Yesterday I got to AJ's school ready for my big Mamaaaa! hug, which I got, and savored.
They were all on the playground. He was sweaty and scrapey-kneed, with lunch stains on his shirt and red juice stains around his mouth... which I just love. Little boys! Adorable! Rough and tumble! Messy! It gets me right in the heart.
In the middle of this strange euphoria of mine, (!) AJ says, like it's the most normal thing in the world,
"Mama? Will you help me get this rock outta my ear?"
Friday, May 11
Wednesday, May 9
Me, me! I want something for nothing!
Everyday Mommy's offering her gorgeous art for free, for your blog, for Mother's Day. Wouldn't that be cool? :) Go ahead, you can sign up, too. Just don't cut in line in front of ME!
Tuesday, May 8
Our Good Fences should probably come down
DH and I joked this weekend that it's a good thing we like each other, because we are so picky about our local friends -- often getting annoyed with them, rarely asking them over, sometimes rolling our eyes when they call... we're awful, small-hearted people. So Saturday we installed our next-door neighbors' rolled-up carpet, 4 ceiling fans, 20 light fixtures, and (gorgeous) bathroom vanity in our free storage facility, otherwise known as the basement. They're investment real-estaters, and one of their properties is in foreclosure, so I guess we're helping out. (I'll admit, I had rude thoughts about it at first, since usually Mrs. Neighbor tells me all about the million-dollar deal she's about to close. Eyeroll.)
Later that day, they called and asked if we had a half-cup of red wine for a recipe they were making. We did, but the bottle wasn't open. Annoying. THEN they came over and rang the doorbell just when we'd sat down to dinner, which wouldn't be a big deal in many households, but in ours, the doorbell sets off the lab-chow (BARK! BARK! I'MGONNAKILLWHOEVERJUSTRANGTHATBELL-BARK), which sets off the child to both scared and thrilled. (Who could it be?? So exciting! MAMA!) They were bringing over a taste of the resulting recipe so we'd know our wine sacrifice was put to good use, and it was delicious. That made me feel guilty for saying, 5 minutes eariler when the phone rang, "If that's the neighbors, do NOT answer it."
I'm a terrible person.
BUT! The Neighbors -- I feel like they need an official title -- never give up on us. Yesterday they called to see if AJ and I wanted to go have dinner with them at T-Mac, the excellent pub/bar around the corner. (I WANT it to be a "pub," but it's really a bar. It does have an international beer list of thousands, so that gives it some character, at least.) Without so much as a Sigh, I smiled and took them up on the offer. We rarely, if ever, go out on a Monday night, and since DH had to go take his drug test for the new job after work, I just decided What the Heck. We met them and their 2 kids, shared some medium-hot, extra-crunchy buffalo wings (YUM), and had the nicest time. We "dined" al fresco. Daughter Neighbor, 6 months older than AJ, had to go to the potty TWICE during our meal, so guess who else decided he did? That's right! AJ pee-peed TWICE on a public potty! His first time doing that! Thank you, Kelsey. I even ordered DH his favorite po-boy to go, which he scarfed down the minute he got home.
It's like we have real friends now or something.
So many people we know really socialize with their neighbors. Almost to the point of what DH and I think is crazy, leaving the doors (gasp) unlocked and just entering willy-nilly without knocking on each other's doors. Like, ...family. The kids play together every day, they spend nights all piled up at one house or the other, they eat meals together more often than not. Even my Mom's parents probably considered their longtime neighbors best friends. So I know it's DONE... it just hasn't really been done by us, yet.
I kind-of like it. If I can keep my eyes from rolling, we'll be good to go.
Later that day, they called and asked if we had a half-cup of red wine for a recipe they were making. We did, but the bottle wasn't open. Annoying. THEN they came over and rang the doorbell just when we'd sat down to dinner, which wouldn't be a big deal in many households, but in ours, the doorbell sets off the lab-chow (BARK! BARK! I'MGONNAKILLWHOEVERJUSTRANGTHATBELL-BARK), which sets off the child to both scared and thrilled. (Who could it be?? So exciting! MAMA!) They were bringing over a taste of the resulting recipe so we'd know our wine sacrifice was put to good use, and it was delicious. That made me feel guilty for saying, 5 minutes eariler when the phone rang, "If that's the neighbors, do NOT answer it."
I'm a terrible person.
BUT! The Neighbors -- I feel like they need an official title -- never give up on us. Yesterday they called to see if AJ and I wanted to go have dinner with them at T-Mac, the excellent pub/bar around the corner. (I WANT it to be a "pub," but it's really a bar. It does have an international beer list of thousands, so that gives it some character, at least.) Without so much as a Sigh, I smiled and took them up on the offer. We rarely, if ever, go out on a Monday night, and since DH had to go take his drug test for the new job after work, I just decided What the Heck. We met them and their 2 kids, shared some medium-hot, extra-crunchy buffalo wings (YUM), and had the nicest time. We "dined" al fresco. Daughter Neighbor, 6 months older than AJ, had to go to the potty TWICE during our meal, so guess who else decided he did? That's right! AJ pee-peed TWICE on a public potty! His first time doing that! Thank you, Kelsey. I even ordered DH his favorite po-boy to go, which he scarfed down the minute he got home.
It's like we have real friends now or something.
So many people we know really socialize with their neighbors. Almost to the point of what DH and I think is crazy, leaving the doors (gasp) unlocked and just entering willy-nilly without knocking on each other's doors. Like, ...family. The kids play together every day, they spend nights all piled up at one house or the other, they eat meals together more often than not. Even my Mom's parents probably considered their longtime neighbors best friends. So I know it's DONE... it just hasn't really been done by us, yet.
I kind-of like it. If I can keep my eyes from rolling, we'll be good to go.
Friday, May 4
Easy, Breezy Recipe Friday
Baked Garlic Chicken
(and a contest*)
Forgive me -- I don't have amounts. But you're smart people. Eyeball it.
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
softened butter or margarine (Squeeze P'kay is easiest)
garlic salt
shredded parmesan
Holy cakes, this is easy:
Put some foil on a cookie sheet.
Put the chicken on the foil.
Put the butter on the chicken. (Spread it as evenly as you can.)
Sprinkly garlic salt over the butter.
Sprinkly (good typo!) cheese --be generous-- over the g-salt.
(You can salt and pepper if you like)
Bake it at 375-400 for 15 to 20 minutes.
ENJOY. This always comes out juicy and wonderful for me. Usually when I bake chicken breasts I can only stand to eat about 3/4 of mine before I'm over it. But with this, I lick the platter clean.
*Now: bonus points if you can guess when/where I first had this recipe, which is near & dear to my heart!
(and a contest*)
Forgive me -- I don't have amounts. But you're smart people. Eyeball it.
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
softened butter or margarine (Squeeze P'kay is easiest)
garlic salt
shredded parmesan
Holy cakes, this is easy:
Put some foil on a cookie sheet.
Put the chicken on the foil.
Put the butter on the chicken. (Spread it as evenly as you can.)
Sprinkly garlic salt over the butter.
Sprinkly (good typo!) cheese --be generous-- over the g-salt.
(You can salt and pepper if you like)
Bake it at 375-400 for 15 to 20 minutes.
ENJOY. This always comes out juicy and wonderful for me. Usually when I bake chicken breasts I can only stand to eat about 3/4 of mine before I'm over it. But with this, I lick the platter clean.
*Now: bonus points if you can guess when/where I first had this recipe, which is near & dear to my heart!
