I just found out from Danigirl that The Electric Company is being release on DVD! It was released today!!!
Silent E! LY! Letter Man! Holy guacamole, I need this DVD.
I've put it on my wish list. It's at the top. My birthday is next month.
Can I possibly wait that long?
Years go by. Things change.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
SNARK!
Boy howdy! The entire class just got an e-mail that was just intended to go to the prof (I hope it was just intended to go to the prof.) It's from a girl who dropped the class and basically asks to be removed from the prof's mailing list. And it is SNARKY with a capital Snark.
It would, however, have been more effective as a slap-down if she had actually capitalized appropriately and used better grammar, but we can't have everything.
Am I evil that I am gloating over this? Yes. Yes, I am evil. I hate me.
No, actually, I don't. I am evil, but it is not affecting my self-esteem one bit.
It would, however, have been more effective as a slap-down if she had actually capitalized appropriately and used better grammar, but we can't have everything.
Am I evil that I am gloating over this? Yes. Yes, I am evil. I hate me.
No, actually, I don't. I am evil, but it is not affecting my self-esteem one bit.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Advanced Composition Haiku
My teacher is nuts,
Disorganized, phrenetic.
Classmates are dropping.
Despite good reviews,
previewed online, enjoyment
is beyond our reach.
E-mail this, print that
Post the other on-line now.
Respond by Monday.
We are never sure what
we need to send where or when
any of this is due.
Writing this haiku
Is very theraputic
Now for the essay.
Disorganized, phrenetic.
Classmates are dropping.
Despite good reviews,
previewed online, enjoyment
is beyond our reach.
E-mail this, print that
Post the other on-line now.
Respond by Monday.
We are never sure what
we need to send where or when
any of this is due.
Writing this haiku
Is very theraputic
Now for the essay.
Blogging with Muffin Man on my lap
Hectic weekend. We had a party for Muffin Man's birthday. Three of his friends came over with their parents (plus MakesBooksForGrandkids, SingsLullabyes, my SIL and her husband) and we all had a really, really good time. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge the camera before the party, so I have a little video and two pictures of MM's friends, but no cake picture. And the
cake was HUGELY POPULAR.
Can anyone guess what frickin' character was on the cake?
That's right! Tt(f)TE!!!
I think we will be having leftover cake for breakfast.
MakesBooksForGrandkids lived up to his name! Muffin Man has a book that's all about him.
cake was HUGELY POPULAR.
Can anyone guess what frickin' character was on the cake?
That's right! Tt(f)TE!!!
I think we will be having leftover cake for breakfast.
MakesBooksForGrandkids lived up to his name! Muffin Man has a book that's all about him.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
God said "Let there be lips!"
Trivia question: Whose lips were they?
Trivia question: Whose lips were they?
Fives Meme
Dr. Four Eyes tagged me for this last week.
Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.
1) zerodoll
2) Overread
3) BrightStar
4) dr four eyes
5) Mystery Mommy
Next select five people to tag:
I'm only doing one, since I think everybody else has done this, if you haven't, feel free to tag yourself: 1) Musiclover Marc
What were you doing 10 years ago? February 1996:
I had just quit my job at Murder Ink after the robbery. I was living with Mr. Spock in a two-room apartment on West 96th Street, and we were planning our wedding.
What were you doing 1 year ago?
Celebrating Muffin Man's 3rd Birthday. Happy 4th Birthday, Muffin Man!
Five snacks you enjoy:
1) Smoked and salted almonds
2) Hummus (w/pita)
3) Guacamole (w/cornchips)
4) Take5 candy bars
5) Ritz Bits cheese-flavored sandwiches
Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1) Every song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Plus call-backs)
2) It's a Small World After All (and how I wish I couldn't)
3) Every song off the Aladdin soundtrack (ditto)
4) Every song Tom Lehrer ever recorded (And will sing them at the drop of a hat, just try me!)
5) Dona Nobis Pacem (Not that that's any great feat, the title includes all the lyrics)
Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
Like Dr. Four Eyes, I'm assuming this means multi-millionaire...
1) Pay off the house (and our sisters's houses and our parents's houses - if they wanted us to)
2) Get all the landscaping done
3) Put lots of money into Muffin Man's college fund (and his cousins's)
4) Spend lots of time in Kauai.
5) Send Mr. Spock back to school for his PhD if he wanted.
Five bad habits:
1) Chewing my fingers
2) Procrastinating
3) Messiness
4) Ordering out too much
5) Watching too much tv
Five things you like doing:
1) Reading
2) Blogging
3) Playing with Muffin Man
4) Snugglebunnies
5) Lazing in the sun like a lizard.
Five things you would never wear again:
1) My Frankenfurter outfit
2) My Columbia outfit
3) A size 4.
4) Dr. Scholls
5) Dayglo.
Five favorite toys:
1) The DVR
2) The digital camera
3) A deck of cards
4) Muffin Man's TtTE train tracks.
5) Muffin Man's Trax marble race.
I love setting up 4 and 5 into different configurations for Muffin Man to play with.
Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.
1) zerodoll
2) Overread
3) BrightStar
4) dr four eyes
5) Mystery Mommy
Next select five people to tag:
I'm only doing one, since I think everybody else has done this, if you haven't, feel free to tag yourself: 1) Musiclover Marc
What were you doing 10 years ago? February 1996:
I had just quit my job at Murder Ink after the robbery. I was living with Mr. Spock in a two-room apartment on West 96th Street, and we were planning our wedding.
What were you doing 1 year ago?
Celebrating Muffin Man's 3rd Birthday. Happy 4th Birthday, Muffin Man!
Five snacks you enjoy:
1) Smoked and salted almonds
2) Hummus (w/pita)
3) Guacamole (w/cornchips)
4) Take5 candy bars
5) Ritz Bits cheese-flavored sandwiches
Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:
1) Every song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Plus call-backs)
2) It's a Small World After All (and how I wish I couldn't)
3) Every song off the Aladdin soundtrack (ditto)
4) Every song Tom Lehrer ever recorded (And will sing them at the drop of a hat, just try me!)
5) Dona Nobis Pacem (Not that that's any great feat, the title includes all the lyrics)
Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
Like Dr. Four Eyes, I'm assuming this means multi-millionaire...
1) Pay off the house (and our sisters's houses and our parents's houses - if they wanted us to)
2) Get all the landscaping done
3) Put lots of money into Muffin Man's college fund (and his cousins's)
4) Spend lots of time in Kauai.
5) Send Mr. Spock back to school for his PhD if he wanted.
Five bad habits:
1) Chewing my fingers
2) Procrastinating
3) Messiness
4) Ordering out too much
5) Watching too much tv
Five things you like doing:
1) Reading
2) Blogging
3) Playing with Muffin Man
4) Snugglebunnies
5) Lazing in the sun like a lizard.
Five things you would never wear again:
1) My Frankenfurter outfit
2) My Columbia outfit
3) A size 4.
4) Dr. Scholls
5) Dayglo.
Five favorite toys:
1) The DVR
2) The digital camera
3) A deck of cards
4) Muffin Man's TtTE train tracks.
5) Muffin Man's Trax marble race.
I love setting up 4 and 5 into different configurations for Muffin Man to play with.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Seen EVERYWHERE
I saw this first at Phantom Scribbler's and please note, her name is up front and center, bold and beautiful, just like her.
Click here if you want your own.
Psychology Haiku
As the AV guys
work on the projector, I
stare at the blank screen
Strange dichotomy:
Chalk boards, computer screens and
wireless connections
work on the projector, I
stare at the blank screen
Strange dichotomy:
Chalk boards, computer screens and
wireless connections
As seen at R2K's
A new version of 23rd and 5th.
Instructions:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that cool or intellectual book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
To the left of me: Disposable Domestics: Immigrant Women Workers in the Global Economy by Grace Chang.
I'm just gonna give you the fifth sentence, 'cause boy howdy is it ever wordy.
Again, just the 5th sentence, 'cause I've got to get back to work.
Instructions:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that cool or intellectual book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
To the left of me: Disposable Domestics: Immigrant Women Workers in the Global Economy by Grace Chang.
I'm just gonna give you the fifth sentence, 'cause boy howdy is it ever wordy.
"They reflect these women's clear recognition that their land, products, labor,To the right of me: The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (not this edition, though)
and lives are extracted for other people's profit through these programs."
Again, just the 5th sentence, 'cause I've got to get back to work.
"Shasta, half mad with horror, managed to lurch towards the brute."
Friday, January 27, 2006
The answers to numbers 5 & 12 below
#5 is Angela. A friend from my job which I celebrated a week of freedom from today, by going to my Communications class. Excellent class. I think it's being taught by Jo(e). Beautiful long hair. Passel of kids. Excellent sense of humor. Talks with her hands.
But I know it's not Jo(e) because Jo(e) lives somewhere that has had snow in the last year and Mrs. Aptonym lives in Woodbridge.
#12 is a message from Mr. Spock. And I'm not sayin' what it says.
And to give a re-cap of my week: My favorite class so far is Statistics, followed VERY closely by Communications, followed by Advanced Composition, Psychology, and Women & Work in that order. Pray forgive me if my posting goes WAAAAAAY down, I'm gonna be writing my ass off for these classes.
Did you folks know that students have to bring their own Scantron sheets to tests? Isn't that like asking Lady Jane Grey to bring her own axe?
But I know it's not Jo(e) because Jo(e) lives somewhere that has had snow in the last year and Mrs. Aptonym lives in Woodbridge.
#12 is a message from Mr. Spock. And I'm not sayin' what it says.
And to give a re-cap of my week: My favorite class so far is Statistics, followed VERY closely by Communications, followed by Advanced Composition, Psychology, and Women & Work in that order. Pray forgive me if my posting goes WAAAAAAY down, I'm gonna be writing my ass off for these classes.
Did you folks know that students have to bring their own Scantron sheets to tests? Isn't that like asking Lady Jane Grey to bring her own axe?
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Stolen from CCW
25 Questions meme
As seen at ccw.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
What the heck happened to my hair?
2. How much cash do you have on you? In my pocket? $0. In my purse? About $100.
3. What's a word that rhymes with TEST? Vest
4. planet? Earth
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list? My phone is downstairs, I'll check and get back to y'all tomorrow.
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone? What CCW said, the one that just rings.
7. What shirt are you wearing? This one in Evening.
8. What do you label yourself? Short.
9. Name the brand of shoes you've recently worn. Reeboks.
10. Bright or Dark Room?
11. What were you doing at midnight last night? Like CCW, I was sleeping.
12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? My phone is downstairs, I'll check and get back to y'all on this tomorrow.
13. Where is your nearest 7-11? Uhhhhh.....maybe across from Karate Bagels?
14. What's a saying that you say a lot? Holy Guacamole!
15.Who told you they loved you last? Muffin Man.
16. Last furry thing you touched? Probably something at the petting zoo.
17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days? 3. Zyrtec, Tricor, and baby aspirin.
18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? None. It's all digital now, babe.
19. Favorite age you have been so far? 32.
20. your worst enemy? Uncomfortable bras.
21. What is your current desktop picture? There are several, this is one of them.
22. What was the last thing you said to someone? Night-night, sweetheart. I love you.
23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?
24. Do you like someone? Yes, I like many someones. Not so much myself tonight though.
25. The last song you listened to? Orphée aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld), operetta Can Can, Composed by Jacques Offenbach, Performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (track #15 from the Beethovan's Wig CD.) Muffin Man and I sang the words.
As seen at ccw.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
What the heck happened to my hair?
