Life Lesson #37: The Cheating Equation

I hope you weren't actually thinking all of my life lessons would be warm and fuzzy. Some, if not most, of what I've learned over almost 40 years has nothing to do with sweet moments, but everything to do with living my own life with honesty and integrity.

That being said, let's talk relationships, shall we?

I was single throughout my 20's... like really single. I think my longest relationship between 22 and 30 was around five months. Hmmm, that guy should get a ham or something. But during those formative adult years, I saw (what felt like everyone but me) friends, co-workers and family find that perfect mate, get married, soon followed by popping out a kid or two. But as the divorce rate will tell you, more than half of them didn't make it. It didn't matter if they were high school sweethearts, had eloped after three months together or were "best friends," sooner or later, things fell apart, sometimes sending one into the arms of another.

Valentine's Day Massacre

With the upcoming Hallmark holiday on the horizon, it's fun to see how people view the day -- there's such a wide variety of attitudes about it.

I think for years, I have secretly envied couples who get dolled up and head out among the masses, just to show off that they, indeed, are in love (or like or lust). For the first time in years, Jeff made a reservation at a local hot spot and booked us a sitter. Strangely enough, I'm torn about that -- enjoying that my husband still wants to make such a gesture after all these years, but compelled to cancel it because it's just not practical, I mean come on, it's a school night!

But no matter what we do, I know it will not go down in the record books as my worst Valentine's Day ever. Somewhat because I have no expectations of romantic excellence, just because the calendar says it's February 14th,  but mostly because my worst Valentine's Day ever happened already -- in 2002.

It was going to be a big deal.

Sleeping with Batman

How is it I've gone since Christmas without updating my blog? I have had SO much to tell you, yet not the time and/or energy to sit down and make it happen.

But it's not you... it's me. While I could share all of the incredible stuff happening with my work (and I will very soon), or the recent honor of being named one of LA's top mom blogs... or even stories of my kiddos, who, at this very moment, I would like to freeze because they're at such wonderful stages and ages... I'm going to buy a few hours of understanding with this.

Jeff shaved his facial hair.

"Who cares," you say? Maybe not you. But a 20-pound weight loss last fall (which I never even thought he needed) and a freshly clean-shaven face have suddenly stopped perfect strangers in their tracks, all compelled to tell him that he looks so much like this week's Golden Globe winner, Christian Bale.

That's right, ladies. I wake up with Batman.

So while I really want to update the blog... like, RIGHT NOW, a girl needs to take advantage of time with Batman on the rare chance she gets it.

But stand by. I'll be back.

5 Random Wedding Fun Facts

 On this, the 8th anniversary of our wedding... I thought it was only appropriate to write about the day it all began. So here are 5 random fun facts about the nuptials of Jeff and Jackie. 

1. A broken water main almost took down the entire day. While I barely finished bathing before it happened, our wedding party and some guests were thiiiiis close to coming to the wedding sans showers. At the same time, the reception location was freaking out that they had no running water or ice.

Everything was resolved just in time.

2. I stepped in dog poop. Yup, just minutes after being pronounced husband and wife, my shoe was joined in holy matrimony with the droppings of one messy canine. And like some of our guests, my shoe was trashed well before the night was actually over.

3. Quaint and charming = musty and cold. While we enjoyed our beautiful stay in the main house of the New England inn, it never occurred to the owners to turn on the heat in the surrounding buildings before our guests arrived and filled the oceanside rooms. And while the day of our wedding enjoyed pretty mild weather (50s), as the sun went down, it was well below freezing and the next day was in the teens.

4. I bought my second wedding gown just five days before the wedding. It's true. When I put on my gown the Monday before the event, I thought I was going to vomit. I looked like a football player -- and I'm not talking a quarterback or a kicker. I looked awful. But as I started to panic, I turned my head and there it was... a beautiful, simple dress in my size, with nary an alteration to be made. And I kid you not, it was on sale for 250 bucks. The first dress? I sold it on ebay to a woman who absolutely loved it.

5. We were married in the church that was featured in The Perfect Storm. So I guess in a roundabout kind of way, I'm kind of like George Clooney's girlfriend, right? (Sorry, honey, couldn't resist.)

So, tell me a fun fact about your wedding or relationship!

Kid Music You'll Actually Like

While he may not listen when I ask him to grab milk or take out the trash, my husband has been listening to his fans (and their kids). Today, he released his first-ever kids' CD (featuring a few adorable MacDougall children, of course) and will be performing in front of a LIVE -- and presumably rambunctious -- audience coming up on February 6th. If you're in Southern California and have small kids, comment below and I'll send you the details.




