Happy last day all you NaBloPoMo bloggers out there! Welcome to the "I did it!" addition. This blog has met the qualifications of posting every day in the month of November. On more than one occasion, the lucky readers of Screw Perfection even got bonus video (and if that doesn't get me some Google hits off of X-rated searches, I don't know what will).
When I started this blog back in March 2006, about 668 posts ago, I posted every day. I thought the best way to accomplish what I wanted - to hone my writing skills - was to keep doing it, even days when I thought I had nothing to say. It's not difficult, but it is a discipline.
I came into this week feeling pretty good about the things I've accomplished these last few weeks, and go out feeling a little tired, a little frustrated.
[A brief pause here where I announce that as I type, Lindsay is on her third breakfast. She's had oatmeal (I didn't prepare this, but it probably had raisins and cinnamon), waffles with strawberry rhubarb spread, and a second handful of Cheerios with milk. Growth spurt?]
Like with all things, I know these feelings are somewhat cyclical, particularly with the holidays. There have been a couple of family members I've been holding at arm's length because...I need that distance, I'm learning. The conversation that started "What are your Christmas plans?" ended with "Well, I have to go walk the dog", and knowing she never walks the dog, that's code for "I'm really pissed at you but I'm not saying anything". We've been struggling to fit this idea of a "blended family" since they got married 13 years ago, and it boils down to they don't like us. They don't make any secret of not liking us. So our family time has been reduced to Christmas Day and the obligatory ones like weddings. I suspect it's not going to improve. I guess the major decline was 2 years ago when Jules went to rehab the day before Christmas and they decided to take a stand over James making something for Christmas dinner that Tim didn't like so they all left pretty much did it for me. That and the Momosyllabic visit on Christmas Day with my brother and his then fiancee Maria. It wasn't his fault that your husband's sons are assholes. He showed up. Sorry, I think I may be starting to twitch a little bit.
Christmas Eve is a family night. It's been starting earlier and earlier each year - we gather at Dad's and hang out with the sibs, exchange presents, and have dinner. We head over to Auntie Di's (used to be Gramma's, but Di and Gramma live in the same condo complex and Di has a much bigger condo, and probably the whole planning is too much for Gramma now). Usually my Uncle Mark is there with his 4 kids who are in their teens and 20s now. We're all there, mostly in our 30s now, and my Gramma's nieces and nephews and all their kids. My Gramma's brother and one of her sisters have passed, so it's a lot of family. And I'm looking forward to that.
The rest of it I realize I am already starting to dread. I swallow down the lump in my throat thinking about 24 days of anticipating it, and it makes me feel sort of sick. So, how to keep it at arm's length again? I don't know, but I know I need to do that in order to get through the next several weeks.
Wow, I guess that was a pretty sour way to end November. I think I'm going to check to see if that hotel in Cromwell? Rocky Hill? we're staying at has a 24-hour gym...
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Yet again, a meme
Okay, I admit to being at the end of my Nablopomo rope. I think this makes my third meme in a week. Anyway, I stole this meme from the queen of memes herself, Mimi Lennox. Her version includes a tour of her refrigerator. My refrigerator isn't nearly as photogenic, so I'm going to skip that part. Feel free to steal this one yourselves.
What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Lemon verbena. It's a glycerin soap from a London hotel. I love glycerin soaps, but they usually only make it through 3 showers.
Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No.
What would you change about your living room? It's quite cluttered, particularly the bookcases. I keep meaning to straighten them. Most of my housework involves triage - dealing with the remains of a cracker box that was shaken over the leather chair, sweeping rice and oatmeal out of the carpet, and cleaning up cat vomit with baby wipes. The life of a stay-at-home mom has its truly glamorous moments...
Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? They are clean. I loaded the dinner dishes and ran them last night. When the dishes are clean, the latch must be locked. The breakfast dishes are piled into the sink at the moment.
White or wheat bread? The current loaf is Tuscan, which I guess is white bread made with olive oil. I buy loaves of bread from the bakery, trying to avoid ones that contain high fructose corn syrup. The downside of bakery bread is that it only lasts 2-3 days. Alec has been encouraging me to bake my own - maybe after the semester is over.
What is in your fridge? There are a lot of things in my fridge. A bevy of condiments. A selection of milks: soy, 1% and whole. A cheddar cheese wheel. Two red cabbages. A bag of lettuce. Red grapes. Chicken drumsticks defrosting for dinner. Bacon. Butter. Bleu cheese. Brussel sprouts. Asparagus. Red and green bell peppers. A Pyrex container of leftover dinner from last night : Cumin-scented rice with shrimp and peas. A Pyrex container of leftover dinner from the night before that was rice with red beans, and was transformed into an Asian-influenced lunch with scrambled eggs, soy sauce, and peas. Pyrex containers of homemade applesauce, pasta sauce, and cranberry relish. Pickles: hot, beet, and bread and butter.
What is on top of your refrigerator? My crock pot and rice cooker. A huge pan - must be a 22" skillet. The egg container that came with our fridge that I've never used. Who takes the eggs out of the carton anyway?
Can you describe your flashlight? I have more than one - we lose power a lot, so I have them at hand on my desk, on the bookshelf in my bedroom, and in the upstairs medicine cabinet. In the summer when there are a lot of storms, I usually keep them on the top and bottom banisters of the stairs. They are all of the mini or micro Maglite variety, except for the one in my car which is a regular Maglite. The one on my desk is a blue mini-Maglite that has its anti-roll black rubber cap on.
What color or design is on your shower curtain? My shower curtain has blue stripes. It must be drawn (closed) when the shower is not in use so that it may dry.
How many plants are in your home? There are no houseplants. I have a black thumb. I have an Aerogarden (hydroponic garden) that's growing 3 tomato plants.
Is your bed made right now? Yes. It's rarely left unmade. I've taught Lauren to make her bed by pulling the comforter up and arranging her stuffies. Lindsay's crib is made by hanging her two knit blankets - one yellow, knit by Tutu's friend Clova, and the other knit by Michelle - on the railing of her crib. She helps by handing them to you when she wakes up. You can also tell if she's been up a while because she'll toss them on the floor.
Comet or Soft Scrub? Comet. Lemon-scented. I clean my kitchen sink after lunch every day with it, which is when I empty the dishwasher and load the dirty dishes from breakfast and lunch in it. Geez, as I describe these things I'm starting to sound sort of obsessive compulsive. I clean my bathrooms with Method products - bathroom and shower cleaners. I spritz the sinks down and wipe with a wash cloth every day, and spritz into the toilet and go once around with the scrub brush. It takes like 30 seconds, and though it doesn't leave the bathrooms (I have 2 - a full one on the second floor and a powder room on the first floor) spotless, but it makes them smell nice.
Is your closet organized? My closet is impossible to get into at the moment because the master bedroom is being worked on. So, yes, my clothes and shoes are organized, but there's a rocking chair in there, and most of Alec's tools.
Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? I drink from both. I guess more often from a ceramic mug (tea or coffee) than a plastic tumbler. I had mostly glass until kids and then I bought a bunch of plastic tumblers after Lindsay became old enough to reach for them. Once my kids are a bit older, I will either sell them at a garage sale or recycle them and buy some regular glasses.
Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Actually, I have 2 pitchers of herbal iced tea made. I drink a lot of tea. I don't necessarily drink my 4-16 ounce glasses of water per day, but I try to make sure I'm hydrated. I also have a Brita, but since it's now in the pantry instead of the fridge, I have been drinking less water.
If you have a garage, is it cluttered? I do, and it is. My garage is a double garage with 4 doors, only one of them works. This means my car can't go in it. When you're not in the thinking that there has to be room for a car, it just sort of gets cluttered with stuff. Currently, all of my outdoor furniture is in it.
Curtains or blinds? Curtains. I made the ones in the girls' rooms. The ones in the downstairs were made, but not by me. We just bought some for our bedroom. They aren't up yet because our walls are wet.
How many pillows do you sleep with? I have a pillow and there's a body pillow under it spanning the length of the bed. When Alec is traveling, I sleep with 4 pillows.
Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No, but when Alec is home, he usually has the television on when he goes to sleep.
How often do you vacuum? About once a day.
Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.
What color is your toothbrush? White with green and blue stripes.
Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? I have a mat. It's green. It doesn't actually say "Welcome" though.
What is in your oven right now? My oven is off. It gets turned on around 5 PM, and off when Alec gets home around 8 PM.
Is there anything under your bed? Probably a cat. They've made a hole in the material at the bottom of the box spring so they can climb up in it when they get scared.
Chore you hate doing the most? Cleaning the cat box. Emptying the diaper bin. If I could just get into the habit of doing them every couple of days rather than once a week or two, I'd probably make it easier on myself.