Thursday, May 3
A four-note chord
1. I finally finished my book, and enjoyed it down to the last morsel of footnotes, but I was ready for it to be over. I was starting to think of nothing BUT the subject matter, and that was grating on my nerves just a bit. Still fascinated... possibly a bit obsessed... and after the book and some additional Internet research, I am definitely more historically informed. But after reading that deep well of stuff about other people's faith, it sort-of makes me want to go pick up -- I mean, heave up, the thing is about 900 pages -- my Catechism book. You know, the comforts of home. I should possibly get a little more obsessed with my OWN faith. Heh. My last word on this subject: In many ways, we're all not that different from each other. And I think religion might be the number one most interesting topic for study, period. It is rich with the study of everything else -- history, politics, government, society, life and death. I can't get enough.
- - - - - - - -
2. My friend and frequent commenter, sdw, had her baby girl! I am so glad for them all. Say a quick prayer, though: they're stuck for a few more hospital days while Baby has a few more tests to ward off infection. And poor Mama was required by insurance (I thought we had GOOD insurance, sdw... WTF?!) to move OUT of her hospital room while Baby stays. Rrrr. I know that's hard on her. By the way: sdw? = sister-daughter-wife, and also my friend's initials. :) SO NOW, she's SDWM!! M!!!
- - - - - - - -
3. This is funny: The other night I discovered the meaning of this blog. :) My little scavenger. I was all worried, thinking, "Crap! We just BOUGHT that stinking dryer, why is it so loud?? Now I'm going to have to start reading yet another blog.
By the way, I have a question. There seems to be some unwritten rule that, even though we all blog, we don't really TALK about the blog in real life. Is that how you guys see it? I mean, so many of us blog in secret, not sharing our real names. I'm not one to hide my blog from friends or family -- in fact, my whole nuclear family and several buddies read me -- but I always get this quirky twitch when my Mom says on the phone, "I liked what you said on your blog the other day." It just doesn't seem like that's DONE. I love that she reads! And tells me she likes it! It's just odd that my eye goes all Quasimodo when I hear the words "your blog" out loud. It seems like we're only supposed to talk about blogging ON the blogs, or at BlogHer. :) Love ya, Mom! Don't you dare change a thing! I just wondered if anyone else gets this itsy discomfort. Maybe I'm just a weirdo.
- - - - - - - - -
4. I might have accidentally let my Dingbat show yesterday. Last week the daycare handed out a letter that said "Teacher Appreciation Week" at the top. I didn't have time to read it word by word, but I know it also said, "Wednesday, bring a flower for each of your child's teachers." So yesterday, after AJ helped me carefully select the most beautiful grocery store carnations (cheap! cheap!) we could find, we pranced into his classroom and he elected to carry them around himself until his teachers arrived (we get there really early). I did notice the morning teacher was non-exclamatory about the flowers, and there also weren't any vases around, which the letter had promised. Hmm. THEN, I took my lunch break at Target to find some little gift-baggy items like lotions and chocolates, to be prepared for Friday's gift-giving (couldn't do that with AJ or he'd want all the chocolates for himself, right?) -- I shopped proudly, thinking, "I am so smart to do this today." It wasn't until I was driving to pick AJ up at 5:00 pm that I realized... the letter also said "May 7 - 11." I was a full week early. DURRR.
(For you music nerds, that last note was a minor 7th.)
- - - - - - - -
2. My friend and frequent commenter, sdw, had her baby girl! I am so glad for them all. Say a quick prayer, though: they're stuck for a few more hospital days while Baby has a few more tests to ward off infection. And poor Mama was required by insurance (I thought we had GOOD insurance, sdw... WTF?!) to move OUT of her hospital room while Baby stays. Rrrr. I know that's hard on her. By the way: sdw? = sister-daughter-wife, and also my friend's initials. :) SO NOW, she's SDWM!! M!!!
- - - - - - - -
3. This is funny: The other night I discovered the meaning of this blog. :) My little scavenger. I was all worried, thinking, "Crap! We just BOUGHT that stinking dryer, why is it so loud?? Now I'm going to have to start reading yet another blog.
By the way, I have a question. There seems to be some unwritten rule that, even though we all blog, we don't really TALK about the blog in real life. Is that how you guys see it? I mean, so many of us blog in secret, not sharing our real names. I'm not one to hide my blog from friends or family -- in fact, my whole nuclear family and several buddies read me -- but I always get this quirky twitch when my Mom says on the phone, "I liked what you said on your blog the other day." It just doesn't seem like that's DONE. I love that she reads! And tells me she likes it! It's just odd that my eye goes all Quasimodo when I hear the words "your blog" out loud. It seems like we're only supposed to talk about blogging ON the blogs, or at BlogHer. :) Love ya, Mom! Don't you dare change a thing! I just wondered if anyone else gets this itsy discomfort. Maybe I'm just a weirdo.
- - - - - - - - -
4. I might have accidentally let my Dingbat show yesterday. Last week the daycare handed out a letter that said "Teacher Appreciation Week" at the top. I didn't have time to read it word by word, but I know it also said, "Wednesday, bring a flower for each of your child's teachers." So yesterday, after AJ helped me carefully select the most beautiful grocery store carnations (cheap! cheap!) we could find, we pranced into his classroom and he elected to carry them around himself until his teachers arrived (we get there really early). I did notice the morning teacher was non-exclamatory about the flowers, and there also weren't any vases around, which the letter had promised. Hmm. THEN, I took my lunch break at Target to find some little gift-baggy items like lotions and chocolates, to be prepared for Friday's gift-giving (couldn't do that with AJ or he'd want all the chocolates for himself, right?) -- I shopped proudly, thinking, "I am so smart to do this today." It wasn't until I was driving to pick AJ up at 5:00 pm that I realized... the letter also said "May 7 - 11." I was a full week early. DURRR.
(For you music nerds, that last note was a minor 7th.)
Monday, April 30
Glimpse my weekend
Things that are cute:
--AJ sitting in church, "reading" the hymnal and singing "All-lay-loo-lah" to himself, to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?" I did not teach him the song, only the word. Long time ago. I'm surprised he picked up on it but he always notices when the Gospel Acclaimation comes around. And he put the word together with the tune, which actually works quite well.
-- AJ eating baby carrots, a food he has traditionally despised, and exclaiming, "I LIKE cawwots!" The actual crunching and mmm-mmm-chewing, head bobbing up and down as he chews, is totally awesome, too.
--AJ playing Frisbee in the driveway. He'd toss it in a very… um… backwards fashion, then immediately run to go get it. Repeat, repeat, repeat. He fell down at one point, but ran away from Mommy who was trying to comfort him and/or wipe the small "strawberry" on his elbow. Wouldn't have any of it. TOUGH GUY. Just got back up to play some more.
--AJ napping on mommy and daddy's bed. Sacked out. Zero movement. 1 sleeping position (head underneath pillow), 2 full hours.
--AJ slurping an entire frosted orange, bite by slurpy, icy bite. No sharing with his Daddy. Obviously, he's an Atlanta boy through and through.
--AJ sitting in church, "reading" the hymnal and singing "All-lay-loo-lah" to himself, to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin?" I did not teach him the song, only the word. Long time ago. I'm surprised he picked up on it but he always notices when the Gospel Acclaimation comes around. And he put the word together with the tune, which actually works quite well.
-- AJ eating baby carrots, a food he has traditionally despised, and exclaiming, "I LIKE cawwots!" The actual crunching and mmm-mmm-chewing, head bobbing up and down as he chews, is totally awesome, too.
--AJ playing Frisbee in the driveway. He'd toss it in a very… um… backwards fashion, then immediately run to go get it. Repeat, repeat, repeat. He fell down at one point, but ran away from Mommy who was trying to comfort him and/or wipe the small "strawberry" on his elbow. Wouldn't have any of it. TOUGH GUY. Just got back up to play some more.
