My window from yesterday's post was still up and I looked and it looks like the second video is wrong. It's supposed to be dominic the donkey, not Kayla. Anyway, if you see Kayla, sorry. I was trying to share Dominic.
And I realized this week that I probably should work on being a little less sarcastic. I know I write pretty sarcastically here, but I think I might want to rethink my out loud sarcasm. Mostly because it's lost on my kids. Or maybe not and things will continue as they go now.
But this week, for the 18th million time we had the "what do you want to be called when you go to school" conversation with JM. I'm kinda at the point where I'm ready for him to be a normal name like Jon or Jonathan or even Jack if you really want to stretch it. JonMichael is a mouthful and he was unwilling to learn how to write it. And writing and reading your own name is kindergarten 101. And I have a lifetime of going by a name other than what is on my birth certificate and I kinda wanted him to have a more normal experience than that.
But anyway.. he's still insisting on JonMichael. And this week in true stubborn mule fashion that all my kids exhibit, he proved he could write his whole name or at least "JoNMicHAEl" or if you put the J and N backwards and did an odd mix of capital and lower case letters.
And he showed me and said "can I get a present for writing my name?"
And I said 'sure'
I probably should have thought about my reply before I gave it.
So he returns with his name written twice and said "can I have two presents? can I have more than Sonia and Joey? (because EVERYTHING here is about competition, apparently)"
I try ignoring the request.
He comes back with his name written 4 times.
I start with trying to explain he's not going to get a present for everytime he writes his name, he can have a gumball for the effort of the first time and he says...
"Can I have my presents? can you get right on that?"
oh. my.
Yeah, I think I may have used that line one too many times.
Because I said "sure, I'll get right on that" and he skips away announcing to his siblings that he's getting more presents than them and I'm getting right on it.
(groan)
At least they didn't all come running in complaining that he's getting more than them, which is the usual chain of events. They might have had a clue it wasn't true. As if I'd ever admit to getting one child more than another. I love them all the same. In different ways. And not everyone's love language is gifts. Although when one of them sees gifts being given suddenly their love language is also gifts because.. it's all about the competition.
I wish they were competitive for learning their multiplication tables. That might be helpful. This stupid competitive over anything not important (front seat, which plate/fork/knife/cup at dinner, longest bath, longest computer time, looking out someone else's car window..) has got to end. Seriously. Before I tear out all my hair. Although I hear bald can be beautiful.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
We interrupt your holiday season
For Songs
And a little rambling.
The kids had their Christmas, oh, sorry, holiday song performance this week at school. Don't worry, I'll spare you the video. And my inner dialogue wouldn't shut up, and now I'm sharing with you.
When I was growing up I always wondered "what about the poor kids who didn't see snow or know what it is?" much like the way you'd hear about the starving kids in China, so you better eat your dinner. (an aside there.. even as a kid that logic never made sense to me, if they're starving why would I have to eat it? wouldn't be it better to share it with the starving kids? you want me to be selfish? that's what you're saying?)
Ok. back to snow.
Anyway, the kindergarten kids sang "Snowman Joe" I'm pretty sure that's what they sang last year, too. But I don't remember writing about it since life got busy. Anyway the same thoughts came up this year so this time I share them with you.
The words go something about making a snowman, named Joe and then the sun comes out and he melts.
What do these kids know about making snow men and them melting, anyway? ridiculous. And almost comical. Particularly when you see them trying to scrape up the frost from the shaded area on the play ground and calling that snow. (oh, yeah, we do get frost a few days a year. Our garden met a sudden death)
Followed by 2 Chaunaka (or how ever you spell the Jewish Holiday) Songs, one about changing seasons (again.. like these kids know anything about this. Our deciduous trees are just now turning colors and falling. By the time the leaves fall off the buds will be back on the trees.)
And the crown jewel of the day was "Buena Noche" in Spanish. And not the real Buena Noche, no that would be Christmas. This is about Christmas eve light. No Christ, presents, only moon, stars and good food. I'm pretty sure it's more a winter solstice song more than Christmas.. but... anyway.. it was all in Spanish. And the funny part was the commentary from the English speaking parent behind me when they announced it. My grandfather's spirit lived on. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, he was well known for making racial or judgmental slurs out loud in public. Followed by a "WHAT? it's true." sort of statement if you tried to shush him. Funny now. As a kid/teen it was mortifying, but as in many other things what doesn't kill you gives you a sarcastic sense of humor....
In other news. I actually mailed Christmas cards this year. It was bittersweet to see the changes that have occurred over the years, in crossed out addresses, people no longer with us, changed addresses and people I've lost track of who haven't shown up on facebook. It was also encouraging to see all the people we've gotten to know over the years through different stages of life.
Speaking of stages in life. We're here another 2 years. Larry decided family medicine is for him, for now, at least and has been accepted into the family practice residency here. We're going for a record, most time in 1 location. As much as I like our house, our neighborhood and church. Larry sees us moving after that time. Mostly because he'd like another bathroom. The pile up at the bathroom in the morning is bad. I don't really see a second bathroom as the answer to it, since then there will be 2 doors with kids pounding on them instead of 1, but he didn't grow up with siblings, so he doesn't realize that you can have one per kid and they'll still fight over who gets which one.
I've been accepted for a job. I went back to the "I don't really want to work" attitude and it seems to have worked. Irregular hours, per diem work, so it might work out well that I have the flexibility I need, but also difficult in that it might be hard to plan for child care. I'm still working out the details if I'll put JM in full time preschool a few days and try to work those days or if I'll just try to find preschool on the days I have work and commit to work and then try to find what to do with him. I prefer having the childcare lined up first, but then if work doens't follow I'm paying for something I don't need to be using. *sigh* it's only until September. Guess it'll work out. Anyway, it's a free clinic. Calls to my inner bleeding heart, although I do have some reservations about it. Mostly because part of the requirements for work meant I had to go there, use their services for a ppd and physical and drug test, so after being a patient there.. I have reservations. Could be worse, I guess, could be the last place I was going to work at. Anyway, they're willing to do the supervision it will take for me to get my furnishing number and dea and I'm sure I'll get a deeper view of life in san diego county working there.
Back to Christmas.
While I managed to have the kids' pictures taken and cards mailed, the buying Christmas gifts part hit a snag. Mostly because what do you buy people who can buy anything they want? I'm talking about parents and inlaws, mostly. My inlaws probably would not appreciate the trio of dairy animals given in their name in Africa, so once again I sit here scratching my head and browsing Amazon trying to come up with something. ANYTHING that they might like. If you have any ideas, feel free to send them to me. Larry of course is no help. My parents of course have not used the last gift I got them, so I'm also striking out there. 2 trios of dairy animals and portion of a water well coming right up...
However both sets of grandparents have said they wanted us to buy the gift for the kids from them. THAT has been a blast, in a sense, thinking "I'd never buy this but grandma would" and shopping. So.. the boys are getting lightsabers and goggles. (the cool light up, make noise sort from grandma because they really really want them and want to do battle and mom has said no for 3 years now) and the goggles from their parents (because we're the ones that worry about safety). Sonia's getting a stupid electronic stuffed dog that she's been asking for 2 years. Oh, yeah, there isn't an off switch, so if you hear a dog whining from Larry's closet, it's her toy. They think all the toys are in my closet, so we've had to get more creative about hiding places. They're also in the shed, garage and under my bed. Actually I should hide them under THEIR beds since they never actually look there and the missing winter coats and shoes no one can find are always there.
So now I really really need to get something done. I have a double batch of fudge to make having forgotten to double everything in the last batch (dang math) I need to also run to the grocery store (on a payday, no less) to buy it with 6000 of my closest military wives. I'll be lucky if I find a parking space, much less a shopping cart.
So if you don't hear from me here, Merry Christmas and much love from here in paradise.
And please visit.
XOXOXOX
~G
And a little rambling.
The kids had their Christmas, oh, sorry, holiday song performance this week at school. Don't worry, I'll spare you the video. And my inner dialogue wouldn't shut up, and now I'm sharing with you.
When I was growing up I always wondered "what about the poor kids who didn't see snow or know what it is?" much like the way you'd hear about the starving kids in China, so you better eat your dinner. (an aside there.. even as a kid that logic never made sense to me, if they're starving why would I have to eat it? wouldn't be it better to share it with the starving kids? you want me to be selfish? that's what you're saying?)
Ok. back to snow.
Anyway, the kindergarten kids sang "Snowman Joe" I'm pretty sure that's what they sang last year, too. But I don't remember writing about it since life got busy. Anyway the same thoughts came up this year so this time I share them with you.
The words go something about making a snowman, named Joe and then the sun comes out and he melts.
What do these kids know about making snow men and them melting, anyway? ridiculous. And almost comical. Particularly when you see them trying to scrape up the frost from the shaded area on the play ground and calling that snow. (oh, yeah, we do get frost a few days a year. Our garden met a sudden death)
Followed by 2 Chaunaka (or how ever you spell the Jewish Holiday) Songs, one about changing seasons (again.. like these kids know anything about this. Our deciduous trees are just now turning colors and falling. By the time the leaves fall off the buds will be back on the trees.)
And the crown jewel of the day was "Buena Noche" in Spanish. And not the real Buena Noche, no that would be Christmas. This is about Christmas eve light. No Christ, presents, only moon, stars and good food. I'm pretty sure it's more a winter solstice song more than Christmas.. but... anyway.. it was all in Spanish. And the funny part was the commentary from the English speaking parent behind me when they announced it. My grandfather's spirit lived on. For those of you who aren't familiar with him, he was well known for making racial or judgmental slurs out loud in public. Followed by a "WHAT? it's true." sort of statement if you tried to shush him. Funny now. As a kid/teen it was mortifying, but as in many other things what doesn't kill you gives you a sarcastic sense of humor....
In other news. I actually mailed Christmas cards this year. It was bittersweet to see the changes that have occurred over the years, in crossed out addresses, people no longer with us, changed addresses and people I've lost track of who haven't shown up on facebook. It was also encouraging to see all the people we've gotten to know over the years through different stages of life.
Speaking of stages in life. We're here another 2 years. Larry decided family medicine is for him, for now, at least and has been accepted into the family practice residency here. We're going for a record, most time in 1 location. As much as I like our house, our neighborhood and church. Larry sees us moving after that time. Mostly because he'd like another bathroom. The pile up at the bathroom in the morning is bad. I don't really see a second bathroom as the answer to it, since then there will be 2 doors with kids pounding on them instead of 1, but he didn't grow up with siblings, so he doesn't realize that you can have one per kid and they'll still fight over who gets which one.
I've been accepted for a job. I went back to the "I don't really want to work" attitude and it seems to have worked. Irregular hours, per diem work, so it might work out well that I have the flexibility I need, but also difficult in that it might be hard to plan for child care. I'm still working out the details if I'll put JM in full time preschool a few days and try to work those days or if I'll just try to find preschool on the days I have work and commit to work and then try to find what to do with him. I prefer having the childcare lined up first, but then if work doens't follow I'm paying for something I don't need to be using. *sigh* it's only until September. Guess it'll work out. Anyway, it's a free clinic. Calls to my inner bleeding heart, although I do have some reservations about it. Mostly because part of the requirements for work meant I had to go there, use their services for a ppd and physical and drug test, so after being a patient there.. I have reservations. Could be worse, I guess, could be the last place I was going to work at. Anyway, they're willing to do the supervision it will take for me to get my furnishing number and dea and I'm sure I'll get a deeper view of life in san diego county working there.
Back to Christmas.
While I managed to have the kids' pictures taken and cards mailed, the buying Christmas gifts part hit a snag. Mostly because what do you buy people who can buy anything they want? I'm talking about parents and inlaws, mostly. My inlaws probably would not appreciate the trio of dairy animals given in their name in Africa, so once again I sit here scratching my head and browsing Amazon trying to come up with something. ANYTHING that they might like. If you have any ideas, feel free to send them to me. Larry of course is no help. My parents of course have not used the last gift I got them, so I'm also striking out there. 2 trios of dairy animals and portion of a water well coming right up...
However both sets of grandparents have said they wanted us to buy the gift for the kids from them. THAT has been a blast, in a sense, thinking "I'd never buy this but grandma would" and shopping. So.. the boys are getting lightsabers and goggles. (the cool light up, make noise sort from grandma because they really really want them and want to do battle and mom has said no for 3 years now) and the goggles from their parents (because we're the ones that worry about safety). Sonia's getting a stupid electronic stuffed dog that she's been asking for 2 years. Oh, yeah, there isn't an off switch, so if you hear a dog whining from Larry's closet, it's her toy. They think all the toys are in my closet, so we've had to get more creative about hiding places. They're also in the shed, garage and under my bed. Actually I should hide them under THEIR beds since they never actually look there and the missing winter coats and shoes no one can find are always there.
So now I really really need to get something done. I have a double batch of fudge to make having forgotten to double everything in the last batch (dang math) I need to also run to the grocery store (on a payday, no less) to buy it with 6000 of my closest military wives. I'll be lucky if I find a parking space, much less a shopping cart.
So if you don't hear from me here, Merry Christmas and much love from here in paradise.
And please visit.
XOXOXOX
~G
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
News from the past week
It was a busy weekend. We had Veteran's day on Friday. I decided that we (the Brownie Troop) was going to march in it. It was open to pretty much anyone. So Friday AM we were lining up at the supermarket parking lot where the "parade" was staged.
"Parade" yeah. Anyway.. the girls were excited to be in the parade, so that's all that matters and there's some study somewhere that shows that patriotic effects from a parade lasts 10 months and I think some people need a little more patriotism... anyway...
