It's a Wonderful Life: Odds and Ends

OK... So, This Just Stinks!

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:27:07 GMT

The party's over. I'm in let down mode. But here's the thing... over 900 bloggers participated in this thing, and I had 1 new blogger leave a comment. Thank you!! By the way!! If you just happen to stop back by, I would have stopped by your site, but I have no idea who you are. :(

Now, I'm understanding a little better why a lot of folks in this circle don't have live spaces blogs... this Stinks! (Notice, with a capital "S"!) I am sure, after looking at about 40 of the party goers blogs, that I would have at least polite, "hey, how ya doin'? s" except that Nobody Outside of The Whole Live Spaces freakin' universe can leave a comment. ARG! Which, if I had realized this, would have caused me to start somewhere else. But I could have sworn!!! That I was able to leave a comment before I had a blog... but now I can't even find where it was that I had commented witout the live spaces ID. So I can not prove that I am not going crazy... which could only mean that... naaaahhhh

So, that said, I am putting honest to goodness, hard effort into getting my new WordPress blog up and going over this weekend. Which is really going to bite, because my sweet Perrin wants to also sell her GS cookies door-to-door. YUCK! I would rather stay on the computer all weekend long to get this out of my system. But, I guess, I should

*kick the dirt with my tenny-toes, look down at the resulting dust cloud with hung head*

Be the mommy today and not wimp out on my responsibilities.

Keep your eyes open for a link to my new digs! :)

Getting a little snarky here...

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:52:11 GMT

OK, maybe not, cause I don't think I could even if I wanted to. It's not in me. BUT... I am just a little tired of the Blogger word identification stuff when you want to post a comment. I know they're for security and all of that... but seriously... half of the time I can't even tell if it's a capitol or lower case letter... is there a trick for that, or do you just make your best guess, roll the dice and wait for the computer to tell you that you must be blind and please try again? :)

So, I have started to sign my comments with my usual cheery name + :) :) :), but I'm adding a little extra. The first was:

Tammy :) :) :)

whose "I'm not a crazy stalker woman" word of the day for verification is boafafe

I hope she takes it in the giggly little way it's meant... What do you think? Should I stop?

In the News...

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:17:16 GMT

Lots to add, lots to add!

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a wall...

Well, just call me Humpty! Only I wasn't sitting on a wall, and I wasn't doing anything fun, dangerous or exciting. All I can say is that doing laundry is dangerous and I just may have to swear off of it for health reasons! Stepped down into my kitchen to go change my laundry over and my foot had different plans. I went down and my foot twisted and honestly felt like it had crumpled like a piece of paper for the wastebasket. It had a big pump knot on it that looked like an extra ankle, but now is just swollen all over and in technicolor. This happened Friday evening, so no dancing for me on Saturday :( and no subbing for the preschool Sunday school teacher today. Tom brought me home some crutches so that I could just get around. My armpits hate me!

The Midwinter Frolic was fun, even though I was sidelined...

In the past the show has been less audience participation, sans the "amazing feats", and you paid to get in the door (it's a fundraiser for the community education program). This year it seemed like every other dance the audience was encouraged to come learn and it went beautifully! It took some time to get everybody down from the seats, but I'm sure it will be worth it when the next session starts... hopefully it will translate into new dancers coming for our weekly fun.

The coolest thing, in my opinion, though, was the guy in red and black. Check him out in the pictures! He juggled balls and rings for the children, taught them how to play with the shuttle sticks and another little toy AND walked on stilts!! Did I say he walked on stilits?? He also danced on them! How cool was he? All of the children loved him. I loved him! At one point he walked over to the audience, bent down to a lady in a wheelchair and asked for a "big hug". HeHaw!

We included a raffle of products from some of our downtown businesses and took donations at the door and at the end of the Mummer's Play. Perrin acted as one of Old Beezlebub's helpers... pulling the "dead" characters off of the stage. Her one and only line was "he's turned the wrong way!"

As the Mommy, my heart just positivly sang with pride when Perrin danced as part of the Rapper Sword team. She was wonderful... the whole group was wonderful. If you watch the video, you might want to click on the square so that it is the only thing on your screen and it is big enough to see the footwork. They really did a marvelous job.

Yes, Brenda, I'm tired of it too!

PG13... for too much information... not only is parental guidance encouraged, but so is female guidance.

