For Julia's actual birthday, we did what she wanted and went off to McDonald's playland. She and Allie pretty much disappeared for over an hour into the tubes and tunnels. Then we came home and had a small chocolate cake, after she blew out the candles of course.
We had pretty much the usual birthday party planned for Saturday. Greg's parents weren't able to make it, but we still expected my parents, my sisters, and their men. Then my mom got sick, so she and my dad weren't able to come. And my brother-in-law Mike had to work. So our much appreciated but much abbreviated guest list included only my two sisters and Pam's boyfriend, Jeff.
The misfortune continued. The weather was unexpectedly cooler than we've been having and it actually rained off and on (mostly on) for a good part of the day, so we scratched Julia's 4th Annual Birthday Party Water Fight. We still had a very nice time and Julia got a bunch of new things to play with. And the dresses! Julia told everyone who asked that she wanted dresses for her birthday, so I believe she got 7 or 8 new ones. She didn't know which one to wear first (and she did change into one immediately, of course).
Because of my sister's insane work schedule, our guests actually left after only 7 hours. They drove a total of 5 hours in one day for a 7 hour party. You can see why they were much appreciated! Julia and Allie immediately buried themselves in her new toys and we settled in for the evening. Shortly before 8 p.m., I glanced up from a magazine to realize that Julia had fallen asleep on the couch.
She's mostly given up afternoon naps and she certainly wouldn't have taken one yesterday. She was too busy asking to open her gifts. Anyway, I scooped her up and carried her to bed. She woke up enough to protest that she didn't want to go to bed, but I think she was asleep again as I pulled up her covers. It was a wonderful day for her and for all of us.
This morning, my in-laws called and offered to have the girls as their guests for the week. We'd actually planned this same adventure for them earlier in the summer and it didn't work out, but this was unexpected rescheduling. We said yes, of course, because the opportunity for them to swim and be spoiled for a week is wonderful. I'm also trying to refrain from gloating about a week of being able to visit grown-up restaurants and see R-rated movies.
I'm going to pretend here that I didn't have a few tears as they drove away.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Counting our blessings
On Friday, I went to lunch about the same time as one of my female co-workers ("Mary") and one of my male co-workers ("John"). We didn't go to eat together, we just left within a few minutes of each other and thus we were due back within a few minutes of each other, obviously.
I came back to work on Dunkirk Avenue, which runs on one side of a high railroad embankment (you can't see over it). I found out later that Mary and John came back on Academy Street, which runs on the other side of the same embankment. As I was nearing the driveway to work, I heard a bunch of sirens coming in my direction. Other than checking to see if there were any emergency vehicles behind me that I needed to pull over for, I didn't think anything of it.
I sat down at my desk and my phone rang about five minutes later. It was John, calling to say that Mary had had an accident. I literally gasped when he told me that Mary had been driving along and she'd hit a child on a motorbike. As we found out later, the boy (who's about 12 years old) was visiting a friend up the street who had a mini motorbike--it looked like a mini dirtbike. The friend said the boy could try the motorbike, as long as he didn't go too far from the house.
The boy drove down the street and down a hill, and whether because of inexperience or panic, he flew right through a stop sign and into Mary's car. He hit on the front driver side corner and then went under the car. Mary says she doesn't remember seeing him hit the car, she just heard the screeching of tires and then she was stopping her car after running over him with both wheels on the driver's side. She got out and called 911. The boy wasn't wearing a helmet, and he was breathing in big gasps but unconscious.
A police officer arrived and then John drove up, on his own way back to work, to see someone lying in the street and Mary's car in the middle of the street. As the volunteer EMTs from our community pulled up, he called me to tell what was going on. The medical evac helicopter arrived shortly afterwards, as I called Mary's emergency contact, her mom. Thank god she was home. I told her that Mary was OK but very shaken and where the accident was.
Then I drove there myself; it's only about three blocks away. When I pulled up, the boy's mom (or so it seemed) was standing on one corner crying, being comforted by some other people. The flight surgeon from the helicopter, the flight nurse, and a number of EMTs were all working on the boy in the middle of the street. Several firefighters were standing around, holding screening cloths from the spectators and shading the workers from the hot sun.
John was standing on another corner and Mary was in the front seat of a police car, writing out what happened. She seemed OK, in shock obviously. She got out and I told her I had called her mom. I asked if she wanted me to call her husband and she couldn't decide. It was not a good time for me to be asking anything of her. Fortunately, her mom arrived just then. The police officer said she could leave, to head to the police station, instead of watching and waiting until they loaded the boy on the helicopter. They probably worked on him for over 1/2 hour in the middle of the street until he was stable enough to be transported. I happen to know, by the way, that the going rate for these helicopter rides is $12,000 each. Incredible lifesaving flights.
After Mary left with her mom, I didn't want to stay and stare at the scene in the street. John had to talk to the police more, since he'd been among the first on the scene, so I went back to work. And tried to concentrate since I was worried about Mary, and of course the boy, and I couldn't stop thinking of how easily it could have been me.
Over the weekend, I watched the TV and the newspaper for any news; there was none. I tried to make myself feel better by thinking that if the boy had died, it certainly would have been in the news. This morning, Mary was back at work. She'd been contacted by the family of the boy, who told her they were OK with her checking to see how he was doing.
His injuries? Skull fracture, broken jaw, broken pelvis, broken femur, and messed up foot, as well as other lesser injuries. He finally woke up on Saturday morning, though I would think they'll keep him heavily sedated until his brain stops swelling and they can figure out if he's going to have any brain damage. I wonder if things would have been better if he'd had a helmet on. The car had to have gone over his lower body. It seems that he's eventually, one day, going to be OK. I think Mary's going to be OK too. She has a strong faith and I know that's helping her.
It happened in an instant. Count your blessings.
I came back to work on Dunkirk Avenue, which runs on one side of a high railroad embankment (you can't see over it). I found out later that Mary and John came back on Academy Street, which runs on the other side of the same embankment. As I was nearing the driveway to work, I heard a bunch of sirens coming in my direction. Other than checking to see if there were any emergency vehicles behind me that I needed to pull over for, I didn't think anything of it.
I sat down at my desk and my phone rang about five minutes later. It was John, calling to say that Mary had had an accident. I literally gasped when he told me that Mary had been driving along and she'd hit a child on a motorbike. As we found out later, the boy (who's about 12 years old) was visiting a friend up the street who had a mini motorbike--it looked like a mini dirtbike. The friend said the boy could try the motorbike, as long as he didn't go too far from the house.
The boy drove down the street and down a hill, and whether because of inexperience or panic, he flew right through a stop sign and into Mary's car. He hit on the front driver side corner and then went under the car. Mary says she doesn't remember seeing him hit the car, she just heard the screeching of tires and then she was stopping her car after running over him with both wheels on the driver's side. She got out and called 911. The boy wasn't wearing a helmet, and he was breathing in big gasps but unconscious.
A police officer arrived and then John drove up, on his own way back to work, to see someone lying in the street and Mary's car in the middle of the street. As the volunteer EMTs from our community pulled up, he called me to tell what was going on. The medical evac helicopter arrived shortly afterwards, as I called Mary's emergency contact, her mom. Thank god she was home. I told her that Mary was OK but very shaken and where the accident was.
Then I drove there myself; it's only about three blocks away. When I pulled up, the boy's mom (or so it seemed) was standing on one corner crying, being comforted by some other people. The flight surgeon from the helicopter, the flight nurse, and a number of EMTs were all working on the boy in the middle of the street. Several firefighters were standing around, holding screening cloths from the spectators and shading the workers from the hot sun.
John was standing on another corner and Mary was in the front seat of a police car, writing out what happened. She seemed OK, in shock obviously. She got out and I told her I had called her mom. I asked if she wanted me to call her husband and she couldn't decide. It was not a good time for me to be asking anything of her. Fortunately, her mom arrived just then. The police officer said she could leave, to head to the police station, instead of watching and waiting until they loaded the boy on the helicopter. They probably worked on him for over 1/2 hour in the middle of the street until he was stable enough to be transported. I happen to know, by the way, that the going rate for these helicopter rides is $12,000 each. Incredible lifesaving flights.
After Mary left with her mom, I didn't want to stay and stare at the scene in the street. John had to talk to the police more, since he'd been among the first on the scene, so I went back to work. And tried to concentrate since I was worried about Mary, and of course the boy, and I couldn't stop thinking of how easily it could have been me.
Over the weekend, I watched the TV and the newspaper for any news; there was none. I tried to make myself feel better by thinking that if the boy had died, it certainly would have been in the news. This morning, Mary was back at work. She'd been contacted by the family of the boy, who told her they were OK with her checking to see how he was doing.
His injuries? Skull fracture, broken jaw, broken pelvis, broken femur, and messed up foot, as well as other lesser injuries. He finally woke up on Saturday morning, though I would think they'll keep him heavily sedated until his brain stops swelling and they can figure out if he's going to have any brain damage. I wonder if things would have been better if he'd had a helmet on. The car had to have gone over his lower body. It seems that he's eventually, one day, going to be OK. I think Mary's going to be OK too. She has a strong faith and I know that's helping her.
It happened in an instant. Count your blessings.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Julia's birth story
I wrote out the story of when Allie was born awhile ago, and since Julia will be four years old tomorrow, I thought I'd write hers.
You can't help but compare your first pregnancy to subsequent pregnancies. In my experience, being pregnant with Julia and delivering her was far superior to my situation with Allie (sorry, Allie!). First, I knew what to expect in being pregnant. I pretty much knew how my body would feel and I was lucky a second time, again I never threw up. I felt confident that I could take care of an infant (completely unlike with Allie). And I was just much more relaxed in general, somehow sustaining that wonderful feeling for the whole nine months that things were going to be just fine.
This, despite the fact that since I was almost 38 when she was born, we had a special test at 12 weeks to check for Down Syndrome. And despite the fact that because of a borderline test for diabetes at about 6 months, my doctor put me on a diet as though I had gestational diabetes (I didn't). As a result, until my last week or so, I'd only gained 5 pounds while pregnant. Eh, less weight to lose later.
So things progressed very smoothly, until about 30 weeks or so. Then my doctor said we needed to settle on a method of delivery. Did I want to try VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or would I want to schedule another c-section. After Allie was born, I attended Mother-Baby classes at the hospital for the whole 12 weeks I was on maternity leave. In my class of other first-time moms, there were an extraordinary number who had also had c-sections, including two who had developed nasty infections afterwards. I read the literature and decided that I still wanted to schedule another c-section. So we settled on Julia's birthdate. And that situation, the fact that we knew upfront that I'd probably have another c-section and so we'd be picking our child's birthdate, is one of the big reasons that we didn't find out the baby's sex ahead of time. When you know the birthdate and the approximate time of delivery, finding out the sex is about the only fun thing left.
I picked July 30, 3 1/2 years to the day from Allie's birthdate. So when Julia turns four, Allie turns 7 1/2. When Allie turns 8, Julia turns 4 1/2. And so on.
On the day of Allie's birth, there was a snowstorm. On the day of Julia's birth, it was hot! When Greg drove to the hospital on Allie's birth day, he missed our exit because he was so distracted and we had to backtrack to the hospital. When Greg drove to the hospital on Julia's birth day, he turned too short on a divided multi-lane street right by the hospital and we drove a block directly towards oncoming traffic before we could turn off. I was calm; Greg, not so much.
We got to the hospital, were assigned a room, and I changed into my lovely hospital attire. Then I got in bed and we waited, and waited. Finally, a nurse came in and we filled out a bunch of paperwork with her. All very calm. Then, another nurse came in (a student, as it happened) and she tried to start an I.V. Two unsuccessful pokes later, the nurse accompanying her tried in a third place. Nope. I was dehydrated since I hadn't eaten or drunk anything since midnight.
OK, fine. Another "more experienced" nurse came in and gave it a whirl, in two more places. Uh uh. My surgery was scheduled to start at 8 and I still didn't have an I.V. Finally, they said the anesthesiologist would put in the I.V. when we got to the operating room. The appointed time came and Greg and I headed downstairs with a nurse in an elevator. I walked, in bare feet. It was summer, I didn't know I'd need socks and I didn't want Greg to have to remember to bring my slippers back up. He was already kind of freaked out.
Greg and I said goodbye so they could prep me and he could get his doctor duds on. In the O.R., the anesthesiologist sniffed when told no one could get an I.V. in. He took out a steel bar, pounded it on the back of my hand (it hurt like hell!) and in a minute flat, I had an I.V. It pays to call in a pro. My doctor and lots of other people were bustling around. Dr. Stoffel herself helped to hold me in the right position for my spinal, then suddenly my feet felt very warm and I was starting to feel numb. The weirdest sensation was from my numb butt.
After a few more preliminaries, Greg was allowed in (we've got this on video). The doctors checked that I was OK and off we went. I felt a lot of tugging and a lot of pressure on my stomach and lower chest, but not any pain. After some slurping noises, the doctor pulled out her head, with lots of dark hair. She didn't look too happy (I've seen the videotape). One more tug and she slid out--it's a girl!
We were a family of four.
Afterwards, I felt much better in the recovery room than I had for Allie's birth. That was kind of a nightmare, but this was kind of special. I was able to hold Julia and because I already knew I wasn't going to try to nurse, we got to feed her instead of having her starve while I tried to get things started. We were back to my room by about 10, after I demonstrated that I could almost wiggle my toes again.
At about 10:30, my in-laws brought Allie to meet her sister for the first time. I was feeling really good, so Allie climbed in bed with me and Julia, and I got to hold both of my girls for the first time together. It was cool. I had such a good feeling overall that I actually stopped using the push-button medication administrator. I didn't need it as long as I didn't wiggle around too much. Julia was born on a Wednesday and we went home on Saturday, after they took out my staples. She didn't develop jaundice, like Allie had, and she was a very good baby, just like Allie.
And now it's been four years and that little baby is long gone. Lately, I've been having baby yearnings again. I don't really want to go down that road again (for one thing, I'm too old!), but I sometimes miss having a little one around. As Greg and I (especially me) said over and over again after Julia's birth, we're so lucky with how our lives have turned out so far, and that we got to do the whole baby thing another time. It's gone so fast.
I know I'm going to blink and Julia's going to be starting second grade (instead of Allie, this year). Then they're going to be in high school together. But I'll always remember when they were born, and they'll always be my babies.
Happy birthday, Julia!
You can't help but compare your first pregnancy to subsequent pregnancies. In my experience, being pregnant with Julia and delivering her was far superior to my situation with Allie (sorry, Allie!). First, I knew what to expect in being pregnant. I pretty much knew how my body would feel and I was lucky a second time, again I never threw up. I felt confident that I could take care of an infant (completely unlike with Allie). And I was just much more relaxed in general, somehow sustaining that wonderful feeling for the whole nine months that things were going to be just fine.
This, despite the fact that since I was almost 38 when she was born, we had a special test at 12 weeks to check for Down Syndrome. And despite the fact that because of a borderline test for diabetes at about 6 months, my doctor put me on a diet as though I had gestational diabetes (I didn't). As a result, until my last week or so, I'd only gained 5 pounds while pregnant. Eh, less weight to lose later.
So things progressed very smoothly, until about 30 weeks or so. Then my doctor said we needed to settle on a method of delivery. Did I want to try VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or would I want to schedule another c-section. After Allie was born, I attended Mother-Baby classes at the hospital for the whole 12 weeks I was on maternity leave. In my class of other first-time moms, there were an extraordinary number who had also had c-sections, including two who had developed nasty infections afterwards. I read the literature and decided that I still wanted to schedule another c-section. So we settled on Julia's birthdate. And that situation, the fact that we knew upfront that I'd probably have another c-section and so we'd be picking our child's birthdate, is one of the big reasons that we didn't find out the baby's sex ahead of time. When you know the birthdate and the approximate time of delivery, finding out the sex is about the only fun thing left.
I picked July 30, 3 1/2 years to the day from Allie's birthdate. So when Julia turns four, Allie turns 7 1/2. When Allie turns 8, Julia turns 4 1/2. And so on.
On the day of Allie's birth, there was a snowstorm. On the day of Julia's birth, it was hot! When Greg drove to the hospital on Allie's birth day, he missed our exit because he was so distracted and we had to backtrack to the hospital. When Greg drove to the hospital on Julia's birth day, he turned too short on a divided multi-lane street right by the hospital and we drove a block directly towards oncoming traffic before we could turn off. I was calm; Greg, not so much.
We got to the hospital, were assigned a room, and I changed into my lovely hospital attire. Then I got in bed and we waited, and waited. Finally, a nurse came in and we filled out a bunch of paperwork with her. All very calm. Then, another nurse came in (a student, as it happened) and she tried to start an I.V. Two unsuccessful pokes later, the nurse accompanying her tried in a third place. Nope. I was dehydrated since I hadn't eaten or drunk anything since midnight.
