For Jess and Torsten

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking
together in the same direction.
~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I wish you a magnificent wedding, plenty of laughter, the faith to keep going even when it's tiring, and above all, lots and lots of happiness. To Jess Loolu and her groom-to-be!

Limitations and the pity thereof

I'm chatting with my sister in Facebook right now, as I type this. Isn't chat so fun? I LURVH it. I chat on AIM/iChat, Facebook, and gChat. I remember telnet-ing back in the olden days of 1995, though, on a blue screen and all. I used it to talk with Maryb, and she talked to her future husband, so far away was he, at the Citadel. I even think the three of us chatted together sometimes. Hee hee!! MEMMMM-REES.

So my week has been an EPIC FAIL in the area of healthy eating. EPIC. I can't say that enough. EP.IC. FAIL. I ate Fairy Tale Brownies, MB's Apple Cake via my neighbors who visited an apple farm, banana bread (I had to make it so as not to waste the bananas, dontchaknow), and what else? Chips and salsa. And, oh right, we went out for Mexican last Sunday and I practically licked the cheese enchilada platter clean. I hate myself for doing that kind of crap, and sabotaging any efforts at weight loss thus far (I've gained back 2.5 pounds of the six I had lost since having KT baby), but I swear. I feel like especially in lean economic times it's so MEAN to ourselves to limit everything damn thing. Limit spending. Limit fat. Limit sugar. Limit white bread products. Limit REAL COCA-COLA. I hate it! I would like to just live normally, please. (What's that? Broccoli is normal? NOT IN MY BOOK.) It's so hard to resist the easy, yummiest foods.

And yet I have done Jillian Michaels' workout #1 twice this week, which kicks my bootie in a good way and makes me kinda want to do it again, and more. (Totally jumped on the bandwagon there, as everyone -- well, Sundry -- was talking about J.M. I'm a follower ... of good suggestions.) I guess I'm breaking even health-wise, although it doesn't feel that way. It feels like I'm not doing it well at all.

Working out makes my knees really hurt. I don't know if I'm just old and need to continue working to build up my thigh muscles to protect the knees, or if I need to buy some shoe inserts, or if I really should go see a doctor. My knees hurt when I try to run in place, for example. Jumping jacks? Fine. Running? OW.

And my FEET hurt. Holy cowsicles, when I wake up in the morning it's as if I've had them bound all night. They work themselves out after a time, but I walk like concrete at 5:45 am. I realized the other day that I'm very bad to stand on the sides of my feet, especially the right foot, instead of distributing weight evenly in the middle. That's a habit that I think started during childhood. So I've been trying to be aware of that and fix it. I've also been avoiding high heels for 2 weeks to see if that helps, but come on. LIMIT PRETTY SHOES, TOO?

A meditative (?) $115

Thoughts during a haircut & color, Sept. 16, 2008:

Ahh, the Aveda store. Love this place. Love that they do my color in a more quiet area of the salon, so I can read. READING MY BOOK NOW! WOO! When do I ever get to read my book? Never, that's when! I am going to read it the entire time they slop bleachy-smelling stuff on my head.

Wow, that really smells bleachy. Ick. I do feel sort-of like a turkey being basted. Boy, it's hard to concentrate on this book. But isn't this a nice way to spend an hour? Hope Hubby's doing okay with the 2 kids. Hope AJ's eating his dinner. Surely he is. Pizza. Surely he'll eat pizza. Hope KT baby isn't really sick. It has to be teething, right? Her scratchy little voice has been so sad! Okay, okay... back to my book.

Glad I found a color I like. Too bad I don't love the stylist, but she's alright... I do wish they'd be quiet, though -- I've read this paragraph about 4 times... "I was so horrified by the whale's deliberate charge that I could not move. Then my own name flew up from below like a spear: "Una!" Giles' voice broke my trance, and I scrambled down the rigging. No sooner did my foot touch the deck than there was such a lurch that I fell to my face. I heard and felt the boards break below the waterline, the copper sheathing nothing but decorative foil..." wait. What? "I heard and felt the boards break below the waterline, the copper sheathing nothing but decorative foil..." I wish THAT one with the dark hair was my stylist. She seems sweeter than K. And she isn't so full of herself.... Mmmm, they're talking about Cold Stone Creamery. Should I add something, participate in the conversation? Does it make me seem weird that I'd rather read? "I heard and felt the boards break below the waterline, the copper sheathing nothing but decorative foil..." Oh, that stylist's getting married in December. Then taking 2 weeks off. Lucky duck! Wish I had 2 weeks off. "...nothing but decorative foil..." This part is boring. When will she get off this boat and go back to her family??... Ooh, a Vertical Horizon song! Been ages since I heard this one...

