Life is a Parade or an Anti-Depressant- You Make the Call

Or something like that...

Papa and Rowan

My dad and his wife, Veronica aka Vee, just moved back to Alamosa, Colorado after a 6 year hiatus in Minnesota. (I know she is technically my step-mom and I love her more than anything, but I honestly can't say "stepmom" without laughing since she is only 7 years older than me- sorry Vee.) A month or so ago they had this truly brilliant idea (although not unique we quickly learned) to meet in Denver, get hotel rooms downtown and take the girls to the Parade of Lights; Denver's fairly decent display of bands and floats decorated in... uh, well, lights. We thankfully agreed and Friday evening my nice boss, Peggy, dropped me at 17th and Champa after we attended the three Granby HOA's annual meetings up at Granby Ranch (it went very well, thanks for asking). Shortly thereafter, the girls arrived with their Dad, and it was great to all be together. It's been a long time. Dad and Vee are the best Nana and Papa... they love just hanging out with the girls and it was cool to see the girls warm up to them so quickly.

Nana and Tressin (the sign did say "Only 7 and under"- maybe Vee assumed it was feet?)

Two Pretty Cool Dudes


Mama and her little Bugeater

Scott and I were super spoiled- we got to go out a little (okay maybe a little more than a little), sleep in BOTH mornings and have the best dinner ever at Panzano's in the Oxford Hotel- we highly recommend it and Christian the waiter. We are so lucky and hope they know how grateful we are...

We also managed to get a tree on Sunday afternoon. It's all set up. Nothing says Christmas like a fire hazard that constantly drops pine needles everywhere. It does smell good.

I have a million things to do in the next couple weeks in xmas prep. Megan, Ryan and Mathisen get here on the 23rd. And on the 26th, we are all piling in a rented Yukon and heading to the Valley to see the rents again.

But I just try and take it one day at a time. The other morning we were headed to school and Rowan says, quite seriously, something I can't really make out. I had her repeat it a few times and then I got it--- "Mom, when depression hurts, there's Cymbalta, right?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I just decided to cut back on the TV. What can you do?

Top Ten and a Half Things Learned on the Trip to Nebraska (for nine days)

1. Tressin can scream for about an hour strait (starting in Fort Morgan, mind you).

2. When cows are sleeping with their legs pointing up in the air, they are not sleeping. The deadwagon just hasn't been by yet.

3. Sage brush can look just like a deer to a city girl.

Tressin, Grandpa Starman and Rowan

4. Taco pizza from Godfathers is quite possibly the world's most perfect food.



5. Catching your 4 year old daughter kissing your best friend's 4 year old son is a little freaky and very funny.

Landon and Rowan

6. Cute little old ladies playing bingo take it very seriously.

Great Grandma Lordemann and Rowan

"Bingo" says Tressin

7. My idea of a small piece of pie and Grandma's idea of a small peice of pie are quite different. "It'll do."

Aunt Julie, Rowan and Bailee

8. Canasta takes forever to play. But I already knew that. I did learn that Aunt Rita can sleep between turns.

Tressin and Bailee

9. Nebraska football games are like nothing else in this world but losing your diamond earring can ruin even the best day.

Sea of Red

10. Starman has a freaking huge family- but again, I knew that already.

Starman and maybe 1/2 of his cousins

Maybe a 1/4 of the great grandkids- Tress was sleeping

10 1/2. Life is good when Sister Agnes is almost done with her chocolate martini.

Not the Usual List

So every where I look there are these lists of what everyone is thankful for. Family, friends, health all seem the common denominator. Well not on the Starman blog folks... As I thought today about what I am truly thankful for I came up with some rather unusual answers.

1.) Divorce
Uh come again, I can hear most people saying. But really, I am thankful that my parents and Scott's parents were smart enough and brave enough to endure the pain of divorce. While it caused both of us some heartache, and our parents too, I'm sure- without it we wouldn't be the people we are today. More importantly we wouldn't have these incredible step-parents in our lives and in the lives of our girls. Without the "Big D" there would be no Bobcat, no Bonnie, no Vee and no Ermin. A life I really can't imagine and frankly, don't want to.

2.) Disease and Death
Are you done reading yet? I know, it's pretty glum talk for what is supposed to be such an upbeat time of year, but stick with me, if you can. I will spare the gory details... Our family has been through the wringer when it comes to horrible, incurable ailments that can and have taken the lives of people we love way earlier than we would have liked. But again, it is the challenge of these times that have brought us together, made us understand the frailty of life and be truly thankful for every moment we have. Life isn't a dress rehearsal, so go ahead and have seconds, have another glass of wine and for God sakes, dance. You can't do it when your dead.

3.) War
This one is tough. Very tough. How on earth does someone find a reason to give thanks for such a reprehensible act? Because it makes those of us that are safe and warm and full and able to vote, safe and warm and full and able to vote. Our Larry is in Afghanistan right now. The pictures and videos he is able to post on Myspace give us only a glimpse into what he is going through, but I believe the Army saved him from an even darker life. I am sure that I will never be able to fully comprehend what the Vietnam and WWII vets in our family endured. And they did it simply because they were asked to by their country. I am thankful for it. More than words can say.

