TheMommyBlog

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 Me, Me, Me

Jay asked today, “So…what’s your blogging genre, yo?”

Hell if I know! I have been so turned around lately that I couldn’t give an accurate physical description of myself, let alone peg a reasonably apt label on what the heck I do here.

So, I open it up to the floor: what is my genre???

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Ahhhh, it’s good to be back *cracks knuckles*

I keep thinking I’m going to pass over stuff that happened while I was taking a break, but each time I sit hunched over with my chin in my hand, which is about every 2.4 minutes—I have terrible ergohabits—I am reminded of the Sunday Afternoon From Hell.

I took the boys to see Shrek the other day in the vain hope that Dylan was finally mature enough to sit through a feature-length film. (Pipe down, you in the back.) He did nt do well a few months back, but he sits absolutely stock-still through movies at home, and is really into understanding the storyline now.

At first I tried to sneak out with only Logan, but then Dylan started begging and making promises like a sailor getting ready to ship out. “I promise, I will behave, I will be good,

I won’t run around, I will stay in my seat, and I will whisper and be quiet and I’ll mind you, I promise, please, please, please can I go???” I shrugged and thought, sure. How bad could it be?

All went well for the first hour. They sat contentedly intheir booster seats with their little popcorn packs on their laps, munching and giggling and getting all excited about the previews.

And the movie was FUNNY. Very funny. And the more I laughed, the more they laughed. We’re entertaining like that.

Monday, May 24, 2004 Me, Me, Me

This began as a reply to a private email from Hula Doula, but then I realized it actually belonged here, where you can all read it. It will save me having to type it over and over, or making a form email to send to my blogroll: “Dear Blogger, your personal note meant SO much to me. Thank you for mentioning _______; I was so touched I had to respond to you right way. You have a special place in my heart, especially because _______. Your friend in blogginess, Mindy”

So many of you wrote to me yesterday that I did not do a lick of work. I hid in my office with my door closed and cried my little eyes out for most of the day. I am trying to respond to each of you and it is taking a while, partially because I keep having to get up for more M&Ms, but also because I would never insult you with the sappy form email above. It just takes too long to read your freaking monologues and pick out referential tidbits. (KIDDING!!!)

So, Tam:

Oh, hon, WAAAAAHHHHh I did cry!!!!

I was talking with Gil about this very subject earlier, and I brought him in here to read some of the comments. I said, “You know, I used to feel so selfish for wanting to do this, taking time out of my day, or giving up midnight sleep, and wanting it to be public, and risking disapproval and making myself vulnerable, but LOOK! Look. It has been good, and it has inspired, and it has made a difference.” He was deeply touched. And I felt all warm and fuzzy. (luuurrrve the new Pinot Noir I picked up!)

And now, aside from feeling like an egotistical fathead, I actually feel really quite nice! I don’t care what anyone says; this is a magical community, and we are there for each other in ways we never envisioned when we first started out.

And Tam, sweetie, I meant every word I said. And I would say it again a million times over. You make me smile, and you keep me coming back.

Love, your friend in blogginess,

Mindy

Monday, May 24, 2004 Weblogs

Oh, man, you guys are killing me!! You are pulling out all the stops. I’m just not ready. I’m feeling a little too bruised and lost to do this yet… but I will. Soon. I hope. The good news is that there has been a decision. I won’t talk about it here, to maintain privacy, but many of you who have written already know. Thank you for your support and friendship.

And thank you, Jay, for threatening senseless violence in my name. Really. And heartfelt thanks, also to these fine friends, for the nice things they have said, and for IMing, emailing, texting, and calling to make sure I am OK. I am. Mostly.

Aarrrggghhh! You guys are making me cry again!!!

Jay
Jilbur
Meeta
Pam
Lee
Genuine
Kim
Ellen
Hula Doula
Amber
Zeno
Buzz
Snowball
Autumn
Autumn again
Rockchild
Chris
Amy
Sallie
CYN!!!

And special thanks to Gina, who got me thinking long and hard with her Duet Post. Six weeks later, I am still thinking about it.

Sunday, May 23, 2004 Me, Me, Me

My best childhood friend is getting married in August, and I haven’t had the energy to make travel and hotel arrangements. My mom noticed and stepped right in. Of course, it helps that she is coming too, and that it’s at a resort a few hours away from her place…

Mom: i want hot stone massage
Me: ooohhhhh I am SO in
Me: am going to take the boys to see Shrek today btw
Mom: we need to clear your energy with hot stone massage (don’t remember if that’s where we get it)
Me: heh
Me: anything would do
Mom: we can have both spa and stones and the guys can drink beer
Me: a Cosmopoliotan would do
Me: a pitcher of them
Mom: i like this idea for us to get away when you are with the girls
Mom: ok I’ll call the hotel and get back to you
Me: yep
Me: ok
Me: love you
Me: thank you for doing this
Me: I have serious procrastination issues these days
Mom: ok bye i’ll always take care of you
Me: I know
Mom: bcs i may need you to take care of me
Mom: no free lunch
Me: you have a massive fan club, you know
Me: people are still writing to me
Me: heh
Me: just don’t lose your mind, OK?
Me: I can’t take that
Mom: we need to do the reading list but not today bye for now if i lose mind shoot me
Me: deal
Mom: bye love

By the way? That reading list? It’s mom’s idea and will include books like Reading Lolita in Tehran and others about what happens when you supress reading and writing:

Threaded into the memoir are trenchant discussions of the work of Vladimir Nabokov, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, and other authors who provided the women with examples of those who successfully asserted their autonomy despite great odds.

And by the way?? I’m back!!!

Mom, you have always been my best inspiration, even when I could sense you wanted to reach through the phone and beat me back into writing. I love you!

*scurries off to staff meeting*