Since I blog VERY infrequently (and more infrequently as of motherhood), I have a plethora of blog topics to pick from today:
1. Little J's 10 month birthday (which is tomorrow) and all of the milestones we have encountered as of late
2. Being on shopping restriction - and in Christmas season, no less
3. Reading BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK (which sort of coordinates with #2)
4. Crazy people I work with
5. Crazier people I teach
6. Christmas lights in our neighborhood
And while I will try and write on all of the other things later, I think tonight's topic will be #6: Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
First of all, I should preface by saying that I LOVE Christmas. And that includes pretty much everything about it - from the Baby Jesus to Rudolph to gift giving to shopping to Frosty to the Grinch to Advent - and the list goes on . . .
I also LOVE Christmas lights. I love to drive through those neighborhoods where everyone decorates (except there's always that one house where the humbugs live - ). But I guess that in my own neighborhood I am a bit of a Christmas lights snob. And I really thought that the neighborhood we moved into kinda had that "Christmas lights snob" code as a part of the neighborhood association rules. What I mean by "Christmas lights snob" code is that lights should be uniform, tasteful, mostly white lights. No chasing lights, blinking lights, dancing lights on crack, etc. If you want to add a Santa or some reindeer, just not too many. Those big inflatable things are fine (and I LOVE the carousels btw), but each yard should only have one. And they need to be tastefully placed and tastefully lit as well.
But apparently the neighborhood watch is letting a few things slide. For instance, recently some people moved in on the next street over. They have replaced the white lights in the globes on either side of their garage with red and green lights. Sorry - not lights - one of each - one red, one green. I feel like I am looking at traffic signals. Gradually they have added other things, too. I think the most recent addition was a wreath with red blinking lights.
Worse than that are our next door neighbors (who are not really people we know anyway - so I am not really criticizing my best friends or anything -). And here's what makes them worse. They have an IMMACULATE yard. I think they probably spend a lot of time (when they aren't mowing or edging or planting) wishing that we weren't their neighbors. I imagine that they spend a lot of energy trying to keep the weeds on our side of the property line. How they do this, I am not sure, since there is no real partition or fence there. But all of that is not the point. The point is, currently their IMMACULATELY coifed yard is host to the following: a neon palm tree (yes, a palm tree, and NO it is not there year round, and NO we do not live in LA), animatronic white wire reindeer, lights thrown up in one tree (colored) (and by thrown up, I mean they look like someone got drunk and threw them into the tree), lights on their bushes (white that blink), and one conical "tree" form that has the outline of lights on it (always about to fall over, btw). One or two of those items might be ok IF they did something plain and uniform with the rest of the decor. But all of it together?
I know, I know, earlier in this post I was the one who mentioned Baby Jesus and Rudolph in the same sentence. So I should understand and support integratation of holiday ornamentation. And I DO, just not close to home . . .
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
So many words so little time
Since I blog VERY infrequently (and more infrequently as of motherhood), I have a plethora of blog topics to pick from today:
1. Little J's 10 month birthday (which is tomorrow) and all of the milestones we have encountered as of late
2. Being on shopping restriction - and in Christmas season, no less
3. Reading BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK (which sort of coordinates with #2)
4. Crazy people I work with
5. Crazier people I teach
6. Christmas lights in our neighborhood
And while I will try and write on all of the other things later, I think tonight's topic will be #6: Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
First of all, I should preface by saying that I LOVE Christmas. And that includes pretty much everything about it - from the Baby Jesus to Rudolph to gift giving to shopping to Frosty to the Grinch to Advent - and the list goes on . . .
I also LOVE Christmas lights. I love to drive through those neighborhoods where everyone decorates (except there's always that one house where the humbugs live - ). But I guess that in my own neighborhood I am a bit of a Christmas lights snob. And I really thought that the neighborhood we moved into kinda had that "Christmas lights snob" code as a part of the neighborhood association rules. What I mean by "Christmas lights snob" code is that lights should be uniform, tasteful, mostly white lights. No chasing lights, blinking lights, dancing lights on crack, etc. If you want to add a Santa or some reindeer, just not too many. Those big inflatable things are fine (and I LOVE the carousels btw), but each yard should only have one. And they need to be tastefully placed and tastefully lit as well.
But apparently the neighborhood watch is letting a few things slide. For instance, recently some people moved in on the next street over. They have replaced the white lights in the globes on either side of their garage with red and green lights. Sorry - not lights - one of each - one red, one green. I feel like I am looking at traffic signals. Gradually they have added other things, too. I think the most recent addition was a wreath with red blinking lights.
