Watch out. It's gettin' crazy over here.

Today I will be blogging working from a post on my pretty red sofa, facing the lighted Christmas tree, rather than my usual spot at the kitchen table (see right). Because it's Pretty and I Wanna.

If I were a normal person working from home, this wouldn't merit announcing. But I am a corporate drone who feels extreme guilt (and worries that OSHA might reprimand me) when I don't sit at some form of a DESK, with my hands and feet at 90-degree angles.

Nyah, nyah, I say today. And happy holidays. :)

P.S. From the sofa, I can see clearly the lower right-hand quadrant of our tree, heaviest of all with 14 "oh-na-mets" dangling precariously from the tippy-tips of their 6 saggy branches. (Yes, do the math.) Hee. So cute.

Easy, Breezy Recipe Monday

Look, diet or not, I like the cream sauces. Alfredo. Hollandaise. Bernaise. Mayonnaise.

Here's one I made the other night, using lo-fat versions of everything. It makes for a delicious chicken dish, with about half the guilt. ;)

Celery-Wine Baked Chicken see? right there, it's Celery. Healthy.

1/2 cup fresh sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp butter/margarine
1 (10.75-oz) can 98% fat-free cream of celery soup
1/4 c. chopped green pepper
1/4 c. diced celery
1/2 c. white wine
1/2 c. lite sour cream
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
pinch paprika
pinch garlic powder
pinch black pepper
1 add'l tbsp butter/marg

First you sautee the mushrooms in 1 tbsp butter (or cheat like I do and open up a little can of B&Bs). Add them to a large bowl, along with the soup, vegetables, wine, and sour cream. Pour into a 9x13" dish. Top with chicken breasts. Sprinkle chicken with the spices, and dot with butter. Cover.

Bake in preheated 325° oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Serve over pasta or rice (egg noodles are great; whole wheat pasta works, too).

...That Radio Song!

I just have to post this because it is hilarious and SPOT-ON. My favorite Thursday 13 list from A Flyover Blog:

13 Christmas Songs I Never Want To Hear Again (HA!!)

1. My Favorite Things by Rod Stewart. This is just wrong. Rod Stewart bears no resemblance to Julie Andrews.

2. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Jessica Simpson. Why is this girl still around? She can't sing, act or talk, yet she's everywhere! Go away... and take your sister with you!

3. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon. The most pathetic holiday tune ever penned. (Emphasis mine.) Guaranteed to induce severe depression. Makes me want to fill my pockets with heavy rocks and wade into the river...

4. I Wonder As I Wander by anybody. Just plain odd. Gives my a tiny chest pain every time I hear it.

5. The Gift by Aselin Debison. Can't sing. Can't sing. Can't sing. (never heard this one but I'm sure she's right)

6. The Christmas Shoes by Newsong. I detest this wretched song! Emotional manipulation on an unparalled scale. Whoever wrote this convoluted piece of Christmas drivel should be brought to the town square and flogged! There, I feel better now.

...click for more! It's worth it, I swear.

In response, and to shake those awful tunes out of our heads, I will list here my FIVE FAVORITE, pleasant-to-hear, happy-inducing Christmas songs.

1. "Sleigh Ride" by Johnny Mathis, Any Grant, or the classic orchestral version. I can't decide; I like 'em all.

2. "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen" (choral). The poetry of the lyrics, the harmonies of voice, the minor-to-major resolution at the end...? PERFECT Christmas tune.

3. "Here Comes Santa Claus" (by I don't know who)... AJ's favorite, apparently. "Come Here, Santa Claus," he says. This cute-ism, I know, will live forever in our family lore. I'm trying to learn all the lyrics. I love the end, "So let's sing praise to the Lord above, for Santa Claus comes tonight." :)

4. In Dulci Jubilo. You're not going to hear this on 94.9 Lite FM. Too bad, because it's so upbeat and LATIN. Was my favorite performance in my college chorus (possibly because I had a small part in the special quartet).

5. I Pray On Christmas, by Harry Connick Jr. Not a traditional carol, but it's one of the 4 or 5 albums that I drag out every year.

"I pray on Christmas (Oh, sweet Jesus)
that the sick will soon be strong,
I pray on Christmas, the Lord will hear my song,
I pray on Christmas that God will lead the way...
and I pray on Christmas He'll get me through another day."

