So Much Life to Live

Okay. I haven't posted in a while. Why? Too many items on the list to bore you with the details. Suffice it to say there are 24 hours in a day and I'm awake and moving for the majority of them. I ran the Zappos Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in December with my son. That was a memory-maker I wouldn't have missed for anything. Then the holidays were upon us and in January I began training to run a marathon in Prague if I can get rid of a nasty case of IT band syndrome. Injuries suck. I will hold tight to my dream of running 26 miles in May, even if walking the dog is a challenge right now.

Work is always demanding with its deliverables and the kids seem to have a million activities that require assistance, mostly as chauffeur. Today, I'll psych myself up to darken the doorstep of the grocery store. I'll pray that Tide is on sale as the laundry pile is as big as a mountain. I'll probably be checking email in aisle 13 and receiving texts from my daughter asking how long am I going to be away? Sound familiar. I bet. Last week we built a diorama in the kitchen for an English assignment and remnants from the glue gun are still lurking about.

Life is good. Every day is a new adventure. I send my kids off each morning with a "Love you. Did you get your lunch? Have a great day! Time is flying by. It's been years since I wiped their faces but I still put a bottle of MomSpit in their backpacks.

Time Out!

Are You Overworked and Overwhelmed? Tips for Calming the Chaos. That’s the subject line of an email I received this week. It came complete with the option to save $122 on The Complete Organizational Toolkit, The Complete Stress Management Toolkit and The Complete Productivity Toolkit. Ooh baby…it struck a chord. I immediately forwarded it to my staff with a note – Don’t cha just want me to order up a bunch of these? Seething sarcasm, huh. My favorite response was a reply with only a picture of a glass and a bottle of Jack Daniels. I hired well.

But seriously folks, I’m sure there’s merit in these learning tools. Well, certainly money for the person selling them. Clearly my reaction was jaded by a month of intense business and personal travel combined with the back to school regime. This MomSpit Mama was having a meltdown. Fortunately, I decided to let black humor win over the urge to throw my laptop off the top of our office building.

Note to self: Chant ohm while folding laundry. Better yet…take the dog for a walk, fully armed with dried liver treats in one pocket and a bottle of MomSpit in the other. Marvel at the playful joy exuded by a pup chasing a squirrel. Repeat as necessary.

To Have and To Hold...

Last night while enjoying Cake Boss on TLC, a preview came on for Sisters Wives. On September 26th the first of a seven part series will air exploring the daily life of a polygamist family. Now, a few men I know may admit to fantasizing about the power of three, but I’m betting it’s not three wives unless they’re someone else’s. Good grief is all I can say. “Run Forrest Run” also comes to mind. Isn’t Real Housewives enough? Not to mention the Duggars, 19 Kids and Counting. I could go on but it is a list that represents nothing but decline. Are there any traditional relationships out there worth noting? Absolutely -- but none of them would be chosen for today’s brand of reality TV. Besides, they’re almost extinct.

Does raising a family in this day and age preclude experiencing a quality, adult heterosexual relationship? Or, are our roles and expectations too complicated and unrealistic with many carrying the baggage of divorce and the load of everyday demands? When I’m asked by a friend for my opinion on whether to ditch the current squeeze, I loathe responding. I have more questions than answers.

None of us who have children could imagine a world without them. They’re our miracles. As I scramble tomorrow morning making lunches, feeding the pets and ensuring each backpack has a bottle of MomSpit tucked in its side, I will both sigh and smile. Following that, I’ll don a monkey suit and set off to blaze a trail in the corporate jungle. Relationship analysis…hmm. That will have to wait. Eagerly looking forward to Sisters Wives. I think not.

NASCAR, Love & Angels

To finish off our summer vacation, I took my kids to Montreal to experience NASCAR. We also took in the Bodies Exhibition. A little science combined with a lot of zoom. Growing up, I watched many races with my Dad. He loved it to the point that he took my Mom to Indie on their honeymoon. Sadly, my Dad passed away last year. My memories of how we lived and what we did together come to life regularly.

