The bread guy flirted with me today.
I'm calling him the bread guy....actually, he was fiddling around with this little display at the end of the aisle that held an assortment of stuff....I had to go past him to get to the hot foods. He told me to be careful, not to trip. I smiled & kept going....then he said, "Actually, I'd catch you if you fell." I smiled again, thanked him, & went to order the hot food.
Now, most people would not think this was particularly remarkable. However, I am TOTALLY not used to being flirted with anymore. I was an incurable flirt for many years. I flirted, and I was flirted with. It was a natural state of affairs for me, and I took it completely for granted.
However. Since the kids, and the gaining of entirely too much weight, and the onset of severe chronic depression and anxiety disorders, I have gotten so far away from the me that would flirt, that I don't even recognize me anymore. My normal state of being has become downbeat and self-bashing.
So to have the bread guy flirt with me was a truly amazing event. And this was not the only event of the day!
Earlier, at WalMart, a former junior-high boyfriend sent me over to a register even though I had WAY too many items. (probably just being nice, and he did have other cashiers coming up to the front 'cause it was crowded, but I still felt a little special. Pathetic, I know.)
Then the bread guy.
In the same store as the bread guy, the potato-chip guy struck up conversation with me, and tried to impress me with his stories about chip company competitions. (I was more taken by the bread guy's technique. By this time I was kicking myself at my slow response.)
Then I went to Mark's baseball game, and one of the dads stopped me to ask about a classmate's birthday party this Saturday. Then he very authoritatively announced, "You've lost weight." I looked down, back up, said "Nope." He came right back: "Yes you have." So I said thanks. (personally I think I would be in a better position to know whether I'd lost weight, but hey, whatever)
So I've gone from not being noticed at all, feeling completely under the radar, to having FOUR different guys today take initiative to talk to and/or flirt and/or compliment me.
I think I'm going to wear the clothes I had on today, more often.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
May 30, 2006
Well, Kira got next to no sleep last night. She just would not settle down and let herself go to sleep. She kept getting up, wandering around, coming in my room every little while to tell me she couldn't sleep, getting out a sleeping bag and sneaking into the front closet with it, getting out her coloring books...finally at about 4am, I stood next to her (after I'd tucked her in for the babillionth time) and told her to CLOSE HER EYES. She kept them shut for about a half a second, then popped them back open. Told her to close them and *keep* them closed. Again, about two seconds, opened 'em back up again. I told her NOT TO OPEN HER EYES. She finally kept them closed, and within a couple of minutes, she was asleep. Of course, then *I* couldn't get back to sleep.
I figured that she would surely have a hard day at school today. Emailed the teacher to give her a heads-up. But Kira came home chipper, and the teacher emailed back that she was fine. I had Kira take a nap after school, and had a very hard time getting her up to come down for supper. She didn't eat much, and after a quick shower she was back in bed at 7, and I'm sure she's asleep already....she was yawning as I was saying the Goodnights.
**************
So I found out yesterday that while Mark was at his friend Mark S's house last week, MarkS brought out a bottle of nonalcoholic beer, and asked Mark to try it. MarkS's mother was RIGHT THERE. Mark felt really weird about it, he knew it was something I would not approve of, but there was a mom right there and she wasn't stopping it, so he gave it a sip. (He thought it was GROSS. Apparently MarkS went on to mix a bit of it in his Sierra Mist. Gag.)
So I called the mom today to ask her what was up with that. I was trying to be very calm about it. The mom wasn't particularly flustered, and said that she had BOUGHT IT FOR HER SON (<===my incredulous emphasis here), so he could have some while she was having some wine. She was under the impression that nonalcoholic beer had NO alcohol in it. (which you would think, considering the name, but it does have up to 0.5% alcohol in it) Still, the point being, that it is BEER, and she was considering it fine for a TEN YEAR OLD to try it. (Her son is 12....not a whole lot of difference in my book) She did apologize, and said that it wouldn't happen again. I'm a little flummoxed at this point as to what to do next. I don't particularly like the idea that this woman is (and I am using this term VERY loosely here) supervising my son when he goes over there. I do like her personally, and MarkS is Mark's best friend, and I like MarkS. X ABSOLUTELY does not want Mark going over any more, and while I DEFINITELY see his point, it's a little more complicated for me, especially since Patti and her family just moved this past weekend into the main part of the house that Mary & MarkS live in (M&M live in the attached ell), and it is inevitable that it would get uncomfortable to have Kira going over to Sophia's but not allowing Mark to go next door to MarkS's. Oh well, I'll work it out somehow. The important thing is to parent my child, and to make sure that *if* he is out of my direct supervision, that I approve of the decision-making capabilities of the adult I am leaving him with. And it comes down to I don't trust Mary's decisions. This was a biggie.
I combine that with a month or two ago when he came home from MarkS's with a candy cigarette. Now, I had some of those myself when I was a kid. But now, as a mom, I completely disapprove of them. Especially with as much information as we have nowadays about the dangers of smoking. I put candy cigarettes and nonalcoholic beer in almost the same category. Is this REALLY something we want to encourage with our children? What, are we letting them PRACTICE doing the unhealthy habits that we are supposedly training them not to want to do???? How contradictory.
The positive part about this whole incident is knowing that Mark *will* tell one of us (he actually told X's wife) when something like this happens. I had a talk with Mark, and told him that it was a very responsible thing for him to do to tell one of us. I also told him that I understood how he was confused about what the right thing to do was (his words: "it was weird") with MarkS's mom being right there and all. We talked a little about peer pressure, and how hard it was to do the right thing. I gave him my permission to use me freely as the "bad guy" to get out of a situation like that ("hey man, my mom would KILL ME" or "sorry, my mom won't let me go out on Friday so I can't go to that highly illegal party") until he can get the hang of just saying "NO" on his own. I also explained that he has just had his first major encounter with negative peer pressure. And warned him that it's only going to get harder. Sigh.
*****************
Well, it turns out that Kira is NOT asleep. She is again just not letting herself shut down. She's even pulling out the "I miss Daddy" thing, which she hasn't done in wow, probably a YEAR or maybe even more. I know it's not that she actually misses him to the point that she's not sleeping. A big part of it is I'm not letting her sleep in my bed tonight, and didn't let her last night either. If she thinks that once I say no to sleeping in my bed, that playing the I-Miss-Daddy card is going to help her, she is mistaken. I shall not be manipulated.
Speaking of manipulating, I'm going to manipulate my butt up the stairs and go to bed. I'm wiped out.
I figured that she would surely have a hard day at school today. Emailed the teacher to give her a heads-up. But Kira came home chipper, and the teacher emailed back that she was fine. I had Kira take a nap after school, and had a very hard time getting her up to come down for supper. She didn't eat much, and after a quick shower she was back in bed at 7, and I'm sure she's asleep already....she was yawning as I was saying the Goodnights.
**************
So I found out yesterday that while Mark was at his friend Mark S's house last week, MarkS brought out a bottle of nonalcoholic beer, and asked Mark to try it. MarkS's mother was RIGHT THERE. Mark felt really weird about it, he knew it was something I would not approve of, but there was a mom right there and she wasn't stopping it, so he gave it a sip. (He thought it was GROSS. Apparently MarkS went on to mix a bit of it in his Sierra Mist. Gag.)
