No Empty Nest Here!

For more Weekly Winners, go see Lotus at Sarcastic Mom.

I have four boys and I'm a stay-at-home mom. It's the job I've always wanted. Doesn't pay well and the hours aren't great, but I never wanted to be anything else. And there have been days, believe me, when I questioned that decision from sunup to sundown. But there were more days when I felt like the luckiest person in the world.

My boys are mostly grown now. They are 27, 24 and 21. The oldest two share an apartment, and the other is a senior in college. We have empty bedrooms. The phone doesn't ring much. The washing machine actually has time to dry out between loads. The grocery bill is way down, and so are the water and gas bills. I could be REALLY depressed...

But that fourth boy is still at home. He was a 40th birthday present from my husband, who said "some day I would thank him." I found out about him on my 40th birthday, and that afternoon, my new eye doctor asked if I needed bifocals! "Well, you are 40, you know." The thought of carrying graham crackers and pacifiers in my purse again brought tears to my eyes. It was harder to get up in the night with each baby, so I wondered if this one was going to feed and change himself in the middle of the night. He was delivered in that brief period when hospital stays were limited to 24 hours for deliveries. That is not enough time. At 40, you need a week!

But Uncle Lynn was right. I have thanked him lots of times over the years, but now that the 21 year old is back at college, and the two oldest are settled, we were that close to an empty nest!

And that's not something I'm looking forward to! So thanks, honey. Again. Now let's go watch a soccer game!

Please Give Us the 4-1-1 for Our 9-1-1

Moker and I need your help. We're tired of the same-old, same-old. Being Empty Nesters and all, we cook for two, but our repertoire is growing thin these days, and leftovers (I'm used to cooking for a gang o' peeps) are losing their appeal.

Do you have any quick, delish, wonderful dishes that you can share? To paraphrase Wimpy, I'd gladly pay you on Tuesday for a recipe, today!

Empty Nest? Not!

Have you any idea how many children it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Three. It takes one to say, "What light?" 

and two more to say, "I didn't turn it on."

~Erma Bombeck~

Veggie Mom, reporting on location with College Girl and The Wild One. No Empty Nest Syndrome here the past couple of days. I'm taking a few days off to Commune with My College Kidz, and they've shown me a thing or two.

Most of my recent college education involves the cost of groceries ("More Ramen Noodles, please!") and the location of the nearest mall.

I love 'em, I really do! I guess I just wish I didn't feel like a Human ATM Machine all the time!

Living the 10th Commandment

When I was younger, I just knew where I was going, and what I was going to do with my life. Then reality hit.

Family. Job. Mortgage. Life.

For a while there, I had a difficut time following the 10th Commandment. No, not the part about coveting my neighbor's wife...the rest of it: desiring all those material things that can make a 20-something drool.

My life has turned out so differently than I had ever anticipated. It has become richer, fuller, more satisfying. Not perfect, but getting there.

We're in a new chapter, Moker and I. As Empty Nesters, we don't see The Girls as much as we once did. College visits, winter break, the occasional chance to catch a sporting event...and Bleacher Booty.

What is it the T-Shirt says? Life is Good. Well, it is!

Meet the Press, Veggie-Style

Karla, a Pop'rs Veteran who runs Zander and Me, offered me a deal I just couldn't refuse. When I clicked on over to her place the other day, she tempted me with an interview. Being the Media Hog that I am, and since it's Inauguration Week and all, I jumped at the chance. Following are the Five Cool Questions Karla Asked, followed by Veggie Mom's Equally Scintillating Answers. There's also an offer for you to play along! Karla's questions are in bold; my answers are in italics.

1. OK, so I know that you began your blog as a way to promote Pop’rs and that you blog religiously every day. Now that you’ve been blogging for quite some time, how has blogging changed for you? Are you getting more out of it, personally, than you initially thought you would?

You know, sometimes I’m all fired up to write a daily post, then other times I have to ponder the whole process a little bit. Blogging, though, has become a much more personal thing for me over the last seven months. Sure, my BIL Uncle Lynn wants to get the word out about Pop’rs, his amazing new product. But I’ve found that most folks in the blog circles I circulate in want something more. If you don’t have your heart in the exercise, to me there seems less attraction, and little point. And no, I’m not getting more personal in order to attract readers. I love to write, and if I can share what I write with others through this great new cyber-medium, then I want to go for it. In the end, if a few of you figure out how amazing Pop’rs are along the way, that’s great, too!

