Like Common People

So people who live with me know that recently I have become obsessed with the song "Common People" by Pulp (and when I say "recently" I mean within the last few weeks, since I have gotten behind on my blogging again. Really, really behind yet again. I'm working on it, though). I decided to examine my life to see if I, indeed, live like common people. I seem common enough. So I have examine bits and pieces of my life over the last couple of weeks to see if I indeed live like "common people." So, let's examine this, shall we?

First thing in the morning I am greeted by sounds coming from the boys' bedroom. I open the door and the lamp is on and both boys are in the crib. Jude has grabbed a book from the dresser and is lying down on his stomach, telling me he is reading. Sully is laughing and trying to crawl on top of Jude. Mornings are always hectic, but at least they (sometimes) start with a smile.

Jeff helps me wrangle the boys as I shower and get dressed and then off to day care. Jude sings a song from the back seat. The whole song is "I like to burp. I like to burp. It is fun. I like to burp." He laughs and then interrupts himself to comment on the traffic on the road in front of us. Jude is most helpful in pointing out red lights and such and this particular morning, he was obsessed with a large pharmacy delivery truck in front of us. "Why is that truck there?" he asked. "It is in my way."

Sully walks away from me at daycare. He is walking now and it is wonderful to see his independence but there is always a slight sadness at this, knowing that he isn't a baby any longer. He toddles over to his favorite shelf of toys and ignores me as I kiss Jude goodbye and he, too, runs off to play.

I arrive at work. I learn something new at work every day. It is a busy, busy, busy (did I mention busy?) office, but as always I am overwhelmed to be in such a beautiful building. It has heating issues and creaky stairs, but the gorgeous hardwood floors more than make up for it. I learn something new every day. Today's lesson is: holy crap, there is another bathroom back by my office that I had never knew was there. And I have been here over a month! Of course the heat doesn't seem to flow into said bathroom (which I always thought was a closet!) but still. It is good to know the option is there if needed. I hope that I never grow accustomed to the beauty in this office. I know getting jaded is inevitable; I just want to postpone it for as long as possible.

After work, a quick jog to the post office. I try to go three or four days a week to take mail for work and mingle with other common people.

Home again, home again. I usually arrive home just before the bright smiling faces of Jeff and the boys. Jude runs into the house first with a loud "Mom!" He has been making Thanksgiving Day projects at daycare and when he brings one home, it is generally with a flourish. He will hide his hands behind his back and say "I don't have nothing." Usually, I don't believe him. Then he will show me the "nothing" and then finally I can have the hugs and kisses that I have been craving. Sully isn't quite as easy. You'd think he would be. He's smaller. Easier to catch. But now he fusses if I try to kiss and hug him when he wants to be down and walking and playing. I am an interruption to his schedule.

There are phone calls to return and if I am lucky, Jude won't notice I am on the phone. If he does, then it is harder making payment arrangements with the hospital or whatever I happen to be doing. This is what common people do, I think. Common people need to work and when they are out of work for a few months, things pile up. But common people cope as best they can, using whatever rudimentary talents they possess to increase cash flow. Or, maybe that is just me.

Dinner time is always fun. Sully will now eat whatever Jeff and I are eating. Jude still will not. He will, however, reluctantly eat one of the four dinners we have on rotation for him.

There is an inevitable post dinner clash with Jude over the television. We (Jeff and I, united) argue with him that he watches too much television. Then we stand firm on the issue, not giving in. Jude argues his points with all of the determination and skill a four-year-old can muster. He still loses.

After dinner there is play time. Generally this involves the boys trying to beat up on Jeff. One night, post-Jude-clash, I have an epiphany so profound that I don't think I will ever see Jude the same way again (more on this in my next, eventual post). Then off to bathe Sullivan. Sully had developed a charming habit of crying each time he had to take a bath. Somehow I managed to disarm him and trick him into playing and laughing instead. I will take credit for this, though it is also likely that Jude and his smiling face had something to do with it.

