"The ABCs of Me"
Accent - None that I know of, but I have picked up the use of Y'all, and that confuses folks sometimes.
Booze - Well, I am not supposed to drink right now, but things I used to like the taste of include Amaretto, wines, spiced rum with pineapple juice, gin and tonic.
Chore I hate - Cleaning up cat messes- hairball barf or worse-I make the kids do it since the cats are technically theirs.
Dog/cat - 3 wonderful cats, no dogs, but the Girl has 10 chickens.
Essential electronics - My laptop Computer, which currently has no internet, which I miss terribly!
Favorite perfume - Hmmm. I don't wear perfume due to allergies, but I do love Patchouli oil now and again.
Gold/silver - I have a large ring collection, which I never wear, due to arthritis in my fingers, but I love silver. I make lots of beaded jewlly, but give it all away.
Hometown - Tillamook, OR.
Insomnia - Most of the time.
Job title - Homeschool mom.
Kid(s)- One Boy, 14, and one Girl, 11.
Living arrangements - A 1943 Cape Cod style farmhouse on 1/2 acre that has a beautiful yard and lots of gardens, and still needs tons of remodeling inside, but who knows when it will be accomplished!
Most admirable trait - Well, if you need something I am there! I also really try not to gossip about anyone. Harder than it sounds!
Number of countries visited - Hmmm. Germany, Austria, Holland, Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Canada, North America. That makes 9.
Overnight hospital stays - I was in the hospital for nearly 2 months at birth. Just one as an adult, when my thyroid problem and seizure disorder were first being diagnosed. I hated it so much I had both babies at home!
Phobias - Heights, enclosed places, and poisionous bugs or snakes or scorpion-type creepy-crawlies.
Quote - "No matter where you go, there you are." from a fave mug.
Religion - Seeker. Not a *Christian.* Mostly just try to follow the Golden Rule.....
Siblings - 2 half-brothers, 2 half- sisters, and 1 sister.
Time you usually wake - 6:45-ish AM
Unusual talent - Hmmm. I can squish my nose down flat on my face, due to not having the proper amount of cartilidge there.
Vegetable I refuse to eat - None- haven't met one yet I don't like.
Worst habit - Nagging my kids!!!
X-rays - Just had my first mammogram, had some done after the car accident.
Yummy foods I make - Too many to list. I love to cook Indian food. I do seem to be one of those naturally good cooks. I get lots of compliments, and I like it.
Zodiac - Pisces.
I got this from Gerrie at Crazy for Fiber a while back. She does beautiful quilts, if you are interested in that kind of thing.
I won't tag anyone, just let me know if you do it on your blog, or put it in my comments.
LB
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
You know what they say: Someone else's trash.........
Yesterday while cleaning off the topmost shelves in the 14 yr old Boy's room:
Mama: What's with all these dishes hiding up on this shelf?
Boy: I'll get them.
Mama: Yeah, that's what you said last month when we did this then. What's with the tiny black rocks in this orange cup?
Boy: Noooooooo, not THAT one!! That one has my fake caviar in it!
Mama: Fake Caviar?! What IS it?
Boy: I told you, it's my fake caviar, for when I need to pretend I have caviar.
Mama: You don't even LIKE caviar! What is it in real life?
Boy: Those are pieces of new asphalt road I got at a construction site. PLEASE don't throw them away, please, Mama. I NEED those!!
Mama: But Boy, they don't even look like caviar.
Boy: Yes, they do, if you imagine that they do. When you get them wet, they look just like caviar.
Mama: Sighing, Well, at least put them in a plastic baggie, so I can have my cup back.
Mama: What's with all these dishes hiding up on this shelf?
Boy: I'll get them.
Mama: Yeah, that's what you said last month when we did this then. What's with the tiny black rocks in this orange cup?
Boy: Noooooooo, not THAT one!! That one has my fake caviar in it!
Mama: Fake Caviar?! What IS it?
Boy: I told you, it's my fake caviar, for when I need to pretend I have caviar.
Mama: You don't even LIKE caviar! What is it in real life?
Boy: Those are pieces of new asphalt road I got at a construction site. PLEASE don't throw them away, please, Mama. I NEED those!!
Mama: But Boy, they don't even look like caviar.
Boy: Yes, they do, if you imagine that they do. When you get them wet, they look just like caviar.
Mama: Sighing, Well, at least put them in a plastic baggie, so I can have my cup back.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Update, and fun at the convention
It has been a busy weekend. I didn't have internet access from Thursday night to Monday, so I just lived life instead of blogging about it, but I will try to do some for you now.
