1. Lucy loves pre-school. So far I love everything about it too, except the parking situation. I think I may need to re-learn how to parallel park before the year is out. This concerns me greatly.
2. While I am still afraid of the PTA, I agreed to be the one of two room parents for Henry's class today. They were short one volunteer and asked me because I was the only person to check the box that said, "I don't have enough time to be a room parent but I still want to volunteer in the classroom." Lesson learned. But I should not be short of blog material for the rest of the school year. I wish I had LHM's inherent craftiness because I think I will be planning parties for first graders. I am gratefully soliciting suggestions for the Halloween party should the mood strike anyone.
3. Because of a four-day long migraine (which may be over, finally) and some goings on with a friend I feel overwhelmed and behind schedule on everything in my life.
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Now playing: Shout Out Louds - South America
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Rockin' at the Knox post-mortem
1. Overall - an amazing event. They had a few sound problems, particularly during Paolo Nutini, but the planning committee did an unbelievable job -- even the food was decent.
2. The highlight of the night was crowd-related, and happened during Nutini's (zzzz) set. My mom and I were right behind a group of young women in their late teens who, in spite of doing their best impression to look slightly edgy, were still clearly fresh-faced and adorable. When Nutini launched into a cover of Vera Hall's "Trouble so Hard" (a.k.a. Moby's "Natural Blues") three of the girls exchanged ecstatic looks, stood up, and broke out into a fully choreographed dance routine. Best thing ever.
3. The rain sucked. Mom and I got soaked. The wind blew Feist's hat away and the weather almost cut her set short. I would have been really sad if she left the stage without playing "Mushaboom," but fortunately the rain let up and I was not disappointed. (We spent some time with a few happy-go-lucky strangers under a very leaky tarp in between Feist and Elvis. At least two references to March of the Penguins were made.)
4. I can't forget about the local openers. It was the first time I'd seen Mark Norris in about 18 years, (since before Girlpope, I think) and he and the Backpeddlers sounded great. I wish I had been close enough to catch a CD. The between set banter was very charming. The Great Train Robbery brought back girlhood memories of traipsing around to see the only local band my friends actually liked.
5. And then there was Elvis. And his unbelievably awesome piano player, who also played a theremin! Elvis' voice sounded great. I couldn't believe how many people talked during the entire acoustic set. Christ on crack, they just sat through a monsoon, you'd think if they wanted to talk, they'd just go to a bar. He sing-talked his way through "God's comic." Very entertaining. And nearly 5000 people sang the chorus to "Allison."
6. And at the end of the night I got Henry another free poster for his growing collection.
2. The highlight of the night was crowd-related, and happened during Nutini's (zzzz) set. My mom and I were right behind a group of young women in their late teens who, in spite of doing their best impression to look slightly edgy, were still clearly fresh-faced and adorable. When Nutini launched into a cover of Vera Hall's "Trouble so Hard" (a.k.a. Moby's "Natural Blues") three of the girls exchanged ecstatic looks, stood up, and broke out into a fully choreographed dance routine. Best thing ever.
3. The rain sucked. Mom and I got soaked. The wind blew Feist's hat away and the weather almost cut her set short. I would have been really sad if she left the stage without playing "Mushaboom," but fortunately the rain let up and I was not disappointed. (We spent some time with a few happy-go-lucky strangers under a very leaky tarp in between Feist and Elvis. At least two references to March of the Penguins were made.)
4. I can't forget about the local openers. It was the first time I'd seen Mark Norris in about 18 years, (since before Girlpope, I think) and he and the Backpeddlers sounded great. I wish I had been close enough to catch a CD. The between set banter was very charming. The Great Train Robbery brought back girlhood memories of traipsing around to see the only local band my friends actually liked.
5. And then there was Elvis. And his unbelievably awesome piano player, who also played a theremin! Elvis' voice sounded great. I couldn't believe how many people talked during the entire acoustic set. Christ on crack, they just sat through a monsoon, you'd think if they wanted to talk, they'd just go to a bar. He sing-talked his way through "God's comic." Very entertaining. And nearly 5000 people sang the chorus to "Allison."
6. And at the end of the night I got Henry another free poster for his growing collection.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
You know it's time to take a break from the iPod when
you see JOYDIVR on a vanity license plate, as I did this morning, and immediately think, "I guess someone's a big Joy Division fan."But in the time it took me to pull up closer to peer in at the driver I realized the owner was probably a diver, not a fan of Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
1. Henry began first grade today. Unlike his first day of Kindergarten, things went remarkably well. He popped off the bus and said, "I had a great day, Mom. And tomorrow will be another great day of school." This year's teacher seems remarkably well-tempered and eager.
2. I did some housework with only one child nipping at my heels. Hardly bliss, but not torture either.
3. My second Trouser Press entry, on Rilo Kiley, is available. You can read it here.
My pal Mr. Parnell has a knack for creating up lists of dream covers, while I only know one when I hear it:
(For Henry) Peter Bjorn and John - "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
2. I did some housework with only one child nipping at my heels. Hardly bliss, but not torture either.
3. My second Trouser Press entry, on Rilo Kiley, is available. You can read it here.
My pal Mr. Parnell has a knack for creating up lists of dream covers, while I only know one when I hear it:
(For Henry) Peter Bjorn and John - "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
I always knew they were better than me.
A classic day with Henry
1. We had to stop by Henry's school to drop off his supplies. He spotted a kid from last year's class and said loudly, "There's Willy, the bad kid." I'm positive Willy's mom heard us. When I asked him in the car what Willy had done that was so bad Henry said, "He said lots of bad words for no reason. And got sent to the Principal's office more times than me!"
2. I had to take Henry to the Pediatrician at the last minute because he got a splinter in his foot on Saturday night and didn't bother to tell me until today. I tried taking it out myself, but it wasn't protruding, so I couldn't get a handle on it.
a. When we arrived at the Doctor's office I was told that we were not allowed to wait in the Well Child waiting area because they were busy with last minute exams before school. So even though Henry was not sick, we had to wait in the Sick Visit waiting area. When I questioned the receptionist about the logic of this she said, "It's really no different than going to a store and being exposed to sick people." (While Henry is practically licking the rocking horse.) Huh? Maybe if the store sells only quinine and snake venom. Then it turned out that someone had spit up on one of the vinyl bench seats. Another Father kindly alerted the receptionist, and covered the offending pool with a tissue, but it stank. When we left half an hour later, after Henry's splinter was removed in nanoseconds, the vomit was still there! If we get the stomach flu I am going to be so pissed.
b. When we were driving home I said to Henry, "Aren't you glad we went to the Doctor? She took your splinter out in no time at all." He replied, "Yeah. Doctors really are better than you, Mom."
1. We had to stop by Henry's school to drop off his supplies. He spotted a kid from last year's class and said loudly, "There's Willy, the bad kid." I'm positive Willy's mom heard us. When I asked him in the car what Willy had done that was so bad Henry said, "He said lots of bad words for no reason. And got sent to the Principal's office more times than me!"
2. I had to take Henry to the Pediatrician at the last minute because he got a splinter in his foot on Saturday night and didn't bother to tell me until today. I tried taking it out myself, but it wasn't protruding, so I couldn't get a handle on it.
a. When we arrived at the Doctor's office I was told that we were not allowed to wait in the Well Child waiting area because they were busy with last minute exams before school. So even though Henry was not sick, we had to wait in the Sick Visit waiting area. When I questioned the receptionist about the logic of this she said, "It's really no different than going to a store and being exposed to sick people." (While Henry is practically licking the rocking horse.) Huh? Maybe if the store sells only quinine and snake venom. Then it turned out that someone had spit up on one of the vinyl bench seats. Another Father kindly alerted the receptionist, and covered the offending pool with a tissue, but it stank. When we left half an hour later, after Henry's splinter was removed in nanoseconds, the vomit was still there! If we get the stomach flu I am going to be so pissed.
b. When we were driving home I said to Henry, "Aren't you glad we went to the Doctor? She took your splinter out in no time at all." He replied, "Yeah. Doctors really are better than you, Mom."
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Beyond beleaf
After dinner tonight Cary and I discovered to our surprise that Lucy had shoved a piece of maple leaf into Henry's ear. Rather than tell us what had happened Henry decided to try and remove it with a q-tip, driving it even deeper into his ear canal. Cary was eventually able to remove it with tweezers, sparing us all a trip to the ER.
My kids never spare me the details, "Mommy, Henry's bothering me. I want a turn. Lucy took my flashlight." But when it comes to something where he actually should tell on his sister, he tries to handle it himself.
My kids never spare me the details, "Mommy, Henry's bothering me. I want a turn. Lucy took my flashlight." But when it comes to something where he actually should tell on his sister, he tries to handle it himself.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
This is just to say
that I have no clever plans to spoof William Carlos Williams, like, say, Kenneth Koch once did.
But I wanted to mention that Lucy got me out of bed at 11:14 p.m. from a deep sleep because she needed a drink of water, and wanted me "to check her to see if she needed medicine." I decided that some benadryl was in order. I wasn't being cruel either. I think she has allergies, and in my sleepy state I was unsure if I could give her Claritin.
Anyway, an hour and fifteen minutes later she is soundly asleep and I am not.
I could post about a variety of things, like the chummy visit I had with the neuro and two Pharmacy interns today, or the bad name that Henry called me when I got frustrated with him for removing all of the batteries from their packaging and scattering them throughout the junk drawer, or how I briefly considered giving up coffee because of its potential effect on my headaches. But I think I should just try to go to sleep.
But I wanted to mention that Lucy got me out of bed at 11:14 p.m. from a deep sleep because she needed a drink of water, and wanted me "to check her to see if she needed medicine." I decided that some benadryl was in order. I wasn't being cruel either. I think she has allergies, and in my sleepy state I was unsure if I could give her Claritin.
Anyway, an hour and fifteen minutes later she is soundly asleep and I am not.
I could post about a variety of things, like the chummy visit I had with the neuro and two Pharmacy interns today, or the bad name that Henry called me when I got frustrated with him for removing all of the batteries from their packaging and scattering them throughout the junk drawer, or how I briefly considered giving up coffee because of its potential effect on my headaches. But I think I should just try to go to sleep.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Good pine trees make good fences
Our next door neighbors must have tired of the gaping hole left along the property line where the October storm destroyed their fledgling lilac bushes because they just hired a local nursery company to plant three full-grown Blue Spruce trees in their place.
Either that or they can't stand the sight of us.
Either that or they can't stand the sight of us.
Monday, August 27, 2007
More Dumb Things
1. I devoted a great deal of time fulfilling the requirements of Henry's school supply list this year. I knew that his elementary school had a program where they buy the supplies for you, but details were sketchy, so I didn't sign up. Today as I was weeding through his Kindergarten papers, deciding what we would save, and what we could part with, I found the flier regarding the "School supplying school supplies program." All of the instructions, including a detailed list of what they would buy for me were there -- all I had to do was flip over the page. I hope they do it next year. I'm totally signing up. We went to four stores looking for plastic folders with three prongs in red, blue, yellow, green and purple.
2. On the way home from PT today the brake light and two other nasty little indicator lights went on. After consulting the manual which said something like, "get your car to the dealer immediately, and don't forget your check book, you fool!" we headed out to get the van checked out. $90 later, we learned that it was just a "random computer glitch." Oh well, I needed my oil changed anyway.
Tomorrow is another day. Another day where more things can go wrong!
2. On the way home from PT today the brake light and two other nasty little indicator lights went on. After consulting the manual which said something like, "get your car to the dealer immediately, and don't forget your check book, you fool!" we headed out to get the van checked out. $90 later, we learned that it was just a "random computer glitch." Oh well, I needed my oil changed anyway.
Tomorrow is another day. Another day where more things can go wrong!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
All things Anne
My friend ECK just had a baby, and from her lovely online photos I learned that anne is Turkish for mother. (She married a Turk. While her photo captions are delightful she doesn't usually pepper them with random linguistic trivia.)
