Thank you WYC

Jamie, a dear friend of mine from back in the day, was so kind to post a little spotlight today about "Hawk My Life"... http://workyourcloset.blogspot.com/2011/06/reader-spotlight-katie.html

Thank you Jamie and http://workyourcloset.blogspot.com/ for your support!

Hardest Goodbye

Court was all morning and the verdict was that Little Man's dad gets him and Kelly and I get him every other weekend.  I am pretty shocked by today's end result, but as I have stated before...family law is written so poorly and, in many cases, not looking out for the best interest of the children.  Today, Little Man even went in front of the judge{only 6 years old} and said reasons why he is scared of his dad and didn't want to go with him...and the judge still sided with the father.  Your TITLE means everything in family court and because it was two Aunts vs. a DAD, the Dad won. 

Walking back to the car with Little Man to grab his things and say goodbye was the hardest goodbye I have ever experienced.  I am going to miss him so much...

See you soon Jakey! 

Me and Jake

Randoms Weekend Stories

This weekend was filled with a lot of in-ness.  We had a bunch of family and friends over Friday night for our cousin, Rebecca's birthday.  Random FYI...I love design{interior, exterior, anything having to do with design}, so I wanted to think of a creative way for every guest that visits our home to leave a little mark, so Friday night we asked people to sign our kitchen table.  This was the end result:

Kitchen Table{Art Project}

 Anyways, We all drank vino, ate cupcakes, and then headed downtown Palo Alto for some going out action.  I ended up passing out before anyone else cause I was so tired from the long week{I'm getting so old}.  The next morning I woke up with a little dog in my bed next laying next to me and my guy friend next to the dog{so random}.

Saturday morning was an emotional and hard day for me.  I woke up and knew this was my last weekend to spend with Little Man until mid July.  Lately, I have been trying my best to be as honest and open with him, but while still trying to preserve his innocence and youth.  When I saw him Saturday, I literally was like a little cry baby...I just saw his face and thought about how much I am going to miss him. He is such a little man; when he noticed me crying he grabbed my hand and said it's ok Auntie, everything is going to be ok...I promise.  He was consoling me!  I love him so much.

Saturday we spent all day at the pool and then did dinner with my brother, and that guy I went on the date with the other night.  We tried this beyond diggy place in Palo Alto called http://patxispizza.com/.  It was so treaty!  After doing some major digging, me, Jake, and my friend hit up Stanford Hospital to drop food off for the brother-in-law.  I do not know how doctors do it...he had been working a 48 hour shift and not eaten anything for almost a day{I would be dead; I can't go 15 minutes without digging}. After our Stanford excursion, we got some desserty.  It was such a great day...I wouldn't have changed it for anything!

This weekend flew by, I can't believe it is already Sunday night.  I am really glad that I got to spend so much time with my nephew this weekend...he makes me appreciate life so much more and realize what really matters! I'm going to miss you Little Man.  

Little Man

I need a playdate…

For the past couple of months every single day I was spending with Little Man{my nephew}; we were hitting up sky high, swimming pools, museums, dog parks, movies, restaurants{our all time fav, taco bell}, basically anything and everything fun.  We, literally, were attached to the hip. 

I don’t think I fully realized how fun kids could be until my playdates with my nephew started happening.  He made me laugh more, smile more, and most importantly made me realize life is too short, so live it up like a kid{worry free}.

One of my most fav playdates with Little Man was this one Saturday afternoon. Me, my cugina{Rebecca}, little man, and our two dogs initially headed DT Palo Alto for some lunch to-go.  From there, we hit up Stanford University for a picnic/frisbee/dog run loose sesh.  After running around for an hour or so, we took a little journey through campus to find a handful of student, mariachi performers singing and dancing in a water fountain.  Not only did we jig it up but we also took a little dip in the fountain{normal}!  From there, we wondered a little more on the campus and stumbled upon an authentic Indian concert/talent show.  We dug a bunch of Indian food, drank about 3 snow cones each, and then did some major hawking on the talent show{this was beyond in}.  To end the day, we hit up Aunt Mary’s house, ordered some pizza and put a little movie on…killed it that day!

It’s been a long week with my new job and new commute, which I am loving, but I do need a playdate with Little Man asap.  

Picture of the day

SF

I missed the train...