Sully's bath and bottle. Then off to bed. He shares a room with Jude. Do common people have a two bedroom house? Because we do.

Then it is Jude's bath, evening snack and story. Jude and Sully have an extensive little library, yet we seem to read the same 10 or so books over and over.

Once Jude is in bed, my mind starts focusing on all the things I need to do tomorrow. And thus the cycle begins again.

I still haven't decided whether we are common people, but I still really dig the song.

Another Thursday Night

So I have no clue what "normal" couples talk about, but Jeff and I talk about topics like these. Who are the five celebrities that we would allow each other to sleep with should the chance ever present iteself? My list expands and evolves through the year as I am exposed to new and tasty treats and it is always a challenge to narrow said list to five. So, without further ado (I always ado way too much), here is the five as of Friday (yeah, I know the title says Thursday. I am tardy.):

1. Jake Gyllenhaal. A hold-over from last year. Still so adorable and buff and vulnerable and sweet. A wicked combination of sweetness and darkness that just begs for a bit of corruption.

2. Chase Crawford. A choice based solely on looks. So sue me. This year's Tom Welling. For those of you (everyone who reads my blog) who don't watch "Gossip Girl", he is the tasty nugget that I refer to as "the really ridiculously good looking one" so that Jeff can reply "Which one is that again?"

3. Seth Green. A choice based solely on a wicked sense of humor he seems to possess, as I think that he would be incredibly fun and . . . experimental. 'Nough said.

4. David Duchovny. It feels opportunistic now, but witness the following excerpt from a conversation between Jeff and me while he was watching "The X-Files" a couple of months ago. Me: "I would so sleep with David Duchovny." Jeff: "Really?" Me: "Oh yes. He is smart-hot (one of the best kinds of hot) and underneath that there is something more going on. That man has a huge kinky side. I can tell by looking at him." Now I look like a freakin' genius because not two weeks after this conversation, Duchovny went into treatment for "sex addiction." Okay, I feel a bit bad about this inclusion during a painful moment in his personal history, but I would be looking to have an experience, not start a relationship. I think he would definitely be an experience.

5. Sendhil Ramamurthy. The lovely Mohinder Suresh of "Heroes." Just don't expect me to call out his name during coitus.

Honorable mention: Zachary Quinto. Oddly drawn to him, but he barely misses the list because of the rumor that he is gay. I hate to waste a spot on someone who wouldn't want to do it with me. If he isn't gay, though, I'll have to reorganize.

I know it is a sad venture to have to leave celebrities off of the list, but there is only so much room. If you are a celebrity and would like consideration for next year's list, please submit an application and photograph to this blog. Thank you.

Oh, and, as always, thanks for reading, Mom.

One Is The Sulliest Number

Saturday was Sullivan's birthday. He is one year old, but wearing it well and he doesn't look a day over 10 months. We celebrated here with a small party with family and it was a gorgeous day so we were able to have an outdoor party. We have more family than living room so this arrangment worked out well.

Sully is actually getting more adorable every day. This is not just a mother's prejudiced opinion; I have photographic evidence:



Jude is doing well, too. He is ever-inquisitive and is being a very good big brother. He has taken to playing with his brother. Yesterday he was walking quickly from room to room and Sully was crawling behind him, right at his heels and they were both laughing. I love that laughter; I wish there were a way to bottle it.




I've been at work for almost 2 weeks now and haven't cried on the job -- not even once! I hope that is a good sign :)

Song of the Day: "Central Reservation" by Beth Orton.

Music To My Ears

Sitting at my desk at work today, I was approached by a coworker inquiring about the music I was playing (a CD; I wasn't strumming a guitar at my desk or anything).

This is not uncommon. Generally when I am approached, the next words I hear are "What is that atrocious noise? Please cease playing that vile crap immediately as our ears are bleeding."

But today's exchange was different. Unexpected. The words were "You're a Tori Amos fan, too?" This lead to an actual conversation with a coworker regarding Tori Amos and music. I was very excited about this.