In further celebration of my good friend, Anne, here are two songs by St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, that I have enjoyed of late.
St. Vincent -- "Marry Me"
(It's the title track to her new CD, and I couldn't resist the tie in).
St. Vincent -- "Jesus Saves I Spend"
(Anne, you need to start your own blog, and this is what you should call it!)
In further celebration of my good friend, Anne, here are two songs by St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, that I have enjoyed of late.
St. Vincent -- "Marry Me"
(It's the title track to her new CD, and I couldn't resist the tie in).
St. Vincent -- "Jesus Saves I Spend"
(Anne, you need to start your own blog, and this is what you should call it!)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Advice to my favorite anonymous commenter
who is not really anonymous, she just doesn't have an account.
Yay, more wedding-related stuff from me, the person whose own wedding kinda just passed her by. (I heard the food was good).
Anyway, here is my plea to Anne, when she does decide to tie the knot someday. Please, don't do this.
If you're too lazy to click on the link, it's just a bunch of references to people using an iPod as the sole source of musical entertainment at their wedding. I cannot believe I am advocating spending any more money when weddings are out of control, but please, please if you can't afford a band, at least shell out for a DJ, and preferably one that won't introduce you as "Mr. and Mrs. Blahbityblah" and have you both run through the entranceway while your guests applaud.
PS: I promise this will be my final wedding-related post. It'll be back to the standards for me: migraines, music, and my crazy kids.
Yay, more wedding-related stuff from me, the person whose own wedding kinda just passed her by. (I heard the food was good).
Anyway, here is my plea to Anne, when she does decide to tie the knot someday. Please, don't do this.
If you're too lazy to click on the link, it's just a bunch of references to people using an iPod as the sole source of musical entertainment at their wedding. I cannot believe I am advocating spending any more money when weddings are out of control, but please, please if you can't afford a band, at least shell out for a DJ, and preferably one that won't introduce you as "Mr. and Mrs. Blahbityblah" and have you both run through the entranceway while your guests applaud.
PS: I promise this will be my final wedding-related post. It'll be back to the standards for me: migraines, music, and my crazy kids.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Hooray, Hooray.
Another odd, wedding-related tidbit.
The new Rilo Kiley video for "Silver Lining" -- just to show it's not all happy endings...
The new Rilo Kiley video for "Silver Lining" -- just to show it's not all happy endings...
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Best use of the NYT Vows Section
Now I know why The Wire always seemed so real. Thanks to my Mom for the tip.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/fashion/weddings/19VOWS.html?ex=13452624
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/us/09baltimore.html?ex=1345176000&en=454a2117c99007b2&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/fashion/weddings/19VOWS.html?ex=13452624
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/us/09baltimore.html?ex=1345176000&en=454a2117c99007b2&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Adding insult to near injury
1. I spent yesterday morning at the park with my kids, catching up with a friend and her little daughter who were visiting from out of town. On our way out, while I was busy rinsing sand out of Lucy's mouth at the restroom sink Henry took it upon himself to pick up the hose that was available to clean up with, and (possibly accidentally) hit a grown man square in the chest with a full stream of water. The man took it better than I did.
2. Over the last two weeks both kids had a cold, which I caught. My symptoms were pretty mild until we returned from Toronto and I woke up Sunday morning with my left eyelid crusted shut. By Monday I decided I had a sinus infection. A quick trip to the doctor confirmed that I did, and I had given myself pinkeye.
3. I went to pick up the prescriptions from Target, and as I was paying for them at 5:02 p.m., the pharmacist realized that the Physician's Assistant had failed to tell me how many times a day to take the eye drops. So I had to wait while they paged my Dr. (the office closed at 5:00). This took 30 additional minutes. My mom had the kids, but I felt bad that I took an even bigger chunk out of her afternoon.
4. I came home to find that our modem had died.
5. This morning Lucy and I set out to replace the modem. After I installed it I still couldn't get reliable internet service. It turns out that we were also experiencing sporadic service outages in my neighborhood. What are the chances. But as I type all seems to be well. Sweet elixir of 1s and 0s, I cannot live without you!
6. Our day was capped off by the sound of shattering glass, just as we were corralling the kids upstairs for bed. It turns out the light bulb above our sink just fell and broke into a million pieces for no apparent reason. Thank god I had finished doing the dishes or it would have fallen directly on my head.
7. Plus I had a piece of writing rejected from a magazine that would have sent me a paycheck. Oh well. At least they cared enough to say they weren't interested.
2. Over the last two weeks both kids had a cold, which I caught. My symptoms were pretty mild until we returned from Toronto and I woke up Sunday morning with my left eyelid crusted shut. By Monday I decided I had a sinus infection. A quick trip to the doctor confirmed that I did, and I had given myself pinkeye.
3. I went to pick up the prescriptions from Target, and as I was paying for them at 5:02 p.m., the pharmacist realized that the Physician's Assistant had failed to tell me how many times a day to take the eye drops. So I had to wait while they paged my Dr. (the office closed at 5:00). This took 30 additional minutes. My mom had the kids, but I felt bad that I took an even bigger chunk out of her afternoon.
4. I came home to find that our modem had died.
5. This morning Lucy and I set out to replace the modem. After I installed it I still couldn't get reliable internet service. It turns out that we were also experiencing sporadic service outages in my neighborhood. What are the chances. But as I type all seems to be well. Sweet elixir of 1s and 0s, I cannot live without you!
6. Our day was capped off by the sound of shattering glass, just as we were corralling the kids upstairs for bed. It turns out the light bulb above our sink just fell and broke into a million pieces for no apparent reason. Thank god I had finished doing the dishes or it would have fallen directly on my head.
7. Plus I had a piece of writing rejected from a magazine that would have sent me a paycheck. Oh well. At least they cared enough to say they weren't interested.
Monday, August 13, 2007
No Blood No Beer: Go Thermal or Make Love Alone
Way back when, long before the internet made music criticism accessible at hyperspeed, I spent a great deal of time reading the Trouser Press, reading those entries marked by the book's editor [iar] with particular interest. It was meaningful then, educating me about bands like the Virgin Prunes (trivial, but what a name!) or helping me decide which Cocteau Twins LP I should spend my limited income on.
But the site has new meaning for me today since I have recently completed an entry on the Thermals, one of my favorite bands. I had help and encouragement from some great friends with eagle eyes, and yet I don't think I have ever troubled over 800 words so much in my life. (Update: forgot to link to it directly -- find it here.)
And, there's another Venuszine review up too, right over here.
But the site has new meaning for me today since I have recently completed an entry on the Thermals, one of my favorite bands. I had help and encouragement from some great friends with eagle eyes, and yet I don't think I have ever troubled over 800 words so much in my life. (Update: forgot to link to it directly -- find it here.)
And, there's another Venuszine review up too, right over here.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Secretly Canadian
We just returned from spending a couple of days in Toronto, and while our trip was much more enjoyable than last year, there were still a number of remarkable things that went wrong:
1. Henry coughed his way through the entire first day of the trip. It was tolerable but noisy on the car trip up. Then on the harbor boat tour (just us and bus load of senior citizens) it was unbearable because they all kept looking at us like we had dragged along Typhoid Mary. I could just explain, "He gets like this at the end of a cold when he has post nasal drip" to everyone within ear shot. At Terroni's (for pizza), it was so noisy at least no one could hear him. But the worst came at King's Noodle in Chinatown for dinner when the cough became, um, productive. As I escorted him to the ladies room for the second time we encountered, to our surprise, another man -- dressed in striped pants and a flowered shirt no less -- washing his hands in the sink. The man said calmly, "I'm almost done, just give me a minute." So that's what we did.
2. The next day Henry was much, much better. We headed to the Toronto Zoo. Soon after our arrival Lucy started to whimper and cry. Since both kids are recovering from colds we initially thought she might still be a little sick. Two hours later I discovered she had sunscreen in her eye. After a not so quick trip to the first aid tent she was like a new child, and our little vacation could begin in earnest now that it was half-way over.
3. I think we did all enjoy ourselves, particularly Henry, who cried real tears, with his lip a quiver, when it was time check out of the hotel. In particular Henry was fond of the bunk beds where he and Lucy slept during our stay. And I found Toronto to be pretty much everything I want in a big city: a good music scene, incredible gardens, nonchalant diversity, and good beer. Though I wasn't crying when we left I think I might be secretly Canadian.
1. Henry coughed his way through the entire first day of the trip. It was tolerable but noisy on the car trip up. Then on the harbor boat tour (just us and bus load of senior citizens) it was unbearable because they all kept looking at us like we had dragged along Typhoid Mary. I could just explain, "He gets like this at the end of a cold when he has post nasal drip" to everyone within ear shot. At Terroni's (for pizza), it was so noisy at least no one could hear him. But the worst came at King's Noodle in Chinatown for dinner when the cough became, um, productive. As I escorted him to the ladies room for the second time we encountered, to our surprise, another man -- dressed in striped pants and a flowered shirt no less -- washing his hands in the sink. The man said calmly, "I'm almost done, just give me a minute." So that's what we did.
2. The next day Henry was much, much better. We headed to the Toronto Zoo. Soon after our arrival Lucy started to whimper and cry. Since both kids are recovering from colds we initially thought she might still be a little sick. Two hours later I discovered she had sunscreen in her eye. After a not so quick trip to the first aid tent she was like a new child, and our little vacation could begin in earnest now that it was half-way over.
3. I think we did all enjoy ourselves, particularly Henry, who cried real tears, with his lip a quiver, when it was time check out of the hotel. In particular Henry was fond of the bunk beds where he and Lucy slept during our stay. And I found Toronto to be pretty much everything I want in a big city: a good music scene, incredible gardens, nonchalant diversity, and good beer. Though I wasn't crying when we left I think I might be secretly Canadian.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Not my favorite way to start the day...
1. Henry has done it again. Last night he puked in his sleep. Although this time he woke me up at 4:20 a.m. to clean up the mess instead of waiting until morning. The poor child coughed until he vomited, and unfortunately his dinner was poorly chosen to begin with. Because Cary is not working this week we are doing some things to pretend we're on vacation, like going out for BBQ on a Monday night. Henry ordered "pizza logs" at One-Eyed Jacks. I expected a child-sized French bread Pizza, but instead they were more of a nasty cross between Geno's Pizza rolls and an egg roll. Not so pleasant to look at going down, and worse to clean up in the morning.
2. Not to be outdone, Lucy awoke with her face caked in dried blood. Her new bedding, only decent pair of PJs, and her beloved Mommy Kitty were also covered. I am not sure how, but she even had some on her feet.
3. After spending my morning cleaning the carpets and the bedding, I was heading out to the grocery store when I discovered last night's doggy bag still sitting in the front seat of the van. The smell alone made me nauseous as I dropped it into the trash and drove away with the windows open.
4. Then when I went to retrieve Henry's waterproof mattress pad cover from the dryer it was ripped beyond repair, so now I will be going back out before night fall to buy a new one, and laundering it before I can put his bed back together.
2. Not to be outdone, Lucy awoke with her face caked in dried blood. Her new bedding, only decent pair of PJs, and her beloved Mommy Kitty were also covered. I am not sure how, but she even had some on her feet.
3. After spending my morning cleaning the carpets and the bedding, I was heading out to the grocery store when I discovered last night's doggy bag still sitting in the front seat of the van. The smell alone made me nauseous as I dropped it into the trash and drove away with the windows open.
4. Then when I went to retrieve Henry's waterproof mattress pad cover from the dryer it was ripped beyond repair, so now I will be going back out before night fall to buy a new one, and laundering it before I can put his bed back together.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
See a Let's French video before the band's inevitable demise...