oh, okay, here they come to rinse me. Yay, I love the rinse process. Yes, cover me up with that lovely, heavy velvet blanket, thank you! Divine. Water temp... perfect. Aveda shampoo? Smells good. Okay self, ennnjooyyy this moment alone... close your eyes, feeeeeel the soft blanke... Whoa! OW! Apprentice dude, not so ROUGH. Damn! ...You have a little more to learn, I guess! And quit talking, I'm trying to relax.... okay. Relax. I don't do this very often, and I deserrrrrrve this. Oh, yeah, massage time. I have a crick in my... OW! Dammit! That's entirely too hard. But of course I'm not going to say anything. Meek little el-e-e. I should tell him to ease up. He needs to learn. But no. I'll take it and keep quiet. Just hurry up to the warm towel wrap.... *eyebrows raised* Make that a HOT towel. Gees, ow! Okay, now go away for a minute.

Isn't it wonderful to enjoy this little tiny bit of pampering? ....We totally can't afford this pampering... shut up, self, enjoy it already; you work, you can pay for this... shouldn't be paying for this, isn't that what Clairol is for?... I definitely won't put it on the debit card. Credit. So glad we've paid some of our cards all the way off. I should cut them up. Wonder if credit will cease to exist due to this economic crisis we're in? Hmm. That could be bad.... don't want to think about that....

Time for my haircut. I guess I have to put down my book and talk to the stylist... Or, listen to HER talk.... "Mmm-hmmm." "Yeah, I totally agree..." "Oh, noooo, that's terrible..." (I care less and less about this conversation...) Okay shut up about your divorce, I GET IT. You can't afford your house now because you bought it on 2 incomes. I UNDERSTAND.... be kind, self, be a good listener... Sigh... somehow I think she's trying to get me to tip her real big because she KEEPS talking about how little money she makes. Way to be subtle, lady.... of course I never know what's the appropriate tip amount anyway... awkward! Does she remember what I tipped last time? Was it a lot, I don't remember. If so, did that set a precedent and now I have to tip her a lot every time? Hate this issue. Makes me uncomfortable.

And now this lady in front of me won't hurry up at the cash register. I'll just go over here and scope out the products some more... Did she just add a $30 tip?? She did. Well, great. I was going to tip $20. Is that too little? Does it depend on my total? I will NOT tip $30. That's too much. I appreciate your service, but it's your job. I refuse. ...No way, did I hear that right? ...$115 total? YIPES. I was only expecting about $80. Sigh. Forking over the card. "Would you like to add anything to this, ma'am?" ...."$25.00" Super.

Trader Tuesdays: Pasta with Lemon Juice

1 box pasta - bowtie or rotini work well
juice of 4 fresh lemons
about 12 oz fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
3-4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
5-6 (or to taste) leaves fresh basil, torn or julienned

Grilled chicken (optional)
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
garlic salt
lemon pepper

******

Cook pasta as directed on box. While pasta cooks, make sauce in the bottom of a large serving bowl: juice lemons, add 8 oz. cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper, and stir with a whisk. (Save some cheese for garnish.) If using chicken, grill it while pasta cooks (we use the George Foreman grill).

Drain pasta and fold into the sauce. (Add chicken, sliced up pretty.) Garnish with extra cheese and basil leaves.

Supper is served!


This is one of my go-to recipes, and it's satisfying with or without the chicken. I've substituted the heck out of it over the years, too -- don't have shredded cheese? Grated (from the can) is fine. Don't have fresh lemons? You can get by with Real Lemon. Out of fresh basil? Dried will work (but not as yummy).

Bribery, Hairdressery

Sunday School was great, if a little messy. And by that I don't necessarily mean the sandbox of buried Treasures of the Earth; I mean the poor little girl who couldn't stop crying, whose Daddy had to stay with her the whole time. They sat in the back and tried not to be distracting for the rest of the class. By the veeeeery end, she came up front with everyone and was smiling and talking about what stuffed animal she'd bring next week, for the "God Gives us Plants and Animals" chapter. Poor thing. I really sympathized with that Dad.