So I called the mom today to ask her what was up with that. I was trying to be very calm about it. The mom wasn't particularly flustered, and said that she had BOUGHT IT FOR HER SON (<===my incredulous emphasis here), so he could have some while she was having some wine. She was under the impression that nonalcoholic beer had NO alcohol in it. (which you would think, considering the name, but it does have up to 0.5% alcohol in it) Still, the point being, that it is BEER, and she was considering it fine for a TEN YEAR OLD to try it. (Her son is 12....not a whole lot of difference in my book) She did apologize, and said that it wouldn't happen again. I'm a little flummoxed at this point as to what to do next. I don't particularly like the idea that this woman is (and I am using this term VERY loosely here) supervising my son when he goes over there. I do like her personally, and MarkS is Mark's best friend, and I like MarkS. X ABSOLUTELY does not want Mark going over any more, and while I DEFINITELY see his point, it's a little more complicated for me, especially since Patti and her family just moved this past weekend into the main part of the house that Mary & MarkS live in (M&M live in the attached ell), and it is inevitable that it would get uncomfortable to have Kira going over to Sophia's but not allowing Mark to go next door to MarkS's. Oh well, I'll work it out somehow. The important thing is to parent my child, and to make sure that *if* he is out of my direct supervision, that I approve of the decision-making capabilities of the adult I am leaving him with. And it comes down to I don't trust Mary's decisions. This was a biggie.
I combine that with a month or two ago when he came home from MarkS's with a candy cigarette. Now, I had some of those myself when I was a kid. But now, as a mom, I completely disapprove of them. Especially with as much information as we have nowadays about the dangers of smoking. I put candy cigarettes and nonalcoholic beer in almost the same category. Is this REALLY something we want to encourage with our children? What, are we letting them PRACTICE doing the unhealthy habits that we are supposedly training them not to want to do???? How contradictory.
The positive part about this whole incident is knowing that Mark *will* tell one of us (he actually told X's wife) when something like this happens. I had a talk with Mark, and told him that it was a very responsible thing for him to do to tell one of us. I also told him that I understood how he was confused about what the right thing to do was (his words: "it was weird") with MarkS's mom being right there and all. We talked a little about peer pressure, and how hard it was to do the right thing. I gave him my permission to use me freely as the "bad guy" to get out of a situation like that ("hey man, my mom would KILL ME" or "sorry, my mom won't let me go out on Friday so I can't go to that highly illegal party") until he can get the hang of just saying "NO" on his own. I also explained that he has just had his first major encounter with negative peer pressure. And warned him that it's only going to get harder. Sigh.
*****************
Well, it turns out that Kira is NOT asleep. She is again just not letting herself shut down. She's even pulling out the "I miss Daddy" thing, which she hasn't done in wow, probably a YEAR or maybe even more. I know it's not that she actually misses him to the point that she's not sleeping. A big part of it is I'm not letting her sleep in my bed tonight, and didn't let her last night either. If she thinks that once I say no to sleeping in my bed, that playing the I-Miss-Daddy card is going to help her, she is mistaken. I shall not be manipulated.
Speaking of manipulating, I'm going to manipulate my butt up the stairs and go to bed. I'm wiped out.
Monday, May 29, 2006
May 29, 2006
I am addicted to FreeCell. And not in a good way. It started out the same way I play Mahjong solitaire....just a nice soothing way to relax. Then it started becoming a challenge. I currently have a 65% win statistic, but that's from the very beginning when I didn't even know how to play. I think if I restarted the statistics now my win record would be pretty good...my biggest win streak right now is 11 games in a row. But I'm keeping the original statistics because I think it's more honest.
Anyway, now I play FreeCell the way other people smoke cigarettes. Not because I particularly WANT to play it....but I somehow NEED to....and it's right there. I can open it with a simple little click of the mouse. I'll play a game, then get frustrated because I'm not even having that much FUN, so I'll close it out. And then reopen it in about three more minutes. And play another game.
I'm hoping to get done with this blog entry and then go take a shower (which is DESPERATELY needed, as I mowed the lawn this morning and am covered in sweat, dirt and grass clippings)...WITHOUT playing "just one" game of FreeCell before I log off. Somehow I doubt I'll make it.
Here I go....wish me luck.
Anyway, now I play FreeCell the way other people smoke cigarettes. Not because I particularly WANT to play it....but I somehow NEED to....and it's right there. I can open it with a simple little click of the mouse. I'll play a game, then get frustrated because I'm not even having that much FUN, so I'll close it out. And then reopen it in about three more minutes. And play another game.
I'm hoping to get done with this blog entry and then go take a shower (which is DESPERATELY needed, as I mowed the lawn this morning and am covered in sweat, dirt and grass clippings)...WITHOUT playing "just one" game of FreeCell before I log off. Somehow I doubt I'll make it.
Here I go....wish me luck.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Discussion Question
Here's a question for you, ladies....say you've been married to the same man for a long time, say...10 or 15 years. You have a couple of kids together, a house, a nice neat little life. Would you rather your husband leave you for another woman, or another man?
Please give reasons for your answer.
Please give reasons for your answer.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Hotdogs by Candlelight
Well, today is the first day all week that the kids and I have actually been able to sit down to a leisurely meal together....no running around, no activities. I whipped up some simple fare, hot dogs, baked beans, crescent rolls and cabbage salad. Went to go serve it, and Kira had dimmed the dining room lights and pulled the candle out to the center of the table. So I lit it, and we dined together by candlelight, en famille. We loved it.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Purse Contents "Tag"
Got this from Beast Mom....do it if you'd like. :D
The contents of the purse I am currently using (which is a red paisley-embossed leather with a brown braided-leather strap) are as follows:
Clipped to the outside ring of the strap is my keychain. I have keys to my car, my house (two different keys), my parents' house, two keys to camp, one key I'm not sure of but knew I needed at one time and could probably narrow down if I really really thought about it, a pewter Women of Faith keychain, and a green marble mini-swiss-army-knife-type multitool. In the outside pocket I have two expired JCPenney coupons, a beige ponytail holder and a connected small zipper pouch that is actually empty. I should do something with that.
Inside I have the receipt from the bank deposit I made this morning; a zebra-pattern glasses case with my glasses in it; a pair of sunglasses that will no doubt be scratched up before long if I keep just stuffing them in my purse; an At-a-Glance 2 Year planner; my checkbook which only has one check left in it; a small notepad that says "Volunteers Always Caring Always Sharing" that I got from the school last year; my fuzzy-leopard-print-covered wallet that holds what little cash I have as well as assorted gift cards & miscellaneous informational cards; a small burgandy fake-leather telephone/address book; a small wallet of photos, all of my kids except one contact card my dad made for himself that I forgot I stuffed in there; grocery receipt from May 9th; Reny's receipt also from May 9th; a keychain/3 ft measuring tape; two pens, (one of which says my name and always stays clipped to the pocket that holds my cell phone, the other from a close family friend's business); my cell phone, in its own little pocket, although the red dye seems to be rubbing off on the phone keypad; a trial-size hand lotion (Winter Candy Apple) from Bath & Body Works; a 3 oz anti-bacterial hand gel (Coconut Lime Verbena) also from B&BW.
In the zippered interior pocket, which I often forget I even have, there is a small bandaid dispenser that I got at last summer's Lobster Festival parade; an emery board; the headset to my cell phone; a Blistex; a ChapStick; CoverGirl Sleek Suede lipstick; dental floss.