Check out the first and only video from my brother-in-law Randy's band -- that's "Coco Randy" to Lucy. Too bad the band's members are scattering to four different countries come September.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Pieces of Crap and the Children who Love Them
1. When my children returned from their visit to my mother-in-law's today each of them was clutching a cheap personal fan that she purchased at a dollar store. She keeps a drawer full of prizes that the kids can choose from as they are leaving, and one disadvantage of not bringing them home myself is losing veto power over the prize. Henry's broke coming out of the package, so we never had to try and install its batteries. Lucy's was missing, so I thought it was left behind. 1 fan + 2 kids = a very long afternoon.
2. Henry and I discovered the second fan in the garage during Lucy's nap. I made good on my promise to install batteries, and actually let him use it. This was no mean feat considering the wires were falling out and the switches had to be put back in by hand. It worked for about three minutes and then the fan blade broke off leaving several shards of plastic behind. Then I had to convince him that it was necessary to remove the batteries, otherwise someone was bound to get hurt. "But I'll just use the light!" he protested. (No kidding, this thing claimed to be a light, a fan, and a pen!)
3. Later as we were getting Lucy up from her nap he informed me that the pen portion of Lucy's fan no longer worked.
This is why I always encourage them to choose the crayons from the prize drawer.
2. Henry and I discovered the second fan in the garage during Lucy's nap. I made good on my promise to install batteries, and actually let him use it. This was no mean feat considering the wires were falling out and the switches had to be put back in by hand. It worked for about three minutes and then the fan blade broke off leaving several shards of plastic behind. Then I had to convince him that it was necessary to remove the batteries, otherwise someone was bound to get hurt. "But I'll just use the light!" he protested. (No kidding, this thing claimed to be a light, a fan, and a pen!)
3. Later as we were getting Lucy up from her nap he informed me that the pen portion of Lucy's fan no longer worked.
This is why I always encourage them to choose the crayons from the prize drawer.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Bad Mama Files 2
1. Maybe this is more like lazy mama files, but I let Henry skip soccer tonight because it is 93 degrees and at least as humid here. He spent the day fighting with me over every little thing, and I couldn't bear to watch him get all sweaty on the field after 30 seconds, and then flatly refuse to participate.
2. I had another caterpillar, but I let him go. But I learned from my previous caterpillar to butterfly experience and gave this one some water. However, caterpillars poop a lot, and in captivity all that poop, mixed with water in a pickle jar gets disgusting pretty quickly. I didn't let the caterpillar go because of unsanitary conditions though; he just seemed so unhappy. After three of four days of eagerly devouring maple leaves the little guy just spent time near the air holes on the lid and refused to eat. But you can be sure that when I released him that I picked a spot far away from the garden.
3. I am shipping the kids to my mother-in-law's for the morning on Friday even though I don't have any major reason to do so. I just need a break from the constant bickering.
2. I had another caterpillar, but I let him go. But I learned from my previous caterpillar to butterfly experience and gave this one some water. However, caterpillars poop a lot, and in captivity all that poop, mixed with water in a pickle jar gets disgusting pretty quickly. I didn't let the caterpillar go because of unsanitary conditions though; he just seemed so unhappy. After three of four days of eagerly devouring maple leaves the little guy just spent time near the air holes on the lid and refused to eat. But you can be sure that when I released him that I picked a spot far away from the garden.
3. I am shipping the kids to my mother-in-law's for the morning on Friday even though I don't have any major reason to do so. I just need a break from the constant bickering.
I thought only Kim Mitchell and the Tragically Hip played Buffalo
There's so much good music on the docket in the next three months!
I've already mentioned the Elvis Costello/Feist double bill and Of Montreal. Got our tickets and our babysitting lined up.
But in less than two weeks Cary and I have tickets for Band of Horses at the Tralf. Cary played Everything All the Time to death and sang it around the house constantly. To this day if a song from that record comes up on the iPod, Lucy will ask, "Daddy singing?" I am less excited about this particular show, but since they have a new record coming out this fall I can hope they will play some new material. Wonder what they'll close out the show with? I know I'll be ready for "The Funeral."
But, also, in addition to that, Cary, my Mom, and me all have tickets to see Andrew Bird play in Asbury Hall at The Church. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, without fact checking, that the venue was an old church that Ani DiFranco and Righteous Babe records saved from demolition. While I am no fan of Ani's music, (sorry, Auntlyh, but you already knew this) she still did a good thing for the area by saving the space. Plus it gave Hallwalls a permanent home too.
As if this was not enough, Metric is coming. I can hardly contain my excitement. My mom and I are both big fans. And as she said, "It's going to be their Grow Up and Blow Away Tour!" (Our favorite album). The show is at the Town Ballroom, my least favorite local venue (you guessed it -- no seats) but I don't think tickets have gone on sale yet.
Oh, and I've got another review up on Venuszine.com. You can read it here.
I've already mentioned the Elvis Costello/Feist double bill and Of Montreal. Got our tickets and our babysitting lined up.
But in less than two weeks Cary and I have tickets for Band of Horses at the Tralf. Cary played Everything All the Time to death and sang it around the house constantly. To this day if a song from that record comes up on the iPod, Lucy will ask, "Daddy singing?" I am less excited about this particular show, but since they have a new record coming out this fall I can hope they will play some new material. Wonder what they'll close out the show with? I know I'll be ready for "The Funeral."
But, also, in addition to that, Cary, my Mom, and me all have tickets to see Andrew Bird play in Asbury Hall at The Church. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, without fact checking, that the venue was an old church that Ani DiFranco and Righteous Babe records saved from demolition. While I am no fan of Ani's music, (sorry, Auntlyh, but you already knew this) she still did a good thing for the area by saving the space. Plus it gave Hallwalls a permanent home too.
As if this was not enough, Metric is coming. I can hardly contain my excitement. My mom and I are both big fans. And as she said, "It's going to be their Grow Up and Blow Away Tour!" (Our favorite album). The show is at the Town Ballroom, my least favorite local venue (you guessed it -- no seats) but I don't think tickets have gone on sale yet.
Oh, and I've got another review up on Venuszine.com. You can read it here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Magic Position
I've had a migraine for seven days straight. A new personal best! One of the things that helps when the drugs don't is hanging out in what I've come to refer to as The Magic Position. I stole the name from Patrick Wolf. I don't really like his song, but appropriating for my own purpose amuses me.The Magic Position's real name is the Static Back position, and I got it out of a book by Pete Egoscue. I would post a picture of what it looks like, but then it wouldn't really be magic anymore, would it?
Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position"
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I'm already looking forward to Autumn
And no it's not because I can't stand stand the heat.According to Pitchfork, Of Montreal is scheduled to play a show at The Tralf on October 10!
One of my favorite bands, in Buffalo's only semi-historic venue (with seats!). What could be better.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
My Brother the Robot
1. Coming off a night of brutal insomnia. The last time I looked at the clock it was 1:45 a.m.
2. When Lucy woke up, she trotted off to the potty like a good little girl, but she spotted something she wanted out of the trashcan. She stood up so abruptly that the potty chair stuck to her legs. Pee was everywhere. (I didn't actually let her get what she wanted from the trash either --used dental floss!)
3. Before we even left the house Henry and Lucy were locked in the throes of a vicious argument over whether or not Henry was a robot. The more Henry denied it, the more tenaciously Lucy insisted it must be true.
Fortunately for me coffee, the gym, and the half price perennial sale at my favorite local garden center can fix practically anything.
2. When Lucy woke up, she trotted off to the potty like a good little girl, but she spotted something she wanted out of the trashcan. She stood up so abruptly that the potty chair stuck to her legs. Pee was everywhere. (I didn't actually let her get what she wanted from the trash either --used dental floss!)
3. Before we even left the house Henry and Lucy were locked in the throes of a vicious argument over whether or not Henry was a robot. The more Henry denied it, the more tenaciously Lucy insisted it must be true.
Fortunately for me coffee, the gym, and the half price perennial sale at my favorite local garden center can fix practically anything.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Two points about better music
1. This year's Rockin' at the Knox bill is truly appealing. Now I just have to start scheming so I have proper babysitting. If my kids were just a tiny bit older I would bring them along -- Lucy digs those Feist videos with all the people dancing.
If you are unfamiliar with the premise of Rockin' at the Knox, once a year for the last three years there is an outdoor concert on the grounds of Buffalo's amazing art museum. Previous bills included Wilco and Blondie.
2. I have another review up on Venuszine. You can read it here.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New dumb things
1. I left the water running on the hose that runs from inside the garage. I rest the sprayer on top of a storage unit where I keep gardening gloves, tools, plant food etc. As I was rushing Henry off to soccer yesterday I noticed that area seemed wet. The hose had flooded the entire area. I made time to turn to hose off, and curse. But I haven't made time to clean up the gardening debris that's sitting in a huge puddle. Not too sure when I am going to get around to it either. But I completely forgot about it until today when I went to water my plants again. How long will it take to evaporate?
2. I am incapable of buying a week's worth of groceries, or keeping appropriate staples on hand, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I ran out to the Italian grocery for meatballs earlier in the day, but didn't discover that I didn't have any Spaghetti sauce (or the constituents to make it) until the water was boiling for the pasta and the meatballs were browning. Since Cary is still recovering from having a wisdom tooth removed (and was sleeping at the time) I had to take both kids with me back to the same grocery -- Henry was already in his pajamas -- and buy some sauce. But I was rewarded for my efforts because Lucy ate a meatball!
2. I am incapable of buying a week's worth of groceries, or keeping appropriate staples on hand, but that doesn't stop me from trying. I ran out to the Italian grocery for meatballs earlier in the day, but didn't discover that I didn't have any Spaghetti sauce (or the constituents to make it) until the water was boiling for the pasta and the meatballs were browning. Since Cary is still recovering from having a wisdom tooth removed (and was sleeping at the time) I had to take both kids with me back to the same grocery -- Henry was already in his pajamas -- and buy some sauce. But I was rewarded for my efforts because Lucy ate a meatball!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Two points about bad music
1. Let me be the last person on Earth to weigh in on Live Earth. Cary had the bright idea of recording it on TiVo. We sped through two different largish chunks of recordings of bad, bad performances in under two hours. Billy Corgan looks like he just escaped from a cult. I did enjoy seeing who had been exiled to play at the smaller stages, like Snoop Dog in Munich, and Lenny Kravitz in Rio. And Cary and I were both perplexed about the Police-John Mayer-Kanye West performance of "Message in the Bottle." It didn't quite translate from the planning committee's vision into another "We are the World Moment."
2. Another review up on Venuszine. Check it out here.
2. Another review up on Venuszine. Check it out here.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
At least it wasn't a dead cricket
I found a hunk of wood in my salad today. Actually it was more like a wood chip. I thought it was a crouton until I realized that I hadn't put croutons in the salad. Unfortunately this was the third lunchtime salad I had made from this particular bag of lettuce. But I think the worst part was that I felt obliged to throw out my lunch when I really wanted to keep eating. What harm could a wood chip do? It's not like the time we lived in Watertown and our next door neighbor found a dead cricket in her bag of salad. That made the nightly news.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Bad Mama Files
A new blog featurette where I reveal a questionable parenting decision
(It's like the Rockford Files, but without the ex-cons and the Firebird...)
Last weekend I discovered a caterpillar clinging to my Helenium. I had visions of the entire plant being devoured by morning. So I decided that instead of disposing of the insect it would be fun to put it into a jar and watch it turn into a butterfly. Needless to say everything I know about this process comes from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Henry and Lucy were excited by the prospect, so we found an old salsa jar, and some maple leaves. Cary said, "If you want it to turn into a Butterfly you need a stick." So we added a stick. I dutifully pounded some holes in the top with a nail and waited for the childhood memories to take hold.
After a couple of days we added some more leaves, and Henry and I agreed that the caterpillar looked bigger to us. It had definitely eaten some of the maple leaves. We managed to keep Lucy from shaking the jar like a snow globe. So far so good.
But by yesterday I noticed that its size had shrunk considerably. It had a dark sticky spot on its side. Preparation for the chrysalis? Nope. It needed water desperately. By the time I figured this out it lay at the bottom of the jar. I added some water, and man did the poor little shrinking caterpillar drink. When it climbed up back onto one of the maple leaves I held out a sliver of hope. Half an hour later it was shriveled on the floor of its jar, a dessicated hairy spiral.