2. How much cash do you have on you? In my pocket? $0. In my purse? About $100.
3. What's a word that rhymes with TEST? Vest
4. planet? Earth
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list? My phone is downstairs, I'll check and get back to y'all tomorrow.
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone? What CCW said, the one that just rings.
7. What shirt are you wearing? This one in Evening.
8. What do you label yourself? Short.
9. Name the brand of shoes you've recently worn. Reeboks.
10. Bright or Dark Room?
11. What were you doing at midnight last night? Like CCW, I was sleeping.
12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? My phone is downstairs, I'll check and get back to y'all on this tomorrow.
13. Where is your nearest 7-11? Uhhhhh.....maybe across from Karate Bagels?
14. What's a saying that you say a lot? Holy Guacamole!
15.Who told you they loved you last? Muffin Man.
16. Last furry thing you touched? Probably something at the petting zoo.
17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days? 3. Zyrtec, Tricor, and baby aspirin.
18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? None. It's all digital now, babe.
19. Favorite age you have been so far? 32.
20. your worst enemy? Uncomfortable bras.
21. What is your current desktop picture? There are several, this is one of them.
22. What was the last thing you said to someone? Night-night, sweetheart. I love you.
23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?
24. Do you like someone? Yes, I like many someones. Not so much myself tonight though.
25. The last song you listened to? Orphée aux enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld), operetta Can Can, Composed by Jacques Offenbach, Performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra (track #15 from the Beethovan's Wig CD.) Muffin Man and I sang the words.
I am ashamed
Single parenting again this weekend starting tonight and ending Sunday.
I'm kind of tired from hauling my under-exercised butt from class to class today (10,400 steps) and when I picked up Muffin Man from PNP, he was kinda Tigger-ish. So we went out for fast food and a game of tag at Booger King (one of the ones with a habitrail for kids). And when we got home he was just NOT LISTENING. NOT. LISTENING. And we managed to spill mineral oil on the floor which he then STEPPED IN AFTER I TOLD HIM NOT TO.
And so I yelled at him. Loudly.
Not my best moment.
I'm kind of tired from hauling my under-exercised butt from class to class today (10,400 steps) and when I picked up Muffin Man from PNP, he was kinda Tigger-ish. So we went out for fast food and a game of tag at Booger King (one of the ones with a habitrail for kids). And when we got home he was just NOT LISTENING. NOT. LISTENING. And we managed to spill mineral oil on the floor which he then STEPPED IN AFTER I TOLD HIM NOT TO.
And so I yelled at him. Loudly.
Not my best moment.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Just dropped in to say "Hi!"
I have time for the quickest of quick posts before I dash off to write 500 words on three different topics for my Advanced Composition class.
I love school. LOVE IT! Statistics: We're doing sets. Who knew that developing databases would have useful applications in academia?
Advanced Composition: Lots and lots and lots of writing. Loving the class, fearing the work.
Psychology: Both the lab and the lecture look good so far.
Women & Work: I'm interested in the subject matter, but I wish it were less about the contemporary (which NPR has given me a good grounding in) and more about the historical. Though we are going to talk about the Triangle Shirtwaist fire on Thursday.
I don't have my communications class until Friday.
General impressions:
1. Lots of walking. I'd forgotten how much walking one does, going to and from classes.
2. COMPUTERS. Ohmigod, what a difference 16 years makes. Many of our assignments are being given to us on-line. We're e-mailing assignments in, chatting on discussion boards with our classmates.
3. As I'd already gathered from Scrivener and others, plagiarism is a big issue. BIG.
Again, to sum up, I LOVE SCHOOL. Me. I can hardly believe it.
Gotta go now, to write non-bloggy stuff. (Why is that always less fun?)
I love school. LOVE IT! Statistics: We're doing sets. Who knew that developing databases would have useful applications in academia?
Advanced Composition: Lots and lots and lots of writing. Loving the class, fearing the work.
Psychology: Both the lab and the lecture look good so far.
Women & Work: I'm interested in the subject matter, but I wish it were less about the contemporary (which NPR has given me a good grounding in) and more about the historical. Though we are going to talk about the Triangle Shirtwaist fire on Thursday.
I don't have my communications class until Friday.
General impressions:
1. Lots of walking. I'd forgotten how much walking one does, going to and from classes.
2. COMPUTERS. Ohmigod, what a difference 16 years makes. Many of our assignments are being given to us on-line. We're e-mailing assignments in, chatting on discussion boards with our classmates.
3. As I'd already gathered from Scrivener and others, plagiarism is a big issue. BIG.
Again, to sum up, I LOVE SCHOOL. Me. I can hardly believe it.
Gotta go now, to write non-bloggy stuff. (Why is that always less fun?)
Sunday, January 22, 2006
A good weekend...
Starting with today:
Blogger Meet-up!!! So the Fish Said... and I met up at a nearby Italian chain for Sunday Brunch. She's just as nice in person as she is on her blog and her daughter is just the sweetest 6 month old. We had a great time talking and eating. Muffin Man showed off and flirted and Mia was enthralled by all the things to see and forgot to be annoyed that her teeth were bothering her. I hope we can do it again soon!
Yesterday:
SoupAndBread, followed by shopping for a new train from the Tt(F)TE collection (Emily and her tender, if anyone's interested). And then I got to go by myself to LL Bean to spend a gift certificate I got for Christmas. Did you know that they're having a sale of their winter stuff?
I got this in Evening and Chocolate, this in Dark Mulberry, this in Navy (not shown), and two pairs of pants, one Chocolate brown and one mustard-y chino. And I also bought a tin of mints. Total cost: $95.00. I handed over my $100 gift certificate. I got five bucks back. YAY!
Blogger Meet-up!!! So the Fish Said... and I met up at a nearby Italian chain for Sunday Brunch. She's just as nice in person as she is on her blog and her daughter is just the sweetest 6 month old. We had a great time talking and eating. Muffin Man showed off and flirted and Mia was enthralled by all the things to see and forgot to be annoyed that her teeth were bothering her. I hope we can do it again soon!
Yesterday:
SoupAndBread, followed by shopping for a new train from the Tt(F)TE collection (Emily and her tender, if anyone's interested). And then I got to go by myself to LL Bean to spend a gift certificate I got for Christmas. Did you know that they're having a sale of their winter stuff?
I got this in Evening and Chocolate, this in Dark Mulberry, this in Navy (not shown), and two pairs of pants, one Chocolate brown and one mustard-y chino. And I also bought a tin of mints. Total cost: $95.00. I handed over my $100 gift certificate. I got five bucks back. YAY!
Friday, January 20, 2006
Big Sister Brag
My sister and her family are doing something incredibly wonderful. I can't give you the details, because it involves someone else, but I can't help but shout to the world how much I love, admire, and look up to them.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Hurrah!
Mr. Spock is coming home today
Hurrah, hurrah!
He's on a plane, he's on his way
Hurrah, hurrah!
He's coming home 5 days early
Muffin Man will squeal when he
Sees that Mr. Spock is
In the living room
Hurrah, hurrah!
He's on a plane, he's on his way
Hurrah, hurrah!
He's coming home 5 days early
Muffin Man will squeal when he
Sees that Mr. Spock is
In the living room
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
My new schedule
Monday/Wednesday classes from 1:30 until 4:15 (Math(Statistics) and English (Advanced Composition))
Tuesday recitation from 9:30 until 10:20 (Psychology)
Tuesday/Thursday classes from 10:30 until 1:15 (Psychology and History (Women and Work))
Friday class from 9:00 - 11:40 (Communications (Interpersonal and Group Interactions))
To sum up: 5 pretty short days. 2 Mornings battling traffic. 4 classes that look pretty darn interesting and the 1 that's not so darn interesting at least looks pretty darn useful. 3 100-level courses, 2 300-level courses. 15 credits total.
I'm on my way!
Tuesday recitation from 9:30 until 10:20 (Psychology)
Tuesday/Thursday classes from 10:30 until 1:15 (Psychology and History (Women and Work))
Friday class from 9:00 - 11:40 (Communications (Interpersonal and Group Interactions))
To sum up: 5 pretty short days. 2 Mornings battling traffic. 4 classes that look pretty darn interesting and the 1 that's not so darn interesting at least looks pretty darn useful. 3 100-level courses, 2 300-level courses. 15 credits total.
I'm on my way!
I saw the towers
Over Sting's shoulder in the video for "An Englishman in New York".
It's always a shock to remember that they're gone.
It's even worse when I remember that I always thought they were a blight on the landscape.
It's always a shock to remember that they're gone.
It's even worse when I remember that I always thought they were a blight on the landscape.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Doo doo didoo doo
Laid Off Dad was talking about the word "phenomenon" and repeated it over and over. Now I'm got it in my head to the tune of "Mahna Mahna".
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Oooooh! Shopping!
My giftee for the Holiday Extravaganza was Jen at MUBAR. So I did my research and came away with a few ideas...
Christmas Dreams
Silver and gold and ice blue
Warm and toasty
Pretty shiny happy
Yummy
Small
Surprising
It was clear, what with the price limit, that cashmere was not going to be on the agenda. But to me, cashmere says comfort. A fondness for silver and gold crayons, for ice blue and pretzels, for chocolate and buying organic....
From the beginning I was thinking of a mug. But it had to be the right mug. It couldn't be too Christmasy because that smacked of sappiness, and sappiness was out. But on the other hand it couldn't be a plain mug, 'cause where's the fun in that? I couldn't find the mug I was looking for. It wasn't at Wegman's. It wasn't at Nearby Mall. I looked and I looked. And finally, while on a totally different errand, I found it. White with a silver rim and a silver snowflake. It was The Mug.
Meanwhile I had bought the other elements of the package. The silver earrings were hand-made by a friend of mine. The chocolate-covered-pretzels were bought fresh at Wegman's (and so was the hot cocoa for use in The Mug.) I looked for organic hot cocoa mix, but their choices didn't look...cashmere...enough.
And then I packed the package. The tin I already had on hand. I love collecting little boxes and tins for just such occasions.
And then I mailed the package. And as I was driving home I said,
"DOH! I FORGOT TO TAKE ANY PICTURES!!!"
so you'll have to check out Jen's post about receiving it if you want to see them.
It came in the mail...
And it jingled. So tantalizing, so mysterious. How could I wait to open it?
Every so often after it arrived, I gave it a little shake to hear that joyful jingle.
Would I be able to cool my ardor for discovery long enough to wait for the proper time and then remember to take photos?
Oooooh! Look how pretty! Do you see the bell and the cute ornaments? I tied ribbon on the bell and the three of them went on the tree.
My secret Santa revealed: It's DANI!!!
My prezzies all together (minus one magnet that was hiding on the underside of the tin it came in, naughty magnet!!!) 4 beautiful hand-painted magnets - a moon and three stars - with that blue that I love so much featured prominently; a book clip with pretty beads and a little triad of stars hanging off it (is that not the most perfect thing?), and the bell and two ornaments.
My cup runneth over.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Fours
Self-tagged on Phantom's site
Four Jobs I've Had
1. Cashier at Wholey's fish market in Pittsburgh. You haven't been smelly until you've worked through the Christmas rush at a fish store.
