Curiously enough, there seems to be no end to the amount of money it takes to maintain our house. I thought we'd sort of reached the end, but it managed to find something else to break which would interrupt our lives and demand to be fixed.
The Garage Door Opener.
I realize that people lived for centuries, nay... millennia, with no automatic garage door openers. (Can you imagine the medieval stable boy's reaction to such a thing?) But, I've grown up with them. I find that it is a necessity in life, which is why God made sure I was born in the USA during these modern times. Hair dryers, air conditioning, high speed internet access, HBO, and garage door openers. There is a reason that my peace corps application was not accepted (besides the fact that emergent third world countries probably need more help building bridges and water purification than being taught arts and crafts). I need modern conveniences. I rely on modern conveniences. I am no pioneer.
New Genie Garage Door Opener: $377 (installed)
Not having to park in the driveway because I am too lazy to open my garage door manually: priceless.
(I know, the above has been done to death... but I thought it was funny! And? It's my blog.)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
The baby has a birthday
My youngest child turns 5 on Friday.
I’m of two minds on this milestone.
One: It is implausible for me that this is happening. She’s my baby, my youngest child. It cannot possibly be time for her to be a little girl instead of a baby. She’s old enough to start kindergarten. (Well, not till next school year… but I’m indulging myself in my own little pity party – bare with me.) How can it be that she isn’t two anymore? With that toothy smile that was hilarious, her baby talk, her needing me so much. I will never again have a baby. Every month now she needs me a tiny bit less. It’s time for her to become a person separate from her mommy – and it is heartbreaking for me.
Which brings me to my second mind: It’s kind of freeing at the same time, her growing up. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve suffered from depression (postpartum and clinical) on and off (mostly on) since the birth of my first child. Maybe it’s unrelated, her growing up and leaving the baby stage and my feeling my depression subside, but I have to wonder because suddenly, in the last 3 or 4 months, I’ve begun to feel like “me” again. Not that I have my “old life” back or anything like that – I wouldn’t want to trade what I have now for my old life. I remember telling my OB/Gyn that I just wanted to feel like myself again when DD1 was about 6 months old. He told me I’d never feel like that person again… and I had stopped hoping that someday I ever would. I let that hope go years ago. But, since sometime in July I started feeling… I don’t know… more free. Free of shadows that were making me not so much myself. (“Shadows” is as close as I can get to the word I’m looking for. Murky vague darkness, suffocating but not. See? Writing is not ever going to be my strongest creative outlet!) Suddenly, I’m glimpsing and feeling me again.
You won’t see much of a difference outwardly. I worked really hard at appearing like everything was OK, and except for a few stumbles I think I did a pretty good job of being OK. It was exhausting pretending to be someone who didn’t really exist. I’m not as emotionally drained anymore, which in itself is freeing. I think I’m a becoming a better wife and mom now, and I can truly appreciate the blessings in my life. My life is good.
I don’t think I’m unchanged. Being a mom changes you. Depression changes you. But maybe coming out of a depression changes you too?
She’s turning five.
I’m sad.
I’m happy.
I’m torn.
I’m of two minds on this milestone.
One: It is implausible for me that this is happening. She’s my baby, my youngest child. It cannot possibly be time for her to be a little girl instead of a baby. She’s old enough to start kindergarten. (Well, not till next school year… but I’m indulging myself in my own little pity party – bare with me.) How can it be that she isn’t two anymore? With that toothy smile that was hilarious, her baby talk, her needing me so much. I will never again have a baby. Every month now she needs me a tiny bit less. It’s time for her to become a person separate from her mommy – and it is heartbreaking for me.
Which brings me to my second mind: It’s kind of freeing at the same time, her growing up. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve suffered from depression (postpartum and clinical) on and off (mostly on) since the birth of my first child. Maybe it’s unrelated, her growing up and leaving the baby stage and my feeling my depression subside, but I have to wonder because suddenly, in the last 3 or 4 months, I’ve begun to feel like “me” again. Not that I have my “old life” back or anything like that – I wouldn’t want to trade what I have now for my old life. I remember telling my OB/Gyn that I just wanted to feel like myself again when DD1 was about 6 months old. He told me I’d never feel like that person again… and I had stopped hoping that someday I ever would. I let that hope go years ago. But, since sometime in July I started feeling… I don’t know… more free. Free of shadows that were making me not so much myself. (“Shadows” is as close as I can get to the word I’m looking for. Murky vague darkness, suffocating but not. See? Writing is not ever going to be my strongest creative outlet!) Suddenly, I’m glimpsing and feeling me again.
You won’t see much of a difference outwardly. I worked really hard at appearing like everything was OK, and except for a few stumbles I think I did a pretty good job of being OK. It was exhausting pretending to be someone who didn’t really exist. I’m not as emotionally drained anymore, which in itself is freeing. I think I’m a becoming a better wife and mom now, and I can truly appreciate the blessings in my life. My life is good.
I don’t think I’m unchanged. Being a mom changes you. Depression changes you. But maybe coming out of a depression changes you too?
She’s turning five.
I’m sad.
I’m happy.
I’m torn.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
A conversation
(A conversation between me and DD1 the other day... the boy's name has been changed because she'd kill me if she knew I'd blabbed to the world!)
DD1: I can't help it, whenever I look at Joe I can't help smiling.
Me: Maybe you think he's cute? He's a pretty cute little kid.
DD1: I don't know. Do you think I'm crushing on him?
Me: Do YOU think you're crushing on him?
DD1: No. I can't be crushing on him. He's a first grader.
Me: ...and it's not OK to crush on a first grader?
DD1: (giving me her first "you SO don't get it" eye-roll) Mom! He still has all his BABY TEETH!"
DD1: I can't help it, whenever I look at Joe I can't help smiling.
Me: Maybe you think he's cute? He's a pretty cute little kid.
DD1: I don't know. Do you think I'm crushing on him?
Me: Do YOU think you're crushing on him?
