The Girl came home today buzzing about this new TV show called Single with Parents. It stars Alyssa Milano, you know Tony's daughter Sam from Who's the Boss. Boy, that was a good show. Anyway, this new show, Single with Parents was supposed to start back in 2008 but never made on the air. It's a shame really, the pilot looked pretty funny, if not a little messed up.
The girl has been saying for awhile that there must be more people out there like her. Young 20/30-somethings who moved back home, not so their parents could take care of them, but so they could help their parents. There's been talk lately about the "Sandwich Generation" which has been sandwiched with their children needing help but also their aging parents needing help. I swear, the Boomers come up with more reincarnations for themselves. But why assume they are the only ones dealing with this problem? Why are GenXers always getting such a bad rap?
There must be some type of support group or at least others of the girl's peers who are going through the same thing. But, after a fairly thorough search turned up nil, the girl has decided to start her own unofficial support group, of sorts.
You can find her at SinglewithMom.blogspot.com. She's looking forward to regaling you all with her stories, or at least offering you some gripes to chuckle at. Oh, and leave comments! How else is she to know that she's not the only one?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Happy Hour Solo Style
I've noticed how the Girl's life has calmed down of late since Renaissance Boy. She's no longer out till all hours, sometimes not returning until the next day. Her schedule is more predictable, and she's not as overtired and thus not overly grouchy all the time. It's a nice change from the road rage I was getting used to.
It's so drastic in fact that even she's noticed how things are decidedly different. For instance, check out happy hour tonight.
(pictures to come. I haven't figured out how to ost pictures from the girl's phone.)
Somehow, I think she's enjoying the solitude until the next boy comes round.
It's so drastic in fact that even she's noticed how things are decidedly different. For instance, check out happy hour tonight.
(pictures to come. I haven't figured out how to ost pictures from the girl's phone.)
Somehow, I think she's enjoying the solitude until the next boy comes round.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Food Snob?
Has anyone else been to PF Changs? I know that it's supposed to be all that. And I know it's where everyone goes. It's essentially the Chinese equivalent of a TGI Fridays or an Applebees. And again I know that those places are where everyone seems to think it's where it is. But honestly? It's way over priced for Chinese food of any kind, and if you ask me, it's not very good Chinese. Cinatown in Philly (or probably any major city for that matter) is waaay better.
Perhaps, I'm feeling this way cause the whole day was a weird, nothing's going right kind of day. It started with the Girl getting a late start. Yes, I know it's Saturday and a girl deserves her beauty sleep, but when she was planning on heading out to run her errands by 8ish and didn't actually get out until close to 10:30 or so, you know the rest of the day is probably going to go down hill.
So we headed out to go food shopping, with a few stops along the way. The first stop didn't have the sachets the Girl uses anymore, even though they used to. She empties them into the vacuum bags when putting on a new one and then the house smells nice when she vacuums instead of recirculated pet odors. No problem, she was headed to the Vac and Sew too. Then the makeup place didn't have the cream she uses (she'd already checked out a place in town earlier in the week which also didn't carry her brand.) Then she went to Yankee Candle to get room plug-in deodorizers (they last much longer than the ones from the supermarket). Thankfully, they had what she needed. But then we had to fight our way through the new traffic patterns at the 70/73 circle-no-more to get to Springdale Farm. this was a nice diversion to a hectic drive. Springdale is always so relaxing. (I know the Girl is planning to move back to Philly as soon as she can, but I'd probably prefer a country road some place. Anyway, from there we headed to the Vac and Sew, where one of the major roads was blocked off (probably from the big storm we had on Thursday) so we had to go the round-about way, and then we headed back to the market (which we had passed on the way to the Vac and Sew. Why she didn't listen to me when I tried to tell her that there were fire engines when we went past the first time, I don't know, but when we pulled in they were still there. Or more correctly, they had cordoned off the main parking area and store and the last fire engine was pulling out of the lot. Great. So the majority of the running we did today was for naught. And then I got to hear the Girl and her Sister complain about the meal they had at PF Changs the whole ride home from dinner.