2. Door-to-door Beggar for Clean Water Action Project (also Pittsburgh)
3. Waitress (donut shop in Park Slope and upscale Greek place in Pgh.)
4. Kiosk sales person for an ISP.
Four Movies I Love to Watch Over and Over
1. Casablanca
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. The Princess Bride
4. Young Frankenstein
Four Movies I'm Forced to Watch Over and Over
1. Cinderella
2. Aladdin
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4. Finding Nemo (not that any of these are bad, mind you, but there is a limit)
Four Movies That Haven't Hit That Limit Yet
1. Madagascar
2. Chicken Run
3. The Incredibles
4. Monsters, Inc.
Four Books I First Read as an Adult that I Read Over and Over
1. Brat Farrar
2. Pictures of Perfection
3. Venetia
4. The Blue Sword
Four Things I Cannot Do
1. Whistle
2. Touch my toes when my legs are straight
3. Turn a cartwheel
4. Word problems.
Four Places I've Lived (as a grown-up)
1. Park Slope, Brooklyn
2. Upper West Side, Manhatten
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Ashburn, VA
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch (that are still running)
1. West Wing
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Good Eats
4. Boston Legal
Four TV Shows We Record for Muffin Man (links are noisy)
1. Oobi
2. Higglytown Heroes
3. Little Einsteins
4. There is no number 4.
Four Things I Say Often
1. "Holy Guacamole!"
2. "Wash your hands"
3. "Did you flush?"
4. "Oh, God."
Four Places I've Been on Vacation
1. Cape Cod
2. Kauaii
3. Ottsville, PA
4. Paris, France
Four Blogs I Visit Daily That I Don't Link To In My Sidebar
1. Uterine Wars. I'm going to miss her.
2. So Close
3. Life's Jest Book. I'm going to link to you tomorrow, though!
4. In the Barren Season
Four of My Favorite Foods (that I cook)
1. Ham
2. Prime Rib (Wegman's dry aged it for me and I used my cast iron dutch oven instead of a terra cotta planter)
3. Turkey
4. Risotto
Four Cars I've owned
1. 1995 Ford Taurus Sedan (sadly, got rammed from behind by a Toyota.)
2. 1994 Ford Taurus Wagon (died an honorable death at 120,000)
3. 2002 Kia Sedona (My current vehicle)
4. There is no 4. (What? I only learned to drive 9 years ago.)
Marc volunteered to be tagged. Is there anyone else who hasn't done it yet and wants to? Consider yourself tagged.
Four Jobs I've Had
1. Cashier at Wholey's fish market in Pittsburgh. You haven't been smelly until you've worked through the Christmas rush at a fish store.
2. Door-to-door Beggar for Clean Water Action Project (also Pittsburgh)
3. Waitress (donut shop in Park Slope and upscale Greek place in Pgh.)
4. Kiosk sales person for an ISP.
Four Movies I Love to Watch Over and Over
1. Casablanca
2. When Harry Met Sally
3. The Princess Bride
4. Young Frankenstein
Four Movies I'm Forced to Watch Over and Over
1. Cinderella
2. Aladdin
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4. Finding Nemo (not that any of these are bad, mind you, but there is a limit)
Four Movies That Haven't Hit That Limit Yet
1. Madagascar
2. Chicken Run
3. The Incredibles
4. Monsters, Inc.
Four Books I First Read as an Adult that I Read Over and Over
1. Brat Farrar
2. Pictures of Perfection
3. Venetia
4. The Blue Sword
Four Things I Cannot Do
1. Whistle
2. Touch my toes when my legs are straight
3. Turn a cartwheel
4. Word problems.
Four Places I've Lived (as a grown-up)
1. Park Slope, Brooklyn
2. Upper West Side, Manhatten
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Ashburn, VA
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch (that are still running)
1. West Wing
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Good Eats
4. Boston Legal
Four TV Shows We Record for Muffin Man (links are noisy)
1. Oobi
2. Higglytown Heroes
3. Little Einsteins
4. There is no number 4.
Four Things I Say Often
1. "Holy Guacamole!"
2. "Wash your hands"
3. "Did you flush?"
4. "Oh, God."
Four Places I've Been on Vacation
1. Cape Cod
2. Kauaii
3. Ottsville, PA
4. Paris, France
Four Blogs I Visit Daily That I Don't Link To In My Sidebar
1. Uterine Wars. I'm going to miss her.
2. So Close
3. Life's Jest Book. I'm going to link to you tomorrow, though!
4. In the Barren Season
Four of My Favorite Foods (that I cook)
1. Ham
2. Prime Rib (Wegman's dry aged it for me and I used my cast iron dutch oven instead of a terra cotta planter)
3. Turkey
4. Risotto
Four Cars I've owned
1. 1995 Ford Taurus Sedan (sadly, got rammed from behind by a Toyota.)
2. 1994 Ford Taurus Wagon (died an honorable death at 120,000)
3. 2002 Kia Sedona (My current vehicle)
4. There is no 4. (What? I only learned to drive 9 years ago.)
Marc volunteered to be tagged. Is there anyone else who hasn't done it yet and wants to? Consider yourself tagged.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Jabs for school
I had to get the tetanus shot and the TB test (OUCH! My arm still hurts), but I got to skip the Meningitis and the Hepatitis B, and I pointed out to my doctor that I didn't need the MMR, because although I only had one Rubella shot back in the early 70's, according to the "Required Immunizations" form, that's all you need if you take them separately. YAY!
So I'm immunized for school. I feel like a kindergartener.
Muffin Man's gonna get a big buncha jabs the day after he turns four, poor fella.
When did they stop doing the tine test for TB? Now they use a HONKING big needle and make a swollen place in your arm that turns into a mini-hickey by the end of the day.
Last night's toy: Little People Bunny
Tonight's toy: Little People Farmer (girl)
It seems he's saving the cars for last.
So I'm immunized for school. I feel like a kindergartener.
Muffin Man's gonna get a big buncha jabs the day after he turns four, poor fella.
When did they stop doing the tine test for TB? Now they use a HONKING big needle and make a swollen place in your arm that turns into a mini-hickey by the end of the day.
Last night's toy: Little People Bunny
Tonight's toy: Little People Farmer (girl)
It seems he's saving the cars for last.
I can't believe I forgot to tell you!
Last night Muffin Man and I were going to the store on our way home (eggs, bread, and a treat for him) and we're passing by the Japanese place and he says, "Ooooh! Can we have Sushi for dinner?"
So we did.
So we did.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
New additions to the list
Those with asterisks after them belong to people with whom I have actually shared a meal.
Genevieve is up there as a place-holder for if she ever gets a blog.
You may have noticed that I've listed some folks I knew in high school below the main list. I'll post more there as I find 'em.
Genevieve is up there as a place-holder for if she ever gets a blog.
You may have noticed that I've listed some folks I knew in high school below the main list. I'll post more there as I find 'em.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Comment! Comment! Comment!
Button courtesy of Papernapkin
If you're visiting and have never commented, don't be shy - speak right up! If you're a regular commenter, say hi as well. Let's make everybody feel welcome! I'm going to comment everywhere.
BTW, I'll be updating my blog list soon. There are lots of people I read who are still not listed. And you may notice that there's a new guy over there on the right, Music Lover Marc, please go and pay him a visit - he works two cubes away from me!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
What we did today
SoupAndBread
New shoes (just like the old shoes only BIGGER!)
Haircuts (Wiggles, Elmo, Dora, and THREE lollipops)
Merry-go-Round (twice)
PIZZA!
Quiet time (bribed to stay in bed until....)
Babysitter time (he looooooves his babysitter)
****Mystery Mommy goes out and buys one small toy for everyday that Mr. Spock is gone (and file folders, wrapping paper that was on sale, coloring/work books that were on sale, and a new thing to go under the dish drying rack) Exciting, no? Uh...no.****
Mystery Mommy cooks dinner while trying to detach Muffin Man from her legs. Problem solved with "Wallace & Gromit - A Close Shave"
Babysitter leaves
Dinner time
Bath time
LotionAndScissors (dry legs, long nails)
Pajama time
Toy from the prize bag!! (Fisher Price Little People Chicken - 15 toys to go)
Story time
Bed time
He hasn't made a peep since I left his room. Perhaps it's the thought of the BIG prize he'll get if he's a good cooperator while Mr. Spock is gone?
And now it's West Wing time.
New shoes (just like the old shoes only BIGGER!)
Haircuts (Wiggles, Elmo, Dora, and THREE lollipops)
Merry-go-Round (twice)
PIZZA!
Quiet time (bribed to stay in bed until....)
Babysitter time (he looooooves his babysitter)
****Mystery Mommy goes out and buys one small toy for everyday that Mr. Spock is gone (and file folders, wrapping paper that was on sale, coloring/work books that were on sale, and a new thing to go under the dish drying rack) Exciting, no? Uh...no.****
Mystery Mommy cooks dinner while trying to detach Muffin Man from her legs. Problem solved with "Wallace & Gromit - A Close Shave"
Babysitter leaves
Dinner time
Bath time
LotionAndScissors (dry legs, long nails)
Pajama time
Toy from the prize bag!! (Fisher Price Little People Chicken - 15 toys to go)
Story time
Bed time
He hasn't made a peep since I left his room. Perhaps it's the thought of the BIG prize he'll get if he's a good cooperator while Mr. Spock is gone?
And now it's West Wing time.
Two and a half weeks
Mr. Spock left for his business trip abroad yesterday. He won't be coming back until the day after I start school.
I miss him already and Muffin Man keeps asking when Daddy's coming home.
I miss him already and Muffin Man keeps asking when Daddy's coming home.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Genevieve is soooooooo cool
We met at the Silver Diner, our kids in tow. Her son looks like what Muffin Man will look like in 2 years. We talked and talked and talked some more and then we went back to her house where her son and Muffin Man played for hours while we talked some more.
We're going to have to do that again!
We're going to have to do that again!
Thursday, January 05, 2006
As seen at Scrivenings
There's No Such Thing As Too Many Books
Here's Your Sign {pictures included}
brought to you by Quizilla
First full day at PNP
And he had a blast. He knew he was in for a good day when he walked in and the letter of the day was his favorite one. "That's the first letter of MY NAME!!!"
Then he went to Art (chickens with yellow crumpled paper feathers), and then Spanish (parehas(sp?)), and then Gym (he showed off his skill at somersaults). Lunch was tacos. That's when he decided it was okay to let me leave to go to work (I'd been leaving him for long periods during the morning "making phonecalls")
When I came back to pick him up, he was playing in the kitchen area (straight out of Pottery Barn Kids - my God, the microwave!), and he didn't want to leave.
"We'll come back tomorrow, Sweetie."
"Promise?"
"I promise. This is going to be your school for a long, long time."
Then he went to Art (chickens with yellow crumpled paper feathers), and then Spanish (parehas(sp?)), and then Gym (he showed off his skill at somersaults). Lunch was tacos. That's when he decided it was okay to let me leave to go to work (I'd been leaving him for long periods during the morning "making phonecalls")
When I came back to pick him up, he was playing in the kitchen area (straight out of Pottery Barn Kids - my God, the microwave!), and he didn't want to leave.
"We'll come back tomorrow, Sweetie."
"Promise?"
"I promise. This is going to be your school for a long, long time."
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Playdate
Muffin Man had a playdate yesterday with his best friend in the whole wide world, DeepVoicedToddler. DeepVoicedToddler and Muffin Man were in the same class at the old school for over three years. Every weekend for the last month, MM has been asking, "When can I play with DVT?"
You should have seen the joy and excitement as they spotted each other, DVT coming up the driveway, MM standing at the open door. They rushed toward each other and embraced as though they had been separated for years.
For the next 4 hours they played and snacked and coloured and talked and read books and played some more. And there were only two meltdowns (over a Matchbox double decker "school bus" and a Melissa and Doug mailbox MM got for Christmas). Other than that, the sharing of the toys was flawless.
They played so nicely together that I was able to sit in the comfy chair and read a bit while they made noises like "brrrrrppppbbrrrppp", "woooooowoooooo", "roaaaaarrrr", and "look out! We're going to crash!"
