December 8

On Saturday, December 8, 2001, my life changed forever. I gave birth to my daughter. She has many names. Her given name, of course. Banana, Booger, Sugar, Sugardy Boogerdy Boo, there are many. She is such a kind soul. She has warm chocolate brown eyes and an infectious laugh that comes from deep in her belly, and she is, quite simply, incredible. Funny, oh my goodness is she funny. She makes me smile every single day. I can, occassionallly, see glimpses of the woman she is bound to become. I can't wait to help you along on your journey. But not just yet, okay...I'm quite enjoying you at this age.

Happy Birthday, my love.

Effing Flu

There are few things worse than holding your seven year old daughter's hair out of her face while she throws up in a bucket situated in her lap.

Question of the day: when suffering from the stomach flu, why on EARTH do you always throw up all night long instead of all day long?

Some Chernobyl strength stomach flu has wrecked full out havoc in the Snob Family this week. Me, Mr. Snob, Booger, my mom, sister, brother-in-law all contracted this from my niece who we were in the same house with on Sunday for approximately 4 hours. Nasty little bug, I'm telling you.

Love is...

Love is the first person you want to tell when something good happens.
Love is someone who never complains when you steal all the blankets.
Love is making your daughter laugh until she cries.
Love is the one who laughs at your jokes, even when they aren't funny.
Love is being married for almost nine years and still feeling like a newlywed.
Love is working overtime so your spouse can go back to school.
Love is never complaining about having your household income cut in half.
Love is surviving open heart surgery.
Love is putting up with me, an undeniably impossible job.

Love is being married to my best friend.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I'm a living commercial

Student ID no charge
Parking Pass $20.00
Tuition $915.00
Textbooks $454.97
Assorted supplies $12.00
The feeling of finally getting on with getting a college degree: PRICELESS

I can't tell you how excited I am to start school. I can tell you that it is simply a travesty that textbooks cost more than half as much as tuition. MORE THAN HALF. What a ripoff. I begin class this week. Anatomy & Physiology (and lab) Saturday 8:00A.M. - 2:50 P.M. General Psychology Sunday 6:30 P.M. - 9:50 P.M.

I have an appointment in a few weeks to see if I can get some cash from the county for education as I am considered a "displaced worker." Basically, the office of unemployment has grant money that I may qualify for to educate me in a different field since I haven't found work comparable to the job I lost last May. I am just happy there might be money out there for me. You know? I have to speak to the financial aid office on campus, but the line was too long today. Generally, I wouldn't qualify for federal aid as my 2007 income will show my job up until May, then my severance and my unemployment. Sadly, that's all run out....so I need some "special circumstance" form or something. Whatever, please just help me pay!!!

This fresh start is exactly what I need. I feel better already. Of course that could be the steroid injection I received at the doctor's office this morning. I've been experiencing some strange leg pain that may or may not be related to a back/nerve/voodoo doll issue. Whatever. With the steroid injection, I would imagine I could get a job on a baseball team, so there's another option!

I haven't said much about R and Life, v. 2.0 lately. He's pretty much healed and running regularly on the treadmill - outside if it's tolerable. His blood pressure is still a bit high, so they've been playing with dosages on the buffet of meds he takes. His pain comes and goes. He tells me that he can feel the nerves reconnecting or something in his chest. Like little shocks every now and then. He has some numbness near his adam's apple region, but that's kind of it. He is embarrassed by his scars, but I think they are sexy. And believe me, whenever I have a rough day, I can glance at his scars and remember that guess what? THOSE were bad days. This current day that I'm in? Suddenly not so bad.

I feel like I'm coming out of my fog. I think I just needed a good kick in the ass. A birthday, a new year, and a fresh start in college seem to be just that kick.

I hope you are all well. How are your resolutions coming? I'm working on my official list. Haven't finalized it just yet.

