HouseOMartin

Life as a Mom in a New World

2011-11-02T10:16:00.004-09:30

So, we moved to Texas in August. :) We have almost finished unpacking our boxes and are closing in on being settled. :)

Robert is working for the parent company of the one he was with in Washington, DC. They are splitting his time between the DC office he was at and the parent company he is with here. He is enjoying his work very much but could do without the hour commute to and from work (common story so I'm told). He wakes up in the morning and has about 15 minutes with Samantha before he heads out to work. Usually he will return home around 6:30 in time to have about 30-45 minutes with her in the evenings. He enjoys this time, but as I am sure you can imagine he wishes there was more of it.

I am working as a consultant for the organization I was with in Washington, DC. They hired me on to train up my replacement in the DC office, as well as to work on some of their U.S. based programs. I took three days in September to travel to Denver for a set of meetings. Sue, Robert's mom drove up to Dallas from Houston to

watch Samantha while I was gone. She loved the extra time with S.J., though I am fairly certain she was glad when I returned so that she didn't have to wake up at 5am for the sleepy feeding. :)

I am traveling to Chicago this month for another three days of meetings for which I have been coordinating the hotel, travel and logistics. Mom(M) will be coming to Dallas again in order to look after S.J.. I am absolutely sure she will be glad to find out that S.J. has cut out the early feeding and now wakes up around 7am. :)

Samantha is has cut her second tooth and has a steady trickle running from her lower lip. Its actually kind of cute. I bet that will change around tooth #12. :) She is wearing her 12m clothing at 10-1/2 months, though she isn't quite filling them out yet.

S.J. has been walking while hold

ing onto either Robert or my hands for a couple of weeks now. It is so fun to watch her grow and progress. We recently bought her a little walker cart shaped like and elephant, it is very cute. She has refused to walk without the aid of our hands. It is the funniest thing seeing as while she has our hands she barely uses them except to catch herself every few steps. It is simply the fact that they are our hands. So, just today promptly after giving her mid day bottle to her (this is when she is the happiest) I set her up at the walker and sat a few feet in front of her. She stood at her walker as happy as can be and we exchanged grunts (her favorite) and hand gestures (she has learned how to, and loves to point her finger in the air). After a while of this she realized that she could lean forward and move the cart a bit. She wasn't quite sure if she liked the feeling. :) But after more grunts and hand gestures she decided to take three steps. This was very exciting for me, and naturally I followed them but much clapping and a few "good job"s, desperately hoping that positive reinforcement takes root and we won't have to wait three weeks for a repeat performance. :)

I have found that being a mom has been very thought provoking. I find myself constantly thinking about my mom and dad; thinking about the things they did to take care of us. I think about their sacrifice and commitment to seeing us have what we need, but not let us command their lives or mistake desire for necessity. I often find myself thinking about the stupid things that I said to them that I now understand why they were shocked, and how tremendously wrong I was. I once told them, when I was asked to do a load of laundry that I didn't want to do, that I thought they had kids just so that they cold have people to boss around and slave after them. I had NO idea that the 6-8 years that they invested in me to keep me alive to the age where I could do laundry were not worth the benefits of merely having a slave. Between the dirty diapers and the money for the toys - they would have hired a live-in maid and saved their money. I love being a mom. I love the way it makes me think about my life. I love how it makes me think about my parents, my aunts, my uncles, my grandparents. I was so much more loved than I ever realized or could ever comprehend. I am so glad that I get to share those people who loved me so deeply and unfailingly with my daughter, so that she can have the luxury of saying her own dumb things to us only to have a greater understanding some day, when she finally loves someone more than her mind can comprehend. :)

Movin' Back In

2010-02-24T12:30:00.002-09:30

Before:

Friday and Saturday we move back into the house. CRAZY 2009! More update to come.