Worse than that are our next door neighbors (who are not really people we know anyway - so I am not really criticizing my best friends or anything -). And here's what makes them worse. They have an IMMACULATE yard. I think they probably spend a lot of time (when they aren't mowing or edging or planting) wishing that we weren't their neighbors. I imagine that they spend a lot of energy trying to keep the weeds on our side of the property line. How they do this, I am not sure, since there is no real partition or fence there. But all of that is not the point. The point is, currently their IMMACULATELY coifed yard is host to the following: a neon palm tree (yes, a palm tree, and NO it is not there year round, and NO we do not live in LA), animatronic white wire reindeer, lights thrown up in one tree (colored) (and by thrown up, I mean they look like someone got drunk and threw them into the tree), lights on their bushes (white that blink), and one conical "tree" form that has the outline of lights on it (always about to fall over, btw). One or two of those items might be ok IF they did something plain and uniform with the rest of the decor. But all of it together?
I know, I know, earlier in this post I was the one who mentioned Baby Jesus and Rudolph in the same sentence. So I should understand and support segreation of holiday ornamentation. And I DO, just not close to home . . .
1. Little J's 10 month birthday (which is tomorrow) and all of the milestones we have encountered as of late
2. Being on shopping restriction - and in Christmas season, no less
3. Reading BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK (which sort of coordinates with #2)
4. Crazy people I work with
5. Crazier people I teach
6. Christmas lights in our neighborhood
And while I will try and write on all of the other things later, I think tonight's topic will be #6: Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
First of all, I should preface by saying that I LOVE Christmas. And that includes pretty much everything about it - from the Baby Jesus to Rudolph to gift giving to shopping to Frosty to the Grinch to Advent - and the list goes on . . .
I also LOVE Christmas lights. I love to drive through those neighborhoods where everyone decorates (except there's always that one house where the humbugs live - ). But I guess that in my own neighborhood I am a bit of a Christmas lights snob. And I really thought that the neighborhood we moved into kinda had that "Christmas lights snob" code as a part of the neighborhood association rules. What I mean by "Christmas lights snob" code is that lights should be uniform, tasteful, mostly white lights. No chasing lights, blinking lights, dancing lights on crack, etc. If you want to add a Santa or some reindeer, just not too many. Those big inflatable things are fine (and I LOVE the carousels btw), but each yard should only have one. And they need to be tastefully placed and tastefully lit as well.
But apparently the neighborhood watch is letting a few things slide. For instance, recently some people moved in on the next street over. They have replaced the white lights in the globes on either side of their garage with red and green lights. Sorry - not lights - one of each - one red, one green. I feel like I am looking at traffic signals. Gradually they have added other things, too. I think the most recent addition was a wreath with red blinking lights.
Worse than that are our next door neighbors (who are not really people we know anyway - so I am not really criticizing my best friends or anything -). And here's what makes them worse. They have an IMMACULATE yard. I think they probably spend a lot of time (when they aren't mowing or edging or planting) wishing that we weren't their neighbors. I imagine that they spend a lot of energy trying to keep the weeds on our side of the property line. How they do this, I am not sure, since there is no real partition or fence there. But all of that is not the point. The point is, currently their IMMACULATELY coifed yard is host to the following: a neon palm tree (yes, a palm tree, and NO it is not there year round, and NO we do not live in LA), animatronic white wire reindeer, lights thrown up in one tree (colored) (and by thrown up, I mean they look like someone got drunk and threw them into the tree), lights on their bushes (white that blink), and one conical "tree" form that has the outline of lights on it (always about to fall over, btw). One or two of those items might be ok IF they did something plain and uniform with the rest of the decor. But all of it together?
I know, I know, earlier in this post I was the one who mentioned Baby Jesus and Rudolph in the same sentence. So I should understand and support segreation of holiday ornamentation. And I DO, just not close to home . . .
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Feelin a little emotional
So, yeah, the name of the post says it all. I' ve been like that today. Found myself crying over trying to get a bus driver for a field trip earlier today.
I think part of it all is PMS and part of it involves being REALLY REALLY dead tired. I mean, between the baby maintenance (and this week has been good - no waking up in the middle of the night) and new regulations on how we are supposed to do lesson plans (don't even ask -) and picture day today (that I am in charge of - about 1850 kids, 6 cameras, and 60 or so English classes -), I am really, really beat.