--AJ napping on mommy and daddy's bed. Sacked out. Zero movement. 1 sleeping position (head underneath pillow), 2 full hours.
--AJ slurping an entire frosted orange, bite by slurpy, icy bite. No sharing with his Daddy. Obviously, he's an Atlanta boy through and through.
Friday, April 27
This IS the news of the day
Or, more appropriately:
The news... for today.
Prefacing with: it's not really MY news to tell. Until about 30 minutes ago, there was still some shuffling going on, making our stomachs flutter and our heads hurt. Can I just say something?
Decisions? Are Hard.
I've always struggled with the grand ones, and it turns out my husband has a time of it, too. He and I aren't well-versed in how these Official Professional Negotiations are supposed to go, either. Offer, counter-offer... can you back out once you've said, "I accept?" Should you? I mean, SOMETHING told your heart to accept in the first place... Aw, geez, it's just all questions. So what can we do but keep praying for peace in his heart and wisdom in his mind. He's a dear, good husband. And I want HIM to be happy. Not just me. Not us, collectively.... Him. It's his career we're talking about.
We are very grateful for the good people in our life, who support us and encourage us. And also (reluctantly) thankful for the others, who sometimes make life and decisions extra hard with their toxicity and selfishness. Because they make us face the toughest questions, and learn what's right and wrong. We learn what we don't want to be. I love you, honey. You're doing the right thing.
(Sorry to be vague, folks, but dooce is a verb.)
* * * * * *
I'm telling you, one of my parenting strategies has completely backfired. COMPLETLEY. Or, maybe not a strategy, but a method. If AJ asks me for something that he cannot have, instead of flat-out refusing him, I've been saying, "Wellll, how about we eat that chocolate tomorrow after lunch, instead, okay? Okay." Or something along those lines.
AJ uses it against me now.
"AJ, it's time to brush your teeth."
"Wellll, Mama, maybe tomorrow we will do that."
"AJ, do NOT pour your juice onto the couch."
"Wellll, but I haffff to."
"AJ, we can't go play with Kelsey [neighbor] right now."
"Wellll... I think maybe we CAN. Otay? Otay."
The news... for today.
Prefacing with: it's not really MY news to tell. Until about 30 minutes ago, there was still some shuffling going on, making our stomachs flutter and our heads hurt. Can I just say something?
Decisions? Are Hard.
I've always struggled with the grand ones, and it turns out my husband has a time of it, too. He and I aren't well-versed in how these Official Professional Negotiations are supposed to go, either. Offer, counter-offer... can you back out once you've said, "I accept?" Should you? I mean, SOMETHING told your heart to accept in the first place... Aw, geez, it's just all questions. So what can we do but keep praying for peace in his heart and wisdom in his mind. He's a dear, good husband. And I want HIM to be happy. Not just me. Not us, collectively.... Him. It's his career we're talking about.
We are very grateful for the good people in our life, who support us and encourage us. And also (reluctantly) thankful for the others, who sometimes make life and decisions extra hard with their toxicity and selfishness. Because they make us face the toughest questions, and learn what's right and wrong. We learn what we don't want to be. I love you, honey. You're doing the right thing.
(Sorry to be vague, folks, but dooce is a verb.)
* * * * * *
I'm telling you, one of my parenting strategies has completely backfired. COMPLETLEY. Or, maybe not a strategy, but a method. If AJ asks me for something that he cannot have, instead of flat-out refusing him, I've been saying, "Wellll, how about we eat that chocolate tomorrow after lunch, instead, okay? Okay." Or something along those lines.
AJ uses it against me now.
"AJ, it's time to brush your teeth."
"Wellll, Mama, maybe tomorrow we will do that."
"AJ, do NOT pour your juice onto the couch."
"Wellll, but I haffff to."
"AJ, we can't go play with Kelsey [neighbor] right now."
"Wellll... I think maybe we CAN. Otay? Otay."
Thursday, April 26
This really is NOT the news of the day
Bloggers love to award themselves for being fabulous. There are many popularity contests but this one's by far the best, because? Anyone can nominate, and you can vote for everyone! We all win! Hooray!
Seriously, though, I did NOT expect to be nominated, but I WAS. Because Mrs. Flinger is RAD. Check me out! I can legally display this:
I am so NOT the best parenting blog! Not even close! My hubby even said, "Um, you don't actually give parenting tips or anything. ARE you even a parenting blog?" Hmph. Alright, fine, here's my parenting tip for the day: Go ask someone else. Probably Moxie. Ha-HA!
My goodness, to share the stage with this person? And this one? And this? Call me starstruck because I'm about to get out my autograph book. (Dudes, Zach Braff!)
Okay, sorry for name-dropping. Just go vote for all of your favorite bloggers and nominate a few, too. Share the love. It will postpone your actual work for at least a half-hour, I guarantee. And when you're looking to postpone work, a half-hour is perfect. Gets your mind away juuuust long enough, but doesn't look like more than a blip of "administrative" on your time sheet.
Theoretically... If you maybe fill out a time sheet.
I have a friend who told me that, I mean. (cough!) Hey, too bad there's not a "Best Slackin'-On-the-Job Blog." I'd have that one sewn up.
P.S. Just noticing that pretty much NO ONE else is waving their fancy Blogger's Choice banners... Am I a superdork? Is there a post-it on my back?
Seriously, though, I did NOT expect to be nominated, but I WAS. Because Mrs. Flinger is RAD. Check me out! I can legally display this:
I am so NOT the best parenting blog! Not even close! My hubby even said, "Um, you don't actually give parenting tips or anything. ARE you even a parenting blog?" Hmph. Alright, fine, here's my parenting tip for the day: Go ask someone else. Probably Moxie. Ha-HA!
My goodness, to share the stage with this person? And this one? And this? Call me starstruck because I'm about to get out my autograph book. (Dudes, Zach Braff!)
Okay, sorry for name-dropping. Just go vote for all of your favorite bloggers and nominate a few, too. Share the love. It will postpone your actual work for at least a half-hour, I guarantee. And when you're looking to postpone work, a half-hour is perfect. Gets your mind away juuuust long enough, but doesn't look like more than a blip of "administrative" on your time sheet.
Theoretically... If you maybe fill out a time sheet.
I have a friend who told me that, I mean. (cough!) Hey, too bad there's not a "Best Slackin'-On-the-Job Blog." I'd have that one sewn up.
P.S. Just noticing that pretty much NO ONE else is waving their fancy Blogger's Choice banners... Am I a superdork? Is there a post-it on my back?
Wednesday, April 25
Mountains of excitement!
I think DH just accepted the job.
I think he's telling his bosses right now.
I think -- squeeeee! -- this is going to be so great.
(I think big exciting things usually come with a weeeee bit of an adjustment period... eeks... but still.)
I think someone is earning stars in her Heavenly Crown by being so kind to me early this morning.
I gotta run. More details later... Thank you for your prayers about the jobby job.
I think he's telling his bosses right now.
I think -- squeeeee! -- this is going to be so great.
(I think big exciting things usually come with a weeeee bit of an adjustment period... eeks... but still.)
I think someone is earning stars in her Heavenly Crown by being so kind to me early this morning.
I gotta run. More details later... Thank you for your prayers about the jobby job.
Monday, April 23
Product placement
I am such a sucker for fun, or sappy, or hilarious commercials. I grinned approvingly at the recent one by Tide, where the couple goes to bed pouty, but by the magic of Lavender and Vanilla sheets, billowing down around them, they cozy up together happily by the end of the 30 seconds. It's got a catchy tune and is memorable. (Can't find it on YouTube or Tide.com) I had seen those Simple Pleasures detergents in the store and thought, "Oh Everyone's got to be aromatherapy now. They can't possibly be as great as they claim to be."
