Yep, as of noon today, I'm unemployed. After one final "screw you" from the powers-that-be, of course.
If you're reading this, you've probably said wonderful things to me about how stupid my old employer was and is (oh, you have no idea how stupid, but yes, they are) and how you're sure that I'll land on my feet in a much better place (that would not be too hard) and how you wish me the best of luck always.
Thank you. I appreciate every one of those comments, and I thank you.
I'm free.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Amazingly inspirational
For those of you who don't know, Greg and I are lucky to have wonderful friends who live in Yorkshire, England. Dan and Kerry are amazing people, though Dan is more than a bit bonkers. Why would I say such a thing?
I say such a thing because in about 5 hours (our time), Dan and nine of his friends are starting on a walk for charity that's going to take them 78 miles or so (mostly uphill, it looks like). They have a week, and I think you'll understand why I say Dan is crazy when I tell you that the first two days are 16 miles each (mostly uphill, did I say that?). Kerry has graciously volunteered for the task of schlepping the luggage around for all of these guys. Who says men pack light? Check this pile out.
Dan and his friends are taking on this amazing challenge (mostly uphill, did I say that?) to raise money for a charity run by a wonderful couple he knows after they suffered a tragedy and wanted to help others. They sound like terrific people. You can read Dan's further explanation and appeal here. This is a wonderful cause. Please, it's not too late to help by making a contribution. And if you just can't swing a contribution, please stop by Dan's website to check out their progress over the next week and to offer some words of encouragement. Please, about mile 31 of day 2 (of mostly uphill), they're going to need it.
Thank you!
I say such a thing because in about 5 hours (our time), Dan and nine of his friends are starting on a walk for charity that's going to take them 78 miles or so (mostly uphill, it looks like). They have a week, and I think you'll understand why I say Dan is crazy when I tell you that the first two days are 16 miles each (mostly uphill, did I say that?). Kerry has graciously volunteered for the task of schlepping the luggage around for all of these guys. Who says men pack light? Check this pile out.
Dan and his friends are taking on this amazing challenge (mostly uphill, did I say that?) to raise money for a charity run by a wonderful couple he knows after they suffered a tragedy and wanted to help others. They sound like terrific people. You can read Dan's further explanation and appeal here. This is a wonderful cause. Please, it's not too late to help by making a contribution. And if you just can't swing a contribution, please stop by Dan's website to check out their progress over the next week and to offer some words of encouragement. Please, about mile 31 of day 2 (of mostly uphill), they're going to need it.
Thank you!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
So what's up?
Well, I'm just about ready to start applying for work. There are three positions that I'm aware of that I want to submit my resume for, but that document needs "The Greg Stamp of Approval." Since Greg writes for a living, I value his opinion (and proofreading skills). Last night, he took a quick look at it and said something about widows and orphans. I don't know what that means, but I'm sure Greg will bring everyone together into families without much trouble.
At my current job, every day is kind of an ordeal. I have things to do, they're not bad things, but needless to say I've lost my heart for it. I just want them to let me go. They recognize the knowledge I have in my head and that they should try to get that stuff passed on, but the way they've asked me to do that . . . Without going into details, I'm so discouraged by recent decisions that I certainly recognize our "relationship" has come to an end. I can't quit, or I won't get unemployment. At this point, I'm thinking I'll be done by next week--or maybe even this Friday, who knows. Just let me go, people!
Greg is starting a campaign for me to be released and it has a slogan: FREE DEBBIE! FREE DEBBIE!
At my current job, every day is kind of an ordeal. I have things to do, they're not bad things, but needless to say I've lost my heart for it. I just want them to let me go. They recognize the knowledge I have in my head and that they should try to get that stuff passed on, but the way they've asked me to do that . . . Without going into details, I'm so discouraged by recent decisions that I certainly recognize our "relationship" has come to an end. I can't quit, or I won't get unemployment. At this point, I'm thinking I'll be done by next week--or maybe even this Friday, who knows. Just let me go, people!
Greg is starting a campaign for me to be released and it has a slogan: FREE DEBBIE! FREE DEBBIE!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Yay for breathing!
