Who's The Boss?

I interrupt my weekend off to bring you my fave new video

Homecoming

After nearly 30 hours of travel time (18 of which were actually on a plane), I'm finally home.  Darius is giving me the cold shoulder.  I guess that is to be expected considering I've been gone for 11 days. 

So, I'm putting the laptop away for the rest of the week.  I have some serious momma-son bonding that needs to transpire before the weekend is through.   I hoping the big bag of Israeli chocolates will push him swiftly back into my corner.  Chocolate is the cure-all, right?

Photo Journal: Tel Aviv, Day 3

'Cuz really, it's all about the food

I know I promised photos, but I forgot to pull out my memory card reader before I left the hotel this morning.  So you’ll just have to wait a little longer for pictures.  Besides, tomorrow will be my only day off, so you’ll get better photos that the ones taken from my taxi cab.

The whole reason I flew to Tel Aviv was to kick off Phase II of a project where Phase I of said project didn’t go so well.  I’m excited to finally put faces to the dozens of names of people that I have communicated with over conference calls and heated email.  I have a bit of a reputation for being fierce at work.  I don’t give up easily and will negotiate you down to the smallest of detail if I have to.  Most of the time, my drive gets work accomplished.  When you mix me in with a team of fierce Israelis, well, needless to say we are all a little bumped and bruised from Phase I. 

Interestingly enough, despite having a reputation of a bull dog.  A respectful bull dog, there has been many a debate about me while I've been here.  Or rather, what sort of food I will eat.   Everyone assumes that since I am white (or maybe just American or maybe a woman) that I can’t handle the food. 

After two days of other people arguing over whether or not I will like the restaurant (mind you, without every asking me personally), I finally had enough.  I laughed out loud and the insanity of the situation.  And said, jokingly, “I am married to an Indian man.  I lived on anything spicy while pregnant.  I’m not afraid of what you put in front of me as long as it isn’t chicken feet, monkey brains, or anything that is termed ‘delicacy.’  I have only two more days here and I don’t want to be placated.  Just go wherever you regularly go to lunch.” 

And you know what?  They laughed and then CONTINUED ARGUING over where to go.  I know that they want to impress me, that they want to go somewhere special for lunch, that the intent is good natured.  But it is hard as hell to be here without a voice.  I can’t speak the language, can’t read a menu.  If I don’t go with my co-workers, then I don’t eat. 

This is one of the most profound lessons in trust (and letting go of control)  for me.  They have always picked authentic restaurants.  I’ve never eaten so well.  But I’m still working on the “let others speak for me” lesson.  Off to find out what’s for lunch…

Tel Aviv or bust

Landing in Tel Aviv last night was surreal.  First of all, can a country the size of a postage stamp have any more beautiful people?  And when I arrived at my hotel, I smacked into Dawson from Dawson's Creek.  He and I look like we should be related.  It was a little weird.  Sorry, no photo - I was too busy trying not to barf on him.  My stomach has been in a giant knot since arriving.

Contrary to want my family thinks, it has nothing to do with the elevated security levels or feeling unsafe.  I feel incredibly safe here, despite seeing bullet holes on the building next door.  It has to do with the driving.

The taxi drivers here put New York City drivers to shame.  The fast turns, the quick stops, the constant cigarette smoking is a little more than this motion-sickness mama can handle.  In about 20 minutes, my colleagues are taking me to lunch and all I really care to know is how far away is the restaurant and if we can walk there.  I don't think that hurling in your co-workers car made it into the Team Building 101 manual. 

I plan on taking lots of photos tonight and will post a photo journal tomorrow.  My hotel is right on the beach.  Tel Aviv is such a complex city and I can't wait to get acquainted.  -- As long as I don't have to get into another cab.

Photohunt: Paper

Being in the UK this week for work, I thought it only appropriate to focus this week's theme on the UK.

First, give a guess how much money is in this photo?  It's only about 65 pounds.  Convert that over to US dollars, and you're looking at over 130 bucks. 

Second, children's books purchased a local thrift store.  All of the profits go to the Save the Children charity.  I've seen a dozen different thrift stores that all support a different charity.  Ones for pets, ones for breast cancer research, ones for the British Heart Association.  I think it is such a great idea to have so many charities that can easily be supported through buying little trinkets and souveniours. I can't wait to read these books to my little guy.

