It's hard to know what I feel comfortable writing about.

I don't want to alienate my husband.

On the other hand... last week CD complained about the amount of housework I've been doing since I stopped working.

I was stunned.

Because he was, like, serious.

I'm going through a life crisis, redefining my understanding of my world, and you're complaining about the laundry?!

First of all, both of us lean more towards Oscar than Felix. And I have always done more housework than CD. Always, even when he was a stay-at-home dad (which I used to complain bitterly about and then I just hired someone to help.)

I was clear when I told him of my plans to stop workig for a while that I wouldn't not be playing Suzy Homemaker. I told him so right infront of a therapist. And he nodded like he understand and respected my need for some time to repair and take care of me.

Clearly, though, the monster that is his expectations would not be denied.

He brings up "those 5 hours a day when you're doing nothing".

Because, you know, these hours between dropping Bear off at school and picking him up - when not frittered away with errands, dishes, part-time work - should be spent ... vacuuming??

And hey, I have been doing more. Organizing long neglected cabinets and drawers. Decorating. Scrubbing. Just not enough by his scorekeeping.

I want to take him by the shoulders and shout into his brain. That we just started working as a team again.

But I am a grown-up. (Sometimes.)

So I breathe deep and point at the Hoover. Honey, if the rug ain't clean enough for you - then you have all the power in the world to change it.

But no....

Instead, I feel myself being inelegantly shoved in the direction of what he expects of a housewife.

And I thought I only had my own neurosis to untangle.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 04:42 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 337 words, total size 2 kb.

1 He's a big boy. He knows how to use the vacuum. I could see him bitching if you were sitting in bed all day staring at the walls, but clearly you're not. Just because you're at home all day doesn't mean his turn to pitch in never comes! And who cares if the house is messy? Honestly, you DO live there

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 30, 2006 07:33 AM (/vgMZ)

2 Well, speaking for the guys here, if you decide to put on the French maid outfit, we all want to see some pictures, E!

Posted by: RP at May 30, 2006 08:55 AM (LlPKh)

3 Grrr. That's the quickest way to piss me right off. In fact, it was a soft spot with me and the boys' dad -- up until the day I divorced him. And I had been working outside the home for 10 years at that point. I'm not the housekeeper. It's M for Margi. Not Martyr. And if you want the fucking dishes done, then do them. No woman EVER shot a man while he was doing the dishes. (Obviously, I still have some buried resentment when it comes to this issue.) Heh.

Posted by: Margi at May 30, 2006 09:34 AM (BRtaN)

4 I am fortunate in that my mother in law raised good husbands...the kind that don't complain, they just pitch in and do it. Plus, my husband understands that cleaning the kitchen is foreplay, in my book.

Posted by: paige at May 30, 2006 12:50 PM (tfUL7)

5 My husband is worse. With 2 tanning salons plus his bookkeeping, I am expected to make sure all housework, dishes, cooking, laundry and outdoor maintenance is done. He has been bitchy for 6 years and hasn't figured out yet that it is impossible.

Posted by: Jeannie at May 31, 2006 04:50 AM (Ykpc6)

6 Ah, the bone of contention so many sahMOMs(not maids) face. Luckily, my husband is pretty decent about pitching in and accepting that housework is not my top priority. We have clean laundry, a full refridgerator, paid bills, and a clean enough kitchen/floor that we aren't attracting small rodents. But mostly, we have three living, fed and healthy children at the end of the day.

Posted by: A.K. at May 31, 2006 12:13 PM (jg7Aw)

7 ugh, dear husbands will make us all insane. Best to just stay the course of simple living with a dirty house and laughter all around!

Posted by: christina at May 31, 2006 02:50 PM (RFyRY)

8 Ah. . . the beauty of living out our little imprinted scripts of what "should" be. Our household has devised a method of brainstorming all the things that need to be done (and their frequency), and each person picks a number things at each level (daily/weekly/monthly) that are important enough to them to do themselves. Everything else. . . sort of falls by the wayside until it reaches a level where it moves up on someone's priority list. As a result, we have clean laundry and food every week, a cleared-off kitchen table. . . filthy mirrors and an appalling level of dustiness, but hardly any "chore" arguments.

