Something I notice is that when I see the lady who tends all the plants in our building, I feel a little jealous of her. She's quiet, unassuming, and walks around with her watering can and spray bottle, in a beige uniform shirt and work boots.
I used to get this same feeling when, on a weekday, I would see landscaping people in people's yards, or on the grounds of a corporate building. Especially if they were women. Tending little pansies and peonies in the middle of a Wednesday -- imagine! What a pleasant life that must be, I think.
The irony is that my Career Skill Set does not include plant-tending. I've killed many a houseplant and even some in the yard, accidentally, over the years. (I think it's because I don't have TIME to tend them properly, but you could argue it's a real-live black thumb.) I also don't do any of our yardwork at home; I leave it to DH. I babysit, he tends the garden.
Anyway, I think being a plant-tender/landscaping assistant would be a pleasant existence. "Touch the earth every day," is a simple living mantra I've liked. Maybe it's my farming roots calling to me.
What's something completely surprising that you think you'd enjoy?
Monday, April 12
Thursday, April 8
Perfect Easter
For me, it was perfect.
We woke up early, AJ rushing downstairs to find the Bunny's treasures, and me whispering, "Wait! Wait for everyone!" behind him, as I watched the adults (Mom and Dad came up to stay with us) stumble into their pants and rub their eyes. Hee. The rest of us caught up and the kids marveled at all the CANDY. Admittedly, there wasn't as much as some years; the Bunny tried to restrain herself in light of all my Jamie Oliver talk. Pinwheels, a frisbee, a book or two, stickers, and Hex bugs rounded out their baskets.
But chocolate for breakfast is totally allowed on this one day of the year. (In fact, I was so lenient that KT ate chocolate all day. We'd find her trolling the plastic eggs looking for more treats, at various quiet times during the day. She used our busy kitchen duties to her full advantage and found a lot of times to sneak away.)
After that -- and seriously, no real breakfast -- we went back upstairs to get ready for 9:00 a.m. Mass. We did this last year, and pulled it off, so we thought we'd try it again. Easter miracles, indeed -- we made it with plenty of time to spare, no meltdowns, and found both parking and an empty pew into which no usher attempted to squeeze any more than the 6 of us. I was feeling guilty for the luxury of comfortable seating the whole time, but... eh. If the usher isn't aware that he could seat 2 more parishioners, Not Really My Problem. The kids were even well behaved.
We had two funny things happen during Mass. One was by our own kid. KT, at one point before Communion but after the readings I think, said aloud, "I weady to go home now." Clear as a bell. I don't think anyone heard her but the folks directly near us, but it had us giggling. And the second was during the Consecration. We had just sung, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!" when another baby on the other side of church shouted, "YAYYYY!" I mean, right in rhythm. The priest actually had to stop and calm his own giggles for that one. He smiled and said, "AY-MEN." It was awesome. Made the whole church happy.
I whispered to DH during Mass that I Wanted to Take Pictures afterwards, out in front under the cherry trees. Because he needs a preemptive warning, otherwise he'll rush off to the car toute de suite. I'm all for hanging around to see if there's anyone who wants to chat with us after we leave Mass (there never is) but he's OUT the door. Heh. It doesn't bother me (parking IS sort of difficult there) but think it's funny. Anyway, we took some pictures that, if I do say so myself, turned out beautifully. We found our cars and headed home where the front-yard egg hunt awaited.
Fast forward to the cooking. I had planned a simple but nice Easter dinner. Mom and I tottered around the kitchen from about 11:00 until we served at 3:30, but it was so nice. We were able to kind-of cook one thing at a time so it didn't feel rushed at all. AJ was oblivious, working on his new Word Search puzzle book. DH and my Dad did some work out in the yard, which I know tired them out. Maybe for them it wasn't exactly the Perfect, relaxing Easter Sunday, but still. (They were out of my kitchen, which was helpful. Thank you, dear hardworking men!) I was worried that since KT was so busy eating chocolate and hadn't napped, we'd have a meltdown right at serving time. Didn't happen. She managed just fine, ate lots of corn and ham, and didn't even break the Lenox plate I let her use. We ate:
Honey Baked Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Corn on the Cob
Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Deviled Eggs
Dinner Rolls (from frozen, are you kidding?)
and Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. Dinner was slow, and conversation lively. I like that. I don't like when holiday dinners are over in fifteen minutes, all that work gone with barely enough time to acknowledge it.
We cleaned. Again, it was enjoyable, and comforting, to stand there with my Mom washing, me hand-drying, playing with my wedding pretties. :) I love that we went ahead and used the good china and silver. I was inspired by the simple minded suburbanite to attempt to create some kind of little legacy for my kids. I hope it worked. Afterwards, we sat down with a glass of something to drink (white wine for me, Dr. Pepper for Mom), and after I put KT to bed -- At 6:30 p.m., another miracle -- we could just reflect on what a lovely day it had been.
I just wanted to record all that. A Major Holiday so stress-free and easy is truly a treasure I want to remember.
We woke up early, AJ rushing downstairs to find the Bunny's treasures, and me whispering, "Wait! Wait for everyone!" behind him, as I watched the adults (Mom and Dad came up to stay with us) stumble into their pants and rub their eyes. Hee. The rest of us caught up and the kids marveled at all the CANDY. Admittedly, there wasn't as much as some years; the Bunny tried to restrain herself in light of all my Jamie Oliver talk. Pinwheels, a frisbee, a book or two, stickers, and Hex bugs rounded out their baskets.
But chocolate for breakfast is totally allowed on this one day of the year. (In fact, I was so lenient that KT ate chocolate all day. We'd find her trolling the plastic eggs looking for more treats, at various quiet times during the day. She used our busy kitchen duties to her full advantage and found a lot of times to sneak away.)
After that -- and seriously, no real breakfast -- we went back upstairs to get ready for 9:00 a.m. Mass. We did this last year, and pulled it off, so we thought we'd try it again. Easter miracles, indeed -- we made it with plenty of time to spare, no meltdowns, and found both parking and an empty pew into which no usher attempted to squeeze any more than the 6 of us. I was feeling guilty for the luxury of comfortable seating the whole time, but... eh. If the usher isn't aware that he could seat 2 more parishioners, Not Really My Problem. The kids were even well behaved.
We had two funny things happen during Mass. One was by our own kid. KT, at one point before Communion but after the readings I think, said aloud, "I weady to go home now." Clear as a bell. I don't think anyone heard her but the folks directly near us, but it had us giggling. And the second was during the Consecration. We had just sung, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!" when another baby on the other side of church shouted, "YAYYYY!" I mean, right in rhythm. The priest actually had to stop and calm his own giggles for that one. He smiled and said, "AY-MEN." It was awesome. Made the whole church happy.
I whispered to DH during Mass that I Wanted to Take Pictures afterwards, out in front under the cherry trees. Because he needs a preemptive warning, otherwise he'll rush off to the car toute de suite. I'm all for hanging around to see if there's anyone who wants to chat with us after we leave Mass (there never is) but he's OUT the door. Heh. It doesn't bother me (parking IS sort of difficult there) but think it's funny. Anyway, we took some pictures that, if I do say so myself, turned out beautifully. We found our cars and headed home where the front-yard egg hunt awaited.
Fast forward to the cooking. I had planned a simple but nice Easter dinner. Mom and I tottered around the kitchen from about 11:00 until we served at 3:30, but it was so nice. We were able to kind-of cook one thing at a time so it didn't feel rushed at all. AJ was oblivious, working on his new Word Search puzzle book. DH and my Dad did some work out in the yard, which I know tired them out. Maybe for them it wasn't exactly the Perfect, relaxing Easter Sunday, but still. (They were out of my kitchen, which was helpful. Thank you, dear hardworking men!) I was worried that since KT was so busy eating chocolate and hadn't napped, we'd have a meltdown right at serving time. Didn't happen. She managed just fine, ate lots of corn and ham, and didn't even break the Lenox plate I let her use. We ate:
Honey Baked Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Corn on the Cob
Sweet and Sour Green Beans
Deviled Eggs
Dinner Rolls (from frozen, are you kidding?)
and Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. Dinner was slow, and conversation lively. I like that. I don't like when holiday dinners are over in fifteen minutes, all that work gone with barely enough time to acknowledge it.