Since I began my little commute, I’ve been taking the same time train in the morning and seeing some of the same people over and over.  This morning, on my way to my usual 6:30am train, a guy, that I have seen every morning since my commute, road up next to me and asked if I wanted to bike up to the next stop and catch the earlier train.  Now that I think about it…this is so random, but I love random sh*t.  So, of course, I said “lets do it”, not taking into consideration my extra slow bike pace compared to his beyond fastness{We missed the train : )}. 

This guy was a profesh hockey player for years and now is working up in the city for a tech start-up.  His story was so in, so I kept asking him question after question.  The office he works in now, also leases to a porn company and he was telling me all about the crazy parties they throw...so fun!

You never know who you will meet, and in this case, who you might make miss the train…!

You can learn something new everyday!

Me at Palo Alto CalTrain

What shocked/intrigued me most about my very first commute to work yesterday{to the point I wanted to blog about it} was revealed to me by two long-time Caltrain bikers. Everyday on the 5:30pm train heading out of SF towards SJ the bike section only{the Northbound facing end of the train} holds a happy hour. My two new fellow biker friends, said that people bring beer, wine, cocktails, magarittas, etc and just drink it up together. This not only interested me and made me want to attend one of these super cool events, but also made me think of this whole Caltrain biking thing as a little world within a world.  P.S. After my conversation with these guys, I was officially added to the distribution list for this bike social….I was so F * happy! 

 

New Job + Long Commute= Coffee Please

Palo Alto, CA

It’s 6:38am and I am sitting{so comf} on CalTrain heading Northbound into San Francisco.  I am starting my new J.O.B today and am really excited about it. The company is super cool, the people are young and smart, and the office is amazing{it’s a huge brick warehouse that could easily be used as a fantastic art gallery}.  My interview with the owner of this company consisted of a deep conversation about Exit Through the Gift Shop{one of the best documentaries ever made} and him letting me know he is planning to commission an artist to come on site and paint for us as we work.  I knew right then, I had found the company!  

Last night, I could not figure out what outfit to wear for my first day{business smart is the companies dress attire model}.  The first outfit is tough because you want to make an impression, but you also don’t want to stand out too much.  I was thinking skirt with a cute blouse but that would not be super good with the biking portion of my commute.  I also thought dress, but same problem as the skirt  So, I settled for the following: 

1st day outfit+biker friendly

I just moved into a new apartment in Palo Alto so the commute is going to be pretty fun every morning  ; )...!  Already, this morning, I was up by 5:00am, biked to the train station{helmet on, back-pack strapped up, camera in hand…such a dork} and now am riding the train to SF, to then get off and bike another couple of miles to the office.  I have been cracking myself up this entire commute because I literally look beyond dorky. 

After this week, I might need a little Vaca.!

SF{DogPatch Cafe}

"At 53..."

 Happy Father's Day DAD!

Here are few of his favorite things:

• Almost every morning I wake up to a 4:45am text from Chuckie{my Dad} quoting one of his newest home made jokes or words of inspiration.  Last one was "Good morning, wishing you the very best day.  Inspire those around you, even if its just one person a day and ask for nothing in return".
• His favorite line to start any sentence off is "At 53...".  Ex.) "At 53, you wish you could keep up with me".
• He loves any restaurant where the staff begins to know him by name{hella pop}.
• My dad loves a good remolding project where he gets everyone involved and then cries with the finished project. 
• He loves to drive past his finished projects and say "I built that".
• He loves making people feel super awkward{long hand shakes, awkward silences, and crazed questions..."Why are your hands so sweaty?"}.

Dad "At 53..."

Thank you Dad for being you.  Again, happy father's day and hope you enjoy the bbq today.

Dad in NY for Christmas 2010

Thinking of you Mom

Rachel{a good friend of mine...I'm her maid of honor in a couple months} is throwing a party today in celebration of her mother's 20 years CANCER FREE!!!  I am so excited for this event.  20 years cancer free is AMAZING. 

This event, keeps making me think of one person, my mom, and how I wish she was still here with us.

My mom, center stage in the green vest{2009 Relay for Life Mt View}

Coco{momma, Colleen Joyce Wilcox} was the life of the party.  She had her own language, she was ALWAYS smiling, and happy, and everyone loved to be around her.  I would come home from school and my mom would be sitting on the couch, lounging, and there would be anywhere from 1-15 of my friends or my siblings friends hanging out with her, chatting away.  She was the best{and I am going to pull a Coco move right now}..."I'm not just saying this because she is my mom!". 

