Happy Birthday Olivia

So I don't blog much anymore and it saddens me. There are quite a few reasons why, so I can't just blindly blame facebook, although I often lack the time for fully formed paragraphs and facebook doesn't even require a fully formed thought. There's my recent health-wierdness. At first, it was new and fascinating and a little scary, but now it's old and a bit pathetic and I can't help but feel whiny. I just may have to live this way for years. Life sucks sometimes. Not much else to say. Then, I did go for about a month where I could literally only stay awake long enough to get through work, so by "too busy" to blog, I meant I was asleep 12 hours each night (glad that's over). Now, Julius is occupied with all things social and is on my computer, and when he's not my husband is. So by the time I get my computer, it's late and I'm sleepy (I still really need to go to bed at 9 although I rarely do) and don't feel like being witty. So, pretty much: I'm boring and whiny, I lack the time and materials to blog, but now I have something worth writing about.

My daughter turned 11 today! Woah.

I asked her... "Wow, Olivia, you're 11 now. How'd that happen?" She replied, "I didn't die." Ba-dum-ba. Anyway, it's odd to see your kids grow up. It's good that she still likes being a little girl, she thinks I'm cool, and isn't into womanly things (i.e. boys, bras and makeup). She hangs out with the boys in class a lot because they have more in common at this point. But it is happening... the whole separation thing. I watched Oliva ride off into the neighborhood on her new bike today because she couldn't wait to show her friends and talk about the weekend plans. Aside from looking both ways before crossing, she didn't look back. It's a good thing, it's just different. When she was little, she would ride down a little and turn around to see if I was watching her and to properly praise her for riding so well. Julius spent the entire day on two phones because his social life is now the center of his world. With a kid his age, a mom has to pay close attention or she'll miss the little signs that say she's still needed, otherwise she liable to fall into his independence ruse. But it's a good thing. I may complain a lot but I still believe... what ever age they are is the best age.

One last thing, and it must be documented for posterity: Julius gave Olivia a hug today for her birthday before they went to bed. Awwww.

Things that make you go hmmm...

I wonder what Bush is doing on his last night in the White House?

Survey Time:

You're the most hated president ever, and you're about to leave office. How would you spend your last night?

Jungbauer's Shiny New Year

The Jungbauer Party did not disappoint, as usual. That family knows how to have a good time. The usual happened... great food when we got there, more great food after midnight. Music, dancing, and German drinking songs. Dinner for One, champaign and poppers at midnight. This year Lana and I dressed up... and we weren't the only ones. Bedazzled mini dress, fur shrug, and metallic silver boots. I can only hope to be that adventurous when I'm 60. Half-way through, Ryan's camera errored and erased his memory card, so we don't have as many pics... but here's some of my fav's.

Fun with Poppers

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr Deville

Anyone else see the monkey making moves on my husband?

Awsome team

Health Weirdness

*News Flash*
I am allergic to one of the three new meds I was prescribed... itchiness all over. The new wonderful task is to figure out just which one it is! I love trial and error with pharmaceuticals! The good realization is that I haven't had a minor illness in a while... you know, the colds and flus, and digestive stuff I'd get at least once in October (usually twice), again in December, again in February, and again in May. (Not to say that won't pick up again... I think I've moved out of the little league and am now playing in the minors... not something I'm proud of, just a thought).

As a side note, I'm trying to grapple with how to appropriately celebrate the upcoming holiday. I've never been on for religious Pomp and Circumstance. Ritual's not my thing. I'm more into having a certain moral standard and trying my hardest to live by it rather than practicing special rites. But, having said that, it's been a while since I've formally observed a major holiday, and I it may be good for me to connect a little more. Hmmmm. I may have to think more on this one.

Happy Birthday, Belated

Happy 1st birthday to my Blog!! (um... two days ago anyway) So lots has happened... lots of bitching... lots of silliness... 1 official follower, but I'm married to him. Well... Here's to another year!

Only For Now...

Today's been pretty crappy, and the worst part is that due to my supervisory duties, I can't even talk about it with some of the people I care about most. Even more so, I should probably be taking more of a high road and "modeling" really excellent coping strategies and professionalism, so starting tomorrow I will. "Parallel Process" Jen!

So Being a Supervisor Sucks! (not totally because I really like the job and being able to make some really good changes). This whole not being able to talk about things is really hard, and I'm actually really, really, really afraid I'll let something slip and get myself fired. (I was the kid who couldn't keep a secret: birthday presents, Christmas, whatever... still working on it) I'm way too open, and I'm just not close with the other supervisors yet. That's why they were always in their little club... they can't properly vent to anyone else.

Well, anyway. Tomorrow is a new day! I will awake with a good attitude about the changes about to happen. I be a friggin beacon of positivity. I will not let this person effect me anymore or bring down the mood of my team. We will be strong. We will survive. And we will outlast. (woah... channeling Bill Pullman from Independence Day for a second).

I think my new mantra will come from Avenue Q. The final song is very eastern philosophy. "Only For Now" is about how everything in life is only temporary... the suckiness as well as the good stuff, and it's words to live by. It helps you get through the tough times and helps you to appreciate the good times, because neither last forever.

"And we'll accept the things we cannot avoid, for now."
"But Only for Now!"

Stupid-Watch 2009

So tonight I my bestest long-time friend in the world came for a quick visit. I had been wanting to talk with her about my new meds because she has been taking medication for seizures for a long time and I thought she might be familiar with them. One she'd never heard of. The other she had. It was Great! All of the good medicinal uses, craving weird things like pickle water, plus she lost like 20 pounds in two weeks... oh.. except she had to stop taking it because it makes you stupid. Apparently it can cause cognitive deficits and she was in law school at the time and needed to think... but she fully intends to return to the wonderful med once she doesn't need to think anymore. She said she made good grades before the med, while on it she thought she was fully making sense, but apparently wasn't anymore.

So I need everyone's help. I may not realize I'm getting stupider (hmmmm.... is using the word stupider a symptom of stupidity?) so watch out for me and *gently* let me know!