Another short post

Too pooped to pop, and feeling gloomy over yesterday's outcome.

Short post

Tired. Feet hurt. Talk to you tomorrow.

The worst day of the year.

Tomorrow is election day and so, of course, Muffin Man will be staying overnight tonight with a babysitter so that Mr. Spock and I can be at our volunteer posts at 0530 in the cold, dark morning.

We'll be at our posts all day (with a short break to go to our own polling place to vote), and then we'll go to a watch party and, depending on how long it takes, we'll probably be home after MM's bedtime (his sitter will bring him to our house after his holiday camp's field trip tomorrow, and stay there with him until we get home).

This is the part of being involved in elections I hate. Not seeing my son for two whole days (though I'm volunteering at the sitter's polling place, so I'll actually see him when she comes to vote).

There's no doubt in my mind that what I'm doing is worth it, that this is how a democracy continues, that I'm teaching my son how much I value our system. But I'm not going to lie to you, Monday before an election when there's a chance I may not see that sweet boy until Wednesday morning? It's the worst day of the year.

Musical interlude: sunshiney weekend before election day edition

Anyone have a reliable pedometer for the iPhone?

I can't get the Nike one to calibrate, and Footsteps paused after 2 miles.

In related news, I need better non-sandal walking shoes. 

More cheap, non-crafty costumes: Some purchase required edition

Muffin Man as Captain Feather Sword.
Character copyright Disney

Muffin Man is wearing an official Captain Feather Sword hat, purchased at a Wiggles Concert that I won tickets to (thank you MIX 107.3!!)

He is also wearing a red quilted vest we already had, black pants and white dress shirt we already had, and a Wiggles logo we printed off their website.

More cheap, non-crafty costumes: grown-up edition

Three years ago, Muffin Man was Anakin Skywalker for Halloween (alas, a purchased costume).

And me, being me? I was a Princess.

Mystery Mommy as Princess Leia Morgana.
Character copyright George Lucas

Ingredients: White poet shirt (bought in, I am not joking, 1989. From Victoria's Secret. I know.) over a white turtleneck and cinched with a black belt. Beige pants, white sneakers. Iconic hairstyle.

I look bulkier than usual because there is a sweatshirt underneath the turtleneck.

Not a perfect match, by any means, but I got the flavor right. Everyone knew immediately who I was supposed to be, and MM loved that I was playing his character's daughter.

The only item purchased new for this costume were the hairpins.

The cheap, non-crafty parent's guide to making costumes.

Muffin Man is nothing if not a stickler for verisimilitude. The boy shaved his head for last year's costume.

I am cheap and, beyond knitting, am not at all crafty.

I do not like buying costumes that will be used once. I especially do not like paying more for a costume than I would pay for real clothes. Particularly since those costumes are severely lacking in verisimilitude.

That being the case, the Miller Household puts our heads together to come up with costumes that incorporate items we already have, or that can be reused in everyday life and that also capture the spirit of the character. I think we're pretty successful! What do you think?

Side-by-side pictures of MM's last two Halloween costumes and their inspirations.

Cone Head Zombie from Plants vs. Zombies. Character copyright PopCap Games.

Aang, the Avatar from the cartoon, The Avatar
(not to be confused with the movie Avatar,
or the character from the movie version, called The Last Airbender).

Both costumes are home-made, (ingredients here and here) and involved no sewing or other crafty skill whatsoever (although MS made a terrific traffic cone, which ended up not getting used in favor of the real much heavier one from Home Depot).

There's a zombie on my lawn

Muffin Man as a Cone Head Zombie from Plants vs. Zombies

We didn't know when Muffin Man asked to be the Cone Head Zombie from Plants vs. Zombies this year that it would be so topical!

Road Cone ($8.00) from Home Depot. Ripped jeans (skull on back pocket), bought last year at Target, and worn to shreds. Shirt from Target via my closet. Brown blazer from Target via my closet. Tie from J.C. Penney, came free with a suit two years ago.

Make-up from Ulta. I did a base coat of beige foundation cream. Then I applied a thick top-coat of a matte-green eye-shadow all over his face. Then I accented his eyes with a thick coat of black eye-shadow, and brushed a bit more black and grey eye-shadow here and there for effect.

The inspiration. I think we captured the spirit quite well.

I am sporting a GMU sweatshirt turned inside-out, with pictures of the sunflower and pea-shooter taped onto it. Pictures from worthplaying.com.

(This post inspired by real-life friends of my youth, Eclectic Mom and The Unfocused Life)

Where have I been?

I've been posting at Doorbell Queen, I've been working, and I've been on hold with several folks.

A couple weeks ago, I got a mammogram here at work. CONVENIENT! But, because they did your basic mammogram (2 pictures per breast), I got the call I always get when I get a basic mammogram...which is that they saw something weird and would I go get more thoroughly checked?

And here's where it's less convenient, because normally, I'd just go back to where I went to get the basic, but they're a traveling group, so I can't.

So I've been on the phone with my doctor, and a specialist, and the traveling folks in NJ. And the upshot is that they're going to FedEx the films to the specialist and I'll have an appointment a week from tomorrow (and I'll bring the films from 2 years ago), and lesson learned. From now on, I get all my mammograms from the local radiologists.

As always, this shit makes me a little anxious, but since every. single. time. I get a mammogram, I have to go for follow-up and they haven't found anything yet - I'm just large and fibrous - I'm not as anxious as you'd expect.

