Nice Cop

Last night I went out to dance. And I danced and I danced and I danced. There were just a few of us left on the floor by the time I changed back into my street shoes and hopped in my car to drive home. The drive was pretty uneventful, just long. From Redmond back to Everett can be anywhere from 30-40 minutes but it's worth it to be able to dance in a studio again.

I was very careful not to speed much at all though because I was driving the vroom-vroom car. Cops love to pull over people who's cars make obnoxious noise while they're speeding, even 5 miles over. So I was driving the speed limit all the way home. Imagine my surprise when one block from the turnoff into our neighborhood those ominous flashing lights start up behind me!

So I pull over into an AMPM on my right-hand side and turn off my car. The cop gets out of his and I roll down my window to talk to him. He simply asks me if I realize that I'm supposed to have a front liscense plate attached to the front of the car. Unfortunately, I do. But I tell him that Pocho has told me he just need to go and get the right screws to attach it and that's why it's sitting by the windsheild instead of affixed to the front of the car. Well, the cop was very nice and just asked that I make this happen very soon. I will, of course, comply.

But then he asked for my liscense as well and when I gave it to him he asked if we had moved here or were just visiting. I told him we moved up here last summer. So he tells me "you're a little past your 30 days then," to get my liscense changed to WA. Did anyone know there was a rule that said you had 30 days to switch your liscense when you move out of state?? Well I sure didn't and I very politely told him so. We joked a bit about the expiration date on my AZ liscense (I would be 65 when it expired) and then he let me go home with the instructions to change my liscense and get the front plate on the car asap.

Nice to meet a nice cop.

For the Love of Vampires!

I'm just as much a fan of vampire novels as many a reader out there but some readers just embarass me. I love Stephanie Meyer's stories about the moral vampire and mortal womans' love, and I love Cynthia Leitich Smith's novels about vampires, werepeople and guardian angels. But I don't love some peoples' comments and the fanatic bumper stickers.

I was driving home from the gym today and an SUV in front of me was proudly displaying an array of mismatched bumper stickers. "Married with children but in LOVE with a vampire," was one such. Another said, "I punched a werewolf in the FACE!" And right beside and below these were two identical "Baby on Board" stickers. Seriously? Is this fanaticism something that you want to teach your children. They will be the kids walking round with "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob" shirts on. Screaming and feinting if they happen to see Rob Pattinson on the street.

Think about it though...who would really be happy to meet a vampire? If they are truly real beings out there, who would be able to survive an encounter? I live in the Pacific Northwest and when I walk around underneath the trees and cloud-cover I get a bit nervous. Not that I wouldn't mind having creatures like the Cullens or the Moraleses in our world, but I still don't think I'd truly like to meet them. Let them live in their world and me in mine and happily I will always wonder if all the tales from around the world have some truth behind them.

You will not find me rooting for "Team Edward" though or hoping to meet a real Kieren. I am happy just imagining them and that is enough for me, for all eternity.

Spring is in the Air

I have sat down several times in the past few days hoping to wrap my mind around a thought or two to share on my blog. Ideas keep flitting through my brain but the majority of them are thoughts that I think might make good articles or longer stories. They have therefore been placed in my idea box instead of on my blog and my blog is lonely.

Spring is in the air. It has been so beautiful outside these past few days. The glorious sun has not hidden behind clouds and when I walk down the street I'm not skipping through puddles and squelching through mud.

The boys and I decided to take advantage of such beautiful weather and we went to the park today. Seems it was a popular idea (and why not!). There were kids everywhere! The Forest Park near our home is a beautiful park with a ridiculous amount of playground equipment, sprinkler water spouts and a petting zoo in summer, an indoor pool and delightful walks through beautiful patches of forest.

Today we decided to visit the forest. Jonas found a stick on the ground, promptly broke it in half with his foot (mimicking mama breaking small branches for firewood starts) and gave one half to Ronan. Then he ran of down the trail holding his wand in front of himself and saying "expecto contronum!" Ronan followed and mumbled something intelligible which was also a spell.