DD1: No. I can't be crushing on him. He's a first grader.
Me: ...and it's not OK to crush on a first grader?
DD1: (giving me her first "you SO don't get it" eye-roll) Mom! He still has all his BABY TEETH!"
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
A Book Review
Last week I read "The Year of Living Biblically", a memoir by A.J. Jacobs. The premise is that Jacobs will spend one year living his life according to the literal word of the Bible. (Old and New testaments.) He assembles a group of spiritual advisors, since he is a secular, agnostic New Yorker without much in his history regarding biblical law and customs.
What could have been a completely blasphemous (if not hilarious) book is actually a well written, very funny, sincere, non judgmental account of Jacobs trying as hard as he can to try to live a truly Biblical life. He immerses himself to make it as genuine and earnest as possible – taking it all very seriously. His self-deprecating humor lets us laugh at his attempts to follow the laws and codes of the bible, and his take on following the purity codes of Leviticus had me rolling. (His wife, Julie, was not on this journey with him – although they remained living under the same roof. Her actions of sitting on each chair, bed, and sofa in the apartment during her “time of the month” just so he couldn’t did provide me with a good laugh.) The dietary restrictions he followed were also amusing in this day and age.
Jacobs visits all sorts of people during his year. Conservative orthodox Jews, Creationists, Evolutionists, several types of fundamentalist Christians, even a Snake handler in Virginia are all a part of his journey. He worships with gay Christians, hangs out with real Samaritans, gets to know an Amish gentleman, and has a bit of an epiphany coming to understand that they all have the heartfelt belief that they are guided by the true words of God through the Bible.
He is a seeker himself, and embraces things such as tithing, charity, truthfulness, and even learns to appreciate keeping holy on the Sabbath – which is something he really ends up looking forward to each week. He naturally doesn’t perform animal sacrifice, but does try to mentally put himself in to the shoes of those who performed those types of rituals. (Actually, I take that back. He does sacrifice a chicken with some Hasidic Jews now that I think about it.) He performs acts and follows commandments that I didn’t even realize were in the Bible – and I have to again fess up in regards to my ignorance of the Bible. I’m familiar with most of the big stories, and have read more of the New Testament than the Old… but a lot of what Jacobs went through was news to me.
I liked this book. I really liked this book. I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone. I have a copy if you want to borrow it. If religions interest you at all, I think you’d enjoy reading this memoir. I laughed many times, and his journey did change his life a little in the end.
His genuineness is noble, and his memoir of this journey is really worth the read.
What could have been a completely blasphemous (if not hilarious) book is actually a well written, very funny, sincere, non judgmental account of Jacobs trying as hard as he can to try to live a truly Biblical life. He immerses himself to make it as genuine and earnest as possible – taking it all very seriously. His self-deprecating humor lets us laugh at his attempts to follow the laws and codes of the bible, and his take on following the purity codes of Leviticus had me rolling. (His wife, Julie, was not on this journey with him – although they remained living under the same roof. Her actions of sitting on each chair, bed, and sofa in the apartment during her “time of the month” just so he couldn’t did provide me with a good laugh.) The dietary restrictions he followed were also amusing in this day and age.
Jacobs visits all sorts of people during his year. Conservative orthodox Jews, Creationists, Evolutionists, several types of fundamentalist Christians, even a Snake handler in Virginia are all a part of his journey. He worships with gay Christians, hangs out with real Samaritans, gets to know an Amish gentleman, and has a bit of an epiphany coming to understand that they all have the heartfelt belief that they are guided by the true words of God through the Bible.
He is a seeker himself, and embraces things such as tithing, charity, truthfulness, and even learns to appreciate keeping holy on the Sabbath – which is something he really ends up looking forward to each week. He naturally doesn’t perform animal sacrifice, but does try to mentally put himself in to the shoes of those who performed those types of rituals. (Actually, I take that back. He does sacrifice a chicken with some Hasidic Jews now that I think about it.) He performs acts and follows commandments that I didn’t even realize were in the Bible – and I have to again fess up in regards to my ignorance of the Bible. I’m familiar with most of the big stories, and have read more of the New Testament than the Old… but a lot of what Jacobs went through was news to me.
I liked this book. I really liked this book. I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone. I have a copy if you want to borrow it. If religions interest you at all, I think you’d enjoy reading this memoir. I laughed many times, and his journey did change his life a little in the end.
His genuineness is noble, and his memoir of this journey is really worth the read.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Fall Break is over
I always hate it when the school breaks come to an end. A week just doesn't seem long enough. At least we're at the beginning of all the great break time for the holidays. Conferences, Thanksgiving, and 2 weeks at Christmas! Yea!!
So, I digi-scrapped some pictures from our break trip. Not all of them, you won't see the pandas or other animals from the zoo. What you will mostly see is my kids having fun. I've posted them at flickr... HERE to be exact. You can click to see them if you wish. (I hate to force you to look at my vacation photos - otherwise I'd plan a playgroup and borrow my father's slide projector!)
Ahhh, it's good to be home. Between the east coast / mountain time zone switch and the end of daylight saving time I have no idea what time it is anymore. I know it's only a perceived spell of sleep deprivation, but it's making me so yawny.
Time to sleep. (I think it's 11:30pm. Could be 10:30pm, or might be 12:30am... I've no idea.) Sleep tight!
So, I digi-scrapped some pictures from our break trip. Not all of them, you won't see the pandas or other animals from the zoo. What you will mostly see is my kids having fun. I've posted them at flickr... HERE to be exact. You can click to see them if you wish. (I hate to force you to look at my vacation photos - otherwise I'd plan a playgroup and borrow my father's slide projector!)
Ahhh, it's good to be home. Between the east coast / mountain time zone switch and the end of daylight saving time I have no idea what time it is anymore. I know it's only a perceived spell of sleep deprivation, but it's making me so yawny.
Time to sleep. (I think it's 11:30pm. Could be 10:30pm, or might be 12:30am... I've no idea.) Sleep tight!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
So glad we came...
