What Muffin Man will be doing for Summer Vacation

• One week in a music day camp, testing out the drums.
• Two weeks doing computer graphics and Lego robotics
• Two more weeks doing Lego Robotics
• Two weeks doing I don't know what yet. Maybe we'll go away somewhere?
• Two weeks creating video games, and doing more Lego Robotics.

What? He LIKES Lego Robotics. And they're all very different TYPES of Lego Robotics. They all have very different GOALS.

Yes. I will keep telling myself that.

Plus, he has a Lego Robotics kit and it's good for him to get as much practice programming it as possible.

Cake

DOUBLE DIGITS!

Muffin Man is 10 today. TEN.  

TEN!!

Holy guacamole.

He once was this tiny little thing:

And then he was a little boy:

And then he was a bigger boy:

And now he's this Big Kid:

I love this boy sooooo much.

Happy birthday, my Muffin Man.

How many different shapes do Lego come in?

This is not a rhetorical question. Our dining room table was taken over this weekend by a project of mammoth proportions: sorting the Lego. The Lego was sorted by shape only.


By Sunday night, about 1/3 of Muffin Man's Legos were sorted into compartmentalized boxes. Twenty-five compartmentalized boxes, with a minimum of 17 compartments each. Some items were doubled up. Oh, and the thick 2x4 bricks and their baby siblings, the thick 2x2 bricks each had their own box.

So I've got a bone to pick with the Lego Corporation. I mean, look at this picture, and that's just wheels and axles. WHEELS AND AXLES. They take up a whole box on their own.

When I was a kid, you had the 2x4 bricks, the 2x2 bricks, two kinds of window, 2 kinds of door, a brick that was about the length of a Lincoln Log, and two different slanted bricks for roofs, and a very large (comparatively) green piece that was a floor or grass, depending on how big you built your house. That was it.

I'm not complaining that there is more variety now, but over 425 different types feels like a bit of overkill. And that doesn't count Mind Storms.

On the other hand, it's worth it to see Muffin Man create a Mondrian Moon Buggy.

Blogging for Choice

This was really supposed to happen yesterday, but yesterday I was working for Choice in a different way (the NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia C3 Board met).

Today I'm going to blog for Choice by asking all my pro-Choice readers in the MD-VA-DC region to buy a ticket to this Thursday's Roe v. Wade Anniversary Dinner.

Over 60 anti-abortion, anti-birth control, anti-women statutes were enacted last year. This year, as many or more are being introduced. Please help us save women's lives, help us keep abortion safe, legal, and RARE by buying a ticket, attending the dinner, and working to make every baby that is born a welcomed and wanted Choice.

Knitting

I went to my first local knit night here in Virginia. Lordy, I missed knitting and chatting and knitting. It feels so good!

I'm working on Cloisonne Mittens (a pattern by The Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Perl-McPhee). Main color is white, with deep purple, fuchsia (yes, that yarn again!), and turquoise on the wrist band.

Outfit blogging

Today, in honor of 14 degree F weather, I am wearing LL Bean flannel-lined jeans, thick woolen socks, my nice leather boots (to make everything look work appropriate), a white turtle neck and a lavender cashmere v-necked sweater.

This outfit works for the office and for knit night at Panera.

What are you wearing?

Stop #PIPA and #SOPA.

I just left a message for Jim Webb asking him to oppose #PIPA and #SOPA. Won't you call him too? 202-224-4024.

If you live outside Virginia, you can find out who to call by asking the Wikipedia for help.

Bright

I've been in a bit of a funk lately, and am trying to use garment therapy to pull me out.

Today I'm wearing a deep pink shirt from Land's End (two years ago). It's less purple than fuchsia, more red than salmon. A deep, saturated color.

If I don't feel chipper, at least I look chipper.

Outfit blogging

Today, I'm wearing this sweater

over a white lacy square-necked camisole, with a denim skirt and these tights in red

I can't find the shoes I'm wearing online. Apparently Rockport has given up the heeled practical business black penny loafer in exchange for stuff that is merely pretty but looks wildly uncomfortable.

What are you wearing?

CFLs are horrible for picture taking

Especially when you're taking that picture with your cell phone.

Case in point: Here is a picture of a nice tweedy yarn:

Yarn. Tweedy. Is actually green.

What colour would you say this yarn is? Judging from the picture, a sort of greyish-blue right?

Wrong. This yarn, in reality, is green. Yes. I'm sure. It's really, truly green. A light spring green, like new growth on a willow tree.

CFLs make liars of cellphone cameras.

You, and I, and Sir Lancelot jump out of the rabbit...

Wooden block castle

Mr. Spock, and Muffin Man, and I took turns adding blocks to this castle. It is made of 67 individual blocks. They were a gift from MakesBooksForGrandkids and SingsLullabyes, and are handmade in the US. This is the starter set.

This set is an example of a high-quality product made domestically. It's also an example of something I maybe wouldn't own if it weren't given to us as a gift. If you have someone in your life who you think would like something like these awesome blocks, won't you consider getting a set for them?