On Sunday, the four of us spent some time visiting Gramma, doing some yard work for/with her, and went to a party at the B family's home. We picked strawberries and rhubarb, and had wonderful crisp made from same. We also enjoyed smoked salmon and oysters (not me, I do not like them!).
On Thursday, we learned a lot about world views, and I had a wonderful philisophical discussion with some wonderful ladies. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and felt so energized by the conversations we had. Self-education can really be delightful.
On Friday and Saturday, the keedunks and I went to The WHO convention. It was a lot of fun and very informative. The kids listened to Jim Weis speak twice (without me- while I was listening to another speaker- and they behaved beautifully! Yay!), and I got some insight into creating homeschooling contracts with tweenagers, and accessing the community a bit more in your homeschool. I saw many people that I knew, and felt very reassured just being in the company of so many families who have made the same decision we have.
I spent a bit of money, but it was all on books for our next history cycle. We will be using History Odyssey for the Ancients time period. I bought as many of the books as I could find there. That way, I won't have to fork it all over in August, rather making the purchase of over $400. in books in increments. Some of the books (I won't link to them, but they are all described at the History Odyssey site.) I purchased were Greek Myths by Olivia Coolidge, Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker, The Boys' and Girls' Herodotus by John S. White, and Modern Rhymes about Ancient Times- Ancient Greece, by Susan Altman & Susan Lechner. These are all required reading for one or the other children (and myself) for our ancients history course starting in September. I also have purchased the following books, at my local used curricula store, Homeschool Potpourri. These titles include The Aeneid and The Illiad both translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Plato's Republic and Last Days of Socrates, and The Epic of Gilgamesh by N.K. Sanders. I still have several more books to buy, but this is a goodly chunk of them.
I also purchased a few things from BrimWood Press, by the woman who taught the class on Thursday, and led our discussion that evening. Good stuff. I may write about them later, but in a nutshell, they support our history work.
Today the kids focused on cleaning their rooms thoroughly. It only took all day, and a couple of temper tantrums, but it got done, and they do look much better. Remind me to tell you a story about room-cleaning tomorrow. We will focus on tidying up the house this week, as next week we will be on vacation, and the week following that is the start of our summer term- you know, the one where I have to push them really hard so we can finish our books from this year and start on time in September. I hear-tell from the Principal-dude that he is giving me a teacher inservice day either at the end of this week or the beginning of next so I can prepare for our summer term. I need it!
That at least does it for a re-cap of the weekend. I just wanted to let you know I was still alive- Dy called me today a bit worried as she hadn't heard anything from me in a week! I am here, I am here!
TTFN,
LB
On Sunday, the four of us spent some time visiting Gramma, doing some yard work for/with her, and went to a party at the B family's home. We picked strawberries and rhubarb, and had wonderful crisp made from same. We also enjoyed smoked salmon and oysters (not me, I do not like them!).
On Thursday, we learned a lot about world views, and I had a wonderful philisophical discussion with some wonderful ladies. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and felt so energized by the conversations we had. Self-education can really be delightful.
On Friday and Saturday, the keedunks and I went to The WHO convention. It was a lot of fun and very informative. The kids listened to Jim Weis speak twice (without me- while I was listening to another speaker- and they behaved beautifully! Yay!), and I got some insight into creating homeschooling contracts with tweenagers, and accessing the community a bit more in your homeschool. I saw many people that I knew, and felt very reassured just being in the company of so many families who have made the same decision we have.
I spent a bit of money, but it was all on books for our next history cycle. We will be using History Odyssey for the Ancients time period. I bought as many of the books as I could find there. That way, I won't have to fork it all over in August, rather making the purchase of over $400. in books in increments. Some of the books (I won't link to them, but they are all described at the History Odyssey site.) I purchased were Greek Myths by Olivia Coolidge, Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker, The Boys' and Girls' Herodotus by John S. White, and Modern Rhymes about Ancient Times- Ancient Greece, by Susan Altman & Susan Lechner. These are all required reading for one or the other children (and myself) for our ancients history course starting in September. I also have purchased the following books, at my local used curricula store, Homeschool Potpourri. These titles include The Aeneid and The Illiad both translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Plato's Republic and Last Days of Socrates, and The Epic of Gilgamesh by N.K. Sanders. I still have several more books to buy, but this is a goodly chunk of them.
I also purchased a few things from BrimWood Press, by the woman who taught the class on Thursday, and led our discussion that evening. Good stuff. I may write about them later, but in a nutshell, they support our history work.
