Gone...But Not Forgotten!

Hello my readers!

I've been gone for a while, but I haven't forgotten about you.

I thought many of days to write a post, in the hopes it would relieve some stress.  But I just couldn't squeeze it in.

A lot has happened since last post - my school, kids back to school, travel, new business ventures.....

So much to talk about.

Stay tuned!  It will all be COMING SOON!

Chart Toppers

I’m no Casey Kasem…

But, I can give you some chart toppers too!

So, I’ve been talking a bit in my previous blogs about my life in the fast lane, and how everything manages to collide on occasion when there is too many things on my plate going on at the same time.

But, during that dreaded week I suffered a massive migraine episode, I’ve heard a few suggestions on some “To Do’s”.  And I figured I could make into my Top 5 remedies for migraines.

I also talked about my most frustrating relaxation all in one.  I asked some people if they had any, and I had a couple of responses that I will share, as promised.

Drum roll please….

Top 5 Migraine Remedies (in no particular order)

1.     Warm compress on neck and shoulders

2.    Drink cup of black coffee

     3.    Vinegar soaked paper towel on forehead

4.    Take Echinacea

5.    Take Magnesium and B12

So there you have it!  So far, I’ve been taking the stuff in my purse…generic migraine aspirin (since they took my Excedrin off the market L), Motrin 800, Fioricet, or last but not least – the fire shot, Imitrex.

But I think I’m going to try and refrain from these substances and try some of the more natural remedies suggested to me.  First orders of business…control the stress enough to open up to the new remedies.  I’m working on that!

Now, I shared my most Frustrating Relaxation, which is decorating cakes.  I love the creativeness of it, the lavish outcomes, but when I’m asked to make one and come up with my own idea, here comes the frustration of worrying whether they will like it, or if it’s too much, or not enough….

My husband says, “I can’t believe you let something you LIKE stress you out”.

Me either.

I didn’t get many takers in this response, but for what I did get…

(Keep in mind, no one seems to be combining their feelings into one, like me)

Frustrations:

·         School

·         Not doing good on something

Relaxations:

·         The beach

·         On a boat

·         Getting a message

Well, this is it for now. Please keep in touch and all comments are welcomed!

Signed:

Terri’s Life in the Fast Lane

Blank Canvas – Relax, Relate, Release!

An Artist and a blank canvas – how their creativity spills out…

I have been blogging for the past 8 weeks on me and the many lanes I travel in my life.  Let’s make this a stop sign for me to reflect, or in the voice of Jasmine Guy from the old Bill Cosby sitcom, ‘A Different World’ ----- Relax, Relate, Release!

Sometimes the road I travel feels more like a roller coaster ride and I can’t get off.  But one thing that kept my eyes on the road was my weekly blog where I reflected on one thing I’ve either done, experienced, thought of, or need to think of in that week. 

I may have to add Blogger to my list of trades.

Well, I am reaching the end of my spring semester for my master’s degree.  One more semester to go and I will officially have a Masters of Business Administration. Yippee!  It has been a stretch and I have stretched myself – not my muscles, those are still tight from all the tension. 

My husband and kids have been a bit more understanding in giving me more time for my school work (I didn’t threatened them, I just asked J - that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). 

I know it’s been hard.  They’re really going to feel shafted because I’ll be taking two classes over the summer.  But I’m on a mission and they’ll have to deal! Oh, sorry, was sounding mean there.

I need to back track for all my avid readers…I teased you with how wonderful my kids are, but I didn’t elaborate like I said I was.

So, we’ll start with the youngest – they always go first.

My 12-year old daughter, artist, pianist, and guitarist is so Blessed and gifted and that makes me so proud. They say artistic people seem to be withdrawn because they have so much going on inside. That would explain why she stays in her room with her headphones on listening to the dark, emotional music that I have to monitor.  Maybe she’s just going through her pre-teen change.  I recall how I didn’t want to be bothered with any of my family members at that age. 

