"So tell me a little bit about yourself..."

I had an interview a couple of weeks ago and this was, inevitably, the first question that was asked.  It scares the crap out of me because I don't know how to respond.  This is true for two reasons:  sometimes I don't even know the answer to that AND what if you don't like what I have to say?  So I fumbled around with the usual, boring words to describe myself and it may have cost me the job.  And as it was with playground insults as a child, I have come up with hundreds of comebacks now that I am safely back at home.  So, here are some things about myself (not at all interview-appropriate, but true, nonetheless), that I am after 33 years just being able to say about myself.

I like to travel.
I hate Gorgonzola and blue cheeses.
I only like cilantro in salsas.
I have a wicked spider bite scar/story.
I strongly dislike horror movies, but I love a good suspense/thriller.
I have no desire to bungee jump.
I have been spelunking and rappelling a few times.
I love to camp.
I can kayak. 
I am a former beauty pageant contestant, but only as a runner-up, although I did win Ms. Congeniality.
When it comes to sushi, I only eat California rolls because I don't like raw fish.
I play the violin, but not very well.
I like to run, even though today I'm having a hard time getting motivated - hence the blogging.
I have a strong aversion to people who lie.
I can't keep a secret from my husband.
I have two brothers, one is in prison.
I've never tried drugs - directly related to the statement above.
My best friends are like my family.
I worked in a large animal vet clinic once. 
Parenthood is my favorite TV show. 
I have two little girls. 
They are not at all who I expected - they are even better than that.
I'm from Columbia, Missouri and went to Mizzou - #2 basketball team in the nation - GO Tigers!
I was an English major, Art History minor.
I played club soccer - wasn't good enough for Varsity but I love the game.
I've had my heart broken a few times.
Not just for reasons of love, but also by life.
It's made me stronger. (cue Kelly Clarkson or Kayne West song)
In another life, I would be an interior decorator.  Or a nurse.
I read the Twilight and Hunger Games series, but not Harry Potter.
I didn't go to my first high school reunion.  Not sure about the second. 
17 years ago I would have pegged myself as someone who would.
I'm glad I'm not the same person I was 17 years ago. 
Just found out that I didn't get the job.
Oh well, on to the next interview.

Borders' Loss, My Gain

A few weeks back when Borders was having their liquidation sale, I bought several books I didn't really need, but I also snagged a huge bulletin board for $10.  The same size at The Container Store was $70 and this one was in great condition and needed just some paint and fabric (it's Dwell Studio and unfortunately at $16/yard was more expensive than the actual bulletin board, but I fell in love with it).  This morning I finished it - and it looks great!  I can't wait for Jeff to hang it up in the girls' room.  Yes, I have a fear of hanging things on plaster walls so I need my husband to do it for me.  I'm excited to see the cute things that M & JJ want to put up.

Great news

I survived 3 days of Jeff being in Minneapolis and my kids said that they had a lot of fun while dad was gone.  Really?  Because when I yelled at JJ to stop screaming, for I wasn't putting freaking apples on her grilled cheese, and she ran upstairs and M looked at me with a stark expression on her face and said "mom, she's just a preschooler", I thought that surely the summary for the 3 days would be described in other words than "fun".  But I'll take it.
And miracle of miracles:  M has worn shoes for 6 straight days now.  I KNOW.  HUGE.  I asked the OT at school if there was anything she could think of that would help and I guess she sprinkled her magic OT dust over M's head while she wasn't looking because M is going around saying that flip flops are dumb and they hurt your feet.  Hallelujah.  Friday, I thought it was too good to be true because she wanted to wear her flip flops again.  But halfway to school she changed her mind and said that she wanted her tennis shoes.  So I whipped those puppies out of her backpack and we were back in business.  The secret has been the socks.  If she has at least two pairs on, it feels tight enough on her feet and there isn't as much slipping inside the shoes.  So I have been washing the same 4 pairs of socks over and over again.  I might need to buy more socks.
Jeff took the girls to the school playground while I was working on Saturday and M learned to ride without her training wheels!  We were at a friend's house the night before and she hopped on their kid's bike and started riding so we figured she was ready.  It's such an amazing thing to see your baby ride a two-wheeler for the first time.  I'm so proud of her.  I just stood there watching her and thinking, "I'm not sure what life holds for my little girl with Asperger's, but she can ride a bike and I know that will make her happy.  And there are some kids who will never ride a bike."  I can't wait to go on family bike rides on the trails. 
And it's still 80 degrees where we live - Fall will return this weekend.  But I'm thankful that at 7 am yesterday morning as I went on my long run, I was still wearing shorts and a short-sleeve shirt.  And this weekend is Mizzou Homecoming!  We're not going, but we'll fly our flag proudly.  Even after our sad loss to K-State.  :(

Tackling the To-Do-List

There have been 3 or 4 things on my to-do-list for awhile now and I've crossed a few of them off in the last few days:

Dr.'s appt. (Friday)
Finish bulletin board for girls' room (in progress)
Get maternity & kids clothes ready to sell/get rid of (in progress)
Thompson Center paperwork (currently working on and taking a break to talk about how laborous it is to fill out pages and pages of questions regarding the last 6 years of M's life.)

