Miscellaneous – Long Island Chick

Losing Really Sucks Doesn’t It?

Kathleen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:55:19 +0000

We tell our kids all the time, losing is a part of life – Be gracious blah, blah, blah. But who really wants to be gracious about it? Losing sucks. But, if we don’t try, we never give ourselves the opportunity to succeed either. Moreover, everything we do, our children are watching. We teach important life lessons when we try and don’t succeed but the most important lesson is in how we handle that loss.

So I stuck my neck out and ran for PTA President…and lost. I didn’t lose because the two current co-presidents are fantastic and well loved. Far from it. I lost because they scared up more people than I did. Which, is the epitome of politics. So, how one handles it from here shows exactly what one was made of. I could be petty – I have a strong voice on Facebook and with other parents. But I won’t because that is just not the kind of person I am. I’m not going to wish them well either however – I’m not a fool. They have run our PTA into the ground with their incompetence and nastiness and I will still be there when other parents and teachers need help because that is what I do.

Did I need the PTA tiara – no. Did I want the job? Yes – because I would have done a damn, good job.

Ah, I think some ice cream is in order…

Coffee Catastrophe…AVERTED!

Kathleen — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:36:02 +0000

I, like most adults, must have my morning coffee. MUST. I have a Keurig machine to make the process of getting the caffeine into my bloodstream as easy as possible. Now, on occasion, I run out of the little K-Cups. That occasion occurred this morning. I figured ok, no worries, I have that sampler box that came with the Keurig. I’ll just have to go down to the pantry in our basement (ugh another set of stairs to navigate???) , grab a K-Cup and be merrily on my way to my caffeinated high. So I trudged downstairs, grabbed the box from the pantry and opened in in my kitchen:

By now, panic has set in. What am I going to do? How am I going to even drive Matty to the bus stop? Think. Think. THINK!!! Maybe one fell out onto the pantry floor that has some umpfh to it? Wait! Didn’t Santa put some K-Cup boxes under the tree for me? I think he did that wonderful, fat man (talking about Santa)! Praying I didn’t already use up my Santa stash, I trudged back down the stairs and peered into the dark recesses of the pantry. Way in the back on the bottom of the shelf, I saw:

Ahhhh!!!! Thank the Coffee Gods! Not only caffeinated but a nice, dark roast! The kind of coffee that, as my Dad would say, “will put hair on your chest”! Not that I want hair on my chest or have any but, yeah I know TMI.

Happy Friday everyone and hopefully if you need your caffeine infusion like I do, you got it on this lovely Friday!!!

Thrifty Thursday: Ryan’s Fantastic Find at the Dollar Store

Kathleen — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:01:56 +0000

Going to the Dollar Store is an adventure. You never know what you are going to find there. Today, Ryan was feeling a bit under the weather and, since he always goes to school without fail, I decided to keep him home. After a nap and a “bio” (to use a World of Warcraft term), he felt much better so we ventured out. First we explored the new 99 cent store in Freeport which was not only crappy but swelteringly hot in there (did I just make up a word – hmmm…). We promptly left that dump, had a quick bite at Subways next door and went to the Baldwin Dollar Tree up on Grand Avenue.

We bought plenty of goodies, none over a dollar – unlike 99 Cent Empire where most things were over a dollar (what is the point? really???). Ryan had a dollar to spend and here is what he spent it on:

We did pick up some other great items, but this was definitely the highlight of out trip

And I Thought It Was Just Me: Don’t Call Please – TEXT!

Kathleen — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:22:13 +0000

I hate the phone. Did I mention that I HATE THE PHONE! I find chatting on the phone to be a colossal waste of time. I consider myself to be the “anti-female” – no hanging on the phone all day gossiping about…well…everyone. When my phone rings, I sigh with exasperation. When I was practicing, I made it clear to potential clients that they can IM, email, or text to contact me but don’t call and expect me to pick up the phone (at least I made it clear, right?). So when they would invariably call me and I didn’t answer (as I said I wouldn’t), they got the message. If you contact me electronically, you would get an instant answer or at least within the octave (as my mom would say). I sometimes had big client electronic conversations at 2am because half the time I can’t sleep anyway.

: ughhhhhh!!!!

One of the nice things about electronic conversations is that it is in writing – there is a record (I know…the lawyer is rearing its ugly head). So you can’t misquote me and we avoid misunderstandings. You can’t tell me I said “A”, when “B” is right there in writing.

In actuality, I would prefer to talk in person over talking on the phone – isn’t that a switch right? Maybe it has to do with being able to give someone my undivided attention. If we are talking on the phone, I guarantee you I am doing a thousand other things (even if it is just picking at my toenails…TMI?) and I really don’t feel like hearing you ask me if I am doing something else. Of course I am doing something else! I’m always doing something else! If you feel the need to talk to me, then lets get together over coffee or take a walk so I can give you what you deserve – my full attention. Don’t we all deserve that at times? If it isn’t important enough to meet in person, text me. You will actually get a better response than holding me prisoner on the phone.

So that is my take on the texting thing – it is a wonderful, quick and painless way to communicate – I would be lost without my unlimited texting (believe you me I take full advantage of that!). So if you want to talk to me, TEXT!

Hooray! Spring is Here!

Kathleen — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Never mind the calendar, Spring is here. I know that the first official day of Spring, or the Vernal Equinox, is March 20, 2012, but you can’t tell that to Nature. Also, we end Daylight Savings Time this Weekend and Spring Ahead the clocks (that part I am NOT looking forward to in the mornings). So don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour Saturday evening. AnywayI started noticing the signs this past week during our daily walks after dropping the kids at school.

First, it was the buds on the trees. Our months of barren sticks is coming to an end!

Then, the crocuses’ green shoots pushing up in the gardens that line our path. How I love to see the bright colors ranging from yellow to purple. By Matt’s school, I noticed Daffodil shoots and tulips coming up as well. I know I have flowers coming up from bulbs I planted some past autumn.

Last, and the most telling, the red robin I saw this morning. He wasn’t very trusting and I don’t think appreciated me sneaking up on him so please forgive the lack of clarity. But you can see exactly what he is – the harbinger of spring.

I’m looking forward to all the bright pastels, airing out the house and decorating for Easter.

Have you noticed the signs of Spring? What are your favorite Spring activities?