After our moments as wizards and witch (me) we continued on with our sticks and rocks and pine cones. We frolicked through the trees looking for squirrels and birds and then descended a stairway and steeper trail to a beautiful patch of grass which allowed us to look up at our remarkably blue sky.

Seeing how beautiful it was I pointed out the moon to Jonas. He looked and looked (not of course in the direction I pointed) and finally told me he couldn't see it but then pointed out to me the much more important airplane that was flying by. Then Ronan wanted to share his thoughts and he pointed straight up into the trees and said "a rabbit!" He was very sure that there was a tree rabbit in our patch of forest there and we whole-heartedly believed him but searched in vain to behold the creature ourselves. Perhaps we'll have him draw it tomorrow.

What a glorious time of year it is!

Valentines Day

I really seem to have little to say on the subject actually. I've been sitting here trying to put the right words down about a sweet/romantic weekend, or about how it didn't end up that way but the truth is neither is correct. We had a great weekend. Sharing time together and time with the boys, not to mention the roses, chocolates and new GPS for my car made it a fun weekend. What wasn't so great was the interruption of said weekend by Strep throat (yes, I got it again!) and therefore baby-sitter chickening out. But life happens.

Onwards to upcoming weeks of potential date-nights and sickness-free times. Perhaps even welcoming a puppy into our lives once we decide we're ready! Those of you who know me probably know that my brain is already screaming "I'm ready!" But we're trying to really be prepared this time. We don't want to welcome a new life into our home when we're not prepared to deal with everything that that new life entails: 24hr/ puppy care and love, puppy messes, puppy health maintenance $$, puppy baby-sitters when we are not around, puppy fencing for the yard, ...

However, I am always ready for puppy kisses, puppy walks, puppy romps, puppy cuddles and so much more smiles that enter the house with a new dog. I hope we don't make ourselves wait too long. But if I have anything to do with it we probably wont. Hehehe. Recommendations are always welcome for the perfect family-dog breed! We already love Boxers (thanks to Hannah) and Labs from past experience. But we're open to suggestions.

"Call Mama"

Wow, I have just made a marvelous discovery! Yesterday I was playing with my phone trying to lock the keypad so I could put it in my pocket and I pressed the wrong button. Suddenly my phone was talking to me and this is what it said: "Please say a command." Hmmm...my phone was awaiting instructions. So I replied: "call Amor Mio," and my phone obeyed my instructions and called my husband (I know, cutsie).

I was so excited that I called two more people: "call Mama," "call Laura," and it was done as I asked. Both people were probably very concerned about me. Perhaps I overdid the excitement about something so silly? But it was fun! I no longer have to scroll through my contact list. All I have to do is speak clearly and my phone will obey my commands!

Wouldn't it be nice if my phone could obey other commands though: "wash dishes," "sweep floors," "change baby's diaper..." Now that would be a remarkable machine.

Battle of Wills

Whatever do we do when we have not slept enough? Jonas and I battled it out today. There was screaming and slamming of doors and a rather disgruntled younger brother (awakend early from his nap). We tried threats and encouragement and even a bit of the evening nite-time ritual of singing and storytime. I began to think that nothing would work to make my eldest son relax and take a few minutes out so he would be fresh for the afternoon.

Finally however, after all our struggles he was so tired he slept for a long while. Experience has taught me that I cannot let Jonas skip his naps yet. If life gets away from us and this happens we spend the afternoon in a state of whining chaos that I don't wish to remember. In addition to the fun times I inevitably cave and put a movie on for distraction while I'm cooking dinner and upon re-entering the living room find Jonas curled up asleep on the couch. He still needs a nap.

So note to self: Always run them out before naptime! We meant to go to the park this morning. But another ingenious mama moment got in our way. Jonas decided to show me just how much he wanted to make his own decisions today while we were at the bank. I was not particularly pleased by his show of independance and therefore decided to punish us all (marvelous Monica) and we did not go to the park as planned but returned home to wash laundry instead.

