The Ups, The Downs, and Everything in Between
There are different times during the year, certain holidays, that make me reflective. One of those times for sure is my birthday. Tomorrow I will be turning 36, and for some reason this feels like kind of a big one to me. I often say how I don’t feel like I’m in my mid 30’s. Inside I feel like a 20 something, and maturity wise when I am laughing because someone mentioned balls, and I shouldn’t laugh about something like that, I feel more like …
I have been going camping every summer with my family since I was in diapers. I literally have pictures of the “big girl potty” my mom would bring camping with us while I was potty training as a toddler. We rough it as much as I would ever want to rough it. We have an old pop-up and a tent with air mattresses. There are sleeping bags and campfires. We have no television, no air conditioning, and for the most part no electronics because we …
You don’t need to reread my title, yes I am toasting to the fact that I will be running 13.1 miles. Oh wait, it gets better, not only am I running in a half marathon, but I am doing it next weekend. I signed up months ago with my sister. What sounds better than the Rock N Roll half marathon downtown Chicago? Pretty much anything else sounds better right now. Here’s what; I often hear the phrase, “You have a million reasons not to …
Movies have soundtracks with songs that can perfectly capture what is going on with the characters. It helps you to feel the right emotions when you need to. Sometimes even shitty movies, can feel so much better with a great track behind it. Looking over my life so far, I can pick out songs that always create such vivid memories for me. If there was a soundtrack for Colleen this far, this is what it would be: Track 1 I Want Candy – The …
I’ve got an angel She doesn’t wear any wings She wears a heart that could melt my own She wears a smile that could make me want to sing She gives me presents With her presence alone She gives me everything I could wish for She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home She can make angels I’ve seen it with my own eyes You got to be careful when you’ve got good love ’cause them angels will just keep …
I mean I really wanted to hit her. I didn’t though. I mean she was only 10, and I realize my anger was totally irrational. But I swear that is a mother’s love, irrational! Okay, context, you need it! Here it is, my daughter is getting ready for her big dance recital this weekend. She has had long dress rehearsals this week, and they are at her studio. During the second day of rehearsals something embarrassing happened to Brooke in front of not only her …
I didn’t start watching the “13 Reasons Why” series on Mom patrol. My kids aren’t old enough to even be aware of that series. Right now they are in a nice show cocoon of Andi Mack and Teen Titans Go. I read the book because I am a reader and not ashamed to say I am a fan of a lot of teen fiction out there. I feel like it was a lifetime ago, but I started my career as a High School English teacher, …
I have recently started binging Orange is the New Black on Netflix. I know, I’m super late to the party, but at least I’m here. I just watched the episode when one of the guards is trying to help an inmate suffering from mental illness. He tells her, “All we can do is make the most of right now.” #Truth! I have been trying to stop bringing myself down lately by not dwelling in the past. It is such an easy mental trap we …
With Mother’s Day just days away, it’s hard not to think about my mom and all of the things she has done for her children. My mother has lived a life! She shares stories of her childhood all the time. How different things were then, and how she decided early on she would do things differently. It’s really odd to think about some things she would do. My mom talks about how my grandma would pin a list of things she needed to …
Two things before I get into these thoughts; first did you get the title reference? There was a book I read when I was in middle school and it was, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. This book was everything to me when I read it. Its by Judy Bloom and awesome. Second, this is a judgement free space. By agreeing to ready my blog you are agreeing to read about my thoughts, actions, and everything else and are able to laugh, cry, and …