The other day, the kids' school bus didn't show up so we had to take them to school. We have to travel on part of the bus route to take me to work, so as I was headed away from the school I saw all these kids waiting by the road with worried looks on their faces. It made me think back to my own school bus days.
Our family lived out in the country, the only house at the top of a hill. To catch the school bus, I had to go down our long gravel driveway and stand beside the highway. There were no other stops within my range of vision and I rarely wore a watch, so there were many panicky mornings when I wasn't sure whether I had missed the bus.
Missing the bus wasn't so bad when I was in elementary school; the walk to school was long for a 10-year-old but it was doable. By the time I got to high school, however, that wait was excruciating. Most of my classmates, especially the ones that lived in my area, got their driver's licenses as soon as it was legal (spending the morning at the DMV was considered a birthday treat for a lot of 16-year-olds). There were many cold winter mornings when I stood at the bus stop alone and watched people I knew drive right by me. They weren't my friends so I didn't expect them to offer me a ride; I was more concerned about what they were thinking. Had they seen the bus pass by and knew that I missed it? Would they stop and tell me that I was waiting for nothing, or would they just laugh at me and tell their friends how stupid I looked standing at the end of the road?
As we traveled along the kids' bus route the other morning, I wanted to stop and tell each kid that the bus had broken down and another was on the way. Luckily, all the kids I saw were either standing directly in front of their houses or their parents were waiting with them at the bus stop. Realizing that they were all going to be fine made me glad that ABM insisted we live in a subdivision; our kids will have their friends and classmates to laugh with them during minor inconveniences like these.
31 January 2006
26 January 2006
Project Runway "Inspiration"
Is Michael Kors funding or producing this show? I believe this week's episode is a repeat of last year's "Michael Kors' pep talk" challenge. The designers were sent out in the street with digital cameras to take photos that would inspire their next design. My thoughts:
--Zulema was feeling her oats in this episode. Up until now, it was almost an unspoken pact that all the designers would keep the same models. Not only did Zulema break that by deciding to switch models, she also had the sass to ask for a walk-off between three models so she could make her choice. She ended up taking Nick's model, so Nick got her model. I think Nick was right; Zulema knew who she wanted all along and just asked for a walkoff to assert the power of her win a little longer.
--Nick felt like he was slapped in the face by Tim's comment to be more ambitious. I think he just wasn't in the right frame of mind to hear constructive criticism. He was still sulking because his model was stolen. Of course, Tim's comments about Nick's new model didn't help. He said she had "Gumby legs". What that really necessary?
--It pleases me when contestants on reality shows remember that they are human even in the midst of competition. Daniel gave Nick an encouraging talk that got his head back in the game. Nick is his rival but he still didn't want Nick to eliminate himself from the competition over what was basically a bad hair day
--Do you think that Tim heard Santino doing his Tim impression (which I found amusing)? He must have, because a few minutes later he made a comment about "the Santino effect".
The dresses:
1. I think that Andrae captured the essence of the challenge. When you see his dress next to his photo, you definitely see the inspiration.
2. Kara's dress was simple but I liked it. Having it hobbled a bit at the knees took it a notch above the basic black dress.
3. I liked Santino's fabric but I was hoping that he would get away from those twisted ropes.
4. Daniel's dress was ugly! All that poufiness around my neck would get on my nerves.
5. Chloe found a way to stick that blue into her design.
6. I couldn't quite see Nick's inspiration in his dress, other than the color.
7. I liked the color of Zulema's dress but I am still not sure whether I like the design.
--I'm listening to the judges right now and they agreed with me that you could see Andrae's inspiration immediately in the dress. They disagreed with me on Daniel's dress; for some reason they liked that hideous flower-bulb top.
--The judges ripped Zulema apart, but I can't help wondering if the model contributed to their dislike of the dress. Tarah (the model) did not like Zulema's design and was disgusted with Zulema for not having it finished by the time she came in for the fitting. I wouldn't be surprised if the judges read a little discontent in that sneer she wore on the runway.
Daniel's dress won, when I was so sure it would be Andrae. The judges surprised me by getting rid of Zulema. In the past they have kept Santino with designs that were far uglier. I think Zulema will make a name for herself from sheer force of will, so being eliminated from this competition probably didn't hurt her very much. I don't think she needed it as much as the others do.
--Zulema was feeling her oats in this episode. Up until now, it was almost an unspoken pact that all the designers would keep the same models. Not only did Zulema break that by deciding to switch models, she also had the sass to ask for a walk-off between three models so she could make her choice. She ended up taking Nick's model, so Nick got her model. I think Nick was right; Zulema knew who she wanted all along and just asked for a walkoff to assert the power of her win a little longer.
--Nick felt like he was slapped in the face by Tim's comment to be more ambitious. I think he just wasn't in the right frame of mind to hear constructive criticism. He was still sulking because his model was stolen. Of course, Tim's comments about Nick's new model didn't help. He said she had "Gumby legs". What that really necessary?
--It pleases me when contestants on reality shows remember that they are human even in the midst of competition. Daniel gave Nick an encouraging talk that got his head back in the game. Nick is his rival but he still didn't want Nick to eliminate himself from the competition over what was basically a bad hair day
--Do you think that Tim heard Santino doing his Tim impression (which I found amusing)? He must have, because a few minutes later he made a comment about "the Santino effect".
The dresses:
1. I think that Andrae captured the essence of the challenge. When you see his dress next to his photo, you definitely see the inspiration.
2. Kara's dress was simple but I liked it. Having it hobbled a bit at the knees took it a notch above the basic black dress.
3. I liked Santino's fabric but I was hoping that he would get away from those twisted ropes.
4. Daniel's dress was ugly! All that poufiness around my neck would get on my nerves.
5. Chloe found a way to stick that blue into her design.
6. I couldn't quite see Nick's inspiration in his dress, other than the color.
7. I liked the color of Zulema's dress but I am still not sure whether I like the design.
--I'm listening to the judges right now and they agreed with me that you could see Andrae's inspiration immediately in the dress. They disagreed with me on Daniel's dress; for some reason they liked that hideous flower-bulb top.
--The judges ripped Zulema apart, but I can't help wondering if the model contributed to their dislike of the dress. Tarah (the model) did not like Zulema's design and was disgusted with Zulema for not having it finished by the time she came in for the fitting. I wouldn't be surprised if the judges read a little discontent in that sneer she wore on the runway.
Daniel's dress won, when I was so sure it would be Andrae. The judges surprised me by getting rid of Zulema. In the past they have kept Santino with designs that were far uglier. I think Zulema will make a name for herself from sheer force of will, so being eliminated from this competition probably didn't hurt her very much. I don't think she needed it as much as the others do.
25 January 2006
What I'm Doing
Reading: I skimmed A Girl Named Zippy but I couldn't get into it. Most likely I didn't give it a fair chance because what I wanted to read was She Got Up Off the Couch, but my obsessive nature said I had to read the author's first book first.
The book that is holding my interest this week is The Great Book of Family Games. This book has rules to several classics such as backgammon but there are also many games that are unfamiliar to me. Most of these games can be played with what I already have in the house, which is a boon to me because my game collection is still small. I can't wait to try some of these. I must be turning into a boardgame geek if I am reading game rules for fun!