Do you realize what this means? If you just said "You're a geek," then you are correct.

Speaking of music, the music from Halloween (the movie) is the spookiest music there is. That John Carpenter created theme always makes me think of watching the movies and October is my favorite horror movie watching time.

When I was much younger, I was lying in bed and I heard the strains of the Halloween music. It was dark in my bedroom and late and I tried for three or four whole minutes to ignore the sounds, but I couldn't, so I wandered out of bed into the living room. A family friend named Scott was living with us then and he was lying on the couch watching Halloween 2. I told him I wanted to watch the movie, too, even though maybe I was a bit (okay, a lot) too young to be watching it and he told me no and tried to send me back to bed. But I didn't want to go to bed. I wanted to finally see Halloween 2. Eventually, he relented and I sat on the floor and watched the movie. It scared the crap out of me.

So, now whenever I see Halloween 2, it makes me think of Scott. He died this week. He was 48. It is a sad time for my family.

Song of the Day: "Northern Lad" by Tori Amos.

You've Got To Be Starting Something

Under some serious pressure from Jeff at Dung! I am doing my list of 5 must-watch shows. In keeping with my infamous gift of procrastination, I have been mulling over the list and still haven't been able to narrow it down. So I will go with whatever is in my head tonight and then will revise it later as necessary.

I actually started this blog about four days ago but I plan to finish it tonight (Sunday).

In no particular order, here are my five favorite shows to catch every week:

1. Pushing Daisies. It is so pretty to look at and I love the narration. A very sweet show that appeals to my sweet side. Quirky. I am a sucker for quirky. And I love Olive. And the aunts.

2. The Office. This is one show that Jeff and I watch together every week. Love it. Funny stuff. And yes, I love Creed. Blah, blah British version is better and all that. I still love it.

3. House. Hugh Laurie is awesome. Interesting medical mysteries and a twisted, conflicted main character. Definitely on my must-watch list every week.

4. Psych. Hilarious. Love it. It has some of the best lines on tv, lots of silly little inside jokes. My favorite show to quote. And since it is not currently on the air until January, it shouldn't even count as a choice, leaving room for:

4.5. Robot Chicken. I laugh myself silly at the idiocy of this show. I love it, though I feel immature for loving it.

5. Skins. I was actually torn between two shows, but this show got bumped up onto the main list due to last week's episode, which actually made me say OMFG outloud. I even had to describe it in detail to Jeff who doesn't really watch and who doesn't even know the names of the characters. So when I said that Tony finally told Michele that he loves her and that she is the only one for him after all of the horrible stuff he did and then he got hit by a bus, Jeff actually said, "What?" He translated it as such: "About a Boy guy (since the guy who plays Tony is the same kid from the movie About a Boy only grown up now and quite nicely) told Cute Girl With Accent (they all have accents, Jeff!!!) that he loves her. . . " And there is a beautiful scene at the end with Sid and Cassie finally meeting up again (translated by Jeff as geeky guy with glasses and hat and girl who almost died). Well, I guess Jeff watches it more than I thought.

Reaper also shouldn't count as a selection because it isn't currently on. Not until mid-season. So, it doesn't count, but I would definitely throw it on the list, too. Sock is very funny and Andi and Sam are both cute, but the show belongs to Ray Wise. He is so funny and seems to enjoy his role so much that he is half the reason that it will make my list when it reappears on air.

Apparently I have to pick my favorite show because the Nazi I live with is insisting upon it, which is totally bogus. If I only could choose one to watch every week, it would definitely be one of these five. Yep. Definitely one of them. How about making me pick my favorite child next? I think it might be The Office, though. Hilarious. But all the other shows are good, too.

There isn't room for them on the list but How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory would likely tie for a spot if something else fell off. They both make me laugh and I really like the casts of each.

So, there it is. My tv list (for now).

I have also recently started a new writing project. I love new writing projects, especially a new novel. I love the idea. Yes, technically that brings the grand total of novels I am workng on in one way or another to four (4) and none of them ever seems to get finished, but I am great at starting them.