But. I. Was. Wrong.
I am in love with Lavender & Vanilla. I am doing laundry today, even though there is still ample room in the bottom of the hamper to push down our dirty clothes -- which usually means 2..., okay, 3 more days 'til I have to haul that crap downstairs. But I LOURVH smelling delicious without even trying. I sniff my shoulder every few minutes and WOW. Do you want to smell me? Because I rilly smell good today. Last week L&V was on sale and I had a coupon, so I bought 2 bottles. I may use them up by Friday. I've thought about getting out all my tablecloths and washing them, just so I can flap them around the house. I'm even washing Napleon's bath towels today because why should he get anything less?? He's OUR BEST DOG.
In other news, there's an interview happening today (right now) that could change in a very positive way the standard operating procedure of my household. And by that I just mean, one of us might not have to drive a 1-hour commute anymore, hallelujah. So if you can spare a little moment, just juke a prayer up for my husband. I'm holding my cell phone very gingerly, waiting for it to ring. He's been at the same company for 15 years, so this would be a Big change for him, if it came to be.
But. I. Was. Wrong.
I am in love with Lavender & Vanilla. I am doing laundry today, even though there is still ample room in the bottom of the hamper to push down our dirty clothes -- which usually means 2..., okay, 3 more days 'til I have to haul that crap downstairs. But I LOURVH smelling delicious without even trying. I sniff my shoulder every few minutes and WOW. Do you want to smell me? Because I rilly smell good today. Last week L&V was on sale and I had a coupon, so I bought 2 bottles. I may use them up by Friday. I've thought about getting out all my tablecloths and washing them, just so I can flap them around the house. I'm even washing Napleon's bath towels today because why should he get anything less?? He's OUR BEST DOG.
In other news, there's an interview happening today (right now) that could change in a very positive way the standard operating procedure of my household. And by that I just mean, one of us might not have to drive a 1-hour commute anymore, hallelujah. So if you can spare a little moment, just juke a prayer up for my husband. I'm holding my cell phone very gingerly, waiting for it to ring. He's been at the same company for 15 years, so this would be a Big change for him, if it came to be.
Friday, April 20
Memed again! Fun on Friday
Got tagged by darling Krissy a week ago, and haven't been up to the challenge yet. This is a fairly involved to-do list, and sometimes I don't like setting goals. It means you have to, y'know. Do things.
Personal Goals:
* Ah, well. Let's start with the easiest one to name: Get pregnant. Easier said than done, in some cases, although we're just out' the gate, not worried or anything yet. Seems I shouldn't call it a Goal so much as a Hope. Although with all the TTC (trying to conceive) websites and ovulation prediction kits and "chart stalking" and making Fertility your Friend... out there, you'd think it was a task you can master just like baking a souffle. Temperature has to be just right, put it in (the oven)... then Ding! If you've done it right, voila. It all seems a bit much on the scientific end.
* Do I have to say this out loud (again)? Eat better. Exercise more. Same as it ever was. (Same as it evah was!) We've been doing a lot better, I think. I've made fewer cream-soup casseroles in the last month and more grilled or baked things. More veggies. I was psyched to find Linda's tips since she makes it look so damn easy. But yeah, even avec baby, eat better. Perhaps I should throw out the Nestle eggs still rolling around my pantry. Since yesterday I ate four. At a time.
* Spend more quality time with husband and child. I'm thinking Game Night! AJ's almost figured out "Concentration," (Memory for those of you who didn't play it the old fashioned way), and Candy Land seems like a classic 3-year-old birthday gift to me. This will be awesome. Warm summer nights, lemonade for everyone, healthy competition. Maybe even invite the neighbors. (High hopes, Mama, hiiiiiigh hopes.)
* Be a better communicator. Oh, I need to work on this every day. Better communication with my coworkers, clients, family, neighbors, and friends. Especially friends -- I need to pick up the phone once in a while.
*And then there's the spiritual. How have come to this dry-bones spiritual place lately? I've just not been able to CONNECT with myself, with God, with prayer, AT ALL. It's fits and spurts. I got real pms-y ONCE in the last few months, I think, and prayed a Novena fervently. It helped, but after I finished those 9 days? Nothing. I just stopped praying again. Sigh. Perhaps a retreat this year would be helpful. (I don't really DO retreats. On second thought, no.)
Business/Financial
* I'd like to do additional side writing projects. Haven't done them in a long time, or any writing, really, since becoming a project mgr, so it will take some good stretching of my writer muscles. GOOD THING I've been practicing the fine art here on my blog. (..snort)
* I got a little raise recently. The goal is to put it, the entire %, directly into savings. Got to build that account back up after spending it all on the siding! (So we can spend it again on the AC. The deck. Et-freaking house ownership-c.)
* I can just copy my annual review here. I have a little post-it up on Le Cube to remind me: Increase knowledge -- Entrepreneurial outlook -- Think critically -- Leadership growth. (SIGH. I hoist my heavy pack and keep on trudging up this mountain. Ladder. Whatever.)
* I've got to really stop abusing parentheses. See above. And above that.
Don't think I'll tag anyone except for Beans (hello? echo...echo...), but if you're feeling inspired to do your New Year's Resolutions again, be my guest!
Personal Goals:
* Ah, well. Let's start with the easiest one to name: Get pregnant. Easier said than done, in some cases, although we're just out' the gate, not worried or anything yet. Seems I shouldn't call it a Goal so much as a Hope. Although with all the TTC (trying to conceive) websites and ovulation prediction kits and "chart stalking" and making Fertility your Friend... out there, you'd think it was a task you can master just like baking a souffle. Temperature has to be just right, put it in (the oven)... then Ding! If you've done it right, voila. It all seems a bit much on the scientific end.
* Do I have to say this out loud (again)? Eat better. Exercise more. Same as it ever was. (Same as it evah was!) We've been doing a lot better, I think. I've made fewer cream-soup casseroles in the last month and more grilled or baked things. More veggies. I was psyched to find Linda's tips since she makes it look so damn easy. But yeah, even avec baby, eat better. Perhaps I should throw out the Nestle eggs still rolling around my pantry. Since yesterday I ate four. At a time.
* Spend more quality time with husband and child. I'm thinking Game Night! AJ's almost figured out "Concentration," (Memory for those of you who didn't play it the old fashioned way), and Candy Land seems like a classic 3-year-old birthday gift to me. This will be awesome. Warm summer nights, lemonade for everyone, healthy competition. Maybe even invite the neighbors. (High hopes, Mama, hiiiiiigh hopes.)
* Be a better communicator. Oh, I need to work on this every day. Better communication with my coworkers, clients, family, neighbors, and friends. Especially friends -- I need to pick up the phone once in a while.
*And then there's the spiritual. How have come to this dry-bones spiritual place lately? I've just not been able to CONNECT with myself, with God, with prayer, AT ALL. It's fits and spurts. I got real pms-y ONCE in the last few months, I think, and prayed a Novena fervently. It helped, but after I finished those 9 days? Nothing. I just stopped praying again. Sigh. Perhaps a retreat this year would be helpful. (I don't really DO retreats. On second thought, no.)
Business/Financial
* I'd like to do additional side writing projects. Haven't done them in a long time, or any writing, really, since becoming a project mgr, so it will take some good stretching of my writer muscles. GOOD THING I've been practicing the fine art here on my blog. (..snort)
* I got a little raise recently. The goal is to put it, the entire %, directly into savings. Got to build that account back up after spending it all on the siding! (So we can spend it again on the AC. The deck. Et-freaking house ownership-c.)
* I can just copy my annual review here. I have a little post-it up on Le Cube to remind me: Increase knowledge -- Entrepreneurial outlook -- Think critically -- Leadership growth. (SIGH. I hoist my heavy pack and keep on trudging up this mountain. Ladder. Whatever.)