Those of you who have talked to me in person know my daycare woes. And you also know that we finally got a slot for little J. out at the base daycare center. The problem still is that I am not connected to the base in any way, and John is only a contractor, so I still can't get an ID to get out there and drop off or pick up my child (except if its an emergency). And so that's where a lot of the emotional comes in. For the last 6 months, when she's had to go to daycare, I have been the main one to drop her off. And I mostly picked her up in the afternoon. And now - nothing. My mommy instincts are making me crazy. I mean, I know that John can pick her up just fine and drop her off just fine. It isn't that. It's just that (despite the hassle of it all), I love taking her to school in the morning and kissing her goodbye. And I love picking her up and finding her in the swing or the Exersaucer smiling away. All of that motivates me to go on to work in the morning and to go ahead and get the heck home in the afternoon. And it just won't be the same if I can't see her at her school. :( I like knowing who she's with. I like seeing her in her environment. And I trust that John will do a great job with all of that. But I want to be able to do it all too.
And now, this is crazy - tomorrow is her last day at the old daycare. And so much of me is glad because we really did have some unpleasant things happen there. But I am still going to miss the workers, and it still makes me really sad to tell them goodbye tomorrow and to tell them we aren't coming back. I mean, we have forged a relationship with them all. I think they will be sad, too. I don't know that J. will be sad at all. And I hope she doesn't notice. That will make it all easier. But it will still be hard.
Well, I must go and grade more papers.
I think part of it all is PMS and part of it involves being REALLY REALLY dead tired. I mean, between the baby maintenance (and this week has been good - no waking up in the middle of the night
Those of you who have talked to me in person know my daycare woes. And you also know that we finally got a slot for little J. out at the base daycare center. The problem still is that I am not connected to the base in any way, and John is only a contractor, so I still can't get an ID to get out there and drop off or pick up my child (except if its an emergency). And so that's where a lot of the emotional comes in. For the last 6 months, when she's had to go to daycare, I have been the main one to drop her off. And I mostly picked her up in the afternoon. And now - nothing. My mommy instincts are making me crazy. I mean, I know that John can pick her up just fine and drop her off just fine. It isn't that. It's just that (despite the hassle of it all), I love taking her to school in the morning and kissing her goodbye. And I love picking her up and finding her in the swing or the Exersaucer smiling away. All of that motivates me to go on to work in the morning and to go ahead and get the heck home in the afternoon. And it just won't be the same if I can't see her at her school. :( I like knowing who she's with. I like seeing her in her environment. And I trust that John will do a great job with all of that. But I want to be able to do it all too.
And now, this is crazy - tomorrow is her last day at the old daycare. And so much of me is glad because we really did have some unpleasant things happen there. But I am still going to miss the workers, and it still makes me really sad to tell them goodbye tomorrow and to tell them we aren't coming back. I mean, we have forged a relationship with them all. I think they will be sad, too. I don't know that J. will be sad at all. And I hope she doesn't notice. That will make it all easier. But it will still be hard.
Well, I must go and grade more papers.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
rockstar: supernova
So- John and I love this show, and we had a great time watching last season. A few observations:
1. Lukas will probably win because he has such a bad attitude and pisses everyone off. Same as JD last season.
2. Toby is great, but his name is less than stellar. I'm not sure that this will matter, but it's just an observation.
3. Dave Navarro is annoying and very Paula Abdulish. He seems to like everyone and compliments the ones who really suck (see Phil-). Then he says mean things to a few who are actually good (see "Cats" comment to Storm -).
4. Dana is quite good, but I am sure she is getting tired of being picked on for being the 22-year-old Southern girl. Maybe the boys are afraid they can't handle her. Or that her Daddy will come after them with the Southern militia if Tommy Lee gets anywhere near her.
5. What would be helpful and interesting is if we could vote for the people who should go home. I wonder if the results would be any different. What I think would be really good would be to have people call in as the performances are going on and vote the performers off. And in "Gong Show" fashion, the ones who get a certain number of "no" votes would be gonged off as soon as that number of votes came in.
Anyway, it's good summertime fun. And one last observation - I think Chris Daughtery would have fared better on Rockstar. Although he made Idol interesting.
1. Lukas will probably win because he has such a bad attitude and pisses everyone off. Same as JD last season.
2. Toby is great, but his name is less than stellar. I'm not sure that this will matter, but it's just an observation.
3. Dave Navarro is annoying and very Paula Abdulish. He seems to like everyone and compliments the ones who really suck (see Phil-). Then he says mean things to a few who are actually good (see "Cats" comment to Storm -).
4. Dana is quite good, but I am sure she is getting tired of being picked on for being the 22-year-old Southern girl. Maybe the boys are afraid they can't handle her. Or that her Daddy will come after them with the Southern militia if Tommy Lee gets anywhere near her.