OK, fine. Another "more experienced" nurse came in and gave it a whirl, in two more places. Uh uh. My surgery was scheduled to start at 8 and I still didn't have an I.V. Finally, they said the anesthesiologist would put in the I.V. when we got to the operating room. The appointed time came and Greg and I headed downstairs with a nurse in an elevator. I walked, in bare feet. It was summer, I didn't know I'd need socks and I didn't want Greg to have to remember to bring my slippers back up. He was already kind of freaked out.
Greg and I said goodbye so they could prep me and he could get his doctor duds on. In the O.R., the anesthesiologist sniffed when told no one could get an I.V. in. He took out a steel bar, pounded it on the back of my hand (it hurt like hell!) and in a minute flat, I had an I.V. It pays to call in a pro. My doctor and lots of other people were bustling around. Dr. Stoffel herself helped to hold me in the right position for my spinal, then suddenly my feet felt very warm and I was starting to feel numb. The weirdest sensation was from my numb butt.
After a few more preliminaries, Greg was allowed in (we've got this on video). The doctors checked that I was OK and off we went. I felt a lot of tugging and a lot of pressure on my stomach and lower chest, but not any pain. After some slurping noises, the doctor pulled out her head, with lots of dark hair. She didn't look too happy (I've seen the videotape). One more tug and she slid out--it's a girl!
We were a family of four.
Afterwards, I felt much better in the recovery room than I had for Allie's birth. That was kind of a nightmare, but this was kind of special. I was able to hold Julia and because I already knew I wasn't going to try to nurse, we got to feed her instead of having her starve while I tried to get things started. We were back to my room by about 10, after I demonstrated that I could almost wiggle my toes again.
At about 10:30, my in-laws brought Allie to meet her sister for the first time. I was feeling really good, so Allie climbed in bed with me and Julia, and I got to hold both of my girls for the first time together. It was cool. I had such a good feeling overall that I actually stopped using the push-button medication administrator. I didn't need it as long as I didn't wiggle around too much. Julia was born on a Wednesday and we went home on Saturday, after they took out my staples. She didn't develop jaundice, like Allie had, and she was a very good baby, just like Allie.
And now it's been four years and that little baby is long gone. Lately, I've been having baby yearnings again. I don't really want to go down that road again (for one thing, I'm too old!), but I sometimes miss having a little one around. As Greg and I (especially me) said over and over again after Julia's birth, we're so lucky with how our lives have turned out so far, and that we got to do the whole baby thing another time. It's gone so fast.
I know I'm going to blink and Julia's going to be starting second grade (instead of Allie, this year). Then they're going to be in high school together. But I'll always remember when they were born, and they'll always be my babies.
Happy birthday, Julia!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Complete intoxication
In my little garden, in our back yard, are my little plants. They're growing well, actually, but I started so late that they have a long, long way to catch up. When we bought the vegetation, Greg decided to pick out a catnip plant. I've never tried to grow catnip before, but it seemed like it might be fun for our cats.
Of the 20 or so things in the garden, this one catnip plant is doing by far the best. It's really big and flowering and growing like one of the many weeds that my little plot sported until I spent 1 1/2 hours clearing it out last week. By the way, did I mention that it was 1 1/2 hours for a plot that's roughly 5 x 10 feet? But I digress.
Since we haven't had any rain for, oh I don't know, maybe six weeks or so, Greg and I went about our routine of watering last night. I was doing the garden and Greg was in the front of the house. I pointed out how well the catnip was doing and Greg pulled off three or so leaves, to bring inside for the cats.
They. Loved. It. Oh my god. Greg crushed the leaves a little bit to get them interested, which proved to be completely unnecessary. In very short order, they were both rolling, rubbing, stretching, pouncing, rolling, etc. etc. They bit on the leaves, rubbed ecstatically, chewed a little and rolled and rolled. It is a huge understatement to say that they were incredibly happy with these three or four leaves. If we brought the entire plant inside right now, I think we'd kill them both.
They would die happy.
Of the 20 or so things in the garden, this one catnip plant is doing by far the best. It's really big and flowering and growing like one of the many weeds that my little plot sported until I spent 1 1/2 hours clearing it out last week. By the way, did I mention that it was 1 1/2 hours for a plot that's roughly 5 x 10 feet? But I digress.
Since we haven't had any rain for, oh I don't know, maybe six weeks or so, Greg and I went about our routine of watering last night. I was doing the garden and Greg was in the front of the house. I pointed out how well the catnip was doing and Greg pulled off three or so leaves, to bring inside for the cats.
They. Loved. It. Oh my god. Greg crushed the leaves a little bit to get them interested, which proved to be completely unnecessary. In very short order, they were both rolling, rubbing, stretching, pouncing, rolling, etc. etc. They bit on the leaves, rubbed ecstatically, chewed a little and rolled and rolled. It is a huge understatement to say that they were incredibly happy with these three or four leaves. If we brought the entire plant inside right now, I think we'd kill them both.
They would die happy.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
So it's been four whole years
Four years ago, I started writing this blog, after my husband semi-forced me/appealed to my vanity. At first, I wrote only a few times a month, mostly about Julia--her birth, her progress, how Allie was interacting with her. Now, I write about all of us and what we're up to, and usually considerably more frequently than a few times a month. I'm certainly not funny like my husband, but I enjoy having the opportunity to let people (mostly family) know what we're up to. And if I hadn't started writing this blog, I'm not sure we'd have become friends with Dan and Kerry. They're wonderful people, and frankly I love being able to drop into conversation, "our friends in England." You didn't know I was that kind of a snob? Please. Who wouldn't think that was neat.
So for my latest update--what did we do this weekend? Well, it was the release of the last Harry Potter book, which my wonderful husband purchased for me (he took pains to tell me how long he had to wait in line to check out, of course). So I spent all of yesterday afternoon reading, plus yesterday evening and into the night. I finished at 1 a.m., which is as late as I can remember being awake in quite awhile. My opinion? I was happy.
I did get some laundry done and I cleaned all of our upstairs, which necessitated vacuuming vast volumes of very fluffy cat hair. Ick. Our kittens (who are almost a year old now) certainly shed less than our old cats, but their regular wrestling matches have definitely had an impact on dust/hair accumulation. Now that stuff is in the Dyson (vacuum).
The girls went swimming in the neighbors' kiddie pool today, Greg got immense amounts of groceries, I washed a bunch of dishes, and the three of them took a bike ride. A pretty typical summer weekend, really. Very nice, and something that I doubt I'd much remember if it weren't for this blog. So here's to four more years, plus.
So for my latest update--what did we do this weekend? Well, it was the release of the last Harry Potter book, which my wonderful husband purchased for me (he took pains to tell me how long he had to wait in line to check out, of course). So I spent all of yesterday afternoon reading, plus yesterday evening and into the night. I finished at 1 a.m., which is as late as I can remember being awake in quite awhile. My opinion? I was happy.
I did get some laundry done and I cleaned all of our upstairs, which necessitated vacuuming vast volumes of very fluffy cat hair. Ick. Our kittens (who are almost a year old now) certainly shed less than our old cats, but their regular wrestling matches have definitely had an impact on dust/hair accumulation. Now that stuff is in the Dyson (vacuum).
The girls went swimming in the neighbors' kiddie pool today, Greg got immense amounts of groceries, I washed a bunch of dishes, and the three of them took a bike ride. A pretty typical summer weekend, really. Very nice, and something that I doubt I'd much remember if it weren't for this blog. So here's to four more years, plus.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Rats!
I missed it! The fourth anniversary of this blog was on July 17th.
That first entry, by the way, was just a segment of an e-mail that I sent my husband, proclaiming the joys of diabetic chocolate. I was pregnant with Julia (very pregnant) and though I didn't develop gestational diabetes, my doctor put me on almost the same diet anyway.
I'll write more tonight, reminiscing. Four years! That's a long time, doncha know.
That first entry, by the way, was just a segment of an e-mail that I sent my husband, proclaiming the joys of diabetic chocolate. I was pregnant with Julia (very pregnant) and though I didn't develop gestational diabetes, my doctor put me on almost the same diet anyway.
I'll write more tonight, reminiscing. Four years! That's a long time, doncha know.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Extreme dessert
The Food Network has a show called Foot Network Challenge, where chefs compete in making bizarre food items. I've seen pastry chefs do challenges involving blown sugar where some part had to be at least 5 feet tall, the whole thing had to be edible, and they had to move it (after it was finished) over an obstacle course. I've also seen them build wedding cakes unlike any you've ever seen in Wisconsin. A couple of weeks ago, it was a challenge for tappan chefs (like they have at Benihana's) and the competition included judging how funny they were with their "patter." The prize for each competition is $10,000. Not bad for one or two days TV work.
Tonight, they were doing extreme cakes. Most of the chefs came up with something that included fireworks. One made a "Revenge of the Sock Monkey" cake that was literally a five foot sock monkey made of cake with a removable brain made of dry ice and glowing red eyes. That won the $10,000 prize.
Does anyone want to eat these things afterwards? They show people in the audience, watching (for six or eight hours) with bated breath, ready to gasp if one of the sugar sculptures falls over and shatters. Dreams are crushed on this show. But for the winners--ah, the glory.
Anyone want a bite of sock monkey?
Tonight, they were doing extreme cakes. Most of the chefs came up with something that included fireworks. One made a "Revenge of the Sock Monkey" cake that was literally a five foot sock monkey made of cake with a removable brain made of dry ice and glowing red eyes. That won the $10,000 prize.
Does anyone want to eat these things afterwards? They show people in the audience, watching (for six or eight hours) with bated breath, ready to gasp if one of the sugar sculptures falls over and shatters. Dreams are crushed on this show. But for the winners--ah, the glory.
Anyone want a bite of sock monkey?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
It can't be
Tonight, while watching TV after putting the girls to bed, I saw my first ad for Back to School clothes. It was for Sears, which I have to admit would not be my first choice as a place to buy school clothes for Allie. I read something this past week about Sears, that malls no longer want them as an anchor store because they can't get other tenants to want locations in their wing. That's a big change from when I was a kid.
Regardless, I was saddened to see the ad because it seems that Allie has just started her summer break and it's half over, or almost half over. Earlier today, I sat down with her to read a book aloud. That's something we haven't done in probably three weeks. I told her I wanted to make sure she could still read.
She did great, of course. But since second grade is coming ever closer, I think I'd better start working on probability and statistics with her tomorrow night. After all, she's gotta get into a good college in a couple of years.
Regardless, I was saddened to see the ad because it seems that Allie has just started her summer break and it's half over, or almost half over. Earlier today, I sat down with her to read a book aloud. That's something we haven't done in probably three weeks. I told her I wanted to make sure she could still read.
She did great, of course. But since second grade is coming ever closer, I think I'd better start working on probability and statistics with her tomorrow night. After all, she's gotta get into a good college in a couple of years.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Trapped!
Last night, I went upstairs to read shortly after the girls went to bed. Greg was watching some show about ComicCon and I didn't need to see that. It was very pleasant in our room with the windows all open and a nice breeze.
I heard Greg close the sliding glass door next to the living room and expected him to come upstairs. Instead, he went downstairs to play video games for awhile.
About 1/2 hour later, he came upstairs and we both got into bed. We were talking and I was dropping off to sleep when we heard a cat meow, seemingly from outside. Greg said, is that one of ours? I thought for a moment and said, no, I fed them before I came upstairs and they both came to eat.
We heard the cat meow again and there was a rattling noise. I said, now that I think about it, I heard a cat meow a few times while I was reading, but I didn't think anything of it. I said, maybe you'd better check.
Greg headed downstairs, and I heard the slider open and close. When he returned, I said, my god, tell me one of the cats wasn't outside! He said, No. Dumbass was stuck between the door and the screen door.
For at least 1/2 hour. He could have been out there all night, trapped in a four-inch wide space, if we hadn't had the windows open upstairs.
Stupid cat.
I heard Greg close the sliding glass door next to the living room and expected him to come upstairs. Instead, he went downstairs to play video games for awhile.
About 1/2 hour later, he came upstairs and we both got into bed. We were talking and I was dropping off to sleep when we heard a cat meow, seemingly from outside. Greg said, is that one of ours? I thought for a moment and said, no, I fed them before I came upstairs and they both came to eat.
We heard the cat meow again and there was a rattling noise. I said, now that I think about it, I heard a cat meow a few times while I was reading, but I didn't think anything of it. I said, maybe you'd better check.
Greg headed downstairs, and I heard the slider open and close. When he returned, I said, my god, tell me one of the cats wasn't outside! He said, No. Dumbass was stuck between the door and the screen door.
For at least 1/2 hour. He could have been out there all night, trapped in a four-inch wide space, if we hadn't had the windows open upstairs.
Stupid cat.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The cats will play
4:10. That's what time it was this morning when my daughter called me. Why can't my children ever call for Daddy? No, there's something instinctual that upon waking makes them yell my name, not Daddy's.
I stumble down the hall and figure out it's Allie this time. I go into her room and she says, Rabies is chewing on something by my bookcase. Rabies is long gone, of course, so I ask her what she wants me to do. Allie says, make him stop. I say, he already stopped, as I feel around the floor trying to see if there's anything there that a cat would find chewable. Of course, I don't have my glasses on and it's not really light out yet, so this is a useless endeavor.
Allie hops out of bed and joins me in checking the floor. She doesn't need to wear glasses, so I guess she can see a little better than me. I tell her, Allie, I don't know what he's doing but if he starts doing it again, throw something at him. She determines that she can throw one of her dolls and I leave.
Of course, the chances that I'd be able to get back to sleep until my alarm at 5:30 are pretty minimal, especially since both cats then come into our room and start chewing on something near the door. I put a hand on Greg's arm (he's slept through all of this, of course) and he awakens with a roar of WHAT? I tell him to throw one of his three pillows at the cat and he does so. The cats go tearing down the hall. There's a pile of books stacked near the door that fall over, then there's quiet in the house at last.
I didn't go back to sleep, of course. Damn cats.
I stumble down the hall and figure out it's Allie this time. I go into her room and she says, Rabies is chewing on something by my bookcase. Rabies is long gone, of course, so I ask her what she wants me to do. Allie says, make him stop. I say, he already stopped, as I feel around the floor trying to see if there's anything there that a cat would find chewable. Of course, I don't have my glasses on and it's not really light out yet, so this is a useless endeavor.
Allie hops out of bed and joins me in checking the floor. She doesn't need to wear glasses, so I guess she can see a little better than me. I tell her, Allie, I don't know what he's doing but if he starts doing it again, throw something at him. She determines that she can throw one of her dolls and I leave.
Of course, the chances that I'd be able to get back to sleep until my alarm at 5:30 are pretty minimal, especially since both cats then come into our room and start chewing on something near the door. I put a hand on Greg's arm (he's slept through all of this, of course) and he awakens with a roar of WHAT? I tell him to throw one of his three pillows at the cat and he does so. The cats go tearing down the hall. There's a pile of books stacked near the door that fall over, then there's quiet in the house at last.
I didn't go back to sleep, of course. Damn cats.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Want that
When I was a kid, my sisters and I played with some neighbor girls who were almost the same age as us. They had a pool table in their basement.
We were very envious of that pool table, mostly because we could almost never talk them into playing a game with us. It seemed indecent that kids who so obviously didn't care that they had a pool table, had a pool table available any time they wanted it.
This same family were also the first people we knew of who got Pong. Remember Pong? It came out, according to Wikipedia, in 1975. We would all gather around the TV, desperately wanting to be the ones with the controllers in our hands, actually playing games of Pong, instead of watching the other kids play Pong. We had to try to be good friends. Good friends didn't complain when their friends wanted to play first (or more) and good friends were OK when their friends wanted to move on and play something else. We wanted our own Pong machine.
It was almost a physical yearning and it seemed so unfair. Remember that kind of envy?
We were very envious of that pool table, mostly because we could almost never talk them into playing a game with us. It seemed indecent that kids who so obviously didn't care that they had a pool table, had a pool table available any time they wanted it.
This same family were also the first people we knew of who got Pong. Remember Pong? It came out, according to Wikipedia, in 1975. We would all gather around the TV, desperately wanting to be the ones with the controllers in our hands, actually playing games of Pong, instead of watching the other kids play Pong. We had to try to be good friends. Good friends didn't complain when their friends wanted to play first (or more) and good friends were OK when their friends wanted to move on and play something else. We wanted our own Pong machine.
It was almost a physical yearning and it seemed so unfair. Remember that kind of envy?
Monday, July 09, 2007
Best. Invention. Ever.
Air conditioning.
The air conditioning at work went out today. It was 84 degrees for most of the day in my office. No fan, no air movement, just warm, warm air and warm office machinery.
I was so glad to get out of there, I can't begin to tell you.
The air conditioning at work went out today. It was 84 degrees for most of the day in my office. No fan, no air movement, just warm, warm air and warm office machinery.
