birthdays - hooey!critic

36 Hours

October 9, 2012 by Neena 4 Comments

I’ve only been 34 years old for a few days, but I’ve already learned something pretty important.

Wanna know what it is!? I’ll tell ya…

It officially takes me 36 hours to get over a hangover.

Yep. I’m totally and completely NOT young in that respect anymore.

Saturday night was the official birthday celebration. We started off at the gun range where I got to have a little target practice and purchase my first gun! She came in a blue box so obviously I named her Tiffany. We headed to a local Mexican restaurant where we met up with some friends, ate some great food, and, like the proverbial cheese, I stood alone…drinking.

Everyone assured me they would drink when we hit the bar which was our next stop after dinner. I had a few drinks at the bar, danced a little ~~with no rhythm whatsoever~~, and laughed with the amazing group of people who showed up. But, every time I turned around someone was refilling my drink or buying me a shot. I was working on drinking any random glass of water I could find on the table knowing full well the wonders of hydration.

Sadly, it didn’t help.

By the time we left I was feeling pretty tipsy which is always a strange feeling since I only drink once in a blue moon. As Hubby drove me home I ended up pulling some major stomach pyrotechnics (so glad those shoes were cheap!) and crashed immediately upon getting home…only to wake up at 6:30 am feeling like crap.

I spent the day vegging on the couch, eating scrambled eggs, and hydrating my ass off. It didn’t really help. I slept when I could and slowly but surely realized that my 34-year-old ass was not meant to recover quickly. I went to be early that night hoping Monday would surprise me with some “feel better” feelings. It didn’t.

It’s now Monday night and I’m finally feeling back to normal. No headache, no exhaustion, no nausea. It’s been a loooooong 36 hours.

But, damn was it fun!!!

Next time I just need to remember that Sex on the Beach shots are a very bad idea…no matter if they are the half priced shot of the day.

Filed Under: birthdays

Turning 34

October 4, 2012 by Neena 4 Comments

Tomorrow I have a birthday. I’ll turn 34. There is nothing significant about that age – not in a milestone way that is. It isn’t the beginning of a decade or even a half-way point. It’s just a number. It’s just there.

We make a big deal about birthdays around here – at least for the kids. My husband and I aren’t necessarily keen on celebrating our birthdays, but we do it for the kids. And maybe for the cake. Usually we have a meal and stay home – not wanting to bother anyone with the events of the day.

But this year I’m taking a different approach. I’m celebrating. Big Time.

Why when 34 is not really a significant age to turn?

Because, by golly, I’ve accomplished quite a bit in 34 years:

Three beautiful children whom I adore and only occasionally act like assholes.
An amazing husband and marriage I value so much.
A PhD I never plan to use
A few small writing credits
A soon-to-launch project that makes me look like I’m using my PhD even though I’m actually not

And it’s time to celebrate those things a little.

I’ll be surrounding myself with friends on Saturday night to do some partying at the gun rage, a small mexican restaurant, and a local dive bar. I’m sure by Sunday morning I’ll be fiercely reminded that I’m not quite so young anymore. But for one night I’m going enjoy my birthday. I’m going to drink a little, dance a little, and let everyone know that 34 can be pretty fabulous if you just let yourself enjoy it.

Happy Birthday to me (tomorrow).

Filed Under: birthdays, Uncategorized

Turning 7

August 11, 2012 by Neena 3 Comments

Dear Jacob,

How does it feel to be 7, little man? How does it feel to be a 7-year-old with a shiny new blue belt? By the amount of cake you ate today and the smile that never seemed to fade I’d say it probably feels pretty darn good.

There is something special about celebrating your birthday – especially considering you are my only little boy. Sometimes the house feels like it is covered in pink and ballerinas and hair bows. You give us the joy of seeing little corners of dinosaurs, history books, Star Wars, and anything orange.

You’ve changed a great deal this past year – retaining your tender heart and sensitivity while growing into a mature little boy. You’ve discovered a love of science and ancient history. You seem to show a more generous spirit and have perfected the ability to be kind to all people and animals. You still like me to tuck you in and kiss you goodnight but you no longer require me to read you stories. You do that all on your own.

You often wake up first in the morning and, after coming to say hello, you head to your bed to work in some extra reading time before the day starts. I still can’t get you to clean your room but that’s ok. I understand being distracted by all the cool stuff up there.