Said parade was 5 blocks long. Seriously. When everyone crossed the finish line, the marching band lined up and there was a ceremony of sorts. Lead of course by a former Marine (I'm guessing, but it sure sounded like a Marine 'on 11 Nov 1915 at 1100 hours... blah blah.. WWI.. blah blah... " I put in the blah blah because a. I can't remember what he was saying exactly beyond the date and time... and b. the military vehicles were running and pretty much were drowning out the microphone/speaker where I was standing.
But.. hey. We were in a parade.
Saturday was the big "Cheer Off" and if you have estrogen and enjoy this sort of thing, this is akin to the Superbowl of youth cheer. Of course I do not have that much estrogen. Somedays I question if I have any... but.. this Saturday was... cheer heaven.
Kayla's team won First place for their age group. They got a stick with glittery things glued to it called a "spirit stick." Apparently this stick was important.
And with the smell of burning dinner I will bring this narrative to a sudden halt. I'll add pictures if I can later.
"Parade" yeah. Anyway.. the girls were excited to be in the parade, so that's all that matters and there's some study somewhere that shows that patriotic effects from a parade lasts 10 months and I think some people need a little more patriotism... anyway...
Said parade was 5 blocks long. Seriously. When everyone crossed the finish line, the marching band lined up and there was a ceremony of sorts. Lead of course by a former Marine (I'm guessing, but it sure sounded like a Marine 'on 11 Nov 1915 at 1100 hours... blah blah.. WWI.. blah blah... " I put in the blah blah because a. I can't remember what he was saying exactly beyond the date and time... and b. the military vehicles were running and pretty much were drowning out the microphone/speaker where I was standing.
But.. hey. We were in a parade.
Saturday was the big "Cheer Off" and if you have estrogen and enjoy this sort of thing, this is akin to the Superbowl of youth cheer. Of course I do not have that much estrogen. Somedays I question if I have any... but.. this Saturday was... cheer heaven.
Kayla's team won First place for their age group. They got a stick with glittery things glued to it called a "spirit stick." Apparently this stick was important.
And with the smell of burning dinner I will bring this narrative to a sudden halt. I'll add pictures if I can later.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Life moves on
And now it's November.
We've celebrated the last soccer game of the season and we have 1 week left of cheer before we can officially celebrate a "no sport" season. Hoo yeah.
Kayla decided that she doesn't really like cheer afterall, so I see us going back to soccer in the spring. Joey wants to try baseball. I want to let him try baseball. Originally I thought I'd sign him up in town so he could play with the kids he goes to school with... however I still have some details to flesh out on this plan. I know it'll cost more, but it appears to also be more time consuming, which just isn't going to work for me. But until I have all the details in hand, we're holding judgment. I have until Jan or Feb to do this. Yes, folks, spring sports start in Feb here because... we don't have winter. Or what the rest of the world calls winter. What we call winter, Canada calls perfect sun-bathing weather. It's all perspective.
So, since Joey's the 2nd shortest kid on the team and doesn't know that he'd probably like basketball, we're skipping basketball. Since Kayla isn't going to do basketball cheer (even if she wanted to.. we're not.) I have a blissful 3 months of no running around to sports. (ahhhh)
The looking for a job thing hit a grinding halt. Or rather, I keep applying and get zero. ZERO response. I got excited when I got an email saying "we're going to contact the most qualified candidate in 10-12 weeks" seriously, this is SLOW going. As a result kids 1-3 are no longer enrolled in afterschool care and JM is in his last month of preschool, since I had to give a month notice.
He of course has been complaining that he doesn't want to go. Everyday has been a different reason. Last week it was because they have to sit "criss cross applesauce" (aka indian style from when I was a kid) and he doesn't like that, that he doesn't like the work part, and that he doens't like the nap part (usually I pick him up before nap since I'm not working.. however one day he did go for 1/2 of nap time since I had an eye dr apt..) This week it's he doesn't like the singing, he doesn't like the sharing and he doesn't want to talk to the class. He only goes 3 days. Anyway.. if he wanted to go, I can send him to the 1/2 day kindergarten program they're starting here in Jan. I don't plan on that. I'm planning on him being home with me til Sept. Unless a job of some sort shows up.
At this point I'm not counting on it.
On the mini farm front, the last sick chicken is still living. The two younger ones haven't started producing eggs yet and the sick one production has slowed down with cooler weather, so we're actually out of eggs. And I'm shopping for 3 more young chicks. We're so sick of eggplant and they're really little you can do to preserve it, so Larry and the kids have had a blast with launching them over the wall into the back not-our yard area. Rabbits appear to really like them.
Not ours, he's fussy.
Halloween came and went. Along with 1000 or more kids in the neighborhood. The funny thing is the old WW2 vet who orchestrates closing the road put out a notice to the neighbors, asking for volunteers for the 2 hours of appointed trick or treating time. At the end he said at 8:00 he was going to go around the neighborhood and tell everyone trick or treat was over. At 8:05 he was walking past our house announcing trick or treat was over, and the parents looked at him in disbelief and argued the houses still had lights on. The neighbors across the street and we looked at each other, shut the door and turned off the lights. By 8:30, heard some teens making a ruckus in the road "what the heck, how can the whole neighborhood be closed for trick or treating?!" lol. Lemme tell you, sunshine, it's a conspiracy. And not a very secret one. Besides, we had 5 pieces of candy left at 8:05. Lousy ones, at that.
Anyway.. with halloween here comes alot of candy for the kids to consume. Normally they're ok about it because we've threatened if they act out or wont' eat real food they won't have unhindered access to their candy. However this year on daylight savings morning, when in theory we could have slept in an hour.... Joey and JM were eating candy and chasing each other around the house at 5 am. (6am if you look at the old time) Which, you might think is an ok hour for a child to be up. I do not. Especially since I wake them at 6:30 for school and get a whole lot of "I'm too tired to wake up" attitude. Harrumph. I now have control of their candy. And none of them were orbs of sunshine this am at 7:30 or 6:30.. (depending on which clock you looked at..)
Other than that, things are the same nuttiness. Kayla has made countless more videos trying to top the last one. She's been picked from the kids at church to be one of the kids on the worship video the church is producing. She'll have her next 30 minutes of fame in the next 2 months. They hand picked those who love being on stage and approached the parents. It involves letting her learn new songs and motions and taking her to the taping some time around Thanksgiving. Our church has an amazing video production staff, so it'll be interesting to see.
And if it's interesting enough and I have enough time I'll put it up here.
We went to the Marine Corps ball. I've decided that my father should go to it. He'd be far more into the pomp and history that I am. As it is, my brain wouldn't shut up. They walk in all solemnly with a cake on wheels and it looked like they were wheeling in a casket.. it's THAT somber a ceremony. It's supposed to be a birthday party, for crying out loud. The ceremony part comes off with the festivity of a funeral. Cept a good portion of the guys are drunk. So an Irish funeral. We left before the excessively festive part. (aka drunken dancing) Because we're too dang old to play like we're 21.
But here's evidence. We dressed up, and Larry still fit in his uniform.
And since I had the camera out, here's the pictures from Halloween.
Note the lack of theme here. Some families go with a theme. We go with "what we find on clearance the year before mixed with what can we throw together with minimal effort.." Sonia really really wanted to be a bunny. I got the head from ebay. I was going to dress her in white sweatshirt and sweatpants but since I couldn't find any in her size but DID find a big furry dog outfit, we just cut off the head of the dog, so she could look like a rabbit. kinda.
Kayla was the snow white costume we found mid-nov last year for $2, JM was the power ranger he had to have for $1 and Joey's still batman from last year since it still fit. Besides, Batman is timeless/classic. Actually. I guess I DO have a theme. It's cheap and easy. Kinda like my meal planning. At least I'm consistent in some areas.
And maybe a few from soccer....?
That's Joey AND Sonia in the same picture below
We've celebrated the last soccer game of the season and we have 1 week left of cheer before we can officially celebrate a "no sport" season. Hoo yeah.
Kayla decided that she doesn't really like cheer afterall, so I see us going back to soccer in the spring. Joey wants to try baseball. I want to let him try baseball. Originally I thought I'd sign him up in town so he could play with the kids he goes to school with... however I still have some details to flesh out on this plan. I know it'll cost more, but it appears to also be more time consuming, which just isn't going to work for me. But until I have all the details in hand, we're holding judgment. I have until Jan or Feb to do this. Yes, folks, spring sports start in Feb here because... we don't have winter. Or what the rest of the world calls winter. What we call winter, Canada calls perfect sun-bathing weather. It's all perspective.
So, since Joey's the 2nd shortest kid on the team and doesn't know that he'd probably like basketball, we're skipping basketball. Since Kayla isn't going to do basketball cheer (even if she wanted to.. we're not.) I have a blissful 3 months of no running around to sports. (ahhhh)
The looking for a job thing hit a grinding halt. Or rather, I keep applying and get zero. ZERO response. I got excited when I got an email saying "we're going to contact the most qualified candidate in 10-12 weeks" seriously, this is SLOW going. As a result kids 1-3 are no longer enrolled in afterschool care and JM is in his last month of preschool, since I had to give a month notice.
He of course has been complaining that he doesn't want to go. Everyday has been a different reason. Last week it was because they have to sit "criss cross applesauce" (aka indian style from when I was a kid) and he doesn't like that, that he doesn't like the work part, and that he doens't like the nap part (usually I pick him up before nap since I'm not working.. however one day he did go for 1/2 of nap time since I had an eye dr apt..) This week it's he doesn't like the singing, he doesn't like the sharing and he doesn't want to talk to the class. He only goes 3 days. Anyway.. if he wanted to go, I can send him to the 1/2 day kindergarten program they're starting here in Jan. I don't plan on that. I'm planning on him being home with me til Sept. Unless a job of some sort shows up.
At this point I'm not counting on it.
On the mini farm front, the last sick chicken is still living. The two younger ones haven't started producing eggs yet and the sick one production has slowed down with cooler weather, so we're actually out of eggs. And I'm shopping for 3 more young chicks. We're so sick of eggplant and they're really little you can do to preserve it, so Larry and the kids have had a blast with launching them over the wall into the back not-our yard area. Rabbits appear to really like them.
Not ours, he's fussy.
Halloween came and went. Along with 1000 or more kids in the neighborhood. The funny thing is the old WW2 vet who orchestrates closing the road put out a notice to the neighbors, asking for volunteers for the 2 hours of appointed trick or treating time. At the end he said at 8:00 he was going to go around the neighborhood and tell everyone trick or treat was over. At 8:05 he was walking past our house announcing trick or treat was over, and the parents looked at him in disbelief and argued the houses still had lights on. The neighbors across the street and we looked at each other, shut the door and turned off the lights. By 8:30, heard some teens making a ruckus in the road "what the heck, how can the whole neighborhood be closed for trick or treating?!" lol. Lemme tell you, sunshine, it's a conspiracy. And not a very secret one. Besides, we had 5 pieces of candy left at 8:05. Lousy ones, at that.
Anyway.. with halloween here comes alot of candy for the kids to consume. Normally they're ok about it because we've threatened if they act out or wont' eat real food they won't have unhindered access to their candy. However this year on daylight savings morning, when in theory we could have slept in an hour.... Joey and JM were eating candy and chasing each other around the house at 5 am. (6am if you look at the old time) Which, you might think is an ok hour for a child to be up. I do not. Especially since I wake them at 6:30 for school and get a whole lot of "I'm too tired to wake up" attitude. Harrumph. I now have control of their candy. And none of them were orbs of sunshine this am at 7:30 or 6:30.. (depending on which clock you looked at..)
Other than that, things are the same nuttiness. Kayla has made countless more videos trying to top the last one. She's been picked from the kids at church to be one of the kids on the worship video the church is producing. She'll have her next 30 minutes of fame in the next 2 months. They hand picked those who love being on stage and approached the parents. It involves letting her learn new songs and motions and taking her to the taping some time around Thanksgiving. Our church has an amazing video production staff, so it'll be interesting to see.
And if it's interesting enough and I have enough time I'll put it up here.
We went to the Marine Corps ball. I've decided that my father should go to it. He'd be far more into the pomp and history that I am. As it is, my brain wouldn't shut up. They walk in all solemnly with a cake on wheels and it looked like they were wheeling in a casket.. it's THAT somber a ceremony. It's supposed to be a birthday party, for crying out loud. The ceremony part comes off with the festivity of a funeral. Cept a good portion of the guys are drunk. So an Irish funeral. We left before the excessively festive part. (aka drunken dancing) Because we're too dang old to play like we're 21.
And since I had the camera out, here's the pictures from Halloween.
Note the lack of theme here. Some families go with a theme. We go with "what we find on clearance the year before mixed with what can we throw together with minimal effort.." Sonia really really wanted to be a bunny. I got the head from ebay. I was going to dress her in white sweatshirt and sweatpants but since I couldn't find any in her size but DID find a big furry dog outfit, we just cut off the head of the dog, so she could look like a rabbit. kinda.
Kayla was the snow white costume we found mid-nov last year for $2, JM was the power ranger he had to have for $1 and Joey's still batman from last year since it still fit. Besides, Batman is timeless/classic. Actually. I guess I DO have a theme. It's cheap and easy. Kinda like my meal planning. At least I'm consistent in some areas.
And maybe a few from soccer....?
Thursday, October 27, 2011
What happens when you mix a Kayla, 2 Stripeys and a video camera
http://youtu.be/zP8Gry2A5XE
If nothing else, skip to the last 15 seconds, for the "lesson of the video"...
"Never argue with your mom"
If nothing else, skip to the last 15 seconds, for the "lesson of the video"...
"Never argue with your mom"
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Life
just flies by. Hard to believe next week will be November. And of course living here, you don't get the clues like frost on the windshield, leaves falling, etc.. that you would have to tell you it's getting into fall.
But aside from the lack of a job, this has been a difficult week.