Richer Visit after Fire

2009-11-16T04:20:00.004-09:30

Robert and I were so grateful to have the entire Richer family here for a visit and to help after the fire. I want to tell you, if you have a friend or family member who goes through something tramatic like a house fire, the best thing you can do for them, if it is within your power to do, is to take off from work or whatever you are doing and go spend a few days with them. We needed people to be with us so that life didn't feel so lonely. When we are going through something like this it can begin to feel very isolated, like you are the only people who have ever been through a hard time, and we didn't have to go through that because our family was with us for a week and a half after the fire. We are so grateful to you. Thank you! Bruce & Nicole, we know you would have been here with us in a heart beat if you didn't live on the other side of the country. Your prayers, encouraging words and phone calls meant so much to us. Thank you too.

Disney Princess Half Marathon

2009-03-12T07:50:00.007-09:30

13.1 Miles
2:38:43 Run Time
12:06 Average/Mile
Started Training September 1, 2009 Literally 1 Mile at a time!
Shortest Mile 11:42 (Mile 7)
Longest Mile 12:36 (Mile 12)

Better than I ever expected.

To Erin's credit (as well as Jenny and Lauren) she stayed with me up to mile twelve. She could have gotten a much better time if she hadn't been hanging with me. I am convinced I did so well because i had people to run with that I knew and could talk to.
Linda however got stuck back at the beginning due to an unfortunatel port-a-john incident. But ran a fantastic race coming from the very back of the pack to finish about two minutes after me. Rock on Aunt Linda!

ERIN RICHER #1446

EDINBORO, PA

Age: 29 Gender: F

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	2:51:28
Chip Time	2:35:06
Overall Place	3029 / 6324
Gender Place	2912 / 6128
Division Place	498 / 908
Age Grade	42.4%
5K	38:03
10K	1:15:08
15K	1:52:10

LINDA PRAETZEL #6272

VALLEY CENTER, CA

Age: 49 Gender: F

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	2:57:09
Chip Time	2:40:47
Overall Place	3419 / 6324
Gender Place	3290 / 6128
Division Place	334 / 640
Age Grade	47.1%
5K	39:58
10K	1:16:27
15K	1:55:29

COLLEEN MARTIN #6825

WASHINGTON, DC

Age: 27 Gender: F

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	2:55:02
Chip Time	2:38:43
Overall Place	3263 / 6324
Gender Place	3138 / 6128
Division Place	533 / 908
Age Grade	41.5%
5K	38:06
10K	1:15:11
15K	1:52:14

very funny

2009-02-27T06:55:00.003-09:30

Our Home

2008-12-10T11:46:00.016-09:30

Now that we've completed most of the work we've been doing on our house, I thought I'd post some photos of the results for family who haven't been able to make it to DC for a while. Our projects have definitely been learning experiences but we've been very happy with how things have turned out. -R

Good 'before' pic for the next shot:

Happy Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T17:51:00.003-09:30

This is a simple post for the purpose of thanking four men I know and love who have spent time in their life away from their wives, children, parents, siblings, and friends in order to serve this country I am so glad to call home. They serve(d) to reserve for myself, and those they left behind, all of the rights we enjoy and even some that we don't.

So here is to you, Grandpa Praetzel, Grandpa Bennett, P.A. , and most currently my awesome brother Jeff Richer. I dedicate my heart to remember at least once a year what great men you are, and what a wonderful country I live in because of your sacrifice.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Queens, NY

2008-10-04T16:54:00.002-09:30

This is one of the rails inside of Shae Stadium. It was a really cool experience being there the second to last game. Directly beyond outfield you can see the new stadium being built.

Emily tookt his picture of the seat directionals - I thought it was cool.

Robert and I - infront of the feild - thrilling I know.

You can see there is the new stadium.

We took this trip with two of our friends. It was such a wonderful time. Rich grew up in NJ. This lead to his family being serious Mets fans. It was very special for us to share this memory with Rich and Emily. Emily's parents live in Mass. and drove all the way down to NY in order to watch Rich and Emily's 15 month old son for 4 hours while we watched the game. So Amazing! They are so sweet.

So, I dedicate this wonderful trip to Missy and Jeff O'Dell the Weekend Warriors!

Thank you for your kindness to us and radical love of your grandson.

STOP 6: Cleveland, Ohio

2008-08-14T17:21:00.007-09:30

Cleveland Indians. Not as packed out as other stadiums, but in all very nice.