We cleaned. Again, it was enjoyable, and comforting, to stand there with my Mom washing, me hand-drying, playing with my wedding pretties. :) I love that we went ahead and used the good china and silver. I was inspired by the simple minded suburbanite to attempt to create some kind of little legacy for my kids. I hope it worked. Afterwards, we sat down with a glass of something to drink (white wine for me, Dr. Pepper for Mom), and after I put KT to bed -- At 6:30 p.m., another miracle -- we could just reflect on what a lovely day it had been.
I just wanted to record all that. A Major Holiday so stress-free and easy is truly a treasure I want to remember.
Wednesday, March 31
New (somewhat ranty, somewhat linky) Things
I've/we've been doing some new things. Starting with the most important and ending with the least:
1. Going to Confession. Well, I did it once. Last week. I had been kinda hoping to get to go to our parish's Reconciliation Service, but it was on a Monday night at 7:00 pm and I didn't see how I could get the whole family there, or even just myself and AJ, and get him home by bedtime. I know I need to start going again because AJ's first confession LOOMS in 2nd grade! Luckily (or not), the Music Director called and, whoops! He needed a cantor at the last minute, and couldn't I come step in for him? I think God might have wanted me there, no? Or, heard me thinking, "I wish I could go..." and found a way to Make It Happen. Thanks, God! So anyway, it was a long wait in line even though they had 15 priests there to help, and the confession itself was your run-of-the-mill "Impatient with spouse and children, Don't always get to church every Sunday, Say a Rosary for penance" kind of confession. I went back and forth being nervous and not caring, although I can't go anywhere NEAR a penance service without crying just a little. It's all so holy! And emotional! I love it, in a way. I enjoyed imagining all the sad, guilt-ridden little prayers and wishes of all the different people whispering to various priests, prayers rising up into the air and then being gently blown away into the clean, clean air. It's nice imagery. (And then there's the annoying "Rules" about going once a year, and the "Why don't all the other Christians have to?" thoughts. Heh. It's a constant conflict, Catholicism.)
2. Going to Urgent Care. And seeing my baby boy have to deal with something that he didn't expect. Something that embarassed him (an ugly rash and accompanying set of big ol' blisters on his little cherubic face, poor thing). Something that he had to learn to explain to his friends without breaking down because they're thinking, if not saying outright, "OMG, what IS that?" It's been a learning experience for us both. Mommy learning to accept that he's going to get hurt in this life, and him learning (hopefully) to be brave, to not listen to what others say/think about him, and to accept people even when they have weird growths on their faces. Man. Heavy stuff.
3. Watching a whole lot of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Well, I mean it's only been broadcacst twice, but I'm smitten with the show. And I'm posting about it because all of you guys should watch. For one thing, who doesn't love Jamie's accent?! He is a cutie pie. It's been eye-opening and mirror-pointing, in that I've realized just how much CRAP I actually feed my own kids on a daily basis. I know I'm much less of a food a**hole (hat tip, Kristen) than most of the mom-bloggers I read. I sent AJ to school with ABCs and 123s (the orange ones) for lunch today, along with a Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie, okay? And I do that regularly. He eats Oscar Meyer bologna. (Baked) Cheetos. Trix yogurt. (He also eats fruit every day, just so you're not calling DFCS on me, righteous food a-holes!) HOWEVER. I want to try to be better about all this. I'm really, really trying to serve the kids more fruits and vegetables, and my mission over the next few months is going to be to start trying them out on some new meal options. This, for instance. For another thing, I'm trying to substitute, in my mind -- on nights when I want to just take the easy route and order a pizza, I'm trying to do a fruit/crackers/cheese dinner instead. As long as you're reading about it, a great ranty link about this subject (and others) is at supercool Rita Arens' blog today. AMEN!! But still. This topic has been in the forefront of my brain for the last 3 weeks.
4. One final New Thing. I cleaned out my sock drawer. Remember? From the to-do list How many weeks ago?? It's done. That's new.
1. Going to Confession. Well, I did it once. Last week. I had been kinda hoping to get to go to our parish's Reconciliation Service, but it was on a Monday night at 7:00 pm and I didn't see how I could get the whole family there, or even just myself and AJ, and get him home by bedtime. I know I need to start going again because AJ's first confession LOOMS in 2nd grade! Luckily (or not), the Music Director called and, whoops! He needed a cantor at the last minute, and couldn't I come step in for him? I think God might have wanted me there, no? Or, heard me thinking, "I wish I could go..." and found a way to Make It Happen. Thanks, God! So anyway, it was a long wait in line even though they had 15 priests there to help, and the confession itself was your run-of-the-mill "Impatient with spouse and children, Don't always get to church every Sunday, Say a Rosary for penance" kind of confession. I went back and forth being nervous and not caring, although I can't go anywhere NEAR a penance service without crying just a little. It's all so holy! And emotional! I love it, in a way. I enjoyed imagining all the sad, guilt-ridden little prayers and wishes of all the different people whispering to various priests, prayers rising up into the air and then being gently blown away into the clean, clean air. It's nice imagery. (And then there's the annoying "Rules" about going once a year, and the "Why don't all the other Christians have to?" thoughts. Heh. It's a constant conflict, Catholicism.)
2. Going to Urgent Care. And seeing my baby boy have to deal with something that he didn't expect. Something that embarassed him (an ugly rash and accompanying set of big ol' blisters on his little cherubic face, poor thing). Something that he had to learn to explain to his friends without breaking down because they're thinking, if not saying outright, "OMG, what IS that?" It's been a learning experience for us both. Mommy learning to accept that he's going to get hurt in this life, and him learning (hopefully) to be brave, to not listen to what others say/think about him, and to accept people even when they have weird growths on their faces. Man. Heavy stuff.
3. Watching a whole lot of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Well, I mean it's only been broadcacst twice, but I'm smitten with the show. And I'm posting about it because all of you guys should watch. For one thing, who doesn't love Jamie's accent?! He is a cutie pie. It's been eye-opening and mirror-pointing, in that I've realized just how much CRAP I actually feed my own kids on a daily basis. I know I'm much less of a food a**hole (hat tip, Kristen) than most of the mom-bloggers I read. I sent AJ to school with ABCs and 123s (the orange ones) for lunch today, along with a Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pie, okay? And I do that regularly. He eats Oscar Meyer bologna. (Baked) Cheetos. Trix yogurt. (He also eats fruit every day, just so you're not calling DFCS on me, righteous food a-holes!) HOWEVER. I want to try to be better about all this. I'm really, really trying to serve the kids more fruits and vegetables, and my mission over the next few months is going to be to start trying them out on some new meal options. This, for instance. For another thing, I'm trying to substitute, in my mind -- on nights when I want to just take the easy route and order a pizza, I'm trying to do a fruit/crackers/cheese dinner instead. As long as you're reading about it, a great ranty link about this subject (and others) is at supercool Rita Arens' blog today. AMEN!! But still. This topic has been in the forefront of my brain for the last 3 weeks.
4. One final New Thing. I cleaned out my sock drawer. Remember? From the to-do list How many weeks ago?? It's done. That's new.
Friday, March 12
History repeats itself
The lovely and articulate Arwen posted yesterday about how we love our children differently, because they are different little people, after all. The part that rang truest for me was about how we, as parents, are in a different time in our lives when each child is born, so naturally we notice and appreciate the kids' traits in different ways. (Think I could use that word one more time?? Different!)
But ON THE OTHER HAND. Wow, are all kids the same when it comes to toddler tantrums. We've been seeing KT's dark side lately -- more specifically, I've been seeing it. She doesn't seem to wind up to eleven as much for her Daddy -- and it's eerily similar to when AJ was a whiny, fit-pitching 2 (and 3 and 4) year old.
