Sooo not funny

Marc has been home for 5 days. Guess where he is going again tomorrow?? Yes, back to Korea. I am soooo not laughing about this. When he came home last night and told me that he was headed back to Korea, I laughed. I thought he was kidding. Then I noticed he was not laughing, and I stopped. No - not again!! So he leaves tomorrow and is back Monday or Tuesday. Another 5 days of being a "single" parent. And Isabella is finally back to normal. She really missed Marc. She was not sleeping well at night and she was very clingy - I guess she thought she had lost one parent, so may as well hang on to the other one!! Poor thing. Now he is going away again, and this will seriously confuse her! One minute he is here, the next he is gone. And Ethan. Oh where to start with how much he hates Marc being away!! My guy never cries. Even when he is hurt, he does not cry. But when we told him that Marc would be gone again, he broke down and bawled. Poor guy!! Well, at least it is not for two weeks this time. Only 5 days... Our motto is "You do what you have to do". This has to be done. We are talking about $300,000 in revenue for our school from this added trip! It is a must. Just wish it was not so soon.

Change is in the air

I don't need a ground hog to tell me that Spring is coming. My internal clock goes off loud enough to let everyone know that it is time for change. Just something about Spring that makes me step back and take a look at life - our family life; our home; our careers; our children; our religious life; and our community life. Are we doing okay? What is suffering? What is working? What needs to change?

I have a lot on the go right now. I have been working on a contract at my firm that is up next month. And on Friday I was offered a full time position with all the bells and whistles. I should be excited, right?? On the contrary - I am filled with anxiety and guilt over the mere thought of going back to work and putting Isabella in child care on a more full time basis. I love working two days a week, 4.5 hours a day!! Why can't that last?? I am very honoured that my firm wants me back and realizes the talent I possess - I can whip anything and anyone into shape faster than you can blink an eye. I used to think everyone could do this. Not so. Plus I am orgazined beyond imagination. I always know what is going on. Just part of me - this is who I am. Anal and controlling and retentive to a fault. But it works magic when running a law firm. So now Marc and I have some serious decisons to make. I am going to investigate hiring a private nanny for my children. I can't live with anything else... The private sitter I have for Isabella now is amazing, but she does not look after older children, and come September, Isabella starts Wind and Tide 2 days a week. I need someone to literally carry on in my absence. I need a clone of myself!! Life cannot stand still for the children just because I can make a ton of money. Guilt. Lots to think about.

Marc is back from Korea, and life is in full swing. When he is away, it is like we are in a vaccum - we function day to day, but something is missing. Now he has RCMP committments, job committments and YM committments at church - a full time job in itself! Everyone wants something from Marc and I feel bad that I can't help.

That leads me to the children. Ethan is in Taekwond 2x per week, and doing so well. He truly loves the sport. I want him to continue swimming, so I have signed him up for the next round of lessons every Saturday morning at the YMCA. He starts next month. He is a fish, and this is a life skill he is learning. So he is okay. School is good. He is doing very well - exceeding almost every expectation. Great. Isabella - poor thing is bored. So I thought I would enroll her in dance once a week. But again - if I go back to work, who will take her to dance?? It is every Monday morning from 10 to 11 am. I want her to do things. I want her to interact with other children. Spring is in the air and I need change.

So what is left?? The house. I am taking care of the deficiencies as we speak. This morning I have already had the dry waller in to fix all the nail pops. The plumber was in and changed the sink. Now the counter top guy is coming to replace the counter in my master bath. That leaves me with the hardwood floor issue - there is a chip in my floor - and the granite guy. There is a stain on my island and he MUST get it out!!! I obsess about it. It is truly making me sick. Sigh. Wednesday my window designer is coming and we are going to discuss the drapes and rods for the formal parlour and the custom romans I want created for the great room and kitchen window. Spring spring spring. Change change change.

