My name is Helen. This is my diary. I’m a stay-at-home mother of two rambunctious boys. I’ve been married for 15 years to the love of my life, Steve, a very patient man who lets me have a little fun at his expense here on this blog. I have two labrador retrievers, one of whom is clinically insane and takes Prozac so that he can try to be a productive member of the family. It rarely helps.
I’m a fitness fanatic. I’m the girl next door. That is, if your neighbor is sarcastic, irreverent and unruly. On my better days, I’m a real life Martha Stewart. On the days where mid-life crisis meets minivans, and food stains and bloating present very real fashion challenges, I’m more Lucille Ball.
I’m a red-headed, irish-italian and a right-wing vegetarian. I was born and raised in the deep south, then moved to the west coast as a teenager. My life is all about dichotomies.
So come have a seat, and let me tell you a story. It all started about 20 years ago when I met this very tall, handsome man who swept me off my feet……..
December 23, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Hi there,
I am trying to help out my friend Monique put together some good results for her PhD project about compulsive shopping. I found this blog post you made — http://imhelendt.wordpress.com/2006/11/21/my-shopaholic-brother-and-the-good-little-barfer/ — and I thought maybe you might be interested in participating: http://www.shopping-study.com.
(Or your brother might
)
Here is what Monique sent me:
‘I would like to recruit individuals to complete my online survey and a host of related surveys. Answering all online questions takes aprox. 1.5 hours. Individuals may save their answers and return to the survey if they are not able to complete the questions in one-sitting. I am hoping for a good percentage of my community sample to be composed of “shopaholics,” or middle-class people who tend to regularly spend beyond their means.’
‘Individuals interested in participating in the survey will get a copy of the study results. Study results will help individuals gain insight into what underlies episodes of uncontrollable spending in people who have spending difficulties. Also, after the data has been collected, all surveys will be deleted with the exception of a short 35 question version of the “Shopping Motivations Inventory”‘
‘Individuals who have participated in the study will be able to return to the site and take the questionnaire. On the site, they will be able to get immediate feedback on their survey responses which should give them insight into the unique and unconscious psychological factors that propel their own shopping behaviors.’
Would you be willing to take the survey? I thought it would be something you might be interested in.
Thanks for your time. Let me know if you have any addition questions.
Cheers,
Chris
–
Chris Abraham cja@well.com +1 (202) 352-5051
December 23, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Chris- I don’t qualify I don’t think. I’m not a shopaholic. In fact, I hate shopping. lol. My brother probably wouldn’t qualify as middle class, since most middle class people don’t spend $1200 a month on hair care products.
He also doesn’t recognize that he’s a shopaholic. I don’t want to be the one to tell him. ;D
January 6, 2007 at 11:12 pm
i browsed your blog after looking at your husband’s (steve teixera, GPM of VC++ at MS) blog.I am a regular reader of Steve’s blog.
I am forwarding you the below URL. Guess why i am sending you the below URL:):)
http://blogs.msdn.com/markjo/archive/2007/01/03/windows-live-for-tv-another-great-example-of-wpf.aspx
January 7, 2007 at 11:24 am
GAHHHHHH! He did not do that to me! AGGGG! He knows how camera shy I am! AGGGGGGGGG!
January 21, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Helen,
My name is Chris Kelly and I am the editor of the Spotter.net, a webzine focusing on healthy living in Manhattan .
First, allow me to compliment you on the quality of your blog. We are currently seeking to link with bloggers in all area of health to increase education and awareness of healthy living and I am interested in including you in our healthy blogging section.
With over 5,000 registered users in addition to 50,000 page views per week, this opportunity will undoubtedly provide significant exposure and acts as a great advertisement for your services.
Please feel free to contact me for more information and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours in Health,
Chris Kelly
Editor
The Spotter
http://www.thespotter.net
January 23, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Hi Helen,
I am mother of two with a labrador named Baloo, and fitness freak too. Did your mom ever send you the soda cake from scratch recipe? I’ve been making these for a year now (from a box) and cake mixes are so expensive. Do share if someone has cracked the code to make these from scratch. Thanks! Jeanette
January 23, 2007 at 2:06 pm
oh…my email addy is kokosamoa@earthlink.net for the soda cake recipe. thanks,
January 23, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Jeanette- It was my Aunt that had the recipe. I’m going to see her next week at a wedding, I’ll see if she’s found it.
March 6, 2007 at 11:37 pm
You and I have a few things in common, it seems (in addition to the redhead thing!): Seattle, the Bay Area (Berkeley, the Peninsula),Microsoft, (I was a PM there; now I’m a PM on a Gates Foundation project), and oh yes — KIDS.
Carol
http://northwestladybug.blogspot.com/
March 7, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Hi Carol. Welcome!
March 17, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Hi Helen!
Your blog is great! I am a stay at home mom to three naughty little boys so I really identify with you! I could use a little more modivation to get healthy like you though, lol. Best wishes
March 18, 2007 at 7:23 am
Breeder- stand in front of the mirror naked. lol. That’s all the motivation I need.
March 20, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Hi Helen
Great site.
Sent you an email at your hotmail email and MSN about your message you sent up north yesterday. Need some feedback.
Keep up the great work.
Dave
March 22, 2007 at 7:05 am
hi came across blog archives by accident.Interesting site.Forgive me: Being Canadian I just shrugged at “it snowed again we can’t go outside.” Read about your sick days. I cannot be too thankful for Canadian heath care Doctors were great during miscarriage.
Fortunately I am rarely sick (usually just colds).My husband has been wonderful during my few periods of illnesses.
March 22, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Dave- Thanks.