I think I enjoyed the Girl more when she was going out more and dating Renaissance Guy, even if he wasn't exactly the right one for her. Even if she was over tired most of the time and little cranky. She was a much more fun person that she is lately. Which brings me to my next thought, which is that I've been somewhat negative in this blog this week. Next week, I'm going to try and be more positive. Even if it means talking about old stories that I haven't told you all. The Girl and I have had some wild adventures. They might be fun to reminisce about next week!
Perhaps, I'm feeling this way cause the whole day was a weird, nothing's going right kind of day. It started with the Girl getting a late start. Yes, I know it's Saturday and a girl deserves her beauty sleep, but when she was planning on heading out to run her errands by 8ish and didn't actually get out until close to 10:30 or so, you know the rest of the day is probably going to go down hill.
So we headed out to go food shopping, with a few stops along the way. The first stop didn't have the sachets the Girl uses anymore, even though they used to. She empties them into the vacuum bags when putting on a new one and then the house smells nice when she vacuums instead of recirculated pet odors. No problem, she was headed to the Vac and Sew too. Then the makeup place didn't have the cream she uses (she'd already checked out a place in town earlier in the week which also didn't carry her brand.) Then she went to Yankee Candle to get room plug-in deodorizers (they last much longer than the ones from the supermarket). Thankfully, they had what she needed. But then we had to fight our way through the new traffic patterns at the 70/73 circle-no-more to get to Springdale Farm. this was a nice diversion to a hectic drive. Springdale is always so relaxing. (I know the Girl is planning to move back to Philly as soon as she can, but I'd probably prefer a country road some place. Anyway, from there we headed to the Vac and Sew, where one of the major roads was blocked off (probably from the big storm we had on Thursday) so we had to go the round-about way, and then we headed back to the market (which we had passed on the way to the Vac and Sew. Why she didn't listen to me when I tried to tell her that there were fire engines when we went past the first time, I don't know, but when we pulled in they were still there. Or more correctly, they had cordoned off the main parking area and store and the last fire engine was pulling out of the lot. Great. So the majority of the running we did today was for naught. And then I got to hear the Girl and her Sister complain about the meal they had at PF Changs the whole ride home from dinner.
I think I enjoyed the Girl more when she was going out more and dating Renaissance Guy, even if he wasn't exactly the right one for her. Even if she was over tired most of the time and little cranky. She was a much more fun person that she is lately. Which brings me to my next thought, which is that I've been somewhat negative in this blog this week. Next week, I'm going to try and be more positive. Even if it means talking about old stories that I haven't told you all. The Girl and I have had some wild adventures. They might be fun to reminisce about next week!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday Frolickin'
Ah Friday! The end of the work week. Time to start thinking about the weekend, taking it easy, having a slower day to finish out the week. Especially since it's the summer, right? Wrong!
I'm not sure how it's possible, but the Girl always seems to round out the week with an extra busy, extra frustrating, extra working-late day on Fridays. Especially during the summer.
The Girl gets every other Friday off during the summer which would lead one to believe that's a perk. And it is. On the Fridays she's not in the office. But on the other Fridays, she's covering for co-workers who are off for their Summer Fridays, and inevitably questions and problems arise for their things on those days. Things that have to get resolved RIGHT NOW! You would think they were performing brain surgery or something.
So here it is, 6:15, and the girl is finally on her way to come pick me up from Brother when she's normally done by 4:00. I've been shuttling both of them around this week and last, and apparently it's to go on one more week. Some one has to keep tabs on them when Mom is away.
I must say, though, it's a nice change of pace from usual. Driving a bit more and stretching my wheels, running errands that Brother has to do as part of his job, listening to different tunes than the Girl plays. It's been very nice indeed, even if the days have been a little longer than usual.
I'm not sure how it's possible, but the Girl always seems to round out the week with an extra busy, extra frustrating, extra working-late day on Fridays. Especially during the summer.