What retro items are in your home? My home was built in 1916. It's retro itself.
Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? No. My desk is in my living room. Eventually, when we redo the sun porch it will be out there, but that room will either double as a guest bedroom or a playroom or both.
How many mirrors are in your home? Six. At least 2 of them are in a stack though because they were on the wall of the bedroom.
Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? Yes, but I'm not telling you where.
What color are your walls? In this room, they are buttercup.
Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? I don't. Yet.
What does your home smell like right now? I've been in it too long. I suppose it smells vaguely like coffee.
Favorite candle scent? I hate scented candles. The one in my kitchen right now is mint, which isn't too offensive.
What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? I have 3 kinds of pickles: hot pickles with red chilis bought from the farmer's market, pickled beets, and bread and butter pickles with onions, both purchased from a farm stand.
What color is your favorite Bible? I don't know.
Ever been on your roof? No.
Do you own a stereo? No.
How many TVs do you have? Two - one in the living room and one in the master bedroom.
How many house phones? One - in the kitchen.
Do you have a housekeeper? No.
What style do you decorate in? I'm not sure I have one.
Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Alec is much more sensitive to patterns than I am.
Is there a smoke detector in your home? There are 3: one by the boiler, one in the foyer, and one at the top of the stairs on the second floor.
What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Lemon verbena. It's a glycerin soap from a London hotel. I love glycerin soaps, but they usually only make it through 3 showers.
Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No.
What would you change about your living room? It's quite cluttered, particularly the bookcases. I keep meaning to straighten them. Most of my housework involves triage - dealing with the remains of a cracker box that was shaken over the leather chair, sweeping rice and oatmeal out of the carpet, and cleaning up cat vomit with baby wipes. The life of a stay-at-home mom has its truly glamorous moments...
Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? They are clean. I loaded the dinner dishes and ran them last night. When the dishes are clean, the latch must be locked. The breakfast dishes are piled into the sink at the moment.
White or wheat bread? The current loaf is Tuscan, which I guess is white bread made with olive oil. I buy loaves of bread from the bakery, trying to avoid ones that contain high fructose corn syrup. The downside of bakery bread is that it only lasts 2-3 days. Alec has been encouraging me to bake my own - maybe after the semester is over.
What is in your fridge? There are a lot of things in my fridge. A bevy of condiments. A selection of milks: soy, 1% and whole. A cheddar cheese wheel. Two red cabbages. A bag of lettuce. Red grapes. Chicken drumsticks defrosting for dinner. Bacon. Butter. Bleu cheese. Brussel sprouts. Asparagus. Red and green bell peppers. A Pyrex container of leftover dinner from last night : Cumin-scented rice with shrimp and peas. A Pyrex container of leftover dinner from the night before that was rice with red beans, and was transformed into an Asian-influenced lunch with scrambled eggs, soy sauce, and peas. Pyrex containers of homemade applesauce, pasta sauce, and cranberry relish. Pickles: hot, beet, and bread and butter.
What is on top of your refrigerator? My crock pot and rice cooker. A huge pan - must be a 22" skillet. The egg container that came with our fridge that I've never used. Who takes the eggs out of the carton anyway?
Can you describe your flashlight? I have more than one - we lose power a lot, so I have them at hand on my desk, on the bookshelf in my bedroom, and in the upstairs medicine cabinet. In the summer when there are a lot of storms, I usually keep them on the top and bottom banisters of the stairs. They are all of the mini or micro Maglite variety, except for the one in my car which is a regular Maglite. The one on my desk is a blue mini-Maglite that has its anti-roll black rubber cap on.
What color or design is on your shower curtain? My shower curtain has blue stripes. It must be drawn (closed) when the shower is not in use so that it may dry.
How many plants are in your home? There are no houseplants. I have a black thumb. I have an Aerogarden (hydroponic garden) that's growing 3 tomato plants.
Is your bed made right now? Yes. It's rarely left unmade. I've taught Lauren to make her bed by pulling the comforter up and arranging her stuffies. Lindsay's crib is made by hanging her two knit blankets - one yellow, knit by Tutu's friend Clova, and the other knit by Michelle - on the railing of her crib. She helps by handing them to you when she wakes up. You can also tell if she's been up a while because she'll toss them on the floor.
Comet or Soft Scrub? Comet. Lemon-scented. I clean my kitchen sink after lunch every day with it, which is when I empty the dishwasher and load the dirty dishes from breakfast and lunch in it. Geez, as I describe these things I'm starting to sound sort of obsessive compulsive. I clean my bathrooms with Method products - bathroom and shower cleaners. I spritz the sinks down and wipe with a wash cloth every day, and spritz into the toilet and go once around with the scrub brush. It takes like 30 seconds, and though it doesn't leave the bathrooms (I have 2 - a full one on the second floor and a powder room on the first floor) spotless, but it makes them smell nice.
Is your closet organized? My closet is impossible to get into at the moment because the master bedroom is being worked on. So, yes, my clothes and shoes are organized, but there's a rocking chair in there, and most of Alec's tools.
Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? I drink from both. I guess more often from a ceramic mug (tea or coffee) than a plastic tumbler. I had mostly glass until kids and then I bought a bunch of plastic tumblers after Lindsay became old enough to reach for them. Once my kids are a bit older, I will either sell them at a garage sale or recycle them and buy some regular glasses.
Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? Actually, I have 2 pitchers of herbal iced tea made. I drink a lot of tea. I don't necessarily drink my 4-16 ounce glasses of water per day, but I try to make sure I'm hydrated. I also have a Brita, but since it's now in the pantry instead of the fridge, I have been drinking less water.
If you have a garage, is it cluttered? I do, and it is. My garage is a double garage with 4 doors, only one of them works. This means my car can't go in it. When you're not in the thinking that there has to be room for a car, it just sort of gets cluttered with stuff. Currently, all of my outdoor furniture is in it.
Curtains or blinds? Curtains. I made the ones in the girls' rooms. The ones in the downstairs were made, but not by me. We just bought some for our bedroom. They aren't up yet because our walls are wet.
How many pillows do you sleep with? I have a pillow and there's a body pillow under it spanning the length of the bed. When Alec is traveling, I sleep with 4 pillows.
Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No, but when Alec is home, he usually has the television on when he goes to sleep.
How often do you vacuum? About once a day.
Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.
What color is your toothbrush? White with green and blue stripes.
Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? I have a mat. It's green. It doesn't actually say "Welcome" though.
What is in your oven right now? My oven is off. It gets turned on around 5 PM, and off when Alec gets home around 8 PM.
Is there anything under your bed? Probably a cat. They've made a hole in the material at the bottom of the box spring so they can climb up in it when they get scared.
Chore you hate doing the most? Cleaning the cat box. Emptying the diaper bin. If I could just get into the habit of doing them every couple of days rather than once a week or two, I'd probably make it easier on myself.
What retro items are in your home? My home was built in 1916. It's retro itself.
Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? No. My desk is in my living room. Eventually, when we redo the sun porch it will be out there, but that room will either double as a guest bedroom or a playroom or both.
How many mirrors are in your home? Six. At least 2 of them are in a stack though because they were on the wall of the bedroom.
Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? Yes, but I'm not telling you where.
What color are your walls? In this room, they are buttercup.
Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? I don't. Yet.
What does your home smell like right now? I've been in it too long. I suppose it smells vaguely like coffee.
Favorite candle scent? I hate scented candles. The one in my kitchen right now is mint, which isn't too offensive.
What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? I have 3 kinds of pickles: hot pickles with red chilis bought from the farmer's market, pickled beets, and bread and butter pickles with onions, both purchased from a farm stand.
What color is your favorite Bible? I don't know.
Ever been on your roof? No.
Do you own a stereo? No.
How many TVs do you have? Two - one in the living room and one in the master bedroom.
How many house phones? One - in the kitchen.
Do you have a housekeeper? No.
What style do you decorate in? I'm not sure I have one.
Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Alec is much more sensitive to patterns than I am.
Is there a smoke detector in your home? There are 3: one by the boiler, one in the foyer, and one at the top of the stairs on the second floor.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Another bonus video
Lindsay after lunch
So you can see for yourselves why I rarely understand - there are real words in there, peppered with made up ones, right? I think she actually said, "Apple shoes get down."
Snot right
You know it's cold season when you begin surreptitiously lining your pockets with tissues. As a mom, it also involves toting other people's expectorate on tissues in your pocket. If you're a mom of more than one child, it also involves dedicating pockets so that you're not wiping the face of one child with the tissue smeared with the other's mucus excretions. See, this is why I'm done having kids. I have no idea what you do with the third child's tissues. Maybe like so many things that were integral when eldest child was a wee babe, they fall to the wayside and you stop caring whose snot it is.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Please report this meme stolen
I'm stealing Dad's meme. This is part 6 of his never-ending meme.