5. What would be helpful and interesting is if we could vote for the people who should go home. I wonder if the results would be any different. What I think would be really good would be to have people call in as the performances are going on and vote the performers off. And in "Gong Show" fashion, the ones who get a certain number of "no" votes would be gonged off as soon as that number of votes came in.
Anyway, it's good summertime fun. And one last observation - I think Chris Daughtery would have fared better on Rockstar. Although he made Idol interesting.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Crowning glory
So I think most of us have one thing that sets us apart - one thing about ourselves that we really like - something that makes us feel unique. You probably don't have to be a genius to figure out with me that it's my hair.
I love my locks. I have the occasional "bad hair day," yes, but I have been told by many that they can' t tell. I have even been told that my hair looks great first thing in the morning, right after I get out of the bed. (Must have been a good night - not a night when a 5 month old woke me up 2xs.)
But since pregnancy two things have happened that make me unsure of my "crowning glory." #1 I have admitted to a few of my friends. That is - to date (since pregnancy) I have found 11 gray hairs. Not blond, not clear (I have those mixed in with the red), but SILVERY GRAY.
#2 I have not been able to bring myself to talk about. I have been losing whole handfuls of hair. I was really scared about this one, and I guess that' s why I haven't talked about it. I am sure my husband was a little bit aware, seeing as our bathroom almost seems carpeted now. BUt I just couldn't put it into words to anyone until today.
Why didn't #1 bother me so much? Hair dye, I guess.
#2 just seemed solutionless. I mean, even if I don't develop a bald spot (like my dear sweet baby has on the back of her head), I might have thin hair. And I have never had thin hair in my life!!!
But last night when I could not sleep I read an article about changes pregnancy brings on. And it said that about 2-10 months post pregnancy many women notice hair loss. But it said that it should not last for much longer than the first year after pregnancy. So I am optimistic. Perhaps my hair is safe.
As for the gray, John says he thinks I should leave it to nature - let it be gray if it's gonna. Let me know what you think -- I had always said I would be a redhead until the day I die (dye???).
I love my locks. I have the occasional "bad hair day," yes, but I have been told by many that they can' t tell. I have even been told that my hair looks great first thing in the morning, right after I get out of the bed. (Must have been a good night - not a night when a 5 month old woke me up 2xs.)
But since pregnancy two things have happened that make me unsure of my "crowning glory." #1 I have admitted to a few of my friends. That is - to date (since pregnancy) I have found 11 gray hairs. Not blond, not clear (I have those mixed in with the red), but SILVERY GRAY.
#2 I have not been able to bring myself to talk about. I have been losing whole handfuls of hair. I was really scared about this one, and I guess that' s why I haven't talked about it. I am sure my husband was a little bit aware, seeing as our bathroom almost seems carpeted now. BUt I just couldn't put it into words to anyone until today.
Why didn't #1 bother me so much? Hair dye, I guess.
#2 just seemed solutionless. I mean, even if I don't develop a bald spot (like my dear sweet baby has on the back of her head), I might have thin hair. And I have never had thin hair in my life!!!
But last night when I could not sleep I read an article about changes pregnancy brings on. And it said that about 2-10 months post pregnancy many women notice hair loss. But it said that it should not last for much longer than the first year after pregnancy. So I am optimistic. Perhaps my hair is safe.
As for the gray, John says he thinks I should leave it to nature - let it be gray if it's gonna. Let me know what you think -- I had always said I would be a redhead until the day I die (dye???).
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
shopping
So tonight I had to go out and get provisions for the little one - she started veggies this week and I knew after yesterday and today that we would be out of carrots by sometime on Friday (and she has to eat them through Friday or Saturday). And I just have to comment that sometimes something comes over me (a trance?) that makes me look around and around a store (usually like Wal-Mart or Target) for hours. And I look through a section and look through it again. And I sometimes go through it a third time. And I can't seem to stop myself and go home. And I can be dead tired (like tonight - I had already been to Macon with the little girl today), but I will just keep looking and looking. If John did not have a video game to play, I am sure he would wonder what happened to me. Is this some kind of sickness? A shopping zombiedom or something? Does anyone else out there suffer from this? And what can I do to make it stop? I was in Wal-Mart for something like 2 hours tonight. When I needed to be at home cleaning the house and working on my sister-in-law's birthday gift-
On another note, little J is now so mobile (with the turning over) that she will turn herself over in her crib and then cry because she gets trapped in a corner and can't figure out how to get out. She loves carrots! We can even fool her into eating the rice cereal by mixing it with the carrots (this looks gross and sounds nasty, too, but apparently it's delightful for a 4 1/2 month old).
