I've been so bad about blogging lately. I am also bad about keeping my status updated on Facebook. Most of the time, I don't think I have anything blog-worthy or status-worthy to say.
For those few who really care what I've been doing or thinking, here is a list:
- Baby is in my lap right now while I try to type, and she's been there for about an hour.
- I got to tour my old house yesterday and see what the new owners have done to it - it looks awesome! Most of the changes are exactly what Paul and I would have done if we had had the guts to renovate.
- The new owners also tore out all of the flowerbeds - every last bush, tree, and plant is GONE! Even the weeping cherry!!! Even the hens and chickens!!!! I've been pretty sad about that.
-I've been sorting through my scrapbook stuff. Since we moved, it has been boxed up until now.
-Just ordered a bunch of pictures to be printed to get ready to scrapbook. Anxious to see how the pictures develop from the new camera I have.
-People with tongue rings and who play with the tongue ring (as in stick it in and out) really gross me out.
-I get a sick satisfaction from shopping for school supplies. Well, I don't really think it's sick, but I wonder if it's abnormal. Shopping for school clothes gives me a real boost too even though the clothes are not for me.
-My all time favorite pencil (I've probably used these since 1st grade) is no longer made in the USA. For some reason that is a big deal to me. I have since ordered all the original pencils I can find online, and I ordered some of the new ones too b/c I still refuse to write with any other pencil.
-I'm making beef brisket for supper. Never made it before.
-Ran errands all day and that wears me out. I'd like to go back to bed.
-Luckily, one day after we moved, I was back at the old house for some reason, and I swiped a "hen or chicken." It is growing right now in my new flower bed and it has made "babies." So all is not lost.
- Baby is still on my lap - nestled right up on my chest, all 20 pounds of her. We're getting along like peanut butter and jelly.
Showing posts with label day to day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day to day. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Catching Up
Paul and Angel relaxing while Abbie and I decorate the tree. Paul helped too. He likes decorating for Christmas.
Abbie loves to decorate! Long after Paul and I quit, she keeps going.
Abbie had a tea party and cookie swap and invited her friends from her class.
Enjoying their tea and cookies.
Look how small Abbie is compared to her classmates.
Baby, Little Man, and Angel. It's all love and snuggles here.
My niece, Shanna, and our new batch of foster kittens.Monday, November 9, 2009
The Weekend
To answer my one and only blog reader's questions: yes, I touched the fish- but they were SUPER slippery so I didn't touch them too much. Paul put his foot on them to hold them down while he got the hook out then we used the net to get the fish in the bucket. The trout farm will clean the fish for you - and they pack them on ice for you too -- all included in the price. You pay per pound, and you can't throw any fish back. You have to keep all you catch. This animal lover [me] didn't particularly care for how they cleaned the fish. The guy sliced them and gutted them before cutting off their head. I thought that was uncalled for - heartless!
How many cats I feed - 3 strays (that I know of - I have a sneaky feeling that something else is eating from my cat feeder (racoon/opposum?). I feed my 4 indoor cats plus 1 outdoor cat. And I feed 1 foster mother cat (not feeding her babies yet). That's 9 cats I think. When the babies start eating solid food, the number will be 15. Fostering cats isn't cheap - I spend a lot on food and litter, but it's very rewarding. Leslie, you all should come over and see the kittens. There eyes are open, and they are much more alert now. But still tiny and wobbly.
This weekend, we didn't do much as usual. We're sort of recluses in some ways. As much as I don't want Abbie to be bored or lonely, I much prefer to have just the 3 of us in the house. I think it's mostly b/c that is what I'm used to. If we lived in a neighborhood crawling with kids, I'm sure I'd be used to have lots of kids around. Abbie had a friend sleep over this weekend, and it was like Christmas for her. I think her friend got up at 5 am though. So I had to get up too. And when you have company, you have to serve meals on time, and you have to constantly make sure they're having fun and ask if they want anything to drink or eat or do something else. Maybe I just put too much pressure on myself, but it stresses me a little. I need to learn to get used to it though. I'm sure Abbie is entering the phase of wanting to have more sleepovers.
I am currently wearing my new scarf from Target. It is soft and purple and white. It does not go with my outfit today, but it's soft, and I'm wearing it.
[Before I tell you this next story, I thought I'd point out that I change socks and undergarments and clothes everyday - the only thing I tend to wear more than once is jeans. Please bury me in my Lucky jeans. I lurve them! And my new socks that I'm about to tell you about.] I bought some new wool socks. They are awesome!! I've worn one pair for 3 days. Why? Because they are soft and warm. Is that too much information? When I told Paul this little tidbit, he was totally grossed out. I told him my feet didn't stink, and it was no big deal. He continued to make a big deal out of it. So I told him I'd bet him $5 that my socks didn't have the least odor. He wasn't going to take the bet, but I MADE him and told him that all 3 of us would smell them and Abbie could be the tie breaker if necessary. Abbie went and got the socks. They were sniffed by all. The skeptic lost, and I won the bet! I washed those socks today. I am currently wearing my favorite brown pair of socks that are not wool, and my toes are cold. Don't bury me in the brown socks.
I *think* we've made a house decision. Not necessarily which one we will buy, but we've rethought our goals - which have been ALL OVER the place (the goals and the houses). I think we're going to buy a house in town/city limits - our orginal goal. And we're going to buy property in the county and start building after Abbie starts high school. That is our tentative plan. Tentative being the key word.
How many cats I feed - 3 strays (that I know of - I have a sneaky feeling that something else is eating from my cat feeder (racoon/opposum?). I feed my 4 indoor cats plus 1 outdoor cat. And I feed 1 foster mother cat (not feeding her babies yet). That's 9 cats I think. When the babies start eating solid food, the number will be 15. Fostering cats isn't cheap - I spend a lot on food and litter, but it's very rewarding. Leslie, you all should come over and see the kittens. There eyes are open, and they are much more alert now. But still tiny and wobbly.
This weekend, we didn't do much as usual. We're sort of recluses in some ways. As much as I don't want Abbie to be bored or lonely, I much prefer to have just the 3 of us in the house. I think it's mostly b/c that is what I'm used to. If we lived in a neighborhood crawling with kids, I'm sure I'd be used to have lots of kids around. Abbie had a friend sleep over this weekend, and it was like Christmas for her. I think her friend got up at 5 am though. So I had to get up too. And when you have company, you have to serve meals on time, and you have to constantly make sure they're having fun and ask if they want anything to drink or eat or do something else. Maybe I just put too much pressure on myself, but it stresses me a little. I need to learn to get used to it though. I'm sure Abbie is entering the phase of wanting to have more sleepovers.
I am currently wearing my new scarf from Target. It is soft and purple and white. It does not go with my outfit today, but it's soft, and I'm wearing it.