Posted by: Veeg at June 01, 2006 02:45 AM (gR0r8)

9 Why don't you two sit down and state your expectations, write down what you want from each other and what you, yourselves want to do -- and then negotiate until everything is accounted for?

Posted by: Eyes at June 01, 2006 11:56 AM (L67iN)

10 Ditto everything Margi said. xx

Posted by: Flika at June 01, 2006 12:16 PM (puvdD)

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Murder defendant tries to strangle lawyer in court.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 06:01 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 26 words, total size 1 kb.

Mark Twain said that if you put all your eggs in one basket, then you better watch that basket.

So CD's job has suddenly gone from being someplace he goes every day to being an epicenter. It provides our insurance, our income, our current concept of future.

Which sucks, because his job? ... Sucks.

He works in IT at a financial company. Which means, first of all - he's not core.

Best career planning advice anyone can ever give you is this: If you want to move up, you need to be in the core.

That means, you need to be creating the product that your company is selling.

If you're in IT, then work for an IT Company. If you cook, work at a restaurant. If you're in marketing, work for a marketing firm.

If you're a nurse and you work in the health office of a high school, you may be very happy. But there's no "up" from there.

CD keeps the lights on for the IT infrastructure of a company that provides financial services. Which means that there is limited "up". There will be limited compensation. The technology will always be an afterthought that meets the needs of the company's production.

Which is a big reason we continue to look for something else for him - anywhere, as long as it would challenge him and support us.

And the reason why I get these phone calls now, to listen and support as he bangs his head (metaphorically) against the wall. 'Cuz, sure - it didn't matter much back in the day that he knew he could quit if he had to. Ha. Big changes, I'm telling you.

Meanwhile, we finally dumped all the pictures off the camera's flashcard...

Bear and the ceiling at Union Station during one of Bear and I's day trips into the city. One of the things I love about going anywhere with Bear is that it is never just a trip to Point A. There are trees to inspect and designs to study and ceilings with patterns to look up at.

Clearly, Bear has been having fun. I have no clue which Transformer this is, but it was in a series of MANY pictures. It scares me a little, that he lined up his toys and carefully took portraits of each and CD and I had NO CLUE.

OK, now this I remember. This was one of Bear's recent karate tournaments. No one believes me when I try to explain the level of chaos and cacophony.

The moment it gets warm, this boy runs out and starts dousing himself with the hose. You should SEE our water bill in the summer months. It is insane. Can someone explain to me the compulsion this child has with being wet?

The INFAMOUS FOX EARS. The bunny ones I tried to dye? Yeah, that was a disaster. But I let him tie-dye one of his shirts with "fox colors" and that turned out pretty good. His first tie-dye experience and my first in at least a decade. I mean, the backyard grass is now spotted but the shirt isn't bad. Bear loves it, which is most important I think.

Here are CD and Bear hanging out in front of the school after the show. I may be projecting, but even with our impending fall into utter poverty I really believe that, as a family, we're happier. Or it could be that this is the eye of the storm. Huh.

This is a battle cruiser of Bear's. You wouldn't believe how long it took me to figure that out, because the pictures on the card just after it...

... were of the U-Boat 505 that lives at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Where we went the day after the thing at Bear's school. It is so incredibly huge on the outside and so incredibly tiny inside. And an amazing sight altogether, to turn the corner down a hallway and suddenly be looking down on an entire German submarine that was captured in the Atlantic over 60 years ago.

Three generations walking down the sidewalk as we left the museum. My mom, CD, and Bear far off in the lead.

And finally, some sculptures tucked along the side of the Museum, easy to miss unless you had a curious and bright redhead pointing them out.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 05:45 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 738 words, total size 5 kb.

My son has been raised, both at home and at school, under a code of rules. And while he can throw a punch that would land you on your aunt fanny, he adheres to this code and treats people, by and large, respectfully (at least as far as I know).

This has worked for Bear socially as well as morally - his is very popular at school with all his classmates (who attended his birthday party in record numbers) and with the teachers.

But the world isn't just bright and civilized places.

Which is why there is a certain park near our home that I avoid. It is close by and the crowd of kids there is rough. Almost feral.