But at such an early age, she draws with such detail and depth it is unbelievable.  Her drawings will be from something or someplace she may have seen and she will draw every single detail of what she seen down to a piece of paper blowing by and the bird dipping into the trees.  It’s like a snapshot in her head.  I really need to get her into some art classes that will help her take her talent to another level.

The drawing amazes me, but her piano playing blows me away. She begged for a piano starting at the age of 5 – of course at that age, I hesitated for a long time.  But she begged and begged.  When she turned 6, I brought her an electric keyboard.  She played with it a bit and started making up tunes.  And the shocking part is she would actually remember the tune days and weeks later.  A couple years later, she would play some of the pre-programmed songs, mostly classical, and then would mimic the songs from hearing them. AMAZING!  I just wish she would embrace her talent – to her it’s like no big deal, it wasn’t that hard.

Which brings me to her next passion….along with the piano, she wanted to start playing the guitar.  Sent her to lessons once a week and after a couple of weeks, they stopped teaching her from the book because she was reading the music like it was regular language, so her teacher had her bring CD’s of music she likes, they will write out a few measures and now she plays from hearing the music and reading a couple of bars.  Again, AMAZING! 

She is truly an angel.  When she does come out her room, she is so loveable and helpful without me even asking.  Hmm, maybe she’s listening to the right music!  I’m still checking!

My 15-year old son, philanthropist, writer, saxophone-playing-old-soul who wants to have multiple careers in Screen writer, Design Engineer, and Meteorologist…I think he’s finding more things he likes as he goes on.  He is either following in my foot steps by having so many trades or his curiosity is all over the universe.  Which would explain why we both walk around having this over tired, over worked, overwhelmed look because like myself, he is a full-time student, with a part-time job, is on student counsel, is the President of his Keystone club, is in the marching band (for those who know how demanding that can be), plays soccer, participates in the Go Green club at school (your mouth would drop with all the water bottles he saves at home), and he still manages to do like 100 hours of community service every year.

He is also a world traveler at this point.  He’s traveled to London, England via an invitation to his high school band by the Queen of England to play in their New Year’s parade.  A great opportunity and week long experience.  He will be leaving for Germany in a few weeks for a two week long escapade with his German class.  Which brings me to his next trade... he’s able to hold a fluent conversation in German.  He also speaks Mandarin and is plotting to travel to China.  I don’t even have a passport, and his will be full before you know it.

Now to elaborate more on his career passions…he is a storm watcher (can’t really call him a chaser because he don’t drive – although he has gotten on his bike as if he was going to chase a storm).   He watches the weather channel like kids watch cartoons.  And he is the family’s personal weather advisor.  I even have to make sure he’s not standing outside during lightening.

Then there is his other passion to be a Design Engineer.  This is what attracts him to roller coasters.  He’s all in to the velocity, mph, the suspension, etc. – can give you the history on almost every roller coaster as far as when it was built, how, etc.

The last spectacular thing about my youngest son is his passion for writing.  He also wants to be a screen writer.  He’s already written a few scripts and is urging to get them published.  I guess I’ll have to find time to help him out with this.  This reminds me of one of his other hats, being the Editor in Chief on the newspaper staff at school.  He wears me out talking about him.

My scholar!  Always striving to do and be the best.  He is really going places – not just the expensive trips across the world, but actually going places in life!

This is my lengthiest blog, but these passionate words don’t even seem like I’m saying enough about my children – my blessing.

There is one more child…

My oldest, 22-year old son, who just became a truck driver and is traveling from state to state.  The one who gave me a run for my money, had me worried as to the road he will be taking and when in the world was he going to be getting on that road.  He wasn’t the band player.  Nor was he the athlete.  Actually, he just showed up for school, did what he had to do and graduated.  He did have a passion for game design from his hypnotic passion of playing video games.  And he was very technical with the ability to take a computer apart and put it back together.  So he dabbled in going to a technical school for game design, but why in the world would you have to take English and Math!  So that was a short road trip in that path.