There's a letter to the editor in our local paper, talking about the victory the writer and others in our city have achieved. All of the full service restaurants in our town of 12,000 people are now smoke free. The writer says that he believes this is the first time a change like this has been accomplished in Wisconsin without having to pass a city ordinance.
Yay for Norm (the writer)! Yay for the other people who worked long and hard to get this completed. My family will no longer stink like cigarettes after eating Friday fish fry. We'll no longer have to try to explain to our girls that some people like to smoke right before and after they eat while they sit at the table next to us, even though, yes, they know it's going to kill them.
We'll probably have to walk through clouds of smoke to get in to the restaurant, but it's easier to hold my breath and hustle my kids through than to breathe it for an entire meal. Heck, we'll probably consider sticking around and ordering some of the delicious pie that a couple of our local restaurants are known for since we don't have to breathe other people's smoke.
Oops, opened a can of worms with that one. No, I'm not going into an obesity lecture (even for myself). I was kidding about the pie! Honest! One health issue at a time, people.
Yay for Norm (the writer)! Yay for the other people who worked long and hard to get this completed. My family will no longer stink like cigarettes after eating Friday fish fry. We'll no longer have to try to explain to our girls that some people like to smoke right before and after they eat while they sit at the table next to us, even though, yes, they know it's going to kill them.
We'll probably have to walk through clouds of smoke to get in to the restaurant, but it's easier to hold my breath and hustle my kids through than to breathe it for an entire meal. Heck, we'll probably consider sticking around and ordering some of the delicious pie that a couple of our local restaurants are known for since we don't have to breathe other people's smoke.
Oops, opened a can of worms with that one. No, I'm not going into an obesity lecture (even for myself). I was kidding about the pie! Honest! One health issue at a time, people.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Ugh! - - - Ahhhh!
Outside is just not a good place to be these days. What with the flaming chunks of firecrackers, the mosquitoes, the very high humidity, the mosquitoes, and the heat--it just seems prudent to spend time indoors.
So yesterday we took the kids to see Wall-E. Cute, very cute. Fortunately, our kids are old enough that when they ask questions during the movie, they whisper instead of holler. And fortunately, they stay in their seats, unlike a little boy next to us who went wandering around the aisle more than he sat down. And fortunately, our kids (meaning Julia) just cover their ears when there's loud noise, instead of scream at the top of their lungs, which is what the aforementioned boy did. Fortunately, the theater surround sound mostly drowned him out. Mostly.
We ate a little bit of popcorn and drank some lemonade and enjoyed the show. No mosquitoes. No humidity. And no heat (in fact, I had on flipflops and my toes were cold!). We should do this every night!
So yesterday we took the kids to see Wall-E. Cute, very cute. Fortunately, our kids are old enough that when they ask questions during the movie, they whisper instead of holler. And fortunately, they stay in their seats, unlike a little boy next to us who went wandering around the aisle more than he sat down. And fortunately, our kids (meaning Julia) just cover their ears when there's loud noise, instead of scream at the top of their lungs, which is what the aforementioned boy did. Fortunately, the theater surround sound mostly drowned him out. Mostly.
We ate a little bit of popcorn and drank some lemonade and enjoyed the show. No mosquitoes. No humidity. And no heat (in fact, I had on flipflops and my toes were cold!). We should do this every night!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Our Independence Day
Allie wanted to go see the city fireworks. Julia wanted to go see the city fireworks. Greg wanted Allie to help him set off our fireworks in the driveway. Julia was supposed to watch but she only watched one or two before she came in, holding her hands over her ears. Allie watched all of it, but said that the smaller fireworks were boring. I was in and out of the house watching some of them and towards the end, Greg was lighting things, throwing them towards the road, and neither he nor Allie were even looking at them. Isn't that the point? All of us got completely eaten by mosquitos.
Then it came time to leave for the city fireworks. Julia had to change her clothes because she had on a sundress and it was only about 70 degrees outside. She started crying because her head got stuck and then she remembered that she apparently burned her fingers slightly on a hot sparkler. She was horribly tired anyway, so I suggested that she stay home with me. It was a measure of how tired she was that she thought about it and immediately said yes.
