Archive for the ‘friendship’ Category

“Trailblazing Sniff Patrol”

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

It was just about 7 a.m.- and we were OFF.

It had snowed about 4-5″ and we were the only ones around, beside the snowplows.  Needless to say we were ALL positively ebullient: there was enough snow so the 3 kids were forced to do their bunny imitations. As lorra applied science to create a successful leash management strategy, the kids insisted on RUNNING, all with giant smiles on their open-mouthed faces. We were the first out after only the street plow, so when we got to the foot path along Riverwoods Road we were forging a new trail. Bravely. Lots of conversing: “o, is there something good to smell there? let me, let me!” and ‘if YOU’RE gonna pee there, I’M gonna pee there…”– stuff like that.

Meanwhile, between managing the leashes and the ankle deep snow, lorra was joyfully engaged, waving at anyone who drove by. (Again, mostly snowplowers.) She was particularly impressed by Penny, who was as energetic as the others, and as incessant. In addition to the heavier load she carries, she had the biggest, baddest snowballs around her feet and ankles. She found them annoying, but she didn’t let them stop her!

After several blocks our tracks joined some others; from a dog and person who’d gotten there first. We went quite far, until lorra felt going any further (farther?) might have meant having to carry someone at least part of the way home. There was quite a bit of running on the return.

Then came the good part.

With a fresh bowl of water in placed the garage, the 3 were let off leash while lorra shoveled the driveway in the coming-down snow. So many decisions to make! Barking and chasing the lead edge of the shovel, or scream-barking at Dixie, the golden barking back from her end of the cul-du-sac, or barking at the snow plow (back again to redo the street), or just running like crazy together thru the yard? So so so fun. for everyone. for about an hour! But we weren’t done yet.

Next stop- laundry room. Where each doggie got his/her own time in the sink to melt off those annoying snowberries with comforting warm water. Followed by a long, cuddle-massage in a giant towel. And some blowdrier on the warm, gentle setting. Penny couldn’t get enough of this part. Winnie was concerned about Penny’s safety, being attached by the roaring drier, until Winnie got her own dose and understand that it was okay.

Afterward, ‘This’s livin’  could be heard, murmured softly in 3 distinct voices. Exhausted, they are each breathing deeply as they lie at my feet, eyes closed, smiling.



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Posted in Multitasking, friendship, fun, love, pets | 2 Comments »

‘i want my mommy!’

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Normally, this phrase is a desperate cry, often through tears, in times of frustration, sadness, fear, disappointment. From a little kid.

Now, it’s often a soft internal utterance. Just stating a fact. From the part of me who will always be your daughter. From the little me for whom you will always be ‘my mommy.’

When I want to ask you a question about something that happened, that no one else would know, to clarify my memories, I want my mommy.

When I feel a new appreciation for something you did or who you were, when I want to thank you, I want my mommy.

When I want to share, mother-to-mother, I want my mommy.

When my son does or says something I am proud about,  I want my mommy.

When I see the late autumn day sun illuminating wildly colored leaves, I want my mommy.

When I realize no one has critiqued the recording on my answering machine, I want my mommy.

When I want to revisit a conversation we had 45 years ago, I want my mommy.

I know, I know. I can speak to her. I can hear her. She is alive in me, certainly. In a way.

Still, I want to see her make a goofy face, hear her sing quietly to my son as he falls asleep. I want to hold her hand and play with it during services, hear her talk in funny dialects and watch her laugh till the tears come.  I want to see her (my) feet. I want to smell her skin, smooth her eyebrow with my finger, to give her head a scratch and scratch that same place on her back under the bra strap, to love her.

Still, I want to give you happiness. Make you happy. See you being happy. Give you love. Love you. Lay with my head in your lap, your hand stroking my hair. Get your love.  That unique, uplifting, universe-filling, life-saving love I always got, could only get, from You and Dad.

I want my mommy. I want my mommy. I want my mommy.