I'm tired of the whole period thing. Had to do an emergency run to the store the other day for feminine products. I'm thinking they put the french translations on the packaging to help us not feel so negative about the whole thing... "de nuit nocturna"...yea, I'm happy now (*not*). I use to think anything in the French language sounded better... even romantic. Yes, there is irony for you! Another tidbit of ironic information ~ I failed French miserably in high school.

Finally broke down and bought the package that comes with the wipes (une debarbouillette). That has the potential to make it a little less bad, but there's only so much a freshening wipe can do for your mood. Not only do I have to deal with the normal bleeding but the dr. found a cyst-type thing while I was pregnant with Moira and that just adds to the amount. We have no fertility problems here, and my body is just determined to make sure I'm reminded of it every month. Did I get the "time off for good behavior" that is supposed to come with nursing? No I did not! What a rip off that was!

But I am really not complaining that much. I don't, thankfully, suffer from the mood swings that a lot of women do, nor the bloating or really any of the other negative things associated with my lovely "aunt" (I DO have a real, live aunt flo... that really caused further grumbliness while I was a teenage "new woman"). I have wonderful children because I have to endure this minor complaint every month. I wouldn't take any pill or patch to regulate it (I don't trust them... while it sounds wonderful in so many ways, there's just got to be something wrong with a 3 day, medicine induced period). So I guess I will just put up with it.

Through the pages of Parenting...

Just a few highlights from the magazine... I haven't made it to the library in a while, so no new books... this will have to do!

For my coffe loving friends... you probably already know this, but Starbucks will being giving away a free tall cup of coffee on March 15, from 10 AM - noon. I can't see paying as much as they charge (I could probably buy a whole McDonald's meal for the price... priority check... yes, I believe they're in order), but free is always good in my book.

There is an ad for "Twighlight Turtle" that has been featured the past few months. It is so cute! Maybe I'll get one for myself. What? It's supposed to be for a child, you say? So what's your point?

Sites they suggest that I need to check out: www.mightygoods.com , "a great shopping blog that features fresh finds from the web and www.cozi.com , a free program that lets you make a color-coded family calendar and create shopping lists.

"The topics that make moms feel most judgmental? 46% - working vs. staying home, 29% - spanking, 17% - breastfeeding vs. bottle, 4% - vaccinating your baby, 4% - sharing a bed with her." (pg 88).

"Baby Names: Why Cool is Hot" is a featured article, but Moira nor Perrin nor Sam are anywhere on the list, so the data must be suspect. And a wonderful article from Rick Newman entitled "Single Dad, Efficient Parent".

Blog-Tipping

So it's not such a regular feature... shoot me! (no please don't... you wouldn't shoot a person on crutches, would you?)

Mom Underground is a hoot! Got there from http://teaandbonbons.blogspot.com/... thanks for the suggestion!

1) Color is always a biggie for me... her blog is faded green tones and it's wonderful... probably is a true refelction of her style cause of a shirt she was going to buy she says it was "In a muted gray, which appealed to my affinity for drab colors." I personally don't find them drab, but relaxing.

2) Her tag line is "Everyday life interferes with my natural charm." From what I've read, nothing interferes with her natural charm! She has a way of looking at the world and blogging on it that is as relaxing as her colors... I could read and chuckle with her for pages!

3) Loads of pictures in her blog and they all add a cool perspective to what she has to say. A mommy perspective, but it's a cool one that I don't know if I would have the courage to post. A big ol' HeHaw for the pics of her son (cutie in glasses), what's under his seat (I could top it, but I won't), and the bag of conversation hearts that apparently didn't last very long in her house!

What to change? I don't really know...these blogspot blogs do that to me... maybe some sidebars so I could get to know her better without going through the archives?... I could really spend some time to get to know this hip-cool mommy... maybe you could too!

I'll take weird things we eat for 10, Alex...

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:00:41 GMT

Just came home from my weekly dose of adult conversation (it's our homeschool groups' YMCA time, during which the moms get to talk while the children play sports and what-not). The conversation rolled around to food aversions, things someone new to the area might never have realized were food and everything else tasty. One lady moved, appraently, from Arizona... she had never heard of bar-b-que!?! She wanted to know what they were going to bar-b-que, having no idea that it is an institution unto itself in states like Kentucky and Tennessee. Unbelievable! No, what was unbelievable was that she could not stomach it! I myself like any kind of bar-b-que that won't run away from me. And I like my steak medium rare, thank you. No mooing for me, but I don't want charcoal, either.