Larry was out of town, so he wasn't around to do the "manly" tasks of putting the dead rat out of the garage or dealing with the chickens that got sick. Those chickens.. sigh.. the grown ones, not the little ones- they never looked well. They came with 1/2 their feathers. We were told they were just coming out of a molt and their feathers would return.
However, they didn't. We dusted for mites and lice. And they continued to loose feathers. Until they looked sick as they lost more and more feathers. Really sickly. Like scrawny things ready for a cook pot. Cept I don't know that I could ever actually cook and eat them shy of the apocalypse. So the first one got sick and died and the others picked at the carcass until there was dead chicken spread everywhere. Then a few days later chicken #2 died and the remaining chicken similarly picked at the dead one. This time I was expecting it. Well.. not expecting it, but not as surprised. I had taken sick chicken #2 back to the store we bought her from and said "she's sick, she came sick and I don't know what to do with her" And was going to leave her there just so I didn't have to deal with the carcass. But they said I should de-worm them and they'd be ok. Well... no. I think she was too far beyond gone.
So. I have 1 semi-sick chicken left and the 2 chicks. We'd been keeping them separate and will continue to do so until hen 3 croaks, I think. However I think we'll be buying eggs for a while. The young ones won't start laying for another few months, I think. And we might just have to get a few more chicks. Or not. I'm almost ready to give up on my urban homestead life. No where in my vision of my self-sufficient life did I have to deal with sick and dying animals.
So.. Aside from swearing off eating chicken for the rest of the year, I've survived. I kept the kids from seeing the dead ones so they're blissfully ignorant. They realize 2 of them are gone/dead but don't really have a full idea of that that entailed. And since I've sworn off eating chicken, we've been eating red meat this week. Good thing we don't have a sick cow. I don't know what I'd do then...
But aside from the lack of a job, this has been a difficult week.
Larry was out of town, so he wasn't around to do the "manly" tasks of putting the dead rat out of the garage or dealing with the chickens that got sick. Those chickens.. sigh.. the grown ones, not the little ones- they never looked well. They came with 1/2 their feathers. We were told they were just coming out of a molt and their feathers would return.
However, they didn't. We dusted for mites and lice. And they continued to loose feathers. Until they looked sick as they lost more and more feathers. Really sickly. Like scrawny things ready for a cook pot. Cept I don't know that I could ever actually cook and eat them shy of the apocalypse. So the first one got sick and died and the others picked at the carcass until there was dead chicken spread everywhere. Then a few days later chicken #2 died and the remaining chicken similarly picked at the dead one. This time I was expecting it. Well.. not expecting it, but not as surprised. I had taken sick chicken #2 back to the store we bought her from and said "she's sick, she came sick and I don't know what to do with her" And was going to leave her there just so I didn't have to deal with the carcass. But they said I should de-worm them and they'd be ok. Well... no. I think she was too far beyond gone.
So. I have 1 semi-sick chicken left and the 2 chicks. We'd been keeping them separate and will continue to do so until hen 3 croaks, I think. However I think we'll be buying eggs for a while. The young ones won't start laying for another few months, I think. And we might just have to get a few more chicks. Or not. I'm almost ready to give up on my urban homestead life. No where in my vision of my self-sufficient life did I have to deal with sick and dying animals.
So.. Aside from swearing off eating chicken for the rest of the year, I've survived. I kept the kids from seeing the dead ones so they're blissfully ignorant. They realize 2 of them are gone/dead but don't really have a full idea of that that entailed. And since I've sworn off eating chicken, we've been eating red meat this week. Good thing we don't have a sick cow. I don't know what I'd do then...
Friday, October 21, 2011
Student of the Month.....
Kayla. We're very proud, of course. I video taped it with our newer video camera. Unfortunately, it appears to record in a format that my computer doesn't recognize. If I can't get this to convert in the next 30 minutes, you'll have to take my word for it that her teacher wrote some very nice things about Kayla showing good character, putting others first and respecting authority. I'm happy that while she might not put her siblings first and listen the first time at home, at least she's doing it right at school.
I did take a few still pictures my camera can upload:
Ah ha. Video is converted, however used a free program that put it's name in the middle of the screen. Oh well. You'll get the general idea...
I did take a few still pictures my camera can upload:
Ah ha. Video is converted, however used a free program that put it's name in the middle of the screen. Oh well. You'll get the general idea...
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
More clarity today
So I'm sitting here thinking "gee, my last 2 attempts at going back to work failed miserably, maybe this isn't for me..."
But I realize job a (remember the refugee clinic one) was a nightmare and they hired me without my license and fired me for not having it quick enough. OK. not fired. Told to come back when I had my license, expect in those 2?3?4? weeks it took the staff I was working for was all fired also. So, I called my former boss and said I was ready and he said he was no longer there.
And job b was similar. I have my license, but I don't have the pesky number to prescribe in CA. And it has physician supervision requirements, and the whole point of the job was that the physician wasn't going to be there, thus.. no supervision. That and I really was awkward there. Really awkward. The more she gave me "style pointers" the more inadequate I felt until I just hit the point where you forget how to speak. Well, practically. I do have the ability to say what ever comes tomind mouth so something came out, but not smooth or polished or what she was looking for.. So "it just isn't working out"
Man, rejected twice. I think this calls for chocolate.
So I'm still mulling going back to work over and waiting for the neon sign from above to tell me what I'm supposed to be doing. So far I haven't gotten the neon sign, but I'd settle for an audible whisper.
And if I'm not going back to work, I need to re-take my board exam. How hard can that be...?? stay tuned.
But I realize job a (remember the refugee clinic one) was a nightmare and they hired me without my license and fired me for not having it quick enough. OK. not fired. Told to come back when I had my license, expect in those 2?3?4? weeks it took the staff I was working for was all fired also. So, I called my former boss and said I was ready and he said he was no longer there.
And job b was similar. I have my license, but I don't have the pesky number to prescribe in CA. And it has physician supervision requirements, and the whole point of the job was that the physician wasn't going to be there, thus.. no supervision. That and I really was awkward there. Really awkward. The more she gave me "style pointers" the more inadequate I felt until I just hit the point where you forget how to speak. Well, practically. I do have the ability to say what ever comes to
Man, rejected twice. I think this calls for chocolate.
So I'm still mulling going back to work over and waiting for the neon sign from above to tell me what I'm supposed to be doing. So far I haven't gotten the neon sign, but I'd settle for an audible whisper.
And if I'm not going back to work, I need to re-take my board exam. How hard can that be...?? stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wow. That was quick.
In quite possibly the world's record for shortest employment... I no longer have a job.
Which is probably ok because I no longer feel like I'm going into cardiac arrest just thinking about walking into work. Ok. Not arrest, just Afib. I was about 4 hours from taking myself to the ER after 4 days of this. With the kids. Oh, yeah, and Larry's playing GIJoe, so he's not home.
So, I wrote a long and venty post and deleted it a few hours later. If you missed it, I am sorry, but you didn't really miss anything.
Instead I'm going to write my ISO and focus on the future:
ISO (In search of)A job with the following requirements
1. A supervising physician who has some degree of patience
2. A practice where people don't talk about you behind your back
3. Where they care about the people they see, not only the type of insurance they have
4. Where they have some grasp of reality. Just some. Keeping expectations realistic.
5. Where I'm not the 3rd or 4th NP they've have in the past year to leave under one situation or another.
6. Where they see kids. AND like them.
7. Where they tolerate delayed vaccination schedules for said kids
8. A dr who will willingly supervise the 540 hours CA is requiring so I can be a fully functioning NP.
9. A non-female dr supervising physician. OK. not to stereotype, but some women are bitches. And then there's the whole which-life-is-better debate- is it better to have stayed home with the kids while letting my career rot, or should I have continued to work as a professional. Since I fall in category a and let my career rot, category b is my diametric opposite and may not be accommodating and understanding about the shock of returning to work. And like many things, I can respect their choice, please respect mine.
10. Enough compensation to pay preschool and daycare and have enough left over to give us some financial margin in our life. Or save to retire. Although by definition you have to work to be able to retire from it, no?
11. Where I can set my schedule to fit the needs of my family (aka, leaving at 4) and working 3 days a week with the flexibility to work 4 days once JM is in full day kindergarten.
12. Within 20-30 minutes commute time.
OK. I think I can stop at 12.
Now if only I can find this mystery job...
Which is probably ok because I no longer feel like I'm going into cardiac arrest just thinking about walking into work. Ok. Not arrest, just Afib. I was about 4 hours from taking myself to the ER after 4 days of this. With the kids. Oh, yeah, and Larry's playing GIJoe, so he's not home.
So, I wrote a long and venty post and deleted it a few hours later. If you missed it, I am sorry, but you didn't really miss anything.
Instead I'm going to write my ISO and focus on the future:
ISO (In search of)A job with the following requirements
1. A supervising physician who has some degree of patience
2. A practice where people don't talk about you behind your back
3. Where they care about the people they see, not only the type of insurance they have
4. Where they have some grasp of reality. Just some. Keeping expectations realistic.
5. Where I'm not the 3rd or 4th NP they've have in the past year to leave under one situation or another.
6. Where they see kids. AND like them.
7. Where they tolerate delayed vaccination schedules for said kids
8. A dr who will willingly supervise the 540 hours CA is requiring so I can be a fully functioning NP.
9. A non-female dr supervising physician. OK. not to stereotype, but some women are bitches. And then there's the whole which-life-is-better debate- is it better to have stayed home with the kids while letting my career rot, or should I have continued to work as a professional. Since I fall in category a and let my career rot, category b is my diametric opposite and may not be accommodating and understanding about the shock of returning to work. And like many things, I can respect their choice, please respect mine.
10. Enough compensation to pay preschool and daycare and have enough left over to give us some financial margin in our life. Or save to retire. Although by definition you have to work to be able to retire from it, no?
11. Where I can set my schedule to fit the needs of my family (aka, leaving at 4) and working 3 days a week with the flexibility to work 4 days once JM is in full day kindergarten.
12. Within 20-30 minutes commute time.
OK. I think I can stop at 12.
Now if only I can find this mystery job...
Monday, October 3, 2011
After much anticipation
I have a job. whoo hoo. I think.
I've been interviewing preschools and checking out the after school program and I'm really hoping that traffic is never bad because to get from work to daycare to aftercare just *might* be a challenge.
Anyway.. I need things like external deadlines to keep me motivated. Nothing like a drop-dead-out-the door and running deadline to get to daycare before they charge $1/minute and threaten to call the police on you. "I'm sorry Mrs. Patient, I know you're crying and distraught and need to be seen and all your problems solved, but we're going to have much bigger problems if I don't get out the door at 5, can we continue this conversation, say, tomorrow am. I'll block out an hour for you."
Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
And now we return you to our regularly scheduled program of trying to get kids to do homework while fixing dinner and wondering how the house can look like a cyclone ran through it within 30 minutes of school ending. I think they must wear 2 or 3 pairs of shoes to school or something because as soon as they get home, there are 2 or 3 pair of shoes per kid all over the floor... or they have 4 or 6 feet.. that should have been something I noticed when they were born... maybe it's an after toddlerhood feature they develop?? It would explain a few things- like the fact that one of my kids actually does have 2 left feet....
I've been interviewing preschools and checking out the after school program and I'm really hoping that traffic is never bad because to get from work to daycare to aftercare just *might* be a challenge.
Anyway.. I need things like external deadlines to keep me motivated. Nothing like a drop-dead-out-the door and running deadline to get to daycare before they charge $1/minute and threaten to call the police on you. "I'm sorry Mrs. Patient, I know you're crying and distraught and need to be seen and all your problems solved, but we're going to have much bigger problems if I don't get out the door at 5, can we continue this conversation, say, tomorrow am. I'll block out an hour for you."
Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
And now we return you to our regularly scheduled program of trying to get kids to do homework while fixing dinner and wondering how the house can look like a cyclone ran through it within 30 minutes of school ending. I think they must wear 2 or 3 pairs of shoes to school or something because as soon as they get home, there are 2 or 3 pair of shoes per kid all over the floor... or they have 4 or 6 feet.. that should have been something I noticed when they were born... maybe it's an after toddlerhood feature they develop?? It would explain a few things- like the fact that one of my kids actually does have 2 left feet....
Friday, September 23, 2011
Hellooooooooo
Anyone blog here anymore?
Yeah. Sorry, would you believe life goes on off the blogosphere?
So.. yes. we made it to CT and back. It was remarkable for a few things
a. The east coast had it's first 5.9 earthquake and we'd been near the epicenter mere hours before it happened, part of our 3 leg multi-flight middle-of-the-night trip.. And yes, we felt it.
b. This thing called a hurricane, a once in 25 years sort of occurrence happened, removing us from things like, say, electricity, running water, cell phone and internet.
And after that, well... I think God was probably saying "you're not welcome back here" Or mother nature. Either way, I'm pretty sure the east coast would like us to stay west of the Mississippi from now on.. In fact, I'll set up a 1-800- vote line like those TV voting shows, if you want them to stay away dial 1-800-888-west, if you like the excitement dial 1-800-888-east...
So.. life's gone back to.. uh.. I'd say normal but, who am I kidding? I'm not sure how to define normal.. but it's gone back to the typical wake kids up, bring to school, do homework, go to soccer, etc. grind that we do here. I'm still girl scout leader of Sonia's brownie troop, but after last year I had a "come to Jesus" talk with the girls. I told the co-leader I was going to and she got a little pale at the mention of Jesus. I think she was actually alittle afraid I was going to give some sort of an alter call... little does she know I have the service project from our church listed for the girls to participate in. Part of the Girl scout pledge is to serve others and man kind.. so.. there you go.
Besides a little service project is good for the soul. Of course the first thing on their list of "what do you want to do as a troop this year" was "SEAWORLD" not "gee, I'd really like to do one of those projects to help people you talked about." Don't worry, I'm not deterred.
