what did you just say?

I think it’s about time I officially call it.  Having not blogged for over 2 months, perhaps it was obvious.  But I thought I might come back.  There was a time when I was constantly thinking “is this blog worthy” as I lived my life.  But even as I live plenty of blog-worthy moments, I just don’t have it in me to get the stories out there.

So for those of you faithful readers that have been checking back periodically over the past couple months, thank you.  I really do appreciate that there are some people out there that read what I write, especially those that actually liked what I had to say.

But as the holidays draw near and I plan for my feast of 25 for Thanksgiving, work on holiday cards, Christmas shopping while trying to be an awesome mom and attempting to stay employed, I think I need to make it official and put nashsmom.com on hiatus.

If you really miss me, I can manage 140 characters or less on a pretty regular basis so feel free to follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nashsmom

And if it’s Nash you can’t live without, he’s got his own YouTube channel now and you can check him out at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/NashNews

And for all you other total strangers that landed here looking for the lyrics to “A is for Apple, B is for Butt” or photos of giant tumors or meat panties or the recipe for taco-in-a-bag, I will leave my blog up and my archives open to help educate the world on these important matters.

Peace out.

Nash’s Mom (.com)

I want to blog.  Really I do.  But for some reason I’m just not doing it.  I can’t really figure out why.  It could be that there has been so much bad stuff going on –  the layoffs, death (Natasha Richardson, Montana plane crash, Oakland police officers…..), destruction (flooding in Fargo – holla to my sandbagging cousin!) and the crazy ass Mexican drug cartel.  I mean, WTF??  Even the movies I’ve seen (Rachel Getting Married) and books I’ve read (Those Who Save Us) are depressing.  Throw in some 20 degree spring weather and rain in the forecast and we got ourselves a party!

So I’m just waiting.  I’ve got a sweet 3-day weekend on deck.  My parents are coming to town, we got tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters, Nash’s last basketball game is Saturday, we’re going to one of my favorite restaurants, and I might even get to a movie (or 2!) at a real live movie theatre.  

So thanks for checking in.  I promise there will be more.  One of these days…..

The heads started rolling today but I’ve got confirmation that mine has been spared.  Whew.  Thanks to everyone who sent the good karma my way.   It worked!

But some fantastic people I know are now jobless and it sucks, sucks, sucks.  Very difficult time for everyone but especially those left with no jobs.  

Let’s hope the economy bounces back soon and we get this country back to the place where it belongs!

My poor little head is about to spin off.  I have so many thank-you notes to write, ventings to vent, errands to run, photos to upload, video to transfer,  blogs to post and, oh yeah, tend to that little job I have.  But my life is still going 99 mph I can’t fathom when I will possibly ever get everything done.  So this is either my “to do” list or an attempt to conquer all in one post….

To my precious little Nash, thank you for being such a perfect angel on our trip to Minnesota.  You were so well behaved I was shocked (sorry, I really was).  I was so proud to have you with me at your great-grandma Evie’s funeral and like I told you, one day you will understand how important it was.   And leaning over during the service to ask me if Grandma Evie was in heaven now?  Wow.  And also, how’s handsome??

To my pal Paula, you are  a true friend.   You took me to the busiest Super Target in Minneapolis at noon on a Saturday, let my kid snoop around your house and eat three, count ‘em, THREE oranges and then drove me out to Stillwater in snow flurries.  Thank you.  You are always there for me and take great care of me.  Plus showing up at the airport in the exact same super long puffy coat that I was wearing? (Michael Kors with a faux fur trim hood – holla!)  Just shows you have excellent taste to boot!

Chuck, Jamie, Lindee, Frances, Maeve and Roy.  I truly love you guys.  Every time I see you it makes me realize how much I miss living closer to you.  I am beyond envious of your neighborhood and the way the kids all get along and come and go.  And to have a perfect kid sized hill in your backyard where the kids can go sledding while you stay warm and just watch out the window?  I think I would have bought the house based on that alone!  Thanks for sending this pic, Jamie.  Nash was in heaven!

Thank you for feeding me, giving us a place to crash, driving me to the hotel and mostly just for some good old fashioned chillin’.  

Thank  you to cousins Tiana, Tyler and Summer for swimming with Nash in the pool for hours on end (and for letting him win some of the races).  Marco!  Polo!

Thank you to my brother Rick for always amazing me.  You may be tough on the outside, but I saw a sensitive side of you over those two days that made me realize how much really I love you.  There was a moment when you were holding Nash up in the air and the way you were looking at him and the way he was looking at you nearly brought me to tears (OK, it IS bringing me to tears right now just remembering it) .  And also for never getting tired of being “BOOed”.  