Another dear friend can not stomach tomatoes, but she's a vegetarian! Go figure... she likes salsa too, but won't eat the chunks of tomatoes... they creep her out. So I'm asking our other friend from Arizona if she has ever had fried green tomatoes... gotta love those (she had not). On to discussing fried dill pickles ~ which are very good too.

I'm getting excited now, because food is a dear love of mine... and now that I can actually TASTE it in all of it's delicate (and not so delicate) subtleties... honey, I'm all there!

Wilted Lettuce with onions, vinegar and bacon grease... peanut butter and syrup for breakfast... peanut butter and Miracle Whip sandwiches... grits... peanut butter and onion sandwiches, raw hamburger... (Know that I do not eat all of these things...) What oddities do you or have you eaten?

I asked my girl scouts in circle today what their favorite flavor of ice cream was... I love those Mississippi Mud Fudge blizzards at DQ... they would each add their personal favorite to which I would reply... yeah, that's my favorite too!

I need a bib... I'm drooling!

All of this reminds me of the Mad Max (?) character in Princess Bride whose favorite sandwich was an MLT... Mutton, Lettuce and tomatoe sandwich where the mutton is nice and tender... hahahaha

Another friend is having the lasgana that she fixed for dinner last night, tonight (her husband came home from a business trip and wanted to take his family out... awww)... I could have invited myself to dinner for that! We're having tacos if I can rouse my butt up to make them. I think I'll make my heart's birthday cake too (it's not for a few more days, but we have no other sweets in the house).

So I guess I should end a food entry with a recipe... I fixed this yesterday for lunch... we love it!

Crab Dip

Mix together 1 8 oz. package cream cheese, 1 1/2 Tbsp milk, 2 Tbsp mayo, 1/4 tsp salt, 7 oz can crabmeat (drained), 2 tsp dried chopped onion, 1 tsp. horseradish, 1 tsp lemon juice. I also added a Tbsp or so of chopped black olives this time, which wasn't bad. Sprinkle paprika on top and bake in a 375* oven for 30 minutes. Serve warm with crackers.

A personality quiz

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:06:24 GMT

Ha ha! I have found a personality quiz that I haven't seen on any other blog... and it's right up my alley! You may have to do a little searching (unless you're like some of us, me and Anne over at the Mire, who are having a difficult time getting all of the Christmas stuff put away ~ yes, I still have a wreath on my front door and it's waaaay past 12th Day!), but go find some bubble wrap and check out this site to find out how "how you pop" could be revealing! My results: "Light-hearted, Carefree - You are inquisitive, love new things and enjoy life to the fullest. You do well with change and love surprises." Yep, that's me! Anne, hope you're having more luck than I am... I don't know what it is about that dang wreath.

Alright, who ordered frigid?

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:20:38 GMT

I know I did not! Snow I did ask for. And we are due some more tonight. But cold enough to freeze the... well you know... No I DID NOT! I know, my friends from farther up North are laughing at me. That's OK. I had hot chocolate for breakfast..... brrrrrrr. SO we'll bring the twins down from upstairs (it gets a little nippy up there), close everything off and have all the space heaters and the kerosene heater going downstairs... where we'll live till spring thaw!

A Prairie Home Companion

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:00:31 GMT

I have loved this radio show since my twins were little! I remember my Heart being on campus while we were at home. I would turn off the television when I caught it on and leave it on the entire time... isn't it like a 3 hour show or something like that? (You can believe that the time a radio show was on was not upper most in my thoughts during the infant/toddler days.) I caught it this evening on FM channel 91.3.. so THAT"S where it's been hiding! Anyway, just as hilarious as ever! And fun you can listen to without blushing too much! I love all of the sound effects.

Some jokes from tonight included something about the weather in Minnesota being, currently, a shock. Since they were lulled into thinking, just like the rest of the nation, we all might get off easy after that very mild December. And something about a bear being in company and at first it was happy, then it was mean, then it was happy again. Wait for it.... it was a bi-polar bear!! hahahaha And what do you get if you sit on the ice too long? polar-oids! hahaha And they've gone through all of their food supplies and latte just doesn't seem to be available. I know all of my latte lovin' friends will be sad for them... they only have the regular deli coffee... or something like that. I guess you have to actually be listening to it to really enjoy. But it was a hoot! I love to smile! Go to the Prairie Home Companion website to find out when it plays in your neck of the woods! Thanks Greg for reminding me about it a few weeks ago!

sidewalk chalk artist

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:41:54 GMT

Visit this website http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/index.html

to see the artist's really cool sidewalk chalk pictures. This goes around the e-mail ever so often... just thought I'd pass it along in case you hadn't seen it! I'll try to post one of them in my pics later... he may have prevented it somehow, though.