51. When did you go to your first funeral?
My grandfather, my mother's father, died of lung cancer when I was 15. He declined rapidly, and passed within a few weeks of the diagnosis. He was 62.
52. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?
I went to college in Boston, and came home for about a week the summer after my freshman year. Alec drove down in his mom's Pontiac Firebird at 10 PM to move me out of my mom's house. It was the night the series finale of Cheers aired. To this day, Alec still laments that he saw every single episode of that show except the finale.
53. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs Allen. She must've been a pretty awful teacher because I had the impression that she hated me.
54. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
When I was 10, we went to Florida to visit my aunt Kelly's husband's grandparents.
55. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
I recall sneaking out of my mother's house, but I think it was to hang with my group of friends, not with a particular boy.
56. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them?
My first best friend's name was Jane. We were friends from the time I was in 3rd grade until she moved away my sophomore year of high school. Although we kept in touch, I didn't see her after that until her high school graduation. She and I got into an argument about my then-boyfriend, now husband. Although I invited her to our wedding, she didn't respond. We had one last awkward conversation about a year after I got married, when I was living in Green Bay, she was going to college in Minneapolis.
57. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents’ house?
I moved into Alec's apartment in Boston. We lived there for 3 years until we got married and moved to Green Bay.
58. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
I usually call either my husband, my dad, or my brother Ben.
59. Whose wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen?
The only wedding I was in was when my friends Mandie and Rob got married. I was supposed to be in my brother Ben's wedding, but Lindsay had other plans.
60. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I brush my teeth.
61. What was the first concert you attended?
I went to see Sting with my friend Kristin at the Hartford Civic Center.
62. First tattoo or piercing?
I had my ears pierced when I was five. I don't have any tattoos.
63. First celebrity crush?
Paul McCartney when I was 11.
51. When did you go to your first funeral?
My grandfather, my mother's father, died of lung cancer when I was 15. He declined rapidly, and passed within a few weeks of the diagnosis. He was 62.
52. How old were you when you first moved away from your hometown?
I went to college in Boston, and came home for about a week the summer after my freshman year. Alec drove down in his mom's Pontiac Firebird at 10 PM to move me out of my mom's house. It was the night the series finale of Cheers aired. To this day, Alec still laments that he saw every single episode of that show except the finale.
53. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs Allen. She must've been a pretty awful teacher because I had the impression that she hated me.
54. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
When I was 10, we went to Florida to visit my aunt Kelly's husband's grandparents.
55. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
I recall sneaking out of my mother's house, but I think it was to hang with my group of friends, not with a particular boy.
56. Who was your first best friend and are you still friends with them?
My first best friend's name was Jane. We were friends from the time I was in 3rd grade until she moved away my sophomore year of high school. Although we kept in touch, I didn't see her after that until her high school graduation. She and I got into an argument about my then-boyfriend, now husband. Although I invited her to our wedding, she didn't respond. We had one last awkward conversation about a year after I got married, when I was living in Green Bay, she was going to college in Minneapolis.
57. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents’ house?
I moved into Alec's apartment in Boston. We lived there for 3 years until we got married and moved to Green Bay.
58. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
I usually call either my husband, my dad, or my brother Ben.
59. Whose wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen?
The only wedding I was in was when my friends Mandie and Rob got married. I was supposed to be in my brother Ben's wedding, but Lindsay had other plans.
60. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I brush my teeth.
61. What was the first concert you attended?
I went to see Sting with my friend Kristin at the Hartford Civic Center.
62. First tattoo or piercing?
I had my ears pierced when I was five. I don't have any tattoos.
63. First celebrity crush?
Paul McCartney when I was 11.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Christmas picture
For those of you who read me over at Worst Mama, you've already seen this picture. Here's the Christmas Picture with The Mall Santa. I have no idea why it has the wacky border. Lauren was excited about seeing Santa and apprised him of what she wants - a single item. He smiled and told her to be a good girl, and she nodded obediently.Many of the other kids, particularly ones who don't celebrate Christmas have informed the ones that do that there's no such thing as Santa. Having been told this at 6 by a little Jewish girl in my 1st grade class, I'd decided the best policy when confronted was to tell the truth. In April, she said, "I don't understand why you pretend that it's Santa on Christmas at GG's house when it's really Grandpa Paul," to which I replied, "Sometimes it's fun to pretend." I thought this was a damn good answer. I heard Lauren ask Alec over the weekend, carefully explaining how Aleksa, a classmate, had told her that there was no such thing as Santa. I thought Alec's answer was pretty good about the spirit of the season is one of giving, and that one person couldn't be everywhere, so in this spirit she actually had lots of Santas: her parents, her grandparents, her aunts and uncles. And yet, after this conversation, it was she who suggested that we go to the mall to visit Santa and give him her list. I have to admit this was something of a disconnect for me, but maybe it just goes back to my original answer that sometimes it's fun to pretend.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thankgiving weekend
Lauren in her Native American costume for the Thanksgiving sing-along
Alec and Lindsay on the carousel
Lauren, Lindsay, and Epiphany riding the Christmas trainSaturday, November 24, 2007
Color me embarrassed
I admit it, I am easily annoyed. But I usually get over it pretty quickly. I'm not one to demand to speak with a manager or write a nasty gram to a chain. I had a horrible experience over at the local grocery on Friday evening, largely due to the reasons I don't shop there: the staff isn't helpful, they carry very few items of the brand I usually buy, the store has an odor and isn't very clean, and they lock the grocery carts. If you've ever tried to shop with 2 kids under the age of 6, this just is untenable, particularly since one of them isn't old enough to be put down and not run into traffic. I tried to find one of those "kid friendly carts" that has two seats on the back but of the dozen or so they had, not a single one had a working seat belt. So I had to get the kids into one of those coin-locked carts, trying to juggle Lindsay in one arm and search my purse for a quarter in the other. It wasn't pretty. And it happened that this random woman showed up with a bicycle with training wheels and asked if it was mine. When I said no, she asked me if I would bring it into the store. At this moment, I had Lindsay balanced on the top of the handlebars of the cart and was jamming my quarter in. "No," I replied as politely as I could manage, "I have my hands full." She wanted to continue to discuss options of what to do with the bicycle but I'd become sullen and rude and just shrugged at her.
So directly in front of me, she wheeled in the bike and about 10 employees were discussing it with her. The staff had been in the middle of stocking the store, so dollies were left leaving aisles blocked, making navigating the store for the few items I needed almost impossible. When I went to check out, there were only 2 cashiers working despite long lines, and the one who waited on me was chatting with a bedraggled man sitting on the bench I'd hope to situate Lauren while I packed my bags.
I was livid when I left. This is why I never shop at this store. But it wasn't until Monday that I found that the chain's website had a contact us form. I wrote a long rant about why I usually shop at another store even though this one is in walking distance of my home. I wrote about the odor. I wrote about the carts. I wrote about the cashier. One of the things I wrote is that I thought that store was the worst store I'd ever been into in that chain and corporate really ought to take an interest in improving that because it was "gravely disappointing".
When we went shopping yesterday at the other store in the chain that I usually frequent, it passed through my mind that I hadn't even received a canned message from the chain that they were processing my complaint. I shrugged it off.
Later in the day, Alec retrieved the mail. There was a long letter of apology from the general manager of the store, addressing each of my points: he had no idea why there were dollies blocking the aisles and two cashiers on because 5 PM on Friday was one of their busiest times. He planned to speak with the company that cleans their floors about the odor. The borough demands that the carts be locked up if they're kept outside, and he makes sure that there are at least a couple carts during operating hours that aren't locked, but perhaps they were all in use. He sent along a gift card for $25, along with his phone number, and asked if I'd call him or at least try his store again.
As I read the note, I felt really bad. He'd probably gotten a phone call the day before Thankgiving from his boss demanding to know what this was about. Remembering working in restaurants, and I worked for men rather than chains, any letter like this would've merited a staff meeting where we were all made to feel terrible. But it was the gift card that bothered me the most because I'd donated $20 towards a gift card at the chain during the food drive to supplement the nonperishables that were included in the baskets for those less fortunate in our district. I wondered if any of those families were cashiers or stockpeople at that store.
So directly in front of me, she wheeled in the bike and about 10 employees were discussing it with her. The staff had been in the middle of stocking the store, so dollies were left leaving aisles blocked, making navigating the store for the few items I needed almost impossible. When I went to check out, there were only 2 cashiers working despite long lines, and the one who waited on me was chatting with a bedraggled man sitting on the bench I'd hope to situate Lauren while I packed my bags.
