Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Fifty bucks later.... a day well spent
Tad's friend came to town today with his daughter, who is Coen's age and his niece, who is 15 (who I adore) and we went to the public museum. I found myself, before the day started, having to let go of things financial. We can get into Betty Brinn's for free but the public museum was the favored venue. I wanted to park on the street and just feed the meters, but the underground parking was so much easier.
I pocketed a fifty dollar bill given us by my parents as one of our MANY wonderful Christmas presents and decided to go with it.
Museum admission for a family of four: $42
Watching Coen hunt for the Estonian room at the European village part of the Streets of Old Milwaukee to please his Momma and having Lucy clutch at me me in mock terror when the monkey in the rain forest exhibit roared: Priceless.... I know..its an old joke, but I couldn't resist it. And I'm not done yet.
Parking underground at the museum: $10
But priceless: Getting to leave and enter the museum unencumbered by coats, hats, mittens, boots or other winter accoutrement's. Getting to the car fifteen seconds after we were done with the museum and ready to go home to regroup.
That was the morning activities. This afternoon/evening, we joined another family at their house and ate a lovely dinner and talked while our children played with their children in relative harmoniousness all evening long.
It was a lovely lovely day.
I pocketed a fifty dollar bill given us by my parents as one of our MANY wonderful Christmas presents and decided to go with it.
Museum admission for a family of four: $42
Watching Coen hunt for the Estonian room at the European village part of the Streets of Old Milwaukee to please his Momma and having Lucy clutch at me me in mock terror when the monkey in the rain forest exhibit roared: Priceless.... I know..its an old joke, but I couldn't resist it. And I'm not done yet.
Parking underground at the museum: $10
But priceless: Getting to leave and enter the museum unencumbered by coats, hats, mittens, boots or other winter accoutrement's. Getting to the car fifteen seconds after we were done with the museum and ready to go home to regroup.
That was the morning activities. This afternoon/evening, we joined another family at their house and ate a lovely dinner and talked while our children played with their children in relative harmoniousness all evening long.
It was a lovely lovely day.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Happy Holidays
Well, I do apologize for being so remiss in my blogging... its been busy... obviously. I have told our 12 days of Christmas story to countless people and have not once told it without getting teary-eyed.
We had a lovely holiday. Yesterday, I took a walk with Tad and I realized that the last time we took a walk together, we were talking about the stress of going into the holidays. And yesterday, it was all over and I can't believe how fast that all went.
We started out our winter break quite poorly actually, but things only did (and could have) gone uphill from there. We were supposed to have someone take our kids all day the day before Christmas eve and Tad and I were planning on spending some much needed time alone together and finish up some last minute details... but our date day was cancelled at the last moment. I don't know about you, but when I think I'm going to be rid of my children for a whole day after a long run of working hard both at work and as a parent.... I mentally check out. Which is what I did...about an hour before we were supposed to drop off our kids. So when it was cancelled, for the rest of the day, I couldn't quite check back in. It was a long day. At one point, we were at McDonalds (having taken the kids there in desperation when they too were disappointed about missing out on their day away from us), we were sitting silently, Tad and I both a little sullen, our kids arguing over happy meal toys, french fries strewn about the table...Tad said to me: "We are like the rest of America right now." Nooooooooooooooo! But I take solace in the fact that most days, we are not like the rest of America.
The holidays however, were lovely. We spent Christmas eve with my family and the 25th with Tad's family. I was really proud of my kids, who opened their presents with appreciation and never once asked why there wasn't more. They showed gratitude to all their gift givers. One trick for that is that before Christmas, we practice opening presents.
Here's how it works:
I give Coen a box. "Here's your present!"
Coen pretends to open it.
"It's socks!"
"THANK YOU!!!", says Coen appreciatively.
I give him another box which he pretends to open.
"It's a star wars lego set"
"THANK YOU!!!", says Coen appreciatively.
It is good practice!
So we spent Christmas night at home, playing with new toys and eating leftovers for dinner. We've pretty much been doing that since. I love this time of year. And I love most that I was able to save up all my vacation days. I have been off since last week Tuesday and will be off the rest of this week. Stay at home mommy-hood is awesome. For two weeks. That's all I can take but I do love this two weeks.
Happy Holidays everyone.
We had a lovely holiday. Yesterday, I took a walk with Tad and I realized that the last time we took a walk together, we were talking about the stress of going into the holidays. And yesterday, it was all over and I can't believe how fast that all went.
We started out our winter break quite poorly actually, but things only did (and could have) gone uphill from there. We were supposed to have someone take our kids all day the day before Christmas eve and Tad and I were planning on spending some much needed time alone together and finish up some last minute details... but our date day was cancelled at the last moment. I don't know about you, but when I think I'm going to be rid of my children for a whole day after a long run of working hard both at work and as a parent.... I mentally check out. Which is what I did...about an hour before we were supposed to drop off our kids. So when it was cancelled, for the rest of the day, I couldn't quite check back in. It was a long day. At one point, we were at McDonalds (having taken the kids there in desperation when they too were disappointed about missing out on their day away from us), we were sitting silently, Tad and I both a little sullen, our kids arguing over happy meal toys, french fries strewn about the table...Tad said to me: "We are like the rest of America right now." Nooooooooooooooo! But I take solace in the fact that most days, we are not like the rest of America.
The holidays however, were lovely. We spent Christmas eve with my family and the 25th with Tad's family. I was really proud of my kids, who opened their presents with appreciation and never once asked why there wasn't more. They showed gratitude to all their gift givers. One trick for that is that before Christmas, we practice opening presents.
Here's how it works:
I give Coen a box. "Here's your present!"
Coen pretends to open it.
"It's socks!"
"THANK YOU!!!", says Coen appreciatively.
I give him another box which he pretends to open.
"It's a star wars lego set"
"THANK YOU!!!", says Coen appreciatively.
It is good practice!
So we spent Christmas night at home, playing with new toys and eating leftovers for dinner. We've pretty much been doing that since. I love this time of year. And I love most that I was able to save up all my vacation days. I have been off since last week Tuesday and will be off the rest of this week. Stay at home mommy-hood is awesome. For two weeks. That's all I can take but I do love this two weeks.
Happy Holidays everyone.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Happy Winter Solstice
Today is the winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. It was also Coen's last day of school for twelve days! After we picked him up from school, I had the kids come into the back yard with their snowsuits on. I told them that the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and one of the greatest things about that is that it means that every night-tomorrow and the next night and the next night, the nights get shorter and shorter and the sun shines on us for longer and longer each day. Then I told them that we were going to have a Solstice scavenger hunt.
I told them this story:
Long ago there was just space, dark empty space going on forever and ever, but that long long ago, in our galaxy, the earth formed. Scientists do not know exactly how the universe formed but that some say that many particles of rock crashed together to form planets and some say that many particles of rock blew apart to form planets...
Here I told them to go find some rock. They both brought me one and I went on.
The earth also has two very important Elements. Wood and Earth. Wood is what we use to build our houses and our furniture and it gives us shelter and a place to sleep. Earth is what lets us plant seeds to grow which turns into vegetables and fruits and grains and good things for us to eat.
I told them to find me earth and wood and they each brought me a stick and some grass they had pulled. I went on.
We went inside then and Tad and I gave them each a present (a superhero cape for each kid that I sewed) and then we ate a fancy solstice dinner complete with sparkling grape juice and fancy glasses. And guess what dinner was.... The third day of Christmas, our true friends gave to us----Three French Hens!
We had our Cornish game hens for supper with stuffing, red potatoes, and brown sugar carrots. It was delicious. And the kids were so excited to be eating our three french hens.
Thank you again, 12 days of Christmas elves and fairies!
And happy Solstice everyone!
I told them this story:
Long ago there was just space, dark empty space going on forever and ever, but that long long ago, in our galaxy, the earth formed. Scientists do not know exactly how the universe formed but that some say that many particles of rock crashed together to form planets and some say that many particles of rock blew apart to form planets...
Here I told them to go find some rock. They both brought me one and I went on.
When the planets formed, scientists decided that probably the earth was the one planet that has water on it.
I told them to find me something made of water. They both brought me a snowball. They looked at me, ready for more story.We are very lucky that the earth has water for us to drink and also has air to breathe
All four of us took a big breath of air and we watched how the cold made the warm air we breathed come out like smoke. The earth also has two very important Elements. Wood and Earth. Wood is what we use to build our houses and our furniture and it gives us shelter and a place to sleep. Earth is what lets us plant seeds to grow which turns into vegetables and fruits and grains and good things for us to eat.
I told them to find me earth and wood and they each brought me a stick and some grass they had pulled. I went on.
The last element of our earth is something I mentioned in the beginning. And that comes from one very important star in the sky that gives us our light and our warmth and helps our earth be a place that people can live and grow. What is that star? I asked.
The sun! Yelled Coen and he pointed to a candle that I had burning on the picnic table. I told him that it was very good, and that the candle represented the sun or fire.And we are very lucky because we have all these elements in our earth and we also have one thing that comes from putting many of these elements together. And that is food. We have everything we need on our earth to survive and grow. And even better, and why we are the luckiest of all is that we have each other and all the people in our lives to love and to love us.
I had hidden two frosted gingerbread cookies shaped as snowflakes in the yard and both kids found theirs.We went inside then and Tad and I gave them each a present (a superhero cape for each kid that I sewed) and then we ate a fancy solstice dinner complete with sparkling grape juice and fancy glasses. And guess what dinner was.... The third day of Christmas, our true friends gave to us----Three French Hens!
We had our Cornish game hens for supper with stuffing, red potatoes, and brown sugar carrots. It was delicious. And the kids were so excited to be eating our three french hens. Thank you again, 12 days of Christmas elves and fairies!
And happy Solstice everyone!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Joan Baez, politics, music, and motherhood
I just watched a Joan Baez documentary from PBS American Masters. I'm really feeling quite immersed in it, even though it is over...
I am a musician. I am an activist. I am a mother. Just like Joan Baez. But unlike Joan Baez (not that I'm trying to draw a comparison between myself and her...just the things we have in common) I never dedicated myself fully to music. I played at coffee shops and bars, got into a few bands for which I couldn't quite become the front woman that was required. I wrote songs, recorded a CD and I will say that being on stage is the absolute most at home place I have ever felt and maybe ever will.. But I had children and suddenly I haven't written a whole song that I like, since I was 28. I never play anywhere anymore. Aside from playing "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly" or other kiddie favorites, I pick up my guitar twice a month...maybe.