Update on HPV shot and a recipe

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:53:10 GMT

Meant to blog on this a week or so ago... I sent an e-mail blast to several of my state legislators about this HPV shot being mandatory. One of about 12 (was he the one with the short stick or are my legislators just not very worried about what I have to say?) e-mailed me back to say that he did not think the KY bill would pass with it being mandatory. WHEW! That is a relief!

As soon as it is covered by insurance my husband and I will discuss what to do... I doubt seriously that we will have our daughters get it, though. There will be some sort of discussion on the issue. I mean, I'm not advocating stupidity or burying our heads in the sand here. Cancer is a real and scarey threat, but I don't think that's what "they" are going for here. Thanks so much for all of your previous comments, too! I was beginning to feel as if I was in some sort of "Waco" type freaky-minded minority here. I was just shocked when conservative friends around me were lining up to have their daughters "protected". I sooo totally understand their fears... but I just can not shut my eyes to the ramifications of a mandatory STD immunization for children. So, thanks again for your understanding (even if not agreeing) thoughts.

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I have a recipe for you. This chocolate cake is wonderful! And weird! Some of you may already have it, cause I think it's been around for a while.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

In a large bowl, sift together:

1 tsp salt, 2 c flour, 1/3 c cocoa, 4 tsp baking powder

Stir in:

2 c sugar, 1 c milk, 1/3 c oil, 2 tsp vanilla

Mix well. Spread into a large, greased cake pan and set aside.

In a seperate bowl, combine:

2 c brown sugar and 2/3 c cocoa... sprinkle this over the cake.

Pour 3 cups hot water over all. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350*. Finished cake will be gooey! Let set for 10 minutes before serving. Cocoa and sugar can both be reduced by 1/2 in both cake and topping. I also got the same results subsituting the same amount of baking SODA + 1 tsp of vinegar for the powder (you gotta work with what'cha got sometimes!).

Now you might like to know, too, that I left mine out in my very cold kitchen last night and the gooey part became a little less runny and a lot more like pudding. So, you might want to refrigerate this one just for consistency's sake... it won't spoil if left out, though.

Books, Pics, Myths, Potties and Youth Retreats

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:02 GMT

I've been reading the Arthur Trilogy by Kevin Crossley-Holland... good to the last drop books! I'm a bit of a Camelot/Arthurian legend fan... not a fanatic, just a fan. And this one's pretty good. The author writes mostly short chapters so it seems like a fast read and he's woven the Arthurian legends into the story of another Arthur who lives during the Crusades. Mr. Holland has used a "seeing stone" that Crusades Arthur can look into and see parts of Camelot Arthur's life... and they seem to either mirror his own or try to help him in some way with his own problems. Which goes back to that post a while back about how everybody's life events circle and mirror others. I just love it when themes repeat themselves in my life for the benefit of my failing memory!

Check out my new pictures..."Let me explain... nooo, let me sum up" why Perrin is sporting a Pirate stance. Do you watch "Mythbusters"? We get sucked into that show every time we see it on. And it's fairly educational too, which is a real bonus! Anyway, they recently did an episode on pirate myths and one of the guiys spent the entire show talking like a pirate. So I challenged the children to give me their best pirate impersonation. Hence the picture. Sam being Sam, only tried to sound like one... so no picture.

You know, Moira wasn't even crawling when those pictures were taken last year!

Speaking of Mythbusters... Sam's project for the science fair was to make a hovercraft. It turned out VERY cool and everybody loved it. Turns out it would hold both Sam and Perrin and stay afloat. Totally cool! Seems, however that the mythbusters made this same thing on one of their shows... that one I miss. Would have been helpful, too because Sam's paper to sum up his project was definitely lacking.