Julia went to sleep despite the noise outside and about 10:15, Greg and Allie came home. They banged on the window of the living room to try to scare me. When they came in, Allie immediately got into her pajamas and she went off to bed. For about 3 minutes. Then she came out on the landing and said plaintively, I don't want this night to end!
About that time, Greg and I realized that Simon the cat was missing. Greg looked all over the house and became convinced that Julia had let him out earlier when she was watching the fireworks in the driveway and holding the front door open. I suggested that Greg get some leaves off our catnip plant and see if that rousted him. I think the leaves from our catnip plant could entice a dead cat (yes, we do have cat visitors to our garden). Simon did not appear but Rabies had a great time. Greg went outside with a flashlight, risking intense mosquito attack, and I checked the house again. We both realized that if Simon had gotten out, the fireworks would scare him to death and he'd probably be long gone.
I went into the basement and opened the door to the storage room and behold! There was Simon, eager to get out and get upstairs to the catnip. Today, our plans are to go buy collars for the cats. There's a pet store in Madison that has cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, lizards, fish, spiders, snakes, hedgehogs, crabs, etc. It's like going to the zoo without getting eaten by mosquitos. Ah, summer in Wisconsin.
Then it came time to leave for the city fireworks. Julia had to change her clothes because she had on a sundress and it was only about 70 degrees outside. She started crying because her head got stuck and then she remembered that she apparently burned her fingers slightly on a hot sparkler. She was horribly tired anyway, so I suggested that she stay home with me. It was a measure of how tired she was that she thought about it and immediately said yes.
Julia went to sleep despite the noise outside and about 10:15, Greg and Allie came home. They banged on the window of the living room to try to scare me. When they came in, Allie immediately got into her pajamas and she went off to bed. For about 3 minutes. Then she came out on the landing and said plaintively, I don't want this night to end!
About that time, Greg and I realized that Simon the cat was missing. Greg looked all over the house and became convinced that Julia had let him out earlier when she was watching the fireworks in the driveway and holding the front door open. I suggested that Greg get some leaves off our catnip plant and see if that rousted him. I think the leaves from our catnip plant could entice a dead cat (yes, we do have cat visitors to our garden). Simon did not appear but Rabies had a great time. Greg went outside with a flashlight, risking intense mosquito attack, and I checked the house again. We both realized that if Simon had gotten out, the fireworks would scare him to death and he'd probably be long gone.
I went into the basement and opened the door to the storage room and behold! There was Simon, eager to get out and get upstairs to the catnip. Today, our plans are to go buy collars for the cats. There's a pet store in Madison that has cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, lizards, fish, spiders, snakes, hedgehogs, crabs, etc. It's like going to the zoo without getting eaten by mosquitos. Ah, summer in Wisconsin.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Now on TV
Tonight, my family watched a new show called "Baby Borrowers." The premise is that five teenage couples who all think they're ready to have a baby are given individual homes in a cul de sac and their own vehicles. Then they wear an Empathy belly pregnancy simulator thing for two days and then they get real babies. The infants ranged in age from six months to eleven months and the kids got them for three days and nights. After the first day, one of the kids stays home with the baby and the other goes to work outside the home (and believe me, there were fights over who got to leave). The real parents could watch 24-7 on surveillance cameras and a trained nanny stayed the entire time in the house, but the nannies were told not to comment or intervene unless the child was in physical danger.
In future shows, the kids are getting toddlers, then preteens, then teenagers, then senior citizens. It was pretty interesting stuff. Some of the kids were just completely overwhelmed. The couples would start arguing over who had to take care of "it." Yes, they called the baby, "It." In most cases, the real parents ended up popping in to either chastise the kids or give them a pep talk (mostly chastising). Two of the girls just stopped trying to take care of the babies. I've read reviews of the show, and apparently in a future episode, a nanny has to step in when one couple decides to leave a toddler alone in a house.
Allie and I had a good conversation while we watched. She ended up saying that she doesn't want to get a baby (yep, she said "get") until she's at least 38, like me. Oh, boy. I told her that she can have a baby when she's younger than 38. After all, I had Allie when I was 34 and I think I would have been ready by 28 or so (I'm a late bloomer!). But I think now she's going to be checking the parenting credentials of future boyfriends!
