Benjamin Joshua Weiss

Dear Bennyboo-

I am writing this blog about you because of what I saw in you today.  You were born almost ten years ago today, so sweet, so tiny, and yet so full of life.  Daddy and I have nurtured you and tended to your every need since that blessed event on 1-24-99.  

Today, I saw a side of you that is a whisper to me of the kind of man you are going to be, the best kind there is.  We had gone to our favorite sushi restaurant.  Daddy was meeting us there and you and I had left from the house.  As we were talking and walking in, I slid on some ice and wiped out.  You were right there, taking my hand and helping me up.  You asked if I was okay and held the door open for me.  

When we sat down at our table, you ordered the tea I love and placed our sushi order.  I was so impressed with your love, concern and gentleman behavior-all from a rather tall but only still 9 year old boy.  

This, for me, was a glimpse into the future.  It was a reality call for me as well, a report card, if you will.  We have taught you well, dear boy.  Continue on the right path and you will be a great person-actually, you already are.

I love forever,

I love you for always,

As long as I am living,

My baby you'll be...            

A favorite quote of mine.

Mom

Marley and Me

It has taken 3 days for me to get up the emotional strength to write this blog so here goes.  Readers be ware, the content of this blog contains spoiler material for this movie.  

I insisted that on Xmas Day we go see the movie Marley and Me.  I had read the book several years back and loved it and I thought I could handle it.  The story, as I know everyone is aware of, is about the life cycle of a dog with his family.  Life cycle meaning puppyhood to the eventual death of a beloved canine member of the family.  Sound a little too close to my world?  

By the time dear Marley was in the sunset of his life and was finding life very challenging, I was finding watching this movie emotionally challenging.  The waterworks really turned on when John, the main character Dad, was walking Marley, and he couldn't keep up.  I flashbacked to a time not too long ago when I was walking Maxi and she couldn't keep up.  I recall being so upset with and literally pulling her up the hill.  I wished I had the patience that Owen Wilson had with Marley.  

The demise of Marley was particularly difficult to view for me. It was so real to life and too close to home.  I haven't cried in a movie like that in years.  Overall, I thought Owen Wilson was perfect for the role and played it to the nines.  I would recommend it to anyone that is a dog lover, but prepare for a very sad ending.  And bring several boxes of tissue.  You are going to need it.

Reunion

Yesterday was the one day I was so looking forward to during vacation.  It was my mini high school reunion with two of my closest friends, Brian and Robin.  The weather could not have been more dreadful.  In fact, I was taking Ben to my spend the day with my sister-in-laws and we almost turned around.  But I slowed down, tightened my grip on the steering wheel and drove.  I was bound and determined to drop Ben off so I could have my reunion.

We planned to meet at this awesome Korean Restaurant in Novi.  I got there exactly on time and Brian was waiting for me.  Robin came about 45 minutes late; the roads were that bad by her-she lives in Canton.  

Words can not describe how much fun and laughing we did.  Going down memory lane was a trip and then catching up to the present was quite a journey as well.  We talked, laughed and remembered for over 4 hours.  We were lucky that we weren't kicked out by our waitress.  Needless to say, she was tipped well.  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank facebook for our reunion.  Robin and Brian, I will be seeing you soon.  Lets not let the years fly by without communication..

My Year in Review

I have not been blogging as much as of late.  Facebook has taken over my computer.  But, I miss writing and need to get back "in the real".  I thought of the perfect topic for today-2008.  I feel it was one of the most significant years of my life and heres why...

 The tech geek in me surfaced-I became a reader of blogs and started up my own.  I joined and got addicted to facebook.  It's everywhere-no matter what setting-if you are with people the topic comes up and bam, next thing you know, you are becoming friends with them on fb.  I now text via my cell.  In fact, I have unlimited text messaging.  For Hanukkah I even got a tom-tom gps system.  It's insane how tecky I have become.