* I've got to really stop abusing parentheses. See above. And above that.
Don't think I'll tag anyone except for Beans (hello? echo...echo...), but if you're feeling inspired to do your New Year's Resolutions again, be my guest!
Thursday, April 19
Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute
Got my thinker on last night, didn't I? Didn't I?? Weren't you impressed? That is what happens when I blog past 9pm.
But today, TODAY I have a real question and it's important. (Although I do still want to hear what you're reading.) We have a wedding to attend Saturday night. 6 pm. It's not black-tie. I need a dress. It's spring, so... color? But it's nighttime, so... black? Style? Is the spaghetti straps w/thin cardigan too cazzhh for an evening wedding? I think maybe it is. But, fashion challenged here. I'd love to find a pretty, light suit, because I need one anyway, but... appropriate? Prob'ly not. Dress, yes?
I have to go to Talbot's & Belk (because they're closest) at lunch -- LUNCH! 3 hrs from now! -- and cross my fingers that they'll have the right thing (on sale).
Any suggestions?
Edited: FOUND a dress! Maryb wins -- Ann Taylor LOFT had the best selection and price. Thanks for the tipoff!! I think I'll be appropriately dressy, with the right jewels. :) Whee! So fun to shop like a real actual GIRL and not just a Mom (at Target/Marshall's). Wish you all could have come with me. We could've gotten LATTES.
But today, TODAY I have a real question and it's important. (Although I do still want to hear what you're reading.) We have a wedding to attend Saturday night. 6 pm. It's not black-tie. I need a dress. It's spring, so... color? But it's nighttime, so... black? Style? Is the spaghetti straps w/thin cardigan too cazzhh for an evening wedding? I think maybe it is. But, fashion challenged here. I'd love to find a pretty, light suit, because I need one anyway, but... appropriate? Prob'ly not. Dress, yes?
I have to go to Talbot's & Belk (because they're closest) at lunch -- LUNCH! 3 hrs from now! -- and cross my fingers that they'll have the right thing (on sale).
Any suggestions?
Edited: FOUND a dress! Maryb wins -- Ann Taylor LOFT had the best selection and price. Thanks for the tipoff!! I think I'll be appropriately dressy, with the right jewels. :) Whee! So fun to shop like a real actual GIRL and not just a Mom (at Target/Marshall's). Wish you all could have come with me. We could've gotten LATTES.
Wednesday, April 18
Me and chick-lit: On a break
I have been reading the greatest book. I can't tell you the name of it, because it covers a specific, rather sensitive topic: the religious extremists of a particular faith community. As you know, it could be any faith community... Christianity, Judaism, Islam, a Hale-Bopp-type cult, my own Catholicism... there are always extremists. So don't go trying to guess, I'm not here to flame anyone. This book, however, is fascinating, history-filled, and satisfies just about every curiosity I've ever had about this particular faith. In fact, it's THE book I've always wanted to read on the subject. It's comfirming some of my raised-eyebrow suspicions, but enlightening me in other ways. I'm totally immersed in it, probably because I've searched for the very specific and detailed information within these pages for YEARS.
I remember once in college, going to my favorite of my university's nine libraries -- the Theology library -- and prowling the basement stacks. Really dark, under-the-stairs basement stacks. No one else was in there. It was a rainy Sunday, there was a 40-watt glow lighting every third aisle... it's one of the most memorable days I ever spent studying, and I cherish that memory. I did it for my own mind, not because I had a paper due on the subject. Such pursuit! To learn! However, I never really was satiated that day. I found some reference stuff, some doctoral theses... but not this.
WHY I'm so intruged by this story is kind-of a mystery; but I am, so there it is. All I can do is soak it up and be satisfied. AND BOY, am I. Really, I think the idea of ANY faith and its unique history just calls to my heart. (To illustrate, these 2 textbooks were on my Amazon wish list for several years. I finally got them for my birthday last year and I was elated.) I want to KNOW where all the millions of different faith stories come from. I want to imagine hearing the first sermons and speeches of one, feeling the persecutions of another, being moved in different ways than I, myself, am naturally moved. I want to know why and wherefore. It's mind-blowing that some people's hearts pick up on some aspect of Christianity, for instance, and that aspect defines things for them forever, and they've found their faith home without question. And others look at that one aspect and go, "Hunh? What? THAT is your salvation? Handling snakes (for instance)? Not cutting your hair (for instance)?" And just don't get it. Aren't MEANT to get it.
We certainly aren't meant to understand the extremists, and while I don't want to dwell on the often violent results of their unconventional behavior, which this book talks about, it might be appropriate to think about psychosis and tragedy this week. And about "inspired" writings or preachers or interpretations.... or possibly insane, emotionally-scarred, exceedingly tragic such items. They haven't said too much about the VA Tech shooter's faith, and it's not a faith-based crime. But it's senseless, that's for sure, as were other tragedies, many of them this week in past Aprils, like weird Koresh's heinous Waco crimes and the subsequent results. Not to mention all the jihadists who do it, they say, for their version of God. All are examples that pierce us because they're truly connected to matters of faith: that which is supposed to carry us, nurture our feeble little minds through this life. Well, sometimes the mind goes wrong about who's right and who gets to Heaven, and who gets unlucky or abused or worse. And I find that interesting.
What to conclude? We'll never know the answers, I guess, until whatever we believe comes true or doesn't. It's a riveting mental quest for me. I think when I start my next book club book, Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld, I'll welcome the lighter subject. But for now, I'm thrilled to be learning.
What're you reading?
I remember once in college, going to my favorite of my university's nine libraries -- the Theology library -- and prowling the basement stacks. Really dark, under-the-stairs basement stacks. No one else was in there. It was a rainy Sunday, there was a 40-watt glow lighting every third aisle... it's one of the most memorable days I ever spent studying, and I cherish that memory. I did it for my own mind, not because I had a paper due on the subject. Such pursuit! To learn! However, I never really was satiated that day. I found some reference stuff, some doctoral theses... but not this.
WHY I'm so intruged by this story is kind-of a mystery; but I am, so there it is. All I can do is soak it up and be satisfied. AND BOY, am I. Really, I think the idea of ANY faith and its unique history just calls to my heart. (To illustrate, these 2 textbooks were on my Amazon wish list for several years. I finally got them for my birthday last year and I was elated.) I want to KNOW where all the millions of different faith stories come from. I want to imagine hearing the first sermons and speeches of one, feeling the persecutions of another, being moved in different ways than I, myself, am naturally moved. I want to know why and wherefore. It's mind-blowing that some people's hearts pick up on some aspect of Christianity, for instance, and that aspect defines things for them forever, and they've found their faith home without question. And others look at that one aspect and go, "Hunh? What? THAT is your salvation? Handling snakes (for instance)? Not cutting your hair (for instance)?" And just don't get it. Aren't MEANT to get it.
We certainly aren't meant to understand the extremists, and while I don't want to dwell on the often violent results of their unconventional behavior, which this book talks about, it might be appropriate to think about psychosis and tragedy this week. And about "inspired" writings or preachers or interpretations.... or possibly insane, emotionally-scarred, exceedingly tragic such items. They haven't said too much about the VA Tech shooter's faith, and it's not a faith-based crime. But it's senseless, that's for sure, as were other tragedies, many of them this week in past Aprils, like weird Koresh's heinous Waco crimes and the subsequent results. Not to mention all the jihadists who do it, they say, for their version of God. All are examples that pierce us because they're truly connected to matters of faith: that which is supposed to carry us, nurture our feeble little minds through this life. Well, sometimes the mind goes wrong about who's right and who gets to Heaven, and who gets unlucky or abused or worse. And I find that interesting.
