This is meryl’s blog talking. I wanted to sneak in and brag I’m five years old today! You can see my first lame post here. Meryl’s earlier postings were more personal as that is how most blogs were in the “old days.” But she realized that no one gives a flying fig about a blogger’s personal life (well, at least, not hers…). So she started writing about Web design and slowly transformed the blog where it is today… geeky, webby, and wordy. Computers, technology, gadgets, Web design, Internet sitings, writing, and online marketing.

Then on December 1, 2001, she added meryl.net articles for longer posts, articles, and reviews. There are over a thousand entries. So those that have more lasting impact or advice got to join the special crowd of articles. The latest entry is a (gasp!) music review! Yes, she reviewed a CD. Can you believe that? Smartly, she asked her family for help.

Anyway, I’m five today!!!! Don’t tell her I snuck this in. I don’t wanna get in twouble.

Someone must’ve spiked my coffee. I found two hats and decided to wear ‘em both. Mickey Mouse on Rx, no?

I have to share an awesome Mother’s Day card I got from my sister. My kids and hubby gave me wonderful cards. My sister’s takes the cake in originality, humor and fits me to a tee.

The cover has a mom sleeping on the sofa in her robe. Dad and kids have their mouths wide up in shock. “OH, NO!!!” appears on top.

Open the card and it says, “The server’s down!”

I wish I had thought of that and submitted it to the greeting card companies.

This year’s Mother’s Day has been lovely. We had lunch and also celebrated the baby’s 2nd birthday. I hope Moms, Grandmas, caretakers, and everyone who takes care of kids has had a delightful day. I finally got the long-elusive iPod. I’m blessed with a wonderful family.

Just published a long rant over at Bionic Ear Blog about ambition. I’m a competitive person by nature. Though I played a lot of sports, it goes beyond that and I struggle with it almost every day.

It’s funny because my self-esteem goes all over the place. If I weren’t deaf, would I be less competitive? Have less trouble with self-esteem issues? I know it happens to everyone, but when you’re in my shoes… you constantly feel like you have to prove something.

Yes, I misspelled cwazy on purpose. Kind of feel like a cwazy wabbit. I took the baby to the dentist on Monday to get his broken tooth repaired. This was no ornery toddler tooth-chipping. About a third of his tooth disappeared when he fell. The other tooth turned gray because the fall damaged the nerve. The tooth could return to white on its own. I hope so. The little guy ain’t losing baby teeth for at least three to four years!

My daughter lost her first tooth at four. My older son hasn’t lost one yet and he turned six last January. He ain’t happy ’bout it. At the last appointment, the dentist predicts the first tooth will fall out by August. Bets anyone?

On the day of his dental repair, the baby got a fever. There’s no relation between the repair and his fever. Just a lousy coincident. Mom thinks maybe his two-year molars might be fighting their way out. I haven’t checked in a long time, so not sure. Right now, he’s under Grandma’s spoilage as she’s kindly invited him to stay with her. He’ll be home this evening. He BETTER BE! Because…

His birthday is today!

I’ve been reflecting on his arrival a lot for the past few weeks. What a blessing it is to have him in my life. That curly-hair boy makes me smile many times every day. I, of course, smile as I write this.

I have a degree in elementary education, but I am not comfortable working with kids because I sound different and worry about understanding them. Obviously, I love kids as I have three of my own (the youngest turns two at the end of this month,—sob). Anyway, my kids’ school PTA has a program in which volunteers help tutor kids at schools that need extra help. I couldn’t do it.

I finally got the opportunity to work with kids without a single worry. In2Books is a program where adults mentor kids and share a love for reading with them. It’s all done by mail and email. I get a grade-level appropriate book (I have two fourth grade students in Washington, DC), read it, and then write a letter about it to the students. Each book cycle (there are five total) covers an type of book. So far, we’ve had fiction, social studies, biography, and folk tale. The next, and final, book is science-related. [ Tell me more! ]

In the Energy Boost Needed entry, I explained I had been feeling fatigued for several weeks and that I was having a blood test. Tested negative for thryoid problems. I’m still anemic, but the numbers are slowly coming up. I managed to sleep till 8:30am today and Paul tried waking me up earlier since our daughter had a game at 9am. I didn’t budge. I saw the clock and zoomed into clothes fast for someone who was barely awake. Thankfully I had pre-made my coffee last night and took that with me.

So at the moment, I have another blood test appointment scheduled for first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and a physical. But it will be a couple of weeks before all this happens as it was tough getting appointments sooner.

I’ve returned full-time in my day job. The only problem I am having with the adjustment is extreme fatigue. I’ve been exercising, watching what I eat, ensuring I get the needed sleep, and taking vitamins. But I continue to trudge along and fall asleep whenever my body gets the opportunity (like resting on the sofa watching a good movie or laying down in bed just for a minute only to fall asleep for hours). Any suggestions? I do have a doctor’s appointment scheduled and will probably get a blood test.

“The groundhog is like most other prophets; it delivers its prediction and then disappears.”

—Bill Vaughan

They shoulda had Inauguration Day here in Texas. The weather is fabulous! A birthday girl can’t ask for nicer weather. The best part of it all is the sweet note accompanying the flowers that I got from Paul.

Thank you for all the wishes. I need all the happiness I can get as my day went downhill big time this afternoon. I can’t talk about it—it has a big time impact on my every day life. I don’t know how I will get through it.