All week long I’ve been remembering things to write about and snapping a quick cell phone pic when I had a free second.  Let me tell you.  That was rare my friends.  I had been looking forward to writing every day this week and linking up with Melissa at Adventuroo for her annual “Week In My Life.”

But, during this week. That wasn’t going to happen.  I was extremely busy at work and out-of-town for two days.  So, I’m just doing a recap of the week.  Here is this crazy week in my life.  Well, what I can remember, anyway.

Monday:

I didn’t know this was the week until I read a post from Erin about it.  Oops.  I didn’t record much this day.

8:30am-  I was really psyched to get into work to talk to people about the real-life soap opera that is our local school board.  I covered this cluster as a news reporter.   My jaw dropped into my coffee Sunday morning when I read a breaking newspaper article about board members running for statewide office who supposedly had an illicit affair.  Ah politics!  It’s dirty and totally irresistible.

6:00pm- I got to play with my girl because Lord knows I wouldn’t be able to later in the week.  I had to take a picture of this smile in mismatched pajamas pushing Cookie Monster in the doll stroller.

Tuesday:

7:30am- I needed to be at work at 7:30am and got stuck at the train tracks.  Not for a train.  For maintainance.  Really?!  Ya’ll couldn’t handle that at 3:00am? You had to wait until I was rushing into work.  Thanks for nothing.  (Side note:  I still lift my feet when I go over the tracks.  Please tell me you know what I’m talking about.)

9:00am- I got to take some cool photos for clients at work.  I loved the setup we had and the chance to stretch my photographic abilities.  Some of the guys in this particular office rushed in about this time and said, “Did you see LeBron?!?”  Now, as far as I know there is only one LeBron in the world.  If there are more, I don’t know who they are.  I looked down to the street from the office window and saw the reflection of the Miami Heat’s bus in the window of the Marriott.  Some people had waited to see LeBron James and company exit the hotel before heading to our local arena.  They had an exhibition game that night.

12:00pm- I grabbed a quick bite with a coworker before spotting an old family friend to chat with. I got a parking ticket.  Little did I know, this would be just the first time I would curse the City of Raleigh’s parking enforcers this week.

5:30pm-After meetings back at the office all afternoon I got to go pick up Charlotte.  She did not care that I was there and was engrossed in a book about a duck and a goose.  I had to bribe her with a pumpkin visit to even get her to come home with me.  She happily greeted the pumpkins at the front of her school.

Wednesday:

6:30am- Let the madness begin!  My coworker, Jen and I headed 1 1/2 hours out-of-town Greensboro for a meeting.  I love her and love working with her.  Thank goodness, because we spent loads of time together this week.  We may or may not have grabbed a quick bite at the IHOP on the way out-of-town and I may or may not have ordered the Pumpkin Pancakes.  Holla!

4:00pm-  Okay, here’s where things get interesting, well, annoying.  I arrived at a huge work event in downtown Raleigh.  I unloaded equipment from my car and went to move my car to our designated parking area.  I turned on one busy street.  Bam!  Battery died in my Jeep.  I frantically coasted into a parking spot on the street.  I tried to crank my engine, but it sounded like someone had put nail polish remover in my gas tank.  Shoot me.

To make things even better, some lady with City of Raleigh parking informed me that I was 6″ over the line, and thus not actually in a spot.  One of her coworkers with a ticket printer made me put money in a meter before the woman informed me I had to move by 6:00pm, or the city would tow me.  Oh, did I not mention that my portion of this company event started at 5:30pm sharp?!?  Thankfully a coworker suggested the ladies in my office wear flats as I rushed down the street, frantically searching my wallet for my AAA card.  Naturally it was stuck between my Dunkin Donuts coffee card and library card.

I informed my very understanding coworkers of my predicament before hopping in the AAA car with Robert.  I apologized for eating my boxed dinner in his car, but I was starving and I knew it was the only time I could eat anything.  We drove down the block to my stranded Jeep.  Robert saved my ass and I would have kissed him if I weren’t a married woman.  I had a corroded battery that he fixed by 5:15pm.  You’re my hero Robert!

8:00pm-  Greyson let Charlotte stay up a little late.  I made it home just in time for a story.  I had 10 precious minutes with her the entire day.  It hurt my heart to have such a brief time, but I soaked up every second.

Thursday:

5:30am-  I hit the road.  I had to drive 3 hours to Charlotte.  I sucked down some coffee and snacked on some dry Cheerios.  I seriously wish I had eaten more.