6 years

Yesterday marked six years to the day that Muffin Man started at Posh Place. He still attends their after-school program, and loves it. DeepVoicedThirdGrader and SheIsNowTallerThanMe, and many of the kids in the picture on this post are still there, too. I recommend them to everybody. I wish every child could have a Posh Place to go to.

Happy Anniversary, Posh Place. You've made a big difference in our family. Thank you so much.

Starting the New Year off right

New Year's day was spent getting some hardware sorting boxes from BigBoxHardwareStore (and a rug to cover the speaker cables in the living room, because I was sick of tripping over them), and then helping with Muffin Man with the sorting of the pieces of his brand new Lego Mindstorms NXT set.

Monday, we rearranged the play room, so that he could have a work bench upon which to build a robot to rule the world (Mwahahahahaha!)

Pictured: Most of MM's Legos. There are more scattered throughout the house, but this is the bulk of 'em. That blue bag on the workbench is filled with Minifigs.

Pictured: Just a few of what the bag contains.

Also under the tree this year were a subscription to Lego Master Builder Academy (new kit in the mail every other month) and the Lego Ideas Book .

First sentences

Most years, I do a post of the first sentence of the first post for every month throughout the past year. Here they are for 2011.

• January:

  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.

  I wasn't perfect on this front, but I did pretty well. Keeping these as my resolutions for 2012.


• February:

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

  Muffin Man's birthday is on the first of February, so the first post tends to be about that.


• March:

  Over ten inches off!

  Mystery Mommy gets a haircut, a story in pictures.


• April:

  I'm wearing this in aubergine.

  Still one of my favorite things to wear.


• May:

  Muffin Man's science class is talking about habitats, the environment, the food chain, and all that kind of stuff.

  I should have posted the picture myself. Mr. Spock's blog is gone.


• June:

  This jacket from Nordstrom, it's by Halogen and it breaks my rule about pockets near the rack of doom.

  Outfit blogging, with pictures.


• July:

  Please keep my Grandma in your thoughts.

  She's recovered well and is back home. Celebrated her 93rd birthday the other day!


• August:

  We've switched things around at Chez Mystere.

  A picture and description of my bedroom.
• 
  
• September:

  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).

  I still don't know how to plug ICE phone numbers into an iPhone. Do you?


• October:

  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.

  And now I'm hungry.


• November:

  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!

  I'm pretty proud of that costume.


• December: There are no words on that first post. It's just a video of The Roches singing "Star of Wonder" as the first song of 25 for the December Holidays. Here they are again.

Happy New Year!!

Christmas memory

The first Christmas after my parents separated, my sister and I spent Christmas Eve at my Dad's place, a rail-road apartment on 11th? 12th? Street in Park Slope.

We shared a bedroom there, and my dad had painted a bright and cheerful rainbow on the wall above my bed. My sister's side of the room had this magical built-in cupboard, with drawers underneath.

So, it's the night before Christmas. The first Christmas we weren't a whole family. I couldn't sleep. BigSister couldn't sleep. We were whispering and speculating and wondering if Santa knew where we would be. Did we remember to give him this address? Would it confuse him that we were going to be switching houses? We just. couldn't. sleep.

So BigSister said, "you know, when EldestCousin babysat for me a while ago, I asked him to tuck me in and he didn't know how. Here! Let me show you what he did!"

And she bounced up out of bed, and came over to my side of the room and pulled the covers up to my chin and then went "TUCK!TUCK!TUCK!" and tucked the blankets in around my body like you would tuck a flat sheet under a mattress.

And then she went back to her bed. And I bounced up (after detangling myself) and I went over to HER side of the room and I pulled the covers up to her chin and went "TUCK!TUCK!TUCK!" and tucked the blankets in around her body like you would tuck a flat sheet under a mattress.

And then I went back to my bed and she bounced up (after detangling herself) and....well, lather, rinse, repeat about seven times. We were HOWLING with laughter. And it became a Christmas tradition that we continued for years.

The moral of the story is that even the most difficult holidays can bring fun memories, and build new traditions. I don't remember what I got for Christmas that year, but I remember that night with my sister.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 25: Finale

'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, when all the birds had fled...




Yes, that's Muffin Man singing the first verse. I couldn't be more proud.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - a brief detour

My intended twenty-fifth song is still on the camera, so here is a bonus song: Julia Murney singing about what happens to the gifts AFTER Christmas

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 24

My favorite version of this one:

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 23

Because even Godless Unitarians want a week's vacation.




Roy Zimmerman. Yes.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 22

The Indigo Girls bring a country feel to the Festival of Lights.
 

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 21

Once upon a time, I could name all the artists in this video...that time is long gone.

Trees

Muffin Man did the lion's share of trimming the trees this year.

I participated by stringing the lights and topping the taller of the two trees with the star with his hand print angel from '03. His hands were so tiny!