Maybe I will look up what discount scout programs sea world has, however... after they do something good. Carrot for the stubbornmules, uh, horses in the troop.
In other news... I'm seriously moving on with life.
The business is being closed if not sold. The prefold inventory uneventfully moved on to it's new owner on the back of the trailer. We're talking with another person to buy the remaining inventory and the name and URL. Part of it is bittersweet looking back 2 years ago at the plans we had to grow the business. We had some really good ideas... but... we're not great on follow through of said ideas.
In other moving on chapters.. going back to nursing. For real this time. I passed the first round of phone interview, I guess, and move on to the in-person interview next week.
I have a 6 year block of time on my resume now empty. Of course that came up. And I guess it's better to admit "well, I took some time off to have kids and stay home with them" that it would be to leave the interviewer thinking I was in jail for said 6 years. Dear potential employer, I've never been arrested. I thought I was sane, but seriously some days I questioned that after staying home with the kids these years.. but yes, I would like to job share with a family practice doc who doesn't want to work full time. Sounds great because I don't want to work full time either. Frankly, I'm not 100% sure I want to work at all, but I checked my certification stuff and I really DO have to get some hours in before 2013. I realize that sounds far off, but, uh.. no.
So, to re-cap. although at times it felt like prison, no, I wasn't in prison. I haven't committed any felonies, and while I may not actually be sane, I can come across as sane in an interview. Don't worry, the insanity works well working in family practice. Sane people go into high paying areas, like, cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery. Insane go into family practice, thinking we'll change the world and make it better.. and still think they'll make the world better after working in it for 8 years despite evidence to the contrary...
Just call me Donna Quixote. I think there's a windmill out there that needs attention.
Yeah. Sorry, would you believe life goes on off the blogosphere?
So.. yes. we made it to CT and back. It was remarkable for a few things
a. The east coast had it's first 5.9 earthquake and we'd been near the epicenter mere hours before it happened, part of our 3 leg multi-flight middle-of-the-night trip.. And yes, we felt it.
b. This thing called a hurricane, a once in 25 years sort of occurrence happened, removing us from things like, say, electricity, running water, cell phone and internet.
And after that, well... I think God was probably saying "you're not welcome back here" Or mother nature. Either way, I'm pretty sure the east coast would like us to stay west of the Mississippi from now on.. In fact, I'll set up a 1-800- vote line like those TV voting shows, if you want them to stay away dial 1-800-888-west, if you like the excitement dial 1-800-888-east...
So.. life's gone back to.. uh.. I'd say normal but, who am I kidding? I'm not sure how to define normal.. but it's gone back to the typical wake kids up, bring to school, do homework, go to soccer, etc. grind that we do here. I'm still girl scout leader of Sonia's brownie troop, but after last year I had a "come to Jesus" talk with the girls. I told the co-leader I was going to and she got a little pale at the mention of Jesus. I think she was actually alittle afraid I was going to give some sort of an alter call... little does she know I have the service project from our church listed for the girls to participate in. Part of the Girl scout pledge is to serve others and man kind.. so.. there you go.
Besides a little service project is good for the soul. Of course the first thing on their list of "what do you want to do as a troop this year" was "SEAWORLD" not "gee, I'd really like to do one of those projects to help people you talked about." Don't worry, I'm not deterred.
Maybe I will look up what discount scout programs sea world has, however... after they do something good. Carrot for the stubborn
In other news... I'm seriously moving on with life.
The business is being closed if not sold. The prefold inventory uneventfully moved on to it's new owner on the back of the trailer. We're talking with another person to buy the remaining inventory and the name and URL. Part of it is bittersweet looking back 2 years ago at the plans we had to grow the business. We had some really good ideas... but... we're not great on follow through of said ideas.
In other moving on chapters.. going back to nursing. For real this time. I passed the first round of phone interview, I guess, and move on to the in-person interview next week.
I have a 6 year block of time on my resume now empty. Of course that came up. And I guess it's better to admit "well, I took some time off to have kids and stay home with them" that it would be to leave the interviewer thinking I was in jail for said 6 years. Dear potential employer, I've never been arrested. I thought I was sane, but seriously some days I questioned that after staying home with the kids these years.. but yes, I would like to job share with a family practice doc who doesn't want to work full time. Sounds great because I don't want to work full time either. Frankly, I'm not 100% sure I want to work at all, but I checked my certification stuff and I really DO have to get some hours in before 2013. I realize that sounds far off, but, uh.. no.
So, to re-cap. although at times it felt like prison, no, I wasn't in prison. I haven't committed any felonies, and while I may not actually be sane, I can come across as sane in an interview. Don't worry, the insanity works well working in family practice. Sane people go into high paying areas, like, cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery. Insane go into family practice, thinking we'll change the world and make it better.. and still think they'll make the world better after working in it for 8 years despite evidence to the contrary...
Just call me Donna Quixote. I think there's a windmill out there that needs attention.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Well there's nothing quite like loggin on to do online check in
for your flight and the computer tells you "there is a problem with one or more of your flights" and you get checked in as far as los angeles.
That was last night. I called the "please call 1-800-india" number and got some guy who repeated "so sorry, so sorry" and put me on hold. He said some other stuff but between the kids yelling in the background and the heavy accent and the phone line static from crossing 1/2 around the globe into somewhere I bet got permanent electricity last month...
Anyway.. I digress..
But he assures me that after putting me on hold that I am checked in. I logged back in and was able to print boarding passes for all 3 legs of my flights, however... the computer still only has be officially checked in for the first flight. It tells me it will try to check us in as the flight becomes available.
Warm and comforting feeling, isn't it?
To boot, they've changed our flight numbers 4 times, so after going through and reserving seats in adjacent rows, when they change the flight numbers, our seats were unassigned. The last time they did this, they had only 3 seats available to reserve, the rest were taken/assigned. However.. the computer allowed me to reserve the same 3 seats for all 5 of us, so I don't know how that's going to work in practicality. We'll see. I think that's on the return leg, so they still have 4 weeks to change our flight numbers yet again. I also managed to mess up Larry's flight, so despite leaving on the same plane and arriving on the same plane, the middle plane he's on a different one completely. Yes. 3 planes. Because we're trying to do this as affordably as possible. Why it should cost less to take 3 plane rides than 2 plane rides, I have no idea. However that's what continental thinks is cost effective. It doesn't seem logical to me, but hey, taking a greyhound across the country is cheaper, and stops 2000 times, so I guess they're using the public transit logic.
My logic tells me there's a pretty good chance our luggage will take a detour along the way. But we'll see. They've changed the carry on bag rules so that anything larger than a back pack is considered too large for carry on baggage, so I get to test this theory out. Yeah me.
Anyway.. I'm off not to try to overplan and over pack and *hopefully* that will lead to a smooth trouble free trip.
I hear the snickering. Stop. Really. Maybe we will have a trouble free trip.
OK. you're right, who am I kidding. Resume laughing.
That was last night. I called the "please call 1-800-india" number and got some guy who repeated "so sorry, so sorry" and put me on hold. He said some other stuff but between the kids yelling in the background and the heavy accent and the phone line static from crossing 1/2 around the globe into somewhere I bet got permanent electricity last month...
Anyway.. I digress..
But he assures me that after putting me on hold that I am checked in. I logged back in and was able to print boarding passes for all 3 legs of my flights, however... the computer still only has be officially checked in for the first flight. It tells me it will try to check us in as the flight becomes available.
Warm and comforting feeling, isn't it?
To boot, they've changed our flight numbers 4 times, so after going through and reserving seats in adjacent rows, when they change the flight numbers, our seats were unassigned. The last time they did this, they had only 3 seats available to reserve, the rest were taken/assigned. However.. the computer allowed me to reserve the same 3 seats for all 5 of us, so I don't know how that's going to work in practicality. We'll see. I think that's on the return leg, so they still have 4 weeks to change our flight numbers yet again. I also managed to mess up Larry's flight, so despite leaving on the same plane and arriving on the same plane, the middle plane he's on a different one completely. Yes. 3 planes. Because we're trying to do this as affordably as possible. Why it should cost less to take 3 plane rides than 2 plane rides, I have no idea. However that's what continental thinks is cost effective. It doesn't seem logical to me, but hey, taking a greyhound across the country is cheaper, and stops 2000 times, so I guess they're using the public transit logic.
My logic tells me there's a pretty good chance our luggage will take a detour along the way. But we'll see. They've changed the carry on bag rules so that anything larger than a back pack is considered too large for carry on baggage, so I get to test this theory out. Yeah me.
Anyway.. I'm off not to try to overplan and over pack and *hopefully* that will lead to a smooth trouble free trip.
I hear the snickering. Stop. Really. Maybe we will have a trouble free trip.
OK. you're right, who am I kidding. Resume laughing.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Nothing like a computer to make you feel old
Or maybe it's just me. Probably is
Anyway.. I have yahoo mail. It decided it needed to update itself. OK.. so now I'm lost as to how to do the "normal" stuff I used to do..
And to add insult to old dog injury, at the top of the page, it tells me what is "trending now." What the heck? I assume this is what people are searching for, but what does it say about the rock I live under if I don't have a clue what they are searching for. Selena? who is this? Why do I care if she broke up with someone? Yesterday it was some other rumor of something.
Ugh. It makes my brain feel old.
In other news.. The kids are counting the hours until our overnight plane ride. I debate signing up for and using twitter to do hourly updates of the trip, but, hey. I'm old. I might update facebook. Maybe. Or not. I'm not sure at this point that I want evidence of this trip.
As it is, Kayla decided last night that she wasn't tired. At 1 am. She had a nice long nap, woke up and decided to come poke me in the face hourly until 5 am when she decided it was light enough out for her brothers to keep her company.
Let me tell you... cranky doesn't begin to describe the day here. In fact she was wailing how tired she was and throwing herself on the floor at 4.
And I'm thinking "yep. 3 more days of this and she's Grandma's problem"
Don't worry, Grandma, she generally hasn't pulled a stunt like this since she was an infant. And if I HAD chewable benadry, I would have given it to her. I forgot to get some today- my sleep deprived brain isn't functioning fully...
Anyway.. I have yahoo mail. It decided it needed to update itself. OK.. so now I'm lost as to how to do the "normal" stuff I used to do..
And to add insult to old dog injury, at the top of the page, it tells me what is "trending now." What the heck? I assume this is what people are searching for, but what does it say about the rock I live under if I don't have a clue what they are searching for. Selena? who is this? Why do I care if she broke up with someone? Yesterday it was some other rumor of something.
Ugh. It makes my brain feel old.
In other news.. The kids are counting the hours until our overnight plane ride. I debate signing up for and using twitter to do hourly updates of the trip, but, hey. I'm old. I might update facebook. Maybe. Or not. I'm not sure at this point that I want evidence of this trip.
As it is, Kayla decided last night that she wasn't tired. At 1 am. She had a nice long nap, woke up and decided to come poke me in the face hourly until 5 am when she decided it was light enough out for her brothers to keep her company.
Let me tell you... cranky doesn't begin to describe the day here. In fact she was wailing how tired she was and throwing herself on the floor at 4.
And I'm thinking "yep. 3 more days of this and she's Grandma's problem"
Don't worry, Grandma, she generally hasn't pulled a stunt like this since she was an infant. And if I HAD chewable benadry, I would have given it to her. I forgot to get some today- my sleep deprived brain isn't functioning fully...
Friday, July 29, 2011
The suitcases are out
And the kids are packing for their trip to Grandma and Papa's house.
I don't see a single item of clothing in their suitcases. And Joey's started on cramming his backpack full of stuff. Never mind that there are 3 chess sets there, he wants to bring the one they brought him. And you'd think that the girls can't sleep without 15 stuffed animals. Don't kid yourself. They don't sleep with or without stuffed fluffed fomite covered things.
In other news... the guys are back to try to get the solar panel inspection passed this time.
I know.. you're thinking "wow. solar they must be rich" no. But we ran the numbers and we can pay the credit union monthy or we can pay the electric company monthly. At least with the credit union, there's a payoff date. And once the electric company installed a new meter last year our use went up 40%. It seemed awfully suspicious and it's not like you can shop around for a less fishy company. And we live in the land of perpetual sun. So much so I'm almost ready to say I'm ready for a break from perpetual sun. Never thought I'd say that. And I don't want too long a break. I think1 week in ct ought to be fine for that.
But anyway.. in perpetual sun we can make electricity from said sun. Sadly, because we can't get the backup batteries and generator you'd need to be completely off grid, we're still on the grid. And there's still that gas and water issue we are grid bound for. *sigh*
We bought our cranky neighbor off with fresh eggs and got 2 more chickens. Chicks, actually. Yeah. Larry ought never let me go back to the feed store without him. They had kittens there, also. He did draw the line at those. I don't even like cats. But I was thinking, well, an outdoor cat might catch the dang squirrels that keep eating my garden... Larry's been waging war with a bb gun and after I threatened to bring home a cat, he put out poison. Anyway.. the chicks are now 5 weeks old and really cute. They're in the rabbit's original cage until they're big enough the hens won't kill them. "Pecking order" has actual meaning when it comes to chickens. As does the term "squawk like a hen" in case you were wondering.
Welll.... Joey's here insisting that we read the next chapter in Tom Sawyer. We missed it last night, and he want so read. It's out of character for him to want to read anything, so I guess I should take the opportunity while it presents itself.
I don't see a single item of clothing in their suitcases. And Joey's started on cramming his backpack full of stuff. Never mind that there are 3 chess sets there, he wants to bring the one they brought him. And you'd think that the girls can't sleep without 15 stuffed animals. Don't kid yourself. They don't sleep with or without stuffed fluffed fomite covered things.
In other news... the guys are back to try to get the solar panel inspection passed this time.
