SNOWMAGEDDON!!!!!

So, in case you live under a rock...we're currently under a winter storm warning - and, it comes down to this: we are going to get SLAMMED by a HISTORIC WINTER STORM (if you believe all the forecasts).

And, well, I do.
Sort of.

When I read things like this: THE SECOND WAVE OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ASSOCIATED WITH A STORM SYSTEM WILL START TO SPREAD INTO THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. TOTAL STORM ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 16 INCHES IS EXPECTED WITH THIS WINTER STORM BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

Sixteen inches of snow?
Are you kidding me Mother Nature?

What???
Six inches isn't enough?
A foot of snow isn't enough?
No...you have to go above and beyond with 16 inches of snow.

That's. Just. Stupid.

Yeah.
I called Mother Nature stupid.
Snow is stupid.

And it makes people do stupid things too.

Case in point: As I drove by Costco tonight, the gas station was packed with cars. There were at least eight to 10 cars lined up at every single pump. WHY? Where do you all think you're going to be driving with that full tank of gas when we have more than a foot of snow on the ground? Do you really think you'll be taking a road trip in blizzard conditions??

No.
I think not.

If you have any common sense at all, you will be at home tomorrow night and Wednesday, watching the snow from the safety of your nice, warm house. You will NOT be out driving around the city wreaking havoc and risking your life in the midst of a HISTORIC WINTER STORM.

So, go now and stock up on bread, milk, chocolate, batteries, and well whatever else you need to get through the next few days. And then, stay put. Trust me....no one will be going anywhere Wednesday morning...I sense a Level 3 snow emergency in our near future.

Snowmageddon 2011 is on the way!

My princesses

Olivia - all dressed up for her first father-daughter dance

Emma - all fancy for her 4th birthday!

An open letter to January

Dear January,

We need to talk.

It's not that I don't like you - I do.
For two days.
I like you on the days my daughters were born.

But aside from those two amazing, magical, wonderful days....well, you're worthless.

It's NOT me.
It's you.
All you.

First, you have this superiority complex with this whole 31 day thing.
I mean really...
WHY in the world should the first month of the year have 31 days?
Especially when that month is the coldest, snowiest, most miserable month of the year?

If I had created the yearly calendar, I would have totally picked February over you, my dear January. Twenty-eight days is a much better way to ease into the year. Thirty-one days is just WAY too long.

And then there's your weather.
You're bitterly cold.
And icy and cruel.
And snow covered.
None of that makes you fun, like oh...June.
June is a nice warm, fun month.

January?
Not. At. All.
Don't believe me?
Ask the East Coast how they like January right about now.
Snowmageddon 1, 2, and 3...that's all I'm sayin'.

Around these parts, it has snowed at least once a week EVERY SINGLE WEEK this month.
And this week, it snowed 2" today and another 1-3" tomorrow.
That is just uncalled for behavior from you, dear January.

If it weren't for the two birthdays we celebrate this month, I would break up with you forever January. I would skip straight into February with her measly 28 days.

In the past 27 days we've had too much snow, way too many bitterly cold days, an illness (or two) every week, three or four doctor's visits, and as of tonight....one trip to the emergency room.

January....you suck.
You're just very lucky my daughters were born this month or we'd be so over.

Next year try to be a bit more considerate of people's feelings (and health) and cut back on the cold and snow and sickness, OK?

Thanks,
Traci

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma, 3 days old, January 2007

My sweet Emma,

Happy Birthday princess!!!
I cannot believe that you're 4 years old today!

It seems like just yesterday when I took that picture of you as we were preparing to leave the hospital and bring you home!

You completed our family ... it's that simple.

Daddy, Olivia and I love you so very much....

Our peanut Emma-nem

You are funny and witty - always telling 'knock knock' jokes and singing and dancing. Sometimes when we're driving in the car, you spend the entire trip singing songs you've learned at daycare.

But, you're also very stubborn. And independent. And I can't imagine who you take after with those traits (haha). You like things done your way and on your terms. Sometimes it can be rather challenging. I wouldn't change it for the world.

You are also a little smarty pants - already writing your full name, counting to at least 25, reciting your ABCs and sometimes even counting to 5 in Spanish! (Thank you, Dora).