Robert and I posed for a photo that a very nice usher offered to take for us. It was great. He was this incredibly freindly man who you could tell loved his job and worked hard at it earning every ounce of respect the season ticket holders gave him. That is one thing I have learned on this trip. I LOVE MIDDLE AMERICA. The people who make up these city's are some of the most hard working genuine people you could ever hope to meet. They love what they do and they do it well.
The architect of this stadium was a brilliant man. The glass windows you see here are actually part of the club restaurant that is open to all people, but a discount is given to season ticket holders. When you enter the field at left field these are the first thing you see. It is actually very impressive in person.
They had the most impressive score board of all the stadiums we went to (not including Wrigley's, which is in a whole other league). It was very important to both Dave and I to be able to see plenty of statistics, and the Indians' has statistics to spare. Also, you will see that below the score board there are bleacher seats. I believe these are in imitation of the bleachers in Chicago's Wrigley Field. It was heart breaking though to see how empty they were.

This is the view from our seats. I would like to take this moment to praise the awesome ticket buying work done by my amazing husband. At Each and EVERY game we went to we had awesome seats. Not only were they in a great location in the park, at every game we were at the end of a row. You may wonder, what does that matter? It matters a ton, especially if you are hoping to get up during the middle of the game to go get something to eat or drink. Which, we did plenty of.

To Come: A ranking of our over-all experience at each stadium broken down by 8 categories, each weighted by how much they play into the overall scoring. AND, Video taken at each park during the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"

Next Stop: HOME!

STOP 5: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2008-08-11T19:00:00.004-09:30

Miller Park is the Brewers' new(ish) home located just beyond downtown Milwaukee off the freeway. It's surrounded by lovely freeway, and that's about it. Oh, and parking lots too.

The parking lots are more than just concrete slabs for Brewers fans, however - they're party zones! Tailgating is allowed and even encouraged, alcohol and all, and we felt like the odd men out because we parked and immediately walked to the stadium instead of setting up lawn chairs portable awnings and grilling up some burgers.

The park has one of those new-fangled retractable roofs - this one opens and closes like a fan - it was open on Monday. The ballpark feels larger than some and is rather industrial in appearance. It seems to fit the city though.

The view from our seats. The Brewers were playing our Washington Nationals andbeat our team 6-1.

Even though we were cheering for the Nats, the Brewers fans gave us a friendly hard time and even took a pic of us by the field.

Next Stop: Cleveland, OH

STOP 4: Chicago, Illinois

2008-08-11T18:34:00.004-09:30

This is the famous Wrigley Field Entrance.

As we approached the stadium there was this huge throng of people lined up. And when I say huge, I mean about 60 people wide and 500 people deep. This we soon realized was the bleacher ticket holders. Wow. Those seats are first come first served.

Robert and I at the edge of the over hang.

When we walked up the ramp into the stadium area, we were littlerally breathless. The field is such an amazing place. I will try to describe to you what seems so difficult to portray with simple words. The feel of this stadium is what I have always imagined the stadiums that the original Baseball legends played in. When I used to watch "In A League of Their Own" I always got this nostalgic feeling, and this was that same feeling. Wrigley, being the second oldest stadium in both the National and American leagues, I knew I was feeling that way for a reason. The greatest baseball players of all time had played in this park at one time or another.

This was the view from our seats. Really cool.

Robert caught this photo, we both think it is a great shot, so we added it.

The Cubs won their game. The Cubs fans were on their feet more in this game than I have seen people on their feet at a concert. I have never experienced such a dynamic crowed. At the end of the they sang this great song. EVERYONE stayed and sang.

Wrigley field is an experience all its own. You can not manufacture in your mind what it is like to actually watch a game in this stadium. Even if you are not a lover of baseball, I highly reccommend that you make it to a game in Wrigley field before it is too late for you, or the field itself.

Next Stop: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

STOP 3: Detroit, Michigan

2008-08-11T18:07:00.006-09:30

We arrived at Comerica Park. As we approached the gate this is what we saw. Pretty amazing.