Today the kids focused on cleaning their rooms thoroughly. It only took all day, and a couple of temper tantrums, but it got done, and they do look much better. Remind me to tell you a story about room-cleaning tomorrow. We will focus on tidying up the house this week, as next week we will be on vacation, and the week following that is the start of our summer term- you know, the one where I have to push them really hard so we can finish our books from this year and start on time in September. I hear-tell from the Principal-dude that he is giving me a teacher inservice day either at the end of this week or the beginning of next so I can prepare for our summer term. I need it!
That at least does it for a re-cap of the weekend. I just wanted to let you know I was still alive- Dy called me today a bit worried as she hadn't heard anything from me in a week! I am here, I am here!
TTFN,
LB
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Whirlwind History tour
Today we are off to the East Side very early. We are attending an all day worldview history class writen by the author of and based on this curriculum. Should be lots of fun, and hopefully we will learn something, too! I know I haven't been blogging much about school lately, but we are trying to finish up our study of American history so we can get back to the Ancients this fall. Right now the kids are studying the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and memorizing the Presidents. So this class today should be a nice review of 5000 yrs of history in a nutshell.
Also, very quickly, these are the movies we have watched this week. I am not linking to them, but check them out for yourself. The whole family (and yes, we are exposing our tweens to this stuff!) watched the first three: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Murder by Death, and Papa and I watched Dead Again (Dy, I think you would like this one!) last night. Good stuff.
Gotta go- the Boy is still in bed, dang it. Someone hand me a pitcher of water!
TTFN,
LB
Also, very quickly, these are the movies we have watched this week. I am not linking to them, but check them out for yourself. The whole family (and yes, we are exposing our tweens to this stuff!) watched the first three: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Murder by Death, and Papa and I watched Dead Again (Dy, I think you would like this one!) last night. Good stuff.
Gotta go- the Boy is still in bed, dang it. Someone hand me a pitcher of water!
TTFN,
LB
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Busy Tuesday and allergies
Allergies! When I woke up this morning, my throat was (IS) so sore it hurts to talk. My eyelids are crunchy and heavy, I can't stop sneezing, my throat and ears itch really badly. Allergies!
We are supposed to have nature study, Redal has both playing tests at band and a horn lesson today. Busy day, and all I want to do is crawl back into bed! Sigh.
Gotta go roust the kids- I can tell they crawled back into bed like I want to, lol. I will try to blog without griping in a little while.
TTFN,
LB
We are supposed to have nature study, Redal has both playing tests at band and a horn lesson today. Busy day, and all I want to do is crawl back into bed! Sigh.
Gotta go roust the kids- I can tell they crawled back into bed like I want to, lol. I will try to blog without griping in a little while.
TTFN,
LB
Monday, June 12, 2006
I'm still here
Hey all,
I apologize for not blogging lately. It has been crazy busy the last two weeks, and I am still parenting hot and heavy. I will try to blog a bit more regulary, but to be honest, I find it harder to blog on the old dinosaur in the basement, and really miss having internet on my laptop. It was much easier to blog wherever the kids were, plugging into whatever room I needed to be in, blogging while cooking, doing laudry, and teaching. Now I have to come down here into the dark, dank basement, and leave the kids to their own devices while I work on the computer. It just isn't conducive to free-flowing blogging, but I will try harder to make it a priority.
LB
I apologize for not blogging lately. It has been crazy busy the last two weeks, and I am still parenting hot and heavy. I will try to blog a bit more regulary, but to be honest, I find it harder to blog on the old dinosaur in the basement, and really miss having internet on my laptop. It was much easier to blog wherever the kids were, plugging into whatever room I needed to be in, blogging while cooking, doing laudry, and teaching. Now I have to come down here into the dark, dank basement, and leave the kids to their own devices while I work on the computer. It just isn't conducive to free-flowing blogging, but I will try harder to make it a priority.
LB
Friday, June 02, 2006
Update
In fits and starts, in bits and pieces, here is at least the beginning of an update on this week. I will start with last weekend.
We spent Saturday and Monday at Folklife Festival. We took part in more drumming workshops, ate way too much good food, and listened to music from all over the world. We really enjoyed music from many regions of India this year.
On Sunday, Papa worked in the yard all day, the Girl tended to her chickens, the Boy played Legos, and I visited my Mom. It rained and poured hard all day.