About all we can ask, right? :) (Boy, is it hard to just choose FIVE!) Oh wait. I have to put this one:

"Jingle Bells," by Herb Alpert. HA! What am I DOING with this album?? I don't know, but I love it. I wish I could attach a clip because it's so funny and loungey but I don't really know how to do that.

Anyway, happy holiday listening!

Thursday Thirteen #3

13 Good Things that happened yesterday 1. I found something to wear that fit, and matched (sometimes hard when you haven't done laundry yet after a road trip)! 2. Even though we woke up 15 minutes late (neither of us remembered to set our alarms), we made it out the door at our normal time. Thank you, ready-made lunch items like Starkist to Go and bananas! 3. I promised myself a Non-Fat Peppermint Mocha for the commute and ....oh, sorry, got lost for a minute in that fluffy cozy memory.... mmmmm.... 4. I had one scheduled conference call with a client at 2:30, and it ended by 2:50. No complications, logical progress on their project, kind people. 5. AJ saw Santa Claus at school, and for the first time, didn't cry when put into his lap! In fact... 6. AJ TALKED to Santa Claus. I know this because he told us ALL about it later, at dinner. "AJ, what did you tell Santa you want for Christmas?" I asked. "I tell him I want TAN-DY. Ayy NEWWWWW Pay-Doh! Ayyy.... Buzz, ay Woody, ay Yesse (Jesse)..." He went on and on, and was so excited about talking to "Lanta." Apparently he finished his visit with, "Bye-bye, Lanta." This conversation was without a doubt the highlight of mine and my husband's day. 7. I made a delicious dinner in the new stove -- celery/wine baked chicken breasts. I used 98% fat-free cream of celery soup and light sour cream, which achieved "delicious" yet remained not too sinful. Served it over whole wheat pasta, with a salad on the side. YUM! 8. AJ helped with the salad. 9. AJ also managed to play by himself for about 10 minutes. Can I get an AMEN!! 10. Bedtime was a breeze. (I have a friend who's having a lot of trouble with his 2-year-old at bedtime. Poor things. They're all losing sleep, and not agreeing on how to tackle it, and it just sounds very unpleasant. I'm not immune to future bedtime struggles, I'm sure -- AJ already knows how to stall for time -- but so far, we've got a system that works and I'M GRATEFUL.) 11. Despite a headache and general post-8:00 laziness, husband and I put lights on the Christmas tree. (Without any bitching!) 12. We discovered one of our 5 strings of lights is half-dead. This is good why? Because I get to go to TARGET today to replace it! Mwhahaaa-ha-ha-ha. 13. I fell asleep on DH's chest, comfy cozy in our pillow-top, perfect bed. We love our bed. :) And remembered to set an alarm for today. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. http://www.mommy-inc.com/ 2. http://www.danno.org/blogs/ 3. http://dibookblogetc.typepad.com/my_weblog/ 4. http://westofmars.blogspot.com/ 5. http://karlascrazylife.blogspot.com/ 6. http://joelysueburkhart.com/blog/ 7. http://addiesramblings.com/ 8. http://greggdigressions.blogspot.com/ 9.... (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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You needed me

We returned from my parents' house on Monday evening, whiny toddler in tow. He'd been unusually fussy about "wann' go bye-bye" when we left Florida that morning, then when we pulled into our garage 6 hours later, it was all tears and "go bye-bye?" again. I think he was confused. We're definitely having a whining stage. And traveling is hard. (Hi: I've mastered the obvious.) I can deal with that.

It didn't stop us from having a good vacation. Six days! I didn't realize it was going to be six full days, but man, was that nice. Time with the family, lounge-around days, no plans whatsoever... it was heaven.

Except.... along with the whiny, I get the clingy. Do you? Man, does my kid NEED ME. After a few days of it -- don't get me wrong, I love vacation and getting to be with him, but! -- I was about ready to jump out of my skin if I had to let him "help me" do dishes, or go to the bathroom, or clean out my closets, or go to the store one more time. He's so funny. I'll say, "AJ, I'm going to the potty, I'll be Right Back." And he immediately pops up and declares, "I come, Mama," as he runs to catch me. My Mom was kind enough to encourage me, saying that even though I get "a break" when I go to the office, once I leave there and pick him up (on typical days), it's all-him all-the-time. She made me feel normal about being tired of him, is what I'm trying to say. Even though I'm not a SAHM. And I needed to hear that. So thanks, Mom. :)

Mom also told me that parents can't play with their kids too much. I worry sometimes that I'm making myself more of a playmate for AJ than a responsible (disciplinarian?) capital-P Parent. But she said don't worry.

