Ebb and Flow

This year several of my friends have or will get married.
Several friends and acquaintances have had babies.
Two of my family members have died.

As I write this morning, I'm sitting in a hotel room getting ready with Momm and Boomer to go to a funeral.

And that is just life.

It's sad. It makes me take stock of my life and whether or not I'm where I want to be. If I've accomplished what I want/need to yet. Am I doing a good job with Boomer? Am I being a good daughter? A good friend? Am I being good to myself?

Its a long drive from Ohio to Tennessee, and while there are few quiet moments in a car with Boomer AND my mom, the ones that I grabbed found me deep in those thoughts.

I don't necessarily know all the answers yet. I think I'm doing decently well as a mother, daughter, friend, ect, but there is always room for improvement.

Just some early morning thoughts, on ebb and flow.

Where is the tide taking you?

It was Kind of Like a Government Shut Down...

I really didn't mean to abandon KGB...

In times of high stress, I shut down. I do the minimum to survive. Eat, feed Boomer and the cat. Shower, bathe Boomer...well Jack washes himself religiously. Sleep, make sure Boomer sleeps. The basics.

It is a not so great part of my personality, that I really don't like. I don't talk to people. I avoid my phone. I just get so overwhelmed. The thing is, the way I react to stress is a flashing red light for the people around me who know me well.

I can't tell you how many 'What is WRONG with you?!?!?' texts I've gotten over the past month. 'Why are you being weird...and avoidy?' I even got a few emails from you lovely people that read my word vomit.

There was just a perfect storm of crap. Taxes that hadn't been filed (ain't divorce grand?), fees owed to school, forms to file for next school year, meetings, work, deadlines, and getting ready to go out of town for a friends wedding. All that added up to completely overwhelmed Whitney. Who did what she always does and shut down.

The four days away in Georgia though, seemed to be what I needed. I'm back and a little rested, refocused, and re-energized. My best friend had a a beautiful wedding, and I was there for it. My baby brother is doing some amazing things and I got an update. I also got to sleep in some really comfy hotel beds!

So a little look at somethings that have been happening while I've been on hiatus.

Boomer got to meet Fifth Harmony, one of her FAV pop groups.

I went to see this girl in concert!

She is amazing live. Simply amazing. Made me cry, goosebumps amazing.

Then I headed off to Georgia to watch my bestie walk down the aisle.

I also lent my vocal chords to her reception...hopefully there isn't video of that anywhere. I LOVE to sing, and wish it was a viable career option for me, but I HATE watching or listening to myself sing. Hearing my song on the radio would be equal parts awesome and torture.

Now its back to normal. I discovered a few things after my long weekend in Georgia. Columbus, I have wanderlust big time, but I'm not over you yet. We have some unfinished business. Boomer, you are a serious mommy's girl with separation issues. No overnight camps for you! Whit...sometimes you just need a break. You can't be all things to all people in all aspects of your life, and that is OK.

I'm glad to be home, and back to this little corner of the interwebs. I missed ya'll.

Mommy! I want to see the world!

Hey Lovelies!

Yesterday when I picked up Boomer she handed me this piece of paper.

She proudly announced to me that these were all places she wanted to see. 'Mommy, I want to see the world.'

I almost told her that South Dakota and Kansas do not equal seeing the world, but I stopped myself.

She was so excited and enthusiastic, and well....its a part of the world. (No offense to Kansas folks...but its not high on my list of places to revisit.)

I love her excitement. She doesn't yet understand things like the price of plane tickets, and exactly how many hours you have to work to earn the vacation hours to get on that plane. Then the price of a hotel, and the fact that half the world hates 'ugly' Americans. (Add to that my ex saying he didn't want to visit any country where they don't speak American.....oy.)

It got me thinking though. I've wanted to travel my whole life. I've read books about all of these places. Studied them in detail while getting my degree. Learning languages. (Only one really stuck though.) What's stopping me?

Oh I have the usual excuses. I'm broke. No really I am. Single parenting is no joke.