[Before I tell you this next story, I thought I'd point out that I change socks and undergarments and clothes everyday - the only thing I tend to wear more than once is jeans. Please bury me in my Lucky jeans. I lurve them! And my new socks that I'm about to tell you about.] I bought some new wool socks. They are awesome!! I've worn one pair for 3 days. Why? Because they are soft and warm. Is that too much information? When I told Paul this little tidbit, he was totally grossed out. I told him my feet didn't stink, and it was no big deal. He continued to make a big deal out of it. So I told him I'd bet him $5 that my socks didn't have the least odor. He wasn't going to take the bet, but I MADE him and told him that all 3 of us would smell them and Abbie could be the tie breaker if necessary. Abbie went and got the socks. They were sniffed by all. The skeptic lost, and I won the bet! I washed those socks today. I am currently wearing my favorite brown pair of socks that are not wool, and my toes are cold. Don't bury me in the brown socks.
I *think* we've made a house decision. Not necessarily which one we will buy, but we've rethought our goals - which have been ALL OVER the place (the goals and the houses). I think we're going to buy a house in town/city limits - our orginal goal. And we're going to buy property in the county and start building after Abbie starts high school. That is our tentative plan. Tentative being the key word.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
And the Pendulum Swings
Our house has sold, and we have 8 months until we HAVE to move. We could move sooner if we want, but we have to find a house first.
We started out with certain goals in what we wanted in a new house. Months later, our goals have changed a bit.
Today, we drove around for about 2.5 to 3 hours just looking at different areas in the county. We're considering not moving into the city limits. Maybe we'd like a house in the country, maybe a mini farm, not in a neighborhood, maybe we should build???? Who knows! We find areas we like, but what we like isn't for sale. Or the house/land is too expensive. Or the house is too old, and we wouldn't want to do all the renovations needed. Or it is too far from town.
Abbie hates the whole process. She just wants to pick up our house and move it somewhere. Or build the exact house somewhere else.
While driving around today, Abbie saw a "neighborhood watch" sign and wanted to know what that meant. Paul and I explained it to her. She got very excited and said, "I'd like to spy on our neighbors and see what they are doing." I don't think she really meant that she wanted to watch the neighbors, but I think she meant she wanted to watch the neighbors' houses for suspicious activity. She does have her own set of binoculars so we'll see if she tries them out...
And in other news, tonight I watched a marathon of "Say Yes to the Dress." I never watch this show. I just turned it on to have something in the background. Eventually Paul said, "You know, I really liked your wedding dress. Every time I see a picture of you in that dress, I get butterflies." Awwww, how sweet! That was the perfect thing to say!
We started out with certain goals in what we wanted in a new house. Months later, our goals have changed a bit.
Today, we drove around for about 2.5 to 3 hours just looking at different areas in the county. We're considering not moving into the city limits. Maybe we'd like a house in the country, maybe a mini farm, not in a neighborhood, maybe we should build???? Who knows! We find areas we like, but what we like isn't for sale. Or the house/land is too expensive. Or the house is too old, and we wouldn't want to do all the renovations needed. Or it is too far from town.
Abbie hates the whole process. She just wants to pick up our house and move it somewhere. Or build the exact house somewhere else.
While driving around today, Abbie saw a "neighborhood watch" sign and wanted to know what that meant. Paul and I explained it to her. She got very excited and said, "I'd like to spy on our neighbors and see what they are doing." I don't think she really meant that she wanted to watch the neighbors, but I think she meant she wanted to watch the neighbors' houses for suspicious activity. She does have her own set of binoculars so we'll see if she tries them out...
And in other news, tonight I watched a marathon of "Say Yes to the Dress." I never watch this show. I just turned it on to have something in the background. Eventually Paul said, "You know, I really liked your wedding dress. Every time I see a picture of you in that dress, I get butterflies." Awwww, how sweet! That was the perfect thing to say!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Cussing and Smiling
*Warning - there is NO cussing in this post.*
I am NOT a morning person. Not, not, not!!!
A perfect day for me is to sleep until I wake up (usually 9 - 9:30 am) assuming I go to bed at 11 pm or midnight. I like to wake up on my own - no alarm clock, no one telling me they are hungry, no phone ringing, etc. Even though that doesn't happen a lot, that is my preference, and I don't care who knows it.
The early morning drive to school is not my favorite duty. Many mornings, when the alarm goes off, I think mean thoughts (cuss words or just a general pissed off feeling). Lately, though, I have tried to break myself of the cussing (even if it's quietly in my head), but I still think "that can't be the alarm" every time the alarm goes off.
Some mornings, I'm on the road - about 7 minutes away from the school, and I suddenly realize that I am 1) awake, 2) in the car, driving, and 3) in disbelief that I am awake, out of bed, and in the car driving. Think about that for a minute.
Last week, as we pulled out of the driveway, I remarked "pink sky in morning." And Abbie finished the phrase with "sailors warning." That made me smile. I told her how my dad always recited that phrase to me every time he saw a pink sky.
My dad was my school driver, and he and I had a good time together. Everytime there was fog, he would say, "It's froggy. Someone must have let a frog out." He taught me several little catchy phrases. I continue the tradition with Abbie.
Even though I hate being out of bed so early on school mornings, I enjoy the scenery and conversations with Abbie. I smile when I think of my early school mornings with my dad.
I am NOT a morning person. Not, not, not!!!
A perfect day for me is to sleep until I wake up (usually 9 - 9:30 am) assuming I go to bed at 11 pm or midnight. I like to wake up on my own - no alarm clock, no one telling me they are hungry, no phone ringing, etc. Even though that doesn't happen a lot, that is my preference, and I don't care who knows it.
The early morning drive to school is not my favorite duty. Many mornings, when the alarm goes off, I think mean thoughts (cuss words or just a general pissed off feeling). Lately, though, I have tried to break myself of the cussing (even if it's quietly in my head), but I still think "that can't be the alarm" every time the alarm goes off.
Some mornings, I'm on the road - about 7 minutes away from the school, and I suddenly realize that I am 1) awake, 2) in the car, driving, and 3) in disbelief that I am awake, out of bed, and in the car driving. Think about that for a minute.
Last week, as we pulled out of the driveway, I remarked "pink sky in morning." And Abbie finished the phrase with "sailors warning." That made me smile. I told her how my dad always recited that phrase to me every time he saw a pink sky.
My dad was my school driver, and he and I had a good time together. Everytime there was fog, he would say, "It's froggy. Someone must have let a frog out." He taught me several little catchy phrases. I continue the tradition with Abbie.
Even though I hate being out of bed so early on school mornings, I enjoy the scenery and conversations with Abbie. I smile when I think of my early school mornings with my dad.
In the Swing of Things
Trying to get back into the swing of blogging. Here is a snapshot of our life right now:
- Abbie is having a great year in 4th grade; better than last year; we like her teacher; she is having math tutoring twice a week and that is working out very well for the both of us
- Abbie is reading the Warriors series (she really loves these books). I recently bought some picture books, and Paul wondered why I would buy books meant for much younger kids. 1) I miss picture books, 2) I liked the art work on them, and 3) I miss getting to read out loud to him and Abbie. So they had to let me read both books to them.
