I’ve been busy, busy, busy writing for a brand-new blog, and today it launched!

Jodi Grundig’s Boston with Kids Blog

It’s with TripVine, an AOL Travel sister site, and my blog will be updated every weekday with activities for travelers to Boston to do with their children!

Oh, and I’m headed to Florida in a few short weeks to participate in the weekend portion of Walt Disney World Moms Panel training!  I’ll be at Old Key West rooming with Margaret and Anna on Friday night, and at the Contemporary on Saturday night!

Introducing TripVine is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

My Precious Baby Girl - Over Five Years Ago!

Wordless Wednesday is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

If you are my Facebook friend, you had to know this post was coming

I got an email late in the day on Thursday – the H1N1 nasal vaccine was available in my town’s health department for kids’ ages 2-5.  I quickly called for our appointment and got one the very next day for both of my kids.

So yesterday, after naps, I brought both kids to our local town hall for their shot.  I was pleasantly surprised to see how uncrowded and organized the process was.  After a short 5 minutes (which I spent filling out forms) we were called by the middle aged and super-friendly nurse.

My daughter went first and then my son.  It was extremely easy – neither cried or fussed, and the nurse handed me two cards showing they got the first dose with an appointment for the second dose.  We were just about to leave when she put her arm around my shoulder and said, “Now Mom, did you get your shot yet?”.

I said, “Um… no, there are really hard to find.” (right??)

And she said…. “Oh, because you are …

PREGNANT!….

you need to get one.”

“No,” I stuttered, “I just… have a sweater on.”

“Oh, because if you were pregnant, you couldn’t have the nasal vaccine, but I’d make sure you got the shot”, she replied.

The rest is a blur.  I walked out of the town hall, and immediately called my mom.  I was shaking a bit.  This is the SECOND time this has happened THIS YEAR.  She, as I expected, told me how crazy it was, but I didn’t even hear it.

Then, I called my husband and started crying.  Yes, me, crying.  I never cry anymore, but I had tears streaming down my face.  My stomach is so fat I look like another life form has taken shape there.

So, I’m back to trying to repair my abdominal muscle separation.  Wish me luck.

Oh, and if you see me IRL, please don’t ask when I’m due.

In Retrospect, I Should Have Just Gotten the Shot is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

I haven’t posted an update on my running lately – that’s because there hasn’t really been an update.  I was sick for a week, and didn’t run, and then I tried to run after a week, and couldn’t really move because I was still sick, and then I had a doctor appointment and didn’t have time to run, and well, you get the point.  So, I was going to run a 5K on Saturday, but I decided against it because I didn’t think I could do it.  But, I decided to re-start my routine on Saturday, and ended up being able to fully finish 5K without stopping to walk.  So go me!

Today, I headed out on a 5 mile run, and found my muscles really stiff at first.  After about 3/4 of a mile, when I wanted to start walking, I saw a license plate that said “NVRSTOP”.  Truly.  I almost stopped to take a picture with my iPhone, but then, well, that would have meant I would need to stop.  I didn’t stop, by the way, and made it over 2 miles before I did finally slow to a walk.

On another note, I totally was sucked in to buying my “official” Expedition Everest 5K photo, and I’m calling BS on Miss Chalean Johnson, who keeps claiming that women can’t bulk up with ChaLEAN Extreme.  I was looking for fit arms, not scary woman arms.  I’ll have to start doing pilates or something to get down the bulk.

The next race is a Thanksgiving 5 Mile Run.

Running Again…. is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

This past week, the latest baseball season came to a close in the worst way possible for a Red Sox fan – with a Yankees win.  My husband brought my daughter to her very first game a few weeks ago, and I was reminded of the first Red Sox game I went to, back when I was 23. It was not where you’d expect – instead of Fenway Park, my first Red Sox game was viewed at the old Kingdome, where the Seattle Mariners played.

I was temporarily living in Seattle, and had met a guy, who was the friend of a friend.  We’d hung out a lot one night when we were out with a group, and I liked him.  He liked baseball.  So, I did what any girl in her early 20s would do when she was interested in someone.  I got a “group” of people together to go to the game and invited him (it ended up being him, his roommate, my friend, and me).

He sat next to me (a good sign, of course, right?), and we talked the whole game.  He told me all about the Seattle players (A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr), and the Red Sox players (Mo Vaughn and a bunch of others I don’t remember).  We had awful seats (not much of a budget at 23 years old!), but it was still fun.

There was also a really surprising moment for me.  At one point, a young boy sat down next to him, and my “date” started chatting with him.  I’d never really thought about wanting kids (I was way too focused on my upcoming career), but at that moment, I remember thinking my crush was just perfect, because he was so good with kids.  I could actually see him bringing his children – our children (yes, it was a BIG crush), to a baseball game in the future.

And that surprised me.  It was never a criteria for dating someone before.

I’ve been a Red Sox fan for 12 years now (Yikes!).  And, the guy?  Well, he took his daughter to her first game a few weeks ago. She had a blast!  How do I know?  Well, she said to me, “Mommy, I had SO MUCH FUN with Daddy!!!”.

On Baseball and Young Love is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

A recent conversation between my daughter and me while I’m working on our family budget…

Five Year Old Daughter: “Mommy, what are those numbers on that paper?”

Me: “The amount of money I made this month.”

FYOD: “Is it a lot?”

Me: “No, not really.”