What to conclude? We'll never know the answers, I guess, until whatever we believe comes true or doesn't. It's a riveting mental quest for me. I think when I start my next book club book, Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld, I'll welcome the lighter subject. But for now, I'm thrilled to be learning.
What're you reading?
Monday, April 16
Hamburger Helper
On Saturday I took AJ to the grocery store with me, as I wasn't sure what to make for dinner. DH was going to be at the hockey game (Thrashers in the playoffs!) which started at 3:00 pm, so it was uncertain if he'd make it home for dinner. I wanted to have something prepared in case, that wasn't fish sticks or nuggets, but also didn't require me to use my brain too much.
(Thinks to self: "Don't I have ground beef in the freezer already? Yeah, I think I do...") Ding, ding! Hamburger Helper? Perfect!
So cliche!! So "MOM." So 1980s! Ack. Seriously? I'm almost appalled. But AJ ate it right up, so I can't call it any less than a success. Hey, there are leftovers if you're hungry.
(Thinks to self: "Don't I have ground beef in the freezer already? Yeah, I think I do...") Ding, ding! Hamburger Helper? Perfect!
So cliche!! So "MOM." So 1980s! Ack. Seriously? I'm almost appalled. But AJ ate it right up, so I can't call it any less than a success. Hey, there are leftovers if you're hungry.
Thursday, April 12
Potty training update
The more I've been reading about potty training, including all of your kind advice, the more I'm convinced he's just not QUITE ready.
> Can he pull his pants up and down by himself? (Almost, but not quite.)
> Is he telling you when he has to go? (No, never.)
> Is he upset or uncomfortable when he has a wet or dirty diaper? (No, he doesn't care.)
So I am trying to just be patient. It's very hard. I think Hubby is a little more anxious than I am, and I absolutely don't fault him for it. I'm anxious, too. Our friends, whose daughter is 4 months younger, are all done with potty training, and I know it feels like we're "behind" now. (HA! the jokes are so easy!) I, personally, am really sick of diapers.
AJ's teachers say he does really well at school, and is dry nearly every time they check/change/potty him. So I'm taking that as a big success, and enough for the moment. I wish I could have a regular day, a Saturday or Sunday, to let him wear underpants and take him with me to the bathroom every 2 hours like clockwork. But we don't HAVE any long days that aren't punctuated with "We have to go to the store/car repair shop/church/friend's house." Weekends are when we have to get errands and socializing done. I feel like if I had a couple of long good days at home, then I could start to go every 2 hours with him no matter WHERE we are.
Argh. This is all SO uninteresting.
> Can he pull his pants up and down by himself? (Almost, but not quite.)
> Is he telling you when he has to go? (No, never.)
> Is he upset or uncomfortable when he has a wet or dirty diaper? (No, he doesn't care.)
So I am trying to just be patient. It's very hard. I think Hubby is a little more anxious than I am, and I absolutely don't fault him for it. I'm anxious, too. Our friends, whose daughter is 4 months younger, are all done with potty training, and I know it feels like we're "behind" now. (HA! the jokes are so easy!) I, personally, am really sick of diapers.
AJ's teachers say he does really well at school, and is dry nearly every time they check/change/potty him. So I'm taking that as a big success, and enough for the moment. I wish I could have a regular day, a Saturday or Sunday, to let him wear underpants and take him with me to the bathroom every 2 hours like clockwork. But we don't HAVE any long days that aren't punctuated with "We have to go to the store/car repair shop/church/friend's house." Weekends are when we have to get errands and socializing done. I feel like if I had a couple of long good days at home, then I could start to go every 2 hours with him no matter WHERE we are.
Argh. This is all SO uninteresting.
Tuesday, April 10
Big strong man, swallowing his emotions
Yesterday, I bought AJ his first backpack. I had wanted to find one before Easter, but didn't manage it, so even though I told him, "We're not buying anything fun, just stuff we need," I broke my own rule. He was thrilled -- it's dark blue with a menacing Spiderman on the front of it.
When his Daddy came home, he showed AJ how to put the now-heavy backpack on his shoulders. AJ had filled it with every book he could find downstairs, and several issues of Sesame Street magazine. He could barely walk. But he did. Stood up as straight as he could, and, arms out for balance, slowly came toward me. "WOW, AJ, you are just like the big boys at school with that backpack!"
This morning after we got him dressed, he put it on again and clunked down the stairs with it bumping each step behind him as he went. "I look COOL with my backpack, isn't it, Mama?"
And then. We had been telling him he couldn't take all those books to school. I think there's some rule about no toys from home. I'm going to check with his teachers today, but we told him all morning he had to take the backpack off, just for today. When it came time to load up the car, he wailed. Two big crocodile tears trickled down his cheeks and I thought we were in for it -- another difficult drop-off. "Honey, we'll ask your teachers and maybe tomorrow, okay?" He considered, then repeated that last sentence. "I will ask my teachers." Then he took a deep breath and put down the backpack. "Maybe tomorrow if I want to take it to school, I can."
And that was that.
When his Daddy came home, he showed AJ how to put the now-heavy backpack on his shoulders. AJ had filled it with every book he could find downstairs, and several issues of Sesame Street magazine. He could barely walk. But he did. Stood up as straight as he could, and, arms out for balance, slowly came toward me. "WOW, AJ, you are just like the big boys at school with that backpack!"
This morning after we got him dressed, he put it on again and clunked down the stairs with it bumping each step behind him as he went. "I look COOL with my backpack, isn't it, Mama?"
And then. We had been telling him he couldn't take all those books to school. I think there's some rule about no toys from home. I'm going to check with his teachers today, but we told him all morning he had to take the backpack off, just for today. When it came time to load up the car, he wailed. Two big crocodile tears trickled down his cheeks and I thought we were in for it -- another difficult drop-off. "Honey, we'll ask your teachers and maybe tomorrow, okay?" He considered, then repeated that last sentence. "I will ask my teachers." Then he took a deep breath and put down the backpack. "Maybe tomorrow if I want to take it to school, I can."
And that was that.
Monday, April 9
Tag and I'm it
There are people I know who refuse to do memes. There are people who get tagged and forget to do them, leaving bunches of "you've been taggeds" cluttering their to-do lists. Then there's me, casually reading my favorite bloggers la dee da, noticing a meme here and there, and each time, scrolling every-so-carefully down to the end, hoping I've been tagged. Hee! Guilty pleasure.
It was with great joy that I discovered Swistle's kind pass-on. The Three Things Meme. (Haven't I done this one before?)
Three Things That Scare Me:
1. possibly not making it to Heaven
2. solo vocal auditions
3. big car wrecks
Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
1. Heather B. Armstrong
2. Brian Regan
3. My husband, even when he's being so stupidly stupid in order to GET me to laugh when I don't FEEL like it (hmph). He does, every time. No matter how much I pout and try to ignore him.
Three Things I Love:
1. new (inexpensive) purses
2. 73 degrees outdoor temp
3. warm coffee + solitude + a good book or the newspaper on a rainy Saturday morning (specifics!)
Three Things I Hate:
1. Laundry screw-ups (like drying a shirt all the way when it isn't supposed to)
2. moldy leftovers
3. Cadbury creme eggs! (Tried 'em again this Easter, and still a no-go)
Three Things I Don’t Understand:
1. How people can afford the $800,000 homes in my area. Or anywhere. What the hell do these people DO for a living?
2. (YET) the exact connection in the plot of History of Love between Leo and Zvi (Swistle, you were reading this, yes?) -- such an intriguing book!