We hope that you have a very happy and magical birthday.
We love you to the moon and back ... and then some.

Love, hugs and kisses,
Mommy, Daddy and Olivia

And the Golden Globe goes to....

Ah, the Golden Globes - the glitz, the glamor, the question of "who the hell is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and why should we care what they think?"

As usual, last night was...well....interesting.

My thoughts:

- Ricky Gervais is not funny (well, OK...except for the Bruce Willis/Ashton Kutcher joke, because that was funny). Other than that he was just obnoxious. And rude. And boorish. And I think Robert Downey Jr would make a much better host.

- Helena Bonham Carter, Annette Bening, Scarlett Johansson - please buy a brush, and some styling product. What was with your hair??? I don't understand why celebs think going outside looking like you just rolled out of bed is acceptable. It's not. Comb your freakin' hair people.

- Oh and HBC....next time, try to find two shoes that match. Seriously.

- Michael Douglas is a class act.

- Best dressed? I am going to have to say Catherine Zeta Jones. Out of all the green dresses on the red carpet, hers was tops. Olivia Wilde (and her shoes!) come in a close second.

- Worst dressed? Oh geez. Where to start....JLo, January Jones, Helena Bonham Carter, Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Love Hewitt....and the list goes on. I was not a fan of all the beige/nude/blush on the red carpet. Or the uncombed hair. Or mismatched shoes. Or Guiliana Rancic from E!

- Many of the dresses I saw last night made me tweet this during the broadcast: some of these dresses make me think it's really the Golden (Girls) Globes.

- Mad Men and Jon Hamm were ROBBED.

- I love that The Social Network won for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Drama. I loved the movie ... and think Aaron Sorkin is amazing.

- Why did Paul Giamatti win? And did ANYONE actually see his movie? (Yes, he's a great actor...but c'mon...Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter? Much more deserving.)

And with that...we move on...and wait for the Oscar nominations on January 25 at 8:30 a.m.

Monday afternoon musings....

The girls and I are home today - no school, no work, no daycare.

And, aside from waking up to my dog peeing on my dresser at 7 a.m. - today has been a great day.

I made breakfast for the kids.
I paid bills.
I balanced the checkbook that has been unbalance for 2 weeks.
I washed, folded and hung up many, many loads of laundry.
I even made a meatloaf. For tomorrow's dinner.

Yeah, and it's only 2:30 p.m. as I type this.

So, what's my point?

It's amazing how much I can get done when I'm at home.

Sure, it's great that I have a job - and one that I like...most of the time (except for last week when I really didn't like much of it...but whatever...), but, I have to say, even though I was unemployed last year (and that did suck), it was nice to be home.

I was able to spend more time with the kids.
The house was actually clean.
The laundry was folded - most of the time.
And dinner was not a hurried, last minute, oh-my-gosh-what-are-we-having-tonight kind of affair.

I don't know...maybe I feel this way because last week was "one of those" weeks at the office and this week is going to be even worse. Or maybe it's because I feel like there's always MORE to do, no matter what. There is always another load of laundry or a dirty floor that needs to be cleaned, or a pile of stuff that needs a home, or bills to pay. And I just don't seem to have the time to get it all done. And that frustrates me.

Either way....it is what it is.

I need to work and I do like my job....90 percent of the time.
So....as usual, I just need to work on the whole work/life balance and figure it out.
(In the meantime, I'll try to not panic when the laundry sits in the basket for three or four days).

Tomorrow is another day....

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Olivia, age 2, in her first set of mouse ears!

Olivia, age 3

Olivia, age 4 (also one of my favorite photos of her)

Olivia, age 6 - our pro golfer in training!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Olivia! I cannot believe that you're 7 years old today!!! It seems like just yesterday when Daddy and I brought this tiny little baby (all 6 pounds, 13 ounces of you) home on a "warm" January day (well, it was 35 degrees!).

We had NO idea what we were doing ... or what we were supposed to do with you (which is probably why you peed all over me as I carried you - sans clothing - from the nursery to the kitchen sink for your first sponge bath! And that was just the first day home from the hospital).

The next seven years flew by...and now here we are!

