It's Super Jill!!!!

Last night, I worked late. I didn't leave work until about 7:00 and it had been a really crappy week. My friend Kris and I decided to go out for a glass of wine since we were both a bit frazzled from the week. At about 8:30, I headed out of Lewiston for home. It was pouring rain so the ride was a little slow going. There were these huge puddles because of the snow banks on the side of the road, so the rain had nowhere to go. I decided to take a different way home last night because I figured the side roads would be really awful, better to take the main road.
I had just called Mark to tell him that I was on my way home. I was listening to "piano jazz' on the radio (don't ask me why- I never listen to piano jazz) and I really wasn't thinking about anything when all of a sudden the car in front of me slammed on the brakes.
I hit the brakes and slowed way down and then I saw them. Two adorable basset hounds running down the middle of the busy road. There was now a line of 10 cars that had slowed down since these dogs were running all over the road. I pulled over along with two other cars, the rest of the cars still backed up behind us. I got out and called the dogs and they came running to me. I immediately put them in the jeep and smiled at every driver who now drove by and glared at me, thinking they were my dogs and that I had caused this traffic snafu. The woman in the car in front of me came walking over and asked me if I needed help with finding their owners. I told her I was fine and that I was going to go to a parking lot where I could check their tags and see where they belonged. Meanwhile "Marley" (that's what the tag said) and his pal (no tag) were romping about my jeep, soaking wet.
After getting to a safe spot, I checked Marley's tag and called the phone number listed. It rolled right to the answering machine, so I called Mark and asked him to "mapquest" the address so I could find it. It turns out these little wet smelly hounds were about a mile from home. I drove to the street (aided by my personal gps -mark) and as I turned down their street, I saw a truck driving by and I heard the woman yelling for "Marley." I pulled over and yelled out that I had them. Well, you know what happened next, a tearfilled family reunion. Apparently my furry friends had somehow gotten out of the backyard. Their owners said they had never gotten out before so they knew they would be in a lot of danger. (Running down 196 on a rainy Friday night-yup that's danger)
As I got back on the road to head home, I felt like a superhero! This one 30 minute episode totally changed my perspective on the week. What a great way to end the week. Sure, the jeep still smells like wet dog but who cares? I am still basking in the warmth of my "good samaritan" effort. It feels great!

A journey of self discovery

I have been really introspective lately( hence, my silly blog). I think it's the impending 40th birthday that has got me on this journey of self discovery. I am revisiting topics that I thought I understood but clearly didn't in an effort to figure out who I want to be. Now, don't worry I am not going to go out and join the peace corps or start walking the earth like Cane on Kung Fu. I am just spending a great deal more time with myself. I am also spending a lot more time with Jesus too. I have started going to church again and I have even joined a six week prayer group for lent. I realized that I don't know much about "my church" and I really am interested in learning more. I also feel in these uncertain times, that my faith is helping me to cope.

My 5 year old asked me at dinner tonight, "mommy what was your first job?" I told him I had a job as a dishwasher (at that fine restaurant Jake Copley's). Like any good five year old would, he then asked me about my second job and my third job, etc, etc. I found myself reviewing my entire employment history over Pork Tenderloin with a 5 year old. It felt like a job interview. But it made me realize that I have been many things in my life. I have been a dishwasher, a shoe salesperson (the perks at Thom McAn were sweet), a waitress, an office assistant, a telemarketer (ugh!), a collector, a manager, a senior manager, A senior vice president and on and on. But that's not really what defines me. If I go back through my "careers" I really have been a social butterfly, a schmoozer, a communicator, a coach, a teacher, an organizer, a planner etc. Then I look at my life and think actually I have been a talker, a flirt, a partier, a girlfriend, a wife, a mother, a volunteer, a steward, a daughter, a sister and a friend. And I am adding to that list, "an active catholic." That's something I haven't been in a long time and I am really enjoying it. Be sure to pray for the people in my prayer group....oh wait, you won't have to, we'll do it ourselves. God Bless