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Posted in Health, Multitasking, Parenting, Uncategorized, friendship, home, inspiring women, shopping, tees | No Comments »

THANKS, JULIE!

Monday, October 13th, 2008

This was Julie’s idea: our HWW logo on a pink shirt. So there you have it, black with white dots on the BEST pink cotton shirt.

now available @: http://www.hardworkingwoman.com/store/catalog/

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Posted in friendship, fun, gifts, inspiring women, shopping, tees | No Comments »

Shaunna Russell: HardWorking Woman!

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

Shaunna Russell: She\'s Amazing, Gracie! Submitted by: jennmarie russell

Shaunna Russell
Why she deserves to be celebrated as a hard working woman: Shaunna is a mother of 2, a wife, a minister, a full time cook for a catering company.  She never has time for herself.  She is always thinking of others.  She takes kids to camp in the summer and teaches them how to cook in her so called spare time.  She is the absolute hardest working woman I know.  She never just has down time.  When she does have time to do anything else, its spending time with her wonderful family and remodeling her beautiful house.  Shaunna deserves to be recognized as a hard working woman, as she is the epitome of what that actually means.

THANKS, Shauna, for all you do.

Love, HardWorking Woman

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Posted in Career, Multitasking, friendship, fun, good works, home work, inspiring women, she's amazing Gracie | No Comments »

CONGRATULATIONS, GROOVY GIRLS!

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

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YOU GO, LADIES! Thanks for wearing WALKS THE WALKS tees, we’re so proud!

THE FOLLOWING is by TEAM CAPTAIN, LAURA RUSSO:

Imagine a woman…..

2 days and 40 miles. That’s right.
A group of good friends are working toward a common cause. Breast cancer effects all of us.
This past year has been my personal toughest. In Oct. 2006 my Mom was told her breast cancer had effected her bone marrow. All the years of chemo and radiation had altered her bone marrow and she was developing what looked like Leukemia. This was the first time she had to take a long term leave from work. She began staying with me more and more and that was an adjustment for everyone. I also ways told my Mom through all the ups and downs “Let me know when to worry” Well it was time to worry. We made the most of it. She had good friends come visit. She and another good friend were able to squeeze in a quick visit to the famous Mirival Spa between treatments. We went to a water park with all the grandkids. The main focus was lots of time with the family. Slowly her energy drained and she required more frequent treatments to maintain daily activities. She always could snuggle with the grandkids for a movie or story time. When she decided to stop treatment we all agreed with her decision. Luckily she did not suffer in the end and she died with the people she loved most around her on Aug. 5, 2007. Since then it has been a period of adjustment for all of us. The roller coaster continues. My goal with this walk to let her know that people are still fighting her amazing fight. Putting one foot in front of the other, just as she had to for so long. Another lesson I learned from her is the need to surround yourself with good people. Friends and family is what gets you through so thank you everyone. Thanks to the friends that listen to me then and now when I’m having a rough day. Thanks to the neighbors that pitched in with the kids when I had to run Mom to doctors appointments and when those appointments were no more. For those doing the walk with me, bring tissue, and for those donating, thank you. It really does take a village.
Laura

congrats to you all:

Laura Russo

Erin Ader

Jill Casey

Teresa Macdonald

Kathleen Pisterzi

Katie Pomroy

and THANKS!

Amie Russo

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Posted in 'she's amazing, Health, friendship, good works, inspiration, inspiring women | No Comments »

PEACE in Iraq

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

HardWorkingWoman is proud and excited to announce this imminent situation. How do we know, when even the New York Times hasn’t a clue?

Because it is HWW, and our friend Ryan Nix, who is getting it there. That’s right– sending PEACE to Sergeant Kent Vaughn of the 101st from Fort Campbell, KY, serving our Country on his second tour in Iraq.He has two children, Bailey 7 and Emma 4.

Here’s what PEACE looks like- in Iraq or anywhere.

jonkronpeace.gif

We’re sending our Prayers along with the shirt.