Last night, let's see, what set her off first? I wouldn't give her an M&M before dinner. Right. And then it was, "Juuuuuuuice. I wanna juice." And 30 seconds later, "NO JUICE. [hits table for emphasis]" And then the wailing and whining began in earnest, for no reason, and continued all through dinner. We took her upstairs for a serious, In Your Crib Time-Out, but even that didn't stop her. It was just one of those nights, I guess. She got mad that I took her saggy, falling off diaper completely off. I think she wanted to do it herself. She got so pissed off during her bath that we removed her, barely washed, and put her to bed with no stories.
I know it's all minor, and thanks to my being in a different place in life, I have better perspective on it than 3 years ago, when I was convinced AJ was posessed by the devil. I mean, yeah I still get worked up by it, but it doesn't drive me to tears (or hasn't yet). Aside: I nearly melt after she's had a good crying jag and gets those hiccupy, short little sniffling spells. Hhhh-hhh-hhaaaaaaa. So cute. And sad.
But my, how history repeats itself.
But ON THE OTHER HAND. Wow, are all kids the same when it comes to toddler tantrums. We've been seeing KT's dark side lately -- more specifically, I've been seeing it. She doesn't seem to wind up to eleven as much for her Daddy -- and it's eerily similar to when AJ was a whiny, fit-pitching 2 (and 3 and 4) year old.
Last night, let's see, what set her off first? I wouldn't give her an M&M before dinner. Right. And then it was, "Juuuuuuuice. I wanna juice." And 30 seconds later, "NO JUICE. [hits table for emphasis]" And then the wailing and whining began in earnest, for no reason, and continued all through dinner. We took her upstairs for a serious, In Your Crib Time-Out, but even that didn't stop her. It was just one of those nights, I guess. She got mad that I took her saggy, falling off diaper completely off. I think she wanted to do it herself. She got so pissed off during her bath that we removed her, barely washed, and put her to bed with no stories.
I know it's all minor, and thanks to my being in a different place in life, I have better perspective on it than 3 years ago, when I was convinced AJ was posessed by the devil. I mean, yeah I still get worked up by it, but it doesn't drive me to tears (or hasn't yet). Aside: I nearly melt after she's had a good crying jag and gets those hiccupy, short little sniffling spells. Hhhh-hhh-hhaaaaaaa. So cute. And sad.
But my, how history repeats itself.
Thursday, March 4
Sorting out what's in my head
It's not wasting time when your brain needs the relief of blogging. Getting it all out, out, OUT!
I have one hour before I leave for my lunch break. During that break I'm going home to do a little cleaning. We have weekend guests coming (KT's favorite UNC SHAAAAANE!), and I haven't been to the grocery store yet this week, plus we're getting a new roof put on the house tomorrow (insurance is paying, score!) and have to prepare somewhat tonight, plus plus. Whatever other required tasks (plenty).
Such as: KT's class is learning about toothbrushing this week, and requested that we send it a spare clean toothbrush, and a photo of her brushing her teeth. Um. If I had time to go somewhere and print photos, I wouldn't be ONE YEAR BEHIND on my own albums. I opted NOT to participate in that activity, and I'm sorry about it, but Lordy. Make a big trip to Walgreen's to print one photo?! Can't do it. (Guess we need to get a photo printer for our computer now.)
So it's crazy, as usual.
I'm trying not to freak out and continuously note how crazy it is, but to just take these things one at a time and know they are part of a full, rich, blessed life.
(...Yeah, right. You all know good and well I'm flustered a little bit.)
In fact, as I was typing this, I got a call from the T-ball coach and it reminded me that there's a practice tonight. I had forgotten. ?!!! What was I saying about anchored, comforted? Hahahahahaaaaa.
Life just goes so fast, sometimes. Good THING I blog it, or it would be lost forever in a memory blur.
xo Kisses! xo
I have one hour before I leave for my lunch break. During that break I'm going home to do a little cleaning. We have weekend guests coming (KT's favorite UNC SHAAAAANE!), and I haven't been to the grocery store yet this week, plus we're getting a new roof put on the house tomorrow (insurance is paying, score!) and have to prepare somewhat tonight, plus plus. Whatever other required tasks (plenty).
Such as: KT's class is learning about toothbrushing this week, and requested that we send it a spare clean toothbrush, and a photo of her brushing her teeth. Um. If I had time to go somewhere and print photos, I wouldn't be ONE YEAR BEHIND on my own albums. I opted NOT to participate in that activity, and I'm sorry about it, but Lordy. Make a big trip to Walgreen's to print one photo?! Can't do it. (Guess we need to get a photo printer for our computer now.)
So it's crazy, as usual.
I'm trying not to freak out and continuously note how crazy it is, but to just take these things one at a time and know they are part of a full, rich, blessed life.
(...Yeah, right. You all know good and well I'm flustered a little bit.)
But I'll tell you what I've decided: Having a T-ball schedule is somewhat of an anchor -- a comfort, even. I like looking at the practice calendar, which is planned out until MAY. In my own life, I'm never "planned" that far ahead! And at least on T-ball nights, we have a Plan. I can serve a quickie dinner and have a very logical reason --no guilt-- in doing so. If it's a game, I know I'm going to be on the bleachers for 1.5 hours. There is a nice grounded feeling with that -- and it rules out having to squeeze in chores. Sorry, can't - I'm at the ballpark! If it's a practice, KT and I will play for a while while the boys go out, then I'll put her to bed. Sometimes I have five whole minutes to myself, and I'm usually pretty sure they'll bring me a dessert or a drink from Dairy Queen when they come home.
In fact, as I was typing this, I got a call from the T-ball coach and it reminded me that there's a practice tonight. I had forgotten. ?!!! What was I saying about anchored, comforted? Hahahahahaaaaa.
Life just goes so fast, sometimes. Good THING I blog it, or it would be lost forever in a memory blur.
xo Kisses! xo
Thursday, February 25
My fatal mistake was making it all public
That list. It's sitting down there mocking me. Stupid, stupid me to get so ambitious out here in the open where everyone can see! Monday was a fail, right? Then Tuesday morning, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to puke. (Oh, hello there! Got your attention didn't it?) I felt better by noon, stayed careful by having broth and Sprite for lunch. Tuesday evening, KT puked all over the couch. And then twice in her bed. The parents' gold-medal event is always Puke Patrol in the middle of the night right? We went in there like a well-trained team -- he handled the sheet-changing, I handled the kid-clean-up, wham-bam, back into bed in 10 minutes or less. Annnnnnd... Wednesday, AJ's school nurse called and DH had to pick him up. Puke again! Which is how I find myself working from home with him today. What a week.
I guess the photo albums are going to have to wait, huh?
AJ and I are going to work for a while (he's on the Mac, I'm on my work laptop, on opposite sides of the kitchen table - cute!), I hope he'll do some coloring -- he's been really into coloring this little comic book lately -- and we'll probably head to Wal-Mart for a few essentials (LYSOL WIPES) later today.
I'm just thankful it's a little stomach bug that seems to go away, and not H1N1. Since we never did get our shots.
What're you doing today?
I guess the photo albums are going to have to wait, huh?
AJ and I are going to work for a while (he's on the Mac, I'm on my work laptop, on opposite sides of the kitchen table - cute!), I hope he'll do some coloring -- he's been really into coloring this little comic book lately -- and we'll probably head to Wal-Mart for a few essentials (LYSOL WIPES) later today.
I'm just thankful it's a little stomach bug that seems to go away, and not H1N1. Since we never did get our shots.
What're you doing today?
Tuesday, February 23
Monday fail
I did none of the things on my list. Wait, I read a chapter of my book. Felt crappy due to a lingering -- impending? -- cold, and just went to bed early. Hoping to make the salad quick-like tonight before dinner. Sock drawer, bills, and laundry... well, thank goodness for DH doing laundry. :) Still. Gotta have goals.
Monday, February 22
Just don't sit down
Monday
check bills
make black bean salad for Tues. dinner
yoga, book
Tuesday
bath night/vacuum downstairs
organize sock drawer (yes, seriously)
laundry
yoga, book
Wednesday
vacuum upstairs
put photos in photo album (1 year behind OMG)
yoga
Thursday
more photos/laundry
yoga?