Jilly's Doggie Retraction

Well, now I feel really bad. It turns out Putty truly is sick and not just being his usual neurotic self. He woke up this morning and appeared to be having muscle spasms in his right shoulder. He was also still really listless. So, I called the vet first thing and we took him in. Now, I find veterinary care fascinating. It appears that animal illnesses are much harder to diagnose and often vets will treat what they "think it might" be rather than subjecting the pet (and their owner's wallet) to many costly tests. If you or me were having muscle spasms and difficulty getting around, you can be sure we would have every test imaginable to find out what was wrong. But, with a dog, it's more of a crap shoot. And, since your paying out of pocket, the vet is usually less likely to order tests because they are concerned about the cost.
Of course, when your pet is a member of the family like ours, we authorized all the tests. We still walked out of there with a very fuzzy diagnosis and a whole bunch of medication. And my wallet was $431 lighter ---OUCH!
It appears that Putty may have an infection under the skin on his right shoulder called "Cellulitis." It's obvious he has some type of growth in that area, but they really can't tell what it is without surgery and that would be 'crazy expensive' So, we are going to treat it with antibiotics and pain meds and see what happens.
So, now I'm broke, my dog is high on the equivalent of doggie Oxycontin, I still don't know what's wrong with him and I feel like a heel for joking about him being so pathetic in my last blog.
I need to do pennance or something. Pray for Putty and me too.....:-)

Dogs!!!

We have a beagle. An adorable cutie patooty beagle named Putty. Well, Putty has been really out of sorts since our Alpha Male (Mark) went off to Oklahoma City and left the Parker "Pack" behind. I had hoped that Putty would step up to lead the pack in his absence, but to be honest, the little guy has just fallen apart. He's in a deep depression and it's clear that he needs so doggie Zoloft or something because he really is a mess. When he's not sleeping, he's sitting by the mud room door staring at it, like he's waiting for Mark to come in. Last night he slept on Mark's pillow and kept me up with whining and sighing ALL NIGHT LONG! He was whimpering like a baby. I actually stayed up with him from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM thinking there was something wrong with him. Then I figured out, he's just experiencing separation anxiety since Mark is missing from the pack. I don't have the heart to tell him that Mark's going to be gone until Thursday. I am afraid he will have a complete breakdown. I think we may need to get him some therapy in the meantime.

Missing Marker

Hubby is out of town for several days in Oklahoma City visiting high schools with our 8th grader. She will likely be going to school out there next year, so we are in search of a good private catholic school for her. He left yesterday and I am already going out of my head missing him. Last night, my mom was here so she kept me occupied, but tonight it's just me and the kiddos and I am already going kooky. It's funny, we have been apart on numerous occasions for a few days at a time since we got married, but it's usually me who is going away and he is stuck at home with the kids. Now I know why he always wanted to have these long phone conversations when I call him from business trips and conferences. It is really boring being alone with the kids. Sure we fingerpainted today and played Mario Kart. I worked for most of the day but still I had noone to talk to and I was bored to tears. I have played seventeen games of online yahtzee and finished a book too. When you don't have another adult to talk to, it's really difficult. So, all I can say is babe, I have developed all new respect for you. I am sorry that I leave you alone with these children so often and I will try to do it less in the future. I miss you terribly and can't wait for you to come home.
J