Until last night my purse also contained my son's watch, which he gave to me at a game a couple of weeks ago because they're not allowed to wear any kind of jewelry, which I promptly forgot I had in my purse and have been giving him holy hell for losing and threatening to make him buy a new one out of his own money, which I found last night and sheepishly returned with many many apologies.
And what's in YOUR purse?
The contents of the purse I am currently using (which is a red paisley-embossed leather with a brown braided-leather strap) are as follows:
Clipped to the outside ring of the strap is my keychain. I have keys to my car, my house (two different keys), my parents' house, two keys to camp, one key I'm not sure of but knew I needed at one time and could probably narrow down if I really really thought about it, a pewter Women of Faith keychain, and a green marble mini-swiss-army-knife-type multitool. In the outside pocket I have two expired JCPenney coupons, a beige ponytail holder and a connected small zipper pouch that is actually empty. I should do something with that.
Inside I have the receipt from the bank deposit I made this morning; a zebra-pattern glasses case with my glasses in it; a pair of sunglasses that will no doubt be scratched up before long if I keep just stuffing them in my purse; an At-a-Glance 2 Year planner; my checkbook which only has one check left in it; a small notepad that says "Volunteers Always Caring Always Sharing" that I got from the school last year; my fuzzy-leopard-print-covered wallet that holds what little cash I have as well as assorted gift cards & miscellaneous informational cards; a small burgandy fake-leather telephone/address book; a small wallet of photos, all of my kids except one contact card my dad made for himself that I forgot I stuffed in there; grocery receipt from May 9th; Reny's receipt also from May 9th; a keychain/3 ft measuring tape; two pens, (one of which says my name and always stays clipped to the pocket that holds my cell phone, the other from a close family friend's business); my cell phone, in its own little pocket, although the red dye seems to be rubbing off on the phone keypad; a trial-size hand lotion (Winter Candy Apple) from Bath & Body Works; a 3 oz anti-bacterial hand gel (Coconut Lime Verbena) also from B&BW.
In the zippered interior pocket, which I often forget I even have, there is a small bandaid dispenser that I got at last summer's Lobster Festival parade; an emery board; the headset to my cell phone; a Blistex; a ChapStick; CoverGirl Sleek Suede lipstick; dental floss.
Until last night my purse also contained my son's watch, which he gave to me at a game a couple of weeks ago because they're not allowed to wear any kind of jewelry, which I promptly forgot I had in my purse and have been giving him holy hell for losing and threatening to make him buy a new one out of his own money, which I found last night and sheepishly returned with many many apologies.
And what's in YOUR purse?
May 23, 2006
Well, busy night tonight. After school we had Daisy Scouts, then ran home for dinner (chicken fajitas, yum....even made my own guacamole), then went to Kira's T-ball game. Now kids are showered and I am just about to run up and tuck them in, and then run the dishwasher (can't do that while the shower's running) and get Mark's uniform in the dryer. Then I am blessedly DONE for the evening, and might even have a chance to curl up and read for a little while before I keel over from exhaustion. :D
HOPEFULLY tomorrow will be nice, and I can putter in my gardens for a little while. I would really love to be able to do that.
Not much to say, just wanted to scribble for a little while. Gonna go tuck in kids now.
HOPEFULLY tomorrow will be nice, and I can putter in my gardens for a little while. I would really love to be able to do that.
Not much to say, just wanted to scribble for a little while. Gonna go tuck in kids now.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Kamikaze Squirrel
While waiting for X to bring the kids back tonight, I happened to look out the sliding glass doors and saw a squirrel running down the roofline of the neighbor's house. Having nothing more pressing to do, I watched it. There were actually more than just the one; at one point I saw four squirrels at once. I think they have some kind of nest in the eaves of the neighbor's house. They were hanging out on the eave, and it almost looked like one got stuck. Then it popped out on the electricity or cable wire coming away from the corner. It kinda hung there on the wire for awhile, bouncing a bit, at one point upside down. Then it went back on the eave, and while I was watching, it looked like it FELL from the roof, down two stories to the ground. The other two/three squirrels ran back and forth for awhile, up and down the roofline and onto the eave, then over the gutter back to the roof. After a few minutes I saw a squirrel (I am assuming it is the one that fell), running back UP the side of the house to the eaves again! It was totally wild to watch. Then after a few MORE minutes, a squirrel went off the eave AGAIN. (I don't know if it was the same stupid squirrel, or a different one--and no, they are not flying squirrels, just your garden-variety grays.) This time it was more apparent that it didn't fall straight down....the thing LEAPED away from the eave, and past the window!!!! Again, a few minutes later, it ran back up the side of the house.
I had to talk to someone at this point and tell them what I was seeing.....called my parents. While I'm explaining what I saw, the squirrel banzai-ed from the roof AGAIN. (I'm mid-sentence and yell "WHOA! There he goes again!") My parents, while agreeing that this was completely bizarre behavior on the part of the squirrel, were not as impressed as I was, and didn't stay on the phone long. :)
I can only imagine being inside my neighbor's house, on the second floor and looking out the window to see a squirrel zip by.
I never did see the squirrel go back up after that third jump. Hope he made it.
Which reminds me to check Beast Mom and see if the frog survived.
I had to talk to someone at this point and tell them what I was seeing.....called my parents. While I'm explaining what I saw, the squirrel banzai-ed from the roof AGAIN. (I'm mid-sentence and yell "WHOA! There he goes again!") My parents, while agreeing that this was completely bizarre behavior on the part of the squirrel, were not as impressed as I was, and didn't stay on the phone long. :)
I can only imagine being inside my neighbor's house, on the second floor and looking out the window to see a squirrel zip by.
I never did see the squirrel go back up after that third jump. Hope he made it.
Which reminds me to check Beast Mom and see if the frog survived.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
More Kira Commentary
We stopped at my parents' house while we were in town (had to pick up some product for a leg study I'm a guinea pig for), and we got doing the "trivia quiz" thing with the kids. Typical questions for Kira were like, "What are the names of Santa's reindeer?" and "what are four kinds of birds we see at the feeder at camp?" and "what are the names of the seasons?" From there we went into "What month is Halloween in?" (Kira said "January", which is also apparently when she thinks Thanksgiving is....need to work on that). She *did* get Christmas right. So then Mark pops in with "What month is the Fourth of July?"
Kira thinks hard for a moment......."June?"
Oh my.
Kira thinks hard for a moment......."June?"
Oh my.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
May 10, 2006
Well. I have had quite a relatively relaxing day today, hopefully it will help for the rest of the week. After the kids got on the bus I just flat-out went back to bed. Read a while, and slept a little more. Got back up around noon, feeling much more well-rested, although I don't think a bit more sleep tonight would be remiss either. :)
Parents came and delivered the doors that we are eventually going to install on the side shed, and while they were here picked up my trash to take to the dump. Yay. Saved me a trip.
It's been raining all day, so Mark's baseball game got cancelled. Kids are with X tonight anyway, so I didn't *have* to go, but I always feel guilty missing things just because it's X's day. So, no guilt tonight! Well, at least not for THAT. Still guilt 'cause I didn't really do any cleaning today, but y'know what? The house will SURVIVE.
