Housekeeping Realiztion

                                          I spend a  lot of time keeping my kitchen floor clean. It is a very thankless job, the sweeping, dustpanning, subsequent mopping . it looks good for a few hours(this number fluctuates with the time of the sweeping , dustpanning and mopping in relation to when my kids will be bursting through the door). Then, tomorrow it will need this all over again. Or not, depending on my dirt tolerance level that day, which if it is close or during my period, the floor can just absorb all the brownie crumbs falling from my mouth until I feel better. I hear all of you saying, "what the hell is her point to this?"I do have one, I swear.
                                          You see, today as I was sweeping under the kitchen table(not an everyday occurance-biweekly at best) I realized I am a lot like this high maintenance friggin' floor. At first glance, people visiting would say"it's very clean", and at FIRST glance it is very clean. Because on the surface it is kept highly presentable. However, if they spent some time looking around, they would see some small reminants of dog food in the cracks by her bowl. If they continued exploring my kitchen floor, they would see the grout is old and discolored in spots, a victim of time and too few pressure cleanings. Look a little further, under the kitchen table and it is a mess(crumbs, pencils, napkin shards, and an occassional vitamin discarded at breakfast by a sleepy child). No one ever climbs under the table to examine this, but the mess is there. It's just hidden by a seemingly clean rest of the floor.
                                          So, it is  a lot like me, this constantly work inducing floor. I try to always look presentable on the outside , which is a daily chore. but no amount of sweeping and mopping changes what is really there hidden throughout. I am aging like the grout I hope no one ever stares at too long, and the mess under my table reflects the condition of my mental state most days. Some days cleaning the floor is simply about me pushing the mop , but today I took the time to think about it. I dont know why , but I felt the need to share this correlation with you all, who I hope to GOD have a hidden mess under their kitchen tables too......

A few words to my friends...

                                     This blog is a tribute to my friends , who I feel very lucky to have in my daily life. Even if I dont see them daily, I think of them and use their advice,wisdom or sense of humor to get me through things. I have a lot of acquaintances, and people I know and respect that wont be mentioned on here just because I cant type all day:))) So if I mention you it means I have thought of you lately, you have helped me through things, are still helping me through things , or you are a friend I have had for a long time. If I dont mention you, I still probably think about you, and value your friendship just as much. because if you have the ability to see and read my blog you ALL are my friends. Here's my words to my friends chosen this time:
              Tiffany Ragsdale: Always helpful, and always there to listen. A great mother, extremely patient. Most important lesson learned from Tiff:stay away from sting rays:)
              Peggy D: Someone who will go to battle for her friends, even if it means getting a few scrapes herself. someone I know I can call and just "bitch"to and my favorite quality...someone who uses the F word as much as I do.
              Penny Goldman: My college roomate, has seen me at my absolute worst ,caught me in many compromising positions and I wish we saw more of each other.but when we did see each other after many years of being apart, it was like we never left.
              Megan McNeil: Most unlikely person I would be friends with, doesnt like to shop, drinks beer(when she isnt breastfeeding:)) , wears plain , non revealing clothing..see total opposite. BUT oddly, she is one of the people I love to talk to the most, laugh with and give and get advice with. She's sweet and smart and we dont hang out enough, but I think of her daily.
               Tracy Spahman: Another unlikely match for me, very sweet, never talks about anyone, calm and patient. Lives 3,000 miles away and I miss just walking down the block and hanging out in her kitchen talking about our kids or our husbands...why did you have to leave me?:(
                 Molly Feltner: Our kids were in cheer together for many years, and the things discussed at 8 hour/week practices definately cover the spectrum. she's pretty, a great mom and skinny without ever working out-i actually hate that about her:) But she will do anything for you, and is always doing it with a smile.
                  Mari Blank: Friends for 14 years , through MOMS club, PTA, Relay for LIFE, and my personal training partner. I love Mari, she embodies what a true friend is. She's also getting old (like me) and we can discuss our various ailments together and totally understand each other:)
                 Melissa Fenton: we used to be neighbors, then lost touch. FB has kept us updated on each other and her statuses and views on motherhood make me laugh so hard. I will always remember stumbling throught  t he first 2 years of motherhood with her, as we would walk our babies, around our block and try to hold on to our sanity.
                  Patty Coviello: Ok, she's not going to see this unless one of her kids read it to her but she is a truly good person. A few years older (and definately wiser)than I am, I always look to her for guidance with Zach-he's my oldest who is best friends with her youngest. she knows a lot, always listens and will do anything for you. she has raised 4 great kids and in this world that is a hell of an accomplishment.And she makes baseball season a little easier to get through!
                  Ok, so this list barely touches the people in my life I cherish, but it is a start. I wrote it with the intention of letting people know how important they are because we dont tell each other enough, as I was reminded by another friend of mine,Kelly Doyle, earlier this week...she got me thinking that I should start telling people what they mean to me, before one of my various middle age ailments gets me and its too late:)