A final note (and brag) about John. He brought me a miniature rose plant tonight. He gave me one for Valentine's Day (he doesn't like to give real flowers since they die), but it only made it about 3 weeks ( it and the dog were neglected when we first had the baby). He said that he thought this plant might have more of a chance since we don't have our hands as full nowadays. I hope I won't kill this "love plant" (see How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days).
Oh- and because I brought up the dog, I must mention that I LOATHE that animal sometimes. Today it took me almost an hour to get him to come out from under the bed so little J and I could leave for Macon. I'm still worried about what he might have been doing under the bed ----
On another note, little J is now so mobile (with the turning over) that she will turn herself over in her crib and then cry because she gets trapped in a corner and can't figure out how to get out. She loves carrots! We can even fool her into eating the rice cereal by mixing it with the carrots (this looks gross and sounds nasty, too, but apparently it's delightful for a 4 1/2 month old).
A final note (and brag) about John. He brought me a miniature rose plant tonight. He gave me one for Valentine's Day (he doesn't like to give real flowers since they die), but it only made it about 3 weeks ( it and the dog were neglected when we first had the baby). He said that he thought this plant might have more of a chance since we don't have our hands as full nowadays. I hope I won't kill this "love plant" (see How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days).
Oh- and because I brought up the dog, I must mention that I LOATHE that animal sometimes. Today it took me almost an hour to get him to come out from under the bed so little J and I could leave for Macon. I'm still worried about what he might have been doing under the bed ----
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
No regrets -
Last night John and I had this conversation about a friend of his who has a bunch of money in his 401K. He told me about the friend, and this is what followed:
Me: That makes me kind of sick.
John: Why?
Me: I just wish we had made some different choices.
John: Well, I could have gone on through college instead of joining the Army, and now I would be making more money than I am. And you could have gotten a degree in something other than education and could be making more money than you are. But then we wouldn't be together. And we wouldn't have had our little girl.
Me: /feels stupid and ungrateful
So let that be my pledge today - to feel grateful for what I have and to stop feeling so regretful all the time.
Me: That makes me kind of sick.
John: Why?
Me: I just wish we had made some different choices.
John: Well, I could have gone on through college instead of joining the Army, and now I would be making more money than I am. And you could have gotten a degree in something other than education and could be making more money than you are. But then we wouldn't be together. And we wouldn't have had our little girl.
Me: /feels stupid and ungrateful
So let that be my pledge today - to feel grateful for what I have and to stop feeling so regretful all the time.
Friday, June 23, 2006
last night and today
Last night sleep was scarce in our household for several reasons:
1. too much Diet Coke yesterday
2. a noisy 4 month old - she wasn't crying or even awake, she just "talks" in her sleep
3. the dying battery alert in the smoke detector -- could there be anything more annoying???? I'm thinking no.
(btw - I got up at 6:15 and went to the store to buy a 9 volt battery - we have MANY batteries in our house because of the plethora of baby items that run on batteries -- we have AA, AAA, C, D, and probably some others, too, but no 9 volt!)
Advancements of little J this week -
1. She can now put the pacifier in her own mouth. I found this out when I went to load the dishwasher and came back to find her with the pacifier in her mouth (when it hadn't been there before-).
2. She has mastered rolling from her back to her stomach. She did the other roll (stomach to back) when she was only 3 weeks or so, mainly out of anger at us because we put her on her stomach). The details - same thing as with the pacifier the first time - I did not see her do it at first, I just stepped into the kitchen for a minute and came back out to find her on her stomach.
3. She is mobile - if on her tummy she can flail enough to move SLOWLY across the floor. If on her back she can scoot on her butt more quickly than the flailing. If on back or tummy she can move faster and more efficiently if she has something to push off from.
4. In addition to her many MANY other sounds ( she is noisy and "talkative," which John blames on me!), she can now blow raspberries.
Successful shopping at Walmart tonight. Got the little J some onesies that I will iron some transfers on. Don't want to tell what my plans are for those. Just wait and be awed.
Later.
1. too much Diet Coke yesterday
2. a noisy 4 month old - she wasn't crying or even awake, she just "talks" in her sleep
3. the dying battery alert in the smoke detector -- could there be anything more annoying???? I'm thinking no.
