Short, middle aged and broke

I hate getting catalogs in the mail, loving all of their stuff (Free People) and then realizing I am not 5'10," 99 lbs, 17 years old and rich. In fact, when I think about it, if I were to "categorize" myself, I am short, middle aged and broke. Bummer.

At least I have a job, access to Botox and platform shoes and my family....of course. But sometimes, a girl just needs a new outfit. Period. No reason. Not about anyone else. Just a new pair shoes folks.
Age appropriate, schmage appropriate.

Hudson and I went to the Container Store tonight to get ourselves "organized." This is fun stuff for us, seriously.

E sent me a link today. He wants to buy a Vespa. This is so wrong and not going to happen, on so many levels. Need I explain more?

Paris in the
the Spring.


Did you read
Paris in the Spring?
Or
Paris in the THE Spring.


I read the first. It shows you how our minds make automatic assumptions if we are not paying attention. It happens to me ALL the time. Especially in the past 6 months. I am making more of an effort to be aware of what is and less aware of what was and what might be.

So. Right now, I'm aware, that I want to play dress up.
Even if I am short, middle aged, broke and don't go anywhere that I can wear a fur and a sequined mini dress, in the same night.

Oktoberfest, Space and yoga

Things we did (are doing) this weekend.....

Happy October! The best Ocktoberfest beer made.
It just so happens, I worked for this local micro-brewery (Karl Strauss Brewing Company) in sales for 4 years so I may be a little partial.













Hudson's BFF from school had a birthday party. This was no run-of-the-mill, pin-the-tail on the donkey party. It was a "Spaceship/Astronaut" themed party. Complete with space helmets, NASA shirts and name badges, and of course a space pack for launch.































Yoga Sunday. Hudson does Yoga at pre-school and these are his favorite moves, complete with his description. (Similar to the dad who played football for years and sees his son pick up a football for the first time, I'm pretty proud. :))














"Downward dog"








"Table"








"Waterfall"








"Butterfly"








"Downward cat"











Although it's still sunny and 70 here in San Diego. It's Sunday, It's Fall, and I feel like crock-potting and comfort food damn it.
So "Thanksgiving in a Pot" it is.

A few things I know for sure.

A few things I know for sure....

I know for sure, my kid is a natural "hoarder."
From Matchbox cars, to glow sticks, to leaves on an afternoon jog when I just want to run and not stop and pick up every god damned leaf that happens to be on the sidewalk but then I remember how cool it is as a kid to watch in amazement at how the leaves change colors right before our eyes and if I would stop and think about it as an adult I just might feel the same way.......(deep breath.) And I do.




Spider man face paint, again. I realized this as I picked him up and we went to get our usual Friday after school treat and did our usual Friday after school grocery shopping. I know for sure, my kid is a creature of habit.
(I'm not sure where he gets it.)




I had a moment today. I haven't lived in Minnesota for 10 years and today was one of those moments where, you'd never know. I roamed the grocery store (which I'm fairly familiar with) and I finally had to ask, very annoyed, where the pineapple was hiding. The man kindly pointed to the large table full of fresh pineapple, directly behind him. "You mean that?"
Oh, yeah. I was looking for the canned stuff but this will do.
(I say this only because fresh pineapple is pretty hard to come by in October in MN. The thought of "fresh" didn't even cross my mind.)

Hudson and I proceeded to cut that baby up and ate like it was going out of (style) season. I know for sure, I'm still a Minnesotan at heart and that it's going to be a good Friday night.




As for the hubs. We are getting to a point where I can tell him stories about when he was 'his evil twin in the hospital' and he can comprehend it, sort of envision it, and sometimes even laugh about it. I shared with him today the "succulent story." Basically, when he was moved to in-patient rehab and I tried to make his room more comfy, I potted this succulent plant and brought it in to him. It's no secret that I'm NOT a green thumb. E looked at it and immediately told me it "sucked." Yep, he said my succulent sucked.

Well guess who is still living and in our bedroom?
And after today, E finally knows where it came from.
I know for sure, my husband is getting better, and I will NEVER pot him a succulent again.




And finally.....
I know for sure, that although he can be annoying as hell, after a good run and a hearty meal, my dog can be the cutest thing ever.
(Even if he is on my pillow and seeing that totally sends me into a cleanliness tailspin.)




Happy Friday.

It's beginning to look a lot like..

Tonight was Hudson's night to choose the dinner menu.
So....cheese quesadillas and chocolate chip cookies it is. I did make some Carne Asada on the side for E, although I do think it should be a rule that you have to stick to the menu plan.

E is a full on "driver" and it's fantastic. It's like having a newly licensed 16 year old in the house.