After a few trial and errors, and realizing that KFC cannot get you a new car and all the video games you want he decided to pursue truck driving, because it was very lucrative.  With nothing to hold him back, this was his prime opportunity.  He’s been driving for almost 6 months on the road now and you would think he got an A in geography the way he can tell you cities, states, highways and interstates like it’s his childhood neighborhood.  All he can see is dollar signs.  I just want him to enjoy it while he can – and the most important info from his mother…save your money while you can before you get tired of being over the road this much.

Yet, he is my first born – the first to drive me crazy and try my patience – and the first to leave the nest.  So, I am very proud of his accomplishments and dedication to being all he can be. 

This is my blank canvas and I’ve opened up and let my words splash on the page.

This is the end of my 8 week trial of writing a blog, and I actually think I may keep it up.  So stay tuned and I hope you enjoyed my post.

Let me know if you want to hear more or if you need any how to tips.  I also know a little about carpentry! 

Almost forgot....I have a Bonus Blog coming up later this week!  Please check back.

Thank you for your support, and please comment!

Most Frustrating Relaxation

Well, of course I’m busy, but I don’t know how to say no to people a HUGE majority of the time (until my back is against a wall). The one thing I have a hard time saying no to – is making cakes.  Even when my schedule is booked to the last hour of the day, I manage to squeeze in a request.

I love making cakes, but I frustrate myself when designing and decorating due to my urge for perfection.  Even with all the oohs and aaws, I can see the flaws.  Stressing myself out through the whole process to be sure it is exactly what people ask for.  And it doesn’t help when people say, “whatever you come up with”, or “just do you, I trust you”.  Talk about pressure!

Part of my passion comes from when I was younger and with having six siblings, my mother would make our birthday cakes to mimic whatever our fad or favorite thing was at the time. Especially since our birthdays began in October and ended in January, with the exception of my youngest sister in June (just had to get the attention to herself).  That was six birthdays in four months, around all the holidays, so this was the way she made it special.  She would make special character cakes similar to the ones I first began doing for my kids.  My favorite cake she made me was a grand piano.  Yes, 3D, white grand piano – Beautiful!  I will never forget it!

My first character cake I made was for my oldest son, and it was no trophy cake, but it was a HUGE Power Ranger (good thing I don’t have a scanned copy of it), but I was so proud of it. 

Then my sister and I began experimenting on our own, making for family, then friends, then it started escalating to friends of family and then their friends.  Although we may complain sometimes and see who’s going to do which order, we love the end results, patting ourselves on the back.  It’s just a fulfilling sense of accomplishment that seems all worth the straining thought process and perfection anxieties. 

We created business cards for Sweet T’s Specialty Cakes (both our names begin with the letter T). And people constantly tell us we should go into business, but if they only knew what we put ourselves through to get those ending moments of pride in our work.  And since we both work full time jobs with families, for now, this will just be a hobby of ours…the most Frustrating Relaxation ever!

Do me a favor...comment below on what frustrates you the most and what relaxes you the most.  I may be the only one who can combine these two opposites!

Super____

Ok, on a serious note….Supermom, Superwoman, what does this title hold?

Every mother now a days and days before are Supermom’s and Superwomen. 

It has always been the woman’s job to keep things organized at home, tend to the kids, pacify the husband, and in this century – help bring home the bacon.  So, who is not a Supermom?

Don’t say it! 

I know some of you may want to say, I know some lazy @!@# women, but are they really? I mean, yeah they may doll themselves up before the kids, or shop before paying bills…but those are our single moms who do what they can with what they have,  and then they feel they have to reward themselves, so their priorities may be a little distorted.   But that will either break them or make them stronger – most are the latter.

The question is…what is a Superman?

Where are the Supermen?  And have they earned that title because of their strong partner, the Superwoman?  Like Batman worked with Robin, and the Bionic Man worked with the Bionic Woman, and don’t forget the Wonder Twins.

Yet, you hear more about women, whether single or in a relationship, who have to wear more than one hat are Supermoms and Superwomen.  We are the rib from man that created Eve from Adam.  We are the Nurturer.  We are the backbone that keeps the family together, no matter how hard times are.