Project Runway
Friday
yoga, book
If I can keep from sitting down on the couch all week, I'll be fine.
check bills
make black bean salad for Tues. dinner
yoga, book
Tuesday
bath night/vacuum downstairs
organize sock drawer (yes, seriously)
laundry
yoga, book
Wednesday
vacuum upstairs
put photos in photo album (1 year behind OMG)
yoga
Thursday
more photos/laundry
yoga?
Project Runway
Friday
yoga, book
If I can keep from sitting down on the couch all week, I'll be fine.
Thursday, February 18
Lent again
I'm surprised that the only previous blog post about Lent that I could find was this one. I feel like I write about it every year, but I've been combing through my categories and finding nothing. At any rate, it's our first Lent with a child who is learning what Lent is. It means we have to actually practice it, ahem.
AJ came home on Mardi Gras saying his only homework was to choose something to give up for Lent. I thought it was odd that they're still mostly teaching the "give up" theory of Lent, when all we adults hear these days is, "It's not a diet; do something MORE, don't just give up chocolate."
Well, I gave up chocolate. AJ decided he's giving up his DS, which, if any of you has a 5 year old boy, perhaps you know what a MAJOR sacrifice this actually is. And did you also know that Lent is 53 days this year? We counted. I am already impressed with him for even thinking of it. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me this Saturday with a big WHINE FEST. I gave up the chocolate because I thought it only fair for me to give up something tangible, and DIFFICULT, that he can witness. DH gave up Vault, by the way -- his first "give up" too, as a lifelong non-Catholic who is now raising Catholic kids. Bless him.
But the other thing I want to give up is Wasting Time. It's directly related to my Monday and Tuesday -- I was feeling unusually listless at work, unable to start any of my projects, flipping windows in IE with plenty to do but no place I wanted to go. I know a lot of people give up the entire Internet, or Facebook, or blogging, but I can't really go there. I have to be on FB for my job, actually, and I think it would be impossible not to check on my own peeps once in a while. However, getting sidetracked to the point of reading the same status updates twice in one day? Not acceptable. Surfing Google Reader for more than 10 minutes during the workday (eek, yes, I do this) -- no longer. Blogging to say not much at all, when I have work to be done? Won't work in this scenario. All are poor uses of my time. (I sound like my second grade teacher, Sister Anne Mary! God Bless her!)
Does it help others? Is it a spiritual exercise? Probably not. Still. I'm posting here at 9:00 pm while I watch Project Runway. I won't be able to do that every night, but I also don't want to fall asleep on the couch at 9 every night. I should go to BED if I'm sleepy. Or stand up and go get a photo album organized for 20 minutes. No time wasting! I like it. Yesterday (Ash Wed.) and today, at work, with my plan in place, I got a lot done. Hoping the momentum will continue. It might be a little thin around here untilChocolate Day Easter, but I won't completely disappear. I would be interested in hearing if you have any Lent traditions or goals.
AJ came home on Mardi Gras saying his only homework was to choose something to give up for Lent. I thought it was odd that they're still mostly teaching the "give up" theory of Lent, when all we adults hear these days is, "It's not a diet; do something MORE, don't just give up chocolate."
Well, I gave up chocolate. AJ decided he's giving up his DS, which, if any of you has a 5 year old boy, perhaps you know what a MAJOR sacrifice this actually is. And did you also know that Lent is 53 days this year? We counted. I am already impressed with him for even thinking of it. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me this Saturday with a big WHINE FEST. I gave up the chocolate because I thought it only fair for me to give up something tangible, and DIFFICULT, that he can witness. DH gave up Vault, by the way -- his first "give up" too, as a lifelong non-Catholic who is now raising Catholic kids. Bless him.
But the other thing I want to give up is Wasting Time. It's directly related to my Monday and Tuesday -- I was feeling unusually listless at work, unable to start any of my projects, flipping windows in IE with plenty to do but no place I wanted to go. I know a lot of people give up the entire Internet, or Facebook, or blogging, but I can't really go there. I have to be on FB for my job, actually, and I think it would be impossible not to check on my own peeps once in a while. However, getting sidetracked to the point of reading the same status updates twice in one day? Not acceptable. Surfing Google Reader for more than 10 minutes during the workday (eek, yes, I do this) -- no longer. Blogging to say not much at all, when I have work to be done? Won't work in this scenario. All are poor uses of my time. (I sound like my second grade teacher, Sister Anne Mary! God Bless her!)
Does it help others? Is it a spiritual exercise? Probably not. Still. I'm posting here at 9:00 pm while I watch Project Runway. I won't be able to do that every night, but I also don't want to fall asleep on the couch at 9 every night. I should go to BED if I'm sleepy. Or stand up and go get a photo album organized for 20 minutes. No time wasting! I like it. Yesterday (Ash Wed.) and today, at work, with my plan in place, I got a lot done. Hoping the momentum will continue. It might be a little thin around here until
Tuesday, February 16
Butternut Squash Soup could cure a lot of ill in this world
Anyone out there have a fantastic recipe for butternut squash soup? Please send it my way. I just finished a lovely bowl of it at Atlanta Bread Company, which admittedly included a hunk of sourdough bread (not a loaf bowl -- I still have SOME dieting scruples), and probably also a lot of cream and salt. But it was sweet and thick and delicious, and I need to know how to make it myself during these cold winter days.
Winter seems different this year, yes? Sooooo cold! I know a lot of the country has had it worse than us. We've had it great, actually -- all of the "pretty" and none of the "power outage/no school for days on end" nonsense. Our snow was sticky and wet, perfect for the Georgia kids to actually get to build a snowman. For two days, us parents motivated ourselves to take them outside because we knew we had to -- kids need the chance to do this, at least once in their lives. So we did it, with all the subsequent shedding of wet clothing in laundry rooms. And just like that, it's gone again. Still cold today, but the sidewalks and trees look like nothing ever happened.
I love watching the Olympics, especially when it feels outside the same way it looks on the TV. Brrrr! Bring me my blanket and a cup of cocoa (who says "cup of cocoa?") -- and turn on the Men's Half-Pipe. Oh, okay, Figure Skating (who am I kidding). I do laugh, however, at the Visa commercial -- they're giving away tickets to the Winter Games "For The Rest of Your LIFE." Ummmm.... a chance to go stand in a crowd, 30 rows back, on a snowy hillside every year? In various Arctic locales? Doesn't sound like something I'm that keen on winning. You keep those tickets, Morgan Freeman. I will take my 40-inch HD view and Bob Costas' goofy fireside interludes any day.
Winter seems different this year, yes? Sooooo cold! I know a lot of the country has had it worse than us. We've had it great, actually -- all of the "pretty" and none of the "power outage/no school for days on end" nonsense. Our snow was sticky and wet, perfect for the Georgia kids to actually get to build a snowman. For two days, us parents motivated ourselves to take them outside because we knew we had to -- kids need the chance to do this, at least once in their lives. So we did it, with all the subsequent shedding of wet clothing in laundry rooms. And just like that, it's gone again. Still cold today, but the sidewalks and trees look like nothing ever happened.
I love watching the Olympics, especially when it feels outside the same way it looks on the TV. Brrrr! Bring me my blanket and a cup of cocoa (who says "cup of cocoa?") -- and turn on the Men's Half-Pipe. Oh, okay, Figure Skating (who am I kidding). I do laugh, however, at the Visa commercial -- they're giving away tickets to the Winter Games "For The Rest of Your LIFE." Ummmm.... a chance to go stand in a crowd, 30 rows back, on a snowy hillside every year? In various Arctic locales? Doesn't sound like something I'm that keen on winning. You keep those tickets, Morgan Freeman. I will take my 40-inch HD view and Bob Costas' goofy fireside interludes any day.
Thursday, February 11
Quick posty before worky
So much to doooooo! So much to doooooo! I miss blogging with purpose. That is, blogging other than just to "say hi" or record events for posterity. I remember when I used to actually WRITE here.