The kids taunt each other and swear openly. Little kids, as young as 2 or 3, find themselves the targets of fistfuls of gravel and bark tossed from above. Boys hunch at the top of the plastic climbing wall and try and push down the kids who are trying to make it to the top - resulting of falls into the hard bark and gravel from heights of 4 or 5 feet.

And I have no idea where their parents are. There were 7 adults for the 30 or so kids that were there.

Yeah, it's all "Lord of the Flies" at that playground.

It was so beautiful today that I forgot all my reservations and stopped there with Bear after school. Dummy, dummy me.

There was a group of kids who Bear thought looked about his size, so he approached to play with them. They threw bark at him and teased him about his "clown hair".

I found him, arms wrapped around his knees hiding under a plastic shelter. He looked at me with sad and confused blue eyes.

I sighed. "Fight back," I advised.

He nodded seriously, dug up a mound of dirt and gravel, marched up the them and bombs away.

The next thing I knew, they were all the best of friends.

Which was also a problem. Because these kids were bullies.

They were trash-talking the other kids, shoving each other, and taking risks that scared the hell out of me. And then out of a kid who looked about 4 years old, urging another boy to keep up - "C'mon, asshole!"

I threw my purse over my shoulder and marched up to my son and said "Time to go."

Bear ignored me.

Finally, I grabbed his arm. The other kids then began trying to pull him away from me. Shouting at him that they would rescue him from the mean woman. One of the kids pulled his sweat pants practically to Bear's knees as he grabbed his legs off the ground.

My son;s body was in a tug of war with me at one end and 4 little children on the other and he went from laughing to scared but it didn't stop.

Finally, I shouted for them to stop immediately. The 4 looked at me defiantly for a long moment before stepping away. I had a moment of sheer outrage and panic.

Then I took my son's hand and we marched out. My heart thudding a mile a minute.

I need a valium. Seriously.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 09:38 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 544 words, total size 3 kb.

UPDATE:

SO, my neighbor had small bunny ears that I can dye, and I am looking for a feather duster tail... THANK YOU BJ, Suz, and Caltechgirl!

I got an email last night that I saw this morning - for the big end of the year thing at Happy Montessori, the kids in Bear's class are singing a song. Apparently, they can dress up as forest animals. Bear told me that he's going to be a fox.

The thing? Is tomorrow morning.

Anyone know where to find fox ears on the fly? (the children are not supposed to be wearing costumes, according to the note. Just regular clothes in appropriate colors, face paint, and ears or wings).

Posted by: Elizabeth at 01:34 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 123 words, total size 1 kb.

1 How bout a head band with some taped/glued on construction paper ears. get some brown/reddish construction paper and some white. You get the picture. As for the tail - maybe a brown/red feather duster. pinned to the pants.

Posted by: suz at May 19, 2006 02:03 AM (GhfSh)

2 Try Party City or Walmart if you're not feeling crafty. They usually have some costume bits all year long if you look in the right places. I love the fox tail feather duster idea!

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 19, 2006 04:08 AM (4DpWD)

3 Michaels or a similar craft store may work out as well. I once bought reindeer horns for my daughter's recital from Michaels.

Posted by: bj at May 19, 2006 05:15 AM (2kALm)

4 This reminds me of the evening that 10 minutes after she had been sent to bed Her Ladyship popped her head 'round the door to say, "Oh, and Mom? I need to take pig ears and a nose to school tomorrow. For the play. Which we're doing at 2P. You can be there, right?" I manufactured something approximating pig ears and nose out of construction paper, thread, and a headband, and she looked great. Bear will, too.

Posted by: Ruth at May 20, 2006 03:03 PM (ZkZtT)

5 i didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but welcome back.

Posted by: becky at May 21, 2006 04:30 PM (24qw7)

6 I would have bought some felt triangles and attached it to a headband. How did it work out for you?

Posted by: jack steel at May 22, 2006 09:39 AM (w26Tt)

7 LMAO! And I thought 80 cupcakes by 8:00 a.m. was bad.

Posted by: Margi at May 23, 2006 06:32 AM (BRtaN)

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The day before Easter, I was prepping up the ham while CD and Bear played T-ball in the back yard. A stranger came up the driveway, as I watched from the window. CD spotted him quickly and moved to intercept him while I headed down to the back door to keep an eye on Bear.