It was our first Thanksgiving without my Grandmother, and I didn't realize that it was Mom's first dinner party since the funeral in August. We got teary about that, and of course it was strange not to serve Grandmother's one pretty glass of wine, or take her home after the evening was over. Husband very keenly observed that my Mom's having to adjust to not being needed as much as when Grandmother was with us. She absolutely took care of everything for Grandmother -- she was Relied Upon. And now that's missing from her daily round. Ironically, that was one of the things Grandmother talked about in her recent years -- she wanted to feel appreciated and necessary, and often didn't. So I'm thinking of you, Mom, and want you to know how much *I* need you. (See above.)

Interesting that the same theme drifted in and around and through the holiday for both of us.

We had some great moments at the piano. AJ was truly in awe of my cousin Tom, who plays. He would sit on the bench with him and wiggle his little bottom in time to "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Come Here, Santa Claus." Maybe you know it as "Here Comes." A musician in the making, perhaps? Or at least some to-be-treasured musical memories (and videos) of holiday time, which every kid definitely needs.

Good bye... and... hellooooooo!

(anyone get the Broadway musical reference? (one of my favorites) ...anyone?)

I have to admit I got a teensy bit wistful as they wheeled the Old Craptastic out the back door. It was the oven that baked my very first turkey as a wife and mother. Awww. The one where I boiled baby's bottles. (Once.) Other than that? ...nothin'. Take it away, boys!

The new stove rests peacefully, stainlessly, in its new home. I'm sure you're all THRILLED (that this story arc is ending). It will be used, I'm sure, on many a Thanksgiving to come. But for now, it has 5 days to sit and prepare itself for maximum daily use, while we escape to my mother's house. Oh, get this: I now have a broiler pan! (Yah, didn't have one.) I have an Oven Light! Pretty dings (instead of limp-sounding '80s beeps). A quiet fan! Okay, I'll shut up. It's just so exciting!

Step 1 on the path to holiness

Today I hopped over to one of the first blogs I ever discovered -- everyone say hello to the darling Summa Mamas -- Hello! -- and took a quick run down their long and distinguished blogroll. Catholic blogroll, y'understand. This is where I often go when I need a good dose of canonical instruction via the Internet. Lo! (to use a Biblical term) There I appeared, ON the list!

And then my face turned a little bit red.

I am so NOT devout. I'm honored to be on their list, but a little embarrassed if any of their other regulars come here and read me... literally, ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ad nauseum. (At least I do know a little Latin, heh.) Some of my favorite posts certainly happen when I get really inspired by the love of the Holy Spirit, which can come into your life and just positively SURROUND you, if you let it.... but there's been precious little of that here lately. I haven't taken any time to look or listen for it. I guess my excuse is that there has been a lot going on. And when you set weight-loss goals like I have this last month or so, a lot of times that trumps all other endeavors because it REQUIRES so much time and energy. I'm not trying to become a diet-blog, just trying to share my feelings about it... Not to mention work, household nonsense, and those all important MEMES! But when isn't there "a lot going on?" Like Gilda said, "It's always something."

Anyway, there is more to me than counting calories and making wish-lists. In the spirit of being more open to the Divine Uplift, I've claimed this blog for kindness. (See it down there on the right? I'm a big kid now, I have a badge!) I also hope to share more goodness here. To seek it out, and witness it. It's there, in the world... you just have to make it your business to see it. I haven't combed the archives so I can't promise that everything I've ever written here has been kind... but going forward it will be. It's the right way to be. It's a start.

(Thankfully, a bit of snark is still allowed. I looked it up. Hee.)

I Love Potluck.

For all my big talk about dieting.... I sure am cavorting around here irresponsibly with Tres Leches cake in my hot little hand.

It's just a TASTE, I swear. A nibble.

And there's fruit on top. Virtuous!

Thank you, appliance gods

Saturday, I was fully expecting a day of driving all over town, comparison shopping (one of my least favorite activities of all time), and general malaise at having to spend That Much Money.