The Girl gets every other Friday off during the summer which would lead one to believe that's a perk. And it is. On the Fridays she's not in the office. But on the other Fridays, she's covering for co-workers who are off for their Summer Fridays, and inevitably questions and problems arise for their things on those days. Things that have to get resolved RIGHT NOW! You would think they were performing brain surgery or something.
So here it is, 6:15, and the girl is finally on her way to come pick me up from Brother when she's normally done by 4:00. I've been shuttling both of them around this week and last, and apparently it's to go on one more week. Some one has to keep tabs on them when Mom is away.
I must say, though, it's a nice change of pace from usual. Driving a bit more and stretching my wheels, running errands that Brother has to do as part of his job, listening to different tunes than the Girl plays. It's been very nice indeed, even if the days have been a little longer than usual.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Singled Out
Why is it that when a couple breaks up, their friends feel compelled to choose sides? Now, of course, to begin with, they were either his friends or hers. But after hanging out in groups where the lines tend to blur, why does it automatically go back to the way it was before the couple met?
Take for instance, last week. The girl went to a happy hour hosted by one of the "young professional" groups she belongs to. Coincidentally, the same group which hosted the holiday party where she met Renaissance Boy. This also happened to be just a few days after she broke up with said Renaissance Boy. But, out with the old, in with the new, I always say. So why then, after she'd been there for awhile, when one of Renaissance Boy's friends showed up she all but ignores the girl?
Just to clarify a bit, it was just the women's subgroup at this particular happy hour, it wasn't like the girl was scoping out the place. (Well she was, but not obviously.) She may have also just that very same day "un-boyfriended" Renaissance on Facebook. Also, she may have that previous weekend, after getting to know this other woman a bit better at an event she went to with Renaissance, "friended" her on Facebook. Perhaps the friend just wanted to get the story from Renaissance Boy first? As an aside, this same person was suggested to the girl by one of her other friends from that group as someone she should get to know as they probably had a lot in common. So much for getting to know her.
Are guys like that too, so catty and calculating? Boy, am I glad I'm just a lowly automobile who gets to sit and take in all the stories without having to deal with all the anguish!
Take for instance, last week. The girl went to a happy hour hosted by one of the "young professional" groups she belongs to. Coincidentally, the same group which hosted the holiday party where she met Renaissance Boy. This also happened to be just a few days after she broke up with said Renaissance Boy. But, out with the old, in with the new, I always say. So why then, after she'd been there for awhile, when one of Renaissance Boy's friends showed up she all but ignores the girl?
Just to clarify a bit, it was just the women's subgroup at this particular happy hour, it wasn't like the girl was scoping out the place. (Well she was, but not obviously.) She may have also just that very same day "un-boyfriended" Renaissance on Facebook. Also, she may have that previous weekend, after getting to know this other woman a bit better at an event she went to with Renaissance, "friended" her on Facebook. Perhaps the friend just wanted to get the story from Renaissance Boy first? As an aside, this same person was suggested to the girl by one of her other friends from that group as someone she should get to know as they probably had a lot in common. So much for getting to know her.
Are guys like that too, so catty and calculating? Boy, am I glad I'm just a lowly automobile who gets to sit and take in all the stories without having to deal with all the anguish!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Life as We Know It
Life on this blog is going to change. Although I thought it would be fun to write my own blog, it hasn't been going too well. Actually, it hasn't been going at all. I had thought it would be fun to have a forum to put down all of my ideas (read: gripes) and expound on all of my adventures. Or at least all of the girl's adventures. But that just doesn't seem to be happening with too much frequency. The girl comes home and tells me of all the things she's done, places she's been, people she's seen; but I've just been too busy (read: lazy) to put any of it down. I've just found it hard to put tire to keyboard. Look I'm no Carrie Bradshaw alright? But all that's going to change starting now.
So, to quickly bring you up to speed (to be elaborated on later, I'm sure), the girl has broken it off with Renaissance Guy. They had some fun times, and some not so fun times, went and did some very cool things, but after almost six months the girl decided he just wasn't the one for her, at least not long term, not on a husband level and decided it was more humane to not lead him on. She's not a complete cad, thankfully. Amazingly, she has remained acquaintance/friends with Divorced Dad, who by the way is currently seeing a very nice someone for almost as long as the Girl and Renascence were together.
