Angel came home this morning.
Losing a pet is horrible. Losing a child must be a gazillion times worse. I lost Abbie for 2 minutes in a big, public, busy place (and it was dark) and that was horrible. I actually thought she might have been abducted so I was 1 second away from a full blown panic attack when she came back. I won't tell that story this time (but I will say I lost her without taking my eyes off her - figure that one out!).
Angel was missing approximately 36 hours. And there was a dark cloud over my life. As much as I've been looking forward to vacation, I was dreading going b/c I was worried Angel might come home while we were away.
When it got dark, I worried more about him - was he scared, did he know where he was, could he get home? It rained, and I worried again - was he scared, was he wet and cold, was he far away?
I've been looking out the kitchen window multiple times a day. We had flyers made, and we distributed them around the neighborhood yesterday. I was going to the humane society today and to the local vets. Luckily, Angel is microchipped. He won't wear a collar. He claws at it until he bleeds.
This morning, before I made breakfast for Abbie, I went out the backdoor and called for him. He wasn't there. While I was looking out over the yard, wondering if I would ever see him again, I heard a meow, and I turned and saw him running to me. He got a can of cat food before Abbie got her breakfast, but she didn't mind.
I took him to the bedroom and put him on the bed so Paul could see him too. He smiled and said, "Now I won't be in the doghouse anymore."
Angel is on my lap right now. He's being a little clingy.
Abbie news - Abbie asked me another sensitive question today. I guess she's got things on her mind. But it's normal, and it's time for her to be asking.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Superstitions
I'm not superstitious and never have been. I wasn't raised to be superstitious so maybe that's why I'm not. I believe in personal choice instead of good luck/bad luck.
I have known superstitious people. A friend's mom was very superstitious about black cats. She thought it was bad luck if a black cat crossed her path, and she would make a mark in the air (a cross or an x - I can't remember) to erase the bad luck.
Lots of people "knock on wood." I have been known to do that, but it seems more of a habit from having seen other people do it. I'm thankful to God for the good things in my life, and I'm thankful for making good decisions/choices - but I don't think "knocking on wood" is an appropriate way to show my thankfulness. But sometimes I do it! :)
A lady I used to work with would throw salt over her shoulder every time we went out to eat. I thought superstitious people only threw salt over their shoulder if they accidentally spilled some. But she threw the salt every time.
While we've been looking at houses, we have certain criteria that we're looking for - like number of bedrooms or size of property or where the neighborhood is located. I rarely pay attention to the actual address, but I'd love my future address to have a street name that is easy to spell. I detest spelling my last name, my first name (b/c my mom had to be different but I do like my name spelling), AND my street name. Even though I don't pay a lot of attention to the actual address, I do eventually see the address and consider it.
Here is a list of my past street numbers:
410
1406
1204
104
Here is something that I noticed. There is a 4, a 1, and a zero in all of those. Even though I'm not superstitious, if I found myself in a tie breaker between two houses, I'd pick the house with a 4, a zero, and a 1.
We looked at a house today that we REALLY like and are considering making an offer - its address is 403.
In other news. our cat Angel is missing. Last night, I decided to clean the oven using the self cleaning option. I have never done this before. I used to pay my housekeeper to do it for me. I have not cleaned the oven since we let her go. It was time to clean it, but I'm proud to say that it wasn't nasty or disgusting, but there was a spill. I cracked a kitchen window in case the kitchen got stinky or got that "hot" smell. I only cracked the window a bit since there is no screen. I also didn't want the cats to get out or bugs to fly in. When I went to bed, I realized that Angel was not around. I looked everywhere - twice - I even looked in the freezer. I woke up Abbie to ask her when she saw him last. I asked Paul twice if he could remember when he saw him last. I knew when I'd seen him - just before we went on a walk, and I knew he was in the house. Once we came back from the walk, we didn't go back out so I couldn't think how he would have gotten outside. I kept going back to Paul asking him how Angel could have gotten outside. He wasn't really paying attention since he was playing a computer game. Meanwhile, I was going to the front door, back door, upstairs garage, and downstairs garage multiple times. Much later (midnight maybe) Paul finally told me that he had opened the kitchen window much wider while the oven was cleaning. Ahhh - that's how Angel got out. Today, we had flyers made and distributed them around the neighborhood. We hope he finds his way home!
Abbie's big question of the day: "Mom, do you have to be married to get a baby?" I told her the truth, and I think I explained it well.
I have known superstitious people. A friend's mom was very superstitious about black cats. She thought it was bad luck if a black cat crossed her path, and she would make a mark in the air (a cross or an x - I can't remember) to erase the bad luck.
Lots of people "knock on wood." I have been known to do that, but it seems more of a habit from having seen other people do it. I'm thankful to God for the good things in my life, and I'm thankful for making good decisions/choices - but I don't think "knocking on wood" is an appropriate way to show my thankfulness. But sometimes I do it! :)
A lady I used to work with would throw salt over her shoulder every time we went out to eat. I thought superstitious people only threw salt over their shoulder if they accidentally spilled some. But she threw the salt every time.
While we've been looking at houses, we have certain criteria that we're looking for - like number of bedrooms or size of property or where the neighborhood is located. I rarely pay attention to the actual address, but I'd love my future address to have a street name that is easy to spell. I detest spelling my last name, my first name (b/c my mom had to be different but I do like my name spelling), AND my street name. Even though I don't pay a lot of attention to the actual address, I do eventually see the address and consider it.