My last issue - my own personal growth/health. What have I done in this last year to better myself?? I am panicking because I can think of nothing. I serve in callings in my church and I serve to the best of my ability. But I don't feel I am bettering myself. Work is not personal betterment - it is work. I am good at it. I have learned a few new things = great for the resume. But not great for me. I love design - all forms of it. I love to browse - whether I am looking at bags, or shoes, or clothing, or furniture, or art. I love to window shop and get inspired and make goals. So I got it in my head to start a new company. Big secret. Can't say anything more right now. But if this goes like I think it will, this will truly change my life - and the lives of my partners and our spouses/children. I think this is why I have been so ancy lately. Spring is in the air, and I feel a big change coming on.

Welcome home Gucci! Oh ya, and Marc!!

Marc came home yesterday from his business trip. That was a long 10 days!! But he brought me a "late" Valentine's gift - a Gucci messenger bag!! It is beautiful. Seriously pretty. I am in love - yes, withMarc. But more with the bag right now!! hee hee

We make good babies in this family

This is the latest picture of my niece, Emelia. We make good babies in this family!! She is three months old. Look at that smile!! And her eyes are turning blue... Ohhhh... And the hair just kills me!! I seriously could eat this child up!!

Working from home

I love it! I would recommend this to anyone who has the chance. Last week when Isabella got sick, I had to call the firm to tell them I would not be in. But then I got the bright idea - instead of losing the money, why not try to bring the work home? It has been an answer to prayers. I have been able to get through a dozen files - double what I would have done in the office over the two days I am in! Seriously. No one around to bug me - call me - ask questions that I cannot help with anyway! I love corporate work. It appeals to the anal obsessive in me on sooo many levels!! Everything is a formula. Work out the formula and your file is done. Just makes me happy. Sad, yes. I know. hee hee So I am off to finish one more file for the night before I go to bed. Now I am hooked!

Designer Superstar Challenge

I am totally hooked on this show on HGTV. It is ordinary people competing to get their own design show. So today's episode was all on vignettes. I am the QUEEN of creating vingnettes!! I love them. Little places to showcase furniture or collectibles or art... A wasted corner can turn into a wonderful little reading nook! That wall next to your entrace way that is empty space can become the perfect place for a table and lamp and a basket/bowl for keys! Oh the ideas are endless. Now my creative decorating juices are flowing. I see a new vignette being created in this house in the very near future!!

Another business trip

So Marc left this morning for yet another Asian business trip. This time he will spend time in Japan; the Phillipines and Korea. Yikes. Better him than me. It is amazing how he has the energy to get through these marathon business trips. He will be gone for 10 days. Not long to some - but to me it is an eternity!! It is times like this that I have a renewed respect for single parents. My hat is off to you folks!! I don't know how you do it... I am becoming exhausted just thinking about what these next 10 days will be like. AND this is the first time that I have to work while Marc is away!! I have always been at home, and not had to worry about anything else outside of my children. This will be fun. No. Not really. Oh well, such is life. Our motto is "You do what you have to do". And this has to be done. At least Ethan and I have some fun things planned. On Saturday we are going to the movies, just him and me. My parents are keeping Isabella. And I have a few lunch or dinner dates planned for the three of us. We will keep busy. Bonus - my house will remain spotless while Marc is away!! Sometimes, that makes up for being alone!! hee hee

Why I work

It is not for grand, noble reasons that I work. I don't work because I am intelligent and I make meaningful contributions to society with my job (ya... ha ha haaaa - always fun to sue people!!). I don't work because I am wasting a talent being at home (I have many. They ALL can't be wasted being at home with my two kiddies!!). I don't work because we are destitute and I must make an income (Although, it is really nice to have the extra $$). No. All good reasons, but not mine. I work because I am absolutely and utterly in love with design, and my head is swimming with ideas that all cost big $$. So I work to make my ideas become reality. I am in pursuit of the following: a demi lune table from Restoration Hardware and custom made Dupioni silk drapes for my formal living room. Ya. So when I am tired and don't want to get up. Or when Isabella is crying because she does not want to stay with the sitter and it breaks my heart to walk away from her. Or when Ethan says to me, "Mom - don't ever leave us to work all the time"... ohhh ... I remember the drapes and the table and the other million little ideas in my head, and push on.