He was all "Do you live here?" to CD in a way that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Yes.

He was....

a reporter.

Investigating yet another "Roman Catholic priest molested children" story, based on a new lawsuit that had been filed.

Except, in this case the ex-priest had already had several cases against him settled by the Church. Although the reporter was vague, he encouraged CD to do a search on the internet.

(Which I began immediately.)

And there he was. (The site has all names and information on priests the Catholic Church has revealed.)

The Guy across the street. The one that lives with his partner in the nicest house on the block. My co-planner in the block parties. A former priest who molested children.

I leaned against the wall, fighting nausea.

He's not in the National Sex Offenders Registry because he's never been convicted.

Dammit.

Don't ask me about innocent until proven guilty.

The next time he waved at me across the street, I wished him dead. It's visceral, gut-level hatred. And it has been with CD and I now for weeks.

We've told Bear that the guys across the street are not safe people any more. Thank God we were able to make the point clear and serious without going into detail. (Is there a right way to do this sort of thing?)

There's a pedophile across the street from our happy home in Pleasantville.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 09:05 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 316 words, total size 2 kb.

1 My lord! Horrific! I wish something could be done about that, for your sake. So did you end up on the evening news? I bet your neighbor loved that one. Not sure how I found you through the endless portals of mommy blogs. But I'll be back! Regards! It's Okay Sweetie blogger mom

Posted by: Mom of Sweetie at May 16, 2006 09:33 AM (nSqJp)

2 My word! This is horrible! I hope there's something you can do about this. We too have looked at a similar link for our neighborhood. It's a reminder we always need to keep our kids within safe distance and educate them early. Not sure how I found you with all the Mommy blogs out there. But I'll be back! Regards!

Posted by: mom of sweetie at May 16, 2006 10:19 AM (nSqJp)

3 Oops! Sorry about the multiple postings! I thought the first one was lost and tried to recreate it.

Posted by: me again! at May 16, 2006 10:22 AM (nSqJp)

4 Oh I would be a nervous wreck. I'll hope you and your Bear stay safe.

Posted by: Soccamom at May 16, 2006 11:42 AM (CuxC8)

5 holy crap! At least now you know. And you can watch out.

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 16, 2006 12:33 PM (jOkK0)

6 That would be enough to make anyone really, really, really, really sick. Vomitous sick. I'm sooo sooo sorry! Get the facts and then share it (even if anonymously) with your neighbors!! Creeps like that don't deserve freedom. No offense but I cannot accept the catholic church today. This coverup is way too out of control at the expense of people's safety. That's not right and needs to be stopped.

Posted by: Eyes at May 16, 2006 05:25 PM (L67iN)

7 HOLY HELL!! That is awful. Can you do anything? Call the police??? OMG!!!!! This makes ill....I will pray that you are all safe.

Posted by: jodes at May 17, 2006 02:07 AM (eNpgZ)

8 Sometimes I think that there is nowhere that is completely safe, even though we live in a small town. Sorry to hear about your neighbor, but knowing is better than not knowing.

Posted by: abogada at May 17, 2006 04:06 AM (NmdrC)

9 Gads. How frightening. Good way to teach Bear that even people who look NICE can be DANGEROUS and this is why he shouldn't trust strangers.

Posted by: kalisah at May 17, 2006 06:05 AM (C7RFb)

10 Oh shit. That is the worst feeling. This is one of my pet peeves. Churches avoid the bad publicity and simply do "in-house" discipline, which often means transferring the problem to another place. It's not just Catholics! My father the ex-minister could be the poster child for "Minister molests and gets moved to new church" articles. You wanted to move, anyway, right?

Posted by: Tammy at May 17, 2006 09:01 AM (M++hX)

11 So glad you're back! I enjoy reading even more now...because I may be going from Corporate to fulltime mommy within the next year if my company gets sold as planned. Very mixed emotions from me. Mostly scared. So please, because I'm selfish, keep writing about life after the corporate world

Posted by: Kelly at May 18, 2006 04:21 AM (VPwLk)

12 thankfully you found out sooner than later, that was a close call

Posted by: jack steel at May 18, 2006 06:37 AM (w26Tt)

13 Wow, that is crazy. You know the states do not keep up with pedophiles until something comes up. I am glad you guys were able to find out.

