Mr. Grouch and I met in 1997, my freshman year of college, his sophomore year. It didn’t take long for me to fall head over heels. At 18 years old, I knew he’d probably be the one I married, but we were young and foolish and we used to drive each other batshit crazy. We broke up a few times and after 4 years of … Continue reading Camping Trips As Spousal Screenings
1. I’m going to misplace everything. I already do this, so it’ll just be magnified twelvethousandfold. I misplace my phone about 5 times a day. I put papers on my desk and can’t find them for 40 minutes. And they’re right there, on my desk. It’s exhausting. My grandmother recently drove an hour and a half away to get her hair done at a salon … Continue reading Nine Ways I’m Going To Be Annoying When I’m Old (Which Also Happen To Be Why I’m Annoying Now)
Ok, I’m going to be a little boasty, braggy, hippity hoppity. I can’t help it, I just might explode – this week has been sort of amazing. I have had a lot of horribly dark weeks, and this one is shiny and bright and remarkably different than those. FRIDAY: I am starting a support program for students on the Autism Spectrum at the high school I work in – we will be piloting it, … Continue reading Call Me a Fanfaron This Week
Mr. Grouch has decided to pick up a few hobbies recently. One of these hobbies is maintaining a freshwater fish tank. This tank has been chock full of drama from the beginning – a replacement for any soap opera on TV, I would argue. I give you evidence in the following examples: PRETTY CHARACTERS: A Platinum Blond Angel, a beautiful Striped Angel, gem colored Blue and Sapphire Rams, striped Barbs, flame red … Continue reading Underwater Soap Opera
My husband and I met on the soccer field – we were on the same intramural team at MSU in 1997. We talk about this long ago age in “pounds ago”, instead of “years ago” since we were once both young and spry. Sometimes we still play on coed teams together, or he plays on his own team and I do other things like yoga or jogging (running a half marathon … Continue reading I Stalk My Family When They Sleep. And Take Pictures.
This is the week where we are reminded to reflect on what we are thankful for. This year my biggest gratitude and thanks go to Baby Grouch. She makes me happy simply because she is she. I am grateful for her smiles, her snores, her little grasp on my finger, her cuddles and coos. I’m grateful for her cries and her tears and for the … Continue reading On Gratitude and Compassion.
Yesterday morning was a little rough. I never answer my phone when I see a number I don’t recognize. So, it was not out of the ordinary when I ignored my phone after seeing “Restricted” pop up on my caller id. I muted the call and went back to sipping my coffee and singing to Baby Grouch in my horrendously off key tones. Maternity leave … Continue reading Well, Shit, That Doesn’t Sound Good.
Just over 6 weeks ago, Baby Grouch arrived. She is strong and healthy and a lovely little peanut. She is also somewhat lumpy and squeaky and sloshy – as newborns tend to be. During pregnancy, my body ventured into uncharted hormonal territory – that is – my hormones seemed to even out and become what many would call “normal”. My moods were relatively even and … Continue reading Smile. Scowl. Cry (sad). Smile. Laugh. Cry (happy).
So, 35 weeks into pregnancy, I’m feeling…..good. Incredibly whaleish and crickity creakity (my sacroiliac joint, within my pelvis, and I are not on speaking terms) and heartburny… but still, good. All the discomforts are to be expected and are overall completely bearable and worth it. Without question. Pregnancy viking, so far, I remain. I have been lucky enough to be at my most-pregnant during the summer months. … Continue reading The Traveling Pants
Here is a list of my pregnancy transformations so far: 1. I’M A SASQUATCH: Okay, disclaimer: I have always been a hairy girl – with hairy arms and hairy eyebrows. Have you seen my 7th grade picture yet? HAIRrendous. So, naturally I married a beautiful Greek man, who has big brown eyes, a strong jaw, and very healthy hair follicles. In other words, a true … Continue reading How Pregnancy Is Turning Me Into My Husband
A Morning Grouch 