I am an activist. But not an activist like I'd dreamed of being. I used to feel I was born in the wrong decade... I wanted to be part of the peace protests and the sit ins and the marches. I wanted to get arrested. I've been to my fair of marches against the gulf war and the war in Iraq... I've been to peace rallies and demonstrations--I even sang at a few... I went door to door canvassing for Fair Wisconsin, for the right for my gay and lesbian friends to marry.... But I haven't really gone out of my comfort zone...
I am a mother. That I have done exactly how I wanted to... I gave birth to both my children without drugs. I loved pregnancy. I loved nursing both my children. I play with them. I set up elaborate indoor forts with blankets and pillows. I sing to them. I read to them. I make up stories with voices and characters that go on for a half hour or however long the car ride is... I feel heart bursting joy watching them eat their vegetables. I hide my tears when I sing to them at night and can't believe how much love I feel.... And of course, sometimes I can't wait for them to go to bed. Sometimes I would sooner do a load of wash than sit on the floor and play Lego's for another second. I skip pages in a book, so that the bedtime routine is over sooner.... And even sometimes I feel like I'm parenting with one foot out the door, my head on whatever I'm doing after bedtime... But I know for the most part, I have put myself into it ...heart and soul...
And sometimes I get worried... have I become less me? I don't play music anymore. I don't volunteer for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, or even Fair Wisconsin anymore..because I have two kids. And when the workday is over, I want to come home and be THERE with them.
So Joan Baez was talking about how she knows her son felt resentful because she would leave his side and interrupt story time to get the phone and be booked for another march. But she was also talking about how important the politics and organizing was to her. And I hear about other musicians, mostly men, who couldn't possibly stay with their children and their families and the everyday life that goes along with having little ones AND have their music career.
Can I be an artist and a good mother too? How do we live our lives and nurture every part of them, and still nurture the little people that we made? I'm not sure. And maybe I still am nurturing my musical self when I freestyle a song at 7:30 at night because Lucy wants to hear a lullaby about a bunny in a a bunny hole and I don't know any real ones. Maybe I am still nurturing my political self when I send emails, letters and speak out in general for the things I believe in. When I teach my children how important it is that all people's love is real and deserves to be recognized...when I teach them that Daddy and I think war is wrong... Maybe that doesn't make me less an organizer and less a musician... Just because I'm more a mom.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I'm not always sure where I'm going at all. But I like who I'm going with anyway. I think its probably time to hit an open mic night. Or stage an uprising. Open mic sounds easier though.
I am a musician. I am an activist. I am a mother. Just like Joan Baez. But unlike Joan Baez (not that I'm trying to draw a comparison between myself and her...just the things we have in common) I never dedicated myself fully to music. I played at coffee shops and bars, got into a few bands for which I couldn't quite become the front woman that was required. I wrote songs, recorded a CD and I will say that being on stage is the absolute most at home place I have ever felt and maybe ever will.. But I had children and suddenly I haven't written a whole song that I like, since I was 28. I never play anywhere anymore. Aside from playing "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly" or other kiddie favorites, I pick up my guitar twice a month...maybe.
I am an activist. But not an activist like I'd dreamed of being. I used to feel I was born in the wrong decade... I wanted to be part of the peace protests and the sit ins and the marches. I wanted to get arrested. I've been to my fair of marches against the gulf war and the war in Iraq... I've been to peace rallies and demonstrations--I even sang at a few... I went door to door canvassing for Fair Wisconsin, for the right for my gay and lesbian friends to marry.... But I haven't really gone out of my comfort zone...
I am a mother. That I have done exactly how I wanted to... I gave birth to both my children without drugs. I loved pregnancy. I loved nursing both my children. I play with them. I set up elaborate indoor forts with blankets and pillows. I sing to them. I read to them. I make up stories with voices and characters that go on for a half hour or however long the car ride is... I feel heart bursting joy watching them eat their vegetables. I hide my tears when I sing to them at night and can't believe how much love I feel.... And of course, sometimes I can't wait for them to go to bed. Sometimes I would sooner do a load of wash than sit on the floor and play Lego's for another second. I skip pages in a book, so that the bedtime routine is over sooner.... And even sometimes I feel like I'm parenting with one foot out the door, my head on whatever I'm doing after bedtime... But I know for the most part, I have put myself into it ...heart and soul...
And sometimes I get worried... have I become less me? I don't play music anymore. I don't volunteer for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, or even Fair Wisconsin anymore..because I have two kids. And when the workday is over, I want to come home and be THERE with them.
So Joan Baez was talking about how she knows her son felt resentful because she would leave his side and interrupt story time to get the phone and be booked for another march. But she was also talking about how important the politics and organizing was to her. And I hear about other musicians, mostly men, who couldn't possibly stay with their children and their families and the everyday life that goes along with having little ones AND have their music career.
Can I be an artist and a good mother too? How do we live our lives and nurture every part of them, and still nurture the little people that we made? I'm not sure. And maybe I still am nurturing my musical self when I freestyle a song at 7:30 at night because Lucy wants to hear a lullaby about a bunny in a a bunny hole and I don't know any real ones. Maybe I am still nurturing my political self when I send emails, letters and speak out in general for the things I believe in. When I teach my children how important it is that all people's love is real and deserves to be recognized...when I teach them that Daddy and I think war is wrong... Maybe that doesn't make me less an organizer and less a musician... Just because I'm more a mom.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I'm not always sure where I'm going at all. But I like who I'm going with anyway. I think its probably time to hit an open mic night. Or stage an uprising. Open mic sounds easier though.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
....and.... Twelve Drummers Drumming
First of all, I woke up BEFORE my children. Dearest readers, those among you who have small children know what a gem this is. I had almost twenty minutes of silent household. So excited with this time was I, I actually tried to read my book AND knit at the same time. That didn't really work. So I alternated chapter for row. A short time later, I heard the quiet "Mamma?" floating down the steps from my younger child. I went up to get her dressed and freshly diapered and Coen hopped in to join us. We all went downstairs to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" And Coen immediately to the front window to see if we had a basket waiting. "Mom!" He said. "there's no basket!" I told him that we'd have to wait and see but that it would happen.
At lunchtime we had some friends over to help us eat some leftover food from our Saturday night gathering. Coen continued to check the windows and the back door for our twelfth day gift. I told him that he just had to stop thinking about it and it would appear as it had done the last week and a half. Shortly after, a group of Christmas elves and fairies, child and adult came marching up to our front door, twelve of them playing drums, all singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas." I carried Lucy to the front porch and Tad brought Coen. I immediately had tears in my eyes. Our secret gift givers were not our neighbors (boy was I wrong!) but this collection of wonderfully kind, creative, thoughtful and generous individuals--as I said fairies and elves.... That is all I will say. I have sworn an oath of Christmas secrecy.
But if any of you are reading my blog, thank you thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Tad and I were overwhelmed with the gifts you gave us and that you chose us to give them to. We made a thank you note for each of the twelve baskets, they are pictured above.
Oh and their gift this time, was not only of song, but they left behind a box of ice cream sundae drumsticks. Coen and Lucy ate theirs tonight after dinner.
After our elves and fairies left, and our visitors, The kids went back upstairs to play. (They were pretending to be baby bears hibernating for the winter up in Coen's room) and Tad and I sat downstairs together and marvelled at how lucky, and how blessed we are.
Thank you.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Ten Lords a Leaping and Eleven Drummers Drumming
Last night as we were getting home from Coen's holiday program at school, everyone tired out and up way past bedtime, we walked up to our door and saw a box sitting there. Inside this elaborately folded box, hanging strings and affixed by tape and glue, were 10 lords a leaping. There was Darth Vader and Darth Maul and Count Dooku, Al Pacino, Baby Jesus and an assortment of Eastern Gods... Coen was so excited about the Darth Maul Lego figure that he was first speechless and then fell on his knees, very odd noises coming from his mouth!
Needless to say, the kids stayed up a bit later, examining all the flying lords, taking them out and playing with them. It was a late night and lucky for us, a slightly later morning.
In the morning after we'd finished Elmo's Potty Time, Coen looked out the window and spotted our basket. Inside of a lovely large glass vase were 8 little plastic whistles, two new years horns and one recorder. The kids played with the horns with glee, and we shared our plastic horns with some friends who came over this evening.
Tomorrow is the twelfth day of Christmas... Will we find out who our generous, creative, and amazingly thoughtful and generous gifters are? Stay tuned!!!
Sweet dreams.
Needless to say, the kids stayed up a bit later, examining all the flying lords, taking them out and playing with them. It was a late night and lucky for us, a slightly later morning.
In the morning after we'd finished Elmo's Potty Time, Coen looked out the window and spotted our basket. Inside of a lovely large glass vase were 8 little plastic whistles, two new years horns and one recorder. The kids played with the horns with glee, and we shared our plastic horns with some friends who came over this evening.
Tomorrow is the twelfth day of Christmas... Will we find out who our generous, creative, and amazingly thoughtful and generous gifters are? Stay tuned!!!
Sweet dreams.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Nine ladies dancing
But all bets were off when after dinner Coen looked outside and noticed basket number nine on our front doorstep. Nine ladies dancing tonight!
It was a plate of lovely pink cupcakes with nine little ballerinas, one in each cupcake. So suddenly...it WAS a treat night.
And a very enjoyable one at that.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Eight Maids 'a milking
I had an early meeting this morning and now I'm stopped off at home before I go teach a Boundaries and Personal Space class...
Today was eight maids a milking.
We all went outside together to leave for the day for work, school, daycare, what have you... and there was a basket outside the garage with eight little organic milk boxes--chocolate and white.. with pictures on them of
Rosie from the Jetsons
Benson
The Facts of Life's Mrs. Garrott (Charlotte Rae)
The broom from Beauty and the Beast
Who's the Boss-Tony Danza
Mr. Belvedere
Alice from the Brady Bunch
and
Florence from the Jeffersons.
Wow.
Today was eight maids a milking.
We all went outside together to leave for the day for work, school, daycare, what have you... and there was a basket outside the garage with eight little organic milk boxes--chocolate and white.. with pictures on them of
Rosie from the Jetsons
Benson
The Facts of Life's Mrs. Garrott (Charlotte Rae)
The broom from Beauty and the Beast
Who's the Boss-Tony Danza
Mr. Belvedere
Alice from the Brady Bunch
and
Florence from the Jeffersons.
Wow.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Seven Swans a Swimming
After our dinner (last night's leftovers) and a very enthusiastic showing off of somersaults on Coen's couch by both children, we saw our seventh package on the front porch.
Today was a velvety box and inside was a beautifully painted ceramic tile with the picture of a swan on it. Underneath was a musical note and the phrase "Seven Swans a' Swimming" I put it in the kitchen. There were also red origami folded swans, which Coen and Lucy immediately took out to play with.
I feel lucky to have such a great family. I feel extremely lucky to have such wonderful neighbors who are so generous, thoughtful and creative. I'm getting as excited as the kids to check our doorstep every day!