I'm enjoying the "teacher" aspect of this project. It reminds me of being a kid, playing school. No kidding! I have some techniques I need to improve, like saying, "Guys! Guys!" instead of a more polite, "Boys and Girls." I have to watch myself from looking at the other teacher when one kid -- 5-year-olds, you understand -- stands up to ramble about something completely off-topic and/or weird; my gut reaction is a knowing smile and raised eyebrows, as if to say, "Are you believing this?!" That's probably not protocol. But it's pretty fun to stand up in front like I know something. To call on the kids when it's their turn. It's easy to get 5yos to like you, but... I think they like us/me. And that feels good.

AJ did well in his class, too. I peeked in on him toward the end of the hour, and his teacher was showing them the Sign of the Cross. Their lesson was "Our Hands." So cute. Our hand are for eating. Playing. Clapping. Praying. (Hmmmm. Perhaps we need to be doing a little more praying with OUR students, heh, whoops.) Anyway, he said he'll totally go again, especially if I buy him another prize of a Ben 10 alien action figure. Yes, "another." I bribed him.

Here's one other thing I did this weekend, and I'm sorry in advance for the puddle of "awwww" you're about to become, and also for bragging about how cute my kid is, but believe me. Introducing.... barrettes:


After one time, I couldn't stop. I put one in her hair for Saturday Mass. For sitting around our house Sunday afternoon. For dinner last night. I chose yellow this morning and I'm nearly certain it will be missing after a day in the Infant 2 room, but truly: HOW COULD I NOT??

And then I'll draw on the chalkboard for 47 minutes

This Sunday, we'll be learning about Land, Water, Earth and Sky in the St. Joseph's Kindergarten classroom. I'm excited because I think it's going to be a fun-filled hour. Now that we're getting to know the kidlets, and they us, there's less fumbling around and we can do more actual learning. Thankfully, we also have great BOOKS to spoon-feed us ideas, since we are volunteers, after all, and not trained in education. However, I think I have some decent ideas for my portion of the lesson:

- Our weekly read-aloud story (which I read ahead of time!) has the word "rain" about seventeen times, so I'm going to have the kids make a "rain" sign/motion every time they hear it. I wanted to bring a rain stick, too, but alas, I don't have one. Also, I hate rain sticks.

- OBVS we're going to be singing You Are My Sunshine and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Anyone know a good "Moon" song? .... me, either. I'm also predicting that songs are going to be my default activity. Get used to it, kids. ;)

- We're doing a "buried treasure" thing for the land/earth portion. A plastic bin, a bag of sand, and "treasures" of rocks, sticks, and shells. Heh Heh. "Here, kids! Have some yard detritus!" I think they're going to go bananas over it. I'll be toting my dustbuster.

Oh, and P.S., I'll also be toting my kid. He promised me that he'd try Sunday School one more time, after flat refusing to attend last weekend. It's going to somewhat tick me off if he decides he doesn't like it. But since the diocese doesn't require it for his age, I'm not requiring it, either. If he doesn't like it after this week, I'll let it go. Too bad I signed up to do this for together-time, church-focused, WITH HIM. Sigh. Oh well. I am sure I'm benefiting, anyway.

At Least this Fresca is Yummy (Black Cherry)

I am in a bit of a work-induced MOOD today, so how about a bulleted list of items of intrigue? HOW 'BOUT.

1. Does anyone actually BUY the pizza-flavored Goldfish? I ask rhetorically but also, seriously... do you buy them? ...would I like them? I'm kind-of embarrassed to admit that I'm curious. Of course I've already tried the pretzel ones, and they are beyond dry. They're so dry, "I'd have to pry myself to SPIT." (hattip: Texas, the musical).

2. JUST when I feel like I'm all synced up, work is clicking, I have just the right number of extra-curricular activities that I feel fulfilled but not busy, and calm enough that I start contemplating Having People Over for Dinner -- not planning, just thinking, "Hey, we're in a good rhythm, I bet we could manage it one weekend soon..." BLAM. That freelance project I thought was dead in the water resurfaces, the Archdiocesan Choir sends out next season's rehearsal schedule (do I want to participate or don't I?), and I see Halloween candy in the front of Publix. HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL. We have to start preparing for THAT again.

