A beauty tip!

I've been meaning to share this nugget of information -- after much deliberating, I bought the Clarisonic Mia sonic facial brush (www.clarisonic.com). I don't usually indulge in these things; I still have my hair curlers from high school (believe me, they're old).

My hair stylist had been raving about how great the Clarisonic was for her and her mom. And then the Wall Street Journal did an article about it (12/27/11, www.wsj.com) and so I thought, happy new year to me and my face, went to my local drug store and bought one.

I have to say, it's pretty cool. I use it only once a day but my pores do look smaller, as promised. Apparently sonic brushes vibrate super fast, which shakes the dirt loose easier. Gross but whatever, it seems to be working.

This is not a paid endorsement for Clarisonic or the WSJ, just passing along a worthwhile tip.

A new "normal"

Every now and then, when I update a friend on my life's goings-on, I realize that what I do and manage everyday, while not exceptional, is a very full plate. Examples:

1. One of my boys remains raging angry at me, so much so that he can barely be polite (except when he wants money, of course). It's not any one thing that I did to set him off, so there's no easy fix. I guess he'll just stay angry until he decides not to be anymore. It hurts.

2. Another of my sons feels caught like a deer in the headlights re: the behavior of his twin toward me and the ongoing negative verbal sewage that his dad says about me. "I just want everybody to get along and be nice. Why can't you do that?" I wish it were so easy. But you can only be accommodating so long before you're just a putz, I told him. I'm done being a putz.

3. My little dude finally fessed up -- he doesn't want to go to boarding school. But, he hasn't told his dad. I get it -- it was hard for me to talk to his dad and I'm an adult, how can I expect my kids to?

4. Starting the hunt for alternative housing for David, my autistic 24-year old stepson. Talked to one well-regarded agency. The fellow there told me that they were just preparing for a new resident, someone who'd been on the waiting list since 1999. Ug.

5. Work. I don't wanna ... but thank goodness for the flexibility and diversion.

So, while the Mr. and I trudge along through this bleary February weather, I look forward to a yet unplanned getaway (a prior trip has been cancelled; not a good time to go away) and to resolution of the various issues weighing me down. On the upside, spring has to be on its way, right? And I have great friends.

My new normal isn't exactly normal, but it's all mine!

Keep trying to choose happy.

Difficulties

This is a difficult time, hence the scarcity of posts. Everyone is healthy, but I'm fighting my sons' father, which is never fun. He has unilaterally decided not only to try to send my youngest to boarding school, but to do so without my consent. Today I learned that he submitted applications to those schools without supplying any information about me -- effectively erasing me from my son's life as his mother. To say that I am outraged is an understatement.

This brings things to a whole new level. Thank goodness for the Mr., who is a rock and tremendous support.

The worse part of all this -- how it will play out for my sons. Heartbreaking.

Rotten

This week is shaping up to be a real dog. Nasty-gram e-mails from the ex, ongoing fight to keep my youngest home next year instead of his father's plan to ship him off to boarding school (more time for his golf and dating, right?), and it's finals week for the three high school boys.

And it's cold, windy and snowing. 

And did I mention that work is piling up cuz I've been so distracted by the battle against boarding school?

Ug. How many pounds of chocolate (dark with less than 65% cocoa, per The Plan!) and how many bottles of vino do you think I'll go through in the next few days! :)

Working so very hard to choose happy. How's your week going?

OMG!

To those who have left comments on blog items which went unanswered, my sincere apologies. I just realized that comments are sent to my gmail account, which, until about 3 minutes ago, I literally never checked.

So, keep the comments coming and I promise to be more responsive!

The Gloves are Off.... And Gobo

I am about as conflict-averse a person as you'll ever meet. Which is probably why my first marriage lasted as long as it did - he always was "right" because voicing my opinion was too exhausting and, as I learned over time, not worth the fight.

However, the ex has brought a fight to my feet and it's clear he doesn't like that I'm not just caving in. But, when he brings my boys into it, I will fight like a Mama Lion.

That said, this whole standing-up-for-myself is new territory, it's exhausting and takes too much mental energy.  People who go looking for fights are sick. Thank goodness that the Mr. is so supportive. I'll provide updates on this whole sad/sick saga, but for now, just know that I'm still here, but engaged in battle.

In other news: still living and loving The Plan -- I've kept the weight off for weeks now. Anytime I slip, I just revert back to a "proven" menu. Also, discovered Gobo root at a local Asian market:

Gobo, or burdock, root is traditionally valued for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is highly esteemed as a blood detoxifier, a diuretic, and a topical remedy for maladies of the skin, including psoriasis and acne.

Learn more at www.wisegeek.com

Ciao for now and choose happy in 2012.