Listening: Boardgames To Go has an interesting show up now, at least if you are hobby gamer. It is a discussion of the Five and Dime List, which is a rough statistical analysis of what games are being played each year. GeeksOn talks about geek hobbies inching into the mainstream. The Ricky Gervais Show defies description -- if you need a laugh, go listen now!
Watching: There is a new videocast called Boardgames with Scott. The kids and I watched a couple episodes this weekend and we loved it. The presenter, Scott Nicholson, is a professor of library science by trade. He is well-spoken and animated, which is a necessity if you are doing a podcast or videocast without a co-host. Seeing the components and how the game looks in play is very helpful to me, since I will be making the majority of my purchases online.
Playing: I haven't been playing much this week; I used Sunday's game time for clearing out the garage. However, M loaded Warfare Incorporated onto her PDA and got past the level that has had me stuck for three weeks. I had her show me how to do it, so I imagine I will be playing that for a while (at least until I get stuck again!)
The book that is holding my interest this week is The Great Book of Family Games. This book has rules to several classics such as backgammon but there are also many games that are unfamiliar to me. Most of these games can be played with what I already have in the house, which is a boon to me because my game collection is still small. I can't wait to try some of these. I must be turning into a boardgame geek if I am reading game rules for fun!
Listening: Boardgames To Go has an interesting show up now, at least if you are hobby gamer. It is a discussion of the Five and Dime List, which is a rough statistical analysis of what games are being played each year. GeeksOn talks about geek hobbies inching into the mainstream. The Ricky Gervais Show defies description -- if you need a laugh, go listen now!
Watching: There is a new videocast called Boardgames with Scott. The kids and I watched a couple episodes this weekend and we loved it. The presenter, Scott Nicholson, is a professor of library science by trade. He is well-spoken and animated, which is a necessity if you are doing a podcast or videocast without a co-host. Seeing the components and how the game looks in play is very helpful to me, since I will be making the majority of my purchases online.
Playing: I haven't been playing much this week; I used Sunday's game time for clearing out the garage. However, M loaded Warfare Incorporated onto her PDA and got past the level that has had me stuck for three weeks. I had her show me how to do it, so I imagine I will be playing that for a while (at least until I get stuck again!)
The internet can be your friend
On a whim, I searched for quiz questions on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". What I found was a neat little site called FunTrivia. The kids' section is chock full of tests on children's books. C2, who just finished reading the C. S. Lewis book for school, took two tests and said that the questions are comparable to those on AR tests. She felt that it was a good preparation for the one that she will be taking at school tomorrow. If you don't happen to have kids in school, there are also all kinds of trivia quizzes for movies, TV shows, and other pop culture topics.
24 January 2006
Is it wrong?
Is it wrong to get hungry while watching weight-loss shows? The programs on Discovery Health channel that are trying to convince viewers to eat healthier always show clips of food. They state that Americans are overweight because we are tempted by tons of fast-food commercials, then they show us pictures of the food we shouldn't be eating! I end up wanting pizza instead of the healthy salad that they are preparing on the episode.
23 January 2006
Pressing on
Yesterday's success in the garage deserved a follow-up, so tonight I tackled my pantry. Never mind that I was so tired today I almost fell asleep at work. The new me is trying to do something useful for the family every day. Unfortunately, I didn't accomplish as much as I did yesterday. I still have canned goods stacked on the kitchen table because my back gave out after an hour. Although I could have crammed everything back into the pantry, I would rather resume work tomorrow and arrange the food in a user-friendly manner.
My work in the pantry yielded a similar result to my work in the garage yesterday. There is so much food in there that it is almost shameful, even after throwing out the stale stuff. I have a whole shelf of pasta products! ABM and the MIL keep bringing home stuff that they find on sale, but I rarely cook. I've got to push myself to cook at least a couple times a week so that this food doesn't go to waste.
My work in the pantry yielded a similar result to my work in the garage yesterday. There is so much food in there that it is almost shameful, even after throwing out the stale stuff. I have a whole shelf of pasta products! ABM and the MIL keep bringing home stuff that they find on sale, but I rarely cook. I've got to push myself to cook at least a couple times a week so that this food doesn't go to waste.
22 January 2006
Better than yesterday
Thanks to prayer and a push from one of God's angels, I got up off my rump today and started clearing out the garage. I knew that I couldn't manage the whole job today due to the size of the mess and the fact that it wasn't all my stuff. There is a good bit of stuff that I can't chuck without consulting ABM, so I focused on the books. My two hours in the garage enabled me to clear out a lot and it feels good not to trip over boxes.
One of my biggest stumbling blocks to downsizing the book collection has been my unwillingness to get rid of any of the homeschooling materials. M was homeschooled for grades one through four, and in my heart I still hold the hope that I will be able to teach the other three. There is no denying, however, that my chance to use the kindergarten and first grade materials has passed since my youngest kid is halfway through second grade. Out they went! I think it is also time for me to donate the beginning readers. All of my kids can read now and one of the kindergarten teachers at the school was anxious to have them.
Besides clearing out, I also discovered things under all the piles that I could use right now. The kids are getting into pen-and-paper puzzles so the Puzzlemania and Mathmania books that I got from Highlights were moved to the bookshelf in the den. I was surprised by the number of AR* books that I have. Keeping them supplied with books that are on the school's reading list is a struggle because we don't buy books or go to the library that frequently, so it is good to have a few backups in the house.
My half-empty bookshelves give me room to build a better book collection. I want to add more AR books for the kids so that we aren't always dependent upon the library. I also plan to start reading more myself. Right now I am attracted to graphic novels and I know that C2 and DJ also like them, so they should be a good addition. A few simple Chinese and Mexican cookbooks are on the list as well to nurture the kids' burgeoning interest in cooking.
When I saw the list of books that Bookish Girl read in 2005, I felt a mixture of awe and embarrassment. Once upon a time, I was a bookish girl. I carried a book everywhere I went. I would check out 10 books and a time and have them all read before the four-week checkout period was up. Nowadays, I am almost afraid to start reading a book because I know that I will get sucked in. However, 2006 is all about me presenting a better example for my kids and they won't learn that reading is a worthwhile pastime if I don't model that.
*AR = Accelerated Reader. This is a software program that our county uses to test reading comprehension. All schools have the base program but then each school purchases test modules for the books in their library. This means that every school has a different list and books that you might expect to be there aren't (for instance, M's middle school doesn't have tests for any of Shakespeare's works despite the fact that the school is home to an International Baccalaureate program where the average student reading level is 11th grade).
One of my biggest stumbling blocks to downsizing the book collection has been my unwillingness to get rid of any of the homeschooling materials. M was homeschooled for grades one through four, and in my heart I still hold the hope that I will be able to teach the other three. There is no denying, however, that my chance to use the kindergarten and first grade materials has passed since my youngest kid is halfway through second grade. Out they went! I think it is also time for me to donate the beginning readers. All of my kids can read now and one of the kindergarten teachers at the school was anxious to have them.