I was livid when I left. This is why I never shop at this store. But it wasn't until Monday that I found that the chain's website had a contact us form. I wrote a long rant about why I usually shop at another store even though this one is in walking distance of my home. I wrote about the odor. I wrote about the carts. I wrote about the cashier. One of the things I wrote is that I thought that store was the worst store I'd ever been into in that chain and corporate really ought to take an interest in improving that because it was "gravely disappointing".
When we went shopping yesterday at the other store in the chain that I usually frequent, it passed through my mind that I hadn't even received a canned message from the chain that they were processing my complaint. I shrugged it off.
Later in the day, Alec retrieved the mail. There was a long letter of apology from the general manager of the store, addressing each of my points: he had no idea why there were dollies blocking the aisles and two cashiers on because 5 PM on Friday was one of their busiest times. He planned to speak with the company that cleans their floors about the odor. The borough demands that the carts be locked up if they're kept outside, and he makes sure that there are at least a couple carts during operating hours that aren't locked, but perhaps they were all in use. He sent along a gift card for $25, along with his phone number, and asked if I'd call him or at least try his store again.
As I read the note, I felt really bad. He'd probably gotten a phone call the day before Thankgiving from his boss demanding to know what this was about. Remembering working in restaurants, and I worked for men rather than chains, any letter like this would've merited a staff meeting where we were all made to feel terrible. But it was the gift card that bothered me the most because I'd donated $20 towards a gift card at the chain during the food drive to supplement the nonperishables that were included in the baskets for those less fortunate in our district. I wondered if any of those families were cashiers or stockpeople at that store.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Making our own traditions
We had prepared the "pumpkin" (it was actually butternut squash) pie from scratch on Wednesday along with the cornbread, and started brining the turkey. The turkey and roasted spiced sweet potato recipes were the one we'd used last year, but the sage and chestnut stuffing, brussel sprouts sauteed with pancetta, pear, walnut and bleu cheese salad were all new recipes.
We wore jeans yesterday. The television blared the Macy's parade and then football. I was relieved to be able to do laundry, including stripping the beds and washing the sheets. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but there was always so much pressure growing up to uphold this imposed formality that was void of normalcy, that something as simple as folding sheets was grounding. It felt good to be barefoot.
Being home this weekend means we can put up our Christmas tree, which feels so much less pressured than it always did trying to squeeze into a weekend in December when we're being pulled in so many directions.
We wore jeans yesterday. The television blared the Macy's parade and then football. I was relieved to be able to do laundry, including stripping the beds and washing the sheets. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but there was always so much pressure growing up to uphold this imposed formality that was void of normalcy, that something as simple as folding sheets was grounding. It felt good to be barefoot.
Being home this weekend means we can put up our Christmas tree, which feels so much less pressured than it always did trying to squeeze into a weekend in December when we're being pulled in so many directions.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Giving thanks
I'm thankful that my children are fortunate enough to know 5 of their great grandparents.
I'm thankful for the wisdom and guidance from our parents, even if sometimes they behave like crazy people. Sometimes we behave like crazy people also.
I'm thankful for the strength of my brothers, and for my sister-in-law Maria, the love of my brother Ben's life.
I'm thankful that my sister is still with us.
I'm thankful for the love, perspective, and support of my husband who is still the smartest person I know.
I'm thankful for my daughters who keep me grounded in the present, bring love and laughter to my life, and remind me that every day is a blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I'm thankful for the wisdom and guidance from our parents, even if sometimes they behave like crazy people. Sometimes we behave like crazy people also.
I'm thankful for the strength of my brothers, and for my sister-in-law Maria, the love of my brother Ben's life.
I'm thankful that my sister is still with us.
I'm thankful for the love, perspective, and support of my husband who is still the smartest person I know.
I'm thankful for my daughters who keep me grounded in the present, bring love and laughter to my life, and remind me that every day is a blessing.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Damn copiers
About once a month, I fulfill my volunteer duties in penning and photocopy a memo announcing the next PTO meeting. The experience of trying to use the machines in the teachers' workroom is pretty bizarre. There are 3 machines and they are always broken. I try to get there early and make my copies as quickly as possible, so that I don't have to interact with the oft surly paraprofessionals who work at my daughter's school.
Today, when I arrived, I chose the machine that had a handwritten note posted on it indicating "Latch B2 sticks". There was also a note that said, "No white paper". The machines were filled with purple copy paper, well, except for the one that had goldenrod paper on top of it and had its "Fill Paper in Tray" light flashing.
I needed to make 420 copies, so as expected, latch B2 got stuck about every 25 copies, which meant I had to take the misfed papers out, and rehook latch B2, except for after I'd run 325 copies, there were jams in 6 different parts of the machine and I had to take the fuser out. About 5 people came in, struggled with the other copier and left. Each one exclaimed, "Damn copiers." I don't know if there's a copier elsewhere in the building, or they just decided whatever it was didn't require distribution. At one point, I ran out of paper and realized I had to go back to the main office to sign out a new ream of purple paper. Yes, I wrote sign out.
The "new" secretary stood in front of the teacher's mailboxes which are organized in weird reverse-alpha system by grade saying, "I just don't understand what to do," over and again, until she slid the stack into an unmarked box and scurried out. Meanwhile, the nurse was freaking out that people might leave their food in the refrigerator during the break, and asked the principal to make an announcement that everyone needed to clear their food by the end of the day. Three minutes later, the nurse was purging the contents of the fridge and spraying Lysol frantically.
Today, when I arrived, I chose the machine that had a handwritten note posted on it indicating "Latch B2 sticks". There was also a note that said, "No white paper". The machines were filled with purple copy paper, well, except for the one that had goldenrod paper on top of it and had its "Fill Paper in Tray" light flashing.
I needed to make 420 copies, so as expected, latch B2 got stuck about every 25 copies, which meant I had to take the misfed papers out, and rehook latch B2, except for after I'd run 325 copies, there were jams in 6 different parts of the machine and I had to take the fuser out. About 5 people came in, struggled with the other copier and left. Each one exclaimed, "Damn copiers." I don't know if there's a copier elsewhere in the building, or they just decided whatever it was didn't require distribution. At one point, I ran out of paper and realized I had to go back to the main office to sign out a new ream of purple paper. Yes, I wrote sign out.
The "new" secretary stood in front of the teacher's mailboxes which are organized in weird reverse-alpha system by grade saying, "I just don't understand what to do," over and again, until she slid the stack into an unmarked box and scurried out. Meanwhile, the nurse was freaking out that people might leave their food in the refrigerator during the break, and asked the principal to make an announcement that everyone needed to clear their food by the end of the day. Three minutes later, the nurse was purging the contents of the fridge and spraying Lysol frantically.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
A bonus video
Lindsay demonstrates that the strength in marketing of children's toys. Sorry this one is a bit dark.
Lindsay at 18 months
Lindsay,
We moved you out of your high chair and into a booster at the table last week. You seem to enjoy eating with the family, and simultaneously decided it was no longer acceptable to use plastic toddler utensils, and insist on using a regular teaspoon and salad fork like your sister does.
Tomorrow marks your half birthday, and you will be 18 months old. I forget sometimes you're not bigger than that because you're so independent. You insist on walking from the house to the car, and remind me when I put you in your car seat "Seatbelt on!" You've warmed up to the idea of playing at the gym daycare during the week and call it, "Play with the kids" as you say,"Go now. Play with the kids." I'm surprised at your affinity for new words - it's between 3-5 per day now, and for Daddy, who travels every week, it's an even bigger shock.
You're still very tough on your big sister, and often pull her hair or give her a smack upside the head when you're playing together. More often, she plays and you play along side her - taking care of a doll, or in the play kitchen.
I love you,
-Mama
I captured this picture of you today at breakfast so that someday when you're big you can see what a serious little person you were. You're eating oatmeal with walnuts, honey, and bananas, and carefully using the spoon to retrieve the oatmeal and picking out the slices of banana with your fingers.
Lindsay, November 2007
Lindsay, November 2007We moved you out of your high chair and into a booster at the table last week. You seem to enjoy eating with the family, and simultaneously decided it was no longer acceptable to use plastic toddler utensils, and insist on using a regular teaspoon and salad fork like your sister does.
Tomorrow marks your half birthday, and you will be 18 months old. I forget sometimes you're not bigger than that because you're so independent. You insist on walking from the house to the car, and remind me when I put you in your car seat "Seatbelt on!" You've warmed up to the idea of playing at the gym daycare during the week and call it, "Play with the kids" as you say,"Go now. Play with the kids." I'm surprised at your affinity for new words - it's between 3-5 per day now, and for Daddy, who travels every week, it's an even bigger shock.