She has also decided to try her hand at an Info Systems Masters program at Drexel. Of course, she still has to get accepted. And figure out how she's paying for it. Wish her luck! And, she and her mom and sister have decided to sell the house where they've been living together for the past five years. The house that used to be her mom's business building, but that's a story for another day.
That's all for now. There will be plenty of adventures and misadventures to relay. And, also lots of catching up to do as well. So, keep coming back and the Girl and I will keep you posted. Here's looking at you kiddies!
So, to quickly bring you up to speed (to be elaborated on later, I'm sure), the girl has broken it off with Renaissance Guy. They had some fun times, and some not so fun times, went and did some very cool things, but after almost six months the girl decided he just wasn't the one for her, at least not long term, not on a husband level and decided it was more humane to not lead him on. She's not a complete cad, thankfully. Amazingly, she has remained acquaintance/friends with Divorced Dad, who by the way is currently seeing a very nice someone for almost as long as the Girl and Renascence were together.
She has also decided to try her hand at an Info Systems Masters program at Drexel. Of course, she still has to get accepted. And figure out how she's paying for it. Wish her luck! And, she and her mom and sister have decided to sell the house where they've been living together for the past five years. The house that used to be her mom's business building, but that's a story for another day.
That's all for now. There will be plenty of adventures and misadventures to relay. And, also lots of catching up to do as well. So, keep coming back and the Girl and I will keep you posted. Here's looking at you kiddies!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Out with the Old, In with the New
At what point is a person ready to completely let go of an old relationship, and welcome in a new one? Is it right to start a new relationship knowing that you're not completely over your ex? Or would that be cheating on... who exactly? Of course there's the the reasoning that it takes a new love to get over an old one. But then are you going into it with your eyes wide open to the fact that it's a "rebound relationship" and therefore probably going to turn into nothing more than a fling, albeit possibly a long term one?
The Girl came to pick me up at the train station regaling me with tales from mahjong (yes, mahjong) and how she told the entire room about her new relationship, even if privately she wasn't sure she was ready too. The Girl tends to like to keep things to herself initially, whether it's a new relationship, a possible new job, a possible new apartment, whatever. It might stem from her slightly modest self, her scorpion tendencies, or even, somewhere not too far in the background, her little girl self singing, "I've got a secret! I've got a secret!" Childish? Of course, but oh so satisfying!
Anyway, as they were setting up their tiles, in an attempt at small talk one of the girls asked about everyone's plans for the weekend. As it was Monday, nobody really had any yet, so she asked about the past weekend. And much to The Girl's surprise she realized she actually had had plans and had done something worth talking about that weekend. But instead of going directly into discussing the production of Moliere's Scapin at the Lantern Theater Company (which she mentioned was a must see), she found herself starting out, "I've been seeing this guy..." Of course, then everyone wanted to know who he was and how she had met him. "At the Chanukah Party," she told them. The same Chanukah party that the group sponsoring mahjong had sponsored. The girl in charge knew exactly who she was talking about when she mentioned Renaissance Guy and smiled knowingly, "he's very nice," she said. "Yes," The Girl agreed, "he is very nice."
She then went onto tell everyone about the show they had gone to see, and the moment sort of passed. But The Girl was left wondering if it would get back to Renaissance Guy that everyone knew. Would he be ok with that? Do guys even get all worked up about stuff like that like girls do? And was The Girl even ok with it being out there at all. She had only recently stopped thinking about Mr Divorced Dad every day, only thinking about him occasionally. A month ago when she had started seeing Renaissance Guy, she couldn't help but feel like she was cheating on Mr Divorced, even though that relationship hardly even counted as a relationship on account of it hardly even getting off the ground (literally and figuratively). The first night that she spent the night with Renaissance Guy, she kept comparing him with Mr Divorced (even though she kept telling herself that wasn't fair) and wondering how she could feel so awkward with him even though he was doing everything she'd been wanting for a very long time, even though he was doing everything she had wished Mr Divorced would have done but didn't. Until last weekend when she didn't even think about Mr Divorced the whole weekend, and it wasn't until Monday when she saw her email with a list of her JDate matches and thought, "oh yeah, him."