We watched several movies this week. Out of six that I picked out, we watched five, and of those five, four were given the thumbs up. We saw Duane Hopwood (Do not waste your time or money on this one- Schwimmer did a good job, but did not portray a sympathetic character- especially if you and your movie date both happen to be adult children of alcoholics. Our only thumbs down vote.), Cassanova (very sweet and romantic telling of the story.), Elizabethtown (Orlando did a great job and Kirsten Dunce was great- what else is she in that I would like?), and Hoodwinked, which was funny and worth a laugh or two. A real beauty of a family movie was The Blue Butterfly, based on a true story. William Hurt did fab, as usual. We also rented Corpse Bride, which we didn't get around to watching. We Girls were willing to watch it, but the Boys vetoed it. Plus, we just plain ran out of time- 6 movies is too many at one time!
Well, I am not nearly done, but we all need to get to bed early tonight, as the Boy has a band concert competition and a field trip after that to Wild Waves. We (yes, I stupidly said yes when his band teacher asked me to chaperone, sigh.) will be gone from 6:45 a.m. until at least 7:00 p.m.. There are supposed to be hundreds of band students at the amusement park tomorrow- I may need a sedative tomorrow night! So, I will sign off now, and check in with you later.
TTFN,
LB
We spent Saturday and Monday at Folklife Festival. We took part in more drumming workshops, ate way too much good food, and listened to music from all over the world. We really enjoyed music from many regions of India this year.
On Sunday, Papa worked in the yard all day, the Girl tended to her chickens, the Boy played Legos, and I visited my Mom. It rained and poured hard all day.
We watched several movies this week. Out of six that I picked out, we watched five, and of those five, four were given the thumbs up. We saw Duane Hopwood (Do not waste your time or money on this one- Schwimmer did a good job, but did not portray a sympathetic character- especially if you and your movie date both happen to be adult children of alcoholics. Our only thumbs down vote.), Cassanova (very sweet and romantic telling of the story.), Elizabethtown (Orlando did a great job and Kirsten Dunce was great- what else is she in that I would like?), and Hoodwinked, which was funny and worth a laugh or two. A real beauty of a family movie was The Blue Butterfly, based on a true story. William Hurt did fab, as usual. We also rented Corpse Bride, which we didn't get around to watching. We Girls were willing to watch it, but the Boys vetoed it. Plus, we just plain ran out of time- 6 movies is too many at one time!
Well, I am not nearly done, but we all need to get to bed early tonight, as the Boy has a band concert competition and a field trip after that to Wild Waves. We (yes, I stupidly said yes when his band teacher asked me to chaperone, sigh.) will be gone from 6:45 a.m. until at least 7:00 p.m.. There are supposed to be hundreds of band students at the amusement park tomorrow- I may need a sedative tomorrow night! So, I will sign off now, and check in with you later.
TTFN,
LB
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Kids are more important than blogs, but not as much fun right now.
I know I owe you an update of our wonderful weekend, but right now I am busy parenting. Kids are in the middle of teenage angst, and I am in the middle of tomato staking. Sigh. Say a little prayer for me. I will be back to the blogging world as soon as I can. Ugh.
LB
LB
Friday, May 26, 2006
Folklife Festival, day 1
It is 10:30, and the kids and I just walked in the door! After an impromptu visit and chick-drawing session, I had my physical therapy, then the kids and I headed for Folklife. We enjoyed Native American folktales from the Olympic Peninsula (thankfully the storyteller was under a canopy, because it rained hard), Bosnian folkdance, Northern Indian and Southern Indian song and dance, belly dancing (!!), and 2 drumming workshops. We also enjoyed Polynesian chicken kebabs, curly fries, samosas, and 2 rounds of mango lemonade! We shopped a little, and danced and sang. A great evening was had by the three of us. Tomorrow we leave early and take Papa with us! I hope it isn't raining again!
Baby chicks are doing well, and are really getting used to being held.
TTFN,
LB
Baby chicks are doing well, and are really getting used to being held.
TTFN,
LB
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Baby Chicks Update!
The Girl is so very excited. She has been reading books on chickens for over a month now, learning as much as she can to prepare to be the best chicken caregiver she can. We are still trying to find a big appliance box to be their brooder- until then, they are living in the top of the car-top luggage carrier, lol.
We drove all the way out to Enumclaw, where she ended up purchasing two kinds of Wyandottes- Silver and Golden-laced. Here is a picture of a golden-laced hen, and one of a silver-laced hen. Of course, we are doing our best to call all the chicks "she" and "her" to manifest as many females as possible, but there may be a cock or two in there. That is why we bought 10, when she only really wants 6.
Here also is a picture that the store owner gave the Girl when she saw how interested she was in all the chickens. Girly wants to hang it on her wall.
That is all for now- I need to get them going on lunch, and the Girl needs to practice piano before her lesson today.