In the outfield there were these fountains that would go off every once in a while. I couldn't really figure out the rhyme or reason to it. However, it was still pretty cool.

As we entered the stadium we it began to downpour. It rained, drizzled and everything in between up and until game time. They did delay the game about an hour, but once it started the sky cleared and gave us a beautiful sunset.

Not only did be get a beautiful sunset, but a rainbow strategically placed above the outfield scoreboard. Look carefully, it is there.

Here are the four of us. Yeah Us! You may ask why we are wearing the team hats for a team we don't follow. Well, we collect hats from all of the stadiums we've been to - 1. to keep track for our selves, and 2. as a memento.

AND - Here is a little piece of joy for our niece Hannah....

P.S cock your head toward your left shoulder for best viewing.

Best fireworks I have ever seen.

Next Stop: Chicago, IL

STOP 2: Toronto, Ontario

2008-08-08T18:17:00.007-09:30

Woke Up in Niagara Falls, Ontario:

Dave and Diane had the opportunity to see their grandchildren this morning in Niagara Falls. It was so much fun to finally meet Amanda (their mother) and the kids. All four of them are so sweet. What a treat it was to meet them.

Toronto, ON:

Robert did a lot of research before we went on this trip about each of the teams and the stadiums. Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays play is both a ball park and a football stadium. He found in his research that Rogers Stadium has the highest seats in both the National and America Leagues. So, naturally, we had to go up to those seats and try them out. Just so we can say we had. (Man, there were a lot of stairs)

However, this is where we actually got to sit to watch the game. Robert got us some spectacular seats. Behind us is the official Toronto Blue Jays' Tractor.

Twenty Years ago the Blue Jays were the first baseball team to build their ball park with a retractable roof. When we went into the stadium the roof was closed due to a threat of rain. I was delighted when they started to open the roof just before game time.

As they started to open the roof we discovered that we had not only awesome seats for the game, but the best view in the house. This is the CN Tower from our seats. At night it lights up from top to bottom with the colors consistently changing (eerily similar to Niagara Falls at night time).

Next Stop: Detroit, MI

STOP 1: Niagara Falls, Ontario

2008-08-08T05:22:00.007-09:30

This is my first time at the Falls andI have to say I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be - they're incredible.

Little did we know until we opened the door to our hotel room how fantastic our view would be:

Mom Hagerty, sister Erin, and nephew Ben joined us for Niagara, as did niece Hannah:

Double Rainbow:

Next stop - Toronto.

An Engaging Weekend

2008-07-26T15:33:00.008-09:30

I shot engagement photos for my coworker this weekend and am pretty proud of the results. Thought I'd share. Be sure to click on the photos to make them full screen.

-Robert

This one is best full-screen:

Happenings 'round Here - Road Trip Details

2008-07-26T15:28:00.013-09:30

I wish I could say there have been great and wonderful things happening in my life these past weeks, but I can't. However, though that may be encouragement for the rest of you to stop reading immediately and go do something better with your time, I must admit it is refreshing to say that our lives have been boring.

The months of April, May, and June were fairly tumultuous for the Martin Family of DC. Thus, a calm uneventful month such as July brought with it great rejoicing for both Robert and I. But, because I know there are people who like to know what is happening in our lives I will try to muster up some things that might cause those few and proud survivors to be entertained.

First, as I sit here writing this blog entry, Robert walks in the room and announces that I would be so proud of him. He proceeds to tell me that he has just uploaded some of his photos that he took on Friday to our blog. So, that is the first entertaining tidbit. Both of us, who rarely blog at all, decided to start entries at the exact same time. well, I thought it was funny.

All of July Robert has been serving on a DC Grand Jury. He has to finish next week after five weeks of hearing indictment cases. It has been interesting because he can't really tell me anything about them - I hope when he is done and back to work I don't forget to start asking him how is day was again.