8:30am-  Meeting #1

11:00am- Meeting #2 after maneuvering through the world’s most annoying parking deck.  Jen and I carrying photo equipment through SUV’s squeezed into compact car parking spots was quite comical.  We got to eat around 1:00pm as I tried to call my sister.  I knew she worked in the building across the street and I would have loved to hug her.

3:00pm-  Meeting #3

4:00pm-  I got back on the road only to sit in terrible traffic!  I called Jen to complain because I knew she too was sitting in her car on I-85.  We decided we were true Raleigh girls who seriously needed to get out of the  Queen City.

7:30pm-  I got another 10 minutes with my child.  ::sigh::

9:30pm- As if Jen and I hadn’t seen enough of each other.  I texted her this pic of me to get her opinion about my outfit.  Girls.

Friday:

8:00am-  I made it!  Poor Greyson had to take Charlotte to school because I forgot I left the car seat at work since I had to load the Jeep with equipment.  I was at a client meeting for a video shoot from 8:00am-11 ish.

Noon-  Friday Mexican Lunch with coworkers!  Ole!

4:00pm-  The office closed early and I had some time to make up with my girl.  Ice cream date!

6:00pm-  The babysitter came.  I had a hot date at our favorite French restaurant.  Oui!

Saturday-  

10:00am- You remember that party I effed up last week?  Yeah, we got to go this week.  Beth Anne threw an adorable and creative construction themed party with Bojangles biscuits as “Bricks and Stone.”  My baby ate the bacon outta that thang like a boss!

Some time in the afternoon:  The Tar Heels won!  They beat NC State after a bit of a losing streak.  The final play was epic and made ESPN’s top play of the day.

9:00pm-  After a day of house showings I stayed up until 1:30am making decorations for Charlotte’s party this coming Saturday.  I think I have a party planning problem.

Sunday:

Happy Birthday Mama!  It’s my mom’s birthday.  We already celebrated my family’s October birthdays a few weeks ago.  It is also the 2nd anniversary of my due date.  

Have a great week, everyone!

We got Charlotte all excited for a birthday party Saturday morning. I explained how the toy truck was not for her as I put it in the gift bag. (I only wrap at Christmas. Don’t judge.) Greyson was all like, “Who’s party is this again?”

I explained it was for Harrison. He is the darling, toe-headed 3-year-old of my dear friend Beth Anne. She is my sorority sister and Internet maven. I was all like, “You know, Beth Anne. Her husband went to school with us too.” He said, “Oh, are they cool?” I was all like, “Um, yeah. I told you she is one of my sisters. We were the best chapter on campus, so yeah. I’d say they’re cool.” He reminded me that I am a 31 year-old mother and really need to let the sorority days go. (Never!)

I dolled up Charlotte in a little fall frock and off we went. We were about 20 minutes late. I figure it was cool to be fashionably late to a party. I was all like, “Charlotte, can you say ‘Happy Birthday Harry!’?” She giggled.

I rang the bell and Beth Anne stared at me like I had five heads. She was all like, this.

Beth Anne and I doubled over in giggles at my stupidity. The party is next Saturday. Greyson was all like, “Seriously, Amy?” My mistake meant I got to hug my friend and get a sneak peek of her new house.

Charlotte was all like, “I want cake!” I was all like, “Yeah, too bad. We’re gonna go get flu shots and vote early.”

In the car Greyson was all like, “She’s cool. I like her.” I was all like, “I told you.”

No surprise. I got the date at our Early Voting precinct wrong too. Guess when it opens? Yep. Next Saturday.

The family flu shots were somewhat successful. I was all like, “I want to try the new type of flu shot with the 90% smaller needle that hurts less! Oh! It’s covered by our insurance!” Greyson and I got the new shot and Charlotte got the standard pediatric dose. We tried to be brave in front of our toddler but both of us were all like, “Ugh! Hurts less, my ass!” Our arms are still red two days later.

About as red as Greyson’s face standing on Beth Anne’s steps.

Every fall we park in the same dusty parking lot outside the same football stadium.  My hand finds his as we weave through the crowd before going through the same gate.  I breathe the cool air laced with the smell of bubbling oil in deep fat fryers.  It’s always mixed with the scent of ribboned livestock and smoked meat that used to be livestock.

October, 2003 at the fountain at the NC State Fairgrounds.  This picture is framed in our house.

