Operation "Baby Watch"

So the official due date is June 2nd, only 4 days away. But it could always be sooner than that. No, I'm not pregnant. I'd prefer to get married first before I try motherhood. I know many women in the world are in situations not of their choice where they are now single mothers raising children on their own. Hats off to them. I think being a parent is hard, but add the burden of doing it alone makes it doubly hard. Why anyone would choose to be a single parent right off the bat is beyond me. So to any of my family and friends out there who would like to see me bear children in this lifetime, I could use a little assistance in the finding a husband department. I digress.

My sister-in-law is expecting #4, which will make #7 grandchild in the Lee clan. I'm so excited to see the little guy/girl. Nope. We have no idea which it will be. That's one thing my brother and sister-in-law have always done is keep the baby's gender a surprise, even to them. I like it. The anticipation of either a boy or a girl is half the fun. As soon as the little one makes its way into this world, I will post the great news. Until then, here is a picture of it with it's older siblings, Dominic (2), Karinne (almost 4) and Benjamin (7)... and Mom (my sister-in-law) of course. Where else would the baby be?

Isn't He Adorable?!

This is Dominic, one of my nephews. He celebrated his 2nd birthday on May 19th and while it is 3 days late, I just wanted to give a shout out to this adorable little man and say "Happy Birthday, Dominic. I love you!"

Happy Mother's Day!!!

So even though Mother's Day was technically a couple of days ago, here's a shout out to my mom in honor of Mother's Day. Many years ago, my mom and I were walking through the mall in Orem, UT and we came across this store with all these little trinkets, one of which was a framed peom entitled, "Mean Mothers". We read it and loved it and since then my mom has prided herself on being a "Mean Mom". We didn't buy it, but to this day I wish we had. I've hunted and hunted and have never been able to find a poem that quite does that one justice. But in honor of Mother's Day and in honor of my wonderful, beautiful mother who, I am so incredibly grateful for, was a "Mean Mother", I am including the following peom that I found on the internet. And to all you mother's out there, I hope you are one and are proud to call yourselves a "Mean Mother".

My mom with one of her granddaughters, Abigail.

The Meanest Mother In The World
Copyright© 1967 by Bobbie Pingaro

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast. When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids' also.

But at least, I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.

My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, that we be gone one hour or less--not one hour and one minute. I am nearly ashamed to admit it, but she actually struck us. Not once, but each time we had a mind of our own and did as we pleased. That poor belt was used more on our seats than it was to hold up Daddy's pants. Can you imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he disobeyed? Now you can begin to see how mean she really was.

We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath. The other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of insults because she made our clothes herself, just to save money. Why, oh why, did we have to have a mother who made us feel different from our friends?

The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning. We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept-my mother actually had the nerve to break the child-labor law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.

She always insisted upon us telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even if it killed us- and it nearly did.

By the time we were teen-agers, she was much wiser, and our life became even more unbearable. None of this tooting the horn of a car for us to come running. She embarrassed us to no end by making our dates and friends come to the door to get us. If I spent the night with a girlfriend, can you imagine she checked on me to see if I were really there. I never had the chance to elope to Mexico. That is if I'd had a boyfriend to elope with. I forgot to mention, while my friends were dating at the mature age of 12 and 13, my old fashioned mother refused to let me date until the age of 15 and 16. Fifteen, that is, if you dated only to go to a school function. And that was maybe twice a year.

Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school. If our friends had a toe ache, a hang nail or serious ailment, they could stay home from school. Our marks in school had to be up to par. Our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother being as different as she was, would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks.

As the years rolled by, first one and then the other of us was put to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a drop-out.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four children, most of us attained some higher education. None of us have ever been arrested, divorced or beaten his mate. Each of my brothers served his time in the service of this country. And whom do we have to blame for the terrible way we turned out? You're right, our mean mother. Look at the things we missed. We never got to march in a protest parade, nor to take part in a riot, burn draft cards, and a million and one other things that our friends did. She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.

Using this as a background, I am trying to raise my three children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.

Written byBobbie Pingaro ©1967

The Latest Update

I realize that it's been a few weeks since I last posted and much has changed since then. I'm still loving "Stella". People are quite shocked when they see me driving a dark red Mustang. It has definitely been quite the conversation piece. For those wondering how she got her name... well... I wanted a name that was sassy and feminine. Something with attitude but not too overbearing. The name Stella just popped into my mind a few days after I got her and I thought, "Stella the 'Stang", and it stuck. For those wanting a picture of me and my car... give me a few days. I'll get one and post it soon.

So the biggest news is that I am moving. Not too far away. I'm moving to Livermore to live in my parent's house while they are gone on their mission. FREE RENT!!! YEAH!!! My mom brought up the idea last year and I thought it would be great. But then a few months ago, after I had decided to move it just didn't feel right. So I told my parents that I had decided to stay where I was and not live in their house while they were gone. They understood and began making preparations to leaving it empty for us kids to take care of while they are gone. But then a couple of weeks ago my roommate and I were notified that our landlord was increasing our rent and with the recent purchase of that shiny red Mustang parked out on the curb, more rent stretched me to my limit. So I started thinking about it again and this time it felt right. Don't ask me to explain why now it is the right thing for me to do and a few months ago it wasn't. Heavenly Father has His reasons and I've learned not to question why... sometimes anyway. So I am moving Memorial Day weekend. I'm kind of excited to embark on this new adventure.