I was so glad to get out of there, I can't begin to tell you.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
It was a truck fire
Greg's blog indicated that we went to Anika's birthday party yesterday, and that was one of the fun parts of the day. One of the completely not fun parts of the day was when it took us 4 hours and 15 minutes to drive a distance that should have taken us about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The other not fun part was when we walked back to the hotel from the restaurant (with the girls, of course) at 9:30 p.m. or so and we saw a scary crazy person. I know, I shouldn't label people as crazy, but this guy was wearing hospital scrubs and still had identification bracelets around both of his wrists. His behavior was abnormal, and he was standing on the sidewalk, right in the direction we needed to go. Fortunately, his attention was drawn by a man parking a car on the street and we passed behind him, then booked down the block. He followed us for a minute or so and then disappeared.
As for that other not fun thing, the trip down, oh my. We got about 35 minutes into our journey when the traffic on the interstate came to a complete halt. I hate when that happens. We did the stop-and-go thing for awhile and then got to Beloit, where the state troopers forced everyone off the road. They closed the interstate. We've been through this before, unfortunately, so we knew what would happen next. The traffic was forced east (which is actually the direction we needed to go), but it was northeast, which wasn't that great. The police blocked the turnarounds and they blocked several exits on the detoured route, so we had to keep going northeast. And the state highway that we were detoured to the last time this happened was, itself, detoured for road construction.
Are you starting to get a feel for how hopeless this situation felt?
We ended up heading south and east eventually, on a two-lane highway through small towns that were completely unprepared to deal with all the traffic (both directions) from a very busy section of interstate. After an unfortunate map reading error, we eventually got back onto the interstate heading towards Chicago. It just took us two extra hours. The actual interstate closure was caused by a truck that had a tire shred and start on fire. The truck was carrying ethyl alcohol, and though it didn't explode, it did burn. The driver wasn't hurt.
The girls were very good, we got there eventually and had a great time at the party, and the rest of our weekend was pretty darn pleasant. We're just glad to be home. Next weekend, we're planning on staying in our own bed. Our new-decorative-bedcover-compliments-of-(Don't-you-love)-IKEA bed, thank you very much.
As for that other not fun thing, the trip down, oh my. We got about 35 minutes into our journey when the traffic on the interstate came to a complete halt. I hate when that happens. We did the stop-and-go thing for awhile and then got to Beloit, where the state troopers forced everyone off the road. They closed the interstate. We've been through this before, unfortunately, so we knew what would happen next. The traffic was forced east (which is actually the direction we needed to go), but it was northeast, which wasn't that great. The police blocked the turnarounds and they blocked several exits on the detoured route, so we had to keep going northeast. And the state highway that we were detoured to the last time this happened was, itself, detoured for road construction.
Are you starting to get a feel for how hopeless this situation felt?
We ended up heading south and east eventually, on a two-lane highway through small towns that were completely unprepared to deal with all the traffic (both directions) from a very busy section of interstate. After an unfortunate map reading error, we eventually got back onto the interstate heading towards Chicago. It just took us two extra hours. The actual interstate closure was caused by a truck that had a tire shred and start on fire. The truck was carrying ethyl alcohol, and though it didn't explode, it did burn. The driver wasn't hurt.
The girls were very good, we got there eventually and had a great time at the party, and the rest of our weekend was pretty darn pleasant. We're just glad to be home. Next weekend, we're planning on staying in our own bed. Our new-decorative-bedcover-compliments-of-(Don't-you-love)-IKEA bed, thank you very much.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Late agua
I don't know what it is. I drink some water during the day at work. I often drink water with dinner. But I don't drink enough water each day--not as much as the health police tell me I should.
So I guess that's why, in the evening about the time we tell the girls to get into their pajamas but before they actually have to go to bed, I get thirsty. I get a large glass out of water with lots of ice and I start drinking. It's not just me, either. Greg does the same thing, so we'll share the same glass. Then we go back and forth, debating over whose turn it is to get up and refill the glass from the refrigerator.
Greg drinks more than I do, and then he chews the ice cubes. If I get thirsty more after he starts that, I get another glass. Now if I could stop snacking when I'm drinking my water, I'd be doing something good for myself.
I delude myself that at least I'm doing it halfway right!
So I guess that's why, in the evening about the time we tell the girls to get into their pajamas but before they actually have to go to bed, I get thirsty. I get a large glass out of water with lots of ice and I start drinking. It's not just me, either. Greg does the same thing, so we'll share the same glass. Then we go back and forth, debating over whose turn it is to get up and refill the glass from the refrigerator.
Greg drinks more than I do, and then he chews the ice cubes. If I get thirsty more after he starts that, I get another glass. Now if I could stop snacking when I'm drinking my water, I'd be doing something good for myself.
I delude myself that at least I'm doing it halfway right!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Tomato envy
I took a look at my Dad's tomato bushes this weekend. Then I surveyed by sister Pam's tomatoes, and lastly I took a gander at my sister Claudette's tomatoes.
I would like to have any one of theirs. I think my largest tomato plant is about nine or ten inches high. The plants that my family have were probably that height about six to seven weeks ago.
I don't even like tomatoes, unless they're in sauce, and yet I have severe tomato envy. If any of them find a neat hole dug where a tomato bush used to be, I'll try to look innocent.
I would like to have any one of theirs. I think my largest tomato plant is about nine or ten inches high. The plants that my family have were probably that height about six to seven weeks ago.
I don't even like tomatoes, unless they're in sauce, and yet I have severe tomato envy. If any of them find a neat hole dug where a tomato bush used to be, I'll try to look innocent.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Weekend spent
My family went to visit my family this weekend. We left on Friday after work and arrived about 8:45 p.m., to be greeted by almost my whole family (poor Mike). The next morning, the group of us went to Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay. After hours of carnival rides, arm painting, picnicking, and more rides, we headed to an amazing fireworks store where my husband selected a large amount of blatantly illegal rockets-red-glare.
It's not illegal to sell these babies, by the way, just illegal to set them off. Yet set them off we did, or started to, at a bonfire at my sister's house later last night. The festivities will continue this evening, and tomorrow, and the next night, until we actually reach the holiday.
Well, it's only supposed to be about a $110 fine for lighting these things. That's about how much my husband, the firestarter, spent on the actual products, so that seems fair.
It's not illegal to sell these babies, by the way, just illegal to set them off. Yet set them off we did, or started to, at a bonfire at my sister's house later last night. The festivities will continue this evening, and tomorrow, and the next night, until we actually reach the holiday.
Well, it's only supposed to be about a $110 fine for lighting these things. That's about how much my husband, the firestarter, spent on the actual products, so that seems fair.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
A Thursday night
The girls are in the upstairs hall bathroom, playing "Showtime" with the curtain in the shower. Allie seems to be getting the most applause, not surprising since she makes the most noise overall.
They have Rabies trapped in there with them, and they've been opening and slamming the cabinet drawers. If I'm going to prevent a recurrence of the infamous cabinet drawer incident, I guess I'm going to have to get up and rescue him.
The girls have now come out on their own, and they're playing on top of my bed. Pretending to be ghosts with my top sheet, despite my warnings about falling off the bed or pulling the sheet out, which would seriously tick me off since I have a headache and my nose hurts.
Now they're pretending that they're flying in clouds (under the sheet). All of Daddy's pillows are too tempting of a target, so they're jumping into that pile too.
Watching them play (and not fight) is heartwarming and sweet and all that, but I can't help wishing that they'd clear out so I can try to go to sleep. I hate being sick.
They have Rabies trapped in there with them, and they've been opening and slamming the cabinet drawers. If I'm going to prevent a recurrence of the infamous cabinet drawer incident, I guess I'm going to have to get up and rescue him.
The girls have now come out on their own, and they're playing on top of my bed. Pretending to be ghosts with my top sheet, despite my warnings about falling off the bed or pulling the sheet out, which would seriously tick me off since I have a headache and my nose hurts.
Now they're pretending that they're flying in clouds (under the sheet). All of Daddy's pillows are too tempting of a target, so they're jumping into that pile too.
Watching them play (and not fight) is heartwarming and sweet and all that, but I can't help wishing that they'd clear out so I can try to go to sleep. I hate being sick.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Isn't this what it's like?
I feel that if I take a deep breath, I'm immediately going to have to cough. It hurts when I swallow, like I accidentally got some glass down there. I feel like there's a short fat kid sitting in the middle of my chest. My head feels like it has a steel band around it. My nose is mostly stuffed up, at least where it isn't running. I know by tomorrow or the day after, the bottom of my nose is going to be bright red and sore from wiping so much. My lips are going to get chapped from having to breathe with my mouth open while I sleep.
Gee, only 6-9 more days to be sick with this cold.
Gee, only 6-9 more days to be sick with this cold.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
The everlasting germ and other headaches
Almost two weeks ago, Allie got a nasty cold from a boy at daycare. It took a long time for Julia to get it, really until this past Friday. About the same time, Greg started getting symptoms too. And now today, Tuesday, I have that horrible feeling that you get in your nose and throat when you know you're getting sick. And there's absolutely nothing I can do about it.
I also had a pretty unpleasant visit with the dentist today. Though I'm having no problems at all, as a new patient with this dentist, I have two other appointments to go. They're doing an extraordinary level of examination, checking for TMJ and proper bite and periodontal disease and oral cancer. I'm not usually too paranoid about going to the dentist, but they took 18 separate x-rays today (yes, you read that right), then poked hard around each of my teeth repeatedly with a probe (boy howdy, was that fun) and then cleaned my teeth.
I have a headache. Not a particularly good day.
I also had a pretty unpleasant visit with the dentist today. Though I'm having no problems at all, as a new patient with this dentist, I have two other appointments to go. They're doing an extraordinary level of examination, checking for TMJ and proper bite and periodontal disease and oral cancer. I'm not usually too paranoid about going to the dentist, but they took 18 separate x-rays today (yes, you read that right), then poked hard around each of my teeth repeatedly with a probe (boy howdy, was that fun) and then cleaned my teeth.
I have a headache. Not a particularly good day.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Because he said he'd have me
I love watching TV with my husband above all others. That's because only with him can I be absolutely as contemptuous and scathing as I like about stupid people on various shows. He understands, echoes and expands on my comments, and doesn't believe I'm a horrible person in the end. What more could you ask.
Tonight we were watching House Hunters, a show where people do nothing but look at houses for sale and then buy one (it's surprisingly addictive, trust me). The woman of the couple was not very bright. She was a student, and one of the things on their wish list was an area for her to study.
They visited a house that had nice built in cabinets and a built in desk in one room. She walked up to the desk and said, "These built-ins are nice, I could use this one as a desk!" Gosh, you know, I bet that would work out really well, since it was a desk.
Then they saw a small dining room. The husband said, "Kind of a small room." She said, "Not too small for a table and chairs!" Wow, a table and chairs. What a great sense of how best to use a space this woman has.
She was also a real estate agent herself, but they used a real estate agent to find a house. OK, isn't that kind of the whole point of that career, being able to find a great house when you want one?
They live in the Baltimore area. I'm glad they're out there and I'm here. That way, the chances that I'll meet her someday in person and tell her that I'm sorry she's stupid are much lower.
And yes, I've been on TV twice and both times I was OK with how I came across (other than how my voice sounded). Have you ever been on TV and what did you think of your appearance?
Tonight we were watching House Hunters, a show where people do nothing but look at houses for sale and then buy one (it's surprisingly addictive, trust me). The woman of the couple was not very bright. She was a student, and one of the things on their wish list was an area for her to study.
They visited a house that had nice built in cabinets and a built in desk in one room. She walked up to the desk and said, "These built-ins are nice, I could use this one as a desk!" Gosh, you know, I bet that would work out really well, since it was a desk.
Then they saw a small dining room. The husband said, "Kind of a small room." She said, "Not too small for a table and chairs!" Wow, a table and chairs. What a great sense of how best to use a space this woman has.
She was also a real estate agent herself, but they used a real estate agent to find a house. OK, isn't that kind of the whole point of that career, being able to find a great house when you want one?
They live in the Baltimore area. I'm glad they're out there and I'm here. That way, the chances that I'll meet her someday in person and tell her that I'm sorry she's stupid are much lower.
And yes, I've been on TV twice and both times I was OK with how I came across (other than how my voice sounded). Have you ever been on TV and what did you think of your appearance?
Saturday, June 23, 2007
It's over
Today, I put in my garden. Yes, I fully recognize that it's more than a month late. Yes, I know that area nurseries are pretty much giving away what's left of their straggly, leggy plants. Yes, it really didn't take that long to do.
Regardless, it's done and the pitiful plants are in the ground. Now they'd better get goddamn busy growing. I want tomatoes in two weeks so Greg can make salsa.
Regardless, it's done and the pitiful plants are in the ground. Now they'd better get goddamn busy growing. I want tomatoes in two weeks so Greg can make salsa.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Deadly
We were discussing what to have for dinner tonight. Julia is coming down sick and she never eats anything when she's ill, so I was resolved to give her something she really likes to improve her nutrition chances.
I offered chicken nuggets. Greg suggested spaghetti. Allie said she wanted chicken nuggets. I suggested chicken nuggets and spaghetti. Julia said she just wanted spaghetti. Greg said he would make chicken breasts on the grill for himself and Allie. Allie whined that she wanted chicken nuggets.
Greg said, it's the same thing! Allie said, it's not the same! Greg said, the only difference is the breading. That breading will kill you. Allie looked doubtful and worried.
I made like a zombie and proceeded to try to strangle Greg, saying, I'm the breading and I'm going to kill you. Allie laughed. She got chicken nuggets and spaghetti for dinner. The kids won again.
I offered chicken nuggets. Greg suggested spaghetti. Allie said she wanted chicken nuggets. I suggested chicken nuggets and spaghetti. Julia said she just wanted spaghetti. Greg said he would make chicken breasts on the grill for himself and Allie. Allie whined that she wanted chicken nuggets.
Greg said, it's the same thing! Allie said, it's not the same! Greg said, the only difference is the breading. That breading will kill you. Allie looked doubtful and worried.
I made like a zombie and proceeded to try to strangle Greg, saying, I'm the breading and I'm going to kill you. Allie laughed. She got chicken nuggets and spaghetti for dinner. The kids won again.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Do you have a plan?
I was listening to the radio on the way home tonight and an author was talking about Hillary Rodham Clinton. Apparently, when Hillary agreed to marry Bill, the two of them made a pact. They came up with a twenty year plan that would result in Bill becoming President of the United States. Later, after Bill had actually become president, they came up with a new pact that said, 8 years for Bill, then 8 years for Hillary. Right now, they're working on this second part of the pact.
I think this is amazing. At the time, apparently in the mid-70s, Hillary was about 28 years old. I didn't look it up, but I would assume that Bill was a couple of years older. When I was 28 years old, I was planning nothing more than decorating the condo I'd just bought.
If you're older than 28, did you have a plan then? Do you have a plan now?
I think this is amazing. At the time, apparently in the mid-70s, Hillary was about 28 years old. I didn't look it up, but I would assume that Bill was a couple of years older. When I was 28 years old, I was planning nothing more than decorating the condo I'd just bought.
If you're older than 28, did you have a plan then? Do you have a plan now?
Monday, June 18, 2007
Future cartographer
Allie and I were watching "Little People, Big World" tonight, which is about a family where the mom and dad are little people or dwarves. They have four children, one of whom is also a little person. We were talking about the family living in Oregon and I told Allie that Oregon is pretty far away. She somehow had the idea that they lived in Wisconsin too. The daughter in the family was talking about all of the places in the world that she wanted to visit some day while looking at maps and I told Allie that I love maps too.
Afterwards, I ran to the grocery store to get milk and apple juice (gotta have apple juice) and there by the magazines was a display of atlases for kids. Well, that was just too perfect. Of course I bought one.
Allie was still up when I got home because she took a short nap at daycare today, so I threw the perishables in the fridge and we sat down to take a look at her new book. She was very excited. It has maps of each state with another map showing the state's position in the U.S. There are all kinds of games and activities and writing exercises. She really likes it.
And if she's a good girl, I might stop looking at it myself and let her read it.
Afterwards, I ran to the grocery store to get milk and apple juice (gotta have apple juice) and there by the magazines was a display of atlases for kids. Well, that was just too perfect. Of course I bought one.
Allie was still up when I got home because she took a short nap at daycare today, so I threw the perishables in the fridge and we sat down to take a look at her new book. She was very excited. It has maps of each state with another map showing the state's position in the U.S. There are all kinds of games and activities and writing exercises. She really likes it.
And if she's a good girl, I might stop looking at it myself and let her read it.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Latest ever
I don't have much space to garden at our home. There's a little bit of a soil along our front walkway. I planted hostas along it the first spring after we moved in, and 9 years later, they completely fill in the space. That's wonderful, because it means I don't have to weed or plant flowers in the spaces between the plants, like I used to have to do.
About 5 years ago, Greg made me a small garden in the backyard that's surrounded by landscape timbers. I've always grown tomatoes, and I've tried peppers and basil. For the last two years, I've worked late most weeknights, so I haven't kept up well on my weeding. This year, I still haven't gotten any plants in my garden. Earlier today, I finally planted something in the pots on either side of the driveway.