Here is a list of my past street numbers:
410
1406
1204
104
Here is something that I noticed. There is a 4, a 1, and a zero in all of those. Even though I'm not superstitious, if I found myself in a tie breaker between two houses, I'd pick the house with a 4, a zero, and a 1.
We looked at a house today that we REALLY like and are considering making an offer - its address is 403.
In other news. our cat Angel is missing. Last night, I decided to clean the oven using the self cleaning option. I have never done this before. I used to pay my housekeeper to do it for me. I have not cleaned the oven since we let her go. It was time to clean it, but I'm proud to say that it wasn't nasty or disgusting, but there was a spill. I cracked a kitchen window in case the kitchen got stinky or got that "hot" smell. I only cracked the window a bit since there is no screen. I also didn't want the cats to get out or bugs to fly in. When I went to bed, I realized that Angel was not around. I looked everywhere - twice - I even looked in the freezer. I woke up Abbie to ask her when she saw him last. I asked Paul twice if he could remember when he saw him last. I knew when I'd seen him - just before we went on a walk, and I knew he was in the house. Once we came back from the walk, we didn't go back out so I couldn't think how he would have gotten outside. I kept going back to Paul asking him how Angel could have gotten outside. He wasn't really paying attention since he was playing a computer game. Meanwhile, I was going to the front door, back door, upstairs garage, and downstairs garage multiple times. Much later (midnight maybe) Paul finally told me that he had opened the kitchen window much wider while the oven was cleaning. Ahhh - that's how Angel got out. Today, we had flyers made and distributed them around the neighborhood. We hope he finds his way home!
Abbie's big question of the day: "Mom, do you have to be married to get a baby?" I told her the truth, and I think I explained it well.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
A New Milestone
Sometimes, when you don't have a small child anymore and you know people that do, you feel a little left out.
There is always some milestone for parents with small children. A new tooth or the first lost tooth or their first taste of real food or their first steps or their first time to go to the potty or their first time to sleep through the night, etc.
This isn't a complaint because we've experienced all those too.
But when your child gets older, the milestones get farther apart. But there are milestones; maybe not very typical but still really important.
Bigger kid milestones:
Doesn't cry anymore when you leave her at preschool/school
Can reach the kitchen faucet
Can pour their own drink
Doesn't need a sippy cup*
Can play outside without constant parental supervision and OCD alertness for danger
Doesn't cry when they get a shot
Finally has all their immunizations
Will actually request that their nails be trimmed
Can multiply
Will request to download a song on the iPod
Wants to practice texting
I *starred* the sippy cup comment because I was cruising the grocery store the other day and walked past the baby/kid stuff aisle. And I thought how I don't have to go down this aisle anymore, and it kind of made me feel sad. I remember when I had to go down this aisle all the time because I always needed more sippy cup inserts.
Abbie reached a new milestone this past week. A leetle late. She can now ride a bike all on her own without training wheels or any help or support of any kind. She's semi-pro.
This is practically an engraved announcement milestone for her.
We're so proud of Abbie, and she is so proud of herself.
There is always some milestone for parents with small children. A new tooth or the first lost tooth or their first taste of real food or their first steps or their first time to go to the potty or their first time to sleep through the night, etc.
This isn't a complaint because we've experienced all those too.
But when your child gets older, the milestones get farther apart. But there are milestones; maybe not very typical but still really important.
Bigger kid milestones:
Doesn't cry anymore when you leave her at preschool/school
Can reach the kitchen faucet
Can pour their own drink
Doesn't need a sippy cup*
Can play outside without constant parental supervision and OCD alertness for danger
Doesn't cry when they get a shot
Finally has all their immunizations
Will actually request that their nails be trimmed
Can multiply
Will request to download a song on the iPod
Wants to practice texting
I *starred* the sippy cup comment because I was cruising the grocery store the other day and walked past the baby/kid stuff aisle. And I thought how I don't have to go down this aisle anymore, and it kind of made me feel sad. I remember when I had to go down this aisle all the time because I always needed more sippy cup inserts.
Abbie reached a new milestone this past week. A leetle late. She can now ride a bike all on her own without training wheels or any help or support of any kind. She's semi-pro.
This is practically an engraved announcement milestone for her.
We're so proud of Abbie, and she is so proud of herself.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Vampires & Second-Wife-Search Update
Paul has finally decided to read the Twilight series. So far, he and I agree on all the things that bug us about the books.
As we were briefly discussing the books, he mentioned that it doesn't make sense that vampires are supposed to be cold (or very, very cold). His reasoning is that even a chair will be room temperature, plus they are clothed, and they might have some circulation going on (we're not sure about that one though). Makes complete sense to me.
Then we agreed that it doesn't make sense that vampires are supposed to be hard or like stone. Our reasoning is rock solid. Sorry about the pun!
And we agreed that Anne Rice has done vampires the best - in our opinion. We might have to write our own vampire book to prove our genius about vampire physiology.
Remember this post? Well, I did go right out to the grocery store. And I've cooked twice since that post (I'm not even going to tell the gourmet things I made so no one will be jealous). And we've interviewed a Miss Bell and a Miss Brown for the job of second wife (as in Taco Bell and Cootie Browns).
As we were briefly discussing the books, he mentioned that it doesn't make sense that vampires are supposed to be cold (or very, very cold). His reasoning is that even a chair will be room temperature, plus they are clothed, and they might have some circulation going on (we're not sure about that one though). Makes complete sense to me.
Then we agreed that it doesn't make sense that vampires are supposed to be hard or like stone. Our reasoning is rock solid. Sorry about the pun!
