After 1 full week of changing my eating habits to try to lose weight, I have learned a few things. Some things I have found helpful and others...well, you'll see.
One thing I already knew is that dieting people have a list of things they know up front that they can't do. For instance, I knew going in that I was not going to be able to have soda anymore (one of my weaknesses), I also knew that I could no longer just sit around and that if I wanted to truly lose weight, I would have to get moving. What I did NOT know, well, that list is a little longer.
I did not know how scary reading the labels would be...some things have so much fat or sugar that you don't know how you could fit the thing down your neck. Labels are the root of all evil...I had no idea. I also did not know that dieters could not watch the Food Network...this is a HAZARD for us dieting people. I don't know about you, but I can smell food through the TV, especially now. I did not realize that you could not read ANY magazines, as these show very bright and vivid pictures of food. I have also learned that you cannot go to a restaurant...yes, they have a "Lite" menu...but it is right under the "Juicy Burger" menu. They make you read through the quesadillas, the pizza, the mozzarella sticks, the fried chicken and the giant overloaded baked potatoes to get to "Grilled Cardboard with Steamed Styrofoam" Really? The grocery store is also off limits for beginning dieters. Non dieters really don't understand the magnitude of the grocery store for us...we have 3 aisles that we can go crazy in...the produce, the meats and the cleaning section...that's it. I also learned that EVERYONE is trying to sabotage you, with their "just have one bite" or "you gotta try this". I have remained strong and thwarted their efforts time and time again!
I have struggled staying away from all things bad but I feel like I have done well. I have had a diet soda, but other than that I have not cheated...I have been for 45 minute walks for the past 2 days and plan on another today and starting at the fitness center tomorrow. I am EXCITED to feel good in my own skin again. I am EXCITED to not avoid mirrors. I am EXCITED to feel better and look better. I am looking forward to seeing the scale change and not just moan when I step on. Overall, I am just determined to get rid of the excess. Sometimes an ounce of determination is all it takes...but it probably has 12g of Fat in it.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Extra! Extra! The Cash's are on the move!
As you know, if you have read my previous "A Peek into my Earlier Life" post, you know I like to travel. I am currently planning a week long getaway in classic Griffiths style...trying to jam as much into a week as we can. Hopefully, we don't complete my family's cycle by locking the keys in the trunk...another to do on the vacation list when I was a kid.
The plan is drive 7 hours to Niagara Falls, check out the night view of the falls and then spend a little while in Niagara the following morning then drive to Buffalo and check out the stadium where the Bills play...whatever that one is called...I know it's named after someone but for the life of me no name is coming to mind...then we drive to Rochester to visit a friend for her birthday for a couple of days (can't wait to see her!) then to Syracuse to see the university and to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame then onto Boston for 2 days. Whew! I am going to need a vacation after this vacation.
One of my favorite parts about vacations are the hotels and this time, the rental car!! You know how you always love the rental car better than your own...I can't wait for this part! The rental car makes you feel like a million bucks...well, except if you have a Porsche and you rent a Minivan, but I can assure you we don't have a Porsche. You really feel like you are far from home when you are in a hotel...even if you get a hotel close to where you live.
I think we all have our favorite vacations and our favorite vacation spots. My favorite spot is, of course, California, but my favorite vacations were Chicago in 07 and Ohio in 06. Chicago was great...it was Jamaine, Lexie and I touring the city at our leisure, it was great! We drove out there...I love driving, I think it is half of the vacation. Our favorite spot was probably Millennium Park. It was amazing there. Ohio was wonderful too! The hubby and I went by ourselves (Lexie was in California with the 'rents...don't worry, we didn't just leave her) and we went to the Football Hall of Fame...a must see for any football fan. We also managed to see a Cleveland Browns practice by accident...I know, I know...The Browns?? But it was really neat to see them practice not 10 ft from where we were sitting! Ohio was the vacation place that we both said "I could live here".
I am SO ready for this trip!! I have not been on vacation since Chicago in June 07! Actually, we did do a few day trips in 2009 but we always came home every night...it's not the same! It's funny how the lack of vacations coincide with Jocelyn's arrival, but I am sure they are not connected....well, maybe they are. I feel like I have been stuck here watching other people pack and go on MY vacations...not this time because I am outta here!!
Knock, knock... knock, knock, knock.....no one's answering at the Cash house! Well, we will today...but next month we won't!