I know.. you're thinking "wow. solar they must be rich" no. But we ran the numbers and we can pay the credit union monthy or we can pay the electric company monthly. At least with the credit union, there's a payoff date. And once the electric company installed a new meter last year our use went up 40%. It seemed awfully suspicious and it's not like you can shop around for a less fishy company. And we live in the land of perpetual sun. So much so I'm almost ready to say I'm ready for a break from perpetual sun. Never thought I'd say that. And I don't want too long a break. I think1 week in ct ought to be fine for that.
But anyway.. in perpetual sun we can make electricity from said sun. Sadly, because we can't get the backup batteries and generator you'd need to be completely off grid, we're still on the grid. And there's still that gas and water issue we are grid bound for. *sigh*
We bought our cranky neighbor off with fresh eggs and got 2 more chickens. Chicks, actually. Yeah. Larry ought never let me go back to the feed store without him. They had kittens there, also. He did draw the line at those. I don't even like cats. But I was thinking, well, an outdoor cat might catch the dang squirrels that keep eating my garden... Larry's been waging war with a bb gun and after I threatened to bring home a cat, he put out poison. Anyway.. the chicks are now 5 weeks old and really cute. They're in the rabbit's original cage until they're big enough the hens won't kill them. "Pecking order" has actual meaning when it comes to chickens. As does the term "squawk like a hen" in case you were wondering.
Welll.... Joey's here insisting that we read the next chapter in Tom Sawyer. We missed it last night, and he want so read. It's out of character for him to want to read anything, so I guess I should take the opportunity while it presents itself.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Lest you think life is dull around here just because I don't blog about it
I thought I'd share a little glimpse of what an hour here is like.
For example, this am.... I decided to take a shower.
I know. Ground shattering news, but if you're a mother you know anytime you take a shower during the kids' awake hours, you're living dangerously. After Larry was done, I notice JM was awake and without his older siblings to keep him from burning the house down, there was no way I was showering. Not to worry, he had them awake and screeching in about 12 minutes.
So after feeding them breakfast and telling them to get changed and clean their rooms....
(ah ha.. my secret.. I tell them to get dressed and clean their rooms, they disappear into their rooms for about 20 minutes. Not that they actually CLEAN them or get dressed.. but they go and play or read quietly so that perhaps I'll forget I told them to do something and not notice they're not doing it. I of course am wise to this, so I can take the opportunity to take a shower. I can't use the time to use the phone, because the magnetic draw of the phone being on is just too great for them to remain away and not have a loud and urgent catastrophe while on said phone.)
And we have swimming lessons today and after Monday's lesson as I was putting on my bathing suit, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I shaved my legs and decided today I really should do that. Today. Before swim lessons.
I know, this is getting into the Too-Much-Information stage.. but... ANYWAY.. it's why my shower was longer than 2.2 minutes this am.
Because longer than 2.2 minutes was the time it took the boys to get dressed, go out into the backyard and find a "dinosaur bone" Which they then bring into the house, fight over until Joey puts it in his pocket.
This said dinosaur bone was about the size of a rabbit or squirrel leg bone and probably about 2 weeks old and carrying all sorts of disease and pestilence.
And the girls were chasing him to see it, still in pajamas.
And THAT my friends is why I don't shave my legs. Just in case you've been judging me and my fashion sense. It's not a political hippy statement. It's self, or rather, child preservation. And by the time they're old enough that I can trust them longer than 2.2 minutes, I shudder to think what their ingenuity will be able to accomplish in 4.2 seconds. As it is, Joey's made a functioning tazer out of legos and batteries. Yes. I'm worried, too. Either he'll be a serial psycho or he'll be the next MacGuiver. I'm hoping and praying for MacGuiver.
For example, this am.... I decided to take a shower.
I know. Ground shattering news, but if you're a mother you know anytime you take a shower during the kids' awake hours, you're living dangerously. After Larry was done, I notice JM was awake and without his older siblings to keep him from burning the house down, there was no way I was showering. Not to worry, he had them awake and screeching in about 12 minutes.
So after feeding them breakfast and telling them to get changed and clean their rooms....
(ah ha.. my secret.. I tell them to get dressed and clean their rooms, they disappear into their rooms for about 20 minutes. Not that they actually CLEAN them or get dressed.. but they go and play or read quietly so that perhaps I'll forget I told them to do something and not notice they're not doing it. I of course am wise to this, so I can take the opportunity to take a shower. I can't use the time to use the phone, because the magnetic draw of the phone being on is just too great for them to remain away and not have a loud and urgent catastrophe while on said phone.)
And we have swimming lessons today and after Monday's lesson as I was putting on my bathing suit, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I shaved my legs and decided today I really should do that. Today. Before swim lessons.
I know, this is getting into the Too-Much-Information stage.. but... ANYWAY.. it's why my shower was longer than 2.2 minutes this am.
Because longer than 2.2 minutes was the time it took the boys to get dressed, go out into the backyard and find a "dinosaur bone" Which they then bring into the house, fight over until Joey puts it in his pocket.
This said dinosaur bone was about the size of a rabbit or squirrel leg bone and probably about 2 weeks old and carrying all sorts of disease and pestilence.
And the girls were chasing him to see it, still in pajamas.
And THAT my friends is why I don't shave my legs. Just in case you've been judging me and my fashion sense. It's not a political hippy statement. It's self, or rather, child preservation. And by the time they're old enough that I can trust them longer than 2.2 minutes, I shudder to think what their ingenuity will be able to accomplish in 4.2 seconds. As it is, Joey's made a functioning tazer out of legos and batteries. Yes. I'm worried, too. Either he'll be a serial psycho or he'll be the next MacGuiver. I'm hoping and praying for MacGuiver.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
It's been another week here in paradise
Well, actually paradise is about 10 miles due west of here. It's been pretty dang hot here. But All I have to do is drive 15 minutes and I and get to paradise...
We're wrapping up our last week of swimming lessons. Three of the four kids advanced to the "sinks slower than a stone" class, however, one thought she was cleaver in getting just her hair wet and not her face when they were supposed to go underwater, so she failed. She's in rock class, however, when we realized she was the last one in the sinking rock class, she became motivated and should catch up. I'm not sure if the rest will "graduate" their current class, but even if they do, I don't see us re-enlisting anytime soon.
But we did learn that you can take advantage of their free swim time before/after/during swimming lessons so when we got there 30 minutes early for class, the kids got to play in the pool, and then while the big kids were in class JM could play and when JM was in class the big kids could practice and when JM was done they could all play until their mother decided she'd had enough. Funny, with all the pool time we've had this month, yesterday the kids were done at the same time I was. lol. Usually I have about 20 minutes after swim lessons are all done before I've had enough. Enough sun, enough noise, enough water...
But I like the pool far more than I like the beach, so.. I'm far more willing to go there than the beach. You see... the pool doesn't come with sand that gets in everything. AND if you're lucky you can snag a poolside chair instead of parking on sand and/or hauling a chair/blanket/cooler/umbrella/sand toys from the car.
Which, if you're my kids, you're willing to help carry something to the beach until we actually get to the beach, then you kick off your shoes and run leaving your mother with a pile of shoes, sand toys and food and drink you'll want later. You know all she wants? A large drink, a lounge chair and a good book. And next time that's all I'm dragging down toward the water. The kids will have to bring the things they think are essential. And if they don't think their shoes are essential, they're not getting new ones. (Lest you think that's an idle threat, we've lost 2 pairs of shoes at the beach, and my brand new beach blanket.)
If you've ever gotten to the beach and seen a random shoe and thought "who can be missing a shoe, wouldn't they notice that?" The answer is "no, my kids don't notice" and by the time they do notice and we spend hours hunting for it, it's beyond being found. Twice now I've stopped at walmart on the way home from the beach to buy $3 flip flops for the shoe-less kid. Not that they have only 1 pair of shoes, but usually they pair they loose is their pair they love and take everywhere with them... And refuse to wear the rest of their shoes or it's their shoes that they need to wear to school, so I'd like them to not be lost...
Anyway.. I was planning on taking said children down to free museum day today, but when I double checked, it's next week that we'd prefer to go. So today is wide open with potential. However, the potential for good is rapidly dwindling after the morning of bickering and fighting here. Joey found a magnet. He wants to see if quarters are magnetic, however, he claims he doesn't have any quarters. (I find this hard to believe, since this kid is the saver in the bunch) Kayla decides to help him and goes to get her purse, Sonia gets mad saying the coins in Kayla's purse are hers, Kayla claims they're hers, Joey calls her a liar, Kayla cries that he called her a liar and I'm ready to wring all their necks. This was all before breakfast. I just read Parenting with Love and Logic and yet again, I think "well, gee, your methods seem to work for you, but I fail to see how 60% of your ideas could be implemented here" Which is what I think with most books. Sometimes I wish those authors ran a drop off boot camp, I drop my kids off, they write me a book on what to do with them to get the results their original book promised. Yep. Now THAT's an untapped market.
And frankly, I bet it will remain that way.
So off I go to put on my referee hat. Or maybe I'll try the "lock them in a room together and let the best kid win" method. At this point, I'm ready to consider it.
We're wrapping up our last week of swimming lessons. Three of the four kids advanced to the "sinks slower than a stone" class, however, one thought she was cleaver in getting just her hair wet and not her face when they were supposed to go underwater, so she failed. She's in rock class, however, when we realized she was the last one in the sinking rock class, she became motivated and should catch up. I'm not sure if the rest will "graduate" their current class, but even if they do, I don't see us re-enlisting anytime soon.
But we did learn that you can take advantage of their free swim time before/after/during swimming lessons so when we got there 30 minutes early for class, the kids got to play in the pool, and then while the big kids were in class JM could play and when JM was in class the big kids could practice and when JM was done they could all play until their mother decided she'd had enough. Funny, with all the pool time we've had this month, yesterday the kids were done at the same time I was. lol. Usually I have about 20 minutes after swim lessons are all done before I've had enough. Enough sun, enough noise, enough water...
But I like the pool far more than I like the beach, so.. I'm far more willing to go there than the beach. You see... the pool doesn't come with sand that gets in everything. AND if you're lucky you can snag a poolside chair instead of parking on sand and/or hauling a chair/blanket/cooler/umbrella/sand toys from the car.
Which, if you're my kids, you're willing to help carry something to the beach until we actually get to the beach, then you kick off your shoes and run leaving your mother with a pile of shoes, sand toys and food and drink you'll want later. You know all she wants? A large drink, a lounge chair and a good book. And next time that's all I'm dragging down toward the water. The kids will have to bring the things they think are essential. And if they don't think their shoes are essential, they're not getting new ones. (Lest you think that's an idle threat, we've lost 2 pairs of shoes at the beach, and my brand new beach blanket.)
If you've ever gotten to the beach and seen a random shoe and thought "who can be missing a shoe, wouldn't they notice that?" The answer is "no, my kids don't notice" and by the time they do notice and we spend hours hunting for it, it's beyond being found. Twice now I've stopped at walmart on the way home from the beach to buy $3 flip flops for the shoe-less kid. Not that they have only 1 pair of shoes, but usually they pair they loose is their pair they love and take everywhere with them... And refuse to wear the rest of their shoes or it's their shoes that they need to wear to school, so I'd like them to not be lost...
Anyway.. I was planning on taking said children down to free museum day today, but when I double checked, it's next week that we'd prefer to go. So today is wide open with potential. However, the potential for good is rapidly dwindling after the morning of bickering and fighting here. Joey found a magnet. He wants to see if quarters are magnetic, however, he claims he doesn't have any quarters. (I find this hard to believe, since this kid is the saver in the bunch) Kayla decides to help him and goes to get her purse, Sonia gets mad saying the coins in Kayla's purse are hers, Kayla claims they're hers, Joey calls her a liar, Kayla cries that he called her a liar and I'm ready to wring all their necks. This was all before breakfast. I just read Parenting with Love and Logic and yet again, I think "well, gee, your methods seem to work for you, but I fail to see how 60% of your ideas could be implemented here" Which is what I think with most books. Sometimes I wish those authors ran a drop off boot camp, I drop my kids off, they write me a book on what to do with them to get the results their original book promised. Yep. Now THAT's an untapped market.
And frankly, I bet it will remain that way.
So off I go to put on my referee hat. Or maybe I'll try the "lock them in a room together and let the best kid win" method. At this point, I'm ready to consider it.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Just a reminder
Don't take me too seriously. I ramble and rant here, don't think I'm complaining about you. In fact I can guarantee it isn't you. If you want confirmation, you can comment or email with your name and I can tell you for sure. I'd name names here, but THAT I'm pretty sure could get around eventually. That 6 degrees of separation, I'm sure someone's great aunt, 5th cousin twice removed's step daughter sort of relationship would get back to them.. but if you're paranoid like I am and just need confirmation about it, I can do that, too.
But seriously, there are nuts out there.
And in crazy fruit and nut land of California, Hubby and I are right at home.
But seriously, there are nuts out there.
And in crazy fruit and nut land of California, Hubby and I are right at home.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Well I have something to say now
Just a general letting off steam, but really, people (not you who read this, but people in the generic the-trouble-with-you-people sort of people) when you write a product review, cut and pasting the product description from another site, such as Amazon does not count for a review. Seriously. That's not a review. If I want to know if a tent will leak in the rain, I want someone who's used it and tried to to review it, not some techy smuck who thinks they can drive all sort of traffic to themselves by posting faux reviews.
Additionally, people... Amazon review is not the place to post statements that what you got the item as a gift and that Amazon can state it was received with great joy. Really. I'm not making this up.
Also.. Dear Craigslist folk:
If I can buy something for $75 from Walmart/Target/Home Depot, why would I buy your used 2 year old one for $90? I doubt you're that important that your using it actually increases the value. You may think you paid $100 for it, but your memory might be faulty. Or you overpaid. Either way.. good luck with selling it.
