A digital phone doesn't work once the technician disconnects the modem temporarily. Always check your messages once he leaves. (Va1kyrie, sorry I didn't call you back. I just now checked the messages. Oops.)
Shaw has wonderful customer service and likes to keep people happy.
Not all babies fuss and cry like J, but not all babies sleep as well or self-soothe as easily as J either. Count your blessings.
Toddlers are rambunctious and obsessed with gardening tools.
No matter how many religious icons you put in your front yard, you will not keep evil spirits away. You will, however, give passersby something to laugh openly at. And I suspect you will also lower your property values. DON'T DO THIS!
Water is exceedingly important. Especially when breastfeeding. Always stay hydrated.
For future reference, "equine" means "horse". You do not need to put both things on one sign; just the one is self-explanatory.
Leftover chicken keeps much better in the fridge than it does in the oven.
A vomitting baby wants cuddles; under no circumstances does he want you to push him away into your sight lines so you can wipe the vomit from his mouth.
Grandparents are cool with receiving 60 pictures of their grandchildren in one e-mail; they don't much care, as long as they get the pictures.
Apparently, "fries" and "Coke" sound remarkably similar.
I can function with a migraine. And I can type one-handed, as long as I don't care how quickly I type.
A "Dirty Harry" marathon can be a good thing. The same cannot be said of a "History of Hitler" marathon.
New Orleans is sinking man and I don't want to swim.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Have you ever stopped to ponder "Why?"
For example, why do I have a large corner pantry with a cookbook shelf, yet manage to keep all my cookbooks neatly in a pile on the corner of my kitchen table? And why are there manuals for my dishwasher and sink, as well as a free sample of dish soap, on my cookbook shelf, where my cookbooks actually belong? And why do we have a house with 2-1/2 bathrooms, yet aren't able to keep even one of them clean? Seriously - even the one we don't much use was super-grimy.
Why do I have a large round coffee table with convenient boxes with lids under it for storage of books and magazines, yet continually keep the books and magazines in stacks next to the boxes? And for that matter, why do we have so many old editions of Car & Driver, Soap Opera Digest, etc.? Shouldn't we read these things and rid ourselves of them?
Ah, the myriad of things to ponder while cleaning the house...
J is finally down for his morning nap. I use "morning" loosely, as it is around 11:45 a.m. He just would not sleep earlier. I suspect he is very enthused by his new toy and anxious to play instead. The new toy is a "Whoozit" that we picked up second hand from Once Upon a Child, and it is most entertaining. It has squeaky things, crinkly things, rattles, a mirror, bright colors. Everything a little baby could possibly want. And it velcroes on to his car seat, stroller, or crib. Best toy ever! But not conducive to sleep whatsoever. No, no.
Why did I hang it in his crib?
Why do I have a large round coffee table with convenient boxes with lids under it for storage of books and magazines, yet continually keep the books and magazines in stacks next to the boxes? And for that matter, why do we have so many old editions of Car & Driver, Soap Opera Digest, etc.? Shouldn't we read these things and rid ourselves of them?
Ah, the myriad of things to ponder while cleaning the house...
J is finally down for his morning nap. I use "morning" loosely, as it is around 11:45 a.m. He just would not sleep earlier. I suspect he is very enthused by his new toy and anxious to play instead. The new toy is a "Whoozit" that we picked up second hand from Once Upon a Child, and it is most entertaining. It has squeaky things, crinkly things, rattles, a mirror, bright colors. Everything a little baby could possibly want. And it velcroes on to his car seat, stroller, or crib. Best toy ever! But not conducive to sleep whatsoever. No, no.
Why did I hang it in his crib?
Monday, August 29, 2005
J was so silly today!
This morning, we tried to get J to have his usual nap. This usually works, despite the fact that, in his crib, he can play with toys that wouldn't fit in the bassinet. He started playing with his toys, and then suddenly started to cry. When we went to find out what was wrong, this was what we found.
Yes, that is right. He had somehow managed to handcuff his arms together with the little plastic toys that maple mom2 gave him when he was first born. What a silly fellow!
We rescued him, but it soon became apparent that he was not going to have his morning nap. We waited. We tried to put him down for his afternoon nap, but he was again very interested in playing, and he really didn't want to sleep at all. So we gave up and took him to Ikea with va1kyrie, her parents and the girls, theatre mommy and daughter A, and Linda. A fine time was had by all. As a highpoint, we got to put J and A together into one of those big baskets of balls.
Don't they look sweet in their blueberry basket?
Yes, that is right. He had somehow managed to handcuff his arms together with the little plastic toys that maple mom2 gave him when he was first born. What a silly fellow!
We rescued him, but it soon became apparent that he was not going to have his morning nap. We waited. We tried to put him down for his afternoon nap, but he was again very interested in playing, and he really didn't want to sleep at all. So we gave up and took him to Ikea with va1kyrie, her parents and the girls, theatre mommy and daughter A, and Linda. A fine time was had by all. As a highpoint, we got to put J and A together into one of those big baskets of balls.
Don't they look sweet in their blueberry basket?
J can almost roll over now
J has been working on his rolling over skills for some time now. For the past couple of days, I have been waiting for him to get it. He is almost there. Now all he needs to do is get his bottom arm out from under him, and he'll have it.
Last night, we got these pics of our little man "almost" rolling over.
He couldn't quite make it, so we had to help him the last little bit. Here he is one more time.
J is getting teeth now, so he's been really grumpy. We are heading out to get him weighed today. I wonder how much our little guy weighs now!
Last night, we got these pics of our little man "almost" rolling over.
He couldn't quite make it, so we had to help him the last little bit. Here he is one more time.
J is getting teeth now, so he's been really grumpy. We are heading out to get him weighed today. I wonder how much our little guy weighs now!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
If they're so darned fast, why do they need a trailer?
Failed Ad Campaigns - #4
Failed Ad Campaign #4: Little Caesar's Specialty Dictator Pizzas
A special pizza line, featuring:
The "Fidel Castro": A meager offering in its own rite, but tourists get extra toppings.
The "Napoleon Bonaparte": An individual 8" pizza.
The "Benito Mussolini": Italian sausage. And you only need the one topping.
The "Adolf Hitler": This chicken pizza has all white meat.
The "Álvaro Uribe Vélez": While not actually a dictator, the President of Colombia is nonetheless deserving of a specialty pizza. Pick any of the Dictator Line, and add on a free Coke (deposit extra).
A special pizza line, featuring:
The "Fidel Castro": A meager offering in its own rite, but tourists get extra toppings.
The "Napoleon Bonaparte": An individual 8" pizza.
The "Benito Mussolini": Italian sausage. And you only need the one topping.
The "Adolf Hitler": This chicken pizza has all white meat.
The "Álvaro Uribe Vélez": While not actually a dictator, the President of Colombia is nonetheless deserving of a specialty pizza. Pick any of the Dictator Line, and add on a free Coke (deposit extra).