Cybershy- I couldn’t go outside because my son is in a wheelchair and it was too icy outside to take him out safely.
Glad the Canadian health system is working for you. I have friends who are Canadian with infertility problems and they’ve had a nightmare to deal with using the Canadian health system.
March 22, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Oh okay I didn’t mean any offence. I was only refering to certain adaptations of Canadians.We make jokes about the weather.One time a woman from North Carolina told me on the rare occassion they do get snow (which is about an everything shuts down and people take pictures)I go for walks in snow up to my knees -great resitance
For us Spring isn’t a season ,but a intermission between winter and summer
so you are a gym junkie and a runner I have crossed the finish lines of two marathons.
March 22, 2007 at 7:49 pm
CYber- I wasn’t offended. Things do shut down here because of a little snow, but I was trapped because of the wheelchair.
I used to do triathlons when I was younger, but it’s been awhile. I’m not a huge runner, I’ve got too many spine and knee problems to run a lot right now.
April 13, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Hey Helen,
I’m going to New Orleans for a conference and I’ve never been there before. Do you have any recommendations on places to see in the evenings?
beau dot raines at gmail dot com
thanks
Beau
April 13, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Beau- LOL! One of my friends just asked the same thing. I’ll send you what I sent him…
April 13, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Thanks – you would make a great New Orleans vacation planner!
April 13, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Right. With all my “beware of the ghetto.” LOL.
April 27, 2007 at 7:58 am
Hey Helen, This is where it began five weeks ago.Next week my work schedule changes.(I will actually have one)Instead of blogging I’ll be slogging.It’s now time for some miscellaneous comments. Best Van Morrison Song:Moondance…Do you have frown face if you are cheesed off at a blogger.I have laughed at your blog and I shook in disbelief.
May 6, 2007 at 6:32 am
Hi Helen…
I just found out your blog from blogger chicks. My blog is on the list too. I just wanna say hi, I love and enjoy your blog.
I’ll stop by later and drop a comment. Cheers…
May 6, 2007 at 9:19 am
Hi Pretty and Welcome!
July 2, 2007 at 11:50 am
You? or your twin?
http://www.hotmomsclub.com/store/
(harmless site, I promise)
July 2, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Going- LOL. I have fair skin and my coloring is a little different.
July 8, 2007 at 11:05 am
Yeah, well, you qualify for the club, and I’m sure your hubby thinks so too!
October 11, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Great blog. the stories about your family are too funny.
October 11, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Going- Aww thanks!
Laura- Funny if you’re not LIVIN’ it…
Kidding!
October 18, 2007 at 9:53 am
I just left a comment but I have to say that I too have been married for 13 years and have two boys. We have one lab (but he’s very calm.) I wish I was a fitness fanatic though
October 22, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Debbie- How funny!
January 24, 2008 at 11:19 am
You’re too funny! Hope you don’t mind if I add you to my blogroll.
January 24, 2008 at 11:47 am
Lucky- Hello and welcome! If you leave me your blog link, I can add you as well.
January 25, 2008 at 12:31 pm
You may not want to… I have a bad mouth.
hehehe
http://luckymdk.wordpress.com
January 27, 2008 at 11:43 am
Lucky-DO I need to put a rated R warning next to yours like Mr. Fabulous? He actually needs a rated X warning. BTW- LOVED the video with the bird. LMAO.
May 1, 2008 at 2:09 pm
“Where the dog takes Prozac…”
Your dog takes Prozac?
~ Sisyphus, http://www.tsfiles.wordpress.com
May 8, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Sisyphus- Yep. He’s as crazy as they come. Your comment went to the spam filter, sorry.
May 16, 2008 at 11:05 pm
“He’s as crazy as they come.”
Therefore a person who takes an anti-depressant is crazy. Is that what you mean?
May 17, 2008 at 8:15 am
TS- Uh, no. The dog is crazy. He is treated with Prozac to keep him from destroying property, and for separation anxiety. I actually made no statements regarding PEOPLE.
The first time we decided to take a little vacation and leave for the weekend we had a friend come and take care of the dogs. We thought it would be best if he was in familiar surroundings. This idea ended up costing us two thousand dollars. Our friend put him in his airline kennel (where he was confined every night due to his destructiveness), shut the door to the bedroom and left for the night. She returned 7 hours later to find our bedroom destroyed. He had not chewed his way out the kennel during the evening, he had burst through the side, blowing it out like a bomb went off in there. He had left our carpet in shredded ribbons in the middle of the floor. He had dug a hole through the wall and chewed off the windowsill. He had relieved himself in a circle around our bed then climbed on top to leave a steaming pile of crap in our bed. He had gone into the bathroom and eaten medicine out of the medicine cabinet. He flung my jewelry box across the room and my jewelry was interlaced with his crap.
The vet recommended Prozac. Not because the dog is depressed, but because he’s nuts. I’m not sure what kind of statement you are trying to get me to make about Prozac and people, but I am talking about my dog. And he is most definitely crazy. AND he takes Prozac.
September 7, 2008 at 9:22 am
Sorry about your dog:-(…was he born this way? I learn about Prozac for dogs last week. There had a puppy who brother acted strange and looked strange, too. We thought he was slow or retarded…Incredible that dogs could have the same mental problems.
I’m Grace, by the way. I came across your website at hotmail – spaces. I have three personal blog websites: myspaces, spaces, and en.netlog.com. I am 5 months new to blogging (at first started for business reasons) and I learned a lot. I noticed there is a lot MORE to learn about blogging. That’s fine with me.
Well, it’s nice to meet you. Hopefully we will stay in touch.