Blame It On The Corn...

Steinvic sent this to me at work today, and I could not stop giggling. Another reason to be proud to be an Ohioan...

Police: Drunk Mom Poops Her Pants During Traffic Stop

ELYRIA, Ohio -- It was a sobering moment for an Elyria mother when police arrested her on a DUI charge last Friday afternoon.

Officers said 46-year-old Wendy Phillips was driving drunk with her 4-year-old daughter in the backseat.

Elyria police stopped Phillips about a block away from the police station Friday, June 4.

She pulled out in front of a cruiser and drove off the side of the road, almost hitting a stop sign police said.

Officers said she threw out a bottle as officers approached her vehicle. Police said it was a vodka bottle. Oddly enough, the bottle broke in the Courthouse driveway.

Officers said Phillips was unable to stand safely on her own when pulled over.

Apparently, being pulled over literally scared the crap out of Phillips.

"I pooped my pants. I ate too much corn," she told officers.

Phillips was charged with DUI, child endangering and reasonable control.

Phillips has a previous drunk driving charge as well.

Well now. I like my corn - and my vodka - as much as the next girl. But, seriously? I'm glad they caught her and that the child is safe. If you go to the link, read the comments, too...priceless!
You can also catch a glimpse of this beauty...

Home Again & Prophetic Dreams

So, I planned to post more on vacation than I did, but what can I say? The Internet connection was a little funky at times and we were busy.

But, we had a great time, got lots of sun, had a nice overnight in Nashville on the way home, and this morning, we went back to work. Young Man headed back to Columbus last evening and started a new job this morning: landscaping! I hope it wasn't too tough of a day for him...

Right now, Steinvic is at a Reds game with our friend, and I'm working on getting the house back in order.

I had some strange dreams on vacation, and before you think I've lost my marbles, let me say that I'm not trying to say I'm psychic, that I believe in ghosts, that I can communicate with the dead, that I'm special or anything like that.

But my Grandma visited me three times in my sleep on vacation. The third dream was a message for Young Man: watch out for spiders while you're landscaping. She showed me doorways where spiders were lurking and was specific in telling me that he needed to be careful. Okay...

The second and first dream, though, contained messages for me. And the message was clear: "Get off the pill! It's killing you!" In the first dream, she was wringing her hands with a dishcloth, just like I'd seen her do a million times in her comfortable kitchen.

In the second dream, she was more emphatic and aggitated. She was holding this very white baby, who I've seen her hold in my dreams before...the baby looks like he is made of china...he is so white and smooth. Somehow, I know his name is Samuel. In this dream, he is screaming and she is rocking and bouncing him, and she is telling me again, "Stop taking the pill! It's killing you! Do you hear me?"

It was so real, I woke with this lump in my throat. I got online and found all this information about the particular brand I've been taking, and about the symptoms of having excess estrogen, and about how the pill isn't a good solution for people who have endometriosis, even though it's commonly prescribed as a "fix."

I read the list of symptoms and there wasn't one that I haven't experienced. I felt this rush of heat to my face, and thought...how could I not have figured this out before? I've had four different doctors and none of them...no one listened to my symptoms and concluded that maybe the pill was hurting and not helping? Every single one of them ratched up the prescription, giving me stronger and stronger brands, never thinking that they were making me worse?

I went on the pill in my late teens and it was supposed to help with cramps. And aside from a few months, I've been on it ever since. I'll be 39 this year. No one ever said, "Hey...you've been on this almost 20 years. Lets give your body a break!" or "You know weight gain, depression, anxiety, splotchy skin, rashes, abnormalities in appetite, pain, swelling, bloating and fatigue are all signs of excessive estrogen, and since the pill contains estrogen, it's not the best solution for you?"

I know the Internet is full of false information, but this is info from reliable sites. I'm no dummy...I'm careful in my research.

So, I did something kinda crazy. I quit taking it. I didn't call my doctor first, I didn't wait and see, I just did what I felt urgently I needed to do.

This morning, two days off, I was really nauseous and dizzy. Hot and then cold. No appetite today. I'm better now and hungry, but not ravenous...not like usually, where I feel these waves of starvation and shakiness.

I know that coming off mega doses of hormones might suck, but you know what really sucks? The suspicion that I've wasted a lot of years feeling bad...and that I put my trust into doctors who didn't deserve it.

Probably more personal info in this post than you're used to getting from me, but maybe there is a lesson learned in this for someone else. I'll let you know how it goes!

This is Perfect

We are here! I'm sitting here on our second real day at the beach, wearing my swim suits and coordinating shorts and hat (because that is how I roll) waiting for Steinvic & Son to wake up...

So far, all has been perfect! We arrived on Sunday afternoon, checked in and unloaded the car.

And, we walked down to the beach...it was still there, majestic and constant, and it missed me...I could tell.

We drove up to Alvin's Island to buy Young Man swim trunks and flip flops (oops - forgot) and a hat for me (oops - forgot) and then to the grocery store for supplies and to the booze store for even more supplies. Really, for a tourist trap, it wasn't too bad - hat, flip flops, trunks, water ball, three coozies and a free beach bag - $50.

As a reward for all our hard work, we went to McQuire's - a place that quickly became one of Steinvic's and my favorite spots when we were here years ago. It was as fun and good and interesting as the last time we were there, and of course, it's fun to show Young Man all the things we liked so much.