You're still very tough on your big sister, and often pull her hair or give her a smack upside the head when you're playing together. More often, she plays and you play along side her - taking care of a doll, or in the play kitchen.
I love you,
-Mama
Monday, November 19, 2007
Texting and other modern conveniences
I've been receiving a lot of text messages lately. Some of them from people I don't know. One of them claiming to be my favorite student and asking me if I was at the musical. "Sorry wrong number," I wrote back to receive a last message: "Oh my b."
Last night I received one that said: "We're at CBs and nine drag queens are here."
Not recognizing the number, and stumbling over where CBs (Manhattan, maybe?) might be, or whether it might be expected that there would be transvestites (9 of them), I wrote back, "Yay. I love a parade." because I couldn't think of what else to say. Maybe they were expecting this? Maybe they were inviting me to come see it, ala Lucky Chengs? "Where are the rest of them?" was a close second option for a response. "We just had to leave," the text-er wrote back. "Are they pretty?" I asked. "Have you seen Some Like It Hot?" was the question in response.
After a few messages, I pieced together that it was Nick messaging, whose number isn't in my cell, and that he and Jessie were at the local steakhouse - a Charlie Brown's - when the party of pretty men arrived.
Last night I received one that said: "We're at CBs and nine drag queens are here."
Not recognizing the number, and stumbling over where CBs (Manhattan, maybe?) might be, or whether it might be expected that there would be transvestites (9 of them), I wrote back, "Yay. I love a parade." because I couldn't think of what else to say. Maybe they were expecting this? Maybe they were inviting me to come see it, ala Lucky Chengs? "Where are the rest of them?" was a close second option for a response. "We just had to leave," the text-er wrote back. "Are they pretty?" I asked. "Have you seen Some Like It Hot?" was the question in response.
After a few messages, I pieced together that it was Nick messaging, whose number isn't in my cell, and that he and Jessie were at the local steakhouse - a Charlie Brown's - when the party of pretty men arrived.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Hooray for thieves
I stole this meme from Dad. It's part something of the meme that won't die.
41. Have you ever gambled at a casino? Yes. After working 2-22 hour days in Vegas on an investigator meeting, I went to Mandalay Bay with my work friends. We played quarter slots. My favorite game was Cow Stampede.
42. Have you thrown up on a plane? Yes. I drank entirely too much wine and used the "Courtesy Bag" as a First Class neophyte.
43. Have you thrown up in a car? Yes, it was my dad's Lincoln Mark VII. Since he got me drunk, he felt too bad to yell at me about it.
44. Have you thrown up at work? Not that I can recall.
45. Do you scream on roller coasters? Yes, it's part of the fun, isn't it?
46. How many shoes do you have? About a dozen or so. About 6 pairs of uncomfortable black dress shoes, 2 pairs of athletic shoes, a pair of Converse All Stars with flames on the side, and a pair of flats.
47. Who was your first roommate? Her name was Marcie, and she didn't like my boyfriend because he slept in my bed once or my dad because he smoked in our room once.
48. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk for the first time? I believe it was a bottle of white wine. I was drunk at the time.
49. What was your first job? I babysat from the time I was 11, which boggles me because I would so not hire an 11-year-old to watch my kids. Otherwise, I worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home.
50. What was your first car? It was a 1984 Dodge 400 convertible that belonged to my Auntie Di. It was white with a red vinyl interior. It was sweet.
Alright maybe I will actually have something to say tomorrow. Ciao for now!
41. Have you ever gambled at a casino? Yes. After working 2-22 hour days in Vegas on an investigator meeting, I went to Mandalay Bay with my work friends. We played quarter slots. My favorite game was Cow Stampede.
42. Have you thrown up on a plane? Yes. I drank entirely too much wine and used the "Courtesy Bag" as a First Class neophyte.
43. Have you thrown up in a car? Yes, it was my dad's Lincoln Mark VII. Since he got me drunk, he felt too bad to yell at me about it.
44. Have you thrown up at work? Not that I can recall.
45. Do you scream on roller coasters? Yes, it's part of the fun, isn't it?
46. How many shoes do you have? About a dozen or so. About 6 pairs of uncomfortable black dress shoes, 2 pairs of athletic shoes, a pair of Converse All Stars with flames on the side, and a pair of flats.
47. Who was your first roommate? Her name was Marcie, and she didn't like my boyfriend because he slept in my bed once or my dad because he smoked in our room once.
48. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk for the first time? I believe it was a bottle of white wine. I was drunk at the time.
49. What was your first job? I babysat from the time I was 11, which boggles me because I would so not hire an 11-year-old to watch my kids. Otherwise, I worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home.
50. What was your first car? It was a 1984 Dodge 400 convertible that belonged to my Auntie Di. It was white with a red vinyl interior. It was sweet.
Alright maybe I will actually have something to say tomorrow. Ciao for now!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Exciting things today
- A B+ on exam #2
- Jessie and Nick's yummy dinner and hanging out
- Buying our Thanksgiving turkey
Friday, November 16, 2007
Why not a meme?
Here's a meme as tagged by Frauke at Worm Race a very long time ago:
- Where is your cell phone? In my bra. Hey, you asked.
- Relationship? All good.
- Your hair? Is growing out.
- Work? Finally done. Paper is stapled neatly on my desk.
- Your sister? Should call me.
- Your favorite things? Are tucked away in drawers right now.
- Your dream last night? I've since forgotten.
- Your favorite drink? That first cup of coffee.
- Your dream car? A black sedan, probably a Mercedes Benz.
- The room you're in? My living room.
- Your shoes? New Balance Cross Trainers.
- Your fears? Are running wild.
- What do you want to be in 10 years? At work at a job I love and involved in the lives of my 2 teen-aged daughters.
- Who will you hang out with this weekend? I'm going to hang out with Nick, Jessie and Jack on Saturday evening, and we'll see Kim and her daughters on Sunday for Katie's birthday.
- What are you not good at? Waiting.
- Muffins? Excuse me? Muffins? No, thank you.
- Wish-list item? A family membership to the Bronx Zoo.
- Where you grew up? West Hartford.
- The last thing you did? Poured myself a glass of water.
- What are you wearing? Black yoga pants, a long sleeved pink t-shirt, socks and sneakers.
- What are you not wearing? My heart-rate monitor, though I was earlier.
- Your pet? I have 2 black cats.
- Your computer? Is a Dell Inspiron E1405, the same age as my 18 month old daughter.
- Your life? Is generally pretty good.
- Your mood? Is not great right now, it's been a frustrating day.
- Missing? Lauren's book in a bag.
- What are you thinking about? What I need to buy at the supermarket when Lindsay wakes up from her nap.
- Your car? Is all gassed up.
- Your kitchen? Is all cleaned up.
- Your summer? Is long gone.
- Your favorite color? Green.
- Last time you laughed? Lindsay trying to burp a plastic doll she called Baby by hitting it on its head.
- Last time you cried? I can't remember.
- School? Tomorrow morning at 9 AM.
- Love? That man who is coming home tonight. Woo hoo!
- Tag? No one. No tagging.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Comprending concepts
The language development in the past two weeks for Lindsay has been really remarkable. The process of learning to communicate I found fascinating with both girls. Lauren was (and still is) a collector of words. She had probably a hundred or so words when she began pairing them. Lindsay's focus is phrases. Technically, her first word was three words strung together, "Here you go" she would say, handing over her blankets in the morning. If you read Worst Mama, you heard that I made her angry enough in the car that she used her first formal sentence, which was, "I want my drinky, Mama!" I noted today that when I hand her something - a drink, a banana, a cracker - she says, "Cue cue" for Thank you.
Lauren is in the phase right now where I am constantly having to spell words for her. Each week, they formally learn a word - to read, spell, and write it. She sings songs about these words. She came home with a miniature composition book and began drawing pictures of various objects outside (a tree, a bag of leaves, a scarecrow) and attempting to write the word underneath. She wrote "lef bag" and "skercro", and I wrote the words underneath them as neatly as I could manage.
Lauren is in the phase right now where I am constantly having to spell words for her. Each week, they formally learn a word - to read, spell, and write it. She sings songs about these words. She came home with a miniature composition book and began drawing pictures of various objects outside (a tree, a bag of leaves, a scarecrow) and attempting to write the word underneath. She wrote "lef bag" and "skercro", and I wrote the words underneath them as neatly as I could manage.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
And suddenly I'm an awkward 10-year-old again
As much as a relief as it was to get the story out about antiperspirant, I have to admit my inner 10-year-old is about to run and hide in her closet over the timing. I read a great food blog called The Cleaner Plate Club that Karen turned me on to a while back. The blog author called for brussel sprout recipes, and I took the opportunity to delurk and post about how yummy mine turned out that I'd roasted along with root vegetables under a chicken. She posted the first 10 recipes, and mine was among them. She prefaced my comment with:
I heart you right back, linky-love right back attcha. My kids loved your tilapia recipe and braised carrots. Also, the goat cheese and leek tart was divine. I fell in love with Mark Bittman right along with you and bought 2 of his books.