I'm feeling better today... would have had a wonderful night's rest had Moira not eatten apples. That would make a good cliff-hanger! But I won't do that to you. Moira loves apples, but they absolutely reek havoc on her bottom... she woke up wailing from a diaper rash... she had one apple wedge yesterday for Petey sake. I am hoping she will potty train quckly and quietly when we start (I still have to get out and buy a potty). Never mind that I firmly know that it is ME that will be training... oh how I remember trying to remind the children to go to the potty ALL.. THE.. TIME! I'm 10 years older now... I hope I can keep up with it well enough to escape the lapses.

Sam and Perrin are going to a youth retreat this weekend with their church group. I hope the speaker is engaging... surely she is?!? Sam is the one who HAS to have somebody really capture his attention. And he's not even sure about going... has a very hard time with a nervous stomache. Thank God his twin sister is a strong young lady... although I think that is part of the problem... he doesn't have many situations when he can't get her help if he needs it.

Now, I wonder if Tom and I will be able to squeeze in anything for us this weekend? He's got a lot on his plate still yet... sometimes I wish time would go a little faster so he can get to a more reasonable spot in his work life... but I really don't want to wish my time away with the children... May and their brithdays will be here before I know it.

Gotta go watch B with Moira. Have a great weekend!

MIA... for real! :)

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:17:13 GMT

I'm sorry! My last post probably made you all think that I was at death's door. And, while my poor breathing IS taking it's toll on my energy, I am still very much alive. My breathing woes remain, but it's not really bad if I have things that I can do... it's only REALLY scarey when I am wheezing and have tried everything at my disposal and it still doesn't seem to help. Thankfully, I have my trusty nebulizer, my benadryl and it is significantly colder outside than it is in my home... so I have options. I am starting to really recognize just how much less energy I have, but that will all hopefully be dealt with once I can get to this allergy/asthma specialist.

So, I have been "in action" lately, keeping me away from my journaling. Had the discussion with the twins the other day about our "talents" and how we use them. In the parable, there is very little said about specific times... just that after some time, the master came back. So the discussion followed the threads of "when you were born, your Dad and I gave you certain talents"... and "you're goal is to double what you've been given snd there is NO set time to work on/with our talents"... because, just because it's 6:00 in the evening doesn't mean you can't be working on something that interests you and that you are learning from and it WILL be counted as school. And for my son's benefit - no, that does not mean that you can play play station before school hours are up, even if you plan on working on something later. And for my daughter's benefit - if you are doing your best, than we are proud of you and you ARE doing something with your talents... (she really stresses way too much).

I and a few other moms are working on creating a new homeschool group here in town... something that is not religiously based, even though all of us are devout Christians (our current group is running into some problems that sort of stem from the "whose denomination is Christian and whose is not"). Yes, I will hopefully be moving about an hour away sometime this summer, but I still wanted to help if I could.

I'm also trying to edit a friend's e-book, so I'm doing a few things.

I'm supposed to be tracking down some donations for a raffle to be held during our folkdance group's midwinter program... but I'm having a little trouble deciding to do that... yes, just make some phone calls... but, oh well... it will get done... I'm just dragging it out way too long. And then there is the practice that goes along with that (not exactly easy when you can't breath well, so I have to beg out of some).

The children and I made doughnut holes the other morning and had a ball. I've really tried to pay attention to spending some quality time with them that isn't school. Let me just tell you, that is hard! Sat down with Moira at the computer the other morning... she was writing with a pen on her hand. Then I gave her a clean slate... my hand. Then we drew faces on hers and my fingers... it's the little things that are fun when you don't mind the nagging Mommy in your head. Also fixed the VCR... she had stuffed 2 golf tees in the tape slot and one of them got jammed. So we can now watch "B" (pooh bear) again... yeah!

Well, I gotta take her for her nap ride... she's actually fallen asleep several times in the past week or so by herself... but I've got too much going on this afternoon for her to get cranky at all the wrong times! I'll tiptoe a little later for some commenting! I've missed you guys!

Do ya' think I'm lazy?

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 02:03:05 GMT

No kidding... I just formed enough spit in my mouth to go with the less-than-a-sip of water in my cup in order to take my decongestants. Gosh... but, really... I am pretty zapped. Apparently trying to breath and not being quite able to effectively is tiring. hmmm

It's a new day

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 13:08:27 GMT

Not sure what has changed (see, that's one of the really argggg-ing aspects of this sinus/allergy/don't understand how one "develops" asthma thing), but I slept a little better last night. Still woke up trying to catch my breath, but was able to get it under control relatively quickly. So it's off to the races! Well, no... maybe not that "with it".