I didn't know exactly how to handle it with the kids. Henry still hasn't asked to see it but we're having friends over for dinner so I felt compelled to dispose of the remains. Lucy asked to see it this morning and it turns out that she enjoyed the dead caterpillar just as much as the living one. I said to her, "Honey, the caterpillar isn't ever going to turn into a butterfly." "OK," she replied, and danced off to grab a toy pony.
So if I see another caterpillar, am I going to try it again? Probably. Maybe with some instructions this time. I really want to see a newly hatched butterfly.
(It's like the Rockford Files, but without the ex-cons and the Firebird...)
Last weekend I discovered a caterpillar clinging to my Helenium. I had visions of the entire plant being devoured by morning. So I decided that instead of disposing of the insect it would be fun to put it into a jar and watch it turn into a butterfly. Needless to say everything I know about this process comes from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Henry and Lucy were excited by the prospect, so we found an old salsa jar, and some maple leaves. Cary said, "If you want it to turn into a Butterfly you need a stick." So we added a stick. I dutifully pounded some holes in the top with a nail and waited for the childhood memories to take hold.
After a couple of days we added some more leaves, and Henry and I agreed that the caterpillar looked bigger to us. It had definitely eaten some of the maple leaves. We managed to keep Lucy from shaking the jar like a snow globe. So far so good.
But by yesterday I noticed that its size had shrunk considerably. It had a dark sticky spot on its side. Preparation for the chrysalis? Nope. It needed water desperately. By the time I figured this out it lay at the bottom of the jar. I added some water, and man did the poor little shrinking caterpillar drink. When it climbed up back onto one of the maple leaves I held out a sliver of hope. Half an hour later it was shriveled on the floor of its jar, a dessicated hairy spiral.
I didn't know exactly how to handle it with the kids. Henry still hasn't asked to see it but we're having friends over for dinner so I felt compelled to dispose of the remains. Lucy asked to see it this morning and it turns out that she enjoyed the dead caterpillar just as much as the living one. I said to her, "Honey, the caterpillar isn't ever going to turn into a butterfly." "OK," she replied, and danced off to grab a toy pony.
So if I see another caterpillar, am I going to try it again? Probably. Maybe with some instructions this time. I really want to see a newly hatched butterfly.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
You see there's nothing that's behind me; I'm already a has been.
Henry's at camp. Lucy's asleep. It's the perfect time to do some writing, only I don't have any to do. Which leaves only housework.
Here's a favorite track from my high school years that sums it up.
The Buzzcocks - "Boredom"
Here's a favorite track from my high school years that sums it up.
The Buzzcocks - "Boredom"
Sunday, July 01, 2007
I Broke My Crown
1. The kittens finally have names my dad can remember. Kitten number one is now Teddy, and kitten number two remains Twoey. My mom has suggested that she might name them Tedric and Toulouse, but use the other names all the time. If that happens I don't think anyone but the Vet's office will know about it.
2. It looks like my Croscosmia Lucifer is going to bloom for the first time ever. This is the third year I have had it but the deer ate it, and it has taken awhile to bounce back. One of my Canna Lillies also has a very large unopened bloom on it. If either of these plants look good at some point I will post pictures. I am sure you are all waiting expectantly.
3. Most of Cary's family got together yesterday. His parents, 6 (out of 8) siblings, 5 spouses/boyfriends, and 15 (out of 17) grandkids. Nothing went wrong; it was really fun. My kids had a great time with their cousins. The cupcakes that were intended for dessert were gone by 3:30.
My father-in-law staged a wine tasting that included some red wine from India. We all concluded it was horrible! Not even safe to add to your curry.
Although at one point Lucy tripped and fell. My father-in-law started reciting Jack and Jill to her while my Mother-in-law went to grab a band aid. Now she will look at me gravely at random intervals and say, "Mommy, I broke my crown."
2. It looks like my Croscosmia Lucifer is going to bloom for the first time ever. This is the third year I have had it but the deer ate it, and it has taken awhile to bounce back. One of my Canna Lillies also has a very large unopened bloom on it. If either of these plants look good at some point I will post pictures. I am sure you are all waiting expectantly.
3. Most of Cary's family got together yesterday. His parents, 6 (out of 8) siblings, 5 spouses/boyfriends, and 15 (out of 17) grandkids. Nothing went wrong; it was really fun. My kids had a great time with their cousins. The cupcakes that were intended for dessert were gone by 3:30.
My father-in-law staged a wine tasting that included some red wine from India. We all concluded it was horrible! Not even safe to add to your curry.
Although at one point Lucy tripped and fell. My father-in-law started reciting Jack and Jill to her while my Mother-in-law went to grab a band aid. Now she will look at me gravely at random intervals and say, "Mommy, I broke my crown."
Friday, June 29, 2007
I just want to chew gum
It was the kind of summer day I always thought I would have with my kids ...
1. Henry wanted to learn how to blow bubbles with gum. We were at Target, so I tried to get some traditional Hubba Bubba or Bubble Yum. The closest thing I could find was Hersheys chocolate flavored Hubba Bubba. Even humble chewing gum is a boutique market.
Henry couldn't wait to pop the first piece in his mouth. I said he needed to chew it until it got soft. A gob of chocolatey spit escaped his mouth -- it was a big piece of gum! I suggested he sit down at the kitchen table. I told him to flatten it into a circle. More spit escaped. I got my own piece (sour apple Trident) to demonstrate. See, it's flat in my mouth. Now poke your tongue into the flat circle. He gave it his best shot and out popped the gum. I demonstrated blowing a bubble. Wow, you're good, mom. He tried again. Giggled. Out popped the gum again, an unflattened slobbery mess. And so ends lesson one of what will probably be a life long struggle for our dear Henry.
2. Lucy peed in her pants while I pushed her on the swings at the playground. I was not too upset; I can only imagine the act of swinging stresses the bladder.
3. When we arrived home she insisted on wearing the rain boots that I had purchased for her (on sale) for the rest of the day. I have to admit that they almost looked cute with her denim mini skirt and her Threadless kids T.
Here's a track to celebrate Henry's oral spazziness and Lucy's questionable fashion sense:
Annie -- Chewing Gum (Headman Vocal Remix)
1. Henry wanted to learn how to blow bubbles with gum. We were at Target, so I tried to get some traditional Hubba Bubba or Bubble Yum. The closest thing I could find was Hersheys chocolate flavored Hubba Bubba. Even humble chewing gum is a boutique market.
Henry couldn't wait to pop the first piece in his mouth. I said he needed to chew it until it got soft. A gob of chocolatey spit escaped his mouth -- it was a big piece of gum! I suggested he sit down at the kitchen table. I told him to flatten it into a circle. More spit escaped. I got my own piece (sour apple Trident) to demonstrate. See, it's flat in my mouth. Now poke your tongue into the flat circle. He gave it his best shot and out popped the gum. I demonstrated blowing a bubble. Wow, you're good, mom. He tried again. Giggled. Out popped the gum again, an unflattened slobbery mess. And so ends lesson one of what will probably be a life long struggle for our dear Henry.
2. Lucy peed in her pants while I pushed her on the swings at the playground. I was not too upset; I can only imagine the act of swinging stresses the bladder.
3. When we arrived home she insisted on wearing the rain boots that I had purchased for her (on sale) for the rest of the day. I have to admit that they almost looked cute with her denim mini skirt and her Threadless kids T.
Here's a track to celebrate Henry's oral spazziness and Lucy's questionable fashion sense:
Annie -- Chewing Gum (Headman Vocal Remix)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Cabin Fever
The children and I have cabin fever, something not usually seen in these parts in the summer, but with temps in the high 80s, and Henry's behavior in public pools remaining untrustworthy, we are forced to stay inside.
Henry eats his way through the day. I can't tell if he's bored, having a growth spurt, or reacting to withdrawal from the hidden calories in the school lunches.
Lucy punches, pokes, and otherwise annoys him any way she can. A summers worth of time out awaits.
Once they go to sleep at night I spend the rest of the evening saving my poor plants from complete dessication. I am a slave to the garden hose.
I have another review up on Venuszine. You can read it here.
Henry eats his way through the day. I can't tell if he's bored, having a growth spurt, or reacting to withdrawal from the hidden calories in the school lunches.
Lucy punches, pokes, and otherwise annoys him any way she can. A summers worth of time out awaits.
Once they go to sleep at night I spend the rest of the evening saving my poor plants from complete dessication. I am a slave to the garden hose.
I have another review up on Venuszine. You can read it here.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Found at the end of our driveway yesterday
One bright orange can of malt liquor, empty and imploded, as it had been shotgunned.
One water bottle which its owner had used as a make shift spittoon.
One water bottle which its owner had used as a make shift spittoon.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Overheard in our household today
Me to Lucy: "Put your underwear back on and stop spitting on me."
Henry to me: "I ate all of my lunch. Now I can have my chocolate caramel cookie bar."
(Referring to the Twix bar he got from a birthday party that he had been begging me for since 9 a.m. which had completely melted from being handled by his sweaty little fingers.)
Henry to me: "I ate all of my lunch. Now I can have my chocolate caramel cookie bar."
(Referring to the Twix bar he got from a birthday party that he had been begging me for since 9 a.m. which had completely melted from being handled by his sweaty little fingers.)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Updates on the last post and the last year
1. Just like Auntlyh, I have now been blogging for a year (thanks for the reminder) but stuff has been going wrong for a whole lot longer. Just thought I would mention a few highlights that predated and led to the inception of the blog:
* The summer day that the entire basement filled with bees.
# The day that I learned from the furnace cleaning man that the previous owners used to house at least 250 guinea pigs in our basement.
$ The six long months we spent potty training Henry.
! The time in January when Henry locked me out of the house when I was ten months pregnant and not wearing a coat.
Sweet, sweet memories.
2. A few clarifications about the last post. Because LHM and Auntlyh both seem curious, here is a picture of the grill:
As gas grills go it really isn't all that big, but compared to the last grill I purchased (a Smokey Joe), it seems huge. I purchased the Smokey Joe at Ann and Hope in Boston in 1994, and I must have brought it back to my apartment in Brookline on an MBTA bus because I don't think I could have ridden with it on my bike.
Kitten number one is no longer "Sugar Ray" because my dad can't remember that either. He is in some sort of name limbo between "Puffy" and "Stubby" and my mom is trying to tell me that she has settled on his name being "Sugarpuff," but she will call him "Puffy." I am find this incredibly funny, but feel sorry for the cat. And I am not going to call him anything at this point.
I also wanted to clarify why we were trying to get Henry into a gifted and talented program in Kindergarten. We aren't crazy parents. Other kids in the Henry's school who are a tiny bit ahead of him academically are in the program, or are getting to go read with the first grade class while he languishes because his teacher doesn't give a shit. I don't care how his reading needs get met at school so long as they get met.
Plus we have friends whose kid is in another school, same district, who is in the program and has gotten to do fun things like put on plays in a small group setting. Something that would be great for Henry, or any bright kid. I also think ANY parent wants what is best for their kid and hopes the teacher does too. Sadly I have yet to find this to be true in any of Henry's classroom settings. We chose to live in the suburbs for their supposedly good schools and I have been nothing but unhappy with them this entire year. And then I have to listen to the school tell me how great they are.
Having said that __ ending my rant __ Cary felt the letter from the gifted programming specialist was less of a brush off, than I did. And Henry's teacher is nasty, but she didn't give some kids gifts and not others. She also didn't bother to help us figure out where they were from or choose to explain any of this to Henry.
3. If anyone is still reading, I have a new review on Venuszine.com, and you can read it here.
* The summer day that the entire basement filled with bees.
# The day that I learned from the furnace cleaning man that the previous owners used to house at least 250 guinea pigs in our basement.
$ The six long months we spent potty training Henry.