I took Greyson for the first time in 2003.  We had just started dating and I told him as a new resident of our state it was a must-see.  Greyson had the day off so I played hooky from my part-time job as a receptionist at a local specialty pharmacy.  The day before,  I invented a wicked fake sore throat.  The pharmacist, my boss,  whipped up a mouth and throat numbing lollipop for my “affliction” and made me eat it in the office.  I wiped drool and smelled like cherries the rest of the day.  Greyson laughed and said no woman had ever gone to those lengths to go on a date with him.  

After what we’ve been through in the past three months I’m convinced that buying and selling a house brings out the worst in people.  Strangers basically pick the lock and wander through your home while you’re not there, judging the size and cleanliness of your closets before criticizing your paint colors.  If that’s not enough, they whine about your lack of counter space while totally overlooking the new carpet you just put in.  Then they put in an insultingly low offer while hiding behind their white-toothed Realtors.  Assholes.

I know this because we have both been these assholes, and been the victims of them.

Greyson and I are always appalled at the snobby things people say on shows like “House Hunters.”  They act like they are somehow entitled to granite countertops and “his and her” sinks just because he works in IT and she’s pregnant with their second child in the suburbs of Cincinnati.  (Yeah, we watch too much HGTV.)

It hurts my heart to think about the negative things people might say when they’re touring my house without me.  Don’t they know this is the house where we set up our first Christmas tree as newlyweds and brought home our rescue dog?  Don’t they realize we ate doughnuts in the yard with our best friends during the neighborhood garage sale?  Hello?!  We lovingly painted that nursery upstairs and our baby rolled over for the first time on the living room rug.  We loved here.  We live here.  This is our home.

And we’re choosing to leave it.  It’s an emotional thing.  So, I’m deciding to be gentler as I wander through others’ rooms in the homes where they loved and lived.

Except for the offers.  I’ll be an asshole hiding behind my Realtor.  It’s a buyers market and I’m counting on vicious white teeth.  (He he, Realtors really do have noticeably white teeth.  Am I right?)

I’m not writing today as I continue to recover from this God-awful illness I’ve been battling this week.  Tomorrow is my Father-In-Law Woody’s birthday.  Greyson asked for the platform of Somebody’s Parents to give him a present.  I welcome a guest blogger!  Here is the writing of my husband.  Enjoy, and Happy Birthday, Woody!  

What do you get the man who has everything for his birthday?

You hijack your wife’s blog and pay homage to the man.  Actually I don’t know anyone who does that, but I’m doing it today.

Without question, one of the things I cherish most is my relationship with my father.  We’ve always had a great relationship, full of humor, advice, deep conversations, and a copious amount of sports.

My father was the best man at my wedding.  When I asked him to be my best man, it caught him off guard….and brought him to tears.  For me, there was never a doubt who I wanted standing next to me as my bride walked down the aisle.  I pictured that moment well before I ever met Amy.

Like I said, we’ve always been close and enjoy a great friendship.  But having little Charlotte has uncovered a new aspect to my relationship with my dad….understanding.

My dad, by any measure, was a wildly successful lawyer.  While he was blessed with immense talent and intellect, his success is really attributed to his drive and passion for hard work.

Most nights did include my dad, briefcase open in front of him, focused on his work.

Don’t get me wrong, my sisters and I were never neglected.  Dad coached my hockey teams, spent hours upon hours helping me with my homework, and was a master of imparting wisdom at just the right times.

But, there was also a lot of work to be done.  Occasionally small talk, or watching the big game, might capture only half of his attention while he plowed through paperwork.

At times it was hard to fully understand why the work was important.  Of course, I knew the money he earned made our lives possible.  But did he really care more about work than spending every possible minute with his kids?

With Charlotte in my life….now, I understand.  As primal as it might sound, I am finding that the desire to provide for my family is the most powerful motivator of all.

I have attacked work with a renewed sense of passion.  It’s easy, when all I have to do is look at the framed pictures on my desk of my wife and child.  I want to make sure that sweet little girl has all of the things I was lucky to have growing up….great family vacations, summer camp, and most of all, a fully paid education.

I work extra hours without any resentment, but rather with a heightened purpose.  We’re looking at new houses, in neighborhoods with great schools, and while it has been an exhausting process, I already feel so fulfilled knowing my hard work is making that possible.  My hard work will allow us to grow our family.  My hard work will allow my kids to follow their dreams, knowing there is a safety I’ve placed underneath them.  My hard work will afford Charlotte the chance to fulfill her potential, and develop into a strong, wise, and sensitive young woman.

My hard work is making me a lot like my dad.