- The 3 of us are proud new bike owners. But there is a complication.
- Paul hurt his back (doctors just think it is a muscle), and that has put a damper on our biking ambitions. Even though his back has gotten much better, he is still having to ice it every day. Sometimes, prolonged activity (such as driving or spending 2 hours in the corn maze), makes his back act up again.
- We saw Zombieland and really enjoyed it. Paul's back problem is really going to make him a liability if we ever get attacked by zombies.
- My dad has a new batch of chicks. Abbie really enjoys visiting and playing with them and naming them (Mango, Pineapple, and Parrot are the names I remember from the recent batch). She likes putting them on her shoulders and one in each pocket (the deep, baggy kind), but she doesn't like chick poop in her hair.
- We haven't found a house to buy yet. There is one we really like...But we're also toying with the idea of staying in the country and having a house that is not in a neighborhood. Paul changes his mind a lot.
- I still have one foster kitten that I need to find a home for. At times, I have hated all the extra litter duties, but I have really enjoyed the experience so much. I can't wait to do it again!
- Paul is off tomorrow. I wonder how we will spend the day?
- We may go to Asheville next weekend (the Fall colors are wonderful) or we may go to the Creeper Trail if Paul thinks his back can handle it.
- I think I know what design I'll use for this year's Christmas cards.
- There is not a lot on my calendar this week, and I love that!
Friday, September 4, 2009
On Again - Off Again
I have an "on again - off again" relationship with this blog. Sometimes I write a lot; sometimes I don't. When I don't write it is usually because a) I can't think of anything, b) I don't have time, or c) I can't write about what I want to write about.
I know exactly what it is like to "be in the closet." It is claustrophobic in here!
I have developed an interest in politics and a keen interest in the health care debate. While I agree that the availability and affordability of health care is a matter that concerns everyone, this particular subject directly affects Paul's career. And after running his office for 3 years, I've developed an opinion about this topic. Since I think about the current political climate and the current health care debate quite a bit, that is the topic that I'd most like to blog about.
But I don't.
Although it's my blog and I can write about picking my nose if I want to, for now, I'm just going to "stay in the closet."
I fell "off" the no-pork wagon recently. I ordered an egg & cheese biscuit from McDonalds, and I didn't discover that it was a sausage & cheese biscuit until I had left. I didn't have time to go back so I just ate it. YUM!!!!
I promised I wouldn't be crazy about not eating pork.... Paul confirms that I haven't been crazy. But I am back "on" the no-pork wagon and still happy about it.
I know exactly what it is like to "be in the closet." It is claustrophobic in here!
I have developed an interest in politics and a keen interest in the health care debate. While I agree that the availability and affordability of health care is a matter that concerns everyone, this particular subject directly affects Paul's career. And after running his office for 3 years, I've developed an opinion about this topic. Since I think about the current political climate and the current health care debate quite a bit, that is the topic that I'd most like to blog about.
But I don't.
Although it's my blog and I can write about picking my nose if I want to, for now, I'm just going to "stay in the closet."
I fell "off" the no-pork wagon recently. I ordered an egg & cheese biscuit from McDonalds, and I didn't discover that it was a sausage & cheese biscuit until I had left. I didn't have time to go back so I just ate it. YUM!!!!
I promised I wouldn't be crazy about not eating pork.... Paul confirms that I haven't been crazy. But I am back "on" the no-pork wagon and still happy about it.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Chores
I asked Abbie to help me fold laundry. I dumped the items on the couch, and she loved the fresh-from-the-dryer-warmth. She asked me to take the picture so that "you" could see if you can find Abbie (like Where's Waldo).
August Jones, Indiana Jones, and Alaska Jones (and the ears of Friday Jones). Eagerly waiting for me and Abbie to come play.
A bumblebee. I'm a bumblebee lover!Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Summer & Kitten Updates
Where to begin - we sold the house, we've been swimming a lot, we've painted some pottery, we're still going to the library regularly. Yesterday, we stayed home most of the day. Today, we ran errands all day - made 12 stops and got a lot done.
Tomorrow, we are going to Gatlinburg to hike to Rainbow Falls. It is 5.6 miles roundtrip, and the hike is considered "strenuous." Not sure how well I will do.....
We've sold the house, and I've let the place go to the dogs. I was so tired of cleaning it and keeping it spic and span. But now I'm disgusted with my slobbishness so I tried to tidy it up tonight. But I'm glad I can actually leave my curling iron on the counter in the bathroom and put a magnet on the refrigerator again. It's not easy to live in a house that looks like something out of a magazine. Bleck!
The kittens are growing and getting cuter all the time. I've taken more pictures and will post more soon. I plan to start another blog - a public one - to discuss the fostering experience, and I hope it will help get them adopted. I can't come up with a catchy name for the blog, and I must have a catchy name!
You can definitely tell which kitten is getting the most milk (January) and which kitten is the runt (no name yet).
Miss Dora is so sweet. I think she's getting bored with kitten care 24/7 - I may need to put some toys in there soon. The kittens still sleep a lot, but now they will sleep in a heap together and not necessarily right up against their mom. When Miss Dora hears me coming, she hops out of the box for two reasons - a can of food and to get petted. I think she would like the same amount of attention that the kittens are getting.
Tomorrow, we are going to Gatlinburg to hike to Rainbow Falls. It is 5.6 miles roundtrip, and the hike is considered "strenuous." Not sure how well I will do.....
We've sold the house, and I've let the place go to the dogs. I was so tired of cleaning it and keeping it spic and span. But now I'm disgusted with my slobbishness so I tried to tidy it up tonight. But I'm glad I can actually leave my curling iron on the counter in the bathroom and put a magnet on the refrigerator again. It's not easy to live in a house that looks like something out of a magazine. Bleck!
The kittens are growing and getting cuter all the time. I've taken more pictures and will post more soon. I plan to start another blog - a public one - to discuss the fostering experience, and I hope it will help get them adopted. I can't come up with a catchy name for the blog, and I must have a catchy name!
You can definitely tell which kitten is getting the most milk (January) and which kitten is the runt (no name yet).
Miss Dora is so sweet. I think she's getting bored with kitten care 24/7 - I may need to put some toys in there soon. The kittens still sleep a lot, but now they will sleep in a heap together and not necessarily right up against their mom. When Miss Dora hears me coming, she hops out of the box for two reasons - a can of food and to get petted. I think she would like the same amount of attention that the kittens are getting.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
4 days old
The kittens are 4 days old today.
They have fleas. I knew the mom had them because the shelter told me, and I knew that the fleas would spread to the kittens. I just hate to see fleas on such a small animal. They aren't infested with fleas - yet, but we've got to get on this problem quick! You can't use many flea meds on nursing cats, but the vet's office did suggest a spray today that will be safe for the mother and the kittens. I will have to spray a towel and wrap it around the mom and try to hold her for 5- 10 minutes; this should poison the fleas. The problem is that she may not let me hold her for that long. The shelter also gave me a syringe of worm medicine for her. They told me she wouldn't like it. I dreaded giving it to her because I didn't want her to be scared of me. But she was a real trooper. To my surprise, she lapped it right up, even the little bit I spilled on her blanket. Maybe she'll do okay with the flea removal process too. I think she's feeling pretty grateful to me because I am the bearer of the canned food.