Posted by: Chica at May 18, 2006 03:22 PM (OMil+)

14 Oh no, oh no! That is horrible. I'm sorry you found out, but glad too, because wouldn't you rather know? I've missed you! Hope things are well with you. Now I'm going to do some catching up.

Posted by: Lucinda at May 22, 2006 02:42 PM (OPvIN)

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I grew up in the era of Fair Isle and monogram sweaters. Fine wool and cotton and even, for special, maybe some cashmere.

Here was the rule: Don't pull the string.

Because, as my mother informed me, the entire sweater would unravel if you did. You'd be left standing there like a cartoon character buck naked from the waist up except for maybe the monogram letters hanging around your training bra and a pile of thread at your feet.

Also? You'd look like Betty Boop.

Meanwhile, back in reality.

The OT Specialist lady whose name means Happy (As Bear likes to say) informed us that he has a mild large-motor sensory integration disorder (still no clue what the means), a possible vision thing (referral to pedaitic opthamoligist here), and? Bear is truly non-dominant. You know, ambidextrous. Texas gold, my friend.

Except? Not.

It means double the work for my kid, whose fine motor on both hands is at about 3 years old instead of his true age of 5.5. Because he's been learning everything on both sides. For that, he will get OT therapy and a lot of it. But it is good news because he will get all the help he needs now instead of later.

But that's not all.

Included with the Ginsu knives and the dashing set of referral sheets (in Blue!) came one for allergies. So today we hiked over to the pediatrician's to check it out.

Man, do I ever suck as a mother.

Turns out that Bear's entire back of the nose-and-throat-and-ear areas are a hive of swollen and detracted and, well, I don't know the fancy term for it all. He's got allergies, right here in River City. He's got stuff to pump up his nose and other stuff to swallow.The pediatrician shook her head and said "You didn't notice?"

"Well, he's more tired than usual lately," I said (feeling like a moron).

But wait - one more thing. There is a fine sprinkling of bumps on his cheeks and hands and legs. Because he's also allergic toour laundry detergent. Tide, if you're wondering.

After she left the room to get more prescription sheets, I picked Bear up and he clung to me like a baby octopus. "Sorry, kiddo," I whispered.

"For what?"

"I didn't know you were sick," I told him, resting my cheek in the hollow of his neck as I rocked him back and forth.

"It's ok," he whispered back. "I didn't know too."

I stood there, my purse fat with referrals and information. And feeling like there must be a pile of string at my feet from a simple tug.

And then I bought him an ice cream cone to make it all better.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 09:23 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 463 words, total size 3 kb.

When I first said that I was leaving my job, someone asked in a comment if I would be shutting down this site or changing the name. At the time, I couldn't imagine either. After all, I am the Corporate Mommy.

Laptop bag over one shoulder, kid on my hip, hair highlighted, cell phone buzzing.

Only... not anymore.

Me & Bear, Karate Tournament, 2/06

There's a great Princess Bride quote;. "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." I've always wondered how Inigo would introduce himself if there had been a sequel, once the guy who murdered his father had died.

CD & Bear, Minneapolis, 2/06

How do I introduce myself now? As simply the 'Mommy'? or 'Wife & Mommy'? These two males, are they my identity anchor now?

"What now? Who am I?" have been the questions that would pop into my head over and over as the roller coaster of the past few weeks has ripped me along for the ride.

If I thought life after a full-time job would give me a field of breathing room, I was seriously deluded.

I hosted a bridal shower for my firend Laura. I tackled a mountain of paperwork that came with becoming ex-employee. I discovered from a reporter that the nice neighbor across the street is an ex-Catholic Priest and a pedophile. I had my son tested for ADD.

Painted a bedroom. I returned to the Cathedral for the first time since I resigned, and took Communion. I reconnected with my husband after 5 years of growing apart. Attended a race. A Karate tournament. Visited with my father and stepmother. Made about 70 frillion pipe cleaner animals. I lost my mind. Cried my way through an economy bundle of tissues. Got my hair streaked with magenta. Contemplated a tatoo. Prayed.

Wallowed in self-pity even after I kept thinking I was "over it". Spent some serious sessions with a therapist.