And to those CL buyers out there: If I'm selling something for $10, I'm not delivering it 2 hours away. Are you on crack? I list things on CL I don't want to bother with delivering/shipping/getting some crabby person complaining it wasn't want they expected and want their entire $1.75 refunded... or after bidding $1.75 then not paying and getting pissy that you send them invoices to pay. Oh, wait, that's moving onto ebay complaints.
Needless to say.. the full moon is out and it's not a good time to work retail. Or medicine. At least I can laugh about the medicine part, since it's memory. I'm still in retail and the post partum/pregnancy hormone driven full moon craziness is getting to me.
For examples:
If I don't have something, I don't have it. I'm not getting it, no you can't wait for it, because I'm not getting more. No. I'm not getting more. Not even if you put smiley faces in your email and tell you you're going to die without it :-( You might need to re-think what you would die for, because, seriously, if it's a diaper, you probably could use professional help.
I am sorry I didn't realize yellow was a girl color.
I am sorry I didn't realize yellow was a boy color.
I didn't realize blue is a girl color.
Sorry you don't like the orange, Sorry the color on your computer didn't look the same as what you received. Of course it is my fault, because I snuck into your house and messed up your monitor color settings.
Of course I'll exchange for a color you want.
I am sorry, I am out of blue. I have yellow. Oh, sorry, I forgot, yellow is a girl color.
(WHO THE HECK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHAT COLOR GOES TO WHAT GENDER??? And could you all agree? This is getting out of control. I'm going to forward your color complaints to those gay/lesbian/bi folk....)
NO, I don't want a service to help me ship overseas. NO. Seriously I don't. STOP CALLING ME and offering your companies' oversea's brokering services. And starting your day in NYC at 7 am means you are calling here way too dang early. Next time leave me your home number. I'll call you when it's convenient for me. Hope you're awake at 2 am.
Thank you for trying to return items you bought used off a diaper board. No, sorry, I can't exchange them. No, not even if you tell me the name of the person who you bought them from. Why? Well, a.) I have no record of an order with her, and b.) there is a limit on my graciousness, this exceeds it.
If you want to check on your order and order under your husband's name and email address and you don't share the same last name, it's a little hard for me to find that for you. Sorry, but most times I guess incorrectly. I'm not a matchmaker. Probably better for you that way.
Additionally, people... Amazon review is not the place to post statements that what you got the item as a gift and that Amazon can state it was received with great joy. Really. I'm not making this up.
Also.. Dear Craigslist folk:
If I can buy something for $75 from Walmart/Target/Home Depot, why would I buy your used 2 year old one for $90? I doubt you're that important that your using it actually increases the value. You may think you paid $100 for it, but your memory might be faulty. Or you overpaid. Either way.. good luck with selling it.
And to those CL buyers out there: If I'm selling something for $10, I'm not delivering it 2 hours away. Are you on crack? I list things on CL I don't want to bother with delivering/shipping/getting some crabby person complaining it wasn't want they expected and want their entire $1.75 refunded... or after bidding $1.75 then not paying and getting pissy that you send them invoices to pay. Oh, wait, that's moving onto ebay complaints.
Needless to say.. the full moon is out and it's not a good time to work retail. Or medicine. At least I can laugh about the medicine part, since it's memory. I'm still in retail and the post partum/pregnancy hormone driven full moon craziness is getting to me.
For examples:
If I don't have something, I don't have it. I'm not getting it, no you can't wait for it, because I'm not getting more. No. I'm not getting more. Not even if you put smiley faces in your email and tell you you're going to die without it :-( You might need to re-think what you would die for, because, seriously, if it's a diaper, you probably could use professional help.
I am sorry I didn't realize yellow was a girl color.
I am sorry I didn't realize yellow was a boy color.
I didn't realize blue is a girl color.
Sorry you don't like the orange, Sorry the color on your computer didn't look the same as what you received. Of course it is my fault, because I snuck into your house and messed up your monitor color settings.
Of course I'll exchange for a color you want.
I am sorry, I am out of blue. I have yellow. Oh, sorry, I forgot, yellow is a girl color.
(WHO THE HECK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHAT COLOR GOES TO WHAT GENDER??? And could you all agree? This is getting out of control. I'm going to forward your color complaints to those gay/lesbian/bi folk....)
NO, I don't want a service to help me ship overseas. NO. Seriously I don't. STOP CALLING ME and offering your companies' oversea's brokering services. And starting your day in NYC at 7 am means you are calling here way too dang early. Next time leave me your home number. I'll call you when it's convenient for me. Hope you're awake at 2 am.
Thank you for trying to return items you bought used off a diaper board. No, sorry, I can't exchange them. No, not even if you tell me the name of the person who you bought them from. Why? Well, a.) I have no record of an order with her, and b.) there is a limit on my graciousness, this exceeds it.
If you want to check on your order and order under your husband's name and email address and you don't share the same last name, it's a little hard for me to find that for you. Sorry, but most times I guess incorrectly. I'm not a matchmaker. Probably better for you that way.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The problem when you blog sporatically is...
You can't remember what it was you were going to write. A few times I thought, 'hey, I got to remember this to write about' and no, nope, can't remember it. Although it's a joke here to even pretend that I can remember anything. If there was a herb, spice or drug I could take to return my memory I would. As it is.. they didn't work.
So here's a brief synopsis of what we've been up to, so the grandparents know what we do way over here on the other end of the world....
The kids started swim lessons at the Y. Monday and Wednesdays were there for hours. The swim lessons themselves are only an hour but by the time you add the change and shower afterwards and the fact that we're allowed to use the open swim time before and after swimclass, then, yes, we are there the better part of the afternoon.
Of the 4, Kayla is the sinking stone. Joey and Sonia have now had 4 other swim classes and can do more than sink. However... they still haven't passed the first "non-swimmer" category, so all 3 are in the same class. JM would be also, except the age cut off for the class was 6. He's 4 so he's in the 3-5 year old sink like stone class. They give them cutesy names like "poliwog" except.. last I checked polliwog can swim. They could have given it the name "rock" and you graduate to "wood stick" and finally can become "boat"
Anyway.. that's were we'll be again this afternoon. Last class (Monday) I came inches from running over a boy who came sprinting out in front of me from 2 parked cars. My heart still races thinking about it. Seriously. His brother ran out from 2 other cars and stopped part way and ran back, which probably was a saving grace since I was going really slow watching him for sudden suicide running boy moves when his brother streaked out 2 cars closer to me. In a surprise to me, the mom didn't scream at me for almost running her kid over. She said he knew better. Well.. yeah. I sure he does. But it wouldn't hurt to remind him. I'm sure if I hit him, she'd blame me. I sometime think I want one of those cop-type dash cameras for times such as these. I have a tech-heavy hubby. I might look into it seriously. It'd be priceless in a lawsuit. (paranoid, anyone?)
So in my other paranoid areas... our vegetable garden is doing well. The potatoes have been quite an experiment. We'd learned as a kid that you take the parts of potato, cut it up and toss it in the ground and it makes new potatoes. Larry, on the other hand, worked on a potato farm as a kid so he saw some of this in action. Anyway.. I had some potatoes past their prime and let the kids plant them. A few months ago. And we had potato plants and then I read about growing potatoes and the book said not to use grocery potatoes because they can have growth inhibitor.. but I think that must be the expensive potatoes, because the cheap ones I buy seem to sprout on the car ride home....
Anyway.. the plants died. (Larry could never remember how the farmer killed the vines, but apparently they will die on their own) and as I was digging out the done producing broccoli that was next to it, a few potatoes were unearthed. Yesterday Larry dug out the rest. Or, at least what he could find. And this is what we have:
And some really deformed ones
There were 4 types of potatoes we planted. The cheap-sprout-in-days ones did best. The yellow gold ones, did ok. The red ones didn't do terrific, and the potato plant larry bought from the store did pretty poorly also. I think. It's hard to tell which those potatoes were.
The patch was this tiny spot between the broccoli and eggplant. The dead leaves there are the broccoli leaves as I was clearing out the spent broccoli plants.
And if you're looking for zucchini, I have it. Check out these 2 plants. They're the size of a VW at this point. The mass of green just beyond the orange homedepot bucket is them. They have given us more Zucchini that I know what to do with. I've given it away to friends, neighbors and the postmaster who gives me the coupons that are left over from the ones that get mailed (that's a whole other topic). We've had Zucchini casserole, fried zucchini, zucchini bread, zucchini diced and added to pretty much anything and... zucchini brownies. Believe it or not, they're pretty good. Not knock your socks off great, but good. Better than not bad for something that's somewhat healthy.
So.. the postman thing...
Because the horrible people stole our packages, I no longer leave them for our mailguy. I bring them to our post office. I've gotten to know them fairly well. And with the trying to coupon thing hobby I've developed, I wondered.... "I wonder if they get extras of the ones that get mailed?" So I asked them. The first time (ok, first 3 times) they thought I was insane. But now they offer them to me when I come on the day they come out and I bring them veggies. I had brought brownies back in the early days, but they didn't turn out that great, being from a box mix and getting overcooked and all.. so they prefer veggies. And wouldntcha know, I have those.
So.. I guess I need to get moving. I hear the tell tale whine coming from a child that another is bothering them. I don't know at what age they need to learn to work stuff out on their own. I think it's a great skill to have, but it seems that more I try to let them work it out, the worse they act. *sigh* Parenting- not for the faint at heart. I thought the newborn/toddler stage was bad. But honestly they got along better then. Now it's the day long epic battle of which kid is in the other kids' room ... seriously. Wars are fought over territories. This is no exception. Despite they all belong the the Dad and Mom's domain colony.. not to worry, I think if I reverted us to communist state, they'd still find something to fight over- like who was breathing the other person's air. Gotta love human nature.
So here's a brief synopsis of what we've been up to, so the grandparents know what we do way over here on the other end of the world....
The kids started swim lessons at the Y. Monday and Wednesdays were there for hours. The swim lessons themselves are only an hour but by the time you add the change and shower afterwards and the fact that we're allowed to use the open swim time before and after swimclass, then, yes, we are there the better part of the afternoon.
Of the 4, Kayla is the sinking stone. Joey and Sonia have now had 4 other swim classes and can do more than sink. However... they still haven't passed the first "non-swimmer" category, so all 3 are in the same class. JM would be also, except the age cut off for the class was 6. He's 4 so he's in the 3-5 year old sink like stone class. They give them cutesy names like "poliwog" except.. last I checked polliwog can swim. They could have given it the name "rock" and you graduate to "wood stick" and finally can become "boat"
Anyway.. that's were we'll be again this afternoon. Last class (Monday) I came inches from running over a boy who came sprinting out in front of me from 2 parked cars. My heart still races thinking about it. Seriously. His brother ran out from 2 other cars and stopped part way and ran back, which probably was a saving grace since I was going really slow watching him for sudden suicide running boy moves when his brother streaked out 2 cars closer to me. In a surprise to me, the mom didn't scream at me for almost running her kid over. She said he knew better. Well.. yeah. I sure he does. But it wouldn't hurt to remind him. I'm sure if I hit him, she'd blame me. I sometime think I want one of those cop-type dash cameras for times such as these. I have a tech-heavy hubby. I might look into it seriously. It'd be priceless in a lawsuit. (paranoid, anyone?)
So in my other paranoid areas... our vegetable garden is doing well. The potatoes have been quite an experiment. We'd learned as a kid that you take the parts of potato, cut it up and toss it in the ground and it makes new potatoes. Larry, on the other hand, worked on a potato farm as a kid so he saw some of this in action. Anyway.. I had some potatoes past their prime and let the kids plant them. A few months ago. And we had potato plants and then I read about growing potatoes and the book said not to use grocery potatoes because they can have growth inhibitor.. but I think that must be the expensive potatoes, because the cheap ones I buy seem to sprout on the car ride home....
Anyway.. the plants died. (Larry could never remember how the farmer killed the vines, but apparently they will die on their own) and as I was digging out the done producing broccoli that was next to it, a few potatoes were unearthed. Yesterday Larry dug out the rest. Or, at least what he could find. And this is what we have:
And some really deformed ones
The patch was this tiny spot between the broccoli and eggplant. The dead leaves there are the broccoli leaves as I was clearing out the spent broccoli plants.
And if you're looking for zucchini, I have it. Check out these 2 plants. They're the size of a VW at this point. The mass of green just beyond the orange homedepot bucket is them. They have given us more Zucchini that I know what to do with. I've given it away to friends, neighbors and the postmaster who gives me the coupons that are left over from the ones that get mailed (that's a whole other topic). We've had Zucchini casserole, fried zucchini, zucchini bread, zucchini diced and added to pretty much anything and... zucchini brownies. Believe it or not, they're pretty good. Not knock your socks off great, but good. Better than not bad for something that's somewhat healthy.
So.. the postman thing...
Because the horrible people stole our packages, I no longer leave them for our mailguy. I bring them to our post office. I've gotten to know them fairly well. And with the trying to coupon thing hobby I've developed, I wondered.... "I wonder if they get extras of the ones that get mailed?" So I asked them. The first time (ok, first 3 times) they thought I was insane. But now they offer them to me when I come on the day they come out and I bring them veggies. I had brought brownies back in the early days, but they didn't turn out that great, being from a box mix and getting overcooked and all.. so they prefer veggies. And wouldntcha know, I have those.
So.. I guess I need to get moving. I hear the tell tale whine coming from a child that another is bothering them. I don't know at what age they need to learn to work stuff out on their own. I think it's a great skill to have, but it seems that more I try to let them work it out, the worse they act. *sigh* Parenting- not for the faint at heart. I thought the newborn/toddler stage was bad. But honestly they got along better then. Now it's the day long epic battle of which kid is in the other kids' room ... seriously. Wars are fought over territories. This is no exception. Despite they all belong the the Dad and Mom's domain colony.. not to worry, I think if I reverted us to communist state, they'd still find something to fight over- like who was breathing the other person's air. Gotta love human nature.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Much to do and none of it online
So incase you were worried, I'm off crutches now.