Saturday, August 27, 2005
J Loves Receiving Blankets
I Wanna be Trevor Anderson
I am in a moment of self-reflection. Thinking about who I am as a person and who I aspire to be. I have these moments from time to time, and here I sit tonight.
Every so often in our lives, a person comes along who is worthy of emulation. Not too often, but every great once in awhile. I know of just such a person. So I think I can safely say that I wanna be Trevor Anderson. Yes, yes.
I recall years ago sitting down and speaking with Trevor. And I remember saying to him that I thought he was consistently one of the nicest, sweetest people I knew. If someone ever came to me and said "I don't like Trevor", I would be forced to ask "What is the matter with you?" And if someone ever said "I don't think Trevor likes me", I would have to ask "What did you do to Trevor?" He is a passionate and outspoken person, but just so amazingly likeable into the bargain. I have never heard him say a harsh word about anyone. And he is so sincere about it, too.
I would like to be this person.
But I must concede that I am not this person. I am not consistently nice and sweet. In fact, I can be downright nasty and vindictive when the mood overtakes me. And while I feel I am likeable, I can be something of an acquired taste for many. And further, if someone said that they didn't think I liked them, I could see the response coming "You're in good company". While I think I like most people, I am very impassioned in my personality, in my likes and dislikes, and sometimes that comes into play when it comes to personalities as well as inanimate objects.
I am for the moment slightly dissatisfied in the knowledge that I am not who I would like to be. I will never be that person, because I have too many character flaws. While we can work on our personalities, we can never really rid ourselves of our inherent flaws.
I am who I am. I cannot be Trevor Anderson. He is a one of a kind. That is probably good. If we were all inherently good and sweet people, we would be unappreciative of those characteristics. It is good to appreciate traits in others that we tend to lack in ourselves.
Opinionated and impassioned I am, and I must stand behind it.
Every so often in our lives, a person comes along who is worthy of emulation. Not too often, but every great once in awhile. I know of just such a person. So I think I can safely say that I wanna be Trevor Anderson. Yes, yes.
I recall years ago sitting down and speaking with Trevor. And I remember saying to him that I thought he was consistently one of the nicest, sweetest people I knew. If someone ever came to me and said "I don't like Trevor", I would be forced to ask "What is the matter with you?" And if someone ever said "I don't think Trevor likes me", I would have to ask "What did you do to Trevor?" He is a passionate and outspoken person, but just so amazingly likeable into the bargain. I have never heard him say a harsh word about anyone. And he is so sincere about it, too.
I would like to be this person.
But I must concede that I am not this person. I am not consistently nice and sweet. In fact, I can be downright nasty and vindictive when the mood overtakes me. And while I feel I am likeable, I can be something of an acquired taste for many. And further, if someone said that they didn't think I liked them, I could see the response coming "You're in good company". While I think I like most people, I am very impassioned in my personality, in my likes and dislikes, and sometimes that comes into play when it comes to personalities as well as inanimate objects.
I am for the moment slightly dissatisfied in the knowledge that I am not who I would like to be. I will never be that person, because I have too many character flaws. While we can work on our personalities, we can never really rid ourselves of our inherent flaws.
I am who I am. I cannot be Trevor Anderson. He is a one of a kind. That is probably good. If we were all inherently good and sweet people, we would be unappreciative of those characteristics. It is good to appreciate traits in others that we tend to lack in ourselves.
Opinionated and impassioned I am, and I must stand behind it.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Fringe-A-Go-Go
H, J and I all went off to Fringe last night. The intent was to walk through the grounds and mingle a bit, just as we always do with J. Can't see indoor shows with a baby, but can mingle with our friends - outside of the beer tents (J is a minor, you know).
Anyway, as we arrived at the grounds, we heard a wonderful sound. An acapella group doing their sound check and starting their show. And I said "Is that Kow?" Sure enough, it was. So we decided to stay and watch Apokalypse Kow do their thang. We had seen our friends, the Wombats, already this Fringe, but we really wanted to see Kow also. They're quite astounding and, as a perk, our pal, Ninja Stan, is part of the group.
We really enjoyed the show (despite my sudden shriek of terror when a dragonfly the size of a small bat nearly flew into my hair; it was a very loud bug and, to be frank, I had no idea what it was since it snuck up on me. Also, wasps are really bad this year). But Kow was fantastic, as always. I love their melding of Green Day with Pachelbel's Canon in D, but as always, their entire show was brilliant, and I was happy to have seen them perform.
Here is a picture of J in his Baby Bjorn, enjoying his very first Kow performance!
Yes, they are a very relaxing group. They should come over regularly and sing lullabies to J.
Anyway, as we arrived at the grounds, we heard a wonderful sound. An acapella group doing their sound check and starting their show. And I said "Is that Kow?" Sure enough, it was. So we decided to stay and watch Apokalypse Kow do their thang. We had seen our friends, the Wombats, already this Fringe, but we really wanted to see Kow also. They're quite astounding and, as a perk, our pal, Ninja Stan, is part of the group.
We really enjoyed the show (despite my sudden shriek of terror when a dragonfly the size of a small bat nearly flew into my hair; it was a very loud bug and, to be frank, I had no idea what it was since it snuck up on me. Also, wasps are really bad this year). But Kow was fantastic, as always. I love their melding of Green Day with Pachelbel's Canon in D, but as always, their entire show was brilliant, and I was happy to have seen them perform.
Here is a picture of J in his Baby Bjorn, enjoying his very first Kow performance!
Yes, they are a very relaxing group. They should come over regularly and sing lullabies to J.
A brain teaser
I am going to put the answers in the comments section at some point. Not necessarily today, though! I want to see if anyone can figure these out first.
1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?
4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?
5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!
1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?
4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?
5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Howard is...
I got this concept from va1kyrie. It is fun!
Put "[your name here] is" in quotes in a Google search, and post your favorite responses. Here are mine:
Howard is For Kids this Summer.
Howard is 15 miles north of York, just off the A64.
Howard is well researched and draws frightening conclusions.
Howard is in a dusty garage in Hampton with a roomful of trophies.
Howard is ready to be Prime Minister.
Try it. You'll like it. That's an order. From your Prime Minister.
Put "[your name here] is" in quotes in a Google search, and post your favorite responses. Here are mine:
Howard is For Kids this Summer.
Howard is 15 miles north of York, just off the A64.
Howard is well researched and draws frightening conclusions.
Howard is in a dusty garage in Hampton with a roomful of trophies.
Howard is ready to be Prime Minister.
Try it. You'll like it. That's an order. From your Prime Minister.
Crib, Antics, and Family News
J has been successfully moved into his crib. He is at the foot of our bed, and he seems to really like his new, larger sleep space and the fact that he can play with toys until he falls asleep. (Then we conscientiously move the toys away, but he doesn't know that.)