Me: Oh shit, I'm about to make Carne Asada and I forgot the Carne (meat)
E: I'll go get it!
Me: Awesome. I need a bottle of Cabernet to cook with as well. Could you throw in a few?

So after going through (in this order) Anxiety, fear and heart palpitations....I now feel sweet relief. E being able to drive is physical proof he's getting better. (Although I have yet to get in the car with him)

Hudson and I did a Target run tonight for the usual....Toilet paper, glow sticks, holiday pjs and hot sauce. Hey, it's Super Target.

I believe I've created a holiday "monster" like myself and I had to make the adult decision to NOT buy Christmas pajamas. However, because he's been wearing the shit out of his costume, I figured a little Halloween pj action would be appropriate.

Although things seem to be stabilizing a bit from within, there is a lot of "stuff" happening outside (ie. Whats happening to the dude that has a big fist and tiny balls who caused E's traumatic brain injury) and I will be discussing at my own pace. Because this is my blog and I do what I want.



Like i said....Glow sticks and Halloween pajamas.




Beetlejuice?




A raccoon named Henri in my kitchen.




Family Scrabble. Sounds so cheesy but it's great for brain injuries and wives of brain injured guys who cook with Cabernet. Hudson is the official "letter getter" and I don't know about you, but I read "asshole way." Just a thought.

Words of wisdom.

It is always nice to end the weekend with a few words of wisdom and simplicity.






If your not inspired or smiling, something is wrong.

6 months and Life to Go.

Today marks 6 months since E's TBI (traumatic brain injury.) What a week. What a half a year.

E is driving again. He will be starting work (very) part time and going to brain camp the other part of his time. Lots of appointments, work, brain camp and school.
Lots of change.

What have I learned in the last 6 months? Plan on change. And I was reminded of that unmistakably today.

I figured today would be a good day to play tourists and take in some local San Diego culture. This idea was spawn early this morning when I woke up at 6:30 am in order to get ready, get myself a pumpkin spice latte and make it to downtown San Diego by 8 am to attend a convention for work. Only to arrive and realize I was early. 2 weeks early. Yes, it's a proven fact, brain injuries are contagious. So, I came home, round up the boys (someone stayed out a bit too late last night) and drove downtown, again.

I had two specific intentions. 1. Go to the children's museum 2. Go to our favorite Australian restaurant, Bondi (for a beer, burger and sweet potato fries.)

Well.....the museum is closed for the month of September getting ready for a new exhibition and Bondi has been replaced by Donovan's Steak house. What a difference 6 months makes.

So.... we ate at Maryjanes Diner at the Hard Rock hotel for the beer, burger and fries (no sweet potato. Boo.) We went to the Balboa Park Train Museum for our culture and Hudson's "adventure" for the day. Not too shabby!

After going through the last 6 months, it takes a lot more than a few alterations in "the plan" to rock my boat. Although, I try to anticipate everything, I know that "the plan" is much bigger than my daybook can handle.

So, like the last 6 months, I will take the next 6 months, one day at a time.
And I will continue to PLAN on CHANGE.




E's last "full time" day at brain camp. Cooking with "Sam the Cooking Guy." A local celeb chef.




Buffalo chicken pizza. Yum!
P.s. I had Sam sign my Sam the Cooking Guy cookbook "I love you Mandy"
I have no shame.




E, super stoked that I'm taking his picture right now.




Me and Hud, super.




6 months and life to go.

On the road again......

Well let let's see, what happened today....
We woke up, had breakfast, Roomba cleaned our floors, and E got the ok to drive again!

We had our bigtime brain camp meeting today. E had two specific goals and was able to accomplish both within the last two months. 1. Drive 2. Work.

He will now be going to brain camp two days a week and will be working three. The great part about having both is, as issues come up at work (and they assured us they will) E can work it out at brain camp instead of having to deal with it on his own. Thank you brain camp!

Have I mentioned the nicknames E and his snarky friends have given me?
Mandatory, deMandying, ComMandying, Mandypants. You get the idea.
Needless to say, taking control of a situation comes naturally. However, I couldn't me more excited to give up the title of "family chauffeur." My life in the past six months has been like being a single mom of a special needs child with a dead beat dad.

Tomorrow, we celebrate E's last "full time" day at brain camp with Sam the Cooking Guy (a local celeb chef.) I've invited myself to the festivities and couldn't be more excited.







In the words of his (multiple) good friends, Oh boy......







He may have a brain injury but he's definitely not stupid.







Little tiger after school.







Celebratory meal. Yes, on a paper plate. Our dishwasher is broken.







Sweet potato mashed potatoes. Little. Orange. Different.







Hmm. Not sure who this is...







Oh, it's Henri. The begging dog.