A New Day

This year I voted in my first election and won. You can thank me later. Today, you could literally feel the difference in the air. I listened to his speech over the radio but to watch hundreds of my co-workers gather around televisions set up through out the building brought a visual of the excitement for people around me. Did we watch 4 years ago? Why would we? But was the option there? I honestly don't think so, I don't know if this kind of energy has existed before. Was it because we had given up?

"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

While I am certain change is not going to come overnight it's an feeling that has changed. That change is possible. Yes, we can. When my children picture a President they will have a catalogue of pictures to choose from. I wonder how the first family feels tonight. Did they know in their hearts that this would come true or if they doubted for a moment if Americans were ready to put their votes where their mouth was? Did they know what their part in our history they would be?

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

I could listen to our President talk for hours and while I may not agree with everything he has on the agenda, I do believe that to be inspired is a step in the right direction. This year we came to a cross roads and it feels we started on a new path. Maybe it's naive to put that kind of pressure on a person, but I do truly believe it's more of an idea and a movement of thinking than just one person. He inspires people and has inspired me.

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true."

My daugther's first year continues with a change that while she doesn't understand yet I hope she will grow up differently as a result of it. A new generation of change has a leader and I will happily fall in line.

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

The Holidays

I'm a day late and a dollar short - but I never did give the play by play of the holidays. With out a camera I have to say it is even more difficult to sum up how the week went. We didn't even take pictures of the stupid unscented tree. Luckily at my mom's we took a picture of A tree. We may have taken other pictures but I can't find the film. We could barely find film to use, and for the last few weeks I've been trying to find a place to develop it. While they would be able to send it out - no one could give me prices, so I waited. Now that I found a place that is reasonable I can't find the trail of proof.

The holidays this year were filled with the usual commute. We traveled from Boston to the 'Burgh then to the 'Chester and back to Boston. There were no attacks and much running around. Good times had by all and for the most part we were home before we knew any better. It was a nice holiday but next year, as I'm sure it was said last year Santa is coming to our house next year.

It's a bit too much for every year. We are the only ones who can't have Santa come to our house and with the excitement of Santa it becomes a bit too much on all ends. Next year the big man is coming to Beantown.

After the quick trip coming back we chilaxed for a day or so and my dad & Cami came over. It was defiantly a nice change of pace to have company and be at the home base. I know it's hard for everyone, as it is for us to make the trip.

We talk about it much - we both had the childhood experience of hoping from family to family as a kid. It was great and nice in many ways - but truly while we will miss out on valuable family time at the end of the day the good weighs out when thinking about staying home. I hope when L looks back she doesn't feel that she missed out. Living as far as we live she is, if we are all being honest, at a disadvantage when it comes to her cousins & second cousins. They don't know her like they would if she lived close. She doesn't know them like we wish she should. She'll always be the outsider in one way or another - Christmas isn't going to make the difference.

New Year's we made the trek back to the 'Burgh. 2009 was the year where children out numbered the adults - another eye opening experience. L had a blast and a half, with all the kids she was in heaven. She has a 'thing' as it is for the older children - boys specifically. It was so amazing to see her be one of the kids. All of the kids were so great and L had the best time. The next day we had lunch at Grammy & Poppa's house. It was a really nice was to kick off 2009.

Once I find all the film and get them developed I'll be sure to post December & holiday pictures. New Year's Resolution: to be timely. I'm keeping it easy. This year we dropped the ball and no Happy Holiday cards to speak of. While we were going to do Happy Martin Luther King Day cards, tomorrow is the big day and no cards are made. I haven't written about anything in weeks... I guess we aren't so much doing well with the resolution. In the coming year we need to be better about being timely in general. We'll do what we can!

To make up for it another video - that we have. Pictures not so much.

DoctoRs Visit

It has been far too long - to make up for it adorable video. While we wait for the nurse to give shots we danced it out.

Job Requirements

I am well aware of the economic crises among us, it's rough out there. I can't go to the bathroom at work with out hearing about the doom and gloom. This home girl is just trying to pee and CNN is pumped in to talk about how the world is in the toilet. Pun intended. Knowing that the job market is tough, you would imagine that those that have a job are the best suited for that job. This is not the case, it should be but it is not. Not even close.

Case in point: our landlord who has a level 3 in English (1-10 scare, 4 being average and what the minimum one should accept as a basic standard of conversational English). You would think she would employ those who could at the very minimum assist her in the translation of issues. Guess what? Not so much. The handymen that Sofia (said landlord - who is described to appear as my Italian grandmother, if she were Asian) employees the most peculiar men. The most recent of which is barely at a level 2, but that's given him the benefit of the doubt. He is constantly on the phone, we think. He mumbles, we think. He speaks some modicum of English, we think. Between the blue tooth, the marbles in the mouth & broken English explaining what is wrong with the dishwasher or shower is near impossible. This might explain why both have been broken for months.

Today we heard a slight tap on the front door. We didn't know if someone was at the door or if our downstairs neighbor was drunk (again) and stumbling around. The dog wouldn't stop barking so C went down stairs. It was Yan (we think that's either his name or a word he uses to say hello) came unannounced, as usual. He is deathly afraid of the dog so while he is on the phone, ignoring the barking, coming up the stairs, he makes eye contact with the dog. Apparently he doesn't understand barking as an indication as there will be a dog coming from the sound he hears. He heads back downstairs and we can't understand what the heck is he saying. We figure step 1 should be to get the baby & the mutt locked up. I fence myself into the living room as Yan continues to mumble, Abelle yaps and babygirl screeches. He came in and out a few times, tracked mud into the bathroom and then said his goodbyes. An hour later, as Chrissy (that's what Yan calls him) is cursing that bastard for muddying up the bathroom the barking starts again. It turns out while we thought Yan was saying bye bye see you later - he was really saying he'd be back after going downstairs because they had the same problem (we didn't understand this either). After months of waiting, writing letters, leaving voice mails for my Asian Grandmother it ended up Yan left us with a working dishwasher (thanks be to baby Jesus / Yan) and all of our bathrooms working - so I guess, communication struggles aside it all got done.
Eventually.

2008 Year of the Rat

This year a lot went down.

• I have downloaded over 2500 pictures of home girl, in 08 alone. I don't even know the number that landed on the cutting room floor.
  
• I got a taste of being a mom, full time.
• I returned to work.
• Life imitated work.
• Home girl became a lifelong member of the holy church, despite the drama.
• Traveling continues to be the bane of our existences.
• We took our first family vacation.
• First steps are taken and have not slowed down since then.
  
• The crying 'thing' has not left the building, 2008 was a weeping one.
  
• I am a tween and am loving it.
• I voted in my first election and won.
  
• I witnessed history be made.
  
• I realize the rumors are true, it does keep getting better.
  
• Everything has changed, in the very best way, forever and it continues to evolve. And now I'm crying again.