Homesick

Waking up today in Windsor, UK was the first day of my almost two week business trip that I felt lonely.  It took me exactly five days to feel homesick.  Which, in many ways, made perfect sense.  Most of my trips are only 3-4 days long.  Usually, I’d be home by now.  Kissing my boys (that would be the son I bore and the man I married).  I’d be unpacking and making a very long grocery list.  But this time, I awoke in the UK.  The rest of my team is on their way back to their families.  I have another week before I see mine.

It was bittersweet having a day all to me.  Our meeting ended yesterday and I don’t fly to my next destination until tomorrow.  I slept in as much as the jet-lag would let me and then went on my merry way.  Alone.  It wasn’t until noon that I realized I hadn’t uttered a word.  I had no one to speak to.  I walked where I wanted, stopped in stores that stuck my fancy.  I didn’t have to worry about what my toddler would eat for lunch or where was the closest bathroom.  It was nice to only have to think about taking care of one person.  Me.

But when I saw the children leaving the French school, hand in hand with their mothers, my heart ached for my boy.  Seeing the little girl toddling away from her mother in the King’s Chamber at Windsor Castle reminded me of the spirited independence of my D.  I actually stepped into McDonalds; not for a Big Mac, but to watch the delighted kids who would get free balloon with their happy meal.

As dinner approached, I headed into a local pub for a beer and fish & chips - quintessential English food.  Sitting at a table for one, having only said words to the waitress to order and having spent the majority of my day in silence, I was at peace.  Yes, I was homesick.  Yes, I can't wait to see my child or watch with delight has he opens his presents from my travels.  I know that when I return the solitude that I will have experienced will vanquish at the site of my child.  So I will learn to love the silence before life get loud once more.

Cross-posted at the Silicon Valley Mom's Blog

Photo Journal: London, Day 2

From London, with love (and two hours sleep)

I'm writing this in my hotel room in Windsor.  The Queen is here.  No, not in my room, but I can see her flag flying from atop Windsor Castle.   I have exactly 22 minutes to change and get down stairs for dinner (it's 6:38pm now). 

My plane ride over the Atlantic was uneventful.  Except I only got about two hours sleep despite taking two Tylenol PMs when we left SFO.  After having about 14 cups of coffee today, I've managed to make it through Day 1 of meetings and unpack.

Wherein lies the problem.  I packed about two dozen pairs of pants for my 11-day biz trip and only have about six tops.  Yeah that's what happens when you just keep throwing clothes into the suitcase after every load of laundry.  Working mom's issue #12: multi-tasking doesn't always work!

And my plug adapter is only two prong for the US and my laptop charger is a three prong.  Bite's ass.  After I finish typing this post, I'll have about 30 minutes to re-check work email. 

But I'm here, and I'm about to eat some Fish and Chips and drink a pint of really good beer.  God, I love London.

Weighing in on Brittney

There has been a big cry of support across the Mommy Blogosphere for Brittney Spears during the aftermath of her "comeback" on the MTV Video Music Awards.  If you have been living under a rock, you can see the video here.

While I don't agree that Brittney looked like a sausage in that black bikini and fishnets, I certainly think she could have picked a better outfit for her comeback.  But what pisses me off the most is that mommy bloggers are asking the press to give Brittney a break because she is a mom. Since when did being a mom give a woman a free pass to royally screw up? The woman should have rehearsed more, did more crunches (if she  was gonna wear a bikini), and actually learned the lines of the song - HER SONG - before she paraded in a mess of chaos and insanity for all of the world to see. 

When I first returned from maternity leave, my boss at the time complimented my focus and slapped me at the same time for being a mom.  His exact words (I wrote them down) were "Most women come back from having a baby and don't produce like they used to.  But you, Robyn?  You are working harder than ever.  I've never seen this a working mom as driven as you."

Yeah, that's why he is my former boss.  I never wanted to be known as the "working mom" at work.  I go and do my job every single day.  I give my employer an honest, hard day's work.  Nothing changed professionally for me.  I choose to juggle both, and by god, I think I do a damned good job of it on most days.  And if anyone tells me that I am a good worker inspite of being a mom or that I am a good mom inspite of  being a good worker, let me warn you now that I will sound off.  My two identities are not inherently connected and I will not be judged for one by taking  forgiveness on the other.

