Thankful things and the countdown

Today I am thankful for lots of things and I am here to admit and acknowledge my fall off the trust wagon briefly.

1. Today I am thankful for the knowledge that enabled me to fix my own laptop. I lost my entire Itunes and several other apps yesterday and I am still not sure how it occurred other than I attempted to upgrade Itunes at Apples suggestion. I had to rollback with a system restore to Saturday which mercifully was no great issue. Just in the nick of time too - the new ipod arrived yesterday!
2. Today I am thankful for Jon. He came home from working out yesterday, prepped dinner for last night AND tonight. Cleaned the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room tables and the music room. He made me dinner AND dessert. He made me breakfast and lunch and he even made the tea which, simple as it sounds, he usually leaves to me as he never likes how he does it. I am very lucky indeed. I will tell you that the downside of all of this is that because I work from home there is a seed of resentment because I am physically here, but doing something else when he feels I should be helping him. I understand it and so does he but that's part of the process.
3. Today I am thankful for my new boss. I feel like crap. Big time. Voice cuts in and out. I am a tad phlematic. and Wiped out. He told me to take the day and rest up. I am not accustomed to that and what a nice man. I think I will stay with this group for a bit.
4. Today I am thankful for the blessing of my voice. I was awarded the solo in the Mozart Exultate Jubilate on Dec 13. I am doing the Alleluia. It was very tight competition. Jon heard the audition and didn't want to trade places with the director AT ALL. All three of us were well prepped and in good voice. We did a good job. It bottomed out to what sound was he looking for. I guess it was mine. I am shocked and thrilled. BAck to WORK.
5. Today I am thankful for the relationship I have with food. It's scary and it's real. But I am getting better at it. Each meal I try to slow down my consumption ( I hold the county record for speed eating). It's very possible that I can slow down to a normal pace. But I am not eating the mass quantity I used to. I just eat it fast.

So there it is folks.

Thankful list

Tonights thankful list is going seem odd but bear with me - there's a moral to the story. I will start with the concept of lying and truth. I was raised on the truth and how important love and trust are. Now I won't tell you I'm good at it, but I will tell you that I work at it and sometimes I am more successful than others.

We were doing the dishes the other day and talking about a friend of ours who lives out West. She and her life partner moved out there a coupld of years ago and then her partner got sick. He has never REALLY trusted her and there are just some topics that he can't handle or deal with. Like her past. Not that her past is colorful or crazy. Average. Jon said that you can't have love without trust - and I agreed with him.

Friday comes and he and I are getting our after work schedules synched up. I ask him if he's going to the bar and he says "no". He may go to his moms but that will be it. I come home from teaching and realize that I am having an allergic reaction to SOMETHING and I need benedryl.

Only problem is he has my atm card. So I call his cell - 6 times and go no answer. So I call his mom. Time is of the essence, this thing accelerates too far and it's hospital time for me. She hasn't heard from him or seen him. Hmm

So I go to the bar he SWORE he wasn't going to. Lo and behold there is his car. I walk in, angry, hurt and uncomfortable. He sees me and I tell him I need my card back as I have a medical emergency to tend to. He tells me he bought a dishrack. I look at him like he's nuts. I tell him to have fun with his girlfriends. I leave.

2 hours later, I am fine. Crisis averted. I am on my second glass of wine and he strolls through door. Buzzed. Shouldn't have been driving in my opinion. However. After telling him about the emergency he proceeded to explain that he told me a "bubbameiser" ( white lie in yiddish) wo he could go shopping for my Christmas present.

The thing is - he came home with things from the store so he actually did that. We discussed the bar and the bottom line is I told him he doesn't need my permission to go and I know he didn't tell me because he needed some alone time - time without me and that's OK. He just needs to tell me that. I didn't have a problem with it last week so why now? Minor setback. But it's all resolved now. So here are my 5.

1. I am thankful that we are at least trying to iron out some of the question marks. I hate the duplicity and he's causing it. I can't blindly trust. He knows that. So we worked it out.
2. I am thankful that he was excited about what he got me. I don't even care what it is. He's happy with it and that's what's most important. And he can't wait for Christmas to give it to me. I think that's kind of cute actually.
3. I am thankful that our music is back. Better than ever actually. We did about 10 songs in the house yesterday. It went pretty good for a first REAL rehearsal. So good that when Papa of largesse ( Big Daddy) called he went up to the restaurant and they did some duets last night. He booked 2 gigs a month there and the two of them have a potential private party coming. AND Big Daddy's wife sings and play violin so the four of us may be getting work since we started doing Mamma's and the Pappas tunes.
4. I am thankful that Thanksgiving this year will be with my whole family. Including Jon. Usually he's working on the holidays so I am taking full advantage this yest. Now honestly he's using it as a hiding place, but who cares. He needs to come to something with my family too. So this is good. My new nephew will be there. It will be fun.
5. I am thankful that our furniture is on order, the new sounds system is on it's way. I may have a grownup home yet. I can't wait!!!!