I may get the garden worked up later tonight or tomorrow, after it cools off outside, but this is definitely the latest ever that I've gotten my planting done. I tell myself it'll just mean that after everyone else's tomatoes are all finished, we'll still be getting gorgeous homegrown beauties. Pure rationalization, yes, thank you.
About 5 years ago, Greg made me a small garden in the backyard that's surrounded by landscape timbers. I've always grown tomatoes, and I've tried peppers and basil. For the last two years, I've worked late most weeknights, so I haven't kept up well on my weeding. This year, I still haven't gotten any plants in my garden. Earlier today, I finally planted something in the pots on either side of the driveway.
I may get the garden worked up later tonight or tomorrow, after it cools off outside, but this is definitely the latest ever that I've gotten my planting done. I tell myself it'll just mean that after everyone else's tomatoes are all finished, we'll still be getting gorgeous homegrown beauties. Pure rationalization, yes, thank you.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
In commemoration
Allie had a friend over for her very first sleepover (with Allie as a hostess). We picked up her friend Hannah last night about 5:30, went to Tony Roma's for dinner, then headed to an amazing playground (I've written about it before). We came home, the girls started to watch a movie and eat popcorn, then they decided instead to play on Allie's computer and torture our cats.
They had the requisite pillow fight and settled down to sleep about 10:30. This morning, we made Belgian waffles and bacon (Hannah really, really likes bacon) and then the girls played for awhile in Allie's Daddy's new hammock. I still haven't gotten to sit in the hammock, by the way, but I'm not bitter. Not at all. Then they played in two different sprinklers in the front yard and shot each other with water guns. They came in and played in Allie's room again, tortured the cats some more, then watched some TV.
After lunch, we made plastic bead animals (hard to describe, except that after you assemble them on a board, you iron them to make them into one piece). Hannah's mom came to pick her up at 2, and their playdate was over. Allie loved it and Hannah was very nice. I have a feeling this little event will be repeated many, many times over the next few years of her life. And that's a very cool thing.
They had the requisite pillow fight and settled down to sleep about 10:30. This morning, we made Belgian waffles and bacon (Hannah really, really likes bacon) and then the girls played for awhile in Allie's Daddy's new hammock. I still haven't gotten to sit in the hammock, by the way, but I'm not bitter. Not at all. Then they played in two different sprinklers in the front yard and shot each other with water guns. They came in and played in Allie's room again, tortured the cats some more, then watched some TV.
After lunch, we made plastic bead animals (hard to describe, except that after you assemble them on a board, you iron them to make them into one piece). Hannah's mom came to pick her up at 2, and their playdate was over. Allie loved it and Hannah was very nice. I have a feeling this little event will be repeated many, many times over the next few years of her life. And that's a very cool thing.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Trees
I like trees. They're cool, and standing under one can cool you off. I don't like the sun too much, so trees come in handy for shade. They're pretty. They tell you if it's windy or if a really big storm could be coming. They provide homes for lots of animals and bugs and stuff. They make oxygen, and oxygen has a tendency to come in handy for humans. They do lots of other good environmental things, that I'm sure of, but I can't list any additional ones. I like to watch how they get bigger over time, especially in my yard. They add value to homes and they make places look nice. You can build homes in trees and out of trees and you can even eat trees (and their baby nuts too). They're handy for comparing against the growth of children.
On the other hand, they can be messy. They fall down sometimes and wreck things and hurt people. Some people say that trees actually hurt global warming (but I don't remember how, I just read that somewhere). Sometimes people drive off roads and when they hit trees, the people die (and the trees too, for that matter). I guess the people could die by hitting something else, but maybe if the tree wasn't there, they'd just stop naturally and end up safe. Trees get in the way when people try to do other things in rural areas, like farm. And they get in the way when you're trying to see long distances.
Overall, though, trees seem to win out as good things instead of bad things.
See what happens when you can't think of anything to blog about?
On the other hand, they can be messy. They fall down sometimes and wreck things and hurt people. Some people say that trees actually hurt global warming (but I don't remember how, I just read that somewhere). Sometimes people drive off roads and when they hit trees, the people die (and the trees too, for that matter). I guess the people could die by hitting something else, but maybe if the tree wasn't there, they'd just stop naturally and end up safe. Trees get in the way when people try to do other things in rural areas, like farm. And they get in the way when you're trying to see long distances.
Overall, though, trees seem to win out as good things instead of bad things.
See what happens when you can't think of anything to blog about?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Leap year
Simon the cat has found a new way to give me a heart attack. A few nights ago, I was sitting in the chair in the corner of our bedroom, which has a view right down the length of the hallway upstairs.
Simon was participating in his normal ritual of nighttime craziness, which involves much running up and down the hall and tearing up and down the stairs. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention, until he disappeared.
The cat ran down the hall way, made a very sharp turn left, and jumped across three feet of open stairwell onto the plant shelf that's opposite. This is in our front entryway, which is two stories high. The plant shelf, which is on top of the front hall closet, is about 8 1/2 to 9 feet from the ground. It has a large basket on it with a fake plant in it.
He jumped across three feet of open stairwell, landed on the shelf, pushing the basket over slightly. He walked once around the basket, then positioned himself to jump back. This jump back, by the way, is through the railing of the upstairs landing. The spindles are 4 1/2 inches apart (I just measured), the width that's specified by building code so little kids can't get their heads stuck in the banister.
Four and one half inches. Did I mention that Simon the cat is about 4 1/2 inches wide? Yes, he is (he's supposed to be on a diet since he steals most of his brother's food, but that's another subject). So he's looking at jumping three feet across, to a level that's equal to the level he's on (so he doesn't have the advantage of being able to jump downwards), through a railing and between spindles that are the same width apart as his body, while at least eight feet in the air.
We haven't had a kitty funeral, so he made it. I'm just hoping that my heart holds out in the future.
Simon was participating in his normal ritual of nighttime craziness, which involves much running up and down the hall and tearing up and down the stairs. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention, until he disappeared.
The cat ran down the hall way, made a very sharp turn left, and jumped across three feet of open stairwell onto the plant shelf that's opposite. This is in our front entryway, which is two stories high. The plant shelf, which is on top of the front hall closet, is about 8 1/2 to 9 feet from the ground. It has a large basket on it with a fake plant in it.
He jumped across three feet of open stairwell, landed on the shelf, pushing the basket over slightly. He walked once around the basket, then positioned himself to jump back. This jump back, by the way, is through the railing of the upstairs landing. The spindles are 4 1/2 inches apart (I just measured), the width that's specified by building code so little kids can't get their heads stuck in the banister.
Four and one half inches. Did I mention that Simon the cat is about 4 1/2 inches wide? Yes, he is (he's supposed to be on a diet since he steals most of his brother's food, but that's another subject). So he's looking at jumping three feet across, to a level that's equal to the level he's on (so he doesn't have the advantage of being able to jump downwards), through a railing and between spindles that are the same width apart as his body, while at least eight feet in the air.
We haven't had a kitty funeral, so he made it. I'm just hoping that my heart holds out in the future.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Laura picked up a stick
Julia picked up one of my Laura Ingalls Wilder books (Little House in the Big Woods) and she's pretending to read it out loud:
"Laura picked up a stick and she went up to the castle. She said something important. Laura played with her sister, laughing all the way. She played catch. She did something important. They had a party and ten minutes because Laura's birthday and no, her big sister, and Laura's birthday. Laura did something important that she could do. She picked up another stick and went to Laura's birthday party. (Julia turned the page) Laura went to somebody's birthday cake and she eat it all gone because she went to school and Mom and Dad picked up her sister and Mom and Dad and Laura. (Julia asked me what Laura's daddy's name was.) Charles ate the birthday cake all gone because he didn't have any rules in school. He had something important but that was a good deal. (Julia turned the page) She found a great dolly in jail. She wanted a dolly just like her sister. It looked just like her but she didn't have anything. But she had the dolly and it looked just like her. But she had hair and a beautiful dress. She went, the little sister went to daddy, he was making something with a feather and doing something else. (Julia turned the page) A bear made footprints in the snow. The bear walked and made footprints all over the snow. He wanted to eat the snow but he can't eat the snow. The bear has something important to eat, but he can eat fish, right? He can do anything like he can do, so he did something important but he didn't want to go to jail. Uh uh."
There, now you don't have to buy the book.
"Laura picked up a stick and she went up to the castle. She said something important. Laura played with her sister, laughing all the way. She played catch. She did something important. They had a party and ten minutes because Laura's birthday and no, her big sister, and Laura's birthday. Laura did something important that she could do. She picked up another stick and went to Laura's birthday party. (Julia turned the page) Laura went to somebody's birthday cake and she eat it all gone because she went to school and Mom and Dad picked up her sister and Mom and Dad and Laura. (Julia asked me what Laura's daddy's name was.) Charles ate the birthday cake all gone because he didn't have any rules in school. He had something important but that was a good deal. (Julia turned the page) She found a great dolly in jail. She wanted a dolly just like her sister. It looked just like her but she didn't have anything. But she had the dolly and it looked just like her. But she had hair and a beautiful dress. She went, the little sister went to daddy, he was making something with a feather and doing something else. (Julia turned the page) A bear made footprints in the snow. The bear walked and made footprints all over the snow. He wanted to eat the snow but he can't eat the snow. The bear has something important to eat, but he can eat fish, right? He can do anything like he can do, so he did something important but he didn't want to go to jail. Uh uh."
There, now you don't have to buy the book.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Oww
As I sit here typing in the corner of our bedroom, my calves are killing me. Not my calf muscles, the skin on the back of my calves. That skin got completely cooked today when we took the girls to Noah's Ark Waterpark (the largest in North America, doncha know).
I had slathered myself everywhere with sunscreen to protect my notoriously sensitive skin. I dumped handfuls of the stuff on my children. And I thought that the only place I got burned was at the very top of my shoulders, in two little stripes around my swimsuit straps. Not too shabby, I thought.
Then I bathed the girls tonight, and found that Allie got burned on the tops of her thighs and a little on her shoulder. She was in water more than I or Julia was, so she washed her sunscreen off more quickly and she got burned slightly.
Julia didn't get burned at all, which makes sense because she was a lot more leery about getting wet than her sister. So I thought I was just that little bit burned until I was stretching and bending to clean the girls and I thought, hmm, why do my calves hurt. Eek. I'm cooked.
I put sunscreen on the tops of my thighs because I've gotten painfully burned there before. I didn't keep going down my legs, foolish Deb. Somehow I didn't burn the top of my feet, unlike my husband, who is in real pain tonight because he once again managed to cook the area between his sandal (mandal) straps.
I'm not even going to talk about his burnt face, stomach, lower back, legs, and upper arms. Let's just say that my husband is not a wise man. Two of his sisters have already had skin cancer and yet he has to be a tough guy when it comes to sunscreen. He did his face and let me do his shoulders, and so he paid the price today and will probably again within the next five years.
I'm going to start putting sunscreen in his bath soap and bath towel, as well as his shirts and sheets. I don't like lobster. And I know I don't want holes in his epidermis.
The water park was a blast, by the way.
I had slathered myself everywhere with sunscreen to protect my notoriously sensitive skin. I dumped handfuls of the stuff on my children. And I thought that the only place I got burned was at the very top of my shoulders, in two little stripes around my swimsuit straps. Not too shabby, I thought.
Then I bathed the girls tonight, and found that Allie got burned on the tops of her thighs and a little on her shoulder. She was in water more than I or Julia was, so she washed her sunscreen off more quickly and she got burned slightly.
Julia didn't get burned at all, which makes sense because she was a lot more leery about getting wet than her sister. So I thought I was just that little bit burned until I was stretching and bending to clean the girls and I thought, hmm, why do my calves hurt. Eek. I'm cooked.
I put sunscreen on the tops of my thighs because I've gotten painfully burned there before. I didn't keep going down my legs, foolish Deb. Somehow I didn't burn the top of my feet, unlike my husband, who is in real pain tonight because he once again managed to cook the area between his sandal (mandal) straps.
I'm not even going to talk about his burnt face, stomach, lower back, legs, and upper arms. Let's just say that my husband is not a wise man. Two of his sisters have already had skin cancer and yet he has to be a tough guy when it comes to sunscreen. He did his face and let me do his shoulders, and so he paid the price today and will probably again within the next five years.
I'm going to start putting sunscreen in his bath soap and bath towel, as well as his shirts and sheets. I don't like lobster. And I know I don't want holes in his epidermis.
The water park was a blast, by the way.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Inescapable
Is it possible to go anywhere these days without being bombarded with Shrek merchandising? It's insane. Restaurants, bookstores, discount stores, department stores, TV, online. Those marketing people certainly know what they're doing.
We've resisted so far, but I expect that we'll be going to see Shrek III this weekend. Like thousands of other weary parents.
We've resisted so far, but I expect that we'll be going to see Shrek III this weekend. Like thousands of other weary parents.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Official junior bookworm
When Allie brought the last of her things home from school today, after an awesome last day of school field trip, her teacher included all of the reading logs we've completed for her during the school year. Yep, for the past nine months, I've written down (and had Allie rate using a smiley face, a neutral face, or a frowny face) almost every book she's read or had read to her. We don't usually read an entire book to her anymore, which is a big indicator of how her reading skills have improved this year. She's very eager to read to us.
She went to the school library at least three times each week, and I think it's a cool indicator of who she is as a kid that she only rated one book in the entire time period with a frowny face. One book, you say. Out of how many, Deb?
Well, actually. One out of 243. Yes, 243. That's how many books Allie has read in their entirety over the last few months. She's read at least parts of some additional books, but they didn't get written down unless she finished them (with one exception--I included "Where the Sidewalk Ends" because it's so long and she's read almost all of the poems).
I think that's awesomely cool.
Oh, she also did well on her report card and she's made some excellent strides after initially struggling with math, but hey, my kid is a bigtime reader. (Just like me, that's one of the awesome parts.)
Allie came in the room just now (she's staying up late since she doesn't have school tomorrow--yay, summer!) and she asked if I would read my post to her and if she could say something.
Allie says--I get to stay home with my Nana and Papa tomorrow. If we find my fishing pole, we could probably go fishing. The Weather Channel says it's going to be a nice day. Umm, what else should I put. My Nana will let us walk to the store. My friend, Hannah, is coming over June 15th. And we will watch a movie together. Hannah said, when the teacher asked us something that we would do over summer, she said, watch a movie with my friend. And then she looked at me and smiled.
See, my kid also has her own blog entries. Isn't she neat?
She went to the school library at least three times each week, and I think it's a cool indicator of who she is as a kid that she only rated one book in the entire time period with a frowny face. One book, you say. Out of how many, Deb?
Well, actually. One out of 243. Yes, 243. That's how many books Allie has read in their entirety over the last few months. She's read at least parts of some additional books, but they didn't get written down unless she finished them (with one exception--I included "Where the Sidewalk Ends" because it's so long and she's read almost all of the poems).
I think that's awesomely cool.
Oh, she also did well on her report card and she's made some excellent strides after initially struggling with math, but hey, my kid is a bigtime reader. (Just like me, that's one of the awesome parts.)
Allie came in the room just now (she's staying up late since she doesn't have school tomorrow--yay, summer!) and she asked if I would read my post to her and if she could say something.
Allie says--I get to stay home with my Nana and Papa tomorrow. If we find my fishing pole, we could probably go fishing. The Weather Channel says it's going to be a nice day. Umm, what else should I put. My Nana will let us walk to the store. My friend, Hannah, is coming over June 15th. And we will watch a movie together. Hannah said, when the teacher asked us something that we would do over summer, she said, watch a movie with my friend. And then she looked at me and smiled.
See, my kid also has her own blog entries. Isn't she neat?
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Gradua . . . huh?
Allie's last day of first grade is tomorrow, though she's going to spend it on a field trip to the zoo. We were on our way to school the other morning when I asked her if she remembered her last day of kindergarten last year at this time. She said, yes, I was sad. But I remember that Mrs. Grady made us feel special at our graduation. I wonder what Mrs. Mace is going to do for graduation.
It was distressing to have to tell her that for completing first grade, she gets nada. Nothing. She gets to come back next year and the year after that and so on for 7 more years until she gets a little graduation ceremony again.
She took it well.
It was distressing to have to tell her that for completing first grade, she gets nada. Nothing. She gets to come back next year and the year after that and so on for 7 more years until she gets a little graduation ceremony again.
She took it well.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Misadventure
Last night, the kitties went exploring. Yep, exploring into the wide, wonderful world. Yep, outside. Or as it's otherwise known, the FORBIDDEN ZONE.
Our cats do not go outside. It's safer for them and they live long, cosseted lives, vicariously viewing the world through windows with great windowsills.
Greg and I had spent a good part of the day cleaning, since my in-laws are coming to visit us today. The last time I saw the cats, they were throwing themselves at the top of the screen door that allows access onto the deck, trying fruitlessly to get at the bugs outside that were attracted by our lights.
We finished cleaning and sat on the couch to watch a little TV and talk. Greg went upstairs to take a shower before bed and I started turning out the lights and locking up. That's when I found out that the screen door to the deck was open a good three inches, or right about kitty width.