Uploaded a few more CDs to the iPod today, which I am listening to right now. Eventually I will have my whole collection on here, I think. (I can fit like 8000 songs on here. I don't even think I OWN 8000 songs) Right now I am listening to Pink Floyd "The Wall." This is always a risky listen, as it can often trigger a big ol' depression for me, but today I seem to be doing all right with it. Of course, just now the lyrics to "Vera" are piping into my head ("VERA, VERA....WHAT HAS BECOME OF YOU?".....Vera is my grandmother's name, who passed away last June). OK, that song is over.
I am also buzzing happily to a little bit of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black. (they were out of Twisted Raspberry, which is what I usually get. However, this Triple Black is going down reeeeeeally easily and is not making me feel at all queasy like the raspberry sometimes does...hmmm) I am at a point of relaxation now where I am realizing just how tense I actually am, because my neck and shoulders HURT like HELL. I could really use a good hard massage right now, which of course isn't going to happen, so I've got one arm wrapped awkwardly around my back trying to rub some tight muscles, which is only serving to tighten up the other side....I need to unpretzel myself and just give up. :D
("I.......have become.......comfortably numb......."PF)
Got a postcard from the church today, telling me they miss seeing me in Sunday school (hint HINT hint, get your a$$ to church!). Maybe I'll try to go this week. I don't know what my major malfunction has been about getting to church, I always feel so much better after I go. Just when Sunday rolls around, I freeze up and don't go.
Yeah, I've just changed over my music. Nine Inch Nails. My range of music is just bizarre. The CDs I downloaded today are a perfect example. Nine Inch Nails (Pretty Hate Machine), Pink Floyd (The Wall), the Titanic soundtrack, and Les Miserables, the Complete Symphonic Recording (International Cast). These are the concerts I have been to (yes, four concerts in my entire life!): The Monkees 25th anniversary reunion tour, Marilyn Manson (yes, I know), Alan Jackson, and Steven Curtis Chapman. Plus, of course, seeing the various performers at Women of Faith conventions--especially Nichole Nordeman, who I have LOVED since I heard her.
Speaking of schizoid conflicting interests in the arts, I read today that Anne Rice (she of Interview with a Vampire fame), having written some 25+ Gothic novels, many involving vampires and other interesting creatures, has rediscovered God and Catholicism and is now writing a novel (or who knows, it might be in print already, I didn't think to look at the date on the article) about the youth of Christ, from His point of view. Yes, THE Christ. I don't know, I think considering some of her previous subject material, I would be afraid of bursting into heretical flames just trying to outline that particular book. Man, if I feel guilty about just reading her books (and ENJOYING THEM!!!! YES, I ENJOY THEM!!!!!!!!), I cannot imagine trying to reconcile my Christianity with having *authored* books like that. On the other hand, most of her characters are morally tormented individuals, in a constant state of agony over what they have become and have been forced to do.
Oh, who knows. More than likely, this is a Smirnoff argument. (and oh joy, I've given my parents a link to my blog....what in hell was I *thinking?*)
Yeah, enough blogging already.
Parents came and delivered the doors that we are eventually going to install on the side shed, and while they were here picked up my trash to take to the dump. Yay. Saved me a trip.
It's been raining all day, so Mark's baseball game got cancelled. Kids are with X tonight anyway, so I didn't *have* to go, but I always feel guilty missing things just because it's X's day. So, no guilt tonight! Well, at least not for THAT. Still guilt 'cause I didn't really do any cleaning today, but y'know what? The house will SURVIVE.
Uploaded a few more CDs to the iPod today, which I am listening to right now. Eventually I will have my whole collection on here, I think. (I can fit like 8000 songs on here. I don't even think I OWN 8000 songs) Right now I am listening to Pink Floyd "The Wall." This is always a risky listen, as it can often trigger a big ol' depression for me, but today I seem to be doing all right with it. Of course, just now the lyrics to "Vera" are piping into my head ("VERA, VERA....WHAT HAS BECOME OF YOU?".....Vera is my grandmother's name, who passed away last June). OK, that song is over.
I am also buzzing happily to a little bit of Smirnoff Ice Triple Black. (they were out of Twisted Raspberry, which is what I usually get. However, this Triple Black is going down reeeeeeally easily and is not making me feel at all queasy like the raspberry sometimes does...hmmm) I am at a point of relaxation now where I am realizing just how tense I actually am, because my neck and shoulders HURT like HELL. I could really use a good hard massage right now, which of course isn't going to happen, so I've got one arm wrapped awkwardly around my back trying to rub some tight muscles, which is only serving to tighten up the other side....I need to unpretzel myself and just give up. :D
("I.......have become.......comfortably numb......."PF)
Got a postcard from the church today, telling me they miss seeing me in Sunday school (hint HINT hint, get your a$$ to church!). Maybe I'll try to go this week. I don't know what my major malfunction has been about getting to church, I always feel so much better after I go. Just when Sunday rolls around, I freeze up and don't go.
Yeah, I've just changed over my music. Nine Inch Nails. My range of music is just bizarre. The CDs I downloaded today are a perfect example. Nine Inch Nails (Pretty Hate Machine), Pink Floyd (The Wall), the Titanic soundtrack, and Les Miserables, the Complete Symphonic Recording (International Cast). These are the concerts I have been to (yes, four concerts in my entire life!): The Monkees 25th anniversary reunion tour, Marilyn Manson (yes, I know), Alan Jackson, and Steven Curtis Chapman. Plus, of course, seeing the various performers at Women of Faith conventions--especially Nichole Nordeman, who I have LOVED since I heard her.
Speaking of schizoid conflicting interests in the arts, I read today that Anne Rice (she of Interview with a Vampire fame), having written some 25+ Gothic novels, many involving vampires and other interesting creatures, has rediscovered God and Catholicism and is now writing a novel (or who knows, it might be in print already, I didn't think to look at the date on the article) about the youth of Christ, from His point of view. Yes, THE Christ. I don't know, I think considering some of her previous subject material, I would be afraid of bursting into heretical flames just trying to outline that particular book. Man, if I feel guilty about just reading her books (and ENJOYING THEM!!!! YES, I ENJOY THEM!!!!!!!!), I cannot imagine trying to reconcile my Christianity with having *authored* books like that. On the other hand, most of her characters are morally tormented individuals, in a constant state of agony over what they have become and have been forced to do.
Oh, who knows. More than likely, this is a Smirnoff argument. (and oh joy, I've given my parents a link to my blog....what in hell was I *thinking?*)
Yeah, enough blogging already.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
May 9, 2006
I am feeling very nearly psychotic. Another day of running around...errands out, barely getting home in time to throw groceries in the fridge and freezer, running to Daisies, coming home, trying to get together some kind of decent meal for kids, remembering that Mark's uniform still needs to be washed so he can take it to school tomorrow for the game, don't know if Kira has T-ball tonight or not (it's raining, which I thought automatically cancelled it, but another mom said that SHE thought that meant it would be in the gym)....called the coach, got the machine.
Trying to fold laundry, make sure Mark does his homework, somehow find the dining room floor which was pretty much covered with Academic Fair junk and assorted trash, clear some of the kitchen counter space, heating up some American chop suey because honestly right now if I had to try to put together an original meal I would probably cry. And then I'm doing a lot of beating myself up because "normal" moms wouldn't have this problem. This really is not that overwhelming an amount of stuff, I should be able to handle it all.
