I’m observing Lent early … or is it late?

I think I am having what another blogger once characterized as a ‘bloxistential crisis’. To blog or not to blog? And what about? And why? And where? And all the other journalistic ‘w’ questions. I won’t bore you with the details of my personal philosophical ponderings.

In other news, I am a sappy sentimentalist about all things holiday. I love it: the smell of pine and the lights and the food and the decorations and even the extra church services. Growing up, I always felt safe and warm and loved and blessed sitting by the tree, listening to Elvis Christmas records, drinking hot chocolate. I loved Christmas and found the holiday season magical.

As a mother of three I have learned there is no ‘magic’ involved. The presents and the lights and the food don’t just appear the day after Thanksgiving. We can’t just click a button on our desktop and change the world’s backdrop to “holiday.”

No, magical holidays require labor. Moms work hard in December. But it’s a labor of love, and one I refuse to allow to cause me stress. I refuse to relinquish my holiday joy to the race and the demands of spend and shop. But creating a season, preserving personal peace, and leaving some time for me to sit down by the tree with Elvis, my hot chocolate, and my book, does require strategy, planning and forethought.

Last year, with some success, I took a hiatus from blogging. I stepped back for the month of December. I concentrated on my family and on the holidays, and I reflected on my own goals, bloggy and otherwise. As it happens, 2007 was a pretty good year, so I’ve decided to do the same again.

This year, I am expanding the break to include personal internet time. Lately I have been spending a lot of time reading blogs, trying to be witty on my Facebook page, losing games of Scrabulous. In theory, taking some time off in cyberspace will free up some quality time in real space for holiday joy and year end self-reflection.

Come back in January to find out how it turns out - whether I have the willpower to stay free of Facebook, away from ALOTT5MA, minus MommyTracks for a whole month - and to see if I can answer that all-important question - what is the meaning of my blogging life?

In the meantime, feel free to use the comments to discuss how you stay stress-free in the holidays.

Peace and Joy and many thanks for spending some of your time in 2007 reading my ramblings.

Posted in Everything Else | |

I hate myself for loving you.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve been having an affair of the heart. I feel like such a cliche. It started at my gym a week or so ago. First off, let me explain. It’s not like I was out looking for something new or exciting. I understand the importance of consistency and stability in our relationship. And, obviously, it’s important for the kids as much as us.  I never meant for this to happen. I think we get so bogged down in the day-to-day, that sometimes our lustfulness and desire just sneaks up on us. At least, that’s what happened to me. (more…)

Posted in Everything Else | |

It’s not a lie if you believe it.

We were on a train somewhere in France when I said it. I was desperate. I needed to say something, plead my case, convince him I was fabulous.

The walk to the train station had been long, and it was unseasonably warm for May. I had tipped my suitcase over at least twice, steered it quite obliviously over a few dainty European toes and inadvertently (and oh, so conveniently!) packed my passport at the bottom of it under socks and underwear.

Finally aboard the train, I now had a disagreeable and annoying chunk of hair that refused to stay in its pony tail or behind my ear despite my repeated efforts at securing it. I pushed the rebel hair back. It waited until my hands were otherwise occupied and then defiantly popped down in front of my eye again.

Dammit, I must look like a total moron, I thought. A disorganized, sweaty moron. (more…)

Posted in Everything Else | |

Kindergarten: Launch of the Second Period

We stood outside the school, hand-in-sweaty-hand, waiting for the bell to ring. I clutched a folder of multi-colored paperwork. He swayed eagerly from foot to foot with his TMNT backpack hanging light and empty over one shoulder (“the way the big kids carry them.”) We were about to embark on a new adventure – school age, the next era in parenting. But I wasn’t really thinking about all that.

I was thinking about Owen Wilson. (more…)

Posted in Everything Else | |

Sunday is Grandparents’ Day.

I accidentally learned that Sunday is Grandparents’ Day. (Apparently, it’s always the second Sunday in September - who knew?) Then, I stumbled on these lesson plans and ideas for kids about Grandparents. Just in case you don’t already have the date programmed on the Google Calendar, I thought I’d be helpful.

If you don’t feel like talking grandparents in the comments, feel free to discuss whether I have appropriately utilized the apostrophe in my description of the day. Apparently, there’s no clear answer on this one.

Posted in Everything Else | |

Brooks, Springsteen and Kindergarten

I know you are probably not here, visiting a blog called Mommy Tracks, for your music news.  But, it was a big week in music, and while I could talk about how hard it is to send your kid to Kindergarten, I’m still in denial. Maybe tomorrow.

Instead, I’m not ashamed to admit I still love Garth Brooks. You can read a review of his new single and listen to it here. I do find it incredibly annoying that I can’t get my favorite Garth songs on iTunes, and, apparently, I still won’t be able to - even after this new Ultimate Hits album comes out.

Second, no one is ashamed to admit they love The Boss. Did you know you can still get the new Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band single Radio Nowhere free on iTunes. You should.

New music is good in periods of denial.

Posted in Everything Else | |