Besides clearing out, I also discovered things under all the piles that I could use right now. The kids are getting into pen-and-paper puzzles so the Puzzlemania and Mathmania books that I got from Highlights were moved to the bookshelf in the den. I was surprised by the number of AR* books that I have. Keeping them supplied with books that are on the school's reading list is a struggle because we don't buy books or go to the library that frequently, so it is good to have a few backups in the house.
My half-empty bookshelves give me room to build a better book collection. I want to add more AR books for the kids so that we aren't always dependent upon the library. I also plan to start reading more myself. Right now I am attracted to graphic novels and I know that C2 and DJ also like them, so they should be a good addition. A few simple Chinese and Mexican cookbooks are on the list as well to nurture the kids' burgeoning interest in cooking.
When I saw the list of books that Bookish Girl read in 2005, I felt a mixture of awe and embarrassment. Once upon a time, I was a bookish girl. I carried a book everywhere I went. I would check out 10 books and a time and have them all read before the four-week checkout period was up. Nowadays, I am almost afraid to start reading a book because I know that I will get sucked in. However, 2006 is all about me presenting a better example for my kids and they won't learn that reading is a worthwhile pastime if I don't model that.
*AR = Accelerated Reader. This is a software program that our county uses to test reading comprehension. All schools have the base program but then each school purchases test modules for the books in their library. This means that every school has a different list and books that you might expect to be there aren't (for instance, M's middle school doesn't have tests for any of Shakespeare's works despite the fact that the school is home to an International Baccalaureate program where the average student reading level is 11th grade).
21 January 2006
Disney Channel's "High School Musical"
Everyone knows that I am a sucker for teen programming. I can't even call it a guilty pleasure because I am not in the least bit embarrassed about it. Disney Channel has been instrumental in supplying my need for such programming; they premiere a new movie every month that was made specifically for them.
This weekend they debuted "High School Musical", the story of a guy and gal who meet on vacation only to find that they will be attending the same high school (shades of "Grease", anyone?). The two teenagers met while singing karaoke, but singing has no place in their everyday lives. He is the jock who rules the school, and she is the math geek who wants to be know for something different. So they both audition for the school musical against the wishes of their friends who don't want to upset the status quo.
It is everything you expect a musical to be: corny and full of dance numbers with a happy ending. True musical theater critics would probably find fault with it, but I think it is preparing the next generation to accept this genre. Most of my peers can't understand musicals (ABM says all the singing and dancing interrupts the plot) but my kids love them. This isn't too surprising since they are being raised by a Broadway-loving mom, but other kids who visit seem to like them as well.
This weekend they debuted "High School Musical", the story of a guy and gal who meet on vacation only to find that they will be attending the same high school (shades of "Grease", anyone?). The two teenagers met while singing karaoke, but singing has no place in their everyday lives. He is the jock who rules the school, and she is the math geek who wants to be know for something different. So they both audition for the school musical against the wishes of their friends who don't want to upset the status quo.
It is everything you expect a musical to be: corny and full of dance numbers with a happy ending. True musical theater critics would probably find fault with it, but I think it is preparing the next generation to accept this genre. Most of my peers can't understand musicals (ABM says all the singing and dancing interrupts the plot) but my kids love them. This isn't too surprising since they are being raised by a Broadway-loving mom, but other kids who visit seem to like them as well.
Totally Wasted Day
The plan for today was to catch up on my blogs while I drink my morning coffee and then attack the pile of books in the garage, weeding out the ones I don't want and putting the good ones on my new-to-me bookshelves. It is now 9:20p EST, and I am still reading blog entries. Don't worry--I did take a couple breaks to brush my teeth and feed the kids.
Somewhere around 3p, I realized that I had crossed the line and there was no way that I could redeem this day. Why do I do this? I am not tired enough to feel good about sitting in bed all day, but I can't find the energy or inspiration to get up. The biggest problem is my attitude. I have this sense of entitlement about my weekends. I don't want to waste them doing housework, yet I want the housework to be done. When I throw myself into a project like cleaning out the refrigerator, I get mad at how long it took instead of being happy that the job is completed. I've got to find a way to get over this because I want to set a better example for my kids. I don't want to unleash sloppy people on their future roommates and spouses!
Somewhere around 3p, I realized that I had crossed the line and there was no way that I could redeem this day. Why do I do this? I am not tired enough to feel good about sitting in bed all day, but I can't find the energy or inspiration to get up. The biggest problem is my attitude. I have this sense of entitlement about my weekends. I don't want to waste them doing housework, yet I want the housework to be done. When I throw myself into a project like cleaning out the refrigerator, I get mad at how long it took instead of being happy that the job is completed. I've got to find a way to get over this because I want to set a better example for my kids. I don't want to unleash sloppy people on their future roommates and spouses!
National Body Challenge
Have any of you seen the new National Body Challenge? There is a family called the Craigs that seems to represent most Americans, including myself. They know what they should eat, but they don't like the taste of it. The mother tried to cook a healthy meal and the dad and the kid complained about it the whole time. The mother didn't even want to eat it. She just kept saying, "We've got to learn to like it."
This fits me to a T. No matter what you tell me, vegetables don't taste as good as junk food. I can hear you saying, "But there is some mediocre junk food out there!" That is true, but then we run into the second problem: time. A mediocre can of beefaroni is quicker to prepare than any of the healthy options. The other family is a perfect representative of this issue. The mom wanted to stick to the plan but she got to the end of her normal busy workday and was just too tired to do anything other than drive through the closest fast food joint. Again, I can identify. I don't want to spend even 20 minutes in the kitchen after a long day at work. If I spend time in the kitchen and end up with a meal that is good for me but doesn't give me that taste satisfaction, I am one cranky woman!
This fits me to a T. No matter what you tell me, vegetables don't taste as good as junk food. I can hear you saying, "But there is some mediocre junk food out there!" That is true, but then we run into the second problem: time. A mediocre can of beefaroni is quicker to prepare than any of the healthy options. The other family is a perfect representative of this issue. The mom wanted to stick to the plan but she got to the end of her normal busy workday and was just too tired to do anything other than drive through the closest fast food joint. Again, I can identify. I don't want to spend even 20 minutes in the kitchen after a long day at work. If I spend time in the kitchen and end up with a meal that is good for me but doesn't give me that taste satisfaction, I am one cranky woman!
19 January 2006
Project Runway "On Thin Ice"
This episode's challenge was to create an outfit for a figure skater. I'm guessing this is the equivalent of last season's postal worker outfit, the "design for work" challenge. My thoughts:
--Why are they bothering with the model challenge? It is obvious that the designers are going to stick with their original choice. No one has switched models yet. They should just cut that scene out of the show until somebody actually makes a change.
--Seeing the designers dressed in the skating costumes was my giggle for the evening. Poor Emmett! Out of all of them, he looked the most like a fool. Zulema didn't let on, but I think she knew it was figure skating right away because she was the only girl to put on the over-the-top show makeup.
--Speaking of Zulema, it cracked me up to hear her say that she never uses glitter while she was wearing glittery gold eyeshadow!
--Although Zulema's dress looked the most like a functional skating costume, my favorite was Chloe's. Emmett's fabric had so much potential, but the end result was boring. As usual, Santino's design was too far out. I was disappointed in Nick's costume; I thought that he would have done much better since he was the only one who really seemed to be a fan of Sasha Cohen's.
