I am a wuss, I am wishy-washy, I am fickle. Ugh! I never knew that these words could describe me.
Maybe a better description of me is that I am a regretful blogger. Weeks from now, I'll think of something I said in my blog, and I'll regret it. I'll worry about it, and eventually, I'll go back and edit a post.
Things I have regretted: using swear words (even though I don't ususally swear out loud (I didn't say never), I do swear in my thoughts. For example, when the alarm goes off in the morning, unintentionally, I will think "WTF!?" The whole phrase, not that anacronym.
I have regretted saying that I might look at p0rnn at the bookstore. Usually, you can't find p0rnn at the bookstore, but I worry that someone might misinterpret my attempts at being funny.
I worry that I will state an opinion that will be taken out of context. I would never intentionally offend anyone. I do have a lot of opinions, but these usually don't apply to anyone else's life except my own.
I'm not sure why I worry so much because I only know of 2 people who read my blog. But I start getting these visions of someone from the school board, or past classmate, or current friend will stumble upon my blog and be outraged at something!
But really, I have found that I am regrettful in real life too. Months later, I worry that I didn't officially say to good-bye to Katrina in LA, I regret that I said outloud that I don't care for Hilary Clinton while in LA. I will have lunch with a friend and weeks later, I will worry that I didn't offer to pick up the tip or that I may have talked too much and not listened enough or that I talked with my food in my mouth.
I feel better having admitted that I am capricious (Paul helped me with that word, he also suggested flighty!).
{Ahhhh, Grey's Anatomy ended on a really good note!}
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
10 Things That Inspire Me
Taking Annie's hint, I thought I'd make a list too:
1. My friends, each one is unique
2. My mom, who is wise and can grow anything and cooks my favorite foods
3. Annie's "going green" tips
4. My brother, who gardens and raises sheep and works too hard
5. Edith, who is on the school board with me, she's almost 70 and is not slowing down!
6. Many people at my church who are selfless and caring and they still like me!
7. Paul's parenting skills and how great he is at playing with Abbie
8. My dad's sunshine-y disposition
9. Outdoors and flowers and our green grass and our shade trees and the bird nests in our yard
10. Abbie, who inspires me to be the best mom I can be
That all may sound really cheesy, but it's true!
1. My friends, each one is unique
2. My mom, who is wise and can grow anything and cooks my favorite foods
3. Annie's "going green" tips
4. My brother, who gardens and raises sheep and works too hard
5. Edith, who is on the school board with me, she's almost 70 and is not slowing down!
6. Many people at my church who are selfless and caring and they still like me!
7. Paul's parenting skills and how great he is at playing with Abbie
8. My dad's sunshine-y disposition
9. Outdoors and flowers and our green grass and our shade trees and the bird nests in our yard
10. Abbie, who inspires me to be the best mom I can be
That all may sound really cheesy, but it's true!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Medicine
I'm probably prejudiced, but I think medications are great! Used as directed and under supervision of a doctor, they provide many benefits to people who need them. But I'm no expert. Not in the least.
But the reason for my post today is that I have recently seen a dramatic change in my dad. Here's the history: once he took early retirement, my dad spent all his time just sitting around, doing nothing except sleeping or watching t.v. He used to work outside a lot: gardening, piddling around. He also cooked a lot. I have many nice memories of my dad either in the kitchen cooking and whistling or outside (usually without a shirt) gardening and whistling. For about six years now, since his early retirement, he's done none of that. I clean his house and pay his bills because he won't. His personal grooming and hygiene has also gone down the tubes.
My dad doesn't have many health problems, but he does take 3-4 medications on a regular basis. I won't list them here, but one medication that he's taken for most of his adult life is valium. This is many people's "nerve pill" of choice. I don't have anything against that. Although it's just a bandaid, it helps people, and I have many relatives who take it.
He recently decided to stop taking valium (I'm not sure of his reasons), but it has made a dramatic difference. My dad has taken a new interest in his old hobbies. He's planted tomatoes, peppers, okra, and eggplant. He's doing his laundry. His handwriting is not as shaky and he seems more clear eyed and clear headed. He's driving and getting out of the house more. He had a chicken coop built, and he's going to start raising chickens again. Paul says that stopping this medication can make him feel better (mainly, I think this medicine was not needed due to some of the other meds my dad takes). When I pointed this out to dad, he said all he used to want to do was to sit around, but he didn't know that this particular medication was the cause. I didn't either (although I suspected, but I could never get him to listen to me). I feel bad about all of dad's wasted years sitting around the house, but I'm really happy that he's back to his old self.
I honestly thought my dad would never change - that his "sitting around all the time" existence would always be the same. But he's proven me wrong before, and he's done it again. It just goes to show that you can't give up. Sometimes making one change can alter your path. My dad will be 68 this summer.