And during one of their 3 or 4 snack breaks, DVT said in his really quite gravelly voice, "I like your mom. She's almost as nice as mine."
I feel like I could be given no higher compliment. I can now consider myself a hostess extraordinaire.
At the end of the visit, they gave each other big hugs and blew kisses until they were out of sight. "Can DVT come back and play tomorrow?" MM asked as we closed the door.
DVT's mom and I enjoyed a good gossip when she came by to pick him up. She's looking into sending DVT to PNP. Muffin Man would be so thrilled!
You should have seen the joy and excitement as they spotted each other, DVT coming up the driveway, MM standing at the open door. They rushed toward each other and embraced as though they had been separated for years.
For the next 4 hours they played and snacked and coloured and talked and read books and played some more. And there were only two meltdowns (over a Matchbox double decker "school bus" and a Melissa and Doug mailbox MM got for Christmas). Other than that, the sharing of the toys was flawless.
They played so nicely together that I was able to sit in the comfy chair and read a bit while they made noises like "brrrrrppppbbrrrppp", "woooooowoooooo", "roaaaaarrrr", and "look out! We're going to crash!"
And during one of their 3 or 4 snack breaks, DVT said in his really quite gravelly voice, "I like your mom. She's almost as nice as mine."
I feel like I could be given no higher compliment. I can now consider myself a hostess extraordinaire.
At the end of the visit, they gave each other big hugs and blew kisses until they were out of sight. "Can DVT come back and play tomorrow?" MM asked as we closed the door.
DVT's mom and I enjoyed a good gossip when she came by to pick him up. She's looking into sending DVT to PNP. Muffin Man would be so thrilled!
Monday, January 02, 2006
AFI's top 100 films
As seen at Mrs. Coulter's. I've seen all but 28 of them.
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950) (I'm watching it next week, while Mr. Spock is abroad)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) (3 times in the last 3 weeks)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) (and oh, by the way, IT SUCKED!!!)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
2. CASABLANCA (1942)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950) (I'm watching it next week, while Mr. Spock is abroad)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) (3 times in the last 3 weeks)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990) (and oh, by the way, IT SUCKED!!!)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)
Sunday, January 01, 2006
New Year's Resolutions and Rememberances
Resolutions:
My sister-in-law and her husband gave us gift certificates to a movie theatre and a promise of free baby-sitting when we go to the movies. Thus one of my resolutions for the year is to see at least one non-G-rated film before it comes out on DVD.
We're losing my income this year since I'll be going to school full-time, so another resolution is to take my lunch at least 3 times a week, and to cook ahead more often.
Exercise more.
Rememberances:
APL has a post about 2005 and the events in her life during that year.
So I thought I'd copycat off her and list mine too.
* Achenblog led me to Corndog who led me to APL who led me to Phantom Scribbler and I knew I'd met at least three people I'd like to keep as friends for life. Many more now. And I also met APL (and AB) and Corndog in person.
* Muffin Man learned what toilets are for, and matured in lots of other ways - he constantly amazes me.
* I applied and got accepted to my first choice of college. I'm really looking forward to finishing my Bachelor's Degree.
* We got a screened-in porch built on the back of our house.
* My husband and I, like APL, gave more money to charity than ever before, for the same reasons.
* I quit a job to take a new one simply to cut my commute by more than half.
* I took Muffin Man to see his first film in a theater and thus went to the movie theatre for the first time since the first Lord of the Rings film.
My sister-in-law and her husband gave us gift certificates to a movie theatre and a promise of free baby-sitting when we go to the movies. Thus one of my resolutions for the year is to see at least one non-G-rated film before it comes out on DVD.
We're losing my income this year since I'll be going to school full-time, so another resolution is to take my lunch at least 3 times a week, and to cook ahead more often.
Exercise more.
Rememberances:
APL has a post about 2005 and the events in her life during that year.
So I thought I'd copycat off her and list mine too.
* Achenblog led me to Corndog who led me to APL who led me to Phantom Scribbler and I knew I'd met at least three people I'd like to keep as friends for life. Many more now. And I also met APL (and AB) and Corndog in person.
* Muffin Man learned what toilets are for, and matured in lots of other ways - he constantly amazes me.
* I applied and got accepted to my first choice of college. I'm really looking forward to finishing my Bachelor's Degree.
* We got a screened-in porch built on the back of our house.
* My husband and I, like APL, gave more money to charity than ever before, for the same reasons.
* I quit a job to take a new one simply to cut my commute by more than half.
* I took Muffin Man to see his first film in a theater and thus went to the movie theatre for the first time since the first Lord of the Rings film.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Defiant Socks
As requested by Running2Ks, my defiant socks.
They are made of warm, machine washable, knitted silk. My grandma sent them to me last birthday. I love them.
They are made of warm, machine washable, knitted silk. My grandma sent them to me last birthday. I love them.
9:01 PM, New Year's Eve
I'm the only one awake in the house. The only noise is that of my computer keyboard. Muffin Man's classical lullabye CD stopped playing about a half-hour ago and the dryer stopped 2 minutes ago (Wait a sec while I change loads. Done.)
I owe you folks some pictures:
Here's our tree as it looked a week ago.
Here's Muffin Man opening Madagascar from BigSister and her family.
We've watched it three times already. And as you can see behind him, he got lots of other presents as well. He's a very happy boy.
I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year.
I owe you folks some pictures:
Here's our tree as it looked a week ago.
Here's Muffin Man opening Madagascar from BigSister and her family.
We've watched it three times already. And as you can see behind him, he got lots of other presents as well. He's a very happy boy.
I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year.
Friday, December 30, 2005
He likes it! He likes it!
Muffin Man went to visit PNP this morning and stayed through lunch. I'm happy to report that he:
Went to art class (I'll post the picture later)
Went to Spanish Class
Went to Gym (BIG BEACH BALL!)
Ate all his apples and carrots and had two bites of the sloppy joe
Enjoyed himself thoroughly and can't wait to go back!
Yay!
Most of this was with no parent in view of Muffin Man. MM could be seen on the closed circut tv (viewed on a flat-screen monitor the size of Wyoming) in the lobby.
Went to art class (I'll post the picture later)
Went to Spanish Class
Went to Gym (BIG BEACH BALL!)
Ate all his apples and carrots and had two bites of the sloppy joe
Enjoyed himself thoroughly and can't wait to go back!
Yay!
Most of this was with no parent in view of Muffin Man. MM could be seen on the closed circut tv (viewed on a flat-screen monitor the size of Wyoming) in the lobby.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Uncle-Tandem-Bicycle
I have so many aunts and uncles that I'd insult about 20 people if I said that one or the other was my favorite, but just between you and me, Uncle-Tandem-Bicycle is my favorite.
He's the one who gave gift certificates for Haagen Daz for all occasions. He's the one who had great toys and would get down on the floor with me and play. He's the one who biked across country, through Europe, up the east coast.
He and Aunt-Tandem-Bicycle adopted my cousin Sweet-and-Shy from Russia last year. I can't think of anyone more cut out to be parents than these wonderful people. Seeing them with their daughter, the three of them so glowing and happy, makes me get all choked up.
And he's also the one who taught me to sing "Herman the Hanukah Candle" instead of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" so I wouldn't offend elderly conservative aunties and uncles during candle-lighting time.
For all of you on this fourth night of Hanukah, here are the words:
Herman the Hanukah Candle
had a very shiny light
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it's bright.
All of the other candles
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Herman
join in any Hanukah games
Then one rainy Hanukah night,
the rabbi came to say,
"Herman with your light so bright
won't you be my shamash* tonight?"
Then how the candles loved him
And they shouted out with glee
"Herman the Hanukah candle
you'll go down in history!"
* the candle that's in the middle of the traditional menorah. On all menorahs it's placed on a higher spot than the rest. You light it first and then light the other candles with its flame.
He's the one who gave gift certificates for Haagen Daz for all occasions. He's the one who had great toys and would get down on the floor with me and play. He's the one who biked across country, through Europe, up the east coast.
He and Aunt-Tandem-Bicycle adopted my cousin Sweet-and-Shy from Russia last year. I can't think of anyone more cut out to be parents than these wonderful people. Seeing them with their daughter, the three of them so glowing and happy, makes me get all choked up.
And he's also the one who taught me to sing "Herman the Hanukah Candle" instead of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" so I wouldn't offend elderly conservative aunties and uncles during candle-lighting time.
For all of you on this fourth night of Hanukah, here are the words:
Herman the Hanukah Candle
had a very shiny light
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it's bright.
All of the other candles
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Herman
join in any Hanukah games
Then one rainy Hanukah night,
the rabbi came to say,
"Herman with your light so bright
won't you be my shamash* tonight?"
Then how the candles loved him
And they shouted out with glee
"Herman the Hanukah candle
you'll go down in history!"
* the candle that's in the middle of the traditional menorah. On all menorahs it's placed on a higher spot than the rest. You light it first and then light the other candles with its flame.
CD recommendation
Christine Lavin has a holiday CD that I received for Christmas. Half the songs on the album have grabbed hold of me and won't let go, and I've forced others to listen to them too. This is some of the prettiest a capella music I've ever heard. Highlights include "Dona Nobis Pacem" and "Tacobel Canon" (beautiful and tasty!), and "A New Year's Round".
The CD also includes two stories I'm probably not going to listen to again, and 5 songs that are good, but not great. But the other 7 songs, those songs are being played over and over. So peaceful, so glorious.
The CD also includes two stories I'm probably not going to listen to again, and 5 songs that are good, but not great. But the other 7 songs, those songs are being played over and over. So peaceful, so glorious.
How nice is PNP?
PNP is beyond anything I've ever seen.
* It has 4 full-time directors (as opposed to last daycare which went through 7 directors in less than 4 years)
* Included in the price are daily half-hour sessions in music, computers, art, library-time, and movement with their own dedicated rooms and teachers.
* There's an indoor gym for inclement weather.
* There's an outdoor water-play area with sprinkler installations for summertime play.
* Not one of the toys was broken.
* The front desk is always staffed.
* You can't get into the place without being buzzed in or getting your fingerprint scanned (no more codes that don't change often enough/are changed without letting parents know what the damned code is).
* You can't get OUT of the place without pushing a button that's out of most kids' reach (no more kids escaping and running loose in the parking lot - and yes, that really happened at the old place).
* All of the kids looked happy.
* The director who showed us around knew the name of EVERY kid she saw (as opposed to the newest director at the old place who consistently mis-said Muffin Man's name - if his name were Larry, she'd have called him Barry or Jerry).
And did I mention that all the kids looked happy?
* It has 4 full-time directors (as opposed to last daycare which went through 7 directors in less than 4 years)
* Included in the price are daily half-hour sessions in music, computers, art, library-time, and movement with their own dedicated rooms and teachers.
* There's an indoor gym for inclement weather.
* There's an outdoor water-play area with sprinkler installations for summertime play.
* Not one of the toys was broken.
* The front desk is always staffed.
* You can't get into the place without being buzzed in or getting your fingerprint scanned (no more codes that don't change often enough/are changed without letting parents know what the damned code is).
* You can't get OUT of the place without pushing a button that's out of most kids' reach (no more kids escaping and running loose in the parking lot - and yes, that really happened at the old place).
* All of the kids looked happy.
* The director who showed us around knew the name of EVERY kid she saw (as opposed to the newest director at the old place who consistently mis-said Muffin Man's name - if his name were Larry, she'd have called him Barry or Jerry).
And did I mention that all the kids looked happy?
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Jane! Jane! Stop this crazy thing!