The night before last was his first full night in the crib. I cried. I cried because he's now at the foot of the bed instead of right beside me, and I miss him. I cried because I can no longer just reach over and comfort him when he stirs in the night. I cried because when he was in the bassinet and he woke up for play time, he would kick his little feet over the top of the bassinet high enough for me to see them, and now he is in a deeper bed where I can't see his little feet kicking in the morning. But mostly, I cried just because he is too big for his bassinet and I don't quite get what happened to the tiny little baby I brought home from the hospital. I love our bigger baby too, but I really do miss his tinyness. It will only get worse as he grows.
H keeps telling people that "we will move him into his own room in about a month", but I disagree. I want to keep him close for as long as I can. (Have you ever noticed that "Mother" and "Smother" are really similar words? I must be careful not to smother my child with loving.)
On another note, J is now quite a grabby baby. He can grab all kinds of things now. I have some pictures of him from around mid-end June where he had started holding things in his little hand; he was playing with his soother, waving it about (I'll try to post those pics in the June archives a bit later today). But he is now able to grab many more things and hold on for far longer. He can pull out his soother and then put it back in his mouth on his own. He can hold the little plastic rings my brother and sister-in-law so graciously allowed us to keep for him (they are his favorite toy), and he brings them to his mouth and chews on them. Everything is a toy to J!
So it came as no real surprise when, a couple of nights ago during a diaper change, he reached down and pulled off his peepee teepee (a little triangle of fabric that prevents him from peeing all over us during diaper changes). What was unusual, however, was his effort to then put it on his head and wear it like a hat. He got it as far as the middle of his forehead, and then just left it there. It was quite comical.
Very happy news. H's brother, C, and C's girlfriend, L, are officially engaged now! C proposed to L at the Fringe. She has a lovely ring, and they are getting married January 1. H gets to be the best man. We could not be happier! C and L make just an absolutely amazing couple. It's so wonderful that they are going to get married and spend their lives together. They are both such sweet, dear people, and they deserve such tremendous happiness.
It is wonderful!
The night before last was his first full night in the crib. I cried. I cried because he's now at the foot of the bed instead of right beside me, and I miss him. I cried because I can no longer just reach over and comfort him when he stirs in the night. I cried because when he was in the bassinet and he woke up for play time, he would kick his little feet over the top of the bassinet high enough for me to see them, and now he is in a deeper bed where I can't see his little feet kicking in the morning. But mostly, I cried just because he is too big for his bassinet and I don't quite get what happened to the tiny little baby I brought home from the hospital. I love our bigger baby too, but I really do miss his tinyness. It will only get worse as he grows.
H keeps telling people that "we will move him into his own room in about a month", but I disagree. I want to keep him close for as long as I can. (Have you ever noticed that "Mother" and "Smother" are really similar words? I must be careful not to smother my child with loving.)
On another note, J is now quite a grabby baby. He can grab all kinds of things now. I have some pictures of him from around mid-end June where he had started holding things in his little hand; he was playing with his soother, waving it about (I'll try to post those pics in the June archives a bit later today). But he is now able to grab many more things and hold on for far longer. He can pull out his soother and then put it back in his mouth on his own. He can hold the little plastic rings my brother and sister-in-law so graciously allowed us to keep for him (they are his favorite toy), and he brings them to his mouth and chews on them. Everything is a toy to J!
So it came as no real surprise when, a couple of nights ago during a diaper change, he reached down and pulled off his peepee teepee (a little triangle of fabric that prevents him from peeing all over us during diaper changes). What was unusual, however, was his effort to then put it on his head and wear it like a hat. He got it as far as the middle of his forehead, and then just left it there. It was quite comical.
Very happy news. H's brother, C, and C's girlfriend, L, are officially engaged now! C proposed to L at the Fringe. She has a lovely ring, and they are getting married January 1. H gets to be the best man. We could not be happier! C and L make just an absolutely amazing couple. It's so wonderful that they are going to get married and spend their lives together. They are both such sweet, dear people, and they deserve such tremendous happiness.
It is wonderful!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Wussie Mommy
J is, IMO, too darned big for his bassinet. The bassinet is suitable for babies up to 3 months or 15 lbs, and they have to be moved from it when they can roll over or sit up. He is well over 3 months now, though not yet 15 lbs (I went with that as a measure, as he was a preemie, so 3 months seemed a less useful measure). And, while he can't quite roll over by himself yet, he is getting so very close that I am nervous for his safety in the bassinet. So it is time to move him to his crib.
But he is just so tiny, and I have gotten so used to having him near me at night. Besides, he hates his crib (although once I lined the bottom of it with a big flannel receiving blanket, he adjusted a bit better). H and I (mostly I, to be perfectly honest) decided that a gradual transition from bassinet to crib may be in order.
So we took J's crib apart tonight and moved it out of his bedroom and into our own. This way, we get to keep him near to us while still putting him in the bigger bed. We think he'll adjust a bit better this way. And it's also less traumatic for the very wimpy wussie mommy that I appear to be just now. Just the thought of J sleeping in his own room and not being right near me at night made me weepy. (How pathetic am I?)
Once the mattress needs to be lowered in the crib, probably in another couple of months, we will move J into his own bedroom and see how he (and I) cope with that. I just really love having him nearby!
It's a really good thing we have such a large bedroom.
But he is just so tiny, and I have gotten so used to having him near me at night. Besides, he hates his crib (although once I lined the bottom of it with a big flannel receiving blanket, he adjusted a bit better). H and I (mostly I, to be perfectly honest) decided that a gradual transition from bassinet to crib may be in order.
So we took J's crib apart tonight and moved it out of his bedroom and into our own. This way, we get to keep him near to us while still putting him in the bigger bed. We think he'll adjust a bit better this way. And it's also less traumatic for the very wimpy wussie mommy that I appear to be just now. Just the thought of J sleeping in his own room and not being right near me at night made me weepy. (How pathetic am I?)
Once the mattress needs to be lowered in the crib, probably in another couple of months, we will move J into his own bedroom and see how he (and I) cope with that. I just really love having him nearby!
It's a really good thing we have such a large bedroom.
I Can Type One-Handed!
I am really enjoying this blog so far. As time permits, I am slowly putting up some older photos of J. (I use "older" loosely, of course, since J is still pretty darned new himself!) Anyway, I'd like to preserve these pictures and share them with our family and friends, and this seems to be a good way to do so.
If you want to see the pictures, just periodically click on the "Photos" box on the right hand side of the screen and choose a picture. I hope that the box will be updated fairly regularly; I'm trying to get a couple of shots on each day, but can make no promises.
J makes things pretty difficult. I'm still working on thank-you cards! I wonder if I will ever get them all done... Just as I sit down to write, J starts a-crying and wants to be snuggled. I can type one-handed, but I can't write a thank-you card while holding a squirming J at the same time. I am apparently just not that coordinated. If you do not have your thank-you card yet, you are in good company. This in no way means that we are not grateful; it just means that the new baby is taking more out of me than I had anticipated.