Also in this picture, but hard to see, are Spottie and Runner.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 20

You knew I had to, right?

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - parts 18 and 19

Because I missed yesterday, here are two! First, Tom Lehrer makes his second appearance on my list with "A Christmas Carol" (lipsynched by Benjamin M. W. in a red & black Santa hat)



Next, we have Brenda Lee singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". Static picture, alas.



Tune in tomorrow for another Hanukkah entry!

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 17

My friend Glenn pointed me to this version, which I heard for the first time last week.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 16

And yet another gift idea



Peter and Paul used to have hair. I was shocked to see it.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 15

More gift ideas

Chocolate Dropkins

Chocolate Dropkins are a tradition in my family. My earliest Christmas memories include making bread dough figures for the tree, and these chocolates for treats.

The chocolates are dead simple to make, you take one box of unsweetened chocolate and melt it in a double-boiler. When it's all melted, you cool it slightly and mix in one can of sweetened condensed milk. Let it cool to rolling temperature (should not be liquidy, should feel like play doh.)

This is almost to the right temperature, but was still a little goopy.

Once the consistency is right, you roll the chocolate into small balls, and coat in colored sugar, nuts, powdered cocoa, or coconut. This year I used white and gold sugar. The gold looked better than the white.

Ooh! Pretty!

What looked best, though, was a mixture of gold and white, which really made the chocolates look Christmas-y. The hardest part of making these chocolates is waiting for the mixture to reach the right temperature.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 14

Here's a great gift idea!

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 13

Jazzing it up a bit

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 12

On the 12th day of this project, the Muppets gave to me...

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 11

This one is courtesy of my friend Dave.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 10

The Roches again, this time with a medley.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 9

I love rounds, don't you?

Virginia Tech

Washington Post is reporting two dead at Virginia Tech, shooter still at large.

My thoughts are in Blacksburg.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 8

One of many.


Bonus piece, a song suggested by YouTube when I brought this one up.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 7

They made a new one, too. I like this one better.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 6

Here's one I heard for the first time this past Thursday. Written and sung by an Australian.

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 5

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 4

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 3

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 2

Twenty-five songs for the December Holidays - part 1

Vertigo

I just looked down at my keyboard and then up at the screen and had the sense that I was looking down the wrong end of a telescope. Now I'm feeling dizzy, and seeing little spots, and it's just the weirdest phenomenon.

There have been times when I've felt like this but they've all been when I was standing up, or getting up to a standing position too quickly.

I hope that it passes.

So much for NaBloPoMo

I spent most of yesterday knitting. Less than 50 rows to go on the Fibonacci scarf!

If you're ever in High Falls

Go and see the High Falls. They are quite lovely.

Happy Thanksgiving

Muffin Man was the emcee at a talent show he put together. I was very proud.

When Brussels Sprouts Attack

The Brussels sprouts didn't appreciate getting little x's cut in their bottoms, and conspired with the knife to stab me in my thumb.

Ouch.

Fortunately, it's not deep.

At my mom's for t'giving

Posting will be light. Mebbe some pictures.

Talking about chores

Muffin Man is nine, and he has the following chores:

• Feed and otherwise take care of the gerbils (I help with their monthly re-bedding).
• Set and clear the table, including pouring drinks for the family
• Empty the dishwasher
• Put away his clothes (I admit to being pretty lax about this).
• Keep the play room tidy
• Empty the waste baskets
• Make his own week-day breakfast (cold cereal and milk).

What chores do you have your kid doing? Is MM getting off easy, or are we too hard on him?

Wild boar...

Also easy to cook, but the flavor is identical to domesticated pork. I love living close to a Wegmans.

Turns out...

That it's really easy to cook duck. Seared ducks breast with garlic & rosemary roasted potatoes. Yum. And we even have leftovers.

When one thing leads to another

An item in Carolyn Hax's chat today made me think of this song:

Appalled

My co-workers have never read Caves of Steel.

A PSA from TMBG and a girl in California

The inspiration for my New Year's Resolution

I haven't done much in terms of sending MM with a packed lunch this school year, but last year I sent him with lunch at least three times a week between January and then end of the school year.

Here's a video by Mrs. Q, from Fed Up With Lunch, who ate the school lunch every day for a calendar year, and took pictures.

Before and after

Before: A whole year's worth of hair

Random bullets of a busy day

• talked to SingsLullabyes on the phone. She's in the hospital with pneumonia, nut may be released tomorrow.
• made a gallon and a quarter of spaghetti sauce.
• got Muffin Man's hair cut. Picture tomorrow.
• auction at church. Big turnout.

Makes for a tired Mystery Mommy.

Review: Dunkin Donuts Warm Cinnamon Swirl Muffin

If you go to Dunkin Donuts, you can skip the warm cinnamon swirl muffin. It's crumbly, sticky, and squishy, and the flavor is very fake (leaving a chemical aftertaste).

Bleah.

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.