TTFN,
LB
We drove all the way out to Enumclaw, where she ended up purchasing two kinds of Wyandottes- Silver and Golden-laced. Here is a picture of a golden-laced hen, and one of a silver-laced hen. Of course, we are doing our best to call all the chicks "she" and "her" to manifest as many females as possible, but there may be a cock or two in there. That is why we bought 10, when she only really wants 6.
Here also is a picture that the store owner gave the Girl when she saw how interested she was in all the chickens. Girly wants to hang it on her wall.
That is all for now- I need to get them going on lunch, and the Girl needs to practice piano before her lesson today.
TTFN,
LB
I'm here, really!
Sorry for the lack of bloging this week- there seems to be some of that going around- many of my fave blogers haven't had much to say this week. I suspect, that like me, they are busy living life and not as available to write about it!
I will try to catch up later today, but suffice to say, we have been busy buying, tuning up, and licensing a van (yes, Pamela, we found one!), having nature study/art lessons, watching ravens, buying school books, visiting Grandma, cleaning living rooms, house and dog-sitting, having a mammogram, and an after-play cast party where all too much sugar was consumed, quilting, eating, sleeping, headache fighting, etc.
This morning we plan on adding baby chick purchase to the list, so I best be going and will try to update later today.
TTFN,
LB
I will try to catch up later today, but suffice to say, we have been busy buying, tuning up, and licensing a van (yes, Pamela, we found one!), having nature study/art lessons, watching ravens, buying school books, visiting Grandma, cleaning living rooms, house and dog-sitting, having a mammogram, and an after-play cast party where all too much sugar was consumed, quilting, eating, sleeping, headache fighting, etc.
This morning we plan on adding baby chick purchase to the list, so I best be going and will try to update later today.
TTFN,
LB
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Yay! I finally got it done!
With the help of Papa and the Girl, I got the last of my seeds in. Planted as of today: cantelope, yellow and green zucchini, yellow crookneck, spaghetti squash, white and orange pumpkins, and lemon cucumbers. yay!
Everything is starting to come up, and much of my root bed needs to be thinned and weeded. Soon.
The Girl is now making fresh lemonade to take to her new piano teacher's recital tonight. The Girl isn't performing, as she just started working with the teacher this week, but it will be fun to go listen to her other students.
TTFN,
LB
Everything is starting to come up, and much of my root bed needs to be thinned and weeded. Soon.
The Girl is now making fresh lemonade to take to her new piano teacher's recital tonight. The Girl isn't performing, as she just started working with the teacher this week, but it will be fun to go listen to her other students.
TTFN,
LB
Belated Bird of the Month
I know we are 3 weeks into the month, but it has taken me this long to be inspired by a bird this month. I was thinking about making the Robin the BOTM, due to his beautiful singing keeping me company in the garden, but then something amazing happened. We were visited by a raven. I had never seen one before in all my 41 years. He was regal in his sleek, calm way. Very beautiful. Then he visited us again, and then again. So the Raven is now officially the BOTM.
Enjoythe day. I am heading out to the garden.
LB
Enjoythe day. I am heading out to the garden.
LB
What I am listening to
My daughter is happy again. She has a new wonderful piano teacher who is driving her hard. And that is just the way my Girly likes it.
I get the wonderful priviledge of listening to her practice Fur Elise, Opus 14 no 2, the first and second movements, all by Beethoven, and the Opus 36 no. 1 by Clementi.
I also get the priviledge of hearing the Mozart Horn Concertos, played on a new mellow-sounding french horn.
Sweet sigh. Life is good, so very good.
LB
I get the wonderful priviledge of listening to her practice Fur Elise, Opus 14 no 2, the first and second movements, all by Beethoven, and the Opus 36 no. 1 by Clementi.
I also get the priviledge of hearing the Mozart Horn Concertos, played on a new mellow-sounding french horn.
Sweet sigh. Life is good, so very good.
LB
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Ten things my mother taught me
From Diane over at Circle of Quiet.
Ten things my mother taught me: These are in random order, and it surprises me how many of them she taught me by telling them to me, but not following them herself, and allowing me to see her mistakes. I love my mom. I really do. I am so thankful to have time to spend with her each week. Let me know if you do this.
LB
1. To watch the clouds, and enjoy looking at the sky.
2. How to make use of what you have available.
3. That you can do whatever you set your mind to if you believe in yourself.
4. That smoking is very bad for you, and you should never start.
5. To always be on time for appointments and meetings.
6. That it is important to make time for your art.
7. How to make a bed with hospital corners, and how to fold a fitted sheet neatly.
8. How to enjoy yourself while digging in the dirt.
9. That hate doesn't hurt the person being hated, but eats the hater up from the inside out.
10. How to build a fire, and light it without burning yourself.
Ten things my mother taught me: These are in random order, and it surprises me how many of them she taught me by telling them to me, but not following them herself, and allowing me to see her mistakes. I love my mom. I really do. I am so thankful to have time to spend with her each week. Let me know if you do this.