3. Project Runway is definitely a good show. Even when it's pretty pathetic, LIKE THIS SEASON, it's still good. But last night was just pure schlock. Bringing back the Auf'd contestants? LAME. The badly lit planetarium where we, the viewers, couldn't even SEE the garments? LAME-O. Terry's and Keith's cat-fighting? SO LAME. I'll tell you, she has had some great confessional one-liners, but last night I couldn't believe her attitude. Grow up, girl. Ditto Kenely.

Well, this has quickly devolved into a bitch-fest of my own. I thought doing yoga a little while ago had cleared my whine, but apparently not.

Trader Tuesdays: Peanut Butter Pie

I'm not at home and don't have my very own recipe book with me, from which I could choose something delectable and special to share. But the recipe posts are going up here, there, and everywhere, and I just can't be left out of all the fun.

So without further adieu, I give you my official excuse for a trade (I make a version of this):

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Pie-XII/Detail.aspx

Mmmmm. Pie.

Confession

Darn those Gosselins, anyway. Good for laundry-folding, of which I had plenty last night, and lo! A J&K+8 marathon! I've now seen Kate smile at least twice. And I will admit, I do find it funny when she's railing on Jon, and he just sits there, unflinching, giving the camera a look like, "She's railing on me again, viewer, but I COULD CARE. *eyeroll*"

I'm confessing. It's only right that you know.

Vanity

I liked that picture enough to make it my profile pic. Have been nursing a love-hate relationship with photos of myself lately, changing my Facebook profile picture again and again, but also wanting more pictures of me with the kids (seems I'm always behind the camera instead of in front). Not to mention pics of me with the Hubs -- oh, when you're first together and don't have kids, you snap, snap, snap love-dove pictures of yourselves. "Cute couple," people say. Yeah. Well, THAT goes out the window once you have the cuddly little people around! I would really like someone to take pictures of me and DH together, smiling. To remind me that we DO SMILE TOGETHER once in a while. Perhaps with some half-empty beer bottles in the foreground? :)

The end of this week has kind-of kicked my butt in the parenting department; nothing huge, just the typical boundary struggles with a four-year-old. He doens't WANT to wear socks. He doens't WANT to turn off the TV. He doens't WANT a story. No WAIT, REEEEEEAD STOOOOORIES, WAAAAAH. (I'm spelling "doesn't" wrong because that is exactly how he pronounces it. Dun-sent.) The whole thing makes me mentally tired; I'd like to run away to a quiet corner of the bookstore. I would even take DH with me; he's quiet. We could sit criss-cross-applesauce on the floor and flip through books and magazines until closing time. Doesn't that sound divine? Hm, where's the babysitter's number?

I have to talk (vainly) about my hair. For one thing, I have finally decided I like the cut. It's a bit longer than I usually wear it. I've gotten some compliments lately and that always helps, but for ONCE in the last few years, it seems to be cut really well, where it falls correctly. Yes, I have to blow it dry, which seems to take too long for a busy working mom. But when I do, it lays perfectly straight and even 'swings' a little bit, making me feel somewhat sassy. I like feeling sassy. The one complaint I have about my hair is that it feels coarser to me. Is that a factor of getting old, or just from frying it with all-over-color?

I plan to haul a bunch of junk to the Goodwill drop-off location this weekend (including maternity clothes and AJ's crib bedding). Or wait: should I save it for my sister-in-law, who keeps saying she wants to be pregnant within a year? Well, crap, there goes that. So now what should I do this weekend? What're you doing?

Slingy sling sling!

Maaaaaajor shout out to Nicole, who reminded me recently in a comment or a Tweet or something, that the sling is my friend. The hip-carry has become my very best friend for that magical hour from 5:30 pm 'til dinner is on the table. I love that KT baby likes riding around the kitchen with me. I wish I'd had one of these when AJ was little.
Shut up, yes I was wearing a competing floral print with my paisley pink sling! Eek! I am a fashion don't!

Nothing to report, really

Today I don't really have anything earth-shattering to tell (do I ever?), but I think some of my better posts are the ones where I just type for a while and see what materializes. Free-form blogging, as it were. You've been warned.

My mind has been trying to wrap itself around the elections the last week or so, like most people. I don't like watching either convention, because it's all just a lot of scripted cheerleading and Other-Party-Bashing, and I don't like that. There's little of substance. But I have peeked in on each convention and you know what I've noticed the most? The sets. Like, behind the DNC podium one day last week they had a couple of huge window panels, right? Those were pretty, with the beige carpet-y looking surroundings. I don't know if that was the stage all the way through. Like I said, I try not to watch. Last night I wasn't as fond of the large black and white images behind the RNC podium, because I thought it took away from being able to see the person who was speaking. I did think Laura Bush looked lovely in red, and behind her they had a giant, soft image of an American flag -- that was nice.