*Muffin Man's new bed arrives January 3rd (a week from tomorrow)
*Posh New Place (the daycare designed by Disney) called and he can start January 4th.
*Mr. Spock will be abroad on business for three weeks starting January 7th.
I'm having an asthma attack.
*Posh New Place (the daycare designed by Disney) called and he can start January 4th.
*Mr. Spock will be abroad on business for three weeks starting January 7th.
I'm having an asthma attack.
It's here!
My Holiday of Your Choice Gift Extraveganza present arrived yesterday all the way from Canada. It jingles!!! I can't wait to open it. January 14th is sooooooo far away!
That's my boy
The day before Christmas we went over to Uncle-He's-Younger-Than-Mr-Spock and Aunt-She's-Two-Years-Older-Than-Me's house to celebrate and shmooze. Muffin Man had a good time playing with his cousins (really, my cousins but they're 8 (adopted daughter of different aunt and uncle), 7, 5 and 3) and their cousins (5, 3, and 10 months)
Sometime during the afternoon, TellsDonaldDuckStories, Uncle-He's-Younger-Than-Mr-Spock, 7-year-old cousin, Aunt-She's-Two-Years-Older-Than-Me's brother and brother in law all started up a touch football game. Muffin Man watched for a while and then joined in, the only one of the three three-year-old boys to want to play with the "Big Boys".
The first time Muffin Man got pushed down, he ran crying to me. I asked him if he was hurt, he answered "No, but they PUSHED me!!!"
"You're playing football, sweetie. Pushing is okay in football. It's not okay other times, but it's okay in football." He stopped crying immediately, hopped off my lap and went back into the game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The day AFTER Christmas, we went to pick out a big boy bed for him (a gift from my MIL). He looked at all the choices and ran straight to a dark walnut sleigh bed. "I like THIS one!" He shouted. "IT'S PINK!!!!" And indeed, it had a pink comforter and pink pillows shaped like hearts.
Unfortunately, it did not have extra storage underneath or in the headboard, which is something I'd like him to have. So Mr. Spock looked at the other choices and we tried to guide Muffin Man over to a more practical choice. "NO! I want the PINK ONE!!!"
Suddenly, I had a flash of inspiration. I pulled the pink comforter and pillows off the sleigh bed and put them on the captain's bed. "What do you think, now? Do you like this one?"
"Yes! This one! This one!"
So my little manly football player is going to have a little manly captain's bed with cubbies and drawers and pink sheets with pink heart-shaped pillows.
That's my boy.
Sometime during the afternoon, TellsDonaldDuckStories, Uncle-He's-Younger-Than-Mr-Spock, 7-year-old cousin, Aunt-She's-Two-Years-Older-Than-Me's brother and brother in law all started up a touch football game. Muffin Man watched for a while and then joined in, the only one of the three three-year-old boys to want to play with the "Big Boys".
The first time Muffin Man got pushed down, he ran crying to me. I asked him if he was hurt, he answered "No, but they PUSHED me!!!"
"You're playing football, sweetie. Pushing is okay in football. It's not okay other times, but it's okay in football." He stopped crying immediately, hopped off my lap and went back into the game.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The day AFTER Christmas, we went to pick out a big boy bed for him (a gift from my MIL). He looked at all the choices and ran straight to a dark walnut sleigh bed. "I like THIS one!" He shouted. "IT'S PINK!!!!" And indeed, it had a pink comforter and pink pillows shaped like hearts.
Unfortunately, it did not have extra storage underneath or in the headboard, which is something I'd like him to have. So Mr. Spock looked at the other choices and we tried to guide Muffin Man over to a more practical choice. "NO! I want the PINK ONE!!!"
Suddenly, I had a flash of inspiration. I pulled the pink comforter and pillows off the sleigh bed and put them on the captain's bed. "What do you think, now? Do you like this one?"
"Yes! This one! This one!"
So my little manly football player is going to have a little manly captain's bed with cubbies and drawers and pink sheets with pink heart-shaped pillows.
That's my boy.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Alton Brown is a god.
Truly. His method of cooking Prime Rib makes, bar none, the best piece of cow flesh I've ever eaten.
And I was not alone in this assessment. My mother, my stepfather and Mr. Spock all passed out from the glory that was this perfect standing rib roast.
Wegman's gets kudos, too. Their meat department surpasses all others.
And the rest of Christmas went well too.
Pictures to come later.
And I was not alone in this assessment. My mother, my stepfather and Mr. Spock all passed out from the glory that was this perfect standing rib roast.
Wegman's gets kudos, too. Their meat department surpasses all others.
And the rest of Christmas went well too.
Pictures to come later.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
The tree is decorated, the presents wrapped...
QuiltsAlot is reading aloud to Muffin Man. He is in his jammies, brushed and washed and ready for bed.
We put out grain for the reindeer and cookies for Santa. All that's left is the stockings and Santa does that!
Merry Christmas to you all and Happy Hanukah too. And big hugs. Lots of them. Especially for Phantom Scribbler.
We put out grain for the reindeer and cookies for Santa. All that's left is the stockings and Santa does that!
Merry Christmas to you all and Happy Hanukah too. And big hugs. Lots of them. Especially for Phantom Scribbler.
Friday, December 23, 2005
All done except the tinsel.
*Buy a few more presents - All done!
*Wrap about 20 packages
*Ship one or two things
*Change the sheets in the guest and put clean towels in the guest bath
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet. Good: my parents want to do this with us. Can wait for Saturday.
*Shop for food for the weekend
Yippee!
*
*
*
*
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet. Good: my parents want to do this with us. Can wait for Saturday.
*
Yippee!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
...and shorter
*Buy a few more presents - Just one left!
*Wrap about 20 packages - Still only five wrapped.
*Ship one or two things - Whew. Hopefully my present for the Winter Holiday of Your Choice Gifty Extravaganza will show up where it's supposed to be on time.
*Change the sheets in the guest roomMake sure I have clean sheets for the more-comfortable fold-out couch downstairs and clean towels in the guest bath (Hi Mom!)
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet. Good: my parents want to do this with us. Can wait for Saturday.
*Shop for food for the weekend - Aside from the Roast Beast we're having potato latkes and braised brussells sprouts. Now I need to figure out what we're going to eat the rest of the weekend and go shopping. Also we need vodka and lime. Tonic we've got, as well as the other beverages our guests like best. Oh! Can't forget bagels! Though TellsDonaldDuckStories often likes to take the trip to go out and get them so that he can also get a copy of the NYT and an espresso.
*Wrap about 20 packages - Still only five wrapped.
*
*
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet. Good: my parents want to do this with us. Can wait for Saturday.
*Shop for food for the weekend - Aside from the Roast Beast we're having potato latkes and braised brussells sprouts. Now I need to figure out what we're going to eat the rest of the weekend and go shopping. Also we need vodka and lime. Tonic we've got, as well as the other beverages our guests like best. Oh! Can't forget bagels! Though TellsDonaldDuckStories often likes to take the trip to go out and get them so that he can also get a copy of the NYT and an espresso.
Happy Birthday!
To three of my favorite on-line people:
Purple Kangaroo turns 29 today, Chloe is three, and Frances is TWO!
And here is a birthday card for all of you.
Purple Kangaroo turns 29 today, Chloe is three, and Frances is TWO!
And here is a birthday card for all of you.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Can you tell me what time it is?
(bump)
(creeeeeeaaaakkk)
(thumpThumpTHUMPthumpThumpTHUMPthumpThump
THUMPTHWAPThwapthwap)
(ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss)
(WHOOOOOSHHHHHH)
(thwapThwapTHWAPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP)
"Mommy? Is it morning?"
answer: 6:30 AM. That's my good boy.
And yes, I sent him back to wash his hands.
(creeeeeeaaaakkk)
(thumpThumpTHUMPthumpThumpTHUMPthumpThump
THUMPTHWAPThwapthwap)
(ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss)
(WHOOOOOSHHHHHH)
(thwapThwapTHWAPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP)
"Mommy? Is it morning?"
answer: 6:30 AM. That's my good boy.
And yes, I sent him back to wash his hands.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Meme of the senses (as seen at R2Ks)
Favorite Sound(s): My son laughing. The sound of small waves lapping at the shore of a lake or pond.
Favorite Colour(s): That blue that they use to make those fancy bottles of water. The chocolate brown of my son's eyes.
Favorite Image: My son snuggling with my husband.
Favorite Tactile Sensation(s): The feeling of flannel against my skin. Hugs and kisses from my boys.
Favorite Scent(s): The top of Muffin Man's head. Good things cooking in the kitchen
Well the list is getting a bit shorter
*Buy a few more presents - Two more to go.
*Wrap about 20 packages - I've gotten 5 wrapped.
*Ship one or two things - Whew. Hopefully my present for the Winter Holiday of Your Choice Gifty Extravaganza will show up where it's supposed to be on time.
*Change the sheets in the guest room and the towels in the guest bath (Hi Mom!)
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet.
*Shop for food for the weekend - Aside from the Roast Beast we're having potato latkes and braised brussells sprouts. Now I need to figure out what we're going to eat the rest of the weekend and go shopping. Also we need vodka and lime. Tonic we've got, as well as the other beverages our guests like best. Oh! Can't forget bagels! Though TellsDonaldDuckStories often likes to take the trip to go out and get them so that he can also get a copy of the NYT and an espresso.
*Wrap about 20 packages - I've gotten 5 wrapped.
*Change the sheets in the guest room and the towels in the guest bath (Hi Mom!)
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet.
*Shop for food for the weekend - Aside from the Roast Beast we're having potato latkes and braised brussells sprouts. Now I need to figure out what we're going to eat the rest of the weekend and go shopping. Also we need vodka and lime. Tonic we've got, as well as the other beverages our guests like best. Oh! Can't forget bagels! Though TellsDonaldDuckStories often likes to take the trip to go out and get them so that he can also get a copy of the NYT and an espresso.
Monday, December 19, 2005
As promised
Muffin Man at his new computer, playing Tt(F)TE: "Trouble on the Tracks".
He is so happy, he can't wait for it to be turned on in the mornings.
Check out his cool robe, a hand-me-down from his cousins. LL Bean, y'all.
He is so happy, he can't wait for it to be turned on in the mornings.
Check out his cool robe, a hand-me-down from his cousins. LL Bean, y'all.
Attention: New maturity alert!
At about 5:45, Muffin Man came in and wanted to snuggle and I brought him back to his own room (after asking if he needed to go potty and him saying, "no") (our rule is everyone in their own bed until after 6:30). And then at 6:30 he came back in, went straight into the bathroom, pee'd, flushed, turned out the light and went back into his own room WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE FROM ME. He didn't even know I was awake. Granted, he didn't wash his hands, but I'm not asking for miracles here.
At 7:00, he came back in and we worked on our respective computers (did I tell you that Mr. Spock set up a computer for Muffin Man? He did. Pictures to follow) for 20 minutes and then got dressed and dropped him off at school (perfectly happy) and got me to work (counting down to my last day!)
At 7:00, he came back in and we worked on our respective computers (did I tell you that Mr. Spock set up a computer for Muffin Man? He did. Pictures to follow) for 20 minutes and then got dressed and dropped him off at school (perfectly happy) and got me to work (counting down to my last day!)
Sometime over the next week I must:
*Buy a few more presents
*Wrap about 20 packages
*Ship one or two things
*Change the sheets in the guest room and the towels in the guest bath (Hi Mom!)
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet.
*Shop for food for the weekend (Roast beast. I placed the order yesterday at Wegman's)
What I did this past weekend:
*Went to a party at church (I made the ham.) Had a great time.