St. Jame's Cathedral, Chicago, Easter/06

Did a bagazillion errands. A small desktop publishing project. Decorated the bedroom. Cooked. Cleaned. Spent countless hours with my son.

Bear, Lincoln's Monument in Grant Park, Chicago, 3/06

And something I didn't do...

Write.

The longest break I've taken in my journalling since I was 13 years old.

I didn't mean to. There were some technical problems. But mostly, there were spirit problems. As in, the spirit wasn't willing.

I would get up and look at the computer or at the notebook on the desk. And I wouldn't start.

Just... wouldn't start.

"Who" and"What" questions wrestling in my mind. My fingers still.

There's been no sunbeam moment that solved anything.

I hope that I'm forgiven for disappearing.

Now that I found my start.

Sunshine, Chicago, 4/06

Hello. My name is Elizabeth Blair York.

I used to be a corporate mommy.

This is my journal.

Posted by: Elizabeth at 05:33 AM | Comments (43) | Add Comment
Post contains 481 words, total size 4 kb.

1 So glad you're back.

Posted by: Cheryl at May 11, 2006 06:10 AM (cc8T+)

2 Welcome back... I was wondering what had happened and am happy to see a new post.

Posted by: Becky at May 11, 2006 06:11 AM (JKGfQ)

3 Hello again.

Posted by: Genuine at May 11, 2006 06:53 AM (bOkl4)

4 Welcome back!

Posted by: Elizabeth at May 11, 2006 06:55 AM (v+q53)

5 Hello and welcome back! Before anything else, I must ask....do we get to see a picture of the new hair streaks?! I have the same dilemma when introducing myself. Am I a teacher, even though I've been out of the classroom for 4 years? Am I just the teacher's wife? A mom? What do I say when people ask "What do you DO all day?" I've found it's best to just go with my name. That's who I am. Not His Wife, or Their Mummy, or The Teacher. Just me.

Posted by: Tammy at May 11, 2006 06:56 AM (M++hX)

6 Hello, dear. You're looking lovely.

Posted by: ieatcrayonz at May 11, 2006 06:56 AM (FLJz9)

7 Welcome back! I remember my surprise after leaving my old job at how BUSY I was as a SAHM. I look forward to reading the next chapter in your life.

Posted by: Donna at May 11, 2006 07:07 AM (U+YqD)

8 Hello Elizabeth! We're listening/reading.

Posted by: Northern_Girl at May 11, 2006 07:14 AM (qUaaW)

9 Hi, honey. I missed you and I'm thrilled to see you back!

Posted by: RP at May 11, 2006 07:18 AM (LlPKh)

10 It's very nice to see you here again. And you know? I think a blog name change wouldn't be so bad. You're not the corporate mommy any more. You're Elizabeth. And there's so much more to you than a title.

Posted by: Jennifer at May 11, 2006 07:18 AM (jl9h0)

11 We missed you! I'm so glad you're back.

Posted by: cursingmama at May 11, 2006 07:27 AM (PoQfr)

12 So happy to see you are back.

Posted by: mommy2wahid at May 11, 2006 07:47 AM (1H561)

13 Hi, I am so glad you are back! I've checked your blog daily and had started to get worried. I was going to try to send you an email today just to see if you were ok and amazingly you are here! I'm so glad you're back!! We've missed you!

Posted by: Cindy at May 11, 2006 01:18 PM (oy7Ur)

14 Hi Elizabeth - Just dropping by to invite you to add your tradecard to the Supermom Gallery http://hlb.blogspot.com

Posted by: Helene at May 11, 2006 01:54 PM (ln0MA)

15 I've been checking in most every day too. I'm glad you're back and I enjoyed the photos!

Posted by: Jill at May 11, 2006 01:55 PM (mPnaW)

16 Welcome back, Elizabeth! I've missed you.

Posted by: Ruth at May 11, 2006 01:58 PM (ZkZtT)

17 I'm glad you're back - I've been worrying! Loved the post - it made me exhale!

Posted by: Flikka at May 11, 2006 03:06 PM (puvdD)

18 Nice to meet you (again), Elizabeth!

Posted by: madrigalia at May 11, 2006 03:51 PM (20oYL)

19 Welcome back! I was getting worried and hoping that you were having an adjustment period and not a "no more blog" period. Whew.

