Middle Sister Confession:

I steal magazines from the doctors office and I am NOT ashamed.

I like to believe I am an honest person with great integrity. I live with high considerations as to "What Would Buddha Do?" -except for when I am at the doctors office. But I only started stealing magazines a few weeks back when LS had to go to the ER. The waiting room is a dreadful place to be and we've been to numerous doctors offices since the ER visit and paid hundreds of dollars just to see the doc. for 10 minutes. Time is money and our money was spent waiting for a doctor that was over an hour late with a very unfriendly receptionist and to top it off our fees are not even going to cover the cost of the pending surgery. So I took it upon myself to help myself to a magazine or two if its a good issue. Its the least I can do to justify the time wasted in the waiting room. Sure, I'll bring the magazine back if I remember to because I'm sure that's what Buddha would do...
But I am not the only one in the family who does this. BS is even worse. I'd say she's borderline clepto when it comes to "missing" Magazines. At least I take my time and browse the magazine and then maybe nonchalantly slip it in my large handbag that I happen to be wearing that day. With BS, she comes in and before you even blink she has done a swipe of all your magazines that she sees fit. And this isn't just limited to doctors offices either. She smoothly does this at nail salons, hair salons, my car, my purse and my house. I decided I am going to hide my magazines in my underwear drawer. She wouldn't dare go there. Little Sis on the other hand is not into magazine swiping like her older Sisters but likes to suspiciously "borrow" my clothes and strangely stores it up on the highest shelf and deep in the back...which in my opinion is an odd thing to do if she is planning on wearing it and returning it.

Jinxed?

Its been said that trying on someone's engagement ring is bad luck if you are a single women. Every girl knows of this Old Wives tale but its one superstition that no girl wants to test whether or not they believe in marriage or the superstition itself because if not marriage they at least want a chance at love. We all strive for that love that lasts forever. And as you get older how you define love and what you expect out of it changes. I remember sitting with the girls on the playground singing..."First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes (Middle Sister) with a baby carriage..." But that isn't going to happen to this Middle Sister thanks to Big Sis.
I wouldn't necessarily say I am a superstitious person in the sense that I make all my decisions based upon crazy Old Wives Tales but I will say that some of my paranoia is from these superstitions and my monk. And now 5 years later I just remembered how much against my protest Big Sis made me try on her ring. She literally pinned me down and put that darn beautiful ring on my unwed virgin finger to "see what it looks like on" me. So now reflecting back it all makes sense. All the bad dates and heartbreaks was because of Big Sis. Because she made me try on her engagement ring. Middle sister has a bad Big Sister!
Well, to be fair (partially because she reads this) I guess it's still too soon to say its all her fault. I still have time. And I did meet a very sweet guy whose is still climbing that wall but I guess only time will tell if this Old Wives tale is true...but how long shall I wait to point the finger?
Needless to say I definitely believe in marriage. I believe in that piece of paper and sealing the deal with a diamond. Screw Woman's Independence! Screw New Age philosophy on love. Give me the ring. Open my door. Buy me flowers. Thank you. What women do for their husbands or the man they love are priceless. Amen my Sisters, Amen. As jaded as some people think I am I still believe in love and still have hope even if my monks says otherwise and even if my Big Sis may have Jinxed me. Its just too bad I can't buy it with my credit card. It would be soo much easier and less time consuming. But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining yet. I love that as Big Sis stays home and organizes her play dates, I am at my house getting ready for my hot dates :) I'd say that's a mighty great trade off.

Good Bye San Francisco...

My days are now filled with Diaper Cakes and potty breaks (And no, they are not mine).
Even if I was a Middle Sister of another mister I still wouldn't recognize myself. The days of strolling through art museums by day and wine bars and who knows what else in San Francisco by night are absolutely gone. I miss Polk street where I use to live and Union Street where I worked and all the bars, restaurants and taxis at your fingertips. I miss not having to worry about DUI's and everyone having a great time. Most of all I miss having Napa and Sonoma as my neighbors. Its been two years since I moved and I visit often but its still not the same as living there. Now being a "visitor" of San Francisco it feels like an itch I just can't quite scratch all the way. Not quite satisfying but enough for the moment.

But I am the one who decided to move back home. I decided I wanted to be with my family again. The city was getting to me. I was done having only myself to be concerned with and plus the boys suck there. I was tired and done with the party that never ends. I wanted to be Aunty T-T. I wanted an active role in my nephew's life. I missed out on most of Big Sis's wedding preparation and fun and that is one of the greatest things about having sisters, experiencing those special moments that we talk about forever- weddings and births and I missed most of it.
But I must say be careful what you wish for because I got everything I wished for and more. I did get to witness the birth of my 2nd nephew since I've moved back which was amazing BUT I now also make Diaper Cakes, have Barney and Friends on my Tivo, and I attend more baby showers and Elmo parties than I do Happy Hour. I dream of Diaper Genies where I once dreamed of Gucci and Prada.
Middle Sister and the City no more.
There are moments where I do miss being where my artsy stylish ways were appreciated. Not so much around here. Sandals and machine washable clothes are now the norm.