And you’re the only kid in the world that always offers to share his food – and the only one that will call me to say you saved leftovers from a restaurant so we can enjoy them together.

I love you, buddy. You are an incredible Kid. Happy Birthday.

Love,

Mama

Filed Under: birthdays, jacob

Beautiful Girl

April 19, 2012 by Neena 2 Comments

Today, beautiful girl, you turn eight. In many ways you’re no longer a child – how you ask for privacy and shut your bedroom door to listen to music and beg to have your nails painted.

To me, though, you’re still that sweet young baby I held so long ago – the dreamer, the artist, the believer of all great things.

You ache so much to be an adult and in some ways I’ve been forced to let you go since the day you were born. I wish so much that you would stop and savor the joys of being young, being silly, being you. I was a lot like that when I was little – in a hurry to grow up – so I understand. But as your mama I want you to savor this time as much as I savor your sheer existence.

I love you, sweet girl. Every moment of every day I breathe you in and offer thanks for my time with you.

Happy Birthday, child. May this be the year you pause to taste the strawberries…

Filed Under: birthdays

To Charlotte…

December 10, 2011 by Neena 1 Comment

Dear Charlotte,

Tomorrow you’ll wake up bright and early and suddenly you’ll be four. I’m about to begin wrapping your birthday treasures and your daddy is anxious to put together your new bicycle. I ask myself daily where the time has gone – when you went from being a tiny little being that spent hours staring at the sky to a feisty bundle of energy that explores the world the with charge of an army.

I remember bringing you home from the hospital. My winter baby. It just happened to be 80 degrees that day in December and all the clothes I packed for you made you the most overdressed baby in the hospital. I remember nursing you to the glow of the Christmas tree and sending baby announcements that year instead of Christmas cards.

You have truly been a joy, baby girl – from the way you stroke my cheek when we snuggle on the couch to the way you sing in the car with the volume of a choir. Your giggles and genuine smiles make the stress and frustrations of life melt away. I am lucky to be your mother. It wasn’t until you came along that I understood exactly what our family was missing. You.

I love you, pumpkin.

Filed Under: birthdays, charlotte

Thirty-Freaking-Three

October 5, 2011 by Neena 4 Comments

It’s my birthday today and I’m a big old ball of stress. I’ve got one kid down with a wicked case of strep throat and a voice that sounds like she’s smoked 3 packs a day for a good 50 years. My mom radar also suspects that another child is coming down with the same ailment despite my Oh My God Don’t Go Near Each Other or Drink From That Cup! speeches I’ve been giving.

I’m also hyperventilating over our resent attempts to switch banks. I swear I’m breaking out in hives although you can’t see anything. The dance studio lost a check for an account we are desperate to close and the mortgage for October accidentally came out of another account we are trying to close (which technically didn’t have any money in it because we’ve been doing the ‘let it sit dormant for a while’ thing). So I’m running to separate banks and calling our mortgage company to give them the correct payment information from the fancy new account that actually has all the money it it. In the mean time I’m all panicked that my credit score is going to drop and we’ll never be able to buy Hubby a jeep and Oh My God nothing is actually late or behind, but seriously is my credit score going to drop?!

Plus, I’m all freaked out over being stuck in the house while I wait for the UPS guy to deliver some package that Hubby says I have to be here to sign for. I missed him yesterday because I was at the pediatrician getting one kid confirmed as the original outbreak monkey. Now, I’m sitting at home with a UPS sticker that says ‘Hey, we’ll be there before 10:30 or between 10:30 and 2:00.’ Um, ok. I have preschool carpool to get to and our old bank to visit and Oh My God 33 is stressful!!!

Can I have a birthday do-over? Preferably one that has me locked away in a bookstore or coffee shop reading a terribly trashy romance novel starring Enrique, the lone cowboy or Will, the rugged, small town karate instructor….because that sounds much better than what I’m doing so far today.

Filed Under: birthdays

Birthday Project

October 2, 2011 by Neena 4 Comments

In just a few short days I will turn 33. Yes, 33. Normally I like to just say that I’m 29 +, but this year I am owning 33 because this is the year I’ll earn that damn PhD. Me + 33 = PhD!!

A little rhyming math humor for ya.

Anyway. Hubby asked me a few weeks ago what I might like for my birthday. I gave him the general list… a sewing machine, a chance to sleep in, a garden gnome named Seamus. But, then I realized that our time (and money!) might be better spent on a project for the house. Since our birthdays are only a week apart I figured this would be a great way to cross something off the ginormous home project list.