*Went Christmas shopping with Muffin Man.
*Made and painted bread dough figures with Muffin Man (pictures to follow)
*Went shopping at Wegman's (all three of us. We LOVE Wegman's)
*Ordered stuff from Amazon.
I'm trying not to feel stressed about all the stuff I wanted to do this past weekend (see top list) that I didn't do. Time just ran out on me.
*Wrap about 20 packages
*Ship one or two things
*Change the sheets in the guest room and the towels in the guest bath (Hi Mom!)
*Clean house
*Decorate. Seriously. The tree isn't up yet.
*Shop for food for the weekend (Roast beast. I placed the order yesterday at Wegman's)
What I did this past weekend:
*Went to a party at church (I made the ham.) Had a great time.
*Went Christmas shopping with Muffin Man.
*Made and painted bread dough figures with Muffin Man (pictures to follow)
*Went shopping at Wegman's (all three of us. We LOVE Wegman's)
*Ordered stuff from Amazon.
I'm trying not to feel stressed about all the stuff I wanted to do this past weekend (see top list) that I didn't do. Time just ran out on me.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
DayInCountry
This is a picture of the day Muffin Man saw a wild turkey while visiting TellsDonaldDuckStories and QuiltsAlot at their house in the country. It was drawn nearly a month after the event.
Must have made an impression, eh?
Must have made an impression, eh?
SparklyFlower
Muffin Man makes an occasional foray into multi-media. This is sparkly paint on newsprint paper with foam flowers.
It is a flower made of flowers.
It is a flower made of flowers.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Well, that's a relief
Muffin Man and I walked into Miss G.'s classroom this morning, his fourth day at his new school. I took off his coat and, as I turned to hang it up, he ran to Miss G. yelling, "I'm wearing my watch!"
He barely wanted to take the time to give me kisses and push me out.
I guess you could say he's settled in.
He barely wanted to take the time to give me kisses and push me out.
I guess you could say he's settled in.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Muffin Man's World has Changed
Muffin Man started at a new daycare yesterday.
He'd been at his old one since he was 10 weeks old. His first teacher, Miss A., was so special. His second-to-last teacher there, Miss M., was also really wonderful. Other teachers who are no longer there made his every day a joy.
But there's the rub. Those teachers are no longer there. Miss M. is leaving soon too. Miss A. was making noises about not liking where the center is going.
The problem is they've had 5 directors in the time we've been there. And the current director is going on maternity leave next month. And her replacement isn't getting along with the teachers. And she's constantly forgetting the kids' names. The place is starting to come unglued and we're not willing to put MM through that again (the last time it happened, they lost two-thirds of their teachers and had to close the toddler room for lack of staff. MM was dividing his days amoung the crawling babies and the rambunctious two's and three's - a blended class also due to lack of staff.)
So we've moved MM to a different center. And it was hard on him yesterday, but today he came home really happy. Talking about the silly songs his teacher, Miss G., sang and the sign-language movements she did with the song (he particularly liked her rendition of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer")
And we're loving the "what I did today" reports she sent home yesterday and today. They're very detailed (mostly xeroxed, but with hand-written notes specifically about our son) and very cheerful with snowflakes and snowmen in the margins. His old school wasn't too big on daily reports. Except in the very young classes.
There are other things about this new center we're not liking so much, but we've got him on a waiting list at Posh New Place (daycare designed by D1sn3y! Not really, but that's how it looks.)
He'd been at his old one since he was 10 weeks old. His first teacher, Miss A., was so special. His second-to-last teacher there, Miss M., was also really wonderful. Other teachers who are no longer there made his every day a joy.
But there's the rub. Those teachers are no longer there. Miss M. is leaving soon too. Miss A. was making noises about not liking where the center is going.
The problem is they've had 5 directors in the time we've been there. And the current director is going on maternity leave next month. And her replacement isn't getting along with the teachers. And she's constantly forgetting the kids' names. The place is starting to come unglued and we're not willing to put MM through that again (the last time it happened, they lost two-thirds of their teachers and had to close the toddler room for lack of staff. MM was dividing his days amoung the crawling babies and the rambunctious two's and three's - a blended class also due to lack of staff.)
So we've moved MM to a different center. And it was hard on him yesterday, but today he came home really happy. Talking about the silly songs his teacher, Miss G., sang and the sign-language movements she did with the song (he particularly liked her rendition of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer")
And we're loving the "what I did today" reports she sent home yesterday and today. They're very detailed (mostly xeroxed, but with hand-written notes specifically about our son) and very cheerful with snowflakes and snowmen in the margins. His old school wasn't too big on daily reports. Except in the very young classes.
There are other things about this new center we're not liking so much, but we've got him on a waiting list at Posh New Place (daycare designed by D1sn3y! Not really, but that's how it looks.)
Monday, December 12, 2005
The horror, the horror!
This picture was taken Christmas morning a looooooooong time ago. I couldn't find any pictures of this perm that didn't show my face....
Please note that not only do I have the typical late-eighties spiral perm, I also have BANGS. Can you say, "poodle"? Or perhaps, "Portugese Water Dog" or maybe "Puli"?
I thought I looked Mahvelous.
Please note that not only do I have the typical late-eighties spiral perm, I also have BANGS. Can you say, "poodle"? Or perhaps, "Portugese Water Dog" or maybe "Puli"?
I thought I looked Mahvelous.
Friday, December 09, 2005
The essay I wrote for Nearby U.
We spend time together almost everyday: Josephine, Margaret, Frances, Georgette, Dana, Jane, and I. One-on-one, we share lunch or that quiet time after my son Muffin Man is in bed. Every time I see them, I experience something new. There are others I have lunch with, or spend those quiet hours with, but Josephine and the others are my core-group of companions. We take trips together. We meet on visits to the doctor’s office. Often, one will go with me when I get the oil changed in my car.
Aside from Frances, they are a different set of friends from those I had when I was young. Back then it was Frances, Laura, Lucy, Paula, Noel, and Agatha. They rode the subway to school with me. I sat with them at lunch and recess. My fifth grade teacher actually had to limit my time with them, because my other friends were feeling left out.
In bed at night I used to hide under the blankets with a flashlight just to steal one more half-hour with one or another of them. My mom learned pretty quickly to come and check on me often. "Lights out, Little Miss Mystery Mommy. Put the book away. It’ll still be there in the morning."
Joesephine Tey, Margaret Maron, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Georgette Heyer, Dana Stabenow, Jane Austen. Such wonderful writing, such fascinating worlds: The United Kingdom during the Regency Era, the Victorian Era, and between the World Wars; Our own present-day heartland, cities, and wilderness. I fall in love with the places as much as the people. And when I come back from reading or re-reading one of their books, I get a new appreciation for my own small world, seeing it through fresh eyes.
More than any one person, these authors have influenced who I am and what my morals are. From Laura Ingalls Wilder I learned to be grateful for what I had - how could I complain when she had subsisted on hand-ground whole-wheat bread for an entire winter, twisting hay into sticks for the fire? From Noel Streatfeild I learned about how war affects children and that even children can help their families earn enough money to keep afloat. Paula Danziger taught me to face disappointment with humour and that my family’s odd arrangement of four parents and joint custody might not be so unusual after all. Agatha Christie (and before her, the authors of "Nancy Drew") taught me to pay attention to the littlest details. And that "humour" is spelled with two u’s.
I said that these authors are my companions, but really it’s their books that have been my friends. Their books have taught me and nurtured me, comforted me and helped me to grieve. Beloved old familiar books, intriguing newly discovered books. Used books that smell of pipe tobacco. New books with shiny fresh covers. Library books, reluctantly returned. Memoirs, mysteries, science-fiction, histories - how delightful just to read, and laugh, or weep. And now that I’m a mother - with a young son who needs me rested every morning - how strangely sweet it is to say to myself sometimes, "Lights out, Mystery Mommy. Put the book away. It’ll still be there in the morning."
Aside from Frances, they are a different set of friends from those I had when I was young. Back then it was Frances, Laura, Lucy, Paula, Noel, and Agatha. They rode the subway to school with me. I sat with them at lunch and recess. My fifth grade teacher actually had to limit my time with them, because my other friends were feeling left out.
In bed at night I used to hide under the blankets with a flashlight just to steal one more half-hour with one or another of them. My mom learned pretty quickly to come and check on me often. "Lights out, Little Miss Mystery Mommy. Put the book away. It’ll still be there in the morning."
Joesephine Tey, Margaret Maron, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Georgette Heyer, Dana Stabenow, Jane Austen. Such wonderful writing, such fascinating worlds: The United Kingdom during the Regency Era, the Victorian Era, and between the World Wars; Our own present-day heartland, cities, and wilderness. I fall in love with the places as much as the people. And when I come back from reading or re-reading one of their books, I get a new appreciation for my own small world, seeing it through fresh eyes.
More than any one person, these authors have influenced who I am and what my morals are. From Laura Ingalls Wilder I learned to be grateful for what I had - how could I complain when she had subsisted on hand-ground whole-wheat bread for an entire winter, twisting hay into sticks for the fire? From Noel Streatfeild I learned about how war affects children and that even children can help their families earn enough money to keep afloat. Paula Danziger taught me to face disappointment with humour and that my family’s odd arrangement of four parents and joint custody might not be so unusual after all. Agatha Christie (and before her, the authors of "Nancy Drew") taught me to pay attention to the littlest details. And that "humour" is spelled with two u’s.
I said that these authors are my companions, but really it’s their books that have been my friends. Their books have taught me and nurtured me, comforted me and helped me to grieve. Beloved old familiar books, intriguing newly discovered books. Used books that smell of pipe tobacco. New books with shiny fresh covers. Library books, reluctantly returned. Memoirs, mysteries, science-fiction, histories - how delightful just to read, and laugh, or weep. And now that I’m a mother - with a young son who needs me rested every morning - how strangely sweet it is to say to myself sometimes, "Lights out, Mystery Mommy. Put the book away. It’ll still be there in the morning."
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Mine
Sometimes we argue over whose son Muffin Man really is.
"Yours." I say, when he's being extra silly.
"What do mean? He's totally yours!"
There is no doubt tonight, however, over whose kid he really is. Upon checking on him 2 hours after tucking in and lights out, this is what we found.
Light on.
Sleeping on top of the covers.
Face down on a book.
Mine.*
*There continues to be some disagreement about this.
"Yours." I say, when he's being extra silly.
"What do mean? He's totally yours!"
There is no doubt tonight, however, over whose kid he really is. Upon checking on him 2 hours after tucking in and lights out, this is what we found.
Light on.
Sleeping on top of the covers.
Face down on a book.
Mine.*
*There continues to be some disagreement about this.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Snow in Northern Virginia
Always such a joy. My normally 15 minute commute took 45 minutes at 4:00 PM. I'm so glad that I'm not still working at my old job. Tonight the temps are supposed to dip and the snow is supposed to keep falling. By tomorrow morning the roads are going to be a complete mess.
You'd think people would slow down and give more follow distance when the weather's like this, wouldn't you? But no...that'd mean admitting that it's actually! snowing!
You'd think people would slow down and give more follow distance when the weather's like this, wouldn't you? But no...that'd mean admitting that it's actually! snowing!
Why the heck isn't it Wednesday yet?
My cubicle is f-f-f-f-freezing. Seriously.
I'm wearing my coat and g-g-g-gloves (difficult to type, but I'm making do) and my scarf and I'm starting to lose feeling in my t-t-t-t-toes (encased in winter boots)
And for once, it's not just me - the men I work with are complaining too. You know it's cold when the men start complaining!!!
