As I put KZ to bed tonight, she asked me, "Mommy, will Santa Claus be coming tonight?"
Her face was glowing as she asked me. I wasn't sure what to say. How does one tell the truth to a three year old, and what exactly IS the truth when it comes to Santa Claus and a three year old?
When I was a child, I remember very clearly when I discovered there wasn't a Santa Claus. My first clue was that when Santa was at our house, he had Coke, not milk, and cookies. My mom was, and still is, a Coke-a-holic. Second clue, well, I just saw my parents putting the gifts under the tree. What I really remember was a sense of shame that my parents thought it was ok to lie to me. It hurt that they thought I was dumb. I don't want KZ to feel that I lie to her. She is not dumb. We do not lie.
My answer to her this night,
"KZ, I don't know if Santa will come tonight, but I do know that there will be presents in the morning. Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Papa, and many of our friends love you very much. They all have sent presents, and you'll have them in the morning."
She seemed ok with it, but the glow was gone. I'm not sure what is worse, lying to my child or taking away her glow.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Saturday 24 December 2011
Friday 23 December 2011
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Done!
The first thing we did on Sunday morning, after arriving at our hotel in The Rocks area of Sydney, was go for walk. The sun was bright, that brightness that only comes in summertime, which it was. Summertime in December, I could get use to this. I was feeling fairly good considering that we had just completed a twenty-five hour flight, not counting the two and a half hour layover in Dubai. Everything we saw and would be seeing, was new to us. I was taking it all in like a three year old in a pram.
After walking approximately three minutes, we saw a building with the words "Bridge Climb Sydney" on the window. Oh no, here we are, front and center. My nemesis. My nightmare. My fears. I need to overcome here and now. Jeremy knows I'm terrified but he also knows that it is something that I want, maybe need, to overcome. Without even discussing it, we walk in, and get in line. Around the waiting area, they have pictures of all the famous people who have climbed the Bridge, from Prince Harry to the cast of Glee. I saw Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter". He is so cute, smiling happily for the camera. I get kind of sad looking at him, but know he didn't die on the Bridge. I then see Oprah. Ok, I love Oprah. If Oprah can do it, I can do it. Does that mean I can be a self made billionaire? Well, maybe, but we can work on that later. First, let's conquer the Bridge.
"I don't want to climb right now. I feel good, but I'm just not sure how the jet lag will hit me. I'd rather wait a day or two," I said.
"I wasn't thinking about doing it now either, I just want to make a reservation," Jeremy said.
The sales clerk was very nice as she gave us the rules. They are very strict on their safety issues. The stricter the better in my book. We are not to have anything alcoholic to drink the day of the climb. We'll be give a breathalyzer test just to make sure we are legally sober.
"Are you pregnant?" she asks.
"No," I said.
I had actually heard her ask the 70-ish year old looking woman who was in line before us. I wasn't offended knowing it must be a standard question. The only thing that I'm more afraid of than heights and wind is my weight going up. But she doesn't know that.
We would need to go through a training exercise, and sign release forms before we were able to begin our climb. All of that would take approximately an hour and a half. Once we passed our exams, we would be ready to go. We would be on the Bridge for approximately two hours.
I secretly hoped I would fail the tests.
"When would you like to climb?" she asks.
"Twilight, on Thursday," Jeremy said.
Thursday? Like in four days? I have to think about this for four days? Why can't we just do it and get it over with?
"What! Thursday ... Twilight? I mean, that is when it will be dark," I said.
"Sure, it will be cool," said Jeremy.
"Um, ok. Do you climb the Bridge when it is raining or windy?" I asked.
"We climb in all weather, except lightening storms. The price is $268, non-refundable," she said.
"Um, ok." I handed over my credit card then started praying for a lightening storm.
You can't really go anywhere along the Sydney Harbour and not see the Harbour Bridge. It is there, just like the Opera House, calling to me. Except the Opera House calls in beautiful musical melodies. The Bridge sounds more like a death knell. I've had a paralyzing fear of heights and wind since I was a child. I had hoped that climbing the Bridge would help me get over it. So far, all it's done is darkened my sunny summer days down under.
On Thursday, at lunch, I had a pint. I know, I know, I was not suppose to drink, but I was at the oldest pub in Sydney, The Lord Nelson, which makes it the oldest pub in all of Australia, and I wanted a pint. I ordered a Nelson's Blood, the darkest beer they brew. It was great, but the pub was more of tourist stop than a place for locals. I headed out, back towards my hotel, hoping that my one pint didn't just ruin my Bridge climb. Ok, did I hope it would or wouldn't? But for $268, I didn't want to lose the money. My frugal side was overtaking my fears. Once back at the hotel, I tried to take a nap for the first time all week. I wanted to be rested for the climb, but all I could do was toss and turn. Now, I just wanted to do this thing.