And we agreed that Anne Rice has done vampires the best - in our opinion. We might have to write our own vampire book to prove our genius about vampire physiology.
Remember this post? Well, I did go right out to the grocery store. And I've cooked twice since that post (I'm not even going to tell the gourmet things I made so no one will be jealous). And we've interviewed a Miss Bell and a Miss Brown for the job of second wife (as in Taco Bell and Cootie Browns).
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Complaint Dept
If you have any complaints, post them here. I've got a good one (I think).
Another post about ballet - mainly b/c I'm there a lot lately. Abbie's ballet company has two teachers - those are really the only 2 people that run the place. There is a non-profit section to the company (so they can get grants), and there is a board for that, but I never hear or see anyone or anything about the board.
With the teachers being busy teaching, there is no one to do all the other things that need to be done so they use A LOT of volunteers. I think certain parents (maybe this is where board members come into play) take turns cleaning the place each week, and 9 times out of 10, the place is a mess and dirty. The bulletin boards are jammed, and no one cleans them off, but new things do get added.
There is a hand written sign (one of the teachers probably got one of the ballerinas to write it) on the door that warns you that tuition is due by the 10th of the month or there is an additional fee. They are big on timely payments.
Yesterday, a mom was suddenly asked to create a sign up sheet for the reception after the recital. She didn't know what items to suggest people to bring, she didn't know how many to expect to feed, she had to keep going back to ask for details from the teacher. She had to find scrap paper to create a sign up sheet. She and another mom also made a sign about the next few practice days - where and when they are - because there was no consensus between the teachers and all the other parents were operating on different info.
But here is my complaint!!!!
I spend all this time taking Abbie to ballet (we blow an hour each week before class starts then she is there for an hour and a half). And I pay the tuition (on time!) and buy the requisite black leotards and pink, non-shiny tights and real ballet shoes. I take her to the extra Saturday practices for the recital (the extra classes and dress rehearsals add up to lots of hours). I pay the recital fee for the costume that is specially made. They've even added an extra dress rehearsal this year (so there will be two dress rehearsals) so we'll be at that too. The night of the recital, she has to be there an hour before the show begins. She will arrive with a button down shirt so that it is easy to remove so she can put on her costume. Her hair will be in a perfect ballet bun - no hairs sticking out anywhere. And she will have makeup on (a modest amount in a color they specify - I already have it all packed and ready to go). And I will be dressed in a nice skirt and top, Paul will be dressed nice, and we will surprise Abbie with a bouquet of flowers after the performance. And we may even have guests coming to watch her perform. And I will arrive with a veggie tray and plate of cookies that I volunteered to bring for the reception afterwards. I do all this for Abbie.
The kicker is - if the teachers have their way - I won't get to see the performance. They might need me to volunteer to take tickets, or stay downstairs with the girls (chaperone) until they get called to perform, or get the food & drinks ready for the reception. They have other moms who go around with headsets and clipboards (kind of like a backstage manager). Some moms are needed at the sides of the stage. Some jobs won't take much time, but they mostly need chaperones, and if you do that (which I admit is important), you don't get to see the show at all. I did it one year so I know.
Now the ballet classes aren't for me, but I think the payoff is getting to see your child perform. If they ask me to volunteer and I decline, I will be viewed as a "non-team player." Blech!
Another post about ballet - mainly b/c I'm there a lot lately. Abbie's ballet company has two teachers - those are really the only 2 people that run the place. There is a non-profit section to the company (so they can get grants), and there is a board for that, but I never hear or see anyone or anything about the board.
With the teachers being busy teaching, there is no one to do all the other things that need to be done so they use A LOT of volunteers. I think certain parents (maybe this is where board members come into play) take turns cleaning the place each week, and 9 times out of 10, the place is a mess and dirty. The bulletin boards are jammed, and no one cleans them off, but new things do get added.
There is a hand written sign (one of the teachers probably got one of the ballerinas to write it) on the door that warns you that tuition is due by the 10th of the month or there is an additional fee. They are big on timely payments.
Yesterday, a mom was suddenly asked to create a sign up sheet for the reception after the recital. She didn't know what items to suggest people to bring, she didn't know how many to expect to feed, she had to keep going back to ask for details from the teacher. She had to find scrap paper to create a sign up sheet. She and another mom also made a sign about the next few practice days - where and when they are - because there was no consensus between the teachers and all the other parents were operating on different info.
But here is my complaint!!!!
I spend all this time taking Abbie to ballet (we blow an hour each week before class starts then she is there for an hour and a half). And I pay the tuition (on time!) and buy the requisite black leotards and pink, non-shiny tights and real ballet shoes. I take her to the extra Saturday practices for the recital (the extra classes and dress rehearsals add up to lots of hours). I pay the recital fee for the costume that is specially made. They've even added an extra dress rehearsal this year (so there will be two dress rehearsals) so we'll be at that too. The night of the recital, she has to be there an hour before the show begins. She will arrive with a button down shirt so that it is easy to remove so she can put on her costume. Her hair will be in a perfect ballet bun - no hairs sticking out anywhere. And she will have makeup on (a modest amount in a color they specify - I already have it all packed and ready to go). And I will be dressed in a nice skirt and top, Paul will be dressed nice, and we will surprise Abbie with a bouquet of flowers after the performance. And we may even have guests coming to watch her perform. And I will arrive with a veggie tray and plate of cookies that I volunteered to bring for the reception afterwards. I do all this for Abbie.