--I think the judges give Santino too much credit. They keep saying that he is talented, but how many crazy dresses does he have to design before they give him the boot? I guess they are going with the "art is supposed to make you feel something" rule, even if that something is disgust. Apparently a boring dress is worse than an ugly one.
If I had to choose my final three right now, it would be Chloe/Daniel/Nick. Their designs have been consistently good which I think will help them ride out the next few eliminations.
--Why are they bothering with the model challenge? It is obvious that the designers are going to stick with their original choice. No one has switched models yet. They should just cut that scene out of the show until somebody actually makes a change.
--Seeing the designers dressed in the skating costumes was my giggle for the evening. Poor Emmett! Out of all of them, he looked the most like a fool. Zulema didn't let on, but I think she knew it was figure skating right away because she was the only girl to put on the over-the-top show makeup.
--Speaking of Zulema, it cracked me up to hear her say that she never uses glitter while she was wearing glittery gold eyeshadow!
--Although Zulema's dress looked the most like a functional skating costume, my favorite was Chloe's. Emmett's fabric had so much potential, but the end result was boring. As usual, Santino's design was too far out. I was disappointed in Nick's costume; I thought that he would have done much better since he was the only one who really seemed to be a fan of Sasha Cohen's.
--I think the judges give Santino too much credit. They keep saying that he is talented, but how many crazy dresses does he have to design before they give him the boot? I guess they are going with the "art is supposed to make you feel something" rule, even if that something is disgust. Apparently a boring dress is worse than an ugly one.
If I had to choose my final three right now, it would be Chloe/Daniel/Nick. Their designs have been consistently good which I think will help them ride out the next few eliminations.
Can I be Cyndi Lauper when I grow up?
Tonight I fired up the Tivo and watched Cyndi Lauper's performance on The View. She is a perfect example of how I want to dress. She still wears funky clothes but they are more sedate than her wardrobe from 20 years' ago. I want my clothes to be fun without people thinking that I am trying to be 16 again. Can "quirky" and "mature" exist in the same closet? I think that Cyndi Lauper's closet comes close.
18 January 2006
What I'm Up To
TV: Beauty and the Geek started back last week so I added that to my reality show lineup. I've also been hearing good things about Surface so I will be browsing the internet for past episodes to put on my Palm.
Movies: I got ABM to watch Camp the other day and he actually liked it. For my husband to sit through a movie about theatre geeks that had full musical numbers must be a sign that our relationship has matured. This is further proof that people who are married for a long time start to become the same person.
Music: The hunger for music has finally kicked in for my kids. Local radio is a minefield of inappropriate songs so I have been introducing them to the few CDs that I have. M's current playlist for the long commute to school:
"Mesopotamia" by the B52s
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters
"Boogie Woogie Hip Hop Boy" by En Vogue
Several songs from the musical "Hairspray"
Several songs by the Lascivious Biddies
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day
This list would have gotten me branded as a white girl wannabe, so I've got to add some R&B and hip-hop to this list.
Books: I just finished reading The Astonishing X-Men: Gifted written by Joss Whedon. This is the paperback compilation of issues #1-#6 and I am dying to get the second volume. I haven't read a comic in over 15 years, but I think graphic novels may just be the way to go for me. Next time, though, I think I will pick a series that has already concluded. After I read the second volume, I will have to wait for the comics to be published each month and I don't know if I can stand it.
One thing I wanted to mention is the art in this book. I never expected to be so moved by the art in a comic book. Check this out:
This is the cover to issue #6. My scanner does not properly convey the beauty of this drawing. I went to the Marvel site and downloaded the wallpaper for my computer at work AND my laptop. This may sound like an exaggeration, but this is only the second time in my memory that I have felt compelled to look at a picture for an extended period of time. I would buy a print and frame it if I actually thought ABM would let me hang it.
While I am trying to convince myself to spend the $12 for volume two, I am reading a manga comic called Pretear. Again, it is the first volume of a series and the library doesn't have any of the others. It is OK, but it is a little young for me. The art is all black-and-white and the plot is a basic wide-eyed fairy tale. I think I would be enjoying it more if I wasn't jonesing for more X-Men. It is perfect for C2, though. It is difficult to get her to finish books on her reading level but she sped through this in no time and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the schools here put such importance on earning AR points that there isn't time for kids to read anything just for pleasure. I may get her some of these for summer reading.
Games: We got the girls a Gamecube for their birthday. Really, it is for all the kids but the stores were still cleaned out from Christmas and we wanted them to have some sort of gift from us. The two games that ABM got to go with it are Pikmin and Crazy Taxi. The funny thing is that I am the one who knows the most about video games, but ABM is always the one who ends up out in the stores without me trying to pick something out. I get so frustrated with him because he will call me from the store and only read three titles to me. If I say "no" to those titles, then he doesn't get anything. I know that he must be looking at more than three games in front of him; why does he try to use his limited game knowledge to screen the games?
Movies: I got ABM to watch Camp the other day and he actually liked it. For my husband to sit through a movie about theatre geeks that had full musical numbers must be a sign that our relationship has matured. This is further proof that people who are married for a long time start to become the same person.
Music: The hunger for music has finally kicked in for my kids. Local radio is a minefield of inappropriate songs so I have been introducing them to the few CDs that I have. M's current playlist for the long commute to school:
"Mesopotamia" by the B52s
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters
"Boogie Woogie Hip Hop Boy" by En Vogue
Several songs from the musical "Hairspray"
Several songs by the Lascivious Biddies
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day
This list would have gotten me branded as a white girl wannabe, so I've got to add some R&B and hip-hop to this list.
Books: I just finished reading The Astonishing X-Men: Gifted written by Joss Whedon. This is the paperback compilation of issues #1-#6 and I am dying to get the second volume. I haven't read a comic in over 15 years, but I think graphic novels may just be the way to go for me. Next time, though, I think I will pick a series that has already concluded. After I read the second volume, I will have to wait for the comics to be published each month and I don't know if I can stand it.
One thing I wanted to mention is the art in this book. I never expected to be so moved by the art in a comic book. Check this out:
This is the cover to issue #6. My scanner does not properly convey the beauty of this drawing. I went to the Marvel site and downloaded the wallpaper for my computer at work AND my laptop. This may sound like an exaggeration, but this is only the second time in my memory that I have felt compelled to look at a picture for an extended period of time. I would buy a print and frame it if I actually thought ABM would let me hang it.
While I am trying to convince myself to spend the $12 for volume two, I am reading a manga comic called Pretear. Again, it is the first volume of a series and the library doesn't have any of the others. It is OK, but it is a little young for me. The art is all black-and-white and the plot is a basic wide-eyed fairy tale. I think I would be enjoying it more if I wasn't jonesing for more X-Men. It is perfect for C2, though. It is difficult to get her to finish books on her reading level but she sped through this in no time and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the schools here put such importance on earning AR points that there isn't time for kids to read anything just for pleasure. I may get her some of these for summer reading.