I am hopeful that everyone will receive an appropriate thank-you card by J's first birthday! (Sigh...)
Yesterday was a really difficult day here. J was super-duper-grumpy, and he just kept crying and crying. I was having a really hard time coping with him, and just didn't know what to do. When H came home from work, I was worn to a frazzle. We thought about taking J for a car ride, but were hesitant to do so due to the exorbitant price of fuel these days. Eventually, we had no choice but to relent. The car ride seemed to calm and soothe J, but he refused to go to sleep until around 1:00 a.m. H and I are both exhausted today. I am glad poor H didn't have to work until noon - he needed the extra sleep.
One final note: we are attempting to transition J from his bassinet to his crib. He hates his crib, and he cries every time we put him in it. But he is getting too big and squirmy for the bassinet, and I don't think it's safe for him to sleep there any longer. He must get used to his crib!! If anyone has any suggestions for such a transition, they would be greatly appreciated.
Must go try to get the J down for his nap now. Poor sleepy little man!
If you want to see the pictures, just periodically click on the "Photos" box on the right hand side of the screen and choose a picture. I hope that the box will be updated fairly regularly; I'm trying to get a couple of shots on each day, but can make no promises.
J makes things pretty difficult. I'm still working on thank-you cards! I wonder if I will ever get them all done... Just as I sit down to write, J starts a-crying and wants to be snuggled. I can type one-handed, but I can't write a thank-you card while holding a squirming J at the same time. I am apparently just not that coordinated. If you do not have your thank-you card yet, you are in good company. This in no way means that we are not grateful; it just means that the new baby is taking more out of me than I had anticipated.
I am hopeful that everyone will receive an appropriate thank-you card by J's first birthday! (Sigh...)
Yesterday was a really difficult day here. J was super-duper-grumpy, and he just kept crying and crying. I was having a really hard time coping with him, and just didn't know what to do. When H came home from work, I was worn to a frazzle. We thought about taking J for a car ride, but were hesitant to do so due to the exorbitant price of fuel these days. Eventually, we had no choice but to relent. The car ride seemed to calm and soothe J, but he refused to go to sleep until around 1:00 a.m. H and I are both exhausted today. I am glad poor H didn't have to work until noon - he needed the extra sleep.
One final note: we are attempting to transition J from his bassinet to his crib. He hates his crib, and he cries every time we put him in it. But he is getting too big and squirmy for the bassinet, and I don't think it's safe for him to sleep there any longer. He must get used to his crib!! If anyone has any suggestions for such a transition, they would be greatly appreciated.
Must go try to get the J down for his nap now. Poor sleepy little man!
Monday, August 22, 2005
This Year's Mutant Radioactive Pest
Every summer we've been in the house, our neighborhood has somehow managed to attract some sort of weird bug. The first year, it was moths the size of robins. I kid you not, one of them had its talons wrapped around one of our window screens and nearly flew off with the thing. Year two, we had giant grasshoppers absolutely swarming; I swear they were picking up small children and feasting on them. Last year, it was ladybugs. Nothing freakish about these; there were just billions of them, climbing on everything in site. Every time we went to our car, the hubcaps were coated with them.
Well, this year, we have giant mutant spiders. One of them was spinning a web on our back door this evening. H and I briefly considered just abandoning the house and letting it win, but H decided to muster his courage and beat it to death with a shovel. I was paralyzed; I screamed and locked the door until I was certain that it was dead. I may not know much about spiders, but I am fairly certain this one was perfectly capable of turning the doorknob and entering the house.
The thing was the size of my head!!
Well, this year, we have giant mutant spiders. One of them was spinning a web on our back door this evening. H and I briefly considered just abandoning the house and letting it win, but H decided to muster his courage and beat it to death with a shovel. I was paralyzed; I screamed and locked the door until I was certain that it was dead. I may not know much about spiders, but I am fairly certain this one was perfectly capable of turning the doorknob and entering the house.
The thing was the size of my head!!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Failed Ad Campaigns - #3
Failed Ad Campaign #3: Nike's "Meet the Workers" Night
For a small donation, you can come out and meet the staff, the good people who labor over those running shoes you wear so proudly. All proceeds will go to aid underprivileged workers in third world countries.
Oh wait. Um ... no.
For a small donation, you can come out and meet the staff, the good people who labor over those running shoes you wear so proudly. All proceeds will go to aid underprivileged workers in third world countries.
Oh wait. Um ... no.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
At 4 Months
Failed Ad Campaigns - #2
Failed Ad Campaign #2: The KFC Loose Chicken Sandwich
Similar to the "loose meat sandwiches" you see at so many restaurants, but made entirely of bits of chicken. Problematic, as the name was implicit of some sort of menage a trois involving a poultry with questionable moral standards.
Similar to the "loose meat sandwiches" you see at so many restaurants, but made entirely of bits of chicken. Problematic, as the name was implicit of some sort of menage a trois involving a poultry with questionable moral standards.
Jolly Jumper
Friday, August 19, 2005
Failed Ad Campaigns - #1
Failed Ad Campaign #1: The A&W Root Bat
Commercial featuring a bat in an orange A&W sweater dive bombing poor, screaming customers who are just trying to eat their burgers. Root bear theme music plays menacingly in the background, from a large pipe organ.
Commercial featuring a bat in an orange A&W sweater dive bombing poor, screaming customers who are just trying to eat their burgers. Root bear theme music plays menacingly in the background, from a large pipe organ.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Lawrence of Arabia
I Was Here First!
Probably one of the best pieces of advice I have heard came to me yesterday. From a stranger. Talking to a room full of people. But it was exactly what I needed to hear, and I want to record it for posterity. I may need to be reminded of it at a later date.
I was at my first moms and babies session yesterday morning. (I highly recommend this for any new mom, by the way. It is a great way to get out on schedule once a week, and it's a great way to meet new people, specifically other new moms in your community. Get support when you need it, and establish more good friendships. Good times.) We were sharing all our tips - best places to shop, best online resources, etc. We started discussing "best piece of advice we had received". (As an aside, thanks again, va1kyrie, for the tip on trying to do just one big thing each day. That has really really helped me out.)
Anyway, one of the moms said the best piece of advice she'd been given was to remember that "I was here first". And this really hit me. I'd forgotten. It's so very evident when you stop to think about it. I was here before the baby; this was how I functioned before the baby; life does not have to stop because the baby is now here; I was here first.
After J was born, I think a part of me felt that I had lost my identity - that all I was now was J's mommy. It's a worthwhile thing to be, and I want to be the best mommy that I can possibly be. But I think I'd temporarily forgotten that I was anything else - a person, a wife - anything. I didn't function apart from J. Suddenly, everything was all about J, and never about me. Being alone in the house with J, I spent all of my time focussing on J to the exclusion of all other things. Really simple stuff like having a shower was more than I could handle. (How is J going to deal with my temporary absence from the room? I can't hear him in there, so will he be okay? I'll just sneak it in while he's napping and pray that he doesn't wake up. But what if he doesn't nap well today??)