Oh well. Blog Guilt-Free! Moving on: I woke up today with 2 things to look forward to: lunch with 2 coworkers at a Mexican place (yum), and my parents' arrival tonight (and probably dinner out, as well). Yay! They're coming for KT's birthday weekend! She's TWO! So hard to believe, but on the other hand, a lot has happened in those 2 years, and she did say this morning, "I wannna wear Pink Dress," so she must be two, because babies can't say such adorable, grown-up things. Also, I would like to go shopping nowkthanks.
We're doing pink and yellow for the family-only party, due to KT's wish for a Sponge Bob cake. Perils of having an older brother, I guess. She is super excited about her "Bir-day com-eenup."
I feel like AJ has been getting ignored by me lately. I know it isn't true, and that 2 years ago I wailed things like, "When will he EVAR learn to play by himself so I don't have to entertain him?!?" I guess that's what has happened, Thank Heavens, and I'm certain I can look forward to more loosening of those apron strings as time continues to go by. But my Mom-guilt won't let it happen without saying something: I hope I pay enough attention to him. His Dad was army-volunteered to assistant coach T-ball this year, so that's some good father-son time he'll get, at least. DH said he really loves that they can sometimes hang out and just talk "like two dudes hanging out." I melted when he said that.
I think AJ's also getting taller. Finally! I mean, he's still a tiny little dude, but he's definitely growing some.
So, happy Valentine's weekend, and Birday weekend for us, and stay warm out there!
Oh well. Blog Guilt-Free! Moving on: I woke up today with 2 things to look forward to: lunch with 2 coworkers at a Mexican place (yum), and my parents' arrival tonight (and probably dinner out, as well). Yay! They're coming for KT's birthday weekend! She's TWO! So hard to believe, but on the other hand, a lot has happened in those 2 years, and she did say this morning, "I wannna wear Pink Dress," so she must be two, because babies can't say such adorable, grown-up things. Also, I would like to go shopping nowkthanks.
We're doing pink and yellow for the family-only party, due to KT's wish for a Sponge Bob cake. Perils of having an older brother, I guess. She is super excited about her "Bir-day com-eenup."
I feel like AJ has been getting ignored by me lately. I know it isn't true, and that 2 years ago I wailed things like, "When will he EVAR learn to play by himself so I don't have to entertain him?!?" I guess that's what has happened, Thank Heavens, and I'm certain I can look forward to more loosening of those apron strings as time continues to go by. But my Mom-guilt won't let it happen without saying something: I hope I pay enough attention to him. His Dad was army-volunteered to assistant coach T-ball this year, so that's some good father-son time he'll get, at least. DH said he really loves that they can sometimes hang out and just talk "like two dudes hanging out." I melted when he said that.
I think AJ's also getting taller. Finally! I mean, he's still a tiny little dude, but he's definitely growing some.
So, happy Valentine's weekend, and Birday weekend for us, and stay warm out there!
Friday, February 5
I'm stuck on water-related posts
Last night we had a chat about travel. We don't do a lot of it, unless it involves grandparents and kids. We drive to one of their houses, or meet them in Destin or DisneyWorld -- and that has been the extent of our vacationing since 2005. I've been absolutely cool with that. Traveling costs money, and requires taking time off work, and we haven't had a lot of either one to spare.
HOWEVER! Guess what is coming up in 2011? Our tenth anniversary. Here at the office, we've been doing some promos about a cruise, and my friend is going to Sandals in Jamaica next month, and my other friend is taking a honeymoon cruise this Valentine's weekend.
It's still a long way off, but we've always thought we should "do something fancy" for our 10th. We might be willing to try a cruise, although I'm hesitant about the size of the cabins and the motion-sick-inducing ocean. So if not that, it's going to be an all-inclusive somewhere, and I already can't wait. Granted, we beach-it every summer for a week, but not just the two of us. Not where we can lay on the sand and fall asleep, and then swim over to the pool-bar and get another daquiri. And GOOD LORD, SLEEP IN. And have Brunch.
Both Tess and Jess have mentioned having PLANS to look forward to, and I'm very excited to be joining them.
I'm posting it here to force it to come true. Because certain people hold me to the things I post here. For instance, last night DH rolled up his pants legs and GOT INTO THE BATH to wash the kids' hair. And lo, they laughed. Hmph.
HOWEVER! Guess what is coming up in 2011? Our tenth anniversary. Here at the office, we've been doing some promos about a cruise, and my friend is going to Sandals in Jamaica next month, and my other friend is taking a honeymoon cruise this Valentine's weekend.
It's still a long way off, but we've always thought we should "do something fancy" for our 10th. We might be willing to try a cruise, although I'm hesitant about the size of the cabins and the motion-sick-inducing ocean. So if not that, it's going to be an all-inclusive somewhere, and I already can't wait. Granted, we beach-it every summer for a week, but not just the two of us. Not where we can lay on the sand and fall asleep, and then swim over to the pool-bar and get another daquiri. And GOOD LORD, SLEEP IN. And have Brunch.
Both Tess and Jess have mentioned having PLANS to look forward to, and I'm very excited to be joining them.
I'm posting it here to force it to come true. Because certain people hold me to the things I post here. For instance, last night DH rolled up his pants legs and GOT INTO THE BATH to wash the kids' hair. And lo, they laughed. Hmph.
Wednesday, February 3
And the devil will drag you under...?*
Do your kids have trouble getting their hair washed? Man alive, mine do. AJ has never liked baths -- not since his very first washcloth bath in the hospital, I don't think. Not when we got him home and carefully laid him in a terrycloth-lined baby tub, with honey scented Baby Wash and adorable towels that matched his very own bathroom decor. Not as he got older and learned to splash. He has always been too concerned that his head was getting wet, or his eyes, or any part of his face.
It has finally gotten a little better for him in the last year (he's now 5 and a half), and it's partly because he's such a good big brother. He lets KT dump water on his head, actually. It mostly rolls off the front -- I guess the way his hair is cut allows for that -- and thank God, because if it gets in his face he STILL says, "GET ME A TOWEL. TOWEL, MOMMY, I NEEDATOWEL." And he means a dry one. Only a dry towel will do. He won't wipe even one drop of water with his own hands, because they're wet and I guess that doesn't make sense to him.
KT hasn't been quite that severe about her displeasure in the bath, but it seems like when it comes to the washing-hair portion of our program, she always cries. I obviously use tear-free shampoo, and I try to be so careful. I ask them to lean their heads back (using a cup to rinse the shampoo out). I put my hand at the top of their foreheads to stop any drips from entering the facial region. I attempt not to get any water in their ears. AJ requires a (dry) towel over his eyes during the rinsing, and I comply with that.
I just don't understand what is the BIG DEAL? It's warm water, right? I would think it feels nice. They're not drowning in the ocean depths. I have tried singing, being silly, letting them "practice" on a toy/doll, letting them do it themselves... anything I could think of short of getting in the tub with them, which is NOT going to happen. My Mom used to lay us on the countertop with our heads hanging over the kitchen sink. Just like being at a salon. AJ likes that, but KT, so far, freaks out at the upside-down sensation.
So I need some parental advice. I'm wayyyy too late asking about this, but I'm finally tired enough of the bathtime drama, and some of our friends with 4-year-olds report their kids taking their own SHOWERS! I can't even fathom (heh). Before *I* drown, throw me a life-raft. Help!
*One of the boat songs I sometimes sing them in the bath is "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat," from Guys & Dolls. It's fun, useful (Sit Down), and I happen to know all the words. "Dreamed last night I was on the boat to heaven... And the people all said sit down, sit down you're rocking the boat.... And the devil will drag you under by the sharp lapels of your checkered coat! Sitdown sitdown sitdown sitdown, sit down you're rocking the boat." Maybe it's that one line that's scaring them??