In future shows, the kids are getting toddlers, then preteens, then teenagers, then senior citizens. It was pretty interesting stuff. Some of the kids were just completely overwhelmed. The couples would start arguing over who had to take care of "it." Yes, they called the baby, "It." In most cases, the real parents ended up popping in to either chastise the kids or give them a pep talk (mostly chastising). Two of the girls just stopped trying to take care of the babies. I've read reviews of the show, and apparently in a future episode, a nanny has to step in when one couple decides to leave a toddler alone in a house.
Allie and I had a good conversation while we watched. She ended up saying that she doesn't want to get a baby (yep, she said "get") until she's at least 38, like me. Oh, boy. I told her that she can have a baby when she's younger than 38. After all, I had Allie when I was 34 and I think I would have been ready by 28 or so (I'm a late bloomer!). But I think now she's going to be checking the parenting credentials of future boyfriends!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Special visitor
My brother-in-law Mike has owned a small gas station for about the last year. It's one of those Clark stations that has a wide store area across the front of the station that's only about six feet deep. On warm spring days, as he perched on a stool behind the counter at one end of the space, Mike loved to prop the glass door wide open to get some fresh air inside the store. Until the day he had a visitor.
Mike was watching a program on his little TV one day between customers when he caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. As he turned his head, he saw that a squirrel had come in the open door. The squirrel ran across the depth of the store to the candy rack, considered his choices for a moment (just kidding), and then grabbed a king size Snickers bar and took off. Without paying!
About ten minutes later, he snuck into the store again and stole another king size Snickers! How he knew that those candy bars had peanuts inside and the Milky Ways didn't, I'll never know. He came back again the next day and snagged another candy bar before Mike realized that he was going to have to close the glass door and put on the air conditioning to defeat his furry thief.
For about a week afterwards, Mike says that the squirrel would come to the glass door almost every day and look longingly towards those sweet, sweet decadent confections, now beyond reach. I know what he was thinking too--how can I sabotage the air conditioning?
Mike was watching a program on his little TV one day between customers when he caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. As he turned his head, he saw that a squirrel had come in the open door. The squirrel ran across the depth of the store to the candy rack, considered his choices for a moment (just kidding), and then grabbed a king size Snickers bar and took off. Without paying!
About ten minutes later, he snuck into the store again and stole another king size Snickers! How he knew that those candy bars had peanuts inside and the Milky Ways didn't, I'll never know. He came back again the next day and snagged another candy bar before Mike realized that he was going to have to close the glass door and put on the air conditioning to defeat his furry thief.
For about a week afterwards, Mike says that the squirrel would come to the glass door almost every day and look longingly towards those sweet, sweet decadent confections, now beyond reach. I know what he was thinking too--how can I sabotage the air conditioning?
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Quite the businesswoman
Allie seems obsessed lately with running her business. Yes, I'm talking about her lemonade stand (newly expanded yesterday). She started her business two weeks ago and had good initial results, cut short by a spell of bad weather. Last weekend, she went out on both Saturday and Sunday and raked in some more cash. She stood out on our corner for a good two and a half hours, waving at potential customers, dancing and talking to herself when there were none, and being polite when someone stopped by. Her cups of kool-aid were $.25 and she frequently got $.75 tips.
This week, her daddy suggested expanding her product line and she grabbed on to the idea like a true entrepreneur. So yesterday morning, between conversations about her supply of "Product," we baked and frosted cupcakes and added sprinkles. In about an hour and a half (before more storms rolled in), she sold 8. We had made 24, and later in the day, she got upset when her daddy and me said we wanted one for dessert. She got a lecture about the importance of family over the importance of "Product."
Today, it's barely 70 degrees outside and even "the businesswoman" agrees that it's too cold for people to want to buy lemonade. To say she is disappointed is a huge understatement. I'm thinking when I lose my job, I'll just rely on her earnings!
This week, her daddy suggested expanding her product line and she grabbed on to the idea like a true entrepreneur. So yesterday morning, between conversations about her supply of "Product," we baked and frosted cupcakes and added sprinkles. In about an hour and a half (before more storms rolled in), she sold 8. We had made 24, and later in the day, she got upset when her daddy and me said we wanted one for dessert. She got a lecture about the importance of family over the importance of "Product."