Instead, we arrived at the first appliance store, walked in, saw it, On Closeout, for $1200 less than what I had seen online as starting prices. !!! Holy DEAL, Batman. The 19-year-old sales girl was pleasant and surprisingly knowledgable. Our stove was just sitting there, EXACTLY the model we wanted: JennAir, downdraft, slide-in, 30-inch, ceramic cooktop, black-and-stainless (which is awesome because I couldn't decide between them). Dingdingdingding! We have a winner. The end.

My family will welcome the return of actual meals on Wednesday morning between 9 and 12. Christmas comes early for me! I never knew how much I'd miss cooking. Even my harried-mother facsimile brand of cooking. :)

Bullets

• I keep sneezing. I bet my coworkers are fed up with "Bless you."
• DUDES. I just got really nervous thinking about Turkey Day, which really should be called "Side Items Day" because who cares about the turkey when there is sausage dressing, green bean salad, sweet potato cass., pecan pie, WINE & cetera??! I think the health plan is doomed.
• Perhaps a nice, long walk sometime that day will help.
• Perhaps suspending all calorie-counting in honor of our ancestors.
• Hrmph.
• When I want to Get Something Done (esp. for work), I want to DO it and be done with it. Not wait on others. Rrgh. CALL ME BACK.

He could handle it.

I was talking with my nurse a couple days ago -- the CNP is who I usually see -- and she was asking about our plans for a second child. Of course she told me about *her* 3 kids, and how the spacing worked for her: 3 and change years apart and hers weren't necessarily close, she said, as kids... but it was fine. AJ would be old enough, she postulated, to want to help with a baby and not be overly jealous.

Welllll... she obviously doesn't KNOW AJ (wink), but I think she's mostly right: He'll be fine. I thought more about it afterwards and said to myself, if anyone can handle it, he can.

And that in itself, was a neat thought -- his overall spirit is pretty darn strong. He knows he's loved. He knows what's what. I watch him at school and, yeah, some of the other snot-nosed punks kids pull on him and take his toys, but that's just kids. He may whine but all it takes is an "AJ, it's Joe's turn now," and he's fine. One girl was hugging on him this morning -- for 5 full minutes. I could tell by the way he looked up at me that he was kind-of thinking, "Mom, couldya get her off me?" But he stood there and played along. "Whatever" seems to be an attitude he can embrace, and that is a good thing.

We're so blessed that he's a good kid. Looking back over the past few months I'm surprised to report we haven't had very many breakdowns or time-outs (we've definitely had a few, don't get me wrong). No public moments of humiliation or interrupted meals. Wait... Church is a different story -- he DID have to be removed from Church once. But he knew he'd gotten in trouble. He feels that -- he seems to genuinely respect us and want us happy with him. I think we're doing an okay job showing "disappointment," not "angry," at the tough times. He's still missing all of his canine teeth which means there is definitely some grumpy-bear yet to endure. But he's generally willing to listen to reason, when he needs to be Talked To. "AJ, I know you want that candy right now, but it's bedtime... let's save it and have it tomorrow, okay?" "Otay, Mama." I think he GETS IT. That's pretty cool for a toddler.

I'd better quit while I'm ahead. No need to blatantly call down the wrath of the Universe. Just suffice it to say it's been a good run here lately.

Sister Love

I've been calling my sister out this week, since she went to Malaysia and didn't tell me. :) But she is not rotten. She is my favorite. :) She and I can be separated by miles and many miles, but still feel as close as when we shared bedtime stories and giggles. I love to remember that for many years, she and I wouldn't sleep apart -- we'd go kind-of in phases -- three or four weeks in her queen bed, and then 3 or 4 in mine. Something comforting about having your best friend there with you in the deep dark quiet of night.

And OH, did we have fun! And by that I mean, argued. ;) Before we fell asleep, I "breathed too hard" and annoyed her, and when she'd tell me that, I'd make her feel pretty bad by saying "WELL I HAVE TO BREATHE." Then *huff off and turn over.* It's funny now because I've grown overly sensitive in my adulthood, even to my own breathing, and especially at bedtime. If, for instance, I feel my own exhaling hit my bare shoulder? I FREAK OUT. Must cover up shoulder with sheet immediately.

