Good Life!

We're young enough to say

Oh this has gotta be the good life

This has gotta be the good life

This could really be a good life, good life

Wow, life seems to be flying by in a blink of an eye. I have now been in Michigan for just over 14 months, I have been in my house for 8 months. None of that seems possible, yet I feel like I have lived a lifetime in this state, a good lifetime.

The past month has been fun. I spent Bonnie's birthday/St. Patrick's Day with her and some good friends out on the town watching the begingin of March Madness. We acted a fool sometimes while out, but it was a good time, and just what I needed that week. It is begining to be Relay season which means the stress is starting to hit. So having nights like this are well worth it.

Otis turned two this month. Amanda threw a popcorn party for him. He is big, talking and constantly asking for "ca-corn." So he loved that. The house was a disaster, but all that means was that it was fun. It is hard to believe that he is two, until the tantrums start. He is usually a pretty happy boy, but he does have those two year old tantrums. Here are some pictures of the party.

And to finish off a great month; Amanda came over on Saturday of last weekend and helped me get some things done around the house. We had originally planned on cleaning my gutters, but the weather was freezing cold and the ladder we needed was larger than the truck we had to get it over here. So that plan was quashed. We mainly focused on indoor activites. We went through some items that my father brought here at Christmast time from the house in Maine. We picked up some pavers and firewood from Jane Stevenson. The last and most fantastic thing we accomplished (drum roll please...) Amanda made my curtians for the living room. She spent a good chunk of the day running around time getting supplies for the curtains, but we got them done and they look great. Pictures to follow soon I promise. This is a great thing because the large, main window in the living room looks directly out at a well used bus stop. So having a curtain in there is great.
In trade I took all three of the boys on Sunday for about 5 hours so Amanda and Matt could have a few hours alone in the house to move some furniture around. I took the boys to impression 5 ( a local children's museam). We ran around there for about an hour. Then the weather has warmed up enough that I took them to a playground (fully fenced in) so they could REALLY run around. Finally, we all came back to my house for a dinner of pizza. They had a good time and were wipped when the day was done.

This weekend as also been a good one. The Grieshops are out of town and my roommate had to leave unexpectedly for Miami today. So I have the house to myself, I kind of like it. I have gotten a lot accomplished, cleaned, online stuff, paid bills etc. I got onto Amanda's blog today and read what she had written about the past month. Our lives intertwine so much, yet each of our takes are so different. In her blog she spoke about a mother blessing that she held for a friend. She linked that friend's blog also speaking about the mother blessing. Her friend said such amazing things about my sister. They were all things I already knew, but hearing someone else, not her family, say these amazing things made me so proud. Proud to call her my sister, proud to be related to her, proud to know her.

I truely am lucky, I know that my life might not be perfect. I know that there are things that I can complain about, things that I would like to be different. Everybody has those. But over all I am incredibly lucky. I love my life, my family, my friends and my house. I have a great job that fulfills me and supports me. I don't think I could ask for much more. Just when I was feeling happy and lucky I came across a song that described my feeling perfectly. It made me smile and has quickly become my go to song. You know, the song you put on when you are having a bad day because you just know it will make you feel better; the song that makes you want to dance and move the second you turn it on; the song that you could hear over and over again and never get sick of it. The song that makes you feel like you have a Good Life.

Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out

Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now

We all got our stories but please tell me

What there is to complain about

When you're happy like a fool

Let it take you over

When everything is out

You gotta take it in

Oh this has gotta be the good life

This has gotta be the good life

This could really be a good life, good life

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight

Like this city is on fire tonight

This could really be a good life

A good, good life



Snow Days!

I haven't had a snow day in years; since high school or maybe college. Had I stayed in Maine I would have had plenty this year, I think they have about 6 feet of snow (no joke). Here in Michigan, we had been having, what people called, "a pretty mild winter." That is until yesterday.

On Monday the news started reporting the snowpocolypse of 2011. They were saying 16-20 inches of snow would fall from Tuesday around 5pm til Wednesday (today) at 7pm. The city went nuts, schools were closing by 3pm, ACS had closed by 3pm. That is when the gittiness started, the "I don't have school tomorrow" excited feeling that I used to get as a school aged child came. I knew that I would work from home some.. in my pj's. So that night my roommate, Bonnie, and I decided to have some friends over for "the storm." Kristen, a co-worker/friend and Adam a friend came over for the night. We had pizza, played board games and just hung out. It was nice, I felt a little like a teenager again.