2. What was your most embarrassing moment?

Back in The Day, I had a job that involved a lot of travel. Because of this job, I’ve actually been to every single continent except for Antarctica! But I digress. Once on a business trip to Chile, a bunch of us decided to go to Portillo, which is a ski resort high up in the Andes near the border of Chile and Argentina. Portillo still maintains the 1930’s charm that it was born with, and is the oldest ski resort in South America. Anyway, the highest ski lift at the resort climbs to almost 11,000 feet.

I was all decked out in rented attire, and really looked the part of a privileged ski bunny. I guess this is the part of the story where I should tell you that I’m relatively fearless, and also competitive. We had only one “ace” skier in our group, and I offered to take the highest lift with him. I didn’t really think the logistics through, and was confident I’d find a way to get down eventually. The point of this story is I didn’t end up skiing down—I suffered a severe case of altitude sickness on the way up, and wretched all over my cute ski bunny outfit, my equipment, my lift partner…you get the picture. I continued to lose my cookies all the way down the mountain with the ski patrol, and the bus on the way back to Santiago had to stop every 15 minutes or so, in order to let me Call Ralph.

3. If you won the lottery, let’s say $5 million, what would you do with it?

This one’s easy. First of all, I’d pay off my debts, and the debts of all my close family. I’d invest a little of it, so my kids would have a comfortable start when they get out of college. I probably would donate the rest, most notably to the Alzheimer’s Association. Both my Mom and her twin sister suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease in the latter years of their lives.

4. Now that you and the hubby are "empty nesters", do you have any big trips planned? Are there any specific places you would like to visit that you’ve never been?

I’m a little embarrassed to say this. I have two REALLY BIG trips coming up, and neither involves either Moker or an exotic destination. My girls are both on the swim team at Larry U. I’m going to the big Conference Meet at Grinnell College, smack dab in the middle of Iowa, smack dab in the middle of February. So I think I’ll be fighting flight delays and snow drifts in between swim sessions. The next big trip is a week spent apartment hunting with College Girl. She’s graduating in June, and is making post-college plans. She claims to need her Mommy for this exercise, so we’ll spend some “quality” time together then!

As far as “pleasure” travel is concerned…I’ve never been to either the Florida Keys or Cuba, and would love to go. I love funky tropical destinations!

5. There are many causes that are near and dear to my heart that will inspire me to get off my lazy butt and take action…..such as curing Cancer, Alzheimer’s….things that have affected my family, thus me, personally. One of the biggest causes that tugs at my heartstrings, though, is anything to do with helping animals in need…because they cannot speak for themselves. You have always supported those causes with me and I thank you for that. Is there any one specific cause that is really important to you that maybe fills your heart a little more than any others? If so, what is it and why?

Yes…I’ve been concerned about the homeless population in this country for quite some time. With so many people out of work these days, homelessness is becoming even more of a problem, especially with families who just can’t seem to make ends meet. My good friend Melissa B. has turned me on to a non-profit organization in DC that does amazing things with that city’s homeless population. So, to go back to Question #3, about winning the lottery. I think I would investigate starting up similar organizations in other US cities. I realize that there’s a structure in place to assist these kinds of folks, but so many of our public—and private—institutions are buckling under the weight of so much need these days. I’d love to find a way to help out.

Thanks so much, Karla...Now it's someone else's turn! If you would like me to interview you, just leave a comment and I will e-mail you the questions! Here are the directions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by e-mailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

6. Enjoy your time in the limelight!

Gran Torino's Quite a Ride

I think I might have mentioned that Moker and I are Empty Nesters. We've done a few fun things since September. Gone on "field trips." Stayed in and dined on Jambalaya. Last night we took in a movie, and grabbed a pizza afterward.

When we first started dating, Moker was a big Dirty Harry fan. John Wayne, too. And, of course, Jack Nicholson, when he was younger and even crazier than he is now.

For Date Night, Moker chose Gran Torino, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Eastwood says this might be his last flick. Talk about powerful. Sort of Dirty Harry gets PC, only not.

Have you seen any good movies recently? What do you recommend?

Field Trip!

About a month ago, I mentioned that Moker and I are Empty Nesters. We've definitely turned a different kinda corner in our lives together.