We got to the office early, and watched the safety video as we waited. Exactly on time, a perky Sheila eyes us up for our jumpsuits. (Jumpsuits, did she say JUMP? Why can't they call it "feet firmly planted on the Bridge" suit?) We sign our forms, get our breathalyzer test, which I passed without incident, and are given our suits. We lock up all our loose possessions, such as watches, earrings, hair clips (including bobby pins) then walk through a metal detector. They really do take their safely seriously. We are now met by a 20-something man, at least I hope that he is at least 20. He's going to be our guide up the Bridge, but first, we have to walk on the catwalks and climb the ladders.
"Once we are out on the Bridge there will be eight ladders we have to climb. It's better to get a feel for them here first. The big rule, only one person on each ladder at a time," he said.
I go up the ladders, across the catwalk and down the other ladder with no issues. Easy. This is going to be easy, right!
"Ok, is everybody ready? Now, who is afraid?"
There are only eight of us on this tour.
"Oh, I've done this twice before," one tiny local says.
"No worries, we are excited," a family from Texas announces.
"Um, I am," I said.
"Ok, well, you will stay up front with me," the guide says.
"Once we are on the Bridge, you cannot change your order. Each person will be tethered to the Bridge and you cannot become un-tethered until we re-enter the building. Make sure you are in the order you want your pictures taken."
"Everyone ready?"
I walk out out of the office, directly onto the Bridge. I really didn't have a clue that the office was attached directly to the Bridge. I'm fine, then we start walking. There were plenty of party goers down below who were cheering us on and waving. Wow, that does seem like a far way down, so I just looked straight ahead.
Once we are out on the real catwalk, the guide decides that this is a good time to stop and talk about the structure of the Bridge. "blah, blah, blah," is all I hear. I held on to the small side rails as tightly as I could, which seemed to get smaller as I stood there. I stared at the I-beam slightly above my eye level. As he blah, blah, blahed on, I decided to look down. All that was between me and the rushing harbour down below was a very thin, metal, lattice catwalk. My stomach was swirling faster than the harbor waters.
"And now let's walk"
Thank God.
I'm ok as we are moving. I don't look to the sides, I don't look down. I just move forward.
"Ok, here are the ladders. Remember, only one person at a time. I'm going to go first, and you follow," and then he scampered out of sight.
I'm next.
Two other employees of the Harbor Bridge Climb company were there to make sure we didn't feel alone, which is how I felt, even with them and Jeremy besides me.
I started to climb.
Now let's just say that the practice area is nothing like reality. As we climb up the skinny, metal ladders, there is nothing in front of us, on the sides, or to the back. It is a skinny metal ladder suspended in the air ... all by itself. Then comes the flying cars. They have to be flying because we are up in the air, all by ourselves. How can there be cars whizzing by me on both sides. The ladder goes up through two lanes of car traffic. I know I'm tethered, but it was all I could do to keep moving and focus on something in front of me, but there is nothing in front of me. Our guide said there were eight ladders. I was just finishing up ladder four and didn't know if I would be able to physically continue, when I heard him say, "Congratulations! You made it!"
"But I thought there were eight ladders."
"There are, four up and four down."
I take a deep breath realizing I'm done, but an even deeper breath when I realize that I'm now standing on the outside arc of the Bridge staring up the arc. There is nothing in front of me. I am posed to climb to the top. I stand and wait ... and watch the traffic rush beneath me. I wait ... and feel the harbor swirl below. I wait ... and watch the sun set over Sydney. I wait. It takes time for eight people to climb up four skinny, metal ladders. The guide now comes back to lead the group. He can un-tethered from the Bridge. It makes me nervous to see how he does this with such ease, but I trust him. He's a natural up here, unlike me. We start walking and get halfway up the Bridge, but must stop again. The tour group in front of us were at the top taking pictures. The guide started telling more stories. This time I hear words, and not just blah, blahs. The view is beautiful, and the stories of the men who built this Bridge are harrowing.
It's time to move forward. We climb the easy steps to the top. Now it's time for the money shot. The picture we all came up her for ... us with the Opera House in the background. We pair off for the photos. Yes, I've made it halfway, so I think.
"Ok, now that your done, go stand in the middle of the Bridge and wait for the rest of us," the guide said.
"Wait, we walk across the Bridge? Don't we just take the pictures, watch the sunset, then all go back down the same way we came up?"
"No. We go down the opposite side."