LB
1. To watch the clouds, and enjoy looking at the sky.
2. How to make use of what you have available.
3. That you can do whatever you set your mind to if you believe in yourself.
4. That smoking is very bad for you, and you should never start.
5. To always be on time for appointments and meetings.
6. That it is important to make time for your art.
7. How to make a bed with hospital corners, and how to fold a fitted sheet neatly.
8. How to enjoy yourself while digging in the dirt.
9. That hate doesn't hurt the person being hated, but eats the hater up from the inside out.
10. How to build a fire, and light it without burning yourself.
What I do
I AM: Short and voluptuous, and like myself that way.
I SAID: Aaaggghhhh! I can't think of anything to write here!
I WANT: The mini-van we are looking at tonight to be "the one".
I WISH: My kids would do their chores on their own with integrity.
I HATE: The word ain't.
I MISS: My friend Shi, and living an hour from NY City.
I FEAR: Climbing the last rickety ladder up to the treehouse.
I HEAR: Water running, the Boy coughing, the computer humming.
I WONDER: Who is William Hung?
I REGRET: Not attending church with my kids on a regular basis.
I DANCE: Every year at Folklife Festival to the marimba music.
I SING: folk songs and nursery rhymes, Jimmy Buffet, and John Prine.
I CRY: At the drop of a hat, and sometimes even when I am happy. Hormones.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: Patient.
I MADE: A salmon leek quiche today.
I WRITE: better than I think I do, but not as well as I would like.
I CONFUSE: My son. A lot.
I NEED: A foot massage and a back rub.
I SHOULD: Do a little quilting tonight.
I START: My day with a long hot bath and a book.
I FINISH: My day kissing my kids once for every year they are old, and saying "Sweet dreams".
I BELIEVE: That my kids have the power to be polite caring grownups someday .
I KNOW: That I can do whatever I set my mind to.
I CAN: write with both hands.
I CAN'T: Roll my tongue or roll my R's.
I SEE: a table full of legos and boxes of books I am supposed to mail to Dy.
I BLOG: Almost every day.
I READ: Children's fiction more than adult.
I AM AROUSED BY: A certain pair of blue eyes giving me "that look".
I FIND: Cat barf with my bare feet at 2 in the morning.
I LIKE: The warm sun on my face.
I LOVE: The sound of my children's laughter.
I got this one from Laney over at Press On. Let me know if you do it, or leave it in my comments.
LB
I SAID: Aaaggghhhh! I can't think of anything to write here!
I WANT: The mini-van we are looking at tonight to be "the one".
I WISH: My kids would do their chores on their own with integrity.
I HATE: The word ain't.
I MISS: My friend Shi, and living an hour from NY City.
I FEAR: Climbing the last rickety ladder up to the treehouse.
I HEAR: Water running, the Boy coughing, the computer humming.
I WONDER: Who is William Hung?
I REGRET: Not attending church with my kids on a regular basis.
I DANCE: Every year at Folklife Festival to the marimba music.
I SING: folk songs and nursery rhymes, Jimmy Buffet, and John Prine.
I CRY: At the drop of a hat, and sometimes even when I am happy. Hormones.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: Patient.
I MADE: A salmon leek quiche today.
I WRITE: better than I think I do, but not as well as I would like.
I CONFUSE: My son. A lot.
I NEED: A foot massage and a back rub.
I SHOULD: Do a little quilting tonight.
I START: My day with a long hot bath and a book.
I FINISH: My day kissing my kids once for every year they are old, and saying "Sweet dreams".
I BELIEVE: That my kids have the power to be polite caring grownups someday .
I KNOW: That I can do whatever I set my mind to.
I CAN: write with both hands.
I CAN'T: Roll my tongue or roll my R's.
I SEE: a table full of legos and boxes of books I am supposed to mail to Dy.
I BLOG: Almost every day.
I READ: Children's fiction more than adult.
I AM AROUSED BY: A certain pair of blue eyes giving me "that look".
I FIND: Cat barf with my bare feet at 2 in the morning.
I LIKE: The warm sun on my face.
I LOVE: The sound of my children's laughter.
I got this one from Laney over at Press On. Let me know if you do it, or leave it in my comments.