Games: We got the girls a Gamecube for their birthday. Really, it is for all the kids but the stores were still cleaned out from Christmas and we wanted them to have some sort of gift from us. The two games that ABM got to go with it are Pikmin and Crazy Taxi. The funny thing is that I am the one who knows the most about video games, but ABM is always the one who ends up out in the stores without me trying to pick something out. I get so frustrated with him because he will call me from the store and only read three titles to me. If I say "no" to those titles, then he doesn't get anything. I know that he must be looking at more than three games in front of him; why does he try to use his limited game knowledge to screen the games?
17 January 2006
My new blog look
One of my readers mentioned that he liked the new blog template because it had a modern look. I appreciate the compliment, but I also find it a bit amusing. I chose this template because of the old-fashioned doorknocker at the top. The crisp lines of the template plus the vintage fixture added up to the perfect template to go with the name of my blog. Anyway, I am glad someone likes it. I hope to stick with this one for a while.
Gilmore Girls "Just Like Gwen and Gavin"
Lorelei did so many things right in this episode. She softened towards Logan a bit, and she didn't overreact when she found out about Luke's daughter. However, her reaction when Luke said that he wanted to postpone the wedding seemed a bit selfish. Luke was willing to wait until the feud between Rory and Lorelei was settled. He also stood back and let Lorelei and Sookie plan the whole wedding without any input from him. He handled both situations without much fuss, so I wasn't pleased to see that little pout on Lorelei's puss at the end of the episode.
Usually I am very interested in minor characters on TV shows, but Paris is getting on my nerves. For a while the writers made her character less shrill which made her friendship with Rory more believable. Now she is back to her old self and she makes me think of those high school friends that stay the same while you change. Paris hasn't done anything recently to justify Rory sticking with her. Although, I guess that is the definition of true friendship -- loving someone who is unloveable to everyone else.
Usually I am very interested in minor characters on TV shows, but Paris is getting on my nerves. For a while the writers made her character less shrill which made her friendship with Rory more believable. Now she is back to her old self and she makes me think of those high school friends that stay the same while you change. Paris hasn't done anything recently to justify Rory sticking with her. Although, I guess that is the definition of true friendship -- loving someone who is unloveable to everyone else.
14 January 2006
The playdate that turned into a party
It started out as a simple playdate. C1 and C2 each invited two girls who live in the subdivision to come over and play today. Yes, this is the twins' birthday but they were under strict instructions not to call this a party. Yes, the girls brought presents but I still maintained that it wasn't a party. When ABM came in the door carrying birthday cake, goodie bags, and decorated plates with matching napkins, I could deny the truth no longer. This was a birthday party.
We don't normally do birthday parties for the kids. I have never wanted to go to the trouble or expense because I was afraid it would have to escalate as they got older. I've heard of parents who compete with other parents or try to top themselves in planning the birthday celebrations each time. With my unpredictable energy level, I could be totally up for a big party for one kid and then not be able to manage it for the next kid's birthday a month later. To keep things fair, we have always kept their birthdays low-key.
Back to today. The party went surprisingly well. My main worry was that the guests would be bored and make fun of the twins. One of the guests just had a great birthday slumber party last weekend: movies, video games, and a trip to Libby Lu the next day. We couldn't compete with that; hence, calling it a playdate instead of a party. The kids had a great time, though. They played a few party games (Wink Thief, Catch the Pig, Pit), talked about boys and music, jumped on the trampoline, blew bubbles, and ran around giggling like young girls should. I thought they would get on my nerves, but it was fun.
Despite the good time, I am glad that I don't have to do it again for a while. I didn't notice any pain during the party, but I can barely move now. My feet, my thighs, and my back are all stiff and sore. Exercise needs to be moved to the top of my list.
We don't normally do birthday parties for the kids. I have never wanted to go to the trouble or expense because I was afraid it would have to escalate as they got older. I've heard of parents who compete with other parents or try to top themselves in planning the birthday celebrations each time. With my unpredictable energy level, I could be totally up for a big party for one kid and then not be able to manage it for the next kid's birthday a month later. To keep things fair, we have always kept their birthdays low-key.
Back to today. The party went surprisingly well. My main worry was that the guests would be bored and make fun of the twins. One of the guests just had a great birthday slumber party last weekend: movies, video games, and a trip to Libby Lu the next day. We couldn't compete with that; hence, calling it a playdate instead of a party. The kids had a great time, though. They played a few party games (Wink Thief, Catch the Pig, Pit), talked about boys and music, jumped on the trampoline, blew bubbles, and ran around giggling like young girls should. I thought they would get on my nerves, but it was fun.
Despite the good time, I am glad that I don't have to do it again for a while. I didn't notice any pain during the party, but I can barely move now. My feet, my thighs, and my back are all stiff and sore. Exercise needs to be moved to the top of my list.
| You are a Black Coffee |
 At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high |
It is funny that I am a black coffee, but I don't drink black coffee. This is a pretty good assessment of me.
13 January 2006
The person in my mind's eye
Did you notice the avatar that I added to the right sidebar? That is how I look in my imagination. Unfortunately, the real me is much different. No tattoos and no piercings -- just dowdy clothes and 100 extra pounds. Ah, well . . . a girl needs to have her dreams.
I guess I should be happy
I avoided the January layoffs again. For ABM, that is great news. For me, not so much. I just don't want to be here. To be fair, this is an almost stress-free place to work. If my last job was like being bi-polar and unmedicated, this place is like having blue skies and a steady supply of lithium. I feel stupid even complaining to myself about this job, yet I don't want to be here. It's no use telling myself that there are people in the world who have worse problems--I still don't want to be here. Never mind that we have a stack of bills to pay and ABM can't handle them on his salary alone--I still don't want to be here.
I can hear my Christian friends right now telling me to take it to God in prayer. Been there, done that. This is where God wants me to be and He will let me know when it is time for me to leave. Knowing that I am following God's plan for my life should give me peace, but instead I just feel trapped. Working allows me to bring in a much-needed paycheck, but it is a time-suck that saps my energy for everything else. On top of feeling trapped, I feel guilty. What makes me think that I am too good to work for a living? Why should God rescue me from working instead of the woman in the next cubicle?
Every day I feel like I am shortchanging my kids and my efforts to keep up with everything going on in their lives feels piecemeal. You know what my biggest fear is? They won't get into college and they will have to live the life that I am living right now. I want my girls to be able to stay home with their kids. If they want to work, I want them to be able to have careers instead of just jobs. I'm not expecting them to be wealthy, but comfortable enough to hire some help every once in a while if they need it.
Enough already! I am typing this at work and it is making me cry. Bursting into tears in a room full of compassionate Christian women is not the best thing to do when you are trying to keep a low profile. I knew I should have downloaded that "Avenue Q" soundtrack this morning -- it would have cheered me up.
I can hear my Christian friends right now telling me to take it to God in prayer. Been there, done that. This is where God wants me to be and He will let me know when it is time for me to leave. Knowing that I am following God's plan for my life should give me peace, but instead I just feel trapped. Working allows me to bring in a much-needed paycheck, but it is a time-suck that saps my energy for everything else. On top of feeling trapped, I feel guilty. What makes me think that I am too good to work for a living? Why should God rescue me from working instead of the woman in the next cubicle?