The screen door wasn't locked, so I figure they either developed paw strength enough to open the door without a handle or, they managed to jump up enough to jostle the door in the frame until it opened enough for them to squeeze through.
At 10:20 last night, I walked all over our yard calling their names. We've had them for 4 months now, so I was hopeful that was enough time that they'd actually know their names, which we changed when we got them. There were no squished kitties in the busy street that runs on the side of our house, so that was a good sign. Almost immediately, I saw the outline of a cat's head and ears looking at me from near our neighbor's driveway. Something didn't look right, though.
I called to the cat and walked a little closer, then bent down and made a noise with my fingers. The cat came over and I picked it up. He immediately started meowing as I brought him towards the light and I confirmed that he wasn't one of our cats. Brown/black body, white paws. Nope, not one of ours.
I let him go and kept calling. Walked a circle around the entire house calling. Then I saw Simon cowering on the deck. I went up and opened the door to the house for him, then came around behind him and he bolted into the house.
Greg came outside and we walked around some more, calling. He brought their food container--smart move. Greg saw Rabies hiding under the deck (in mud, since it had been raining off and on all day). Rabies came out to be petted eventually and Greg grabbed him, getting hissed at and getting muddy for his heroic rescue.
The adventure was over. I figure they were out there for probably an hour. We're going to start locking the screen door. Now, we are.
Our cats do not go outside. It's safer for them and they live long, cosseted lives, vicariously viewing the world through windows with great windowsills.
Greg and I had spent a good part of the day cleaning, since my in-laws are coming to visit us today. The last time I saw the cats, they were throwing themselves at the top of the screen door that allows access onto the deck, trying fruitlessly to get at the bugs outside that were attracted by our lights.
We finished cleaning and sat on the couch to watch a little TV and talk. Greg went upstairs to take a shower before bed and I started turning out the lights and locking up. That's when I found out that the screen door to the deck was open a good three inches, or right about kitty width.
The screen door wasn't locked, so I figure they either developed paw strength enough to open the door without a handle or, they managed to jump up enough to jostle the door in the frame until it opened enough for them to squeeze through.
At 10:20 last night, I walked all over our yard calling their names. We've had them for 4 months now, so I was hopeful that was enough time that they'd actually know their names, which we changed when we got them. There were no squished kitties in the busy street that runs on the side of our house, so that was a good sign. Almost immediately, I saw the outline of a cat's head and ears looking at me from near our neighbor's driveway. Something didn't look right, though.
I called to the cat and walked a little closer, then bent down and made a noise with my fingers. The cat came over and I picked it up. He immediately started meowing as I brought him towards the light and I confirmed that he wasn't one of our cats. Brown/black body, white paws. Nope, not one of ours.
I let him go and kept calling. Walked a circle around the entire house calling. Then I saw Simon cowering on the deck. I went up and opened the door to the house for him, then came around behind him and he bolted into the house.
Greg came outside and we walked around some more, calling. He brought their food container--smart move. Greg saw Rabies hiding under the deck (in mud, since it had been raining off and on all day). Rabies came out to be petted eventually and Greg grabbed him, getting hissed at and getting muddy for his heroic rescue.
The adventure was over. I figure they were out there for probably an hour. We're going to start locking the screen door. Now, we are.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Oompa Loompa Love
We're watching the end of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." The old, good one, with Gene Wilder. I like this movie a lot. I've seen the new version, but I don't even remember anything about it, except that they changed the ending. This one is a classic and I'll stop and watch it whenever I chance upon it.
I don't remember whether I saw the movie or read the book first when I was a kid, but I know that I read the book more than once, plus the sequel. You mean you didn't know there's a sequel book? It's called "Charlie and the Glass Elevator" and it's a fantastic adventure in it's own right, involving outer space and aliens.
Right now, the scene at the very end is on, where they break out the roof of the candy factory and fly over Charlie's town. It looks beautiful, full of red clay roofs and winding streets. I wonder where it was filmed. Well, now I have to end this post and go look up the answer to that.
Thank god for the internet, or I'd wonder forever.
I don't remember whether I saw the movie or read the book first when I was a kid, but I know that I read the book more than once, plus the sequel. You mean you didn't know there's a sequel book? It's called "Charlie and the Glass Elevator" and it's a fantastic adventure in it's own right, involving outer space and aliens.
Right now, the scene at the very end is on, where they break out the roof of the candy factory and fly over Charlie's town. It looks beautiful, full of red clay roofs and winding streets. I wonder where it was filmed. Well, now I have to end this post and go look up the answer to that.
Thank god for the internet, or I'd wonder forever.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Home disparagement
Greg and I, like millions of other Americans, are fans of the latest crop of home improvement shows, which focus mostly on flipping. Flipping, if you don't know, is the process of buying a rundown house, renovating it very quickly, and then selling it for an immense profit. That is, immense profit, if the people doing the flipping aren't idiots.
We like Property Ladder, which features a host named Kirsten who's an expert on flipping. She visits properties at the beginning of projects, offers practical advice that the flippers almost always ignore completely, and then she visits for a post-mortem at the end. The flippers all, and I mean all, go over their timelines for completing their projects. They also all, and I mean all, go over their budgets.
Other mistakes are: becoming emotionally attached to the houses and thus putting in too much of their own (expensive or weird) taste; trying to do too much of the work themselves or with friends and family members instead of recognizing that they are over their heads and calling in contractors; making bad decisions on really important things (like not replacing broken air conditioning in a city where the temperature can rise to 110 degrees in the summer, or by deciding that closets aren't important in a master bedroom); and by going the cheap route in areas where people are looking for something better.
Greg and I are getting really good at yelling at the people on the TV (OK, mostly me). We just saw an episode where the couple started out committed to putting "environmentally friendly" elements into their flip, including solar panels. Then they hired the guy's brother as a contractor, and he screwed up a bunch of items. Then they thought washing the walls with a bleach solution would clear up a mold problem, ignoring the fact that mold growing on one side of a wall usually means it's growing on the other side of the wall too. And, to top it all off, they decided to try to sell the house themselves instead of going with a realtor.
I actually hate the idea of giving any money to a realtor. I think they get an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for doing what sometimes amounts to very little work. However, if you're flipping and time is a very important factor (and it always is for these people), then you're probably stupid not to get that realtor advantage.
In this most recent example, 26 weeks went by with the flip unsold. The couple's profit went from $104,000 to $43,000. Some people would say, hey! They made $43,000 in 9 months, so good for them. I know, I know. Actually, my sister and her husband flip houses and then do a rent-to-own arrangement for buyers and they're doing very well with it. That's not the point. For talking back to your TV and feeling superior, "flip TV" is hard to beat.
We like Property Ladder, which features a host named Kirsten who's an expert on flipping. She visits properties at the beginning of projects, offers practical advice that the flippers almost always ignore completely, and then she visits for a post-mortem at the end. The flippers all, and I mean all, go over their timelines for completing their projects. They also all, and I mean all, go over their budgets.
Other mistakes are: becoming emotionally attached to the houses and thus putting in too much of their own (expensive or weird) taste; trying to do too much of the work themselves or with friends and family members instead of recognizing that they are over their heads and calling in contractors; making bad decisions on really important things (like not replacing broken air conditioning in a city where the temperature can rise to 110 degrees in the summer, or by deciding that closets aren't important in a master bedroom); and by going the cheap route in areas where people are looking for something better.
Greg and I are getting really good at yelling at the people on the TV (OK, mostly me). We just saw an episode where the couple started out committed to putting "environmentally friendly" elements into their flip, including solar panels. Then they hired the guy's brother as a contractor, and he screwed up a bunch of items. Then they thought washing the walls with a bleach solution would clear up a mold problem, ignoring the fact that mold growing on one side of a wall usually means it's growing on the other side of the wall too. And, to top it all off, they decided to try to sell the house themselves instead of going with a realtor.
I actually hate the idea of giving any money to a realtor. I think they get an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for doing what sometimes amounts to very little work. However, if you're flipping and time is a very important factor (and it always is for these people), then you're probably stupid not to get that realtor advantage.
In this most recent example, 26 weeks went by with the flip unsold. The couple's profit went from $104,000 to $43,000. Some people would say, hey! They made $43,000 in 9 months, so good for them. I know, I know. Actually, my sister and her husband flip houses and then do a rent-to-own arrangement for buyers and they're doing very well with it. That's not the point. For talking back to your TV and feeling superior, "flip TV" is hard to beat.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Coming soon to a summer near you
Well, it's June 1 and Allie has all of four school days left as a first grader. I swear that it seems like about three months ago that she was starting kindergarten. Now she's doing spelling tests, reads or tries to read most everything, adds two-digit numbers to other two-digit numbers, works on fractions, and is learning the rules of basketball. Amazing stuff, really.
Julia is very much looking forward to having Allie with her all day at daycare this summer. I figure that's going to last about a week, then she's going to be tired of being bossed around. One big disadvantage to Allie being at least two years older than all of the other kids is that she directs most of what they do. We're very lucky that our daycare provider thinks she's going to be able to take the kids on field trips in her van this summer. That'll be a nice adventure for all of them.
So Allie has her school picnic (parents invited) on Tuesday, and her last field trip to the zoo on Thursday. Then she's done, and on to second grade.
Our local high school graduation is tonight. The way things are going, it'll seem like Allie has reached that milestone in about four years.
Julia is very much looking forward to having Allie with her all day at daycare this summer. I figure that's going to last about a week, then she's going to be tired of being bossed around. One big disadvantage to Allie being at least two years older than all of the other kids is that she directs most of what they do. We're very lucky that our daycare provider thinks she's going to be able to take the kids on field trips in her van this summer. That'll be a nice adventure for all of them.
So Allie has her school picnic (parents invited) on Tuesday, and her last field trip to the zoo on Thursday. Then she's done, and on to second grade.
Our local high school graduation is tonight. The way things are going, it'll seem like Allie has reached that milestone in about four years.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
It takes a village
I ate lunch yesterday in a local cemetery (hey, it's quiet, shady, and has a view--plus I don't get out of the car or leave garbage or anything). I was driving back to work afterwards down a pretty busy secondary street when I saw something, about two blocks ahead. It looked like a toddler crossing the street.
I squinted, sure it couldn't have actually been a toddler crossing the street, or if it was, surely its parent was within two or three steps. There weren't any other cars going in the direction I was, but a big SUV slowed down to let the little boy (as it turned out) pass, as did two cars that were coming behind him.
I couldn't believe my eyes. No parent anywhere in sight. The other cars passed by and I pulled to the side of the street, still looking for someone who was watching this kid. By the time I got out of the car, the toddler was in an open garage across the street, touching the tailpipe of a motorcycle that was parked there. Thank god, no one had ridden it recently, so the pipes weren't hot.
I kept looking around and walked towards the little boy. He looked like he was between 18 months and two years old--not talking yet, as it turned out. I said Hi to him, then asked if this was his house. He tried to climb onto the seat of the motorcycle. I asked if we could go to his mommy, and he made a noise and pointed to the red tailight on the bike and a red shovel that was leaning against the wall.
I asked again if we could go to his mommy, holding out my hand, but he turned away to keep trying to climb on the bike. I figured if I tried to pick him up, he'd probably scream. So I went back across the street to the nearest house and rang the doorbell. Probably four minutes or so had passed.
I kept an eye on the boy until a man came to the door. I said, do you have a child? He said yes. I said, he's across the street! He said, I didn't even know he was out, as he started barefoot down the steps. I said, he's not in the house, he's in the garage. He headed into the garage and I watched to be sure that the little boy would go with him.
He picked him up and started back across the street towards the house, and I got back in my car and went back to work. There were cars parked on the sides of the street, and if the boy had stepped out from behind one of them into traffic, he could have been killed.
My good deed for the day!
I squinted, sure it couldn't have actually been a toddler crossing the street, or if it was, surely its parent was within two or three steps. There weren't any other cars going in the direction I was, but a big SUV slowed down to let the little boy (as it turned out) pass, as did two cars that were coming behind him.
I couldn't believe my eyes. No parent anywhere in sight. The other cars passed by and I pulled to the side of the street, still looking for someone who was watching this kid. By the time I got out of the car, the toddler was in an open garage across the street, touching the tailpipe of a motorcycle that was parked there. Thank god, no one had ridden it recently, so the pipes weren't hot.
I kept looking around and walked towards the little boy. He looked like he was between 18 months and two years old--not talking yet, as it turned out. I said Hi to him, then asked if this was his house. He tried to climb onto the seat of the motorcycle. I asked if we could go to his mommy, and he made a noise and pointed to the red tailight on the bike and a red shovel that was leaning against the wall.
I asked again if we could go to his mommy, holding out my hand, but he turned away to keep trying to climb on the bike. I figured if I tried to pick him up, he'd probably scream. So I went back across the street to the nearest house and rang the doorbell. Probably four minutes or so had passed.
I kept an eye on the boy until a man came to the door. I said, do you have a child? He said yes. I said, he's across the street! He said, I didn't even know he was out, as he started barefoot down the steps. I said, he's not in the house, he's in the garage. He headed into the garage and I watched to be sure that the little boy would go with him.
He picked him up and started back across the street towards the house, and I got back in my car and went back to work. There were cars parked on the sides of the street, and if the boy had stepped out from behind one of them into traffic, he could have been killed.
My good deed for the day!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Howdy
Last Monday, I spent hours in a hearing with attorneys. Tuesday, I spent hours in a deposition with attorneys. Wednesday, I spent hours preparing for a deposition with attorneys. Thursday, I spent hours in depositions with attorneys.
I'm glad that part of last week is over.
Last Friday, the family traveled to the in-laws in Illinois for part of the long weekend. We had a wonderful visit. Then we got back on the road and drove four hours back home (not including time we were stopped eating dinner). One of the attorneys from last week had lunch with me on Thursday. She has four children and said that she can't fathom that anyone with children would choose to travel without a portable DVD player.
She couldn't figure out what we do in a compact car with our girls for four hours. I told her that we talk, we sing, and we play car games. I didn't talk about it, but the girls also fight over toys, we yell at them, they both sing to themselves, Allie tells stories to herself, Julia (and sometimes Allie) usually dozes off for a little bit, and when we get close to Nana and Papa's house, we play "Is that their house?"
It was a pretty standard trip and we were glad to see our home again. Not as happy as the cats were to see us, however. There was rampant love going on all over the house.
I like holiday weekends. I'm just trying not to think about going back to work tomorrow.
I'm glad that part of last week is over.
Last Friday, the family traveled to the in-laws in Illinois for part of the long weekend. We had a wonderful visit. Then we got back on the road and drove four hours back home (not including time we were stopped eating dinner). One of the attorneys from last week had lunch with me on Thursday. She has four children and said that she can't fathom that anyone with children would choose to travel without a portable DVD player.
She couldn't figure out what we do in a compact car with our girls for four hours. I told her that we talk, we sing, and we play car games. I didn't talk about it, but the girls also fight over toys, we yell at them, they both sing to themselves, Allie tells stories to herself, Julia (and sometimes Allie) usually dozes off for a little bit, and when we get close to Nana and Papa's house, we play "Is that their house?"
It was a pretty standard trip and we were glad to see our home again. Not as happy as the cats were to see us, however. There was rampant love going on all over the house.
I like holiday weekends. I'm just trying not to think about going back to work tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
My kids are lucky
Allie had another field trip today, to the local library. We don't actually visit the local library that much because Allie gets new books almost every day from her school library. This is a significant difference from me as a kid. I was a bookworm and we owned very few books. In fact, I don't know that I owned any books until I was older, maybe 12 or 13. So though I got some books from the school library, my sisters and me (mostly me) went to the local library on our bikes pretty much every weekend.
Going to the local library was a scary trip for a, say, 9 year old. There was a busy street at the end of the trip, with a left turn that was challenging, followed immediately by a bridge that had a open grid deck, followed by railroad tracks. Despite my nervousness, I'd trek up there all the time, stuffing the basket on the front of my bike with as many books as would fit.
I remember checking out too many books more than once. The library's return book slot was right next to the bike rack, so I'd fill my basket with the books I really, really wanted to read, then go through the rest, prioritizing until I determined which books to put in the return slot.
Allie and Julia own hundreds of books, some from Greg's childhood, some from their cousin Emily (thanks Em and Michelle), many they've gotten as gifts from other people, and many, many that we've bought them.
We say all the time that our girls are spoiled, but you know what, they really, truly are. They have thousands of words waiting, to take them away to adventures that they can't even imagine right now.
I got a new book from the girls and Greg for Mother's Day that I've started but not finished, but you know what--I'm thinking of heading off for the local library myself. Why should my kids have all the fun!
Going to the local library was a scary trip for a, say, 9 year old. There was a busy street at the end of the trip, with a left turn that was challenging, followed immediately by a bridge that had a open grid deck, followed by railroad tracks. Despite my nervousness, I'd trek up there all the time, stuffing the basket on the front of my bike with as many books as would fit.