The kicker is - if the teachers have their way - I won't get to see the performance. They might need me to volunteer to take tickets, or stay downstairs with the girls (chaperone) until they get called to perform, or get the food & drinks ready for the reception. They have other moms who go around with headsets and clipboards (kind of like a backstage manager). Some moms are needed at the sides of the stage. Some jobs won't take much time, but they mostly need chaperones, and if you do that (which I admit is important), you don't get to see the show at all. I did it one year so I know.
Now the ballet classes aren't for me, but I think the payoff is getting to see your child perform. If they ask me to volunteer and I decline, I will be viewed as a "non-team player." Blech!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Abbie Still Lives Here
Some people (hopefully) may wonder why my blog is hardly ever about Abbie. Maybe Lorrie just likes to write about herself or cats? Not true.
Abbie still lives here. She's still sweet and snuggly and an animal lover and cute!
Here's what she's been up to: school (a given), homework (another given, but she has struggled this year - a post for another day), playing with the cats, riding her scooter, reading (a lot), playing Poptropica - an online game, asking when we can go to the animal shelter again, not watching much TV, whistling (I have to tell her to quit whistling at night so she will go to sleep), speaking with a French accent, and being sweet.
She likes to read books about animals - cats, dogs, foxes, manatees, you-name-it. She is currently reading a book about a fox named Rusty who gets caught in barbed wire.
And she likes to eat candy with Paul - they always have a stash somewhere.
She also likes to make elaborate snacks. I don't even think I could describe it, but she puts a lot of thought and variety in it.
Eating - she is such a great eater! I read an article in a parenting magazine that said you just have to keep serving healthy food to your kids, 0ver and over, and one day, they will eat it. They finally get used to seeing it. And the advice was that you shouldn't make them separate meals when they won't eat what you've cooked. That sounded like a lot of common sense to Paul and me so that's what we've done. In the past, when she wouldn't eat much of her meal, we said, "that's okay, we'll put it in the frig for later if you get hungry." WORKS! Whatever I cook (when I do cook), we put a little on her plate of everything available. She never makes a face and never declares "yuck" or "I'm not eating that." She doesn't always like what I make, and that's okay. We don't make her eat stuff she doesn't like, but she does have to try it. And we never make her clean her plate. But I can't say we've been good influences about drink choices, but I do find that she likes water more than she did. I guess I'm bragging about her eating habits b/c my own eating habits sucked for a looonngg time!
She has also developed an interest in climbing trees. She gets a chance every time we go to my mom's house. There is an apple tree there that is perfect for climbing.
Today, her class had a kickball competition with the second graders. They play them again tomorrow. I like cheering for her and watching her run the bases.
School is almost out - yippee!
Abbie still lives here. She's still sweet and snuggly and an animal lover and cute!
Here's what she's been up to: school (a given), homework (another given, but she has struggled this year - a post for another day), playing with the cats, riding her scooter, reading (a lot), playing Poptropica - an online game, asking when we can go to the animal shelter again, not watching much TV, whistling (I have to tell her to quit whistling at night so she will go to sleep), speaking with a French accent, and being sweet.
She likes to read books about animals - cats, dogs, foxes, manatees, you-name-it. She is currently reading a book about a fox named Rusty who gets caught in barbed wire.
And she likes to eat candy with Paul - they always have a stash somewhere.
She also likes to make elaborate snacks. I don't even think I could describe it, but she puts a lot of thought and variety in it.
Eating - she is such a great eater! I read an article in a parenting magazine that said you just have to keep serving healthy food to your kids, 0ver and over, and one day, they will eat it. They finally get used to seeing it. And the advice was that you shouldn't make them separate meals when they won't eat what you've cooked. That sounded like a lot of common sense to Paul and me so that's what we've done. In the past, when she wouldn't eat much of her meal, we said, "that's okay, we'll put it in the frig for later if you get hungry." WORKS! Whatever I cook (when I do cook), we put a little on her plate of everything available. She never makes a face and never declares "yuck" or "I'm not eating that." She doesn't always like what I make, and that's okay. We don't make her eat stuff she doesn't like, but she does have to try it. And we never make her clean her plate. But I can't say we've been good influences about drink choices, but I do find that she likes water more than she did. I guess I'm bragging about her eating habits b/c my own eating habits sucked for a looonngg time!
She has also developed an interest in climbing trees. She gets a chance every time we go to my mom's house. There is an apple tree there that is perfect for climbing.
Today, her class had a kickball competition with the second graders. They play them again tomorrow. I like cheering for her and watching her run the bases.
School is almost out - yippee!
Paul Says, Part 3
Paul has been doing several (very much, a lot, a whole lot) projects around the house. He is very good at electrical work - wiring and putting in new lights. Doesn't interest me at all. My friend, Leslie, told me that she recently installed a new light fixture and that it was easy - you just match up the colors of the wires. Still not interested - mainly because I'd have to go in the garage and figure out which switch to flip to turn off the power. I just don't wanna do it, but I do clean toilets without a lot of complaining, and I'm good at it.
Back to Paul.
Paul has also gotten really good at plumbing work. He installed a brand new sink in the master bath (new sink top, new cabinet, and new faucets). Then I discovered that the sink downstairs was leaking so he had to fix that before our open house last Sunday. He says, "I've learned a few things about plumbing. When you think you've wrapped the teflon tape around the pipe enough, you need to go ahead and wrap it about ten more times." He's had to learn that the hard way.
Yesterday, he also said that he needs a second wife - one that cooks. I said, "amen!" Then I said, "where is she going to sleep?"
Luckily, he gave a good response. I was the only one thinking of the naughty thing he could have said.
Guess I'm going to the grocery store today!