You see how much I pay attention to the content, though. Not much. The debates? I will watch. The tickets this year make the race really fascinating (I = Master of Obvious) and I want to hear what everyone has to say about how they will lead this country. Even the debates, though, can't be trusted. Politicians will SAY whatever they have to say; whether or not they follow through on "promises" is certainly a toss-up. I do hate all the meanness that comes with politics, though, and I wonder if we'll EVER move away from the either-or mentality of a two-party system.

BUT! I don't want to talk politics with my friends. It's impolite.

Speaking of impolite -- one of AJ's favorite stories lately is "Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby." We have it in an illustrated children's literature anthology, as well as a Little Golden Book handed down from DH's childhood collection. Do you read this story to your kids? It was a favorite of mine, too, when I was small. Of course there's the dialect. Brer Rabbit says to the Tar Baby: "Ain't you goin' to say 'Howdy?' Ain't you goin' to be PER-LITE?" And I read it in dialect because that's the way it's meant to be read -- it's part of our country's literary tradition. But it makes me feel a little funny. I worry that, in one edition, they repeat the phrase, "And the Tar Baby, he say nothin'," over and over again. AJ quoted it back to me yesterday. "Mommy, I like the part where the Tar Baby he say nothin'." Eeek. "He doesn't say anything, son. Anything." Just what I need is to raise a boy who thinks "ain't" really is a word. Maybe I'll suggest "Make Way For Ducklings" tonight instead.

And speaking of dialect! (Wow, the segues are just perfect this morning!) I heard a radio interview with someone from Montague, LA, where the reporter kept saying "Hurricane GOOSE-tahv," like we've all been saying. The Montague resident, however, said, "Gus-TAHV," with his French-Cajun accent. How I love that sound. It made me smile.

Brief but lovely meeting

It has been all I could do today not to come giggling over to you, to tell you this super-cool news. For the last 5 hours I've had to, like, care for the kids and feed them and talk to them and stuff... So annoying! Because guess what? Today I got to meet someone I really like and admire from The Internet. And she is just as sweet and fantastic in person as she is on-screen, and I just had to share.

Hi, Mir, you're pretty! Sorry I was such a schoolgirl. (I really was, y'all. Starstruck happens. I couldn't even logically tell her my name. God, I am so embarrassed. If I ever get to go to BlogHer I will clearly need drinks. Which is good, I've heard they have them there.)

Blogging is funny. One minute you're feeling all comfortable, all "part of this great community," and the next minute you're you again, the shy girl. Hee. But I love it. I was proud to be there, happy to understand this medium (somewhat) and how it works, nodding in agreement when they (Mir and also-famous Kristen) explained why they do it. When my husband asked me on the way home, why *I* do it, I had several answers for him. It started as a substitute for the paper journals I'd been writing my whole life. I have since found it's a great place to park the memories we're making, so that when these kiddos grow up, I won't forget. And, it's allowed me to meet fascinating people and expand my circle a bit. He knew I was excited because I went on and on. I mean, it must have been fun if I'm blogging about it on a weekend! When I got home, I really wanted to hop online just to BE with you guys. If that isn't silly.

Anyway, go and buy their book. I already read about 1/3 of it since we got home today (while I was "caring" for the kids, ahem). It's like a handy bookmark of the best posts from the best momblogs. Blogs-to-books: will that continue? Will the "craze" fizzle eventually? Will all of the rockstar bloggers get published? Who knows. It will be fun to see where this whole things takes us in the next several years.

Identity freaking crisis

*SIGH* This day and age, I swear. I now have so many multiple personalities (not to mention logins and passwords) that I can barely keep up with myself, and I'm supposed to be keeping up with two kids and a husband, too? WTH, Web 2.0?