Since deciding to move and save on rent I was invited by a friend to go to Honduras in August and build a house with Habitat for Humanity and I thought... why not. I can afford it. So August 2nd I board a plane with friends bound for Honduras to spend 8 days building a house for a less fortunate family. And then on the 10th we hop, skip and jump it to Costa Rica for 6 days to relax after a hard week of manual labor. I am so excited for this trip. I have developed a love of traveling to different countries and Central America is one place I've never been before. I have the opportunity and means so why not take it? I am going to make the most of my single life and have great adventures. That just seems so much better to me than wallowing in self pity and loneliness. I get plenty of that in anyway. I might as well intermix it with once in a life time experiences!

My New Car!!!

It was time to retire my trusty little 1998 Ford Escort. The maintenance to keep her running would of cost more than she was worth. So I decided that if I have to be single right now, I'm going to get a fun car. Why be practical? I have no dependents. No 4 door sedan or mini van for me. I decided to go a bit sporty. But I didn't want tiny. One little fender bender would total something like that. So no Mazda Miata. But I couldn't afford expensive. No BMW or Mercedes either. (OK, so I'm being just a little bit practical.) So here's what I got... a 2008 Candy Apple Red 2dr Premium Mustang Coupe. Here she is... introducing my new baby, "Stella".

My Parent's Mission Call

For several years my parents have been talking about serving a mission after my dad retired. Well, he retired last June. So a few months ago they began the process and turned their papers in just 3 weeks ago. Now, my dad served a mission in Mexico City when he was 19. My mom on the other hand got married when she was 19. But over the last 15 years she has sent 4 children on full-time missions. Having been one of those children to have been sent, it has been quite an interesting experience to be on the other side of it... the children getting their parents ready to serve a mission. 3 weeks ago we began the long and dreaded wait. Being potential senior missionaries did not exempt my parents from the anxiety of waiting and checking the mail box daily for that long awaited white envelope. But yesterday the wait finally came to an end and all of my parents posterity who live in the San Francisco Bay Area gathered at my brother, Brian's, house and called and set up the web cam with the rest that live out of state. And then they read that familiar phrase... "You have been called to serve in the Asuncion Paraguay Temple Mission for 18 months." My parents are going to Paraguay!!! How exciting and crazy is that!?!? So now we begin the process of helping them put their things in order, setting up a schedule for taking care of the house, and any last minute things to help them get ready. Then on July 21st they enter the MTC in Provo, UT and we children can sit back with a sigh of relief and say, "Well, we must have done something right!"

Happy Birthday, Brenda!!!

Just a quick shout out to my sister, Brenda. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Well, it was actually yesterday. Brenda, my parents and I were all at my brother, Brian's, house and my adorable niece decided to dress Brenda up as a princess. As soon as I get a picture I will post it. It's great. Anyway... Happy Birthday, Brenda.

Thankgoodness for Working from Home!!!

So this is how I felt yesterday. (Except

brunette, not blond.) Work is just a little busy for me right now. I have quite a few projects that I'm trying to juggle to make sure they all get done. And then my boss is organizing a business forum for June, which is really quite a big deal, and is on caffiene overload while planning all the details and everytime he comes into the office and says, "I've been thinking..." I feel dread and panic knowing that his "thinking" is going to add to my already bulging list of projects I have to do. So by the end of yesterday I was frazzled, exhausted and just wanted to go home. But my stressful day didn't end there. Oh no. It kept on going. So I take CalTrain to and from the city. San Francisco is the last stop on the northbound trains, so if I fall asleep... no worries. But if I fall asleep on the way home... well, let's just say I really try not to. But after my exhausting day yesterday, it happened. I fell asleep. And for a while I was doing OK. Everytime we came into a station I would wake up to see where we were. But as fate would have it, I didn't wake up at my station until we were leaving it. So I got off at the next station and instead of having a 15 minute walk home I had a 1 HOUR walk home. 3 HOURS, people!!! 3 HOURS is what it took me to get home last night. So needless to say after my day commuting into the city yesterday, I decided to work from home today. Ahhhh!!!! I am so grateful that I have this option. There have been days where I litterally work in my pajamas and still in my bed. I try not to do it too often because I am much more productive if I'm in the office. But after a day like yesterday... I need this kind of break.

NAKED MAN ON CALIFORNIA STREET!!!

I guess I really shouldn't be all that surprised seeing as how I work in San Francisco. But unless it's the Bay to Breakers race or the Folsom Street Fair people are usually fully clothed. They may be bizarrely clothed but the important parts are usually covered by something. However, today there was some sort of rally or protest going down California Street. They stopped at the Bank of America plaza across the street from my building and danced and sang and played the drums. I was curious as to what was going on, so I looked out my office window. Most everyone was dressed strangely. From 7 stories up it looked like they were wearing costumes but for what reason I couldn't tell. I am a little too high up to read their signs. And then I notice a costume that looked somewhat different from the others and then I realized what I was looking at. I couldn't believe it! There he was, naked man in all his God given glory! I wonder if he'll get arrested.

My New Toy!

It's not my birthday. There's no holiday. There isn't even anything to celebrate. I just felt the need to treat myself to a new toy. I've been wanting to get a new phone for a while and thought I'd get one of these eventually. But the other day as I was going home from work, I thought, "What am I waiting for? I know what I want and I have the money, so why not just get it?" So I did! And I love it!