The weekend skies were blue and the cars were fast. I looked up often, wondering if my Dad could somehow see me and the kids making the next generation of memories and wishing that he could be with us. Shortly after the race started an older gentleman sat down beside me. It was the aisle seat and he appeared out of nowhere. He resembled my father in so many ways I had to catch my breath. He looked at me and my kids with kindness and approval, and we chatted as the action transpired. The moment he sat down I wondered, “Is it possible there are angels among us?” There couldn’t have been a more ideal person to sit beside me for those two days.

The kids and I also caught the 2010 Emmy awards. One of the winners dedicated his award to his mother and father stating, “This is for you. I am the product of supportive parents.” I, too, am the product of supportive parents. I looked over at my kids knowing they are too young to understand the impact of that statement, but hoping that someday they would feel as I do – fortunate and blessed with the gift of true love. This MomSpit Mama was in awe, just like the Grinch when his heart grew in size.

For my Buddy, Angels on the Moon.

Eat, Pray, Love.

A great friend sent me Eat, Pray, Love last year with a message, “Everyone’s talking about this book. Have at it. It’s not my thing.” The chatter has started again with the release of the movie. Julia Roberts is one of my favorite actors so I will see the film despite the fact that the noise surrounding it irritates me like a bad rash. Even Starbucks had the motion picture soundtrack stacked at the register this week. I’m not usually negative so I’ve searched to find the reason for my feelings. Divorce sucks. I know that all too well. I’m not zero on the empathy scale. I believe Ms. Gilbert has expertly chronicled her journey and moved beyond her emotional challenges. I liked that. My irritation comes from reviewer comments such as “It’s a fast-paced spiritual memoir.”

Are you kidding me? A talented and capable woman, albeit bruised, travels to exotic places for a year with no financial stress and the time to find herself and overcome the grief of her divorce. She finishes that journey by falling in love with a kind, successful and well-to-do gentleman. I say, “Good for her.” But let’s stop there. Please. It’s a modern day fairytale that happened to come true. I would happily consult with Oprah or Dr. Phil to hear their views on my stance.

If I’m going to gush on fantasy, this MomSpit Mama will go with just one night in Carrie Bradshaw’s closet with Mr. Big. In the mean time, I will diligently start shopping for school supplies, just the right backpack and rejoice in the joy my children bring me every day. On behalf of divorced, single-parents everywhere I should write Wash, Spin, Dry.

p.s. I really did enjoy the book and was sad to hear of the passing of Richard who fondly nicknamed her “Groceries”. I loved that part of the journey.

Got Poutine? Get MomSpit

Huh...Poutine at a county fair in Minnesota. You may be asking yourself what the heck is poutine? For those of us who have indulged, it’s pure delight. Not light. Delight. Poutine is a Canadian recipe of golden French fries topped with cheese curds and covered in thick, brown gravy. The ingredients don’t do it justice, and it’s not on any food guide you’d find at a school or in your doctor’s office. Neither is tiramisu. I say no poo pooing of poutine until you’ve tried it. It’s a culinary mystery. Sounds bad. Tastes good. Even New Yorkers are indulging. Check out TPoutine. When you’re eating on the go, make sure you have MomSpit in your carryall. That will make my day. Now get out there and enjoy yours!

Cash in Royally

I began wondering why I manage every dollar in business with detail and efficiency yet at times my personal spending habits are less than stellar. The culprit is plastic. The request to swipe with the stripe requires little to no thought and presents no immediate consequence. All too often, what should have been a $20 trip to wherever can end up a three bags full $100 event. These aren’t necessarily outlandish purchases but as a habit they lead to red, not green. Fed up with the situation, I embarked on a cash only diet. I put a set amount of bills into my wallet each week. Now I buy more thoughtfully and often have leftovers. I get to put my MomSpit to work cleaning up after handling all that change. My wallet is thicker. My purchases are smarter. Much to my surprise, I don’t feel restricted. I feel empowered. Put simply, cash is Queen. The only challenge for this newly-minted royal is not falling off her throne. If you’re looking for a personal diet where gaining is good, this is it.

If your small business needs a financial tune up, visit Score. They provide ready made templates that will help you evaluate your reality and get you on track to building a better one.