Every day I feel like I am shortchanging my kids and my efforts to keep up with everything going on in their lives feels piecemeal. You know what my biggest fear is? They won't get into college and they will have to live the life that I am living right now. I want my girls to be able to stay home with their kids. If they want to work, I want them to be able to have careers instead of just jobs. I'm not expecting them to be wealthy, but comfortable enough to hire some help every once in a while if they need it.
Enough already! I am typing this at work and it is making me cry. Bursting into tears in a room full of compassionate Christian women is not the best thing to do when you are trying to keep a low profile. I knew I should have downloaded that "Avenue Q" soundtrack this morning -- it would have cheered me up.
12 January 2006
Project Runway "Window Shopping"
Since Banana Republic is a major sponsor of this show, I knew that a challenge involving them had to be coming up soon. This is the episode. The difference in this year's version of the challenge is that the designers worked in pairs and both designers in the winning team were sent home. Another twist was that the teams had to create a window display for their outfit prior to the runway show. These displays, complete with the models acting as living mannequins, were set up in the windows of Banana Republic's store and voted on by random people on the street.
The two main sources of drama in this episode were the teams of Zulema/Kara and Marla/Diana. Zulema and Kara disagreed so much with each other that they ended up totally redesigning their outfit two hours before the deadline. If they had come up with that design a few hours earlier they could have executed it better and they probably would have won.
Marla and Diana, on the other hand, were Wishy and Washy. Marla, a women in her fifties, acted like she was too afraid to stand up to a kid like Diana and tell her she didn't like her design. She waited for Tim to do it. Ultimately, I think Tim's advice was their downfall. Diana's original idea for a pencil skirt that could be buttoned to the back to reveal a sexier layer underneath sounded promising, but after talking to Tim they went with something dowdy which got them eliminated. I'm not sad to see Marla go, but I thought that Diana was finally starting to balance trendy ideas with wearability.
Tonight's winners were Daniel and Andrae. After his outburst in the first episode, Andrae has calmed down and is letting his work speak for him. The dress he created with Daniel was OK, but I wouldn't wear it. Emmett and Chloe disappointed me with their reversible jacket. The skirt was great, though, and their window display was my favorite. Santino, as usual, felt that he knew what Banana Republic should be selling better than the BR buyer sitting right in front of him. Nick turned on him a little bit on the runway, and I was surprised that there wasn't a little backstage drama after that. Perhaps they are saving that for next week.
The two main sources of drama in this episode were the teams of Zulema/Kara and Marla/Diana. Zulema and Kara disagreed so much with each other that they ended up totally redesigning their outfit two hours before the deadline. If they had come up with that design a few hours earlier they could have executed it better and they probably would have won.
Marla and Diana, on the other hand, were Wishy and Washy. Marla, a women in her fifties, acted like she was too afraid to stand up to a kid like Diana and tell her she didn't like her design. She waited for Tim to do it. Ultimately, I think Tim's advice was their downfall. Diana's original idea for a pencil skirt that could be buttoned to the back to reveal a sexier layer underneath sounded promising, but after talking to Tim they went with something dowdy which got them eliminated. I'm not sad to see Marla go, but I thought that Diana was finally starting to balance trendy ideas with wearability.
Tonight's winners were Daniel and Andrae. After his outburst in the first episode, Andrae has calmed down and is letting his work speak for him. The dress he created with Daniel was OK, but I wouldn't wear it. Emmett and Chloe disappointed me with their reversible jacket. The skirt was great, though, and their window display was my favorite. Santino, as usual, felt that he knew what Banana Republic should be selling better than the BR buyer sitting right in front of him. Nick turned on him a little bit on the runway, and I was surprised that there wasn't a little backstage drama after that. Perhaps they are saving that for next week.
11 January 2006
Back away from the phone
The only communication that ABM and I have during the day is through text messaging. These are the messages I've sent him today:
"X's mom died."
"Layoffs started here at work 2day. Waiting for my mtg."
"Y lost the baby."
ABM said that by the end of the day he was afraid to pick up his phone. I've been nothing but a harbinger of doom. Tomorrow has got to be better.
"X's mom died."
"Layoffs started here at work 2day. Waiting for my mtg."
"Y lost the baby."
ABM said that by the end of the day he was afraid to pick up his phone. I've been nothing but a harbinger of doom. Tomorrow has got to be better.
10 January 2006
Gilmore Girls "The Perfect Dress"
I'm not even going to pretend that this is a full review. These are just some disjointed thoughts that I jotted down as I watched the episode:
--The other Gilmore fans will probably denounce me, but all the cheery Rory/Lorelei babbling in this episode got on my nerves within two minutes. I enjoyed it before their little separation period, but now it seems fake. Rory always seemed a bit more mature and conventional than her mother Lorelei. Now that they've made up she is acting like a bubbly three-year-old.
--I'm glad to see more Lane, but did I miss her moving back in with her mother?
--I'll have to show this ep to ABM when he gets home because it proves his argument about men and weddings. Conventional wisdom suggests that men don't really care about wedding plans and just want to know where to show up. ABM wanted to be involved in every aspect of our wedding and claims that most men he knows are the same way. Luke apparently falls into that camp because he seemed upset that he didn't get any input.
--Rory's crying in therapy looked fake. I've seen Alexis Bledel do more sincere crying, so I know that she can pull it off. I guess it was supposed to be comic relief rather than a genuine emotional moment.
--I'm glad that Logan is back. Other fans may think that he is bad news. Her other two boyfriends weren't exactly great catches, either. I think Rory and Logan will be good for each other; they just need to work out the issues with their families.
OK, the episode is over and I am pissed. I should have known that Luke wasn't going to tell Lorelei about his daughter tonight. Just once, I wish writers wouldn't drag things out for dramatic effect. Let him go ahead and tell her so that they can get down to the real work of dealing with the situation.
--The other Gilmore fans will probably denounce me, but all the cheery Rory/Lorelei babbling in this episode got on my nerves within two minutes. I enjoyed it before their little separation period, but now it seems fake. Rory always seemed a bit more mature and conventional than her mother Lorelei. Now that they've made up she is acting like a bubbly three-year-old.
--I'm glad to see more Lane, but did I miss her moving back in with her mother?
--I'll have to show this ep to ABM when he gets home because it proves his argument about men and weddings. Conventional wisdom suggests that men don't really care about wedding plans and just want to know where to show up. ABM wanted to be involved in every aspect of our wedding and claims that most men he knows are the same way. Luke apparently falls into that camp because he seemed upset that he didn't get any input.
--Rory's crying in therapy looked fake. I've seen Alexis Bledel do more sincere crying, so I know that she can pull it off. I guess it was supposed to be comic relief rather than a genuine emotional moment.
--I'm glad that Logan is back. Other fans may think that he is bad news. Her other two boyfriends weren't exactly great catches, either. I think Rory and Logan will be good for each other; they just need to work out the issues with their families.
OK, the episode is over and I am pissed. I should have known that Luke wasn't going to tell Lorelei about his daughter tonight. Just once, I wish writers wouldn't drag things out for dramatic effect. Let him go ahead and tell her so that they can get down to the real work of dealing with the situation.