Christmas cards

I'm still designing my Christmas cards. I'm making them instead of buying. The one problem is the working on the inside. None of my stamp sets have decent inside wording. They are all simply "happy holidays" or "have a merry Christmas."

This year, especially, I wanted to do something a little more personal. I am really not a fan of the Christmas letter, it just seems arrogant to me. But this year, of all years, needed something more. We survived this year. We are stronger and better and much more aware of how incredibly lucky we are to have this life together.

I pre-printed blank cards on the computer and will be designing/decorating the fronts. The inside will say this:

This year, we celebrate the peace and joy of Christmas with extra gratitude for those we hold dear. We look ahead with renewed faith and hope. Have a wonderfully Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Love, The Snob Family

(Act surprised when you receive it)

Lots to tell you about, friends. This weekend we celebrated Booger's sixth birthday. I'm still recovering from a weekend full of go go go but can't wait to tell you about it. I used to laugh when people complained about time flying. But, holy crap. She's 6!

Time flies

A year ago today, we lost a great family friend to cancer. He was one of the best men that I've ever met and am honored to be his son's God Mother. He never failed to make me smile and he always had a joke to tell. He was naturally funny and warm and kind and I still miss him like crazy.

It is tradition for us to gather on the anniversary of a loved one's death. We pray for them, for ourselves, and we sit around telling stories of our loved ones. It's a wonderful tradition and I am really looking forward to it. While I miss Uncle Manny so much, he loved any sort of gathering. If there was food, drink, music and laughs - he was always in the center of it. And, man, he could play the piano like no one I know....and I know some kick ass pianists. He would play for hours, singing, making up his own lyrics, telling jokes through the songs. Oh man it was great.

I miss you Uncle Manny. I will continue to do my best to support your son (and your daughters). Please continue to look down on us and offer any help that you see fit. Rest easy, though, for you will never be forgotten.

Happy Birthday

One of my pseud0 nieces turns 18 today. 18 is such a happy birthday. She's struggling with having a great birthday, though, as her mom has cancer and just got out of the hospital after having surgery to remove it. For the past 3 months, my niece has had to watch her mom go through chemo & radiation, help her younger sister with her school work, and manage the household responsibilities so her dad could help her mom. She has really taken her family and the responsibilities of it and carried them around with her, all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. A bunch of us are going to bring over dinner and try to make her smile today. I hope she knows how proud we all are of her. She is a wonderful person and thinks of everyone else before herself. If anyone deserves a great birthday, it's her.

Happy Birthday, Jho Marie.

Eight

Eight years ago today I married my best friend. I don't think I realized how rare that is. How few people that actually happens to. This year, there is just too much to say. I can't seem to summon the words to express how important R and his love for me is.

We have a tradition on our anniversary to get cake from the bakery who made our wedding cake. I have my own tradition of pulling out our wedding program and re-reading it. I do not ever finish it without tears in my eyes. Our program was a book, really. With all the song titles, wedding party details that you typically see. In addition, ours had all the readings, prayers, etc. written out for those in attendance to follow along. I do not often flaunt my faith or religion....but today, because I am struggling for the words....I'm going to copy down the final blessing the Priest read at our wedding. For whatever reason, it is very prophetic this year. How lucky we are, indeed.

May almighty God, with his word of blessing, unite your hearts in the never ending bond of pure love.

May your children bring you happiness, and may your generous love for them be returned to you, many times over.

May the peace of Christ live always in your hearts and in your home. May you have true friends to stand by you, both in joy and in sorrow. May you be ready and willing to help and comfort all who come to you in need. And may the blessings promised to the compassionate be yours in abundance.

May you find happiness and satisfaction in your work. May daily problems never cause you undue anxiety, nor the desire for earthly possessions dominate your lives. But may your hearts' first desire be always the good things waiting for you in the life of heaven.

May the Lord bless you with many happy years together, so that you may enjoy the rewards of a good life. And after you have served him loyally in his kingdom on Earth, may he welcome you to his kingdom in heaven.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.