Today, it's barely 70 degrees outside and even "the businesswoman" agrees that it's too cold for people to want to buy lemonade. To say she is disappointed is a huge understatement. I'm thinking when I lose my job, I'll just rely on her earnings!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
It sucks
So I'm losing my job. Last week, my boss (for the last six months) came to see me and told me I was being removed from my position. Oh, and the company had hired a replacement. Oh, and she was coming by to take my staff to lunch in a day and a half. Oh, and we don't want you to actually leave, we love you blah blah and we want you to stay. I'm shortening the story up, obviously. He wasn't quite that blunt but I'm not too far off. I said, stay as what?
My company's been in a real change pattern for the last seven or so months and I guess this is a continuation of that. They've also been in a significant downturn for over a year. We've had a significant number of people on improvement plans for performance issues and we've let a bunch go. That's in addition to the 220 laid off last year.
I have not been one of the people told to improve my performance. I've never been told that there were any problems with my performance at all, or that I should be focusing on anything other than what I've been doing. Oh, the unfairness of it all goes on and on and I won't bore you with more detail. Let me just sum it up by saying that I'm leaving. I won't be done until August 1--32 more days of work--but I'm getting out. And I'm excited.
I keep thinking that I'm probably going to get a job at a place that doesn't have a leaking roof every winter. A place where I don't have to worry about mold in the insulation. A place where I might have a window where I can see outside. A place that's growing and stable instead of declining and maybe dying. And a place that wouldn't do something like this to someone like me, who's been a stupidly loyal, dedicated employee for almost 11 years.
Oh, I'm bitter. But I know this is a good thing. I'm getting out. I'll miss the people I've worked with. But I sure won't miss the people who decided to do this to me in this way. 32 more days. And counting down.
My company's been in a real change pattern for the last seven or so months and I guess this is a continuation of that. They've also been in a significant downturn for over a year. We've had a significant number of people on improvement plans for performance issues and we've let a bunch go. That's in addition to the 220 laid off last year.
I have not been one of the people told to improve my performance. I've never been told that there were any problems with my performance at all, or that I should be focusing on anything other than what I've been doing. Oh, the unfairness of it all goes on and on and I won't bore you with more detail. Let me just sum it up by saying that I'm leaving. I won't be done until August 1--32 more days of work--but I'm getting out. And I'm excited.
I keep thinking that I'm probably going to get a job at a place that doesn't have a leaking roof every winter. A place where I don't have to worry about mold in the insulation. A place where I might have a window where I can see outside. A place that's growing and stable instead of declining and maybe dying. And a place that wouldn't do something like this to someone like me, who's been a stupidly loyal, dedicated employee for almost 11 years.
Oh, I'm bitter. But I know this is a good thing. I'm getting out. I'll miss the people I've worked with. But I sure won't miss the people who decided to do this to me in this way. 32 more days. And counting down.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Really. That's the best you've got?
In Madison, Wisconsin, there's an agency called the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS, get it--isn't that annoyingly clever). They like to take surveys and weigh in on stuff and some of it is mildly interesting.
Today, I heard on public radio that one of their researchers has a new proposal to lower our carbon footprint or some such worthiness. Ban drivethru lanes.
Got sleeping kids in the car and just wanna grab some McDonald's? Wanna grab some joe to get your get-up-and-go going? Too bad. Park, get out of the car into the (sometimes) -20 weather, walk into the restaurant, order, pay, and then juggle the whole mess as you climb back into your car. Start the car up again and finally head off again.
This is the best strategy they've got?
Today, I heard on public radio that one of their researchers has a new proposal to lower our carbon footprint or some such worthiness. Ban drivethru lanes.
Got sleeping kids in the car and just wanna grab some McDonald's? Wanna grab some joe to get your get-up-and-go going? Too bad. Park, get out of the car into the (sometimes) -20 weather, walk into the restaurant, order, pay, and then juggle the whole mess as you climb back into your car. Start the car up again and finally head off again.
This is the best strategy they've got?