But this weekend I did do a few design projects around the house that I love. Ethan's new bed finally arrived on Saturday, so it went into his room and his room got re-arranged. LOVE how it matches exactly his armoire. Goal accomplished. And I found the most lucious chocolate coloured LINEN drapes for my den, and Marc installed them for me. I think our den is my most favourite room in the house - so far!! We will see when the drapes and the table join the formal living room. Then I may have to change my mind. hee hee

Happy happy birthday!

To my baby sister Laura!! Where has the time gone?? I wish you all could know my sister like I do. She is amazing. Not only is she smart, but she has an amazing sense of humour and can make me laugh like no one else. We share a close bond - even though there is four years between us. I wish for you another healthy and happy year Laura!! Love you lots.

It has been a rough Winter

Poor Ethan, I think he has caught something again. I had to go and pick him up from school early today because he says his stomach is hurting him and he feels sick. I tell you, it has been a rough Winter for my poor boy! IF he has caught another bug (and I will absolutely freak if this is the case!!), then this will be the 4th time he has been sick since before Christmas break. Not fair for this guy. And not fair for the rest of us!! Again - WHY can't parents keep their sick kids home? I used to think I was paranoid - I am a bit of a germophobe... But seriously - this is enough. If you are sick, don't come to school or church or taekwondo - stay home! If you have been sick in the past week - don't come to family dinners or give my kids kisses! Keep to yourself for at least two weeks - in your own germy home! And leave me out of this! Argh.

The big fat Italian Funeral

Leave it to my family to turn a somewhat sad day into a sit com. It is never good to put me and my sister and my three cousins together. We seem to find trouble - or trouble seems to find us. The funeral service for my great aunt was lovely. It was basic and respectful and uneventful. Then came the comedy. My parents and my aunt and uncle rode in the limos, following the hearse to the cemetary. My sister and myself and my cousins had to drive. Except we had NO idea where to go! We had to get from Slocan street in East Van to Burnaby, but no one could tell us exactly where to go. So we spent the next half an hour driving and giving directions to each other on the cell phones. Then when we finally found the cemetary, we were in the wrong musoleum! We needed the south musoleum. Tip for the owners of the cemetary - NAME the freaking buildings!!! Then we found the hearse, but we could not find any of our family members. Well, no one bothered to tell us that we had to take the elevator to the 2nd floor of the south musoleum! By the time we arrived, the burial was over and people were already leaving. So we just hid in the back and acted like we had been there the whole time! Crazy. Another example of life in the Chiarizio/Pezzente family. All good plans are always laid to waste.

Where did the week go??

I cannot believe it is Friday already. And working these last two days has just made it all fly by even quicker!! I don't know where the time goes when I am at work. I start around 9 am and then the next thing I know it is 1:30 pm and I am having to start cleaning things up so I can get ready to leave. And I have not thought about the children at all!! Everything else though... And now the entire week is gone! Well, at least the weekend is looking pretty quiet. I like that. Marc has RCMP business tomorrow morning for a few hours. Ethan's bed was supposed to be ready for pick up, but it is not. Poor kid... I am tired of waiting for this "masterpiece" to arrive!! I think Ethan is spending the weekend with my parents, so that will be fun for him, and make things really quiet around here. Allows for re-charging of the batteries, as next week will not be so quiet and will not be so restful... Have a good weekend all!

Can't stop myself

So I have not been in the scrapping mood in a very long time. I don't know what it is. I enjoy looking at layouts and I am constantly amazed by what I see, and yet - I can't seem to produce anything myself. So, I am on a RAK (random act of kindness) kick! And now I cannot stop. I just LOVE the idea that I can send someone something and make their day a little bit brighter! And it is all random. No one knows when or where I will strike!! hee hee It gives me a rush like no other - well, maybe shopping gives me the same rush... And I think it also appeals to my constant need to clean up and clean out. Whatever it is, I am hooked. So off I go to prep another little package and pick another name and send it away. Happy travels little package. Hope your new scrapping owner will enjoy you!!