Today was the second day back to school after a long holiday break. In fact, this break is probably one of the longest breaks the Virginia Beach School Board has ever granted its students and staff. Last year’s break, including weekends, was eleven days. This year it was sixteen days. That’s quite a difference, and it meant a lot of late nights and later mornings. Ethan was used to staying up until midnight and sleeping until 10 or 10:30. Now we’re trying to get back into the 9:00 hour at night, and 6:45 in the mornings.

As you can see, it’s taking its toll on him.

Yesterday afternoon, Ethan and I decided to go see Marley & Me. I’d read the reviews, heard and joined in on debates as to whether this could be considered a family move and decided that for our family, it was the perfect family film.

We were familiar with the story because we read the special adaptation for young readers, Marley: A Dog Like No Other. We knew that this was the story of a dog and his family, and that it was the story of his life. From beginning to end. Ethan understood that Marley dies in the end, and that we would probably feel more than a little sad watching the movie.

Of course, I didn’t expect the story to completely mimic the life of my Lab, Nellie. I read the book, and I still didn’t expect it. Something about seeing it on film brought back all those memories of seeing my 75 pound dog up when she could no longer walk, wrapping her in a blanket, holding her in my arms and walking into the vet’s office with tears streaming down my face. It was if it was yesterday, and yet it was almost 20 years ago. Was I still happy I saw this movie? Yes.

During the movie, I cried like a baby and it was my 7 year old who comforted me. I’d feel a hand on my cheek, a pat on my arm, a squeeze of my hand and was thankful that he saw this movie with me. You see, we have our own Marley in our house. Two of them. Cujo, our girl, will be 13 years old this July and she’s starting to show signs of getting older. There are days when she struggles up the steps, days when she struggles to get off her bed, but there are also days when she still runs like a puppy. Ike, our boy, will be 10 this March, and he’s not quite hit the stage that Cujo has. I used this movie as a way to prepare Ethan that Cujo and Ike won’t live forever. I wanted him to understand why Cujo sometimes trips on a step or doesn’t come when we call her.

Late last night, I was laying beside Ethan and he started to cry. Said he was thinking about Marley and how he reminded him of Cujo. We talked about how Marley was in pain, and how his family decided to put him to sleep. I explained that if Cujo ever got that sick, then we’d have to do the same. We talked about the sleeping medicine and how they administer it, and how it’s not painful. And between his tears, Ethan told me it wouldn’t be like that for Cujo. Because he’d wake her up.

Taken from Sunday Stealing:

1. Looking back on 2008, what might your theme song have been?  

Donovan Frankenreiter’s Life, Love and Laughter

2. If 2008 was a movie, who would play you?

Salma Hayak, for the dark hair and dark skin

3. What was your greatest gift of 2008?

Being a part of the excitement of seeing a new President elected, and seeing firsthand the excitement on the faces of those who supported him.

4. What is your New Year Resolution, or, what are you committing to this year?

To cook healthier EVERY day, for both me and Adam.  Try new recipes for my favorite comfort foods that are much healthier.

5. If January could be represented by one song, what would it be?  

6. What do you wish for your body in 2009?

More tone, less fat. 

7. Name one new thing you would love to try in the New Year.

I want to start yoga classes.

8. What do you long for 2009 to bring?

Respect and patience for our new President, both in our country and in the world.

9. If that happened, how would you feel?

I would feel that other countries are starting to lose their hate and distrust for our nation.

10. Where would you love to vacation in 2009 if money were no object?

Africa or Papa Cove, Ios, Greece

11. What would you like the theme of 2009 to be?

Live each day with laughter.

12. If 2009 was a book, and the title was 5 words or less, what might the title be?

My Toes in the Sand

Seems like all the cool kids are doing this so I figured I may as well.

All you have to do is write:

01. Name/Username

02. Left or right handed

03. Fave letters to write

04. Least fave letters to write

05. Write “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”

06. Tag 6 of your contacts

This is my 7-11, also known as the busiest 7-11 in Virginia Beach. It’s the place I run into people I have’t seen in years. Once I was in here, and this guy walks up to me and says “you’re Dena, right?’ I had no earthly idea who he was, and then he explained and I realized it was someone I hadn’t seen for 20 years, but someone I spent almost every single day of my senior year of high school. Of course, I asked where he’d been, and he told me he’d been going to college. I didn’t realize what he was talking about until I relayed the coversation to Adam and he told me that when people say they’ve been to college for 20 years, they mean jail. Ummmm…okay, then.

This 7-11 is about a mile from a wooded area for lots of homeless guys, so you also get the crowd that’s begging for money. It also has two bars in the shopping center it shares a parking lot with, so there’s always the 2:00 bar overflow crowd stopping in for hot dogs, nachos and taquitos. And of course, it’s not unheard of to run into someone famous at this 7-11. I’ve run into Pharrell and Chad at this 7-11 on two different occassions.

