Happy Anniversary to me!

So one year ago today my group was called into a conference room and told that we would not have jobs, that we needed to pack up and be out within an hour, that we would not be receiving our contracted pay. WOW!

I've not known a year to fly by so fast. It is so long ago, I almost don't remember what life was like getting on the subway every weekday morning. Missing the warm summer afternoons in the park, missing the snow days with sledding. Yet, it seems like yesterday and I'm still at the very beginning of this adventure I've started.

Today I lifted 1.1 tons, 2,2187 lbs, literally! and it felt good! It was my second run of Norman, all 91 boxes were lifted by me and distributed to all the hiding places I found around the apartment (OK "hiding" might be too strong of a word, but places where they wouldn't stop our general movements).

This week I completed my 5th trade show, representing the product, and had our greatest success to date - Norman will soon be appearing in the National Zoo in Washington DC, as well as in the Ohio Caverns! I finally meet with a book keeper who's going to help me organize it all. I'm meeting with girlfriends tonight. And I made ham and cheese crepes with the boys this morning.

I am consulting, running a business, and frankly happy. I wish there was more time for working, working out, cooking, eating and sleeping. I wish it was summer all the time. But you know what... one year later... I am making it happen and having fun!

A year ago, I was even in a very different place as a mother. The Little Man had only been with us for a few months, and I thought I was losing my mind. Adoption transition was not easy. I was still thinking I had made a mistake. But now, I have two loving boys that both have their moments, but are making me a stronger person every day.

My first goal was to launch the businesses. My goals for the next year are huge, but again I feel like they are possible. I face challenges and fears daily. There are days that are hard to get out of bed (well, there were last month). And how I push through not only amazes me, but inspires me to keep going.

And do I miss it? Wall Street, being a desk job, or even the work.... NO!!! I've got such more exciting and interesting things to think about, work on, move that I can't wait to see what this next year brings. What a difference a year makes. What an opportunity was handed to me by my old Wall Street employer. yeah, I'll have more than one cocktail tonight.

Rambling thoughts

Or maybe more apt, learning about myself.

Tonight I'm in a hotel, sorry, no a motel, room in the South. I can see light around the frame of the door, and hear the freeway louder then when I was driving (because of course the car doors seal when closed). I'm on the second floor, with a deadbolt lock and a chain. Its a Best Western. And it kind of suits me.

I haven't staid in budget hotels since I was a kid. When I was a kid we traveled via car everywhere and often with a trailer. I liked the trailer. But sometimes we stayed in a motel and "snuck" the dog in.

It's funny, but I kind of like the freedom. I don't have to keep it clean. I don't have to answer to my hubby or kids. And the internet access is free so I'm writing a bit and catching up on emails. If hubby was here, he'd be complaining about the mildew smell, the traffic volume and the lack of room service. He would not be able to sleep, he'd work up an asthma attack from anxiety and blame it on the mildew. I love him, but staying here without him is good.

They have a free breakfast of cold cereal and tea/coffee, that I quite like. Hubby would hate it. I think the boys would love it as you have to turn a crank for the cereal to come out. I think the boys would never know it was a dump, but view it as an adventure. Frankly, I don't think they care where we are as long as we are together (lesson about 100,000 that they are teaching me).

Today was day two of a trade show where I am selling Normans. It was a good day! Norman will be selling in zoos in Buffalo NY, North Carolina, and one in Virginia among other gift shops in the south east that are buying. It thrills me, but the real icing on the cake is that they are buying the books too! Yes, check out www.phartephant.com, the book is now available. The zoos are loving the story. And eventually I will get photos of the book up on the site. I'd been waiting, as I was sold out of Normans, but I got the call today and the shipment is scheduled for Wednesday, so I'm back in supply. YEAH!

I went to a Wal Mart for the very first time. Yes, I'm over 40 and this was my first visit. First of all it was huge! Second of all, the shopping carts were huge! Third, I was the only on buying yogurt and tangerines. (My room has a fridge the size of a shoe box - I LOVE it!); implying the other shoppers were, well, huge. I was shocked by the number of choices for everything. An entire isle of cereal, which by itself was the size of the typical crunched-for-space grocery to which I go. But the box sizes were all family size, which I just couldn't justify for only me. (LOVE the free breakfast here at the Best Western!)

But as I walked the store, like a deer caught in headlights unable to look away and run to the door, I was amazed by the quality of the stuff. Yeah the prices are low, but the product is going to fall apart quickly. Mind you I had to check out the toy section due to Norman. They had plush toys without sound for $1-19 each. They had plushes that had electronics for $35. But all was lesser quality than my Norman ($25). No worries, you will not be finding Norman at Wal Mart or any other major chain in the near term! Also, no wine, the Wal Mart (and me) are in a dry county! I didn't even know these existed outside of Utah.