I feel strangely liberated in the sudden realization that I am still T. I am, first and foremost, T. And I will always be, first and foremost, T. I just happen to also be J's mommy now.
I haven't lost myself at all. I have added to the complex and worthwhile person that I am. I was here first!
Very helpful. Now, if I can just get enough sleep .... I may have been here first, but that does not help the crying baby to let me go to sleep. Ah, well. This too shall pass.
I was at my first moms and babies session yesterday morning. (I highly recommend this for any new mom, by the way. It is a great way to get out on schedule once a week, and it's a great way to meet new people, specifically other new moms in your community. Get support when you need it, and establish more good friendships. Good times.) We were sharing all our tips - best places to shop, best online resources, etc. We started discussing "best piece of advice we had received". (As an aside, thanks again, va1kyrie, for the tip on trying to do just one big thing each day. That has really really helped me out.)
Anyway, one of the moms said the best piece of advice she'd been given was to remember that "I was here first". And this really hit me. I'd forgotten. It's so very evident when you stop to think about it. I was here before the baby; this was how I functioned before the baby; life does not have to stop because the baby is now here; I was here first.
After J was born, I think a part of me felt that I had lost my identity - that all I was now was J's mommy. It's a worthwhile thing to be, and I want to be the best mommy that I can possibly be. But I think I'd temporarily forgotten that I was anything else - a person, a wife - anything. I didn't function apart from J. Suddenly, everything was all about J, and never about me. Being alone in the house with J, I spent all of my time focussing on J to the exclusion of all other things. Really simple stuff like having a shower was more than I could handle. (How is J going to deal with my temporary absence from the room? I can't hear him in there, so will he be okay? I'll just sneak it in while he's napping and pray that he doesn't wake up. But what if he doesn't nap well today??)
I feel strangely liberated in the sudden realization that I am still T. I am, first and foremost, T. And I will always be, first and foremost, T. I just happen to also be J's mommy now.
I haven't lost myself at all. I have added to the complex and worthwhile person that I am. I was here first!
Very helpful. Now, if I can just get enough sleep .... I may have been here first, but that does not help the crying baby to let me go to sleep. Ah, well. This too shall pass.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Probably had to be there
I'm not sure how to describe it.
We were getting J ready for bed. I turned to put his clothes in the hamper for washing while H put J in his pj's. When I turned to look back at them, H was wearing J's pj's over his own arms, with his hands shoved through the sleeves, making scary puppet motions at J and going "Whoo, whoo". J just laid there, looking decidedly unimpressed.
J is now safely in his pj's. H has recovered his senses. I, however, am still giggling hysterically.
We were getting J ready for bed. I turned to put his clothes in the hamper for washing while H put J in his pj's. When I turned to look back at them, H was wearing J's pj's over his own arms, with his hands shoved through the sleeves, making scary puppet motions at J and going "Whoo, whoo". J just laid there, looking decidedly unimpressed.
J is now safely in his pj's. H has recovered his senses. I, however, am still giggling hysterically.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Still shopping around a bit
House on the MLS. Pretty, but needs work.
It's pending anyway, and we won't know until tomorrow if it is going through. If not, we will take a look-see. The lot is huge (really, really huge), the house is huge (and has a big wrap-around balcony up top, down one side and around to the back), and it is quite pretty from the outside. The garage is in great shape, and the fence is a really new, tall privacy fence that looks to be in very good shape, though it needs to be stained. But...
The "River valley view" is actually a birds-eye view of the refinery. "Needs 'TLC'" actually means it needs a lot of work, particularly to floors and such things, and mostly in the two-storey addition. The solarium in particular is in issue, since it requires a permit and an encroachment agreement or some such thing in order to make it compliant. It's really, really close to some low-rentals. It's a foreclosure sale, but that is only part of the reason why it is so cheap. (The price is apparently incorrect on the MLS; the banks are looking for $192,900 and there isn't a lot of room to bargain.) Still less than we could get for our place, but with the repair work that would be required, well, I wonder if it is a worthwhile endeavor.
I wonder what else may be wrong with it. Hmmm...
It's pending anyway, and we won't know until tomorrow if it is going through. If not, we will take a look-see. The lot is huge (really, really huge), the house is huge (and has a big wrap-around balcony up top, down one side and around to the back), and it is quite pretty from the outside. The garage is in great shape, and the fence is a really new, tall privacy fence that looks to be in very good shape, though it needs to be stained. But...
The "River valley view" is actually a birds-eye view of the refinery. "Needs 'TLC'" actually means it needs a lot of work, particularly to floors and such things, and mostly in the two-storey addition. The solarium in particular is in issue, since it requires a permit and an encroachment agreement or some such thing in order to make it compliant. It's really, really close to some low-rentals. It's a foreclosure sale, but that is only part of the reason why it is so cheap. (The price is apparently incorrect on the MLS; the banks are looking for $192,900 and there isn't a lot of room to bargain.) Still less than we could get for our place, but with the repair work that would be required, well, I wonder if it is a worthwhile endeavor.
I wonder what else may be wrong with it. Hmmm...
Monday, August 15, 2005
Got it!
Grouch!
J keeps crying. I can't console him. He slept through the night, and apparently I must pay the price today.
I've fed him; I've burped him; I've changed him. I've put him in his bassinet, with his soother and with toys to play with. I've held him upright and allowed him to vomit all over me (something he does when held upright too soon after eating). When I held him upright, he calmed down and stopped crying. So I thought it was worthwhile, despite the vomitting. But then he started to cry again. I put him back in the bassinet, but he is still crying.
I don't know what to do for him, and I feel like a bad mommy just leaving him crying like this. But I can't make him stop crying, and I don't know what's wrong. NOTHING is wrong!!!
I've fed him; I've burped him; I've changed him. I've put him in his bassinet, with his soother and with toys to play with. I've held him upright and allowed him to vomit all over me (something he does when held upright too soon after eating). When I held him upright, he calmed down and stopped crying. So I thought it was worthwhile, despite the vomitting. But then he started to cry again. I put him back in the bassinet, but he is still crying.
I don't know what to do for him, and I feel like a bad mommy just leaving him crying like this. But I can't make him stop crying, and I don't know what's wrong. NOTHING is wrong!!!
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Well, J has bronchiolitis. Nothing serious. He has a cough and a sore throat, and he's a bit congested. T and I went for dinner with L&P tonight. J has been really warm and sleepy for the last couple of days, and he started coughing late last night. But he was ok this evening, so we figured the worst was over and we could go out.
But on the way home, J started crying and coughing again, and T got nervous (paranoid new mom) and insisted we take him to a doctor. Fortunately, all seems to be ok. They want us to watch him for about a week and, if the cough persists, he'll get checked out again. In the meantime, they prescribed Triaminic infant drops.