The MIL cooked me dinner for my birthday. What a lovely surprise! The last birthday present I got from her was about 14 years' ago, so this was truly unexpected. Perhaps all the handknits I've given her have mellowed her out. Of course, she could be trying to butter me up so that I will finish the socks that are on the needles now before winter is over (^_^).
08 January 2006
Just what you wanted--another meme
This one is called "Have you ever . . ." and I got it from my friend Gina's blog:
Have you ever...?
Smoked a cigar: No
Crashed a friend's car: No
Stolen a car: No
Been in love: Yes
Been dumped: No
Dumped someone: Yes
Taken shots of alcohol: I think (do Jell-O shots count?)
Been fired: Yes!
Been in a fist fight: No
Snuck out of a/your house: No
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back: Yes
Been arrested: No
Made out with a stranger: Yes
Gone on a blind date: Yes
Lied to a friend: Yes
Had a crush on a teacher: No
Seen someone die: Yes
Been on a plane: Yes
Thrown up in a bar: No
Miss someone right now: No
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by: Yes
Made a snow angel: Yes
Played dress up: No
Cheated while playing a game: No
Been lonely: Yes
Fallen asleep at work/school: No
Used a fake id: No
Felt an earthquake: No
Touched a snake: Yes
Run a red light: No (kinda hard to do without a driver's license)
Had detention: Yes
Been in a car accident: Yes
Hated the way you look: Yes
Been lost: Yes
Been to the opposite side of the country: No
Felt like dying: Yes
Cried yourself to sleep: Yes
Played cops and robbers: No
Karaoke: Yes (brand-new karaoke machine in my house right now)
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't: Yes
Laughed till some kind of beverage came out of your nose: Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue: Yes
Kissed in the rain: No
Sang in the shower: Yes
Made love in a park: Yes
Had a dream that you married someone: Yes
Glued your hand to something: No
Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole: No (but I have gotten it stuck in the freezer)
Worn the opposite sex's clothes: Yes
Been a cheerleader: No
Sat on a roof top: Yes
Talked on the phone all night: Yes
Ever too scared to watch scary movies alone: Yes
Played chicken fight: No
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on: No
Been told you're hot by a complete stranger: Yes
Broken a bone: Yes
Dipped snuff: No
Lived overseas: No
Ever passed out/fainted: No.
Now you know more about me than you wanted.
05 January 2006
Project Runway "Social Scene"
This week's challenge was to create a party dress for Nicky Hilton, a NY socialite and little sis to Paris. (I think she is the pretty Hilton sister; at least she has some meat on her bones). By now, some of the challenge elements are familiar to both the designers and viewers: $150 budget, 30 minutes to sketch ideas, and 30 minutes to shop. My thoughts:
--Nick has been friendly with Santino from the first episode, but he seemed to finally open his eyes and see Santino as a competitor in this challenge. His design was my favorite and I am disappointed that Santino beat him.
--Perhaps it was the color on my TV, but I thought the chocolate brown fabric that Daniel purchased in error went well with the print. In any case, he ended up creating a simple dress that let the print do the talking.
--Guadalupe's dress was ugly! It looked like it was pieced together from a rag bag. I could see what she was going for with the Japanese influence; it reminded me of something from an anime film. The average girl isn't going to pick that up, though.
--Diana (cute tech girl) finally realized that she needed to appeal to more of a mass audience. Her dress was funky without looking too sci-fi. I just wish she had chosen something other than black fabric.
--Santino, as much as I dislike him, was thinking beyond the show. At the party, he had his business card ready to hand to Nicky Hilton. This seemed to impress her and probably was a big factor in his win this week.
--Zulema kept describing her dress as naughty, but a little bit of leather does not a naughty dress make. The only reason she didn't have to explain her dress was because it was too boring to notice.
The final choice between Marla and Guadalupe was difficult. Pick the designer who was a little boring (Marla) or pick the designer who was a little out there but has original ideas (Guadalupe). Ultimately, the judges went with boring and let Marla stay. I guess they are giving her one last chance to let her own ideas shine through instead of playing it safe.
--Nick has been friendly with Santino from the first episode, but he seemed to finally open his eyes and see Santino as a competitor in this challenge. His design was my favorite and I am disappointed that Santino beat him.
--Perhaps it was the color on my TV, but I thought the chocolate brown fabric that Daniel purchased in error went well with the print. In any case, he ended up creating a simple dress that let the print do the talking.
--Guadalupe's dress was ugly! It looked like it was pieced together from a rag bag. I could see what she was going for with the Japanese influence; it reminded me of something from an anime film. The average girl isn't going to pick that up, though.
--Diana (cute tech girl) finally realized that she needed to appeal to more of a mass audience. Her dress was funky without looking too sci-fi. I just wish she had chosen something other than black fabric.
--Santino, as much as I dislike him, was thinking beyond the show. At the party, he had his business card ready to hand to Nicky Hilton. This seemed to impress her and probably was a big factor in his win this week.
--Zulema kept describing her dress as naughty, but a little bit of leather does not a naughty dress make. The only reason she didn't have to explain her dress was because it was too boring to notice.
The final choice between Marla and Guadalupe was difficult. Pick the designer who was a little boring (Marla) or pick the designer who was a little out there but has original ideas (Guadalupe). Ultimately, the judges went with boring and let Marla stay. I guess they are giving her one last chance to let her own ideas shine through instead of playing it safe.
I have locked myself in my bedroom to escape from my children. This day is a perfect illustration of why I need to be a SAHM. After spending eight hours at a mind-numbing job, I was immediately bombarded with questions and requests as soon as I came in the door. I feel like I have been set upon by those birds in the Hitchcock movie. Everyone is hungry, but ABM forgot to buy the eggs I need for the meatloaf (he isn't used to me cooking yet). I have to cook this ground beef because I thawed it two days' ago. Since this is Thursday, I have to look over all the notes that the teachers have sent home. In about 45 minutes, ABM will call me with some task that he would like me to complete before he gets home. I haven't had a chance to sit down and pay the bills and I just know that something is going to get cut off this week. C1 is going to a slumber party tomorrow so I have to get her bag packed tonight. If I don't get online tonight and order the twins some cool presents for their birthday next week, then they won't get here in time and ABM will pick them up something quick-but-not-ideal from the clearance pile at Toys 'R' Us. Did I mention that my Aunt Flo came to visit this morning and all I want to do is go to bed? Aaaaah!!!!
ABM's job literally pays for the roof over our head; 3/4 of his check goes to the mortgage. That means I have to work to pay for everything else. I know I have to do this, but it is frustrating. Hiding in my room after work is easier than facing the fact that I can't perform these other tasks as well as I would like.
ABM's job literally pays for the roof over our head; 3/4 of his check goes to the mortgage. That means I have to work to pay for everything else. I know I have to do this, but it is frustrating. Hiding in my room after work is easier than facing the fact that I can't perform these other tasks as well as I would like.