Dr. J, Princess Moose, DD1 and DD2... ready for Trick or Treat!
Cousins ready to go... bags up!
My sister and I at the after treating wind down / candy sample. (I did find a way to post... there is a computer in the room where we are all staying!) We had beautiful weather for trick or treating, and the houses were decorated so cute. I have lots of pictures to post when we get back this weekend. Today we are off to see MM!!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Peace out
I'm off, y'all. ATL is my home base for the next 5. Not bringing the laptop wit me, just chillin.
Martha, I'll hit yo tag another day.
Peace out.
(See? Tragically suburban and still hip! How does she do it?)
Martha, I'll hit yo tag another day.
Peace out.
(See? Tragically suburban and still hip! How does she do it?)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Never going to be a morning person
OK, I don't really get this whole "morning person" vs. "night owl" thing. See, I've never been a morning person, but as I get older the "night owl" has also vanished from my personality. How can that be? Is there a classification called, "Really more middle of the day, even better with a nap" kind of person?
I got up this morning, and it's my day to drive the carpool to the tech center. (You know, in lieu of a private school, or moving to the area in question) I was REALLY sleepy, so I hopped in the shower hoping it would wake me up. It didn't, really, but at least the shower was out of the way.
Problem is, I'm so used to taking my shower later in the morning (or early afternoon - as those of you who know me are going to shout is the real truth), now I keep looking at the clock thinking, "I have got to shower before DH gets home." Then it hits me, I've already showered.
Early onset Alzheimer's, or just 42 and confused?
Anyway, the moral of the story is that it never pays to get going too early in the morning. It just throws off the entire day.
I got up this morning, and it's my day to drive the carpool to the tech center. (You know, in lieu of a private school, or moving to the area in question) I was REALLY sleepy, so I hopped in the shower hoping it would wake me up. It didn't, really, but at least the shower was out of the way.
Problem is, I'm so used to taking my shower later in the morning (or early afternoon - as those of you who know me are going to shout is the real truth), now I keep looking at the clock thinking, "I have got to shower before DH gets home." Then it hits me, I've already showered.
Early onset Alzheimer's, or just 42 and confused?
Anyway, the moral of the story is that it never pays to get going too early in the morning. It just throws off the entire day.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Anybody score World Series Tickets?
BESIDES MY BROTHER, that is??!!!!!!
Sister, Sister, Brother, and myself agreed to go in on tickets so that my dad could go to see his Rockies play in their first world series... IF one of us could score the tickets. Thanks to my brother my dad is going to the World Series for the first time in his 81 years - and he has been a faithful Rockies fan since their inception.
My brother and dad will be at the Sunday game (game 4?). They have two tickets in a suite. How cool is that? AND, since they got the tickets at face value, it isn't even like the 4 of us kids have to come up with a fortune.
My brother? ROCKS!!!
Sister, Sister, Brother, and myself agreed to go in on tickets so that my dad could go to see his Rockies play in their first world series... IF one of us could score the tickets. Thanks to my brother my dad is going to the World Series for the first time in his 81 years - and he has been a faithful Rockies fan since their inception.
My brother and dad will be at the Sunday game (game 4?). They have two tickets in a suite. How cool is that? AND, since they got the tickets at face value, it isn't even like the 4 of us kids have to come up with a fortune.
My brother? ROCKS!!!
Update on the Ebay thing....
OK, my 4 items sold for a grand total of: $90.89 (not including shipping)
Think I should print a copy of each sale out and deliver them personally to the ebay store near here who wouldn't sell my stuff for me because they thought it wouldn't sell?
(insert evil laugh here)
Think I should print a copy of each sale out and deliver them personally to the ebay store near here who wouldn't sell my stuff for me because they thought it wouldn't sell?
(insert evil laugh here)
Pardon me while I rant
To the Parents of the filthy little street urchins children who come in contact with my daughters on a daily basis,
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for being the cause of an upsurge of family togetherness we here at the Morrison household have recently experienced. However, family time for us is usually more enjoyable when one or more of us is not moaning in discomfort on the couch, or afraid to leave the bathroom for fear of not being able to get back there quickly enough.
My DD1 has now got strep and coxsackievirus (which has resulted in herpangina and high fever). Of course, coxsackievirus is VERY contagious, so my DD2 gets to share in the fun. Hers has manifested itself in herpangina, a high fever, and hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. (If your response was "ewwwww", you hit the nail on the head.) Now, this in itself might not sound that awful to you - as a single sickness doesn't really interrupt one's life for more than about a week. However, yourviral carrying unwashed offspring kids have given my kids several viruses and or bacterial infections in the last few weeks, which has resulted in my being sick for 6 weeks, and has cost us upwards of $75 in doctors' office visit co-pays, and $40 in prescription costs to alleviate either the nasty bacteria or horrific viral symptoms such as not sleeping for 4 days because DD1 couldn't lie down and still remain breathing at the same time.
I am working with my children to wash their hand whenever possible. I insist that their teachers keep hand sanitizer in a handy location and mention it's use several times a day. But you know what I do that y'all don't seem to understand? I KEEP MY KIDS HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK because I know that kids are kids - and don't wash their hands often enough if an adult isn't right there to remind them to do so. I do not let them go to school with a fever. I do not let them go to dance class when nose and eyes are running uncontrollably. I do not let them play soccer when I know the running will cause them to start coughing uncontrollably (again) in to the faces of the other players.
Please, for my sanity if nothing else, stop infecting my family. Because I? Am QUEEN of revenge...and no one is capable of spreading germs like a secretious 4 year old! (Which, as luck would have it, I happen to have!)
Consider yourselves warned.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for being the cause of an upsurge of family togetherness we here at the Morrison household have recently experienced. However, family time for us is usually more enjoyable when one or more of us is not moaning in discomfort on the couch, or afraid to leave the bathroom for fear of not being able to get back there quickly enough.