I don't think Brittney should get any slack for having a bad performance just because she is a mom.  I don't like what this says about mothers.  That we are less capable or that expecations of us should be lowered.  I don't think so.  I hope that Brittney gets back into whatever she needs to be successful.  Regardless of her mom status.

Photohunt: Plastic

A few weeks back, the Barnum and Bailey Circus came to town.  My dad bought the whole family tickets and we went on opening night.  See the plastic noses of the clowns.

For the record, I do not stand for the cruel and unethical animal taming practices that have been in the press lately against Barnum and Bailey.   I decided to go and see for myself and make judgement after.  I still don't know how exactly I feel about the whole issue, but I doubt we will ever go to a circus show again.

Unpacking from vacation, re-packing as a working mom

We're back from Tahoe.  Despite cleaning the house and finishing ALL the laundry before we left, I think it took exactly 3.7 seconds for the house to be a mess again when we returned.  I'm sitting next to 6 piles of sorted clothes that D is using as a soft landing strip as he launches he toys (aka rockets). 

As I unpack from our vacation, I am re-packing for my own business trip.  I'll be on business for almost two weeks, travelling internationally.  This is the longest trip that I have taken away from my family since, well, starting a family.  It's weird for me to even think about being gone that long.   A small part of me is really excited about the trip (I'm going to London and Tel Aviv!), but the most of me, the mom of me, the homebody who never wants to do anything that isn't as a family is incredibly heart broken about the trip.

It's not working mom's guilt.  It's sadness to not see my family, not kiss my child, not snuggle with my spouse, to not be a part of their lives for two weeks.  And for them to not be a part of mine.

I had high hopes to make a slew of meals while I was gone so that they wouldn't just eat hot dogs.  But that idea hasn't made it to fruition, so instead I'm calling on favors from friends to bring meals over to the house every other night (Ahem, yes that means you!).

I leave again in four days.  So between the laundry folding, the house cleaning (god  knows nothing will be cleaned while I'm gone), grocery shopping (hey, hot dogs don't go and buy themselves), I'll be spending extra time kissing my D and snuggling with N. 

Oh, and I need to get a pedicure.  This working momma is about to go international.

Taking a few days off...

We are headed up to a cabin in Lake Tahoe for a mini-vacation.  The upside: I get to reconnect with my family.  The downside: the cabin is rustic (read: no internet). 

I'll be back on Friday.  Kiss Kiss.

8 random facts about me

I think I was only tagged by Self-Made Mom for this meme because I tagged her for the Scattergories meme last week.  But since I adore her and she can do no wrong in my book (I personally love that she has the cajones to wear flip-flops to work), so here I am completing another meme.

8 Random Facts

1. I love those Hostess Snowballs when I am PMS'ing.  Any other time, I find them disgusting. 

2. My first job was making smoothies at Jamba Juice.  I made $6.50 an hour and thought I was rolling in the dough in 1993. 

3. I always have to sing along to the radio in the car. 

4. My feet are extremely ticklish. 

5. Neville and I met a frat party in college.  I thought it was gonna be a one-night-stand and here we are almost 8 years later.  This is the longest one-night-stand of my life.

6. Whenever I work from home (and Darius isn't with me), I have to have the TV on.  Otherwise, it is just too quiet in the house.

7. My biggest regret in college was that I didn't apply to study abroad.

8.  I love cooking for my family, but I hate cleaning up the mess.

And because I had to do it, so does:

Hormone Colored Days (my BlogHer roomie),

Foodmomiac (whose reciped are seriously the best thing evah),

and Pundit Mom (for her hilarious warning post about the Speedo).

Photohunt: Music

I'm posting this week's challenge as fast as I can.  We are headed up to Sacramento for my brother-in-law's wedding in about 15 minutes.  And since we'll be half-way to Lake Tahoe, we'll be spending next week up there.  I'm really rough around the edges with everything at work and am so thrilled to finally unplug and reconnect with my family.

Onto this week's theme... man, was it hard.  So I give you an eccentric set of photos.

D's "turtle" preschool class during circle time.  They are singing songs (or at least their teacher is).  Darius is the one in the orange shirt NOT singing. 

In honor of Lake Tahoe, this photo is of my mom (Nana) and Darius.  D is just a year old.  We are listening to a band play outside and enjoying a glass of wine.  The boys (Grandpa and Daddy) are taking a nap in the hotel.

Darius at Music Class.  He's giving his teacher a high five while dancing to music.  In Music Class, we would sing, play with different instruments, and be downright silly.