I'm going to go do the dishes now and then Tad and I are playing scrabble tonight! Wish me luck. I really like winning at scrabble!!!
Today was a velvety box and inside was a beautifully painted ceramic tile with the picture of a swan on it. Underneath was a musical note and the phrase "Seven Swans a' Swimming" I put it in the kitchen. There were also red origami folded swans, which Coen and Lucy immediately took out to play with.
I feel lucky to have such a great family. I feel extremely lucky to have such wonderful neighbors who are so generous, thoughtful and creative. I'm getting as excited as the kids to check our doorstep every day!
I'm going to go do the dishes now and then Tad and I are playing scrabble tonight! Wish me luck. I really like winning at scrabble!!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Six Geese a-laying
It was COLD today. Coen and Lucy came down to breakfast and I told them that Jack Frost had come. They hurried over to see all the pretty designs on the windows. Coen ran back and forth from the window to the table, scraping ice off the windows and putting it in his oatmeal.
After work today, I picked up Lucy and then Coen while the pork kabobs (I bought this HUGE pork tenderloin and froze it in parts--it is lasting us five meals!) and the homemade french fries baked in the oven. (For the fries, just cut a peeled potatoe into thin strips, shake up in a bowl with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt and rosemary). Tad went out so I was going to be home with the kids alone. Its been awhile. Lucy was extremely crabby upon pick up so I got a little nervous that the night's trend was beginning.
But we picked up Coen with no incident and then came home. In this freezing weather, our garage door keeps getting stuck halfway as its opening. I was trying to fix it (and had attempted to open the door six times with no success) and then realized that Coen was antagonizing Lucy in the car. I made him get out and come see if he could reach to press the garage door button. He touched it and it opened. All the way! I told him he was magic. We all got out of the garage and there was a basket sitting right by our back fence.
I brought it in and the Coen and Lucy opened it up. It was an emptied egg carton wrapped in cellophane. In the cups were six little ornaments with a paper ornaments to match. The paper ornaments had little nursery rhymes or poems to go with. Coen and Lucy had fun playing with the ornaments while I read all the rhymes. Then they hung each one on the tree. They didn't even fight over who hung what. It was magical!!
I sing, I sing
From morn till night
From cares I'm free
And my heart is light.
Happy sixth day.
After work today, I picked up Lucy and then Coen while the pork kabobs (I bought this HUGE pork tenderloin and froze it in parts--it is lasting us five meals!) and the homemade french fries baked in the oven. (For the fries, just cut a peeled potatoe into thin strips, shake up in a bowl with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt and rosemary). Tad went out so I was going to be home with the kids alone. Its been awhile. Lucy was extremely crabby upon pick up so I got a little nervous that the night's trend was beginning.
But we picked up Coen with no incident and then came home. In this freezing weather, our garage door keeps getting stuck halfway as its opening. I was trying to fix it (and had attempted to open the door six times with no success) and then realized that Coen was antagonizing Lucy in the car. I made him get out and come see if he could reach to press the garage door button. He touched it and it opened. All the way! I told him he was magic. We all got out of the garage and there was a basket sitting right by our back fence.
I brought it in and the Coen and Lucy opened it up. It was an emptied egg carton wrapped in cellophane. In the cups were six little ornaments with a paper ornaments to match. The paper ornaments had little nursery rhymes or poems to go with. Coen and Lucy had fun playing with the ornaments while I read all the rhymes. Then they hung each one on the tree. They didn't even fight over who hung what. It was magical!!
I sing, I sing
From morn till night
From cares I'm free
And my heart is light.
Happy sixth day.
Six Geese a-laying, Five GOLDEN RINGS.....
Okay, well, our anonymous 12 days of Christmas giver is keeping it going. I can only assume thatthis is the doing of my next-door neighbors. On Saturday morning, Coen was up at 6:00, excited to watch his Eyewitness Sharks video that his daddy got him at the library. After Lucy got up at 7:00, we all watched Frosty the Snowman. I stood up to put away the DVD and happened to look out the window. There, on the porch, was package number four. I pointed it out to Coen and he ran to the door to retrieve it.
It was a small basket with four little bird whistles. Two of them were beautiful, Mexican looking ceramic. And the other two were plastic birds that whistle like a garden warbler when you fill the bottom part with water. The kids were going crazy blowing their bird whistles around the house for the next 1/2 hour.
We were very lucky to get to drop Coen and Lucy off at my parents' Saturday afternoon for an overnight date night. We went to Tad's cousin's wedding. In between the ceremony and reception, we got some Christmas shopping done (and some coffee).
Sunday morning, we slept in (yay) and got up to wrap the kids' presents while they were out of the house. When my parents arrived with them, Coen found basket number five on the doorstep. It was five red cloth napkins with..... FIVE GOLDEN RINGS...around them.
I told my parents the story of our gifts and soon my sister and family showed up and we all decorated sugar cookies and listened to The Little Drummer Boy on record.
This week I'll be making my cookies and will bring a big container next door!
It was a small basket with four little bird whistles. Two of them were beautiful, Mexican looking ceramic. And the other two were plastic birds that whistle like a garden warbler when you fill the bottom part with water. The kids were going crazy blowing their bird whistles around the house for the next 1/2 hour.
We were very lucky to get to drop Coen and Lucy off at my parents' Saturday afternoon for an overnight date night. We went to Tad's cousin's wedding. In between the ceremony and reception, we got some Christmas shopping done (and some coffee).
Sunday morning, we slept in (yay) and got up to wrap the kids' presents while they were out of the house. When my parents arrived with them, Coen found basket number five on the doorstep. It was five red cloth napkins with..... FIVE GOLDEN RINGS...around them.
I told my parents the story of our gifts and soon my sister and family showed up and we all decorated sugar cookies and listened to The Little Drummer Boy on record.
This week I'll be making my cookies and will bring a big container next door!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
I have received many a kindness since we started this year of simple living. Honestly, I have received many a kindness in my life in general... I had my anonymous gift card donor... who gave me the gifts of a dinner out at Chipotle with my family when I was DESPERATE not to cook dinner, a gift card to Noodles which provided for two lunches on days when I forgot to pack a lunch, and best of all the opportunity to go out to the Cheesecake factory with my girlfriends and have a delicious and fun night out. Thank you anonymous donor! Now I know who you are, due to my super sleuth skills :) But you know that!
Now, two days ago, I went outside to load up the car and there was a basket outside my door. I brought it in to look at it. It was full of pears surrounding a tiny little snowy tree upon which hung little pictures.. After closer inspection I looked at the pictures and finally realized that it was photos of the Partridge family. The pears were ripe and lovely and there were two pear shaped candles as well!
Yesterday, I went outside and there was another basket! This one had two turtles carved out of stone and two Dove chocolate bars... catching on yet?
Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!!! I figure it must be my next door neighbors. They are incredible people. They have eight children, all grown... (gosh, it could be nine...I might be wrong!) and they always leave little gifts for our kids birthdays and other holidays. She is a very crafty woman so even before I caught on to the theme, I realized that it must be from her... because of the tree.
So today, I went outside and there was a basket with three Cornish game hens with little French flags stuck around them. Next to that was a big basket with chicken broth, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, and rolls! This is the most creative and generous and amazingly kind gift. They are giving us the the 12 days of Christmas! I am awestruck and humbled by this.
I know they are doing this in the spirit of kindness, not for retribution, but I am already thinking of how I can do so....
Driving in to work today, I felt very warm and happy. That there are people in the world who take that much time and effort and thought....on just a gift for their neighbors....that makes me know that it is a wonderful world we live in.
Now, two days ago, I went outside to load up the car and there was a basket outside my door. I brought it in to look at it. It was full of pears surrounding a tiny little snowy tree upon which hung little pictures.. After closer inspection I looked at the pictures and finally realized that it was photos of the Partridge family. The pears were ripe and lovely and there were two pear shaped candles as well!
Yesterday, I went outside and there was another basket! This one had two turtles carved out of stone and two Dove chocolate bars... catching on yet?
Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!!! I figure it must be my next door neighbors. They are incredible people. They have eight children, all grown... (gosh, it could be nine...I might be wrong!) and they always leave little gifts for our kids birthdays and other holidays. She is a very crafty woman so even before I caught on to the theme, I realized that it must be from her... because of the tree.
So today, I went outside and there was a basket with three Cornish game hens with little French flags stuck around them. Next to that was a big basket with chicken broth, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, and rolls! This is the most creative and generous and amazingly kind gift. They are giving us the the 12 days of Christmas! I am awestruck and humbled by this.
I know they are doing this in the spirit of kindness, not for retribution, but I am already thinking of how I can do so....
Driving in to work today, I felt very warm and happy. That there are people in the world who take that much time and effort and thought....on just a gift for their neighbors....that makes me know that it is a wonderful world we live in.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Take a deep breath
I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed...
I have gifts to make, cookies to bake, cards to send and a dress to mend (it rhymes AND its true!)
But I am taking a deep breath. Take one with me.
In................ Out.............. In.................... Out.................
Good job.
I love the holidays. And no one is going to die if they don't get to eat one of my pinwheel cookies or if my dad's gift arrives on January 15th instead of December 15th because I screwed up on the ordering (sorry Dad).
Just enjoy yourself. What gets done will get done. Enjoy the twinkly lights. And the snow! (I know it takes million years longer to get out the door in the morning for those of you who have kids, but it sure makes them happy). Have some hot chocolate, or coffee. Dip in a candy cane or a latke. (well that might be gross).
Take another few deep breaths. Enjoy it.
Love,
Alie
I have gifts to make, cookies to bake, cards to send and a dress to mend (it rhymes AND its true!)
But I am taking a deep breath. Take one with me.
In................ Out.............. In.................... Out.................
Good job.
I love the holidays. And no one is going to die if they don't get to eat one of my pinwheel cookies or if my dad's gift arrives on January 15th instead of December 15th because I screwed up on the ordering (sorry Dad).
Just enjoy yourself. What gets done will get done. Enjoy the twinkly lights. And the snow! (I know it takes million years longer to get out the door in the morning for those of you who have kids, but it sure makes them happy). Have some hot chocolate, or coffee. Dip in a candy cane or a latke. (well that might be gross).
Take another few deep breaths. Enjoy it.
Love,
Alie
Monday, December 6, 2010
I've been dreaming of a thrifty christmas
So I've been trying to work on a lot of handmade stuff this year to give as presents. I made superhero capes for both my kids and my nephew. The rest of the stuff I can't say becasue I assume that if no one else is reading my blog, my parents are because that is the cool thing about parents. They read your blog and they notice your bruises and they listen to your stories about the stuff your kids say... and so there fore I will not disclose the other items of hand made origins! Hi Mom and Dad!