This morning I woke up to the smell of french toast and egg and cheese sandwiches. After breakfast we all buckled down and worked some; Bonnie, Kristen and I worked on ACS stuff, while Adam studied for the bar.

Bonnie made snow angles

 But don't worry we were not all work and no play, we also had some fun outside in the snow.


I shoveled!





Adam started snow fights.



Kristen looked cute:)

All in all it was a great snow day!

'Tis the season!

Well, 'tis the season for friends, family and a whole lot of stress. In case you couldn't tell by how long it has been since I last posted, things have been a bit busy around here.

I had enough time in my vacation bank at work to take the week of Thanksgiving and most of the month  of December off. Here I thought that meant plenty of time to relax and live stress free....what was I thinking? Of course, most of the stress was brought on by me. I figured with most of the December off I would get bored just staying here in Lansing, so I booked a flight to Maine. I wanted to see everyone who I left almost exactly a year ago. The trip was anything but relaxing. I never slept in one bed for longer than 2 days. I went from being in Mass visitng my Massachusetts family to staying with Emily, Robbie, Elijah and new baby Alex, to staying with my Dad and then heading to PA to visit my Grandmother.

Baby and  Momma

It was great to finally get to meet Alex and see what a great mother Emily is. I always knew she would be fantastic at raising her children, and she has done a great job with Elijah, but watching her motherly instinct take over with Alex was beautiful.

                                                      Big Brother and Little Brother!

I rented a car and was able to head down to The American Cancer Society's Tophsam Maine office... (my old office) and "work" for a day. It was a little surreal, awkward and fun all at the same time. Hard to explain, at times it felt like old times, others I felt a little out of the loop, but then it also felt great to see everyone again. I don't think I will ever "work" from that office again, but meeting everyone for lunch will always be a definate. I went to my old apartment building, met my old neighbor for dinner. That was just like old times, sitting in Bethany's apartment just chatting.

A bunch of family friends came by for a huge dinner. I think we had like 10-12 people around my father's dinning room table. I am not sure that many people had ever been around that table. There was hardly room to eat. But it was a fun evening. I got to see them all again, they got to meet Jen, and I was able to experience the art of Jack Pelzer and his story telling...that never gets old. For you who have never met Jack, I could not begin to help you understand how hilarious, detailed and great Jack's stories are, but trust me they are an experience. For you that know Jack....well, you FULLY understand.

Shorly after that my father, Jen and I packed up the van and drove to PA to stay with my grandmother for what was supposed to be 2 full days. Due to weather we had to leave a day early... and I can't say that made me sad. At this point I was very ready to be back in my own house, my own bed and my own town... back home! Grammy came up to Lansing with us for... THE WEDDING!

Yes, that is right. My father's wedding took place on 12/18/2010. To make things easier for Amanda and the boys Dad and Jen had the wedding here in Lansing. Actually, they had it in my sister's house.

It was a quick but beautiful ceremony, in the family room. The Christmas decorations made it that much more beautiful. Amanda and I tried to give them a "traditional" wedding on a much smaller scale, since there was only 9 of us counting the boys and Grammy in attendance. Sam and Arlo were ring bearers, Amanda took photos and the rest of looked on. It was emotional and funny... especially when Jen threw her flowers at me... thank goodness for quick reactions or she might have taken an eye out.

Amanda, Matt and I bought some small fingers foods and a smaller version of a wedding cake. Even though it was a second marriage for both and in a living room, we wanted some of the traditions.

As a wedding gift Amanda and I decided to send Dad and Jen to a nice, local, bed and breakfast for their wedding night. We felt that they couldn't get married and then go upstairs to sleep with a 6, 4, and 22 month old running around downstairs. They needed something special.

Of course we couldn't let them drive off without the world knowing they were Just Married...Again!

Dad, Jen and Grammy were here in Lansing about week before the wedding. This was great because Amanda and I were able to get to know Jen. We hadn't been able to spend that much time with her before that. This was also the first time I had family stay with me at my house. My grandmother stayed here. Let's just say, it was a hard adjustment for me. I am not used to having a seven day house guest. Most of our time was spent at Amanda's it was pretty much just nights right before bed, and mornings before we left for Amanda's here.

So my family has left and now it is time to get Christmas celebrating underway. My house is all decorated, fudge is made, presents are wrapped. I think I am finally getting into the holiday spirit. I will post pictures of the house decorated soon. I promise! I just need to take them.