I will have to spray a wash cloth and wrap it around each kitten. I plan to do this while the mom is eating a can of food, but I'm afraid the kittens will get cold and mew piteously which will stress Miss Dora.
In honor of The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee (I have fixed the link to that website on my blog), I have decided that Miss Dora and her kittens will have a last name too.
Their last name will be Jones. And in honor of my favorite new TV show (Madmen), I will probably name a kitten January Jones. She is not my favorite actress (I don't know much about her), but every time I see her name in the credits on the show, I always like how that name sounds. Cool! And she is also in my favorite movie, Love Actually.
I decided that Abbie will name two kittens, I will name two, and Paul will name one. We just need to wait and find out which are males and females. Paul has already started terrorizing me with his ideas for a name..............
Abbie and I sit with Miss Dora's family several times a day. We like to watch them root for a boob. Since their eyes are not open, they blindly search. Supposedly, they can feel the nipples with their nose and mouth, but sometimes, they completely pass up a boob that is free and clear. Sometimes, after we watch a kitten take 5 minutes to find and get settled on a nipple, Miss Dora will shift a little, and the kitten will lose his hold. Or another kitten will root him off and steal his spot.
When it is time to go, Abbie has to give each kitten one last pat before she will leave.
They have fleas. I knew the mom had them because the shelter told me, and I knew that the fleas would spread to the kittens. I just hate to see fleas on such a small animal. They aren't infested with fleas - yet, but we've got to get on this problem quick! You can't use many flea meds on nursing cats, but the vet's office did suggest a spray today that will be safe for the mother and the kittens. I will have to spray a towel and wrap it around the mom and try to hold her for 5- 10 minutes; this should poison the fleas. The problem is that she may not let me hold her for that long. The shelter also gave me a syringe of worm medicine for her. They told me she wouldn't like it. I dreaded giving it to her because I didn't want her to be scared of me. But she was a real trooper. To my surprise, she lapped it right up, even the little bit I spilled on her blanket. Maybe she'll do okay with the flea removal process too. I think she's feeling pretty grateful to me because I am the bearer of the canned food.
I will have to spray a wash cloth and wrap it around each kitten. I plan to do this while the mom is eating a can of food, but I'm afraid the kittens will get cold and mew piteously which will stress Miss Dora.
In honor of The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee (I have fixed the link to that website on my blog), I have decided that Miss Dora and her kittens will have a last name too.
Their last name will be Jones. And in honor of my favorite new TV show (Madmen), I will probably name a kitten January Jones. She is not my favorite actress (I don't know much about her), but every time I see her name in the credits on the show, I always like how that name sounds. Cool! And she is also in my favorite movie, Love Actually.
I decided that Abbie will name two kittens, I will name two, and Paul will name one. We just need to wait and find out which are males and females. Paul has already started terrorizing me with his ideas for a name..............
Abbie and I sit with Miss Dora's family several times a day. We like to watch them root for a boob. Since their eyes are not open, they blindly search. Supposedly, they can feel the nipples with their nose and mouth, but sometimes, they completely pass up a boob that is free and clear. Sometimes, after we watch a kitten take 5 minutes to find and get settled on a nipple, Miss Dora will shift a little, and the kitten will lose his hold. Or another kitten will root him off and steal his spot.
When it is time to go, Abbie has to give each kitten one last pat before she will leave.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
6-18-09
Up late again - past 2 am. Oy!
Abbie and I enjoyed oatmeal and toast for breakfast. Then we prepared for another trip to the pool.
Before going to the pool, we had to research a bug that terrorized Abbie on Tuesday. As we left ballet on Tuesday afternoon, Abbie told me she heard a buzzing sound. In a high pitched squeal that damaged my hearing, she spotted the flying bug. I had to pull over and get in the back seat to deal with it. I thought it flew out of the car so we got back on the road. As I got back into traffic, the squeal happened again along with panic and hysteria (Abbie thought it was a bee). I told her I couldn't pull over again (heavy traffic) so I rolled her window down. When I got to a red light, I looked back and saw the bug crawling up the crotch of her leotard. A full scale flipping out was about to ensue (her not me). I told her it was on her and told her to hold still because 1. I didn't want her to close her legs and possibly get stung down there and 2. I didn't want her to shift her position and possibly cause the bug to crawl inside her leotard (but thank goodness she had on tights). I was watching the red light and looking for something to swat the thing with when she finally said, "It flew out. Ha! Ha! Ha!" Her giggle amazed me. It's funny how a serious situation can turn funny so fast. Please note that I remained calm the whole time.
Abbie has a thing about bees. And shots. Note the similarity? One day, I let her go to the mailbox by herself. When she didn't come back in the time I thought she should, I went looking for her. I found her standing like a statue near the mailbox. When she saw me, she said "Is there a bee on my back?" There wasn't, and there never has been, but I have often found her in a similar position asking the same question. She will literally not move until someone confirms that there is not a bee on her back. She's never been stung there....
Back to the ballet bug - It was not a bee, but it was a flying insect that I've never seen before. It was like a fly but very unusual. She said it had black beady eyes, and I saw stripes on it. It was about the size of a horse fly, but that's not what it was. We found several pictures of fly species on the Internet but never saw anything that completely matched what I saw. Abbie asked me if it could have been an "invasive species from another country." Her words. :)
Despite the forecast of thunderstorms and a muggy, overcast sky, we picked up one of Abbie's friends and went to the pool. We had fun. While there, her friend said, "Do you want to jump off the diving board?" I casually watched Abbie out of the corner of my eye to see what she would say. To my amazement, she said yes. I was so proud. She jumped off the board repeatedly. So, so proud! After 2 hours at the pool, we had to obey our hunger and headed to Sonic. We were safely in the car when the lightning and thunder rolled in.
This evening, Abbie went to Vacation Bible School with another friend while Paul and I went to Evergreen (a garden store), Home Depot, and Mr.K's.
After exploring several aisles, we found what we wanted at Home Depot. We bought one thing for $1.07. Paul had a dollar, and I had zero change. Paul couldn't believe he had to use the debit card for such a small purchase.
We racked up at Mr. K's - a used bookstore. I got one book, and we bought 7 classics for Abbie and a historic book for her. We started The Call of The Wild by Jack London tonight. The 3 of us will read it together - Abbie chose to start with this one. And Paul bought The Caine Mutiny.
I made a loaf of banana bread tonight. I rarely make it - why? it's so easy! I think we'll have it for breakfast.
Today is our 15th anniversary. We already celebrated with our trip, but we exchanged sweet cards. While Abbie was at VBS, we had a nice evening of running errands (listed above), eating leftovers, and discussing politics. It's just nice to have an adult conversation every once in awhile.
