An Accounting of The Past Few Months
I turn my back, and suddenly it's been two months since I posted anything here. Time has been flying; I just can't believe it. When I realized a couple days ago that I hadn't blogged since Nigel and I got together, I had a desire to record some of the fun and happiness I've been living, followed by a knee-jerk, irrational, superstitious fear that blogging would jinx the sweetness life has passed my way recently. However, I hate being superstitious like that, and I'd rather believe that the good things going on are mostly a result of choices, and the dissolution of past relationships had nothing (or VERY little) to do with preservation via written word! If anything, I can think of one relationship I prolonged by writing about it in my LJ, talking myself back into him over and over for months and making the story of us seem good by trying to focus on the good parts. Eh, well. Live, learn. And here I am, "pen in hand."
I finally feel somewhat settled here in Southern California. I have a great group of friends who gather at my home most every Friday for games and jokes and good food. I've realized that I'm never happier than when feeding and entertaining people I love. I'm like a kid; I never want them to leave, never want the playdate to be over. Before one party is over, I'm planning the next. So far we've done Van Halen-tines Day (day after Valentines, involving Eighties Glam Rock outfits), Charlie Sheen Appreciation Night (inside joke following a game night incident), a fire-pit cook-out, a cupcake bake (more to come), and uh... other various potluck/social stuff. We have an Easter brunch, a Pajama Party, a Prom, a Superhero Theme, a Soul Train Party, and some other things coming. More people invite more people, and I've had to be careful not to let the groups get too big. Thirteen to fifteen is the most my house will comfortably fit without feeling like some stupid college throwback, and usually I prefer to keep it to a core six or eight. I've got a little family, and I'm thrilled.
Nigel and I had a rough January, while I swung back and forth on the issue of whether or not I really wanted a boyfriend. (Basically, I didn't. But it turns out, I did want him.) He was patient for the most part, and things are beautiful. We've done Disneyland and Palm Springs and hospital visits and hikes and beach trips and grocery budgeting and pool tournaments and YMCA workouts and American Idol cheer/jeering. We wake up together in the morning, and he brings up hot tea so that we can sit on the balcony and watch the sunrise before he heads to work. He rubs my back without complaint, even though it hurts often and means that he gives more rubs than he gets. He laughs at my jokes. He discusses with me things that we read. Most important of all, he is generally happy and good-natured, and I hadn't realized how much THAT was the missing ingredient in past (otherwise lovely, often) boyfriends. I don't mind cheerleading in the beginning, cajoling, inspiring... but eventually it wears me down, and then I get resentful or just end up joining the depression squad. Thank God for someone who can be happy and positive on his own, for weeks on end. It's been a few months now, and it's still going strong, so that's nice.
WiiMan was being bullied at school. His teachers told me they are struggling with a situation wherein children who succeed academically are ostracized or outright teased/mocked/harassed by the others. When WiiMan's one ally in the class was awarded the title "Student of the Month," four little boys instructed the rest of the children to stop playing with him for the rest of the year and demand his lunch. The teachers actually overheard that one, and they tried to put a stop to it, but apparently this sort of thing happens daily. WiiMan was coming home crying and asking for help. We tried a few different things for months, but in the end, I pulled him from the school and enrolled him in a Montessori Elementary school, where he is THRIVING, mercifully. I didn't want to overreact, and I don't like the idea of plucking all of the "successful" students from a school that is struggling, but in the end, the teacher herself told me that she would never put her kid in the class and that they are all at their collective wit's end trying to figure out how to fix the problem. SO SAD! I'm still wondering what can be done about it, because though I needed to remove my kid and relieve his distress immediately, it's still my community, and that's just not right for any kid. I'm fortunate that, although it's a very tricky juggling act, we can afford to pay for private school; that may not last, and lots of parents can't do it, period.