I have Boomer. Valid...I'm not paying for my seven year old to see Europe. Maybe when she is 12 and up...but right now I'm just not willing to shell out that cash for her to have a meltdown in a foreign country. Which would inevitably happen. Like full screaming fit in the middle of the Louvre. Can you imagine?

I don't have time. Ok...this is kind of not true. I have about 2.5 weeks (and counting) of vacation just sitting there. Waiting to be used up.

I don't have a passport. This excuse is dumb. Not like its hard to get one.

So back to being broke. If I could really commit to saving and not eating out (crappy fast food) all the time, and possibly stop buying nail polish, I could pretty easily scrape together the funds for a week long trip by next spring. I'm not saying I'll stay in 5 star hotels the whole time, but its not impossible.

Boomer. I'm sure that I can work something out with my ex, or her myriad of grandparents (no seriously, both JJ and I come from divorces and remarried parents...I counted one day and including living great-grandparents she has 7!), someone could take care of her for 5-7 days while I'm out of the country.

That being said...this beautiful country...even this beautiful state is a part of the world. (YES America is on the globe....fascinating.) While at the library yesterday I noticed a flyer for a walking tour of a historic part of one of the suburbs of Columbus. I thought how cool?!?!? Boomer can start exploring and learning about the world right here! Being adventurous doesn't have to be back packing in the wilderness of some third world country. (Which is oddly appealing togirly girl....).
this

Maybe when I see my mom this evening I'll let her know I want to see the world too.

The rest of the journey

Hello Lovelies!

I meant to post this Monday night, but alas after driving 9 hours with Boomer I was just too insanely tired to finish the recap of our awesome Easter weekend. (And then my internet went HAYWIRE...they won't fix it until SATURDAY!!!!)

After the passion play at Southern we went back to D's house and took a little nap. (It was warm out there and we walked A LOT) Then D being the awesome friend that she is had set up an Easter Egg hunt for Boomer, knowing she'd miss the ones back here in Ohio. Boomer enjoyed finding all the eggs quite a bit!

I love that this is so blurry, because she really was flying around the house!

Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast with some of my old college buddies and then we were off to ATL to visit my brother and sister. (Sidenote: Aaron is actually my cousin, but he decided a few years back that I was more sisterly than cousinly so I went with it. Additionally Lauren is not my sister, but we've been dear friends for over 20 years now and our Mommies were the best of friends. So we just say that we are.) You get all that?

So Aaron, Lauren, Boomer and I all trekked to the Cheesecake Factory in Buckhead for Easter dinner. (Let me tell you, they had some evening services I guess and folks in ATL take their Easter outfits VERY seriously. This is why I love and miss the South.)

Boomer and my baby bro having a staring contest....Boomer won.

My sis and I! We wear our sunglasses at night...and sing the song.

The next morning Boomer slept in for what seemed like hours so Lauren and I decided to get into some Violent Lip, lip tattoos. 

Yeah.....I'm not sure about the tongue either.....

My sis is sooooo beautiful!

So these are actually pretty cool once you actually get the hang of the application and get over how weird your lips feel. I'd definitely rock them for a night out. Lauren actually wore them to rehearsal. But she's an opera singer.....so she can do DIVA in public and get away with it.

Boomer and I hopped in the car and were off back to Ohio!!!!!

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, I noticed my Boomie just wasn't quite herself. I reached back to hold her hand for a minute and she was BURNING up! I switched into mommy high alert. Her nose had been running, but so had mine. (I mean have you been to TN, GA area....its like the pollen breeds pollen.) But between the lengthy sleeping and now obvious fever I knew something wasn't right. Luckily truck stops carry Triaminic.I also grabbed some OJ, water, and I happened to have a bajillion boxes of tissues in my trunk. (When I stopped in Lexington, KY that child had filled up the ENTIRE back seat with dirty tissues. Yum.)

Anyway, we're back safe and sound in the land of Buckeyes now.

Indy Part 2

So another fun part of my weekend was eating and shopping...

Breakfast was at Zest, which has been featured on the Food Network on the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.


This is the Urban Omelet with Blackberry jelly



This is the beautiful flower in the fruit dish, that promptly went into my hair!