Abbie and I enjoyed oatmeal and toast for breakfast. Then we prepared for another trip to the pool.
Before going to the pool, we had to research a bug that terrorized Abbie on Tuesday. As we left ballet on Tuesday afternoon, Abbie told me she heard a buzzing sound. In a high pitched squeal that damaged my hearing, she spotted the flying bug. I had to pull over and get in the back seat to deal with it. I thought it flew out of the car so we got back on the road. As I got back into traffic, the squeal happened again along with panic and hysteria (Abbie thought it was a bee). I told her I couldn't pull over again (heavy traffic) so I rolled her window down. When I got to a red light, I looked back and saw the bug crawling up the crotch of her leotard. A full scale flipping out was about to ensue (her not me). I told her it was on her and told her to hold still because 1. I didn't want her to close her legs and possibly get stung down there and 2. I didn't want her to shift her position and possibly cause the bug to crawl inside her leotard (but thank goodness she had on tights). I was watching the red light and looking for something to swat the thing with when she finally said, "It flew out. Ha! Ha! Ha!" Her giggle amazed me. It's funny how a serious situation can turn funny so fast. Please note that I remained calm the whole time.
Abbie has a thing about bees. And shots. Note the similarity? One day, I let her go to the mailbox by herself. When she didn't come back in the time I thought she should, I went looking for her. I found her standing like a statue near the mailbox. When she saw me, she said "Is there a bee on my back?" There wasn't, and there never has been, but I have often found her in a similar position asking the same question. She will literally not move until someone confirms that there is not a bee on her back. She's never been stung there....
Back to the ballet bug - It was not a bee, but it was a flying insect that I've never seen before. It was like a fly but very unusual. She said it had black beady eyes, and I saw stripes on it. It was about the size of a horse fly, but that's not what it was. We found several pictures of fly species on the Internet but never saw anything that completely matched what I saw. Abbie asked me if it could have been an "invasive species from another country." Her words. :)
Despite the forecast of thunderstorms and a muggy, overcast sky, we picked up one of Abbie's friends and went to the pool. We had fun. While there, her friend said, "Do you want to jump off the diving board?" I casually watched Abbie out of the corner of my eye to see what she would say. To my amazement, she said yes. I was so proud. She jumped off the board repeatedly. So, so proud! After 2 hours at the pool, we had to obey our hunger and headed to Sonic. We were safely in the car when the lightning and thunder rolled in.
This evening, Abbie went to Vacation Bible School with another friend while Paul and I went to Evergreen (a garden store), Home Depot, and Mr.K's.
After exploring several aisles, we found what we wanted at Home Depot. We bought one thing for $1.07. Paul had a dollar, and I had zero change. Paul couldn't believe he had to use the debit card for such a small purchase.
We racked up at Mr. K's - a used bookstore. I got one book, and we bought 7 classics for Abbie and a historic book for her. We started The Call of The Wild by Jack London tonight. The 3 of us will read it together - Abbie chose to start with this one. And Paul bought The Caine Mutiny.
I made a loaf of banana bread tonight. I rarely make it - why? it's so easy! I think we'll have it for breakfast.
Today is our 15th anniversary. We already celebrated with our trip, but we exchanged sweet cards. While Abbie was at VBS, we had a nice evening of running errands (listed above), eating leftovers, and discussing politics. It's just nice to have an adult conversation every once in awhile.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6-17-09
Slept late again today. For some reason, Paul and I have been going to bed at 1:00 am. Not sure how it keeps happening. Then, when in bed, I still can't sleep. Usually, around 2 am, I start to get drowsy. Yesterday, I had no caffeine and took no naps and still went to bed at 1 am.
After breakfast, I cleaned house ALL DAY. Ugh! I did laundry too, and I guess that is why it took so long because normally I can clean it all in 2 hours.
Made a big batch of Kool-Aid today. Later when I blew my nose, it was pink!
We have 3 full baths, but we only use 1. I have banned the use of the other 2 because I don't want to clean them every time we have to show the house. Sometimes, after I vacuum, I say, "keep your carpet walking to a minimum." Hee Hee, I just say it to bug them b/c they'll believe me for a little while.
I made Abbie a grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. That is about the best combo. I think I like it better than pb & j.
When the house was finally clean, Abbie and I went to the library and switched out some books.
Then we met Paul at Yong Asian House for some Thai Pineapple Fried Rice - yum! The house was being shown, otherwise, we would have had leftovers.
To kill more time, Paul wanted to buy ingredients for Caramel Brownies - otherwise known as "Lorrie's awesome recipe for caramel brownies" - otherwise known as "How much more can Paul screw with the recipe for Lorrie's awesome caramel brownies." Here are some candies he and Abbie pondered adding to the recipe: orange slices, laffy taffy, salt water taffy, and other terrible ideas. At one point, he considered making them mint chocolate caramel brownies, and I told him that might be a good combo, but no, that wasn't weird enough! They finally settled on strawberry milkshake whoppers!!!! Can you believe it? Paul says they were terrible. Thank goodness they made me a small section that was "un-messed-around-with." I don't think I'm going to share with them since they won't listen to me. Paul says, "How can we know how awesome these brownies could be if we don't experiment?" Excellent question. I think experimentation is fun and educational. But I said, "What if the brownie recipe already has the perfect combinations? What if they are already the best they can be?" Well, I guess he will need to keep testing his theory in order to reach my conclusion. Paul was going to take half of the brownies to work tomorrow, but they're so terrible, he can't take any now. Hee Hee!
After breakfast, I cleaned house ALL DAY. Ugh! I did laundry too, and I guess that is why it took so long because normally I can clean it all in 2 hours.
Made a big batch of Kool-Aid today. Later when I blew my nose, it was pink!
We have 3 full baths, but we only use 1. I have banned the use of the other 2 because I don't want to clean them every time we have to show the house. Sometimes, after I vacuum, I say, "keep your carpet walking to a minimum." Hee Hee, I just say it to bug them b/c they'll believe me for a little while.
I made Abbie a grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. That is about the best combo. I think I like it better than pb & j.
When the house was finally clean, Abbie and I went to the library and switched out some books.
Then we met Paul at Yong Asian House for some Thai Pineapple Fried Rice - yum! The house was being shown, otherwise, we would have had leftovers.
To kill more time, Paul wanted to buy ingredients for Caramel Brownies - otherwise known as "Lorrie's awesome recipe for caramel brownies" - otherwise known as "How much more can Paul screw with the recipe for Lorrie's awesome caramel brownies." Here are some candies he and Abbie pondered adding to the recipe: orange slices, laffy taffy, salt water taffy, and other terrible ideas. At one point, he considered making them mint chocolate caramel brownies, and I told him that might be a good combo, but no, that wasn't weird enough! They finally settled on strawberry milkshake whoppers!!!! Can you believe it? Paul says they were terrible. Thank goodness they made me a small section that was "un-messed-around-with." I don't think I'm going to share with them since they won't listen to me. Paul says, "How can we know how awesome these brownies could be if we don't experiment?" Excellent question. I think experimentation is fun and educational. But I said, "What if the brownie recipe already has the perfect combinations? What if they are already the best they can be?" Well, I guess he will need to keep testing his theory in order to reach my conclusion. Paul was going to take half of the brownies to work tomorrow, but they're so terrible, he can't take any now. Hee Hee!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
6-16-09
Got up. Late. Abbie was still asleep.