For the past couple of days, I've been on a crazy baking kick, and I've decided I may hold a small impromptu baked-goods sale in my yard this weekend. (Getting info on the potential lawbreaking of that has been far more difficult than I imagined it would be. I even talked to the Dept of Health, and the lady either didn't have time, didn't understand, or couldn't be bothered to help me. Oh well. Here's hoping for a little extra money and no jail/fines.) Some pictures? Why, certainly.
I hope you guys are all doing well and enjoying lovely spring weather. I've got a pretty beach view, blocks away, from my balcony window, and a nice breeze in the sun.
I finally feel somewhat settled here in Southern California. I have a great group of friends who gather at my home most every Friday for games and jokes and good food. I've realized that I'm never happier than when feeding and entertaining people I love. I'm like a kid; I never want them to leave, never want the playdate to be over. Before one party is over, I'm planning the next. So far we've done Van Halen-tines Day (day after Valentines, involving Eighties Glam Rock outfits), Charlie Sheen Appreciation Night (inside joke following a game night incident), a fire-pit cook-out, a cupcake bake (more to come), and uh... other various potluck/social stuff. We have an Easter brunch, a Pajama Party, a Prom, a Superhero Theme, a Soul Train Party, and some other things coming. More people invite more people, and I've had to be careful not to let the groups get too big. Thirteen to fifteen is the most my house will comfortably fit without feeling like some stupid college throwback, and usually I prefer to keep it to a core six or eight. I've got a little family, and I'm thrilled.
Nigel and I had a rough January, while I swung back and forth on the issue of whether or not I really wanted a boyfriend. (Basically, I didn't. But it turns out, I did want him.) He was patient for the most part, and things are beautiful. We've done Disneyland and Palm Springs and hospital visits and hikes and beach trips and grocery budgeting and pool tournaments and YMCA workouts and American Idol cheer/jeering. We wake up together in the morning, and he brings up hot tea so that we can sit on the balcony and watch the sunrise before he heads to work. He rubs my back without complaint, even though it hurts often and means that he gives more rubs than he gets. He laughs at my jokes. He discusses with me things that we read. Most important of all, he is generally happy and good-natured, and I hadn't realized how much THAT was the missing ingredient in past (otherwise lovely, often) boyfriends. I don't mind cheerleading in the beginning, cajoling, inspiring... but eventually it wears me down, and then I get resentful or just end up joining the depression squad. Thank God for someone who can be happy and positive on his own, for weeks on end. It's been a few months now, and it's still going strong, so that's nice.
WiiMan was being bullied at school. His teachers told me they are struggling with a situation wherein children who succeed academically are ostracized or outright teased/mocked/harassed by the others. When WiiMan's one ally in the class was awarded the title "Student of the Month," four little boys instructed the rest of the children to stop playing with him for the rest of the year and demand his lunch. The teachers actually overheard that one, and they tried to put a stop to it, but apparently this sort of thing happens daily. WiiMan was coming home crying and asking for help. We tried a few different things for months, but in the end, I pulled him from the school and enrolled him in a Montessori Elementary school, where he is THRIVING, mercifully. I didn't want to overreact, and I don't like the idea of plucking all of the "successful" students from a school that is struggling, but in the end, the teacher herself told me that she would never put her kid in the class and that they are all at their collective wit's end trying to figure out how to fix the problem. SO SAD! I'm still wondering what can be done about it, because though I needed to remove my kid and relieve his distress immediately, it's still my community, and that's just not right for any kid. I'm fortunate that, although it's a very tricky juggling act, we can afford to pay for private school; that may not last, and lots of parents can't do it, period.
For the past couple of days, I've been on a crazy baking kick, and I've decided I may hold a small impromptu baked-goods sale in my yard this weekend. (Getting info on the potential lawbreaking of that has been far more difficult than I imagined it would be. I even talked to the Dept of Health, and the lady either didn't have time, didn't understand, or couldn't be bothered to help me. Oh well. Here's hoping for a little extra money and no jail/fines.) Some pictures? Why, certainly.
I hope you guys are all doing well and enjoying lovely spring weather. I've got a pretty beach view, blocks away, from my balcony window, and a nice breeze in the sun.