Robert has started to put together the photos that we are going to be hanging in our stairway leading up to our upstairs. I am really excited because he has picked some of my favorite photos. I really love how the photos turned out. He has found this great printer who has done a wonderful job with his photos. We are also very excited because in the late fall/early winter Robert is going to do a joint showing of his photos. We had a friend who did a show of her work this Spring. Her show went excellently, and I could see the look in Robert's eyes as he walked through there. He is very excited to do this show with her.

Robert and I are gearing up for our road trip coming up. We are traveling to 6 cities, seeing 5-6 baseball games, in 8 days. Here is our itinerary...
Drive to Buffalo to pick up my boss and his wife, drive to Niagara Falls spend the night.

Then drive to Toronto on the 8^{th - see a Blue Jays Game}

Drive to Detroit on the 9^th watch the Tigers game and then drive to Kalamazoo, MI that evening

Drive to Chicago on the 10^th and stay through the 12^th. Watch a Cubs game, and then have a day to either site see or get tickets day of for the White Sox. On the 11th we will be driving to Milwakee to catch a Brewers game and then back to Chicago.

Drive to Cleveland August 13^th - catch an Indians game. Stay the night in Cleveland and then drive back to DC.

2,033 mi – about 1 day 10 hours

That is going to be a fun trip, now all we have to do is rest up for the trip. :)

So, I can't think of much else to share - but one thing I do recommend is the TV Series, Prison Break. Very Good! - (Thank You Corey)

Fun of a Ditch

2008-06-23T17:38:00.002-09:30

Martin Family Mission:

To make our front yard a fun of a ditch for all who enter our property.

1969- The ORIGINAL

2008-06-19T13:07:00.001-09:30

Thinking Ahead -its a first I know

2008-06-15T12:34:00.002-09:30

To the right - you will see that I have posted an amazon wish list. This is something I had previously done strickly for myself so I didn't forget the books that I wanted to order - but I have been recently encouraged to share this list so that when Christmas roles around and people start asking what I want - I will have already been keeping this up to date. So there it is. Don't feel compelled to look - its more of a Just So You Know.

Work on house

2008-06-12T17:20:00.002-09:30

Dining room in wine and cream

Kitchen in brown and a white tinted with yellow.

And the sunroom is done in green. It is really pretty. You will all have to come see it in person - it is much better with your own eyes.

a few of my favorites - and I'm done.

2008-06-12T17:06:00.002-09:30

I was so excited I did my own hair and trusted that it turned out - and it did!
It was so beautiful at the reception - Robert and I decided to seize the moment for a nice picture.

Robert Snuck on the limo bus and took this picture really quickly
I Love my mom!

More Wedding Photos

2008-06-12T14:57:00.001-09:30

Corey and Devery's Wedding - Some photos

2008-06-08T11:29:00.005-09:30

This is Devery and I. We are putting together the candles for the tables at the reception.

Devery hung her dress on a manican for pictures.

This is Kristin one of the other brides maids, Devery and I. Kristin and I went galavanting on Thursday and had a great time getting to know each other.

We made Dev dress up for her bacheloretten night out. she wore a crown that said bride. I know we are cruel.
Corey and the brides mades & flower girl.

Pictures of the Princesses

2008-05-01T07:11:00.003-09:30

Bounce

2008-05-01T03:22:00.005-09:30

We Love you Grandma!

2008-04-16T09:21:00.002-09:30

G-oing the extra mile to let you know your special

R-eally good at spoiling

A-lways ready for a hug

N-ever too old for teasing

D-oesn't take time for granted

M-akes really good cookies

A-lways willing to lend an ear, teach a lesson, share a story

What's New

2008-04-13T16:29:00.005-09:30

Robert and I went to CA two weekends ago. We flew to Houston and met up in the airport with his sister, her husband (Matt), his mom and his dad. From Houston we flew out to CA, Orange County.

From the airport we drove to our hotel which was just a few miles away. Once we were settled in our first stop was to get ourselves dinner seeing as it was past my bedtime (east coast time) when we landed. Our first stop.....

Then we walked around Hollywood Blvd after driving in circles for no joke probably an hour looking for parking. But once we jumped that hurdle it was a good time walking around seeing the red carpet for the premier of "Street Kings" and then looking around the rest of the Blvd and realizing how incredibly dreary it is and how diverse the population of that one street is. I was a little bummed though because the last time I was in LA with my sister and brother in law we were able to walk right up to the doors of Mann's Theatre and even bought tickets to watch a movie inside.