A Perfect Day for Banana Cake

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, all from scratch.

Mr. Spock turned 53 last week, so this past weekend I made (at his request) a Banana Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. Recipe from the Fanny Farmer Baking Book.

Banana cake, sliced

I had some for breakfast this morning. What? It's fruit!


(Extra credit for the first person to say where the title comes from. Mr. Spock is not eligible for this credit).

Yes, we have no banana bread. But we do have beef stew.

Yesterday morning, after breakfast, I hauled out of the fridge several pounds of beef cubes, a sheaf of golden beets, a bunch of young carrots, a bag of red potatoes, a package of chopped crimini mushrooms, a leek, a large onion, and a quarter of a stick of butter.

Mr. Spock and I chopped up the beets and the carrots and put them and the beef and potatoes into our large slow cooker.

We chopped the leek and onion, peeled and squished a large clove of garlic, and added them and the butter to a large pan with some kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, and sauteed them until they were soft. Then we scraped the whole mess into the slow cooker.

By that time, MS had poured a half a cup of wine and a half a cup of water and added them to the mix. I popped a bay leaf into the pot and then I went walking for Cliff Keirce (and Jennifer Wexton, and Mike Kondratick).

I was able to get one development done before it started raining in earnest, so I went back home, had a cup of tea to take the chill off, and tasted the stew broth. I added rosemary, thyme, sage, more salt, more pepper, and three more cloves of garlic.

And then I looked at the five really ripe bananas that were in the fridge. I got out the Fanny Farmer Baking Book and realized that we're all out of walnuts. So I put the bananas in the freezer for next week.

Then we all played an escape game together, while the aroma of stew wafted through the house.

Dinner was pronounced a success, though we all agreed that the potatoes should have been cut up, the beets could have been left out, and more garlic was needed.

What did you do this weekend?

Random bullets of a busy weekend

• QuiltsALot and TellsDonaldDuckStories were in for the weekend, much eating and talking was done
• And sorting through boxes of photos and organizing them, and throwing away the blurriest of them. And the one of an ex-boyfriend's dog.
• Yeah, I don't get why I had that one either.
• Muffin Man introduced TellsDonaldDuckStories to the crack that is Plants vs. Zombies.
• Muffin Man stayed with them at their hotel, and went swimming. 
• Did I mention the eating?
• And the talking?
• And then we ate more.
• The End.

Are you an organ donor?

I am registered to be an organ donor. I was even before I saw this video on Nick News (link courtesy of Moreena).

[Video is 22 minutes long, and requires that you have a box of tissues nearby.]

Get More: Nick News Episodes,Nick News,Nick News Games

Make sure everyone in your family knows you want to donate your organs and ask them how they feel about donating theirs. Each organ donor can save 7 lives.


And don't forget that living donations are possible with kidneys, liver, and bone marrow.

9/12

Yesterday I was full of thoughts of 10 years ago, as I guess we all were. I've posted about that beautiful blue day many times. Today, I'm just going to post links to those past ones, to a few from the past few days by blogging friends of mine, and to the sermon from the services I went to yesterday.

What I wrote:

• Lorisa Ceylon Taylor, age 31. Died 9/11/2001 
• Out of a Clear Blue Sky
(and 3 more exactly like this one)
• The Mourning Sky
• Vanessa Lynn Kolpak, age 21. Died 9/11/2001

What others wrote:

• The Hand of God
• The Gathering Place - Remembering those with Disabilities on 9/11
• 9/12

What others said:

• Interfaith sermon at Unitarian Universalists of Sterling

May peace be with you.

Oh my god, this video is just...it's Perfect

via Swistle

It's Steve, from Blues Clues, talking about being Steve, from Blues Clues, and a...big fan. And it's wonderful. It's also 17 minutes long, just so you know.

iPhone vs. Droid: The Views of a Reluctant Adopter, one day later.

So, 11 days ago, I got a Droid X2 to replace my Droid Eris, which died an ignoble death (dropped from a height onto uneven pavement. Smash).

So I went and got the Droid X2, and a serious protector for it.

The Droid X2 has a lot to recommend it. Large screen. Fast everything. On the down-side, it's big and heavy and doesn't easily fit into any pockets I own. But, since I generally carry around a purse anyway, that wasn't a deal breaker. I was really very happy with the Droid X2 - when it was working.

And therein was the rub. Five times in the ten days I owned that phone, it crashed. Needed a hard-reset type of crashed. To perform a hard reset on the Droid X2, you need to remove and replace the battery. Which was covered by the serious protector, that was so serious it was nigh unto impossible to remove. Now maybe you don't think five major crashes in ten days is a lot, but I do. So back to the store I went. And this time I got an iPhone 4. (I had considered getting a different Droid, but I'm starting to have doubts about their quality control).

So let's talk about the iPhone 4. There is a lot I like about it, but I'm having a bit of trouble adjusting to other parts of it. How do you download music from Amazon's cloud onto to it? How do you set your In Case of Emergency numbers? How do you import contacts from, say, Facebook, without sending contacts TO Facebook? Can you set the current weather to be visible at all times on your main screen? How do you teach it to be quicker to suggest words (like your email address) when you're typing?

These things were easy in the Droid.

Things I like better in the iPhone: speed, screen sensitivity, camera, the phone itself. I'm sure that as I learn to do the other things I want to do, I'll stop wishing it would do things like the Droid did, but I hate the learning curve.

First world problems, much? What's new in your life?

