Hey folks, asking a favor here

A work friend of mine's grandson was born two weeks ago. He was due March 13th, and he's doing terrifically in the NICU, but if you have good thoughts to send to NICUs everywhere, would you do that today?

Thanks.

It's that time of year again

I missed it last year, I think. But here it is for this year: the first line of the first post of every month of 2009.

January: "Reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in bed, an hour after lights-out, with a flashlight." (that's my boy!)

February: "From this (picture) to this (picture) Lego-maven, Pokemon card collector (shudder), Harry Potter follower, singer, runner, funny, silly, smart, rockin' reader, polite (most of the time), considerate of his friends, loving, snuggly, and very very sweet." (my boy turns seven)

March: "Packed books and toys and there are still more books and toys to pack." (and not everything's unpacked yet)

April: "Look! I park in the garage!" (I never DID get around to posting pictures. Sorry 'bout that)

May: "MangeTout in New London is delicious. Please don't miss their Black & White Chocolate Macaroon Tart. Oh. My. God. That was amazing." (on my trip to Connecticut)

June: "If I weren't already pro-choice, reading Cecily's blog would have made me so." (really just a link to this post)

July: "On my way to the event." (I never did get more photos. Darn it)

August: "Had a great time talking with assorted wonderful people about politics, skylights, and expanding houses." (Talking about a weekend at my mom's country house)

September: "Couldn't find one of the houses I was supposed to visit yesterday." (I really hate that)

October: "Yesterday I did 23 doors IN HIGH HEELS." (Yeah. Not my brightest moment.)

November: "Yesterday was a whirlwind of meeting-and-greeting, walkingwalkingwalking, and dialing-and-smiling." (the day before election day.)

December: "Labyrinth card game: we love this game." (we've given it as a gift to three different families now)

I'm ashamed.

I didn't post about the tsunami last year, or this year. Over 230 thousand people dead in one day five years ago and I...forgot.

Silence.

Thoughts on knitting a baby sweater

No, it's not for me. It's for a relative and I'll tell you all about THAT later on.

Things I will rip back for:

• miscounting
• not liking the way I did the increases (it made really obvious gaps)
• realizing that I want the button band to be knit when the main body is purl and vice-versa (so it shows up better)
• realizing that the lace pattern for the main body is not only too froo-froo (for an infant - my own opinion), but it will also take too long, and I will be guaranteed to mess it up at least once. This sweater needs to be done before the end of January. It CANNOT become a pair of aran socks. And since Elizabeth Zimmerman and Meg Swanson practically BEG you to switch out the pattern in the main body...I did. I'm using sand stitch instead.

Things I won't rip back for:

• a sudden slubby section of yarn (either it will get lost in the nubbly pattern I chose after blocking, or it will just be a charming imperfection). Yarn is imperfect. Get over it.
• Not including button holes. I hate button holes. Buttons have no place on baby clothes in any case - except in a purely decorative capacity. This sweater will have snaps and decorative buttons. So there.

It's time for Sunday Breakfast with Christine

Christine Lavin tells us how to make pain au chocolat.

'Twas the day before Christmas

And in the office
Workers were there but not one of the bosses
Each of us had planned our departure
Some by plane, some by train, some by gas guzzling car...


I'll work on the rest while I'm on Amtrak going up to my mom's.

Merry Christmas everybody!

The Toy Sack

"Wouldn't that be awesome?"

The embedded video is the Bare Naked Ladies singing "We Three Kings/God Rest Ye" at a Boston Pops concert.

Whoa Nellie! That was some snow!

MM wading through some of the more shallow areas.

About two-thirds of the way through the storm. As viewed through the screen.

At work now, alas. LCPS is shut down today and tomorrow. Wednesday is the start of Winter Break, so MM doesn't go back to school until Jan. 4.

Posh Place is open today from 9 until 4, but MM's stayin' home with MS. They're probably playing Wii Playground. I'm pretty good at the paper airplane races. MM is best at dodgeball. MS kicks butt at slot car racing.

If they're not playing with the Wii, they're doing kid-friendly science and electronics.

What did you do this weekend?

It's a "Partridge", John.

Bah dah dah dum.




The embedded video is of the Muppets singing "The 12 Days of Christmas" with John Denver.

It's a two coat day.

Today I wore my Land's End Primaloft jacket (discontinued, it seems. At least, I can't find it on their site) under my 10-year-old red JC Penney pea coat. My torso and arms were mosty toasty, but my legs were complaining bitterly of the cold.

Seems that my lovely pants were not adequate to the job today. I should have broken out the long-johns.

The best of both worlds

I'm keeping Mystery Mommy, but I've also started a new blog for my political rantings and that's The True Adventures of the Doorbell Queen. Head on over and see what you think!

You'll never guess who I had a bloggy playdate with today!!

Angry Pregnant Lawyer! And Angry Boy and Angry Linebacker! MM had a great time playing with AB (until a lunchtime meltdown on the part of MM. Sad, but there you are).

I had a terrific time and can't wait until January when we can do it again!

Where my mind is, while my body is at work

Dancing to Ulupalakua.



The embedded video shows a woman dancing the hula to a song called Ulupalakua. The song and dance are about an area of Maui which was/is the home of the Paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys. The original Paniolo were Spanish. Paniolo is how "Espanol" got translated into Hawaiian.

Lyrics and translation can be found here.

I am The Meanest Mommy In The World (tm)

Because I wouldn't let my dawdling son take his DS with him for after-school today.

Because we were late.

Because I had already said, "If I have to tell you one more time to hurry and get dressed, you will be sad."

And lo, he was sad. Point made. I hope.

Question for you folks

Should I change the name of the blog from Mystery Mommy to Doorbell Queen?

It's been much more politicky here than bookish for a long, long, long time.

What do you think?

Posting from my new phone. The keyboard disappears in the main part. Alas.

Gifts for the whole family

Labyrinth card game: we love this game. Easy to understand and play. MM wins at it regularly. MS and I play it on our own sometimes.

Make and Break: Lots of fun. Not so great for the easily frustrated. We've actually developed some house rules because the top-of-the-box rules can make for a melt-down if one family member keeps rolling a 1 and picking complicated patterns (not that that would ever happen or if it did that I pouted about it for more than 5 minutes).

Guess Who Extra: MM got this for Hanukkah from my aunt and uncle. It got played pretty much non-stop Friday and Saturday and Sunday.

Spooky Manor for the Wii: Wii game for up to 4 players. We really enjoyed this, but it was over pretty quick.