a monastery  - bought some goodies from the gift shop (yarn from the monk's sheep, homemade honey, etc.) - this may seem strange, being as I'm not catholic, but my Uncle (an architect) designed it and it has some strong childhood memories - plus it is somewhere I wouldn't bring my kids tried on shoes at Bass while my Dad drank tea went to a winery (tried several wines, I didn't love any of them - a couple were OK) bought sandals at Famous Brand shoes - splurged on a pair that were about twice what I thought I should spend on myself ($40 instead of $20) had dinner with my Dad (Again - splurge: veal marsala, I NEVER have this dish) went grocery shopping (not a splurge) After my sister came over with her kids and my son, I decided the me-me-me day needed to co...

Yesterday my sister surprised me by taking N for a few days. I was caught completely off-guard. He wanted to stay, they wanted him. He didn't want to come to Grandpa's, and this got him away from his mother's nagging, "TURN THAT DS OFF!"... it was really a no-brainer. I get him back on Tuesday. Today I dropped C and her friend at summer camp. It was really beautiful - the people seemed friendly, fun and compassionate. I could have stayed there all day, but C was in more of the "don't let the door hit you in the ..." kind of good-bye mood. So my Dad and I left without much more than a goodbye hug. I am spending 2 days without any kids at my Dad's house. I have almost no idea what to do with myself. Seriously, what do people do who have no kids with all the free time??? I have often imagined what life would be like if I didn't marry or have kids. I sometimes imagine the street I would live on, the kind of job I would have, and even some of ...

Felt like the black cloud is still reigning over my skies. As the work crew continued to dig into my walls, they continued to find more "wrong". Now the hole has moved upward and somehow I am getting a paintjob in the bathroom as well. Oh well. God bless Insurance! I'm out of the BRRSD loop. I understand that there was a meeting on Tuesday that I should have gone to. Apparently Cheryl Dyer was presenting updates to enrichment in the district now that enrichment has been cut from the budget and wants feedback. Wish I had remembered to go. The next presentation/feedback session is sometime later this month. The first one has passed, but you can read about it and participate. See page two . Enrichment feels like the most neglected aspect of the curriculum. It is so teacher dependent. Some teachers enrich just by their presentation of otherwise dry information. They make it relate to students AND expand their horizons. A math lesson can include social sciences. A history ...

Intermittent phone and internet service... Drainage issue with new (1 year old) dishwasher... Major repair of leaky pipe means workers taking over the kitchen all week long... Not a good time for blogging. A/C WORKING (wasn't in June).... keep fingers crossed it holds up in the heat.

I have to admit it - I am not the best volleyball player. I'm not even particularly good. But I like to try. If I were in school I'd get a C in skills, a B in participation (I'm short, so I don't always jump or dive at the right time) and an A in attitude/effort. At the outset I got D's across the board. One of the guys who plays volleyball through the Bridgewater rec department organizes free volleyball games on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Duke Island Park. This week he also set up nets on Tuesday evening, too. We are about 20-25 people who play for about 3 hours. I am always a bit sore at the end. On Tuesday I was more than a little miffed when he divided the courts up, "Men over here, women over there. Later we'll mix it up." Like a Mormon temple! Mixing it up later - pulling a few "better players" from the "girls' net" (where there are also several weaker guy players) and putting them on the "men's net...