I need to do some serious work on the house, the laundry is so far behind, the lawn is already looking like I've never mowed it EVER, I can't see my desk, and all I want to do is cover my head and sleep for about a month.
Microwave beeped, need to go feed kids.
Trying to fold laundry, make sure Mark does his homework, somehow find the dining room floor which was pretty much covered with Academic Fair junk and assorted trash, clear some of the kitchen counter space, heating up some American chop suey because honestly right now if I had to try to put together an original meal I would probably cry. And then I'm doing a lot of beating myself up because "normal" moms wouldn't have this problem. This really is not that overwhelming an amount of stuff, I should be able to handle it all.
I need to do some serious work on the house, the laundry is so far behind, the lawn is already looking like I've never mowed it EVER, I can't see my desk, and all I want to do is cover my head and sleep for about a month.
Microwave beeped, need to go feed kids.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Quote from Kira
This is an old one, but it's always been one of my favorites. A couple of years ago (she would have been about 4), Kira said this:
"Mommy, you are the best mom in the whooooooooooole world!! Well, maybe not the best mom. There are a lot of moms out there, and you just don't know."
"Mommy, you are the best mom in the whooooooooooole world!! Well, maybe not the best mom. There are a lot of moms out there, and you just don't know."
Open Toe Shoe Pledge (author unknown)
Please raise your big toes and repeat after me:
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I, (state your name), pledge to follow the Rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:
I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
I will shave the hairs off my big toe.
I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother or sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it in there.
If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
If I have been privy to the magic that is Foot Soup, I will share that knowledge and experience with the non-initiated.
I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.
I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
I will promise to go my local beauty school at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $10 and worth EVERY penny).
I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.
In the name of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, forever and ever, amen.
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I, (state your name), pledge to follow the Rules when I wear sandals and other open-toe shoes:
I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
I will shave the hairs off my big toe.
I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother or sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it in there.
If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
If I have been privy to the magic that is Foot Soup, I will share that knowledge and experience with the non-initiated.
I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.
I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
I will promise to go my local beauty school at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $10 and worth EVERY penny).
I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear...nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.
In the name of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, forever and ever, amen.
May 7, 2006
ahhh....a day of rest. Thank goodness. Desperately needed.
Took Kira to India's yesterday morning, went back home and waited impatiently for Mom to show up (she was coming to Mark's baseball game with us). Just as I started writing a note to tape to the door telling her to just meet us at the game, she pulled up. We piled in, went to the field. It was MUCH warmer than everyone thought it was supposed to be (it was supposed to be overcast, so I was in jeans, socks, shoes....turned out to be very very sunny. I got a sunburn and a lovely heat rash on my right thigh), totally gorgeous. Just enough breeze so that the bugs were not a problem (well, that and bugspray, of course). Game ended up 0-0 until the 6th inning, when Mark's team finally scored a run. But then the other team scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, so the game was over, another L for us. Oh well. Mark did get some action in right field...he missed a line drive, but then got it and made a really great throw to the second baseman. He was up to bat twice, struck out both times.
Total weirdness was that Stephen was at the game. Mom noticed him, he and a buddy were sitting on the grass right in front of the bleachers. Mom went over to sit with him, I went over for a few minutes too. (Stephen is my sister's son, he lives with her x's sister....we see him on average *maybe* once a year. Actually, I think I've seen him three or four times total. He'll be 10 in June.) Mom is feeling incredible guilt because he ran into her while she was at her OTHER grandson's baseball game, and she never sees him. Mom has never been able to reconcile with needing to make a choice between her mentally ill daughter, who needs her, and her daughter's son, who really was better off NOT living with his parents. Mom beats herself up with it constantly. Dad and I have not been able to get through to her that Stephen is better without having Lynn in his life, and if *we* are in his life, *Lynn* is in his life, and it'll just mess him all up.
anyway. it was very odd to look at this kid and know that he is my nephew, and not to really feel any connection to him at all.
After the game we went home and CHANGED CLOTHES, and went to the park to pick up Kira. It was totally gorgeous at the park. Nice and warm, beautiful breeze....I could have stayed there all day. But Kira was waaaaay overtired and ready to go home, so after the Mark had organized a game of tag with all the girls and played for about 1/2 hour (he is SO good with kids), we took off.
More work on the Academic Fair project. Got all the painting and stuff done on the shadow box. Kira also did some painting, and ended up making a big disaster mess of the dining room table and the kitchen cupboard, and having a total meltdown. She's just so overtired. She's had a lot of extra excitement the last few days. Hopefully she'll be able to get some rest today. Probably not, though. I think D. mentioned that they had an adult softball game to go to, plus Mark has practice. More running around. Then tomorrow Mark has another away game, Tuesday is Daisy Scouts AND T-ball practice.....poor kiddo. I've got to try to get some down time in there for her.
Well. I do have a few things I want to attend to today, so I should probably get to that, so I can have my day of rest. :D
Took Kira to India's yesterday morning, went back home and waited impatiently for Mom to show up (she was coming to Mark's baseball game with us). Just as I started writing a note to tape to the door telling her to just meet us at the game, she pulled up. We piled in, went to the field. It was MUCH warmer than everyone thought it was supposed to be (it was supposed to be overcast, so I was in jeans, socks, shoes....turned out to be very very sunny. I got a sunburn and a lovely heat rash on my right thigh), totally gorgeous. Just enough breeze so that the bugs were not a problem (well, that and bugspray, of course). Game ended up 0-0 until the 6th inning, when Mark's team finally scored a run. But then the other team scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, so the game was over, another L for us. Oh well. Mark did get some action in right field...he missed a line drive, but then got it and made a really great throw to the second baseman. He was up to bat twice, struck out both times.
Total weirdness was that Stephen was at the game. Mom noticed him, he and a buddy were sitting on the grass right in front of the bleachers. Mom went over to sit with him, I went over for a few minutes too. (Stephen is my sister's son, he lives with her x's sister....we see him on average *maybe* once a year. Actually, I think I've seen him three or four times total. He'll be 10 in June.) Mom is feeling incredible guilt because he ran into her while she was at her OTHER grandson's baseball game, and she never sees him. Mom has never been able to reconcile with needing to make a choice between her mentally ill daughter, who needs her, and her daughter's son, who really was better off NOT living with his parents. Mom beats herself up with it constantly. Dad and I have not been able to get through to her that Stephen is better without having Lynn in his life, and if *we* are in his life, *Lynn* is in his life, and it'll just mess him all up.
anyway. it was very odd to look at this kid and know that he is my nephew, and not to really feel any connection to him at all.
After the game we went home and CHANGED CLOTHES, and went to the park to pick up Kira. It was totally gorgeous at the park. Nice and warm, beautiful breeze....I could have stayed there all day. But Kira was waaaaay overtired and ready to go home, so after the Mark had organized a game of tag with all the girls and played for about 1/2 hour (he is SO good with kids), we took off.
More work on the Academic Fair project. Got all the painting and stuff done on the shadow box. Kira also did some painting, and ended up making a big disaster mess of the dining room table and the kitchen cupboard, and having a total meltdown. She's just so overtired. She's had a lot of extra excitement the last few days. Hopefully she'll be able to get some rest today. Probably not, though. I think D. mentioned that they had an adult softball game to go to, plus Mark has practice. More running around. Then tomorrow Mark has another away game, Tuesday is Daisy Scouts AND T-ball practice.....poor kiddo. I've got to try to get some down time in there for her.