Muffin Man Goes to Fourth Grade

It seems like just yesterday he was going to Kindergarten, and First, and Second, and Third Grade...

His hair hasn't seen a scissors since last Halloween. Excuse me, I think I have some dust in my eye.

Earthquake!

I was outside my son's school, looking at his class list when the ground started undulating. We all looked around for the delivery truck and it slowly dawned on us that it had been a seismic event.

Wow. Earthquakes in Virginia.

Happy Birthday, Big Sister!

BigSisterBirthday, a photo by Doorbell Queen on Flickr.

I still look up to you.

NPR Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Voted on by reader/listener participation.

The book I wish had been included:

The Snow Queen, by Joan Vinge, which won a Hugo. Alternatively, The Summer Queen, also by Joan Vinge.

The book I feel should have been left out to make room for either of these:

A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony, which is a book I loved when I was in high school, but think is a pile of sexist garbage now. Ugh.

Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the choices!

Mushrooms chopped fine redux

Sauteed onions (not chopped as fine as last time), mushrooms, and Mr. Spock's home-made breakfast sausage. Added 5 beaten eggs, and stirred vigorously.

Muffin Man pronounced it delicious, was unaware mushrooms were even in it. Picked out the onions. Need to chop them finer next time. It's a texture thing.

Mushrooms chopped fine

Onions chopped finer. So fine that you can not see them among the tomatoes, sweet Italian sausage, basil, and oregano in the spaghetti sauce. I challenge you to find them and pick them out.

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Such a cozy room

We've switched things around at Chez Mystere. Last time we were in this house, Mr. Spock had the front room under the eaves for his office. When we were planning our move back, I suggested he use the MUCH LARGER master bedroom for his office instead, so that he could get work done in a large, bright, sunny environment.

The switch has been made and now I sleep in the front room under the eaves, with the bookshelves Mr. Spock built for me (custom-made to fit the sunny alcove in the master bedroom, but they're mine and I'm keeping 'em). I like how when they're stacked like they are, they mimic the shape of the room.

On the shelves are my books (natch); some pictures of me and the family; lotion my mom gave me that I use frequently; a notice about my promotion from a job I no longer have; typewriter bookends my SIL gave us for Christmas a couple of years ago; a Christmas ornament; a set of salt-and-pepper shakers; and a glass owl I inherited from my grandfather. Can you spot the owl?

On the bed are my two quilts (one made by my mom); a picture of Muffin Man; and at least 40 more books. What, you say you can't see the books? Look closely. Still no? They're in the Kindle on the right-most headboard shelf.

Move accomplished

Unpacking commenced and on-going.

Packing, Packing, Packing

I think we may have a little too much stuff

Living Room, three layers deep

My bedroom, as you come in

My bedroom, as you go out

Muffin Man's room

Living Room, different view

And there are more boxes, in the hall, and in MM's play room, and in the kitchen. And we're not done packing (though it's really only the bathroom cabinets that are left. And my desk. And a few things in a closet. And the stuff we're wearing and eating. And three place-settings, two pots, and a pan. And the coffee machine. And this lap-top I'm typing on. Dear God, just how did we accumulate so much stuff?

Moving, moving, moving

We're moving back to our old house, the one we own. Our tenants moved out and we're moving back.

Which means I'm typing right now on a box, marked "bills/filing".

I forgot how much I hate moving. Remind me next time, won't you?

Posted with Permission

The Everlasting 5! A stop-motion animation about battling zombies.

The ugly flowered curtains

Looking at the picture, I realize I was remembering the COUCH, not the curtains.

[Me, age 7 or 8, reading on the ugly flowered couch. The book is More-All-Of-A-Kind-Family. The skirt is denim with tiny embroidered flowers. The window is looking out onto Fischer Bay in Truro, Massachusetts.]

Where I'm From

I am from ugly flowered curtains, from Goldfish Crackers and tuna sandwiches and lemonade for lunch on the beach .

I am from the house across the street from the school I never went to, with the mulberry tree, and the ivy, and the stepping stones around the gas-lamp that still shines in my memory.

I am from the phlox, and the apple tree, and the roly-poly bugs under the bricks

I am from all the children playing Elijah, and from flat feet, from Jenny, and Mom, and Dad, and David, and Roz.

I am from the people who talk openly about illness and loudly about politics.

From Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

I am from Jewish Atheists who celebrate Passover and Hanukah and Christmas and who were fine sending me to a Quaker camp

I'm from Brooklyn and all over Eastern Europe, from chopped liver and potato latkes and steamed lobster in the Summer.

From the friendship of Bubbe Hoffy and Bubbe Yetta, and how Bubbe Yetta never knew Bubbe Hoffe wasn't Jewish. From my father's lifelong friends from Camp Kinderland. From blended families, and thirty cousins.

I am from rolodexes of photos on my mother's coffee table that my son and I look through everytime we visit.

for Magpie, who started it this time. Can also be seen at Crunchy Granola, among other places

Writing about other people

Please keep my Grandma in your thoughts. She broke her hip on Friday, and while she is recovering well and is in good spirits, she's 92 and has a long stretch of rehabilitation to go through.

Meanwhile, one of the people I write about here has asked me not to post stories involving this person without prior permission.

This is making it difficult for me to post.

It is summer, blog fodder is occurring daily if not hourly, and I...can't post any of it.

Book reviews and outfit blogging will be increasing. Now is a good time for suggestions for things to blog about!