My mom passed away in December of 2009 from a long battle with Cancer.  She was a human, superwoman or some called her the energizer bunny.  I don't know how many times a doctor would say to us kids, your mom is not going to make or all the odds are against her...but somehow little Coco made it every time.  She worked, she cooked{loved hawking people dig her food, then would say..."please, how diggy is it...1-10?"}, she never showed or wanted people to know she was "sicker than a dog on the road". 

Today I want to celebrate Rachel's mom for 20 years and strong, but also send a tribute to all the other mommas, like mine, that have not been as fortunate to see today. 

I love you mom and miss you very, very much!

Kristen{sister}, Kelly{sister}, Mom, Me, Caleb{brother}

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/colleenwilcox {more of my mom's story}

Meet&Greet

Modeling pics on the way to dindin

Last night, a bunch of us had dinner at Dutch Goose{comfest bar/rest} and it just so happened that all the new Stanford interns were dining their as well!  Dr Rich Parent{my soon to be brother-in-law} was trying to introduce all of us single cousins{Me, Rebecca, and Shannon} to the new interns and make the love connection spark.

Dr. Parent{Soon to be brother-in-law}

Prior to the meeting of the newbies, we established a hand signal for the ones that were single and ready to mingle versus the taken ones.  So when Rich introduced us, we knew which ones to go for.  I have to tell you...there was not one that caught my attention. I don't think doctors are my style anyways...BUT who knows; I surely don't.

One of the interns was carrying his big canon camera around{I was too, so dorky} and to start a convo with him I brought up photogrpahy and photoshop.  In mid-sentence, he obviously was into me ; ), he got up and left to snap some pics of other people.  About 5 minutes later, he returns and goes, "I'm sorry, where were we...".  In short, we completely and entirely hit it off and now are head over hills for one another!

Intern with the camera

Unfortunately, no matches were made last night BUT luckily for me I can't get that one out of my mind that I did the date with this past Tuesday.  As my mom would say, I'm kind of chowing!

The Cuginas!!!

Uncertainties

Yesterday was little man's end of the year performance and graduation...he is officially a 1st grader!

When I was watching him up there perform, as hard as I tried to stay in the moment, I couldn't help but think about his future and all of its uncertainties.  I am afraid of all the unknowns he faces and is soon going to encounter in life. 

My goal has been to protect him from all the hard times and keep him safe, but its an impossible goal to obtain.  No matter how hard I try, he will eventually be thrown into the real world and either sink or swim; I just wish I was always the life guard on duty to save him. 
 

Anxiety Kicks In

24 years old has never felt so mature in my life.  It is 7:15am and I am getting up to head over to Kinkos to fax mediation papers to Family Court Services.  I am battling my oldest sister's ex husband for custody of my nephew...not fun for anyone, and the laws around family court do not serve the best interest of the child.  Can't wait to see how this all turns out...my anxiety is kicking in.

For the past couple of months, I have been taking on full-blown mom jobs, concerns and stressers.  From setting up play dates to attending field trips to the library.  Yesterday was Donuts With Dads day and just the thought that my nephew's dad was not going to show up killed me.  Also, last week at school, little man was making his dad a Father's Day gift and a classmate said to him, "why are you making that gift, you don't have a dad".  Kids are so honest; in this case, a little too honest : ( . 

After this mediation today, I think we all deserve a pool day...

Safari Pool Hat

Lounging

Cannon Ball

Brother with Little Man

P.S.  I've got a little date tonight...should be in!

Catch Up...

This morning I lay in bed, in my new Palo Alto apt. typing away.  It is beyond comf.  I have always had to share a bedroom and/or closet with siblings, so to have my own space now...is so nice. I love decorating, arranging, re-arranging, hitting up Ikea and thrift stores. 

To play a bit of catch up, for those of you who are just tuning in...within the last 3 months, there have been many changes.  No exaggeration; I lost my job{kind of quit}, my oldest sister went missing,  I am in the process of getting guardianship of my nephew, and I was homeless.  So to say, I am lounging at my new apt after dropping little man{my nephew} off at school...that is a pretty great thing and what I like to call an eased day. 

I need to start my day, so I'm off to take a  little shower, possibly a painting sesh{http://diggyart.tumblr.com/}, a run, lunch downtown PA with an old college friend, pick up of little man from school, a SJ giants baseball game, and then maybe a little late night decorating of the new apt. A day filled with fluff, I love it!

I will fill you all in tomorrow with some in action that happens today!