But yesterday, having some scrap fabric and leftover iron-on letters, I looked into my little notebook that I keep with me at all times for ideas, thoughts, doodles, and the like. I found this little doodle I did of a wierd little plant with the words next to it "and and and and and" I only had enough iron-on letters for 3 'ands' but I thought, since I had this plain blue shirt I was doing nothing with and time alone with my sewing machine, I'd make myself a little present.
Voilla! There's my new shirt. The only sad thing is that I was expecting to come to work today and have all these people say "Wow, what a wierd shirt! Where did you get it?" and I would smile gleefully and say proudly "I MADE it!" Yeah, that didn't happen. No one said a thing. Although my coworker Ben did give it a once over glance, so I jumped on it! "Do you like my shirt!!" I said, "I made it!" "And and and..." Ben said.
Well, I will wear it again. Perhaps to another arena. Maybe I'll make some more after this holiday season is over and I'm done knitting and sewing and cutting and pasting presents for my family.
 |
| Me and my homemade shirt |
But yesterday, having some scrap fabric and leftover iron-on letters, I looked into my little notebook that I keep with me at all times for ideas, thoughts, doodles, and the like. I found this little doodle I did of a wierd little plant with the words next to it "and and and and and" I only had enough iron-on letters for 3 'ands' but I thought, since I had this plain blue shirt I was doing nothing with and time alone with my sewing machine, I'd make myself a little present.
Voilla! There's my new shirt. The only sad thing is that I was expecting to come to work today and have all these people say "Wow, what a wierd shirt! Where did you get it?" and I would smile gleefully and say proudly "I MADE it!" Yeah, that didn't happen. No one said a thing. Although my coworker Ben did give it a once over glance, so I jumped on it! "Do you like my shirt!!" I said, "I made it!" "And and and..." Ben said.
Well, I will wear it again. Perhaps to another arena. Maybe I'll make some more after this holiday season is over and I'm done knitting and sewing and cutting and pasting presents for my family.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Winter Wendall
Tad and I are attempting to give our children a nature-filled Solstice-focused holiday season. In this vain, Tad invented Winter Wendall when Coen was a baby. Winter Wendall is a winter wizard who has a long white beard and a crooked nose and lives in the forest in a huge old hollow tree. He comes in early December (on St. Nick's schedule) and delivers presents and candy to the kids' stockings.
He came this year along with the season's first snowfall and it was lovely.
Coen got a star wars toy and reader book. Lucy got a Hello Kitty coloring book and a wooden pizza for her kitchen set. Both got fairy food, peppermints and lollipops. Tad received a bottle of Sprecher Ginger Ale, a Mississippi Mud bar from the Public Market and a music magazine. I received a knit hat, a bag of my favorite candy and a sewing magazine.
We celebrated by letting the kids eat candy in the morning after breakfast and then going outside to play in the freshly fallen snow. Then we watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special and put up our Solstice tree.
Happy Winter Wendall, everyone!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The outcome of the dentist debacle
Debacle is a weird word isn't it? It could be some Italian dessert. Debacle with vanilla cream sauce. Or chocolate cake with debacle ganache. Or some kind of fancy eyeglass. Hold on, let me get my debacle before I read that document. Or you could just say it a bunch of times in a row until it no longer makes sense. debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle debacle
debacle
debacle
debacle
Anyway...yes, my dentist debacle. Remember that? How they denied my appeal and how mad I was in that cartoon picture I drew of myself?
Well, let me tell you. That after I had my appeal denied I called an advocacy agency and they said they would take the matter up. They too were denied. What?! Even the experts!
So I wrote a very pleasant and unscathing letter to the dentists office, explaining the situation and asking, very kindly, if they might be willing to remove this fee from my record OR at least help me with part of it, since they were indeed the ones who peer pressured---well, hygienist pressured me into making the six-month appointment AND then giving me a six-month appointment two days before the actual six months.
And guess what?!! The dentist office called me last week Wednesday (and I do apologize for having forgotten to tell you.) and said that they received my letter and would be more than happy to take that particular bill off my record! Isn't that nice?
I tell ya, a little advocacy goes a long way!
debacle
debacle
debacle
Anyway...yes, my dentist debacle. Remember that? How they denied my appeal and how mad I was in that cartoon picture I drew of myself?
Well, let me tell you. That after I had my appeal denied I called an advocacy agency and they said they would take the matter up. They too were denied. What?! Even the experts!
So I wrote a very pleasant and unscathing letter to the dentists office, explaining the situation and asking, very kindly, if they might be willing to remove this fee from my record OR at least help me with part of it, since they were indeed the ones who peer pressured---well, hygienist pressured me into making the six-month appointment AND then giving me a six-month appointment two days before the actual six months.
And guess what?!! The dentist office called me last week Wednesday (and I do apologize for having forgotten to tell you.) and said that they received my letter and would be more than happy to take that particular bill off my record! Isn't that nice?
I tell ya, a little advocacy goes a long way!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Crash! Bang!
Well, today I crashed my car (accidentally of course) into another car on Howell Avenue in Oak Creek. I didn't mean it! It was an accident!! I was a dumb-ass and I just merged over to the turn lane without looking.
The lady I hit was pretty mad. She came out yelling.
We pulled over to exchange information and she was still yelling about her new car and the big dent I put in it. I cried. (of course. When don't I cry, you might be asking yourself!) I really didn't want her to call the police (single income family, cost of a ticket, insurance hikes blah blah blah and more tears) But she called the cops and the Oak Creek officer arrived, he was the nicest, most patient and cool officer I've ever met.
He reassured me that "accidents happen". Of course, I heard another being called in as we spoke. I wasn't the only dumb-ass today. That was reassuring. I have been stopped by so many police officers who have intimidated me, been annoyed with me, been on a power trip with me... but not this one.
He told me that he had to write me a citation but that he'd give me the cheapest one that he could. Turns out dangerous lane change is cheaper than inattentive driving. Go figure. At any rate, he was so courteous and well...good at serving and protecting that I came away from the whole experience feeling like I'd learned a very important lesson: Never merge before you look!
The lady I hit was pretty mad. She came out yelling.
We pulled over to exchange information and she was still yelling about her new car and the big dent I put in it. I cried. (of course. When don't I cry, you might be asking yourself!) I really didn't want her to call the police (single income family, cost of a ticket, insurance hikes blah blah blah and more tears) But she called the cops and the Oak Creek officer arrived, he was the nicest, most patient and cool officer I've ever met.
He reassured me that "accidents happen". Of course, I heard another being called in as we spoke. I wasn't the only dumb-ass today. That was reassuring. I have been stopped by so many police officers who have intimidated me, been annoyed with me, been on a power trip with me... but not this one.
He told me that he had to write me a citation but that he'd give me the cheapest one that he could. Turns out dangerous lane change is cheaper than inattentive driving. Go figure. At any rate, he was so courteous and well...good at serving and protecting that I came away from the whole experience feeling like I'd learned a very important lesson: Never merge before you look!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thankful
Happy Thanksgiving.
I gotta say, when Tad and I first dropped one income so he could go to school, all I could think about was budgets and badgercare, foodstamps and lack... but We're four months in and I think we're doing really wonderfully.
Here's what I'm thankful for:
I'm thankful to have a husband/partner/friend who knows that even though it seems weird, stopping to get me get a white chocolate peppermint mocha on the way to Thanksgiving at his parents house (even though the kids are antsy and loud in the backseat and we all just want to get there already) will help my frame of mind as much as stiff shot of booze-ahol would for some other Milwaukeeans
I'm thankful to have a son who, in the midst of a mother-son argument about Lucy's spilled milk and the cleanup process thereof, provides the amazingly hilarious comic relief of going over to ask "Is this the troublesome bump?" (that his daddy was referring to--the troublesome bump being a lump of napkins placed under the tablecloth where the spill was, to keep it from staining the table), nearly knocking over yet another cup of milk in the process.
I'm thankful to have a daughter who wakes up on Thanskgiving day, proclaiming, "Mommy made two pumpkin pies! One for me and one for Coen!" And also at the Thanksgiving party at Tad's cousins, ran upstairs from where she was playing in the basement at least twenty times just to give me a hug and run back down.
I'm thankful to live in a really great neighborhood where my neighbors lend us ladders and sugar and we, in return, lend eggs and butter sticks. And we all keep track of each other's children and play in each other's piles of leaves.
I'm thankful that my family is having a second Thanksgiving today which means I get to do it all over again with my own mom and dad and sister and her family. And that during this second thanksgiving we will laugh more than anything else.
I'm thankful that my son (and next year my daughter) go to a school where we have a community feast on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and it is full of Montessori educated children and parents who are supportive and present in their kids lives and their kids school.
I'm thankful that I really like my life and all the people in it.
Happy Thanksgiving and peace out everyone!!
I gotta say, when Tad and I first dropped one income so he could go to school, all I could think about was budgets and badgercare, foodstamps and lack... but We're four months in and I think we're doing really wonderfully.
Here's what I'm thankful for:
I'm thankful to have a husband/partner/friend who knows that even though it seems weird, stopping to get me get a white chocolate peppermint mocha on the way to Thanksgiving at his parents house (even though the kids are antsy and loud in the backseat and we all just want to get there already) will help my frame of mind as much as stiff shot of booze-ahol would for some other Milwaukeeans
I'm thankful to have a son who, in the midst of a mother-son argument about Lucy's spilled milk and the cleanup process thereof, provides the amazingly hilarious comic relief of going over to ask "Is this the troublesome bump?" (that his daddy was referring to--the troublesome bump being a lump of napkins placed under the tablecloth where the spill was, to keep it from staining the table), nearly knocking over yet another cup of milk in the process.
I'm thankful to have a daughter who wakes up on Thanskgiving day, proclaiming, "Mommy made two pumpkin pies! One for me and one for Coen!" And also at the Thanksgiving party at Tad's cousins, ran upstairs from where she was playing in the basement at least twenty times just to give me a hug and run back down.
I'm thankful to live in a really great neighborhood where my neighbors lend us ladders and sugar and we, in return, lend eggs and butter sticks. And we all keep track of each other's children and play in each other's piles of leaves.
I'm thankful that my family is having a second Thanksgiving today which means I get to do it all over again with my own mom and dad and sister and her family. And that during this second thanksgiving we will laugh more than anything else.
I'm thankful that my son (and next year my daughter) go to a school where we have a community feast on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and it is full of Montessori educated children and parents who are supportive and present in their kids lives and their kids school.
I'm thankful that I really like my life and all the people in it.