A change of view
I've been wearing glasses more than contact lenses for the past few months, but I'm slowly changing back to wearing lenses more. Now I have a new factor to consider.
The other day, I was cleaning my glasses and one of the clear plastic nosepads ripped. I went to the optometrist to have it replaced and the nosepad they put in is just a bit thicker than the old one on the other side. This means that my glasses sit further off my face and higher.
This slight difference has completely changed the way I view the world and it's taking some getting used to. Do you think we should try this in Washington?
The other day, I was cleaning my glasses and one of the clear plastic nosepads ripped. I went to the optometrist to have it replaced and the nosepad they put in is just a bit thicker than the old one on the other side. This means that my glasses sit further off my face and higher.
This slight difference has completely changed the way I view the world and it's taking some getting used to. Do you think we should try this in Washington?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Waiting for a biopsy result sucks
I mentioned awhile ago that I had a sore in my mouth that my dentist was concerned about. I went to the dentist because it hurt and got an antibiotic. It didn't get better. I went back to the dentist and he said, hmmm, come back in two weeks and we'll see if that's completely healed yet. I went back in two weeks and it was still there.
So at 7 a.m. last Monday, the dentist said he thought I needed to see an oral surgeon for a biopsy. And oh, by the way, you should have it done in the next day or so, so my office will call for you so you get in faster. Gulp. Okay, Dr. Anderson.
Six hours later, I saw the oral surgeon, who took a look, numbed me up, and carved out a cone-shaped chunk of my hard palate (from the roof of my mouth). They showed me afterwards. It was a little less than a centimeter long and a millimeter wide at the top, then tapered.
Then I started the longest week and a day of my life. I read up on oral cancer (damn the internet). I learned that most oral cancer occurs in people who use tobacco products (I've never even put a cigarette to my lips, ever) or those who drink heavily (I have a drink about once every three weeks or even less frequently). I also learned that in just over 25 percent of cases, there are no risk factors. Could I be one of those unlucky people?
It took until Tuesday morning, but the surgeon called and said that what I have is sialometaplasia. It's a benign inflammatory condition that looks just like squamous cell cancer (hence the doctors' concern). So my sore will go away, over maybe another month or so. And I'm fine.
It's been two extra days now and I realized that after obsessively looking at the roof of my mouth for four weeks, I didn't even look at it yesterday. Tonight I did, and the sore looks better. It doesn't hurt. And what I mostly see is the place where they took out the biopsy. I'm fine.
Thank god.
So at 7 a.m. last Monday, the dentist said he thought I needed to see an oral surgeon for a biopsy. And oh, by the way, you should have it done in the next day or so, so my office will call for you so you get in faster. Gulp. Okay, Dr. Anderson.
Six hours later, I saw the oral surgeon, who took a look, numbed me up, and carved out a cone-shaped chunk of my hard palate (from the roof of my mouth). They showed me afterwards. It was a little less than a centimeter long and a millimeter wide at the top, then tapered.
Then I started the longest week and a day of my life. I read up on oral cancer (damn the internet). I learned that most oral cancer occurs in people who use tobacco products (I've never even put a cigarette to my lips, ever) or those who drink heavily (I have a drink about once every three weeks or even less frequently). I also learned that in just over 25 percent of cases, there are no risk factors. Could I be one of those unlucky people?
It took until Tuesday morning, but the surgeon called and said that what I have is sialometaplasia. It's a benign inflammatory condition that looks just like squamous cell cancer (hence the doctors' concern). So my sore will go away, over maybe another month or so. And I'm fine.
It's been two extra days now and I realized that after obsessively looking at the roof of my mouth for four weeks, I didn't even look at it yesterday. Tonight I did, and the sore looks better. It doesn't hurt. And what I mostly see is the place where they took out the biopsy. I'm fine.
Thank god.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
She's got a good eye
My family watched "Hairspray" this weekend. The girls like musicals and Greg and I enjoyed it too.
Julia was sitting next to me on the couch with her blanket as we watched Tracy Turnblatt talk to her mom, Edna (John Travolta). Then she spoke up, "Is that a boy?"
I guess John left a little five-o'clock shadow or something?