Both of my boys have really strong wills. Unfortunately, or fortunately, so do I. Daily we battle it out but as a mama I need to make sure that I'm not suppressing theirs by asserting mine. And onward with the struggles of motherhood!

Evil Happening or Interesting Character Development

Last night I had the most disturbing but interesting dream. For some reason I was in a high school again. But this time we were visiting on vacation. My family and I were on a road trip and there just so happened to be a historic and beautiful high school on our list of places to see. Unfortunately for me I desperately had to use the restroom and therefore missed the tour.

However I was shown to the restroom by the headmaster himself who seemed to think I had done something wrong. In this frame of mind he decided to wait right outside. Inside the room, I found it quite unlike most restrooms I had previously visited and was quite shocked. There were plants everywhere. So much so that they seemed to even sprout from the very furniture in the room. It even appeared more of an office than a restroom as it contained desks and chairs of the finest solid woods and only one toilet.

Perhaps it was my frame of mind, or perhaps it was just the strange room but I felt after a short time of being in the room that I was beginning to be a part of it. I even felt as if I, myself, had foliage sprouting from my body. Closer examination proved, however, that I was not imagining things and I really was developing quite a coat of sprouts.

Quite understandably I was terrified and I began to try to wipe them off. They would brush off quite easily actually but unfortunately grew back just as quickly. It's rather scary to find yourself transformed into something you couldn't previously have imagined. However, as all the superheros who have come into being from strange occurances (radioactivity, spider bites,...) I wonder if my dream character might in time discover a reason for such a transformation although, honestly, I don't know what that could possibly be. It's probably just a mad dream. But just so you know, I wasn't truly scared in my dream. I felt like I could accept being a walking vegetable garden. How very strange.

Writer Vs Mother Dilemma

It has come to my attention that there is perhaps some confusion amongst my friends and family about my blog. Honestly it was started as a way to force myself to begin writing in the hopes of making something out of myself in that direction. I was in need of a place to practice my writing voice and thought 'why not start a blog.' A blog is somewhat of an online journal where people can comment about what you say and perhaps critique my writing style.

However, I have not varied much from just writing about my every-day life and those of you who know me well have probably already heard and seen what I might post. So, no need to comment.

Another dilemma I have had is about what else I can possibly write here, online. There are marvelous story ideas floating around in my head but mostly my hope was to publish them, not just put them online. I cannot, for example, talk much about the novel I hope to eventually publish because it might jeopardize my ability to do just that!

My goal therefore, is to try and branch out. Without divulging any classified information about my serious pieces of writing. I will try to put more writing samples up here than just thoughts from my day. Perhaps I can work on some character development, with full enjoyment of any thoughts sent my way from my few readers. As always, there is no requirement to fulfill as my friend or relation. However, I always love to hear what you think!

Enjoy the bouncing Ronan!

My Superhero

I was usurped today from my running time on the trampoline. Yes...I tried to run on the trampoline today. Several gyms are now in possesion of my resume and/or contact information and I am awaiting answers for a day or so before I stop by and become a little pushy.

Neither of my boys were interested in letting me run for any amount of time on the trampoline however. They were making their opinions known in cries for juice, snacks, love, kisses for booboos, and anything else that they felt might drag me away from my run.

Hence my need for exercise away from my loving children. And time together should be spent with Mr: "you wanna see how I go upside down mom?" (Pictured above). They are so happy when they are bouncing, rolling and romping about. Never forgetting however, that they require an audience for the show that they provide. My job is to be that audience. And even sometimes the MC! I do love my job.

I Can't Run Straight

Nor can I run at all lately. This has got to change. I was on a roll! I was running nearly every day and shedding pounds gradually but noticeably. Now I feel as if I might be reversing, adding a pound here and there.

Today's the day! I am going to update my resume including my experience working at the gym in Tucson and I am going to look for a job teaching at a gym! With Pocho working during all daylight hours Monday-Friday I need to find somewhere I can take the boys with me and work-out. Today's the day to start, for sure.

Wish me luck!