1. In February 2005, I didn't want to publish my kids' names or my last name on this blog because I didn't want all the wackos of the world to be able to find our house/school/whatever wackos want to find. I was also aware of the employer/potential employer's ability to Google. So it's anonymous.
2. Except when I go and link to Vimeo where I've signed up using my real name, DUH.
3. And never mind that half my regular readership is related to me. (Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Hi husband, sister, cousins!)
4. The other half of you have likely emailed me at some point, and I wasn't smart enough to create an anonymous email to accompany the blog; just used my regular ol' junky yahoo address. So now you guys know my real name, too. Which is fine, I don't care about that because I like you, I really like you. But it seems dumb, now, to have an anon blog and a revealed email.
5. I love Facebook and have become friends with a few of you guys and a LOT of old high school and college buddies. I definitely don't think I want all of them to be reading my blog so I don't publish its URL over there.
   
6. I finally succumbed to the everloving Twitter tease, and set up my account... possibly without thinking, using my real and actual name. So I can't very well publish my Twitter feed here, can I? Haha, oh, isn't this fun?
   
7. AND NOW my office has created Facebook and Twitter accounts. I want to become a fan of and follow them; however, my manager has said explicitly that we should have TWO identities for these things, one personal and one professional. Because he doesn't want our clients, who may also follow us, seeing "our naked toga party pics." (It's funny because we work in higher ed.) And I get it, and I don't want my clients on my real Facebook page, either, necessarily -- perhaps they don't need to know how often I'm playing TextTwirl?-- but ArrRRGHEHEH. Two Facebook accounts? Two Twitter accounts? Annoying.
   
8. Oh, damn, I just remembered Flickr, too. Which I think I don't want to use, personally, anymore (don't like the way it functions) but the office may start using it for clients' photo archives, so again, I'll need to sign up with my Professional identity. Which is.. who, again?

Darling Husband, I just want you to know that if and when we get our Wii, I may not be up to creating YET ANOTHER Mii (me).

(....Who?)

Badly lit, but still pretty darn cute

Happy Baby Jumperoo! from Lee on Vimeo.


Also: this is one of the most beautifully written things I've read on the Internet lately, from Sundry:

...all I wish for is that time would slow down, that I could enjoy your babyhood for as long as I want, instead of the cruel truth of days slipping by faster and faster, every moment taking you just a bit away from me. The entire act of parenthood is a path of loss, Dylan, where the whole point is for you to grow up and away, and we will know we did at least a few things right when you carve out your own life completely separate from ours. I know how this time is such a sweet shutter-flash, and my heart, my little one, it will be over so soon. I am trying to hold on to it all, even as it constantly changes.

Red Beans and Rice

We eat Red Beans and Rice (RBR, as it appears on my weekly Post-It Note menu) quite often. Usually it comes from this box, which I will say unashamedly is delicious. I can claim to know, since my Mom is pure, 100% Louisianan. Sunday, I decided to make real Red Beans. I don't know... I guess I had extra time on my hands. ;)

This recipe is mostly my Mom's, with 1 or 2 ingredients from the back of the bag of Red Beans. My husband said it was delicious.

1 pound bag dry red beans (pick out the bad ones while they're dry)
6-8 cups water
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
3/4 TBSP salt
1 TBSP Creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's)
1 pound smoked sausage*, sliced, or a ham bone, or just ham

*you could use spicy sausage or andouille, but I'd omit the Cayenne pepper in that case.

If you don't remember to soak the beans overnight, then place them in a big pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Let them boil 2-3 minutes, turn the heat off and remove them from the burner. Let them sit, covered, for an hour or so. Drain.

Place soaked beans in crock pot and add 4-6 cups (new) water. Add other ingredients and stir. Cook on low 10-12 hours or on high at least 6 hours. (Or, bring to boil and simmer on the stove for 2 - 2.5 hours.) Add sausage or other meat whenever you like. An hour or so before cooking time is finished, take about 1 cup of beans out, and puree in the food processor. Add them back in. This is to make the mixture creamier.

(I added my sausage before the last 2 hours but here's a note: bring it to room temperature first. Otherwise you will be worried that you've just cooled the temperature of the beans so much that they will never fully cook. Ack! As it turns out they were the perfect consistency, right on time!)

Serve over white rice, obvs.

Sure hope my friends will post their easy weeknight recipes today, too! Happy Tuesday!

Puttering around the house

We had lingering effects of Tropical Storm Fay over the weekend, meaning gusty wind and overcast skies, and a little pittance of rain in the north suburbs. Still, it felt kind-of like fall, and made me wish it really WAS fall, with cool temperatures and a reason to crock-pot (v.)! I did, even without reason. I made red beans and rice and tomorrow I might even share the recipe I used, in the spirit of Trader Tuesday.