But the reason for my post today is that I have recently seen a dramatic change in my dad. Here's the history: once he took early retirement, my dad spent all his time just sitting around, doing nothing except sleeping or watching t.v. He used to work outside a lot: gardening, piddling around. He also cooked a lot. I have many nice memories of my dad either in the kitchen cooking and whistling or outside (usually without a shirt) gardening and whistling. For about six years now, since his early retirement, he's done none of that. I clean his house and pay his bills because he won't. His personal grooming and hygiene has also gone down the tubes.
My dad doesn't have many health problems, but he does take 3-4 medications on a regular basis. I won't list them here, but one medication that he's taken for most of his adult life is valium. This is many people's "nerve pill" of choice. I don't have anything against that. Although it's just a bandaid, it helps people, and I have many relatives who take it.
He recently decided to stop taking valium (I'm not sure of his reasons), but it has made a dramatic difference. My dad has taken a new interest in his old hobbies. He's planted tomatoes, peppers, okra, and eggplant. He's doing his laundry. His handwriting is not as shaky and he seems more clear eyed and clear headed. He's driving and getting out of the house more. He had a chicken coop built, and he's going to start raising chickens again. Paul says that stopping this medication can make him feel better (mainly, I think this medicine was not needed due to some of the other meds my dad takes). When I pointed this out to dad, he said all he used to want to do was to sit around, but he didn't know that this particular medication was the cause. I didn't either (although I suspected, but I could never get him to listen to me). I feel bad about all of dad's wasted years sitting around the house, but I'm really happy that he's back to his old self.
I honestly thought my dad would never change - that his "sitting around all the time" existence would always be the same. But he's proven me wrong before, and he's done it again. It just goes to show that you can't give up. Sometimes making one change can alter your path. My dad will be 68 this summer.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Abbie's New Phase
Parenting takes you through so many interesting phases. I've been through many phases but not all. For example, Abbie had a short tantrum phase and a mini-biting phase - so I don't consider myself an expert in these areas, but like Disney World, I can say I've been there.
Abbie is a really interesting young lady. Recently, she has been very contemplative about why people smoke, and more importantly, why there are people who make cigarettes if they know they are bad for a person's health. We've had many conversations about this (she starts the conversation). These conversations have led to the topic of there being people in the world who will do anything to make money - so we've discussed greed and scam artists (and she wanted very specific examples of scams).
Now, she asks a lot of questions about money and if I think it was a good idea to invent money. And she suddenly doesn't want to spend any money. She doesn't want me to buy her anything (pack of crackers, for example) at the store. At the museums in DC, she didn't want anything from gift shops and said, "I have enough stuffed animals." She didn't want to eat out in DC. She kept asking why I couldn't cook. I had to force her to let me buy her lunch - I just didn't give her a choice. If I ask if she wants anything, she will sometimes be tempted then ask, "Does it cost anything?" When I reply, "Yes" she then says "No, thanks." At a recent school field trip, she didn't want anything from the gift shop. I know some of the other parents thought I wouldn't buy her anyting, but I really did try!
One day after school, before this phase really kicked in, I asked her if she wanted to go to Marble Slab for ice cream. She immediately said yes. As soon as I pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine, she told me she had changed her mind. She said she didn't want ice cream since it wasn't fair that there are other people in the world who can't afford ice cream. It was really very sweet and kind hearted of her - and compassionate too! But I told her that we help a lot of people who are less fortunate and I listed our volunteer activities (for example, we've cooked for and served at the local soup kitchen) and I listed the places we donate money to. I tried to explain that even though we have spending money, we do try to help others who are less fortunate so she finally decided to have ice cream that day.
It will be interesting to see how long this phase lasts and which phase it will lead into.
Food Network
Foooooood ! Net-worrrrr - k! ---- sing it in an opera voice
We love watching Food Network. We didn't get Food Network while we were in DC, and we were having withdrawals. Paul likes almost more than I do.
We love watching "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives" and "Iron Chef" and "Good Eats." Although, we'll watch just about any of the shows.
Some of the shows make me want to run up to the kitchen and whip something up, some shows make me want to travel to certain cities to try their food, some shows challenge me to try new recipes, and some shows are just very entertaining. Miraculously, Paul and I do not snack while we are watching.
As much as Paul likes to watch, he does not get the itch to experiment in the kitchen. Paul really can't cook, but I think he'd love to take a cooking class. He might just discover a new hobby.
We love watching Food Network. We didn't get Food Network while we were in DC, and we were having withdrawals. Paul likes almost more than I do.
We love watching "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives" and "Iron Chef" and "Good Eats." Although, we'll watch just about any of the shows.
Some of the shows make me want to run up to the kitchen and whip something up, some shows make me want to travel to certain cities to try their food, some shows challenge me to try new recipes, and some shows are just very entertaining. Miraculously, Paul and I do not snack while we are watching.
As much as Paul likes to watch, he does not get the itch to experiment in the kitchen. Paul really can't cook, but I think he'd love to take a cooking class. He might just discover a new hobby.
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