No, wait... I know what it was... my Heart came home at a decent time last night so we got to chat as a family! Must be it.

Anyway, the children went to bed last night at 10, me at 11. This morning Daddy gets up well before I do, gets his bath and comes into the room to get dressed. He is not a quiet dresser. But that's OK... cause I want to get up with him and grab all of the time I can with him. "Do you want me to wake the children?"... No... they were up til midnight (not) last night anyway. SO he wants to have a mommy and me morning. Yeah for me! (As an aside, it is 8 AM and the children are still not up... some plain mommy time! yeah!) So I fix him an egg sandwich for breakfast and he's a little hurt cause I'm not having one too. I'll remember that. But we share our coffee and the morning news... a few things the children are going through... he tries to wake Long Legs, but she ain't budgin'... He's putting his coat on, preparing to leave, turns around and I am the only one there. Kiss and a slight hug... a tiny comical pout on his face and "It's no fun without all of my people to hug" (we've got it down to a sort of assembly line thing).

But he DID tell me not to wake the children up.

Funny In So Many Ways

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:04:28 GMT

Not HAHA Funny...

Working against a clock here, I think. Our laptop has acquired a virus that seems to have done away with some file we need just to boot the thing up and do you know what? In all of their infinite wisdom and to save us the *hassle* of trying to locate the recovery CD to restore our factory settings, the computer manufacturer "already installed it on your notebook hard drive". Guess what recovery "service" expired on our laptop? Uh-huh... so I guess we have to take it into the store to see if they can recover it. Geez... Anyway, I'm working on a computer that is infamous for just locking up for no apparent reason. Takes me back to the good old days when the professors all cautioned us to create backup disks and to save often.

Funny if you're a parent...

I sat at the computer yesterday morning eatting a few doughnut holes (fewer calories... yes, I believe THAT!) and Moira joins me on my lap looking ever so longingly and doing her little "come to me" finger pump sign. So I ask her if she wants a doughnut (duh), I say "can you say doughnut?" The child is honed in on getting one of these for herself, so she'll try to accomplish anything Mommy asks of her, but she knows her limitations... shakes her head no!!! So I laugh, thinking "at least she's honest", and I think, maybe an easier word... "can you say cake?" Well, she's had it with Mommy so she nods yes, says nothing and puts out her little hand palm up, expectantly. That's it.... she gets her doughnut and we get a laugh. Maybe you had to be there. :)

Only funny if you thought you were smart...

Riding in for Christmas, we listen to talk radio. By the way, I just love the sound of people talking on the radio... must be the static. Anyway, Car Talk is on which, to me, is always more talk than car. So they pose a riddler for all the folks listeniing in their cars with a dictionary in their laps... "what is the longest English word that you can remove a letter one at a time from and always come up with another real English word, all the way down to a single letter?" I think the children and I will put some thought into that one today. Let me know if you come up with anything.

Funny that makes you smile!

A dear friend of mine gave me a subscription to Reader's Digest. I have to say, I am really enjoying this magazine. I'm not one for watching or listening to a whole lot of news because it always seems to be negative, mean or just trying to cause mass panic in the population. And then there's the current trend of the news media to make themselves the news... "I'm standing here in the middle of the devastation, on this flooded road in New Orleans..." and boo hoo hoo "Mr. Clinton wasn't very nice to me..." So I end up tuning a lot of it out and just reading my news online. But RD is wonderful for reminding you that there ARE good things happening every day, all over the country. They have this section about everyday heroes. Teenagers who fend off a rapist, a woman in heels who chases down a purse thief... one for each month of the year. And you can read all of the stories and vote for the one you think should be the hero of the year. Pretty neat. Plus they include a LOT of jokes. You should check it out!

Funny if you know me

If you checked out my Getting To Know Me list, you know one of my favorite remembrances, traditions during the holidays has been my mother-in-laws cranberry sauce that sits on the plate in the shape of the can. We always had cranberry salad growing up, so it wasn't until I became part of my husband's family that I could really say what cranberry sauce was supposed to taste like... and it just caught me funny that first year, seeing it laying there on the plate looking very much like the can it had been in moments earlier. SO I look forward to that every year. What does Mom do to me this year??? She makes a cranberry salad mold... which was good... thanks in part to a grey haired lady with a Southern accent on the food channel (Paula, I think). But I did miss the old fashioned can mold. Maybe I'll buy a can of it before it disappears from the shelves, just for old times sake.