Back to Paul.
Paul has also gotten really good at plumbing work. He installed a brand new sink in the master bath (new sink top, new cabinet, and new faucets). Then I discovered that the sink downstairs was leaking so he had to fix that before our open house last Sunday. He says, "I've learned a few things about plumbing. When you think you've wrapped the teflon tape around the pipe enough, you need to go ahead and wrap it about ten more times." He's had to learn that the hard way.
Yesterday, he also said that he needs a second wife - one that cooks. I said, "amen!" Then I said, "where is she going to sleep?"
Luckily, he gave a good response. I was the only one thinking of the naughty thing he could have said.
Guess I'm going to the grocery store today!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Life Isn't Fair - And That's Normal
Life isn't fair, and it's best to learn that lesson early in life. It's not fair when the hot item to have is a Coke shirt and your mom buys you the Pepsi shirt (it does matter, mom!) - that some oppossoms don't make it all the way across the road - that some people are unforgiving - that some people have medusa hair and some have perfect hair - that some don't obey the rules of the road - that I can't text as fast as my nieces - that some exes won't "friend me" on Facebook (hey dude, it's been forever - get over it!) and the list goes on and on.
Abbie has taken ballet for several years now, at least for 5 years. Her company teaches classical ballet which is hard to find here (although there are lots of places that teach dance). Her teachers take ballet very serious. They think ballet and ballet practice should come before ALL else. Although they wouldn't want you to come to class if you were sick, they expect you to come to every class (see the conflict?), take classes in the summer, and sign up for extra classes when they have special guest teachers. If you do all that, you get better parts in the recitals (as long as you can actually dance). And when the day of the recital comes, you better dance whether you have the flu or any deadly disease. It makes complete sense to me, and I think that is fair-ish if you are that dedicated to ballet and understand the expectations upfront.
So far, we haven't been that dedicated - our choice. By the time summer rolls around, I need a break, and Abbie is sick of it (although now that she has changed teachers, she is enjoying it a lot more). Since she enjoys ballet, we continue to sign up every year.
Since Abbie says she wants to dance in the Nutcracker in December, we had to agree to sign up for summer classes and attend extra practice for the performance. I explained these requirements to Abbie, and she still wanted to do it.
Right now, her class is preparing for the end-of-year recital. She goes to regular class once a week and now has to go to extra practice on Saturdays. Last Friday, her school called me to pick her up b/c she was sick. She threw up later that night so I didn't take her to the Saturday ballet class - she probably got dinged for that.
At Tuesday's class, I noticed that the teacher was playing a new song that I hadn't heard before. Several moms were crowded around the door to watch them do a new dance for the upcoming recital. But not all of the girls in the class were participating in the dance. Abbie was one of the girls sitting out along with 4 others, but it wasn't b/c Abbie had missed the last Saturday class b/c weeks ago I had heard the teacher tell select moms to come early to practice (earlier than the time listed on the practice schedule). So the teacher had this dance and the dancers chosen awhile back. And you could tell they had had practice at some undisclosed place and time.
As I was leaving class on Tuesday, the moms of the girls who were sitting out for the extra dance were trooping in to see the teacher. I'm sure they thought it wasn't fair. I think they think the teacher is playing favorites. One mom thinks it is a passive-aggressive slight b/c her child had to leave a few classes early for a ball game. There probably is some favoritism going on, and that isn't fair, but life isn't fair, and I understand that. I'm not going to get mad and leave - that won't solve anything. But I'm not going to kiss anybody's butt (why I'd never make it in Hollywood - not that Hollywood wants me! :) ).
From the beginning, when Abbie started ballet, I sat back and watched everything going on around me, and I picked up some of these undercurrents - I figured out the way they do things. I feel sorry for the new moms who are just now learning how it all works. I almost can't wait for the possible drama next week!
Abbie has taken ballet for several years now, at least for 5 years. Her company teaches classical ballet which is hard to find here (although there are lots of places that teach dance). Her teachers take ballet very serious. They think ballet and ballet practice should come before ALL else. Although they wouldn't want you to come to class if you were sick, they expect you to come to every class (see the conflict?), take classes in the summer, and sign up for extra classes when they have special guest teachers. If you do all that, you get better parts in the recitals (as long as you can actually dance). And when the day of the recital comes, you better dance whether you have the flu or any deadly disease. It makes complete sense to me, and I think that is fair-ish if you are that dedicated to ballet and understand the expectations upfront.
So far, we haven't been that dedicated - our choice. By the time summer rolls around, I need a break, and Abbie is sick of it (although now that she has changed teachers, she is enjoying it a lot more). Since she enjoys ballet, we continue to sign up every year.
Since Abbie says she wants to dance in the Nutcracker in December, we had to agree to sign up for summer classes and attend extra practice for the performance. I explained these requirements to Abbie, and she still wanted to do it.
Right now, her class is preparing for the end-of-year recital. She goes to regular class once a week and now has to go to extra practice on Saturdays. Last Friday, her school called me to pick her up b/c she was sick. She threw up later that night so I didn't take her to the Saturday ballet class - she probably got dinged for that.
At Tuesday's class, I noticed that the teacher was playing a new song that I hadn't heard before. Several moms were crowded around the door to watch them do a new dance for the upcoming recital. But not all of the girls in the class were participating in the dance. Abbie was one of the girls sitting out along with 4 others, but it wasn't b/c Abbie had missed the last Saturday class b/c weeks ago I had heard the teacher tell select moms to come early to practice (earlier than the time listed on the practice schedule). So the teacher had this dance and the dancers chosen awhile back. And you could tell they had had practice at some undisclosed place and time.