We took the kids to see Cars2 in the movies yesterday. I think they liked it. We didn't do the 3D one and we went to the bargain showing. Not that $6/ticket IS a bargain, but it's relative.
Joey's been to yet another birthday party. And he had a friend over last week for the entire day. Our beach day, infact.
We made our yearly pilgrimage to Ikea and now have curtain rods for the kitchen and matching bedspreads for the kids' beds. They have lovely handmade quilts they still use, but for the sake of protecting them, they now have cheap Ikea bedspreads to keep over them. Luckily they all missed the great silly putty disaster, but several of their other blankets are now permanently stained with neon orange silly putty. And silly putty was added to the "do not fly list" here. Actually it WAS on the "do not buy list" but or our last west -east coast trip I got it for their backpacks to keep them entertained on the plane, thinking (oh, how horrible to admit this..) "what do I care if they get silly putty all over the place on the plane?"
ok. in my defense, I thought it was a better alternative to playdough. In retrospect I realize playdough is water soluble and will wash. Silly putty is not and will not.
Anyway.....
This past week we've been to the beach. And one of the annoying features of So Cal early summer/spring is this thing called "may gray and june gloom" pretty much it means a cold cloud overs over the coast. The coast meaning the beach. We live inland and not on the top of a hill that we can see the cloud cover until we get close to the beach.. so we packed up the truck full of beach related junk breaking into a serious sweat in 80 degrees only to get to the beach and find it grey, cold and 66 degrees.
I wish we had access to a pool. Specifially, access to one in a neighbor's yard. I have a neighbor in mind. He hasn't volunteered his pool and the prospects of that are pretty slim. however... he is 4 weeks into trying to re-model his bathroom and at this point I think if I offer Larry's expertise and help I might be able to get a 3 visit pass to his pool.
Anyway.. I signed the kids up for swim lessons at the Ymca. I really really hope they learn to swim this time. I think it should come with a "money back guarantee" After 2 years at the base pool lessons with the kids learning nothing, I think it *might* be a better investment. They had Ymca lessons last year through their school, which for 6 lessons, or however few it was the kids learned more than they did in 2 years at the other pool. And this time I can sign all 4 of them up. Previously Kayla and JM weren't old enough for the kids without mom lessons and no pool lets you take more than 1 kids in at a time. This year they have lessons for kids as young as 4. figures.
Anyway... the plans for this week involve going back to the county fair tomorrow, the children's discover museum and possibly a pool. The museum is free for active duty military members this summer, so of course we're going to check it out. There are 3 museums here we're going to try to go to this summer in that program. There are some perks to being in the military. Aside from not choosing where you live the chance your loved one gets sent to war, and the crappy medical system, the benefits aren't so bad. At least we're in the Navy. I have an Air Force friend who was just moved to Minot ND. Of all the places I joke I don't want to live, that's consistently in the top 2. And I'm not really joking. I'm pretty serious. I don't want to move to Minot. ever.
We took the kids to see Cars2 in the movies yesterday. I think they liked it. We didn't do the 3D one and we went to the bargain showing. Not that $6/ticket IS a bargain, but it's relative.
Joey's been to yet another birthday party. And he had a friend over last week for the entire day. Our beach day, infact.
We made our yearly pilgrimage to Ikea and now have curtain rods for the kitchen and matching bedspreads for the kids' beds. They have lovely handmade quilts they still use, but for the sake of protecting them, they now have cheap Ikea bedspreads to keep over them. Luckily they all missed the great silly putty disaster, but several of their other blankets are now permanently stained with neon orange silly putty. And silly putty was added to the "do not fly list" here. Actually it WAS on the "do not buy list" but or our last west -east coast trip I got it for their backpacks to keep them entertained on the plane, thinking (oh, how horrible to admit this..) "what do I care if they get silly putty all over the place on the plane?"
ok. in my defense, I thought it was a better alternative to playdough. In retrospect I realize playdough is water soluble and will wash. Silly putty is not and will not.
Anyway.....
This past week we've been to the beach. And one of the annoying features of So Cal early summer/spring is this thing called "may gray and june gloom" pretty much it means a cold cloud overs over the coast. The coast meaning the beach. We live inland and not on the top of a hill that we can see the cloud cover until we get close to the beach.. so we packed up the truck full of beach related junk breaking into a serious sweat in 80 degrees only to get to the beach and find it grey, cold and 66 degrees.
I wish we had access to a pool. Specifially, access to one in a neighbor's yard. I have a neighbor in mind. He hasn't volunteered his pool and the prospects of that are pretty slim. however... he is 4 weeks into trying to re-model his bathroom and at this point I think if I offer Larry's expertise and help I might be able to get a 3 visit pass to his pool.
Anyway.. I signed the kids up for swim lessons at the Ymca. I really really hope they learn to swim this time. I think it should come with a "money back guarantee" After 2 years at the base pool lessons with the kids learning nothing, I think it *might* be a better investment. They had Ymca lessons last year through their school, which for 6 lessons, or however few it was the kids learned more than they did in 2 years at the other pool. And this time I can sign all 4 of them up. Previously Kayla and JM weren't old enough for the kids without mom lessons and no pool lets you take more than 1 kids in at a time. This year they have lessons for kids as young as 4. figures.
Anyway... the plans for this week involve going back to the county fair tomorrow, the children's discover museum and possibly a pool. The museum is free for active duty military members this summer, so of course we're going to check it out. There are 3 museums here we're going to try to go to this summer in that program. There are some perks to being in the military. Aside from not choosing where you live the chance your loved one gets sent to war, and the crappy medical system, the benefits aren't so bad. At least we're in the Navy. I have an Air Force friend who was just moved to Minot ND. Of all the places I joke I don't want to live, that's consistently in the top 2. And I'm not really joking. I'm pretty serious. I don't want to move to Minot. ever.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Summer!
Ok. Despite what ever the calendar says, it's summer here. Granted, pretty much all seasons are the same here. June isn't the hottest month of the year, infact it's usually one of the cooler ones.
So with summer being here, I have the kids with me all the time. And we've been to the county fair. And we've planned a pool trip but it was just too cold to go, so we've been to 2 parks.
This weekend Larry planned a trip to the mountains to pan for gold. Just like the old stories of Californians. You see... they didn't get ALL the gold out of CA in the 1800's. There is still some here. And if you join one of the prospecting (yes. Prospecting) clubs you can use their claims and go hunting for gold.
One of the closer sites for gold was in the mountains about 1.5 hours from here, so we drove up for a day trip, followed the directions and turned off the paved road and found the claim site. Since it's in a national forest, we shared the road with others there for picnics and hiking and even a prius made it down the 1 horse rutted road. Speaking of cars... the truck smells like fast food now that the concentration of bio diesel is higher. The exhast smells like french fries. Not great french fries- the french fries you'd get in a pinch off a truck.
So that you can live vicariously through us.. here is evidence of our trip
The highlight of the trip was playing in the creek. You have to understand that real clear, running water that doesn't come from a tap or spigot is pretty unusual here in our daily lives. And this water almost looked like you could drink it. In fact.. the town does drink it. At the bottom of the mountain is the water treatment on the side of the river.
The lowlight of the trip was my sliding down a rock, getting my foot wedged between 2 rocks and falling. Into the river. The wet wasn't so much the compaint as much as the foot pain was. Anyway.. we went to the emergency room for crutches and an xray yesterday. The PA who breezed by the room said the xray was normal. So I assume it is until Larry looks at it today or if a real radiologist reads it. Anyway... it's less painful to hobble around with crutches. But it's putting a damper on my plans to take the kids to the beach or fair this week. It is slowly improving, so maybe I'll be back to my injury prone self shortly.
So with summer being here, I have the kids with me all the time. And we've been to the county fair. And we've planned a pool trip but it was just too cold to go, so we've been to 2 parks.
One of the closer sites for gold was in the mountains about 1.5 hours from here, so we drove up for a day trip, followed the directions and turned off the paved road and found the claim site. Since it's in a national forest, we shared the road with others there for picnics and hiking and even a prius made it down the 1 horse rutted road. Speaking of cars... the truck smells like fast food now that the concentration of bio diesel is higher. The exhast smells like french fries. Not great french fries- the french fries you'd get in a pinch off a truck.
So that you can live vicariously through us.. here is evidence of our trip
The highlight of the trip was playing in the creek. You have to understand that real clear, running water that doesn't come from a tap or spigot is pretty unusual here in our daily lives. And this water almost looked like you could drink it. In fact.. the town does drink it. At the bottom of the mountain is the water treatment on the side of the river.
The lowlight of the trip was my sliding down a rock, getting my foot wedged between 2 rocks and falling. Into the river. The wet wasn't so much the compaint as much as the foot pain was. Anyway.. we went to the emergency room for crutches and an xray yesterday. The PA who breezed by the room said the xray was normal. So I assume it is until Larry looks at it today or if a real radiologist reads it. Anyway... it's less painful to hobble around with crutches. But it's putting a damper on my plans to take the kids to the beach or fair this week. It is slowly improving, so maybe I'll be back to my injury prone self shortly.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Pineapple growing update
Remember the pineapple I started rooting here?
Anyway.. this is what it looks like now (Sorry the formatting is all off. I'd fix it but my brain is already working overtime)It's been in water. I had tried moving it to dirt the week after I blogged about it and can safely report the pineapple did.not. appreciate it and tried to die on me. Larry actually had said "time of death 6:35" in his hint that it was dying but I refused to listen.
I moved it back to water and it's pretty much recovered. The leaves that didn't rot in the water are growing and the new leaves are growing up from the center.
The one in the mug was started a week or two later, The bottom is less rotted looking.
 |
| the original plant |
Eventually the stalk will grow up and the pineapple will grow on top of it. Like this
I have not successfully done this, but google image search shows me this should be my final result.
In other non-growing news...
Sonia's Geology rocks! Play was tonight. I guess ferns do speak. (Sonia was a fern) Not only did they speak, they also sang and danced and kidnapped "Professor Rock". Oh.. it was a musical. I have movie of that, too, the quality is kinda iffy but if I can find the patience to try to upload it, it'll appear here. As it is, I'm typing and then once I'm done that part, I'll try to find my camera for the pineapple and play pictures and upload them. Or I'll just leave the computer, let it turn itself off in 5 minutes and get distracted by something else that is more pressing.
I love my "new" car. Love it. Actually I love driving something normal sized- not a big truck, not a minivan. And I love 40-something mpg. I've spent the better part of what felt like eternity getting all the paperwork done on it, but as of today, it's fully registered to us and I have the stickers to get onto base with it.
And that was surprising. When we first got here, to get on base I had to pull over, go to pass and ID office there with registration, insurance and ID and get a temp pass. It was also that way for a few Navy bases I'd been to. Here, I just showed them my ID and they waved me in.
And I was thinking "welll..... WHY bother sitting through this line for 2 hrs to get stickers for the car if that's all I need to do to get on base...???" except one of the gates I tend to go through to get onto base requires that you have said stickers, so I waited to get them. And Larry had been flagged that Kayla didn't have a valid social security number in the system which I guess meant that she didn't officially exist or have medical benefits (?) so after ignoring them twice I needed to go and get that card to them. It's the same waiting room. I had 2 deli tickets- one for the stickers for for Kayla's information update. Deli ticket 1 was called during the second "family Feud" we got to watch waiting. The second deli ticket was during the final round of the second family feud. Oh. and we also got to watch the mid-day news. After spending an hour at the DMV office at the AAA office.
Speaking of.. did you know you can go to a AAA office in lieu of going to the actual DMV? Handy information to have. Yesterday's trip to the DMV at AAA took me 30 minutes total to find out that I filled out a form wrong and needed Larry's license number and him to re-sign 2 places.. so today I went there in high hopes of a short visit and it was.....
not short.
But relatively it was substantially less time than I've spend at DMVs. So it's valuable information to know it's an option.
Anyway...
In homefront news, we were visited by the stomach bug this weekend. I still haven't dug myself out from the laundry back log that doing that much rag and blanket laundry can create. And my rugs are clean. Now. Nothing like a child vomiting all over the bathroom floor, coming out to tell you they missed the toilet and proceeds to erupt over the hallway carpet.
In other news I'm going in for a re-check after my Lasik tomorrow. As much as I do.not. not.not. want to go through that again, I have a sinking feeling that my vision either needs to be "touched up" or I need glasses again. Larry promised I will be better drugged this next time. I deleted the post on my fun Lasik experience when all those odd dots were showing up on my map. Not that it's really personal, but I just wasn't sure how many people and more specifically who might be reading about my trying to drive after it. Although my fender scratching accident was the week before the Lasik.. I just don't need evidence "out there", I guess. I still run into psycho chick, metaphorically speaking, although I still avoid her like botulism. She still has "angry gangster girl" body language so it's not like she's making friends with anyone else at school. She brought gangster boyfriend to the school music performance earlier this week. (oh, yeah, did I mention tonight's production was the 4th this week?)
So.. before I turn into a pumpkin let me go find my camera and camera cord and get some pictures up here.....
Ugh. Learning new tricks over here at the pound. This old dog can't get my video to upload here, so we're learning about uploading to youtube. If it goes correctly you'll have video. If not, you'll just have to take my word that Sonia was in a play. (oh, yeah.. don't mind the little big o propaganda in it. At least there wasn't mention of global warming and carbon footprints. Probably one of the reasons I'm so hostile to the concepts is that they're preached like religion here. Of course we live in densely populated smog, so it feels more of a real life issue than, say.. somewhere like, uh, Kansas. If only the smog that comes up from TJ could understand that CA doesn't want pollution. but...NO.. we send our cars deemed too dirty to drive here in CA to Mexico and then they freely come back over the border with their smog and then the warm breeze brings the rest of it up. Don't worry, I'm sure once we close the borders to people and drugs crossing illegally we'll figure a way to keep the smog and air pollution from crossing also)
So.... now.... we have video. I can still learn new tricks.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
In case you're not on facebook much
And you missed the goodbye picture of the van...