We went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription (which they don't make any more - and it was an over the counter medicine anyway - but that's a whole other story). Anyway, while T was in the store, J started fussing, so I climbed in the backseat with him and proceeded to tell him the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
"Then Goldilocks tried the first bowl of porridge. And do you know what happened next?" And that was when J puked on me.
But on the way home, J started crying and coughing again, and T got nervous (paranoid new mom) and insisted we take him to a doctor. Fortunately, all seems to be ok. They want us to watch him for about a week and, if the cough persists, he'll get checked out again. In the meantime, they prescribed Triaminic infant drops.
We went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription (which they don't make any more - and it was an over the counter medicine anyway - but that's a whole other story). Anyway, while T was in the store, J started fussing, so I climbed in the backseat with him and proceeded to tell him the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
"Then Goldilocks tried the first bowl of porridge. And do you know what happened next?" And that was when J puked on me.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Dictionary says...
Despondent: adj. Feeling or expressing despondency.
************
Well, I guess you can't argue with that.
************
Well, I guess you can't argue with that.
Why??
I am pondering - why?
For example, why am I, today, in my late 30s? This does not seem fair to me. I remember being much younger and more active, able to stay up later, able to do more. And I could have sworn it was recently. And yet, suddenly, I find myself 36 years old, with no idea of how I got there. I will not take well to 40; I can see it now.
This aging issue is, of course, somewhat eased by the fact that I still periodically get ID'd - usually at the Fringe beer tents. Silliness, I say - I may not look 36, but I certainly do not look 17 either. Still, it is flattering when it happens. It is rarer and rarer these days, mind you. Sigh! I have always looked younger than my years. I remember when being told that I look younger than my years was insulting; how perspectives change.
In any event, having another birthday is far better than any other option that I can see. But nonetheless, I am not particularly impressed with aging.
I refuse to age gracefully! And to that end, I have decided that, from this point forward, I will age in reverse. Next year, I look forward to turning 35. Again.
Yes yes.
For example, why am I, today, in my late 30s? This does not seem fair to me. I remember being much younger and more active, able to stay up later, able to do more. And I could have sworn it was recently. And yet, suddenly, I find myself 36 years old, with no idea of how I got there. I will not take well to 40; I can see it now.
This aging issue is, of course, somewhat eased by the fact that I still periodically get ID'd - usually at the Fringe beer tents. Silliness, I say - I may not look 36, but I certainly do not look 17 either. Still, it is flattering when it happens. It is rarer and rarer these days, mind you. Sigh! I have always looked younger than my years. I remember when being told that I look younger than my years was insulting; how perspectives change.
In any event, having another birthday is far better than any other option that I can see. But nonetheless, I am not particularly impressed with aging.
I refuse to age gracefully! And to that end, I have decided that, from this point forward, I will age in reverse. Next year, I look forward to turning 35. Again.
Yes yes.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Hypnotizin' Baby
You are getting sleepy ... sleeeeepppyyyy.
Your eyes are getting heavy ... heeeeaaaavvvvyyy.
You cannot keep them open.
You are no longer a baby.
You are ... a turnip.
And do you know what turnips do?
They SLEEP!!
*********
J is having a rough couple of days. He has been refusing naps. He's been refusing to eat much, and he's been really grumpy. Today, va1kyrie and theatre mommy are taking their little tykes to the pool. We were invited, but J is just so grumpy that we can't possibly go. I feel cheated. I want to go out!! But he just won't cooperate, so I can't go. The outing with the sobbing baby would not be any fun.
It's probably just as well; I have a sore throat and some swollen glands going on today. Just getting over an ear infection, and now seem to be coming down with a cold. Shouldn't get anyone else sick, I guess. I don't know if I'm contagious or not. I think I can fight this thing off, but I should probably stay close to home until I manage it.
I thought perhaps J was grumpy because maybe he's teething. I figured I'd give him some Tylenol. If he was in pain, it would help; if not, one dose really wouldn't hurt anything. I put the sobbing baby in his bassinet, and he cried and cried. Then I gave him the dose of Tylenol. He lapped it up quite happily - then immediately (IMMEDIATELY) settled down and fell asleep.
Tylenol doesn't work that fast. I theorize that he just wanted the grape flavor. I don't know.
Anyway, he's finally asleep. I hope for a better day than yesterday.
zzzzzzzzzzz...
Your eyes are getting heavy ... heeeeaaaavvvvyyy.
You cannot keep them open.
You are no longer a baby.
You are ... a turnip.
And do you know what turnips do?
They SLEEP!!
*********
J is having a rough couple of days. He has been refusing naps. He's been refusing to eat much, and he's been really grumpy. Today, va1kyrie and theatre mommy are taking their little tykes to the pool. We were invited, but J is just so grumpy that we can't possibly go. I feel cheated. I want to go out!! But he just won't cooperate, so I can't go. The outing with the sobbing baby would not be any fun.
It's probably just as well; I have a sore throat and some swollen glands going on today. Just getting over an ear infection, and now seem to be coming down with a cold. Shouldn't get anyone else sick, I guess. I don't know if I'm contagious or not. I think I can fight this thing off, but I should probably stay close to home until I manage it.
I thought perhaps J was grumpy because maybe he's teething. I figured I'd give him some Tylenol. If he was in pain, it would help; if not, one dose really wouldn't hurt anything. I put the sobbing baby in his bassinet, and he cried and cried. Then I gave him the dose of Tylenol. He lapped it up quite happily - then immediately (IMMEDIATELY) settled down and fell asleep.
Tylenol doesn't work that fast. I theorize that he just wanted the grape flavor. I don't know.
Anyway, he's finally asleep. I hope for a better day than yesterday.
zzzzzzzzzzz...
Monday, August 08, 2005
Fun so far - Updated
Posted at 10:45 a.m. August 8, 2005
J's hearing test is today. He has to be sleep deprived for it.
He woke up at 5:00 a.m., looking for a new diaper and some food. Knocked off his peepee teepee and peed all over himself and his burp cloth during his diaper change. Ate, then puked all over the bed. Many, many times. I was unimpressed.
We let him sleep a little while longer, as we figured it would be torture to keep him up from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. But he's been back up for a while now, and he's very very tired. He really is trying to go back to sleep. My parents just got here to help us keep little tyke awake until his appointment. They are so good to us!
I think we may give him a bath in a little bit. He hates baths, so that should keep him awake. And fighting with us during bath time should really tucker him out for his appointment. (He'll need to fall asleep while he's there, you see. He needs to be plenty tired.)
I'll try to post an update after his appointment. I hope we will get the results today, but I don't know.
*******
Update posted at 3:46 p.m. August 8, 2005
J can hear! He can hear!! He can hear!!!
Test results show that he has perfect hearing in both ears. So we still don't know why he doesn't startle to loud sounds. The audiologist says best guess is he's just a really laid-back baby. (I say "Wanna come over some time? I think you'll disagree.") But what she meant is that he just doesn't really react to sounds, because they don't really interest or bother him in any way.
