"I don't wanna be anything other than what I've been tryin' to be lately. . ." ~ that guy. . .the one who sings that song. . .someone tell me his name please :)


I've always been a straight-shooter when it comes to my love/hate relationship with exercise.  Lately, I'm more of a "'round tuit."  But, I threw on my "PLEASE. . .SLOW DOWN" t-shirt this morning in the hopes that what goes 'round comes off eventually.

There are so many fun things going on in my family right now.  It's birthday season - I think we've got a birthday every couple of weeks from now until June.  Big families can be hard to keep up with, but the entertainment is always built-in.

We've also got a wedding in the works.  As the Mother of the Groom, I'm responsible for certain components of the wedding details. . .mainly to smile and nod.    I am not gifted in the world of "foo," and once my suggestion of a taco bar was shut down,  well, I was incensed :)  Not really, I'm delighted to help.  The most important thing is that my son and bonus daughter have a good time in the company of people who love them.  I'm going to be a great mother in law!!  (As the oldest children, you "get" me if Dad abandons ship. . .brace yourselves!)

Of course, I'm excited about the campaign.  I really like the idea that I'll be able to do some good for my community.  Folks keep telling me to prepare myself for the "down" side of politics - and I'm sure those times will come. . .but I think I'm ready to handle the harsher side of jeers.  Let's face it, Motherhood isn't exactly a popularity contest.  :)

I've also got some fun meetings and gatherings and a little TCB going my way this week that I am looking forward to marking off my list.

So, as I sported my day-glo green safety message this morning, exercising and humming that guy's little ditty in my head, I though about all the good stuff in my life.  I felt positive, competent. . .Golden.  And then, I felt like a total nerd for waving at some guy who was NOT my friend in her silver SUV.  Nothing gold can stay!

Have fun!!

When the Wind Blows. . .

"A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache." ~ Catherine the Great





For several years, I've written a blog called "Teen Talk" for our local Moms Like Me site and newspaper wherein I've aired my family's dirty laundry for all of my hometown and anyone with access to the World Wide Web to see.  It's rather freeing, actually, to know that there are people who take a little peek at your soul and don't think you're nuts. . .or, if they DO think you are nuts, at least you've kind of grown on them.  :) (Yeah, I'm a fan of the smiley face too. . .and the double entendre. . .)


Now that I'm almost bereft of teens about whom to talk (Engine #9 won't be coming around that mountain for about 3 more years. . .however, I believe she's going off the rails some days!) I guess I need to start planning for a future in which my kids aren't the reason I live, breathe and drive all over town.  Dare I suggest it is time, after 24 years of motherhood, for me to begin to consider what I want to be when I grow up?

Not that I haven't always "earned my keep."  There have been times when I knocked on doors in my neighborhood and cleaned houses with two toddlers in-tow.  Later,  I was an assistant in a Montessori school so that my kids could attend for a reduced tuition.   I worked in my father's convenience stores for several years and was able to adjust my schedule to accommodate kids.  After the birth of my 4th child, I started my own Concierge service and delivered cribs, strollers, groceries, flower petals (etc!!) to vacationers at the beach.  That rolled along successfully until Ivan rolled in and blew our beach away.

In the way that doors close and windows open,  about that time my husband's business picked up and he needed my help as a sort of "girl Friday."  I ran errands, handled appointments, I even jumped in and got my hands dirty. . . okay, actually, I just felt like "RocketMom" wearing the backpack blower.

And just to make sure my life was a breeze, a second window opened to homeschooling.  And we shouldn't forget the that I was paid to write my blog and column.  Then there was the extra crispy I picked up with my annual 10-day feather ruffle in the "Chicken Coop" - our name for the ticket booth at the fair.  I've even been a high-end lingere store Model (I kept the line straight for them on Black Friday), I was in Theater for a time (well, the box office of our local performing arts theater) and I was the face of a major cosmetics company (I walked the floor holding a tray-full of samples.)  Hey, the non-parenthetical descriptions look better on a resume!

So now the great wind is blowing me toward City government, and I feel like all of the skills I've acquired along the way have been preparing me for this moment (not the least of which that I've raised three voting-aged children!!)   I am a problem-solver, a hard worker, a negotiator - and don't forget, I also have the patience of a grandma.

It doesn't mean I'm in for smooth sailing. . .sometimes a great wind will give you imagination AND a headache.

I'm a better mother than I am a blogger. . .

I'm back. Oh, it's only been a couple of years or so. . .

I will definitely have to update my "about me" stuff, but here's what we've got going on today. . .

I'm procrastinating writing a bio for my City Council campaign. Yes I am, and yes I did! I know you're laughing, but it's just crazy enough to work. If you've read through a few of my blogs, you can actually see where my "education" into the workings of City government began when I received notice of a code violation and stuck a nasty sign in my yard. It turned out to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship with the friendly folks in the Code Enforcement office. . .and an early step in my education about doing the right thing and looking out for my neighbors. The important life lesson: be willing to listen to the other side of the story.

But what of my children?? Oh, they are all up and at 'em this morning - the two who still live at home still need to clean their rooms and the two who made it over the wall are "fully involved" in life. The oldest son and bonus daughter are raising a child and planning a wedding in March. The oldest daughter is in school and working and also lives on her own. Her younger brother just moved into the 'hood (adulthood!) and, while he remains at home, he is no longer homeschooling - he's working on his diploma at the local college. And the last "last" child is scrounging her way through fourth grade at the elementary school up the road. We'll catch up on all of that soon, dear reader. . .much has changed in my life.

And yet, some things remain the same. I need to get back to work. Hello, my name is Lara and I am a procrastinator. But I guess we all have to be a "pro" at something.

Have fun!