My family has suffered from several losses this year.  In the spring we said goodbye to Jay's Uncle Art of Sharon, PA.  Art was Jay's father's brother and he lived on this planet for 89 years.  My brother-in-law also lost his sister several days after the passing of Uncle Art.  Who would have ever thought that my father-in-law and brother-in-law would have both been sitting shiva for a sibling at the same time?  On a more personal note, my family had to put down our Maxi dog.  She blessed us with her spirit for 13 wonderful years.  It was the right choice of time for her, but she is still so missed.  

On a more positive stream of thought, we had so many good times this year.  We vacationed in California and hit Disney and Sea World.  We spent so much time with the Jeff Weiss' out there and that was awesome.  Our best friends came home from Germany and even though Brent is still working in Germany, we are glad that 75 percent of them are here.  

Ben has grown up so much this year.  He loves wrestling, football and man smell.  He is already over five feet.  He experienced his first team extracurricular activity this fall-flag football.  He feel in love with it!  He is once again, on the student council.  He likes to read, play the Wii and have fun with his friends.  My baby is definitely growing up.

Well, like I said earlier, quite a year.  So...cheers, y'all.  Here is to 2009!  May it be great for all my peeps out there and for my family as well!

Ready for the week?????

It is almost 4:30 Monday morning and I am wide awake.  Call it nervous energy or me listening to the sound of the wind and rain pelting my bedroom window.  It is going to be a busy one, that is for sure..

Today-It's my school's xmas program.  30 students plus 2 dress rehearsals and 1 night time performance equals a very long day.  My babies are going to be hopping with excitement.  I will be so glad when it is over!  

Wednesday-taking the day off to run a bunch of errands and stay ahead of the game-I haven't even gotten my student's their presents yet.

Thursday-our staff holiday dinner.  Usually I avoid it like the plague but one of my colleagues made a personal plea for my attendance and promises me it will be worth my time-jury is still out!

Friday-the last day-I will have some fun holiday activities in my room-still in the planning stages; I better get a move on them.  

I won't go into the weekend details yet or all my plans for the 2-week vacation.  Have a fab week everyone.

A Strange Saturday Indeed

It was one of the most disturbing Saturdays that I can recall in my recent memories.  It started off fine.  I awoke to a cold, wet nose in my face, stumbled out of bed, made coffee and turned on the wii fit.  Then it got weird...

8:05-my neighbor and good friend Jodi calls me and proceeds to inform me that mutual friends of ours are headed for divorce court.  Talk about shocker!  We just had them over our house several weeks back for dinner.  Didn't see it coming, folks

1:15-while at a birthday party for another good friend of the family's son, my other very close friend tells me that her parents are now staying with her and that her dad has a 7cm aneurism in his chest and will be having surgery Tuesday to get it removed and that he may not make it thru the surgery.  While in the middle of this conversation, my sister pipes in that another friend of ours has a very sick dad and he too is having heart surgery at the same hospital on the same day.  Hopefully the surgeon are at the top of their game Tuesday!

8:00-After having a way too heavy dinner at an Italian restaurant in Canton, I realize as we arrive at my cousin Danny's house that I have misplaced my cell-my lifeline.  I strip search my car, me, my purse and still no cell.  Danny and I go back to the restaurant and retrace my steps-still no cell.  I am horrified and completely depressed.  Danny then plies me with alcohol and sugar to get me out of severe depression.  

10:00-Jay drives back to the restaurant for 1 more check and finds my phone!  My life line is back and I can even endure a lecture about being careful from him.

It is Sunday now-let's hope that the planets stay aligned!!!

Facebook

Okay-it finally happended and I knew it would-Jay is now on facebook. For the last several months I have been having fun with it-connecting with old friends, new ones playing. I have many chatbox conversations with just about everyone that is on when I am. I have even hooked up with some old time friends and gone out with them. It is a new way of connecting with your past life to make it more present that would impact the future.

So one may ask why Jay finally caved. It wasn't me. It was Dave. He kept tagging Jay in pictures from slides. Jay tried to get on to facebook using my id but he doesn't know my password so that made him open up his own facebook page.