Yesterday, we woke, scarfed breakfast and hit the beach. Then the pool. Then out for a bit and lots of laziness, basketball, and chilling in between.

And now, I'm ready to do it all again. (If the boys ever wake up!)

Photos soon...just haven't taken as many pics as I thought I would! But the week is still young...

Well On Our Way...

We're in a hotel room outside of Birmingham, Alabama. "We" includes me, Steinvic and Young Man. Young Man's friend flaked at the last minute, so it's just us three.

At first, I thought, "Crap...Young Man is going to be bored to tears the whole time, hanging out with 'just us.'"

And now that we're on our way, eight hours in, I'm happy that it's just us three. Young Man and I caught up on music, work, cars, society and all that on the way down. Steinvic hopped in back for the last third of the day and Young Man and I chattered away...before that we'd been yammering from the front/back seats.

Because I drove the whole 8 hours today! And I probably could have kept going, but I suddenly felt ready to get out of the car. Still, it was the easiest 8 hours in the car I've ever had.

Maybe it's because I'm so ready for this break.

Maybe it's because I'm so excited to share this place with Steinvic and Young Man.

Maybe it's becaus so often, I'm not in control of anything in my world, but this is a chance for me to have a heroine moment, where I can do something really great for the people I love most.

No matter the reason - let's not analyze it - we're about 4 hours away from our beach destination. We're going to take our time getting there, but by 3 tomorrow, we'll be there, checked in, comfortable, and taking in the beauty of a beach that I LOVE.

I'll let you know how it is when we get there...pictures and all.

Finally!

Here I am...I swear, I didn't mean to be gone that long.

Steinvic and I have been on a business trip. It was a conference for a work association we belong to. (If I haven't mentioned it before, we're both on the board and it's the group that was responsible for us meeting!)

So, we were traveling and I didn't have Internet access. Before that we were getting ready to travel and I barely had five minutes to do a darn thing! But you know what? It was all worth it. We're exhausted and spent, but the conference we put on for 16 of our colleagues was super awesome and fun.

Tonight, he is in Columbus for work, and I'm washing all our stuff from one trip in preparation for our next trip, which begins Saturday.

We are driving to Florida for a WHOLE WEEK of vacation in a darling condo right on the beach. We had the pleasure of going to the same place about 4 years ago and it was amazingly relaxing. This time, we are taking his son with us, (and his son's pal) and that makes this our first official family vacation.

I couldn't be more thrilled...I think it's going to be fantastically fun.

So, Vegas yesterday, Ohio today and tomorrow and Florida by Sunday. I feel so lucky to get to do all of these things!

If I'm honest though...I'm so tired right now, I just walked over to the phone in the kitchen to call my Grandma. (If you're new here, she passed away almost a year ago.) What a conversation that would have been, huh?! I have had the impulse to call her plenty of times, since we used to talk every night, but it's been months since I've actually walked to the phone with conviction, ready for a catch up. So, I know I'm wiped out. But, instead of crying about it (which is what I usually feel like doing), it made me smile. I've poured a glass of wine (didn't even remember that any was here!) and I'm catching up with you instead.

But anyway... I promise to post here more this week! It shouldn't be as big of a challenge...we plan on having a lot of time to do whatever we like. And we'll be doing it together.

I've missed you! And I'm back...

J is right...

...I haven't posted in a while. What is up with that?

I haven't. Part of it is being really busy. Part of it is...I guess what every blogger goes through.

"Does what I have to say matter?"

"Does anyone miss it when I don't blog?"

"Who cares about all of this?"

But then I'm reminded of why I started this little corner of the Internet in the first place: for me. I write here because it's a place for me to record where I am at this minute.

And right now, we're waiting to hear back about a reception hall. This is the second one we were interested in...the first one? They are crappy about getting in touch and letting us see the place - not a good sign.

And I found a dress. And we have a cake lady, way talented. And a volunteer bartender who is super nice.

Beyond that, we're gearing up for our professional association conference that we're responsible for. We leave next Saturday. And we get home from that, then head for vacation.

Before that, Steinvic's son comes to stay with his girlfriend...they have tickets to a concert locally. Since I didn't really get to celebrate his birthday with him, we'll celebrate Monday.

So much going on...

All good. Just busy. Just the business of living...

A Very Special Birthday

May 4, my Grandma would be 92.

When she passed, we collected money for a fund instead of flowers.

I mean, she loved flowers and was surrounded by flowers in life. In fact, the woman who now lives in my Grandma's former room home is undoubtedly floored by the explosion of buttercups and gladiolas that are going on in her patio garden. We made the most of our 4x8 feet of space...what can I say.

But when she left us, we didn't want flowers that would die.

We wanted dollars that could live on forever.

Tomorrow night, an underpriveleged girl at a local highschool will get $1500 toward her musical education. She'll have her books or car insurance or a class or two paid for.

My Grandma attended Sherwood Music School in Chicago in the 1930s, and she did it on scholarships, nanny jobs and a shoestring. She'd tell you about putting a Buffalo nickle in the vending machine for an apple, and how that apple was her whole lunch, if you'd listen.

(I'd give anything to hear her tell that story again. )

Tomorrow, I'll meet my Mom and my Aunt - who drove in from Hatley, Wisconsin tonight - to watch this young woman receive the scholarship tomorrow night. My Grandma's birthday is the perfect time for giving...