3. AJ's need to dump things (baskets of cars, buckets of animals, entire toy boxes)
Three Things On My Desk:
1. digital camera
2. Target list (Tide, dog food, razor blades, Kleenex, so exciting)
3. spiral notebook 'cause I'm old-school that way
Three Things I’m Doing Right Now:
1. recovering from a bit of a crying jag this morning (AJ's pitiful not-wanting-to-go to daycare; my pitiful wishing we could both just stay home today; my regretting not doing just that because WHY NOT)
2. feeling my feet go to sleep as I sit with them crossed under me
3. dreading a conference call this afternoon even though it probably won't be any big deal
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. have another child
2. have a really good friend who lives close, who can (and does) drop in any time
3. retire with enough money to enjoy it
Three Things I Can Do:
1. conduct conference call "webinars"
2. resize a photo in Photoshop, or brighten it (but not much else)
3. make gumbo
Three Things I Can’t Do:
1. make a gumbo that isn't watery (I thought I'd achieved it yesterday, but no)
2. drive a stick shift
3. remember to take the coupons I've clipped INTO the store with me
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To:
1. U2
2. your heart! (big talker)
3. (I don't know, this question and the next one are puzzling to me)
Three Things You Should Never Listen To:
1.
2.
3.
Three Things I’d Like To Learn:
1. how to maximize my savings/earnings
2. to accept and bless my circumstances more often
3. how to be a better friend
Three Favorite Foods:
1. pizza every day of the week
2. apples + cheddar + crackers (best lunch)
3. steak fajitas with guacamole
Three Shows I Watched As A Kid:
1. Sesame Street
2. Mr. Rogers
3. The Smurfs
Three Things I Regret:
1. the aforementioned not-taking-today-off
2. ever saying "dammit" in front of AJ
3. buying so many "hand-wash only" items of clothing
Three People I'm Tagging (no pressure, just if it seems like fun to do):
1. gina - mom of liam
2. 4andcounting
3. Marybeth
It was with great joy that I discovered Swistle's kind pass-on. The Three Things Meme. (Haven't I done this one before?)
Three Things That Scare Me:
1. possibly not making it to Heaven
2. solo vocal auditions
3. big car wrecks
Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
1. Heather B. Armstrong
2. Brian Regan
3. My husband, even when he's being so stupidly stupid in order to GET me to laugh when I don't FEEL like it (hmph). He does, every time. No matter how much I pout and try to ignore him.
Three Things I Love:
1. new (inexpensive) purses
2. 73 degrees outdoor temp
3. warm coffee + solitude + a good book or the newspaper on a rainy Saturday morning (specifics!)
Three Things I Hate:
1. Laundry screw-ups (like drying a shirt all the way when it isn't supposed to)
2. moldy leftovers
3. Cadbury creme eggs! (Tried 'em again this Easter, and still a no-go)
Three Things I Don’t Understand:
1. How people can afford the $800,000 homes in my area. Or anywhere. What the hell do these people DO for a living?
2. (YET) the exact connection in the plot of History of Love between Leo and Zvi (Swistle, you were reading this, yes?) -- such an intriguing book!
3. AJ's need to dump things (baskets of cars, buckets of animals, entire toy boxes)
Three Things On My Desk:
1. digital camera
2. Target list (Tide, dog food, razor blades, Kleenex, so exciting)
3. spiral notebook 'cause I'm old-school that way
Three Things I’m Doing Right Now:
1. recovering from a bit of a crying jag this morning (AJ's pitiful not-wanting-to-go to daycare; my pitiful wishing we could both just stay home today; my regretting not doing just that because WHY NOT)
2. feeling my feet go to sleep as I sit with them crossed under me
3. dreading a conference call this afternoon even though it probably won't be any big deal
Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. have another child
2. have a really good friend who lives close, who can (and does) drop in any time
3. retire with enough money to enjoy it
Three Things I Can Do:
1. conduct conference call "webinars"
2. resize a photo in Photoshop, or brighten it (but not much else)
3. make gumbo
Three Things I Can’t Do:
1. make a gumbo that isn't watery (I thought I'd achieved it yesterday, but no)
2. drive a stick shift
3. remember to take the coupons I've clipped INTO the store with me
Three Things I Think You Should Listen To:
1. U2
2. your heart! (big talker)
3. (I don't know, this question and the next one are puzzling to me)
Three Things You Should Never Listen To:
1.
2.
3.
Three Things I’d Like To Learn:
1. how to maximize my savings/earnings
2. to accept and bless my circumstances more often
3. how to be a better friend
Three Favorite Foods:
1. pizza every day of the week
2. apples + cheddar + crackers (best lunch)
3. steak fajitas with guacamole
Three Shows I Watched As A Kid:
1. Sesame Street
2. Mr. Rogers
3. The Smurfs
Three Things I Regret:
1. the aforementioned not-taking-today-off
2. ever saying "dammit" in front of AJ
3. buying so many "hand-wash only" items of clothing
Three People I'm Tagging (no pressure, just if it seems like fun to do):
1. gina - mom of liam
2. 4andcounting
3. Marybeth
Friday, April 6
In and around the ATL
After yesterday's largest traffic snafu in a while, which I got to see from the very center of it (Read: radio station IDIOTS!), I can see how the state legislature might want to consider alternatives to alleviate the rush-hour...um... "headache" seems much too weak of a word. The rush-hour Needles-Under-Fingernails Experience, or the rush-hour Gun-shot-To-The-Knee Experience, seem about right. Nevertheless, I don't think that an actual 4-day-work-week suggested by the Guv-ment is going to help. Mister Perdue? From those of us driving on the roads, here's a leeelte hint: Traffic is snarled from 7am to at least 6pm. That's already ELEVEN hours. So thanks for the thoughtful solution, but your 10-hour work-day? Yeah. That's what we call POOR (GEORGIA) MATH. But on Fridays I-75 would be all-clear!
We're staying in town for Easter, instead of trekking to and from Hubby's parents' in Savannah. We both feel some measure of guilt about this, but larger measures of relief. We will be dying eggs with AJ tonight, making "sacrificial gumbo" if I can get the veggies chopped quickly after work, then doing some much-needed yard work tomorrow (gotta prepare for the Bunny, after all! He probably needs to see his way through the jungle of grass and dandelions to hide all those M&Ms-filled eggs).
(Sacrifical gumbo is family tradition, because it's Good Friday and so we can't eat meat. Must eat shrimp. In Gumbo. DARN.)
We will try to attend our Last Hockey Game ever on Saturday, since we aren't buying a package of tickets next year (so we say!! But if we do well in the playoffs.... it will be hard to resist). I hope we find a babysitter. AJ needs a new Thrashers t-shirt, I think. :)
We're hoping that the freeze warning for tonight doesn't mean that Atlanta's annual Easter GLORY -- azaleas, dogwoods, forsythia -- gets cruelly killed. I doubt there'd be any Sunday resurrection for the flowers, which is a shame 'cause it'd be a REALLY cool metaphor.
We're staying in town for Easter, instead of trekking to and from Hubby's parents' in Savannah. We both feel some measure of guilt about this, but larger measures of relief. We will be dying eggs with AJ tonight, making "sacrificial gumbo" if I can get the veggies chopped quickly after work, then doing some much-needed yard work tomorrow (gotta prepare for the Bunny, after all! He probably needs to see his way through the jungle of grass and dandelions to hide all those M&Ms-filled eggs).
(Sacrifical gumbo is family tradition, because it's Good Friday and so we can't eat meat. Must eat shrimp. In Gumbo. DARN.)
We will try to attend our Last Hockey Game ever on Saturday, since we aren't buying a package of tickets next year (so we say!! But if we do well in the playoffs.... it will be hard to resist). I hope we find a babysitter. AJ needs a new Thrashers t-shirt, I think. :)
We're hoping that the freeze warning for tonight doesn't mean that Atlanta's annual Easter GLORY -- azaleas, dogwoods, forsythia -- gets cruelly killed. I doubt there'd be any Sunday resurrection for the flowers, which is a shame 'cause it'd be a REALLY cool metaphor.
