Mrs. Roada Rage

On the morning of October 6, 1995 - the day of my wedding rehearsal and just before my manicure - I received my very first driver's license. (Psst: to this day, I have a spotless driving record!)

I had my driving permit since I was 15 plus some odd months, but I wasn't one of those kids who just HAD to get her license the second she turned 16. Maybe I was lazy. Or maybe it's because I had an older sister who drove. Or maybe because my mom thought I was too "flighty" to be trusted behind the wheel. For whatever reason, driving didn't rank high on my priority list during my teen years.

After I graduated from college, my mother bought me a car. Hey, I can take a hint. So I decided to take lessons. Real driving lessons. Elderly Mr. J from Sears Driving School (yes, in some ways I did get my license from Sears), would pick me up once a week and teach me everything I needed to know to pass the state driver's test. We parallel parked--complete with cones and flags. And Day 1, he had me out on I-495...white-knuckling it, I might add. It took 15 years for me to try THAT again.

In between our close calls, Mr. J and I talked. Mostly about Dr. Laura. Mr. J enjoyed listening to her show, so many of our conversations centered around whatever she had been discussing.

What Mr. J could not have prepared me for was the bevy of bad drivers that exist in the real world. Being a new driver of a particular age gave me an advantage in some ways. For one thing, I had a degree of maturity on my side. Nothing is worse than a young, inexperienced, careless, hothead. Unless it's a rude driver. They bring out the worst in me. One minute I am happily singing along to "Wait on the Lord"; the next, I lose my religion. Don't know why I let them get to me.

Didn't realize the extend of my "problem" until one day on the way to school, I heard a little voice from the backseat, "What happened to make you mad, Auntie Sharon?" In that moment, I realized how ridiculous it was for me to give away all my power and composure to idiots on the road. So I'm trying not to take any of it personally. And I'm also trying to refrain from calling them "idiots". But they make it so hard.

WWDLD?*

*What Would Dr. Laura Do?

Presidential Pardon

Apparently, all is forgiven for what I did the last time I was at the White House.

Next month, J and I will be attending a Holiday Open House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And they are allowing photography--something that was verboten on our last tour. That alone is worth a TSA-style pat down.

My Photo Carnival "Pick"-Ture

Today I am participating in a Photo Carnival over at Love That Max.

"The Littlest Heroes Project" photographer, Trina Gueck, spent the afternoon of Isaiah's 5th birthday getting to know him. She worked her magic capturing the very essence of my sweet boy in her photography. It's not hard to see why I picked this as my favorite.

See how she caught all that mischief? That head cocked to the side? That infectious grin? All Zaiah. And that independence. Isaiah was learning to walk. See how he's not holding on to the handles on his walker? Eight weeks after this picture was taken, Isaiah let go of that walker for good and stepped out on his own and hasn't looked back. From this photo's perspective, I'm able to see Isaiah as his own person ~ literally a separate, but equally valuable part of our family.

And we are all still here. Standing behind him. Cheering him on.

Deck the Halls...or Me

Christmas Card Photo Panic 2010 has commenced.

New year, same scenario. It's officially that time of year when I realize I have to get the perfect picture for our family Christmas card. Or the world will come to an end. When I make my usually tolerant children crazy with my demands to sit next to each other and smile. Again. And again.

Last year, I let myself off the hook, so to speak. Instead of one perfect card, I decided to do two versions: "Naughty" and "Nice". I never got THE perfect shot, so I just capitalized on what I was able to capture.

I need a new plan. It's just all so stressful. Need proof? Here are some outtakes from last year's Photo Shoot:

OK....who farted?




I'm outta here.




Just where do you think you're going?





I know you aren't TOUCHING me.



Come baaaaaaack...



Thank you. Thank you very much.

Year #2 in Review

The second anniversary of Three Chocolate Brownies just passed.

Gotta say, I had no idea I would cover such a wide variety of topics over the course of the last 12 months. Our epic cross-country move. Heartbreaking marital woes. Self-discovery. Reconnecting with my extended family. Elation in Isaiah's negative test results. Pride in my uber Brownies' accomplishments. Renewed faith.

If you have followed us from the start, thanks for hanging in there. If you are new to The Blog, hang on for the ride ~ I have a feeling it's just getting good.