I remember checking out too many books more than once. The library's return book slot was right next to the bike rack, so I'd fill my basket with the books I really, really wanted to read, then go through the rest, prioritizing until I determined which books to put in the return slot.
Allie and Julia own hundreds of books, some from Greg's childhood, some from their cousin Emily (thanks Em and Michelle), many they've gotten as gifts from other people, and many, many that we've bought them.
We say all the time that our girls are spoiled, but you know what, they really, truly are. They have thousands of words waiting, to take them away to adventures that they can't even imagine right now.
I got a new book from the girls and Greg for Mother's Day that I've started but not finished, but you know what--I'm thinking of heading off for the local library myself. Why should my kids have all the fun!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Day After
Do you remember this movie from 1983? I'm watching it right now and almost 25 years after it first came out, it's still shocking. The missles just exploded over Kansas and the rest of the U.S., over 300 missles according to the military that's shown talking, right before they all die.
I remember seeing parts of this movie back then, but I couldn't stand to watch the entire thing. I still can't. I was graduating from high school then, ready to head off to college and on my own for the first time. I don't think I thought much about if I'd have children someday at the time, but now that I do have kids, the scenes of children dying disturb me.
As well they should. The world is still a troubled place, but at least this type of lunacy seems to have been abated. I hope we never end up in that place again.
I remember seeing parts of this movie back then, but I couldn't stand to watch the entire thing. I still can't. I was graduating from high school then, ready to head off to college and on my own for the first time. I don't think I thought much about if I'd have children someday at the time, but now that I do have kids, the scenes of children dying disturb me.
As well they should. The world is still a troubled place, but at least this type of lunacy seems to have been abated. I hope we never end up in that place again.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Pink is contagious, who knew
Julia and I are definitely having battles these days about her clothing. It's very difficult to get her to wear anything that isn't pink, and now that we've had some warmer days, it's difficult to get her to wear anything that isn't a pink sundress.
She wanted to wear a sundress to the baseball game on Saturday. Telling her that it was only 63 degrees out didn't dent her resolve. She said she'd wear tights.
Once again, I must fall prey to every parent's lament about how much easier it was to dress Allie. Even now, Allie will generally wear whatever is selected for her or she picks her own acceptable clothing based on what I tell her the weather is going to be.
Julia became contaminated with this "pink is the only acceptable color" thing from somewhere and, as a result, has way too many clothes that she refuses to wear.
Yesterday, it was very warm here, close to 90. Today it's going to be in the high 60s. I'm anticipating a battle in about 15 minutes. No, she's not wearing tights today.
She wanted to wear a sundress to the baseball game on Saturday. Telling her that it was only 63 degrees out didn't dent her resolve. She said she'd wear tights.
Once again, I must fall prey to every parent's lament about how much easier it was to dress Allie. Even now, Allie will generally wear whatever is selected for her or she picks her own acceptable clothing based on what I tell her the weather is going to be.
Julia became contaminated with this "pink is the only acceptable color" thing from somewhere and, as a result, has way too many clothes that she refuses to wear.
Yesterday, it was very warm here, close to 90. Today it's going to be in the high 60s. I'm anticipating a battle in about 15 minutes. No, she's not wearing tights today.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
The Prince and Me, etc.
Have you seen this movie? It stars Julia Stiles and some Luke guy. He's the prince of Denmark (incognito) and she's a farm girl from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, both studying pre-med at the University of Wisconsin.
I've never seen the whole movie, but I've caught the last hour or so two or three times. Julia's character takes the prince home for Thanksgiving, which for some mysterious reason looks more like late summer in California (trust me, I know what November looks like in Manitowoc, since that's the county of my hometown, and this wasn't it). The dialogue references Rocky Rococo's Pizza, a Wisconsin chain, (which majorly sucks, by the way) and a facsimile of the Manitowoc County Fairgrounds is the setting for a climactic scene where the prince wins over Julia's character's family by winning a lawnmower race.
It's kind of charming and the Czech republic stands in for Denmark at the end of the movie. It must have done reasonably well since they made a sequel last year. Since I again caught part of the original today (which Allie loved, since it was about a royal family), I started wondering about the second movie and I got online to read what the plot was.
Ooooo. People really, really hate the sequel. I read numerous postings to the IMDB message board and almost everyone said that they shouldn't have made the sequel unless the original actors returned. Apparently the only actor who returned was the guy who played the prince and he looked like he was bored. How frequently does that happen--that everyone who made the original movie returns for the next (discounting all of this summer's sequels, which all had much bigger budgets). I'm thinking not too frequently. Just get over it, people.
On another note, Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and all the other moms I know in my life. Hope you all had a wonderful day. Thanks to my amazing husband and my beautiful children, I did! Thank you!
I've never seen the whole movie, but I've caught the last hour or so two or three times. Julia's character takes the prince home for Thanksgiving, which for some mysterious reason looks more like late summer in California (trust me, I know what November looks like in Manitowoc, since that's the county of my hometown, and this wasn't it). The dialogue references Rocky Rococo's Pizza, a Wisconsin chain, (which majorly sucks, by the way) and a facsimile of the Manitowoc County Fairgrounds is the setting for a climactic scene where the prince wins over Julia's character's family by winning a lawnmower race.
It's kind of charming and the Czech republic stands in for Denmark at the end of the movie. It must have done reasonably well since they made a sequel last year. Since I again caught part of the original today (which Allie loved, since it was about a royal family), I started wondering about the second movie and I got online to read what the plot was.
Ooooo. People really, really hate the sequel. I read numerous postings to the IMDB message board and almost everyone said that they shouldn't have made the sequel unless the original actors returned. Apparently the only actor who returned was the guy who played the prince and he looked like he was bored. How frequently does that happen--that everyone who made the original movie returns for the next (discounting all of this summer's sequels, which all had much bigger budgets). I'm thinking not too frequently. Just get over it, people.
On another note, Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, and all the other moms I know in my life. Hope you all had a wonderful day. Thanks to my amazing husband and my beautiful children, I did! Thank you!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Got out of the house, got some fresh air
It was seasonably cool, sunny, and only lightly breezy today. In other words, the perfect day for a ball game. An employee group at my company had tickets available for a Class A baseball team's game this weekend, including all-you-care-to-eat picnic, so we went. Our first baseball of the year.
The Beloit Snappers started out by giving up 3 runs in the top half of the first inning (sheesh, guys!), but they redeemed themselves by the the fifth, when they caught up and were ahead by one run. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the end of the game because our toddler parking meter ran out. You can only put enough into those for about three hours, you know.
I'll let Greg tell you about the screaming that occurred, but the other three of us had a good time. Perfect spring day.
On the way home, we stopped at a stoplight at a busy intersection. Julia spoke up from the backseat. "Oh, Mom. I don't think you're going to make it." I told her that the stoplight was going to make the other cars stop and then I would make it. That child, unfortunately, has definitely inherited her father's pessimism.
We made it home safely, obviously. I think everyone will sleep well tonight. Even little miss pessimist.
The Beloit Snappers started out by giving up 3 runs in the top half of the first inning (sheesh, guys!), but they redeemed themselves by the the fifth, when they caught up and were ahead by one run. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the end of the game because our toddler parking meter ran out. You can only put enough into those for about three hours, you know.
I'll let Greg tell you about the screaming that occurred, but the other three of us had a good time. Perfect spring day.
On the way home, we stopped at a stoplight at a busy intersection. Julia spoke up from the backseat. "Oh, Mom. I don't think you're going to make it." I told her that the stoplight was going to make the other cars stop and then I would make it. That child, unfortunately, has definitely inherited her father's pessimism.
We made it home safely, obviously. I think everyone will sleep well tonight. Even little miss pessimist.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
End of an era; oops, maybe not yet
Every morning, I drop Allie off at her elementary school.
We pull into the student drop-off lane (which is single-file cars), wait our turn to get near the door where many kids are milling about, then she hops out of the back seat, I hop out of the front seat with her backpack, she gives me a kiss, I give her a hug and her backpack, I hop back into the car and drive away, usually refastening my seatbelt as I drive since I'm trying to make a quick getaway for the drivers behind me.
We've been doing this rapid drop off for two years now, so we've got it down. She told me once that a friend asked her why I get out of the car every day. We talked about me wanting to get a last hug from her before she starts her day away from me and I told her that if she wanted me to stop, she just needed to say so.
This week on Tuesday, when we pulled up at school, she said, Mom, don't get out. She unbuckled, leaned forward to give me a kiss, grabbed her backpack and exited. I didn't tear up about the thought of us ending this tradition, but it did make me a little sad that apparently peer pressure to be cool when saying goodbye to Mom was making her change our routine.
Wrong!
Yesterday, I asked her when we were almost there if she wanted to say goodbye like the day before. She said, nope. I told her good, because otherwise we need to plan better so I get my last hug before we get in the car to head to school. She said, no, I want to keep doing it like we always do.
I know the day is coming soon enough when, maybe as a second-grader, she'll be too cool to kiss her mom goodbye with other kids watching. I'm just glad that day isn't here yet.
We pull into the student drop-off lane (which is single-file cars), wait our turn to get near the door where many kids are milling about, then she hops out of the back seat, I hop out of the front seat with her backpack, she gives me a kiss, I give her a hug and her backpack, I hop back into the car and drive away, usually refastening my seatbelt as I drive since I'm trying to make a quick getaway for the drivers behind me.
We've been doing this rapid drop off for two years now, so we've got it down. She told me once that a friend asked her why I get out of the car every day. We talked about me wanting to get a last hug from her before she starts her day away from me and I told her that if she wanted me to stop, she just needed to say so.
This week on Tuesday, when we pulled up at school, she said, Mom, don't get out. She unbuckled, leaned forward to give me a kiss, grabbed her backpack and exited. I didn't tear up about the thought of us ending this tradition, but it did make me a little sad that apparently peer pressure to be cool when saying goodbye to Mom was making her change our routine.
Wrong!
Yesterday, I asked her when we were almost there if she wanted to say goodbye like the day before. She said, nope. I told her good, because otherwise we need to plan better so I get my last hug before we get in the car to head to school. She said, no, I want to keep doing it like we always do.
I know the day is coming soon enough when, maybe as a second-grader, she'll be too cool to kiss her mom goodbye with other kids watching. I'm just glad that day isn't here yet.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Tag, I'm it
OK, Dan tagged me for this My Favorite Toddler Books thing, so here goes:
1. The Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown
By the big red barn in the great green field, there was a pink pig who was learning to squeal . . .
Margaret Wise Brown also wrote Goodnight Moon, which usually gets listed as a favorite in these types of lists. I hate Goodnight Moon, but I really like the rhythms in The Big Red Barn. There was a time when I had pretty much the entire book memorized. Allie loved to look at the pictures in her board book and count the animals.
2. Are You My Mother? - P.D. Eastman
"I did have a mother," said the baby bird. "I know I did. I have to find her. I will. I WILL!"
Being a mom, I love this book that celebrates how dedicated a little bird could be to finding his mother, even though he was just hatched and he has no idea what she looks like. My favorite part is when he thinks that a steam shovel is his mother. He calls her a Snort.
3. Bedtime for Frances - Russell Hoban
"I think there's a monster in my room. Can I have some cake?"
Fortunately, I don't have one of those kids who finds every excuse imaginable to delay falling asleep. For that reason, Allie and Julia like to hear this book about a BADGER (so there, Dan!) who just isn't ready for bed. The above line is my absolute favorite in the book.
4. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - Mo Willems
"I thought he'd never leave. Hey, can I drive the bus? Please? I'll be careful. I tell you what: I'll just steer."
There's a whole series of these Pigeon books, and we also own the one where the Pigeon finds a hot dog and doesn't want to share it. Funny, great illustrations, and easy for a beginning reader who's heard it many, many times.
5. There's a Party at Mona's Tonight - Harry Allard
Potter decided to tunnel his way into Mona's basement. He said he was from the gas company and had come to read the gas meter. Mona didn't buy it. "Scram, Potter!" she said.
I have to admit, we didn't even buy this book. One of Greg's friends from work said that we had to have it, and she photocopied the pages and put them in a little binder for Allie. We don't have color in the illustrations, but this story about a pig who will do anything to get into a party at Mona's is very amusing. I like the quote above because it reminds me of when the gas meter man actually came to the house, opened the back door, and headed down the stairs to the basement without even knocking. You don't see stuff like that anymore (I say that in a creaky old person voice).
6. Little House books - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"Where's my little half pint, almost drunk up?"
I've written before about my love for these books, so I won't repeat myself, except to say that if I didn't dislike alliterative names, my firstborn would definitely have been named Laura.
By the way, part of the reason that Allie is named Alexandra is because of the Black Stallion books, which feature a boy named Alec.
I'm tagging Dwayne from Sluggo is Yoyo and either Shannon or Anna from Parrs So Far. I hope this will encourage either of them to write something new. I'd also like to tag my mother-in-law, who often comments here, but she doesn't have a blog. Marcia, you could comment on this post if you choose to participate. I know you get a lot of practice reading to toddlers!
This was fun, Dan. Thanks.
1. The Big Red Barn - Margaret Wise Brown
By the big red barn in the great green field, there was a pink pig who was learning to squeal . . .
Margaret Wise Brown also wrote Goodnight Moon, which usually gets listed as a favorite in these types of lists. I hate Goodnight Moon, but I really like the rhythms in The Big Red Barn. There was a time when I had pretty much the entire book memorized. Allie loved to look at the pictures in her board book and count the animals.
2. Are You My Mother? - P.D. Eastman
"I did have a mother," said the baby bird. "I know I did. I have to find her. I will. I WILL!"
Being a mom, I love this book that celebrates how dedicated a little bird could be to finding his mother, even though he was just hatched and he has no idea what she looks like. My favorite part is when he thinks that a steam shovel is his mother. He calls her a Snort.
3. Bedtime for Frances - Russell Hoban
"I think there's a monster in my room. Can I have some cake?"
Fortunately, I don't have one of those kids who finds every excuse imaginable to delay falling asleep. For that reason, Allie and Julia like to hear this book about a BADGER (so there, Dan!) who just isn't ready for bed. The above line is my absolute favorite in the book.
4. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - Mo Willems
"I thought he'd never leave. Hey, can I drive the bus? Please? I'll be careful. I tell you what: I'll just steer."
There's a whole series of these Pigeon books, and we also own the one where the Pigeon finds a hot dog and doesn't want to share it. Funny, great illustrations, and easy for a beginning reader who's heard it many, many times.
5. There's a Party at Mona's Tonight - Harry Allard
Potter decided to tunnel his way into Mona's basement. He said he was from the gas company and had come to read the gas meter. Mona didn't buy it. "Scram, Potter!" she said.
I have to admit, we didn't even buy this book. One of Greg's friends from work said that we had to have it, and she photocopied the pages and put them in a little binder for Allie. We don't have color in the illustrations, but this story about a pig who will do anything to get into a party at Mona's is very amusing. I like the quote above because it reminds me of when the gas meter man actually came to the house, opened the back door, and headed down the stairs to the basement without even knocking. You don't see stuff like that anymore (I say that in a creaky old person voice).
6. Little House books - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"Where's my little half pint, almost drunk up?"
I've written before about my love for these books, so I won't repeat myself, except to say that if I didn't dislike alliterative names, my firstborn would definitely have been named Laura.
By the way, part of the reason that Allie is named Alexandra is because of the Black Stallion books, which feature a boy named Alec.
I'm tagging Dwayne from Sluggo is Yoyo and either Shannon or Anna from Parrs So Far. I hope this will encourage either of them to write something new. I'd also like to tag my mother-in-law, who often comments here, but she doesn't have a blog. Marcia, you could comment on this post if you choose to participate. I know you get a lot of practice reading to toddlers!
This was fun, Dan. Thanks.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
As heard in a car near you
A man, a woman, a 7-year-old girl, and a 3 1/2-year-old girl are riding along in the car.
The 7-year-old says, Mom, what's C-H-I-C-A-G-O.
The woman says, That's Chicago, honey. You've been there. Remember when you were in Uncle Shannon's and Aunt Anna's wedding, and remember when we went to Chicago to meet your cousin Anika?
(General conversation follows, then about 10 minutes passes)
The car pulls up next to a bus. The 3 1/2-year-old says, Mom, whats' G-H-L.
The woman says, Ummm, Gahull.
The younger child thinks for a minute, then says (in a tone of great delight), I've been there!
The man and the woman look at each other and both stifle laughter. The man says, Yes, honey, I remember when you went to Gahull!
The woman puts her hand to her mouth so she doesn't let any giggles out. The young child says, Yes, we went there and we did that thing!
The man lets out a chuckle and says, Yes, and that thing was really fun, wasn't it!
The child says, Yes, it was fun (in a tone of great satisfaction).
Yep, that time there was the best time ever. I remember it well.
The 7-year-old says, Mom, what's C-H-I-C-A-G-O.
The woman says, That's Chicago, honey. You've been there. Remember when you were in Uncle Shannon's and Aunt Anna's wedding, and remember when we went to Chicago to meet your cousin Anika?