Well. I do have a few things I want to attend to today, so I should probably get to that, so I can have my day of rest. :D
Saturday, May 06, 2006
May 6, 2006
Man, I am still so tired. Caffeine should be kicking in soon, although I'm very worried that I'm developing a tolerance for it, as I don't seem to have as much energy even with the caffeine. Well, I've got nothing I have to do tomorrow (panicky double-check of schedule, huge sigh of relief...nope, nothing) so I'll try to get some extra rest.
Pretty soon I'll have to jump back on the merry-go-round for the day, with dropping Kira at India's and going to Mark's baseball game. Kira wrapped India's present this morning all by herself (boy was she proud). Then she was scribbling on some paper and was writing things like "I can not wate in tall I go to India's house" over and over. Right now she's up in her room listening to "Rockin' Robin" and boppin' around. :)
Donald's tomatoes came yesterday. Mom & Dad and I went over to deliver them. Of course, when we got there Donald was gone, at the beach with Zoe (and the woman who cleans their house had gone along, too....what is up with that???). We visited with Dorothy for a little while, then Donald did come back while we were still there, so I was able to give him the tomatoes. He was really pleased with them. It's funny, he's not an emotional or affectionate person, so it was really obvious that he didn't really know what to do to express his pleasure (he is totally one of those taciturn Yankees you hear about, one of the most sterotypical Maine-ish Mainers I know). I'm really glad I did that for him. Apparently he's doing okay with the cancer diagnosis....when Dad went over earlier that day to see if Donald needed any help with anything, he was outside on a ladder washing windows. The man is almost 85. (he and Mark celebrate birthdays on the same day) Amazing.
The tomato delivery came after I went with Christina to get Xrays of her back (at a hospital about 40 minutes away). I had really wanted to spend some quality time on my house getting caught up on some housework....the house is really looking the worse for wear. Sigh. But she didn't want to go alone, and I couldn't let her do that, and I know she'd do it for me. So I went. Fortunately, she got in early and we were home before noon....we had expected that it would take until just before the kids got out of school. So then when I got home Mom told me the tomatoes had arrived, so I drove down to deliver them. THEN I stopped up to camp with Mom & Dad to look at the HUGE suitcase of clothes that Kristin had outgrown, that Ginnie sent up for Kira. Totally awesome, the girl is just about set for summer, just needs a couple of bathing suits. (she's got quite a lot for next fall, too!!) Need to remember to get a thank-you out to Ginnie, and make sure Kira does a thank-you also.
Oh, what else from yesterday. Oh yes, Mark did a lot of work on his Academic Fair project on killer whales. I got the fabric hot-glued to the display board (not letting him use the hot-glue gun quite yet...as it is, I burned my fingers a few times with the hot glue, klutz). Mark traced out a big killer whale out of posterboard to have coming out of the top of the display, and got it all painted up (looks great). I did the cutting out of it, though....also not letting him use a box-cutter quite yet. Also while he was at school he cut out the letters for the title. We got most of the background set up for the shadowbox. Today he'll paint the top and sides and outside of the box, and we'll glue in the water fabric and the "sand" bottom (Mark came up with the clever idea of having construction paper that was all wrinkled up for the sandy bottom of the ocean....it looks quite neat). Then all X has to do is get little killer whale figures and suspend them in the box and cover the front with blue Saran wrap. It'll look great. He *should* be able to handle it. Mark also wants to get the facts written up for display today. I'm going to try to convince him to do them on the computer instead of handwriting....it'll go MUCH faster and look really good. He has a fantastic painting of a killer whale that he did in school, AND he found his report in his bedroom (thank goodness) so he has all those pieces that he needed. So he's coming along quite nicely on the whole thing, and he's really excited about it all, which is awesome.
Mark and I watched Ghost Whisperer, Close to Home and Numb3rs last night. It's nice for us to have that time just the two of us (so much of the time Kira just butts right in and tries to take over all my attention), and the topics that are on the different shows really give me a great opportunity to talk with Mark about some pretty important stuff. Last night we talked about homosexuality and acceptance and the importance of not being mean to people who are different. We made a pact that whenever someone started saying something derogatory about someone else because of being different, that we would speak up and say "lay off" or "that's not cool" or something. We also agreed to remind the other one (in a subtle way) if we saw the other person just letting teasing like that go. I told Mark that one thing that would really help him be a person he could be proud of is if he doesn't get into teasing or picking on people. We also talked some about bullying (not that Mark is a bully, but one of his classmates has started doing some bullying, and it's becoming an issue with Mark and with at least one other kid I know of).
It was really great that we could talk about this stuff, and it was just easy talk during commercials, non-confrontational, etc. Plus we got to watch some pretty good TV. :D
OK. I've been putting off getting my teeth brushed and getting some laundry going. I really need to do some of that. I've got at least 3 loads of laundry that need doing today, and less than an hour before I need to get Kira to India's. Oh, and darn it, just completely forgot that I need to call Mary S. and see if she and Mark are going with us today. Sheesh.
I'm off.
Pretty soon I'll have to jump back on the merry-go-round for the day, with dropping Kira at India's and going to Mark's baseball game. Kira wrapped India's present this morning all by herself (boy was she proud). Then she was scribbling on some paper and was writing things like "I can not wate in tall I go to India's house" over and over. Right now she's up in her room listening to "Rockin' Robin" and boppin' around. :)
Donald's tomatoes came yesterday. Mom & Dad and I went over to deliver them. Of course, when we got there Donald was gone, at the beach with Zoe (and the woman who cleans their house had gone along, too....what is up with that???). We visited with Dorothy for a little while, then Donald did come back while we were still there, so I was able to give him the tomatoes. He was really pleased with them. It's funny, he's not an emotional or affectionate person, so it was really obvious that he didn't really know what to do to express his pleasure (he is totally one of those taciturn Yankees you hear about, one of the most sterotypical Maine-ish Mainers I know). I'm really glad I did that for him. Apparently he's doing okay with the cancer diagnosis....when Dad went over earlier that day to see if Donald needed any help with anything, he was outside on a ladder washing windows. The man is almost 85. (he and Mark celebrate birthdays on the same day) Amazing.
The tomato delivery came after I went with Christina to get Xrays of her back (at a hospital about 40 minutes away). I had really wanted to spend some quality time on my house getting caught up on some housework....the house is really looking the worse for wear. Sigh. But she didn't want to go alone, and I couldn't let her do that, and I know she'd do it for me. So I went. Fortunately, she got in early and we were home before noon....we had expected that it would take until just before the kids got out of school. So then when I got home Mom told me the tomatoes had arrived, so I drove down to deliver them. THEN I stopped up to camp with Mom & Dad to look at the HUGE suitcase of clothes that Kristin had outgrown, that Ginnie sent up for Kira. Totally awesome, the girl is just about set for summer, just needs a couple of bathing suits. (she's got quite a lot for next fall, too!!) Need to remember to get a thank-you out to Ginnie, and make sure Kira does a thank-you also.