LB
The Thespian success
The Boy was a huge hit last night in his thespian debut. He ennunciated well enough for his deaf mother to hear him, which was a big deal, so many of the other performers just mumbled their lines, his guestures were good- not too much, not too little, and he kept his French accent all through the play.
The drama instructor from another middle school sought him out after the performance to complimnet him on these things, too. That meant a lot to him. All of our guests, both the Godparents and my friend David, are all involved in theatre, so thier compliments really meant a lot to us.
So now, in addition to all the other things I am trying to provide for the kids, an all year drama course is in there too!
We have food bank deliveries today, but no morning classes for the Boy. I am hoping we actually can get to some schoolwork- with one thing an another, we have done very little over the last two weeks.
I am fighting a headache this morning- I think it is the pollen blowing around, so I am going back to bed for an hour or so. I'll check in with you later.
LB
The drama instructor from another middle school sought him out after the performance to complimnet him on these things, too. That meant a lot to him. All of our guests, both the Godparents and my friend David, are all involved in theatre, so thier compliments really meant a lot to us.
So now, in addition to all the other things I am trying to provide for the kids, an all year drama course is in there too!
We have food bank deliveries today, but no morning classes for the Boy. I am hoping we actually can get to some schoolwork- with one thing an another, we have done very little over the last two weeks.
I am fighting a headache this morning- I think it is the pollen blowing around, so I am going back to bed for an hour or so. I'll check in with you later.
LB
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Break a leg, Boy!
The Boy has his play tonight. They are doing the King's New Clothes. Yeah, I know, it isn't Shakespeare, but the Boy is excited about it, so that is good enough for me.
He will be playing "Guy", the brains of the 3 evil tailor dudes who convince the vain King whose kingdome is crumbling that they can make invisible clothes that only smart people can see. Of course, they want the king to give them the last of his gold for this service.
We have all been helping him read his lines, and listening to him rehearse so much over the last couple of months that if the Boy has any trouble with his lines, the threee of us can shout them out for him from the audience, lol.
His Godparents, and our dear friend L (the one who always takes the kids out for their birthdays and buys them books), and her son David, my cooking buddy will all be there to support him, too. I will be helping out by selling tickets before the show.
Break a leg, Boy!
A side note, my appt. went well this morning, but I will be taking even more meds than I am now. Three different kinds of thyroid. Whew! I went out and bought myself one of those weekly divided pill cases with spots for am and pm. Kinda made me feel old. Anyhow, he thinks my hot flashes, the mystery illnesses in Nov and Feb, and my female troubles are not due to early menopause but to lack of thyroid functioning and impoper meds. We shall see, we shall see.
Gotta go make an early supper and get the Boy ready to go.
TTFN,
LB
He will be playing "Guy", the brains of the 3 evil tailor dudes who convince the vain King whose kingdome is crumbling that they can make invisible clothes that only smart people can see. Of course, they want the king to give them the last of his gold for this service.
We have all been helping him read his lines, and listening to him rehearse so much over the last couple of months that if the Boy has any trouble with his lines, the threee of us can shout them out for him from the audience, lol.
His Godparents, and our dear friend L (the one who always takes the kids out for their birthdays and buys them books), and her son David, my cooking buddy will all be there to support him, too. I will be helping out by selling tickets before the show.
Break a leg, Boy!
A side note, my appt. went well this morning, but I will be taking even more meds than I am now. Three different kinds of thyroid. Whew! I went out and bought myself one of those weekly divided pill cases with spots for am and pm. Kinda made me feel old. Anyhow, he thinks my hot flashes, the mystery illnesses in Nov and Feb, and my female troubles are not due to early menopause but to lack of thyroid functioning and impoper meds. We shall see, we shall see.
Gotta go make an early supper and get the Boy ready to go.
TTFN,
LB
Teenage survival mantras
Whose to say whether the following mantras are for my survival or his.
;-)
I can do this.
Breathe.
I love my job. I love my job.
Breathe.
I am peace and inspiration.
Breathe.
I am calm, cool, and collected.
Breathe.
I am cool as a cucumber.
I am a cool lake.
I am an iceberg.
A huge, very cold, freakin' iceberg. Breathe.
I am a glacier. I am cool. I am calm. I am chilled. I am freakin' enormous and I will wear down anything in my path. I am cool. I am calm. (I found it! It was from Poppins, not the Crib Chick, though she helps keep me sane, too! Click here and scoll down to Sept. 21st to read the original post.)
I will not throttle my 14 year old, because that would not be very cool.
And I am cool.
As a cucumber.
Breathe.
Keep repeating any or all of the selected mantras when throughout your day your 14 year old gets whiny, demanding, or downright rude. And as Dy says, "Keep loving him through it."