! The time in January when Henry locked me out of the house when I was ten months pregnant and not wearing a coat.
Sweet, sweet memories.
2. A few clarifications about the last post. Because LHM and Auntlyh both seem curious, here is a picture of the grill:
As gas grills go it really isn't all that big, but compared to the last grill I purchased (a Smokey Joe), it seems huge. I purchased the Smokey Joe at Ann and Hope in Boston in 1994, and I must have brought it back to my apartment in Brookline on an MBTA bus because I don't think I could have ridden with it on my bike.
Kitten number one is no longer "Sugar Ray" because my dad can't remember that either. He is in some sort of name limbo between "Puffy" and "Stubby" and my mom is trying to tell me that she has settled on his name being "Sugarpuff," but she will call him "Puffy." I am find this incredibly funny, but feel sorry for the cat. And I am not going to call him anything at this point.
I also wanted to clarify why we were trying to get Henry into a gifted and talented program in Kindergarten. We aren't crazy parents. Other kids in the Henry's school who are a tiny bit ahead of him academically are in the program, or are getting to go read with the first grade class while he languishes because his teacher doesn't give a shit. I don't care how his reading needs get met at school so long as they get met.
Plus we have friends whose kid is in another school, same district, who is in the program and has gotten to do fun things like put on plays in a small group setting. Something that would be great for Henry, or any bright kid. I also think ANY parent wants what is best for their kid and hopes the teacher does too. Sadly I have yet to find this to be true in any of Henry's classroom settings. We chose to live in the suburbs for their supposedly good schools and I have been nothing but unhappy with them this entire year. And then I have to listen to the school tell me how great they are.
Having said that __ ending my rant __ Cary felt the letter from the gifted programming specialist was less of a brush off, than I did. And Henry's teacher is nasty, but she didn't give some kids gifts and not others. She also didn't bother to help us figure out where they were from or choose to explain any of this to Henry.
3. If anyone is still reading, I have a new review on Venuszine.com, and you can read it here.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wrongest day in recent memory
1. We were due to arrive at Henry's classroom half an hour early to listen to him read from his journals and "book box" before taking them home. I forgot to set the alarm. We arrived on time but barely. Henry had very little interest in reading these books to me since none of them were ever very challenging for him. He did point out that his coloring has gotten much better since September. Lucy was extremely interested in sticking her face directly in front of mine while I tried to pay attention to Henry.
2. Unfortunately a few people in the room were leaving with gifts. Henry became obsessed with the location of his gift. He concluded that he had to read his entire book box to receive the gift. Declared he didn't want the gift. I still don't know what the story was, but there was no gift. The teacher, in her ever unhelpful way told him only, "I don't have a gift for you, Henry." At that point he started to cry inconsolably, just as everyone was starting to leave, of course. And Lucy continued to stick her face in mine, "What's wrong Henry, Mommy?" Then I noticed Henry's friend B was crying too. I did my best to calm Henry down rather unsuccessfully. When I left both boys were still crying, B silently, Henry rather loudly, and I heard the teacher mutter aloud, "Well, we could get started now if everyone would stop crying." She is retiring in three days to teach pre-school. I wish her all the best.
3. If that wasn't bad enough we got the package we had sent to the gifted programming specialist back with the glibbest, most unhelpful note. We wrote a letter asking if Henry could be considered for language arts programming for next year because he is reading second grade books with no help and third grade books with a little help at home, while in school it is all monosyllabic nonsense. I do not harbor any illusion that my son is a genius, but his teacher this year has done nothing to nurture him. The gifted programming specialist wrote back that there is nothing she can do because he is at grade level in his class room. Christ on crack! That's why we wrote the note in the first place. I am so tired of this school.
4. And then, I went to pick up our grill. A huge thunderstorm broke out. Did I mention that it hasn't rained more than a drop in months? I had to back the minivan up 40 feet and wait while three very helpful guys placed the grill (which is HUGE) inside. The thing barely fit. At one point they were giving the kids large pieces of metal to hold. Then Henry had to get out twice so we could move up his seat. He was standing on his book box (of course I hadn't taken it out of the car yet) asking me if I could get his umbrella. Both of us got soaking wet.
5. And now I have to rethink tonight's dinner: hot dogs and hamburgers.
2. Unfortunately a few people in the room were leaving with gifts. Henry became obsessed with the location of his gift. He concluded that he had to read his entire book box to receive the gift. Declared he didn't want the gift. I still don't know what the story was, but there was no gift. The teacher, in her ever unhelpful way told him only, "I don't have a gift for you, Henry." At that point he started to cry inconsolably, just as everyone was starting to leave, of course. And Lucy continued to stick her face in mine, "What's wrong Henry, Mommy?" Then I noticed Henry's friend B was crying too. I did my best to calm Henry down rather unsuccessfully. When I left both boys were still crying, B silently, Henry rather loudly, and I heard the teacher mutter aloud, "Well, we could get started now if everyone would stop crying." She is retiring in three days to teach pre-school. I wish her all the best.
3. If that wasn't bad enough we got the package we had sent to the gifted programming specialist back with the glibbest, most unhelpful note. We wrote a letter asking if Henry could be considered for language arts programming for next year because he is reading second grade books with no help and third grade books with a little help at home, while in school it is all monosyllabic nonsense. I do not harbor any illusion that my son is a genius, but his teacher this year has done nothing to nurture him. The gifted programming specialist wrote back that there is nothing she can do because he is at grade level in his class room. Christ on crack! That's why we wrote the note in the first place. I am so tired of this school.
4. And then, I went to pick up our grill. A huge thunderstorm broke out. Did I mention that it hasn't rained more than a drop in months? I had to back the minivan up 40 feet and wait while three very helpful guys placed the grill (which is HUGE) inside. The thing barely fit. At one point they were giving the kids large pieces of metal to hold. Then Henry had to get out twice so we could move up his seat. He was standing on his book box (of course I hadn't taken it out of the car yet) asking me if I could get his umbrella. Both of us got soaking wet.
5. And now I have to rethink tonight's dinner: hot dogs and hamburgers.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Gone Wrong Miscellany
1. Kitten Update: Mo has now been officially re-christened Twoey after I admitted to my mom that my dad and I were referring to him as Twoey in private.
2. I have had migraines three out of the last four days. So, not surprisingly I have been extremely distracted by the white noise inside my own head. I now have an appointment with the M.D. neuro as opposed to the P.A. that I usually see since I no longer think that my treatment is going the way I would like. Hopefully by early July I will have some answers. But I will do just about anything to avoid another transfusion and the drugs that followed it. At least now I know.
3. Cary and I spent the weekend trying to buy a grill. Normally such an inane domestic purchase would not be worth blogging about but we are so hopelessly inept, even at shopping for something like a grill, that even though our hand-me-down grill has been broken for a year, and we have been planning to buy a grill for over a month, it still took us more than 24 hours to choose a stupid grill. We have concluded that we like getting household items given to us for free (duh) not just because its cheap but because we have so much trouble making a decision. This is why most of our furniture used to belong to someone else, and some is held together with bungee cords. It's much easier than picking out something new. Thank god they put it together for us.
4. I spent a portion of the afternoon spraying homemade insecticidal soap (rubbing alcohol, dishsoap, and water) on much of my garden because I have a pretty serious four lined plant bug infestation. It is more of an annoyance than anything else, but they were all over my asters, which were struggling as it is. Hopefully they will still bloom this fall.
5. This is the last week of Kindergarten.
2. I have had migraines three out of the last four days. So, not surprisingly I have been extremely distracted by the white noise inside my own head. I now have an appointment with the M.D. neuro as opposed to the P.A. that I usually see since I no longer think that my treatment is going the way I would like. Hopefully by early July I will have some answers. But I will do just about anything to avoid another transfusion and the drugs that followed it. At least now I know.
3. Cary and I spent the weekend trying to buy a grill. Normally such an inane domestic purchase would not be worth blogging about but we are so hopelessly inept, even at shopping for something like a grill, that even though our hand-me-down grill has been broken for a year, and we have been planning to buy a grill for over a month, it still took us more than 24 hours to choose a stupid grill. We have concluded that we like getting household items given to us for free (duh) not just because its cheap but because we have so much trouble making a decision. This is why most of our furniture used to belong to someone else, and some is held together with bungee cords. It's much easier than picking out something new. Thank god they put it together for us.
4. I spent a portion of the afternoon spraying homemade insecticidal soap (rubbing alcohol, dishsoap, and water) on much of my garden because I have a pretty serious four lined plant bug infestation. It is more of an annoyance than anything else, but they were all over my asters, which were struggling as it is. Hopefully they will still bloom this fall.
5. This is the last week of Kindergarten.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
What Went Wrong: The Kitten Edition
Last week my parents adopted two male Ragdoll kittens after losing their cat Jezzie to cancer earlier last month. We adopted Jezzie from the SPCA when I was in high school and Ethan was about Henry's age. I think she was just shy of her nineteenth birthday. Unfortunately I don't have any digital pictures of her, but she was an affectionate cat who practically never caused my parents a minute of worry (except for the time she spent the night outside under the deck), but I digress. I just feel a little sad plastering the entry with these kitten pictures without saying a few words about Jezzie first.
I had trouble getting a good picture of the kitten on the left because he never stops moving, but not as much trouble as my parents have had giving these cats names! As I type supposedly the kitten on the left is Sug (short for Sugar Ray) and the kitten on the right is Mo (short for nuthin'). My mom was originally going to call Mo Moby, but that didn't seem right. I liked it for the 1990s silly pop-rock connotations. Then she was going to name him Balboa, since Sug is named after Sugar Ray Leonard (my parents don't even like boxing, but the name suits him). But my dad couldn't remember the names. He kept calling the kitten on the left Stubby and the kitten on the right Twoey because Stubby has a stubby body and we got Twoey second. Yeah. And you thought stuff went wrong at my house.
My mom won't leave the house yet because the Mo cries when he is in his room (my old room), and she can't leave them to their own devices yet for fear they will scuffle. So today I got to stay with them for an hour or so. Kitten sitting beats the pants off chasing my kids around, that's for sure.
My mom hasn't had a decent night's sleep in a week, and when we are on the phone, I hear her yelling, "No. Stop that! Oh, I gotta go." It is as if she has created an animal bizarro world where kittens are infants but neither of my parents is truly up for the pace of caring for an infant for too long (neither am I, really), so I hope things settle down soon. We miss you, Jezzie.
I had trouble getting a good picture of the kitten on the left because he never stops moving, but not as much trouble as my parents have had giving these cats names! As I type supposedly the kitten on the left is Sug (short for Sugar Ray) and the kitten on the right is Mo (short for nuthin'). My mom was originally going to call Mo Moby, but that didn't seem right. I liked it for the 1990s silly pop-rock connotations. Then she was going to name him Balboa, since Sug is named after Sugar Ray Leonard (my parents don't even like boxing, but the name suits him). But my dad couldn't remember the names. He kept calling the kitten on the left Stubby and the kitten on the right Twoey because Stubby has a stubby body and we got Twoey second. Yeah. And you thought stuff went wrong at my house.
My mom won't leave the house yet because the Mo cries when he is in his room (my old room), and she can't leave them to their own devices yet for fear they will scuffle. So today I got to stay with them for an hour or so. Kitten sitting beats the pants off chasing my kids around, that's for sure.
My mom hasn't had a decent night's sleep in a week, and when we are on the phone, I hear her yelling, "No. Stop that! Oh, I gotta go." It is as if she has created an animal bizarro world where kittens are infants but neither of my parents is truly up for the pace of caring for an infant for too long (neither am I, really), so I hope things settle down soon. We miss you, Jezzie.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Fragile, like an eggshell... I'm mad as hell
So last night Cary and I went to see The Mary Timony band. We used to see Mary's old band Helium play all the time when we lived in Boston, so more than wanting to hear the new album, I was excited to see her play live again.