Happy Thanksgiving and peace out everyone!!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Spirit Week
One of the many things I love about Tad is that he does not allow for things to become dull. Ever. So, he's in school right now, and this is not to say that he finds this dull. In fact, I have not seen him more interested, challenged and into what he's doing in a long time! But school does require a lot of lecture, and lecture requires a lot of note taking. And Tad noticed, that, like himself, a lot of his cohort was getting a bit restless, a bit down in the doldrums if you will. So, what did Tad do? He instituted SPIRIT WEEK! Spirit Week--in a graduate level Montessori certificate program! Come on! How can you not love this man? Monday was "Everyone wear blue" and Tad felt a bit despondent after that day as there are so many shades of blue, it seemed to go unnoticed by his teachers. I encouraged him to keep spirit week going. Tuesday was switch seats day, Wednesday was hat day, Thursday was sweet and salty snack day. And then Friday was the grand finale. This is where I came in. The matching clothes thing seemed so fun, but as we found out with just picking a color, there are too many shades to really look conformed! SO...luckily my father is in the junk peddling business (as he calls it) and he had some lovely leftover goldenrod colored t-shirts that a client did not want. But I did not see it as good enough just to have everyone show up in a goldenrod t-shirt. So I printed a black and white photo of Maria Montessori, copied it onto fabric printer sheets, cut them into squares and sewed 21 Maria Montessori T-Shirts! Look at them! Aren't they adorable. As I was sewing these patches for two hours, I thought to myself, 'one might interpret me as a bit insane putting all this time into a whimsy, a fun little idea....' But then I thought, 'I AM insane. And that's okay, I like myself that way.' And readers, I encourage you, wherever you work or learn or spend your days: Institute a Spirit Week. It is a lot of fun! Happy spirit week! 
Monday, November 15, 2010
Two of the worst things I can think of: Insurance companies and dentists (mostly insurance companies)
Now, I have no problem with dentists as people, in fact, I think it's a very important job that they do. But I despise going to the dentist. Seriously. I must be one of the worst dental patients out there. I squirm. I whine. I whimper. It's bad.
So, insurance will pay for your dental visits every six months. Conversely, dentists peer pressure you to come every six months. I sometimes try skipping a year or two. But then do they ever let me have it at the dentist's office! And how!
I am trying not to pass this fear on to my children and so far so good with Coen. Lucy's first appointment is in February. Keep your fingers crossed!
Anyway, I went to the dentist in Feburary of this year for the first time since 2008. I know, I know, that is way too long a time to wait. But I kept thinking about making an appointment, and putting it off.... finally I did it. And I squirmed and wiggled and whimpered and when they took my blood pressure before hand (I'm not sure why they have to do that when checking my teeth) boy was it high!
Then, I was a very good girl and I called in the summer to make another appointment six months later. In August. I went and actually it was completely not as bad as the February appointment. I did decline the flouride rinse because insurance doesn't cover that (jerks) and the last time I hadn't realized and got stuck with an extra $50 bill.
A couple weeks go by and I'm still basking in the glow of my great fear tackling and supreme responsibility in going for my six-month check up...when I get a bill in the mail. A BILL! Apparently, insurance has not covered my last check up. I call to find out why.
'Well', the lady tells me in a very condescending voice. 'Your insurance only covers one visit in a six-month period and this was two visits in a six-month period.'
'No!', I say indignantly. 'I went in February of 2010 and then I went in August of 2010. That's six months.'
'Well,' she says again, 'Your appointment in February was on the 25th and your appointment in August was on the 23rd.'
Two days shy of six months.
Are you effing kidding me?
I didn't say that of course, though I wanted to. I asked what I could do and she suggested I write a letter of appeal.
Today I recieved my response.
APPEAL DENIED.
What the?!
I called and left a very assertive message on the Claims Specialist's voice mail and he called me back saying basically that I could appeal it again and it would go to a higher level appeal process but in, short, it will get denied.
What kind of crap is this, I ask you? I was two days short of six months and previously had not been for two years. So I say it all evens out.
So, I say, down with insurance and their petty rules. I don't even LIKE going to the dentist. I went out of shame and dental peer pressure and now I have a $150 bill I can't afford.
So, insurance will pay for your dental visits every six months. Conversely, dentists peer pressure you to come every six months. I sometimes try skipping a year or two. But then do they ever let me have it at the dentist's office! And how!
I am trying not to pass this fear on to my children and so far so good with Coen. Lucy's first appointment is in February. Keep your fingers crossed!
Anyway, I went to the dentist in Feburary of this year for the first time since 2008. I know, I know, that is way too long a time to wait. But I kept thinking about making an appointment, and putting it off.... finally I did it. And I squirmed and wiggled and whimpered and when they took my blood pressure before hand (I'm not sure why they have to do that when checking my teeth) boy was it high!
Then, I was a very good girl and I called in the summer to make another appointment six months later. In August. I went and actually it was completely not as bad as the February appointment. I did decline the flouride rinse because insurance doesn't cover that (jerks) and the last time I hadn't realized and got stuck with an extra $50 bill.
A couple weeks go by and I'm still basking in the glow of my great fear tackling and supreme responsibility in going for my six-month check up...when I get a bill in the mail. A BILL! Apparently, insurance has not covered my last check up. I call to find out why.
'Well', the lady tells me in a very condescending voice. 'Your insurance only covers one visit in a six-month period and this was two visits in a six-month period.'
'No!', I say indignantly. 'I went in February of 2010 and then I went in August of 2010. That's six months.'
'Well,' she says again, 'Your appointment in February was on the 25th and your appointment in August was on the 23rd.'
Two days shy of six months.
Are you effing kidding me?
I didn't say that of course, though I wanted to. I asked what I could do and she suggested I write a letter of appeal.
Today I recieved my response.
APPEAL DENIED.
What the?!
I called and left a very assertive message on the Claims Specialist's voice mail and he called me back saying basically that I could appeal it again and it would go to a higher level appeal process but in, short, it will get denied.
What kind of crap is this, I ask you? I was two days short of six months and previously had not been for two years. So I say it all evens out.
So, I say, down with insurance and their petty rules. I don't even LIKE going to the dentist. I went out of shame and dental peer pressure and now I have a $150 bill I can't afford.
Don't worry about me though dear readers. I am not done with this, no sir! I will not go down without a fight!I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Market basket and Montessori-style meringue cookies
This week at work, I ordered, along with other coworkers a market basket from a local farmer for $16.00....this is less than what I generally spend on produce anyway. It contained:
I was not going to waste them...no sir...so I racked my brain for what to do with egg whites (besides omelettes which we already had for breakfast with market basket spinach and onions) and then I had an idea...
Well school is going well, and I daresay I have not seem my husband this happy, challenged and full of stuff to tell me about his day in years! But wow, is it a lot of work. And a lot of lecture. And more lecture. And then some more. So needless to say, he and his cohort are getting to that point where they feel like they need to be uplifted a bit. So I decided that one great thing to make out of egg whites is meringue cookies. But the cool thing about these cookies is that they are white and very easy to make into whatever shape you like.
I dyed 1/2 the batter pink and 1/2 the batter yellow and made my cookies into the Montessori math materials: The yellow chain of four and the pink chain of three. See photos below. These will be for Tad to take to school for his classmates and teachers and they can really get into the Montessori teaching materials!
oranges, apples, spinach, onions, parsley, green beans, cabbage, zucchini and summer squash. Well, of course, I had to get moving on that immediately because we can't let all these lovely fruits and vegetables go to waste, can we?
I made some garden veggie soup with beans, carrots, summer squash, onion, cabbage, and garlic in a base of vegetable stock and tomato paste with some oregano and basil tossed in for good measure. Delicious and healthy!!
I still have three zucchini left which will likely become two loves of zucchini bread.
 |
| Homemade German Pretzels |
Then I made some soft pretzels from scratch...they look yummy though I have yet to taste them (see picture) and the recipe called for egg yolks beaten with water to be brushed upon the top.
Well of course, with egg yolks come egg whites and now here I was with two egg whites and nothing to do with them.
I was not going to waste them...no sir...so I racked my brain for what to do with egg whites (besides omelettes which we already had for breakfast with market basket spinach and onions) and then I had an idea...
 |
| Pink chain of 3 and yellow chain of 4 Montessori Cookies |
As you know, what propelled me to begin writing this blog was the fact that we became a one-income family. And what propelled us to becoming a one-income family is that Tad went back to school.
Well school is going well, and I daresay I have not seem my husband this happy, challenged and full of stuff to tell me about his day in years! But wow, is it a lot of work. And a lot of lecture. And more lecture. And then some more. So needless to say, he and his cohort are getting to that point where they feel like they need to be uplifted a bit. So I decided that one great thing to make out of egg whites is meringue cookies. But the cool thing about these cookies is that they are white and very easy to make into whatever shape you like.
I dyed 1/2 the batter pink and 1/2 the batter yellow and made my cookies into the Montessori math materials: The yellow chain of four and the pink chain of three. See photos below. These will be for Tad to take to school for his classmates and teachers and they can really get into the Montessori teaching materials!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Ah, music
I'll tell you what's a free form of entertainment: letting music transport you back to a time in your life. Now of course, you must have two things: 1. a time in your life upon which you think fondly (nice grammar, huh?) and 2. a song that reminds you of that time.
This morning, I put Ben Harper's "Welcome to the Cruel World" disc into my car cd player and listened to track number one, an instrumental called The three of us. Instantly I was transported.
When I was in the Peace Corps in Estonia, this was one of the cds I brought with me. When I took the ferry boat from my little island of Saaremaa to the mainland to visit friends or go to the capital to the Peace Corps office, I would go to the deck of the boat (if the weather allowed), smoke a cigarette (yeah, I used to smoke) and listen to The three of us on my headphones.
Listening to that song this morning, probably for the first time hearing it closely since that time, I could have closed my eyes (Don't worry..I didn't. I was driving!) and been right back on the deck of the ferry boat, smelling the salty wind off the Baltic Sea. I would stand there and look at the approaching mainland, full of anticipation to be with friends again after the solitude of being a Peace Corps volunteer on an island, in a city of 16,000--the only American. I loved my host family and my coworkers but at my site I could go days without speaking a word of English and even a whole day without speaking to anyone.
During my service, I felt the lowest, loneliest lows I hav ever felt in my life, but I also felt some of the most achingly full, joyful highs as well. And on that boat, with Ben Harper's gorgeous guitar in my ears, cool, fresh wind in my face, knowing I was on my way to companionship and laughter and some of the the truest friends I'd ever known, It felt like my heart would explode from my chest in joy. I didn't know then, but I was as free as I'd ever been, as an individual, just figuring herself out, just starting her journey.