As I was leaving class on Tuesday, the moms of the girls who were sitting out for the extra dance were trooping in to see the teacher. I'm sure they thought it wasn't fair. I think they think the teacher is playing favorites. One mom thinks it is a passive-aggressive slight b/c her child had to leave a few classes early for a ball game. There probably is some favoritism going on, and that isn't fair, but life isn't fair, and I understand that. I'm not going to get mad and leave - that won't solve anything. But I'm not going to kiss anybody's butt (why I'd never make it in Hollywood - not that Hollywood wants me! :) ).
From the beginning, when Abbie started ballet, I sat back and watched everything going on around me, and I picked up some of these undercurrents - I figured out the way they do things. I feel sorry for the new moms who are just now learning how it all works. I almost can't wait for the possible drama next week!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Moms
I spent a very nice day with my mom and with Abbie.
Paul and Abbie made breakfast for me this morning, got me flowers, and a surprise gift.
Later, we loaded up the car to go to my mom's house. It was Paul's idea to go to my mom's today and fix her lunch.
{Btw, Paul did try to call his mom and got voicemail. Maybe she had to work}
I don't think my mom liked anything I made, but that is okay. I don't cook much anymore, and even though I love her, I had no plans to cook an elaborate meal. And my mom is sort of a food snob - not in a cranky, mean way - she just mostly likes her own cooking. And ever since she had a brain aneurysm, her sense of taste is off (and she can't smell anymore either).
As soon as we got there, I started making a butterscotch pie. During the process, I set off the smoke alarm. Even though I didn't let the filling cook long enough to get thick enough, the pie turned out great, and it was the one thing she liked. You had to eat the pie with a spoon, but it was yummy!
While I worked on the pie, Paul put together a salad and grated all the cheese for fondue. She didn't like the fondue either. It had a bottle of beer in it, and I think that funked it up too much for her. I did mean to say "funk" because that is how I would describe the added flavor (Paul and I like it).
We also made chili pie - corn chips, chili, and cheese. Chili was from a can - regular not hot. But she thought it was spicy so she didn't eat much.
She also wondered what kind of lettuce was in the salad. It was from a bag, and I couldn't remember. She picked at it. If it had been regular iceberg and had had tomatoes in it, she probably would have been okay with it. She did like the cucumbers Paul put in it.
Normally, I like people to like my cooking, but her lack of interest in my mediocre cooking didn't hurt my feelings. I know how she is. My stepdad, on the other hand, had seconds of everything.
Here's more info about my mom's weird food snobbery. When she travels, she starves because she doesn't like other people's cooking. She traveled extensively up the east coast and didn't like any of the food. Not even the amish cooking. She's even been to Paula Deen's restaurant and wasn't impressed. She went to some fancy restaurant, and the waitress noticed she was picking at her food, and she asked my mom if something was wrong. My mom said she had never had green beans the way they cooked them (I think they were long, skinny, green beans that had been lightly sauted). The waitress was shocked and said the restaurant was known for their green beans. She asked my mom how she cooked hers, and my mom told her. She cooks her green beans a LONG time with bacon grease and a hunk of bacon or ham and plenty of salt and pepper. One morning, they stopped in a Hardee's (somewhere up north), and my mom was excited (they had been traveling for weeks and she was beginning to starve from lack of homecooking). She stepped up to the counter and ordered biscuits and gravy (what she orders from Hardees at home). The employee informed her that they didn't have biscuits and gravy. My mom asked if they were out, and the lady said, "no, people don't eat that around here, but we have porridge." Boy, was she shocked and disappointed.
Growing up, the only drinks we had at our house was water (a given), whole milk (what she still buys), and tea (of course, it is sweet, anything else is sacriligious/dishwater). Anytime my mom has been in the hospital for surgery (and she's had several), she asks for tea as soon as she comes out of recovery. Not just any tea will do, it has to be her own tea, and of course, the nurses only want her to have water so soon out of surgery. We have to sneak it in (you can't ignore her request). When she travels, especially up north, you can't get sweet tea. And even if you could get sweet tea, she doesn't like anyone elses. She tolerates mine (I make it just like she does). Now when she travels, she makes her own tea on the road. And to get the authenitic taste that she is used to, she brings her own sugar and her own tap water from home. It's her way or nothing!
And in other news, this weekend was the annual Iris Show in Greeneville (goes along with their Iris Festival). My mom won BEST IN SHOW for her Iris named Supreme Sultan. This is the first "named" Iris that she ever owned, and I bought it for her several years ago (I had forgotten that, but she reminded me). She now owns numerous named Irises, and her garden is phenomenal! I'm so proud of her!
Abbie and I had a great day together too. She got me a "singing" card - she loves to pick those out. She helped me and Paul cook lunch. Then she played outside with my mom's dog. She and I borrowed my mom's scooter and rode it around the block. She is going to sleep with me tonight - as a special Mother's Day treat for her.
Paul and Abbie made breakfast for me this morning, got me flowers, and a surprise gift.
Later, we loaded up the car to go to my mom's house. It was Paul's idea to go to my mom's today and fix her lunch.
{Btw, Paul did try to call his mom and got voicemail. Maybe she had to work}
I don't think my mom liked anything I made, but that is okay. I don't cook much anymore, and even though I love her, I had no plans to cook an elaborate meal. And my mom is sort of a food snob - not in a cranky, mean way - she just mostly likes her own cooking. And ever since she had a brain aneurysm, her sense of taste is off (and she can't smell anymore either).