The plan is drive 7 hours to Niagara Falls, check out the night view of the falls and then spend a little while in Niagara the following morning then drive to Buffalo and check out the stadium where the Bills play...whatever that one is called...I know it's named after someone but for the life of me no name is coming to mind...then we drive to Rochester to visit a friend for her birthday for a couple of days (can't wait to see her!) then to Syracuse to see the university and to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame then onto Boston for 2 days. Whew! I am going to need a vacation after this vacation.
One of my favorite parts about vacations are the hotels and this time, the rental car!! You know how you always love the rental car better than your own...I can't wait for this part! The rental car makes you feel like a million bucks...well, except if you have a Porsche and you rent a Minivan, but I can assure you we don't have a Porsche. You really feel like you are far from home when you are in a hotel...even if you get a hotel close to where you live.
I think we all have our favorite vacations and our favorite vacation spots. My favorite spot is, of course, California, but my favorite vacations were Chicago in 07 and Ohio in 06. Chicago was great...it was Jamaine, Lexie and I touring the city at our leisure, it was great! We drove out there...I love driving, I think it is half of the vacation. Our favorite spot was probably Millennium Park. It was amazing there. Ohio was wonderful too! The hubby and I went by ourselves (Lexie was in California with the 'rents...don't worry, we didn't just leave her) and we went to the Football Hall of Fame...a must see for any football fan. We also managed to see a Cleveland Browns practice by accident...I know, I know...The Browns?? But it was really neat to see them practice not 10 ft from where we were sitting! Ohio was the vacation place that we both said "I could live here".
I am SO ready for this trip!! I have not been on vacation since Chicago in June 07! Actually, we did do a few day trips in 2009 but we always came home every night...it's not the same! It's funny how the lack of vacations coincide with Jocelyn's arrival, but I am sure they are not connected....well, maybe they are. I feel like I have been stuck here watching other people pack and go on MY vacations...not this time because I am outta here!!
Knock, knock... knock, knock, knock.....no one's answering at the Cash house! Well, we will today...but next month we won't!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day
Today is Father's Day. A day to celebrate or remember our fathers, husbands or the father figures in our lives. Usually to celebrate we buy the tools, or the ties or the golf items based on his particular likes and sometimes the quirky stuff we see in the store that we think he will just love and then we never see him use it. Some fathers just like to be left alone in the piece and quiet...this basically describes my father on any day of the year. Regardless of how the fathers in the world spent their day I wish them a Happy Father's Day!
The fathers in my life include both grandfathers-Alan and Fred-although they are in England...my own father Alan and my husband Jamaine. All serve a very different purpose in my life of course.
I never really got to know my granddads although I remember them both showing me card tricks and they were both known as card and game cheats! They both served in WWII and did their country (England) proud! Alan (Paternal) will be 91 on July 5th---Jocelyn's 3rd birthday---and Fred (Maternal) will be 92 on August 28th! Granddad Alan is the jokester although rare is the moment when you catch him smiling on camera...he certainly seems like the grumpy Granddad on camera! Granddad Fred is very funny as well and he taught me many card tricks when I was little, although I can barely remember them now. I wish I could have spent more time with them through my life, I am sure I would have benefited greatly from it. Happy Father's Day Granddad and Happy Fathers Day...other Granddad!! I am blessed to still have the both of them in my life!
My dad...I remember one time, when I was a teenager, I had my back to him during an argument and he touched my shoulder and I turned around and instinct told me to hit, and I did...as I picked myself up off the floor with a sore arm and broken pride I remember thinking "that was probably a BAD idea". I always remember he was the one to fear but he only hit me that ONE time. Funny how that works. He is the one that probably instilled in me the love of travel and my desire for adventure. Not like climbing a mountain kinda challenges but let's see what's down this road types of challenges. He also probably gave me his love of history...now don't get me wrong, I am not a history buff like him but I do enjoy learning about it. He has always been there for me, even through my stupidity in my teenage years, although he was never a very verbal dad. Happy Father's Day Dad!