It has finally gotten a little better for him in the last year (he's now 5 and a half), and it's partly because he's such a good big brother. He lets KT dump water on his head, actually. It mostly rolls off the front -- I guess the way his hair is cut allows for that -- and thank God, because if it gets in his face he STILL says, "GET ME A TOWEL. TOWEL, MOMMY, I NEEDATOWEL." And he means a dry one. Only a dry towel will do. He won't wipe even one drop of water with his own hands, because they're wet and I guess that doesn't make sense to him.
KT hasn't been quite that severe about her displeasure in the bath, but it seems like when it comes to the washing-hair portion of our program, she always cries. I obviously use tear-free shampoo, and I try to be so careful. I ask them to lean their heads back (using a cup to rinse the shampoo out). I put my hand at the top of their foreheads to stop any drips from entering the facial region. I attempt not to get any water in their ears. AJ requires a (dry) towel over his eyes during the rinsing, and I comply with that.
I just don't understand what is the BIG DEAL? It's warm water, right? I would think it feels nice. They're not drowning in the ocean depths. I have tried singing, being silly, letting them "practice" on a toy/doll, letting them do it themselves... anything I could think of short of getting in the tub with them, which is NOT going to happen. My Mom used to lay us on the countertop with our heads hanging over the kitchen sink. Just like being at a salon. AJ likes that, but KT, so far, freaks out at the upside-down sensation.
So I need some parental advice. I'm wayyyy too late asking about this, but I'm finally tired enough of the bathtime drama, and some of our friends with 4-year-olds report their kids taking their own SHOWERS! I can't even fathom (heh). Before *I* drown, throw me a life-raft. Help!
*One of the boat songs I sometimes sing them in the bath is "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat," from Guys & Dolls. It's fun, useful (Sit Down), and I happen to know all the words. "Dreamed last night I was on the boat to heaven... And the people all said sit down, sit down you're rocking the boat.... And the devil will drag you under by the sharp lapels of your checkered coat! Sitdown sitdown sitdown sitdown, sit down you're rocking the boat." Maybe it's that one line that's scaring them??
Wednesday, January 27
Being Carried
The food doesn't have to be gourmet. No one's wondering if you used shredded Kraft versus a fancy Brie... they're eating.
The house doesn't have to be spotless. No one's inspecting every corner of yours... they're grateful to be out of their own for a few hours.
The back door doesn't have to be wiped down. No one's looking at the door... they're looking at your face as they walk in.
The house doesn't need redecorating or renovating, even if theirs have been. No one's coming to see your interior walls or your cabinets... they're coming to see each other.
I am so blessed and honored to have known these women this long. THIRTEEN years! What an amazing thing. A "club." Almost like when we were little girls, but better. Every time, I fuss and worry that my hostessing won't be good enough, but it is always fine, always complimented.
I adore my book club friends. I hope they all know that, and I'm not just writing it because they might come read me here today (*waving* Hi, S, G, M!). I may not be their "call on the phone every week" kind of friend (although I'd like that), but these dear friendships are absolutely carrying me through my adult life. They are hugely important to me. They are, I think and pray, for life.
The house doesn't have to be spotless. No one's inspecting every corner of yours... they're grateful to be out of their own for a few hours.
The back door doesn't have to be wiped down. No one's looking at the door... they're looking at your face as they walk in.
The house doesn't need redecorating or renovating, even if theirs have been. No one's coming to see your interior walls or your cabinets... they're coming to see each other.
I am so blessed and honored to have known these women this long. THIRTEEN years! What an amazing thing. A "club." Almost like when we were little girls, but better. Every time, I fuss and worry that my hostessing won't be good enough, but it is always fine, always complimented.
I adore my book club friends. I hope they all know that, and I'm not just writing it because they might come read me here today (*waving* Hi, S, G, M!). I may not be their "call on the phone every week" kind of friend (although I'd like that), but these dear friendships are absolutely carrying me through my adult life. They are hugely important to me. They are, I think and pray, for life.
Friday, January 22
7 Quick Takes for Friday
I have a grand desire to sit in this text box and type, type, typetypetype... all day, even, to make up for not recording the things that have happened in the past week, but even I don't like reading marathon posts. (I find that I skim down to the bottom, read the last few paragraphs, and then skim upward... until I HAVE read the entire thing, even though I didn't want to.)
This is too long already. Here, quick takes:
1. AJ. Reading silently, by himself! He got a Magic Tree House book from the library on Tuesday, read it during Library and after-school care, and by the time I picked him up he had finished SIX chapters! I was floored. He buckled himself in and read it some more during our drive back to the house. An entire new world has just presented itself. I am so excited, and thinking about The Bobbsey Twins (one of my first beloved book series) and other favorites. Must research! Also very glad to have an alternative to the Nintendo DS, although his prowess there is fairly impressive as well. Man, it's wild as kids get older and learn things.
2. KT. Potty training begins soon, I think. No other way to say this, but she is interested in doing her business there, as well as reading "Dora's Potty Book" every night. There is a tiny light at the end of the Huggies tunnel!
3. Date night. We're going to attempt, for the 3rd or 4th time, to see Avatar in 3D IMAX tonight. It was sold out during the holidays, so I'm getting tickets today at noon for the 7 pm showing. Fingers crossed.
4. When the Internet is down, it is difficult to do one's job as a web content manager.
5. I am pretty sad for Conan. I know that seems stupid, but when he was awarded the Tonight Show after all those many years of Leno, I was so relieved. And now they're giving it right back to Leno?? Ugh. The only good thing about Leno's show is when he interviews stupid Americans on the street. Conan's funny just standing there. His beady little eyes? Weird hair? LOVE. Not to mention Andy Richter.
6. DH was the parenting star last night with a disciplinary idea. AJ was sent home with a behavior report from Art class. Who knows why, but he was "cutting erasers off the pencils" in that classroom. ?! No idea. DH suggested that we make him use his allowance to buy new pencils for the Art teacher. Rock Solid. I am going with it. To Target we go.
7. Getting philosophical here at the end, last Sunday during Mass the thing I thought about most was wanting to feel God's presence more in my daily life. Specifically, I prayed to feel "carried" by God. For some reason those were the words. I don't want to feel like I'm slogging through each day. Picking up my feet in heavy boots, plodding over wet grass and stressful tasks. I want to be carried. Perhaps that makes me weak, but aren't we supposed to be, anyway? I already know that it happens -- for instance, this week with the Internet down at the office, I had to work from home 2 days. That allowed me to do some things (like prep for DH's birthday yesterday, and get posterboard for a school project for AJ) that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. So I know God's carrying me -- I just want it to feel tangible. So I'm working on that.
More Quick Takes at www.conversiondiary.com. Happy Friday!
This is too long already. Here, quick takes:
1. AJ. Reading silently, by himself! He got a Magic Tree House book from the library on Tuesday, read it during Library and after-school care, and by the time I picked him up he had finished SIX chapters! I was floored. He buckled himself in and read it some more during our drive back to the house. An entire new world has just presented itself. I am so excited, and thinking about The Bobbsey Twins (one of my first beloved book series) and other favorites. Must research! Also very glad to have an alternative to the Nintendo DS, although his prowess there is fairly impressive as well. Man, it's wild as kids get older and learn things.
2. KT. Potty training begins soon, I think. No other way to say this, but she is interested in doing her business there, as well as reading "Dora's Potty Book" every night. There is a tiny light at the end of the Huggies tunnel!
3. Date night. We're going to attempt, for the 3rd or 4th time, to see Avatar in 3D IMAX tonight. It was sold out during the holidays, so I'm getting tickets today at noon for the 7 pm showing. Fingers crossed.
4. When the Internet is down, it is difficult to do one's job as a web content manager.
5. I am pretty sad for Conan. I know that seems stupid, but when he was awarded the Tonight Show after all those many years of Leno, I was so relieved. And now they're giving it right back to Leno?? Ugh. The only good thing about Leno's show is when he interviews stupid Americans on the street. Conan's funny just standing there. His beady little eyes? Weird hair? LOVE. Not to mention Andy Richter.
6. DH was the parenting star last night with a disciplinary idea. AJ was sent home with a behavior report from Art class. Who knows why, but he was "cutting erasers off the pencils" in that classroom. ?! No idea. DH suggested that we make him use his allowance to buy new pencils for the Art teacher. Rock Solid. I am going with it. To Target we go.