(btw - I got up at 6:15 and went to the store to buy a 9 volt battery - we have MANY batteries in our house because of the plethora of baby items that run on batteries -- we have AA, AAA, C, D, and probably some others, too, but no 9 volt!)
Advancements of little J this week -
1. She can now put the pacifier in her own mouth. I found this out when I went to load the dishwasher and came back to find her with the pacifier in her mouth (when it hadn't been there before-).
2. She has mastered rolling from her back to her stomach. She did the other roll (stomach to back) when she was only 3 weeks or so, mainly out of anger at us because we put her on her stomach). The details - same thing as with the pacifier the first time - I did not see her do it at first, I just stepped into the kitchen for a minute and came back out to find her on her stomach.
3. She is mobile - if on her tummy she can flail enough to move SLOWLY across the floor. If on her back she can scoot on her butt more quickly than the flailing. If on back or tummy she can move faster and more efficiently if she has something to push off from.
4. In addition to her many MANY other sounds ( she is noisy and "talkative," which John blames on me!), she can now blow raspberries.
Successful shopping at Walmart tonight. Got the little J some onesies that I will iron some transfers on. Don't want to tell what my plans are for those. Just wait and be awed.
Later.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
----
Couldn't think of a title for today's post.
It has been a busy day. To work for me - a full day class on Professional Learning Communities in schools. Some interesting stuff, really. Like for instance the unfairness of a zero. And before you tune me out (like what I did when that statement was first made this morning), just read - Think about grading scales: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 69 and below=F. At least that is the one we use. Think about that - 10 points for every level except failing . . . and for failing 69 points! I'm not sure about exactly what to do about it, though. I am not suggesting at all that we just give kids a grade - say a 50 - instead of giving zeroes. I' m just putting this out there. And of course there's the other thing, which is that zeroes are many times given for work that is a homework check, and they reminded us all that we have to think about whether or not it is "busy work" if they are just getting a 100 or a 0 for it. And then there is the fact that a zero doesn't indicate any level of student achievement or understanding - it just says they did not do it. So again - just putting this out there. Let me know what you think I could do -
On a different note, tonight John and I FINALLY brought in all 25 boxes of books and crap that had been stored in the garage and are FINALLY unpacking them all and putting the books into cases. We buy entirely too many books. I am going to get rid of a bunch and then kick the habit. I will either re-read something I have or get something from the library. The only exceptions being books from authors I love and know and collect - Sophie Kinsella, Rachel Gibson, Jennifer Weimer ( those are all chick-lit authors and basically trash) - or Anne Tyler, Alice Seabold (those are less commercial) - or classics. I know, that seems like a lot of exceptions. But really it's not. Most of the books I buy are $6-12 romances that take me maybe 2 days to read at the most. So they add up. I think that's what one money manager guy calls the "latte factor" - and that's something I CAN eliminate.
A final item before I close. I spent last night working on an invitation for a picnic supper for a girl I went to high school with (she's getting married). And I was reminded how much I love to create invitations, cards, business cards, etc. This one was 2 layers - white on top of red - with a red and white gingham bow and little ant decals ( think picnic). So I really wish I could start a business doing that - designing and printing and making such things. If anyone wants me to make some invites or something, let me know. Maybe I could bring in a little extra money so I can keep little J. in the designer clothes she's becoming accustomed to-
It has been a busy day. To work for me - a full day class on Professional Learning Communities in schools. Some interesting stuff, really. Like for instance the unfairness of a zero. And before you tune me out (like what I did when that statement was first made this morning), just read - Think about grading scales: 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 69 and below=F. At least that is the one we use. Think about that - 10 points for every level except failing . . . and for failing 69 points! I'm not sure about exactly what to do about it, though. I am not suggesting at all that we just give kids a grade - say a 50 - instead of giving zeroes. I' m just putting this out there. And of course there's the other thing, which is that zeroes are many times given for work that is a homework check, and they reminded us all that we have to think about whether or not it is "busy work" if they are just getting a 100 or a 0 for it. And then there is the fact that a zero doesn't indicate any level of student achievement or understanding - it just says they did not do it. So again - just putting this out there. Let me know what you think I could do -
On a different note, tonight John and I FINALLY brought in all 25 boxes of books and crap that had been stored in the garage and are FINALLY unpacking them all and putting the books into cases. We buy entirely too many books. I am going to get rid of a bunch and then kick the habit. I will either re-read something I have or get something from the library. The only exceptions being books from authors I love and know and collect - Sophie Kinsella, Rachel Gibson, Jennifer Weimer ( those are all chick-lit authors and basically trash) - or Anne Tyler, Alice Seabold (those are less commercial) - or classics. I know, that seems like a lot of exceptions. But really it's not. Most of the books I buy are $6-12 romances that take me maybe 2 days to read at the most. So they add up. I think that's what one money manager guy calls the "latte factor" - and that's something I CAN eliminate.