The Ultimate IPOD Playlist

Miraculously, I have been able to get out and run, not once, but twice this weekend. Sure, it was cold (27 degrees brrrrr) but to get out and get some fresh air on a sunny, albeit chilly Saturday in February is altogether something special. I bundled up the layers, charged up the IPOD and headed out. So, while I was ambling through Bowdoinham, I got to thinking about the songs on my ipod. Those of you who spend time on Facebook know that I have already declared "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock one of the greatest running songs of all time. But, there's more to the story. When you think of it, the songs on the ipod are the soundtrack of your life. There are tunes that bring you right back to a certain place and time as if it were yesterday. I have had the chance to glance at other people's Ipods and it never ceases to amaze me what an eclectic mix of music most people have. I love seeing someone who has a playlist with Megadeth and Manilow back to back. That's my kinda music fan. Anyone who can appreciate Guns and Roses along with Neil Diamond gets the point of the music. It's about place and time. A memory of something great, or horrible, or romantic or heartbreaking. Whatever it is, the song always takes us back. Armed with this self realization (all in a 45 minute run) I came back and immediately started to think of what my soundtrack would be. If they ever decided to produce, "Jill Parker, the Musical" what songs would be on the soundtrack? Here's what I came up with.

1. Crocodile Rock--I remember hearing this song as a kid and thinking it was really cool. (Age 6--just figuring out what Music could do)
2. The Night Chicago Died--It was on a K-Tel "Believe in Music" Album my parents had and I loved it! (Age 10)
3. You Shook Me All Night Long--My first real makeout session was to this song, with Scott Evans at Shelley Wolfe's Birthday Party. No offense to Dr. Evans, but he was a sloppy kisser. (Age 12)
4. This Christmas I Spend with You- This was a Robert Goulet song on the greatest Holiday Album ever. (This is the soundtrack to every christmas of my childhood)
5. Wide Awake in America by U2- Shelffo and I listened to this song every morning in the skyfart on the way to High School
6. Sweet Caroline- Sung way too many drunken nights in College at Maggie's Bar at Syracuse. Explains why I never finished.
7. Island by Jimmy Buffett- I spent the summers after college at "Great Woods" in Massachusetts for the Annual Labor Day Weekend Show
8. Friends in Low Places- This kind of explains my first marriage
9. At Last- This really explains my second marriage (and it was my wedding song)
10. Start the Commotion by the WiseGuys--This was the pinnacle of my Beach 2 Beacon Playlist when I ran my first 10K and proved that I could be a runner
11. Everything- By Michael Buble--Says it all about where I am in my relationship with my husband
12. AM Radio by Everclear--A favorite sing along song for the Parker's (my kids love this song, especially my five year old.)
13. Don't Worry Bout a Thing--By Shedaisy. This is the quintissential song for my life right now.

So how bout you? What's on your playlist? Is it the soundtrack to your life? Mine sure is.
Come to think of it, I think there's a few others I need to download.
J

It's 7:30 on a Friday Night.......

I was just on facebook, chatting with a few folks. Caught up with an old friend a bit. Checking out some new pictures someone posted. Then I noticed that under the "What are you doing right now?" question, a friend had posted..."I am ready for bed at 7:30 on a FridayNight" or something to that effect. Within minutes, three other women, all working moms chimed in with "I hear you" and "I Know, I'm exhausted too." It's amazing that the first woman made one comment and instantly, we had a Quorum. Ya know why? Because we are all freaking pooped. Sleep is now a premium and without the requisite number of hours, we just struggle to function. We struggle, but we do it.
But remember when........
We used to be cool and hip, drinking cosmos with our girlfriends on a Friday night. Now we are lucky if we down a Mich Ultra with our leftover mac and cheese right out of the pan.
What the hell happened? How did we let ourselves get this way? I'll tell ya how. It's those damn kids. They suck the energy right out of you. It's a constant barrage of "Mama, can I have" It's dishes in the sink. It's somebody feed the dog. It's where the heck's my permission slip. All of that is exhausting. Throw on top of that some gainful employment outside the home and lord help me.
But, to be honest, we wouldn't trade it for anything. What we gave up in happy hours at some club, we make up for in happy hours at the school play, or playing super mario Kart on game cube. Still, once in a while, it would be nice if we could stay up past 8 on a Friday night and maybe have a cosmo or two with the girls. I think I need to make that a goal. Whose with me?