On our ride back to the hotel Robert's dad was trying to get us to decide what we wanted to do the next day. I, being passed out in the back(I know you are all so shocked, me sleeping in a car) didn't have any response at the time. And apparently he wasn't able to get an answer out of anyone else either.

At about 11:00pm pt(2:00am et) the rest of the family decides it is time to eat - not me man. Which is shocking I know because I am always up for a late night meal, but I was so tired. So Robert and I went back to the hotel.

Once back at the hotel I asked Robert if Disney Land had been taken off the list of options. So, at 11:30pm pt(2:30am et) Robert calls his dad who is at TGI Fridays and asks him if Disney Land the next morning is out of the questions. After asking Robert's mom, sister and Matt if they were interested in Disney Land we settle on waking up at 7:00 am pt(10:00am et) the next morning to head to Disney Land at 9:00am pt(12:00pm et).

Friday :

We wake up load ourselves into the van and head out to Disney Land. We spent the entire day at the park. This was incredibly fun for me mostly because Robert's dad grew up in Southern California for part of his life and therefore grew up going to that park. It was a lot of fun to see Robert's mom and dad come alive.

After spending the whole day at the park, we head out to the Angel's Opening Game. That's right. We decided to spend the entire day at Disney Land Park when we knew we were going to an Angel's game that night. Crazy, I know. But entirely characteristic of the family. I love it. the game was really funny in a "I don't care if the Angels win" sort of a way. So they were playing the Texas Rangers from Dallas Texas. What you don't know already is that Robert's mom is from Texas and Barbie and Matt are from outside of Dallas. Here is a short fun down of why this is funny.

Robert and I always, out of respect, try to route for the home team when they aren't playing the Nationals. But at the bottom of the 6th inning the Rangers were winning 6-0. Now, Robert and I hardly ever leave games before the end, but it was bitter cold, I was under dressed for the cold, and the guys behind Mom and Dad were being crude. So, we left at the top of the 7th. As we are walking out to the car we hear a huge ruckus in the stadium. When we woke up the next morning and checked the score here is what happened.

Top of the 7th Rangers scored 5 more runs making it 11-0 Rangers.

Bottom of the 9th the Angels scored 6 runs making the final score 11-6 Rangers.

They creamed them, even with a 6 run bottom of the 9th.

Incredible, needless to say all of the Dallas folks were very happy the next morning to find out how the game ended up. Especially Mom, who had to listen to some rude/crude comments throughout the game. Oh well.

Saturday:

We woke up, packed up our bags and moved on south towards San Diego. Finally, after all of this time I was going to get to meet Norm and Barbara. Norm has played such an awesome roll in Robert's Dad's life, and in Robert's life as well. There are too many things to mention, we will leave it at that. I had such a great time being with them. I found a home in San Diego, in their hearts.

I don't know if you have ever felt like this before, but I felt like the saw me. The real kind of seeing, that has nothing to do with how well you perform, or if you perform at all, but entirely to do with your heart and who you are. I felt seen. It was so beautiful. I cried a number of times because their hearts were just so sincere and wonderful. Not only did they see me, but I knew that I was truly seeing them. I guess we don't get a lot of that here in DC, even with the most well meaning people.

Sunday:

We woke up and had just a little bit of time with Norm and Barbra before we went to the mountains to visit Aunt Linda. The entire trip to Linda's took about 15 Minutes to get there. It was awesome. If where they live had corners it would be described as around the corner.

To Be Continued.....