Wednesday, April 4
Small Change update
Hey, friends, head over to Playgroup Dropout and see what people have been doing for others this month. I feel that since I display her banner, I should talk up Beth's great initiative. She resolved, and recruited us all, to do just a little bit, each month, to help people. Specifically, kids -- and who can resist helping kids?!
This past month's challenge was to maybe give up something that you normally take for granted -- like lunch out on Wednesdays, or take-out dinners, or your weekly margarita, and donate that money to charity. Even if it was only $15. "SMALL" Change, y'understand. It timed out just perfectly with Lent, and I had given up GrandeNonFatNoWhipToffeeNutLattes at Starbuck's toward that cause. (THREE DAYS LEFT!) I added it all up yesterday -- 2x a week, times 6 weeks, times $4.00... Well, I'll be darned, that's $50 to St. Jude's! I've always wanted to support them, so thanks, Beth, for pushing me to DO IT. (But DURN those commercials, Marlo Thomas! I cannot watch them with a mouse, I cannot watch them in a house.)
It does feel nice to share. I'm not good at charity. We give to the church, but it's not as much as we could give. And we don't do Habitat, or soup kitchens, or any of that. I know I need to learn how though, and teach kindness and help-others-ness to AJ someday. So I think this Small Change idea is a good way to start that. I will say that sharing from my MasterCard is a little less painful than out of my actual pocket, but since another of my recent initiatives is to pay that sucker off, maybe it will be okay, and appropriately sacrificial and good. :)
This past month's challenge was to maybe give up something that you normally take for granted -- like lunch out on Wednesdays, or take-out dinners, or your weekly margarita, and donate that money to charity. Even if it was only $15. "SMALL" Change, y'understand. It timed out just perfectly with Lent, and I had given up GrandeNonFatNoWhipToffeeNutLattes at Starbuck's toward that cause. (THREE DAYS LEFT!) I added it all up yesterday -- 2x a week, times 6 weeks, times $4.00... Well, I'll be darned, that's $50 to St. Jude's! I've always wanted to support them, so thanks, Beth, for pushing me to DO IT. (But DURN those commercials, Marlo Thomas! I cannot watch them with a mouse, I cannot watch them in a house.)
It does feel nice to share. I'm not good at charity. We give to the church, but it's not as much as we could give. And we don't do Habitat, or soup kitchens, or any of that. I know I need to learn how though, and teach kindness and help-others-ness to AJ someday. So I think this Small Change idea is a good way to start that. I will say that sharing from my MasterCard is a little less painful than out of my actual pocket, but since another of my recent initiatives is to pay that sucker off, maybe it will be okay, and appropriately sacrificial and good. :)
Monday, April 2
It's Your Thing
AJ has this funny habit that I didn't think I'd ever blog about, to protect his little dignity when he's all growed up and has a girlfriend who wants to read this. (Eek! Ever think about that? A girlfriend??) So here I am, about to share too much.
When the little guy feels the, uh,... digestive urge he hops down from whatever seating arrangement he's in, sticks his little rear end out behind him, cranes his neck forward, and runs around. Awkwardly. WHILE he's, you know... Pooping. When he's all done, he'll come back to whatever he was doing, all casual. But during, he's like a little pinball, bouncing off couch and chair, or in and out of the room. Butt stuck out.
At first all we could do was giggle in bewilderment. "What in the world makes him want to run around?!" Then we started thinking, "If we encourage this, potty training could possibly be difficult." On the other hand, the books say if the kid is wanting to be alone, or get away, when all that digestive stuff is going on, that's a sign he's nearing readiness. So we thought maybe we should acknowledge it, and tell him "Good Job," ...or something.
So we'd say, "AJ, whatcha doing?" And he'd say, completely in stride, "I'm jes poopin'."
(This has been going on for weeks now (okay, months), and can I just say we are still pretty much confounded as to how to transition it into actual potty-time. Argh. It's still funny, but getting less so as he gets older.)
Recently, I was out on a Saturday morning, and AJ started prepping for his little constitutional jog. Hubby suggested, "AJ, hey, it looks like you're about to poop -- let's go try on the potty." And AJ replied, "Just lemme do my thing."
*blinking eyes*
Um... okay. Here's where I can turn it into a Blawg Entry and say, "Isn't he so independent and courageous? Wanting to march to his own drum." Or... "Isn't that how we all should treat each other? Just let your fellow man Do His Thing."
Instead, I'm stuck in the "How-To" part. So many theories and ideas about potty training. Which one's actually going to work? His teacher suggests, since AJ's such a big fan of movies, to put the potty in the living room and let him watch a movie, as long as he sits on the potty. I could do a chart, but I don't think stickers ON the chart would work for him (he prefers to take stickers OFF). I know of the whole Naked method, and I like the idea, but he can't very well run around naked at daycare, and I'm not sure if stripping down for the 4 hours we have between pick-up and night-night is going to cut it. MB, mother of 3 boys, tells me to just sit tight, and right at three (3 months from now?) is when he'll likely GET it.
I'm fixated on this next milestone. I can't find my peace/patience with it or just dig my heels in and push through it (heh). I know it's not as big of a deal as I'm making it, but just let me do my thing.
(Or, if you have advice, please to share.)
When the little guy feels the, uh,... digestive urge he hops down from whatever seating arrangement he's in, sticks his little rear end out behind him, cranes his neck forward, and runs around. Awkwardly. WHILE he's, you know... Pooping. When he's all done, he'll come back to whatever he was doing, all casual. But during, he's like a little pinball, bouncing off couch and chair, or in and out of the room. Butt stuck out.
At first all we could do was giggle in bewilderment. "What in the world makes him want to run around?!" Then we started thinking, "If we encourage this, potty training could possibly be difficult." On the other hand, the books say if the kid is wanting to be alone, or get away, when all that digestive stuff is going on, that's a sign he's nearing readiness. So we thought maybe we should acknowledge it, and tell him "Good Job," ...or something.
So we'd say, "AJ, whatcha doing?" And he'd say, completely in stride, "I'm jes poopin'."
(This has been going on for weeks now (okay, months), and can I just say we are still pretty much confounded as to how to transition it into actual potty-time. Argh. It's still funny, but getting less so as he gets older.)
Recently, I was out on a Saturday morning, and AJ started prepping for his little constitutional jog. Hubby suggested, "AJ, hey, it looks like you're about to poop -- let's go try on the potty." And AJ replied, "Just lemme do my thing."
*blinking eyes*
Um... okay. Here's where I can turn it into a Blawg Entry and say, "Isn't he so independent and courageous? Wanting to march to his own drum." Or... "Isn't that how we all should treat each other? Just let your fellow man Do His Thing."
Instead, I'm stuck in the "How-To" part. So many theories and ideas about potty training. Which one's actually going to work? His teacher suggests, since AJ's such a big fan of movies, to put the potty in the living room and let him watch a movie, as long as he sits on the potty. I could do a chart, but I don't think stickers ON the chart would work for him (he prefers to take stickers OFF). I know of the whole Naked method, and I like the idea, but he can't very well run around naked at daycare, and I'm not sure if stripping down for the 4 hours we have between pick-up and night-night is going to cut it. MB, mother of 3 boys, tells me to just sit tight, and right at three (3 months from now?) is when he'll likely GET it.
I'm fixated on this next milestone. I can't find my peace/patience with it or just dig my heels in and push through it (heh). I know it's not as big of a deal as I'm making it, but just let me do my thing.
(Or, if you have advice, please to share.)
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