But a man and woman together can withstand more than imaginable!

My Best Friend, My Battle Partner, My Hubby

Teen Saga

So, juggling work, school, and family is a feat in itself.  Why do people constantly say to me, “at least your kids are older.”  I beg to differ! 

I think I had it easier when they were smaller and I would pop in their favorite DVD with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or crackers and capri-suns and the amount of time I actually had to accomplish some things.

I complained about every other hour someone needing help in the bathroom, needing a snack refill, or put in another DVD…

Try taking two master classes in one semester, working late at work because I’m up until 1 am finishing work causing me to go in to work at the 9^th hour and then…

…a middle school and high school teen are having as busy of a schedule as I do.  And who is driving them to guitar lessons, piano lessons, soccer games, part-time job, Keystone meetings, recitals, band competitions, afterschool events, and don’t forget the plans they’ve made with their friends and I agreed thinking I’ll be home alone. 

But that doesn’t work if I’m dropping off one at one time, come home to work on school work and before I get into the work, I’m dropping off the other and picking the other one up!!!

Good thing I have a lot of hair or my stress would definitely show due to the volume of hair that comes out everyday!

 It’s a bird!... It’s a plane!... 

It’s a MIGRAINE!

            Hello my fast lane followers!  Well, there was a collision on my highway where my job, school, family, zumba, car pooling, house chores and sanity crashed with my breaking point – Interstate Migraine.  I get headaches quite often which I’m pretty sure stems from working hard, over booking my schedule and trying to make 2 days out of 24 hours.  But, every blue moon, which has not happened since 2008, I get the migraine of all migraines that takes me out of commission for 3 days or more with no room to raise my head above water.  Everything comes to a halt whether I like it or not.  Trust me, I did not like it!

          
             The irony is, it just flared up out of nowhere while in the middle of typing my mid-term paper that was due in four days.  That’s a sign of trouble…no warning! Really! A sista can’t get a heads up (operative word being head here).  I took the 'something' I have been harboring at home for these type of stormy days immediately [PINKY SWARE SECRET ZONE – I took some Darvocet that has been taken off the market (SHH! Don’t tell anyone I still have some).  You know the saying of "don’t fix what isn’t broken?" Well, I don’t throw away things that still work].  Needless to say, my trusty stash had no impact on this attack.  I even took some of my husband’s extra strength vicodin, and an Imitrex shot.  For those of you who may be familiar with Imitrex – I call it the fire shot because it burns like #$%&^$ when it travels through to your head.

          Long story short and not to bore you with my turmoil that finally ended on Thursday….okay,  okay I’ll just tell you this one story about Thursday, my break-out-from-the-migraine-bondage day.  So, short-story-turned-long…after giving myself shots at home, going to my family doctor getting shots, and then going to the ER getting shots three days later from inception of this monster migraine attack – I have my husband truck me right back up to the hospital like I’m John Q and was not leaving until they make this migraine break, because I couldn't take it any longer.  This may sound funny – but if you were there and seen me in my capri spandex, oversize nursing shirt, hair in two pig tails with a bandanna, a long hoodie (you know how they crank up the air so you don’t want to stay – but I was prepared for them) and my bright red crocks, everything of a different color, while wearing my sunglasses (the bright light hurts the eyes with migraines),

then you would be laughing for real and you would think I was either there to set-it-off, or act a hot mess…well, a little bit of both was on my mind.  After a detailed conversation of what I was going through and what I NEED from them, I received a totally different concoction of narcotic injections in my IV which finally gave me some relief.  Then of course, they’re ready to kick me out, I kindly said…no, I need another dose, because I don’t feel that much relief!  Another dose I got, and five hours later I was walking out of there on my own and not looking like the hunch back old lady always crossing the street in the cartoons.  My mission – to finish my mid-term that was due midnight that day.

          My Supermom radar clocked me at only 85% efficiency, but that term paper was completed, checked and posted by 11:15 pm.  Whoohoo!

Look for my top five SUGGESTED ways to get rid of a migraine!  The things people will tell you to do, smh!