What To Write... What To Do...

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:38:11 GMT

That's right. It's time for another brain-dump. I cannot guarantee any of the contents, as the brain itself is questionable at times. :)

I notice I haven't actually written anything about why I do this. What's my motivation? Some folks have a seperate post for this and then reference it in a link in the sidebar. Maybe I'll do more later... right now my motivation is because it is fun, because I wanted an easy way to let friends and family in on what we are doing and what we look lke while we're doing it (mind you, I'm posting the pictures, so there will be none of me that I don't approve... cause there are some bad ones out there). Because I enjoy writing and for some reason I can't seem to be able to write with an actual pen and paper, but can manage to take the time to pull this sucker up and type... go figure. Because I do want to write something to be published one day, maybe, and you have to practice, right?

As an aside, I haven't gone out of my way to tell a lot of folks about my blog, but I haven't kept it a secret either. Wait, let me amend... there were a few friends I told and blatantly beg for comments from... dear Heart is a very busy man, so I don't know whether he will ever stop by or not, but I don't hide anything from him, anyway. Secrets are hard for me to keep from him. My thoughts are probably better formulated and put down here than anywhere you may ever hear them from my mouth, so I kind of hope friends and family read so we don't have to have all the conversations. Or, at least, I won't have to verbally start them. I'm not confrontational... can you tell?

So I've mentioned I don't like the Instant Messenger abbreviation lingo... so I think I have settled on referring to my husband as my Heart. It's a refernce I found to an E. E. Cummings poem part of which goes:

"and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)"

Follow the link and scroll down for the complete thing. It's sweet and really does a wonderful job summing up how much I'm only "Me" because of his impact on my life.

On poetry... I don't have tons of books of poetry laying around the house... I'm more of a "search for what I need to express how I feel" kind of person. And I sooo love easy searching online! Google is my friend. This Cummings guy apparently had a real hang up abut proper punctuation, so some of it's a little hard to read. But for some reason, written out in that way, his words reflect a little better how your heart just kind of runs away with you when you feel these things... and that's what poetry is really good at expressing, I think.

The family was watching a history channel program last night about the Spear of Destiny. Now, I didn't grow up in a denomination that made a big deal out of the relics, so I was late in coming to this extended story. Basically, for those as relic-illiterate as I, the spear that was used to pierce Christ's side on the cross supposedly carries some pretty mean power with it and enables the possessor to "rule the world". (The image runs with my train of thought... scary, huh?) Charlemagne, Constantine both had it, goes the legend... Hitler wanted it and our CIA kept him from getting it... there are supposedly 4 of them and nobody has a problem with the copies.

Anyway, the end of the show says something about lines "clearly blurred" in the facts/fiction of the thing. SO my wonderful and witty Perrin says "How can things be clearly blurred?" :) You gotta love the oxymorons.

How many of you make blog entries, read back over them every little once in a while, sometimes weeks or months later, and then find yourself going back and editing them to appear as though they were perfect in the first place?

Our Christmas celebrations will be different this year. We have traditionally gone back to the grandparent's homes, spending 3 or so days there unwrapping way too many gifts and then trying to figure out how to make them all fit into the trunk for the trip home. Our Christmas fits somewhere around that. This year, Tom has Monday off. Period. Which is OK, just means we have to abbreviate the trip a bit. In tomorrow, over to the other Grandparent's home the next, back to our home as early as we can get packed up and out Monday. And since I haven't managed to do any shopping yet, I suggested we do our Christmas on New Year's, since Tom has that off too and I'm not really into the rush. We'll see how it goes.

Short Legs (that's Tom's nickname for Moira) has decided that the entire house has been woefully ignored in the decorating for the Yuletide. She has decided to pick ornaments off of the tree (I did think ahead and only put unbreakable ones in her reach) and artfully place them all over the downstairs. Right now I have a plasti-crystal snowflake in my printer and her soft nativity is under her excersaucer... others litter the floor in odd corners. Hope the spiders appreciate all of the trouble she has gone to to make their Christmas a little more festive! :)

Speaking of Moira... she now has the ideas of "yes" and "no" firmly in her mind... "Moira, do you want bubbles in your bath". shakes head no "Are you sure?" firmly nods in the affirmative. (She doesn't like bubbles, although she can't seem to talk enough about them.) "Moira, do you want to go for your nap ride?" shakes head no while leaning over on her little elbows, eyes glued to the Winnie The Pooh movie about to come on and says "B". I told Perrin this morning that it was getting harder and harder not to laugh at all of the wrong times with her. She's a character!