I am thankful every day. I had five things for Friday and Saturday but life got in the way. So delays - yes. But Here I am. With my list. Better than ever.

We have football plans with my best friend and her hubby so - I am off to make Buffalo wings from scratch...

Thankful things and holidays

I am starting with my 5 things today because it will help me re-focus my priorities and my writing then improves!

1. I am thankful that the band had practice tonight. Jon loves it and is energized for days afterwards. He misses his music terribly so this is big for him.,
2. I am thankful that I was able to deconstruct and reconstruct "Mrs. Robinson". I have been having the worst time lately with learning songs. Seriously - I never put this much effort into it. It's worth it though. We are working on Mrs. Robinson, Back on the Chain Gang ( The Pretenders), Hazy Shade of Winter, If I fell, Good bye Girl, I will, America, THe Boxer, Homeward Bound. I know about half WELL. But for some reason, I actually stopped and LISTENED to Mrs Robinson and that was a huge mistake! Do you know there are overtones that mask as a third voice? Very confusing with that harmonies that I am trying to learn people! It took me two days and I finally GOT IT back where it was BEFORE I started listening. That will teach me.
3. I am thankful that I was able to make the Bacon mushroom pie tonight. I confess it was by far and away the best one EVER. I mean it - EVER. He loved it - he ate 2 huge pieces.
4. I am thankful that I took a hint today. Twice. I won't lie - it wasn't a hint I liked hearing but it does bring around a good point. It's time for me to step up and take better care of myself. I do more than I did over the summer but now I need to do even more. It's time.
5. I am thankful that I no longer have the "empty" feeling. For awhile recently I felt empty and depleted. I didn't have any feeling. I just felt hollow. It was weird and strange. I had a chat with my best friend this week over coffee. She actually told me that Jon is a story repeater. Which makes her crazy. He works out on her husbands weights 3 times a week ( they live down the block) and then the two of them have coffee and chit chat. She told me that the majority of the convo is him telling and re-telling stories. Now I know he does that, and I just generally write it off. Usually when he does that it's a version of events he's test driving to convince himself that it's true. Or it's a story he really likes. But I got defensive - I didn't act on it - but inside I got defensive. And I felt better because the emptiness seemed gone.

I want to say that We are going through a rough holiday - again. I just want to get through it. My family is big on the holidays. This one is going to be rough. Jon does not want to be on call or do a shift. I don't think he should have to.

The other problem and it's kind of a good problem to have is the benefit for Jon. I have a plan to get him there, but once he realizes what it is - he may freak. We'll see. I'm working on it.

I bought him some of his gifts today. I am worse about giving then getting - I love seeing the look on my friends and families faces!

Thanks

TOday was not the best day and I"m trying to find 5 things and I warn you now - I'm really reaching here...

1. I am thankful that I had the smarts to alter our financial picture when I did. I recieved the documents that I needed and started the processes and work required a few days ago and the dividends were delivered today,
2. I am thankful that I was able to start work on new music. I started learning the tunes Mrs. Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, Back on the Chain gang ( pretenders NOT NAtalie Merchant), Goodbye Girl and America today. None are really ready to practice but it proved my point that I don't know them nearly as well as I thought I did.
3. I am thankful for the 5lbs I am down. I stood on the scale and my weight settled down at 5lb loss. I'm very pleased with that.
4. I am thankful that I was able to use a "special" gift to assist a friend. I don't advertise it and I'm not planning to share it here but I have an unusual thing -not even sure gift is the right word. I cannot control it and I Don't know where or when it will happen, but it brought some peace and comfort to my best friend.
5. I am thankful that I have my health and Jon's health. Jon went in to see his brother today and he confessed when he came home that he doesn't wish to continue going in there and does not wish to take shifts over the holidays as it is too difficult for him to see his brother in this condition. MY heart breaks for him when he says these things because he truly feels them.

Rough day. I have things I need and can't deliver even to myself. Jon can't deliver things that we both need right now so we are just meeting in the middle and hoping for the best right now.

Stay tuned.