Julia was sitting next to me on the couch with her blanket as we watched Tracy Turnblatt talk to her mom, Edna (John Travolta). Then she spoke up, "Is that a boy?"
I guess John left a little five-o'clock shadow or something?
Monday, June 16, 2008
Hearing out loud
We let our girls "play" on the internet just a little. Julia likes the Polly Pocket website (the U.K. version usually) and Allie likes Barbie.com. I've had the talk with Allie about navigation, telling her that we will continue to help her get to the Barbie website because there are awful people on the internet and kids need to be careful (none of you, of course).
Saturday morning, Julia asked if she could visit Polly Pocket and I got her set up in the big chair in our bedroom with the keyboard on her lap. She started mousing away. I was doing something else and walked away, so when she called for help, I sent Allie. All was well. I went downstairs, Allie came downstairs, Allie went back upstairs--who was paying attention.
Then Greg came downstairs and joined me on the couch. Suddenly, we heard the loudest imaginable racket from the computer upstairs. Allie, apparently, had decided that Julia needed to hear the website better, so she turned the speakers all the way up. Julia was crying and screaming, Allie was screaming for help, and Polly was telling everyone that they needed to help her with her pets. Greg and I rolled eyes at each other and he headed upstairs to calm the troops.
Just another morning in the Lee household.
Saturday morning, Julia asked if she could visit Polly Pocket and I got her set up in the big chair in our bedroom with the keyboard on her lap. She started mousing away. I was doing something else and walked away, so when she called for help, I sent Allie. All was well. I went downstairs, Allie came downstairs, Allie went back upstairs--who was paying attention.
Then Greg came downstairs and joined me on the couch. Suddenly, we heard the loudest imaginable racket from the computer upstairs. Allie, apparently, had decided that Julia needed to hear the website better, so she turned the speakers all the way up. Julia was crying and screaming, Allie was screaming for help, and Polly was telling everyone that they needed to help her with her pets. Greg and I rolled eyes at each other and he headed upstairs to calm the troops.
Just another morning in the Lee household.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Dad
Impressions of Dad:
- Learning to iron by making his handkerchiefs as perfect as possible
- Watching for him to come buzzing home from work on his bicycle
- Smelling the sawdust on his work clothes
- Polishing his black dress shoes as he prepared to go dancing with Mom
- Watching him laugh when he found out that his three girls each bought him two bottles of Afta for Father's Day
- Seeing him smile when he figured out that we organized a surprise 50th birthday party for him
- Learning from him that medium prime rib is the way to go
- Seeing his happiness when we moved when I was 11 and he finally had a garden of something other than clay
- Giving him a gift of a pilot's lesson
- Learning from him about the joy of travel and the knowledge held in maps
- Loving the fact that one summer he made all three of us stilts (and started a neighborhood craze)
- Giving him some truly awful ties that he wore anyway to church on Sunday
- Swinging on the tire swing in the tree while he played horseshoes with his own dad
I love you, Dad! Happy Father's Day!
- Learning to iron by making his handkerchiefs as perfect as possible
- Watching for him to come buzzing home from work on his bicycle
- Smelling the sawdust on his work clothes
- Polishing his black dress shoes as he prepared to go dancing with Mom
- Watching him laugh when he found out that his three girls each bought him two bottles of Afta for Father's Day
- Seeing him smile when he figured out that we organized a surprise 50th birthday party for him
- Learning from him that medium prime rib is the way to go
- Seeing his happiness when we moved when I was 11 and he finally had a garden of something other than clay
- Giving him a gift of a pilot's lesson
- Learning from him about the joy of travel and the knowledge held in maps
- Loving the fact that one summer he made all three of us stilts (and started a neighborhood craze)
- Giving him some truly awful ties that he wore anyway to church on Sunday
- Swinging on the tire swing in the tree while he played horseshoes with his own dad
I love you, Dad! Happy Father's Day!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
We're all gonna die, except Dora!
We've been under a tornado watch all afternoon and will be until 8 this evening. The tornado sirens have gone off three times and there's more storms coming. So far, the weatherman is saying that a funnel cloud/possible tornado went to the north of us and there's another one due any minute that should go to the south of us. Well, at least to the south of our house, and that's all I care about right now.