Gotta get back to work. B-b-b-bye!
I'm wearing my coat and g-g-g-gloves (difficult to type, but I'm making do) and my scarf and I'm starting to lose feeling in my t-t-t-t-toes (encased in winter boots)
And for once, it's not just me - the men I work with are complaining too. You know it's cold when the men start complaining!!!
Gotta get back to work. B-b-b-bye!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Big day here
I got some good news (early, I was not expecting to hear for another two weeks!), I'm going back to college!!!
I'll be entering as a full-time undergraduate at Nearby University!
I'll be entering as a full-time undergraduate at Nearby University!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Mirror, Mirror on the wall
Muffin Man drew this after watching Snow White today. This is his conception of the Magic Mirror, drawn from memory.
Go and send hugs...
Annika's going into surgery...please send Moreena your prayers and/or good wishes.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Pedalling
Muffin Man on his "new special bike!" Look at him pedalling like a big boy.
We need to get some reflectors for him, but other than that, he's good to go. He loves it!
We need to get some reflectors for him, but other than that, he's good to go. He loves it!
About me - gift thingy
If I could get away with it, I'd steal Alton Brown's Good Eats kitchen, because damn it, it should be mine.
I sometimes buy Simple Living magazine, because I lust after the cover art.
If you came over to my house to play and broke my ________________ crayon, I'd be a little bit mad at you forever. Um....doesn't apply to me. To my way of thinking, now I have two!
The colour institutional green should only be used in fungal remedy packaging or if human waste were to be redesigned.
The colour blue that they use in the glass for that expensive bottled water makes my heart feel like it is full of happy kittens frolicking in a sunny, grassy meadow.
Japanese Anime makes me break out in gooberous pustules (or else I just don't like it, but I'm too nice to say it.)
I might get sick or die if I touch or ingest cilantro, or look at Tremors, that horrible movie.
Pokemon gives me the heebie jeebies and I might need to seek therapy if I even think about it further.
I love the feel of LL Bean flannel-lined jeans so much I have a primitive urge to stick some down my pants. Oops! Already there!
No one should have to watch me eat lobster, because really If I were eating some in private, I'd be quite a pig about it. Ummmmmm.
I would rather chew tinfoil and shave my head with a cheese grater than eat gefillte fish.
I DO follow recipes because otherwise I leave important things out, but I do improvise once I know one pretty well.
For Marla, "White Shoulders" perfume will always smell like her laid-out dead grandmother. I feel that way about tea roses.
If I could, I'd perfume my own farts and those of my loved ones with the scent of chocolate.
I have TOO MANY/TOO MUCH OF computers in the house, and not enough clothes to wear on cold weekends. I mean seriously, I've got 3 casual shirts and 2 pairs of non-business pants.
Gadgets are for EVERYBODY!
When people have kind, sweet and nice things about me, they're usually talking about Muffin Man.
I can't be upset if people dis me about my driving, because it's true.
If I could have any talent in the world, I'd choose musical ability and use it to make people happy.
You are given an hour and twenty dollars to spend in one of these places, childfree. Choose one, or write your own:
A flea market, where you might find neat treasures and still have enough left over for some home made baked goods from that nice granny's table.
A picturesque pub, where a couple of great drinks and a nice tip might lead to some interesting conversations.
A craft show, because you really need to find a few more things made from twigs and yarn.
A gourmet food store, because food for the tummy is food for the soul.
A fancy and expensive boutique, because you'd rather have one lipstick from a great place than ten lipsticks from a dollar store.
Wherever! Whatever! Just give the twenty dollars to whomever's caring for the offspring so you can have more time to yourself!
And here's the last chance to make sure that you're not going to get a "Jelly of the Month" club membership when you're expecting your bonus for a swimming pool:
It is important to me that the items chosen for me are at least a little silly.
(Examples: respect my Wal-Mart boycott, are vegan, aren't made by child or sweatshop labour, can be stuffed down my pants)
And
If I could suggest that you read only one post from my archives, this would be it: Poop-Warning Contains Graphic Descriptions of Grossness
And
If I were to name the Holiday of my choice for this exchange, it would be: Christmas, even though I'm culturally Jewish, I'm Christmas's biggest fan. (Please feel free to make one up - but this is your chance to say "Um, I'm Jewish but that doesn't mean give me dreidels!" or "More Santa decorations please - I only have thirty-seven now." or "Winter and gifts yes; religious denominations, no - if only all cards could be like those politically correct corporate holiday wishes!" if you want to.)
I sometimes buy Simple Living magazine, because I lust after the cover art.
If you came over to my house to play and broke my ________________ crayon, I'd be a little bit mad at you forever. Um....doesn't apply to me. To my way of thinking, now I have two!
The colour institutional green should only be used in fungal remedy packaging or if human waste were to be redesigned.
The colour blue that they use in the glass for that expensive bottled water makes my heart feel like it is full of happy kittens frolicking in a sunny, grassy meadow.
Japanese Anime makes me break out in gooberous pustules (or else I just don't like it, but I'm too nice to say it.)
I might get sick or die if I touch or ingest cilantro, or look at Tremors, that horrible movie.
Pokemon gives me the heebie jeebies and I might need to seek therapy if I even think about it further.
I love the feel of LL Bean flannel-lined jeans so much I have a primitive urge to stick some down my pants. Oops! Already there!
No one should have to watch me eat lobster, because really If I were eating some in private, I'd be quite a pig about it. Ummmmmm.
I would rather chew tinfoil and shave my head with a cheese grater than eat gefillte fish.
I DO follow recipes because otherwise I leave important things out, but I do improvise once I know one pretty well.
For Marla, "White Shoulders" perfume will always smell like her laid-out dead grandmother. I feel that way about tea roses.
If I could, I'd perfume my own farts and those of my loved ones with the scent of chocolate.
I have TOO MANY/TOO MUCH OF computers in the house, and not enough clothes to wear on cold weekends. I mean seriously, I've got 3 casual shirts and 2 pairs of non-business pants.
Gadgets are for EVERYBODY!
When people have kind, sweet and nice things about me, they're usually talking about Muffin Man.
I can't be upset if people dis me about my driving, because it's true.
If I could have any talent in the world, I'd choose musical ability and use it to make people happy.
You are given an hour and twenty dollars to spend in one of these places, childfree. Choose one, or write your own:
A flea market, where you might find neat treasures and still have enough left over for some home made baked goods from that nice granny's table.
A picturesque pub, where a couple of great drinks and a nice tip might lead to some interesting conversations.
A craft show, because you really need to find a few more things made from twigs and yarn.
A gourmet food store, because food for the tummy is food for the soul.
A fancy and expensive boutique, because you'd rather have one lipstick from a great place than ten lipsticks from a dollar store.
Wherever! Whatever! Just give the twenty dollars to whomever's caring for the offspring so you can have more time to yourself!
And here's the last chance to make sure that you're not going to get a "Jelly of the Month" club membership when you're expecting your bonus for a swimming pool:
It is important to me that the items chosen for me are at least a little silly.
(Examples: respect my Wal-Mart boycott, are vegan, aren't made by child or sweatshop labour, can be stuffed down my pants)
And
If I could suggest that you read only one post from my archives, this would be it: Poop-Warning Contains Graphic Descriptions of Grossness
And
If I were to name the Holiday of my choice for this exchange, it would be: Christmas, even though I'm culturally Jewish, I'm Christmas's biggest fan. (Please feel free to make one up - but this is your chance to say "Um, I'm Jewish but that doesn't mean give me dreidels!" or "More Santa decorations please - I only have thirty-seven now." or "Winter and gifts yes; religious denominations, no - if only all cards could be like those politically correct corporate holiday wishes!" if you want to.)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
We're back!!
Thanksgiving was great. We had a lovely time with BigSister and her family, and MakesBooksForGrandkids and SingsLullabyes.
Muffin Man and his cousins watched Chicken Run (Wednesday), The Incredibles, and two Wallace and Gromit shorts (Thursday). The grownups all talked and ate and had a generally good time.
And MM was such a good boy on the trip that we bought him a bicycle as a reward. Now we just need to assemble it!
Hope you all had a lovely holiday as well.
Muffin Man and his cousins watched Chicken Run (Wednesday), The Incredibles, and two Wallace and Gromit shorts (Thursday). The grownups all talked and ate and had a generally good time.
And MM was such a good boy on the trip that we bought him a bicycle as a reward. Now we just need to assemble it!
Hope you all had a lovely holiday as well.
Flower boy
Muffin Man was inspired by a flower his cousin drew that was on the refridgerator at his Brooklyn grandparents house. I particularly like the stripey bumblebees.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Aaaaannndddd, we're off!
Sorry posting's been so light. It'll remain quiet here for the next few days while we travel to NYC to visit with SingsLullabyes, MakesBooksForGrandkids, and BigSister and her family. Be back posting Friday night!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Rocket to the Rainbow
More Muffin Man art. I asked him whose face is in the window of the rocket - "Wallace!" he said. He is a big fan of A Grand Day Out.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Comedy Meme
As first seen at Phantom's, from the Rough Guide to Comedy Movies. The ones I've seen are in bold.
I think I need to explain that, aside from Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask, I hate watching Woody Allen act in movies (love his stand-up though!). Somehow he just grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. So I haven't marked any of his movies on this list. But I loved Alice, mostly because he let someone else play him.
Also, I'm disappointed that Young Frankenstein and The Twelve Chairs are not on this list. And Where is The Princess Bride?
* Airplane!
* All About Eve (but I own it, how weird is that? I'm gonna have to get on the ball.)
* Amelie
* Annie Hall
* The Apartment
* Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
* Blazing Saddles
* Bringing Up Baby
* Broadcast News
* Caddyshack
* Le diner de con
* Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
* Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
* Duck Soup
* Ferris Bueller's Day Off
* Four Weddings and a Funeral
* The General
* Ghostbusters
* The Gold Rush
* Good Morning Vietnam
* The Graduate
* Groundhog Day (I can't believe Phantom hasn't seen this.)
* A Hard Day's Night
* His Girl Friday
* Kind Hearts and Coronets
* The Lady Killers
* Local Hero
* Manhattan
* M*A*S*H
* Monty Python's Life of Brian
* National Lampoon's Animal House
* The Odd Couple
* The Producers
* Raising Arizona
* Roxanne
* Rushmore
* Shaun of the Dead
* A Shot in the Dark
* Some Like it Hot (One of my all-time favorite movies. "...Like Jello on springs. I'm telling you it's a whole different sex!")
* Strictly Ballroom
* Sullivan's Travels
* There's Something About Mary
* This is Spinal Tap
* To Be or Not to Be
* Tootsie
* Toy Story
* Les vacances de M. Hulot
* When Harry Met Sally...
* Withnail and I
I think I need to explain that, aside from Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask, I hate watching Woody Allen act in movies (love his stand-up though!). Somehow he just grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard. So I haven't marked any of his movies on this list. But I loved Alice, mostly because he let someone else play him.
Also, I'm disappointed that Young Frankenstein and The Twelve Chairs are not on this list. And Where is The Princess Bride?
* Airplane!
* All About Eve (but I own it, how weird is that? I'm gonna have to get on the ball.)
* Amelie
* Annie Hall
* The Apartment
* Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
* Blazing Saddles
* Bringing Up Baby
* Broadcast News
* Caddyshack
* Le diner de con
* Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
* Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
* Duck Soup
* Ferris Bueller's Day Off
* Four Weddings and a Funeral
* The General
* Ghostbusters
* The Gold Rush
* Good Morning Vietnam
* The Graduate
* Groundhog Day (I can't believe Phantom hasn't seen this.)