But seriously, I was blogging about my armpits. Ye Gods.
Heather, who, by the way, would like your help in deciding if she’s allergic to her own sweat, delurked to say:Oh. My. Socks.
I heart you right back, linky-love right back attcha. My kids loved your tilapia recipe and braised carrots. Also, the goat cheese and leek tart was divine. I fell in love with Mark Bittman right along with you and bought 2 of his books.
But seriously, I was blogging about my armpits. Ye Gods.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Things you don't want to know about me
It's sort of cleansing to post things on the Internet that you wouldn't share with your husband and but a few close girlfriends.
I started thinking about the food we eat rather late. Years ago when we first moved to New York, on our weekly shopping trips to The Fairway, Sybil was buying natural meat products and organic produce, bringing them home in her own canvas bags. Admittedly, Sybil has always been much more reflective, conscientious, and well-read than I could ever be. Presumably when I was all excited about the library and reusable bags back in April, she might have chortled, but knowing Sybil she probably said something encouraging.
I started buying organic dairy products when Lauren began consuming them. It wasn't until Chris asked if I only bought natural and organic products that I realized most of the store-brands I was buying from Peapod were. When I began making trips to the grocery store again after that, I noticed I bought mostly the store's organic or natural brand, and a good amount of produce also was organic. I'd say this has had the effect of making our weekly grocery bill a bit more costly (a can of conventionally grown chickpeas is 65 cents and its organically grown same-size counter part is $1.19). Buying meat in a regular grocery is challenging. In my store there are only 3 shelves about 36 inches by 24 inches from which to select. A lot of weeks, I have to revise my weekly menu once I get there because there aren't any pork chops today, or yesterday they marked down chicken drumsticks to half off and they sold out. We were enjoying salmon weekly for a long while, but since the store is only carrying farm raised salmon, we've opted for tilapia, which is a tasty fish also, but not the same.
About a month ago, I switched to Tom's of Maine products for toothpaste and deodorant. I was pleasantly surprised that the toothpaste no longer tastes like baking soda. The deodorant was lavender-scented, and while it took me a couple of weeks to get used to not wearing antiperspirant - since I hadn't actually experienced underarm wetness since I started wearing it when I was twelve - I didn't seem to be offending anyone with my odor. After that time, I noticed I had a little irritated patch under my left arm. It was a little red and itchy. When I switched back to my conventional brand for a couple of days, it would fade. It seems I can use the product for another 2 weeks after that, and then I get an angry little patch.
"Maybe I'm allergic to lavender?" I suggested to my husband. Having gone through my "back up" deodorant/antiperspirant, I decided to forgo underarm product for a few days and see if it cleared up on its own.
This morning I woke up with patches under both arms. So I ask you, Internets, am I allergic to my own sweat? Yesterday was the first day of this experiment that I went to the gym. I'm not pretty at the gym. I generally sweat from every pore in my body and leave looking as though I swam in one of the pools.
Well, I did warn you that you probably didn't want to know.
I started thinking about the food we eat rather late. Years ago when we first moved to New York, on our weekly shopping trips to The Fairway, Sybil was buying natural meat products and organic produce, bringing them home in her own canvas bags. Admittedly, Sybil has always been much more reflective, conscientious, and well-read than I could ever be. Presumably when I was all excited about the library and reusable bags back in April, she might have chortled, but knowing Sybil she probably said something encouraging.
I started buying organic dairy products when Lauren began consuming them. It wasn't until Chris asked if I only bought natural and organic products that I realized most of the store-brands I was buying from Peapod were. When I began making trips to the grocery store again after that, I noticed I bought mostly the store's organic or natural brand, and a good amount of produce also was organic. I'd say this has had the effect of making our weekly grocery bill a bit more costly (a can of conventionally grown chickpeas is 65 cents and its organically grown same-size counter part is $1.19). Buying meat in a regular grocery is challenging. In my store there are only 3 shelves about 36 inches by 24 inches from which to select. A lot of weeks, I have to revise my weekly menu once I get there because there aren't any pork chops today, or yesterday they marked down chicken drumsticks to half off and they sold out. We were enjoying salmon weekly for a long while, but since the store is only carrying farm raised salmon, we've opted for tilapia, which is a tasty fish also, but not the same.
About a month ago, I switched to Tom's of Maine products for toothpaste and deodorant. I was pleasantly surprised that the toothpaste no longer tastes like baking soda. The deodorant was lavender-scented, and while it took me a couple of weeks to get used to not wearing antiperspirant - since I hadn't actually experienced underarm wetness since I started wearing it when I was twelve - I didn't seem to be offending anyone with my odor. After that time, I noticed I had a little irritated patch under my left arm. It was a little red and itchy. When I switched back to my conventional brand for a couple of days, it would fade. It seems I can use the product for another 2 weeks after that, and then I get an angry little patch.
"Maybe I'm allergic to lavender?" I suggested to my husband. Having gone through my "back up" deodorant/antiperspirant, I decided to forgo underarm product for a few days and see if it cleared up on its own.
This morning I woke up with patches under both arms. So I ask you, Internets, am I allergic to my own sweat? Yesterday was the first day of this experiment that I went to the gym. I'm not pretty at the gym. I generally sweat from every pore in my body and leave looking as though I swam in one of the pools.
Well, I did warn you that you probably didn't want to know.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Say cheese
About to snap a picture of the girls, I said, "Say cheese!"
Lindsay looked around, interested. "Cheese!"
"Look over here, Lindsay!"
"Cheese...and crackers?!"
Lindsay looked around, interested. "Cheese!"
"Look over here, Lindsay!"
"Cheese...and crackers?!"
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Doctor copay
Lindsay's been running a low fever since Thursday. I'm pretty cool in terms of not running my daughters into see the pediatrician for every little sniffle, but as we woke on day 4 of warmish, pale Lindsay, even though her only other symptom was a runny nose, I called the answering service.
I had to miss Lauren's last soccer game in order to make the 1:40 PM appointment. There were only 3 other kids there, and one doctor - the senior physician in the practice. He looked in her ears and throat and listened to her breathe for a few minutes. "She has some throat irritation due to post-nasal drip," he said, "but otherwise, she looks fine. She should feel better in a couple of days."
So I feel silly for having missed a game and spent $30. Not to mention whatever I exposed her to by hanging out in the doctor's office for a half hour while we waited.
The experience reminds me how much I dislike this phase, where gibberish is often shouted followed by a tantrum about whatever it is she's not able to communicate. "Does she seem irritable?" is almost impossible to answer. She's irritated, but mostly by me.
I had to miss Lauren's last soccer game in order to make the 1:40 PM appointment. There were only 3 other kids there, and one doctor - the senior physician in the practice. He looked in her ears and throat and listened to her breathe for a few minutes. "She has some throat irritation due to post-nasal drip," he said, "but otherwise, she looks fine. She should feel better in a couple of days."
So I feel silly for having missed a game and spent $30. Not to mention whatever I exposed her to by hanging out in the doctor's office for a half hour while we waited.
The experience reminds me how much I dislike this phase, where gibberish is often shouted followed by a tantrum about whatever it is she's not able to communicate. "Does she seem irritable?" is almost impossible to answer. She's irritated, but mostly by me.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Manners
I'm still smarting a bit over having my stuff taken. What bothered me more about it, in both examples, was chatting with local people whose reaction was that leaving stuff out is asking for it to be stolen. When I see someone else's stuff on their front steps I don't think "Oh! They left it here for me!"
I had an exam today in class. I got there about 15 minutes early to review my notes in the peace of no one asking for a drink or needing a nose wiped. About a third of my class was also there, reviewing their notes. I sat down in the quiet classroom. About a minute later, a woman in my class was talking aloud, and I turned to realize she was on the phone. She continued talking, and I thought, wow, this is distracting. She's surely answering a single question and then hanging up. But instead she continued to talk for about 5 minutes about nothing - what she'd done last night and this morning, and saying, "Really?" repeatedly. I can't imagine answering my phone in a quiet classroom. If I had to, I'd probably say, "Hold on just a moment" while I left the classroom for the hallway.
Are young people really discourteous? Why do they feel so entitled to carry on their lives at other's discomfort? Is it that they don't know better?