I ate cereal (now that I have real milk again!). Finished my book.
I heard Abbie moaning and thought she was having a bad dream. I went to check, and it turned out that a cat got rambunctious on the bed, and she had a claw hole in her thumb. I looked at it, and she YELLED at me, "Get a bandaid!!!!". I need to teach her the word STAT! Apparently, getting rudely awakened by an injury can make an 8 year old super grumpy. The bandaid made it all better though. I could be a nurse.
It did rain this morning, and I thought our pool trip would be cancelled, but it cleared up quick. It took a million years to get ready, but we finally made it to the pool. I refuse to get more swimming lessons this year because the kid can swim. She just lacks confidence - not in everything, just some things. At the pool, I had her swim across the pool without touching, and I had her jump off the side of the pool in the deep end and swim to the ladder. And I had her practice treading water. She doesn't want to jump off the diving board, but she has, and I'm sure she will soon. I just have to keep working on her. Not pushing, just buoying.
Then she went to her first summer ballet class and some of her pals were there too.
Came home, and I fixed supper. Paul got home sooner than I thought. He had a rough day so he took a nap. I made spaghetti, rolls, and fried squash (cubed and dusted in cornmeal - yum!).
Then I cleaned house. Bleck!
Paul went outside to finish pressure washing the driveway. A big storm came, and he got his raincoat and finished the job. What a trooper!
I ate cereal (now that I have real milk again!). Finished my book.
I heard Abbie moaning and thought she was having a bad dream. I went to check, and it turned out that a cat got rambunctious on the bed, and she had a claw hole in her thumb. I looked at it, and she YELLED at me, "Get a bandaid!!!!". I need to teach her the word STAT! Apparently, getting rudely awakened by an injury can make an 8 year old super grumpy. The bandaid made it all better though. I could be a nurse.
It did rain this morning, and I thought our pool trip would be cancelled, but it cleared up quick. It took a million years to get ready, but we finally made it to the pool. I refuse to get more swimming lessons this year because the kid can swim. She just lacks confidence - not in everything, just some things. At the pool, I had her swim across the pool without touching, and I had her jump off the side of the pool in the deep end and swim to the ladder. And I had her practice treading water. She doesn't want to jump off the diving board, but she has, and I'm sure she will soon. I just have to keep working on her. Not pushing, just buoying.
Then she went to her first summer ballet class and some of her pals were there too.
Came home, and I fixed supper. Paul got home sooner than I thought. He had a rough day so he took a nap. I made spaghetti, rolls, and fried squash (cubed and dusted in cornmeal - yum!).
Then I cleaned house. Bleck!
Paul went outside to finish pressure washing the driveway. A big storm came, and he got his raincoat and finished the job. What a trooper!
Monday, June 15, 2009
6-15-09
3 weeks into summer vacation, and just now, I feel like our summer can begin. We went on vacation the first week, spent the second week doing laundry and general clean up and putting stuff away (and looking at the checkbook for the vacation damage).
I think we're going to the pool tomorrow - if it doesn't rain. I honestly don't mind all the rain we've gotten this year. We need it! It has not been very hot so far either.
Milestone for an older child - Abbie's feet almost sit flat on the floor when she sits on the toilet.
Paul and Abbie have re-started work on the fabulous Lego Deathstar. They stopped work after Christmas because we discovered several missing pieces. But Lego was cool about sending all the replacements.
We are going to start fostering kittens (still nursing and too young to be adopted yet). Before we left on vacation, we had many offers but were told to wait until we returned. Now, the shelter is fresh out of kittens. But I made sure we're at the top of the list when a new batch comes in. Can't wait!
We discovered Dogtown on Nat'l Geographic channel. Love it! During our trip to Utah, I discovered a brochure for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Abbie and I will go there for vacation someday to volunteer.
Abbie is not afraid of frogs (neither am I). Paul is.
We discovered the tiniest frog I've ever seen while we were at the beach. We were playing putt-putt. Maybe they were babies - not sure. Small as a dime. We caught a few and let them go. Later as we were getting in the car, Paul pointed out a teen who was killing something with her putt-putt mallet- really whacking something ruthlessly. He thought maybe it was a frog. I think I went into shock. Planet Earth has little hope with people out there who litter (especially on the beach when there are plenty of garbage cans around), people who ruthlessly kill/abuse animals (even frogs), or people who kill babies. At first, I typed "no hope" but then I amended it.
And yet all is right with the world when a pot of soup beans comes out exactly right.
Abbie spent the night with my mom. For breakfast, she made her scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. Abbie asked my mom if her eggs were as good as mine. My mom said, "Well, I reckon so, Abbie. Your mom grew up eating my eggs so I guess they're good." While Abbie was eating, my mom asked her if her eggs were as good as mine. Abbie simply said, "No."
I can't drink organic milk. I have bought organic milk several times in the past. I'd prefer my milk without added hormones and antibiotics. I've bought several brands, but they have all spoiled before their expiration date. When we got back from the beach, I went shopping at Earthfare and all their milk is organic so I had no choice. I poured it out today (the expiration day was today). The reason I poured it out was because I haven't been drinking it (psychosomatic). I poured a little in a cup just to check. I only smelled it though, and it was gross! I don't know; maybe it's all in my head, but I'm back on Mayfield.
We ate at a Melting Pot while we were at the beach - our first time. We really enjoyed it. Wish we had one close by.
While we were at the beach, we stopped at Krispie Kreme. I asked Paul if he wanted to go through the drive-thru. He said, "No, that would be like going through a strip club drive thru. You have to go in to get the proper amount of temptation." Too true - we left with more than a dozen.
I think we're going to the pool tomorrow - if it doesn't rain. I honestly don't mind all the rain we've gotten this year. We need it! It has not been very hot so far either.
Milestone for an older child - Abbie's feet almost sit flat on the floor when she sits on the toilet.
Paul and Abbie have re-started work on the fabulous Lego Deathstar. They stopped work after Christmas because we discovered several missing pieces. But Lego was cool about sending all the replacements.
We are going to start fostering kittens (still nursing and too young to be adopted yet). Before we left on vacation, we had many offers but were told to wait until we returned. Now, the shelter is fresh out of kittens. But I made sure we're at the top of the list when a new batch comes in. Can't wait!
We discovered Dogtown on Nat'l Geographic channel. Love it! During our trip to Utah, I discovered a brochure for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Abbie and I will go there for vacation someday to volunteer.
