Do we get points for effort?

Roger Berny, my father in law, passed away late last year.
April 15 would have been his birthday. We wanted to mark this special day in some way.
I came up with the idea of having Diego and Isabel draw birthday cards for their "Opa" (grandpa in German). We got a dozen colorful balloons and the idea wast to tie the cards to the balloons and let them go so the cards would reach Roger in Heaven.
The idea seemed loving, sweet and simple enough. The kids did a great job with their cards. Isabel insisted that she wanted to write hers without help and so part of it, had many letters that do not make words (at least not in any language I know). Patrick wrote the longest letter I have seen him write in decades. I did not read it, but it was evident that a lot of love went into it. I also made a card; wished Roger happiness (even though I don't have any doubt that he has it ) and asked him to look over his grandchildren.
The next day, on the 15th, we were running to have a couple of minutes free before school, work, etc. We all went out to the back yard. Patrick managed to take a picture of the balloons with the cards and letter. We sang Happy Birthday and counted... "one, two, three..." Diego and Isabel let go of the balloons which started going up and up. We all were wondering how long we would be able to still see them. Would they go into a cloud?
Well, the anticipation ended much too quickly. It just so happens that it was a windy day. We did not take that into consideration in the midst of our little ceremony. the balloons' journey came to a screeching halt.... when they got stuck in a branch in our neighbors big, tall tree.
We were all disappointed, but it actually made for a funnier. more memorable story.
The balloons are all gone, of course, but from our kitchen window, we can still see the bunch of colorful ribbons and the cards all mangled around the branch.
We all agreed that it did not matter that the balloons got stuck. Opa had surely seen all that we did. He surely appreciated the drawings in the cards and read the letter from the son that loved him so much. Besides, I can just bet he had a good laugh about the end result.
I will upload the little "balloon action" video tonight...

A Lesson in what really matters

The remodeling project is slowly (very slowly) moving along. Two days ago Scott (our contractor) told me that he was ready to unveil the tub. I was very excited and happy when we saw it for the first time (bought it online so had never seen it live). It was only after a second inspection that I realized that the company had sent us the cheaper model (but had charged us for the top of the line one). They made the mistake, but I made a bigger one because the purchase order that I approved, listed the cheaper model.
AAAHHHH! The 30 days after shipping had passed and so legally, we were royally screwed (pardon my French). Patrick was very angry with me for not checking the P.O. 10 times before accepting it, but not as angry as I was with myself.
I called the company, almost cried and they promised to look into it and hopefully help us out somehow. This truly ruined my day. I felt physically ill to think that I made a potentially very expensive mistake. I knew that Patrick would never let me forget and that each time I would look at the now infamous bathtub, I would feel bad.
I was perfectly aware that I should not be feeling sooo down and bad about a tub. I knew that if this was my biggest problem, I was a lucky woman. I knew all of this, but I just could not shake the disappointment I felt towards myself.
In the afternoon I was explaining what had happened to Scott. he continued working and before he was ready to leave for the day, he called me and told me that he needed me to do him a big favor. I said "sure what is it?"
He told me the story of when he was working in another house. The wife was upset because she could still see the grain of the wood in a door after it was painted. He suggested changing the door to steel... there is no grain in steel. She got upset at his remark... This was happening when his mother was in the hospital and was about to die. He got to the hospital to see all the terminally ill patients and their families. They had real problems and real pain...

"Paola" Scott said " I promise you, everything will turn just fine no matter what. When we finish the project we will all sit with a bottle of wine and laugh about it. Please don't be sad. This was not your fault. If anyone's, it was my fault for not opening the box to inspect the tub sooner. Please cheer up! I will personally tell Patrick that he can never mention this again or I won't do his CAT6 lines around the house".
He knew that his last comment would make me laugh and it made Patrick laugh when I told him later. As cliche' as it may sound, it felt like a veil had lifted. I needed to hear Scott's story to really put things into perspective and realize how stupid I was for letting the "tub issue" affect me so much. Scott taught me an important lesson and the thing is... I got it!
We still don't know what will happen with the tub, but I now think that each time I see it, it will remind me of what really matters and make me smile!

Back from Vacation!