Mary looks pretty much as I remember her, though the v. cute navy Tretorns were a new addition. Cary said hello, reminded her how he used to play tennis with her old beau, Ash, who also played bass in Helium (and Polvo) phenomenally well. She had no memory of Cary, which makes sense because I think we met her once. But hey, you gotta be friendly when people come to B-lo.
I thought I remembered reading that her drummer had been in Fugazi. As a whole the band was incredibly tight. It was great to see Mary, who had always seemed so inhibited on stage, totally rocking the guitar solos, and then throwing in these little flourishes, like a kick. Then she would kind of smile like, "hey, I am rocking out." She also kept shaking out her hand after the solos, like it had gotten really worn out from playing so much.
And while the audience didn't piss me off which was nice there were like no other women at the show. Which means it was nothing but the creepy freaks who secretly worship Mary and probably drive her nuts at all the gigs.
This video is a little old, from the Helium days, but it shows off JP, where I used to live in Boston, really well.
Mary looks pretty much as I remember her, though the v. cute navy Tretorns were a new addition. Cary said hello, reminded her how he used to play tennis with her old beau, Ash, who also played bass in Helium (and Polvo) phenomenally well. She had no memory of Cary, which makes sense because I think we met her once. But hey, you gotta be friendly when people come to B-lo.
I thought I remembered reading that her drummer had been in Fugazi. As a whole the band was incredibly tight. It was great to see Mary, who had always seemed so inhibited on stage, totally rocking the guitar solos, and then throwing in these little flourishes, like a kick. Then she would kind of smile like, "hey, I am rocking out." She also kept shaking out her hand after the solos, like it had gotten really worn out from playing so much.
And while the audience didn't piss me off which was nice there were like no other women at the show. Which means it was nothing but the creepy freaks who secretly worship Mary and probably drive her nuts at all the gigs.
This video is a little old, from the Helium days, but it shows off JP, where I used to live in Boston, really well.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
There were people and girls and beers and hair, but there was no one that I wanted to be near.
Just a few comments about the Voxtrot concert on Sunday. The lead singer, Ramesh Srivastava, announced he had a "terrible cold" and then later mentioned that he had a "fever" and said "three of us will be leaving at 6 a.m. to fly to Austin for a funeral tomorrow." He mentioned this after telling us what a great audience we were. And I thought: Worst Audience Ever. The "Hey, Look at Me" dancers were out of control, vying for my personal space wherever I moved. The best part of the night was when some mom came in and demanding to retrieve her kid and he looked about eleven. A true all ages show. But it wasn't the younger members of the audience that were obnoxious, most of the worst offenders should have known better. I think they need to get out more.
In spite of the illness, Ramesh sounded OK, though having to follow Favourite Sons singer Ken Griffin, who has an incredible voice, would be tough on anyone.
Fortunately Voxtrot didn't just play stuff from the new record. They played one brand new song that isn't on the album, which was pretty good. And what the hell, I'm going to give them some advice: you guys aren't an angry band. No one wants to hear you sing songs with the words "conflict" or "blood" in them again. Stick with what you know and you'll change anyway. You are frighteningly young.
I think this is the first time I have seen a band where all of the members are easily younger than my 23-year-old brother. And definitely the first time I have seen a band where the bass player looks like the spawn of Rowan Atkinson.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Friday Garden Picture
Taking a page from Jen14221's fkp, I offer you an "fgp," if you will. Though it may be the only one I ever do. The clematis is fully in bloom, as is the salvia in front of it. The allium hasn't given out yet, and the lime rickey heuchera to the far left are blooming as well. It's a pretty decent time for the garden. I am taking this picture mostly for posterity because I am sure the clematis will never look like this again, ever.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Happy Birthday, Cary!
Now you're as old as I am. I hope you like your presents because you are getting really hard to buy for.
1. Conversation between Henry and me this morning:
H: How old is daddy?
E: 36
H: But you're older, right?
E's brain: thanks, kid
E: No, now daddy and I are the same age.
H: (Looking serious) Are you going to die soon?
E: No, honey, I'm perfectly fine. You don't have anything to worry about.
E's brain: Jesus Christ!
H: Because people don't die until they are in their 90s, right?
E: That's right, honey.
H: Or if they are really old and sick, right?
E: That's right. 36 is still really young.
E's brain: Isn't it? Who told this kid about death? It wasn't me!
H: That's right, Mom.
2. I forgot to put Henry's half completed math homework in his back pack so I had to drive it over to the school. I always feel like the know me there. I hope I'm not the only mom that does stuff like what feels like at least twice a month.
3. I got called for jury duty again, six months after being called and excused. They called me once under my legal name and once under what would be my married name, if that person existed. This is what happens when you don't take your husband's name. I'm looking at you LHM and Auntlyh. Apparently it might continue to happen on into the future, so the nice person on the other end of the line advised me to photocopy the summons and make a note of how we handled it "just in case."
4. I had some musical stuff to say. Jonah quit the band The Blow, so now it's just the girl, whose name I am too lazy to look up. I'm pretty sure that will make their records suck from now on, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. But the girl, whatever her name is, Khaela, will certainly be wondering where her friends are now, won't she. (Except no one gets the reference because you all don't really get into those mp3s. Thassok. Maybe mp3s don't fit the DC-Vienna-Bflo axis deomographic.) Also, Cary and I are going to see Voxtrot on Sunday night. Again, they are a band. I won't bother posting a track. Too bad the album is boring. I loved the EPs. It got trashed by Pitchfork too, so you can be there were some tears in the practice room over that one. Then we are going to Mary Timony on Tuesday. Her CD was also very mediocre, but I am so excited to see her live. I will report back. I know all of you will be dying for the details.
1. Conversation between Henry and me this morning:
H: How old is daddy?
E: 36
H: But you're older, right?
E's brain: thanks, kid
E: No, now daddy and I are the same age.
H: (Looking serious) Are you going to die soon?
E: No, honey, I'm perfectly fine. You don't have anything to worry about.
E's brain: Jesus Christ!
H: Because people don't die until they are in their 90s, right?
E: That's right, honey.
H: Or if they are really old and sick, right?
E: That's right. 36 is still really young.
E's brain: Isn't it? Who told this kid about death? It wasn't me!
H: That's right, Mom.
2. I forgot to put Henry's half completed math homework in his back pack so I had to drive it over to the school. I always feel like the know me there. I hope I'm not the only mom that does stuff like what feels like at least twice a month.
3. I got called for jury duty again, six months after being called and excused. They called me once under my legal name and once under what would be my married name, if that person existed. This is what happens when you don't take your husband's name. I'm looking at you LHM and Auntlyh. Apparently it might continue to happen on into the future, so the nice person on the other end of the line advised me to photocopy the summons and make a note of how we handled it "just in case."
4. I had some musical stuff to say. Jonah quit the band The Blow, so now it's just the girl, whose name I am too lazy to look up. I'm pretty sure that will make their records suck from now on, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. But the girl, whatever her name is, Khaela, will certainly be wondering where her friends are now, won't she. (Except no one gets the reference because you all don't really get into those mp3s. Thassok. Maybe mp3s don't fit the DC-Vienna-Bflo axis deomographic.) Also, Cary and I are going to see Voxtrot on Sunday night. Again, they are a band. I won't bother posting a track. Too bad the album is boring. I loved the EPs. It got trashed by Pitchfork too, so you can be there were some tears in the practice room over that one. Then we are going to Mary Timony on Tuesday. Her CD was also very mediocre, but I am so excited to see her live. I will report back. I know all of you will be dying for the details.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
As Lucy grows increasingly responsible, I require additional assitance for the simplest tasks
1. On the way to the grocery store today I totally panicked because I couldn't find my keys. I have been pretty spacey because of the migraine drugs they have had me on since the infusion (today was the last day for that, thank God), so I had NO idea where my keys were. I hadn't driven in nearly 24 hours and yesterday I didn't have any pockets, so I there were no obvious places to check. Lucy followed me around with her cow flashlight, that moos, saying, "I see things, Mommy." I took deep breaths and tried to relax because I am also afraid of having another headache. After fifteen minutes of fruitless searching it turned out that the keys were in the front pocket of my hoodie where I must have put them just minutes before they went "missing." Typical.
2. It was a big day for Lucy at the grocery store because it was her first time being stashed, er, allowed in the playroom. She was very excited. She didn't want to go potty here. "I use Wegmans toilet," she said brightly. So I dropped her off after a quick bathroom break, and as I expected, she never looked back. She had a great time. We will have to see if I forgot fewer items on my list than usual without her distracting me. So far, so good. My little girl is definitely growing up. She rarely calls herself "Fluflee" anymore, and is fascinated by her own baby pictures. On the down side, she is rarely napping, which is something that will be hard for me to surrender. She is in her crib as I type, sing-screaming altered lyrics to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
2. It was a big day for Lucy at the grocery store because it was her first time being stashed, er, allowed in the playroom. She was very excited. She didn't want to go potty here. "I use Wegmans toilet," she said brightly. So I dropped her off after a quick bathroom break, and as I expected, she never looked back. She had a great time. We will have to see if I forgot fewer items on my list than usual without her distracting me. So far, so good. My little girl is definitely growing up. She rarely calls herself "Fluflee" anymore, and is fascinated by her own baby pictures. On the down side, she is rarely napping, which is something that will be hard for me to surrender. She is in her crib as I type, sing-screaming altered lyrics to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
Friday, June 01, 2007
And I wanted to know where are my friends tonight?
I have been wrestling with the following question: Can I be happy in the suburbs? Initially I thought the answer was YES! because after all, it was so much better here than Watertown, and wouldn't we be able to cut through the pain of living so far from any real urban stimulation by frequent trips to such places since B-lo is such a cheap place to live. While it is much better than Watertown, and the city of Buffalo is actually way better to live here than when I was growing up, it turns out I pretty much dislike the suburbs as much as I did when I was a teenager. And those trips out of town are not frequent enough, and not really them same with two little kids in tow.
So what can I do about it? I have seriously considered moving the family to the city of Buffalo, but am not sure that my general malaise justifies quadrupling the length of Cary's commute, not to mention uprooting my children etc. Plus what if it turns out that the Urban Buffalonians were basically just like the Suburban ones but with better glasses, and I didn't like it there either. Then I would have made all of our lives much more inconvenient for no good reason.
But there is no question that I feel somewhat trapped where I am, with the diaspora that is my true peer group nowhere in sight. Virtual contact is great guys, but I need you here for the rest of it too, at least sometimes.
Everything in the suburbs can be so stagnant and predictable that it may as well be an all ages nursing home.
So, I found a couple of songs that sum it up.
The Blow - "The Sky Opened Wide Like the Tide"
LCD Soundsystem - "Us V. Them"
PS -- Forgot to mention that my headache got so bad that I called the neuro and had to go in for an infusion of some drug and magnesium yesterday. I guess the pain is mostly gone, but I haven't felt right since. I am certainly not up to leading my sleepwalking neighbors through a cultural revolution.
So what can I do about it? I have seriously considered moving the family to the city of Buffalo, but am not sure that my general malaise justifies quadrupling the length of Cary's commute, not to mention uprooting my children etc. Plus what if it turns out that the Urban Buffalonians were basically just like the Suburban ones but with better glasses, and I didn't like it there either. Then I would have made all of our lives much more inconvenient for no good reason.
But there is no question that I feel somewhat trapped where I am, with the diaspora that is my true peer group nowhere in sight. Virtual contact is great guys, but I need you here for the rest of it too, at least sometimes.
Everything in the suburbs can be so stagnant and predictable that it may as well be an all ages nursing home.
So, I found a couple of songs that sum it up.