Now for the father that I had a choice about...the father of my children. He is an amazing father to both of my girls. He is always there and they know they can always count on him. Much like my father, they have a fear for him that hasn't come from any spanking or anything like that...it is some unspoken "I mean business" language that only dads have. He walks around the entire neighborhood (400 and something houses) passing out fliers for Lexie's bake sale. He was there for Jocelyn during her spinal tap when I knew that was something I could not bear to see and they suggested all of us leave the room...but he was determined to be there. He has never been without a job and nothing is too good for the girls and me. I am so lucky to have him in my life and the there for the kids. They both love and cherish him very much. Happy Father's Day Honey!
All this being said, we can't forget the fathers that are no longer with us. I have many friends that have lost their fathers, be it years ago or just weeks ago, I am sure Father's Day brings everything right to the surface again. We also can't forget the single mothers out there holding it down on their own and playing the father role. Happy Father's Day!!
The fathers in my life include both grandfathers-Alan and Fred-although they are in England...my own father Alan and my husband Jamaine. All serve a very different purpose in my life of course.
I never really got to know my granddads although I remember them both showing me card tricks and they were both known as card and game cheats! They both served in WWII and did their country (England) proud! Alan (Paternal) will be 91 on July 5th---Jocelyn's 3rd birthday---and Fred (Maternal) will be 92 on August 28th! Granddad Alan is the jokester although rare is the moment when you catch him smiling on camera...he certainly seems like the grumpy Granddad on camera! Granddad Fred is very funny as well and he taught me many card tricks when I was little, although I can barely remember them now. I wish I could have spent more time with them through my life, I am sure I would have benefited greatly from it. Happy Father's Day Granddad and Happy Fathers Day...other Granddad!! I am blessed to still have the both of them in my life!
My dad...I remember one time, when I was a teenager, I had my back to him during an argument and he touched my shoulder and I turned around and instinct told me to hit, and I did...as I picked myself up off the floor with a sore arm and broken pride I remember thinking "that was probably a BAD idea". I always remember he was the one to fear but he only hit me that ONE time. Funny how that works. He is the one that probably instilled in me the love of travel and my desire for adventure. Not like climbing a mountain kinda challenges but let's see what's down this road types of challenges. He also probably gave me his love of history...now don't get me wrong, I am not a history buff like him but I do enjoy learning about it. He has always been there for me, even through my stupidity in my teenage years, although he was never a very verbal dad. Happy Father's Day Dad!
Now for the father that I had a choice about...the father of my children. He is an amazing father to both of my girls. He is always there and they know they can always count on him. Much like my father, they have a fear for him that hasn't come from any spanking or anything like that...it is some unspoken "I mean business" language that only dads have. He walks around the entire neighborhood (400 and something houses) passing out fliers for Lexie's bake sale. He was there for Jocelyn during her spinal tap when I knew that was something I could not bear to see and they suggested all of us leave the room...but he was determined to be there. He has never been without a job and nothing is too good for the girls and me. I am so lucky to have him in my life and the there for the kids. They both love and cherish him very much. Happy Father's Day Honey!
All this being said, we can't forget the fathers that are no longer with us. I have many friends that have lost their fathers, be it years ago or just weeks ago, I am sure Father's Day brings everything right to the surface again. We also can't forget the single mothers out there holding it down on their own and playing the father role. Happy Father's Day!!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I am almost 20-13!
Well readers, in 4 weeks I will be 20-13! Some people call it 33. Whatever you prefer is fine. You know, age really doesn't bother me at all. Some people struggle with each birthday as it comes around and some have that ONE that they don't want to come...I have yet to have one that has really made me cringe. I know some of my 40, 50 and 60 something friends might scoff at the thought of a 30 something having a hard time with a birthday, but I think each person battles with a birthday at some point, it could be 25, 30 or 65. My kids birthdays have been tougher than any of mine so far. Jocelyn turning 1 was HARD. Lexie turning 4 was HARD--don't ask me why--mine will, hopefully, be 105!
Although I have 2 children of my own, one going into the 7th grade and another only a preschooler, and I have been living on my own, well, with my husband for almost a decade, I still catch myself having to remind myself that I am an adult. I still, very much, have the "kids table" mentality. This can both be a negative thing or a positive thing. On the negative side-until just recently, I would wait to see if some things would, sort of, handle themselves, like waiting for mom to take care of it, and it never seemed to work out that way. The bills didn't pay themselves and the sink full of dirty dishes was still there after I came home from work. On the positive side-I still feel close to my older daughter and her generation. She doesn't think of this as a positive thing, I'm sure. I still like SOME of the "kids" music and I know and understand most of the slang...I'm hip like that yo! But seriously, I feel like once I get in shape I will be the adult I thought I would be when I WAS my daughter's age...just with less money (stupid lottery and their tricky number system).