7. Getting philosophical here at the end, last Sunday during Mass the thing I thought about most was wanting to feel God's presence more in my daily life. Specifically, I prayed to feel "carried" by God. For some reason those were the words. I don't want to feel like I'm slogging through each day. Picking up my feet in heavy boots, plodding over wet grass and stressful tasks. I want to be carried. Perhaps that makes me weak, but aren't we supposed to be, anyway? I already know that it happens -- for instance, this week with the Internet down at the office, I had to work from home 2 days. That allowed me to do some things (like prep for DH's birthday yesterday, and get posterboard for a school project for AJ) that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. So I know God's carrying me -- I just want it to feel tangible. So I'm working on that.
More Quick Takes at www.conversiondiary.com. Happy Friday!
Thursday, January 14
Bored? At least you're not grouchy...
I am bored AND grouchy for a variety of reasons.
- My office building has put new hand soap in the dispensers in the restroom, and it stinks. One of the things I liked a lot about this job when I first started was its nice-smelling restroom soap. I know that seems silly, but when I smell strawberries it makes me less grumpy than when I smell the industrial "eau d'employees must wash hands before returning to work." Blech.
- I have a new cube neighbor. She is a friend, but her job requires her to be on the phone all the time and it's jarring, after having 6 or 7 months of quiet. She keeps her Blackberry at the desk, so when it rings (all the time) and she has stepped away for lunch HOUR, I hear the Island Shimmy. She also, EVIDENTLY, likes Corn Nuts (see: Loud).
- I want to be on a health kick, but I'm sick of health kicks. Bor-ing. I would also like to eat pepperoni pizza at least twice a week. Easy, and not boring. I would also like a glass of wine with that because I like the taste of wine.
- I am working on this project and have lost that healthy perpsective I hoped to have about it. WHO CARES? Apparently I do. Dammit.
- The news is depressing. I wanted to talk about the Golden Globes this week. I also have a coworker from Haiti and don't feel I will ever be able to do enough for her and her family (who are safe, but have lost everything).
- Why is everyone else cheery today?
- I went to Costco and was happier for a half hour, retail therapy you know, but I still need to go to the regular store. We have Taquitos and boneless chicken breasts at home.
- I knew blogging would make me feel a bit better, but it didn't finish my work for me. Rats.
Thursday, January 7
Smileflakes
What makes Southerners so crazy about snow is the rarity of actually getting it. Yes, it's a crazy associated with our inabiliy to drive and our Worrying about Bread! And Toilet Paper!
But more than that we go a little nuts because when it begins falling, the little kid in all of us comes out, and -- as I just witnessed at the shopping center and the drive-thru -- we can't help smiling at each other.
A small wonderment, to be sure.
But more than that we go a little nuts because when it begins falling, the little kid in all of us comes out, and -- as I just witnessed at the shopping center and the drive-thru -- we can't help smiling at each other.
A small wonderment, to be sure.
Wednesday, January 6
Here's one of the "laughable" work things
I'm part of a project team at work that received this instruction in an email recently:
HA!!! Ridiculous. Belongs here.
Whereas before, an assignment like this would kind-of stress me out, I'm trying to just put it in perspective. I'll do my part, yes, but not get flustered trying to over-work or perfect it. Because who cares!?
"I'd like to ask the teams to critically reconsider the objectives and add until you think they cover your whole subject. The following criteria might help you:
- the objective is strategic (3-4 year scope)
- the objective is not country-specific
- the objective does not contain a measure
- the objective doesn't contain an initiative
- the objectives cover the 4 perspectives (financial, customer, process, innovation)."
HA!!! Ridiculous. Belongs here.
Whereas before, an assignment like this would kind-of stress me out, I'm trying to just put it in perspective. I'll do my part, yes, but not get flustered trying to over-work or perfect it. Because who cares!?
Tuesday, January 5
My 2009
It's been great reading everyone's Old Year recaps and New Year's resolutions. The Sundry meme is always a good template to organize those thoughts. I did it last year. It's too long, though, so I'm skipping the stupid questions this time.
I did have the glass of wine (and a half), and as I begin this, am cozied up in the covers at 10 p.m. I rarely bring my laptop to the bedroom, but we have a new laptop now taking the main station in our kitchen/den (thank you, Santa!), so I'm thinking the iBook G4, in its old age, will serve well here for reading and writing before bedtime.
Anyway, here goes.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? I started a new job. I've done that before, but never with this company. Lots of the new things I did this year were related to this job (which still feels new). Other new things: Traveled with two kids and both sets of grandparents to DisneyWorld (awesome); watched my first-born start Kindergarten, bought school uniforms, made school lunches), went to T-ball games, and rocked a Magazine Drive.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Ugh. Is it funny to talk about failure on the heatlh/fitness resolution? No....? Darn. I exercised a bit more faithfully in '09 than in '08, thanks to the new job -- they had a lunch-hour walking program when I first started -- but it fizzled. See also: Various excuses. I received a Wii Fit+ for Christmas, and DH joined a 24-hour gym, so I'm hopeful there'll be some activity in this department. But frankly, I'm sick to death of making it a "resolution," and even reading of other people making it a resolution. It just needs to be a part of daily life, something that we Do, not something that we Start and Stop doing.
DH and I also hope to organize, declutter quite a bit, and PAINT this year.
4. Did anyone close to you die? DH's paternal grandmother died right before Christmas. We weren't close to her, but the times I'd met her I thought she was a really fun lady. I regret that we never visited her with our kids before she died.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Last year I said: Muscle tone in my abs, and lower cholesterol. (Um, no.) A pain-free back. (Check!) My side of the bed to myself. (Check!) In 2010, let's see... a fresh coat of paint on the den walls. New boots. New bath towels in at least one bathroom. A chair for our kitchen desk. It's the little things. And maybe that muscle tone, too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Making dinnertime slightly more bearable. It seems small, but has made a big difference. Dessert happens on Mondays and Fridays only, and everyone gets dessert regardless of how much they ate at dinner. We're still fighting a few dinnertime battles (don't tip your chair back, don't play with your food), but infinitely fewer than before.
9. What was your biggest failure? Unsure if I want to quantify any "biggest" failure. Let's not get so negative. I'm trying to enjoy a little wine buzz, yanno?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was ill when things in my former job started going all screwy and desperate. I was injured somewhat when, during Christmas break, my neck and shoulders seized up and wouldn't relax for a week or so (was it viral or muscular? hard to tell...) And how about this, I was ill when my coworker injured herself and worked from home for 8 weeks, because she shifted a lot of her busywork to me. Rrrrr.
11. What was the best thing you bought? iPhones.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My parents' and DH's parents'. Each set has come up to stay with AJ as we navigate the novelty of a school calendar and random days off for "teacher inservice" and "fall parent-teacher conferences." AJ's behavior, for trying something new (T-ball) and doing his very best. KT's, because she's awfully cute. ;)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own, on several occasions.
14. Where did most of your money go? We had quite a bit of car repair and maintenance going on this year. Thank goodness we paid the loan off in May, or even more would have gone to the "car" column.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? DisneyWorld and staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Battlestar Gallactica. iPhones.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier. No, really. Last year this time I was commuting an hour each way, every day, and not enjoying the work, either. This year, 6 miles. Better work. WOOT!
b) thinner or fatter? Fricking same. Same, same, same.
c) richer or poorer? Overall, richer, I think. But not much.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? date night
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Spanking. I mean, we don't Spank as in, "I'm getting the belt," but what I realized, and almost put in the "biggest failure" category, is that I definitely have a tendency to WANT to spank in the heat of a fight with the kids (AJ). I know kids sometimes do need a swat on the butt, but I am never proud of it, I try to avoid it. and the realization really stopped me in my tracks. Hard to admit that here.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Even I am bored by this question. We did start watching a new one, though -- Man vs. Food on the Travel channel. Love!