That's all I got for now- got to hang some wash out before it's time to go to the endocrinologist.
LB
;-)
I can do this.
Breathe.
I love my job. I love my job.
Breathe.
I am peace and inspiration.
Breathe.
I am calm, cool, and collected.
Breathe.
I am cool as a cucumber.
I am a cool lake.
I am an iceberg.
A huge, very cold, freakin' iceberg. Breathe.
I am a glacier. I am cool. I am calm. I am chilled. I am freakin' enormous and I will wear down anything in my path. I am cool. I am calm. (I found it! It was from Poppins, not the Crib Chick, though she helps keep me sane, too! Click here and scoll down to Sept. 21st to read the original post.)
I will not throttle my 14 year old, because that would not be very cool.
And I am cool.
As a cucumber.
Breathe.
Keep repeating any or all of the selected mantras when throughout your day your 14 year old gets whiny, demanding, or downright rude. And as Dy says, "Keep loving him through it."
That's all I got for now- got to hang some wash out before it's time to go to the endocrinologist.
LB
Monday, May 15, 2006
Weekend update
Well, we all made it through the weekend. The birthday party went well, except for one tense moment when a certain Boy we all know and love decided to escalate the water balloon fight by putting red food-colored water in the water balloons. This plan was thankfully discovered before executed, his red hands being the tip-off. Sigh. Can you just see me trying to explain why the guests' white t-shirts (or even worse, their faces!) were covered in red splotches of color?! Reminder to self: The next time we do water balloons, there needs to be a big target down in the field, so balloons are not thrown at people.
Other than that, we had a nice visit with my Mom yesterday, Papa spending most of the time digging up plants to add to his cottage garden. I got more potatoes and tomatoes planted- I now have 36 tomato plants! My goal for today is to get the pumpkin, squash, and cucumbers in the ground. I transplanted some lettuce, too. This is the first time my head lettuce has actually headed up. It looks so cute and yummy at the same time.
Oh- Pamela- he dug up this beautiful sedge plant that would look fabulous near your pond. It likes water. Would you like some of it? We really thought of you when he was digging it up.
While I was planting potatoes, some ants crawled into my kneepads, and bit my knees! Little biters! Ouch!
I was craving Indian food again yesterday, so made a wonderful feast of Rogan Josh, dry cauliflower, cucumber raita, saffron rice, and wonderful lassis made with leftover homemade coconut ice cream from the Boy's party. Yummy good food.
Oh- the Boy is in his final week of play frenzy. They perform for the students today, and then do the evening performance tomorrow night. He will be supported by several friends and loved ones in the audience. Should be great fun. I will get to sell tickets before the show. He is nervous and excited. Break a leg, Boy!
Other than the play, and gardening, and my visit to the endocrinologist tomorrow, the Girl will have her first lesson with her new piano teacher this week. She is very excited to get started. It has been hard for her to work independently these last 6 weeks.
Okay, that's it for now, gotta go hang out the wash- it is supposed to 85 degrees out today- I need to take advantage of that and hang as much wash as I can today.
TTFN,
LB
Other than that, we had a nice visit with my Mom yesterday, Papa spending most of the time digging up plants to add to his cottage garden. I got more potatoes and tomatoes planted- I now have 36 tomato plants! My goal for today is to get the pumpkin, squash, and cucumbers in the ground. I transplanted some lettuce, too. This is the first time my head lettuce has actually headed up. It looks so cute and yummy at the same time.
Oh- Pamela- he dug up this beautiful sedge plant that would look fabulous near your pond. It likes water. Would you like some of it? We really thought of you when he was digging it up.
While I was planting potatoes, some ants crawled into my kneepads, and bit my knees! Little biters! Ouch!
I was craving Indian food again yesterday, so made a wonderful feast of Rogan Josh, dry cauliflower, cucumber raita, saffron rice, and wonderful lassis made with leftover homemade coconut ice cream from the Boy's party. Yummy good food.
Oh- the Boy is in his final week of play frenzy. They perform for the students today, and then do the evening performance tomorrow night. He will be supported by several friends and loved ones in the audience. Should be great fun. I will get to sell tickets before the show. He is nervous and excited. Break a leg, Boy!
Other than the play, and gardening, and my visit to the endocrinologist tomorrow, the Girl will have her first lesson with her new piano teacher this week. She is very excited to get started. It has been hard for her to work independently these last 6 weeks.
Okay, that's it for now, gotta go hang out the wash- it is supposed to 85 degrees out today- I need to take advantage of that and hang as much wash as I can today.
TTFN,
LB
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