Happy 21st Son 2!

So my baby turns 21 today. Yeah!

Happy birthday to my son 2. My baby.

I can't help but feel relieved over this event. We work so hard to raise babies, hoping that they will learn values and become good human beings. But everything is trial and error. And guilt, tremendous, bone crushing guilt is somehow upon Moms every single day.

I shouldn't have fed him home baked cookies after school.

I should have forced him to eat Brussels sprouts.

I should and shouldn't... the list goes on and on and on...

Le sigh!

But today, I am going to forgo it all. And simply focus on the huge task I accomplished. I raised a child. And I am ready to let him go out there in the world. Watch out world here he comes!

As for me, I took the day off today to simply celebrate my success. Of course it is all about me. I made this happen didn't I? And yes his father and an entire village helped me accomplish this. But today... I am simply going to claim this as mine and savor it.

Guilt free!

Happy Birthday Son 2!

Here is your favorite photo. I cropped myself out of it for you.

Wish I was there to share this day with you and embarrass you:)

Birthday Gal

Today is my birthday! Yeah! I get to be the queen for a day. Where is my tiara? Anyone knows?

So my plans today are thus. I go to work in the morning. My company is taking us out around noon to see the new Harry Potter movie. We are going to the Alamo Drafthouse (AD) theater in Austin. AD is a restaurant cum movie place and once you see a movie there, you will never want to go any place else.

So anyways. Lunch and movie and then we get to go home.

My guys asked me what I wanted to do in the evening for dinner. I told them that I was tired of eating out and wanted a simple home cooked meal. I gave them a menu that they could make and I share it with you:

Slow cooked pot roast in red wine
Paula Deen's mashed potatoes
Paula Deen's creamed corn
Paula Deen's homemade biscuits
Paula Deen's squash casserole
Paula Deen's pea salad
Paula Deen's gravy

Being nice that I am, I told them not to bother making a Paula Deen cake because I wanted to keep it simple.

I get to be a queen today... right?

PS: For those of you who don't know Paula Deen, she is a famous cook on TV and I recently had the pleasure of eating at her restaurant. So I think I am obsessed with her now. Or at least her food.

PPS: This photo was taken in the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. I have to say that it was the highlight of my trip.

Birthday Gal

Happy Birthday Alex!

I wish you much joy, happiness and fun!

Thanks for being my friend! You are my perfect model!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 19th birthday!

I wish you much happiness and much success.


xoxo

Happy Birthday

Ballerina Girl!

Thanks for blogging and visiting my blog!

At 45…

I’ve always been a girlie girl. I was raised to be a delicate little flower supporting her man by hosting parties and chit-chatting with all kinds of different people. I was raised to be a politician’s wife. Unintentionally… but a product of my environment. I knew how to manage conversations. I knew how to charm and woo people.

So at 45, how did I end up doing what I do? A secure job in Corporate America. A successful career as a technical writer and a manager. Well… I don’t have answers to that. I still struggle trying to suppress the artistic, rebellious, and bohemian in me every single day.

I have 3 very significant men in my life. My husband and my 2 sons. When they asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I told them I wanted to go deep sea fishing. My choices were plenty. I could have selected massage on the beach, a salt scrub, or a day at the spa. But I wanted to do something where everyone had a great time. It was a milestone for me and we all had accomplished as a family.

So fishing we went. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The fishing trip was fantastic. Everyone caught a fish although they were too small to keep. I pay premium prices to pay smaller fishes but when you go deep sea fishing, the rules are different. We were all happy. Until the accident.

Somehow the fishing hook got entangled in my hand. It pierced my left hand. And the captain had to do some fine operations to pull it out. He said I was a trooper but I felt like a wimp. My entire family felt sorry for me. I had to get a tetanus shot. But it was a valuable lesson for me. And I reflected a lot. Here is what I know today:

Give in to yourself!

If you are not an athletic type, don’t play around with a deep sea fishing hook. IT HURTS. Read a book instead and watch everyone else catch the fish. Ooh and aah at everyone who catches a fish. Everyone loves a compliment and trust me, the captain of the boat will appreciate you for refraining from activities you have no business participating in.
So what you if don’t know how to change the oil in the car? Or change a flat tire? Why do you need to prove to the world that you am a macho woman? Remember to ask for help. Nicely. Even if you are 80, standing by the roadside with a flat tire, call for help. Ask strangers. Everyone wants good karma. I know that I’ll be that 80 year old lady striking a fancy pose just so someone stops to change the tire. Even if they stop so other drivers are spared of the visual abuse of a granny with boobs to her knees acting like she is in Madonna’s Vogue video. Bravo to all women who can change a tire. I am sorry if I am letting you down. Moving on with my life, it is best that I accept my limitations.