I left San Francisco while I still loved it. That is the only way to go. I left before it jaded me and took away all the spark I still had left for life, love and happiness because city life can do that to you if you stay too long. If I had the opportunity to move back I still might. My heart is still there as much as it is here now. The adjustment from City life to Suburban life was very hard but now looking back I have never felt more fulfilled than I do now and the ironic thing is I have less than I did before and as far as life goes and what to do next I am more in the "middle" than ever. But a good friend of mine said its much better to be in the "middle" in SoCal where the sun always shine and the beaches are around the corner than freezing cold San Francisco. Kudos to that. I love you San Francisco but I think I will stay here for awhile.

Its a Family Affair

There is no such thing as a small gathering in my family. Everything we do always includes a cousin or two or five. And words such as "Private" and "Intimate" do not exist in our vocabulary. We will always know what you did last summer or last night and even a minute ago. You can bet that even our cousin in Cambodia will know about your bowel movements and whats in your bank accounts before you do.
Our In Case of Emergency number should really be listed as a 1-800 Call My Whole Family type phone number because that's really who you will reach if God forbid anything happens to one of us. Its completely annoying most of the time but comforting when it truly is a case of emergency situation. You will never be alone in such stressful, scary cases but before you shut your eyes and say goodnight you can bet your socks that one of our cousins in Cambodia and their co-workers will hear about your colon and your past gyno exam. Why? Because they are all NOSY disguised as "caring" for your well being :)

Little Sis had to go to the emergency room due to excruciating pain in her abdomen. The good news is that Little Sis was never alone during this scary time but the bad news is she was NEVER alone even if she wanted to be because unfortunately everything IS a Family Affair. So as she answered those personal questions that doctors do love to ask you can bet your socks again that her family was there and more alert than a triple shot of espresso waiting to hear her answers (yep, now we really know what she did last summer...) The good news is that it was just her Sisters in the room and even better news is that she is gonna be fine.
The only bad news is the medical bill that will NOT be a family affair and the only time where we will be given our "personal space".

Gym Day

I saw Jesus at the gym today.

Well actually calm down Jesus fans, it was more like his modern day twin brother. He was on the elliptical doing his thing as happy as can be. It made me smile. If God was one of us...as the song goes... what would He do at the gym? (apparently the Elliptical). It would have been cool if I was running the treadmill next to Jesus because then it would have been me and Jesus running side by side in great stride :)
But I almost feel like it was a sign. Like I was doing the right thing going to the gym today (because I must confess its been awhile). That God is with me. That I better not cheat my workout and do two more crunches before I sneak out cause Jesus is in the house and he is watching!
Hmm...I wonder if his membership is free...
I am always looking for a sign. I am always believing everything is a sign. I believe seeing Jesus's modern day twin brother on the elliptical today is definitely one but I am still pondering what it could possibly be as I sip my Chardonnay...
It is 4pm and yes, this is what I do.

Middle Sister Meets Boy...

He's not a middle child but he seems to appreciate this one. Despite what my monk has said about me not having a good year I still can't help but hope that he's wrong. That maybe, just maybe there is Santa Claus. And maybe the Holy water shower is working...

He is a breathe of fresh air for me. He makes my unemployment days feel not so unemployed. He appreciates that I color outside of the lines and respects my love affair with Charles
(actually I have to confess I've been spending more time with my Napa boys lately because I find them less wine-y and more delicious)
Not many people get me and I don't think he gets me either but I love that he tries. He says he likes me. I smile at hearing that. But for how long I keep thinking? My Big Sis says that is the flaw of me dating so much. Too many bad dates and heartbreaks has got me so uptight and paranoid that apparently I have a wall up longer than the Great Wall of China. Even he thought so. Sorry China. I've climbed that wall and it is not fun. I don't want to be that girl. But for now I do hope that he has good hiking boots because I really do like him...

But since meeting this sweet boy one great thing that has come out of it if nothing else is that it has given a reason for my sisters and I to get together to do what sisters do best- assisting in selecting the perfect date outfit. On a normal day the 3 of us don't have much in common but fashion always brings us together. But as far as dating tips goes-my little sister is only beginning and my older sister is done dating so in this situation I find myself not stuck in the middle but actually on my own.

Charles

I have to confess:
In life there is no guarantee that the people who are in your life now will always be in your life or the ones you love will love you back but since meeting Mr. Shaw he has taught me to take each day with a full glass.

He is everything I could ever ask for.
Since meeting Charles my life has changed completely. There is no going back.
Charles always knows how to put a smile on my face and make a bad day go away.
He just gets me without me ever having to say a word. We share a language that only a person of a certain grape can understand.
Another great thing about Charles is that he never argues and can never really disappoint me....but if he does become unruly I can always just put a cork in it!
But the best part of all is that Charles just gets even better over time like my man George Clooney.
Meet my first love, my only love, Charles Shaw :)