I slowly turn and walk along the catwalk, another thin, metal, lattice catwalk, across the transverse of the Bridge. The traffic, trains, and harbor all rush below us. The flags of Australia and New South Wales whip above our heads. The winds up here are strong, and we can see the rain coming over the horizon, but the sun is still setting in a brilliant show. I cannot stop in the middle. I feel wobbly, my knees are more than weak, my stomach is in my throat, and my eyes cannot see straight. I don't even have a focal point up here.
"You are suppose to stop, Tam, stop," Jeremy shouted over the winds.
"I can't! I'm going to faint. Stay there, but I have to move on."
He followed me. When we got to the other side, I was able to sit on a stair and regain my sense of balance.
"You can go back. If that is cool with you. I just can't do it."
"No, I'll stay with you."
The next couple followed us, then the next, and the last. We took a second set of pictures on this side with a twinkling lights of Sydney in the background.
"Isn't this the most beautiful sight you ever seen," the guide asks.
"Yes, yes it is."
I could have talked about how it isn't New York, but I've honestly never climbed the Brooklyn or George Washington Bridges, and never will. Yes, this is beautiful. I'm at the top. The wind did not blow me over, yet. The Bridge as not collapsed, yet. I've conquered my fears to some degree. I was here, and still had to get down, but I had made it.
After walking approximately three minutes, we saw a building with the words "Bridge Climb Sydney" on the window. Oh no, here we are, front and center. My nemesis. My nightmare. My fears. I need to overcome here and now. Jeremy knows I'm terrified but he also knows that it is something that I want, maybe need, to overcome. Without even discussing it, we walk in, and get in line. Around the waiting area, they have pictures of all the famous people who have climbed the Bridge, from Prince Harry to the cast of Glee. I saw Steve Irwin, "The Crocodile Hunter". He is so cute, smiling happily for the camera. I get kind of sad looking at him, but know he didn't die on the Bridge. I then see Oprah. Ok, I love Oprah. If Oprah can do it, I can do it. Does that mean I can be a self made billionaire? Well, maybe, but we can work on that later. First, let's conquer the Bridge.
"I don't want to climb right now. I feel good, but I'm just not sure how the jet lag will hit me. I'd rather wait a day or two," I said.
"I wasn't thinking about doing it now either, I just want to make a reservation," Jeremy said.
The sales clerk was very nice as she gave us the rules. They are very strict on their safety issues. The stricter the better in my book. We are not to have anything alcoholic to drink the day of the climb. We'll be give a breathalyzer test just to make sure we are legally sober.
"Are you pregnant?" she asks.
"No," I said.
I had actually heard her ask the 70-ish year old looking woman who was in line before us. I wasn't offended knowing it must be a standard question. The only thing that I'm more afraid of than heights and wind is my weight going up. But she doesn't know that.
We would need to go through a training exercise, and sign release forms before we were able to begin our climb. All of that would take approximately an hour and a half. Once we passed our exams, we would be ready to go. We would be on the Bridge for approximately two hours.
I secretly hoped I would fail the tests.
"When would you like to climb?" she asks.
"Twilight, on Thursday," Jeremy said.
Thursday? Like in four days? I have to think about this for four days? Why can't we just do it and get it over with?
"What! Thursday ... Twilight? I mean, that is when it will be dark," I said.
"Sure, it will be cool," said Jeremy.
"Um, ok. Do you climb the Bridge when it is raining or windy?" I asked.
"We climb in all weather, except lightening storms. The price is $268, non-refundable," she said.
"Um, ok." I handed over my credit card then started praying for a lightening storm.
You can't really go anywhere along the Sydney Harbour and not see the Harbour Bridge. It is there, just like the Opera House, calling to me. Except the Opera House calls in beautiful musical melodies. The Bridge sounds more like a death knell. I've had a paralyzing fear of heights and wind since I was a child. I had hoped that climbing the Bridge would help me get over it. So far, all it's done is darkened my sunny summer days down under.
On Thursday, at lunch, I had a pint. I know, I know, I was not suppose to drink, but I was at the oldest pub in Sydney, The Lord Nelson, which makes it the oldest pub in all of Australia, and I wanted a pint. I ordered a Nelson's Blood, the darkest beer they brew. It was great, but the pub was more of tourist stop than a place for locals. I headed out, back towards my hotel, hoping that my one pint didn't just ruin my Bridge climb. Ok, did I hope it would or wouldn't? But for $268, I didn't want to lose the money. My frugal side was overtaking my fears. Once back at the hotel, I tried to take a nap for the first time all week. I wanted to be rested for the climb, but all I could do was toss and turn. Now, I just wanted to do this thing.