Thanksgiving isn't always what you think it will be. Most of the time, it's better. Kinda like life.

Happy Thanksgiving from The Starman's!

A three hour tour, a three hour tour

I wonder how Gilligan felt when he was packing up the tiny ship. Probably not too worried. I mean, all he needed was a couple fishing poles, a tray of snacks and a camera to take pictures of the two hotties, Mary Anne and the movie star. I am sure that he didn't feel like he was going to have a nervous breakdown... kinda like I feel right now. Tomorrow evening we leave on our nine day trip to Nebraska. Scott keeps asking me why I have to tell everyone it's nine days.

BECAUSE IT'S NINE DAYS!

(an aside to quote one of the best movies of all time... "Nine times? I don't remember him being sick nine times." "That's prbably because he wasn't sick. He was skipping school." Okay, got that out of my system)

Now don't get me wrong. I am totally looking forward to seeing everyone. I know Scott really is too and the girls are going to have a blast. But seriously, just thinking about, let alone trying to organize and pack, nine days worth of all the crap that two adults and two small children need as they travel from one destination to the other, has led me to this- blogging and drinking a Bud Lite, at the same time no less. I know, I know, there are washing machines and Wal Marts in Nebraska so dirty clothes and the forgotton toothbrush are not going to ruin the trip, but still... Why can't I get that song out of my mind? "A three hour tour, a three hour tour."

Now back to work...

I said Yes

November 14, 2002. It was a Thursday. Scott had been laid off for about a month. He was home and bored and kept calling me and calling me, "What are you doing? When are you coming home?" I was getting annoyed. "Uh, working. And yeah, when I am done, I will be home."

We met in March 2001. Went on our first "date" in April. In May, I went to back to his little sister's graduation in Nebraska and met the family. We moved in together in June. In September, we bought a truck together. My mom asked, "What will you do when you break up?" I just told her, "I really don't think we will."

So I was driving home on that Thursday evening. Annoyed. He called again. "Are you on your way home?" Grrrrrr. "YES." I pulled into the driveway and the door was wide open. I thought to myself, "What is he thinking? Like we have money for the door to be wide open on a cold November night when he isn't working?" Double grrrrrrr.

But when I got to the door and looked inside, my heart and chin dropped. Every candle in the house was lit and they were all over the living room. And a huge bouquet of roses was perched on the kitchen table. I couldn't see him. So I walked inside and he came around the corner. The rest is kind of a blur... But I remember a ring and a kneel-down and the best question I have ever been asked.

I cried. And I said Yes.

The Mama Speaks (and smiles)

You cannot deny the occasion. You cannot deny the history.

I was lucky enough to be raised to believe that we are all equal; regardless of your color, religion, ability. And that's not just what I believe, it's how live. But I really didn't know if I would ever see a day like today. America is a place where all things are possible. I've never believed it more than I do right now. And now the hard work begins...

I can't stop thinking about my little Tress. At almost 18 months, she hardly knows the significance, and that's the best part. That's progress and a small part of leaving her a better world.

Tomorrow morning I will tell my daughters that in this country, one that their great-grandpa's fought for, that their grandpa's fought and served for and one that their uncles fight for today, that they can be anything they want. And I will never stop. Because they can.
And tonight proves it.

This holiday has been brought to you by your local dentist.

Halloween was two days long for us since Rowan doesn't have school on Fridays, the preschoolers celebrated on Thursday. The big parade was scheduled for 9:45am and since that really doesn't give me enough time to drive into work and back, I was lucky enough to get to stay and help in the classroom. I loved it! The teachers put me to work cutting and I am not a great cutter, I learned. I cut 68 little palm tree tops. Poor kids imaginations will get a work out on that one. Then it was costume time. Okay, I really don't think there is anything cuter than 12 little preschoolers in costumes...

And their off...

That's right Rowan, police officers are your friend!

That night we carved pumpkins. Rowan did a great job on this one...

Then disaster struck at the hands of her little sister (more due to lack of supervision on my part so I took the blame) and it ended up like this, shortly after the above picture was taken. Rowan took it in stride, thank goodness.

What a dad! He drives 800 miles and pours 2 courts in 36 hours and still has time for pumpkin carving.

And then it's finally Halloween.

Rowan is Daphne from Scooby Doo fame. Don't get me started. I was pushing for Velma and then we got into the "is it better to be smart than pretty or pretty than smart debate." I guess lucky for her, she's both. Tressin is a girl turtle- or gurtle. And quite the gurtle she is. She walked all the way to the end of the block and back with her bucket. And what's with these kids automatically getting the whole trick or treat concept? She just walks up to the door, sticks her bucket up and someone puts candy in it. I think they are born with it.Trick or treat partners- Ryan and Kiera from next door.

The Starman girls. Da da-da daaaaa....it's Super Mom. Faster than a falling sippee cup, able to leap large piles of laundry in a single bound.

Hope your Halloween was a good one. Now go brush your teeth!