My DD1 has now got strep and coxsackievirus (which has resulted in herpangina and high fever). Of course, coxsackievirus is VERY contagious, so my DD2 gets to share in the fun. Hers has manifested itself in herpangina, a high fever, and hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. (If your response was "ewwwww", you hit the nail on the head.) Now, this in itself might not sound that awful to you - as a single sickness doesn't really interrupt one's life for more than about a week. However, your
I am working with my children to wash their hand whenever possible. I insist that their teachers keep hand sanitizer in a handy location and mention it's use several times a day. But you know what I do that y'all don't seem to understand? I KEEP MY KIDS HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK because I know that kids are kids - and don't wash their hands often enough if an adult isn't right there to remind them to do so. I do not let them go to school with a fever. I do not let them go to dance class when nose and eyes are running uncontrollably. I do not let them play soccer when I know the running will cause them to start coughing uncontrollably (again) in to the faces of the other players.
Please, for my sanity if nothing else, stop infecting my family. Because I? Am QUEEN of revenge...and no one is capable of spreading germs like a secretious 4 year old! (Which, as luck would have it, I happen to have!)
Consider yourselves warned.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Ebay
Those of you who know me know that I love Ebay. LOVE IT! I have bought lots of stuff – books, kids clothing, toys, house wares, etc., and I could spend hours searching for obscure things that are for sale. I am highly amused by ebay, and think it is a wonderful invention.
That said; I am a person who (even though I buy from ebay) should NEVER sell things on ebay.
Why?
Because I become a woman obsessed.
I obsess over how many people have viewed my items. Are the pictures still showing as well as they did yesterday? Why aren’t they bidding on my stuff yet? Don’t they know that there are only 6 days left on the auction and this is PRIME STUFF? Stop “watching” my product and JUST BID ALREADY!!!
Now, I may beoverly a bit hypocritical. I myself own what is known as sniping software. (You enter all the information and the software goes in at the last 15 seconds of the auction to bid for you.) Some people think this is cheating. I don’t. Auctions are competition, and it’s not like they’re doing random tests on the winners to see if they used power bid enhancing substances. (Which in reality would be what? Coffee?) It levels the playing field for those of us who cannot spend those last 10 minutes of each and every auction they enter to bid over and over again in hopes of winning. Also, because I tend to get a little caught up in the Auction Action, I find that I overbid if I don’t use my snipe software to control my top bid amounts.
But should other people use this? Maybe… but not on my stuff! I want to see bids out there. I want the excitement of watching my shower curtain (new in package) fly past $4.00 to $5.95 that first day!
Stop me before I sell again!
That said; I am a person who (even though I buy from ebay) should NEVER sell things on ebay.
Why?
Because I become a woman obsessed.
I obsess over how many people have viewed my items. Are the pictures still showing as well as they did yesterday? Why aren’t they bidding on my stuff yet? Don’t they know that there are only 6 days left on the auction and this is PRIME STUFF? Stop “watching” my product and JUST BID ALREADY!!!
Now, I may be
But should other people use this? Maybe… but not on my stuff! I want to see bids out there. I want the excitement of watching my shower curtain (new in package) fly past $4.00 to $5.95 that first day!
Stop me before I sell again!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
You’d think I’d have a fighting chance once in a while
I’m getting closer to being 43 years old than I like to admit, and have had at least 2 colds every year of my life since birth. Probably twice that, actually. Now, as I understand viruses, once you have them you develop immunities towards that specific viral strain. Yes?
My daughters have YET to bring home a virus to which I am immune. Have all the colds I experienced as a child left the country? Do they live in Estonia now, infecting 40 year olds there, while their germs are now around this side of the globe? Will that particularly harsh cold I had when I was 9 head back this way to torture my children in their 50’s?
I realize that there are literally thousands of different types of viruses out there, what with mutating being such a popular viral Olympic sport. But come on! NOT ONE that I’ve already had has been around in the past 7½ years?
These upper respiratory germ killers that I have been cultivating for my entire life? Useless. Absolutely useless. Every time one of my kids starts to get stuffy, it’s only a matter of time before I’m right there with them.
Cough cough.
Snuffle.
AAAAUUGGGGGHHHHHHH.
My daughters have YET to bring home a virus to which I am immune. Have all the colds I experienced as a child left the country? Do they live in Estonia now, infecting 40 year olds there, while their germs are now around this side of the globe? Will that particularly harsh cold I had when I was 9 head back this way to torture my children in their 50’s?
I realize that there are literally thousands of different types of viruses out there, what with mutating being such a popular viral Olympic sport. But come on! NOT ONE that I’ve already had has been around in the past 7½ years?
These upper respiratory germ killers that I have been cultivating for my entire life? Useless. Absolutely useless. Every time one of my kids starts to get stuffy, it’s only a matter of time before I’m right there with them.
Cough cough.
Snuffle.
AAAAUUGGGGGHHHHHHH.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
From Antique Mommys blog
"So I ask you, if you were ridiculously wealthy, what is that one (just one) extravagant thing you would have?"
Dodi's response: A live in maid / cook. (She / He can live in the toy room!)
And you? What would your extravagant thing be?
Dodi's response: A live in maid / cook. (She / He can live in the toy room!)
And you? What would your extravagant thing be?
The Fundraisers start early in Cherry Creek!
DD2 is doing a preschool fund raiser? Who knew about these? Have preschools in CC always done fundraising?
Anyway, at least it's a good one. It's........ (drum roll please)............
Big Love!
Anyway, at least it's a good one. It's........ (drum roll please)............
BUTTER BRAIDS!
Butter Braids are so yummy and gooey and delicious. The perfect treat when you have the neighbors over for coffee. Also, the holidays are coming up - nothing impresses a mother-in-law more than a freshly baked pastry for breakfast or brunch. How about a new Thanksgiving dessert tradition? Hey, maybe you could try leaving something original for Santa this year? The possibilities are endless!