We got to the office early, and watched the safety video as we waited. Exactly on time, a perky Sheila eyes us up for our jumpsuits. (Jumpsuits, did she say JUMP? Why can't they call it "feet firmly planted on the Bridge" suit?) We sign our forms, get our breathalyzer test, which I passed without incident, and are given our suits. We lock up all our loose possessions, such as watches, earrings, hair clips (including bobby pins) then walk through a metal detector. They really do take their safely seriously. We are now met by a 20-something man, at least I hope that he is at least 20. He's going to be our guide up the Bridge, but first, we have to walk on the catwalks and climb the ladders.
"Once we are out on the Bridge there will be eight ladders we have to climb. It's better to get a feel for them here first. The big rule, only one person on each ladder at a time," he said.
I go up the ladders, across the catwalk and down the other ladder with no issues. Easy. This is going to be easy, right!
"Ok, is everybody ready? Now, who is afraid?"
There are only eight of us on this tour.
"Oh, I've done this twice before," one tiny local says.
"No worries, we are excited," a family from Texas announces.
"Um, I am," I said.
"Ok, well, you will stay up front with me," the guide says.
"Once we are on the Bridge, you cannot change your order. Each person will be tethered to the Bridge and you cannot become un-tethered until we re-enter the building. Make sure you are in the order you want your pictures taken."
"Everyone ready?"
I walk out out of the office, directly onto the Bridge. I really didn't have a clue that the office was attached directly to the Bridge. I'm fine, then we start walking. There were plenty of party goers down below who were cheering us on and waving. Wow, that does seem like a far way down, so I just looked straight ahead.
Once we are out on the real catwalk, the guide decides that this is a good time to stop and talk about the structure of the Bridge. "blah, blah, blah," is all I hear. I held on to the small side rails as tightly as I could, which seemed to get smaller as I stood there. I stared at the I-beam slightly above my eye level. As he blah, blah, blahed on, I decided to look down. All that was between me and the rushing harbour down below was a very thin, metal, lattice catwalk. My stomach was swirling faster than the harbor waters.
"And now let's walk"
Thank God.
I'm ok as we are moving. I don't look to the sides, I don't look down. I just move forward.
"Ok, here are the ladders. Remember, only one person at a time. I'm going to go first, and you follow," and then he scampered out of sight.
I'm next.
Two other employees of the Harbor Bridge Climb company were there to make sure we didn't feel alone, which is how I felt, even with them and Jeremy besides me.
I started to climb.
Now let's just say that the practice area is nothing like reality. As we climb up the skinny, metal ladders, there is nothing in front of us, on the sides, or to the back. It is a skinny metal ladder suspended in the air ... all by itself. Then comes the flying cars. They have to be flying because we are up in the air, all by ourselves. How can there be cars whizzing by me on both sides. The ladder goes up through two lanes of car traffic. I know I'm tethered, but it was all I could do to keep moving and focus on something in front of me, but there is nothing in front of me. Our guide said there were eight ladders. I was just finishing up ladder four and didn't know if I would be able to physically continue, when I heard him say, "Congratulations! You made it!"
"But I thought there were eight ladders."
"There are, four up and four down."
I take a deep breath realizing I'm done, but an even deeper breath when I realize that I'm now standing on the outside arc of the Bridge staring up the arc. There is nothing in front of me. I am posed to climb to the top. I stand and wait ... and watch the traffic rush beneath me. I wait ... and feel the harbor swirl below. I wait ... and watch the sun set over Sydney. I wait. It takes time for eight people to climb up four skinny, metal ladders. The guide now comes back to lead the group. He can un-tethered from the Bridge. It makes me nervous to see how he does this with such ease, but I trust him. He's a natural up here, unlike me. We start walking and get halfway up the Bridge, but must stop again. The tour group in front of us were at the top taking pictures. The guide started telling more stories. This time I hear words, and not just blah, blahs. The view is beautiful, and the stories of the men who built this Bridge are harrowing.
It's time to move forward. We climb the easy steps to the top. Now it's time for the money shot. The picture we all came up her for ... us with the Opera House in the background. We pair off for the photos. Yes, I've made it halfway, so I think.
"Ok, now that your done, go stand in the middle of the Bridge and wait for the rest of us," the guide said.
"Wait, we walk across the Bridge? Don't we just take the pictures, watch the sunset, then all go back down the same way we came up?"
"No. We go down the opposite side."
I slowly turn and walk along the catwalk, another thin, metal, lattice catwalk, across the transverse of the Bridge. The traffic, trains, and harbor all rush below us. The flags of Australia and New South Wales whip above our heads. The winds up here are strong, and we can see the rain coming over the horizon, but the sun is still setting in a brilliant show. I cannot stop in the middle. I feel wobbly, my knees are more than weak, my stomach is in my throat, and my eyes cannot see straight. I don't even have a focal point up here.
