Little Jagged Hole

The day dawns cold but bright

Chug chug, off to work

Never enough time, can’t even see my desk

Always worried my time is coming

He leaves today

Another round-the-world trip

Another two weeks at home with the boys

Our boys, our silly goofy boys

And that little, nagging, jagged hole

She left.

It looks much smaller than it is

But I keep telling my self it’s hardly there

That little place

Where she ripped herself out of my life,

Out of my family.

That little place that’s empty now

We all pretend not to see it

But it’s always there

And it’s not always a bad thing

But it’s always there.

I tell her goodnight every night

Even though I know she isn’t listening.

At least she knows I think of her

And I still see

That little, nagging, jagged hole.

Thoughts and Changes

Leaning against the back porch

Cool breeze on my cheek from the new fallen snow

Two silly dogs crunching at the ice on the deck

Enjoying the early evening calm

Once again asking the constant question,

Did I make the right decision?

I see my furniture back in it’s old places

I wake to the sounds and smells of family

This is my home, my family, my husband.

I am home.

Definitely, yes.

Fly in the ointment

So, things are going pretty well with the marriage counseling and the hubby and I are feeling pretty good about the progress we are making. I think we both see improvements in each other and our ability to listen and respect each other, and that’s been a huge improvement. We are definitely headed in the right direction.

Here’s the problem: my daughter is absolutely against the whole thing. She won’t even entertain the idea that we might work things out, she has said she won’t move back in to the house if that’s what I decide to do, and when I suggested she accompany us for some counseling, the next thing I know I got an angry phone call from her father about what I was supposedly “forcing” her to do against her will.

This kid has spent the last six months overinflating every negative encounter she has ever had with my husband and convinced herself he is Satan in human form, which he certainly is not. In fact, overall he has not been nearly as disciplinary with her as I have been. Now, everyone else in the family is willing to put the past behind us and work on the tools we need to move forward in a more positive way, except her. She absolutely will not let go of every tiny little injustice she feels she’s been dealt, from as far back as second grade (she is going on seventeen). And her dad is just fueling the fire. He uses terms like ‘outcast’ to describe her and it makes me absolutely nuts. She has never been treated like anything but a complete and total member of my family, often to her disliking.

So what am I supposed to do? If I let her move in with her dad full time, I can guarantee her diploma and any purposeful future will go right down the drain. But I have spent sixteen years trying to love this disrespectful, hateful little user, and when is it time for ME to get a break? I have tried, and tried, and tried… and her affection and respect for me only go as far as what she’s getting from me. The minute ‘NO’ comes in to the picture, I’m a rotten bad guy all over again. People, I am so exhausted.  She has worn my heart right out.

My husband feels hurt, and is hurting for me right now that she would turn away from me and her brothers simply to avoid the effort of making a new start with him. She can’t face the fact that she has been truly awful to him over the years, and our entire family has spent a great deal of time walking on eggshells as a result of her moods and tempers.

So what do I do? How can I move forward? I have told her I will never choose between her and my husband, but it seems she HAS made a choice… how do I deal with that?

GRRRRR!!

 

Grrr.

That’s my commentary on the day; Grr.

Grr for the snow that has returned to my finally melted world

Grr for the executive busting my chops over his own oversight

Grr for the cold and that groundhog’s stupid shadow

Grr.

Grr for the auditor who wrote up really stupid findings

Grr for the FDA visit that has to be just around the corner

Grr for my ever shrinking bank account

GRR.

Grr for the laundry

And Grr for the dishes

And Grr for the freezing conditions in my apartment

Grr for the projects I should have finished by now but haven’t

Grr for people who don’t listen

Grr for kids who won’t help out

GRRRRR for the traffic

Grr, Grr, Grr!!!

Self-Affirmation

Long nights of half-sleep

Anxiety over the nothing

Plodding through the tight stomach days

Living for the sunshine on my face

Slowly shrugging off the nonproductive habits

Learning to be okay with it all

Looking at life from a fair perspective

Taking stock of where I am and how I got myself here

Assessing what’s really important

Letting myself be human, even in my own eyes

Taking responsibility

Setting a better example for my children

Trying to put my life back together

Reminding myself what I can be capable of

Allowing myself to hope

Setting my sights on what I deserve

Communicating in positive ways

Developing better tools to relate

I will be okay.