It's lovely to think of it now. To think of the twenty five year old me then and the ten years later me now and know how much a part of me that still is. And to remember how music can fill an empty moment with just the touch of a button.
Happy Friday everyone... get out there and FEEL, no matter what it is you're feeling. Happy or sad, angry or elated, you are ALIVE and that is incredible.
This morning, I put Ben Harper's "Welcome to the Cruel World" disc into my car cd player and listened to track number one, an instrumental called The three of us. Instantly I was transported.
When I was in the Peace Corps in Estonia, this was one of the cds I brought with me. When I took the ferry boat from my little island of Saaremaa to the mainland to visit friends or go to the capital to the Peace Corps office, I would go to the deck of the boat (if the weather allowed), smoke a cigarette (yeah, I used to smoke) and listen to The three of us on my headphones.
Listening to that song this morning, probably for the first time hearing it closely since that time, I could have closed my eyes (Don't worry..I didn't. I was driving!) and been right back on the deck of the ferry boat, smelling the salty wind off the Baltic Sea. I would stand there and look at the approaching mainland, full of anticipation to be with friends again after the solitude of being a Peace Corps volunteer on an island, in a city of 16,000--the only American. I loved my host family and my coworkers but at my site I could go days without speaking a word of English and even a whole day without speaking to anyone.
During my service, I felt the lowest, loneliest lows I hav ever felt in my life, but I also felt some of the most achingly full, joyful highs as well. And on that boat, with Ben Harper's gorgeous guitar in my ears, cool, fresh wind in my face, knowing I was on my way to companionship and laughter and some of the the truest friends I'd ever known, It felt like my heart would explode from my chest in joy. I didn't know then, but I was as free as I'd ever been, as an individual, just figuring herself out, just starting her journey.
It's lovely to think of it now. To think of the twenty five year old me then and the ten years later me now and know how much a part of me that still is. And to remember how music can fill an empty moment with just the touch of a button.
Happy Friday everyone... get out there and FEEL, no matter what it is you're feeling. Happy or sad, angry or elated, you are ALIVE and that is incredible.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Vacation! (...and work)
It is a real perk of my job that I get to go to a lot of conferences that allow me 1. professional development and 2. time away from the office.
This week Sunday through Tuesday I went to a conference for work in Wisconsin Dells. The conference was Children Come First and allowed me to learn about issues such as bullying, self-injury, advocacy, person-first programming for youth and children with mental illness and emotional / behavioral disabilities. The venue was the Kalahari and this allowed me to bring my family and have a vacation of sorts. While I conferenced, Tad took the kids to the water park and when I finished with my workday, we all went back to the water park for some family fun.
The waterpark was great fun--see the picture?! But the best part, Tad and I agreed, was being in a hotel room (all expenses covered), cranking the heat in the room up to 75 and turning on the fireplace. We allowed our kids to indulge in very rare actual programmed- TV time (with commercials, even--they were thrilled) and relaxed in a room that we didn't have to worry about cleaning.
To save money I brought a homemade pizza which was our dinner both nights and fixin's for both breakfast and lunches. Breakfast was Quaker oatmeal bars (we bring these every time we go to the Kalahari--the kids call them "Kalahari-bars") Lunch was PB & J. The only money we spent was on dessert on Monday night. We all went down to the sweet shop and everyone got to choose what they wanted.
Coen got a peppermint stick ice cream cone
I got a caramel apple
Tad got some wierd chocolate/caramel/marshmallow covered rice krispy thing on a sitick.
Lucy got a blue moon ice cream cone. Since we didn't want her to eat the whole thing (it was big), I kept saying this: "Lucy, want mommy to hold your ice cream cone while you go count all the animal pictures on th e wall?" She obliged and every time she ran away to count things, Tad and I snuck bites of her ice cream. Oh how I relish the days I can still pull one over on her!!!
Coen even got into it. He had her counting plants while he snuck a taste.
We had a great time and I even learned a few things to help me in my work!
This week Sunday through Tuesday I went to a conference for work in Wisconsin Dells. The conference was Children Come First and allowed me to learn about issues such as bullying, self-injury, advocacy, person-first programming for youth and children with mental illness and emotional / behavioral disabilities. The venue was the Kalahari and this allowed me to bring my family and have a vacation of sorts. While I conferenced, Tad took the kids to the water park and when I finished with my workday, we all went back to the water park for some family fun.
The waterpark was great fun--see the picture?! But the best part, Tad and I agreed, was being in a hotel room (all expenses covered), cranking the heat in the room up to 75 and turning on the fireplace. We allowed our kids to indulge in very rare actual programmed- TV time (with commercials, even--they were thrilled) and relaxed in a room that we didn't have to worry about cleaning.
To save money I brought a homemade pizza which was our dinner both nights and fixin's for both breakfast and lunches. Breakfast was Quaker oatmeal bars (we bring these every time we go to the Kalahari--the kids call them "Kalahari-bars") Lunch was PB & J. The only money we spent was on dessert on Monday night. We all went down to the sweet shop and everyone got to choose what they wanted.
I got a caramel apple
Tad got some wierd chocolate/caramel/marshmallow covered rice krispy thing on a sitick.
Lucy got a blue moon ice cream cone. Since we didn't want her to eat the whole thing (it was big), I kept saying this: "Lucy, want mommy to hold your ice cream cone while you go count all the animal pictures on th e wall?" She obliged and every time she ran away to count things, Tad and I snuck bites of her ice cream. Oh how I relish the days I can still pull one over on her!!!
Coen even got into it. He had her counting plants while he snuck a taste.
We had a great time and I even learned a few things to help me in my work!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wig out at Woodmans
Sometimes it just feels like too much to do. Between the planning and grocery shopping and cooking, and trying to switch insurance and all the things that go along with this particular income situation..along with being a mother and having a full time job and trying to do things I enjoy like blogging and playing my guitar...I feel like I don't have TIME!!!! And when it feels like to much to do, I make lists for myself with days I will get things done. Yesterday was grocery shopping. I had an hour allotted to get to Woodmans and shop and then go pick Lucy up from daycare.
I did my shopping and pushed my cart up to the line and once I got to the checkout, my card was denied. Apparently they were having problems with certain debit cards. They put my order on hold while I tried to withdraw money from the ATM, then outside at the neighbor bank's ATM, and the gas station's ATM. By this time, I was well over my allotted hour and late for Lucy and I came back into Woodman's and I LOST IT!
I started to cry and blubber about "I don't have time!" "My daughter at daycare!" "Birthday party Saturday" "Allotted grocery hour!" I probably sounded (and looked ) like a maniac. I had packed all the groceries in my own bags so I hastily began yanking things out of the bags so I could take them with me and I was crying and I marched out of the store. Once outside I realized that I really wouln't have time tomorrow to do this all over again. So I had to take my pathetic self back in and ask them if they could locate my cart and hold it for me while I figured out what to do.
My bank is a 1/2 hour away from Woodmans. I had no checks. They don't take credit cards. So I called my in-laws who live in Franklin and tried not to cry while I asked them if they knew of a branch of our bank that was closer, and they said they'd come bring me some cash. I went back into Woodman's with my wounded pride and tear stained face and waited for them. They came. As soon as they pulled into the parking lot, I started crying all over again. They paid. We left (two and a half hours after I'd gotten there).
Tad picked up Lucy for me at daycare and I drove home in rush hour traffic trying to breathe evenly and not feel like a huge ass! I guess I'll remember my checks next time!Here's me wigging out at Woodmans
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The election: Free entertainment
There are a lot of entertaining things about election day. Here's a list.It's election day. Did you vote?
1. All the people wearing their "I Voted" stickers. Sometimes people come into work with their sticker and then you can tell that they voted before they got to work. Sometimes people come into work with their sticker in the middle of the day and then you can tell that they voted on their lunch break. Sometimes people don't have a sticker and then when you ask them if they voted, they say "Oh, I'm voting on the way home."
2. The status updates on facebook and twitter. Everyone's voting. Everyone's talking about voting. People have vote updates and vote tweets. Everyone's asking "Did you vote yet?" Its very entertaining.
3. People at the polling place. It's fun because sometimes people are lined up to register to vote and you can tell they are pretty young. Maybe even eighteen. Maybe its their first time voting. That's pretty cool. Also there are people in your neighborhood that you run into and you're like "oh HI! Funny seeing you here!" and then you laugh loudly because obviously its not that weird to see your neighbors there since its your polling place! You can make other jokes here like "What are YOU doing here?" or "Wow, pretty busy here today!" and then laugh "Ha ha ha ha ha."
4. The election coverage. This is entertaining and also funny because its kind of like sports coverage. Everyone flashes all the numbers on the screen and talks about what might happen and how things might turn out. Like football. The announcer guys all talk before the game about what might happen and then during the game about what is currently happening and what might happen next and then after its over, what happened. That's how election coverage is. Except WAY more stressful because it means a zillion percent more than football. Sorry football fans.
Yeah, election day. It's a pretty exciting event. I've been entertained since I woke up this morning. I'm going to sign off now and watch msnbc.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Witchy plumber
Our sink is dripping. It has been for some time now but the drip is getting worse. By worse I mean louder and more rapid in succession. Which also seems to mean that our water bill is getting higher. So...in order to save costs, since I had such good luck fixing our clogged drain that one time when all of Lucy's sippy cup staws went down the drain when we washed them---I decided to fix it myself!Tad and I went to Lowes on Saturday and bought a new faucet, plumbers putty, winterizing material, among other things. I got into my costume on Sunday morning before trick or treat and then suddenly got the urge to start working on the sink. Here I am! A witch plumber.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Dastardly
I took the kids to the not so scary Halloween at Betty Brinn's today and we had a marvelous time. My sister met us there with her kids and we enjoyed the trick or treat and the Mr. Potato Head exhibit.
But when we went out to my car...da da da dum... a PARKING TICKET!
Damn, in these economic times...
I was so mad, and then Coen, from the back seat, in his amazingly precious voice, said, "Mommy, you can have some money from my piggy bank."
Wow.
But when we went out to my car...da da da dum... a PARKING TICKET!
Damn, in these economic times...
I was so mad, and then Coen, from the back seat, in his amazingly precious voice, said, "Mommy, you can have some money from my piggy bank."
Wow.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Woodmans
Have I mentioned Woodmans yet, dear readers? Woodmans, wow. . My mother in law told me about it. I knew it was a big grocery store. A big cheap grocery store. And that's the word that I kept thinking--cheap. When I think cheap, I think of the off brand chocolate (flavored) chips I once bought that made my cookies taste like warm gooey plastic. When I think cheap, I think of the generic plastic bags that I bought which fell apart when filled with too many cheerios. When I think of cheap I think of the dollar store toothpaste which did not meet American Dental Association requirements. You get the picture...