Seriously - I should have kept better records when she was a baby because I can't remember when she first rolled over or ate her first grape, or gave her first monologue.  NO, she has wasn't waxing poetic as a toddler, but I do remember the first time she said "I love you" and sang the alphabet, and it was way earlier than she was supposed to because it freaked.me.out.  Thanks to the wonder of camcorders, we have a few of these things on tape so the exact dates are known.  I remember being worried about JJ because she was 18 months and didn't know all of her colors and geometric shapes.  Not to worry, I was told.  That's what they call NORMAL. 

Filling out these forms makes me feel, once again, that I am way more in touch with M's development than JJ's.  It brings on the mom guilt even more.  Also the fact that M got her educational diagnosis of Autism in March and her neurologist suggested back in May that we go to the Thompson Center and I am just now getting around to finishing the stack of forms.  What can I say, I was overwhelmed.  I always feel overwhelmed.  Hopefully the meds I picked up today (thanks to checking off the first item on my list), will help that.

I went to counseling this morning and of course severely depleted the supply of Kleenex in her office.  And now I have golf ball eyes for the rest of the day.  I swear, sometimes when I pick up the girls I think their schools think I'm on drugs because my eyes are red and puffy.  And you would think after 4 years I would be done with counseling, but after several starts and stops, I am right back there.  And I recently started over with a new counselor, which is so hard because you have to retell things so that they have context.  Exhausting.  So after I got back and realized that I couldn't really go anywhere else today where people might see my face, I figured I would finally get this packet ready to go in the mail.  It's taken me all afternoon, but I am almost finished. 

Damn you, flip flops.

You are the choice of shoe for my 6-year old, and I hate you.  You are the reason that the soles of her feet are now permanently black.  I blame you for her skinned knee last week on the way to school and this morning for the twisted ankle because you provide absolutely. no. shock. support.  So I had to drag my daughter a block and a half to school with a few "we've all been there"'s and "rough morning, huh"'s tossed my way as she screamed at the top of her lungs.  And it's all your fault.  I would like to hurl you into the fire pit this evening while I have a stiff drink to celebrate.  But I know the power you have over my child and that would reduce us to hillbillies the next day when she walked in barefoot to school.  My search for a replacement for you has cost me lots of cash - Five Fingers for kids, indoor soccer shoes, many a pair from Stride Rite.  I know this is strong, but I might hate this aspect of her Asperger's/Sensory stuff more than the withholding of stools.  Yes, I may despise you more than cleaning up poop. 

Barn Light Electric Giveaway!

Even if I didn't live in a 75-year old house, I would still love mixing old and new in my decorating style. One of the ways I've done this is with lighting. We have old schoolhouse lights in our kitchen that I love. And now that the kitchen is finished we're working on the bathroom renovation.  And Barn Light Electric is where I would like to purchase the lighting - which is why I need to win their giveaway!  Of course, when I looked for ideas for the bathroom, I saw more lights for the other rooms of the house.

The Triple Botswick Bath Light for the upstairs bathrooms (even the non-gutted one).

Two Barn Light Radial Cast Guard CGU Sconces for M & JJ's room (to go in each built-in bed, because hey, I'm already dreaming).

The Halsted Semi-Flush Ceiling Light for the powder room downstairs - or the upstairs foyer - or both!

And a Cape Cod Barn Lantern right outside the front door.

Winning would make me really, really happy.  :)

Want to join in on the fun?

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you'd love to win.

2.Share your picks on your blog and link to the lights if you can.

3.Copy and paste these rules at the bottom of your blog post.

4. Once your post is up, you must email your blog link to: contest@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win. The contest ends October 12th, 2011.

Ahhh, a wonderful Fall Saturday

After two sad and depressing blog posts, today I am filled with the spirit of Fall.  It's only 2 pm and if the day ended right here I would be satisfied.  A refreshing 8.2 mile long run this morning in the cool autumn air with two amazing friends where we got to vent and work towards our half-marathon goal.  Afterwards, a Mediterranean breakfast sandwich and orange juice at Bread Co. (Panera for all those outside of STL), which after said long run tasted like the best breakfast sandwich I had ever eaten - Jen & Ellen expressed the same sentiments about theirs.  Something about a long run that makes everything you eat afterwards taste even better than usual.  Then home to hear about the girls' awesome soccer practice where they BOTH wore their soccer cleats.  Woohoo!  M also wore shoes last night to her school's Fallapalooza festival so maybe we are turning a corner - but I won't get my hopes up yet.  They also made their team shirts - tie dye - I love this team.  I am so glad that my friend Heather organized it and my friend Erin lets us play in her huge backyard.  And the high school boys that run the team are magical and get them to actually listen and play.  I took a glorious warm shower and after putting on my Mizzou black & gold (GO TIGERS!), I made hard-boiled eggs with JJ.  Our neighbor gave us some fresh eggs from his chickens so I had to use up the store bought ones.  Then I used the apples from JJ's class trip to the orchard on Tuesday to make an apple crisp that will make our friend Barb's house smell so good while we're watching the football game tonight.  I wish every day could be this wonderful.