Thanks today

1. Today I am thankful that I was able to assist my best friend. Her son needed to go to the doctor and she needed someone to watch her girls. So I went and babysat for an hour. THese girls are my buds and we played the princess board game.
2. Today I am thankful that what started out as a huge fight dwindled into nothing. Suffice it to say, I did the right thing and didn't let the incident make me crazy as Jon put it "Dont' let this make you crazy. That's MY job. " of course this was after he hung up on me. By the time I got home, all is right again.
3. Today I am thankful that We have had more good days than bad in the past 2 weeks. I don't think we have gone this long since before he got sick. And we are both trying really hard.
4. Today I am thankful for my voice. We worked on our music tonight. We did some Simon and Garfunkle and some Beatles. And it was good. He even mentioned that if the exwife ever came back to the states he would have the two of us sing together and he would just play. That's a HUGE compliment. The one thing he always said about her is he misses performing with her. So this is a good turn for us.
5. Today I am thankful for my researching skills. I was able to solve a nagging problem for me by doing all my research homework on line. It may be 2:30 in the morning BUT I will sleep soundly.

Short one tonight guys - I'm super tired and this has been a long day. I have pilates tomorrow morning.

Thankful list

1. Today I am thankful for my body. I went to my pilates class and my strength has really increased especially in my upper body. I was able to move my arms and shoulders in ways that I still can't believe. I am not seeing the differences yet - but I feel them!
2. Today I am thankful for the thoughfulness of my partner. When I came home from my lessons, I flew into the house at 7:45 and changed in my pilates clothes and flew out to my class. When I arrived home an hour later, Heroes was on, the dishes were done and he made me sit down on the couch with the cat and he made my dinner for me.
3. Today I am thankful for the new position I have. Even though I don't want it. I would be happier staying where I am. However it gives me an opportunity to utilize my skills.
4. Today I am thankful for my financial resourcefulness. You all know that I have been saying that for sometime we have been barely eeking by or dealing with financial highs and lows from month to month as i am the only one working. Today, after some very serious thought and very serious consideration, I took a big step. It will take care of longterm and shortterm issues and enable us to secure a nice future and start 2009 off on the right foot. I will sleep better tonight for doing it. I was afraid that he would freak out and leverage it, but he didn't. He just looked at me in wonder and said "You are so much smarter than I am at this". That was enough for me.
5. Today I am thankful for passing the second trust test. Jon received an email from the whore today. She needed to speak to him either on the phone or in person. I am not comfortable with that. At all. However, I looked at it, reviewed it in my mind and realized that we hadn't heard from her for the better part of a month. She isn't coming after him for anything romantic, so whatever it is, can't be that big of a deal if she's willing to do it on the phone. Then I dismissed it from my mind. He picked up the phone around the time she gets home from work and called her. Right in front of me. I felt doubly better. He left her a message with her daughter and that was that. I dont' know if they talked or what about and it really doesn't matter all that much. It just illustrated to me that I am calming down, albeit slowly, about her. I have to laugh that my stomach tightens at the mere mention of her name and today was no exception. But I unknot it immediately now. BEcause it's not the big tangle of knots that it used to be. I feel like I'm growing.

A friend of mine wrote a terrific article about 5 ways to strengthen your marriage. I read it today. I was very pleased wtih the article. Not only is she a gifted writer, but this is a really well put together article and I read it very carefully. We are working on all those things.

I am definitely going through my own growth period now. So is Jon. The good news is we are growing together. I like that.

Namaste!

Last wishes, thankful things

Alex is dying.


He has had ALS ( Lou Gehrigs' disease) since 2001.


He is officially a morphine addict though at the end stage of ALS, they don't call it that. But- it is in fact what is technically happening.


I think about this every day. There is so little we can do every day. We make him comfortable. We take money and supplies to him and his health care workers. We have moved him into the main living area of his house and he is in a hospital bed at long last.


He needs to go to the hospital soon to have his feeding tube changed. For those of you who remember, that feeding tube is a crucial moment in my relationship with Jon.


Jon has been going in once a week to make sure that everything is going the way it should. He spends time with Alex which to me is the most important thing.


We watched Love Actually last night with Nessa and Bill. They hadn't seen it and it's a beautiful movie. However Jon cries almost every time at the Laura Linney story line. She is the caretaker for her brother and cannot see that she has sacrificed her life and happiness for the well being of her brother. It was seeing this with me a year ago that got Jon motivated to move out of full time care of his brother.


So last night, in the midst of a routine practical discussion about Alex and his care and needs for the change of feeding tube, he started to cry. He said "My brother is dying".