A final item before I close. I spent last night working on an invitation for a picnic supper for a girl I went to high school with (she's getting married). And I was reminded how much I love to create invitations, cards, business cards, etc. This one was 2 layers - white on top of red - with a red and white gingham bow and little ant decals ( think picnic). So I really wish I could start a business doing that - designing and printing and making such things. If anyone wants me to make some invites or something, let me know. Maybe I could bring in a little extra money so I can keep little J. in the designer clothes she's becoming accustomed to-
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Things that are happening around here -
So, I know I have not updated in some time. I have had so much going on. Most of it good, but all of it time-consuming.
Little J. is growing like a weed. She is 14.6 pounds and 24 inches tall. Very cute - legs like the Michelin (sp) Man and little hands and feet that look like they have been made out of playdough and stuck on to her arms and legs. She keeps me and John hopping. Right now we are frustrated and trying to help her because she just continues to spit up all the time. We have tried all of the remedies people tell you about - she sleeps on a wedge, we don't move her around much or lay her down right after she eats, we sometimes give her gas drops, we rub her tummy but not too hard, etc. Mostly we keep her bibbed constantly and walk around with burp cloths at all times. (In fact, since many of our friends have picked at John about being the big tough guy with a pink cloth on his shoulder, I gave him a camo burp cloth for Father's Day -- see www.abetterbib.com. Also, I gave him 2 packages of Hoo-Ahhs field towels -- they are what they say, just wipes basically, but they also have a camo motif.). Anyway, the spitting up thing really has us jumping. And now we have 2 medications we are giving her - Reglan before every meal and Zantac 2x a day. I don't know if anyone will happen upon my blog and read who can help, but if anyone knows anything, please let me know.
Other than that. John has a new game he is playing. So that means less time with me. :(. I know I should be used to it by now, but I think my discontent with it is actually worse because this summer I am basically a stay-at-home-Mom. So when he gets home in the afternoon, I really want attention, but he just wants to see little J. and then go and log in and play. So I have been watching lots of bad tv alone. I have enjoyed the new show Windfall, though. And I am also using the summer to catch up on Degrassi episodes on the N. All of that and washing and folding tons of little bitty laundry and playing with my daughter (who now knows all of her vowel sounds and loves to squeal and play with her big ole feet) and of course washing all kinds of bottles and cereal bowls and being a house frau for my husband.
Anyway, some of those tasks are calling right now. So I am off.
Little J. is growing like a weed. She is 14.6 pounds and 24 inches tall. Very cute - legs like the Michelin (sp) Man and little hands and feet that look like they have been made out of playdough and stuck on to her arms and legs. She keeps me and John hopping. Right now we are frustrated and trying to help her because she just continues to spit up all the time. We have tried all of the remedies people tell you about - she sleeps on a wedge, we don't move her around much or lay her down right after she eats, we sometimes give her gas drops, we rub her tummy but not too hard, etc. Mostly we keep her bibbed constantly and walk around with burp cloths at all times. (In fact, since many of our friends have picked at John about being the big tough guy with a pink cloth on his shoulder, I gave him a camo burp cloth for Father's Day -- see www.abetterbib.com. Also, I gave him 2 packages of Hoo-Ahhs field towels -- they are what they say, just wipes basically, but they also have a camo motif.). Anyway, the spitting up thing really has us jumping. And now we have 2 medications we are giving her - Reglan before every meal and Zantac 2x a day. I don't know if anyone will happen upon my blog and read who can help, but if anyone knows anything, please let me know.
Other than that. John has a new game he is playing. So that means less time with me. :(. I know I should be used to it by now, but I think my discontent with it is actually worse because this summer I am basically a stay-at-home-Mom. So when he gets home in the afternoon, I really want attention, but he just wants to see little J. and then go and log in and play. So I have been watching lots of bad tv alone. I have enjoyed the new show Windfall, though. And I am also using the summer to catch up on Degrassi episodes on the N. All of that and washing and folding tons of little bitty laundry and playing with my daughter (who now knows all of her vowel sounds and loves to squeal and play with her big ole feet) and of course washing all kinds of bottles and cereal bowls and being a house frau for my husband.