One of the things that feels different about being an adult is my relationships with extended family. Remember, we all live far apart so it can be a few years between visits. Meeting my family as an adult, paying my own bills and raising my own children with my own husband in my own place, has been great. I wasn't always the best kid, especially in my teenage years, but having grown up relatively normal has proved beneficial to these relationships. This allows them to see the person that was behind all of my earlier stupidity.
All things considered, I think I have turned out ok...as stated by numerous family members in recent years, I was worried there for a while. My kids are both gorgeous and smart...my hubby is amazing except when he isn't (just kidding babe) and the bills are paid and the dishes are washed---even though I had to do it all by myself!
(still thinking of that catchy sign off)
Although I have 2 children of my own, one going into the 7th grade and another only a preschooler, and I have been living on my own, well, with my husband for almost a decade, I still catch myself having to remind myself that I am an adult. I still, very much, have the "kids table" mentality. This can both be a negative thing or a positive thing. On the negative side-until just recently, I would wait to see if some things would, sort of, handle themselves, like waiting for mom to take care of it, and it never seemed to work out that way. The bills didn't pay themselves and the sink full of dirty dishes was still there after I came home from work. On the positive side-I still feel close to my older daughter and her generation. She doesn't think of this as a positive thing, I'm sure. I still like SOME of the "kids" music and I know and understand most of the slang...I'm hip like that yo! But seriously, I feel like once I get in shape I will be the adult I thought I would be when I WAS my daughter's age...just with less money (stupid lottery and their tricky number system).
One of the things that feels different about being an adult is my relationships with extended family. Remember, we all live far apart so it can be a few years between visits. Meeting my family as an adult, paying my own bills and raising my own children with my own husband in my own place, has been great. I wasn't always the best kid, especially in my teenage years, but having grown up relatively normal has proved beneficial to these relationships. This allows them to see the person that was behind all of my earlier stupidity.
All things considered, I think I have turned out ok...as stated by numerous family members in recent years, I was worried there for a while. My kids are both gorgeous and smart...my hubby is amazing except when he isn't (just kidding babe) and the bills are paid and the dishes are washed---even though I had to do it all by myself!
(still thinking of that catchy sign off)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
All Because of a Dress.
The hubby decided I was not going to be staying in the house today so we decided to hop on the bus and head to Prices Corner in Wilmington. There are a few stores up there like Sears, DEB, Rugged Warehouse, a QVC Outlet, Staples and a wedding gown place called David's Bridal. Anyway, we get to Sears and I am quickly told that I can not buy anything for the children...Oh no!! A whole new world for me...I don't remember the last time I went somewhere and didn't buy anything for the kids. Eeeek! What was I supposed to do?? I HATE shopping for myself...regardless of the popular stereotype that women love to shop...I hate it. I like to go in, get what I want and leave.
I decided to step out of my comfort zone of denim shorts and jeans and try on a summer dress...bad idea! I left the dressing rooms, promptly hung up the dress on the "I don't THINK so" rack and said "I am going on a crash diet and I am not eating until September!" Obviously humans cannot live this way...so I quickly came to my senses and we stopped at the GNC store that was close by.
Of course, we were greeted by 2 buffed out dudes...but I guess that's better than the alternative of a Size 00 chick in little hot pants selling me weight loss products, not that I am saying anything negative about Size 00 girls but I don't need one selling me weight loss stuff in one of my dark moments...I found something I think I am going to try and I will report my progress once a week for, at least, the next 6 weeks. Reporting to you guys might help me stay on track. The 2 buff dudes suggested this Lean Shake mix and some Fish Oil vitamins. It came with a 14 day meal plan that I might actually be able to follow. It doesn't have a bunch crazy meals on it that I would have to travel to a market in the middle of Peru to find the ingredients for.
So, this is going to start tomorrow and I can only hope this is the last time I have to do this and that this time I will lose what I want to lose. This is not a diet, it is a life change...this is not a diet, this is a life change, this is not a diet, this is a life change...great, I think I am all set...let's see...
Motivation (the picture I took on my phone of me in the dress) CHECK!
Products (What buff guy #1 suggested) CHECK!