* A Hard Day's Night
* His Girl Friday
* Kind Hearts and Coronets
* The Lady Killers
* Local Hero
* Manhattan
* M*A*S*H
* Monty Python's Life of Brian
* National Lampoon's Animal House
* The Odd Couple
* The Producers
* Raising Arizona
* Roxanne
* Rushmore
* Shaun of the Dead
* A Shot in the Dark
* Some Like it Hot (One of my all-time favorite movies. "...Like Jello on springs. I'm telling you it's a whole different sex!")
* Strictly Ballroom
* Sullivan's Travels
* There's Something About Mary
* This is Spinal Tap
* To Be or Not to Be
* Tootsie
* Toy Story
* Les vacances de M. Hulot
* When Harry Met Sally...
* Withnail and I
It's all about the birthstory.
I've heard some good ones, and told a good one, but I think Finslippy has us all beat.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
UPDATED: Read all about it!
The Whole Mom is up and running. (and so is this link to it. Sorry Jo(e)!)
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The day I realized I am no longer cool.
Phantom Scribbler said in a comment to the post below that she is not cool enough. I beg to differ. She continues to be cool and I, after hitting my peak of coolness in college - what with the RHPS and the being on the radio - swiftly fell into a slough of uncool quicksand. This is the story of the day I realized that I no longer had even a modicum of coolness left to me.
It was five years ago. Perhaps almost to the day...I'll have to check. We heard that RHPS was going to be shown at a nearby college campus. It was going to start at the traditional time, so we planned to have a late supper and then go join the masses of costumed Washingtonians. Under my shirt, I was wearing a sparkly boustier for old-time's sake.
We went to an Indian restaurant. The food was good. We ate and talked. At about 10:00PM we left. We got into the car. We sat there. We looked at each other.
"Home?" I asked.
He agreed. We were asleep by the time the first tickets were being taken. All coolness stripped from me. Gone.
One year later, I was 6 months pregnant with Muffin Man.
Five years later, I'm wondering how old MM will be the first time he sees it. And will he be horrified or impressed that I used to be one of theinsane obsessed weirdoes people who get up on stage and do the whole thing by heart? Will I ever tell him that I've seen it over a hundred times?
Will I ever let him see pictures of me with a spiral perm?
It was five years ago. Perhaps almost to the day...I'll have to check. We heard that RHPS was going to be shown at a nearby college campus. It was going to start at the traditional time, so we planned to have a late supper and then go join the masses of costumed Washingtonians. Under my shirt, I was wearing a sparkly boustier for old-time's sake.
We went to an Indian restaurant. The food was good. We ate and talked. At about 10:00PM we left. We got into the car. We sat there. We looked at each other.
"Home?" I asked.
He agreed. We were asleep by the time the first tickets were being taken. All coolness stripped from me. Gone.
One year later, I was 6 months pregnant with Muffin Man.
Five years later, I'm wondering how old MM will be the first time he sees it. And will he be horrified or impressed that I used to be one of the
Will I ever let him see pictures of me with a spiral perm?
Monday, November 14, 2005
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
God said, "Let there be LIPS."
And there were.
And the lips were big
And the lips were red
And the lips sang...
Michael Renney was ill the day the earth stood still and he told us where we stand (On our feet!)
And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear. Claude Raines was the Invisible Man (Out of sight!)
Then something went wrong for Faye Wray and King Kong they got caught in a cellular jam (Yay Jam!)
And then a mystic race, It Came From (Where?) Outer Space and this is how the message ran
Science fiction, double feature
Doctor X has built a creature
See androids fighting Brad and Janet
Anne Frances stars in Forbidden Planet
Oh oh oh oh oh
At the late night double feature picture show.
Yes...yes, my friends, it's true. I played Janet, I played Magenta, I played Columbia, and I played Frank. I did Frank very well, but I didn't really fit the costume...but you should have seen my "Sweet Transvestite", it was truly something to behold.
Ah, bright college days, eh? And do you know, 16 years later I can still recite the whole. flipping. movie.
And there were.
And the lips were big
And the lips were red
And the lips sang...
Michael Renney was ill the day the earth stood still and he told us where we stand (On our feet!)
And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear. Claude Raines was the Invisible Man (Out of sight!)
Then something went wrong for Faye Wray and King Kong they got caught in a cellular jam (Yay Jam!)
And then a mystic race, It Came From (Where?) Outer Space and this is how the message ran
Science fiction, double feature
Doctor X has built a creature
See androids fighting Brad and Janet
Anne Frances stars in Forbidden Planet
Oh oh oh oh oh
At the late night double feature picture show.
Yes...yes, my friends, it's true. I played Janet, I played Magenta, I played Columbia, and I played Frank. I did Frank very well, but I didn't really fit the costume...but you should have seen my "Sweet Transvestite", it was truly something to behold.
Ah, bright college days, eh? And do you know, 16 years later I can still recite the whole. flipping. movie.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The smell of wet apples still hanging on the trees
Ten years ago yesterday, he asked me and I nearly knocked him over in my eagerness to accept.
Last night Muffin Man slept over at my sister-in-law's house and we celebrated. Dinner out. Breakfast out. Exploring old-town Herndon. Kvelling over our son and the outcome of the election.
I would say "yes" again in a New York minute.
Last night Muffin Man slept over at my sister-in-law's house and we celebrated. Dinner out. Breakfast out. Exploring old-town Herndon. Kvelling over our son and the outcome of the election.
I would say "yes" again in a New York minute.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Mr. Spock
This is from several months ago and also had a sample of Muffin Man's handwriting and spelling. Muffin Man first wrote his own name to sign this picture.
Please note the glasses. I'd like to say that Mr. Spock does have hair, even if this portrait makes him look bald.
Please note the glasses. I'd like to say that Mr. Spock does have hair, even if this portrait makes him look bald.
SingsLullabyes
Not a perfect likeness, but she does have long hair. In terms of skills, please note the ears and fingers.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Our guy won!
Dave Poisson wins against Republican incumbent Dick Black. Yay!!!
I can't tell you how stunning this is. Loudoun has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. That a Democrat has handily won this county is...well, I hope it points to a shift towards the center.
I can't tell you how stunning this is. Loudoun has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. That a Democrat has handily won this county is...well, I hope it points to a shift towards the center.
If there is an election where you are...
And all Virginians, this means you...then
Go and vote.
I took Muffin Man to the polls with me this morning and we voted for Kaine, Poisson, Byrne, and Deeds. Also, we voted Yes on all the bond issues.
MM was fascinated by the cool scan-tron ballot. And he loved getting a sticker for watching mommy exercise her franchise.
If you are able to vote (registered, and legally of age) and don't go, then I say to you "PTHHHHHP!" There are people all over the world fighting and dying for a right that you are throwing away. Here in the US there are millions of people who are either disenfranchised or are facing huge hurdles to be able to vote. So get off your duff and act like a citizen.
Don't like any of the candidates? Aren't up on the issues? That's no excuse. Write in for someone who doesn't make you puke. Educate yourself.
/rant.
This has been a public service announcement brought to you by Bloggers Against Self-Disenfranchisement.
Go and vote.
I took Muffin Man to the polls with me this morning and we voted for Kaine, Poisson, Byrne, and Deeds. Also, we voted Yes on all the bond issues.
MM was fascinated by the cool scan-tron ballot. And he loved getting a sticker for watching mommy exercise her franchise.
If you are able to vote (registered, and legally of age) and don't go, then I say to you "PTHHHHHP!" There are people all over the world fighting and dying for a right that you are throwing away. Here in the US there are millions of people who are either disenfranchised or are facing huge hurdles to be able to vote. So get off your duff and act like a citizen.
Don't like any of the candidates? Aren't up on the issues? That's no excuse. Write in for someone who doesn't make you puke. Educate yourself.
/rant.
This has been a public service announcement brought to you by Bloggers Against Self-Disenfranchisement.
Three years to the week.
That I got rid of my Medela.
And I just leaked through my tank top. Thank the fashion gods for suit jackets.
And I just leaked through my tank top. Thank the fashion gods for suit jackets.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Meow!
Muffin Man's conception of a cat.
I think this adequately explains why I think he is an artistic genious.
I think this adequately explains why I think he is an artistic genious.
Stickers
I've talked before about the miracle that are stickers. They can be used as rewards for everything from dry nights to good behaviour at grown-up functions to...well, you name it.
Here is an early picture of Muffin Man's use of stickers as part of an on-going art-work. We call it "Sticker Door" and in just a few short months, it has overflowed onto the drawers of this dresser.
Stuck in the middle there is a clue about who we're voting for in tomorrow's election. If there is an election where you are tomorrow, go out and vote. APL, Corndog, genevieve and Angie - since you are all Virginia residents, this definitely applies to you!
Here is an early picture of Muffin Man's use of stickers as part of an on-going art-work. We call it "Sticker Door" and in just a few short months, it has overflowed onto the drawers of this dresser.
Stuck in the middle there is a clue about who we're voting for in tomorrow's election. If there is an election where you are tomorrow, go out and vote. APL, Corndog, genevieve and Angie - since you are all Virginia residents, this definitely applies to you!
Clip Art
Muffin Man loves playing with these plastic paper clips that came with a kit of stuff to build paper airplanes. One day he decided that these clips would look lovely in Mommy's hair and so he spent about 15 minutes decorating me with them. Unfortunately, Mr. Spock wasn't home, so we don't have a record of MM's handiwork, but pictured here is my recreation of his art in his hair.
Monday Shoe Blogging
These are my favorite boots, they have four inch heels and make me feel tall and slender. I wear them with pants that are two inches too long for me that I am too lazy to hem.
Muffin Man agrees that I look great in them and decided to see what they could do for him.
Here he is, modelling the world's best boots.
Muffin Man agrees that I look great in them and decided to see what they could do for him.
Here he is, modelling the world's best boots.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Captain Pumpkinsword
Here is Muffin Man after a hard evening's work trick-or-treating.
He went as Captain Feathersword, with a concert-bought hat and sword (which he decided against carrying, in favor of his pumpkin bucket o' candy and his pumkin flashlight, hence the title of this post). The rest of his costume is made up of blue pants, white shirt (both courtesy The Gap) and a red quilted vest complete with yellow electrician's tape cut to resemble the Captain's Magic Buttons (he's got half-a-dozen).
This was only MM's second year trick-or-treating, but he was already leaving us behind at the curb and going off by himself to ring the door bell and shout "Trick-or-Treat!!!!" loudly enough for us to hear from the mail-boxes at the end of the drive-ways. I got so choaked up, my little boy is not so little anymore. After a few houses, I actually left him with his dad and went back to the house to greet the other neighborhood children.
When MM got tired, he came back to help give out candy, two to a customer. He took his job so seriously!!!
Halloween is definitely one of his top two favorite holidays!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Where the hell have I been?
I've been working on a post in my head about Muffin Man's experience of Halloween, but I wanted to add pictures and haven't gotten around to downloading them. And then work was hectic and my allergies are KICKING MY ASS. I'm on a new course of the good prescription stuff so I should be back to normal soon. That over-the-counter stuff (you know, the one in the blue box, rhymes with Raritan) is worthless. Like taking sugar pills. Seriously.
Maybe tomorrow? I can't say for sure. What I can say is I am still here and am keeping up with all your blogs, but just not keeping up much with my own.
Big hugs to you all and I'll update soon.
Maybe tomorrow? I can't say for sure. What I can say is I am still here and am keeping up with all your blogs, but just not keeping up much with my own.
Big hugs to you all and I'll update soon.
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