I will be OKAY.

Disturbed and the Jiggly-Eye

Tired, tired, TIRED…. Falling asleep at work today. Disturbed played last night, and in spite of fighting for a good spot for my smallish 16 year old in a general admission venue, the show was AWESOME. We had a total blast! Skindred opened, and I have to say I liked them even more than the second band, Sevendust. But when Disturbed finally took the stage, there was no question who dominated the entire evening, hands down. I was pleased to find that Disturbed is a band that plays as well live as on their CDs… awesome, awesome show. We came, we saw, we got T-shirts.

Then I had to get up early this morning and go all the way uptown for a neuro-opthalmic eye appointment, to address this eye-bobbing issue. What a nightmare. I would have given ANYTHING to sleep in this morning! Then I got lost trying to get there, was half an hour late… good thing they were nice about it and didn’t make me reschedule. Anyway, the assistant put me through the regular tests, read this, point at that, you know the drill. Then she starts talking about dilating my eyes… I’m like, ‘What?  No no no! I have to WORK today! I have an AUDIT! I NEED my eyes!’ Just then the doctor came in and looked me over, talked to me about my symptoms and all. Turns out he didn’t need me dilated after all, thank goodness! He has prescribed me a medication normally used for parkinsons’ disease, but that has been found to work in cases of “Jiggly Eye” (That’s exactly what he called it, I’m not kidding).

And of course, he wants the ever-predictable follow-up MRI, ‘just to be sure nothing has changed’. Which is Doctor-speak for ‘Hey, New Year, new deductible, let’s get to spending!’ I have been getting occasional follow-up MRIs for the past 18 years; nothing changes, other than the amount I owe. It’s pointless. But God forbid I forego the MRI one time it’s offered, and I end up having some bizarre re-growth of the cavernoma that goes unnoticed until it bleeds out and I’m dead. That would be just my luck.

No, really, I’m serious, if you knew me, you’d know that WOULD be just my luck. Totally.

I even got lost on my way back from the place, couldn’t find the freeway to save my life, didn’t get to work until 11:30, and my auditor was almost ready to leave. Thank goodness for good coworkers who know how to pitch in when I can’t be around. They had already taken care of all his questions, given him the tour, the whole nine.  There was hardly anything for me to do but make my introductions. Yay coworkers!

So here I sit, ears ringing from last night, going on not near enough sleep, knowing I need to stay late to make up for coming in late….ugh.

But was Disturbed worth it?

Heh… yeah.

HAPPY FRIDAY

Oh goodie, the workday is almost over, and you can tell how hard I’m working right now. (NOT)

Actually I have been rather productive today, so I don’t feel so terribly bad about taking a few minutes to post a new entry. I am SO glad the week is vurtually over, as I said previously it’s been a killer. As I write this, I am being annoyed by the constant bobbing of my right eyeball, which over the last few months has grown more and more resistant to the idea of sitting still like it’s left counterpart and just letting me LOOK at stuff. This is a big concern for me, as this is the eye that sustained the most nerve damage when I had my stroke as a teen, and the last time I had it seriously looked at it was just starting to droop a bit and the doctors said it was a sign that it was deteriorating with age. Im worried that this new ‘bobbing’ development is the next step in how bad things are going to get.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the biggest pirate enthusiast around ended up having to wear an eyepatch? Like anyone would believe it was not by choice…. LOL. Of course, I’d have to design my own styles, to match my many piratey moods… and have a nice professional looking one for audit days. Is there such a thing as a professional looking eyepatch, I wonder? Maybe a simple, black satin number with piping around the edges…?

Anyhoo, Im also excited because I got my Disturbed tickets, and the concert is less than 2 weeks away, Woo Hoo! I haven’t gone to a good head bangin’ event in WAYYY too long. I’m taking my 16 year old daughter, and she’s about to wet her pants she’s so hyped about it. Yep, I am the coolest pirate lovin’ mom around these days…..