I had an exam today in class. I got there about 15 minutes early to review my notes in the peace of no one asking for a drink or needing a nose wiped. About a third of my class was also there, reviewing their notes. I sat down in the quiet classroom. About a minute later, a woman in my class was talking aloud, and I turned to realize she was on the phone. She continued talking, and I thought, wow, this is distracting. She's surely answering a single question and then hanging up. But instead she continued to talk for about 5 minutes about nothing - what she'd done last night and this morning, and saying, "Really?" repeatedly. I can't imagine answering my phone in a quiet classroom. If I had to, I'd probably say, "Hold on just a moment" while I left the classroom for the hallway.
Are young people really discourteous? Why do they feel so entitled to carry on their lives at other's discomfort? Is it that they don't know better?
Friday, November 09, 2007
Parroting
Lauren (from time out): I'm sorry, Mommy.
Lindsay: I sorry, Mommy. So sorry.
Me: Are you hungry?
Lindsay: Hungy, Mommy. So hungy.
Lindsay: I sorry, Mommy. So sorry.
Me: Are you hungry?
Lindsay: Hungy, Mommy. So hungy.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Jersey Kabuki
My neighbor Ed the ex-Marine is out in his front yard wearing his pajamas and a bright blue bathrobe.
Perhaps came out to get his paper?
Ah yes. Bliss. He tucks it under his left arm.
He turns.
But something is amiss.
He looks around the corner.
He darts into a bush.
Something is wrong. Someone is missing.
He ducks behind his shrub and returns holding a small black cat. This cat recently started appearing on the scene. She is black and looks startlingly like my cat Shannon except she wears an orange collar (Shannon's is black).
He places the cat gently next to the food bowl on his front steps, and returns into the house with his newspaper, victorious.
Perhaps came out to get his paper?
Ah yes. Bliss. He tucks it under his left arm.
He turns.
But something is amiss.
He looks around the corner.
He darts into a bush.
Something is wrong. Someone is missing.
He ducks behind his shrub and returns holding a small black cat. This cat recently started appearing on the scene. She is black and looks startlingly like my cat Shannon except she wears an orange collar (Shannon's is black).
He places the cat gently next to the food bowl on his front steps, and returns into the house with his newspaper, victorious.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
And another one bites the dust
All and all, I am dissatisfied with my little borough over this Halloween season. As you know, my candy was swiped. I'll give you that leaving $25 worth of candy in a bowl in your yard is sort of tempting, but my neighbors do it every year. Perhaps it was the Cadillac selection - peanut butter cups, almond bars, malted milk balls, and chocolate covered toffee bars that were just too good to pass up dumping the bowl into his pillow case.
But today, discovering that all the remaining jack-o-lanterns in our neighborhood were smashed in the street put me over the top. Especially since mine, pictured above, was in the garbage the day after Halloween because it was rotten. It was such a poor harvest this year that I'd put out some of my indoor decorations to round out our display. I've labeled the fake ones.
Would you believe someone swiped 2 of my fake pumpkins? Why would someone need to do that? What could you possibly do with 2 rubber pumpkins? They don't splat satisfyingly on the pavement.
I liked those pumpkins. Lauren and I picked them out together when she was 3. We put them out around the house. Every year since, she's gotten excited to see the decorations come out. I know I can buy new rubber pumpkins. But it was my stuff and someone didn't care and just took it. I think that sucks a whole lot.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
A bird in the house is worth how many in the bush?
Yes, you read that right. Sitting eating lunch with Lindsay yesterday, I'll admit I was a bit preoccupied. I was probably reading and eating, or chatting and eating. Although the jingle of Lauren's wind chimes in her room struck me as strange since I knew the windows were all closed, it didn't register there might be something amiss.
After Lindsay decimated her cream cheese sandwich, I scooped her up to put her down for a nap upstairs. As I turned into her bedroom, something flew past my head, brushing my ear. I screamed, ran downstairs and out of the house. Breathing fast, I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket. It appeared I didn't have the number for animal control programmed into my phone, but the non-emergency police number would do.
"Hi, this is Detective Scott..."
"Hi. This is Epiphany Alone and I live at this address. There's something flying around my second floor..."
"Uh...something?"
"I don't know if it was a bird or a bat...I screamed and ran..."
She laughed.
"No, seriously. I have no idea what it was, I just got out of there with my baby."
"Ok, I will send a patrol car over..."
The 7-foot tall policeman wasn't as amused that now he had to go upstairs, open a window, and shoo the bird out of the house. He did so as politely as he could muster, though he did quietly wonder aloud why I couldn't have just opened a window myself.
"It's all set, ma'am," he said, handing me a bird poop-stained towel.
"Thanks very much." I said.
After Lindsay decimated her cream cheese sandwich, I scooped her up to put her down for a nap upstairs. As I turned into her bedroom, something flew past my head, brushing my ear. I screamed, ran downstairs and out of the house. Breathing fast, I grabbed my cell phone out of my pocket. It appeared I didn't have the number for animal control programmed into my phone, but the non-emergency police number would do.
"Hi, this is Detective Scott..."
"Hi. This is Epiphany Alone and I live at this address. There's something flying around my second floor..."
"Uh...something?"
"I don't know if it was a bird or a bat...I screamed and ran..."
She laughed.
"No, seriously. I have no idea what it was, I just got out of there with my baby."
"Ok, I will send a patrol car over..."
The 7-foot tall policeman wasn't as amused that now he had to go upstairs, open a window, and shoo the bird out of the house. He did so as politely as he could muster, though he did quietly wonder aloud why I couldn't have just opened a window myself.
"It's all set, ma'am," he said, handing me a bird poop-stained towel.
"Thanks very much." I said.
Monday, November 05, 2007
What we did this weekend
We had a lot of things on the calendar to get done this weekend. I think we made it to none of them. I missed my last reading class, my bio-med class was canceled, and we missed Lauren's soccer game.
After the girls were loaded into my father-in-law's car, I settled to do some studying. I have a paper due in 2 weeks that needs 3 peer reviews and an expert review, which essentially means I must have it done this week. It's not a long paper, but despite that I've written an outline and identified the quotes from the journal article sources I have, I haven't sat down to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. I also have an exam this week, and open-book essay questions I have to answer which are worth about a third of the overall exam grade. I cut and pasted sections of my typed notes from class, marked a bunch of material from my text book, and now am mostly editing my answers so that they read coherently. It's, as you might imagine, very time-consuming.
I considered going to the gym after my haircut on Saturday afternoon, but decided that I really should remedy my chipped fingernails. I went to Luxi for a mani/pedi and ended up getting a European facial also. My fingers and toes painted a deep red, and my face soft and fresh, I decided was occasion enough to go out and called a restaurant for a reservation and put on a pretty dress.
Alec returned from Berlin on Saturday night. Since we were kid-free, we went out to dinner at The Frog and The Peach in New Brunswick, which was excellent. We had a nice bottle of wine, enjoyed oysters on the half shell, beet salad with bleu cheese. Alec had venison, which was smoky and wrapped in a slice of bacon and accompanied by an acorn squash flan. I had a pork chop matched with clam stuffing, fingerling potatoes and sauteed spinach. We had a cheese plate with 3 cheese paired with 2 ounce glasses of wine in lieu of dessert. Oh so good.
Then we went to the Loew's to see American Gangster. The theater was packed, and we realized that neither of us could remember seeing a movie the weekend it came out. It was also very good.
In the morning, we retrieved the girls and spent most of the day shopping. I needed some new jeans because the ones I bought earlier in the year have become baggy since I started going to the gym, and Alec wanted to replace his boots. We had a nice lunch at Cheesecake Factory with the girls, and headed home to put away our purchases and have cube steaks, baked potato and steamed cabbage for dinner.
After the girls were in bed, I worked on my essay questions for a while, and then we enjoyed some wine while we watched what I thought was the season finale of Tell Me You Love Me on HBO - it wasn't. The finale is next week.
After the girls were loaded into my father-in-law's car, I settled to do some studying. I have a paper due in 2 weeks that needs 3 peer reviews and an expert review, which essentially means I must have it done this week. It's not a long paper, but despite that I've written an outline and identified the quotes from the journal article sources I have, I haven't sat down to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. I also have an exam this week, and open-book essay questions I have to answer which are worth about a third of the overall exam grade. I cut and pasted sections of my typed notes from class, marked a bunch of material from my text book, and now am mostly editing my answers so that they read coherently. It's, as you might imagine, very time-consuming.
I considered going to the gym after my haircut on Saturday afternoon, but decided that I really should remedy my chipped fingernails. I went to Luxi for a mani/pedi and ended up getting a European facial also. My fingers and toes painted a deep red, and my face soft and fresh, I decided was occasion enough to go out and called a restaurant for a reservation and put on a pretty dress.