Anyone need to stock up? I could mail to Aussie, but they'll probably thaw and spoil on the way! (Plus, I don't think they make a Vegemite Butter Braid!) I think I have a week or two to take orders. I'll even have DD2 bring the order form around to you for signing.Big Love!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Do you read The QC Report?
OK, if you have children and they have ever been sick you MUST read this blog entry on the QC Report.
She is a wonderful writer! This post had me laughing out loud.
She is a wonderful writer! This post had me laughing out loud.
Say Goodbye to my little G rating!
OK, this? Probably the funniest thing I've seen in a while. (My comedic sense is obviously VERY upper class and refined!) Look closely. It took me a second to figure it out. (My dh? Got it immediately!)
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Spamalot
OK, I'm sorry Mrs. Nielson... I loved it. LOVED.
It was so darn clever, and I laughed so hard. It was like a two tiered plot, in that they told the Monty Python Holy Grail story, with all the wonderful whimsy and british humor you expect - but they also wove in satirical references to other big musical productions and they seemed to totally fit in to the chaos that is Monty Python. It was fresh - and I didn't think that was going to be possible. I was delighted, and DH even liked it. (He's not much of a theatre guy.)
I would see it again in a heartbeat - because I think I was laughing so hard in spots that I missed some really great stuff.
I really wanted to get the soundtrack and the killer bunny slippers - but we're on a budget. Damn!
It was so darn clever, and I laughed so hard. It was like a two tiered plot, in that they told the Monty Python Holy Grail story, with all the wonderful whimsy and british humor you expect - but they also wove in satirical references to other big musical productions and they seemed to totally fit in to the chaos that is Monty Python. It was fresh - and I didn't think that was going to be possible. I was delighted, and DH even liked it. (He's not much of a theatre guy.)
I would see it again in a heartbeat - because I think I was laughing so hard in spots that I missed some really great stuff.
I really wanted to get the soundtrack and the killer bunny slippers - but we're on a budget. Damn!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Hopefully she'll recover from the shock
DD1 loves banana chocolate chip muffins. Love may not be a strong enough word.
I had some aging bananas on the counter, and after she went to bed the other night I thought, “hmmm, I’ll bet she’d love it if I surprised her with banana chocolate chip muffins in the morning.” (DH is out of town, so I don’t have anyone to talk me out of it.) So I start down the list of muffin ingredients. Flour, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Those are a given. We always have those. And baking soda, another staple. Butter? We’re out. We do have some Crisco though, so that’ll work… and what is that behind the Crisco? Brown sugar, and it’s soft!. Rock on! Mashed bananas? My bananas are getting so old they’ve practically mashed themselves. Why don’t I bake more? I seem to have all the ingredients. Chocolate chips? Well, hey look at that – right there in the pantry of doom. Who’d of thought? Baking powder. Oh. Problem. Can’t I just use more baking soda? Suppose they probably wouldn’t have listed it separately if it didn’t really matter. The odds of me having baking powder? Not great. I’m just going to rummage in the cupboard above the stove… HEY! I have Baking Powder! And it’s in a can that has never even been opened.
The Gods are smiling down on the Morrison household – all the ingredients are here in my house. I would have never believed it, I can actually bake something without making a special trip to the store. Now, some of you may take things like this for granted… but some of you don’t live in my world. My world is never so simple.
I bake up the muffins.
They turn out perfectly. (Another thing that wasn’t a foregone conclusion!)
DD1 wakes up in the morning and is totally thrilled by her breakfast surprise. (DD2 hates muffins on general principal, which is weird for her since they are composed of refined carbohydrates. Her main food group.)
DD1: “Mom, I didn’t even see you buying muffin mix at the store.”
Me: “I didn’t have to. I actually baked them from scratch.”
DD1: “No, these are good.”
Me: “Thank you. I really did make them myself.”
DD1: “Well, it’s good. You need to get some more of that muffin mix.”
Martha Stewart? No.
Me? Yes. And even I can make some darn good muffins if I just stop to look around the kitchen once in a while.
I had some aging bananas on the counter, and after she went to bed the other night I thought, “hmmm, I’ll bet she’d love it if I surprised her with banana chocolate chip muffins in the morning.” (DH is out of town, so I don’t have anyone to talk me out of it.) So I start down the list of muffin ingredients. Flour, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Those are a given. We always have those. And baking soda, another staple. Butter? We’re out. We do have some Crisco though, so that’ll work… and what is that behind the Crisco? Brown sugar, and it’s soft!. Rock on! Mashed bananas? My bananas are getting so old they’ve practically mashed themselves. Why don’t I bake more? I seem to have all the ingredients. Chocolate chips? Well, hey look at that – right there in the pantry of doom. Who’d of thought? Baking powder. Oh. Problem. Can’t I just use more baking soda? Suppose they probably wouldn’t have listed it separately if it didn’t really matter. The odds of me having baking powder? Not great. I’m just going to rummage in the cupboard above the stove… HEY! I have Baking Powder! And it’s in a can that has never even been opened.
The Gods are smiling down on the Morrison household – all the ingredients are here in my house. I would have never believed it, I can actually bake something without making a special trip to the store. Now, some of you may take things like this for granted… but some of you don’t live in my world. My world is never so simple.
I bake up the muffins.
They turn out perfectly. (Another thing that wasn’t a foregone conclusion!)
DD1 wakes up in the morning and is totally thrilled by her breakfast surprise. (DD2 hates muffins on general principal, which is weird for her since they are composed of refined carbohydrates. Her main food group.)
DD1: “Mom, I didn’t even see you buying muffin mix at the store.”
Me: “I didn’t have to. I actually baked them from scratch.”
DD1: “No, these are good.”
Me: “Thank you. I really did make them myself.”
DD1: “Well, it’s good. You need to get some more of that muffin mix.”
Martha Stewart? No.