As soon as we got there, I started making a butterscotch pie. During the process, I set off the smoke alarm. Even though I didn't let the filling cook long enough to get thick enough, the pie turned out great, and it was the one thing she liked. You had to eat the pie with a spoon, but it was yummy!
While I worked on the pie, Paul put together a salad and grated all the cheese for fondue. She didn't like the fondue either. It had a bottle of beer in it, and I think that funked it up too much for her. I did mean to say "funk" because that is how I would describe the added flavor (Paul and I like it).
We also made chili pie - corn chips, chili, and cheese. Chili was from a can - regular not hot. But she thought it was spicy so she didn't eat much.
She also wondered what kind of lettuce was in the salad. It was from a bag, and I couldn't remember. She picked at it. If it had been regular iceberg and had had tomatoes in it, she probably would have been okay with it. She did like the cucumbers Paul put in it.
Normally, I like people to like my cooking, but her lack of interest in my mediocre cooking didn't hurt my feelings. I know how she is. My stepdad, on the other hand, had seconds of everything.
Here's more info about my mom's weird food snobbery. When she travels, she starves because she doesn't like other people's cooking. She traveled extensively up the east coast and didn't like any of the food. Not even the amish cooking. She's even been to Paula Deen's restaurant and wasn't impressed. She went to some fancy restaurant, and the waitress noticed she was picking at her food, and she asked my mom if something was wrong. My mom said she had never had green beans the way they cooked them (I think they were long, skinny, green beans that had been lightly sauted). The waitress was shocked and said the restaurant was known for their green beans. She asked my mom how she cooked hers, and my mom told her. She cooks her green beans a LONG time with bacon grease and a hunk of bacon or ham and plenty of salt and pepper. One morning, they stopped in a Hardee's (somewhere up north), and my mom was excited (they had been traveling for weeks and she was beginning to starve from lack of homecooking). She stepped up to the counter and ordered biscuits and gravy (what she orders from Hardees at home). The employee informed her that they didn't have biscuits and gravy. My mom asked if they were out, and the lady said, "no, people don't eat that around here, but we have porridge." Boy, was she shocked and disappointed.
Growing up, the only drinks we had at our house was water (a given), whole milk (what she still buys), and tea (of course, it is sweet, anything else is sacriligious/dishwater). Anytime my mom has been in the hospital for surgery (and she's had several), she asks for tea as soon as she comes out of recovery. Not just any tea will do, it has to be her own tea, and of course, the nurses only want her to have water so soon out of surgery. We have to sneak it in (you can't ignore her request). When she travels, especially up north, you can't get sweet tea. And even if you could get sweet tea, she doesn't like anyone elses. She tolerates mine (I make it just like she does). Now when she travels, she makes her own tea on the road. And to get the authenitic taste that she is used to, she brings her own sugar and her own tap water from home. It's her way or nothing!
And in other news, this weekend was the annual Iris Show in Greeneville (goes along with their Iris Festival). My mom won BEST IN SHOW for her Iris named Supreme Sultan. This is the first "named" Iris that she ever owned, and I bought it for her several years ago (I had forgotten that, but she reminded me). She now owns numerous named Irises, and her garden is phenomenal! I'm so proud of her!
Abbie and I had a great day together too. She got me a "singing" card - she loves to pick those out. She helped me and Paul cook lunch. Then she played outside with my mom's dog. She and I borrowed my mom's scooter and rode it around the block. She is going to sleep with me tonight - as a special Mother's Day treat for her.
Bad Word
Some men are just rat bastards (not any of mine).
And no matter how hard you try, you just can't save some people from them. :(
And no matter how hard you try, you just can't save some people from them. :(
Friday, May 8, 2009
Vivid Dream
Last night (or early this morning), I had a vivid dream. I'd love for someone to psychoanalyze it:
I dreamed that me and Angelina Jolie were BFFs. She was showing me her new tattoo on her ankle - she hadn't even shown it to Brad yet. Then she described for me a tattoo that Brad had on his back.
Then we took a drive, I was driving, she was shotgun. We were on a dark, country road, and she asked me to pull over so she could check her mailbox. There were large fruit bats perched in trees and on fences along the road (it wasn't scary though). I pulled over on the left side of the road, up close to the mailbox. But the mailbox was deep so I had to lean out of the car to get to all the mail. While I was getting the mail, Angelina had to get out of the car for some reason. Up ahead, I saw a car coming our way (deserted, dark, country road - remember?). I was pushing all the button on the steering wheel, trying to find the hazard lights so the other car wouldn't run into me because I was parked on the wrong side of the road. Angelina was no where in sight. I was calling, "Angelinaaaa....." over and over and then I woke up.
Weird!
I dreamed that me and Angelina Jolie were BFFs. She was showing me her new tattoo on her ankle - she hadn't even shown it to Brad yet. Then she described for me a tattoo that Brad had on his back.
Then we took a drive, I was driving, she was shotgun. We were on a dark, country road, and she asked me to pull over so she could check her mailbox. There were large fruit bats perched in trees and on fences along the road (it wasn't scary though). I pulled over on the left side of the road, up close to the mailbox. But the mailbox was deep so I had to lean out of the car to get to all the mail. While I was getting the mail, Angelina had to get out of the car for some reason. Up ahead, I saw a car coming our way (deserted, dark, country road - remember?). I was pushing all the button on the steering wheel, trying to find the hazard lights so the other car wouldn't run into me because I was parked on the wrong side of the road. Angelina was no where in sight. I was calling, "Angelinaaaa....." over and over and then I woke up.