Anyway, some of those tasks are calling right now. So I am off.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Finally an update
So life has been busy. Back to work on April 3rd and the little girl has been sick 2 times. I have been sick once (and still sort of am -- sinus infection probably). At work it's like everyone just ate a big plate of crazy while I was gone. And we had to do the trek around GA for Easter last weekend.
I spent the evening making invitations for my daughter's baptism. I think they are pretty cute -- white cardstock with pink parchment behind it and a pink and green ribbon threaded through the top. I also made new "stick figure" address labels -- the same picture I used before but I added color. So now the little girl and I have red hair. And J has brown hair and a brown goatee. And the crazy dog has brown fur and a little red tongue.
I think I need to quit my day job and open my own stationery store. Would that I could.
Tomorrow will likely be spent grading essays. There has got to be a better way. If anyone knows of one, please send it my way.
I spent the evening making invitations for my daughter's baptism. I think they are pretty cute -- white cardstock with pink parchment behind it and a pink and green ribbon threaded through the top. I also made new "stick figure" address labels -- the same picture I used before but I added color. So now the little girl and I have red hair. And J has brown hair and a brown goatee. And the crazy dog has brown fur and a little red tongue.
I think I need to quit my day job and open my own stationery store. Would that I could.
Tomorrow will likely be spent grading essays. There has got to be a better way. If anyone knows of one, please send it my way.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
A year in the life of a newborn's mother - or the reason this blog's title
Today my newborn daughter "little J" is 7 weeks old. And I have a blog on another site (shhh don't tell anyone), but my activity on that site has been a little slack for a while. So I thought I might try a new site and a new blog, especially since I will probably mainly write about baby stuff. It seems that's all that is on my mind lately. I guess that will change when I go back to work in a week, but . . .
So, on to the reason for the title. My husband has a great book someone gave him with the subtitle A Year in the Life of a Newborn's Father. In the book, the author imagines that the baby refers to him as the fuzzy guy (which works for my husband since he has a goatee and mustache) and to his wife as the food lady (which doesn't work completely for me since I am not breastfeeding and my husband feeds her about half the time). Therefore, my husband decided that our baby must think of me as "that redheaded lady." (Just a thought -- newborns don't have very developed vision, right? so it's doubtful that she knows I have red hair, right? oh well.).
A small rant before I go. I have mostly gotten over the whole not breastfeeding thing. It was a very hard decision, and there were many reasons why we discontinued it after two weeks. I just wish other people (who can and do breastfeed) understood how hard that was and that we did not just make the decision out of convenience. I talked to a college friend last night on the phone, and she made some remark about how it has really helped her to bond with her child. And maybe I am just paranoid, but later she kinda sounded like she was saying I wouldn't/couldn't bond with mine as well because of the decision that I have made. That also ignored the fact that my body/doctor/etc. made the decision for me. Anyway, like I said, maybe just paranoid. I just wish it would quit being an issue. I don't want to feel anyone else judging me for it all. You do what you have to do, and you do what you think is best for your baby. She is the main thing.
In other news, my baby is precious. She is changing and growing so much it blows my mind. My husband and I were looking at video we had taken last night, and that made it so obvious. She even cries louder and bigger now (ha, ha).
So, on to the reason for the title. My husband has a great book someone gave him with the subtitle A Year in the Life of a Newborn's Father. In the book, the author imagines that the baby refers to him as the fuzzy guy (which works for my husband since he has a goatee and mustache) and to his wife as the food lady (which doesn't work completely for me since I am not breastfeeding and my husband feeds her about half the time). Therefore, my husband decided that our baby must think of me as "that redheaded lady." (Just a thought -- newborns don't have very developed vision, right? so it's doubtful that she knows I have red hair, right? oh well.).
A small rant before I go. I have mostly gotten over the whole not breastfeeding thing. It was a very hard decision, and there were many reasons why we discontinued it after two weeks. I just wish other people (who can and do breastfeed) understood how hard that was and that we did not just make the decision out of convenience. I talked to a college friend last night on the phone, and she made some remark about how it has really helped her to bond with her child. And maybe I am just paranoid, but later she kinda sounded like she was saying I wouldn't/couldn't bond with mine as well because of the decision that I have made. That also ignored the fact that my body/doctor/etc. made the decision for me. Anyway, like I said, maybe just paranoid. I just wish it would quit being an issue. I don't want to feel anyone else judging me for it all. You do what you have to do, and you do what you think is best for your baby. She is the main thing.
In other news, my baby is precious. She is changing and growing so much it blows my mind. My husband and I were looking at video we had taken last night, and that made it so obvious. She even cries louder and bigger now (ha, ha).
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