Me? Yes. And even I can make some darn good muffins if I just stop to look around the kitchen once in a while.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Need my neighbors help
Been a while since you've had a family portrait done? Here's the deal: I need portfolio material, and I'd need permission to use your portraits on a website next year. If you'd like me to shoot a family portrait for your Christmas cards this year, I'd love to. No charge, but you'd have to pay for the cards yourself! I will give you the pictures (retouched to your liking, as in I can make you younger or thinner if you are in to that kind of thing - like I am!) to you on a CD, and recommend a company to do the photo cards for you, or you can do the Safeway or Walgreen's photo cards. I will shoot in any location you choose - but if you want a shot in the mountains you'll have to let me ride up with you. I know where a few locations are that might be neat here in town.
Seriously, I really need you guys. I can either do photos of the entire family, just kids, or just individual shots of kids and create a collage for you. Let me know if you are interested and we'll come up with something that is perfect for your family.
Come on, it'll be so fun! Help a sister (wife) out! Tell your friends that don't read my blog (so, that means tell everyone, because almost nobody reads my blog!). My goal is 10 finished portraits for card use, or you could print and frame them to give as gifts if you like, I can have them professionally printed for you at cost.
Enough begging yet?
Seriously, I really need you guys. I can either do photos of the entire family, just kids, or just individual shots of kids and create a collage for you. Let me know if you are interested and we'll come up with something that is perfect for your family.
Come on, it'll be so fun! Help a sister (wife) out! Tell your friends that don't read my blog (so, that means tell everyone, because almost nobody reads my blog!). My goal is 10 finished portraits for card use, or you could print and frame them to give as gifts if you like, I can have them professionally printed for you at cost.
Enough begging yet?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Maybe I'll let her grow up just a little bit...
DD2 has been bugging me to cut her hair "short" ever since her sister got her hair bobbed earlier this summer. I really thought it would pass if I could just get her in to preschool and she could see the other little girls with longer hair.
Know what? It didn't pass. Every day she would ask me, "Can I get my hair cut short today?"
Every. Single. Day.
So, on Monday I surprised her. "Can I get my hair cut short today?" "Yep! You have an appointment at Lollilocks at 11:10."
She was THRILLED. Smiled the entire time she was getting her hair cut, as I quietly wept inside my head - a little harder each time one of her baby curls hit the ground.
So now, I present to you the NEW and IMPROVED DD2! (Of course, just like any hair cut, I'll never be able to get it to look like this again!)
Know what? It didn't pass. Every day she would ask me, "Can I get my hair cut short today?"
Every. Single. Day.
So, on Monday I surprised her. "Can I get my hair cut short today?" "Yep! You have an appointment at Lollilocks at 11:10."
She was THRILLED. Smiled the entire time she was getting her hair cut, as I quietly wept inside my head - a little harder each time one of her baby curls hit the ground.
So now, I present to you the NEW and IMPROVED DD2! (Of course, just like any hair cut, I'll never be able to get it to look like this again!)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
If you're looking for some good blog reading
I found a new blog that I am loving going through and reading. She is a wonderful writer, and her posts - for the most part - speak to me. I laugh out loud a lot, and sometimes she has brought me to tears. If you have time on your hands, and are one who likes to find a good blog and like reading through their older posts I highly recomment Antique Mommy.
She seems like a girlfriend. She has the soul of a true "sisterwife". (You Big Love fans know what I mean by that.) Trust me, Lois isn't easily moved by others!
She seems like a girlfriend. She has the soul of a true "sisterwife". (You Big Love fans know what I mean by that.) Trust me, Lois isn't easily moved by others!
Monday, September 17, 2007
The Meanest Practical Joke
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1774718
(Forgive me, but my blog will not let me embed this video. Probably nothing I'm doing wrong with the Html... that just wouldn't make any sense!)
Anyway, this is the best practical joke I've ever seen. So very mean and truly clever.
God, I wish I had thought of this first!! Sure, he'll probably burn in hell - but it would almost be worth it.
(There goes my karma alarm again. Dang, if I could only manage to be nice for two days running my karma would be in a lot better shape!)
(Forgive me, but my blog will not let me embed this video. Probably nothing I'm doing wrong with the Html... that just wouldn't make any sense!)
Anyway, this is the best practical joke I've ever seen. So very mean and truly clever.
God, I wish I had thought of this first!! Sure, he'll probably burn in hell - but it would almost be worth it.
(There goes my karma alarm again. Dang, if I could only manage to be nice for two days running my karma would be in a lot better shape!)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
All Ages Admited
Apparently it is now OK to expose any one of any age to the words "nude", "bitches", and "f**k", because my blog got a G rating.
Also OK? Governmental Conspiracy Theories and the knowledge that Santa isn't real.
Feel free to let your emergent reader have a go - I'm G Rated!
Thursday, September 6, 2007
I think I like her better in prairie skirts and high collars
What I don't have? Is Big Love for this outfit. Just sayin. Thats all.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
A strange thing happened on the way to the land of Nod…
Background: When daughters get tucked in at night, we snuggle for two songs. During the first song, they can talk to me and ask any questions or voice any concerns they might need to get off their mind before sleeping. (As they are 7 and 4 we’ve yet to encounter something that could not be answered in the space of a couple of minutes – at least enough of an answer to give then enough peace to sleep.) Now, on to my entry.
I’m tucking in the girls last night, and have a brain full of cold medicine, so maybe this incident isn’t as weighty as I happen to think?