I just went outside this morning, and something about the way the trees, grasses, and my garage smelled made me want Loaded Potato Soup. Yum.

Our first Sunday School experience went... okay. AJ shed some nervous tears when I left him in his classroom, which ticked me off because I wanted to teach HIS CLASS and they didn't put me there. The whole reason I was doing this! But in the end, he said he had fun, and the class of Kindergarteners I'm teaching seems really sweet, too. I think it's probably going to be a good experience for both of us. (No update on my "New Best Friend," but she did a great job with the lesson plan so I like her that much more. Hee. Looking forward to working with her.)

Our weekend, looking back now, was packed! We attended YET ANOTHER friend's birthday party. I got an inferiority complex inside their enormous brand-new house. DH went to his annual Fantasy Football Draft. I went to dinner and a movie with Colleen. Together, we watched some of the last remaining Olympics (Group Rhythmic Gymnastics? Interesting! And Weird!), played as much Ben 10 (pretend) as we parents could stand, and watched KT baby jump in the Jumperoo. I swear I'm taking pictures tonight. Pinky swear. Somehow all of this seemed relaxing.

In the category of Homecaring, DH dusted and re-org'd AJ room, I did a load of towels, and we managed not to break the bank JUST yet (although my grocery trip tonight could get us close) -- this damn 2 kids in daycare gig is a lot pricier than I'd imagined. In fact, I didn't really imagine it at all -- just didn't THINK that adding another kid, without adding more salary, was going to feel quite so pinchy. Oh well. I've decided I'm asking for new bath towels for Christmas. :) Let someone else take care of my household expenses.

Hope your weekend was equally boring and nice.

Six Month Love Letter

Dear KT,

Half a year goes by in a flash and I find myself a few days... okay, a whole week... late with getting this written out. It seems that "late" is a continual state of being with two kids. Not "Very Late," because that would make me feel bad about myself, but just a few minutes past on-time. It's okay. It's expected, really. You manage to find some very sweet ways to fill up the minutes in our days.

I don't know, yet, how tall you are or your official weight, but you're growing. :) You have discovered your feet and like to kick them up over your head when you're lying down. But! You don't have to lie down all the time anymore -- you can sit up, big girl! It makes bathtime and getting dressed a WHOLE lot easier, and you love being upright on a blanket, surrounded by toys. Mostly you go for the cloth things to chew on -- cloth books, your burp cloth, or your dress; I'd have to say your favorite toy is your green pacifier, because your turn it over and over in your hands and chew on it actively. But you just haven't been exposed yet to all the toys that are coming to you -- just wait until you meet the ball popper and the "gumball" machine! We scored a JumpeRoo from some kind friends, and you seem to really like that, too, although you're only just getting acquainted with it.

Rolling is your current method of transportation, when given some time and space, but we can see you trying to pull those little legs up behind you. The days when we can set you down and come back to the same spot 3 minutes later are definitely numbered.

You love the bath! This is really fun for Daddy and me, because *whisper* your brother AJ has never liked getting wet! Never, not since he was tiny like you! So we laugh and laugh to see you, watching yourself in the mirror, getting water ALL OVER THE MIRROR, and making a big ol' mess. It's awesome. In fact, I can't wait to take you to a birthday party this weekend at a friend's pool! I think you're going to enjoy it.

One other thing we laugh at you about: Spitting. You will make bubbles at us all day -- it's like your own little language. Baaaab-bbbbaabbb-bhhhhhtth-th-thtth-thh. We call you Spitty-Spitty when you do that. Somehow I don't remember AJ doing the same, but then again I don't remember a lot about his babyhood anymore. (That is why Mama keeps the blog!)

You still adore Big Brother, and the last few days, when you are downstairs, and you see him at the top of the stairs, you scream with delight, "Aaaahh!" and giggle excitedly! Like he is the funniest thing you've ever seen! I know it makes him feel good to be considered such a comedian, and it makes Mama smile to think that deep down, instinctively, you love him so much. That HE is the friend who makes you happiest.

We certainly love you, Baby. You add infinite sunshine to our days (and you're adding back a little more sleep to my nights, now that you're sleeping 7:30 pm to 6:00 am! Keep that up. Just had to document that one last detail.) I'm going to tickle you right on your delicious squishy thigh when I see you next.