The Blow - "The Sky Opened Wide Like the Tide"
LCD Soundsystem - "Us V. Them"
PS -- Forgot to mention that my headache got so bad that I called the neuro and had to go in for an infusion of some drug and magnesium yesterday. I guess the pain is mostly gone, but I haven't felt right since. I am certainly not up to leading my sleepwalking neighbors through a cultural revolution.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Remembering the long weekend
1. After chirpily telling the neuro. that I "hadn't had a single migraine this month," I have basically had one for six days since. The pills have worked, but when it keeps coming back like this it means the headache never really goes away. This is the first old school, pre-medication headache I have had since before they started pumping me full of medicine, and I am not happy about it. I was supposed to be getting off all these pills around, oh yeah, right around now.
2. Nice weather brings out the neighbors. Maybe its good that we have basically nine months of bad weather here in B-lo. On Saturday we had the teenage version of the Michigan militia next door. About 20 teenage boys were suited up to go and play paint ball in the the woods but they looked like a freaking S.W.A.T. team, and I found all of their guns very disturbing, not to mention the sound of the guns firing. Then on Monday, after I had spent two full days putting close to 30 2 cu. ft. bags of mulch on my flower beds I look up to see my next door neighbor planting silk flowers around a tree right next to the road. Wtf! And these are just the nice neighbors that happen to live on either side of me.
3. Cary spent most of the weekend potty training Lucy. She is doing great. She actually woke up dry this morning. The whole process makes me incredibly tense though, so I am glad he is willing to handle it. I just had to take over when he went back to work on Tuesday.
Here are a few pictures from the garden. Warning: None of these flowers are made of silk!
Pic 1. Allium, Clematis, and annual Phlox
Pic 2. Sempervivum in bloom
Pic 3 Perennial Osteospermum
2. Nice weather brings out the neighbors. Maybe its good that we have basically nine months of bad weather here in B-lo. On Saturday we had the teenage version of the Michigan militia next door. About 20 teenage boys were suited up to go and play paint ball in the the woods but they looked like a freaking S.W.A.T. team, and I found all of their guns very disturbing, not to mention the sound of the guns firing. Then on Monday, after I had spent two full days putting close to 30 2 cu. ft. bags of mulch on my flower beds I look up to see my next door neighbor planting silk flowers around a tree right next to the road. Wtf! And these are just the nice neighbors that happen to live on either side of me.
3. Cary spent most of the weekend potty training Lucy. She is doing great. She actually woke up dry this morning. The whole process makes me incredibly tense though, so I am glad he is willing to handle it. I just had to take over when he went back to work on Tuesday.
Here are a few pictures from the garden. Warning: None of these flowers are made of silk!
Pic 1. Allium, Clematis, and annual Phlox Pic 2. Sempervivum in bloom
Pic 3 Perennial Osteospermum
Friday, May 25, 2007
Lucy Visits School, Mother Forsaken for Toy Microwave
1. Lucy and I visited the preschool that she will attend in September today. Nothing went wrong at all until it was time to leave and I practically had to pull her with all my might to get her to let go of the door. "No," she protested, "I play!"
2. Another Venuszine review is available here.
3. Awhile back Auntlyh expressed interest in my Amp Camp reviews. Here is the link to all of them. I don't know how long they will be up for though, so knock yourself out.
2. Another Venuszine review is available here.
3. Awhile back Auntlyh expressed interest in my Amp Camp reviews. Here is the link to all of them. I don't know how long they will be up for though, so knock yourself out.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Mother's Little Helpers
1. Went to see the neuro today. I don't get to go off any of my migraine meds yet because, unfortunately, I am still getting headaches. Post-nasal drip, stress, and anemia be damned! So now I am going to up my dosage of one of the little pills, plus take some more iron. I may take some Claritin too, to help with the drippiness. I wanted to take fewer pills after this visit, not more. But hopefully that day is coming. I don't go back until September though, so until then I may need to go by one of those massive day-of-the-week A.M./P.M. pill organizers with an alarm on it to keep everything straight. I feel like a I should get a senior citizen's discount as well.
2. Both kids said things today that made me laugh out loud. First, Henry asked me for a slice of ham when I was making Cary's lunch. Then he said, "Ham is my favorite kind of Turkey, you know." Then when I was waiting for coffee at the drive-thru, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel to a song by the Veils, Lucy said, "Stop dancing mommy! I'm trying to sneeze." That's the kind of help I really need to get through the day.
2. Both kids said things today that made me laugh out loud. First, Henry asked me for a slice of ham when I was making Cary's lunch. Then he said, "Ham is my favorite kind of Turkey, you know." Then when I was waiting for coffee at the drive-thru, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel to a song by the Veils, Lucy said, "Stop dancing mommy! I'm trying to sneeze." That's the kind of help I really need to get through the day.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Why I have this blog
1. So last night Cary and I headed out to see Tapes 'n Tapes (from Minneapolis!) at Mohawk Place. Ladyhawk was the opening act. I had lots of comments to make, but now all I will say is this. I love going to Mohawk Place, I do. But I think if they know one of the major components of their sound system is broken they should fix it, especially when an act that you want to come back again is in town.The only band uglier than Ladyhawk is Vietnam. Ladyhawk had a guy planted in the audience throughout the show playing the tambourine. I've never seen anything quite like it before. We missed the opening act, which was supposed to be Harlem Shakes, but I think was someone else, namely Mr. strange tambourine guy. Because he and another guy got on stage for Ladyhawk's last, best, and most Sebadoh-esqe song, "My Old Jacknife."
The crowd was kind of lame but at least no one yelled out "Let's go Buffalo" like they did the last two times I've been to the Town Ballroom. Sometimes I hate living here.
2. I dragged myself out of bed this morning and got Henry off to school as usual, even on little sleep. Lucy and I were about to head to the gym, then I was going to drop her of at my mom's so I could work uninterrupted on some pitches for my stymied freelance writing. I got into the car and noticed that all of the interior lights were on.
Two hours, two visits from AAA, and $120 later, I had a new battery and a working car. Apparently one of us had left the interior light on last night in our post-concert fatigue. This little debacle systematically undid all the fun I had last night.
3. I've got a new review up on Venuszine. You can read it here.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
General Crumminess
1. I was concerned that Lucy's walking pneumonia had returned, but it was just massive constipation. Don't ask me how I confused the two.
2. Henry's folliculitus has returned but I have been to overwhelmed to do anything about it. As long as it doesn't look like chicken pox, nobody gets hurt.
3. A bunny ate portions of one of my favorite new plants and then just left the evidence there, as if the plant wasn't even worth chewing once bitten. OK, Bunny, then why did you keep chewing after the first bite?
4. I bought a replacement corded phone today and learned upon setting it up that the only thing wrong with the "broken" phone was that it wasn't plugged in.
5. The Sabres. Another game tonight. This series is killing me, and everyone else in town. They will seriously need to put Prozac in the water supply if we lose tonight.
6. I went to the doctor today and learned that I am vulnerable to mumps. Hmph.
7. We are supposed to go see Tapes 'n tapes tomorrow but Ticketmaster has still failed to deliver the tickets. Cary has instructed me "not to worry" and to schedule the sitters like we planned. I can't help wondering how we're going to get into the concert.
8. I just read that Violent Femmes are coming back to Thursday in the Square this year either things are getting pretty weak for Gordon Gano and co., or they actually enjoyed that particular gig.
2. Henry's folliculitus has returned but I have been to overwhelmed to do anything about it. As long as it doesn't look like chicken pox, nobody gets hurt.
3. A bunny ate portions of one of my favorite new plants and then just left the evidence there, as if the plant wasn't even worth chewing once bitten. OK, Bunny, then why did you keep chewing after the first bite?
4. I bought a replacement corded phone today and learned upon setting it up that the only thing wrong with the "broken" phone was that it wasn't plugged in.
5. The Sabres. Another game tonight. This series is killing me, and everyone else in town. They will seriously need to put Prozac in the water supply if we lose tonight.
6. I went to the doctor today and learned that I am vulnerable to mumps. Hmph.
7. We are supposed to go see Tapes 'n tapes tomorrow but Ticketmaster has still failed to deliver the tickets. Cary has instructed me "not to worry" and to schedule the sitters like we planned. I can't help wondering how we're going to get into the concert.
8. I just read that Violent Femmes are coming back to Thursday in the Square this year either things are getting pretty weak for Gordon Gano and co., or they actually enjoyed that particular gig.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Avian Visitors Continue to Arrive
I think this may be my favorite time of year. Today two more birds arrived, and one, the red-headed woodpecker, was a first time visitor. Generally our hummingbirds start arriving around Memorial Day, so this was a bit early.I did not take either of these pictures because the hummingbirds are too skittish and the Red-headed woodpecker was too far away.
In other bird-related news Lucy had gone to sleep with a little bird toy in her bed, and the belly section had become completely tangled in her hair this morning so the toy had to be cut out with scissors. She woke up saying, "Mommy, get bird out of hair, pleease!"
By the time M.I.A.'s new CD is available for purchase most of the backyard birds will no longer be giving me the time of day, but here's a little something to tide us over until then. M.I.A - "Bird Flu"
In other bird-related news Lucy had gone to sleep with a little bird toy in her bed, and the belly section had become completely tangled in her hair this morning so the toy had to be cut out with scissors. She woke up saying, "Mommy, get bird out of hair, pleease!"
By the time M.I.A.'s new CD is available for purchase most of the backyard birds will no longer be giving me the time of day, but here's a little something to tide us over until then. M.I.A - "Bird Flu"
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Welcome Visitors Return
Spring has finally arrived. Last Friday I was excited to see a Rose-breasted Grossbeak land on my bird feeder. The Grossbeak was followed a few days later by the return of the Baltimore Orioles. I have seen as many as three at a time this year. Last, not a sign of spring but fun nonetheless, we have seen a wild Turkey in the early morning the past few days. Yesterday they were all visiting at the same time so I tried to take some pictures.
That's the grossbeak on the tray feeder and the oriole on the suet.
(Hint: click on the pictures for a slightly better view.)
While I am not usually a fan of Andrew Bird (get it the tie in?), but he too has been welcome since I have been playing one song from his latest record nearly non-stop. Check it out. Andrew Bird - "Imitosis"
Saturday, April 28, 2007
It's just the beginning
of things going wrong in the garden.
Here are a few early season notes:
1. One of my irises is being devoured by slugs. I think this is unfair. It's too early in the season for pests. It's rainy and 46 degrees today. And who has ever heard of slugs eating irises? I think this particular plant is going to get trashed anyway. This is its second home in my yard and it must not have decent drainage because it is not flourishing the way I would like.
2. It has not been a great year for daffodils in general because of the cold. But I noticed something. I have planted smaller varieties in front of my larger varieties hoping for a layered look. Unfortunately they don't seem to be blooming at the same time, while the very similar looking miniature daffodils up the street bloomed three weeks ago. Grrr. I am not ripping them out.
3. My mom and I planted some seeds during the winter. Unfortunately o
ne of the containers I used had an aluminum bottom, and it has not retained water at all. The soil is bone dry while the other four are like little terrariums, and look like they may be hospitable to life. I can only hope my mom's coral star Columbine faired better.
Here are a few early season notes:
1. One of my irises is being devoured by slugs. I think this is unfair. It's too early in the season for pests. It's rainy and 46 degrees today. And who has ever heard of slugs eating irises? I think this particular plant is going to get trashed anyway. This is its second home in my yard and it must not have decent drainage because it is not flourishing the way I would like.2. It has not been a great year for daffodils in general because of the cold. But I noticed something. I have planted smaller varieties in front of my larger varieties hoping for a layered look. Unfortunately they don't seem to be blooming at the same time, while the very similar looking miniature daffodils up the street bloomed three weeks ago. Grrr. I am not ripping them out.
3. My mom and I planted some seeds during the winter. Unfortunately o
ne of the containers I used had an aluminum bottom, and it has not retained water at all. The soil is bone dry while the other four are like little terrariums, and look like they may be hospitable to life. I can only hope my mom's coral star Columbine faired better.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Hodge Podge
1. My little brother (ok, little brother-in-law Randy, not Ethan) has a CD coming out. And since most of my regular readers, population= 5, better known as the Buffalo-DC-Vienna axis, have met Randy, I thought I would mention that the CD release party for Let's French's debut, Victory, is May 19th at the Black Cat in DC. Sadly I will not be in attendance, but maybe some of you locals want to check it out. Wondering what they sound like? http://www.myspace.com/letsfrenchdc.