Alec returned from Berlin on Saturday night. Since we were kid-free, we went out to dinner at The Frog and The Peach in New Brunswick, which was excellent. We had a nice bottle of wine, enjoyed oysters on the half shell, beet salad with bleu cheese. Alec had venison, which was smoky and wrapped in a slice of bacon and accompanied by an acorn squash flan. I had a pork chop matched with clam stuffing, fingerling potatoes and sauteed spinach. We had a cheese plate with 3 cheese paired with 2 ounce glasses of wine in lieu of dessert. Oh so good.
Then we went to the Loew's to see American Gangster. The theater was packed, and we realized that neither of us could remember seeing a movie the weekend it came out. It was also very good.
In the morning, we retrieved the girls and spent most of the day shopping. I needed some new jeans because the ones I bought earlier in the year have become baggy since I started going to the gym, and Alec wanted to replace his boots. We had a nice lunch at Cheesecake Factory with the girls, and headed home to put away our purchases and have cube steaks, baked potato and steamed cabbage for dinner.
After the girls were in bed, I worked on my essay questions for a while, and then we enjoyed some wine while we watched what I thought was the season finale of Tell Me You Love Me on HBO - it wasn't. The finale is next week.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
What's that you say?
"One of the kitties is sad because he doesn't have an ear."
"Yeah, but that means you can make fun of him."
Lauren pulls a sad face. "Aw, Mom! Why would you make fun of the poor kitty?"
"What? It's not like he can hear."
"Aww, Mom!"
"Yeah, but that means you can make fun of him."
Lauren pulls a sad face. "Aw, Mom! Why would you make fun of the poor kitty?"
"What? It's not like he can hear."
"Aww, Mom!"
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Here kitty kitty
Lindsay's interpreted that we're teaching her what animals say so that she can communicate with that animal. I noticed recently that whenever one of the cats walks by she says, "Me-yow!" as though in greeting.
She's decided Seamus, our cantankerous elder cat, is snuggly. Whenever she approaches him, she tries to hug him. He is very patient, as he was when Lauren was a tot, and will allow the light slappy petting and the occasional ear pull. Lindsay's hugs are the full-body type where she falls on him, "Me-yowing" as soothingly as an almost 18 month old can manage. She gave him a hug last night while he was eating his dinner, and he just continued chewing, barely acknowledging the 20 pound monkey on his back.
Yeah, I'm probably going to overlook the next bathroom peeing incident...
She's decided Seamus, our cantankerous elder cat, is snuggly. Whenever she approaches him, she tries to hug him. He is very patient, as he was when Lauren was a tot, and will allow the light slappy petting and the occasional ear pull. Lindsay's hugs are the full-body type where she falls on him, "Me-yowing" as soothingly as an almost 18 month old can manage. She gave him a hug last night while he was eating his dinner, and he just continued chewing, barely acknowledging the 20 pound monkey on his back.
Yeah, I'm probably going to overlook the next bathroom peeing incident...
Friday, November 02, 2007
The return of the Queen
Today I had to take Lindsay in to get her second flu shot. It's required the first time that they get the shot that they get it twice. I don't know why. I can only assume it has to do with eking out 2 insurance-covered visits and $60 in co-pays. On top of the $50 specialist co-pay to see the pediatric cardiologist for Lauren's innocent heart murmur, it's been a rather expensive week.
I've been seeing the new doctor in the practice for a while. Not that I mind the senior doctor, he is calm and reassuring, I just like the new doctor best. I've regaled you with tales of Doctor Queen of Sheba, the one pediatrician in the practice whom I don't like, which has entirely to do with her delaying treatment of 8-week-old Lindsay's severe case of thrush, and that instead of explaining why, she ran out of the office and refused to speak with me. Vaccination visits aren't scheduled with a particular doctor, they just check out that the kid is in reasonably fine health and then send in the nurse to administer the shot.
First she ushered me to a room with a nonworking light. "Oh, well," she said, indicating that I should go sit with Lindsay in the dark room.
I didn't move.
"It looks like the light needs to be fixed."
"Yep," I said, not moving.
"Oh, I guess we can find another room," she said sighing laboriously.
"Great."
We walked down the hallway to another room.
"Did she tolerate the first vaccination alright?" She buried her face in Lindsay's chart.
"Yes."
"Great. And she's not allergic to eggs?"
"Correct."
"And you've gotten your flu shot?"
"No."
"No?!" She looked up.
"No."
"Are you planning to?"
"Probably not."
"Well you know the flu shot is just a guess at what the flu will be..."
"Yes. It's the three most common strains."
"So if you contract another flu, she could get it."
"Right, but she would get it anyway if it's not part of the vaccine."
"Well, you could get the flu."
"Right."
"You know you shed the flu virus for 3 weeks after you're asymptomatic?"
"No, I didn't know that." I replied. "That's interesting trivia."
She finally gives up, "Well I guess I can send the nurse in to give Lindsay her shot."
"Great. Thank you."
I've been seeing the new doctor in the practice for a while. Not that I mind the senior doctor, he is calm and reassuring, I just like the new doctor best. I've regaled you with tales of Doctor Queen of Sheba, the one pediatrician in the practice whom I don't like, which has entirely to do with her delaying treatment of 8-week-old Lindsay's severe case of thrush, and that instead of explaining why, she ran out of the office and refused to speak with me. Vaccination visits aren't scheduled with a particular doctor, they just check out that the kid is in reasonably fine health and then send in the nurse to administer the shot.
First she ushered me to a room with a nonworking light. "Oh, well," she said, indicating that I should go sit with Lindsay in the dark room.
I didn't move.
"It looks like the light needs to be fixed."
"Yep," I said, not moving.
"Oh, I guess we can find another room," she said sighing laboriously.
"Great."
We walked down the hallway to another room.
"Did she tolerate the first vaccination alright?" She buried her face in Lindsay's chart.
"Yes."
"Great. And she's not allergic to eggs?"
"Correct."
"And you've gotten your flu shot?"
"No."
"No?!" She looked up.
"No."
"Are you planning to?"
"Probably not."
"Well you know the flu shot is just a guess at what the flu will be..."
"Yes. It's the three most common strains."
"So if you contract another flu, she could get it."
"Right, but she would get it anyway if it's not part of the vaccine."
"Well, you could get the flu."
"Right."
"You know you shed the flu virus for 3 weeks after you're asymptomatic?"
"No, I didn't know that." I replied. "That's interesting trivia."
She finally gives up, "Well I guess I can send the nurse in to give Lindsay her shot."
"Great. Thank you."
Thursday, November 01, 2007
The Halloween Recap
Happy first day of Nablopomo, guys! Blog until the Internet explodes!
We had a very nice Halloween Chez Stoll. Lindsay and I went to the Y. Lindsay dressed up as Tinkerbell, and I went to yoga class. When I came down to get her, she was conning those Pillsbury cookies that you slice and bake from some woman who called herself Grandma. "She ate 3 already," she said. "She just kept asking for more."
Lindsay as Tinkerbell
We headed over to Lauren's class party. I read the kids a story. We had a snack of pretzels and juice. We played Ghost Bowling (Lindsay's bowling game with those plastic ghosts you hang from trees over them) and Halloween Twister (we glued ghosts, jack o' lanterns, witches, and black cat faces on top of a Twister game). We colored faces on printed jack o' lantern templates.
Kindergardeners playing Halloween Twister
After that, Lindsay and I had some humus for lunch at the picnic table we frequented last spring when Lauren was in PM Pre-K. Then we attended the Halloween sing along assembly and the annual costume parade.
My neighbor across the street's "graveyard"
We went out trick or treating around 5 PM, which was early this year because of the extra week of daylight savings. It meant that we walked a couple of blocks without finding houses with candy, which was actually OK, because it meant we had a pretty small haul this year. Because we were out, we left a bowl of candy unattended. It didn't last very long.
Before someone ignored the "Take one treat, please" and dumped the lot into their bag.
Green Puppy and Blue, anxious to go out
Trick or Treating is hard work...
Happy Halloween!
We had a very nice Halloween Chez Stoll. Lindsay and I went to the Y. Lindsay dressed up as Tinkerbell, and I went to yoga class. When I came down to get her, she was conning those Pillsbury cookies that you slice and bake from some woman who called herself Grandma. "She ate 3 already," she said. "She just kept asking for more."
Lindsay as Tinkerbell
Kindergardeners playing Halloween Twister
My neighbor across the street's "graveyard"
Before someone ignored the "Take one treat, please" and dumped the lot into their bag.
Green Puppy and Blue, anxious to go out
Trick or Treating is hard work...When we got home around 6:30, Lauren asked that I take a picture of her face paint. The girls were tired, as was I from pulling them around in their wagon. We all went to bed pretty early last night.
Happy Halloween!
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