thought about (career) suicide

Today I was called to help a friend build the html and css for a web site. I've really been on the ledge about my career worrying about my professional prowess. It hasn't felt so keen lately. But today, when I was emailed to come save the day, I was able to deliver. It felt terrific. Okay, it wasn't design work. Which I also feel I am lacking on lately. But it was something that I found some confidence in. Just in the nick of time to talk me down from career suicide.

More good news, our nanny no longer has to go to Colombia. She's somehow rescheduled the necessity for her to return just now. Whew!

no, i'm not irish, or japanese

With a blog name like marrowfat and a name like Murphy, people would think I'm Irish. I'm not. I just married Irish. And named my boys Irish.

My maiden name sounded very Japanese. People who I'd not met before use to show surprise when a white girl would walk into a scheduled meeting instead of an Asian one. Now people aren't so thrown by thinking I'm Irish. But in fact I'm American, with a mostly Polish heritage (with a dash of Lithuanian and Czech).

I use to emphasize I was of Eastern European decent in my younger and far more insecure days. I couldn't dismiss the rather dull Polish stereotype. Now, I embrace it, as it's not dull at all. It’s more like your really happy-drunk uncle.

Being Polish is a lot like being Irish. There's the Catholicism. Being able to drink a ridiculous, sometimes scary amount. Eating a lot of meat and potatoes.

However, babushkas, making lots of pierogi every year for Christmas Eve dinner, ceramic chickens, and eating sausage are things that are inherentlly Polish to me. Though I had my brush with vegetarianism and fully support those who can, I like to sausage. And I like to drink. I'm Polish!

back to colombia

Yesterday we found out our part-time nanny has to go back to Colombia to renew her visa. Yes, she's actually trying to immigrate properly. We are very concerned she won't be able to come back. She has more patience in her little finger than I have in my whole body. She's also incredibly sweet and reliable. A little back story...

Finding a nanny is a little like dating in High School. Full of expectations and fears you put your best face forward and hope. Will I like them? Will they like me? If they dump you, you wonder, why don't they like us? We're a hip family! What went wrong? And in the end, it's really nothing personal. Usually it's another gig that puts out more. Forget about commitment.

In the early days, we tried a few young American woman and talk about unreliable. However, I have to thank one of these young ladies for getting me to text message. This was her preferred form of communication which boggled my mind. I mean she's taking care of my precious baby and she can't pick up and phone and speak? She would actually text me she wasn't coming in, 15 minutes after she ws suppose to arrive. Is this how the next generation communicates? Tell me it isn't so.

Anyhow, we hope our sweet, lovely nanny returns safe. Not sucha a little thing.

more about marrowfat

In the UK, dried, rehydrated and mashed marrowfat peas, known by the public as mushy peas, are very popular, especially with fish and chips or meat pies. Yum! Never thought I'd have that reaction to English food but, then again mushy peas sound sufficiently bland for the British.

Here, I just love the double meanings in the word and the definition.

to be nurtured

As a designer who specializes in online solutions - it's time to fall in line and start a blog. Now that I'm done procreating humans (2 boys), time to focus on creating and nurturing a little something else.

Living can be hard business if you don't figure a way to stop-gap the life force being sucked out of you by your own wonderful creations.