Support (The hubby) CHECK
Goal (Lose 35lbs and gain some energy) no check.....YET!
Ok people, I am gonna do this! I have never followed through with a diet before so wish me luck!
On another note, I really had a nice day out of the house but I am definitely firing the housework fairies who did not show up to clean up my messy house while I was gone!!
I decided to step out of my comfort zone of denim shorts and jeans and try on a summer dress...bad idea! I left the dressing rooms, promptly hung up the dress on the "I don't THINK so" rack and said "I am going on a crash diet and I am not eating until September!" Obviously humans cannot live this way...so I quickly came to my senses and we stopped at the GNC store that was close by.
Of course, we were greeted by 2 buffed out dudes...but I guess that's better than the alternative of a Size 00 chick in little hot pants selling me weight loss products, not that I am saying anything negative about Size 00 girls but I don't need one selling me weight loss stuff in one of my dark moments...I found something I think I am going to try and I will report my progress once a week for, at least, the next 6 weeks. Reporting to you guys might help me stay on track. The 2 buff dudes suggested this Lean Shake mix and some Fish Oil vitamins. It came with a 14 day meal plan that I might actually be able to follow. It doesn't have a bunch crazy meals on it that I would have to travel to a market in the middle of Peru to find the ingredients for.
So, this is going to start tomorrow and I can only hope this is the last time I have to do this and that this time I will lose what I want to lose. This is not a diet, it is a life change...this is not a diet, this is a life change, this is not a diet, this is a life change...great, I think I am all set...let's see...
Motivation (the picture I took on my phone of me in the dress) CHECK!
Products (What buff guy #1 suggested) CHECK!
Support (The hubby) CHECK
Goal (Lose 35lbs and gain some energy) no check.....YET!
Ok people, I am gonna do this! I have never followed through with a diet before so wish me luck!
On another note, I really had a nice day out of the house but I am definitely firing the housework fairies who did not show up to clean up my messy house while I was gone!!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friend Dictionary
A woman has several different types of friends...I am going to attempt to describe them each by category.
KIDS
Childhood Best Friends-These are the friends that you grew up with (duh) the ones you weren't allowed to play with because you were grounded...remember those days?? I had two childhood BFF's and because I have not asked their permission I can only call them "J the girl" and "R the boy" If either one of them read this, they will know who they are. I found both of them on FB and we can talk like we are still BFF's. These friends are very important building blocks of your life. They are the ones who you remember as your kids grow up...you realize how incredibly adventurous you were or how wimpy you were!
Parents Friends Kids-Ahhh, the forced playdates with those kids who you didn't know at ALL and usually were too old for you to play with or too young. The ones who your parents yelled at you to clean your room for but then they immediately destroyed and then left before cleaning up. I was lucky in this area of friends, my parents, as far as I can remember, didn't have many friends when I was growing up or maybe they were too embarrassed by my brother and I to ever bring them around, who knows? My "PFK's were pretty awesome and we are still friends today. It is neat to see them grow up and have their own kids. Thanks for great memories "D", "K" & "G"! Remember Mouse Darts or getting beat by my brother in Hardball 63-0? Hahaha!! Good times, good times!
Neighbors Kids/School Friends-These were both friends and enemies...usually. The boy you like, the girl you hate, your boy best friend, your girl best friend and that other kid, could be a girl or boy, that no one really understood why they hung out with. Good times could be had by all if you all played together or one at a time...it usually didn't work if only 3 or 4 were there. You all gathered together to play football or all went to one of the houses and ate them out of house and home...this tended to be on a rotation schedule. Over time all the neighbor/school friends would move away one by one and never be heard of again. Wonder what ever happened to....???
ADULT
Co-Workers-These are usually our first experiences with adult friends. They are a good mix of people...sort of like neighbors....there is usually that one co-worker that you would compare schedules with hoping to be working with either because they are cool to work with and talk to or they were REALLY cute! Either way the co-worker friend doesn't usually go beyond the dates of employment...don't get me wrong SOMEtimes they do... I even married someone who used to be a co worker...a lot of us probably have.
Husbands Friends Wives-This is not usually a big group of friends...I think this is based on the fact that when men go out they are going to do something us women don't like...golf, poker, pool or something of the sort and we don't go. I have some of these friends and they are pretty great. Those are the summer BBQ friends where the guys branch of with their beer and horseshoes, the kids are in the pool or playing kick ball and the wives are all sitting at the table talking about the previously mentioned people (the husbands and the kids).