We sold the van.
It was a bittersweet moment. I realized that I'd been driving that van since the twins were 1. Actually we bought it shortly after our trip to UNE for Larry's medical school interview with twins and couldn't fit pack n play and stroller and suitcase in the subaru trunk. Actually Pack and play and suitcase a 2 umbrella strollers maxed it out.
I also miss the Subaru. I'm a nostalgic sort of person.. but if you're ever looking for a vehicle that can travel through snow well.. go get yourself a Subaru. We got the Subaru to replace my Civic which I spun out on my way to work driving a straight line. Aside from that I miss my Civic, too. It's an illness of the mental variety, I think, this sick nostalgia thing.
Anyway... the transmission has been increasingly unhappy in the van. When my parents were here my dad drove it and wasn't impressed. I think he said I was going to kill myself. (uh, no. But it clunked and lurched at inopportune times) We had it flushed and it was working smoothlessly for a few months. But then the clunking and lurching returned with renewed strength and then the newest engine knock developed and suddenly the grass was greener anywhere else car-wise.
But we didn't want to sell it to some poor soul who then would have to replace the transmission in 1-600 days from now. I guess the transmission *could* continue to thunk along for a while. But we didn't really want to find out how long it would because then it would cost us money to get it towed and out of our lives. Since we could motor it to CarMax under it's own power, they were willing to give us money for it. Not what we could have theoretically gotten trading it in on a new car or selling to a private person, but we weren't in the market for a new car and our conscience is clear about selling it to the poor person who would buy it.
So.. we'd been playing with the thought of a TDI. The problem with a TDI is the only one that holds 6 people costs $50K and it's a brand new model, so it's not like you're going to find it used for a good 3 years and even then a 3 year old $50,000 car isn't generally in our budget.
So we're going to get a TDI that seats 5. And commit to using the truck if we all are going somewhere. Sonia's almost the size and weight of an adult. She'll get the front seat until Joey passes her.
We've found a 5 year old one on Craigslist and are going thought the somewhat lengthy and complicated process of buying a used car from a 50-something year old Hungarian woman via her 20-something year old son who alternates persona's between tough-guy and scared little boy. His selling point was "it's been only been driven my moms - my mom drove it, before her a mom drove it"
I laughed til I peed myself internally. (mentally, my pants stayed dry. I think a snort escaped)
Out loud I said "uh.. *I'm* a mom.. that doesn't really mean anything" and finished the thought "HAVE YOU SEEN THE PSYCHO MOMS DRIVING THEIR KIDS AND PICKING THEM UP FROM SCHOOL?!!??!!" Anyway.. we should have it Sunday. Maybe Monday. Once I have it in hand I'll post a picture or dozen of pictures. It appears his mom hasn't driven to parent pick up at school in about 10 years, so this car will be in for the experience of it's life when it goes to parent pick up and drop off times.
You see, Mom and Dad.. in someways I'm repeating your past. Gas prices are going up and what are we doing? buying a diesel. Did you know there are still Dashers out there? used. and rather frightening to think about driving.. but there was 3 last I looked. They have 40 horse power. No wonder that thing couldn't exceed 70 unless falling off a cliff.
Of course we're a little, uh, odder than you in that I didn't want a new wagon. Don't get me wrong.. I did want one. They're really really nice. I test drove one. I *almost* was ready to buy a new car on it. new - me - practical used car girl. Contemplating a new car. almost.
BUT... you can't run biodiesel in the new ones. The last year you can successfully run bio diesel is a 2006.. so that's what we're getting. And it should get over 50 mph, have zero carbon footprint (which I still think the concept is a crock of crap but I like the thought I can be better than the self righteous people in Prius' here on their holy carbon footprint grail What's the difference between a porcupine and a prius? The pricks are on the outside of the porcupine.)
Don't get bent out of shape. I'm kidding. Mostly. I know a few nice prius drivers...
We sold the van.
It was a bittersweet moment. I realized that I'd been driving that van since the twins were 1. Actually we bought it shortly after our trip to UNE for Larry's medical school interview with twins and couldn't fit pack n play and stroller and suitcase in the subaru trunk. Actually Pack and play and suitcase a 2 umbrella strollers maxed it out.
I also miss the Subaru. I'm a nostalgic sort of person.. but if you're ever looking for a vehicle that can travel through snow well.. go get yourself a Subaru. We got the Subaru to replace my Civic which I spun out on my way to work driving a straight line. Aside from that I miss my Civic, too. It's an illness of the mental variety, I think, this sick nostalgia thing.
Anyway... the transmission has been increasingly unhappy in the van. When my parents were here my dad drove it and wasn't impressed. I think he said I was going to kill myself. (uh, no. But it clunked and lurched at inopportune times) We had it flushed and it was working smoothlessly for a few months. But then the clunking and lurching returned with renewed strength and then the newest engine knock developed and suddenly the grass was greener anywhere else car-wise.
But we didn't want to sell it to some poor soul who then would have to replace the transmission in 1-600 days from now. I guess the transmission *could* continue to thunk along for a while. But we didn't really want to find out how long it would because then it would cost us money to get it towed and out of our lives. Since we could motor it to CarMax under it's own power, they were willing to give us money for it. Not what we could have theoretically gotten trading it in on a new car or selling to a private person, but we weren't in the market for a new car and our conscience is clear about selling it to the poor person who would buy it.
So.. we'd been playing with the thought of a TDI. The problem with a TDI is the only one that holds 6 people costs $50K and it's a brand new model, so it's not like you're going to find it used for a good 3 years and even then a 3 year old $50,000 car isn't generally in our budget.
So we're going to get a TDI that seats 5. And commit to using the truck if we all are going somewhere. Sonia's almost the size and weight of an adult. She'll get the front seat until Joey passes her.
We've found a 5 year old one on Craigslist and are going thought the somewhat lengthy and complicated process of buying a used car from a 50-something year old Hungarian woman via her 20-something year old son who alternates persona's between tough-guy and scared little boy. His selling point was "it's been only been driven my moms - my mom drove it, before her a mom drove it"
I laughed til I peed myself internally. (mentally, my pants stayed dry. I think a snort escaped)
Out loud I said "uh.. *I'm* a mom.. that doesn't really mean anything" and finished the thought "HAVE YOU SEEN THE PSYCHO MOMS DRIVING THEIR KIDS AND PICKING THEM UP FROM SCHOOL?!!??!!" Anyway.. we should have it Sunday. Maybe Monday. Once I have it in hand I'll post a picture or dozen of pictures. It appears his mom hasn't driven to parent pick up at school in about 10 years, so this car will be in for the experience of it's life when it goes to parent pick up and drop off times.
You see, Mom and Dad.. in someways I'm repeating your past. Gas prices are going up and what are we doing? buying a diesel. Did you know there are still Dashers out there? used. and rather frightening to think about driving.. but there was 3 last I looked. They have 40 horse power. No wonder that thing couldn't exceed 70 unless falling off a cliff.
Of course we're a little, uh, odder than you in that I didn't want a new wagon. Don't get me wrong.. I did want one. They're really really nice. I test drove one. I *almost* was ready to buy a new car on it. new - me - practical used car girl. Contemplating a new car. almost.
BUT... you can't run biodiesel in the new ones. The last year you can successfully run bio diesel is a 2006.. so that's what we're getting. And it should get over 50 mph, have zero carbon footprint (which I still think the concept is a crock of crap but I like the thought I can be better than the self righteous people in Prius' here on their holy carbon footprint grail What's the difference between a porcupine and a prius? The pricks are on the outside of the porcupine.)
Don't get bent out of shape. I'm kidding. Mostly. I know a few nice prius drivers...
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Calmer Skies are prevailing these days
Which is a good thing? right?
My Borderline friend moved this weekend which has been an immense relief. She's back to speaking to me, but since we only see each other in passing at school now it's a huge improvement.
So.. in other news.. the Solar plan hit a few bumps. As with everything in our lives, once you get through the bumps it will work out to our benefit, but it's the getting through the bumps that is the tricky part.
We have 3 new pets:
Parmigiana, Rosie, and Nugget. They make eggs. I put a few pictures up on facebook. They're UGLY right now.
The coop feed store that has chicks has not been able to keep them instock. Alot of crazy live-off-the-land nuts are coming out of the woodwork and so we've been to the store countless times and each time they were out of everything except Guinea fowl and ducks. Now we've had Guineas before and, uh.. no. that's not a mistake I'm repeating in this lifetime.
So we got what was available that we weren't likely to kill - gown laying hens. They had gotten in 100 3 day old chicks the day we got there last, except 3 day chicks while adorable need things like heat lamps- which we're not putting in my kitchen, thank you. Having a rabbit live in my kitchen is enough weirdness for me.
Anyway.. I really liked the idea of having chickens.
However in practice I heard how much better fresh out of the chicken eggs were from store bought eggs. And I thought "great. I don't really like eggs, must be because they're from the store"
No. No. No.
I should have asked "Whaddya mean.. better? better how?"
It's because the flavor of fresh egg is so much more pronounced.
UGH. so not only do I not like eggs, I like fresh eggs less than stale 3 week old eggs. It's not like feeding goats different food changing the flavor of their milk.. I can't feed the chickens chocolate and get Cadbury minieggs. (IF ONLY that could happen, I'd be one happy girl)
At least the kids like them.
No coyotes have gotten to them and once they get their feathers back in from their molting process they'll be less ugly.
And.. the kids are getting a new experience and skill set- raising chickens.
Speaking of kids..
They're counting down the 12 days left of school. And today Kayla was in tears that kindergarten will end, she'll have to spend all summer out of school and then go into first grade. Seriously. I can't wait this this one is a teen. Everything is such a big dramatic deal.
Of course she's been in school so long that she's picked up the class' habit of not listening the first time to what the teacher says so when I said "KAYLA! you need to listen when I'm telling you something" she replies "what?"
One of us might not make it to see her teen years.
Sonia's class is putting on an end of year play "Geology Rocks!" an "extraordinary musical" where she plays a fern. Apparently it's not a speaking part.
Joey and JonMichael are boys. They had a friend over and spent 3 hours sword fighting and then nerf gun dart shooting. And that was their good behavior. JM actually has handled the chickens the most. I thought for sure he'd kill them the first day, but nope... he'd pick them up, handle them, toss them around and then when bored with it put it down and attack another. I see a new skill set in his future- circus animal wrangler. Or perhaps he can run the "chicken race" show at county fairs.
But otherwise, we have the last night of Awana tonight- the Awards night. And soon we'll be on Summer vacation from all responsibilities. What's better than homeschooling or public schooling? Summer vacation.
My Borderline friend moved this weekend which has been an immense relief. She's back to speaking to me, but since we only see each other in passing at school now it's a huge improvement.
So.. in other news.. the Solar plan hit a few bumps. As with everything in our lives, once you get through the bumps it will work out to our benefit, but it's the getting through the bumps that is the tricky part.
We have 3 new pets:
Parmigiana, Rosie, and Nugget. They make eggs. I put a few pictures up on facebook. They're UGLY right now.
The coop feed store that has chicks has not been able to keep them instock. Alot of crazy live-off-the-land nuts are coming out of the woodwork and so we've been to the store countless times and each time they were out of everything except Guinea fowl and ducks. Now we've had Guineas before and, uh.. no. that's not a mistake I'm repeating in this lifetime.
So we got what was available that we weren't likely to kill - gown laying hens. They had gotten in 100 3 day old chicks the day we got there last, except 3 day chicks while adorable need things like heat lamps- which we're not putting in my kitchen, thank you. Having a rabbit live in my kitchen is enough weirdness for me.
Anyway.. I really liked the idea of having chickens.
However in practice I heard how much better fresh out of the chicken eggs were from store bought eggs. And I thought "great. I don't really like eggs, must be because they're from the store"
No. No. No.
I should have asked "Whaddya mean.. better? better how?"
It's because the flavor of fresh egg is so much more pronounced.
UGH. so not only do I not like eggs, I like fresh eggs less than stale 3 week old eggs. It's not like feeding goats different food changing the flavor of their milk.. I can't feed the chickens chocolate and get Cadbury minieggs. (IF ONLY that could happen, I'd be one happy girl)
At least the kids like them.
No coyotes have gotten to them and once they get their feathers back in from their molting process they'll be less ugly.
And.. the kids are getting a new experience and skill set- raising chickens.
Speaking of kids..
They're counting down the 12 days left of school. And today Kayla was in tears that kindergarten will end, she'll have to spend all summer out of school and then go into first grade. Seriously. I can't wait this this one is a teen. Everything is such a big dramatic deal.
Of course she's been in school so long that she's picked up the class' habit of not listening the first time to what the teacher says so when I said "KAYLA! you need to listen when I'm telling you something" she replies "what?"
One of us might not make it to see her teen years.
Sonia's class is putting on an end of year play "Geology Rocks!" an "extraordinary musical" where she plays a fern. Apparently it's not a speaking part.
Joey and JonMichael are boys. They had a friend over and spent 3 hours sword fighting and then nerf gun dart shooting. And that was their good behavior. JM actually has handled the chickens the most. I thought for sure he'd kill them the first day, but nope... he'd pick them up, handle them, toss them around and then when bored with it put it down and attack another. I see a new skill set in his future- circus animal wrangler. Or perhaps he can run the "chicken race" show at county fairs.
But otherwise, we have the last night of Awana tonight- the Awards night. And soon we'll be on Summer vacation from all responsibilities. What's better than homeschooling or public schooling? Summer vacation.
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