I is for....

Honestly I really struggled with the letter I. What on earth could I possibly write about that starts with I? I mean I knew it had been a while since I had written here. So I needed to get busy. But I?

So I started going through my mind for words that started with I. Idiot, Ice Cream, Irritating, Illness, Illinois......nope none of those worked. Then it hit me. It was right in front of me but I was missing it. Or was I? Maybe I was overlooking it on purpose?

I is for Independance. Which is a big thing around here lately. Madison has been stubbornly asserting her independance recently. Suddenly she's a pre-teen. Suddenly she wants to ride her bike around the neighborhood alone. Suddenly she wants to have privacy. Suddenly she doesn't need help picking out her clothes or getting ready in the morning. And just as suddenly, I don't know what to do. This is unchartered territory for me. Having a pre-teen isn't something I have practice at. And I don't want to baby her. Well okay maybe I do. But I won't. Yet at the same time I don't want to give her too much freedom. She's still young. Freedom can be a dangerous thing. So we've had battles over her newfound independance.

I, myself, am also trying to assert my independance. Trying to pull myself away from these feelings that want to hold me down. Trying to break the chains that have bound me for so long. I thought I had already done that. I was doing well with it. I rarely thought about it or felt it anymore. Then out of nowhere it is back. Yet I know it is pointless. But here I sit. Waiting. Aching. Thinking. I've never been fond of thinking too much.

So around our house the word of the month is independance. Perfect for the letter I. And sadly enough, I am having to compromise. Madison can now ride her bike around the block alone WITH permission. She can pick out her own clothes and get ready without my interferance. I try to let her have privacy but I do cut that off when she has a fit for me going outside because I am invading her privacy lol.

As for me...I am just taking it day by day. Knowing that eventually the feelings will subside and I will be whole again.

H is for......

Happy Birthday.

See all this talk about friends over the last few days has gotten me to thinking about a very close friend of mine. The person who was/is my best friend. Today is his birthday.

Sadly though, he lives 900 miles away. So I can't take him out and buy him a drink for his birthday. I can't go to whatever party he is surely a part of. I can't even say Happy Birthday.

Sometimes I miss being there. Being able to just hang out with the one person who unconditionally accepts me as me.

But then I think....our lives have changed so much. If I was there we may drift apart. We live two completely different lifestyles. So in a way I am glad I only see him once or twice a year. Because then the bond is still there. For those moments I get to spend with him, we are still the best of friends. I'd hate to lose that. And life surely would get in the way.

So I will take my diet cherry drink (yes I live in Michigan and NO I don't say pop lol) and offer a silent toast. Happy Birthday Erin.

G is for....

Good Morning.

Yeah, that theory goes out the window with Madison around LOL. Especially on Mondays. I hate Mondays.

She loses her schedule over the weekend so mornings are volatile around here on Mondays. What are the issues you ask?

Well today we had the following problems:

* It's not fall enough to wear jeans (even though its only in the 50's)
* She's tired of me asking if she is finished with her hair after only 20 minutes in the bathroom
* Her pants are too long and she wants me to cut them off
* Her shoes have something icky on them
* She's NOT going anywhere and she doesn't care what I say

And when I say they are problems I mean it! We finally got her to walk out the door at 7:40. Which means again she will be late for school.

Ahhhh.....its always fun to get ready in the mornings around here.

Good Morning everyone!

Taking a reading break....

I decided to take a break from the ABC's to do my book reviews. I had some wonderful ladies send me some books to read and I've been quite obsessive about it LOL.

The first book I read was My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I could not put this book down. It was very good, thought provoking, sad...all at the same time. I read it in my typical I am obsessed 2 days.

Then I moved on to the widely known TWILIGHT series. Now I am not a vampire kinda girl. And I don't usually enjoy those type of books. But let me tell you...I am sooooo obsessed with this series. The first book TWILIGHT....I read in 2 days. The second book.....NEW MOON....I completed it in ONE day. Yep that's right. ONE day. Granted I got nothing else accomplished. But thats a small price to pay right??

I will say though, New Moon brought back a lot of memories for me. No I didn't date vampires ....although some of them could qualify as monsters LOL......but the feelings of the book....I have been there...I could relate to it. I remember those feelings all to well when I let myself think about it.

I am now working on ECLIPSE. I wont get it finished as fast because I do HAVE to get some work done. I did manage to get through photos of 2 tubs of stuff today. Tomorrow I work on the other 7 waiting for me :)

Well there you have my expert opinion on the books I have been reading. If you haven't read any of these....YOU SHOULD. Take my word for it. I wouldn't lie to ya.