Kids Friends Parents-This is the opposite of the Parents Friends Kids and not to be confused. These are the friendships that grow from allowing our children to to go to school and pick THEIR Childhood and Neighbor friends. I have mostly lucked out in this department as well. Lexie has some great friends and their parents are great too! These friendships can grow and become quite significant, especially if the kids find that One BEST friend early in life.
One BEST Friend-Not much of an explanation needed here. He or she is ALWAYS there for you...no matter what! There has probaly been at least one or two moments of a fight but nothing they couldn't get through after a week or two. They are probably the Godmother/father to each other's children. This friend could have come from any of the other categories. Mine came from the Neighbor/School category. "JK" is amazing...the funny thing about us is that we took separate paths in life but always stuck together...she got the academic scholarship and got herself a CAREER and I stopped school and worked a JOB and had babies.
Facebook-Facebook friends are a total blend of all the categories mentioned. Some people we friend just to see how they turned out, other we genuinely want to reconnect with and others are just filler. I am so grateful for FB because I moved cross country and have been able to re-connect with my childhood friends and old Neighbor/School Friends...actually the one person not on FB is my One BEST Friend...go figure.
We all have a mixture of these friends in our lives and I, like probably most of you, associate some of them to your successes and some to your failures. We all have at least one friend that we would love to find, but of course, they are not on Facebook. Do our friends define us, keep us grounded, rile us up to do some outrageous things? I think the answer is: Yes, Yes, and Yes if you have a well rounded group of people surrounding you. I am grateful for all the friends that are in my life right now, now matter how often I see them.
KIDS
Childhood Best Friends-These are the friends that you grew up with (duh) the ones you weren't allowed to play with because you were grounded...remember those days?? I had two childhood BFF's and because I have not asked their permission I can only call them "J the girl" and "R the boy" If either one of them read this, they will know who they are. I found both of them on FB and we can talk like we are still BFF's. These friends are very important building blocks of your life. They are the ones who you remember as your kids grow up...you realize how incredibly adventurous you were or how wimpy you were!
Parents Friends Kids-Ahhh, the forced playdates with those kids who you didn't know at ALL and usually were too old for you to play with or too young. The ones who your parents yelled at you to clean your room for but then they immediately destroyed and then left before cleaning up. I was lucky in this area of friends, my parents, as far as I can remember, didn't have many friends when I was growing up or maybe they were too embarrassed by my brother and I to ever bring them around, who knows? My "PFK's were pretty awesome and we are still friends today. It is neat to see them grow up and have their own kids. Thanks for great memories "D", "K" & "G"! Remember Mouse Darts or getting beat by my brother in Hardball 63-0? Hahaha!! Good times, good times!
Neighbors Kids/School Friends-These were both friends and enemies...usually. The boy you like, the girl you hate, your boy best friend, your girl best friend and that other kid, could be a girl or boy, that no one really understood why they hung out with. Good times could be had by all if you all played together or one at a time...it usually didn't work if only 3 or 4 were there. You all gathered together to play football or all went to one of the houses and ate them out of house and home...this tended to be on a rotation schedule. Over time all the neighbor/school friends would move away one by one and never be heard of again. Wonder what ever happened to....???
ADULT
Co-Workers-These are usually our first experiences with adult friends. They are a good mix of people...sort of like neighbors....there is usually that one co-worker that you would compare schedules with hoping to be working with either because they are cool to work with and talk to or they were REALLY cute! Either way the co-worker friend doesn't usually go beyond the dates of employment...don't get me wrong SOMEtimes they do... I even married someone who used to be a co worker...a lot of us probably have.
Husbands Friends Wives-This is not usually a big group of friends...I think this is based on the fact that when men go out they are going to do something us women don't like...golf, poker, pool or something of the sort and we don't go. I have some of these friends and they are pretty great. Those are the summer BBQ friends where the guys branch of with their beer and horseshoes, the kids are in the pool or playing kick ball and the wives are all sitting at the table talking about the previously mentioned people (the husbands and the kids).
Kids Friends Parents-This is the opposite of the Parents Friends Kids and not to be confused. These are the friendships that grow from allowing our children to to go to school and pick THEIR Childhood and Neighbor friends. I have mostly lucked out in this department as well. Lexie has some great friends and their parents are great too! These friendships can grow and become quite significant, especially if the kids find that One BEST friend early in life.