Now, let's see if I can see one through to the end.

Song of the day: "97 Bonnie and Clyde" The Tori Amos version of Eminem's song is very eerie.

It is mid October so movie reviews for the rest of the month will be horror movies. Go Halloween!

I Have Found Me A Home

One of the benefits of being so behind in my blogging is that there is a never-ending amount of material from which to draw.

When we last left me, I was working for therapists and telemarketers. Those jobs last three days and two days, respectively. I quit when I was offered a full time job at a law firm. Despite my rather vocal reluctance to work in the legal field again, I couldn't turn down the chance to quit being a telemarketer. I was offered the job last Wednesday and started last Thursday.

My new place of employment is in a beautiful old house converted into an office. The entire top floor (upstairs) is attorneys' offices and the bottom floor (downstairs) is the staff area. It is a big open area (living room?) with many desks and files. I love the office. I have my own work space, a big desk sitting out in the open, but not touching anyone else's desk. And files. There are files everywhere. But organized neatly.

There is a tiny kitchen, functional but not fancy. Beautiful hardwood floors in the main reception area. And a tiny little staff bathroom with a blue toilet and a blue sink. I must say, that makes me feel like home. (Except at home I have a pink sink.)

I love the building. It is downtown, but not part of a fussy new downtown infrastructure. It has history and beauty. Oh and people. There are people there, too.

They seem nice.

Song of the Day: "I Have Found Me A Home" by Jimmy Buffett, not that it is a favorite song because it is just an okay one, but because I stole the title for my blog.

DVD Review of the Day: I'm watching the first season of Dexter and am really, really digging it. Yes it is morbid, but so clever. Plus, I like morbid.

What's My Age Again?

(This post is a week overdue, so if it contains old info, that's why.)

I started a new job -- two actually. One is a day job, working as a receptionist for an office of therapists. (Please feel free to insert your own "need for therapy" joke here.) I like it very much. Two whole days in and I haven't cried on the job once. (That's not my only qualification for enjoyment of the job, but it is a definite bonus!)

My other job is a night job that I am in training for currently. I am/will be in telemarketing. What fresh hell is this? Most of the people I am training with are significantly younger than I am. A handful are exactly half my age. I am trying to approach this job training as an anthropological experiment instead of the sad mid-life setback that it is. I am an observer, watching lives unfold. I'm even witnessing a possible budding romance between a cute emo kid and a very cute (and slightly out of his league) preppy girl. They sit. They flirt. I observe (as a writer, not as a voyeur).

I'm 34, surrounded by 17-year-olds (or is that old's -- what do you think, Brian?) and I have no idea how to talk to them. I'm even less sure than I usually am about the adults who surround me. I prefer my teenagers in fictionalized form. On television, I have become enamored of those kids from "Gossip Girl". It is definitely a guilty pleasure. I can't help it; I really like that darn show. I got sucked in and now I watch every week. I've also become quite involved in the lives of the fictitious British teens on the show "Skins" on BBC America. Now that show I really love. I'm not sure why; maybe some bizarre vicarious thrill. I would never want to be a teenager again. I wasn't good at it the first time. I think I make a better adult. But lately I have been surrounded by teens in fiction and I am enjoying it. I even read "Twilight" last week. For those of you living in caves (and thus without the required internet connection to access this-here blog) it is the story of a teenage girl, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire. I was filled with a little bit of self-loathing as I read it because I really enjoyed it.

Remember Rob Lowe's character from "St. Elmo's fire"? No? I do. I don't want to be that person. I want to be the grown up, surrounded by other grown ups.

Song of the day: "What's My Age Again?" from Blink 182 because I stole their song title for my blog title.

Movie Review. . . . "Clerks 2" A funny movie about growing up. I love the end shot of that movie. Some funny and immature stuff in the film, but ultimately about growing up. Perfect movie for someone in his or her 30s (or was that 30's, Brian?)