Posted by: paige at May 11, 2006 10:23 PM (SV/CZ)

20 You aren't back, you are brand new. Welcome.

Posted by: JC at May 12, 2006 12:21 AM (IdBy7)

21 Hello! Glad to see that your back! I hope things are going better for you.

Posted by: ashleigh at May 12, 2006 02:50 AM (MuwP5)

22 Welcome back. We missed you.

Posted by: abogada at May 12, 2006 04:51 AM (NmdrC)

23 Hi. Nice to meet you again. Glad you're back. Don't be away so long next time!

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 12, 2006 06:09 AM (/vgMZ)

24 Missed you bunches - glad you're back (and sounding even better than ever)!

Posted by: beth at May 12, 2006 09:03 AM (IUoqt)

25 Welcome back. You were missed.

Posted by: Polichick at May 12, 2006 01:51 PM (rQJQP)

26 Guess you needed the break. Wow, you look happy in the picture, and pretty too. A guy friend once told me he thought the best makeup a woman could wear was a smile. That smile certainly worked for you.

Posted by: Susan at May 12, 2006 04:21 PM (XxRGL)

27 Elizabeth...welcome back! And...nice to meet the new you!

Posted by: Grace at May 13, 2006 04:38 AM (L058b)

28 So glad to have you back!

Posted by: Jacque at May 13, 2006 08:54 AM (C/Usc)

29 Hi Elizabeth! However you choose to define yourself, I'm glad you're back.

Posted by: Kimberly at May 13, 2006 09:55 AM (CXd4V)

30 ELIZABETH! Nice to meet you, again... I'm so glad you're back. Magenta highlights? That ROCKS, dude.

Posted by: Stacy at May 13, 2006 04:18 PM (wQkUI)

31 You GO, girl. xoxo

Posted by: Margi at May 13, 2006 05:59 PM (BRtaN)

32 So glad to see you back, E. I am inspired by your post and your redefining yourself with this journal. I should look into doing that as well, after all. Nice to meet you (again)! Sol

Posted by: Sol at May 14, 2006 06:53 AM (IteW6)

33 Happy Mother's Day, my sweet.

Posted by: Margi at May 14, 2006 09:48 AM (BRtaN)

34 You were missed abs x

Posted by: abs at May 14, 2006 07:58 PM (ZiD7d)

35 How about "Hi! My name is Elizabeth." You are a woman. You are gorgeous, talented, brilliant and powerful. You do it all. :-)

Posted by: jozet at May 15, 2006 01:08 AM (/hSUT)

36 yay! glad to meet you (again), Elizabeth.

Posted by: alice at May 15, 2006 03:13 AM (DeROi)

37 Hey girl! So glad to have you back!

Posted by: Monica C. at May 15, 2006 06:30 AM (gkN3L)

38 Enjoy your blog. Gives me hope. I'm going through a rough time, one I think you've managed to pull through. Hope there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Posted by: Clair_v at May 15, 2006 02:35 PM (Gt/gg)

39 Include photographer in that - you, or someone, takes great photos.

Posted by: Mia at May 16, 2006 04:24 AM (aEZkR)

40 I changed my blog name after I stopped blogging for two years and I mourned the loss of that website for awhile, but I realized I mourned the loss of something else, not really the website. Sometimes change is good, if it comes at the right time.

Posted by: trish at May 16, 2006 08:26 AM (tFkbn)

41 Wonderful to have you back.

Posted by: karmajenn at May 17, 2006 12:51 AM (fx1A8)

42 Glad to have you back. It's so hard "watching" people go through depressing times and not being able to help. When I start to feel bad I get big reality checks. I read you all time time as well as this blog http://cancerbaby.typepad.com/cancerbaby/ Like you, she was an amazing writer but unlike our shared experience of a layoff she was dealing with a far more serious issue and helped me put my life in perspective. Bottom line - live for today, for your children and find joy in the simple act of awakening to discover another day. You rock and I'm such an admirer of your struggle and your acceptance of the unknown road ahead!

Posted by: Nicole at May 18, 2006 09:26 AM (Qx4n7)

43 Way to go. Gald you are back.

Posted by: Chica at May 18, 2006 03:25 PM (OMil+)

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