Abbie is not afraid of frogs (neither am I). Paul is.
We discovered the tiniest frog I've ever seen while we were at the beach. We were playing putt-putt. Maybe they were babies - not sure. Small as a dime. We caught a few and let them go. Later as we were getting in the car, Paul pointed out a teen who was killing something with her putt-putt mallet- really whacking something ruthlessly. He thought maybe it was a frog. I think I went into shock. Planet Earth has little hope with people out there who litter (especially on the beach when there are plenty of garbage cans around), people who ruthlessly kill/abuse animals (even frogs), or people who kill babies. At first, I typed "no hope" but then I amended it.
And yet all is right with the world when a pot of soup beans comes out exactly right.
Abbie spent the night with my mom. For breakfast, she made her scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. Abbie asked my mom if her eggs were as good as mine. My mom said, "Well, I reckon so, Abbie. Your mom grew up eating my eggs so I guess they're good." While Abbie was eating, my mom asked her if her eggs were as good as mine. Abbie simply said, "No."
I can't drink organic milk. I have bought organic milk several times in the past. I'd prefer my milk without added hormones and antibiotics. I've bought several brands, but they have all spoiled before their expiration date. When we got back from the beach, I went shopping at Earthfare and all their milk is organic so I had no choice. I poured it out today (the expiration day was today). The reason I poured it out was because I haven't been drinking it (psychosomatic). I poured a little in a cup just to check. I only smelled it though, and it was gross! I don't know; maybe it's all in my head, but I'm back on Mayfield.
We ate at a Melting Pot while we were at the beach - our first time. We really enjoyed it. Wish we had one close by.
While we were at the beach, we stopped at Krispie Kreme. I asked Paul if he wanted to go through the drive-thru. He said, "No, that would be like going through a strip club drive thru. You have to go in to get the proper amount of temptation." Too true - we left with more than a dozen.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
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!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Still Busy
We've had a busy weekend. Lots of home improvement projects.
Yes, I did start the project that I was procrastinating about. No, I did not finish or even put a huge dent in it.
Buying more Rubbermain Roughneck tubs helps. Some things are easy to pack, but other things... I can't decide if I should pack vertically or horizontally. Paul asked me today if we would "miss" any of this stuff that we're packing up and taking to storage. Some of it (winter clothes) is a yes, but most of it is probably a no.
We went out the eat on Saturday, and Paul and I both made our own "to-do" lists. Our lists do not overlap b/c there is so much to do. And neither list is short.
Paul called the dude that wants to buy/look at the house, and our goal is to have it ready by next weekend.
Today, we went to church. I prepared and served communion. Abbie waved some palms and sang. After church, while Paul and Abbie put away the communion items, I changed clothes and drove straight to my dads. He and I had a good time together. I got all his bills paid, swept and mopped the whole house, and changed the litter box. He and I gathered eggs together, and he gave me a dozen to take home. He's got two sets of eggs in an incubator. What is he going to do with all these chickens? I got a sneaky feeling today that he likes giving eggs away to his neighbors and friends so that he can have company. Ahhhhh! :)
Then I came home and watched a movie with Abbie and snuggled her.
In other news, Abbie really likes the Pink Panther movies with Steve Martin. She can do an excellent imitation of a French person speaking English. Paul can too. Me, not so much, but I try! Everyday, they speak with a French accent. I told Paul that I think it makes me love him even more. Can't explain why, it's just hilarious and fun and cute!
Oddly, Abbie speaks with a French accent perfect in-person, but on the phone, she can't really do it. I don't understand why that happens, but you'll have to visit our house to meet our "French exchange student."
Yes, I did start the project that I was procrastinating about. No, I did not finish or even put a huge dent in it.
Buying more Rubbermain Roughneck tubs helps. Some things are easy to pack, but other things... I can't decide if I should pack vertically or horizontally. Paul asked me today if we would "miss" any of this stuff that we're packing up and taking to storage. Some of it (winter clothes) is a yes, but most of it is probably a no.
We went out the eat on Saturday, and Paul and I both made our own "to-do" lists. Our lists do not overlap b/c there is so much to do. And neither list is short.
Paul called the dude that wants to buy/look at the house, and our goal is to have it ready by next weekend.
Today, we went to church. I prepared and served communion. Abbie waved some palms and sang. After church, while Paul and Abbie put away the communion items, I changed clothes and drove straight to my dads. He and I had a good time together. I got all his bills paid, swept and mopped the whole house, and changed the litter box. He and I gathered eggs together, and he gave me a dozen to take home. He's got two sets of eggs in an incubator. What is he going to do with all these chickens? I got a sneaky feeling today that he likes giving eggs away to his neighbors and friends so that he can have company. Ahhhhh! :)
Then I came home and watched a movie with Abbie and snuggled her.
In other news, Abbie really likes the Pink Panther movies with Steve Martin. She can do an excellent imitation of a French person speaking English. Paul can too. Me, not so much, but I try! Everyday, they speak with a French accent. I told Paul that I think it makes me love him even more. Can't explain why, it's just hilarious and fun and cute!
Oddly, Abbie speaks with a French accent perfect in-person, but on the phone, she can't really do it. I don't understand why that happens, but you'll have to visit our house to meet our "French exchange student."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Misc.
Abbie is on Spring Break. We've been taking it easy this week - definitely enjoying sleeping in (except the sound of Paul's garage door opening as he leaves in the morning wakes up Abbie).
We haven't done much so far. Abbie has spent a lot of time reading and doing crafts (she never gets tired of fuze beads). She is making coasters for all her school friends and a few neighbors. Yesterday, she hand-delivered the ones she made for the two neighbors.
Today, Abbie picked up some twigs in the yard and then helped me put some "grass patch" down. We also went to church so I could train with the church secretary. She is having knee replacement surgery so I am going to fill in for her for 6 weeks. And I'll get a paycheck! All of our little home improvement projects are starting to add up so we could use an extra paycheck. We've hired a handyman, and he starts next Friday.
Tomorrow, we head to Asheville for a few days. This trip worked out really well because we are having our hardwood floors refinished, and we're not allowed to walk on the floors for 3 days. I hope the floors turn out great, and our whole house is not one big dust bucket when we get back.
Looking forward to spending a few days at the Grove Park. We'll probably go to the buffet on Thursday night (Abbie's looking forward to that). We may go to Biltmore House on Friday, and of course, we have to eat at Salsa's while we're there. I may do a little shoe shopping at Topps too. Other than that, we have no real plans. We're just going to wing it. I hope the weather holds out.
We haven't done much so far. Abbie has spent a lot of time reading and doing crafts (she never gets tired of fuze beads). She is making coasters for all her school friends and a few neighbors. Yesterday, she hand-delivered the ones she made for the two neighbors.
Today, Abbie picked up some twigs in the yard and then helped me put some "grass patch" down. We also went to church so I could train with the church secretary. She is having knee replacement surgery so I am going to fill in for her for 6 weeks. And I'll get a paycheck! All of our little home improvement projects are starting to add up so we could use an extra paycheck. We've hired a handyman, and he starts next Friday.