Conversation held after a visit with the Pediatrician

Me: MM? That vaccine I said we were going to wait a few years to get? The one you can get anytime between the ages of 9 and 26?
MM: Yeah?
Me: That vaccine is to prevent a disease that causes cancer. In girls.
MM: So why do I need the vaccine?
Me: Because boys can carry the disease and give it to girls.
MM: How?
Me: By having sex with them. You'll get the vaccine in a few years, but there's no need for you to get it today, because you're not near the time when you'll be having sex with anyone.
MM: That's for sure!
Me: Now, you know that I think you won't be old enough to have sex until you're out of college, but just in case, we're going to get you vaccinated when you're 11 or 12.
MM: High Schoolers are old enough to have sex.
Me: Well...I disagree [thinking, please don't ask me when I started having sex]. Do you think high schoolers are old enough to be parents?
MM: No!
Me: 'Cause you know that a boy and a girl having sex with each other is how babies are made. We've talked about that. And every time a boy and a girl has sex with each other, there's a chance that they could be making a baby. So, if you're not ready to be a daddy, you shouldn't be having sex with a girl.
MM: Can boys make babies together or girls make babies together?
Me: No. They can't. But whether or not you have sex with a girl or a boy, it's best to wait until you are really grown-up and ready for all the grown-up stuff that happens when you have sex no matter who you are having sex with. And I don't mean like, you have a driver's license. I mean that you're ready to be making important decisions and taking care of other people and the stuff really responsible adults do, okay?
MM: Okay.
Me: And what do I always say after conversations about sex?
MM: Don't talk about sex with my friends.
Me: Right. Because their parents will want to talk to them about sex in their own time and in their own way. Okay?
MM: Okay!

What I'm Wearing (different outfit)

A beige tank top under a peach-y v-neck three-quarter-sleeve light-weight cardigan (can't find a good picture) over this Merona skirt (no belt, bought on sale at Target for $14.00):

With these shoes (B.P. sandals, bought for my SIL's wedding 6 years ago for $15.00):

And topped off with this hat (Coolibar UPF 50+ Women's Facesaver Sun Hat (Natural - One Size), bought from Amazon for $38.00):

Compare that hat with this one for $175 from Nordstrom's:

Without the hat, I'm dressed for a day at the office. With the hat, I'm dressed for a garden party.

What I'm Wearing

This jacket from Nordstrom, it's by Halogen and it breaks my rule about pockets near the rack of doom. However, they're not really pockets, they're just pocket flaps. Buttoned, it looks very tailored and minimizes the assets.

A dress much like this one, without the belt. I bought the dress at Macy's in Tyson's Corner at least 12 years ago.

And these shoes. Bought from either Piperlime or DSW two years ago. This picture is from eBay.

I got a lot of compliments on today's outfit. I felt very put-together.

Fifteen Years (now with pictures)

15 years ago today: We looked like this

10 years ago today: I looked like this

(in a bathing suit in Kauai). And conceived this

6 years ago today: I wrote this.

2 years ago today: we were supposed to go out for dinner, but I went to the hospital instead. Good times.

This year, we ate beef tenderloin cooked to perfection.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Spock.

When gerbils run wild redux

When the gerbils ran wild, it turns out that they REALLY ran wild. We found out tonight that they had a little party among the Wii wires. The wire for the Wii remote sensor was chewed through in several places. And when I say "chewed through", I mean there were several disconnected pieces.

For your future reference, the Wii remotes don't work if the sensor's not connected to the Wii with a continuous wire. Who knew?

The gerbils seemed to find that wire particularly tasty. Other wires were nibbled on, taste tests as it were, but only the Wii remote sensor wire was thoroughly destroyed.

Or it would have been, if Mr. Spock hadn't had the tools and the know-how to patch it back together. It worked for this evening, but we're going to buy a new sensor tomorrow.

Where gerbils run wild

Muffin Man's science class is talking about habitats, the environment, the food chain, and all that kind of stuff. This weekend, for homework, he built a diorama of how gerbils live in the wild.

Mr. Spock put up a beautiful picture of it on his blog. It looks better in the picture than it does in real-life!

When Gerbils Run Wild

Last night the gerbils escaped. One or another of us neglected to put the top back on their tank and they took total advantage.

Fortunately? One of them got all the way into Mr. Spock's office where he was still working on stuff, and scampered over his foot. Muffin Man and I had already gone to bed, but Mr. Spock sounded the alarm, and downstairs we ran to go gerbil hunting.

Spottie, being less adventuresome, was still in the playroom where their tank is. MM coaxed him out of hiding with some sunflower seeds and was able to catch him in the ceramic thing we use for the gerbil's dust bath.

Runner, however, was having none of it. He hid out under the storage shelves in Mr. Spock's office and we had to nudge him out with a yard stick. He put up a fight, though, trying to eat the heavy wood of the stick. Finally we cornered him behind a computer and left him with only one route out...which was blocked with the ceramic dust bath. He sat for quite a while making the decision to give up his really quite frightening freedom for safety and security in the tank. It was clear to all of us that he knew what the dust bath meant and that he went in deliberately.

After they were both back in their tank, they ran around sniffing everything and, especially, sniffing each other. The level in their water bottle this evening was lower than it has ever been before and they had eaten more of their food.

I'm grateful neither of them found a way out of the house. I would be sad to lose those little funny creatures.