XOXO,
Mommy

Sunday School

Last night was the opening meeting for catechists for the 2008-09 schoolyear, and I got to attend! Because I am a catechist! Or, a catechist's assistant anyway. I am (pretending/volunteering to be) a teacher of Kindergarteners, can you believe it? I'm a tad bit excited about this and only wish I had more hours in the week to devote to planning each Sunday lesson, because man, there are some fun things we could do. Anyway, some things last night that made me smile:

• They referred to our being there as a calling. And I think it is. Obviously, this is a more difficult volunteer job than, say, stuffing envelopes for the front office, so to do it requires a hearty level of commitment (although I don't mean to belittle those who volunteer to do the other stuff). The idea came to me out of the blue. A whisper, almost, after I heard from a friend that I should get AJ registered. "You should sign up to be a teacher," I thought. I have never in a million years considered doing this before. But I felt very sure about doing it, from the minute the thought surfaced. I'm excited by that, as I don't feel I've been particularly "called" to anything -- certainly not a ministry -- in a long, long while. Well, except married life and parenting, of course.
• This is going to force me to be more aware of others, and of my faith, and I think I desperately need that. I am really hopeful that this will give my soul a boost. Give and ye shall receive, ya know?
  
• One of the first Kindergarten lessons is "God made the plants and animals," and of course I thought of "If I Were a Butterfly." I think I even remember all the lyrics.
• The other song I thought of was "Zaccheus was a Wee Little Man," and lo and behold, there is a chapter on Zaccheus, too. SCORE. (Sunday School is the same now as it has ever been, I guess.)
• The woman I'm teaching with seems very nice, has 3 little kids, one in AJ's 4-yr-old class, and we are going to be new best friends I am just sure ofitawesomeawesomelet'sgetlattes! Okay, not really, I mean, I don't KNOW if we'll hit it off, but I am kinda hoping for a new girlfriend out of the deal (and get a leeettle carried away about it). I'll try not to be too lovey toward her, right here at first. Hee. She seems very sweet.
• There was a funny lady at my table who's taught Kindergarten CCD for 5 years. She's originally from Long Island and says she begins every Sunday by making all the kids come "Give me mah Sugah." Apparently the kids ADORE it. ;) She was one of those people, though, whose appearance -- big earrings, bright clothes, etc -- would lead you to believe she's outwardly focused, but in reality, she is very much on a spiritual journey. She lost her 23-year-old daughter to a car accident 10 years ago, and shared a lot about her walk with God since then. Inspiring. I LOVE when people surprise me like that.
• I thought of my Mom, who taught Kindergarten at one time, and my Aunt L who taught school for 20-something years, and Maryb and my cousin Dominique, who've taught CCD/PSR/Sunday School, too... now it's my turn.
• Okay, don't tell anyone, but I'm ALSO secretly hoping that I'll be so good at this (heh) that a teaching position will open up at the school, and they'll totally ask me to apply. School hours, dude. School. Vacations.
• It's very cool to be doing this in the Internet age, because: Resources! Tips! Communities! Very helpful for this first-timer.
  

Pray for me!

Another rant-like entry

I am tired of playing "Ben 10" with AJ. I love the show, it's very creative, but... I am ashamed to say this: I DREAD when he says, "Let's play 'Ben 10!'" with all that enthusiasm. I don't have any IDEAS for Ben and Gwen and the DNAliens, I'm sorry.

I used to think of myself as imaginative. Or at least able to pretend! I was an ACTOR for a few years in high school, even. I played "improv games!" But having a child has proven that I am NOT, in fact, an idea warehouse. All of AJ's and my pretending scenes start like this: "So, [Michaelangelo or Ben or Hulk or whomever], what are we going to DO today?"

GAH. I feel like I need to work on this (maybe revisit some of the improv games?) but I just don't wanna. Whine. I love that HE has the desire to pretend, and want to foster that. And I know I'll regret it someday when he grunts at me and shuts the door to his room, turns the music up louder. I will. I'll miss it.

But I'm also tired of Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles in the tub! I have no imagination for these, either, except "Let's practice our ninja moves." *insert 4-yr-old king-fu sound effects here* Last night I finally thought of one thing: DIVE BOMBING. Meaning Mommy throws the Power Rangers into the water, splashing AJ. Good fun. Satisfying for me, too, tossing those guys into the water with a flourish.

We need a neighbor kid who likes these same characters to move in, stat. I will bake cookies. Come over to play.

Until then, CAN WE PLEASE PLAY A BOARD GAME OR DO A PUZZLE??