DD1 always gets her snuggles second. (Just because, that’s why.) During her first song she turns away from me and states, “I just feel like something bad is about to happen.” I’m intrigued. “Like what? Soccer won’t be fun? You might have a bad dream? You might not like lunch tomorrow?” “No,” replies DD1, “Like someone bad wants to take over the whole world.” Oh. Don’t I feel foolish? “Well, honey, I don’t think anyone really wants to take over the WHOLE world.” DD1, “Why not?” Me, “Umm, well, I find taking care of a family of 4 to be somewhat overwhelming – I can’t imaging being responsible for 5 billion people.” I smile, so she knows I’m being silly – and usually this just makes her smile too and we’re done. Not tonight. DD1 then asks, “Mom, what is a puppet master?” (Wha? Where exactly is this going?) Me, “Remember when we saw ‘The Sound of Music’, and they put on the puppet show for the dad? The people who were making the puppets dance were the puppet masters.” (thinking to myself: Is this even remotely correct?) Daughter, “You mean those puppets with strings? What are those?” Me, “Marionettes.” Daughter, “How do the puppet masters know how to make them dance?” Me, “I imagine it takes a lot of practice.” Daughter: “Maybe we’re the puppets with strings. What are they again?” Me, “Marionettes. And, no… we’re not someone’s marionettes. There are no strings on our arms and we possess free will.” (Running through my head: Please don’t ask me about free will. Please don’t ask me about fee will….) Daughter: “If we were they could make us fly. They could make us do anything.”
From the other bed pipes up DD2, “God runs the whole world. He created it.”
DD1, “Oh, right. Good night mom.”
Is my daughter, at age 7, really starting to fear governmental conspiracy theories? Or is that the cold medicine reasoning for me?
This? Is why you cannot do drugs when you’re a parent. I suppose I always knew that – but who knew that Alka Seltzer Plus could skew your perceptions so drastically?
And, lastly, I think I’m going to let DD2 run the Q & A from now on. She seems surprisingly insightful!
I’m tucking in the girls last night, and have a brain full of cold medicine, so maybe this incident isn’t as weighty as I happen to think?
DD1 always gets her snuggles second. (Just because, that’s why.) During her first song she turns away from me and states, “I just feel like something bad is about to happen.” I’m intrigued. “Like what? Soccer won’t be fun? You might have a bad dream? You might not like lunch tomorrow?” “No,” replies DD1, “Like someone bad wants to take over the whole world.” Oh. Don’t I feel foolish? “Well, honey, I don’t think anyone really wants to take over the WHOLE world.” DD1, “Why not?” Me, “Umm, well, I find taking care of a family of 4 to be somewhat overwhelming – I can’t imaging being responsible for 5 billion people.” I smile, so she knows I’m being silly – and usually this just makes her smile too and we’re done. Not tonight. DD1 then asks, “Mom, what is a puppet master?” (Wha? Where exactly is this going?) Me, “Remember when we saw ‘The Sound of Music’, and they put on the puppet show for the dad? The people who were making the puppets dance were the puppet masters.” (thinking to myself: Is this even remotely correct?) Daughter, “You mean those puppets with strings? What are those?” Me, “Marionettes.” Daughter, “How do the puppet masters know how to make them dance?” Me, “I imagine it takes a lot of practice.” Daughter: “Maybe we’re the puppets with strings. What are they again?” Me, “Marionettes. And, no… we’re not someone’s marionettes. There are no strings on our arms and we possess free will.” (Running through my head: Please don’t ask me about free will. Please don’t ask me about fee will….) Daughter: “If we were they could make us fly. They could make us do anything.”
From the other bed pipes up DD2, “God runs the whole world. He created it.”
DD1, “Oh, right. Good night mom.”
Is my daughter, at age 7, really starting to fear governmental conspiracy theories? Or is that the cold medicine reasoning for me?
This? Is why you cannot do drugs when you’re a parent. I suppose I always knew that – but who knew that Alka Seltzer Plus could skew your perceptions so drastically?
And, lastly, I think I’m going to let DD2 run the Q & A from now on. She seems surprisingly insightful!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
8 things meme
I've seen this before on random blogs - but I saw it on a blog today where the person had made one change. List 8 things about yourself, but make one of them untrue. Let's see if you can guess which is untrue!
8. I have over 40 first cousins
7. I have an art degree
6. I speak passable French
5. In college, pledges of our sorority were afraid of me.
4. I love historical fiction
3. My husband and I were married on a Friday
2. There are no nude pictures of me
1. my favorite flower is a lily
So.... how well do you really know me? I'm going to email my 4 friends now and issue the same challenge to them. (Ok, I have a few more than 4 friends... but only 4 that blog. That I know of.)
8. I have over 40 first cousins
7. I have an art degree
6. I speak passable French
5. In college, pledges of our sorority were afraid of me.
4. I love historical fiction
3. My husband and I were married on a Friday
2. There are no nude pictures of me
1. my favorite flower is a lily
So.... how well do you really know me? I'm going to email my 4 friends now and issue the same challenge to them. (Ok, I have a few more than 4 friends... but only 4 that blog. That I know of.)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Are you ever too young for MP3 technology?
OK, let me start this entry by giving you some background. DD1 was brought up on music such as "The Wiggles", "Greg and Steve", "Raffi", "Sesame Street", etc. until she was well past the age of 5. Then, because she was outgrowing the preschool stuff, I let her listen to Radio Disney once in a while... but still playing the preschool stuff most of the time because I figured DD2 deserved the same excellence in parenting that DD1 had. Monitor what they hear and see - and hopefully it will do some good. (Not that I didn't let them watch Shrek, or anything pg... but you get the idea.)
Guess what happened? DD2 decided along with DD1 that the preschool songs bit the big one, and only wanted the more modern Disney exposure. (Hillary, High School Musical, Hannah, you know - the TWEEN music.) So much for protecting DD2's right to excellent parenting - - she is now very put out if we pop in "The Wiggles", and it's much easier to drive without the tantrums that withholding Radio Disney causes.
I got Husband an IPod for Christmas last year. He had a small MP3 player before that, so he LOVED the 30gigs that the IPod provided. Music, movies, etc. Managing his music inventory is now a hobby of his. This left the old MP3 player not being used. Cue DD1 entering second grade - and us thinking it might be fun for her to have the MP3 player loaded with the tween music that she loves. Maybe I can steer DD2 back the way I want her to go.
(You see where this is going, yes?)
DD2 will NOT be steered back to preschool music.
NOT. INTERESTED. Thank. You.
Now she screams that sister has something so very cool of her very own - and by saying "she screams" you should read that as: "a high pitched noise capable of shattering glass is escaping from her lungs and my ears are starting to bleed."
