February 2006 Archives

I learned today that the mother of a dear friend of mine passed away this past week. She had been sick with cancer, for awhile. Jonathan got married last November while his mother could be a part of it. I snapped this photo of her that night. I love it because it captures her personality so well.

Daphne Gibney was British and had the most wonderful, soothing accent. She worked in the office of the middle school in Newtown, CT. This meant that pretty much all children in Newtown got to know her. I was lucky in that she was also the mother of one of my bestest friends, Jonathan.

While I didn't know her well, I do know that she was kind, cared deeply for children, had a great sense of humor, and loved her family deeply. I loved her and I will miss her. I mourn her loss along with her family and loved ones. I hope she is at peace, and I know she will enjoy her new job as a guardian angel.

There comes that time when growing up, when you no longer give Valentines to everyone in your class. Just that special someone you are crushing on. I think it happens around middle school. This was a particularly hard time for me, since I never got a Valentine from a special someone, no matter how hard I was crushing on him. Silly clueless pre-teen boys.

About this time my father started "The Valentine Phantom". He'd slip my brother and I a little Valentine. It would be typed, not signed, from "The Valentine Phantom." It was suppose to make me feel better - see I was getting a Valentine. At the time it didn't. I was 13, what did I know? But now I think it was sweet. And I still have those typed Valentines.

I have taken on the mask of the Valentine Phantom. Each year at work I give out the silliest Valentines I can find (Scooby-doo, Seseme Street, Nsynch) along with some candy. Yes, I realize that posting this blows my cover (not that it's really a secret). But it's a little way to remember my dad and keep him close to my heart.

I love you Dad. You'll always be my special Valentine.

I've spent the last 10.5 days on the road, for work. It was for two different projects, and I got to have a romantic weekend with my sweetie sandwiched in-between (which was totally awsome and I believe was largely responsible for me making it through the last 3 days).

Not that the projects were hard or unpleasant. On the contrary, they were fun, challenging, and everything that client-work is suppose to be. This is why I'm a consultant again. It's such a rush and a high to be in the thick of a project and help bring light and understanding. (Okay, that really only happened on the second project, since the first was just kicking off - we aren't quite at the light and understand phase yet. But we'll get there.)

It's so good to be home. I missed my cats. Badly. Freesia can't stand to be more than 6 inches away from me. (She's glaring at the computer right now since it is on my lap and she isn't.) Smudge hasn't started his usual run-around-the-house-like-my-tail-is-on-fire-because-mommy-is-home routine yet. I'm a bit afraid it won't start until I'm ready for bed. But I know it's coming. You can see the twitching in the back of his eye.

But you know what? I don't care. Because I'm home. And I get to sleep in my own bed tonight. And be cuddled and stepped on and licked by my favorite pussycats. Yay.

Now, if I could just teach them how to do laundry everything would be perfect.