The first pitch

2008-03-30T14:46:00.003-09:30

I just got done watching the President of the United States throw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals new stadium. thus watching this on my very nice computer in my warm home in a country where I am free to believe and say just as many dumb things as intelligent ones. I by no means presume to be a completely respectful person but: have to admit that I cringe @ the sound of a stadium full of people booing their president I guess some would argue that this is the very expressions of our freedom of speech. I guess I tend to think our founding fathers had a different picture in their heads of what we would use that "right" for. I have also been known to give our founding fathers more credit than some of them deserve. The more I read and hear about the men we talk so highly of in history the more I realize they too were just men.
So here's to a country where we have the freedom to be rude to any one, anytime, any place; in all of our infinite arrogance and ignorance. Hopefully l will remember this short rambling of mine the next time I want to cuss someone out for driving in a way I believe to be incorrect.

God Bless America, my home sweet home.

Colleen

A Joke and a Quote

2008-02-28T07:23:00.000-09:30

A young fellow in the midst of cutting up in the library, was approached by the librarian. "Please be quiet," she said, "the people around you can't read." "They can't?" said the boy. "Then what are they doing in the library?"

Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this, that you are dreadfully like other people. - James Russell Lowell

I Am

2008-02-11T12:01:00.000-09:30

I am a woman and a child.
I wonder who I'll be.
I hear people praying.
I see hope restored.
I want to make a difference.
I am a wife and friend.

I pretend to not care what they think.
I feel good when I help.
I touch them when I pray.
I worry I'll hurt someone by mistake.
I cry when I'm told I am bad.
I am a child and a woman.

I understand it is not about me.
I say that I am not hurting.
I dream of teaching my children to be better than me.
I try to humble myself.
I hope that I've helped.
I am a daughter and wife.

"Sloshed Hannah"

2008-01-02T12:03:00.000-09:30

So, here is a dialogue that happened between my sister and my husband. Please read through. You won't be disappointed.

On Jan 2, 2008 12:57 PM, Robert Martin <robertmartindc@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Erin,
>
> Happy New Year! Did you guys do anything special at midnight (like
> give champagne to Hannah)?
>
> Within the next week, I'm going to apply for the chance to enter some
> of my photos into my first photo show. I can enter three photos, and
> if they like me enough, they'll choose one or more to display and sell
> at a big show this spring. Would you mind helping me decide which ones
> to enter? I've put up a gallery on my webpage (called "Which Ones?")
> that has my top ten picks. It's a show designed for DC photos, so I'm
> limited to ones I've actually taken IN DC.
>
> If you like, just hit reply and let me know which three you think
> would do the best. I'm only asking a couple other people, so your
> opinion really counts.
>
> Here's the link: http://www.pbase.com/visionimages/which_ones
>
> Thanks so much Erin. Miss you guys and hope to see you soon.
>
> -Robert

> From: Erin Richer
Date: Jan 2, 2008 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: Help me choose
To: Robert Martin

A few things:

1) I'm incredibly touched and flattered. And I have NO IDEA why you're asking me of all people.

2)Hannah only had three glasses and only threw up once this new year.
But she's thrown up for all of the other holidays this holiday season, so we thought we'd induce this holiday's vomiting with alcohol. This way, we at least new where it came from.

Here are my favorite choices probably in order of favorites
1st: Monument in Moonlight (For artistic composition)
2nd: Memorial in autumn (For one I'd LOOOOVE to hang in my house)
3rd: I really like the mallard photo for one that is incredible but unrelated to DC architecture/symbolism

The first two choices are completely my hands down decision. However, Just as an fyi: Jeff really struggled between old glory and signs as the third one. And I really struggled with Old Glory and American Autumn. So Old Glory really should probably be our third choice. Its
just that the picture of the Duck is so incredible!!!!! Wow, Robert,
God has endowed you with an incredible artistic gift!

I hope I helped! I'd ask Hannah but she's still hung over.

This Doesn't Happen Everyday (from Robert)

2007-12-13T04:47:00.000-09:30

So, while I was busy at work today typing away on my computer and taking phone calls, someone else was busy right below me – ROBBING A BANK!

I knew it wasn’t a good sign when I started seeing numerous flashing lights out of the corner of my eye and, turning my head, saw twenty people pressed up against the windows of the building across the street staring straight at my building. Shortly after seeing police cordon off the sidewalk below my office with their yellow tape, we heard from building management that the bank directly below our space, three floors down, had been robbed. Yet as clever as the thief might have thought he was walking out of a bank with a huge bag of dough that wasn’t his, he was outwitted when that dough bag exploded, squirting red tracking ink all over him and his unearned prize. Perhaps realizing he’d been foiled, he stashed the bag under a folding sandwich-board sign for the shoe store next door and took off (see man staring at red ink on sidewalk in photo above).