Oh, what else from yesterday. Oh yes, Mark did a lot of work on his Academic Fair project on killer whales. I got the fabric hot-glued to the display board (not letting him use the hot-glue gun quite yet...as it is, I burned my fingers a few times with the hot glue, klutz). Mark traced out a big killer whale out of posterboard to have coming out of the top of the display, and got it all painted up (looks great). I did the cutting out of it, though....also not letting him use a box-cutter quite yet. Also while he was at school he cut out the letters for the title. We got most of the background set up for the shadowbox. Today he'll paint the top and sides and outside of the box, and we'll glue in the water fabric and the "sand" bottom (Mark came up with the clever idea of having construction paper that was all wrinkled up for the sandy bottom of the ocean....it looks quite neat). Then all X has to do is get little killer whale figures and suspend them in the box and cover the front with blue Saran wrap. It'll look great. He *should* be able to handle it. Mark also wants to get the facts written up for display today. I'm going to try to convince him to do them on the computer instead of handwriting....it'll go MUCH faster and look really good. He has a fantastic painting of a killer whale that he did in school, AND he found his report in his bedroom (thank goodness) so he has all those pieces that he needed. So he's coming along quite nicely on the whole thing, and he's really excited about it all, which is awesome.
Mark and I watched Ghost Whisperer, Close to Home and Numb3rs last night. It's nice for us to have that time just the two of us (so much of the time Kira just butts right in and tries to take over all my attention), and the topics that are on the different shows really give me a great opportunity to talk with Mark about some pretty important stuff. Last night we talked about homosexuality and acceptance and the importance of not being mean to people who are different. We made a pact that whenever someone started saying something derogatory about someone else because of being different, that we would speak up and say "lay off" or "that's not cool" or something. We also agreed to remind the other one (in a subtle way) if we saw the other person just letting teasing like that go. I told Mark that one thing that would really help him be a person he could be proud of is if he doesn't get into teasing or picking on people. We also talked some about bullying (not that Mark is a bully, but one of his classmates has started doing some bullying, and it's becoming an issue with Mark and with at least one other kid I know of).
It was really great that we could talk about this stuff, and it was just easy talk during commercials, non-confrontational, etc. Plus we got to watch some pretty good TV. :D
OK. I've been putting off getting my teeth brushed and getting some laundry going. I really need to do some of that. I've got at least 3 loads of laundry that need doing today, and less than an hour before I need to get Kira to India's. Oh, and darn it, just completely forgot that I need to call Mary S. and see if she and Mark are going with us today. Sheesh.
I'm off.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
T-ball/Baseball Circus
Oy. I am so tired. Tonight was Kira's first T-ball practice, from 6-7. Mark also had baseball practice, from 5-6:30. Naturally these are not at the same place, and in fact are as far apart in our little town as is possible to be. So I take Mark to practice, and Kira played on the playground at the park for awhile until it was time to run her over to the school for T-ball. I get her set there, asked another kindergarten mom to just kinda keep an eye out (even though the coaches are in charge and there are parents everywhere), and I run back to the park to pick up Mark (and my friend's son Jason, because she had an appointment and her husband would be just a few minutes too late to get him). Bring Mark and Jason back to the school (driving past Jason's house, mind you). Randy was there waiting, so Jason popped into the car and away they went. And I got to see about 13 minutes of Kira's first T-ball practice.
She did hit the ball on her first swing, which didn't surprise me much, because she can hit balls that are pitched to her, as well as throwing a ball up the air herself and then swinging at it and hitting it, so a stationary ball should be no problem. She ran to first, then she ran back and took off the helmet. Coach told her she needs to keep the helmet on. She was not impressed, kind of pouted her way back to first and put the helmet back on. She hasn't actually played ball with more than just her and Mark, so she didn't quite get it that she needed to run to second when the next kid hit the ball, but the parents kinda took charge of that for their own kid ("Kira, RUN....RUN TO SECOND!"). Then when she was coming from third base she didn't go to home plate! She ran to the back of where all the kids were lining up to hit. I told her she needed to go to home plate, and she just wouldn't do it. The last kid had come up to bat (the last kid gets a "home run" so they can all run all the bases) and all three other kids went to home plate before Kira finally went over and kind of hesitantly tapped a corner of the plate with her shoe.
So, they've had their first practice and now on Tuesday they're going to have a "game" with the other team of T-ballers (they had so many kids sign up for T-ball they had to have two teams, and each team has 13-15 kids on it). That should be interesting. Next week I won't have the run-back-and-forth that I did tonight, though, because I have an arrangement with Mary S, who is Mark's best friend Mark S's mom. I take the boys *to* practice, she picks them both up. Mark will end up being home alone for about 15 minutes, which is fine. (he *WILL* have instructions to use that time to get his shower taken care of). That arrangement fell through today because a)I agreed to pick up Jason, which frigged everything up anyway b) Mark S. was sick and didn't go to practice.
I at least got the logistics worked out for Saturday morning. Kira's "bestest best" friend India is having a birthday party at the park at 11. Mark has an AWAY game that he has to be at by 9:30. However, India's mom said tonight at T-ball that India would *love* it if I dropped Kira off at her house early and then they would just take her with them to the party at the park, and they had to be at the park for her son's game at 1 anyway (which is why the party had been moved from the original time of 1:30, which worked great for me, to 11, which was somewhat more challenging). So I'm dropping Kira at India's at 9, getting Mark to his game by 9:30, I'll actually be able to watch HIS ENTIRE GAME and then we'll go pick Kira up at the park. It'll work great. Maybe I'll bring a picnic. hmmm.
OK, CSI is on in like 1 minute, so I'm off.
She did hit the ball on her first swing, which didn't surprise me much, because she can hit balls that are pitched to her, as well as throwing a ball up the air herself and then swinging at it and hitting it, so a stationary ball should be no problem. She ran to first, then she ran back and took off the helmet. Coach told her she needs to keep the helmet on. She was not impressed, kind of pouted her way back to first and put the helmet back on. She hasn't actually played ball with more than just her and Mark, so she didn't quite get it that she needed to run to second when the next kid hit the ball, but the parents kinda took charge of that for their own kid ("Kira, RUN....RUN TO SECOND!"). Then when she was coming from third base she didn't go to home plate! She ran to the back of where all the kids were lining up to hit. I told her she needed to go to home plate, and she just wouldn't do it. The last kid had come up to bat (the last kid gets a "home run" so they can all run all the bases) and all three other kids went to home plate before Kira finally went over and kind of hesitantly tapped a corner of the plate with her shoe.
So, they've had their first practice and now on Tuesday they're going to have a "game" with the other team of T-ballers (they had so many kids sign up for T-ball they had to have two teams, and each team has 13-15 kids on it). That should be interesting. Next week I won't have the run-back-and-forth that I did tonight, though, because I have an arrangement with Mary S, who is Mark's best friend Mark S's mom. I take the boys *to* practice, she picks them both up. Mark will end up being home alone for about 15 minutes, which is fine. (he *WILL* have instructions to use that time to get his shower taken care of). That arrangement fell through today because a)I agreed to pick up Jason, which frigged everything up anyway b) Mark S. was sick and didn't go to practice.