But he can hear.
(J is also very happy about his results! Can't you tell?)
Thanks, Paul, for the very cool effect. Me likes!!
J's hearing test is today. He has to be sleep deprived for it.
He woke up at 5:00 a.m., looking for a new diaper and some food. Knocked off his peepee teepee and peed all over himself and his burp cloth during his diaper change. Ate, then puked all over the bed. Many, many times. I was unimpressed.
We let him sleep a little while longer, as we figured it would be torture to keep him up from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. But he's been back up for a while now, and he's very very tired. He really is trying to go back to sleep. My parents just got here to help us keep little tyke awake until his appointment. They are so good to us!
I think we may give him a bath in a little bit. He hates baths, so that should keep him awake. And fighting with us during bath time should really tucker him out for his appointment. (He'll need to fall asleep while he's there, you see. He needs to be plenty tired.)
I'll try to post an update after his appointment. I hope we will get the results today, but I don't know.
*******
Update posted at 3:46 p.m. August 8, 2005
J can hear! He can hear!! He can hear!!!
Test results show that he has perfect hearing in both ears. So we still don't know why he doesn't startle to loud sounds. The audiologist says best guess is he's just a really laid-back baby. (I say "Wanna come over some time? I think you'll disagree.") But what she meant is that he just doesn't really react to sounds, because they don't really interest or bother him in any way.
But he can hear.
(J is also very happy about his results! Can't you tell?)
Thanks, Paul, for the very cool effect. Me likes!!
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Friday, August 05, 2005
I wonder if the staff go for coffee together?
Once again, while driving J around, we recently spotted this rather silly sign post (one of these things just doesn't belong here, wouldn't you say?)
And as if that weren't bad enough, check out which stores are side by side!
"Head down 50th Street, take your first left, and we're in that strip mall - right next to the Adult Superstore. God bless you!"
And as if that weren't bad enough, check out which stores are side by side!
"Head down 50th Street, take your first left, and we're in that strip mall - right next to the Adult Superstore. God bless you!"
Suggestions Appreciated
We've talked to the kid. We've talked to the kid's mother. The police have been called. Still it continues.
How do we get the stupid, undisciplined, brat of a 17-year old kid across the street and two bleeding doors away to turn down his bleeping stereo and keep the fool thing at a decent level? I can hear it in my own home, with my doors and windows shut and my TV on. Today, it woke up J from his nap, it was so loud. I phone the police, but they are usually busy with more pressing stuff and they can't catch him at it. They talked to him once and showed him what an acceptable level would be, but he turned it back up after they left.
I swear, if his mother were a capable parent, we wouldn't be having this problem. But she is evidently completely incompetent as a mother, and she can't control any aspect of her child's behavior whatsoever. (Woman, if you're reading this and you think I'm insulting you, well do something to change my perception of you, 'cause clearly everything I'm saying here is true.)
So I'm taking suggestions. They can be serious or comedic. How do I get that stereo turned down?????
How do we get the stupid, undisciplined, brat of a 17-year old kid across the street and two bleeding doors away to turn down his bleeping stereo and keep the fool thing at a decent level? I can hear it in my own home, with my doors and windows shut and my TV on. Today, it woke up J from his nap, it was so loud. I phone the police, but they are usually busy with more pressing stuff and they can't catch him at it. They talked to him once and showed him what an acceptable level would be, but he turned it back up after they left.
I swear, if his mother were a capable parent, we wouldn't be having this problem. But she is evidently completely incompetent as a mother, and she can't control any aspect of her child's behavior whatsoever. (Woman, if you're reading this and you think I'm insulting you, well do something to change my perception of you, 'cause clearly everything I'm saying here is true.)
So I'm taking suggestions. They can be serious or comedic. How do I get that stereo turned down?????
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you
Tonight, T and I went to deliver the few thank-you cards that we have completed so far to some of the friends who bought presents for J when he was born.
On the way home, and with a backseat full of new presents, it suddenly struck me; if I had realized that people would give him more presents when I came to drop off their thank-you card, I would have started handing out thank-you cards in person months ago.
I wonder when T will write more cards.
On the way home, and with a backseat full of new presents, it suddenly struck me; if I had realized that people would give him more presents when I came to drop off their thank-you card, I would have started handing out thank-you cards in person months ago.
I wonder when T will write more cards.
The History of Teaching Math
Alright, it's a joke. And I got it from my friend, Becky, in an email. So it's probably been seen by many people before. But it's fresh and funny to me, so I have to post it, 'cause I laughed!
*********
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58.
The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.
Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:
Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.
What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $80.
Did he make a profit?
Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.
He does this so he can make a profit of $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question:
How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes?
(There are no wrong answers.)
Teaching Math In 2005
Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100.
El costo de la producción es $80?
*********
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58.
The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried.
Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:
Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.
What is his profit?
Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $80.
Did he make a profit?
Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.
His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands.
He does this so he can make a profit of $20.
What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question:
How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes?
(There are no wrong answers.)
Teaching Math In 2005
Un hachero vende una carretada de madera para $100.
El costo de la producción es $80?
Pics to Share
We picked up J's pics from Sears the other night. We think they are really cute; they will get distributed to family and friends in short order. In the meantime, we also bought a picture disk. So this means we can post his Sears shots for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy, dang it!
Of course, I feel rather taken in by the whole Sears group now. When we got there to pick up our photos, they had printed off three extra shots ("...usually $20 each, but today, we will give them to you for $20 for all three!") Anyway, like a total gomer, I took the bait and handed over my money - that I don't have. I'll be prepared next time, and JUST SAY NO!!!
My Slanguage Profile
Your Slanguage Profile |
| Canadian Slang: 100% |
| Aussie Slang: 50% |
| British Slang: 50% |
| Prison Slang: 50% |
| Southern Slang: 25% |
| Victorian Slang: 25% |
| New England Slang: 0% |
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
J's Weight and Hearing Issues
I took J in for his 4 month shots today. He's a whopping 12 lbs now!
J was all cheerful today, until those shots happened. Then he cried, of course. I don't blame the little tyke. He's on Tylenol now, 'cause he's rather out of sorts, and I assume he's probably got some pain at the injection site. I hope he feels better really soon.
Poor little man!
The nurses expressed concern about his hearing. There was a note in the file from his 2 month shots that said they weren't able to wake him with sound. Today, he was awake, but he didn't react to noise. They shook bells over his head, and I snapped my fingers behind him. He didn't react at all to either thing.
I am scared. I'm glad he has his hearing test on Monday. Hopefully we will get some answers at that time.
As for me and my state of mind today, I can't even remember names, today's date ... nothing. I may be anemic again. So I have to get some bloodwork to see how I'm doing. I doubt I'm anemic; I'm not sleeping well, and when I get anemic, you can't wake me up at all. The insomnia is probably what's doing me in. That and the worry about J's hearing.