(General conversation follows, then about 10 minutes passes)
The car pulls up next to a bus. The 3 1/2-year-old says, Mom, whats' G-H-L.
The woman says, Ummm, Gahull.
The younger child thinks for a minute, then says (in a tone of great delight), I've been there!
The man and the woman look at each other and both stifle laughter. The man says, Yes, honey, I remember when you went to Gahull!
The woman puts her hand to her mouth so she doesn't let any giggles out. The young child says, Yes, we went there and we did that thing!
The man lets out a chuckle and says, Yes, and that thing was really fun, wasn't it!
The child says, Yes, it was fun (in a tone of great satisfaction).
Yep, that time there was the best time ever. I remember it well.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
In our war, the latest salvo
We purchased a new grill this evening, and if we ever find our camera (Greg had it the last time I saw it!), I'll take pictures tomorrow while we assemble it. The last time we bought a grill, it took Greg and my dad together a total of 2 1/2 hours to make all the pieces fit together. This time, stickers on similar grills at another store said that assembly would only take 1/2 hour. I'll believe that when I see it.
We also purchased a very heavy bag of river rock and Greg worked up a sweat vacuuming the latest piles of dirt into the vacuum and then putting several inches of rocks into our lovely glazed pot.
I guess I'm crossing my fingers. I'm not really looking forward to digging those kitty graves in the backyard. We'd probably chase away our last neighbors who aren't already moving.
We also purchased a very heavy bag of river rock and Greg worked up a sweat vacuuming the latest piles of dirt into the vacuum and then putting several inches of rocks into our lovely glazed pot.
I guess I'm crossing my fingers. I'm not really looking forward to digging those kitty graves in the backyard. We'd probably chase away our last neighbors who aren't already moving.
Friday, May 04, 2007
OK, I'm getting a complex now
Probably back in November, our neighbor to the north put his house up for sale. Oh, that's too bad, we thought. But Sam's getting older, he has to pay someone to care for his lawn and clear his sidewalk, so he's probably moving to a condo where that will all be taken care of. His house hasn't sold yet, but there's a sign out front.
Probably back in February, our neighbor to the east put her house up for sale. Oh, that's too bad, we thought. But Lori has a big house and a new boyfriend, so maybe they're buying something new together or she's moving in with him. Her house hasn't sold yet, but there's a sign out front.
Today, our neighbor to the south put her house up for sale. We don't know what's up with Wendy and her boyfriend, but if our neighbors to the west put their house up for sale, we're giving our house a body-odor makeover.
Probably back in February, our neighbor to the east put her house up for sale. Oh, that's too bad, we thought. But Lori has a big house and a new boyfriend, so maybe they're buying something new together or she's moving in with him. Her house hasn't sold yet, but there's a sign out front.
Today, our neighbor to the south put her house up for sale. We don't know what's up with Wendy and her boyfriend, but if our neighbors to the west put their house up for sale, we're giving our house a body-odor makeover.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
You realize, of course, that this means war
We bought a new plant this weekend, to go in the big glazed pot on the floor in the living room. It's a beautiful plant, green and yellow streaked leaves, lush and healthy (we'll see how long that lasts!).
Greg put it in it's new home on Tuesday night and covered the little bit of soil that was showing under the leaves with aluminum foil, since we've had unfortunate experiences with the kittens digging in my plants. On Wednesday morning, there were huge piles of dirt all around the new plant (on the carpeting) from where the cats had dug.
Needless to say, Greg and I were not pleased when we saw the mess. Greg proceeded to beat both cats quite excessively, to the point that he was hissed at more than once. They both are avoiding him now, which is unfair because someone needs to convince them to stay away from the plants. They seemed cowed.
This morning, after eating breakfast, I went upstairs to where Greg was still in bed and asked him if he'd heard it. He said, heard what. I said, heard the cats saying f**k you, as they destroyed not one of my plants during the night, but three.
Three separate yet similar heaps of soil, a tipped over plant, torn leaves--the whole nine yards of bad cat behavior. They. Are. So. Incredibly. Naughty.
I cleaned up the mess (Greg did it last night). If they do it again tonight, we may not have any kittens by tomorrow evening. I think we can dig some nice little plots out in the backyard.
Greg put it in it's new home on Tuesday night and covered the little bit of soil that was showing under the leaves with aluminum foil, since we've had unfortunate experiences with the kittens digging in my plants. On Wednesday morning, there were huge piles of dirt all around the new plant (on the carpeting) from where the cats had dug.
Needless to say, Greg and I were not pleased when we saw the mess. Greg proceeded to beat both cats quite excessively, to the point that he was hissed at more than once. They both are avoiding him now, which is unfair because someone needs to convince them to stay away from the plants. They seemed cowed.
This morning, after eating breakfast, I went upstairs to where Greg was still in bed and asked him if he'd heard it. He said, heard what. I said, heard the cats saying f**k you, as they destroyed not one of my plants during the night, but three.
Three separate yet similar heaps of soil, a tipped over plant, torn leaves--the whole nine yards of bad cat behavior. They. Are. So. Incredibly. Naughty.
I cleaned up the mess (Greg did it last night). If they do it again tonight, we may not have any kittens by tomorrow evening. I think we can dig some nice little plots out in the backyard.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Transitions
Why is change so painful. Why do most people resist change with all of their being. Why is it so uncomfortable to face something different. And how can all of us become more resilient.
And how can you make people accept change more easily.
That's really the question for me lately. I know a lot of people (like 300) who are experiencing significant changes in their lives and I know that most of them are going to hate it.
I can understand not wanting to have your family be inconvenienced, for example. But I also know some people just instinctively seem to strongly dislike anything new. Even good new stuff.
What can you do or what can you say to make them realize that in almost all cases, change is a good thing?
And how can you make people accept change more easily.
That's really the question for me lately. I know a lot of people (like 300) who are experiencing significant changes in their lives and I know that most of them are going to hate it.
I can understand not wanting to have your family be inconvenienced, for example. But I also know some people just instinctively seem to strongly dislike anything new. Even good new stuff.
What can you do or what can you say to make them realize that in almost all cases, change is a good thing?
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Night night, sleep tight
Allie is going on her very first sleepover this Saturday night. One of her school friends is turning 7 on Monday and so she is being allowed to invite a friend for play outside, movies in the evening, and then a sleepover.
This morning, Allie was planning what to pack in her suitcase. She said she was going to need her sleeping bag, clothes, a hairbrush, her toothbrush and toothpaste, her stuffed dog, books, snacks, other toys . . . I told her she needs to bring clothes, her toothbrush, and a comb. We haven't heard from the other parents yet, but I doubt the other things are going to be necessary.
She is so excited. We were talking this morning and I said that she's going to have lots of fun with Hannah, then be able to settle down and have a wonderful sleep, then have breakfast and come home. She said, yes, Mom, but before we go to sleep we're going to have a pillow fight!
This all makes me remember sleeping over at my friend Mary's house when I was in grade school. We always had fun, but I must have always stayed over on Friday nights. On Saturday mornings, Mary had tap and ballet lessons at 8:00, downtown. I remember having to get up for her lessons, then sitting in the bleachers at the Community House, watching and wishing I could have tap and ballet lessons.
I remember a disastrous attempt at making pancakes one late morning. I remember us making phone calls to information in Hollywood, California for various stars. I remember her trying to teach me to play her piano.
I think it's cool that Allie is starting this part of her life. When she's as ancient as I am, she can remember this first adventure and tell her own daughter that she hopes she too has a wonderful time on her first sleepover.
This morning, Allie was planning what to pack in her suitcase. She said she was going to need her sleeping bag, clothes, a hairbrush, her toothbrush and toothpaste, her stuffed dog, books, snacks, other toys . . . I told her she needs to bring clothes, her toothbrush, and a comb. We haven't heard from the other parents yet, but I doubt the other things are going to be necessary.
She is so excited. We were talking this morning and I said that she's going to have lots of fun with Hannah, then be able to settle down and have a wonderful sleep, then have breakfast and come home. She said, yes, Mom, but before we go to sleep we're going to have a pillow fight!
This all makes me remember sleeping over at my friend Mary's house when I was in grade school. We always had fun, but I must have always stayed over on Friday nights. On Saturday mornings, Mary had tap and ballet lessons at 8:00, downtown. I remember having to get up for her lessons, then sitting in the bleachers at the Community House, watching and wishing I could have tap and ballet lessons.
I remember a disastrous attempt at making pancakes one late morning. I remember us making phone calls to information in Hollywood, California for various stars. I remember her trying to teach me to play her piano.
I think it's cool that Allie is starting this part of her life. When she's as ancient as I am, she can remember this first adventure and tell her own daughter that she hopes she too has a wonderful time on her first sleepover.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Fly me to the moon
We had a lovely family adventure after dinner tonight. Greg suggested that we do something after dinner instead of the usual homework-read a book or two-TV routine, so all four of us went to the park across the street with Greg's new kite.
Which kicked ass, by the way! This thing really flew. Much better than Allie's little octopus kite, which refused to cooperate for most of the time. Greg's new kite is 54 inches wide and the tails are 12 feet long, not that you could tell most of the time because it was so high up that it's appearance was deceiving.
Four other people got out their kites after they saw ours, which was a neat bit of community competition. I went and got Greg's old rainbow delta kite after awhile, and that thing kicked ass too. We hurt our hands letting the string in and out, but it was totally worth it.
The girls made some new friends and we all got a good dose of fresh air and fun.
Then we rushed home to get in the homework-read a book or two thing before pajamas and bed. I'll bet the girls dream about flying tonight. I'm pretty sure I will.
Which kicked ass, by the way! This thing really flew. Much better than Allie's little octopus kite, which refused to cooperate for most of the time. Greg's new kite is 54 inches wide and the tails are 12 feet long, not that you could tell most of the time because it was so high up that it's appearance was deceiving.
Four other people got out their kites after they saw ours, which was a neat bit of community competition. I went and got Greg's old rainbow delta kite after awhile, and that thing kicked ass too. We hurt our hands letting the string in and out, but it was totally worth it.
The girls made some new friends and we all got a good dose of fresh air and fun.
Then we rushed home to get in the homework-read a book or two thing before pajamas and bed. I'll bet the girls dream about flying tonight. I'm pretty sure I will.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Cheated again
We get food at Culver's quite a bit. Actually, we get food from Culver's way too much. It's very convenient to our house and we take advantage of that.
Today, we were cheated by Culver's. Greg wasn't hungry, so I got hamburger combos for me and Allie and a corndog combo for Julia, with onion rings. Julia really likes onion rings. I mean, really likes them.
The restaurant gave her french fries, despite the order tag, which was attached to our order, clearly stating onion rings. I thought she was going to cry. She thought one of the other bags were hers because she didn't see onion rings and when I told her they weren't, that she was going to have to eat french fries, you would have thought I told her she was going to have to eat dirt.
She was tired anyway because it wasn't long before her naptime and that added up to a volatile situation. So she decided to completely ignore her fries and eat her corndog, depressed. Such is the life of a 3-year-old. Nothing but disappointment.
Today, we were cheated by Culver's. Greg wasn't hungry, so I got hamburger combos for me and Allie and a corndog combo for Julia, with onion rings. Julia really likes onion rings. I mean, really likes them.
The restaurant gave her french fries, despite the order tag, which was attached to our order, clearly stating onion rings. I thought she was going to cry. She thought one of the other bags were hers because she didn't see onion rings and when I told her they weren't, that she was going to have to eat french fries, you would have thought I told her she was going to have to eat dirt.
She was tired anyway because it wasn't long before her naptime and that added up to a volatile situation. So she decided to completely ignore her fries and eat her corndog, depressed. Such is the life of a 3-year-old. Nothing but disappointment.
Friday, April 27, 2007
My 300th blog
I would like to type something amazing for my 300th blog, but my husband wants to go to sleep. He's being mean as a result.
He's saying all kinds of mean things and then daring me to post them.
See, you people all think my husband is so sweet and funny and romantic, but there's a whole other side to Greg Lee.
There's the psychotic side. And I get to sleep with that side of my husband tonight. As long as he doesn't get up in the middle of the night to get an axe from the garage, I guess I will live to post again.
I hope.
He's saying all kinds of mean things and then daring me to post them.
See, you people all think my husband is so sweet and funny and romantic, but there's a whole other side to Greg Lee.
There's the psychotic side. And I get to sleep with that side of my husband tonight. As long as he doesn't get up in the middle of the night to get an axe from the garage, I guess I will live to post again.
I hope.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
That's not so bad
Well, I finally got around to calling the library today, to get myself put on the list for when the last Harry Potter book comes in in July.
The librarian took my library card number, then said I was on the list and that they'd be calling me when my book was available. I said, just out of curiosity, can you tell me where I am on the list, you know, approximately.
She said, oh, you're about 750.
I said, Oh, my goodness. So maybe I'll get the book in six months or so? She reassured me that the library is going to get about 120 copies of the book, so I might only have to wait a month or two.
That's not so bad.
Greg says I should just buy the book, but you know what--I doubt I'm going to ever read these books again. They're just too dark. So why would I spend any money. The library system gets my tax money whether I use the library or not. So I can wait.
As long as I get it by Christmas.
The librarian took my library card number, then said I was on the list and that they'd be calling me when my book was available. I said, just out of curiosity, can you tell me where I am on the list, you know, approximately.
She said, oh, you're about 750.
I said, Oh, my goodness. So maybe I'll get the book in six months or so? She reassured me that the library is going to get about 120 copies of the book, so I might only have to wait a month or two.
That's not so bad.
Greg says I should just buy the book, but you know what--I doubt I'm going to ever read these books again. They're just too dark. So why would I spend any money. The library system gets my tax money whether I use the library or not. So I can wait.
As long as I get it by Christmas.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
What's new
Well, lots of stuff at work that I'm not going to talk about.
Julia bit another kid at daycare yesterday, which is something we all thought she'd left behind at least a year ago. She's going to be 4 at the end of July, for pete's sake. I understand that another little girl was sitting on her, so this is how she took care of the situation. Our naughty girl had to stay in her room (and play with all of her toys in her room) last night instead of getting to play outside like her sister.
Allie got to go on a field trip to a nearby college last week to see a play featuring college students as actors. She thought it was awesome. As she said, "I just love to go to the theater!" She's basing this statement on going to see ballet productions of "Peter Pan" twice, once at three and once at four years of age, but who am I to argue. I remember going to see a show at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee (a beautiful historic theater) when I was in grade school and thinking it was the most magical thing I'd ever seen.
My husband did either a very sweet thing for me yesterday or he did his husbandly duty, depending on which way you want to look at it. He took some time off work, picked up my car outside my office, and got four new tires put on for me. It was something that was way overdue--the guy at the shop said I was riding on the bars of the tires. Thank you, Gregory! I love you.
And in regards to the rest of my life these days, you know what they say. When you're hanging off a cliff and your fingers are starting to slip, dig in your fingernails. I hope there's gelatin in my multivitamins.
Julia bit another kid at daycare yesterday, which is something we all thought she'd left behind at least a year ago. She's going to be 4 at the end of July, for pete's sake. I understand that another little girl was sitting on her, so this is how she took care of the situation. Our naughty girl had to stay in her room (and play with all of her toys in her room) last night instead of getting to play outside like her sister.
Allie got to go on a field trip to a nearby college last week to see a play featuring college students as actors. She thought it was awesome. As she said, "I just love to go to the theater!" She's basing this statement on going to see ballet productions of "Peter Pan" twice, once at three and once at four years of age, but who am I to argue. I remember going to see a show at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee (a beautiful historic theater) when I was in grade school and thinking it was the most magical thing I'd ever seen.
My husband did either a very sweet thing for me yesterday or he did his husbandly duty, depending on which way you want to look at it. He took some time off work, picked up my car outside my office, and got four new tires put on for me. It was something that was way overdue--the guy at the shop said I was riding on the bars of the tires. Thank you, Gregory! I love you.
And in regards to the rest of my life these days, you know what they say. When you're hanging off a cliff and your fingers are starting to slip, dig in your fingernails. I hope there's gelatin in my multivitamins.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Neighborhood mystery
The girls were in bed and Greg and I were in the living room tonight when we heard sirens coming. A police officer tore down the street and pulled into our cul de sac, then turned off his lights and siren and parked. Then another. Then another. I'm pretty sure that's the entire active police force of our town on a Monday night, all on our street.
Of course, Greg and I were concerned about what was going on. The neighbor across the street has been taken to the hospital at least twice, so we thought maybe something had happened there. But no, they pulled up to one of our other neighbors and they all hopped out and rushed to the front door.
The house was really dark inside, so I started thinking burglars or something. Then someone opened the front door and turned on a light. The cops stood with someone and talked briefly, then two of the cops turned around, got in their cars, and left. The only thing I could hear was, "He's gone."
I went back inside, wondering what that was all about. This is a small city, so you never know when you might hear of what was going on. Until then, it's a mystery. Do you have a theory?