But as it still feels so new, and not being entirely sure how Renaissance feels, she doesn't want to rush anything. She doesn't want to scare him off. She's sure that she's never quite felt this way about a guy before. Well a real one anyway. (The Girl has a thing for Mr. Rochester the way most girls do about Mr Darcy. Timothy Dalton's Mr Rochester, specifically.) She knows she's got a good thing and she's pretty sure she can feel that Renaissance feels the same. She just doesn't want to jinx it. She knows that everything happens for a reason, and that if it's meant to be it will all work out in the end. But she also knows that she's not quite sure she's got the patience to keep a lid on things until Renaissance Guy's figured out exactly what he wants too. She's jsut hoping that Renaissance turns out to be her "in with the new" and that she doesn't turn into his "out with the old."
The Girl came to pick me up at the train station regaling me with tales from mahjong (yes, mahjong) and how she told the entire room about her new relationship, even if privately she wasn't sure she was ready too. The Girl tends to like to keep things to herself initially, whether it's a new relationship, a possible new job, a possible new apartment, whatever. It might stem from her slightly modest self, her scorpion tendencies, or even, somewhere not too far in the background, her little girl self singing, "I've got a secret! I've got a secret!" Childish? Of course, but oh so satisfying!
Anyway, as they were setting up their tiles, in an attempt at small talk one of the girls asked about everyone's plans for the weekend. As it was Monday, nobody really had any yet, so she asked about the past weekend. And much to The Girl's surprise she realized she actually had had plans and had done something worth talking about that weekend. But instead of going directly into discussing the production of Moliere's Scapin at the Lantern Theater Company (which she mentioned was a must see), she found herself starting out, "I've been seeing this guy..." Of course, then everyone wanted to know who he was and how she had met him. "At the Chanukah Party," she told them. The same Chanukah party that the group sponsoring mahjong had sponsored. The girl in charge knew exactly who she was talking about when she mentioned Renaissance Guy and smiled knowingly, "he's very nice," she said. "Yes," The Girl agreed, "he is very nice."
She then went onto tell everyone about the show they had gone to see, and the moment sort of passed. But The Girl was left wondering if it would get back to Renaissance Guy that everyone knew. Would he be ok with that? Do guys even get all worked up about stuff like that like girls do? And was The Girl even ok with it being out there at all. She had only recently stopped thinking about Mr Divorced Dad every day, only thinking about him occasionally. A month ago when she had started seeing Renaissance Guy, she couldn't help but feel like she was cheating on Mr Divorced, even though that relationship hardly even counted as a relationship on account of it hardly even getting off the ground (literally and figuratively). The first night that she spent the night with Renaissance Guy, she kept comparing him with Mr Divorced (even though she kept telling herself that wasn't fair) and wondering how she could feel so awkward with him even though he was doing everything she'd been wanting for a very long time, even though he was doing everything she had wished Mr Divorced would have done but didn't. Until last weekend when she didn't even think about Mr Divorced the whole weekend, and it wasn't until Monday when she saw her email with a list of her JDate matches and thought, "oh yeah, him."
But as it still feels so new, and not being entirely sure how Renaissance feels, she doesn't want to rush anything. She doesn't want to scare him off. She's sure that she's never quite felt this way about a guy before. Well a real one anyway. (The Girl has a thing for Mr. Rochester the way most girls do about Mr Darcy. Timothy Dalton's Mr Rochester, specifically.) She knows she's got a good thing and she's pretty sure she can feel that Renaissance feels the same. She just doesn't want to jinx it. She knows that everything happens for a reason, and that if it's meant to be it will all work out in the end. But she also knows that she's not quite sure she's got the patience to keep a lid on things until Renaissance Guy's figured out exactly what he wants too. She's jsut hoping that Renaissance turns out to be her "in with the new" and that she doesn't turn into his "out with the old."
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