"You are suppose to stop, Tam, stop," Jeremy shouted over the winds.
"I can't! I'm going to faint. Stay there, but I have to move on."
He followed me. When we got to the other side, I was able to sit on a stair and regain my sense of balance.
"You can go back. If that is cool with you. I just can't do it."
"No, I'll stay with you."
The next couple followed us, then the next, and the last. We took a second set of pictures on this side with a twinkling lights of Sydney in the background.
"Isn't this the most beautiful sight you ever seen," the guide asks.
"Yes, yes it is."
I could have talked about how it isn't New York, but I've honestly never climbed the Brooklyn or George Washington Bridges, and never will. Yes, this is beautiful. I'm at the top. The wind did not blow me over, yet. The Bridge as not collapsed, yet. I've conquered my fears to some degree. I was here, and still had to get down, but I had made it.
Thursday 22 December 2011
Top 11 Events of 2011 According to the Hoover/Dobrick Family
First, I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a fabulous New Year. May health and happiness be yours. Our family, nuclear and extended, is doing great. There are no additions or subtractions, thankfully, that we need to report. Below I listed our top 11 Highlights of 2011 for your amusement. If you don't have time to read them, don't worry, just make this a fabulous day!
Peace and Love to all!
Tamara, Jeremy, KZ, Jake and Kadou
# 11 Travel
- KZ did her first overseas flight as a "big girl". We had taken her to London and back, of course, before, but this was the first time she was old enough to remember it. She was a remarkable little flyer, well behaved and followed instructions about turning off her iPad, unlike some TV actors we've heard of recently.
- Travel for me included my first time down under to Sydney, Australia. I want to write a lot more about Sydney, but I'll do that separately on my blog. Net/Net, it was SO worth the 33 hour flight back home to New York. I did not have one bad experience in Sydney, or even with the flight except that they were long. I did fly Emirates, which was the nicest coach section I've been on to date. I highly recommended them. I do want to go back, with KZ when she can remember it. I also want to see other parts of the country and stay longer than a week! It took about that long to recover from the flight.
#10 We bought a co-op on the Upper East Side
And moved Feb. 14. Honestly, we really loved our building, neighbors, and location in the Financial District/TriBeCa area. But, we were renting, the landlord was raising the rent by 25%, and we just couldn't find a place downtown. We ended up in a nice three-bedroom at 86th and York. The good things about this area that we do love ...
- Carl Schurz Park, not as big as Central Park but a great place for KZ to play, for me to walk the dogs, and for all of us to sit by the East River and enjoy the view of Queens, which really is nice -- no joke. :-)
- Central Park is less than a mile away. Need I say more?
- Multitude of vets, dog groomers, and shops for mom.
- Multiple great little diners/restaurants such as the Mansion and Ottomanelli's, which has been around since 1900.
- Glaser's Bake Shop, http://www.glasersbakeshop.com
#9 A Family Reunion in Arkansas
We had a wonderful family reunion in Bentonville, Arkansas the weekend of November 11, 2011. The occasion was my Uncle Maurice's 70th Birthday. It was a surprise party for him, given by my Aunt Pat and Cousin Theresa. They really pulled it off. My Uncle's two siblings were there (including my dad), and most of their kids, plus grand and great-grand children. It was fun for me to meet family members I had only heard about, but never actually met. KZ had a great time playing with Matthew, my Uncle's great-grandson, who was her own age. They ran all over my Uncle's farm. It was a lot of fun for all of us to watch. When we asked KZ what she thought of Arkansas she said, "I LOVE Arkansas!" I plan to take her back in the spring. Also, we visited the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, http://crystalbridges.org/, which opened that same weekend. This is a museum started by Alice Walton, which is her own personal collection. The building is a masterpiece as well as all the art within. Truly a treasure that is worth the trip to Bentonville, whether you know my Uncle or not.