I just held his hand. There is nothing we can do to stop, slow down or reverse this. This is a death sentence for him. It's horrible and it sucks and I am sad to say, it is what it is at this point.


Please understand - I am compassionate to Alex. He's made mistakes - he's human - but he shouldn't pay for that with his life. I think he now is starting to realize just how much he took and how little he gave back. It makes me sad for him. But the cards are dealt now and there's nothing to do at this point but focus on the good things that are left.

Jon finally said to me what has been plaguing him for a year. He wanted it made clear - that if this cancer turns around and suddenly becomes terminal, I am not to let him suffer out like this. He wants to go and quickly. Please turn up the morphine drip, set up his headphones and IPOD and just hold his hand till he sleeps and is gone.


I gently laughed and said that I know, I'm familiar with your work.... He told me I actually wasn't because he was incapable of completing that task on his own when he was in the hospital in July.


"That wasn't your decision, I shut that down. I brought in the nurse who brought in the psychs. Do you understand why?" I asked


"Well no actually.... why did you?" he said


"Because you were CAPABLE of a full medical recovery. You were getting better. There was 95% chance of recovery. And I wasn't letting you go without a fight. HOWEVER. If you are terminal and there is no hope and this is what you want, as long as I am here to fight for you, and I have decision making capabilities, you will have what you want. " I said.


"Thank you - that's all I ask. I do not want to linger on and be a place holder in life - just let me go" He said.


You know what was interesting. I never thought this was something I could do. I have always believed that we are more humane to our animals than we are to our people. You wouldn't let your terminally ill dog or cat live a poor quality of life, correct? Why? because it's selfish and only serving YOUR purposes. So why would we do something like that to a person?


It will be possibly the most hideous and difficult decision and action to take, but I won't hold him on this earth if he is terminal and wants to go. I would ensure that there is no possibility of recovery but if lingering and being a burden is too much for him - than I feel that I could honor his wishes and not put him on life support.

Today we went to the city to see a play. I met him in the city because he is going to see Alex to drop off some things, fix the DVD player and move some things around.

The play was lovely and it was nice to walk through the city. We took the subway to Queens where he left his car when he went to see Alex. As we were driving home,he started to talk about Alex and his visit. Evidently he was more lucid today than most days. He made Alex laugh at something that I said regarding the Wizard of Oz the night before ( and no mean feat either - I'm not funny - ASK ANYONE!) but I gathered form our conversation in the car that the overall tone of the visit was not wonderful and full of warm familial feelings.

As Jon read me chapter and verse in a very calm way about some of the things that had gone on between them as adults in healthier times, I finally stopped him and told him about editing. Edit out the crap and focus on the good times. Because Alex won't be with us much longer and it doesn't pay to focus on the bad stuff, I felt it was necessary to try and turn the negatives here into something at the base that was Neutral if not positive.

We continued the conversation and by the time we got home I realized that he was in a better place for having talked it out. He just needed to say that bad stuff out loud. Get it off his chest so he could now focus on the good.

We are not anywhere near the end of this road but I can see it from here. It's only going to degrade as time goes on.

So having said all this - here's my 5 thankfuls for today:

1. I am thankful that my audition went well. My audition tonight was fairly good and I feel sorry for my poor director who has 3 qualified sopranos who were well prepped to do this piece. It's not a matter of who did the best audition now - it's a matter of what sound does he want.
2. I am thankful that things in my relationship are going better. I think we are both working harder and it shows in both of us. We are still having some minor issues but this too shall pass.
3. I am thankful that Alex has pain management at this stage of his life. I am heartbroken that we are at this point, and I am bonding with him through Jon in ways that never happened in healthier times. Alex and I share a love for "Family Guy" and though he cannot communicate with me other than email, we have forged a small bond over little things like that, the Wizard of Oz, some darkish humor, and music.
4. I am thankful for the lovely day,albeit cold, that enabled us to do some walking in NYC.
5. I am thankful for the lovely dinner and rehearsal we had tonight. Some big things happened here. We stopped at the store to pick up a few things for supper at his suggestion. When we got home, he made the most amazing Caesar salad and we had homemade Chicken soup. We went to our rehearsal where he bought us raffle tickets on his own. I was utterly surprised when he said that too. The rehearsal was lovely - we had a wonderful time - I had my audition then we came home.
   

Todays Thanks

I am really loving this new turn that my blog has taken. I want to tell you about some amazing things that have come of it after JUST TWO DAYS.

I am generally in a more positive frame of mind. I consider possibilites instead of failures. I am still suspicious but one doesn't give that up in 2 days after 40 years of being that way.