And, this year’s birthday project came out of a desperate need for a home office. See, we don’t have the space to dedicate an entire room to a home office – especially with all these little weirdos living in the house. In the past we tried to turn my closet into an office. That just made me feel like a prisoner. We tried to make our dining room into an office, but I missed the grown-up furniture and the fact that the dining room was the one clean, decorated room in the house. We put the desk in the living room for a while, but that just screwed the shit out of the feng-shui of the place.

So ultimately we took down the big desktop computer, gave up on a home office, and decided to work off laptops. Not a bad option, but that leaves little room for the kids to get computer time since I’ll be damned if I let them touch or breathe near Macbook.

But, I had the brilliant idea of adding a workstation in our kitchen to act as a mini-home office. I knew we could extend the cabinets and counters already there and create the perfect space! Plus, it would put the computer out in the open and allow us to monitor the kids’ computer habits big-brother style!

Here is what we are thinking…

thanks, home depot guy, for creating this to our specifications!

Nice, huh?! Let me give you a closer look so you can get the full experience.

Are you doing the jazz hands of happiness like I am??? Well, you should be. And, if you’re not – well, don’t kill my buzz, man.

While we hoped to have the project done within a week or two, it’ll take at least 3 weeks just for the cabinets to come in once they are ordered. So it’s more like an October project.

That’s fine with me. I have no problem extending my birthday celebrations for a whole month. I’m unselfish like that.

So, what do you think?? Do you love? Do you hate? Are we just crazy? Do you have any advice for creating a kitchen workspace?

Filed Under: birthdays, DIY, house

March on, buddy. March on…

August 10, 2011 by Neena Leave a Comment

Dear Jacob,

Today you turn six. Today you begin counting your age on two hands instead of one. You have been a true joy since the moment you arrived. (Okay, minus the 9 months straight that you cried. But you were sick so all is forgiven! Smooches!)

I have loved watching you grow – experiencing how such an old soul rediscovers the world and all its stories. It’s magical, really, the way you embrace all that you’re given with such love and gentleness.

I love that you cry at the thought of animals in shelters and craw fish killed for dinner. I love that you have a passion for history and want to read almost any non-fiction book you can get your little hands on. I love that when the world hurts you hurt with it.

I love how you can get lost for hours playing Star Wars or Fort West or Dinosaurs. I love that you always sleep on one side of the bed so your cat, Tux, can have the other side. I love that you seem to know the kingdom, phylum, genus, species, eating habits, and mating habits of every creature you’ve ever read about. I love that you miss your adenoids – even though they were removed well over a year ago. I love that you want to taste the snow and play in the rain.

I love that my lap is still one of your favorite places to sit and that you cannot sleep without telling us ‘I love you.’ I love that you balance the masculine with the feminine and eat beef jerky while you play doll house. I love that you help your daddy cook on the big green egg and that you sneak tastings of seasonings every time you cook together. I love that your sisters are your best friends and you look forward to clear evenings when you can see the stars.

Mostly I love that you’re my son and the epitome of an individual.

Thoreau once said ”if a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.”

I like to think he was somehow referring to you.

Happy Birthday, Buddy. I love you more!

Mama

Filed Under: birthdays, jacob

Sweet Mia

April 19, 2011 by Neena 5 Comments

Sweet Mia,

Seven years ago you came to me. You entered the world smiling and you’ve brightened my days ever since. Still so young in age, you are my child that is the epitome of old at heart.

I often wonder if you are turning 75 rather than seven. Perhaps I should have wrapped up knitting supplies and old episodes of Matlock for your birthday instead of toys and clothes. I’m sure you would have used them to knit yourself a shawl. And I love that about you.

I love that you would rather read Little House in the Big Woods and The Diary of Ann Frank than engage in the tomfoolery of childhood. I love that you see the world in a blue haze of learning, questioning, and discovering. I love that your favorite place in the whole world is in your daddy’s lap.

I love that you often play Mother Hen and worry about saving your money to buy a house someday. I love that you asked my permission to take your someday husband to Hawaii. And, I love that you want to buy a house right down the street from me.

You might just be my child that never leaves. And, I look forward to the day when we sit, wrapped in our shawls, sharing a cup of hot tea, and recalling all our health ailments and qualms about the government.