FYOD: “So Daddy makes all of the money?”

Me: “Yeah, kind of…. now, at least.  I used to make more money, but now I’ve decided to spend more time at home with you and your brother.  And that’s good, right?”

FYOD: “Um…. I really like money.”

At Least I Know What Her Priorities Are… is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

Okay, not really…. but I did have a fun night!

A party, and a concert (complete with a backstage meet and greet) in one night.

I KNOW…

So, the wonderful ladies of AimingLow.com, and the PR folks at Hewlett-Packard planned an amazing party at the Sheraton in Boston, coincidentally the same night as the Five for Fighting intimate acoustic concert.

As a mom living in the ‘burbs, I have to admit – I don’t get out too much.

Seriously.

So, a party and a concert in one night?  Crazy.

After attending the party for a while, hanging out with my blogging bestie Jill, saying hi to some of my other blogging friends like Christina, Christy, Niri, Tania, and meeting Anissa, Janet (who I called Izzy on email like forever), and Katie, I left with Barbara from One2One network and Christine from Boston Mamas to the Five for Fighting show.

It was amazing.  I absolutely love John’s songs – and it was great to hear the stories behind them.  100 years will always make me tear up, and his new album is powerful also!

But after the show, Barbara got us backstage to meet John before he headed out.  What a wonderful person he is!  So friendly, and appreciative of fans.

It was a great night – and I good reminder that I need to get out more!

Living the Rock Star Life is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

My dad has a joke he likes to tell.  What do you call the last person in a graduating medical school class?  The answer?  Doctor.

I was reminded of that joke today, because I thought of an alternative – What do you call the last person finishing a 10k?  My answer – a 10K finisher!

It was an interesting morning – first we lost power early in the morning.  It was a very quick power outage, but, of course, enough to send all of the clocks in the house into flashing 12:00 mode.

Then, on our way to the Westin Boston, my husband did a Clark W. Griswald and went by the Westin not once, but twice, trying to find the entrance to the parking garage (hint, it’s not adjacent to the Westin).  When Diane and I saw each other in the lobby we laughed, because, well, we both looked like an ad for Under Armor (hey, looking the part is the first step, right?).

So, we walked over to the starting point, City Sports in Boston, got our fancy, official looking tees (yes, that is the number printed right there on the bottom), snapped this here picture, and studied the map.  Which showed the race route entirely backwards.  Whoops.

Then, I decided to sync my Nike + sensor.  I ended up purchasing a wristband sensor on Thursday, because I didn’t want to run in the rain with my iPhone.  I hadn’t synced the sensor, and after pacing the City Sports store like an idiot, I found out from someone that each sensor can only sync with one device.  So, since that sensor was already synced with my iPhone, it wouldn’t work with the wristband (major fail, in my opinion).

We headed outside for a group stretch, and after checking out my fellow racers, I leaned over to Diane and casually mentioned that we would finish last.  After all, neither of us had done a 10K before and could barely run a 5K last month.  We were okay with that though.

On a side note – at the start of the race, I saw the trail mix guy.  I won’t repeat this story here, but if you know me in real life, you probably know the trail mix guy story.  I was so upset I didn’t have my phone at that point – would have loved to email a few of my friends to tell them!

Finally, the race started.  Diane and I started at a slow but steady pace, and shortly after had an international tourist say, “Hey, you’re behind everyone else!”.  To which I replied, “Yeah, but at least I’m running.” and Diane finished with, “Which is more than you are doing!”.  And this is why we get along so well!

We ran, and walked, and ran, and walked, and quickly realized that half the group, including one of the pacers, went the wrong way.  We were at the end, but were looking forward to having some water at the water stop.  But when we got there?  They’d ALREADY TAKEN AWAY THE WATER!!!  At that point, we did what any self-respecting runner did – we stopped and walked.

And we came in LAST.  DEAD LAST.

But…we finished

Dead Last is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

I’ve been running a lot lately, and when I run, I think… a lot… (I mean, really, what else is there to do?).

• Since I started using the Nike + system, I’ve been running with my iPhone.  I went to the Apple store to get some sort of a holder for it, and the sales associate, who has clearly never run in his entire life, suggested that I use a waist holster.  Seriously, I’m short, and the length of my iPhone is like half the length of my femur.  I ended up with an armband.  I look so bad-ass running.
• But… running with the iPhone has a drawback.  For instance, when I get bored, I want to check my email.  I wish it would just narrate my email, or at least let me know when something good arrives.  Maybe there’s an app for that?
• I recently switched up my song order, and Bullet With Butterfly Wings came on.  And, I didn’t even feel the rage…  I’m … happy?  Hmmm…. is there something to this running thing??

Random Running Thoughts is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

As readers know, I’m a member of the 2009 Walt Disney World Moms Panel.  Lots of people ask me about the panel, and one of the most common questions I get is “What do you get for being on the panel?”.  Believe it or not, that question is actually harder to explain than you would think.

The number one thing I’ve gotten from my tenure on the panel is a whole new family – a group of friends that have a bond much deeper than anyone would expect.  We became friends on Facebook before our training even began, and stay in touch every single day.  We chat online, text, and take advantage of any opportunity for a reunion.  I could have never have imagined finding such a great group!

Our year is almost over, but our friendship and reunions won’t end!

What I Got From Being in the Moms Panel is a post from: Multitasking Mommy