6 Years And Two Days

April 6, 2005 was my first blog post here. I blogged on the anniversary, about my fun sweater, but I forgot it was a special blogging day.

Thank you all for reading, commenting, and being a huge part of my life.

Today is most certainly NOT ninety degrees and sunny, but you make it so for me.

Fluff

I'm wearing this in aubergine.

I love it.

Thinking of Jimmy Dugan

A high school friend of mine went missing last week, when a dock he was on collapsed, and now they think they've found his body.


He was a person who was full of life, made friends easily, and will be sorely missed.

I went to bed last night totally thinking it was Tuesday

Which meant that at 6:00 AM, when my alarm went off, I totally thought it was Wednesday, and so I snoozed until 6:30...when my phone reported that I was going to be late for dropping MM off at ThursdayEarlyMorningExerciseThing at his school. Which we have only missed twice before.

But today still feels like a Wednesday to me.

Mourning

Today, one of my bras broke.

The under wire showed itself to the world. It didn't have the decency to poke out under my arm, as broken bras normally do. No, this one came out in the center, right by the pretty little bow.

This is not a minor thing. My bras are, by necessity, feats of modern engineering and thus, they are expensive.

Fortunately, my mother gave me a gift certificate to Nordstrom's for my birthday. I know now what I will spend it all on. Unless they no longer carry my size. In which case, hello, BiggerBras.com!

I've been waiting 30 years for this day

It's getting easier to be green

Up until last November, neither of our cars were terribly efficient. I had a 2002 Kia Sedona, he had a 1997 Jeep Wrangler. Both were bought used. The Kia was bought when our son still had a lot of equipment to haul around.

We were thinking about getting more efficient vehicles, but you know what the greenest car is? One that you already have that's in working condition. So we waited...and we dreamed of better than 20 miles to the gallon.

Then I was in a collision, and the Kia was replaced with a 1998 Toyota Camry. People, I regularly get over 30 miles to the gallon in that puppy, just tootling back and forth from work!

And then we had to replace the Jeep. This past weekend, we got a 2002 Honda Civic. It's even more efficient than the Toyota! Plus I work just a few miles from home! This is so exciting!!! Just as Big Oil is taking advantage of unrest in the Middle East to gouge consumers, we're thumbing our noses at them and benefiting local businesses at the same time!!

The Toyota was purchased at Lindsay Volkswagen. We went back to them last week, but they didn't have anything in our price range this time (though they had a sweet red Mini Cooper), so we got the Honda from Honda of Dulles. We had a great experience at each of their stores, and I've recommended them to friends. If you're in the market for a car, you really could not do better than to shop at either of their stores --- and they're even in our district!

(crossposted at Doorbell Queen.)

Decision Made

Over ten inches off! Sent to Locks of Love.

Here's the after picture! I feel so free and light.

Reader poll: To cut or not to cut?

The hair, it is long. I am sort of getting kind of tired of it, but not in a "I've got to take a scissors to it right now!" kind of way.

So do I bob it, or keep growing?

Relay for Life 2011

See that button there? ----->

Please click on it and donate to the American Cancer Society!! Last year I did 20 miles, I'd like to do 26.1 this year!

Bullets of a busy fun silly random wonderful weekend

• MakesBooksForGrandkids and SingsLullabyes were here for the weekend. 
• I left MM with them for most of Saturday while I
• Had lunch with Jo(e). And you didn't. 
• None of the vegan restaurants near the National Zoo are open at 10:30 on a Saturday, did you know that?
• I made sesame noodles for my parents. They were very happy. I forgot to put out the pepper sauce, tho.
• MM and they played Art of Balance, and we showed off our Mad Lego Rock Band Skillz.
• MM spent over an hour in their hotel pool, and exhausted himself and his generally very energetic grandpa. 
• The three of them played Life, and millions were made.
•  At Wegman's, I bought two wines from local vineyards (a white from Breaux and a red from Hillsborough, both in Purcellville)
• After my parents left, we watched an episode of Chef! MM is LOVING this show. Some of it is way over his head, but he gets more of it than you'd think.
• Then we played Angry Birds and more Lego Rock Band.
• And MS made pot roast risotto.
• Finally, we watched Blackadder's Christmas Carol, which MM was still quoting from this morning.

So, a lovely weekend. How about yours?

Nine

Here's the birthday boy, playing Epic Mickey (one of his birthday presents):

I can't believe it takes just 9 years to get a boy to here from here:

5 days ago

3 of my friends whose blogs had been silent for months all blogged again on the same day about totally different things. I don't know what happened on January 26 to cause this, but I am grateful.

So I watched an episode of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes

The Absent-Minded Coterie.

And I utterly failed to realize that the actor playing Eugene Valmont (the main character of that story - top left in this picture), was someone I have seen before. Seen, in fact, many times.

Mr. Spock will never let me live it down.

What to do with less-than-perfect-looking cornbread.

Put it in the cuisinart and use the crumbs for coating chicken thighs for oven-fried chicken.

DELISH.

MM was not a fan, but that's okay, I ate his share.

It's national delurking day!

Comments! Put yer comments here!! Comments! Put yer comments here!

Ask me a question, and I'll answer it in the next couple of posts.

I'm on a roll!

Sent lunch every day, and brought my own today too!

MM seems to be enjoying it, possibly because I'm using impossibly small containers in bright colors. Also, perhaps because I send fun desserts.

We now have two wide-mouth Thermos-type containers and some wee bitty Rubbermaid containers. As well as the containers from my own Laptop Lunchbox.