We spent 2 wonderful weeks in Guatemala.
This time, our vacation was truly relaxing at times, very hectic here and there and positively, absolutely fun!
A whole week at the beach house was just what the doctor ordered. Patrick slept and slept (I guess he really needed it). I was afraid that the kids were going to grow gills and fins. They just would not come out of the pool.
We had the oportunity to go deep sea fishing and even though some of us got sick, it was all worth it. We saw dolphins swimming right beside our boat, we saw tiny jelly fish and lots of see turtles. We were hoping for whales, but did not see any. Oh well, there is always next year.
Patrick and I went to a concert at the beach. (Fanny Lu and Elvis Crespo). We were afraid we were too old for this and that we would not enjoy it. Boy, were we wrong!!!! We had an amazing time. Instead of a concert it felt more like a huge party. Everybody was dancing and the energy level was through the roof. Patrick and I used to love to dance (all Latin rhythms) and had not done it in a long time. It felt great! The only thing I need to remember for next time is to bring more suitable shoes. I had flip flops on and it was super challenging. At the end of the night I could hardly walk.
Patrick and I escaped for 2 days to Antigua on a romantic getaway. It truly was so special. We reconnected and were just like honeymooners wondering around and kissing in public. Getting away just the 2 of us for a couple of days is now our new tradition. We never get to do it, so we really try to make the most out of it. By the way, Antigua has a bunch of new, very small luxury hotels that are simply gorgeous and not expensive at all.
The days in Guatemala City flew by. We always seemed to be busy and I was reminded (yet again) of what an amazing, fantastic family I have. They were all so sweet to Diego and Isabel and we had a blast together.
Two weeks is not a long time, but I am not complaining. I am grateful and very happy!!!

Absent Minded and Forgetful! Blame genetics!

I was on the phone last night with my parents as I frequently am (I have this fantastic service that lets anyone in Guatemala call me and for them it is only a local call) and my mom was telling us (my father is on one phone, my mother on another and more often that not, they end up catching up on each other's day with me simply listening. I often need to remind them that I am also on the line) that Nandi (my beautiful 20 year old niece) lost her laptop. she then explained that she did not really loose it. She forgot it in the school where she teaches English. When she came back to retrieve it all she found was the laptop case.
My father went on saying that it was a good lesson and that next time she would be more careful with her things.
My mother didn't agree and I didn't either. I started thinking that I am always forgetting things. I have to say that I have been very lucky in my life (knock on wood) because I am always surrounded by people that "watch over me". I cannot count how many times I have left my purse in park benches, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Amazingly, I always find it and nothing has ever been missing. (knock on wood once more). I believe I lost at least a dozen sweaters in my childhood and I posses absolutely no sense of direction.
I don't think I am an irresponsible person, I am simply absent minded. The fact that I loose something today does not mean that I will be "more careful" with my things tomorrow. I can say this with a straight face because I have been trying all my life. I now do things like not bringing a purse at all or making lists to make sure I don't forget stuff.
When I think about it, my wonderful beloved mother is 10 times worse and has been all her life. She is a very accomplished business woman who has managed to raise 6 children and run a busy household, yet she is always forgetful an dare I say... a little chaotic.
So, I feel for my niece. I actually think it is a genetic defect that runs in my family. I am not trying to excuse our behaviour. I am simply stating factual history. I guess we can always keep trying to do better and thank God for the people in our life that love us regardless of our flaws.

Do Not Use The Water, I am Taking a Shower!!!!!!

This is what we are used to shouting before stepping into the shower in my house. The kids normally take showers in the evening and I have to make sure that I fill pots with water or wash vegetables, etc. before they step into the bathroom because if while in the shower, anyone else in the house turns any other faucet on, you will instantly get re-invigorated in the form of very, very cold water. In the morning ,this is my normal routine....
ME: "la, la, la, la... oh what a wonderful , nice, hot shower I am taking this morning." "AAHHHGH! PATRICK TURN OFF THE FAUCET!"
Patrick: "Sorry Schatz, I was brushing my teeth".
me: "Oh, O.K..... la, la, la AAAHHHHGH! Patrick, what now?"
Patrick: "I am trying to shave, do you mind?"
me: "Yes I mind. It is freezing, you know!"
Patrick: "Well, suck it up!!!"
... needless to say, I don't suck it up. I blame him for daring to even think of approaching a faucet while I am taking a shower. I blame the piping for not working right. I blame the water for being too cold and then too hot. I blame the bathroom for ...well I blame the bathroom for being ugly. This last one has nothing to do with the water temperature, but I still thought it was important to point out.
We realized this interesting detail about the water flow in our home after we moved in over 4 years ago. A couple of years later we installed a bigger water heater thinking that it would solve the problem... but it did not.
Our contractor Scott, called me this morning and told me that he now figured out why this was happenning. It just so happens that someone along the way (the house is 37 years old) mixed the water lines... the cold line goes to the hot or something like that.
The promising news is that since he found the problem, he will fix it (at least that is the plan)!
You might take normal hot, uninterrupted showers for granted, but for us it will be a huge upgrade.

More of the 2008 Calendar

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Diego Breaking Boards (hearts will surely come later)

Diego during his "Green-one" karate test. He had broken one the day before, so he was not too worried about it. I surely was. If you don't break your board, you don't get your new belt. Imagine the disappointment. Thank God everything went really well.