To buy the CD, CLICK HERE to either download or have the CD shipped!

The Newest Holiday Classic Song for Grownups

Santa... Rudolph... Frosty... don't you think they've had enough time in the holiday limelight? There's one character that never gets the attention she so deserves. If you've never encountered her at a past or present holiday party, you just haven't lived.

I now present... Becky, the Office Party Drunk Girl, written and recorded by Jeff MacDougall (and his slightly insane wife).



For those of you who heard it last year, give it another listen. I think Becky sounds even more tipsy this year.

The Gift of Life

My husband, the crazy-talented love-of-my-life Jeff MacDougall, wrote a song three years ago while I was going through the life-altering process of facing the risk of breast cancer. The song, which I've heard about a zillion times and it still brings me to tears, has finally been recorded and is NOW AVAILABLE to you for download!

But there's more. For every penny Jeff makes on this song through 2009, it will be donated to FacingOurRisk.org (AKA FORCE), a community that I have been blessed to connect with since discovering my cancer risk. In fact, it was the ladies and men from FORCE who carried me through some of the days I thought I would never get through it.



If you read my blog daily or this is your first time here, I am asking you. PLEASE support this important cause by downloading the song for 99 cents today. FORCE is the only national nonprofit organization helping families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. FORCE helps prevent needless deaths and save lives!

If you or someone you love faces the risk of hereditary cancers, please visit FacingOurRisk.org. You can also follow them on Twitter and join their group on Facebook.

My story:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Four-Play

Jeff did his third live show this year when he played an encore performance at the kids' preschool -- this time in Jacob's four-year-old class. It took everything in me not to weep at the way Jake looked up at his dad with such pride -- truly an expression I won't soon forget.

Speaking of people impressed... for every ounce of pride the kids feel for their dad, my heart expands to a point I think it's going to burst. How did I luck out with such a creative and devoted dude who'd do anything for his kids? Watching him interact with the kiddos singing and dancing is the ultimate... well, let's just say date night Sunday can't come soon enough.

Related posts: I'm a Loser and Other Weekend Discoveries
The Parenting Conspiracy
I'm Not Ready for This

We miss you!

Hello everyone, it's Jeff doing a guest post here on Taiwan-on.com.  Jackie and Lucy have been back east all week and I just thought I would take a second to let eveyone know that we all miss the ladies here at the homestead.  This afternoon the boys decided to climb into Lucy's crib.  When I asked what they were doing they said that they were waiting for her.  In the moment, I was very touched... but after a minute, I was wondering if they were waiting in ambush.  We miss you Mom and little sister.  Come home soon!

He's At It Again...

Jeff's in the next installment of the Song Fu competition. Go HERE to listen to his song and vote, vote, vote! (por favor)

It's that Time!

Jeff is in round two of the songwriting contest——and it's gotten interesting. Click to see the guidelines, hear his song, and——most importantly——VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Look at it this way... the better he does, the more successful he becomes, and the sooner we can buy you all really great Christmas presents! Ok, would you settle for an ice cream cone on a hot summer day?

We appreciate all your support and remember, you can still buy Song for Lucy on itunes and amazon.com for just 99 cents.

Happy Father's Day

There was no room for me this Father's Day a.m.—the boys climbed in and pushed me out! Then J wrote a little note to Dad from his little sister... and we hit the beach.






Happy Father's Day to all you Dads (and Dads-to-be) out there—especially Grampy and Papa.

TL: Behind the Music

Since premiering the video for Song for Lucy, over 900 people have come to the blog—that's in 3 days! It's been viewed on YouTube over 1300 times and I've seen it shared on other blogs and adoption sites, including Mom Logic, of course.

THANK YOU!

To know that something Jeff did for Lucy and our family has touched so many others has been a huge gift. To see the one you love's dream of making music realized, if even just a little (so far), makes me so proud of him.

The latest on Lucy: our agency was in Taiwan the other day but we haven't heard any updates yet. I was told they'd try to contact us on April 2 (also my birthday) but nothing yet. But if I get my way after blowing out the candles...

World Premiere!

Song for Lucy: The Video is finally here! The song written and performed by an adopting Daddy has now become a video. Enjoy!


Update: 3/31 at 8 p.m. WOW! We're getting such huge response to the song and video! Thank you all SO much! Yes, Jeff wrote, sang, and played the music on the song as well as edited the video. We're excited to get it up on itunes ASAP so everyone can own it!

Due to Popular Demand

Song for Lucy is now available for immediate download. Click here to buy for just 99 cents via Paypal.

Thanks for your support!