It's special to have someone you'll tell your dreams to. Who'll trade back scratches with you. Who doesn't kick the covers off, unless you're conspiring to kick them together. Who'll turn off your lamp after you've fallen asleep with the book still open on your chest.

Sister love is one of the very best kinds. Happy Love Thursday, Beansy! And safe travels!

More Love Thursday here, here, and here. Spread it! Tell someone you love 'em.

138.5

One of my new daily reads, Mel, calls this "dieting naked." Putting the ACTUAL NUMBER out there for all to see. You'll notice, perhaps, that it has gone down again, from the last time I gave an official count. This is slow-going, but nevertheless, a victory. Begone, 1.5 more pounds!

I was about ready to give up 2 days ago. Was sick of the Halloween sabotage -- because we STILL have a Ziploc's worth of mini chocolate bars -- was sick of the feeling of failure as the scale stayed firmly at 139.5 -- was sick of logging calories and having to log "chips and salsa" AGAIN, because I sometimes just can't resist 'em... But a loss of even 1 pound can make you feel better again. Motivated.

I'll tell you something: I am not very fat. Thanks to having a husband who knows what to say when I'm looking in the mirror with my head cocked to the side, wondering, I know I don't HAVE to be doing this. However, with a height of 5'1", my position on this chart could certainly be improved. So that's what I'm working toward. Better habits. More control. I think a lot about society, and the kinds of jobs we all have now, versus the kinds of jobs people had up until this modern age, and how we've got to MOVE ON PURPOSE since we don't by default anymore. It must be funny to the ancestors looking down on us from heaven. Washing clothes with a washboard, hanging them on a line, rolling out pie crust dough, carrying cast-iron pots to the well water spigot, walking over to the shed to get a few onions... all that worked just fine, back in the day! Now we don't do any of that stuff and it shows. So we rack up our 30 minutes and use our dumbbells (wonder if the name is significant? It's DUMB that we had to create weights to push up and down, in order to use the muscles in our bodies!) and we steam our broccoli. It's all good.

Want to get healthier? Here, start with my favorite resources.
http://fitday.com/
WebMD Diet/Nutrition boards (I post on the 10-25 pounds one -- it just helps to have a community to share the ups and downs)
Great recipes! I may have to subscribe to this next year.

------

I went to my annual doctor's appointment yesterday and let me tell you, being in there brought on all kinds of memories of weekly visits. It made my ovaries tingle a little. Waaaaant. And I'm babysitting a teensy infant tonight. Just so you know. (to heck with getting skinny, what I really want is to get fat!) :)

FRITZ

Or, why I won't be getting any right-hand ring

First off, I just received email from my sister entitled "Hello from Taipei!" WTH?! If *I* were going to be traveling to Taipei by way of Kuala Lumpur (which I wouldn't even know about if it weren't for The Amazing Race), I would have TOLD ME about it. Why is she there? Is she a spy? Is she doing some really crazy Christmas shopping? Is this a 2nd phase of her postponed-so-it-could-be-more-wonderful honeymoon?? W.T.H.? Bring me a t-shirt.

** ** ** ** ** ** **
My whole house is on the fritz. I almost just said "f-ing fritz," because that is ABOUT how fed up I am with the whole thing. In fact, last night when the straw actually broke the camel's back of appliances, I gave hubby a fed-up look that could have stopped an army. And it is SO not his fault. I am sorry for that look, Hubby.

BUT LORD HELP IF I DON'T GET SOME NEW APPLIANCES IN HERE WE ARE ALL GOING TO STARVE, AND THEN GO AROUND IN WET CLOTHES, AND ALSO NOT HAVE ANY TOAST.

You remember when the dryer moaned and sputtered, yes? We never did replace it. It's limping along. We haven't started a fire yet. But that would have been a relatively painless replacement -- we saw some fairly decent dryers for about $300 all total. Didn't buy 'em. Hello, Lazy.