Staring straight down, I watched as investigators in latex gloves removed the fallen shoe store sign to uncover wads of hundred dollar bills that they started stuffing into brown paper evidence bags. For a while, bills were scattered on the sidewalk around a puddle of red ink. We’re told the bag was rigged and apparently kept in the bank in the event of a robbery.

In the midst of the ‘excitement,’ I started to wonder how something so classically huge could have happened right outside my window without me even noticing. A bag holding thousands of dollars exploded in a man's hands right below me, and I had no idea it was happening. Thinking back, I think I may have heard the shoe store sign get pushed down over the cash, and I also heard people yelling right after it happened, but I didn’t think anything of either noise. I work on the fourth floor of a downtown office building, so I hear things fall and people yelling daily. The only police sirens I don’t subconsciously block out are the motorcades coming from the White House, and I only hear those anymore because they involve about 20 sirens instead of just one or two. The only difference between the noises today versus any other day is that today’s were the result of a bank robbery as opposed to a delivery man dropping a fragile package or a homeless person yelling at the air in front of him.

After more thought, however, I was redeemed from feeling completely clueless in my office bubble. I remembered seeing a few minutes before the robbery took place a strange car stopping down the street, shifting into reverse, and backing back down the street, through an intersection, and coming to a stop about 50 feet from where the money was found. People drive bonkers in DC, but I’ve never seen anyone go in reverse through an intersection. The car then shifted back and forth a few times as if getting into position. Did I see the getaway car?? Who knows. But I went downstairs and told an investigator what I’d seen just in case. He seemed pretty interested and jotted everything down in a little flip-pad. A news report I just read says the robber was last seen going in the opposite direction of the car I saw, so it may have just been a weird car, but at least I noticed SOMETHING today. Now back to my typing and phone calls.

Up To Date

2007-11-07T10:41:00.000-09:30

So Robert and my life...What to say what to say. One of my favorite questions I get is, "How are you doing?" or, "So, what's new with you?" Not because it is a bad question, but because even though I am asked it regularly, I still call people to talk without already having an answer prepared. Whenever I call family, and sometimes friends it is inevitably going to be asked and yet continually I am caught like a deer in headlights without an answer. "DOH!" (thank you Homer Simpson)

So, what's new with Robert and I? We don't have kids, and though that isn't new, it may stave off some quetions for those of you who are bound to ask if we are going to anytime soon...Not that we know of. We are continually working on the house. The questions that continually roll around in conversation often have to do with what colors we are going to paint the dining room, and when are we going to get pictures hung. Oh, well, life = work in progress.

This coming weekend 11/9-11/11 we are having friends stay with us from Ohio - YAY Courtnay & Steve! I am very excited about this, and I know that Robert is as well. It is interesting the people you meet and come to love when you get married. I found out that Steve was a student in the elementary school that my Uncle Henry was Principle of back in Ohio. That was a really cool moment when Robert and I found that out. So they are coming and will be our first non-family house guests (yes, ashlee, you are family.)

Oh, I also got into deep trouble with my brother over a Thanksgiving misunderstanding. That caused for some heartache and intense conversation in my life this week. But, I will never be dumb enough to try to make statements like, "Oh, my family doesn't care if I am there anyway." Okay, I am not sure if I EVER would have been dumb enough to say that, because I never believed it to be true, but after this week I won't ever forget that it's not true.

I would like to take this opportunity to make a declaration that God has given me the greatest husband to ever walk the face of the earth...except maybe Joseph. I mean, he stayed with the "It's God's baby, really hun it is," woman. Wow. Anyway that was my little shout out to the Husband and the Christmas season all in one paragraph. That was good.

So, here was my first contribution to the blogging world. Now that I have graced you with my presence, I must say

PEACE OUT