Of course, Greg and I were concerned about what was going on. The neighbor across the street has been taken to the hospital at least twice, so we thought maybe something had happened there. But no, they pulled up to one of our other neighbors and they all hopped out and rushed to the front door.
The house was really dark inside, so I started thinking burglars or something. Then someone opened the front door and turned on a light. The cops stood with someone and talked briefly, then two of the cops turned around, got in their cars, and left. The only thing I could hear was, "He's gone."
I went back inside, wondering what that was all about. This is a small city, so you never know when you might hear of what was going on. Until then, it's a mystery. Do you have a theory?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Blogging outside
Mother Nature decided to make it up to us yesterday and today for that last, nasty spring snowstorm. It's 85 degrees today and yesterday it was about 75. I'm typing on my laptop on the porch, watching the girls run around barefoot in the grass.
It was, I believe, two weeks ago that Greg took the picture in the front yard of Allie kissing her snowman. Now, my tulips are blooming, the trees are leafing out as though they're going to miss something if they haven't fully sprung by midnight, and the grass needs to be mowed.
Spring is here. Deb is happy.
It was, I believe, two weeks ago that Greg took the picture in the front yard of Allie kissing her snowman. Now, my tulips are blooming, the trees are leafing out as though they're going to miss something if they haven't fully sprung by midnight, and the grass needs to be mowed.
Spring is here. Deb is happy.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Kitty torture
As I type, my father-in-law is cracking up. He's running our kittens ragged with a laser pointer.
When we got these two brothers, we thought that we would free-feed them, though that had never been successful with our other cats. In the past, we had to feed only twice per day or (actually, and) our cats were quite overweight.
Well, these two love to eat too and so it's quite fun to give them some extensive exercise to try to keep them in shape. I have to admit, Dave seems to be getting quite the giggles from running the kittens into the refrigerator and basement door.
I would never do something like that. It's more fun to run them into the front door, which is steel and gives a satisfying thunk.
When we got these two brothers, we thought that we would free-feed them, though that had never been successful with our other cats. In the past, we had to feed only twice per day or (actually, and) our cats were quite overweight.
Well, these two love to eat too and so it's quite fun to give them some extensive exercise to try to keep them in shape. I have to admit, Dave seems to be getting quite the giggles from running the kittens into the refrigerator and basement door.
I would never do something like that. It's more fun to run them into the front door, which is steel and gives a satisfying thunk.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Cats swimming
We've had a major problem lately with floods of water. I came downstairs the other morning at 6 a.m. and stepped in a big puddle of water in the hallway outside the half bath. Then I realized that the rag rug that sits there was completely soaked.
After checking the toilet, the sink, and interrogating the girls for spillage that they hadn't disclosed, we figured out that the water came from the cats. Yes, our 7-month old kittens have decided that instead of just drinking their water, they should splash it in like raccoons washing their walnuts.
Despite our house not being very old, our floors are really, really slanted right there (by the way, if we ever decide to move and you ever decide to buy our house, I'm completely kidding about that slanted floor thing, dramatic effect, you know), and it turns out that the splashing they were doing traveled a good eight feet in a nice little river.
In the process, the cats soaked the bottom legs of the Ikea butcher block tables we have there and I know they're really going to ruin them if we allow this to go on. Greg has decided on a program of aversion therapy involving extensive swatting. I'm hoping that this won't make them decide to stop drinking from their dish and start drinking elsewhere, like (horrors) the toilet or something. That would be as bad as if they were dogs!
After checking the toilet, the sink, and interrogating the girls for spillage that they hadn't disclosed, we figured out that the water came from the cats. Yes, our 7-month old kittens have decided that instead of just drinking their water, they should splash it in like raccoons washing their walnuts.
Despite our house not being very old, our floors are really, really slanted right there (by the way, if we ever decide to move and you ever decide to buy our house, I'm completely kidding about that slanted floor thing, dramatic effect, you know), and it turns out that the splashing they were doing traveled a good eight feet in a nice little river.
In the process, the cats soaked the bottom legs of the Ikea butcher block tables we have there and I know they're really going to ruin them if we allow this to go on. Greg has decided on a program of aversion therapy involving extensive swatting. I'm hoping that this won't make them decide to stop drinking from their dish and start drinking elsewhere, like (horrors) the toilet or something. That would be as bad as if they were dogs!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Fifth helpings
Julia's appetite is a mystery. Normally, she subsists on cereal, chicken nuggets and fruit snacks, but sometimes she seems to have developed a second stomach.
Tonight was such an evening--we ate salads and macaroni and cheese and the girls had hotdogs too. We told the girls they had to eat some green beans to get a refill on their macaroni and cheese.
Allie, Greg and I finished eating and I cleaned up while Greg worked on the mess that the cats have been making with their water dish. Julia dithered about eating her green beans, which usually means that she's about to say that her stomach hurts (which it doesn't) and that she's done eating. That lasts for about ten minutes normally, until she starts asking for fruit snacks.
She walked away from her plate to go to the bathroom, then came back and perched on her chair. She asked for more macaroni and cheese and I reminded her for the third time that she had to eat her green beans. She settled down and started eating them, then I was happy to get her more macaroni and cheese.
And more macaroni and cheese. And more macaroni and cheese, and more macaroni and cheese. Yes, she had five helpings of macaroni and cheese (big tablespoonfuls).
Then she took some bites of out of her Easter chocolate bunny and she was done for the night. I guess the second stomach was momentarily satisfied.
Tonight was such an evening--we ate salads and macaroni and cheese and the girls had hotdogs too. We told the girls they had to eat some green beans to get a refill on their macaroni and cheese.
Allie, Greg and I finished eating and I cleaned up while Greg worked on the mess that the cats have been making with their water dish. Julia dithered about eating her green beans, which usually means that she's about to say that her stomach hurts (which it doesn't) and that she's done eating. That lasts for about ten minutes normally, until she starts asking for fruit snacks.
She walked away from her plate to go to the bathroom, then came back and perched on her chair. She asked for more macaroni and cheese and I reminded her for the third time that she had to eat her green beans. She settled down and started eating them, then I was happy to get her more macaroni and cheese.
And more macaroni and cheese. And more macaroni and cheese, and more macaroni and cheese. Yes, she had five helpings of macaroni and cheese (big tablespoonfuls).
Then she took some bites of out of her Easter chocolate bunny and she was done for the night. I guess the second stomach was momentarily satisfied.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
OK, I'm back
I've been pretty unavailable for the last two weeks because I've been busy reading. And reading, and reading. Thousands of pages, literally. I've been reading the Harry Potter books.
My local library didn't have book one available, but I've read two, three, four, five and six. I finished six off in about 8 hours, more or less. Of course, I think it's only 600-some pages, as opposed to book five, which I think was about 870 pages. I would have finished six faster if I didn't have to keep stopping for the last 50 pages to get more Kleenex and blow my nose.
Why did I just read these books now, instead of years ago? I always knew that I wanted to read the series, but I didn't want to be one of those desperate people who camped out at the bookstore to get the next book.
Well, tomorrow I'm going to call my local library and put myself on the reserve list for when they get their shipment of book seven. I can't wait. No surprise, here, but these are really good books. I'm sure my girls will read them someday, and I look forward to sharing them with them.
Since I have to wait now until at least July for that last book, I'll get back to more of my normal blogging schedule. I know you've all been waiting with bated breath. And now your long wait is over, you lucky dogs.
My local library didn't have book one available, but I've read two, three, four, five and six. I finished six off in about 8 hours, more or less. Of course, I think it's only 600-some pages, as opposed to book five, which I think was about 870 pages. I would have finished six faster if I didn't have to keep stopping for the last 50 pages to get more Kleenex and blow my nose.
Why did I just read these books now, instead of years ago? I always knew that I wanted to read the series, but I didn't want to be one of those desperate people who camped out at the bookstore to get the next book.
Well, tomorrow I'm going to call my local library and put myself on the reserve list for when they get their shipment of book seven. I can't wait. No surprise, here, but these are really good books. I'm sure my girls will read them someday, and I look forward to sharing them with them.
Since I have to wait now until at least July for that last book, I'll get back to more of my normal blogging schedule. I know you've all been waiting with bated breath. And now your long wait is over, you lucky dogs.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Run for it!
We got 6 inches of wet, heavy snow yesterday. Yuck. Every tree and sign and power line and structure was covered with several inches of heavy snow. That wasn't the worst of it, however.
I drove about 45 minutes today to another one of our plants and all the way there, I kept getting attacked. Yes, attacked!
All of the trees were blowing in the wind and they kept sloughing off bits of the snow from their branches. These weren't little poofs of puffy snow, though, falling like snowflakes onto my windshield and the top of my car.
These were ice bombs! Seriously! The temperature has been just at the level where it appears every bit of snow on every branch has a bit of ice under it. And when the tree moved and dropped off some of it's snow, the bit of ice went with it.
It was really bad. There are kind of a lot of trees along the road on this trip, which I'll admit is not something I've given a lot of thought to before today. I kept jumping and glancing up warily, expecting to see a crack in the moonroof, it was that loud.
Attack of the spring snow--that would make a rotten movie title, but it would be accurate.
I drove about 45 minutes today to another one of our plants and all the way there, I kept getting attacked. Yes, attacked!
All of the trees were blowing in the wind and they kept sloughing off bits of the snow from their branches. These weren't little poofs of puffy snow, though, falling like snowflakes onto my windshield and the top of my car.
These were ice bombs! Seriously! The temperature has been just at the level where it appears every bit of snow on every branch has a bit of ice under it. And when the tree moved and dropped off some of it's snow, the bit of ice went with it.
It was really bad. There are kind of a lot of trees along the road on this trip, which I'll admit is not something I've given a lot of thought to before today. I kept jumping and glancing up warily, expecting to see a crack in the moonroof, it was that loud.
Attack of the spring snow--that would make a rotten movie title, but it would be accurate.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Much too busy
Can't take the time to do a real post . . . . reading Harry Potter, you know . . . on the fourth book and only 605 pages in to the 734-page book . . . how in the world can this be considered children's literature . . . . Harry's tackling the third task now, must run . . .
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Dreaming of a stripper pole
Last night, the girls and I were driving back from visiting my family when I saw a curious sight. There was a dairy farm by the side of the road (that's not the curious part, it is Wisconsin, of course).
Cows were gathered in the middle of a fenced-in area, eating (that's not the curious part either, I saw numerous cows eating dinner as we passed various farms). Their heads were all down, snuffling up feed off a concrete bench type structure that ran down the middle of the pen (still not curious).
The curious part was that there was one cow who stood on top of the bench structure, appeared to pose, and then tore down the "runway" as though she wanted to show off for the other ladies.
I've seen so many movies with anthropomorphic animals lately that I couldn't help ascribing her antics to the desire to show off, to show it all off, baby!
Cows were gathered in the middle of a fenced-in area, eating (that's not the curious part either, I saw numerous cows eating dinner as we passed various farms). Their heads were all down, snuffling up feed off a concrete bench type structure that ran down the middle of the pen (still not curious).
The curious part was that there was one cow who stood on top of the bench structure, appeared to pose, and then tore down the "runway" as though she wanted to show off for the other ladies.
I've seen so many movies with anthropomorphic animals lately that I couldn't help ascribing her antics to the desire to show off, to show it all off, baby!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Observations on gaming
This afternoon, this statement was heard. "Can we gamble now?" It was heard at my sister's house, after we'd eaten a large, traditional family-gathering dinner and done the dishes. It's our tradition to get out the dice or cards after these lunches/dinners and trade some funds. The only problem with the above statement is that it was made by my 3 1/2 year old.
She doesn't actually gamble, of course. She just sits on someone's lap or an extra chair and watches. Allie, however, who's 7, plays. And she won today too. About $5.
I'm thinking that if she keeps this up, she can pay for her own college education.
She doesn't actually gamble, of course. She just sits on someone's lap or an extra chair and watches. Allie, however, who's 7, plays. And she won today too. About $5.
I'm thinking that if she keeps this up, she can pay for her own college education.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Odd, hmm
I was driving out of the gate where I work awhile back and saw something that caught my eye.
A trucker was backing into a receiving dock and he was carefully watching his mirrors instead of looking in front of him, where I was. I glanced up to see which way he was moving and where he was looking and I saw something that looked familiar.
There was a cat stretched on his dashboard, right against the front window of his semi truck, facing the steering wheel and between the wheel and the window. I could see his ears and the back of his head as he watched the driver back up.
I've certainly heard of truckers having dogs in their vehicles before, but this was the first cat I've ever seen. I had to wonder, where does the driver keep the litter box? Or is the cat road trained? Trained to only go outside like a dog would?
I can't imagine wanting to travel with the a litter box in the sleeper cab. I know those spaces are suprisingly roomy, but ick. I think the feline companionship would be nice, though!
A trucker was backing into a receiving dock and he was carefully watching his mirrors instead of looking in front of him, where I was. I glanced up to see which way he was moving and where he was looking and I saw something that looked familiar.
There was a cat stretched on his dashboard, right against the front window of his semi truck, facing the steering wheel and between the wheel and the window. I could see his ears and the back of his head as he watched the driver back up.
I've certainly heard of truckers having dogs in their vehicles before, but this was the first cat I've ever seen. I had to wonder, where does the driver keep the litter box? Or is the cat road trained? Trained to only go outside like a dog would?
I can't imagine wanting to travel with the a litter box in the sleeper cab. I know those spaces are suprisingly roomy, but ick. I think the feline companionship would be nice, though!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Oooo, this is going to hurt
My husband enjoys food. He enjoys food even more if it has any number of unusual toppings on it. During our meals, it's not uncommon for him to try two or more seasonings with his food, including some things that I personally consider rather extreme.
Such was the scene at our dinner table last night. We ate beef roast, and it would have been a rather nice meal with the two of us somewhat alone because the girls hate beef roast and we'd already given them spaghettios, they'd eaten, and they were playing in the nearby living room (actually, fighting over toys, but that's another post).
So Greg and I could have had a lovely semi-intimate dinner, ignoring the sparring from the girls and talking about our daily activities or the stock market performance or what sexual position we were going to try out later that evening.
However, those dastardly English people visited recently and left my husband some gifts of food, which he is immensely enjoying sampling. Thus it was that Greg uttered the above statement. He was putting a rather large amount of Colman's Mustard on each sliver of his roast beef, pausing in rather dreadful anticipation, and then chewing, pausing, and swallowing rather rapidly.
It didn't even look like fun to me, but he swore that it was wonderful. He's about halfway through the jar already, so I guess he's serious. I just hope nothing vital burns up or falls off before the jar is empty.
Such was the scene at our dinner table last night. We ate beef roast, and it would have been a rather nice meal with the two of us somewhat alone because the girls hate beef roast and we'd already given them spaghettios, they'd eaten, and they were playing in the nearby living room (actually, fighting over toys, but that's another post).
So Greg and I could have had a lovely semi-intimate dinner, ignoring the sparring from the girls and talking about our daily activities or the stock market performance or what sexual position we were going to try out later that evening.
However, those dastardly English people visited recently and left my husband some gifts of food, which he is immensely enjoying sampling. Thus it was that Greg uttered the above statement. He was putting a rather large amount of Colman's Mustard on each sliver of his roast beef, pausing in rather dreadful anticipation, and then chewing, pausing, and swallowing rather rapidly.
It didn't even look like fun to me, but he swore that it was wonderful. He's about halfway through the jar already, so I guess he's serious. I just hope nothing vital burns up or falls off before the jar is empty.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Oh, lordy
After I wrote the post last night, I got out "Little House in the Big Woods" and started re-reading it. I got a good chunk of the way through the book and then Allie saw me and she wanted to hear some of it. I read out loud about the first time Laura ever went to town and what a wonderland she thought the town store was.
Then I told Allie that for Christmas, Laura and her sister only got new red mittens and one candy cane, and how excited they were to get such wonderful presents. That's when I got into trouble. Allie asked why Santa Claus didn't bring them more than that.
Oh, crap. I told her that this was a very long time ago and that children didn't get presents like she does now. Allie said, Mommy, is Santa Claus real? I said he was. She said, are the flying reindeer real? I said they were. She said, how do they do that? I said, no one really knows--want to hear some more about Laura? She said, I want to go to the North Pole and see them do that. Then she said she wanted to hear more about the Ingalls.
She's 7 years old. When do we have to admit the truth? I'M NOT READY!
Then I told Allie that for Christmas, Laura and her sister only got new red mittens and one candy cane, and how excited they were to get such wonderful presents. That's when I got into trouble. Allie asked why Santa Claus didn't bring them more than that.
Oh, crap. I told her that this was a very long time ago and that children didn't get presents like she does now. Allie said, Mommy, is Santa Claus real? I said he was. She said, are the flying reindeer real? I said they were. She said, how do they do that? I said, no one really knows--want to hear some more about Laura? She said, I want to go to the North Pole and see them do that. Then she said she wanted to hear more about the Ingalls.
She's 7 years old. When do we have to admit the truth? I'M NOT READY!
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