You are growing into a very beautiful, independent, spirited, creative, and brilliant little girl and every day is an adventure in our house!

Today you'll be blowing out seven candles....and I hope every wish you make today comes true!

Daddy and I love you to the moon and back and then some more!
We hope you have a wonderful, magical, amazing birthday!

Love, hugs and kisses,
Mommy, Daddy and Emma
xoxo

If I had a million dollars....

...I'd buy you a house.

Well, OK.
Not really.

I'd buy me a house.
In Golden Oaks.
And then I'd be able to live IN the Walt Disney World Resort.
And all would be right with the world.

This begs the question - how many of YOU bought a Mega Millions ticket today?
How many did you buy?

But most importantly what would you do with $355 million???

I have a short list of what I would do if I ever win the lottery:

1. Pay off my law school loans. Because honestly, they aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
2. Pay off our mortgage.
3. Pay off all our credit card debt.
4. Buy a house in Golden Oaks (see above).
5. Buy into the Disney Vacation Club.
6. Take a cruise. To Europe. So I don't have to fly over the ocean.
7. Donate to several charities.
8. Invest. (Because my dad is my CPA and he'd insist that we invest).
9. Pay cash for my kids' college education. In advance.
10. Never have to worry about bills/debts/loans again.

Before I would do any of that however, I would call in "rich" to work.

It would go something like this:

Me: Hi. It's me.
Boss: Hi. What's up?
Me: Well, I'm not coming into work today.
Boss: Why? Are you sick?
Me: No. I'm rich. I won the lottery last night.
Boss: Oh. Um....[awkward silence that lasts a few minutes]
Me: Don't worry...the organization is my list of places I'm donating $1million to.
Boss: Oh. OK! We'll miss you. Have fun counting your money.

***back to reality***

In all seriousness, it would be great to win the lottery.
Heck, I'd be happy with $1 million.
I'm not greedy.
I'd even share this $355 million with a few other lucky folks.

If you bought a ticket...good luck and pixie dust to you!

It's a new year!

Yes.
OK.
I'm sure you're well aware that it is now day two of 2011.

And, I actually wrote the CORRECT year on the checks I had to write today.
I consider that a victory for me.
It's the small things, you know?

So...new year, new resolutions?
Nope.
I don't make resolutions.

Why?
Because I never keep them.
(Really who does?)

I've made resolutions in the past - you know, "I'm going to lose 40 pounds, and get in shape, and balance my checkbook every day, and only drink Starbucks on days that end in 'y' ".

Things like that.
I never, ever, ever keep those resolutions.
Well, except for the drinking Starbucks thing - I CAN do that.

Sure, I could set "goals" or "make plans" ... but really, I know what I need to do.
I just need to DO THEM.

Today, I cleaned out the home office.
I found nearly a year's worth of pay stubs and bank statements piled up on the floor in the corner.
OK. I didn't really "find" them...more like, I FINALLY put them away in the file cabinet in their proper folders marked "pay stubs 2010" and "bank statements 2010".

(And at this point you're probably thinking my home office looks like something from "Hoarders" ...but really it doesn't. It was one small pile in the corner, out of sight. You know..out of sight, out of mind.)

See?
I got 2010 all organized.
On the second day of 2011.

What I need to do is put things away in their proper folders as we receive them.
And after I balance the checkbook, which needs to be done on a regular basis and not just at the last minute every Sunday night as I'm writing the very painful $266 weekly check to daycare.

I also put all the laundry away.
Today.
The same day that it was finished.
You know, instead of just digging through the basket and then "rewashing" the unfolded laundry because I don't want to be bothered with putting it away.

I am learning!
It's not that I'm lazy or messy or any of those things.
Actually I'm sort of obsessed with keeping the house clean.
it just seems like certain things always get put last on my list - like laundry, which I detest.

But....
I have felt very unorganized since mid-2010.
I need to be organized..for my own sanity and peace of mind.

And yes, I need to lose weight.
I'll work on that.
After the two birthday parties next weekend and Emma's party in three weeks.
(heehee)

So, in 2011....I will get MORE organized, drop some lbs, put the laundry away, file things on time, and blog more.

We'll see how this all worked out in about 363 days.

Happy 2011!