#8 Writing
I have continued to take writing classes but just wish I had more time to actually sit down and write. I can write a book load of words, but making them all sound flawless is the challenge. I've learned that they don't need to be perfect, but they do need to be said. I'm hoping at the very least, that KZ will have these words to look back on when she is grown. I had three writing goals this year ... to enter a writing contest at Real Simple Magazine (results have not been announced), submit an essays for publication (which was rejected, but at least I submitted -- need to resubmit somewhere else), and start my blog. I would love to say that I blog everyday, but it really is only a few times a month. Again, I want to get the words out there, but I always seem to be busy with something that prevents me from truly sitting down and writing. I do love writing and am happy with my results so far. My goal for 2012, two solid days of writing a week! More if I can get it. :-)
#7 Torn Achilles and Malleolus Tendons
Now how can this be a good thing? Honestly, it was one of the worse non-life threatening experiences I've been through. The tendons had been giving me problems for years, but I really never found a good doctor to help me with them. So, I did what any runner would do, I kept running on them. Then on May 14, 2011 (a date I'll never forget), I was running a 10K in Central Park. It was a good day, I was fast, and a sub 50 minute race was in site. With about a half mile left, I felt it rip, but I kept running. I did have my sub 50 minutes in mind. I hobbled across the finish line in 51-ish minutes. What followed was months of painful therapy and even more painful -- not running. I do want to note that Dr. Wayne Winnick, http://www.drwaynewinnick.com/, was a miracle worker. I wouldn't be running pain free now without him. What really came to me during this downtime (and not quickly) was a sense of balance, then a shift in priorities. Before my injury, I would spend so much time running that when KZ asked me to go to the park, I was too tired. I would go but I would be grumpy. Gone are the days where I can go for a 20-mile run, come home, shower, eat, and sit on the sofa reading the paper and drinking coffee for the rest of the day. I have a little one who wants to be with me, who wants to do things with me, and, best of all, who still thinks hanging out with mommy is the coolest thing ever. I know these things will change eventually, but until they do, I'm going to cut back on my running. Half Marathons will be a lot less time consuming, and a lot less tiring. I can still be fit and hang out with the coolest kid I know. Marathons can wait, KZ's childhood cannot.
#6 KZ is a pre-schooler!
KZ started pre-school FIVE days a week, 9-5, at the House of Little People II, http://www.
#5 KZ -- Anything she does.
I'm fascinated by her development from an infant to a pre-schooler. Everyday there is something amazing that she says or does, like reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar to ME every night. I swear, and I mean this by how her pants are now way too short, that she grew two inches since November, 2011! She's been out of diapers at night starting in the summer. We switched her from a crib to a "big girl's" bed. At that time, and she took to getting up, using the potty, and going back to bed, like a duck takes to water. It was a wonderful day when I realized that we no longer needed to support the diaper industry ... ever! I'm always saddened when I see little kids who are just tossed aside. Yes, this is the hardest job I have ever done in my life. Yes, there are many days that I've taken migraine meds by 8:30 a.m. Yes, it never ends, and I would just like a few hours off every day to recharge. BUT, she is by far the coolest thing ever. I wouldn't change my life for the world.
#4 Earthquake and Hurricane
August 23, Earthquake. Ok, fine, the earthquake was nothing, and I didn't feel it. I was here, at the Plaza Hotel having High Tea with a friend, and the chandeliers didn't even sway. BUT, I did love watching the news coverage.
August 28, Hurricane Irene hits New York. This one scared me. Net/net, we were fine, but as we all know, many people were not. I would like to thank everybody who gave me tips on what to do. Jeremy survived Hurricane Andrew and took Irene very seriously. One of the best pieces of advice I received, make your coffee the night before so that if the power goes out, you at least have a cup cold of coffee.
#3 and Jeremy turns 40!
August 29, Jeremy turned 40! We had planned a very nice dinner at Del Posto, a Mario Batali restaurant in the Meat Packing District for twenty of Jeremy's family and friends, most from out of town. Well, due to Ms. Irene, only two couples made it in. One other person made it in, but was in Jersey so we never ended up seeing her. Comically, since there were so many cancellations throughout the city, we were able to take the two couples who made it to Per Se for a wonderful dinner overlooking the park in a private room spending the same amount budgeted for 20 people at Del Posto!
#2 Jeremy, the marathoner
Jeremy ran his first marathon at Disney, in January 2011. He ran his second in Philadelphia in November. He is not at Boston qualifying times yet, but he is completing them in good health. Two years ago he was clinically obese and exercised only by watching football. Now, he is at a healthy weight, lifting weights and/or running almost every day. He is in the best shape of his life and intends to keep it that way.
#1 Jeremy is cancer free!
Two years ago at Christmas, Jeremy was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Today, his chemo is over, his health is good, and the future is looking bright! We couldn't ask for a better gift ... at Christmas, or ever.
Peace and Love to all!
Tamara, Jeremy, KZ, Jake and Kadou
# 11 Travel
- KZ did her first overseas flight as a "big girl". We had taken her to London and back, of course, before, but this was the first time she was old enough to remember it. She was a remarkable little flyer, well behaved and followed instructions about turning off her iPad, unlike some TV actors we've heard of recently.
