It's family movie night at the National Harbor with the children, 75 degrees, low humidity, and a light winds.

enjoying an outdoor jazz concert at the national harbor.

Letter to my daughter

Before I post a rather personal note I wrote to my teenage daughter, I wanted to set the stage from which this appeared. I'm currently separated from my husband of many years. We've been going through a tumultuous, emotional time which I've tried my best to shield from my children. But, I have not always been successful.

One of my daughters and I have started writing letters to one another as a way to communicate. This is the third letter in the series. This is what I wrote to her.

LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER

I'm so blessed to have you. You're my level-headed, strong, and super-tolerant child. I'm sorry for being so emotional around you lately. I'm going through a rough time right now and I want to be strength and support for you. That's what moms are about. But, being that this journey's not nearly done for me, you'll probably witness a more fragile and delicate side of me until I weather through the storms. After all, I am only human. :-)

I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy. I want you to grow up as a healthy, confident, fully-functional young lady who has a ton of gifts and goodness to share with this world.

I pray that you make better choices than I have along the way. Learn from my mistakes. Do better. Improve upon this "model" of a woman. Don't settle. Don't be disrespected. Demand that you be treated fairly and properly from the get, to lessen the chances of anguish and heartache in the future. (Although there will always be pain as it's part of life.)

I have found that life puts you through trials and tribulations to teach you lessons. If you don't learn it the first time, it repeats in a different form or manner. I am going through such a lesson. I have to go through the "fire" of experience in order to emerge as a Phoenix does, renewed and restored, as a new being. "This too will pass." Hang in there kiddo and know Mom has your back ALWAYS!

Love you eternally!
Mommy

It's amazing what the early bird can do!

I was restless and didn't sleep well. I got up at 5:30 am and decided to catch up on some housework. Here's what I got done before my workday started:

• Washed my face.
• Washed and dried two loads of laundry.
• Striped the bed of the linens. Cleaned up an accident on the mattress.
  
• Folded four loads of laundry while watching Chef Class and Nick Cannon's Wild and Out.
  
• Cooked two meals for my family (chili and ziti).
  
• Spilled last night's leftovers all over the kitchen floor when I opened the refrigerator door.
  
• Showed my oldest what happens when someone does not properly put away food in the refrigerator.
  
• Cleaned up the spill and mopped the floor. Put the soiled laundry in the sorting cart.
  
• Cleaned the inside of the toilet.
• Rearranged the storage containers on my kitchen counter and on top of the refrigerator.
• Got annoyed with my youngest for dragging her feet and not trying to get ready for school.
• Took pictures of my flowers and cat.
• Read my emails.
• Searched for an empty spray bottle to use for a DIY green all-purpose cleaning spray. Didn't find one.
  
• Thought about all of the cleanup work that needs to be done in my place.
• Wrote and sent a long text message on my cell phone.
• Fed the cat. Washed out her water dish and replenished it.
• Washed and dried off the cat's place mat.
  
• Got a yogurt out to eat. Put the yogurt back in the frig because I changed my mind. I wanted to eat chili instead.
• Snipped fresh cilantro from my herb garden to stir into my chili.
• Enjoyed the flowers and bird songs while on the PC.
• Looked for jumbo binder clips. Didn't find them.
• Put away some office supplies. Restocked my pen and pencil containers.
• Organized my gravity-feed can dispenser in my pantry.
• Refilled the cereal container in the pantry.

Whew! That's a lot of work before starting my 9 to 5.

a room with a view.

Standard footwear for female commuters who take public transportation in the Washington, DC metro area.
loving life

rush hour traffic in downtown dc