Bulleted brain bouncing...

I've got nothing substantial that I can stop and blog about, so instead enjoy where my brain bounces when I use bullets.

• Don't you just love stumbling across a new voice that you can't get enough of? No, I'm not talking about my karaoke exploits again. I'm talking about Sara Bareilles. She's like a softer more easy-going Fiona Apple in her early days. I downloaded her newest CD and I keep listening to it over and over, loving it more by the minute. And I have a trip coming up this next weekend so I can completely "OD" on it there and back on the flight. Music makes MomCat so happy! Yay!
  
• Explain to me how an 8-year-old boy can still have extreme night terrors/nightmares, and yet will take his new skateboard down a driveway at high speeds without elbow or knee pads and brag about his latest stunts thus causing his mother twice the stress in one day? Me thinks I really need this weekend getaway to see an old friend...
  
• On the subject of nightmares...any tips for helping with this? Last night was the second night that my son has let out an long blood-curdling scream about 2:30 a.m. and sprinted down the stairs to our room completely terrified. My heart was racing for a good 30 minutes after this, but worse was that I was so wired and worried afterward that I stayed awake for the next 3 hours. Ugh!
  
• I apologize for my lack of blogging about things that matter--such as my weekend marriage retreat, which was amazing. Aside from the difficulty of not knowing where to begin with how it went, or how much to share, we have also had hiccups since then that quickly discouraged me. Thankfully, we worked through them using the tools we've learned, so I'm still very happy with taking the time and spending the money on the workshop. One of these days, I'll sit down and tell you all about it, I promise!
  
• Why do I find myself hating the work in the old field that I used to actually like so much? The pay is incredible, the hours so flexible, my boss is more a friend and peer than a boss. It is perfect. But, I can't get motivated or into it. I find myself thinking more about my latest fluffy magazine story, getting assignments out for the next issue, and so forth. Have the long hours of a magazine editor completely ruined me for a future in an actually lucrative paying job when both the kids are in school? I really didn't expect this!
  
• What do you do when you're asked to review something by the actual creator of the product and you agree, later to find that you have no interest at all in spending the time researching so you can give an objective opinion? Ahh...finally the negative to getting all of this free stuff! Argh!
  
• And, speaking of, I was giving the opportunity to try out a new running shoe in exchange for a write-up. It's the first review that I've been so anxious and happy to do because, dang, I really need new treads in a big way. And, now it keeps getting delayed. I don't want to buy new shoes, but my feet are killing me. Double ARGH!

OK, enough "arghing" for tonight. I'm turning in! Share your latest favorite CD in comments, will ya? I need more new tunes for my girls' weekend trip to see my dear friend and kimosabe!

Being Crazy MomCat...

First of all, an apology to everyone for my posting drought on here. I have found lately that, aside from my normal state of being over-committed and stressed out, I have a little blog-block going on. Randomly during day, I'll think, "Oh, I should write about that," and then when I sit down to write something it is gone, vanished into the black hole that is my head. Lots of things go in the black hole these days, but not many come out!

And, a round of thanks go out to my dear pal over at Jessie's Girl. I've suspected she had psychic powers in the past, but now I know that she does. She must have sensed my writing blockage and put out a call-to-action--in the form of a weekly blog challenge. This week's challenge asks that we get introspective. So, here goes...

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They say with age comes wisdom, and I agree with this completely. I also think that being a parent has helped me a great deal in becoming more of the person I hope to one day be in this life. There is nothing like watching your own character flaws be repeated in your darling little cherubs, to make you want to fix those flaws or at least improve upon them.

With all of that said, there are certain realizations that age and maturity have brought to me. This whole post reminds me of that really odd, but uniquely fun and different movie a few years back, Being John Malkovich. So, I present to you:

Being Crazy MomCat

I will always be:

• slightly Type-A,
• insecure about my physical appearance,
• a compulsive cleaner,
• over-committed with projects,
• striving to achieve a life balance,
• a sentimental fool,
• a little vain,
• a romantic dreamer,
• slightly pessimistic ,
• oddly knowledgeable about pop-culture,
• curious and searching,
• looking for my calling in life,
• a bit of a t.v. fanatic,
• direct, open and honest,
• a little emotional,
• crafty,
• a long blog post kind of person!
• an insomniac/night owl,
• a little mainstream,
• athletic and sporty

I will always have:

• a tendency to fight the feelings of being "in a rut,"
• a wide variety of musical tastes, interests and friends,
• an athletic build (waifishness is an impossibility),
• an urge to travel,
• a need for close friends,
• lots of "irons in the fire,"
• insecurities about feeling unimportant to those around me,
• issues with self-image,
• too many things to do and not enough time,
• a bit of a temper,
• dreams of being more artistic,
• fears of losing my loved ones,
• wishes that I could sing,
• bigger dreams for my children than myself,
• the need to write my thoughts

I will never be:

• a smoker,
• an alcoholic,
• footloose and fancy-free,
• spontaneous and eclectic,
• lazy and unmotivated,
• pretentious,
• purposely hurtful to my friends,
• competitive with friends/family,
• a whiz at math or business,
• a professional singer,
• fake or a liar,
• someone with tattoos or lots of piercings

With age, I have changed, in that:

• I've learned to roll with the punches more,
• I forgive myself easier,
• I take better care of myself,
• I care less about what people think of me,
• I care less about how many friends I have,
• I dress more in what works for me now, not what is en vogue,
• I hold less of a grudge,
• I realize the importance of my upbringing and values,
• I am more introspective,
• I revel in the differences in others more,
• I realize I will never be as perfect as I push myself to be,
• I value my free time more,
• I have learned that some people never change/to keep some at an arm's distance,
• I find things that I do love about myself more

I may add more to this later, but as you can see the topic definitely got me to thinking! See if you can join in and post something introspective. Be sure to go visit Jessie's Girl and tell her you're participating!