Didn't last long :(

So the food was amazing! Cheesy potatoes there are a must, plus the inside is essentially a gallery. Beautiful paintings were everywhere.

After food we did a little shopping on College Ave, where we found the very cute Über boutique. On one side of the store they have great furniture finds. Pillows, chairs, tables, vintage you name it. On the other side they have some really beautiful and unique clothing. You can check out their wares on their blog. I ended up getting an amazing Grecian style maxi dress. I'll be posting pics soon. I also was lucky enough to meet the very cute and very talented Monica of F&ML.

We went home, grabbed my computer (because remember this chic has NO WIFI) and jetted over to Starbucks quickly. Quick clothing change and then headed over to Pearl St. Pizzeria. Its on Pearl St, like you would imagine, but its sort of in an alley. I would definitely recommend it if you're downtown. YUMMY New York style deep dish, and John was a pretty great bartender.

Then we headed out to Mass Ave (Massachusetts Ave since I'm not a local). Our first stop was The Rathskeller where we heard The Shadowboxers perform. They are a band from Atlanta, and they put on hoppin' show. I love people watching when people around me are drinking and I'm not. I wish I had pictures but it was dark.

We walked around, hopped in and out of  a few places and ended up at Mesh where I was given this:

I'm wearing OPI You Don't Know Jacques and Suzi Says Feng Shui

This is their signature champagne cocktail.  I don't remember exactly what all was in it (aside from bubbly of course), but they drop a sugar cube in it which makes it all bubbly and purdy!

All in all a fantastical weekend. I had a lot of fun with my bestie, and can't wait until she comes to explore my city with me. Laters.

INDY!!!!!!!!!!!!! {Pic Heavy Post}

The Concert



Let me just tell you ahead of time....I LOVE me some Maroon 5. LOVE.......LOVE. I can listen to their music all day. I dance and sing....and oggle Adam Levine. He's my favorite white boy. (If that offends you...well idk what to tell you.) JJ even grudgingly accepts my Adam lovin'. They put on an amazing high energy show. It was great. I didnt sit down or stop singing/dancing/clapping/smiling the entire time.

Now to be perfectly honest. I could take or leave Train. I don't dislike their music, but I just was not a fan. They have amazing songwriting abilities. (Obvs...I mean...their songs stay in your head...and the Billboard Top 100...just sayin'.) Anywho....They put on a really great show too. There was a lot of audience involvement. Pat Monahan got down from the stage and walked all around the track seating (where we happened to be sitting), and man does he have some pipes. They've made me a fan!

All told both bands raised $350,000 for the Indiana State Fair remembrance fund. They both dedicated songs to the victims of the tragedy and praised Indiana and the people of Indianpolis. Pat Monahan called it the greatest city in the world.

So...about that update...

Sorry. I know. I said pictures the next day.

My best friend, who for the purposes of this bloggy we will call Indy, doesn't have WiFi. Let that sink into your noggins for a sec. NO WIFI. So all weekend I kind of felt like I was here.

Image Via

It was interesting to say the least. I watched some movies, spend A LOT of time on my smart phone (Thank ya Lord for smart phones). I did have a wonderful time at the concert and checking out local spots around her neighborhood.

So....I will be updating this week all about my fun weekend in Indy with Indy. You like how I did that don't you.

For today I'm a Hoosier....

I'm in Indianapolis right now because tonight I will see Maroon 5 with my bestie from college. I'm just now getting into going to concerts and experiencing music I love live. I played Songs About Jane so much that JJ knows the majority of the words, and after hearing Hands All Over Me I decided to find out where they were playing.

After the tragic stage collapse on the 13th, several concerts were canceled at the fair grounds.The Maroon 5/Train concert was moved to Conseco Field.  Both bands are donating funds from their appearance at Conseco Field tonight to the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund.

On a slightly happier note, I am killing time while waiting for my bestie to get off work. I'm actually writing this little tid bit from the Circle Center Mall which looks something like this:

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Pretty right? And prime people watching let me tell you. And they're playing 90s pop right not which basically begs people to sing along....which they are. Awesomness ensues. I'll let you know all about the concert and best friend fun tomorrow.