Basically, I’m never surprised by what I run into at this 7-11. This morning I’ll have to admit to being a little unnerved. I was paying for my coffee, Adam’s A&W rootbeer and Ethan’s Chocolate Eclair and chatting it up with the salesgirl when I noticed a guy walking toward the door. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I looked at him, and kept thinking that he might look familiar. Guy walks in the door, the clerk and I both look up at him, and he just screams “You two don’t need to worry. I’m not going to bother you, so get those looks off your faces. I’m leaving.” And he walked out. The clerk and I just looked at each other. I asked if she’d ever seen him before, and she said no. I finish paying and the guys sitting in his car just staring. I kept thinking I should have called 911 and let them know there was a weirdo hanging out, saying weirdo things and looking, well…weirdo. But then I decided against it because the clerk didn’t seem that freaked. I guess she gets it all the time.

Although before I left she warned me to be careful coming alone at night because someone got robbed at gunpoint in the parking light a couple of nights earlier.

Adam’s not too sure about this one, but the kids sure do love it!

Each week, this site posts a new TMI Meme.  I figured it would be a good post for today, since much of it involve last year and looking into the New Year.  Play along, if you’d like.

1. Last week was “The Most Wonderful time of the Year”, but what are your favorite 2008 memories?

The political year itself.  Attending the Obama rallies, watching all the debates, watching the election returns and seeing Obama win. 

Summer of ‘08!  Beginning with the opening day of pool season, numerous days at the beach, the 3rd Annual FTS Party, and ending it wtih our End of  Summer Camping Trip at Seashore. 

Nights out with Adam and Misty.  Starting the night with Golden Tee competitions and ending them with Adam, in an almost ritualistic fashion, dumping me and Misty at a dive bar.

Picking Ethan up from school each day, seeing his face light up and hearing the excitement in his voice as he relayed the day’s events to me. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Anytime I can get together with all three of my kids is a moment to be savored.

A few days in Vegas.  Memories are always made in Vegas!

2. What is the best thing you learned in 2008?

People got very angry over politics this year.  I was amazed how a political discussion could turn into a heated, hate-filled debate.  I learned when to say enough and end certain conversations with certain people.

3. On a scale of 1-10, how good was your 2008?

A 9.  I’d give it a 10, but people would start yelling bullshit, so a 9 allows me to throw in the bad with the good. 

4. What is your wish for 2009? What is your wish for someone else for 2009?

I’d like to see some improvement in the economy.  That jobs are gained, homes can be sold and kept.  For our country, I hope we can embrace and support our new President, and not expect immediate fixes.  It took years to get us here, it will take more than a few months to get us out of this mess.  People need to have patience, and realize that the greed of our country got us to the place we are.  Be happy with what you’ve got.  For the world, I’d like to see less hatred and more unity.  I’d like for us to be out of Iraq by 2010, and I would hope that the trouble in Afghanistan doesn’t escalate.

For my family, especially my kids, I’d like to see their lives filled with happiness and ease.  No troubles of the heart and that love, laughter and good times fill their days.

For my friends, I wish the same.  Always remember to start each day new, and don’t look backward.  Make new memories and forget the bad.

For me, I’d like to have a year as good as the last.  May it overflow with memories created from good times with family and friends.

5. Where was the first place you ever passionately kissed?

Chic’s Beach…the stomping grounds of my teen years.  Years ago there was an actual beach called “Chic’s” that only occupied a one block area with a hot dog/footsball stand where Alexander’s restaurant now sits.  We used to sit on the picnic tables on the concrete deck and hang out.  Oh, and passionately kiss, too.

Bonus (as in optional):Do you make New Year’s resolutions? What is/are your’s for 2009?

I don’t make true resolutions.  I make plans.  This year I plan to live live fully, with kindness, compassion and understanding.  I vow to make more time to do good things for my community.

Today we got Outdoor Challenge for the Wii.  This is Ethan playing Timber Trail.  As you can see it’s quite the little workout.  Imagine playing this again and again for over an hour.  Besides Timber Trail, you can kayak for an upper body workout, mole stomp, jump rope, snowboard, in-line skate, mini-cart race, jump on a trampoline and more.  We definitely recommend this one if you want to get up and move when  you play.

Of all the gifts Ethan got this Christmas, my favorites are the books. I’m so excited because he got more than 40 new books to read this year. I love when people ask for gift suggestions and are excited when I mention books. Ethan now has almost the entire set of The Magic Treehouse series, along with many of the standard favorites and quite a few new books that I’m looking forward to reading along with him.

Each night we settle down with the intention of reading two or three chapters together. I read the page on the left, he reads the page on the right. More often than not, three chapters turns into six and often we finish the entire book.

Tonight we’re going to start reading “Marley: A Dog Like No Other” which is an adaptation of the original, but recommend for 9 to 12 year old readers. We have plans to see “Marley and Me” this week, and I wanted to read the book first.