JUNGLELIFE

Okay, so I get sworn in officially next week.  I'm so happy this is finally over... just in time to vote too.

 

It's on a Thursday in August!

 

Guess what I'll be doing for the next month and a half...

 

...studying American facts and figures :)

 

Wish me luck!

 

 

 

Most of you all know I'm in that phase of life right now, where my kids are young and very rambunctious... well specifically, my almost 3-year-old son, Tanner, is very rambunctious.

 

And so it goes that he has begun throwing his toys around. Anger management does not go over very well with young tots, I have learned.  Every so often, we would receive detailed reports from his sister Morgan, about how he has flung the latest diecast hotwheels against our newly painted walls, with velocity and speed the likes of which we have never seen before.  These episodes usually leave scratches and dings on our walls, which are not really visible, but we know it's there.

 

Dare I suggest to leave those marks on the wall?  Heaven forbid!  My husband stands ready with joint compound and touch up paint, like a well-equipped house-repair medic. At the slightest notion of paint scuff and drywall injury, he dutifully whips out the plaster to repair whatever damage Tanner has managed to inflict on our home.

 

And I wish he didn't.

 

I wish he would leave those scuff marks on the wall, and those dents in the wood furniture. I love to see those blemishes. I take pride in those dings and dents. I love to see the honest and raw emotion that my children have right now. No fronting, no pretence... just Tanner and Morgan. Years from now, I could trace those indentations and scuffs, and remember fondly the way they run up to me when I come home at night.  Or perhaps by seeing those blemishes, I can smile and think back to how simple life is right now, with my two tempestuous babies, who fling diecast metal cars at my brand new walls.

 

Life happens and shit happens, and things will fall apart. So what? Your house becomes a home when you can look at it and say, "Yeah, I remember that gaping hole. Tanner put that there when he tried running over Morgan."

 

I want a house full of crayons scuffs and scraped paint and mysterious pudding stains. I want my house to be lived in.

 

Soon they'll be older, much older... with no time for mommy and daddy, no time to run to me when I get home at night, no time to cry in my lap, no time to read me a story when I'm too tired to read them a story, no time to give me hearty belly-laughs when I make the silliest joke, and no time to make me feel like I am the bestest thing they have ever laid their eyes on.  

 

So, I think I'll take my ruined walls, thanks. It's my perfect little photo album of life. 

 

Nothing amazing to report, except that I am mighty glad May is here and next month it's June :)

 

Check out my video.  It's a song by Dave Matthews Band - American Baby.  One of my faves.

 

hugs and kisses,

Gracia

...and for that I apologize.

 

Our company has finally made the big move downtown.  We are at State Street, which is right at the water's edge.  any further, and you're headed into Brooklyn or New Jersey. And I can see the Statue of Liberty all day, everyday. I promise to take some pics in the week.

 

I am in my second block of Psychology classes, and staying up tonight trying to get an assignment cleared and posted - needless to say, I am here on Spaces, when I should be doing schoolwork.  I have zero discipline.

 

I had a fantabulous 32nd birthday. Holy Cow.  The details thereof shall forever remain in my head and heart... and between all witnesses present that night.

 

I am an official subway rider.  Let me tell ya... there are  some crazy folk out there on those trains.

 

Life is good and I am happy.

 

Summer will soon be here and then I can finally wear my itsy bitsy skanky shorts.

 

By goddamn time.

 

 

 

 

I have a friend David, who has the wackiest humor I've seen and heard in a long time.  Anyway, he wrote the following piece and I found it immensely funny. Thought I'd share with you all.  It's taken straight from an email he sent me.

 

 

 

let it go,
let it roll right off your shoulder
don't you know
the hardest part is over
let it in,
let your clarity define you
in the end
we will only just remember how it feels

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain

let it slide,
let your troubles fall behind you
let it shine
until you feel it all around you
and I don't mind
if it's me you need to turn to
we'll get by,
it's the heart that really matters in the end

our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain

all of my regret
will wash away some how
but I can not forget
the way I feel right now

in these small hours
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away but these small hours
these small hours, still remain,
still remain
these little wonders
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away
but these small hours
these little wonders still remain

 

 

 

Mmmm... let's see:

 

My only brother and his beautiful wife and baby will be visiting in June 08 for a coupla weeks.

 

I am so excited by this, I cannot even tell you.

 

Still patiently waiting to receive my test date for the citizenship test. 

 

Psychology classes begin Monday 28th. Yay!  My course counselor, Amanda, is rock solid.

 

 

Tan-tan and Morg are becoming the most amazing components of my life.

 

 

My cousin will be aupairing for my kids, which means I will be able to see my children everyday. It has been absolute hell since I started this job... not being able to see them.  At one point, I was ready to say "screw it"... no job is worth not seeing your children for 5 days in a row.  Yes, I was losing it big time.

 

My MIL is insane.  It's not a professional diagnosis, but lemme tell ya, the signs are there.  

 

What else, what else...

 

Oh yes, we welcomed a new addition to the family two weeks ago.  I didn't tell ya'll that we have a new baby?  She is just gorgeous and her name is Ford Explorer.

 

 

It's Saturday morning... and I have a million things to do this weekend! 

 

 

Toodles y'all!

((hugs))

 

~~Grace~~

 

 

 

Wowsers, ooowweee.... I just read one heck of a nasty comment on my "We don't need anymore of you people in our country" blog.  Obviously the writer of that comment had not a clue in which context that blog was written, but whatever.  People just don't read.  It's a thorough shame.

 

Why do I even write all this crap? What makes me think anyone else besides my family back in Cape Town, South Afica, would have a remote interest in what I have to say or do?  Yeah, its an outlet and one can be a part of a great community of bloggers, but man oh man, when crackpots like the above said commentor comes around and pisses all over my site... it makes me a little ill at ease.

 

At some point I realize that this blog is probably going to have to be restricted somewhat.

 

Anyway, today I attended a Birth-to-Three meeting with other parents of toddlers who have developmental difficulties - it was a chance to meet and connect and share experiences.  Gearing my psychology degree towards a specific field has been a challenge, since there are so many specialties within the Psychology universe, but today at the Birth-to-Three meeting, I gained a sense of direction. I feel comfortable with the idea that I am going to assist young minds and behaviour.

 

Tanner's seeming disability is a blessing in disguise.  My angel is showing me the way.