So, I have an idea. I will not get her her OWN mp3 player... but I will lend her mine. Filled with music that is acceptable - even some Aly and AJ.
She is in heaven. DD1 is OK because her mp3 is hers, and DD2's is only borrowed from Mom. DD2 is in heaven because she thinks now she is just as hip as big sister. Mom is in heaven because my ears have stopped bleeding. Dad is suspicious that Mom gave in to DD2 at too early of an age, and that we should have waited until she was a bit older.
He's probably right. But there is only really so much screaming I can listen to before I'm going to have to up my prozac dosage - - and do any of us really want that?
It is true, the second child has a much more "relaxed" upbringing.
First child: rigid nap schedule, gymboree classes, all new outfits at just the right age, fully monitored visual and audio input.
Second child: They nap around older sister's schedule, we pay attention to them during sister's ballet classes instead of taking them to gymboree class, they wear the hand-me-down when they fit... hopefully it's the correct season, and they pretty much get to watch and listen to what big sister watches and listens to.
It is probably a good thing Husband and I stopped at two children. If this were to continue I can only imagine that the fourth or fifth child would have had their ears pierced in utero, would have known all the words to, "It's the best of both worlds" instead of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and instead of "Baby Einstein" she would watch "High School Musical" in her bouncy seat. And I probably wouldn't be sitting next to her talking about the colors and music. I'd be screaming for DD1 to get in to the family room and watch the baby.
I personally am the youngest of six children.
I? Could have been raised by aliens and my parents wouldn't have minded.
Guess what happened? DD2 decided along with DD1 that the preschool songs bit the big one, and only wanted the more modern Disney exposure. (Hillary, High School Musical, Hannah, you know - the TWEEN music.) So much for protecting DD2's right to excellent parenting - - she is now very put out if we pop in "The Wiggles", and it's much easier to drive without the tantrums that withholding Radio Disney causes.
I got Husband an IPod for Christmas last year. He had a small MP3 player before that, so he LOVED the 30gigs that the IPod provided. Music, movies, etc. Managing his music inventory is now a hobby of his. This left the old MP3 player not being used. Cue DD1 entering second grade - and us thinking it might be fun for her to have the MP3 player loaded with the tween music that she loves. Maybe I can steer DD2 back the way I want her to go.
(You see where this is going, yes?)
DD2 will NOT be steered back to preschool music.
NOT. INTERESTED. Thank. You.
Now she screams that sister has something so very cool of her very own - and by saying "she screams" you should read that as: "a high pitched noise capable of shattering glass is escaping from her lungs and my ears are starting to bleed."
So, I have an idea. I will not get her her OWN mp3 player... but I will lend her mine. Filled with music that is acceptable - even some Aly and AJ.
She is in heaven. DD1 is OK because her mp3 is hers, and DD2's is only borrowed from Mom. DD2 is in heaven because she thinks now she is just as hip as big sister. Mom is in heaven because my ears have stopped bleeding. Dad is suspicious that Mom gave in to DD2 at too early of an age, and that we should have waited until she was a bit older.
He's probably right. But there is only really so much screaming I can listen to before I'm going to have to up my prozac dosage - - and do any of us really want that?
It is true, the second child has a much more "relaxed" upbringing.
First child: rigid nap schedule, gymboree classes, all new outfits at just the right age, fully monitored visual and audio input.
Second child: They nap around older sister's schedule, we pay attention to them during sister's ballet classes instead of taking them to gymboree class, they wear the hand-me-down when they fit... hopefully it's the correct season, and they pretty much get to watch and listen to what big sister watches and listens to.
It is probably a good thing Husband and I stopped at two children. If this were to continue I can only imagine that the fourth or fifth child would have had their ears pierced in utero, would have known all the words to, "It's the best of both worlds" instead of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and instead of "Baby Einstein" she would watch "High School Musical" in her bouncy seat. And I probably wouldn't be sitting next to her talking about the colors and music. I'd be screaming for DD1 to get in to the family room and watch the baby.
I personally am the youngest of six children.
I? Could have been raised by aliens and my parents wouldn't have minded.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I Predict
My friend sent me an email that we were supposed to fill in with our answer and then pass it on. Well, most of my friends (all what? 4 friends that I have?) usually hate to get these kinds of emails - and I do too. So, I thought I'd blog it. If you want to also blog it - the more the merrier.
What is it that you predict?
Seems like a broad question doesn't it? Well, my friend predicted that shoulder pads would be back in within 5 years. So, I guess they're not looking for something really deep and meaningful here... so I predict:
Stainless Steel Appliances are on their way out, in favor of newer more innovative metal finishes. Dark Bronze, Brushed nickel, etc. I think stainless has gone as far as it's going to go - and will go the way of avocado green in that it will say "early 21st century" like pink said "50's" and avocado green said "70's" Granite is also going - but will never disappear. Quartz is the big up and coming popular counter top treatment. Polished concrete may also become popular.
Not that any of this should mean anything to you. I hardly have a decorating degree, or great taste for that matter. It's just what "I predict..."
That's all. You can get back to your life now, and thanks for stopping by.
Big Love,
Dodi
What is it that you predict?
Seems like a broad question doesn't it? Well, my friend predicted that shoulder pads would be back in within 5 years. So, I guess they're not looking for something really deep and meaningful here... so I predict:
Stainless Steel Appliances are on their way out, in favor of newer more innovative metal finishes. Dark Bronze, Brushed nickel, etc. I think stainless has gone as far as it's going to go - and will go the way of avocado green in that it will say "early 21st century" like pink said "50's" and avocado green said "70's" Granite is also going - but will never disappear. Quartz is the big up and coming popular counter top treatment. Polished concrete may also become popular.
Not that any of this should mean anything to you. I hardly have a decorating degree, or great taste for that matter. It's just what "I predict..."
That's all. You can get back to your life now, and thanks for stopping by.
Big Love,
Dodi
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