We ran to Culver's to grab some food just as the clouds thickened (quote from the back seat--"Mommy, why is a car a good place to be if you get struck by lightning?") and then we ate in the basement. Now, we're actively switching channels to hear different meteorologist opinions of what's coming next. Unfortunately, it seems that we're going to have this type of storm activity all evening.
Meanwhile, Allie and Julia are enjoying playing with their basement toys and Dora the Explorer is happily asking us if we want to buy more things at the grocery store. I'm sure the house could come down around us and she'd still be asking if we wanted to "compra" more stuff.
Uh, no thanks. Unless Dora sells concrete reinforced storm shelters.
We ran to Culver's to grab some food just as the clouds thickened (quote from the back seat--"Mommy, why is a car a good place to be if you get struck by lightning?") and then we ate in the basement. Now, we're actively switching channels to hear different meteorologist opinions of what's coming next. Unfortunately, it seems that we're going to have this type of storm activity all evening.
Meanwhile, Allie and Julia are enjoying playing with their basement toys and Dora the Explorer is happily asking us if we want to buy more things at the grocery store. I'm sure the house could come down around us and she'd still be asking if we wanted to "compra" more stuff.
Uh, no thanks. Unless Dora sells concrete reinforced storm shelters.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
They kill me
Last night, we sent the girls upstairs as usual to brush their teeth. Greg promised them they could come back downstairs for a few minutes after they finished. They seemed to be taking a long time, but that's not unusual. They get distracted with the toothpaste or they play with the soap and we have to tell them repeatedly to get moving on their teeth.
Then we heard them coming down the stairs and they were both saying, "Oink! Oink! Oink!" A minute later, they came around the corner, both with Dixie cups taped over their noses, with pig nostrils drawn on the bottoms of the cups. Allie's inspiration. Greg and I laughed and laughed.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Feeling puny
We have experienced wave after wave of severe storms in the last few days, including a fun one that included hail on Thursday morning. Unfortunately, my car was damaged with little chips of paint missing all over. Fortunately, I have zero deductible on comprehensive, so it won't cost me anything but time to have it repaired. Still sucks.
It stormed Friday, but it stopped by the time I drove to my parents' house. It stormed Saturday, but we still had a wonderful morning and early afternoon at Bay Beach Amusement Park beforehand. It stormed Saturday night and today and it will tomorrow.
Mother Nature is definitely in charge these days. Duck and cover!
It stormed Friday, but it stopped by the time I drove to my parents' house. It stormed Saturday, but we still had a wonderful morning and early afternoon at Bay Beach Amusement Park beforehand. It stormed Saturday night and today and it will tomorrow.
Mother Nature is definitely in charge these days. Duck and cover!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Evening time
I have a warm, furry cat butt pressing against my right shoulder as I type. Earlier today when I was on the computer, I had a warm, fuzzy cat butt pressed against each of my shoulders. Why, you may ask, do I have warm, fuzzy cat butts against my shoulders? Because I'm sitting in the upholstered chair in the corner of our bedroom with my feet up on the ottoman and the window behind me is open.
It's the window that faces the neighbors that live closest to us and they have two dogs who have the run of the backyard. That alone would be reason enough for the cats to spend a good part of their day watching. I think they're waiting to see if the dogs trespass into our yard so they can run downstairs and kick their fuzzy asses.
Oh, who am I kidding. Our cats are housebound. I feel sorry that their lives are so constrained. Not sorry enough to let them run outside and have their lives shortened by at least five years (or so the statistics say), but sorry enough that I put up with warm, fuzzy cat butt pressing against my shoulder. At least for awhile.
It's the window that faces the neighbors that live closest to us and they have two dogs who have the run of the backyard. That alone would be reason enough for the cats to spend a good part of their day watching. I think they're waiting to see if the dogs trespass into our yard so they can run downstairs and kick their fuzzy asses.
Oh, who am I kidding. Our cats are housebound. I feel sorry that their lives are so constrained. Not sorry enough to let them run outside and have their lives shortened by at least five years (or so the statistics say), but sorry enough that I put up with warm, fuzzy cat butt pressing against my shoulder. At least for awhile.
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