That's so C....

Z: E, we need to talk. I have to tell you something.
E: Do you want to play my game?
Z: Yes. But I don't like it when you call me that. I want you to stop.
E: But you are......
Z (on the verge of tears): But I don't like it. (to me) Can you ask E to stop?
At this point I'm trying very hard not to laugh. I make a serious face to match the situation and say in my best "grown-up voice" - "E, stop calling Z that. Z, maybe E will stop saying that if you stop paying attention to her".
The word that was causing all the trouble? Cute of course!

I give you some music? Yes?

Lady on the phone: Ich sprache kein Englisch
Me: Ich sprache kein Deutsch

At first she just thought I was mimicking her. After a couple of minutes, she believed I really didn't speak German (well not enough to book tickets at least), I got transferred to someone who knew English.
Who turned out to have the best way of asking if she could put me on hold - "I give you some music? Yes?"

Love is a girl's word

As soon as he opened his present, we were the coolest aunt and uncle ever. He gave both of us a quick hug and ran off to show his friends what his "cool aunt and uncle" had brought him.
Ten minutes later, he was back and looking quite upset. And with him four other 6 year olds.
The book we gave him had a "With love from" inscription inside.
His friend explained "Love is a girl's word".
I was speechless. I looked around for my husband so he could give them a man-to-man talk about how love is a wonderful thing and so on.
When I couldn't find him, I spotted my sister in law's husband and thought of asking him to do the honours - luckily I didn't. He was busy looking for a piece of cake that didn't have any strawberry cream on it.
"Pink is a girl's colour", his exasperated wife said by way of explanation.

Just in time

The long weekend couldn't have come at a better time. I mean I know there are many times when by Wednesday I'm so knackered, I wish it were Thanksgiving week. This time I have a laundry list of high-priority things to do - and we're not even talking things like "tackle organize my closet" here -

• Difficult conversations to have
• Accusations to make
• Fences to mend
• Fights to hash out
• Anger to leave behind
• Harsh words to eat
• Owning up to do

It's not going to be easy, but I hope I'm strong enough to do it.

What real men say

I have a horrible one, makes me look fat (about an ID photo)

Do you think my hair's looking a little frizzy?

I "yuvve" you too (well at least he tried)

I think my nose looks better from the side. What do you think?

Which one's better? (looking at two different brands of sunscreen)

Do you think this color's too bright (trying on a red shirt)

So she said on Sunday...

...I don't really have much to say today except:

a) Doesn't the universe really have a nice way of doing things sometimes? I booked my husband and me on different flights for a trip. When I noticed my mistake and called Orbitz to change it, they said the change fees were $250 plus any difference in fare. Ouch. I decided it was ok, I could spend a few extra hours in 1 airport and my husband could do the same in another. This morning I got an email from Orbitz saying our previous flight's time has changed. That means my husband will not be able to make the earlier connecting flight on that day. That means, Orbitz asked if he would mind going on a later flight :) Of course he doesn't, thank you very much.

b) Amen to that - especially since I recently had this conversation with somebody about arranged vs. non-arranged marriages. (The romantic in me believes ALL marriages are arranged, and yes, in heaven). I was telling them that yes, I met my husband through my parents - but it doesn't matter, I could have met him in an elevator and I would have still married him. Meeting through the parents kind of simplified the process - otherwise imagine the number of elevators I'd have had to try.

BFF

A couple of days ago I was telling my husband about an email I’d received from a friend. My reply to his question about which friend started with “my best friend from….”
Only when I saw his puzzled face, I realized I say that about many of my friends – “my best friend from…”. What can I say – I have awesome friends and here are just a few reasons why (in no particular order) -

R – For being my “grown up” friend. You inspire me to be better.
P – For leaving nice comments on my weird pictures. You’re the best at making me feel good about myself.
R – For being way too nice to me.
A – For being the friend who will tell me when those pants make me look fat.
J – For all those afternoons of doing nothing and still doing so much.
P – For letting me play “cops & robbers”.
F – For showing me I could be good at stuff.
K – For showing me one can know how to cook and still be cool.
R – For being happy for me even when you’re sad.
A – For endless cups of coffee and finding friends in unlikely places.
B – For being the closest thing to a sister I could have had.
K – For your uncanny ability to read my mind.
M – For shared dreams, tea parties and “Heidi”.
R – If you weren’t my friend, I’d be jealous of you.
P – You rock. Period.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.
~ "You raise me up" by Josh Groban

Of Coffee...and everything under the sun...

I was recently cleaning up my cellphone - when I came across this old "note" I had saved on it a long time ago...
Suddenly I'm in my mother's kitchen again....bantering with her as we both got our coffee - mine in an oversized mug, hers in "the glass"....and then we would go back to the living room, I'd fold my legs under me and we'd be off....chatting about everything under the sun....long after the coffee was gone, we'd be sitting there....not wanting to let the moment go....reluctant to let the rest of the day come and take that away from us....and now here I am.....all those days behind me....getting all weepy and sentimental over a Starbucks coffee shot as it all comes back to me......
PS: I went back home in August - and it was almost as if the last 2 years hadn't even happened. It was as if I woke up one morning and went into her kitchen and got a cup of coffee...and time stood still...

What I did at work today

I am thinking about how nice a hug would feel right now
I said I would not be such a cry baby (just like I said I would watch my weight I guess)
I am crazy
I want to travel, learn more languages, meditate on my belly-button (big picture) fit into size 4 jeans (small picture – actually big if you look at “it” from a different angle)
I wish I were more organised
I love the sound of my husband’s voice
I cry for no reason and for everything
I hear imaginary people talk about me
I wonder what would happen if I tried to disappear? Would I succeed? Would they find me?
I regret all the times I mope and think "what if?"
I confuse myself constantly – am I or am I not? Do I or do I not? Can I or can I not?
I dance very very badly (ask Anahat)
I sing off-key,out of tune and all the time
I am not always spaced-out – there are times when I have brilliant flashes of inspiration and sometimes surprise myself even
I write better when I’m angry / hurt / sad
I need to get a new look

Does a happily ever after even exist?

A while ago a friend and I were speaking about the state of relationships, more specifically marriages in today's world. There is a "finality" (or whatever the noun form of final is) about marriage that many people don't seem to realise before (sometimes even after) they get into it.
She was telling me about how some people thought they were better off getting un-married rather than stay with the "mistakes" they'd married...we spoke of extra-marital affairs and people leaving each other at the drop of a hat...that got me thinking - whatever happened to good old "happily ever after"? Was it only meant to be the last line of little girls' fairy tales not be applied to real life any more? Why do more and more people think they can't (or is it they don't want to?) "make it work" ? And all the people who DO stay together - is it because they're scared to not?