So I thought, 'I don't know about Woodmans.' How will it be? Will it be that kind of cheap? Will the meat and cheese be edible?
But my neighbor Bill told me that it is amazing there. That I would need to set aside some time to go because of its sheer size, but that it was a definite worthwhile stop. I've now been twice. I love it.
The first time I went, I made a special trip. Its way out in Oak Creek. I drove there, bought a lot of stuff, then drove to Pick-n-save and bought the stuff that would still be cheaper there with double coupon day. Then went to Target to get diapers (which are still cheapest there when you buy the generics) and a wedding present for a friend. I spent a total of $120 and bought the whole week's worth of groceries, diapers and toilet paper, and a wedding present. Pretty amazing. I was wishing for an omniscient mathemetician to tell me whether the driving around and time spent was worth the savings.
Then I went yesterrday. This time I planned my time better. I had to teach a class at Oak Creek High School, so I was right there already. I went right after that. I went to get the other stuff at Pick-n-Save later on in the afternoon. I spent a total of $75.
Woodmans is huge. It is so huge that I lost my car. Apparently there are two parking lots. It has an incredible produce section and bakery. You should go there. Really. Try it!
So I thought, 'I don't know about Woodmans.' How will it be? Will it be that kind of cheap? Will the meat and cheese be edible?
But my neighbor Bill told me that it is amazing there. That I would need to set aside some time to go because of its sheer size, but that it was a definite worthwhile stop. I've now been twice. I love it.
The first time I went, I made a special trip. Its way out in Oak Creek. I drove there, bought a lot of stuff, then drove to Pick-n-save and bought the stuff that would still be cheaper there with double coupon day. Then went to Target to get diapers (which are still cheapest there when you buy the generics) and a wedding present for a friend. I spent a total of $120 and bought the whole week's worth of groceries, diapers and toilet paper, and a wedding present. Pretty amazing. I was wishing for an omniscient mathemetician to tell me whether the driving around and time spent was worth the savings.
Then I went yesterrday. This time I planned my time better. I had to teach a class at Oak Creek High School, so I was right there already. I went right after that. I went to get the other stuff at Pick-n-Save later on in the afternoon. I spent a total of $75.
Woodmans is huge. It is so huge that I lost my car. Apparently there are two parking lots. It has an incredible produce section and bakery. You should go there. Really. Try it!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Forgot my lunch!
I forgot my lunch today! At 11:30, I was SO hungry and excited to eat my delicious grilled chicken salad (homemade) and banana bread (from the Elegant Farmer), I rushed into the kitchen and then thought, "hmmm...I forgot my water bottle today...I don't usually forget that." Then I opened the fridge door. No lunch! Forgetting your lunch when you have cash is one thing. Then its a good excuse to go to Alterra for a BLT or the Public Market for some Middle Eastern food. But when there's not money around, it is a shame indeed. I was so upset. I felt like I was a little kid. I wanted my mommy to bring my lunch to me.
Here's my depiction of my reaction.
Here's my depiction of my reaction.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Lost (not the show, the state of being)
I've never been that good at letting go. I mean, I slept with my stuffed donkey, Jack until I was well into adulthood. He came to the Peace Corps with me. When something is bugging me, it is WAY HARD for me to forget about it. Yesterday I lost three very important items...I am having a very hard time this morning letting go.
After our really busy, but really lovely autumn day in which we:
Headed out of the house at 8:30 a.m. for Coen's soccer game, only to find that it was cancelled
AND
Went to Cranky Al's for doughnuts instead where we ran into two other kids from Coen's team and their families
AND
Went to the Elegant Farmer for a train ride, shopping and lunch with my sister
AND
Came home for Lucy to take a (brief) nap and Coen to watch the 1930s animated version of Gulliver's Travels
AND
Went out again at 4:30 to Greendale to go to a "Haunted Walk in the Woods", an event that Tad's parents were not at, but wanted us to go to as it had been planned by Tad's Dad and the Greendale Historical Society
AND
Following the walk, had a picnic dinner in the park where the kids played until dusk
I managed to lose a set of keys, my sunglasses and $20.
I think I lost the keys at the Elegant Farmer. I am pretty sure I lost the money in line for the haunted walk where I took cash out of my pocket to pay our way in.... The sunglasses, well it beats me!
I am letting it go. Totally forgetting about it! Completely over it.
Maybe I'll go search my jeans again!
After our really busy, but really lovely autumn day in which we:
Headed out of the house at 8:30 a.m. for Coen's soccer game, only to find that it was cancelled
AND
Went to Cranky Al's for doughnuts instead where we ran into two other kids from Coen's team and their families
AND
Went to the Elegant Farmer for a train ride, shopping and lunch with my sister
AND
Came home for Lucy to take a (brief) nap and Coen to watch the 1930s animated version of Gulliver's Travels
AND
Went out again at 4:30 to Greendale to go to a "Haunted Walk in the Woods", an event that Tad's parents were not at, but wanted us to go to as it had been planned by Tad's Dad and the Greendale Historical Society
AND
Following the walk, had a picnic dinner in the park where the kids played until dusk
I managed to lose a set of keys, my sunglasses and $20.
I think I lost the keys at the Elegant Farmer. I am pretty sure I lost the money in line for the haunted walk where I took cash out of my pocket to pay our way in.... The sunglasses, well it beats me!
I am letting it go. Totally forgetting about it! Completely over it.
Maybe I'll go search my jeans again!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
How Elegant!
Well the Elegant Farmer broke my bank but not all the way...
Every year, my sister and I and our families go to the Elegant Farmer for lunch (and pumpkins, and caramel apples, and pie, and everything else that looks good) It is the one annual-don't-miss-it event between our two families.
On the way there I had Tad stop at a gas station and take $150 out of the ATM. That is all we get, I told him (really I was telling me) for the WHOLE weekend. And that much only because it's an activity and commerce filled weekend. On our budget, we normally get about $20 for the weekend. Though, at the Elegant Farmer in years past, I have acted like it was a shopping spree there and spent something like $150.00 just on the groceries!
This year we met my sister and her husband and kids at 10:30 a.m. and took the trolley train ride from the Elegant Farmer to East Troy and back. The kids loved it. It was $12.50 per adult and $8.00 per kid. Lucy was free.
So that's $33.00
Then we shopped. And got our lunch.
We got
Three ham sandwiches
Chips
Banana bread
A dessert for each kid
Apples
2 butternut squash
Gourds
Honey
Syrup
Pancake mix
Cheese curds
some drinks and some other stuff I'm probably forgetting
for about $60.00
And we got our pumpkins. Coen and Lucy each picked out a small one and then Coen insisted upon a medium one for Tad and I to share
$13.00
Elegant farmer total $106.00
So we still have money to go to the village of Greendale's haunted walk in the woods and get dinner tonight!
Now if I can only convince Tad that another outing is a good idea!
Every year, my sister and I and our families go to the Elegant Farmer for lunch (and pumpkins, and caramel apples, and pie, and everything else that looks good) It is the one annual-don't-miss-it event between our two families.
On the way there I had Tad stop at a gas station and take $150 out of the ATM. That is all we get, I told him (really I was telling me) for the WHOLE weekend. And that much only because it's an activity and commerce filled weekend. On our budget, we normally get about $20 for the weekend. Though, at the Elegant Farmer in years past, I have acted like it was a shopping spree there and spent something like $150.00 just on the groceries!
This year we met my sister and her husband and kids at 10:30 a.m. and took the trolley train ride from the Elegant Farmer to East Troy and back. The kids loved it. It was $12.50 per adult and $8.00 per kid. Lucy was free.
So that's $33.00
Then we shopped. And got our lunch.
We got
Three ham sandwiches
Chips
Banana bread
A dessert for each kid
Apples
2 butternut squash
Gourds
Honey
Syrup
Pancake mix
Cheese curds
some drinks and some other stuff I'm probably forgetting
for about $60.00
And we got our pumpkins. Coen and Lucy each picked out a small one and then Coen insisted upon a medium one for Tad and I to share
$13.00
Elegant farmer total $106.00
So we still have money to go to the village of Greendale's haunted walk in the woods and get dinner tonight!
Now if I can only convince Tad that another outing is a good idea!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
On reading and watching the ends of things
Speaking of free-ish entertainment, I'm watching Glee right now. I got it on Netflix so I'm only on the first season. I'm having a lot of fun with it...with the occasional need to fast forward through things.
Oh did I mention my issue with stressful shows and books? I almost got kicked out of the movie theater when I went to see Ransom with Mel Gibson. The man behind me turned around and said "would you PLEASE?!!!" The usher had to come and threaten me to settle down or leave. Needless to say, I don't see stressful movies in the theater anymore.
But the thing is, I'm so easily stressed out, even Three's Company stresses me out!
I read the last of the Harry Potter books walking around while I held the book open. I couldn't sit. I couldn't handle it. In fact, I read the last page of every book I leave before I read the first page. I know that this seems a little weird to some, but the thing is, I don't get any less out of a story just because I know the end. In knowing the end, I am relieved of my stress and I get to enjoy the way the story moves.
So back to Glee. I have been very stressed about who is going to end up with whom and which very bad relationships are going to end so better ones can blossom as they should!! And NO one would tell me what was going to happen...
People seem to think they are doing me a favor by not telling me the endings of things!
So my coworker overheard me on the phone asking my sister about Glee. After I hung up, he told me all the things I needed to know for a stress-free viewing.
I am so pleased! Now I can enjoy this little show, already knowing about about endings of things that will stress me out and just focus on all the music and sparkly sets and high school melodrama!!
Oh did I mention my issue with stressful shows and books? I almost got kicked out of the movie theater when I went to see Ransom with Mel Gibson. The man behind me turned around and said "would you PLEASE?!!!" The usher had to come and threaten me to settle down or leave. Needless to say, I don't see stressful movies in the theater anymore.
But the thing is, I'm so easily stressed out, even Three's Company stresses me out!
I read the last of the Harry Potter books walking around while I held the book open. I couldn't sit. I couldn't handle it. In fact, I read the last page of every book I leave before I read the first page. I know that this seems a little weird to some, but the thing is, I don't get any less out of a story just because I know the end. In knowing the end, I am relieved of my stress and I get to enjoy the way the story moves.
So back to Glee. I have been very stressed about who is going to end up with whom and which very bad relationships are going to end so better ones can blossom as they should!! And NO one would tell me what was going to happen...
People seem to think they are doing me a favor by not telling me the endings of things!
So my coworker overheard me on the phone asking my sister about Glee. After I hung up, he told me all the things I needed to know for a stress-free viewing.
I am so pleased! Now I can enjoy this little show, already knowing about about endings of things that will stress me out and just focus on all the music and sparkly sets and high school melodrama!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
How much paper would a space case waste if.....