Saturday night, DH and I baked our cake, right? Wellllllll.... just after taking it out of the 400-degree oven, we recevied a series of warning beeps and an LCD display of "F - 1.... F - 1.... F - 1...." Indicating something wrong. Much like something ominous on Lost. This had happened once before, when our neighbors were over for dinner actually (NICE), and my neighbor got down on his hands and knees to fix it, because DH and I were standing around glancing quizzically at each other, like, "Hmm, what'd'ya think we should do?... Huh, did you say something?..." So Neighbor unplugged the oven to stop the beeping. We plugged it back in an hour later and all was fine. Fast forward 9 months or so, and same thing this Saturday, except in MY trying to unplug it (why did I have to be the take-charge female?) I got SHOCKED!! I've never been shocked before but WOW. Felt like a jackhammer. I crawled back out from under there and asked hubby if he had seen that bright light? In my super-buzzed state, I thought I'd caused a real electrical storm but really I just dropped the flashlight. Heh.

Then LAST night while I was trying to bake a pizza? Beeps again after a couple minutes. Mal. Function. &@!(!~^&fricking fracking. (Grilled pizza is delicious, btw.) I went to plug it back in this morning just now, just ONE last try. Immediate BEEP BEEP BEEP. F - 1. So... screw it. I'm done. I'm calling the JennAir place this week. Yeah, it's a JennAir. The kind of stove you just can't go to Home Depot and replace. *0%-@&!aaaghaaaahh. WOE is me and PITY me.

This morning I also put an English muffin in the toaster. Turns out the left-hand 'elevator' doesn't work! Ha ha!

Maybe we should just move?

Here's how the weekend's shaping up.

Seems like I have a lot of to-dos coming up. I'd better write them all down or I'm likely to forget.

Friday (tonight):
Sit and talk about Christmas lists with Hubby. (Lists for OTHERS. The Spirit of Christmas. Because you can only be selfish before so long before your heart starts to pickle.)

Saturday:
1. AJ. Haircut. (My turn this time, not the professional's.)
1. Napoleon to the vet (DH).
2. Clean bathroom floor (the one out of our three that I never did get to back then).
3. Laundry.
4. *Cantor 5:00pm Mass.* (this is the one I feel like I might forget)
5. Bake a Cake. Hubby wants to do this together. Maybe there will be some flour-flinging or frosting... making a mess. :) I myself am also looking forward to some Ginger and Jack, because the frosting recipe calls for Jack, so it'll be out on the counter already. Score. :) So to speak.

Sunday: sleeeeeep in. And maybe some Christmas shopping?

Monday: work from home

Tuesday: doc appointment 8:45 a.m., then work meeting 10:00.

Wednesday:
1. Work from home.
2. Bake cupcakes for coworker's birthday party (it's my month).
3. Babysit for a friend who has a 4-week-old baby girl. Eeeeeeeee! Can't wait to hold her. ....Oh, wait! insert above:
2.5. Pack small bag so I can take AJ with me to friend's house for the first hour or so, 'til DH gets home. (LeapPad, books? snacks, CapriSun, 3-4 diapers because you KNOW that's when he'd choose to have multiple big poops, all 45 of his DVDs in case of potential screaming fit that wakes the baby because he just HAS to watch ...whatever one he comes up with...)

Thursday: Don't forget to take the cupcakes to work.

And then it's the 17th, and the following week, work will have our Thanksgiving potluck so there'll be more cooking-and-communting, and THUS! begins



THE



HOLIDAYS (dun, dun, duunnnnnnnnn)...



...and it's a good thing I worked Christmas shopping in there THIS Sunday, because there will inevitably be MORE evening and weekend activities -- ones for which I might need real OUTFITS, no less -- pretty much non-stop, until January 2nd. And my in-laws might be coming. HERE. To my HOUSE. For Christmas. So if you don't hear from me every day? ...there's why.

(SOoOO glad I decided against NaBloPoMo. Good Lord!) November? Are you kidding me?