So because of the good and neat things that I am seeing come out of this, here's todays 5.

1. I am thankful for being able to not harbor on a mistake. Last night we had dinner plans with friends that we have never socialized with before. He had gone to the bar without me while I was teaching to book a gig. He left at 5;30 and was to be home by 7 so we could be at our destination by 7:30. At 7:30 I called him and got voice mail. At 7:40 I called again and he was "on his way". That meant he hadn't left yet. And while he was only 10 mins away that meant we would be a full 30 mins late to our destination and we were bringing dinner. When he got here, I was seething. He apologized profusely and took full ownership to both me AND our friends for the lateness. I made the MENTAL decision to NOT hold onto this. I was very proud of myself. That's normally difficult for me, and this time it wasn't. I am thankful that I was able to do that and that it wasn't all that difficult. Makes me hopeful for myself.
2. While I am thankful for my friends in general, I am thankful for these new friends.While I have known Nessa for a really long time and her mom, aunt etc. I feel a deeply special connection with her and her boyfriend. She is not only my massage therapist but I am proud to call her my friend. We can share things in ways I can't explain and she has managed to make my life so much better. I had the amazing priveldge of reading something she wrote that is important to her. It touched me in ways I cannot explain to you but it reinforced something I have known about her. She is the most spiritually enlightened young woman I know. She encourages and inspires. I am thankful to the universe for bringing us together.
3. I am thankful for the example that Nessa and Will showed me. Last night, I was shown the example of a healthy loving couple wiht values similar to ours. It was really lovely. It helped start to bridge a gap as well which for us is important.
4. I am thankful that in my first quest to trust more, I was succesful. Having him at the bar by himself last night after the fight we had 2 weeks ago was huge. I do trust him but given those recent events I was more unsure of myself than of him. When I really dug deep on that, I reaklized that the problem is largely mine. So I tested myself and I won't tell you that I didn't have enormous moments of doubt throughout the day BUT I shut my mouth and it turned out just fine.
5. I am thankful that I was able to assist a neighbor today. She is petrified of mice and to protect she and her family she wanted to get a cat. She doesn't know anything about cats.So I assisted her with information and places to rescue an animal so she could do some good for an animal in addition to protecting her household.

I had an amazing night last night. It was a real eye opener for both of us. Many good things for me and for Jon.

Plans and my five things

Today's five things that I am thankful for are:

1. I am good enough at my job that I am in higher demand than I thought. As of yesterday I have a new position in my company in my primary area of expertise. On the one hand I am not happy about moving managers as I like mine overall. I would rather stay with a good boss than move in my area of expertise to an unknown. It sounds crazy but good leadership is hard to come by. But I am thankful to know that I am that valued that they really made my current boss angry by taking her number 1 and her number 2 away from her.
2. I am Thankful for my ability to recognize my faults and work on me. I am using this blog to help be a better "me" now. I can't change Jon, but I can change me. SoI am looking at the things in me that could be stronger and better and working on those. I am going to keep trying to improve the strengths I have as well.
3. I am Thankful for the challenges that I have been given. These challenges in all forms make me a stronger person. One of my tasks is to try and be more trusting and I think that tonight is going to be an exercise for that. I am looking for the strength within me that I can handle this gracefully.
4. I am Thankful for the fact that I am struggling with this list! It makes me human!!!! This is really hard - I was too generic and broad yesterday so not repeating is really hard.
5. I am Thankful that Jon is here with me though we are having still some difficulty.

This was the hardest day - I'm sure that this will get easier as time goes on but wow - I can't tell you how I struggled to not repeat myself and I'm not at all confident that I did that well.... But it's my exercise and my blog dammit so there!

The bottom line - I am really trying to do work on me and myself to be a far more enlightened and spiritual person.

If I do that - it will matter less what others think. I spend a lot of time protecting the things I have worked so hard for and worrying about everyone else and their needs. I joke with Jon pretty regularly that it's all about him and rarely about me. That's true for about 65% of the time. I just don't usually see that 35 % is in fact, about me. Just because, at times, it feels like I love him more than he loves me doesn't mean that he doesn't love me.

So one BIG thing at time. I'm working on trust. THe funny thing is, I figured what "event" made him the way he is. I just don't know what "event" made me the way I am. Isn't that weird?

Oprah

I am not an Oprah fan.

I am not a Martha Stewart fan either - and I actually have personal access to her.

However, my mom, meaning well, subscribed me to the Oprah magazine.

I am stupidly behind in my periodical reading given how busy life has become in 2008. So in my travels, I always bring one with me to read so I can catch up.

