Is an “About” really necessary? I’m 5 feet 11 inches, blond, blue-eyed, skin like a baby’s tush and 104 pounds soaking wet. Does it make me more interesting?
Actually, I’m more like Rhoda than Mary; Ethel than Lucy; a bit more Hardy than Laurel.
I’m a full-time, stressed-out Mom with a full-time, demanding job. I work for a pretty big company and the fine print states if I don’t write about them I don’t have to mention their name. I love being a Mom and the full-time job pays my way. I also love the job and the company and since I don’t want to be “dooced” (as Heather B says), I’m not going to write much about it. I may change names and places, but since I’m really happy getting paid, I’ll be vague.
I grew up mostly in New Hampshire and moved with my family to California at a very difficult time in a girl’s life – 16. My sister was the smart one. I got voted most likely to become a waitress. My first job was at a fast food chain. (Welcome to Carl’s Jr., may I take your order please?) It took years to get the smell out of my hair.
I was an average student; the one in the back row with her head down. I’m also the one that checks the “some College” box on applications. I got a job after high school and have been working ever since. I taught myself how to code, became a programmer, and worked my way up through the ranks by raising my hand the highest. I took the jobs no one else wanted. Now I have a job I really enjoy. It does take over my life sometimes. I recently went back to college to finish my degree. (WHY? I ask myself every morning at 2:00 AM.) It’s going to take me years, but I need to do it for me.
I secretly desire to be a stay-at-home Mom, make whatever Martha’s making, clean out the closets, write a mega hit novel and paint (like Bob Ross not Monet.) The stay-at-home Mom’s in my neighborhood hardly talk to me. I think they think they’ll catch something if they come too close.
I have two beautiful children, and large fury dog and a wonderful hubby. I have no time for hobbies – several unfinished projects fill my office. I’m a night owl. I eat too much and say yes way too often. My family trumps everything, including me-time. I’ll take a bubble bath when they’re in college. At work I’m always on deadline, always preparing for the next big project. At home I’m constantly trying to win the “Who has the cleanest house” game and always losing. Clothes are the enemy. We should all go naked. Forget about saving the planet – save a Mom!
My heroes are my mother, my sister and Walt Disney. Mom because she taught me kindness by example; my sister because she’s the strongest, bravest person I know; and Walt because he proved that your dreams can come true with hard work and imagination.
I love movies, books, milk chocolate, tequila and laughter. Tom Cruise owes me about $500 bucks (cost of tickets and treats along with pain and suffering.) My best friend is a guy and my dog is hyper-allergic.
I guess I should explain Yulpship. It’s a long story, but this word is now on-loan to me. My ninth grade English teacher was Joe Sullivan. He wore white short-sleeved, wrinkled shirts with blue clip-on ties. He always looked in a hurry, like he ate his breakfast in the car. None of my friends were in his class. At first I was really upset. He seemed un-cool, un-hip. But after just a few classes I began to really enjoy seeing him each morning. He told wonderful stories I wish I could remember now. I do remember the laughter, his wide grin and his sparkle.
He really enjoyed teaching and believed every kid was fantastic and every kid had potential. One lesson was about how to be more creative. It’s not an apple; it’s a wine-red delicious apple with a creamy half-moon bite on one side. It’s not grass; it’s wet, freshly mowed blue-green grass, the kind for rolling down, picnics and baseball.
He told us that if he had a son he’d name him Yulpship Sullivan, just because he liked the sound of it. YULPSHIP – like here I am, this is my name. After we laughed, he said “You may laugh, but you will always remember it” and I most certainly have.
Yulpship means adding creativity; it’s the spice that makes the flavor. Mr. Sullivan was one of the best teachers I ever had, not because of what he taught but how he taught – with passion and joy. No one ever told me I was good at anything before Mr. Sullivan. I got gold stars and “great job”, but Mr. Sullivan was the first to look me in the eye and tell me I had a chance to be a good writer if I really wanted it. He would never remember me now, but I will forever be grateful for him sparking my inner Yulpship.
I found him via the internet a few years ago and asked him if it would be ok to use Yulpship. He gave it to me – thanks Mr. Sullivan.
My blog is going to be a collection of life stories. A sprinkle of Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Erma Bombeck with chocolate sauce on the side. I’m a Mom so this may fall in the Mommy-Blogger camp, but that’s not all I am.
I’m never going to be a real “published” author – well, probably never. No Pulitzer, no signing tour, no jumping on Oprah’s funiture. Damn. So I’m changing the dream and instead I’ll write into the blogosphere. What the chuck. (I’ve got kids so the curse words are camouflaged.)
It’s more of a personal adventure or journey now. I stuffed expectation in a drawer. I want to start driving my own car instead of always taking the bus.
I’m going to see what it’s like in the front row for a change.