24. What was the best book you read? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (I also loved Twilight and New Moon, and am not afraid to admit it.)
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Pandora.com.
26. What did you want and get? Are you still reading this?? The new job, obvs. And Starbucks gift cards for Christmas.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Worked. And sulked because a coworker forgot. Big, 35-year-old baby.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time to spend helping out at AJ's school, thus allowing me to make friends there. The "insta-friends" I was hoping for haven't panned out yet. I know it's early in our career there, but if I were able to go to volunteer in the classroom, the library, etc., I'd be happier with that situation.
35. Who did you miss? Same answer as always - my Sis and MB, and I feel we've talked even less the last few months. And my parents. You know, I think a lot about why we live here instead of there, and wonder -- desperately? hopelessly? -- about who's going to take care of them as they get older, if we're not there. We're not far, but still.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Actually, our new pastor is pretty awesome. :)
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. I am getting very tired, here. But I wanted to write about something that inspired me recently. I tried to explain it to DH and it didn't come out right. It's the thought that "I am so much more than this job." Even though I'm happy about the job change, and about having a job at all in this recession, I have to work very hard not to identify solely as "Working Mom," emphasis on "Working." But the importance of my life is not wrapped up in this job. I learned this from watching a few (sour, grouchy) new coworkers who ARE solely empowered by their jobs, and also from a recent homily on motherhood. It's not so much that my calling is to motherhood, or that people whose lives don't include children are "less than." Not at all. It's more a realization that the trappings of office work and business are so miniscule that they're almost laughable; and therefore not worth getting stressed out about. Do good work, full stop.
That's it for me on this one. Lots to do in the year twenty-ten, that's for sure. Looking forward to sharing it here!
I did have the glass of wine (and a half), and as I begin this, am cozied up in the covers at 10 p.m. I rarely bring my laptop to the bedroom, but we have a new laptop now taking the main station in our kitchen/den (thank you, Santa!), so I'm thinking the iBook G4, in its old age, will serve well here for reading and writing before bedtime.
Anyway, here goes.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? I started a new job. I've done that before, but never with this company. Lots of the new things I did this year were related to this job (which still feels new). Other new things: Traveled with two kids and both sets of grandparents to DisneyWorld (awesome); watched my first-born start Kindergarten, bought school uniforms, made school lunches), went to T-ball games, and rocked a Magazine Drive.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Ugh. Is it funny to talk about failure on the heatlh/fitness resolution? No....? Darn. I exercised a bit more faithfully in '09 than in '08, thanks to the new job -- they had a lunch-hour walking program when I first started -- but it fizzled. See also: Various excuses. I received a Wii Fit+ for Christmas, and DH joined a 24-hour gym, so I'm hopeful there'll be some activity in this department. But frankly, I'm sick to death of making it a "resolution," and even reading of other people making it a resolution. It just needs to be a part of daily life, something that we Do, not something that we Start and Stop doing.
DH and I also hope to organize, declutter quite a bit, and PAINT this year.
4. Did anyone close to you die? DH's paternal grandmother died right before Christmas. We weren't close to her, but the times I'd met her I thought she was a really fun lady. I regret that we never visited her with our kids before she died.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Last year I said: Muscle tone in my abs, and lower cholesterol. (Um, no.) A pain-free back. (Check!) My side of the bed to myself. (Check!) In 2010, let's see... a fresh coat of paint on the den walls. New boots. New bath towels in at least one bathroom. A chair for our kitchen desk. It's the little things. And maybe that muscle tone, too.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Making dinnertime slightly more bearable. It seems small, but has made a big difference. Dessert happens on Mondays and Fridays only, and everyone gets dessert regardless of how much they ate at dinner. We're still fighting a few dinnertime battles (don't tip your chair back, don't play with your food), but infinitely fewer than before.
9. What was your biggest failure? Unsure if I want to quantify any "biggest" failure. Let's not get so negative. I'm trying to enjoy a little wine buzz, yanno?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was ill when things in my former job started going all screwy and desperate. I was injured somewhat when, during Christmas break, my neck and shoulders seized up and wouldn't relax for a week or so (was it viral or muscular? hard to tell...) And how about this, I was ill when my coworker injured herself and worked from home for 8 weeks, because she shifted a lot of her busywork to me. Rrrrr.
11. What was the best thing you bought? iPhones.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My parents' and DH's parents'. Each set has come up to stay with AJ as we navigate the novelty of a school calendar and random days off for "teacher inservice" and "fall parent-teacher conferences." AJ's behavior, for trying something new (T-ball) and doing his very best. KT's, because she's awfully cute. ;)
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own, on several occasions.
14. Where did most of your money go? We had quite a bit of car repair and maintenance going on this year. Thank goodness we paid the loan off in May, or even more would have gone to the "car" column.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? DisneyWorld and staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Battlestar Gallactica. iPhones.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier. No, really. Last year this time I was commuting an hour each way, every day, and not enjoying the work, either. This year, 6 miles. Better work. WOOT!
b) thinner or fatter? Fricking same. Same, same, same.
c) richer or poorer? Overall, richer, I think. But not much.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? date night
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Spanking. I mean, we don't Spank as in, "I'm getting the belt," but what I realized, and almost put in the "biggest failure" category, is that I definitely have a tendency to WANT to spank in the heat of a fight with the kids (AJ). I know kids sometimes do need a swat on the butt, but I am never proud of it, I try to avoid it. and the realization really stopped me in my tracks. Hard to admit that here.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Even I am bored by this question. We did start watching a new one, though -- Man vs. Food on the Travel channel. Love!
24. What was the best book you read? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (I also loved Twilight and New Moon, and am not afraid to admit it.)
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Pandora.com.
26. What did you want and get? Are you still reading this?? The new job, obvs. And Starbucks gift cards for Christmas.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Worked. And sulked because a coworker forgot. Big, 35-year-old baby.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More time to spend helping out at AJ's school, thus allowing me to make friends there. The "insta-friends" I was hoping for haven't panned out yet. I know it's early in our career there, but if I were able to go to volunteer in the classroom, the library, etc., I'd be happier with that situation.
35. Who did you miss? Same answer as always - my Sis and MB, and I feel we've talked even less the last few months. And my parents. You know, I think a lot about why we live here instead of there, and wonder -- desperately? hopelessly? -- about who's going to take care of them as they get older, if we're not there. We're not far, but still.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Actually, our new pastor is pretty awesome. :)
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. I am getting very tired, here. But I wanted to write about something that inspired me recently. I tried to explain it to DH and it didn't come out right. It's the thought that "I am so much more than this job." Even though I'm happy about the job change, and about having a job at all in this recession, I have to work very hard not to identify solely as "Working Mom," emphasis on "Working." But the importance of my life is not wrapped up in this job. I learned this from watching a few (sour, grouchy) new coworkers who ARE solely empowered by their jobs, and also from a recent homily on motherhood. It's not so much that my calling is to motherhood, or that people whose lives don't include children are "less than." Not at all. It's more a realization that the trappings of office work and business are so miniscule that they're almost laughable; and therefore not worth getting stressed out about. Do good work, full stop.
That's it for me on this one. Lots to do in the year twenty-ten, that's for sure. Looking forward to sharing it here!
Beginning
Stopping by... hello... I didn't write a single thing over the holidays. I had an inkling, but instead opted to fully engage in the moments. I truly enjoyed my time off from work and my wonderful family, and kept up somewhat with all of you through the magic of the iPhone.
I hope to stage a cozy meeting in my bed this evening, with a glass of nice wine (or maybe juice, I feel a sore throat coming on) and my laptop, to muse about last year, these last few weeks, and 2010.
Meanwhile, please jump over and visit my darling real-life friend, the simple minded suburbanite. Her blog is new, and fantastic. You will love her.
I hope to stage a cozy meeting in my bed this evening, with a glass of nice wine (or maybe juice, I feel a sore throat coming on) and my laptop, to muse about last year, these last few weeks, and 2010.
Meanwhile, please jump over and visit my darling real-life friend, the simple minded suburbanite. Her blog is new, and fantastic. You will love her.
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