I just wanna go home

So, I had my hair cut on Thursday. While Cathy D. (of Cathy D. Hair Salon, naturally...) worked on the finishing touches, she had my chair turned to the wall. After putting down her blow dryer, she spun me around to face the mirror and announced, "There, now you look New Jersey."
It was at that moment that I came face to face with what I am right now- a Jersey girl. Suddenly, I had the urge to run home crying. How did this happen? I am and always will be Laura. I'm just Laura and my home is where my heart is.
I was thinking about home recently. Sometimes as an adult child returning home, I can be driven a little insane. My parents know that I pay my own utility bills on time every month, but I still can't be trusted to remember to put my dishes in the sink? I feel like the repeated phrase from my mouth is always "I knoooooow!" It's frustrating that they don't realize how grown up I have become.
On the other hand, my home will always comfort me. I love love love seeing my brick porch with cast iron swirls guiding my way up the steps. I love opening that big wooden door and walking into the light, smell, and feeling of my childhood. Dinner with my family is the best. My dad goes all out with presentation, the candles and the whole shibang. My mom makes enough food to feed an army, and always remembers to heat up leftovers for those who don't want the meal being served. I was literally dreaming the other day of the shishkebobs my mom puts together and my dad grills. DELICIOUS. Of course, not to sound eck eck corny but everything is made better by the fact that it is my family sitting around the table. Another cool thing about home and food is that the party never ends until the food runs out, and in my family, the party never ends!
That being said, I figured out why I feel very squirmish about ever moving back home. It's because my siblings aren't there anymore for the most part. Everybody has flown the coop. My sisters are married off and having babies. One sister is in college. My brother is away from home and only my baby sister and parents remain. I still love and adore them, but it's not my family as I knew it.
My ideal situation would be this: Everybody move back home. It is possible. Jobs can be changed and (extremely reasonable) real estate can be bought. It is a win/win. I say we're all in this together. If I can talk them all into this, we will have the good life. Think about 50 years ago, mostly because that is the number I just thought of, people didn't move all the time. People graduated from high school, went to college locally while living at home, went into the family business, and moved into their own house in their parent's cul-de-sac when they were married! It's so simple! That way all the cousins can be friends. All the kids can stay in very good touch with Mom and Dad. And best of all, the siblings will be able to lean on each other in a way that is just not possible over the phone.
Life is just too short to forget what's important. I would hate to become one of those families that only see each other once a year. I just wanna go home...but only if my heart can be there too.

The Karma Bug

The whole family had the stomach bug. So I think to myself, I'm going to brain power my way out of it! I felt a little queasy, and I'm not gonna lie, I was doubled over in pain at one point. But I said, "NO, I am NOT sick." So I went on with my day acting like I was fine and telling myself over and over how I could beat the odds. I made plans and followed through with them, without passing out or puking.
I decided to go to the mall with my friend, and guess what? We were hit by a speeding car running a red light.
I guess if you dodge one bullet, another is on it's way, and that one is much worse.

It's Lent and I gave up Pepsi! But this is Coke so okay!

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. In the Catholic world, this is the day that everybody swears to give up chocolate (sweets), fast food, or some other indulgence that gets in the way of their walk with the Lord. Of course, when Sunday comes, it is permissable to break the fast because Sunday's aren't officially part of the 40 days of Lent. I know this full well from when I gave up alcohol for Lent because every Saturday night at midnight, I was getting my week's worth! Tomorrow is also a fasting day, which means two small meals and one big meal, and no meat. Finally, it's a Holy Day of Obligation, so Mass attendance is required.
When I was thinking all these things over, I realized that Lent isn't hard at all! Not compared to being beaten and dying on a cross anyways. So, I want to try and give up something difficult. But not too difficult, ha. What I mean is, I can't give up TV because honestly, I would be so bored and start wallowing in self pity and I know myself well enough to say that it wouldn't be beneficial to my spirit. I don't want to give up le smokes because, well, that would just be mean to my employers. I could just imagine me spouting off what I REALLY think when the babies try to squirm away from a diaper change. Plus, going out to the porch is a great opportunity to talk to the mom and dad, so no, I'm not gonna give that up.
What I was thinking is that I'll give up waking up late. If I can accomplish getting dressed, putting my laundry away, brushing my teeth, saying my prayers, and making my bed (all large tasks for a live-in au pair) before I start working in the morning, then I think I will be a more pleasant person. If I'm well rested and put together, then I'll have more opportunity to spread God's love vs. when I'm cranky and moody. Ok, so deal! I'll let you know on Easter how it goes...

Worries and Anxieties

I really like myself a lot, but sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one so fond of me...

Lenten Promise

Dear Lord,
I would like to give up TV for Lent this year, but The Bachelor season finale is on and I just can't miss it.

Love, Your daughter

PS- Do you think you could swing it so the surprise ending is that Jason comes and proposes to me?!

Queen of the house

This little angel is my goddaughter. Tonight we were talking on the phone and she declared "I'm a princess and my daddy is the king."
"Who is the queen?" I asked.
She responded, "Umm, Grammy!"
When my sister came back on the line, she was quite offended...

You're a twitter.

So, who's heard of this new twitter phenomenon? Apparently, it's a networking tool that you can update from your computer or cell phone. Basically you become friends with other people you know, and then send and receive messages with what you're doing. For instance, my twitter status right now would be "Laura is sitting on her bed with her computer." However, I don't have a twitter account. I started one and less than 4.5 minutes later, it was deleted. I just don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know one person in the whole spectrum of my friends and family circles that I would like to have minute by minute updates on me. Privacy is sacred in this world of 20/20 stalkers and human traffickers. Serious dangers aside, I feel like this is the peak of narcissism. If you for one second think that anybody in the world cares that "your name is sitting a dark room, pondering how a square peg could ever fit in a round hole" then you are sadly mistaken! And, you might want to get on some anti-depressants, emo!