I took one to the beach with me the other day when walking. I tend to do the full boardwalk and then sit on one of the many benches and watch the ocean and the folks around while reading and listening to my ipod.

I read a fascinating article on love and the universe. It told the story of a woman who was advised by her psychic to write down a list of qualities she wanted in a partner "right down to the color of his socks" and put it away. The universe would deliver him to her. According to the story - it did.

Nice story - very oprah-esque - but I wasn't buying it.

So when my massage therapist gave ME the same advice I looked at her and laughed. She then proceeded to tell me how she went through a rough period - really rough - until she met her current partner. Whom she is madly in love with and he with her. They are an amazing couple too. I worship them because not only are they amazing people but they inspire others. Just by being themselves.

After that last huge fight, I went to teach her a voice lesson and being so in tune with me - she immediately asked me what was wrong.

We talked for awhile and after imparting that advice, I went home and did just that. I made my list. And with only one or two minor exceptions, that man is sitting in my home. He's just not ready. The universe delivered me a half baked cake. Maybe I'm so supposed to finish off the recipe.... tee hee.....

Anyway - the bottom line is when you step back and discover that the problem isn't yours, but you are involved due to proximity, the only thing you can do is work on yourself. You can't solve another's mid life crisis, or growth period. Which is more or less what this is.

So - I started doing just that. And I noticed a big change - in him and in us. Good ones.

We aren't all the way there but in 4 short days, he started working out again, he started making calls to his doctors to set up appointments, he is cooking again, we went out to a movie and had a drink in public, we are going to a play in the city this weekend ( the most affordable theater in NYC I might add - 18 dollars a ticket) and we started making some music together.

What did I do? I know you are dying to ask. For one thing, I stopped all discussions of money unless he initiated it. Temporarily. Just give him some time to get his head together. I did the food shopping so he didn't worry about how much money food was.

I went to my Pilates class. I am planning to do at least one more day per week starting next week. We started clearing and organizing the music room and he made some contacts with his old land lady to get our dining room table out of storage so we can get rid of mine ( its 20 years old and VERY Unstable).

I made a new deal with myself too. That each day I am going to write down 5 things that I am thankful for. Right here. For all of you to see. If I commit to doing this here, I will at least make an effort.

Sounds Oprah-esque doesn't it? Well it is. I got an anniversary mini book in one of the magazines called "What I know for sure". IN it she rights all kinds of neat gems with stories.

This one - called - "Be Thankful" is very ironic as it's November and very timely for Thanksgiving. She talks of her meltdown on the phone with Maya Angelou. And All Maya said to her was "Say Thank you". She was shocked into silence and asked why. Because by being thankful you are accepting the gifts you have and being grateful for the opportunity to receive. Thus making you able to receive even more. And I think we can all agree - Oprah's life has been bountiful and she has been sharing that bounty for years.

So in keeping with that, here are my five things from today:

1. I am thankful today that I have a roof over my head and healthy food to eat
2. I am thankful for all my friends and family.
3. I am thankful that the man that I love is getting better.
4. I am thankful that our country is getting a fresh start. Now let's see what he does with it.
5. I am thankful that I have a job - two - and that I am able to provide for my family.

There won't be any repeats for awhile. I am going to try and keep my word on that.

You know what's kind of funny about this exercise, is that I do something similar with my students. I have noticed that no matter what kind of family I teach in, I have kids with self esteem issues. I don't know what that's about to be honest, but given my own, if I can help a child release that burden I try. So what I do with them at each lesson is I tell them things about them that I like that are not necessarily music related and part of the general conversation. Then at the end of the lesson I make them tell me two things about them that I like that are NON MUSIC related and then two things that they think they could improve on. Then I let them do that to me. It's worked wonders on one kid who has a manipulative and lying streak in her.

Another thing that I do is that when we fight or we have things like this happen that don't really involve me but I am involved in due to proximity, I go to work on something that I am doing FOR HIM. Like his fundraiser that he doesn't yet know about. Like the Christmas party that I arranged to have so many of our friends at so we can be there for his first performance and his birthday. Like his Christmas gifts. All those things. I feel better for doing those things and refocuses my energies of anger elsewhere.

Oprah's show may drive me crazy - I do like her as an actress - but her magazine has some really good stuff in it. I'm not sorry I get that magazine now. It does have some good points.

She's not quite my hero but she does have some wisdom to impart.

Date night

I have to say it - the Optimum Triple play is the best thing on earth,

The service is good and fairly consistent.

It's the perks I really love.

