A Grumpy Newsletter
Because I'm so relatable!
I wonder if Marvin knows why I’m grumpy.
All I want to do is watch movies and eat comfort food. Tuesday night I let myself do that. Maybe it helped a little?
What’s your comfort food? Potato chips? Cookies? Pot Roast? Cheetos? Sourpatch Kids?
I can’t go to my doctor to complain about my problem, but if I did the diagnosis would be: I have General Crankiness Syndrome: GCS.
Which is weird because so many exciting and fun things have been happening. The article about our house in Apartment Therapy (which I told you about in my last newsletter) was a recent, thrilling experience.
For the article I decided to take a chance and let the photographer capture dirty dishes on the counter, dog toys in the middle of the floor, and even my unmade bed (that photo didn’t make the cut, but there’s a slide show at the top of the article with these more realistic photos.)
I know it’s ridiculous because no one’s house looks perfect but I felt nervous showing the world. I could imagine the reactions, “You’d think a professional organizer could clean up before a photo shoot!” or “If this is how her house looks, who would hire her to organize anything?”
I knew in my little OCD heart it was the right thing to do, though. And taking a chance by showing those messy elements paid off big time.
The best parts of the experience for me were the comments from strangers --surprising because comments online can be so awful. But these were great and mostly a result of trying to present myself as a normal person whose house isn’t always clean. People (including me) love to look at photos of perfectly decorated and tidied spaces with expensive furniture and white rugs-- but we also know it’s not realistic to live that way.
After collecting accolades from my peers and friends about the article, the next week felt so blah. It was a classic hangover kind of feeling --after the thrill of a party wears off I’m sad to not be at another party.
Last weekend I got to go with Darla to her dance competition in Las Vegas which was another terrific adventure. (You know I love to watch my babies strut their stuff!) On the trip I met some nice dance moms and some weird, catty dance moms. I don’t identify as a dance mom and was admittedly a little scared to be stuck in the bleachers with them for an 8 hour show. What I should have been scared of was the numbness in my butt!
*Mom and Dad, don’t read the next paragraph. Even though I’m grown I know you don’t want to hear about what I do in Vegas!
All the dance moms were on a group text (a necessary evil) to organize the Vegas trip. At one point when we found out there would be a group dinner at Buca Di Beppo (barf!) I started to get itchy because I absolutely did not want to go to a group dinner, and especially not at a crappy restaurant when there are so many culinary jackpots in Vegas! I stuck my neck out and texted to the group:
“Does anyone want to skip the team dinner and go see Magic Mike Live instead?”
Jeff and Darla were laughing at me, but I sent the text anyway because it was either that or wander around the strip alone.
One mom responded right away, “ME!”
Hooray! I had found my show buddy! We had an incredible time getting to know each other and watching talented young men dance in a female-positive space. There were unicorns, six-pack abs, and lots of laughing and squealing.
Coming back from that trip has been another emotional hangover. Life is so boring when you aren’t surrounded by neon lights and male strippers.
That could be why I’m grumpy I guess. The Why isn’t really the point though. Life is full of bumps and what goes down always comes back up. Being grumpy and wishing someone else would clean the kitchen or make dinner is a regular part of life --my life anyway.
Last night I met some new people playing tennis and today I think I’m emerging from my bitterness-fog a little bit.
This weekend Darla and I are going to look at a college campus and visit some friends in the snow. (She hasn’t decided where she’s going. I will tell you when she does!) I get to do so many fun things! You’d think I would be happy all the time. But that isn’t how it works, is it?
We have to feel all the feelings and ride all the waves. I have to do some work to make the money. My kids are teenagers and they are really funny and full of energy, but sometimes they can be hard to navigate.
Let’s face it, these days I can’t even navigate my own emotions! much less those of my high schoolers.
In other news, Zane’s tennis season has just gotten started. He’s the Captain of the Varsity team at Wilson HS. I do identify as a tennis mom and will talk tennis with you all day.
Jeff is doing Wicked at the Segerstrom Center in Orange County and gets tested for covid-19 Every. Single. Day. His poor nose! It’s amazing that he used to do shows all the time and wasn’t home for dinner for most nights of the year, every year of our life together. It feels so unfair to me now that he’s been home for dinner since 2020. How did I put up with that perpetual nonsense?
See? I told you I’m grumpy!
Until next time, thank you for reading and for writing me back.
Love, Nonni
P.S. I wrote a blog post for work about Black, Pandemic Sweatpants. Please read it!
As always….a joy reading your creations!