Posted in General, friendship, good works, inspiration | No Comments »

SUPERWOMAN HAS ARRIVED!

Friday, November 9th, 2007

SHE’S HERE! The long awaited, specially-made-for-HWW women, XXXL, fabulous short sleeve, 100% delicious cotton, feminine cut, made-in-America shirt!

And, 4 HWW designs are available in  size SUPERWOMAN:

PEACE

WALKS THE WALK

LOVES WHAT SHE DOES and

SMILE.

Perfect for the women in your life who prefer a roomier size! Check it out:

http://www.hardworkingwoman.com/store/catalog/

Posted in Personal, friendship, shopping | No Comments »

Smile, please.

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

I’ve been thinking about this for months. When I make a conscious effort to smile at everyone I see, there are great results. Even the grumpiest faces smile back. And seem transformed. Then, I feel great. It generates positive energy. And if one or two people are uplifted, so is the world.

So, this post officially kicks off the HardWorking Woman Smile Initiative. The idea is to consciously smile at everyone we see. Especially the ones you don’t want to smile at! (Then the payoff is even greater.) Whether it’s people we know or not, walking by or driving by. In the grocery aisle or on the sidewalk.

And, in honor of the initiative, HWW presents a new tee shirt:

Check it out in the HWW store.

And, from me to you:  :)

Posted in General, Humor, Personal, Uncategorized, friendship, good works, observations | No Comments »

‘as if’

Sunday, June 24th, 2007

i think judith would have chosen this place to sit, early in the morning, in the yard of the apartment building she lived in, to rock gently as i am doing now.l she’d told me how she loves to just be– in nature. to feel the sun on her. and the wind.
i came out to read (j would have loved this book about raven behavior) but there are too many distractions. the birds, mainly, walking flying persching talking. singing. to each other and to no one. there is a giant elm tree hosting many of them. and other trees and buildings all around doing the same. the lawn of this great city yard mingles wildflowers (weed, to some) and grass, and the way the weeds looks improves the beauty of the whole thing. the breeze is cool and lovely mitigating the early burning sun.
still, 10 years later, whenever i look out what was, for a short time, my mom’s bedroom window, i can not help but see as if i were she. from the bed. seeing the beauty of the maple leaves against the sky. Moving, sunlit. Thinking about the thoughts she may have thought. or not thinking.
thinking what others think, feeling what she feels. being a particular person in the light of her. no wonder it feels as if a part of me dies when she they dies. because it does.

Posted in Personal, friendship, love, observations | No Comments »

Three things.

Tuesday, June 12th, 2007

I spent a big chunk of yesterday and this morning with my old dear friend. Didn’t know til I got there (I flew) that she’s in a nursing home. That’s why there was no answer to all my calls lately. That, and because she ripped the phone out of the wall frustrated at not being able to get the words out of her mouth anymore.

The first thing: lifting her out of the chair back into the bed, helping her use the toilet and cleaning her afterwards, trying to move her into what looked like a more comfortable position on the bed, all those things were me and my mom all over again. Only– 10 years later. Used the same muscles. And the same state of mind.

The second thing: There was a kind of acceptance. An ‘it’s-what-it-is’ ness. Being present in the extreme. Without assessing, comparing to other times. Past or future. No self-consciousness. Just being with her. Now.
It had been like that with Mom. And that was an enourmous gift. Because somehow, i didn’t squander the those last few months i did have with Mom by not being other than fully with her.

And that leads me to the third thing: Now I get how a person could do hospice work. Without being torn up all the time. Not that sadness isn’t a part of death. But it’s not the only part. It’s not just about loss and what isn’t anymore. It’s its own thing. And every person is being– now and now and now. Til she isn’t anymore. The being may change, and not be what we would choose, but is there for the being with. Never before could understand how someone could actually choose to be with sick and dying people. And now I do. It’s just how you look at it.

Old, dear friend, I sure love you.

Posted in Health, Personal, friendship, love | No Comments »