The house is silent--or, at least more s0 than it has been in years. We get to watch the TV where we want--and there's hardly ever an argument about which channel to switch to. We've had salmon more than once in a long, long while in recent weeks. And we never hear the Pitter-Patter of Little Feet ever--unless it's one cat chasing the other around in circles. No midnight calls, no Shrieking Mee-Mees, fussing over clothes, the car, or Who Has to Empty the Dishwasher Today.

That said, we do miss College Girl and The Wild One. CG is finishing up her last year at Larry U. in Appleton, Wisconsin. TWO is a little froshie at the same venue. We hear good news from the Freshman Front. TWO's made a lot of friends, and is challenged enough by schoolwork that she spent most of Thursday in the library studying for an Art History test. Good for her!

And their Parents? The Parentals are getting to know each other again. Last weekend, Moker suggested a Field Trip. I had to pause for a moment to figure out if I had time to get away. Did I have to take anyone to practice? Nope. Did I have to pick up anyone from work? Negatory. Did I have to fold someone's laundry, feed someone's cat, yell at someone to make the bed or clean up the bathroom? A Definite No. So, yes, I was free to get away. And intrigued, as well.

Back When the World was Very Young, we used to go over to Maryland's Eastern Shore to eat steamed crabs. There's a cute-as-a-bug Chesapeake Bay burg named St. Michael's, which is home to 19th-century houses, oystermen, antique and craft stores and a fab seafood place called The Crab Claw.

Moker and I headed out to St. Michael's. We ate crabs. We watched the ducks act all goofy in the inlet by the restaurant, as ducks are wont to do. We strolled around town, remarked on the variety of boats pulled up at the dock and sat on a bench on the main drag, eating ice cream cones. We took our time, and got to know each other again.

We love the girls. We really do. But I suspect we're going to love our time apart from them, as well.

I Will Rock You!

Appropriated from Tara R. over at If Mom Says OK, I've been double-dared to tell you how much I Rock. Tara received her challenge from Jen at Huckdoll's Hood, who in turn faced the challenge when Kelley at MagnetoBoldToo threw down the gauntlet. You, too, are invited to Play Along. This challenge is Open to Everyone in the Bloggy Universe. So, be Loud and Proud, and tell everyone Why You Rock!

10. I totally Rock because I started blogging in June and have surpassed the 10,0000th Hit and 100th Post mark, just short of four months out.
9. I'm an awesome Rocker because I can say the alphabet backwards. In my younger years, I could sing it backwards, too!
8. I live to Rock because I have an Awesome SIL and an Awesome BIL, who make an Awesome Product!
7. I love to Rock because I've finally figured out the Key to Gorgeous Geraniums!
6. I know I Rock because I believe that All God's Critters need a second chance!
5. I recently Rocked by Running a Downright Inspired Bloggy Giveaway!
4. I'm beloved for Rocking because Allie, Channah, Dawn, Mrs. 4444, Nik, Tracy, and Vicki are Very Happy Campers!
3. I will always Rock because Moker is in My Corner as The. Best. Hubz. Ever!
2. I Rock 24/7 because I'm blessed with two Independent Children who Still Love Their Mommy!
1. I'm Rockin' right now, because I'm an Empty Nester. Are ya jealous yet?

Empty Nesters

College Girl and The Wild One leave for college today. They'll spend about 14 hours on the road in a 2001 Honda Civic, en route to Larry U. The car is packed to the gills, of course! CG's gonna be a Big Bad Senior, while her younger sister will be a Tiny Little Froshie.

BTW, The Phillies--Oscar, Simon, and the newly named Lars--are on the floor of the front seat. My kids are so Martha Stewart, sometimes!

Moker and I, of course, don't know what's gonna happen on the homefront. While the girls are out investigating The Wide World of Wisdom, aka College, we'll have to go to Plan B. We've talked about this, of course. What's gonna happen after 21 years of diapers, car pools, first days of school, braces, boys and melodrama--since they're girls, lots and lots of melodrama!

One thing will remain constant, although so much will also change today. We'll still be here. And they know that. It's a pretty good feeling.

• "I have never let schooling interfere with my education." ~ Mark Twain
• "Don't let anyone tell you that high school is supposed to be fun. High school is to be endured. College is fun." ~ Stephenie Meyer
• "Education is what remains when one has forgotten everything he learned in school." ~ Albert Einstein

Playing along with Candid Carrie today. It's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish time, you know!