- Travel for me included my first time down under to Sydney, Australia. I want to write a lot more about Sydney, but I'll do that separately on my blog. Net/Net, it was SO worth the 33 hour flight back home to New York. I did not have one bad experience in Sydney, or even with the flight except that they were long. I did fly Emirates, which was the nicest coach section I've been on to date. I highly recommended them. I do want to go back, with KZ when she can remember it. I also want to see other parts of the country and stay longer than a week! It took about that long to recover from the flight.
#10 We bought a co-op on the Upper East Side
And moved Feb. 14. Honestly, we really loved our building, neighbors, and location in the Financial District/TriBeCa area. But, we were renting, the landlord was raising the rent by 25%, and we just couldn't find a place downtown. We ended up in a nice three-bedroom at 86th and York. The good things about this area that we do love ...
- Carl Schurz Park, not as big as Central Park but a great place for KZ to play, for me to walk the dogs, and for all of us to sit by the East River and enjoy the view of Queens, which really is nice -- no joke. :-)
- Central Park is less than a mile away. Need I say more?
- Multitude of vets, dog groomers, and shops for mom.
- Multiple great little diners/restaurants such as the Mansion and Ottomanelli's, which has been around since 1900.
- Glaser's Bake Shop, http://www.glasersbakeshop.com
#9 A Family Reunion in Arkansas
We had a wonderful family reunion in Bentonville, Arkansas the weekend of November 11, 2011. The occasion was my Uncle Maurice's 70th Birthday. It was a surprise party for him, given by my Aunt Pat and Cousin Theresa. They really pulled it off. My Uncle's two siblings were there (including my dad), and most of their kids, plus grand and great-grand children. It was fun for me to meet family members I had only heard about, but never actually met. KZ had a great time playing with Matthew, my Uncle's great-grandson, who was her own age. They ran all over my Uncle's farm. It was a lot of fun for all of us to watch. When we asked KZ what she thought of Arkansas she said, "I LOVE Arkansas!" I plan to take her back in the spring. Also, we visited the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, http://crystalbridges.org/, which opened that same weekend. This is a museum started by Alice Walton, which is her own personal collection. The building is a masterpiece as well as all the art within. Truly a treasure that is worth the trip to Bentonville, whether you know my Uncle or not.
#8 Writing
I have continued to take writing classes but just wish I had more time to actually sit down and write. I can write a book load of words, but making them all sound flawless is the challenge. I've learned that they don't need to be perfect, but they do need to be said. I'm hoping at the very least, that KZ will have these words to look back on when she is grown. I had three writing goals this year ... to enter a writing contest at Real Simple Magazine (results have not been announced), submit an essays for publication (which was rejected, but at least I submitted -- need to resubmit somewhere else), and start my blog. I would love to say that I blog everyday, but it really is only a few times a month. Again, I want to get the words out there, but I always seem to be busy with something that prevents me from truly sitting down and writing. I do love writing and am happy with my results so far. My goal for 2012, two solid days of writing a week! More if I can get it. :-)
#7 Torn Achilles and Malleolus Tendons
Now how can this be a good thing? Honestly, it was one of the worse non-life threatening experiences I've been through. The tendons had been giving me problems for years, but I really never found a good doctor to help me with them. So, I did what any runner would do, I kept running on them. Then on May 14, 2011 (a date I'll never forget), I was running a 10K in Central Park. It was a good day, I was fast, and a sub 50 minute race was in site. With about a half mile left, I felt it rip, but I kept running. I did have my sub 50 minutes in mind. I hobbled across the finish line in 51-ish minutes. What followed was months of painful therapy and even more painful -- not running. I do want to note that Dr. Wayne Winnick, http://www.drwaynewinnick.com/, was a miracle worker. I wouldn't be running pain free now without him. What really came to me during this downtime (and not quickly) was a sense of balance, then a shift in priorities. Before my injury, I would spend so much time running that when KZ asked me to go to the park, I was too tired. I would go but I would be grumpy. Gone are the days where I can go for a 20-mile run, come home, shower, eat, and sit on the sofa reading the paper and drinking coffee for the rest of the day. I have a little one who wants to be with me, who wants to do things with me, and, best of all, who still thinks hanging out with mommy is the coolest thing ever. I know these things will change eventually, but until they do, I'm going to cut back on my running. Half Marathons will be a lot less time consuming, and a lot less tiring. I can still be fit and hang out with the coolest kid I know. Marathons can wait, KZ's childhood cannot.
#6 KZ is a pre-schooler!
KZ started pre-school FIVE days a week, 9-5, at the House of Little People II, http://www.
#5 KZ -- Anything she does.