Free Movie Tuesdays at Clearview Theaters. What could be better.

So we got very little done today - I taught a lesson and he prepped our meatloaf dinner.

I drew him an herbal bath as he tried running for the first time - and he was not a happy boy at the end of that - and he ran at my beach. Yes - MY BEACH :-)

When he came out, I was already dressed and ready to go - we drove up to Roslyn and saw the Secret lives of Bees. AMAZING. I loved this movie. The cast was incredible and the story, well, is famous so- all the makings of an amazing film.

Lovely theater - small enough to qualify as a "screening room".

Afterwards we walked next door to the restaurant that he used to play in before he got sick. We were hoping to do a little bit of networking over a drink. No such luck, no one we knew was working that night. But a lovely restaurant. Really beautiful.

We drove home, and put our meatloaf in the oven along with sweet potato fries and french cut string beans. Had a glass of merlot each and watched the new episode of Law and Order SVU.

This is the first major rebound since the big showdown a few weeks ago. What's starting to come out is how he needs to start contributing to the household for his own self worth and he won't have pics taken because of his teeth. I understand both completely.

What steps I have taken for me? I am adding two more days of pilates. I am also doing another cleanse. I started weeding out my closets AGAIN.

So things look "better". I am unbelievably prone to over reaction. And being collassolly unsure of myself - at most turns - doesn't help.

I am also prepping myself to audition for another Mozart solo this weekend and I have a gig booked on 12/5. We have a Christmas Party on 12.20, a concert and JOn's birthday on 12/12 and 12/13, and a secret "do" for him on 12/27.

I'm planning to revamp this blog. While it's been a huge help for unburdening myself over the past 11 months, I think it's gotten to be a bit of a downer - even for me to write. Bear with me as I work through this folks - I am not sure about what turn I am going to take yet.

Can love prevail?

"Aren't you tired yet? "The devil sitting on one shoulder asked me in the car this afternoon on my way home from food shopping.

"Tired? " Me - the monkey in the middle asked.

"Tired ? " Echoed the angel on the other shoulder.

Sighing, the devil on my shoulder put her hands on her hips and looked disgustedly at me while we are now stopped at a traffic light.

"Yeah, Tired. YOU KNOW. (yawning) TIRED?????"

"Umm. well. I got plenty of sleep last night and haven't done all that much today, so, I'm not sure what you are getting at. " Monkey in the middle replies.

At that moment the angel on the other shoulder, incensed in Stewie -like - fashion a la Family Guy, Looks at the devil and says:

"OF COURSE She isn't TIRED. Now you listen here WOMAN! Stop stirring up TROUBLE! WE ARE FINE!"

"UMmm, 'WE'??? MOnkey inquires.

"YES WE." says Stewie-angel, glaring at devil.

"OK -but by fine, you mean, NOT physically tired - right? Monkey inquires

"Of Course, why what did YOU think I meant?" Devil grins serenely at Monkey and stewie.

"I wasn't really sure because while I am not physically tired, I am feeling rather emotionally and psychologically exhausted at the moment.... but if that's not what you meant then we're all good here. " Monkey says - innocently.

"well - that DOES qualify - don't you think???" Devil suggests looking slyly at Stewie

"NOW YOU JUST STOP THAT INSTANTLY!!! LOOK AT THE TROUBLE YOU ARE CAUSING!!!! Stewie shrieks at the devil - with some stamping of feet,

"Now now - this may not be the time for a temper tantrum, Stewie. I am just trying to help Monkey here decide if she is tired, and why" Devil serenely smiles annoyingly again.

" That is not AT ALL what you are doing and YOU KNOW IT" Stewie raises the voice again.

"Folks, if I may jump in here, since this is all in MY head and MY argument, and it's all about, well, ME - I would like to verbalize this particular inner monologue:

You see - I AM TIRED. No not physically. I go between restless nightmare ridden sleep and too much sleep or drug induced sleep from the sleeping pills ( a rarity to be sure). I don't think sleep is the problem. My exhaustion comes from everything else. The job that I used to love that is claiming me as one of the many who are burnt out. The second job that I love which has started to become problematic as I don't feel like I have anything left to give these kids. I feel empty inside. I live with someone who on the one hand resents me for all that I do and on the other loves me for all the same things that I do.

Is love enough to make it? RIght now we are having problems. I think we can get through it but frankly this is usually the point where I make a break for it. WHen the going gets THIS tough - I'm out. So you see the cut and run option - that's you devil my dear. THe stay and work it out and fight for that love - that's Stewie Angel.

And I don't know which of you will win - yet.