I switch up which lunch box I send (which means sometimes he gets mine).

Disclaimer: I am receiving no compensation for posting links to the products I've mentioned. I'm just a satisfied customer.

Resolution update

7 lunches in a row, so far.

Parts of tomorrow's lunch are already prepared. I'm loving this resolution, and so is MM.

My blogroll and earworms

Angie wrote this post, so now I've got this song stuck in my head.

Resolution report

I sent him with lunch every day this week. Feeling very proud of myself. Now, if only I can keep it up!

My resolution was for at least 3x a week, but he asked me to pack his lunch for yesterday and today. I'm feeling like that's a big win.

Sending lunch

Everyday, I've sent a snack with MM to school since his class eats lunch late, but he was buying the cafeteria lunch most days.

After following Mrs. Q's blog, I decided that I really didn't want him eating the school lunch anymore. After all, we're trying to eat healthier at home, taking small steps like cutting out HFCS where possible.

So we sent him a satisfying lunch in reusable containers, and it was a good feeling.

Happy New Year!

This year, my resolutions are to send my son to school with a packed lunch at least 3 times a week, and to be a better house-keeper.

What are yours?

Prime Rib and Popovers

Are some of the simplest and yet most delicious foods in the whole entire world.

Also, MS and I have very generous families.

That is all.

How was your Christmas?

(Shh...don't tell anyone...)

But I think I'm actually ready for Christmas.

The gifts are purchased, and most are wrapped.

Those that needed to be shipped, are shipped. And most of those have arrived at their destinations.

The roasting beast for roasting has been ordered and I'll pick it up Friday and cook it and we'll eat it, yes we will.

There are still some cookies left.

I think I even have enough wrapping paper.

But I'll go tomorrow and buy more. Just in case.

I wouldn't want to jinx anything.

The cuteness! It burns!

Christmas traditions

The Tree: this year it's the little, table-top version. We use the card table as the "trunk".


The Cookies: It's a well-known fact that Santa prefers chocolate-chip.

(photo taken with my droid under fluorescent lights, uploaded to fb, and then color-corrected in my computer.)

First Posts

A bit different from the way I've done it before, the title and first sentence of the first post of each month for 2010.

January: Sweater knitted.
Now I just need to make up the sleeve seams, block it, sew in the snaps and put on the buttons. I loved the way it turned out

February: Gryffindor scarf update.
Knitting done. Weaving in ends 3/4's done. Need to block and add fringe. Wow! I knitted a bunch in the first part of this year!

March: I would say something if I had something to say...
Will catch up here later this week. Sorry for the silence here, but I'm noisy at my other blog and on Twitter. Yeah, my posting everywhere went way down this year.

April: Things I wish I would make time in my life to do

* Hawaiian Dance lessons. I still would like to make time in my life to do this.

May: Cropped!
From this: (pic) To this: (pic) I wonder what he'll do with his hair next?

June:Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysteriously Knowledgeable 8-year-old
I would accuse him of reading ahead, but MY SON would NEVER do THAT. He's a reader, that one.

July:Briefing in brief.
We went to Vermont on Amtrak. Ah...Vermont. Ah...Amtrak.

August: Whatever you're interested in, Dick Francis has a book about it (Part 1)
Photography? REFLEX He died earlier this year. I am so glad I got to tell him several times how much I enjoyed his books.

September: View from the Waiting Room
Sitting in the waiting room at the car shop, waiting for them to change the oil, rotate the tires, and do all the stuff one likes to get done before traveling in holiday traffic 6 hours each way. He really is an amazingly patient boy

October: What we're doing around here
MM is acing tests (spelling, math, geography: all A+) and enjoying school immensely. I can't tell you how relieved I am about this.

November: Was gonna post last night for NaBloPoMo
but something came up. That was really not fun. At all.

December: A Scene From Thanksgiving
MM starts a book club: Now that was a really fun time.

My son admitted I was right

Twice! In a 24 hour period!

I WIN AT PARENTING!!

YAY!

Plus, he's wearing footie pajamas. Right this very minute.



Muffin Man, with his back to the camera, wearing footie pajamas with rockets on them.

In memoriam

Christine Lavin singing "The Dakota".

In Attendance over Thanksgiving Week

My two grandmothers.
My mom and step-dad.
Me, Mr. Spock, and Muffin Man.
My sister, her husband, my niece and nephew, and the wonderful exchange student.
My Aunt and Uncle TandemBicycle and their daughter (cousin in picture).
My Aunt and Uncle JustAFewYearsOlderThanMe and their three kids.
My Uncle SnarkySenseOfHumor, my Aunt WorksWithSpecialNeedsKids, their two daughters, their grand-daughter, their eldest daughter's boyfriend, their youngest daughter's best friend, and the best friend's daughter.
My mom's Cousin MiraculouslyGetsYarnUntangled, her stepfather, her son, his partner, and their two kids.
And a brief visit by my mom's friends, FamousActorAndSinger and CollectsQuilts, and one of their sons, PlaysBanjoAndSingsBeautifully.

My mom hemmed some pants for me. We ate 4 tons of food. Mr. Spock and I figured out my parents home theater system and wrote up a user's guide for it. I knitted on a hat which I had to rip (thus the yarn detangling), and start again (it's much better now).

In short, I can't wait until next year.