I'm fascinated by her development from an infant to a pre-schooler. Everyday there is something amazing that she says or does, like reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar to ME every night. I swear, and I mean this by how her pants are now way too short, that she grew two inches since November, 2011! She's been out of diapers at night starting in the summer. We switched her from a crib to a "big girl's" bed. At that time, and she took to getting up, using the potty, and going back to bed, like a duck takes to water. It was a wonderful day when I realized that we no longer needed to support the diaper industry ... ever! I'm always saddened when I see little kids who are just tossed aside. Yes, this is the hardest job I have ever done in my life. Yes, there are many days that I've taken migraine meds by 8:30 a.m. Yes, it never ends, and I would just like a few hours off every day to recharge. BUT, she is by far the coolest thing ever. I wouldn't change my life for the world.
#4 Earthquake and Hurricane
August 23, Earthquake. Ok, fine, the earthquake was nothing, and I didn't feel it. I was here, at the Plaza Hotel having High Tea with a friend, and the chandeliers didn't even sway. BUT, I did love watching the news coverage.
August 28, Hurricane Irene hits New York. This one scared me. Net/net, we were fine, but as we all know, many people were not. I would like to thank everybody who gave me tips on what to do. Jeremy survived Hurricane Andrew and took Irene very seriously. One of the best pieces of advice I received, make your coffee the night before so that if the power goes out, you at least have a cup cold of coffee.
#3 and Jeremy turns 40!
August 29, Jeremy turned 40! We had planned a very nice dinner at Del Posto, a Mario Batali restaurant in the Meat Packing District for twenty of Jeremy's family and friends, most from out of town. Well, due to Ms. Irene, only two couples made it in. One other person made it in, but was in Jersey so we never ended up seeing her. Comically, since there were so many cancellations throughout the city, we were able to take the two couples who made it to Per Se for a wonderful dinner overlooking the park in a private room spending the same amount budgeted for 20 people at Del Posto!
#2 Jeremy, the marathoner
Jeremy ran his first marathon at Disney, in January 2011. He ran his second in Philadelphia in November. He is not at Boston qualifying times yet, but he is completing them in good health. Two years ago he was clinically obese and exercised only by watching football. Now, he is at a healthy weight, lifting weights and/or running almost every day. He is in the best shape of his life and intends to keep it that way.
#1 Jeremy is cancer free!
Two years ago at Christmas, Jeremy was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Today, his chemo is over, his health is good, and the future is looking bright! We couldn't ask for a better gift ... at Christmas, or ever.
Wednesday 21 December 2011
My Freaky Neighbor Update
Remember my blog post about my freaky neighbor who likes to have sex in the window? Well long story short-ish, KZ asked me last night,
"What's he doing?"
I looked out the window and got sick. She clearly was pointing at him. It was only 6:00 pm. The fact that my 3.5 year-old daughter noticed really got me. I called 311. They told me that it was actually a 911 call. Oh, ok. They put me through to 911. The first 911 person said they were too busy to handle that. Then, the 311 person got in a fight with the 911 person about job descriptions and finally hung up. He then re-dialed and got a new 911 person who handled it immediately. Two officers came over about thirty minutes later (of course the "show" was over). They went to the apartment building then came back and reported what they found ... it was a 15 year-old boy. Ugh.
I'm not sure if I'm relieved because it isn't a grown man who should have known better or grossed out that I've seen kids having sex for the last three months. Icky. It's a nice building where he lives. Now the super is aware, the doorman, the kid's mom, and at least three neighbours know something is up because the cops checked several apartments. The cops don't think I'll have any more issues, but if I do, I'm to call them.
I'm so glad they took this seriously and that I (hopefully) won't have to explain this to KZ again -- at least until she is much older.
"What's he doing?"
I looked out the window and got sick. She clearly was pointing at him. It was only 6:00 pm. The fact that my 3.5 year-old daughter noticed really got me. I called 311. They told me that it was actually a 911 call. Oh, ok. They put me through to 911. The first 911 person said they were too busy to handle that. Then, the 311 person got in a fight with the 911 person about job descriptions and finally hung up. He then re-dialed and got a new 911 person who handled it immediately. Two officers came over about thirty minutes later (of course the "show" was over). They went to the apartment building then came back and reported what they found ... it was a 15 year-old boy. Ugh.
I'm not sure if I'm relieved because it isn't a grown man who should have known better or grossed out that I've seen kids having sex for the last three months. Icky. It's a nice building where he lives. Now the super is aware, the doorman, the kid's mom, and at least three neighbours know something is up because the cops checked several apartments. The cops don't think I'll have any more issues, but if I do, I'm to call them.
I'm so glad they took this seriously and that I (hopefully) won't have to explain this to KZ again -- at least until she is much older.
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