But I want to pin my hopes on love. I just hope it's enough to win this battle.

Depression should kill not maim - people would protect from it and fight it a lot more actively.

Fighting about money

First - Don't do it.

Second - Don't do it while under the influence of anything

Third - Don't do it.

Now that we've gotten THAT ot of the way, allow me to unravel the events that ledup to this argument.

I should warn you - objects may not be as close as they appear in this one. Reading between the lines and using your third eye and ear are really key in this.

I'm not going to belabor this post with each syllabel, just know that this argument started out about our relationship and it's status. However, with no leg to stand on and no options there, I was able, with help, to read between the lines.

I think, for me, what REALLY made me confident on the problem - was the minute he told me that I hold the money that I make versus what he isn't contributing to the household over his head every minute of every day.

So - any one who knows me 5 minutes or more knows that's not only not true, but even if I was so inclined - I wouldn't becuase the reality is ... he CANNOT work. Would we be doing better right now if he was - certainly. But We are doing OK. Not great, but we are doing OK for now.

I should mention in the absence of anything truly incriminating - he manufactured an affair that I was having with a friend of mine. I was incensed on this point as well. I may be a lot of things but one of them is not a Cheater. Just isn't me. Duplicity ? nope. Can't do it. Hell Ican't even keep the secret on surprise gifts. Don't tell me - I can't do it!!!

So I was angry and really really hurt.

I did not realize just how badly he was depressed about this. I had no clue the roots had made their home this deep. HE threatened to move out and I told him if he felt that was the solution than that was OK with me. The consequence to that action however is we are through. I have 9 years invested in this and I am not going backwards.

The next day we kind of stayed out of each others way. He went to his sisters and spent the entire day there.

I went, as it turned out, to brunch with my girlfriends. That turned out to be good and bad. I wasn't really interested in talking about this with anyone since I couldn't process all the things that happened. I mentioned some generics. YOu know - we had a fight and it was pretty bad. And yes it's the second one this week. Yes, he saw his brother twice this week which aggravates his depression anyway. One of my good friends calmly said "Well, it has to be difficult for him. He has cancer, his brother whom he took care of for 5 years is dying and nothing he can do will change that, he has chemo related neuropathy, he still has no teeth, he lives in your home, he doesn't work - other than you - what does he have? " She also mentioned that if her husband was going through all this. he would have killed himself already.

Duh.

In trying to be brief here, I will tell you that this conversation was not all at brunch. Some was on the phone while she was on her way home later in the day.

I went to teach a lesson to my massage therapist. She heard this story with more of the details. She said "I'm sorry you are in the middle of this. He's going through a growth period and he's not handling it well. Most men don't". I asked her to expand on this.

She basically said that the depression he was feeling for not contributing and being sick, and needing me and needing to rely on another human being BEFORE He was truly ready to is making him a little nuts. He had a meltdown and blamed me. She made some good and salient points about how he needs to be around more healthy couples and that he's a social person who's not leaving hte house and spending all day and all night with me

And it's not my fault.

And these two wise women are completely right.

After that, I went home and really thought about things. I took out the Unitarian medallian that I boughthim for his birthday - something that he really wanted and was looking for. I put it in a tiffany box and left it under the remote in hte living room ( knowing he would see it right away LOL). He came home from his sisters.

He walked into the bedroom. I was lying on the bed in dark red satin lounge pants, a silk dark red velvet plaid top and my hair was loose and I was in my glasses reading.

He paused in the doorway, looked at me silently. I looked up and he smiled. He told me about his sister's new home and the game they watched. He went to the living room, came back with the box in his hand and said " I do not deserve this - where did you find it?" We just looked at each other for one long moment. He broke off the look and said that he wanted to take me to a special restaurant one of these days. This is huge by the way, he takes dates there, wives, girlfriends and NO ONE ELSE. And he's picky about who he shares this with. So I am feeling that he's moved past the relationship thing a little bit.

We talked about where I found the medallion. He told me he was going to watch some TV and to go back to sleep.

Monday morning came and things were in a quiet truce. I spoke to my best friend finally and she basically told me how he mentionef this to her and I hit the roof. She decided in that instant that he was crossing and blurring lines of reasonability wiht her and that he was no longer allowed to discuss these things wiht her.

It's now Wednesday night. He spent the day in bed. Sleeping - not feeling so great. He's a bit withdrawn and quiet, but not anything that's overly worrisome yet.

I don't know what this outcome will be. We shall see if we can move past it. He needs to relax a bit and I am just trying to be sensitive to his internal situations.