One BEST Friend-Not much of an explanation needed here. He or she is ALWAYS there for you...no matter what! There has probaly been at least one or two moments of a fight but nothing they couldn't get through after a week or two. They are probably the Godmother/father to each other's children. This friend could have come from any of the other categories. Mine came from the Neighbor/School category. "JK" is amazing...the funny thing about us is that we took separate paths in life but always stuck together...she got the academic scholarship and got herself a CAREER and I stopped school and worked a JOB and had babies.
Facebook-Facebook friends are a total blend of all the categories mentioned. Some people we friend just to see how they turned out, other we genuinely want to reconnect with and others are just filler. I am so grateful for FB because I moved cross country and have been able to re-connect with my childhood friends and old Neighbor/School Friends...actually the one person not on FB is my One BEST Friend...go figure.
We all have a mixture of these friends in our lives and I, like probably most of you, associate some of them to your successes and some to your failures. We all have at least one friend that we would love to find, but of course, they are not on Facebook. Do our friends define us, keep us grounded, rile us up to do some outrageous things? I think the answer is: Yes, Yes, and Yes if you have a well rounded group of people surrounding you. I am grateful for all the friends that are in my life right now, now matter how often I see them.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A little peek into my earlier life.
Let's start at the top...my parents...
They were both born and raised in England...now I don't know if you have ever been around English people, but we are pretty funny. There was never a whole lot of serious conversation in my house growing up and if it did so happen to get serious it was usually broken up by some sort of joke. They were semi strict in as much that when I came home late I got grounded and yelled at but when I wrecked their car they didn't speak to me for days. To be honest, I don't know which punishment was worse. We traveled a lot when I was a kid. No, I am not talking about exotic and extravagant destinations but day and weekend trips...growing up in Southern California made day tripping easy...The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Santa Monica Beach, Las Vegas, Four Corners (the meeting place of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah), San Francisco and Monument Valley were favorite spots! I think that helps explain why I get so antsy if I haven't been somewhere for a while.
My brother, Paul, and I were never very close while we were growing up...we were, after all, 7 years apart in age. He was always stronger and smarter than me, by age advantage ONLY (don't hit me!). I remember I always tried to get interested in what he was interested in so I could be a cool kid (I later realized that was the OPPOSITE of what would happen (don't hit me)). When he went off to the Navy I was only 11 and could care less that he was going, but when we went to see him graduate boot camp...or Pass in Review or whatever they call it...I was so excited to see him. We are really close now though and that is what counts (whew, just saved myself getting kicked in the butt...a favorite pastime of his). He is now married and living in New Jersey.
I didn't grow up around family...we moved from England to California when I was 3, so please no questions about how wonderful England because I have no clue!! I have a few fleeting memories of a red Mini Cooper parked in the snow and reddish purpley carpet...oh, and a Lite Brite that my brother had...so if those things interest you, ask away! My mom's sister was close by in Cali for a while until she moved to Northern Cali but my grandparents, 2 uncles, an aunt and a couple of cousins were still in England. The main thing that I regret about this living arrangement is I never got to know my grandparents and we never had family holidays with Gran's pies and Grandad's crazy antics.
We moved to Delaware from California TOO many years ago...please don't ask me why we moved from a palm tree, beach, sunshiny state to Delaware -_- I have yet to TRULY understand this. I don't need 4 seasons...2 is good for me-Spring and Summer. I remember the 1st time I went to the beach here, I was so excited and then we got to Rehoboth Beach...Santa Monica is a beach! Or the 1st time someone took me to the city and they took me to Downtown Wilmington. No words. I just remind myself that if it hadn't been for Delaware, I would not have my hubby or my kids...and yes, that is an advantage not a disadvantage people!
Overall, I have been pretty blessed...thanks to my parents dragging my on weekend outings with my brother (he's on myyyy side, she stuck her tongue out at me, stop touching me, can you tell him to put his window up...which kids these days don't understand thanks to DVD players and iPods) I have been to 38 states and I love to drag my kids on day trips and vacations.
I had my first daughter, Lexie in 1998, I married Jamaine in 2005 and had Jocelyn in 2008. All 3 of them keep me on my toes and they are going to give me plenty of Blog material I'm sure, and I will introduce them soon!