Amanda's in-laws have come into town and will be here through the Holiday. I have (with Amanda's encouragment) decided to throw a New Year's Eve party. She thought a kid-free New Year's party would be fun, and since she can't throw one, she asked me to. This should be fun.

Then about a day after that my roommate returns. We haven't seen eachother in about 6 weeks. Although, it has been nice to have the place to myself, I have missed her and it will be nice to have her back. Once she returns my reality returns.

Work is back to it's normal schedule and with it being January, Kickoff month, team captain meetings will be starting and in a blink of an eye it will be event time. So I am trying to soak in this "down time" while I have it. I have few organizational things I want to take care of here at the house and see Amanda, Matt and the boys as much as I can.



I hope all of you are enjoying this Holiday Season and the family time that comes with it!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Friendship?!

Over the last few months I have been thinking a lot about this subject. Friendship is an amazing, confusing, frustrating and wonderful thing.

When you are young your friends are those who have a toy you want to play with, those who live within walking distance, like the same types of candy or whose parents are willing to babysit. When you are a child a lot of your friends are chosen by your parents. If your parents like their parents an instant friendship is made.

At elementary age you are geting older and you start finding things you enjoy doing. You haven't fully learned yet how to multi-task or schedule your time between multiple things so you (in a way) become obessed with that one thing. From there your friends seem to be those who are also obessed with that one thing. For me it was sports, softball and basketball to be more specific. I found those friends who would carry me through late elementary years, junior high and into high school.

Ahh, high school, the scary, self-conscious, and just out right confusing time of your life. Here you are just begining to figure out who you are, and what you like. This is a time in your life when you are torn between your past and your future.

Your past: those friends who have been with since your parents made your play dates, those friends who also were obessed with that one thing. You still care for the person and the memories, but your likes are starting to take different paths. You start to become torn between the memories and the future ahead.

Your future: those friends who seem to fully understand the person you are starting to become, they understand what you are going through and can listen to your inner most thoughts and not judge you. These are the friends that you see in your future, sitting next to you at graduation, waking up early to say good-bye in your driveway as you drive off to college, visit you at your school in between breaks, and stand next to you at your wedding. These friends share your fears about growing up, and moving on to college.

College comes, right on time, yet too quickly. You are more than ready to "grow up", but not ready to leave those friends you found in high school. You are embarking on a new adventure, new life, new you. You think you know exactly who you are when you enter college. But what you don't know is that college is the place where you finally become loving of and confindent in who you are. College is where you know what you like, what you don't, who you enjoy spending time with and who you don't. You understand that not everyone has to be your friend, that you don't have to like everyone and they don't have to like you... all of this is okay! Here you become more picky about who you spend your time with. You now don't just want them to understand you, you want them to fully get you. They say in college you make "lifetime" friends. I think this is because you have finally learned what to look for in a "friend soul-mate." Much like dating, throughout the years you have learned what works for you and what doesn't, what you need and want in a friend. In college is where you start in impart that wisdom.

Graduation comes and adulthood looms. By now it is harder to make friends. It seems like everyone has their life, has their friends, their circle. In years past everyone was walking that line... that line that leads to adulthood. Lines are easy to intersect and make friends, circles - not so much. But they are still there, those few people who fully get you. It is in adulthood that you learn some friends are meant to come and go, and some will always be around. This is the time of your life when you learn who your true friends really are.

Friendship is it's own kind of love.

Family is chosen for you. You have an unconditional love for them, you take them for granted b/c you know, no matter what they will always be there for you.

Partner/Spouse is a love that never fades, it is always there in someway. You chose this person partly because nature tells you to, because pharamones tell you that you would mate well together. You see a future, a life with them. But you are slightly hesitant because you know this love can diminish, it is a bond brought one slightly by circumstance and slightly by timing. Distance can effect it, time not speaking can effect it.

Friendship is it's own kind of love.

Short friendships exisit throughout your life. You love these people and just because the friendships are short does not mean they were any less valuable. Some people are meant to stay in your life for a short period of time. You needed them when they came into your life (for whatever reason) and you slowly gained your love, appreciation, and knowledge from them.. Then it was time to move on and share all of that somewhere else/with someone else. This is okay, this is the cylce of friendship.