A Scene From Thanksgiving

MM starts a book club:



Left to right: that's a wonderful exchange student from Indonesia who came with my niece; my delightful cousin who shares my birthday; and Muffin Man. They are reading the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series. MM finished the whole set of five books in two days.

They represent 1/10th of the crew that was at my mom & step-dad's for the holidays.

Veteran's Day

May all who are serving today come home safe. May all those who have served find peace and love at home.

New Car

Well, a new used car.

A very low-mileage 1998 Toyota Camry. 4 doors, I can see over the steering wheel and reach the pedals without needing to turn off the airbag. Green with beige interior.

It's nimble and just the right size for the three of us.

So.

Staples and stitches come out Tuesday.

I am really very grateful that it wasn't worse. It could have been so much worse.

Musical Interlude

Beethovan's Wig:



There's more where that came from.

Introducing Aang, the Avatar

Yes, his head is shaved. It'll grow back.

Ingredients: gold (not yellow!) sweatpants and mock turtle-neck; some orange fabric that my mom made into a poncho and sash for MM; a stick from my UncleTandemBicycle; two pieces of orange tissue wrapping and two pieces of orange art paper folded into fans; two blue cream eye pencils; and a shaved head.

Car Recommendation

I don't know if you're in the market for a mini-van, but if you are, I can heartily recommend the Kia Sedona.

I am 4'11" and can comfortably drive the Sedona. The driver's seat is adjustable to allow a person as short as I am to reach the pedals, see over the steering wheel, and still sit far enough away from the wheel to not have to shut off the airbag. My husband, at 5'10", also found it comfortable to drive.

I have been able to fit seven people in the car (6 adults and a child), and it seats 6 very comfortably.

And...

Ours was totalled.

Totalled.

And my son, who was in the car, (driver's side, middle set of seats) is totally fine. Not a scratch, not a bruise.

My only injury (aside from a couple of bruises), was from hitting my head on the place where the seatbelt attaches to the wall of the car.

We were both wearing our seatbelts, but the car did what it was supposed to do. My car is a wreck, it will be sold for scrap, but we are fine.

So. If you're in the market for a mini-van. I recommend the Kia Sedona.

And I'm glad to be able to do so.

Was gonna post last night for NaBloPoMo

but something came up. Home now and doing well. Thanking everybody for their kind words and loving thoughts. Thanking also the great EMTs and the staff at Loudoun Hospital for taking such wonderful care of me.

His feet are growing by leaps and bounds

Two sizes in less than a year. His sneakers last Spring? Size 1. His sandals this past Summer? Size 2. His new shoes and sneakers? Size 3. He grows out of his shoes so fast, he doesn't wear 'em out first. Good thing he has a friend with smaller feet.

Spicy ginger peanut sauce

Oh my goodness, I made my best batch EVER.

1 inch of ginger root, peeled and minced
1 whooping big scoop of creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp corn syrup
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 or 2 drops of fish sauce (I KNOW! But really! It works!)
1 shallot finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
Peanut oil for the wok
Sesame oil to finish.

Mix ginger, peanut butter, soy sauce, corn syrup, vinegar, and fish sauce until well blended.

In a wok or high-sided frying pan, heat the peanut oil and saute the shallots and garlic. Add the peanut butter mixture and heat briefly. Add sesame oil. Pour over noodles or chicken or veggies. You could garnish with green onions if you'd like.

So very, very, very yummerific.

Songs that make me think of other songs

This:



and this:



and this:



always get me humming this:



What songs make you think of other songs?

We're having pizza tonight

Homemade, but not from scratch:

Large King of Pita pitas (6 ingredients, no HFCS)
Canned tomato sauce (because my homemade stuff is a bit too chunky for pizza. 7 ingredients, no HFCS)
Fresh mozzarella (5 ingredients, no HFCS)
Wegmans all-natural uncured dry Italian salami (7 ingredients, no HFCS)
Mushrooms

Yum.

What we're doing around here

MM is acing tests (spelling, math, geography: all A+) and enjoying school immensely. Once a week, he goes to a Lego builders thing after school, the rest of the week he goes straight to Posh Place.

We're all doing MadLibs (thanks, Cousin LooksLikeAndyMcDowell!), playing Connect4x4 (thanks QuiltsALot and TellsDonaldDuckStories!), and MM is playing Spoor (thanks Aunt and Uncle TandemBicycle and Cousin SameBirthdayAsMe!)

I'm volunteering in MM's class again this year to help with spelling tests on Fridays. I love it.

We spent the weekend with lots of family at Aunt and Uncle TandemBicycle's house, and had a terrific time. They gave me 8 cups worth of fresh basil to take home and now we have an ocean of pesto.

Tomorrow, Mr. Spock and I go to a shindig to celebrate the Republic of China (Taiwan). So, all in all, it's been a pretty darn good week around here.

My blogroll and earworms

Purple Kangaroo wrote this post, and now I've got this song in my head.

Home sick

Coughing and generally feverish. MS made me some lovely soup for lunch and now I'm back in bed with my laptop.

This morning we watched two videos of MM when he was 23 months and 31 months. The difference in his looks and speech are pretty amazing. At 23 months, he is clearly still a baby. At 31 months, he's starting to look like he does now. It's amazing what 8 months will do.

In the earlier video, he can see himself on the tv while the video is being filmed, and his joy in seeing FUHDEN!! That's FUHDEN! is just the sweetest thing EVER.

So I'm just a bit weepy now, but I'm blaming it on the fever.