Tomorrow, we head to Asheville for a few days. This trip worked out really well because we are having our hardwood floors refinished, and we're not allowed to walk on the floors for 3 days. I hope the floors turn out great, and our whole house is not one big dust bucket when we get back.
Looking forward to spending a few days at the Grove Park. We'll probably go to the buffet on Thursday night (Abbie's looking forward to that). We may go to Biltmore House on Friday, and of course, we have to eat at Salsa's while we're there. I may do a little shoe shopping at Topps too. Other than that, we have no real plans. We're just going to wing it. I hope the weather holds out.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Up Late
I stayed up past 1 am last night so I could finish the book, "The Help." I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. It made me think about some things.
Why is it that it's so easy now to look back on events that happened 20- 30-50- 100+ years ago and judge them as wrong? But if you lived back during those times, you yourself, couldn't see that it was wrong (you, in general)?
For example, how could anyone think it was okay to pay a woman less than a man for the exact same job?
It's so easy to say, "of course that isn't fair - what were they thinking?!"
I'm sure some people did notice and didn't like it, but I'm sure there were lots of people that didn't question it.
Are we just that much more enlightened now that we wouldn't ever make those mistakes? But that can't be right b/c we're still screwing up in certain areas (we, in general).
It makes me wonder what things I believe now (right or wrong) that I will completely change my mind about in, say, 20 years.
There was a little boy that lived in the outskirts of my neighborhood when I was growing up. He was biracial, and back then, that was odd - people talked. I heard adults around me "tsk" and refer to him as a half breed. My mom was really nice to him and also pitied him because she knew he'd have a rough time of it. And he did.
But now, I'd never use the word half breed, much less use that word around Abbie.
See, times change.
Certain things that I believed in college are not in my belief system anymore - is it time, maturity, life experiences, becoming a parent that brings on these changes? Probably all of the above.
The book made me think about some things, and I love thinking about things!
Why is it that it's so easy now to look back on events that happened 20- 30-50- 100+ years ago and judge them as wrong? But if you lived back during those times, you yourself, couldn't see that it was wrong (you, in general)?
For example, how could anyone think it was okay to pay a woman less than a man for the exact same job?
It's so easy to say, "of course that isn't fair - what were they thinking?!"
I'm sure some people did notice and didn't like it, but I'm sure there were lots of people that didn't question it.
Are we just that much more enlightened now that we wouldn't ever make those mistakes? But that can't be right b/c we're still screwing up in certain areas (we, in general).
It makes me wonder what things I believe now (right or wrong) that I will completely change my mind about in, say, 20 years.
There was a little boy that lived in the outskirts of my neighborhood when I was growing up. He was biracial, and back then, that was odd - people talked. I heard adults around me "tsk" and refer to him as a half breed. My mom was really nice to him and also pitied him because she knew he'd have a rough time of it. And he did.
But now, I'd never use the word half breed, much less use that word around Abbie.
See, times change.
Certain things that I believed in college are not in my belief system anymore - is it time, maturity, life experiences, becoming a parent that brings on these changes? Probably all of the above.
The book made me think about some things, and I love thinking about things!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Outdoor Work
Today was warm enough (t-shirt and shorts) to work outside in the flower beds. There may have been one other day (a short one) in the past 30 days that was nice, but I didn't take advantage of it.
Today, I raked leaves out of flower beds and picked up sticks and swept the sidewalks. I raked the side crevices of the sidewalks and then had to sweep again. I trimmed back 12 patches of monkey grass. I picked up most of the clippings and twigs and leaves that I accumulated, but there are still a few piles left in the yard.
I started at one side of the house (the side with the garage doors) and I did most of the fenced area of the backyard, and I did a little less than half of the front yard.
My point in all this is that I thought I'd get it all done today. But I didn't.
Although it would have gone quicker with a helper (especially an adult one), I still thought I could do it all myself. Abbie was at an all day play date so I had no distractions, no one to make lunch for. I had all the equipment I needed with me so there were not a bunch of trips to the garage - back and forth.
So I'm wondering - do I have too many flower beds? or am I too slow? or something? Technically, I prefer to trim back the monkey grass in the fall, but I have procrastinated the last two years. I guess that was my downfall.
However, picking up twigs could be a full time job around here.
Today, I raked leaves out of flower beds and picked up sticks and swept the sidewalks. I raked the side crevices of the sidewalks and then had to sweep again. I trimmed back 12 patches of monkey grass. I picked up most of the clippings and twigs and leaves that I accumulated, but there are still a few piles left in the yard.
I started at one side of the house (the side with the garage doors) and I did most of the fenced area of the backyard, and I did a little less than half of the front yard.
My point in all this is that I thought I'd get it all done today. But I didn't.
Although it would have gone quicker with a helper (especially an adult one), I still thought I could do it all myself. Abbie was at an all day play date so I had no distractions, no one to make lunch for. I had all the equipment I needed with me so there were not a bunch of trips to the garage - back and forth.
So I'm wondering - do I have too many flower beds? or am I too slow? or something? Technically, I prefer to trim back the monkey grass in the fall, but I have procrastinated the last two years. I guess that was my downfall.
However, picking up twigs could be a full time job around here.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Homework Hassles
We've started a new homework routine b/c what we were doing was not working. I read a book about "Taking the Hassle out of Homework" or something like that. Anyway, I think it was harder on me to make the change than it was on Abbie.
She now has her own desk in her room, and she does all her homework in there. The other day, I discovered that she had made a sign for her door - two sided. I was impressed that she had really taken in all the info I had given her about our new routine. Notice she even included the ABC's of our new procedure:
A = all by myself (meaning mom does not ask about homework, there are no distractions such as cats being in the room, etc)
B = back off (meaning mom does not hover while she does her homework nor does mom or dad check it unless she asks us to)
C = call it quits at a reasonable time (meaning she has to have it done (if she chooses to do it) by 7:30 pm, no exceptions
Well, the first two weeks were excruciating b/c I wasn't supposed to even ask if she had homework or say, "shouldn't you be doing your homework?" I need to get BACK OFF tatooed on my arm.
But I did devise a plan that worked. When we get home from school, I say, "I'm going to start dinner, what are you going to do?" And she usually says homework all on her own. But if she doesn't then I don't sweat it anymore. It's her choice.
The other night, she got the bright idea that we should all sit in the living room with the fire going and read. We all thought that was a great idea, but she hadn't finished her homework. I told her that she could sit with us and read and that she didn't have to do her homework - it was her choice. She chose to finish her homework!
I have also told her that if she gets her homework done on Monday nights and Wednesday nights (instead of stretching it with some to do every night) then she have more play time with the cats and she and I are going to start volunteering at the animal shelter on Thursday. She is stoked! We filled out our volunteer paperwork yesterday. But we only volunteer is her homework is done - it's her choice.
I think this is going to work out.
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