Now, let me tell you that Jay is having so much fun with it. He has connected with some old friends and last night I actually shut down the computer before he did. So Jay, rock it out baby and enjoy it. You're hooked now, baby

Odds and Ends

I was plotting new subjects for blogs when I came up with this one.  So here goes-

1.  Why does Mickey wake me up every night at the exact time?  How does he know that 1:32 am is the right time for him to go outside?

2.  How come when I am on Wii fit and I have just rocked every test that there is out there it still says I am 55 and then when I have blown every test out there it gives me ages in the 20s and 30s?

3.  Why do men not pick up after themselves?  

4.  How come my worst behaved little people come to school every day?

5.  Why am i so addicted to facebook?  I have even become friends with people I barely know.

6.  Exactly what is the big thrill about wrestling to 9 year and 10 year olds?  I can't stand sitting for 5 minutes and watching it with Ben!!!

7.  Why does Ben get so emotional over wii ncaa football?

8.  Why am I so much more tired in the winter then in the summer?

9.  What exactly is a bad day to Ben?

10.  What's up with the gas prices or shall I say why are they so low?

Food for thought...

Tough Times

My dad came down with the flu/cold (not sure which) along with the body aches, fever and congestion.  When we all feel that horrible, we just drag along trying to keep up with our daily duties, parenting, working etc.  My dad just falls apart, literally.  This time he couldn't stand up and get out of his bed.  My mom called 911 and he was taken to Huron Valley for observation.  He will remain there for the weekend and will then go to a rehab/nursing home for intense physical therapy to help him walk again.

I have tried so hard to not go down that road of worry, what ifs, and thoughts of major lifestyle changes for my mom, my sister and us.  It is so hard not to.  Like what if he never leaves the nursing home and doesn't walk again?  

One of the hardest parts of getting older is watching your parents get older.  Jay and I are so blessed to have both sets of our parents alive.  So many of our friends aren't as lucky.  We spend a lot of time with our parents-at times we have thought that it was too much.  But when the tough times come around, I am so glad that they are still active parents and to Ben grandparents in our lives.

So-this one's for your Dad.  Heal, walk and come back home.  Get strong and healthy, ok?  You are not going to go down that road yet, you hear? 

Teaching in the city

Most of you who follow my blog know me and know what I do for a living-I am a kindergarten teacher for Detroit Public Schools. It has never been an easy job. But I love it and my job as teacher defines who I am.

This year has been a particularly challenging one for me. I have been witness to a custody battle over a very special little guy. (Mom won and now he is living with her in Texas). A very special family was evicted from the home and as a result of this, moved out of our community. One of my volunteers is highly unpredictable-she is an alcoholic. She can be awesome and other times not so much.

I still love my job. After 19 years of teaching I can definitely say it doesn't get easier! I know the curriculum backwards, forwards, and inside out. It's the children that bring it to life. Detroit teachers work in a very unpredictable, political environment. Our job is a difficult one-we have to overcome so many obstacles. But I will tell you this-I love what I do and I wouldn't want it any other way or any other place.

Tivo

Our tivo unit of 6 years died on us last week.  Living without it is not an option.  So Jay and I went shopping online and bought a brand spank'in new one.  AND NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL!  

Sunday I called tivo tech support for the first time.  We went thru so many different steps to try to fix it but to no avail.  Monday I called tivo tech support again.  I really got to know the tech who was from Kentucky.  He assured me that the problem was fixed and we would be back in business within a 24 hour time span.

It is now Wednesday.  We still do not have a working tivo so I called again.  This time a woman took me to a completely different screen and it is taking a very long time to re-load.  I hope it works.

Busy times; good times

Good times had by all.  Saw so many faces over the weekend-family, old friends, new friends it was awesome.  Parades, traditional meals, reunions of the unofficial type, movies and of course some shopping-it was a grand time.  

One disappointment, we were bummed that we weren't able to meet the newest member of the Wild family, Brooke who was going thru the "bilirubin blues".  We will make your acquaintance soon, my dear.

Have a great week all you bloggers!