And we heard him exclaim as he drove out of site... "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

2006 Christmas Getting To Know You List

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:42:40 GMT

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Definitely and most exhuberantly, hot chocolate! The more marshmallows, the better!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

What would be the fun of unwrapped presents? I'll save that option for when I'm old and have noone else to care for (which, hopefully, will be never).

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house?

Colored, sometimes blinkie... depends on what the children want. Do you remember the really big ones (we use the small ones) and the wonderful bubble lights you could trade out for some? Ahhh the memories!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Sometimes... any kiss is a good kiss... no, wait... OK, maybe I'll just be really careful who I let go through THAT door.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

Whenever the fancy strikes. Though, never before Thanksgiving. A better question is probably "How long do you let them stay up?" Now that could be embarassing.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Do I have to pick just one? Can I pick a course? I like just about any appetizer... cheese balls and crackers are really good. Basically, anything you can throw in your mouth before the children notice and ask for theirs.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

Although I don't really know if I look back on it fondly or not, one of my most vivid memories has me and 2 cousins, all roughly the same age, standing together for a picture wearing the same red jumpers that my aunt made for us.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

Don't remember, although I can remember finding Dad's Santa outfit... I think maybe I was about 9 or 10??

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Small colorful lights with lots of ornaments. Theme? Anything goes! Halllmark and handmade. Maybe when I'm older I'll have a true themed tree... naaaaa

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it! Flurries with just a little sticking until after everyone has made it safely home... then it could snow up a blizzard!

12. Can you ice skate?

Uhhmmmm... On real skates? I have before, but I remember my ankles killing me afterwards. Much prefer the old "skate in your tennis shoes on the closest frozen body of water".

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

A huge Crissy doll with hair that would "grow".

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays?

Peace and Joy... didn't the angels say something about that?

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

It's a tie between fruit cake, peanut butter fudge, chocolate pie, ribbon candy, coconut cream pie and candy canes (and you thought I was going to pick!).

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

The cranberry sauce that it's in the shape of a can on the plate (thanks Gran Bailey!) Or maybe thinking back when we put the ornaments on the tree... each has memories attached.

17. What tops your tree?

Not much, as I put a lot of effort into putting those darned lights on... Oh you mean actually on top? Star

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

This is a trick question, right?

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Silver Bells

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yummy?

candy canes... but they have to be the peppermint kind... none of those new-fangled bubblegum flavored candy canes.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Please refer to the tile of my page... also like White Christmas, Holiday Inn and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

22. Tinsel or no tinsel (icicles)?

Garland... I waste all my patience on the lights.

23. Do you like to go caroling?

I would love to... when we going?

24. Do you like to sleep in or get up early on Christmas morning?

Somebody gets to sleep in on Christmas morning?

25. Do you leave cookies and milk for Santa?

Sometimes... and boy do they taste good!

26. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Yes. At the very least, at my grandmother's house. We don't stand on too much ceremony here, as we live 2 hours away from family and so have to have "Christmas" at several different places.

Different Agendas

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:22:35 GMT

Tom has started his new job, so early mornings are upon us again. For the past year and a half he had the luxury of going in whenever he woke up and got ready. Which happened to still be regular hours pretty much... about 8 or 9... he just wasn't rushed. Now the folks at the place he works all come in by 8:30 (he was told... in reality it was 9 yesterday). That means he has to set an alarm (which, I hate) and leave the house by 7 to get there by 8 (45 minute commute... traffic and all).

So he told me Sunday night he would like us to all start getting up at a regular early time in the morning, to get our day started. We homeschool so the necessity isn't there... but I told him I would like to get up with him in the morning if we don't have to wake the children up too... I'd like to spend that little bit of time with him by myself. Cause, Momma spends 24/7 with the children talking to her... a little one on one time would be very cozy and nice. Of course, I know he wants to get them up, in part, because he wants to spend that time with all of us and start as a family. I understand that, I really do. So I hope we can do a little bit of both. I'm liable to start getting cranky if I can't get a little 1-1.