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Things I want for Christmas, by el-e-e Or, My Most Spoiled-Brat Post Ever. In boolean logic, think of these as "or'd" statements, not "and-ed!" 1. Tommy Girl perfume. I used to wear this -- when I first met DH, actually -- and haven't in some time, but I love it. 2. Starbucks. I want Starbucks. All of it. Heh, just kidding. I want Starbucks gift cards. Seriously? I think I want this most of all. I adore, and am loyal to one drink only: non-fat no-whip toffee nut latte. (I also like that new Maple Macchiato, but HELLO? 500 calories. That's the non-fat version!) Anyway, I think I will also be purchasing these for AJ's teachers, the girl who cuts my hair, etc. 3. Barnes & Noble gift cards. Mom and I always say "If I could pick one (or a few) stores and have $1,000 to spend there..." I'm not looking for a cool grand this Christmas, just a little something to put in my pocket. Books are my favorite. :) 4. I'm looking for a new cookware line. I don't need the whole line, but maybe a small skillet or saucepan in Jamie Oliver's T-fal, or something similar. I'm pretty sure it's unhealthy to cook in non-stick pots that are flaking on the bottom. 5. Lenox - soup bowls, dessert plates, or serving dishes in my wedding pattern. Sigh. So expensive. So pretty in my china cabinet. So hard to serve a meal on them, with no serving dishes. If you're into that kind of thing, here's my pretty pretty pattern and I LOAVVV it. (Sometimes I truly think the most fun job in the world would be in Macy's housewares/bridal registry. Just to be with all those pretty things all the time.) 6. New watch. No brainer, just something from the 35-dollar case at Target would be fine. I'm bored with my watch. And it's scratched all to heck. 7. (Wow, I really am starting to feel selfish here...that was the end of my 'official' list - the one I shared with Mom. But continuing on!) Hubby said he'd get take me to look at right-hand rings. Eeee! I really love that idea and YES, he should get me jewelry instead of a gadget. The last few years it's been gadgets. (wonderful ones, like my iPod nano, but still.) 8. New jammies/comfy pants. Not flannel, though, and not fleece. 9. Of course I hope someone gets me something from Bath and Body Works, 'cause that's just standard. 10. Ditto Yankee Candles. I almost always get one or two votives. 11. World Peace, of course. 12. No traveling. I really, really want AJ to be at his own home this year, so Santa can come down OUR chimney and eat OUR cookies and he can be awed at the magic. 13. Snow. I know for sure I won't get this one, but it would be SO COOL if there was a weather fluke and it happened. Talk about magic! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Amy 2. Chaotic Home 3. Beth 4. CJ 5. uisce 6. caylynn 7. she 8. miranda 9. debby 10. karla 11... (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Shopping in my basement

Yesterday I went on a brief shopping tear, looking for two things: new Thanksgivingy home decor, and jeans for AJ. I found none, and none, but when I got home I was in the basement putting away the Halloween knicky-knacks and lo and behold! I found a box labeled "2T-3T Fall/Winter."

larry, I love you. Thank you for having 3 boys before me. I now have a solid base of long-sleeved shirts, a couple of pairs of denim overalls that fit, about 4 more warm jammies than we had before, and more. I had completely forgotten this box existed.

Wish I had one for me! But this means there's more money in the budget for my winter wardrobe. Which is good because the sweater I'm wearing this morning is positively 3 years old and becoming an embarrassment.

* * * * *

So the dieting thing can be such a delicate freaking balance. I've been counting calories now for 3 weeks (this is the start of the 4th), and though I've slipped up on occassion, overall I've been within the range of 1 pound should be coming off each week. However, there's very little change on my bathroom scale. BIG changes in my attitude and definitely making exercise a habit, which are successes. And I know not to focus on the numbers. But dammit, if I'm sacrificing Ro*tel dip, I'd sure as heck like a little measurable reward out of it. So I'm readjusting today, lowering my intake by about 100 calories. Hopefully that will help. Also? Halloween candy is The Sly Enemy, just so you know. Hopefully my sealing it in a plastic bag and locking it in a dark closet will shut it up.

Dash off a post

I was desperately looking for a writing prompt or a fun meme to do this morning, to get my brain working here before I have to prep for a conference call and another meeting later. I found nothing. What's the deal? Is the Internet taking a day off?? Instead, I will share with you six random things about me today.

1. I found my list. (A 3x5" memo that had mine and hubby's Chrismtas wish lists** jotted down in pencil. Was worried that it had been thrown away and that all the things I WANT would never be recalled again!) It was in my jacket pocket. This is what happens when you only need a jacket once a week or so.

2. My nose runneth over. I can't get control of my sinus cavity these days. I take Claritin or Sudafed every day, and still... sniffly-snufly. It's worst from about 4:30 am 'til I wake up. Miserable.

3. Yesterday I did Pilates again and today I am .... NOT sore! not one bit! Perhaps this means the muscles are developing, hooray! Or perhaps it means I did not FEEL THE adequate percentage of BURN.