J was all cheerful today, until those shots happened. Then he cried, of course. I don't blame the little tyke. He's on Tylenol now, 'cause he's rather out of sorts, and I assume he's probably got some pain at the injection site. I hope he feels better really soon.
Poor little man!
The nurses expressed concern about his hearing. There was a note in the file from his 2 month shots that said they weren't able to wake him with sound. Today, he was awake, but he didn't react to noise. They shook bells over his head, and I snapped my fingers behind him. He didn't react at all to either thing.
I am scared. I'm glad he has his hearing test on Monday. Hopefully we will get some answers at that time.
As for me and my state of mind today, I can't even remember names, today's date ... nothing. I may be anemic again. So I have to get some bloodwork to see how I'm doing. I doubt I'm anemic; I'm not sleeping well, and when I get anemic, you can't wake me up at all. The insomnia is probably what's doing me in. That and the worry about J's hearing.
I Have a Soul (or so they tell me)
Soul ranger
You scored 16 soulful!
You are loving life and everything in it.
Doing anything is not just a new thing, but it is a life affirming experience that brings even more depth to your mindset on every occurrence.
You can talk the talk and walk the walk, philosopically speaking.
Your friends probably come to you for advice and insight into things that they haven't got yet. Most of them probably think you are a bit weird, but like your company nonetheless. You don't see your friends in the same light as yourself, except for maybe the odd one or two who know exactly where you are coming from and are probably on the same par as you.
Just don't let all this go to your head and become a spirital wanker who puts 'Blessed Be' at the end of your emails or tells everyone that they're a druid.
If you liked my test, send it to your friends!
The Do you have a soul Test
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=6251677709245916484
You scored 16 soulful!
You are loving life and everything in it.
Doing anything is not just a new thing, but it is a life affirming experience that brings even more depth to your mindset on every occurrence.
You can talk the talk and walk the walk, philosopically speaking.
Your friends probably come to you for advice and insight into things that they haven't got yet. Most of them probably think you are a bit weird, but like your company nonetheless. You don't see your friends in the same light as yourself, except for maybe the odd one or two who know exactly where you are coming from and are probably on the same par as you.
Just don't let all this go to your head and become a spirital wanker who puts 'Blessed Be' at the end of your emails or tells everyone that they're a druid.
If you liked my test, send it to your friends!
The Do you have a soul Test
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=6251677709245916484
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Meemaw back from Orlando
J's Meemaw (she's a surrogate grandma to him) came by for a visit today. She's been in Orlando, and she brought back some cute things for J. She brought him a t-shirt and a hat. Of course, his head is so tiny the hat won't fit for awhile, but it will fit eventually. The shirt should work now, though.
She also brought him a stuffed Mickey Mouse (which is adorable), and a set of Mickey Mouse ears on a headband. They have the wizard hat in the middle. They'll fit him for years to come. But, as you can see, they are a bit big for him just now!
J's Meemaw seemed to enjoy holding him. He was all smiles and coos for a little while. But then he decided it was nap time, and nothing else would do. He's been sleeping for a little while now. He is such a precious little angel!
She also brought him a stuffed Mickey Mouse (which is adorable), and a set of Mickey Mouse ears on a headband. They have the wizard hat in the middle. They'll fit him for years to come. But, as you can see, they are a bit big for him just now!
J's Meemaw seemed to enjoy holding him. He was all smiles and coos for a little while. But then he decided it was nap time, and nothing else would do. He's been sleeping for a little while now. He is such a precious little angel!
Monday, August 01, 2005
We Have a Duck (and Other Tidbits)
Around 4:00 today, J had his diaper changed. It was, apparently, quite a harrowing experience for him. He screamed so loudly while H was changing him, that I could hear him all the way into our basement! (I was getting the clean diapers out of the dryer at the time.)
When I came back upstairs, J was still screaming. I started putting my finger over his mouth and pulling it away repeatedly. With the slight interruptions to his intensity of scream, he sounded exactly like Donald Duck on a rampage! It was so funny, H and I both split our sides laughing.
God, I love my little boy!
On another note, earlier today, H decided to mow the lawn. He had his big work gloves out, and was using them to torment the cat. Jivercat was, as usual, lying across one of the bar stools in the kitchen. When H started batting the work glove in Jive's direction, the cat started batting back and playing. He got so excited, he slipped between the two bar stools and started falling, head first. H had to grab him as he was falling to save him. It was so cute and funny, watching our kitty fall off his chair that way. (Crazy cat!)
It was a good day for us. We had a nice visit with maple mom2 and her daughter. We hadn't seen them in a long time, and I was so happy they were able to come by while they were in town. H picked up skirting for our deck, so that should be getting done in the near future. I got some housework done, which was good; I've fallen sorely behind of late. Yes indeed; we were quite productive today. J had a good day too; he had some good naps and some good playtime also. He sure loves to kick his feet and imitate sounds now. I hope he will sleep well tonight.
My life is good. So very good.
When I came back upstairs, J was still screaming. I started putting my finger over his mouth and pulling it away repeatedly. With the slight interruptions to his intensity of scream, he sounded exactly like Donald Duck on a rampage! It was so funny, H and I both split our sides laughing.
God, I love my little boy!
On another note, earlier today, H decided to mow the lawn. He had his big work gloves out, and was using them to torment the cat. Jivercat was, as usual, lying across one of the bar stools in the kitchen. When H started batting the work glove in Jive's direction, the cat started batting back and playing. He got so excited, he slipped between the two bar stools and started falling, head first. H had to grab him as he was falling to save him. It was so cute and funny, watching our kitty fall off his chair that way. (Crazy cat!)
It was a good day for us. We had a nice visit with maple mom2 and her daughter. We hadn't seen them in a long time, and I was so happy they were able to come by while they were in town. H picked up skirting for our deck, so that should be getting done in the near future. I got some housework done, which was good; I've fallen sorely behind of late. Yes indeed; we were quite productive today. J had a good day too; he had some good naps and some good playtime also. He sure loves to kick his feet and imitate sounds now. I hope he will sleep well tonight.
My life is good. So very good.
First Post on Blogspot
I took the Personality Defect Quiz some time ago. It came out pretty indecisive, but based on recent events, I have concluded that my personality defect type must be the "Spiteful Loner". I thought about making this my blog address, but decided against it. It's really not who I am.
Please have no fear. I promise I will not go on a shooting rampage. I don't hate people - well, at least not ALL of them. And at least not all the time!
I am feeling quite jaded at the moment. I think it is time for a change. So I thought I'd try out Blogspot. I hope I like it.
I'm slowly going to transfer all of our old stuff over from an old blog.
Please have no fear. I promise I will not go on a shooting rampage. I don't hate people - well, at least not ALL of them. And at least not all the time!
I am feeling quite jaded at the moment. I think it is time for a change. So I thought I'd try out Blogspot. I hope I like it.
I'm slowly going to transfer all of our old stuff over from an old blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)