They were both born and raised in England...now I don't know if you have ever been around English people, but we are pretty funny. There was never a whole lot of serious conversation in my house growing up and if it did so happen to get serious it was usually broken up by some sort of joke. They were semi strict in as much that when I came home late I got grounded and yelled at but when I wrecked their car they didn't speak to me for days. To be honest, I don't know which punishment was worse. We traveled a lot when I was a kid. No, I am not talking about exotic and extravagant destinations but day and weekend trips...growing up in Southern California made day tripping easy...The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Santa Monica Beach, Las Vegas, Four Corners (the meeting place of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah), San Francisco and Monument Valley were favorite spots! I think that helps explain why I get so antsy if I haven't been somewhere for a while.
My brother, Paul, and I were never very close while we were growing up...we were, after all, 7 years apart in age. He was always stronger and smarter than me, by age advantage ONLY (don't hit me!). I remember I always tried to get interested in what he was interested in so I could be a cool kid (I later realized that was the OPPOSITE of what would happen (don't hit me)). When he went off to the Navy I was only 11 and could care less that he was going, but when we went to see him graduate boot camp...or Pass in Review or whatever they call it...I was so excited to see him. We are really close now though and that is what counts (whew, just saved myself getting kicked in the butt...a favorite pastime of his). He is now married and living in New Jersey.
I didn't grow up around family...we moved from England to California when I was 3, so please no questions about how wonderful England because I have no clue!! I have a few fleeting memories of a red Mini Cooper parked in the snow and reddish purpley carpet...oh, and a Lite Brite that my brother had...so if those things interest you, ask away! My mom's sister was close by in Cali for a while until she moved to Northern Cali but my grandparents, 2 uncles, an aunt and a couple of cousins were still in England. The main thing that I regret about this living arrangement is I never got to know my grandparents and we never had family holidays with Gran's pies and Grandad's crazy antics.
We moved to Delaware from California TOO many years ago...please don't ask me why we moved from a palm tree, beach, sunshiny state to Delaware -_- I have yet to TRULY understand this. I don't need 4 seasons...2 is good for me-Spring and Summer. I remember the 1st time I went to the beach here, I was so excited and then we got to Rehoboth Beach...Santa Monica is a beach! Or the 1st time someone took me to the city and they took me to Downtown Wilmington. No words. I just remind myself that if it hadn't been for Delaware, I would not have my hubby or my kids...and yes, that is an advantage not a disadvantage people!
Overall, I have been pretty blessed...thanks to my parents dragging my on weekend outings with my brother (he's on myyyy side, she stuck her tongue out at me, stop touching me, can you tell him to put his window up...which kids these days don't understand thanks to DVD players and iPods) I have been to 38 states and I love to drag my kids on day trips and vacations.
I had my first daughter, Lexie in 1998, I married Jamaine in 2005 and had Jocelyn in 2008. All 3 of them keep me on my toes and they are going to give me plenty of Blog material I'm sure, and I will introduce them soon!
Welcome to the blog!
That "welcome" was more for me than you. This is all very new for me...the blog and all. I figured it was high time to get my random thoughts and observations as well as general family life stuff on "paper".
The name Cash's Crier is not in reference to how easily I tend to cry but rather Crier as in "Town Crier", you know, like the news. I guess I could have chosen Cash's News...but it wasn't as catchy and based on what the blog builder told me, the name should be catchy.
So here I am fellow bloggers and maybe all my followER...let's see how this goes. I plan on using this blog to share my random thoughts on daily things and maybe sometimes some serious things. I hope, at the very least to get a few chuckles out of you with some things and maybe get you thinking a little about other things, don't worry...not TOO much thinking.
I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you...(I need to think of some catchy ending)....
The name Cash's Crier is not in reference to how easily I tend to cry but rather Crier as in "Town Crier", you know, like the news. I guess I could have chosen Cash's News...but it wasn't as catchy and based on what the blog builder told me, the name should be catchy.
So here I am fellow bloggers and maybe all my followER...let's see how this goes. I plan on using this blog to share my random thoughts on daily things and maybe sometimes some serious things. I hope, at the very least to get a few chuckles out of you with some things and maybe get you thinking a little about other things, don't worry...not TOO much thinking.
I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you...(I need to think of some catchy ending)....
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