4. Afternoon shopping at Target can be made EVEN BETTER (hard to believe) if I get a Toffee Nut Latte and AJ gets a Snack-Size M&Ms to enjoy during the trip.

5. My friend Ann keeps trying to push her 13-year-old daughter on me for a babysitter. I'm being Nervous First-Time Mom, (still! 2 years later) and refusing her. Does that make me irrational, or smart? The girl, to be fair, has a 1.5-year-old brother, so I'm sure she's well-trained. She's also taken some sort of YMCA babysitter certification. In truth, she's probably better qualified than me. But I don't know.

6. I'm wearing a bright orange turtleneck, cream-colored pants, and black shoes/belt, and my hair is not following orders this morning.

**btw, Sis, Mom... it's TIME. :)

Wake up and understand him

It isn't always wine and roses. It isn't even always easy conversation. Sometimes love is a quiet dinner, when something - she's not sure what - is on his mind. Love is not asking. Love is letting him be. An evening spent apart, him in the office (basement) balancing the checkbook, her on the sofa, waiting to fold dry laundry.

Sometimes she forgets to snuggle up to him before saying good night, because in the time it takes him to go downstairs and check the locks, she's already fallen asleep.

Sometimes he's still a little withdrawn when he wakes up in the morning. Love is knowing it's okay. Love is being perhaps the one happy thing he can count on today. Smiling for him instead of sliding down with him. Carrying the hope that he'll be able to smile at her, when dinner comes around again tonight.



No picture today, Found a perfect photo, and happy Love Thursday all the same. :)

Reporting from Romper Room

...and the streets of our neighborhood...

In typical fashion, I was overcome... at the sight of someone ELSE's kid! Didn't even require my own! When the first PreK'er marched across the daycare lobby in the annual KidsRKids costume parade, my weakling eyes felt that prickle of little tears! Can you believe it? I am a sentimental freak. AJ cried when he saw ME (like his Mama in so many ways), so I got to march in the 2nd half of the parade -- he grabbed on and wouldn't let go.

Costumed kids -- at least twelve Spidermen, 5 Batmans, 2 Thomas the Tank Engines, a frillion Disney Princesses, and 1 Darth Vader -- are delicious and squishy-sweet, better than gum drops. After the parade, I hung around the classroom and helped AJ get over the fact that I might leave sometime in the afternoon. He was visibly concerned. I sat on the floor and became his classmates' human jungle gym -- once again, overcome... or perhaps more accurately, overrun. Kids love, for some reason, to CLIMB ON ME. Especially Meghan. Not sure if that means I would make a GOOD or a BAD daycare teacher. Heh. Not sure if I would want to, but... maybe. :) It's not a terrible way to spend a day. Sure beats databases.

I learned that Ms. M leads the kids in a little blessing-song before they eat lunch. I AM SO GLAD OF THAT! Who knew. I guess it's a private school, she can do what she wants. It's to the tune of "Frere Jacques:" God our Father, (God our Father), once again.. (once again..), we would like to thank you, (we would like to thank you), Ah-ah-men!, (Ah-ah-men). So sweet! The kids all sang it with her. (And now I know why AJ likes to sing Ah-men! so much.)

His other teacher, Ms. R., happens to live in our neighborhood and we ran into her and her family several times last night on the Trick-or-Treating adventure. Very cool -- kinda feels like a neighborly friend caring for him, instead of some random stranger. The whole "it takes a village" idea, which I love.

The Trick-or-Treating couldn't have been more fun. AJ was extremely chatty when a door was opened to him, performing his "Tick-oh-teee," telling each neighbor how he was Blue, and Daddy is 'Teve, and Mama a kitty-cat," and then wagging his little blue tail on command. He broke HEARTS. And managed to score quite a bit of c-a-n-d-y. So funny, his bucket got very heavy, but would he let us carry it? "NO." The neighborhood fire truck was out again with all its bright lights and honking sirens. The bigger kids get a kick out of riding on it. Maybe next year. We asked AJ if he wanted to, and it was another decided "NO." Oh, I never loved Halloween as much as I do as a parent!

Did you have fun? Did you open your door, or turn off all the lights? Did you take your kids out or relish the quiet by sending your spouse? Tell me tell me. :)