Weird!
Things I Miss
Portions of this post are dedicated to my sister-in-law Theresa. *
I miss (in no particular order):
*Bacon, specifically Oscar Mayer center cut crispy bacon
Ham and Cheese sandwiches from Pals
Club Sandwiches (cause they have ham and bacon on them)
Pork Tenderloin
Pulled Pork Barbeque
Watson
Molly
Ellie
Loved ones who have passed away
Size 6 clothes
The beach
My motorcycle
A tan
Baklava, my sister rarely makes this and hers is the best
The desire to shop
Irises, I don't have any planted, but my mom has several. When we move, I'll plant some
Battlestar Galactica
October Road
Past coworkers who have moved away
Local scrapbook store
A special green ice cream from my childhood that they don't make anymore
Playing board games and card games
and..................bacon!
I miss (in no particular order):
*Bacon, specifically Oscar Mayer center cut crispy bacon
Ham and Cheese sandwiches from Pals
Club Sandwiches (cause they have ham and bacon on them)
Pork Tenderloin
Pulled Pork Barbeque
Watson
Molly
Ellie
Loved ones who have passed away
Size 6 clothes
The beach
My motorcycle
A tan
Baklava, my sister rarely makes this and hers is the best
The desire to shop
Irises, I don't have any planted, but my mom has several. When we move, I'll plant some
Battlestar Galactica
October Road
Past coworkers who have moved away
Local scrapbook store
A special green ice cream from my childhood that they don't make anymore
Playing board games and card games
and..................bacon!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Can You Be A Little Agoraphobic?
Lately, I've been feeling a little agoraphobic. People who know me would say that can't be true because I leave the house everyday - sometimes 3 times a day.
Yet, I feel like I don't go anywhere anymore - on purpose. I do take Abbie to school, and I do pick her up from school, and I take her to ballet. And I go to church. And I love to go out to eat and to the bookstore. Or for ice cream.
So if all that is true, how could I feel agoraphobic? Since I don't panic or get anxious about going out then I can't truely be agoraphobic. But I do seem to be more and more reclusive.
I put off going to the grocery store or Target as long as possible. I prefer to do my school run and then come straight home. And I don't go back out after I get home. The thought of running 2-3 errands does not appeal to me.
The other day, I went to the Mall to return something (I didn't buy it, Paul did - further proof that I haven't been shopping) then I stopped in Gymboree (which was conveniently close to the store where I made the return). Our Mall is undergoing remodeling and new stores are being added. In the distance, I saw a new store open, and I vaguely wondered what it was and that I'd like to go there - but I didn't. I thought about going downstairs to a department store, but I talked myself out of it. I decided to leave without really shopping - I do like to shop.
I've been wanting to go to the bookstore for about a week and still haven't gone. That fact alone shows just how acute my reclusiveness is.
Just talking out loud here in order to give myself a little therapy - maybe a little insight into why I never want to go anywhere.
The only idea I can come up with is that I am really sick of the drive to and from town. Based on some people's commute, I shouldn't complain. But I just want to be there! I want to get in the car, pass maybe 2 stop lights, make a few turns and BE THERE ALREADY.
And last idea is that our home has become an oasis. We're getting plenty of rain, our lawn is very green and lush, so many flowers are blooming, the house is clean (mostly due to the possibility of needing to show it at any moment). Hey, maybe I don't want to shop because I've done so much decluttering......
Well, I have planned some shopping rehab the middle of the month. I'm taking my hot, little church paycheck and going shopping in Knoxville. I'm even spending the night. If I find a cure, I'll let you know.
Until then, I'll be here, at home.
Yet, I feel like I don't go anywhere anymore - on purpose. I do take Abbie to school, and I do pick her up from school, and I take her to ballet. And I go to church. And I love to go out to eat and to the bookstore. Or for ice cream.
So if all that is true, how could I feel agoraphobic? Since I don't panic or get anxious about going out then I can't truely be agoraphobic. But I do seem to be more and more reclusive.
I put off going to the grocery store or Target as long as possible. I prefer to do my school run and then come straight home. And I don't go back out after I get home. The thought of running 2-3 errands does not appeal to me.
The other day, I went to the Mall to return something (I didn't buy it, Paul did - further proof that I haven't been shopping) then I stopped in Gymboree (which was conveniently close to the store where I made the return). Our Mall is undergoing remodeling and new stores are being added. In the distance, I saw a new store open, and I vaguely wondered what it was and that I'd like to go there - but I didn't. I thought about going downstairs to a department store, but I talked myself out of it. I decided to leave without really shopping - I do like to shop.
I've been wanting to go to the bookstore for about a week and still haven't gone. That fact alone shows just how acute my reclusiveness is.
Just talking out loud here in order to give myself a little therapy - maybe a little insight into why I never want to go anywhere.
The only idea I can come up with is that I am really sick of the drive to and from town. Based on some people's commute, I shouldn't complain. But I just want to be there! I want to get in the car, pass maybe 2 stop lights, make a few turns and BE THERE ALREADY.
And last idea is that our home has become an oasis. We're getting plenty of rain, our lawn is very green and lush, so many flowers are blooming, the house is clean (mostly due to the possibility of needing to show it at any moment). Hey, maybe I don't want to shop because I've done so much decluttering......
Well, I have planned some shopping rehab the middle of the month. I'm taking my hot, little church paycheck and going shopping in Knoxville. I'm even spending the night. If I find a cure, I'll let you know.
Until then, I'll be here, at home.
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