Well, it is National Disability Employment Awareness month... This means I am very hard at work on a little project called Disability Mentoring Day.
I have been busy, super duper busy, since early September all the way up until this week working on finding job shadow placements for 160 youth with disabilities in the Metro-Milwaukee area! The kids apply to the project and I set them up with a job shadow that is anywhere from an hour to a full day in one of their top three job choices. The most popular? Music, animals, health care, graphic design and carpentry or auto mechanics.
I have been hard at work and am proud to say that 159 of those kids have been placed and will be going out to their placement sometime during the day tomorrow. The one left wants to job shadow with the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm working on it. It'll happen. Pretty much no one says no to me.
Anyway, today I was printing participation certificates out--250 of them. For the kids, teacher and of course for the mentors. My printing code is 8390. In my frenzy of printing and typing and hitting buttons and clicking the mouse....I accidentally typed 8390 in under number of copies rather than the code. I can't even begin to tell you how many copies ran off before I realized my error.
Now I have a huge pile of scrap paper. Huge.
The, this afternoon, I took Coen to the doctor's office for his 7-year check up. After we checked in, the receptionist handed me a big pile of paper with a smile. "Scrap paper for you!" she said.
Whaaaa?!
I have been busy, super duper busy, since early September all the way up until this week working on finding job shadow placements for 160 youth with disabilities in the Metro-Milwaukee area! The kids apply to the project and I set them up with a job shadow that is anywhere from an hour to a full day in one of their top three job choices. The most popular? Music, animals, health care, graphic design and carpentry or auto mechanics.
I have been hard at work and am proud to say that 159 of those kids have been placed and will be going out to their placement sometime during the day tomorrow. The one left wants to job shadow with the Milwaukee Bucks. I'm working on it. It'll happen. Pretty much no one says no to me.
Anyway, today I was printing participation certificates out--250 of them. For the kids, teacher and of course for the mentors. My printing code is 8390. In my frenzy of printing and typing and hitting buttons and clicking the mouse....I accidentally typed 8390 in under number of copies rather than the code. I can't even begin to tell you how many copies ran off before I realized my error.
Now I have a huge pile of scrap paper. Huge.
The, this afternoon, I took Coen to the doctor's office for his 7-year check up. After we checked in, the receptionist handed me a big pile of paper with a smile. "Scrap paper for you!" she said.
Whaaaa?!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Double date weekend
Friday: The third annual Wisconsin Charter School Gala. We were invited as guests of Highland Community School. We got a lovely buffet dinner and ate overlooking Lake Michigan at Discovery World on Pier Wisconsin. We had our run of the museum, lots of wonderful parents from Highland to talk to and our son's school won the Silver Charter School of the Year award!!! And the parents of Highland Community School won the silver Innovator of the Year award! We got to go up on stage--thirty five strong (we were the best represented school there) and receive the award. I left full, happy and proud as ever to be a Milwaukee resident who's child goes to Highland.
A good friend babysat and was the first person outside of family to put our daughter to bed. He did awesome and the kids had a great time.
Cost of the evening: $0
Saturday: Tad's high school friend's wedding reception. It was exciting meeting all of Tad's old high school companions and kids from his neighborhood all grown up. Dinner was great-catered by Saz's and I even got to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while. My parents took the kids overnight so we even got to go for an evening walk, and watch movies and sleeeeeep in!! Lovely. We took a trip to Outpost to get a few items for dinner and the next morning's breakfast (which we ate at 9:30 a.m. on the porch in the sun).
Cost of the date: $15.00 (Outpost purchases)
Okay I can't resist..... Value of a two-night weekend with Tad, hanging around with grownups?
Priceless.
Sorry, it had to be done.
A good friend babysat and was the first person outside of family to put our daughter to bed. He did awesome and the kids had a great time.
Cost of the evening: $0
Saturday: Tad's high school friend's wedding reception. It was exciting meeting all of Tad's old high school companions and kids from his neighborhood all grown up. Dinner was great-catered by Saz's and I even got to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while. My parents took the kids overnight so we even got to go for an evening walk, and watch movies and sleeeeeep in!! Lovely. We took a trip to Outpost to get a few items for dinner and the next morning's breakfast (which we ate at 9:30 a.m. on the porch in the sun).
Cost of the date: $15.00 (Outpost purchases)
Okay I can't resist..... Value of a two-night weekend with Tad, hanging around with grownups?
Priceless.
Sorry, it had to be done.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Concert Denial
Tad and I have never been big spenders. All our furniture is hand-me-down. Most of our kids clothing is as well. We buy our clothes at Goodwill and other resale shops. Our computer was my graduation gift recieved in 2006. when we want to play video games, we whip out the old original Nintendo system.
But over the last year or so we spent almost $1000.00 on concert tickets alone--going to see Leonard Cohen, Matthew Sweet, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, the Magnetic Fields, Vampire Weekend, the Flaming Lips and the Fiery Furnaces. Dang. So of course when Tad and I made the decision for him to go back to school, we knew that one of the things that would have to go was the concert budget.
But over the last year or so we spent almost $1000.00 on concert tickets alone--going to see Leonard Cohen, Matthew Sweet, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, the Magnetic Fields, Vampire Weekend, the Flaming Lips and the Fiery Furnaces. Dang. So of course when Tad and I made the decision for him to go back to school, we knew that one of the things that would have to go was the concert budget.
 |
| Tad's completed homework, drying on the floor |
So far, we have skipped two concerts I wanted to go to. The first was Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and others at Miller Park. It wasn't that hard to skip because the tickets were so expensive that we may not have even gone to that one even in better financial times.
But last night, Iron and Wine played at the Riverside and I must admit, it hurt my heart not to go. But nevertheless, I survived. The self-denial of seeing my favorite artists live is hard, but will not kill me.
What did we do last night instead of going to see Iron and Wine live? We listened to Iron and Wine on the stereo and I helped Tad with his homework. Last night's homework? Painting twelve Montessori charts with watercolors. Not a bad evening all in all.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Now we're cooking with grease
I am having a lot of trouble cooking lately. I am chalking it up to the AMOUNT of cooking I'm doing. Here are a list of my mishaps in time sequenced order.
Friday: I made a chicken dish with a pear rosemary sauce. The sauce never thickened! It just never did. I was told to cook down until it is a sauce consistency and it was a watery consistency all the way. "Why won't you turn into sauce?!" I yelled at it. But to no avail. Eventually, I added corn starch, but too late, so it was clumpy. Then on the side I made that potato cheese casserole, the one with the corn flakes crushed up on top. The potatoes turned this completely weird and gross brownish green color. It all tasted good but looked just horrific!
Saturday: I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Tad and I to have with our vanilla ice cream. I made them, just like I always make them...but when I took them out of the oven, the bottoms were burned and the tops seemed not to be cooked!
Sunday: Pancake morning. I decided to try my dad's recipe instead of my usual. On the list of ingredients was "vinegar". Vinegar? That couldn't be right. But I made them, as directed and found out later from my dad that it was a misprint. Should have said sugar. Those were weird pancakes. My son said, "I'll eat them, but they'll need a LOT of syrup" I made double batch too, to last us the week.
Tad's cooking tomorrow.
Friday: I made a chicken dish with a pear rosemary sauce. The sauce never thickened! It just never did. I was told to cook down until it is a sauce consistency and it was a watery consistency all the way. "Why won't you turn into sauce?!" I yelled at it. But to no avail. Eventually, I added corn starch, but too late, so it was clumpy. Then on the side I made that potato cheese casserole, the one with the corn flakes crushed up on top. The potatoes turned this completely weird and gross brownish green color. It all tasted good but looked just horrific!
Saturday: I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Tad and I to have with our vanilla ice cream. I made them, just like I always make them...but when I took them out of the oven, the bottoms were burned and the tops seemed not to be cooked!
Sunday: Pancake morning. I decided to try my dad's recipe instead of my usual. On the list of ingredients was "vinegar". Vinegar? That couldn't be right. But I made them, as directed and found out later from my dad that it was a misprint. Should have said sugar. Those were weird pancakes. My son said, "I'll eat them, but they'll need a LOT of syrup" I made double batch too, to last us the week.
Tad's cooking tomorrow.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Two month itch
Well I've got it...the two month itch. What is the two month itch, you might ask? Well, I have not bought a thing outside of groceries and gas for two full months now. Not a thing. If I can't eat it or run my car with it, I'm not buying it.
But the other day I needed to stop at the store to pick up a birthday present for my friend. The place didn't take a check card. So I went to the local cash machine and withdrew twenty dollars. That left me with ten dollars burning a hole in my wallet. Did I save it for an emergency or to put it towards groceries? No. It took me approximately ten seconds to look around a locate a lovely re-sale boutique to pop into and spend all of that ten dollars on a shirt and a sweater. Ahhhhhh, I missed being a consumer.
Now, mind you, I did not go to the Gap or the Limited or any place like that to spend. Mind you, I probably could only buy one sock at one of those stores with ten dollars, if that. I went to a Goodwill-owned boutique. "The Re-Tique" Cute, huh? They had super cute stuff and nothing I saw was more than $7.99.
I'm also slated to go out to dinner with my girlfriends on Monday. I suggested Noodles since I still have my gift card for there from a generous donor! But my sister says she'd rather buy me dinner than go to Noodles for a girls night out.
I also went to Target and bought our Halloween Trick or Treat candy and let each kid pick out a $10.00 or less toy.
Yep, its the two month itch. I'll settle down now.... something tells me in two months from now..there'll be some more spending going on again.
But the other day I needed to stop at the store to pick up a birthday present for my friend. The place didn't take a check card. So I went to the local cash machine and withdrew twenty dollars. That left me with ten dollars burning a hole in my wallet. Did I save it for an emergency or to put it towards groceries? No. It took me approximately ten seconds to look around a locate a lovely re-sale boutique to pop into and spend all of that ten dollars on a shirt and a sweater. Ahhhhhh, I missed being a consumer.
Now, mind you, I did not go to the Gap or the Limited or any place like that to spend. Mind you, I probably could only buy one sock at one of those stores with ten dollars, if that. I went to a Goodwill-owned boutique. "The Re-Tique" Cute, huh? They had super cute stuff and nothing I saw was more than $7.99.
I'm also slated to go out to dinner with my girlfriends on Monday. I suggested Noodles since I still have my gift card for there from a generous donor! But my sister says she'd rather buy me dinner than go to Noodles for a girls night out.
I also went to Target and bought our Halloween Trick or Treat candy and let each kid pick out a $10.00 or less toy.
Yep, its the two month itch. I'll settle down now.... something tells me in two months from now..there'll be some more spending going on again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)