My blogroll and earworms

Crystal wrote this post, so now this song is in my head and will. not. leave. So I generously invite you all to hum along.

Mystery Mommy has a new wardrobe!!

Mr. Spock made the spiffy new header for me. It isn't even my birthday!

Walking, Whining, and Whiplash.

Him: "I don't want to walk to the pie store! I don't like pie! I don't want to walk! I'm exhausted. I'm tiiiired. My legs aren't up to walking that far."

Me: "Well, I like pie. The pie store is three blocks from where we are. We're walking there. And that's it."

Him: "Oh! They have CUPCAKES! And Whoopie Pies! Oh! Can I have a cupcake? Can I have a Whoopie Pie? Oh! Can I have a cupcake AND a Whoopie Pie?"

Me: "Repeat after me. Mommy, you were right and I was wrong."

Him: "Mommy, you were right and I was wrong."

Me: "Walking here was worth it."

Him: "Walking here was worth it."

Me: "Yes, you may have the two desserts."

Riding in the car this morning...

and listening to the radio, I was reminded of this post. That mopey song will make me laugh every time I hear it.

An open letter to the makers of the film "Prince Caspian"

What. Were. You. Thinking?

Most of the movie (so far) is not how it was in the book. The book is terrific! The movie....is not. What the hell did you do to Peter? What was that with the attack on the castle? Who made these decisions? And why? Why?

Sincerely,

Mystery Mommy

An open letter to the makers of the film "Prince Caspian"

What. Were. You. Thinking?

View from the Waiting Room

Sitting in the waiting room at the car shop, waiting for them to change the oil, rotate the tires, and do all the stuff one likes to get done before traveling in holiday traffic 6 hours each way.

Sitting next to me is Muffin Man. Patiently playing his DS and twisted up like a pretzel.



We're going to the open house at his school today so he can meet his new teacher, Ms. Marvelock (not her real name), which is why I have the day off and why he's not at his daycamp (at Posh Place).

When we get the car back, we're heading back home to get his big bag o' school supplies (including green ballpoints - found at Staples, just like my friend said!)

After the open house, we're heading over to Big Box Book Store to buy presents for sundry relatives of various ages, then we'll do I don't know what, and then I'll drop MM off with his sitter so that I can attend Back-to-School Night at his school (parents only!).

So, in sum, it's a lazy, busy, errand-y, special day. And my son is flexible.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Toystore Today

I am a big fan of Pianosaurus, a quirky band from the '80's.

Give them a listen, won't you?

It's all Dagobah all the time right now

Swamped.

Typing this from the LCDC Exec meeting. Thursday is my son's school's open house and back-to-school night. I'm going away for the weekend.

This past weekend, I did phone banking and play dates and so on and so forth.

Updates to come soon.

I hope.

Thinking about my Grandpa Emeritus

He died three years ago this month (Fifth of August), and I'm missing him.

On Sunday, the pastor at our UU congregation gave a really moving address about the cathedral of the world, and life and death. It was something my grandfather would have enjoyed listening to.

Here's a post I wrote about a conversation I had with my son during one of our last visits with my grandfather.

I really wish people we love could live forever.

Haven't you always wanted a monkey?

Happy Birthday, Big Sister!!!

I love you and hope that you are having the world's best day.

And another one!!!

What's in my head...

Songs not included in this post:

Leave It



and, of course, the obvious one from The Police

The search for a green ballpoint

If you want to buy a green ballpoint pen at Office Depot, you need to buy a pack with at least 3 other colors, none of which are black, blue, or red.

It was the one thing on the list of school supplies we didn't get.

Last year's pen (bought in a pack with purple, pink, and orange - which we use for Clue), will have to do.

Today, I'm just happy. Very happy.

Yesterday, Judge Walker Vaughn overturned Prop 8 in California. Yesterday, my Twitter feed exploded with joy, laughter, and relief.

Today, I'm sending out love to all my gay and lesbian friends and family members, and hope - such a big hope - that this verdict will be upheld by the 9th circuit and by the Supremes. And thus overturn my own state's Jim Crow amendment.

I can't wait to live in a country where any two consenting adults can marry each other.

Whatever you're interested in, Dick Francis has a book about it (Part 2)

Jewels and gadgets? Straight
Survival? Longshot and Smokescreen
Filming a movie? Wild Horses and Smokescreen
Veterinary? Comeback and Banker
Bloodstock industry? Banker
British transport rules? Driving Force and Flying Finish
Truck maintenance? Driving Force
Antiques? Bonecrack
Toy making? High Stakes
Architecture? Decider
Gold mining? Smokescreen
How to hide something? To the Hilt
Film editing? Break In
Gun manufacturing? Bolt
Cockney rhyming slang? Driving Force

Tell me what you're interested in and I'll tell you which Dick Francis to read!

Whatever you're interested in, Dick Francis has a book about it (Part 1)

Photography? REFLEX
Flying airplanes? FLYING FINISH, RAT RACE, SECOND WIND
Wine and Spirits? PROOF
Russia during the cold war? TRIAL RUN
Glass blowing? SHATTERED
Rare diseases? WHIP HAND (equine), SECOND WIND
Painting? IN THE FRAME (oils), TO THE HILT (acrylics)
British elections? 10 LB PENALTY
British taxation (as of the time it was written)? RISK
Computers (as of the time it was written)? TWICE SHY
Target shooting (Olympic caliber)? TWICE SHY
Boilers? ODDS AGAINST
Trains? THE EDGE