To my cudbox Shelli.  You are a smart, beautiful and  funny woman.  I should hate you but alas, I love you like a sister.  Thanks for making me laugh.  You really helped to make the whole “event” kinda fun. You’re the first person  I’ve ever shared a cab with to have brunch at a Perkins.  We know fine dining!   Can’t wait to see the last 90 minutes of Secret Life of Bees…

And mom.  Mom, mom, mom.  I can’t pretend to know how hard these last few months have been.  But you did everything perfectly.  I admire you so much for your grace and strength. It was hard to find words to share, but just being there and holding your hand says a lot without words between a mother and a daughter.  I love you so much.

And my dad.  You give mom so much love and support.  You are always there when we need you and have been such an anchor for the family.  I love you more than I tell you.

And GAJ (great aunt Jan).  For helping mom plan the perfect send off for an amazing woman.  Every detail was perfect from the Swedish flag in the flowers down to the last ham bun.  And the collages were incredible.  A history lesson for me and perfectly outlined the incredible life of grandma.  

And to my whole family for making something sad into a bit of a party.  It was like living in a college dorm room.  Roaming the halls to see which room had the best snacks, drinks, games, etc.  For those that weren’t there,  you were missed (and talked about!).  The reason we were all there was a sad one, but we celebrated  by being together and I think we did our Evie proud.

I’d also like to give a shout out to Gabe at the Residence Inn for putting up with my family’s shenanigans which included, but are not limited to, racing luggage carts down the hallway, throwing snowballs in the swimming pool, locking ourselves out of the bathroom and camping out at the breakfast buffet.   And after all that what do you do?  Bake us cookies.  Seriously?   I think I could live there.

And I returned home to Massachusetts to this:

And you thought Minnesota had all the snow.  Ha! Wrong!

Ok, now on to the other things on the list……

I’m not sure how to start this one, so I’m just winging it.

My Grandma Evie died today.

 She was an amazing lady.  Full of class and smart as a whip.  She taught me a lot of things and I can’t possibly do her justice right now.  But I’ll share one short story.

Right around my 40th birthday (and nearing her 90th) we were hanging out and I asked her what advice she would give me.  Here’s this woman that has lived this amazing life and I’m preparing for her to enlighten me with her profound wisdom.  She thinks about it for a really long time and I’m starting to panic because I don’t have a pen and paper and what if I can’t remember everything she says??  

Then she turned to me and said: “Be happy”.  

That’s it.  Just two little words.  And at first I thought, ‘What?  That’s it??’  But let me tell you, I’ve thought about her telling me those two little words so many times since then and you know what?  She was on to something.  Be happy.   If you can accomplish that, what more do you need?

I’m taking the next week or so off from blogging but  will leave you with a few more pics of Evelyn Strand, a woman who will be missed tremendously. 

Nash with his Great Grandma Evie

Me and my big brother Rick with Grandma and Grandpa Strand

Evelyn C. Strand

1917-2009

  It was one year ago that I started this whole blog thing.  181 posts and nearly 20,000 visitors later  (Seriously.  But most of those were courtesy of Jonas Brothers fans from all over the world.   Long story…) and I’m still here and digging this whole thing.  I much prefer this little corner of the internet over Facebook or  Twitter.  Perhaps because it’s all mine and the only visitors (besides said Jonas Brothers fans) here are people I genuinely dig and like to virtually “hang out” with.  It’s impossible to have all those lunch or coffee dates or the highly coveted girls night out, so pals old and new check in and if I’m lucky you leave a comment and that always makes me smile.   Plus I love having a place to get things off my chest and vent about everything from people who don’t cut that “X” off the vent of their new coat to how much I hate voice activated customer service.  So thanks for reading.   Really.  It makes this whole thing a little less pointless and a lot more fun.

Back in the old days, around this time of year you keep one eye out for the mailroom guy at all times. If he’s got a box in his hands, you keep your fingers crossed that it’s for you and it’s something good. Back in the day, holiday gifts were a plenty and all the record labels tried to come up with the coolest gift. There were clocks, blankets, bathrobes, chocolates, fruit baskets, wine, calendars and even snowglobes (or at least attempted snow globes – not a good mix with the freezing cold winter weather, right Ms. Picket?).  Then I entered the ad world where fruit baskets and gift cards (score!) were the big craze.  Once there was even an ipod (super score!).  But things have been tapering off over the past few years and now it’s all e-cards and “we made a donation in your name”.  So far this year I’ve fed some hungry children, planted a tree and given a heifer.  I know I’m being greedy (really, I do) but can’t a girl get a fruit basket?