The Longest week EVER

Man, I can’t wait for tomorrow to be over; this has been the longest week in history. Take a three day Regulatory Accreditation audit, add in two additional sponsor audits, throw in three bad weather days where travel is a nightmare, and an eyeball that is steadily growing more and more unsteady – I’ll tell you, it takes it out of ya. I am BEAT.

But, I just have to get through tonight with the kids, and tomorrow at work, and then I’m free for a few days. Free to sleep in, free to bum around, free to do nothing or anything. Free to get a little REST.

Just… 24… hours…

Got… to hang… on…

Come on, Mags, keep it together. I know I’m just worked up because I have to battle Satan tonight when I get home…. Oh yeah, TOTALLY addicted to Guitar Hero. And here I thought I bought that Wii for my kids… HA!

I have to say it is amazing how much activity you put in to things without even realizing it. I tried bouncing soccer balls off my head for just a few minutes last night and today my whole core aches. I mean, muscles I couldn’t target if I TRIED. It’s pretty cool!

Where’s my Advil?? WHERE’S MY ADVIL PEOPLE????

So Long, 2008…

 

Well, this has been one of the most bizarre years of my adult life.

I entered it in a stable marriage, a secure job, a comfortable house, and good financial status.

I am leaving it in a state of separation, a job I worry about keeping, a cold basement apartment, and never enough cash to stretch from one pay day to the next.

It’s been interesting.

In between there have been lost loves, internet relationships, and plenty of heartache and heartbreak. It has been tough learning to be on my own, but I really think I am making progress. It’s hard, and it’s lonely, but if there’s one resolution I make for 2009, it will be that I refuse to sacrifice my self, my personality, my happiness, to appease a man. I have rediscovered what it’s like to really be able to just be me… and I like me.

My husband and I are getting along well, spending some time together, and will start counseling in January. But I have been very clear that I have made no promises, aloud or inferred, that I will be returning home. It seems I like him as a friend, but as a husband? I still have no idea if we’ll ever get back to that point. Much change is needed.

My kids will return from my parent’s place in Southern Utah on Sunday; I have missed them and can’t wait to see their little faces again (reminding myself they’re just not so little anymore). School starts up again Monday, and life resumes as normal again for everyone… well, as normal as it can be right now.

So what will 2009 bring? Hard to imagine. So many things in the air right now, I can’t possibly predict what might happen next… but stay tuned,  faithful readers, it’s sure to be entertaining!

Ahhh… It’s Over….

Yes, the big day has come and gone… and so have the kids. They boarded a shuttle on the 27^th and were off to St. George (Southern Utah) to spend their second week of Christmas vacation with grandma and grandpa. You know what that means?

I have the Wii all to myself all week long, Woo Hoo!!

My husband came over and played for awhile after dropping the kids off at the shuttle; I knocked him out cold in Boxing, I kicked his butt Bowling, and my band TOTALLY rocked harder in Guitar Hero. We had a fun time; he had even bought the kids a skiing game that you play standing on the Wii fit and using the controller and nunchuk as ski poles, and I gave that a shot, thus further proving there IS a reason I do not, and have never, and will never ski.

It was a lot of fun, and you know what? Today I CAN HARDLY MOVE. My shoulders, my upper arms, my back, my ass, my thighs, my knees – everything is stiff and sore. I got quite a workout… and I haven’t even tried the Wii Fit software yet!

I love that Wii. I did get it for the kids, but I guess it turned out to be a gift for myself as well, which works out, considering the only other gift I got was a Disturbed CD from my daughter. Way to go, kid, thanks for having my back. She rocks, she really does. I’m going to try to get tickets to Disturbed, they’re playing here at the end of January, and if I do I’m totally taking her. She’ll freak.

Still spending some time with the husband, overall it’s okay, I guess. I can’t believe he actually thinks my Pirate Enthusiasm is a bad influence on my children. This could be a deal-breaker, kids… if I can’t be me, I’m not going back, it’s just that simple. So now he says we can’t discuss it anymore until we see the counselor, because it could start a fight. Have I mentioned he still has to be the boss of everything, and tell me how to drive and where to turn in the town where I was born and raised? LOVE that…