This is why I don't make New Year's resolutions
Here is a list of things that I would like to accomplish:
--Make exercise a 3-times-a-week habit
--Read at least one book a month (cookbooks and knitting books don't count)
--Cook dinner every night instead of throwing hot dogs at the kids
--Lose 50 pounds by the end of the year (I am 100 pounds overweight)
--Teach M how to cook
--Play games once a week with the kids
--Limit my computer time to 30 minutes on weeknights
--Read my Bible every day
--Knit a sweater for each of my children
Do you see how long this list is? What's even worse, I am having trouble prioritizing it. In my mind, these are all worthy goals that conflict with each other. If I try to focus on them all at once, the five hours between work and bedtime will be jam-packed. I look at that list and it just seems hopeless. "Overwhelmed" was my word for the last half of 2005 and it will probably still be my buzz word for 2006. Now you know why I watch so much TV!
--Make exercise a 3-times-a-week habit
--Read at least one book a month (cookbooks and knitting books don't count)
--Cook dinner every night instead of throwing hot dogs at the kids
--Lose 50 pounds by the end of the year (I am 100 pounds overweight)
--Teach M how to cook
--Play games once a week with the kids
--Limit my computer time to 30 minutes on weeknights
--Read my Bible every day
--Knit a sweater for each of my children
Do you see how long this list is? What's even worse, I am having trouble prioritizing it. In my mind, these are all worthy goals that conflict with each other. If I try to focus on them all at once, the five hours between work and bedtime will be jam-packed. I look at that list and it just seems hopeless. "Overwhelmed" was my word for the last half of 2005 and it will probably still be my buzz word for 2006. Now you know why I watch so much TV!
04 January 2006
Another example of why I don't watch the news
The rest of you may have already been following this story of the 12 miners in West Virginia, but I rarely watch news broadcasts. I flipped on my TV and witnessed a disturbing scene: clips of family members going to their local church in the middle of the night to rejoice with each other because they were told that all 12 made it out alive, followed by the anger and chaos when they were told two hours later that the first announcement was a mistake. I don't even know these people and I am sitting here crying. I feel like my heart has been stomped. It hurts to think for even one second what those families must be feeling right now. When the reporter started detailing the mine's below-par safety record, I had to shut off the TV. My prayers go out to all those affected, but I can't watch the coverage.
03 January 2006
Everybody come lookin' real fine
Fresh from the barbershop or fly from the beauty salon . . . it's not summertime yet, but no matter . . .
For my online friends who have listened to me moan since the twins were in utero, here is a current (as in five minutes ago) picture of C1 and C2. This picture was taken with M's Zire 71 PDA and I tweaked it with Picasa.
01 January 2006
Sometimes you can know too much
ABM and I just finished watching "Beauty Shop". It was a light confection of a movie, but I was very impressed with the piano playing in it. As I usually do, I went on the internet to look up the young actress who played Vanessa (Paige Hurd) and find out how long she has been playing. Imagine my disappointment when I found this article detailing how actors are coached to fake piano playing for the camera. This is something I didn't need to know. I am well aware that movies are about fantasy and I appreciate good special effects in a sci-fi or fantasy movie. This piano coaching thing messes with what I expect from movies. I think that moviegoers in my age group have become accustomed to certain tricks. There's a certain quality to the recording that lets you know that an actor isn't doing her own singing and there are certain camera cuts that let you know the actor isn't doing his own dancing or stunt work. Knowing this has never ruined a movie for me. For some reason, the knowledge that I was so thoroughly fooled in this movie is bothering me.
If you believe in that sort of thing . . .
Many cultures and regions have their own customs regarding New Year's Eve. In my area, Christian watch night services abound. The premise is that you should be doing something at midnight that will give you good fortune for the whole year, so you spend the night in church with like-minded folk praying and singing praises to God. Our church belongs to an association of churches and the service rotates to a different church each year. In December 2004, it was decided to split the service between two churches, one for adults and one for kids and teens. Normally we don't attend these services, but that year ABM decided to go while I stayed home.
According to ABM, there was a stark contrast between the two services. The youth service was run by a minister friend of ours, and it was a celebration of life with joyful music and hope for the new year. ABM didn't stay, however, because he felt obligated to support our pastor who was running the adult service across the road. At that service, they decided to take the opposite approach. Instead of having hope for the new year, they seemed to be having a funeral for the old year. ABM said it was the most depressing watch night service he had ever attended (he grew up as a churchgoer, so he's been to several of them; I've never been myself).
We aren't superstitious, but I've been wondering if that depressing watch night service affected 2005 for us. Our usual New Year's Eve routine is to snuggle up in bed with snacks and watch TV. Right after the midnight kiss there is a little under-the-cover action to insure that we start the year on the right note. This doesn't result in a perfect year, but our love life hasn't suffered any (^_-). Last year, however, was rough for both of us spiritually. ABM and I both seemed to lose our way a bit. We stopped participating in all the activities at church, and I stopped going to church all together. I still believe in the basic tenets of my faith (Jesus died on the cross for my sins) but lately I have been rejecting everything that has to do with organized religion. This is a bit tough, considering that I work for a ministry!
Again, I'm not superstitious but I don't pretend to know everything about how the universe works, either. If how we spend the first hours of the new year makes a difference, then I hope what we did this year wipes out what we did last year. We couldn't follow our normal ritual because ABM has a severe case of strep throat. I spent the time taking care of him, which he rarely lets me do. The kids were all getting along at midnight and watching the same TV program, which is something I definitely want to see carried out throughout 2006. Also, the first thing I did this morning was read the Bible and pray. Despite the illness (C2 is also sick), there is peace in this house today and I hope for the rest of 2006.
According to ABM, there was a stark contrast between the two services. The youth service was run by a minister friend of ours, and it was a celebration of life with joyful music and hope for the new year. ABM didn't stay, however, because he felt obligated to support our pastor who was running the adult service across the road. At that service, they decided to take the opposite approach. Instead of having hope for the new year, they seemed to be having a funeral for the old year. ABM said it was the most depressing watch night service he had ever attended (he grew up as a churchgoer, so he's been to several of them; I've never been myself).
We aren't superstitious, but I've been wondering if that depressing watch night service affected 2005 for us. Our usual New Year's Eve routine is to snuggle up in bed with snacks and watch TV. Right after the midnight kiss there is a little under-the-cover action to insure that we start the year on the right note. This doesn't result in a perfect year, but our love life hasn't suffered any (^_-). Last year, however, was rough for both of us spiritually. ABM and I both seemed to lose our way a bit. We stopped participating in all the activities at church, and I stopped going to church all together. I still believe in the basic tenets of my faith (Jesus died on the cross for my sins) but lately I have been rejecting everything that has to do with organized religion. This is a bit tough, considering that I work for a ministry!
Again, I'm not superstitious but I don't pretend to know everything about how the universe works, either. If how we spend the first hours of the new year makes a difference, then I hope what we did this year wipes out what we did last year. We couldn't follow our normal ritual because ABM has a severe case of strep throat. I spent the time taking care of him, which he rarely lets me do. The kids were all getting along at midnight and watching the same TV program, which is something I definitely want to see carried out throughout 2006. Also, the first thing I did this morning was read the Bible and pray. Despite the illness (C2 is also sick), there is peace in this house today and I hope for the rest of 2006.
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