I did buy the boys matching hunting ski masks of bright orange for $3/each. Hubby will be horrified, but I think its a bit hilarious, and I think the boys will LOVE them, further horrifying hubby, which further makes them glorious.

But walking through Wal Mart, you see a slice of America that might not be good. We are so fixated on having "things" that we buy crap in bulk. It would be better to buy a better made product, but less of them, at a higher price, in my mind, than buying stuff that falls apart, in reality 'wasting' those few dollars spent. And let's not start talking about health care. let's just say I'm a fan of health care, not illness therapy.

Oh, more shocking news, for this trip I'm driving. Yeah, I do have a drivers license. I just haven't had a car for almost 20 years now! So honestly, I'm not a great driver. But hey, I'm in the South, I fit in! Catch this... I'm driving a PT Cruiser! Isn't that awesome!

I'm enjoying driving the 2.8 miles from my motel to the trade show. Again showing my NYer side, in NYC there are limited restaurant chains, between my hotel and the site there are like 30 chain restaurants. From the Pancake house, to Shones, to Taco Bell, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday, Outback Steakhouse, and more. There is also a museum of muscle cars, a go cart track, put-put golf, and the "Evil Kenevil Harley Davidson". I LOVE it. I did walk over to the Outback for dinner. It was kind of clear by how people gasped when they saw me, most people don't choose to walk. But the chicken wings were totally worth the walk!

So I may be a NYer, I may LOVE living in NYC, but can I have fun here where everyone has accents and a shocking number of people are missing teeth... YES! I miss the kids, but if I do this show next year, I am definitely bringing them to this amazing piece of hillbilly heaven and showing them that mommy does drive!

Could I be a Type A mom?

I really have never thought of myself as a type A mom. There are so many things I really am not very good at.... the whole patience thing for one, dealing with an abundance of snot (the preschool teachers have already noted that my kids know how to blow their own noses, and cleanly), and don't get me started on potty training (I figure they'll figure it out before college).

But this week is teaching me a bit about myself. After a slight cold last week, which always pushes me down emotionally and slightly behind professionally, this week is frightening. I feel good. I have two consulting gigs - YEAH! I'm sold out of Normans and just yelled at my manufacturer as they are now 4 weeks late; supposedly they docked in New Jersey today, but if you know anything about New Yorkers, we believe New Jersey is as far as the North Pole. I have a few, but I can't make my wholesale orders! But, this is actually a good problem to have.
I'm leaving for a trade show on Thursday; this is a good one, in the Smokey mountains, in the hills of Kentucky - I'm actually renting a car and driving 2 hours from the closest airport. This show caters to; museums, zoos, aquariums, and "caves". Love the caves, I so hope I get a cave buyer just so I can say Norman is selling at "caves"!

The hubby is directing a play Saturday night, which means he's had rehearsals for the last two weeks and all this week in the evenings which lets me have the boys to myself (also read, get the kids on schedule with no major interruptions).

The sitter went to visit her mom for a week. Her mom is not well, so this is an important trip. However, after the scare last week, I think it is really important for her to reconnect with family.

The Little Man is now going to preschool from 9 am to noon five days a week and then six 45 minute therapy sessions in the afternoons on top of preschool - I must say, he's doing well and LOVING therapy! The Big Boy is in school from 8:45 to 2:30 pm. No extra curriculum activities.

So when I noticed there was a birthday party for the Big boy to attend on the east side of town (we live on the west, and frankly it is easier to get uptown or downtown than over to the east side), I started juggling to see how we could make it all happen. I mentioned to one of the other sitters, if she took the Little Man to play with her youngest charge, I could take the two older boys to the party. She informed me that while the party was for a kid in the class, neither of the boys actually played with the little girl much and it is a pain to get to the east side and back, we should just skip the party.

WOW. What a great and simple solution! And really he goes to like 50 parties a year. Have I really become a Type A parent? It is always good to be reminded that being invited doesn't mean you HAVE to attend. I have to go now, I'm going to write a thank you note to the mom who I don't know to thank her for inviting us to the party of her child whom I don't know, and that I would love to have a play date sometime and get to know them, but the party just didn't work out for us this time!

Oh, I have to find time to post on Halloween at some point. It was really fun this year. And one of the Big boys preschool teachers, a man, dressed as the King of Ferries - It works on so many levels for the NY crowd!