I at least got the logistics worked out for Saturday morning. Kira's "bestest best" friend India is having a birthday party at the park at 11. Mark has an AWAY game that he has to be at by 9:30. However, India's mom said tonight at T-ball that India would *love* it if I dropped Kira off at her house early and then they would just take her with them to the party at the park, and they had to be at the park for her son's game at 1 anyway (which is why the party had been moved from the original time of 1:30, which worked great for me, to 11, which was somewhat more challenging). So I'm dropping Kira at India's at 9, getting Mark to his game by 9:30, I'll actually be able to watch HIS ENTIRE GAME and then we'll go pick Kira up at the park. It'll work great. Maybe I'll bring a picnic. hmmm.
OK, CSI is on in like 1 minute, so I'm off.
Lawn Mowing Season Has Begun!
Well, I finally got off my butt and mowed the lawn. 1st time this season. I did it in four "chunks", mostly so I wouldn't pass out (it was a close thing for awhile there--yes, markira, it takes great brains to go mow the lawn in the middle of the freakin' day, with the sun beating down on you). Took me about 2 hours altogether. The first time is always the longest. Loving my iPod for this--pathetically, having access to all of my music while I was out mowing the lawn was a HUGE factor in my decision to get the iPod in the first place. Prior to that I used a Walkman. With a CASSETTE TAPE.
I have probably now got a sunburn, it's hard to tell because I am still purple from the exertion. Gotta love my fair skin and how easily I turn lots of pretty shades of red and purple at the least provocation. But the lawn looks SO much better.
Got an email from the eBay lady that I should get my tomato plants tomorrow, she UPS'ed them on Tuesday. I emailed back that I was really looking forward to getting them because they were for my grandfather who had just been diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. *She* emailed back that her grandfather died of cancer and if my grandfather wants any more plants, she'll send them free. I was just blown away with how nice that was. Just when you think the world has become a totally selfish, me-me-me place, a perfect stranger will reach out and show an amazing amount of caring and generosity. It really gives my faith in people a big boost.
Kids will be home at any second and I still have to hose off the lawnmower and put it away....off to do that.
I have probably now got a sunburn, it's hard to tell because I am still purple from the exertion. Gotta love my fair skin and how easily I turn lots of pretty shades of red and purple at the least provocation. But the lawn looks SO much better.
Got an email from the eBay lady that I should get my tomato plants tomorrow, she UPS'ed them on Tuesday. I emailed back that I was really looking forward to getting them because they were for my grandfather who had just been diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. *She* emailed back that her grandfather died of cancer and if my grandfather wants any more plants, she'll send them free. I was just blown away with how nice that was. Just when you think the world has become a totally selfish, me-me-me place, a perfect stranger will reach out and show an amazing amount of caring and generosity. It really gives my faith in people a big boost.
Kids will be home at any second and I still have to hose off the lawnmower and put it away....off to do that.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Confusing Kid Trait
Ok, why is it that kids have an automatic knee-jerk response of "I didn't!" even when you were WATCHING THEM DO whatever it is they are now claiming they didn't do?
Mark and Kira just came flying downstairs with the 'noodles' they got from the Easter Bunny, Mark complete with bathrobe-tie knotted around his forehead in best ninja fashion, whaling at each other and giggling hysterically. I calmly say "I hope you guys aren't using those noodles as battle weapons" at which point BOTH of them chorus, "We *weren't!*" Like, how dare I suggest it.
Um. Guys. I was WATCHING YOU DO IT.
Mark and Kira just came flying downstairs with the 'noodles' they got from the Easter Bunny, Mark complete with bathrobe-tie knotted around his forehead in best ninja fashion, whaling at each other and giggling hysterically. I calmly say "I hope you guys aren't using those noodles as battle weapons" at which point BOTH of them chorus, "We *weren't!*" Like, how dare I suggest it.
Um. Guys. I was WATCHING YOU DO IT.
Monday, May 01, 2006
geek link :)
I don't know how I find these things, but here we go: an article titled "My Star Wars Can Beat Up Your Star Wars." Particularly apt since I just had to suffer through watching Episode One with Kira. (and I was not browsing for Star Wars stuff, either....I was actually looking up Willy Wonka, and somehow managed to find myself in Star Wars territory. I don't know how. It's like an Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole or something.)
I kinda wish they had done Luke Skywalker vs. Anakin Skywalker, though! My favorite: Chewbacca vs. Jar-Jar. I HATE Jar-Jar. But you can't argue that his asanine luck, he would somehow manage to take out the obviously far superior Wookie.
I kinda wish they had done Luke Skywalker vs. Anakin Skywalker, though! My favorite: Chewbacca vs. Jar-Jar. I HATE Jar-Jar. But you can't argue that his asanine luck, he would somehow manage to take out the obviously far superior Wookie.
May 1, 2006
Well, Kira's sick. Image X called me yesterday morning (woke me up, actually) to tell me that he was taking her to the hospital because she had spiked a fever of 104.2. He said I didn't need to go, but c'mon, my kid goes to the ER and I just roll over and go back to sleep? I don't think so.
Turns out Kira has....wait for it....the flu. Oh, I am SO glad that we went through the whole ER visit for the flu. I swear, X and D. run to the ER every two minutes. Hope like heck their insurance picks this whole thing up, 'cause I'm not impressed to have to pay for an ER visit to find out she's got the flu...and a light case of it, no less!
She woke up in the middle of the night gagging and threw up a little bile. Poor sweetie is miserable. Right now she's on the couch behind me with her teddy bear and some ginger ale.
On the gardening front, I got the rest of my seeds started yesterday (except the morning glory, which I nicked the seed pods & soaked overnight, need to plant them this morning).
OH, and I won the eBay bid on the tomato plants for Donald. Sent in the PayPal payment yesterday. I'm having them delivered to Mom & Dad's house because it was over $2 cheaper to have it go to their house than my house. Image
Mark's got another baseball game tonight, but I don't think I'll be going. Think Kira and I will be staying home. Need to call Mary S. today and see about Mark hitching a ride with her (the original plan was for all of us to go together in my car). Mark is not impressed that I'll be missing his second game.
Well, I need to go crack the whip to get Mark ready for school, and also get some housework started. I hope I actually get something done today. Kira wants to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory after Mark leaves, so there is hope.
Turns out Kira has....wait for it....the flu. Oh, I am SO glad that we went through the whole ER visit for the flu. I swear, X and D. run to the ER every two minutes. Hope like heck their insurance picks this whole thing up, 'cause I'm not impressed to have to pay for an ER visit to find out she's got the flu...and a light case of it, no less!
She woke up in the middle of the night gagging and threw up a little bile. Poor sweetie is miserable. Right now she's on the couch behind me with her teddy bear and some ginger ale.
On the gardening front, I got the rest of my seeds started yesterday (except the morning glory, which I nicked the seed pods & soaked overnight, need to plant them this morning).
OH, and I won the eBay bid on the tomato plants for Donald. Sent in the PayPal payment yesterday. I'm having them delivered to Mom & Dad's house because it was over $2 cheaper to have it go to their house than my house. Image
Mark's got another baseball game tonight, but I don't think I'll be going. Think Kira and I will be staying home. Need to call Mary S. today and see about Mark hitching a ride with her (the original plan was for all of us to go together in my car). Mark is not impressed that I'll be missing his second game.
Well, I need to go crack the whip to get Mark ready for school, and also get some housework started. I hope I actually get something done today. Kira wants to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory after Mark leaves, so there is hope.
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