Then there is the lifetime "soul-mate" friendships. You chose this person. You continued to keep them in your life no matter what life throws at you. Distance doesn't fade it. You can go from talking everyday to once every one or two months, but it is like no time at all has passed, you pick up right where you left off. This person is like a family member you have chosen. But in ways it is a healthier relationship. There is no taking this person for granted because deep down you know that they don't HAVE to stick around, but the love seems unconditional. These people are meant to be with you forever. You continue to need them, to lean on them, to learn from them. These people are your true soul-mates!

This is not all exact, people can cross lines, be your lifetime soul-mates, but also your family. That is what friendships is, confusing, frustrating, exhilerating and amazing!

I have been lucky, I have those friends that I have carried with me since elementary, junior high, high school, college and adult life. I have family that I consider great friends. I have those friends I am no longer close with, but with age have been able to reflect on those friendships and fully realize what they taught me.
Different people/friends seem to come into your life and leave your life just at the right times. This seems like it must be choreographed in someway, but it is just the cycle of FRIENDSHIP!

The C word!

So as many of you know I work for the American Cancer Society. I hear the word CANCER on a daily basis. I hear stories of loved ones being diagnosed, loved ones battling, loved ones winning and loved ones losing on a daily basis. I see amazing and beautiful people who give hours upon hours to Fight Back against this disease on a daily basis. I have to tell myself on a daily basis that everything we are doing is working, that HOPE is prevailing.  I dig deep and access my HOPE on a daily basis.

But non of this makes it any eaiser to hear that someone you know and love has been diagnosed with cancer, yet along two people. By hitting one person, this diesease touches many, many towns, many cities, many states, many continents, many people!

What saddens me is that this small 5 letter word has the power to take so much. It takes time, tears, worries, moments, and worst of all HOPE.  Two wonderful people in my life have been hit by this recently. This little word is trying to take my HOPE. A HOPE that I have spent years building, a HOPE that took many stories, that took me meeting many survivors to build.

I will not let this happen. My HOPE is stronger than it has ever been. I am making a vow now, I will not lose my HOPE! I will not let this small word take my worries, my moments! Cancer will NOT hold power in my life.

Cancer, YOU SUCK! This is MY time, MY HOPE and you CANNOT have ANY of it! So why don't you MAKE LIKE A TREE AND LEAVE! 

"We all have the potential to get cancer, and we all have the potential to help cure it." ~This was given to me by a wonderful, beautiful friend and co-worker.

Shingles + exhaustion = Contemplation

Yes it is true, I have come down with an illness that mainly 60 year olds get. Now I haven't really felt sick, the painfulness that everyone speaks of isn't really there either. It is not all over my body, just in one small spot, but the exhaustion is something close to mono. Here all week I thought that I was just unmotivated, tired and maybe even midly depressed. All I wanted to do was stay in bed or on my couch. I felt tired just walking to the kitchen. I knew I had this weird small rash on the right side of stomach. But I never put the two together, until I went to the doctor. She knew right away that it was shingles. I told her I didn't feel sick, then she asked "have you been tired?" A light went off and I responded "exhausted!" Now it was all making sense. She told me to rest this weekend, let my immune system heal itself. So rest I have done. I had to get off the couch for a few hours to run some errands and of course needed to do laundry, strip my bed and pick up a little. Turns out, I can't just sit on the couch. But I have been trying, I even rented two movies to try to make the evening that much easier.

I have been on the couch since 4pm and I am starting to get restless... movie number two is, but my brain is running. I want to get to know more people, I want to entertain, I want to read more books... wait ... yes..that is it... A BOOK CLUB!

I love to read, and I love to be brought out of my comfort zone when reading. I tend to pick up the same kind of book everytime, but if someone else, or a group picked the book then I would read it and make myself finish it. So I have decided to start a book club. Not fully sure who will join with me, or how many books this will last, will it be a weekly thing, monthly thing, bi monthly thing? Maybe have it so each member will have a change to pick the book, if you pick the book you host the club at your house... something like that. I don't know just throwing ideas out there.

Has anyone out there ever hosted a book club? How did it go? Let me know these things.

Pictures....

Pictures of the new house are coming, I promise. For now, to tide people over... I am posting some pictures from a realtor website. These were taken months before I moved it, but you will get the idea of what the place looks like. Hopefully this weekend (since I am not working) I will be able to take some pictures of the place with my stuff actually in it.

So far living here has been fantastic! The idea that I am coming home to a place that is fully mine. Not a place a rent, I can paint, garden, buy furniture for specific areas of the place. Not of this have I actually done, but I could if I wanted to.

So here are the pictures, with more updates to come!