Signs of PMS

1. eating a half of a pound of See's Candy and not caring when you get called on it
2. crying during the on-air engagement proposal of two Biggest Loser castmates during the "Did they keep the weight off?" reunion show
3. having to give yourself a timeout after blowing up at your spouse and your child for not getting to the dinner table at the exact moment that you notified them dinner was ready

Love and Hate

Loving...

The commute to the new office.  I shaved off 15 minutes in the morning and 25 in the afternoon.  My commute is now manageable. 

Cuisine at Home's weeknight cooking magazine.  It's kinda pricey (10 buckaroos) but we have loved every single recipe.  All meals can be prepared in 15 -45 minutes which is a working-mother-who-wants-a family-meal-on-the-table-every-night's dream.

Having Neville's extended family from all over the US and India here.  N's brother is getting married on Saturday and our house has become the hub (and I love being the hub).

Top Ramen Curry Smoodles.  Yes, it has a life-time's worth of Sodium, but it's freakin' tasty.  (You can find it at your local Indian or Middle Eastern grocery).

Hating....

The new office only offers POWDERED CREAMER.  Seriously.  I'm not a coffee snob, but I do expect real half and half or at least those little creamers that you get at a Diner.   I'm not sure if I can continue to work at a company that only offers powdered creamer.  It takes corporate cost cut-backs to a whole new level.

Having to do an entire house scrub-down for the 50+ person Mendhi party we are having on Thursday.  I should have budgetted for Merry Maids or someone other than me to clean my house before and after this party. 

SPEAK OUT to Bush - and get the lead out of our toys

According to Rueters, the Bush Administration will conduct a meeting October 1 to hear our voice on how to "stem a wave of unsafe imports from China and other countries."   The panel is head by the Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt and includes officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Food and Drug Administration, the Agriculture Department, and other various agencies not listed in the article. They will present two reports on their findings this fall.

Comments that we (that's a collective "we" - the only way to be included is to speak out) make will be included in the second report which will "set out specific actions the government can take to safeguard against perilous products."

Many, many of us have already spoken out about these "perilous products" on our own blogs, through email, and at the swimming pools and playgrounds.  Now is the time to collect those comments and speak to the masses.

To SPEAK OUT:
1. If you live in the DC Metro area, you can actually attend the meeting (register by emailing Erik Mettler at Erik.Mettler@fda.hhs.gov by September 17). The public meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in the Jefferson Auditorium, South Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, D.C. 20250. 

2. Register your comments regarding our current policies at either http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments or http://www.regulations.gov. All comments should be identified with Docket No. 2009N-0330.

3. You can also send written comments to Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852 by October 1. All comments should be identified with Docket No. 2009N-0330. 

4. If you have a blog, please write a post about this on your blog . You can link back to the original post at the Silicon Valley Mom's Blog so that everyone else will know that we are doing SPEAKING OUT about this.

Scattergories

Meeyauw tagged me for the Scattergories meme.  And yes, I will be tagging others - read below to find out who is so very, very lucky.

The rules: Just like the real Scattergories game.  Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions. They must be real places, names, things!  If  you can't think of anything, skip it. You cannot use your name for the boy/girl name question.

I'm using my real name "R".  I know, I'm a Rockstar.  hee hee

   Famous Singer: Roy Orbison
   Four letter word: Rule
   Street: Redmond Ave
   Color:  Red
  Gifts/Presents: Rainbow Bright
   Vehicle:  Rolls Royce
   Things in a Souvenir Shop:   Rain slicker   
  Boy's Name:  Ruben
   Girl's Name: Rhianna
   Movie Title: Road Trip
   Drink: Ruby Red Grapefruit
   Occupation:  Royal Guard 
   Celebrity:  Rene Russo
   Magazine: Real Simple
   U.S. City:  Redding, CA
   Pro Sports: Rowing
   Fruit:   Raspberries
   Reason for Being Late for:   Rockstar night
   Something You Throw Away:     Rubbish   
   Things You Shout: No Running!
   Cartoon Character: Road Runner

 

Onto the the spreading of  Scattergory love...

1. Not Just A Working Mom - my blogging friend and MNO drinking buddy

2. Self Made Mom - my new BFF since BlogHer (who better visit when she's here on business or I'm kick her skinny ass)

3. Beth from TechMamas.  Scary-smart lady who knows more about technology that anyone I know.