2. Recently I was pleased, thinking years of subscribing to Magnet magazine finally paid off when my promo CD arrived and it was the new Dinosaur Jr. CD, Beyond, a full week or so before the official release. I was not going to buy it, but I was also not going to look for other means to acquire it because if a project involves Lou Barlow either I get it legitimately or not at all. But I have never really forgiven J. Mascis for mistreating Lou (I'm that friend who secretly fumes when you take back the lousy boyfriend), so I didn't want to give J. my money either. But after listening two it a couple of times I think free was just about right. Did they always sound like a nebulous classic rock band? Lou's songs are fine, but what was he thinking allowing that terrible picture of himself in front of Stonehenge? Couldn't someone Photoshop out the zits? I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it. I'm still waiting to feel like I come out ahead on the Magnet freebie CD.
Correction: The lousy picture of Lou actually appears in the magazine, not inside the CD, if anybody cares. I still think they should have done something about the zits on his chin.
3. Yesterday Henry got off the bus, along with the boy across the street, B. B was crying because he had been bitten by another child. The child bit through B's windbreaker and turtleneck and the bite broke the skin. This varmint of a Kindergartener has bullied both Henry and B before and B's mother and I had discussed how the "next time" we would take action. I felt terrible that "next time" turned out to be so painful.
4. I just got done paying over $500 to get Cary's car to pass inspection.
5. I let Lucy take a musical microphone with her at nap time. Do you think she'll sleep?
2. Recently I was pleased, thinking years of subscribing to Magnet magazine finally paid off when my promo CD arrived and it was the new Dinosaur Jr. CD, Beyond, a full week or so before the official release. I was not going to buy it, but I was also not going to look for other means to acquire it because if a project involves Lou Barlow either I get it legitimately or not at all. But I have never really forgiven J. Mascis for mistreating Lou (I'm that friend who secretly fumes when you take back the lousy boyfriend), so I didn't want to give J. my money either. But after listening two it a couple of times I think free was just about right. Did they always sound like a nebulous classic rock band? Lou's songs are fine, but what was he thinking allowing that terrible picture of himself in front of Stonehenge? Couldn't someone Photoshop out the zits? I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it. I'm still waiting to feel like I come out ahead on the Magnet freebie CD.
Correction: The lousy picture of Lou actually appears in the magazine, not inside the CD, if anybody cares. I still think they should have done something about the zits on his chin.
3. Yesterday Henry got off the bus, along with the boy across the street, B. B was crying because he had been bitten by another child. The child bit through B's windbreaker and turtleneck and the bite broke the skin. This varmint of a Kindergartener has bullied both Henry and B before and B's mother and I had discussed how the "next time" we would take action. I felt terrible that "next time" turned out to be so painful.
4. I just got done paying over $500 to get Cary's car to pass inspection.
5. I let Lucy take a musical microphone with her at nap time. Do you think she'll sleep?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Little annoyances, big plans
1. I have been asked by my brother-in-law to be at my in-laws house before 7 am tomorrow to let in piano movers in my in-laws absence. (They are moving the piano to Texas on his behalf). I think we will have breakfast at Tim Horton's after.
2. I tried to reheat my coffee in the microwave. I set it for 5:50 instead of :55. It boiled over. I am drinking it anyway.
3. Cary just left on a four day trip with his friends to the Adirondacks, so I will be on my own with the kids. I just put a 12 pack of beer in the fridge if anyone wants to come over and join me as a surrogate parent for the weekend. I will cook anything but hot dogs. I have big plans to watch an episode of Nova that I saved on TiVo.
4. I banged my shin on the elliptical machine at the gym yesterday and took such a large chunk out of my shin that I was able to remove a visible chunk of skin from the foot pedal. Yeah, totally gross, I know, but at least I cleaned up after myself, and no, I didn't use the gym towel either.
2. I tried to reheat my coffee in the microwave. I set it for 5:50 instead of :55. It boiled over. I am drinking it anyway.
3. Cary just left on a four day trip with his friends to the Adirondacks, so I will be on my own with the kids. I just put a 12 pack of beer in the fridge if anyone wants to come over and join me as a surrogate parent for the weekend. I will cook anything but hot dogs. I have big plans to watch an episode of Nova that I saved on TiVo.
4. I banged my shin on the elliptical machine at the gym yesterday and took such a large chunk out of my shin that I was able to remove a visible chunk of skin from the foot pedal. Yeah, totally gross, I know, but at least I cleaned up after myself, and no, I didn't use the gym towel either.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Never doubt the power of antibiotics
Lucy actually requested what Henry was eating for dinner, which happened to be a peanut butter and banana sandwich. And she ate close to half of it. Unbelievable.
This is a child who would scream bloody murder if I offer her a banana under regular circumstances. She also drank close to 12 oz. of apple juice. Bring on the food pyramid
Is Lucy finally ready to give up the endless cycle of milk-crackers-milk that has sustained her for the past 15 months? This may be a fluke brought on by raging hunger. We will have to wait and see.
Also, Lucy finally admits to being "three years old." It only took an extra six weeks. Lord help us when she turns 30.
This is a child who would scream bloody murder if I offer her a banana under regular circumstances. She also drank close to 12 oz. of apple juice. Bring on the food pyramid
Is Lucy finally ready to give up the endless cycle of milk-crackers-milk that has sustained her for the past 15 months? This may be a fluke brought on by raging hunger. We will have to wait and see.
Also, Lucy finally admits to being "three years old." It only took an extra six weeks. Lord help us when she turns 30.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Cutting out, Cutting off, and Coughing it up this weekend at our house
1. Friday night we had dinner at my in-laws. As I was helping the kids put the toys away, or rather putting the toys in spite of the kids, I got a sliver from the bookshelf. It was immediately decided that my father-in-law, who is a physician, would remove it for me. None of this let's just rip it out with an old pair of tweezers when we get home stuff for me! The next thing I know he and I and Lucy are standing in the half bath and he is using a hypodermic needle to poke under the first layer of skin to dislodge the tiny piece of wood while Lucy says, "Mommy touch wood! I watch, I watch!" After the third try he got the thing out, and Lucy cheered "Yay Grandpa" then I needed to sit down and put my head between my knees, while he said to my mother-in-law, "Eh, take her, leh, I think she is going to faint." Fortunately I recovered my level headedness. I was going to need it.
2. Saturday night we had dinner at my parents house because my brother was home for the weekend. Henry scarfed down three or four hot dogs for dinner. At the time I thought this was fine because he had a swimming lesson that day and he is usually starving all day long afterwards. In hindsight, I should have cut him off at two.
Sunday morning he came into my room and woke me up to tell me that he threw up. "Mmm. OK," and rolled over to go back to sleep. He seemed fine and I wasn't too worried. I thought he coughed up mucus and neglected to get a tissue. I could not have been more wrong. Actually, he woke up. Grabbed the blanket that Lumpyhead's mom crocheted for him when he was a baby. Vomited into it. Dropped it onto the floor. Vomited onto his comforter. Dropped that onto the floor. And went back to sleep. His room was vile. He has now received a lecture on the importance of chewing his food before swallowing it. Before I had even washed my face that morning I gathered up the soiled laundry, and tried to remove as much of the nastiness as I could before I washed it. Amazingly, everything came out of the laundry looking completely devoid of what it had just been through. But I may never eat another hot dog again.
3. I am taking Lucy to the doctor this morning for the following undiagnosed conditions: low-grade fever, extended crying, food refusal, croup-like cough, wheezy breathing, repeated nocturnal bowel movements, diaper rash, perpetual indigestion, and vegetable phobia.
UPDATE: Lucy has walking pneumonia, poor thing. According the the Physician's Assistant we saw at the Pediatrician's office today, the diagnosis explains all of her symptoms, except of course the vegetable phobia. So he prescribed an antibiotic, and a probiotic (lactobacillus powder). We will see how this ying-yang regimen works on Lucy's long-suffering system.
2. Saturday night we had dinner at my parents house because my brother was home for the weekend. Henry scarfed down three or four hot dogs for dinner. At the time I thought this was fine because he had a swimming lesson that day and he is usually starving all day long afterwards. In hindsight, I should have cut him off at two.
Sunday morning he came into my room and woke me up to tell me that he threw up. "Mmm. OK," and rolled over to go back to sleep. He seemed fine and I wasn't too worried. I thought he coughed up mucus and neglected to get a tissue. I could not have been more wrong. Actually, he woke up. Grabbed the blanket that Lumpyhead's mom crocheted for him when he was a baby. Vomited into it. Dropped it onto the floor. Vomited onto his comforter. Dropped that onto the floor. And went back to sleep. His room was vile. He has now received a lecture on the importance of chewing his food before swallowing it. Before I had even washed my face that morning I gathered up the soiled laundry, and tried to remove as much of the nastiness as I could before I washed it. Amazingly, everything came out of the laundry looking completely devoid of what it had just been through. But I may never eat another hot dog again.
3. I am taking Lucy to the doctor this morning for the following undiagnosed conditions: low-grade fever, extended crying, food refusal, croup-like cough, wheezy breathing, repeated nocturnal bowel movements, diaper rash, perpetual indigestion, and vegetable phobia.
UPDATE: Lucy has walking pneumonia, poor thing. According the the Physician's Assistant we saw at the Pediatrician's office today, the diagnosis explains all of her symptoms, except of course the vegetable phobia. So he prescribed an antibiotic, and a probiotic (lactobacillus powder). We will see how this ying-yang regimen works on Lucy's long-suffering system.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Steadily improving pronounciation breaks my heart!
Lucy is swiftly moving from referring to herself as "Fluflee" as she has for months and months to actually calling herself "Lucy."
We play a little game where I innocently say something like, "You're getting so big!" And she responds with indignation, "I'm not big, I Fluflee!" But I can hear "Lucy" creeping in and know that my dear sweet Fluflee will soon be gone, and she will indeed be big.
We play a little game where I innocently say something like, "You're getting so big!" And she responds with indignation, "I'm not big, I Fluflee!" But I can hear "Lucy" creeping in and know that my dear sweet Fluflee will soon be gone, and she will indeed be big.
Monday, April 09, 2007
This blog has a soundtrack!
I never have to worry that I am ever the only one having a bad day, or stay down in the dumps for too long. I just pop in Of Montreal's exquisite newish record, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, and remember three things:1. Kevin Barnes who singlehandedly wrote most of the songs on the record, was consistently having like the worst day ever, again and again, but that didn't stop him from writing some of the most creative songs about his deteriorating mental health that I have ever heard, and setting his lyrics to upbeat, ever changing music.
2. It's impossible to feel bad while listening to this record in spite of the subject matter. Both of the children love it(they have no idea what it's about) and we all dance and sing along.
3. Of Montreal is one of those bands I knew about but never really liked. Which is why I just got the record even though it came out in January -- it took three separate rave reviews to convince me to give it a whirl. It goes to show that you never really know what the future holds -- even though it's a small event, that a band I never liked could evolve and release a record destined to be a household classic leaves me feeling strangely hopeful, like anything is possible.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Parenting Meme
Lumpyhead's Mom tagged me to do this Parenting meme, originated by Daddy L of the Jasper Chronicles. Here are the questions and my answers:
1) What was your biggest surprise when you became a parent?
That my children's personalities bare little or no resemblance to my own, but greatly resemble my husband and his family. They are loud (mostly singing) and constantly in motion. But they are also very outgoing and loving.
2) Name some things you vowed you'd never do, but find yourself doing now.
Make three dinners every night.
3) What's the one thing you thought you would do, but actually don't.
I thought I would have more than two kids.
I also thought I would be more involved with Henry's school once he started, but I have been so unimpressed by everything and everyone there, particularly his teacher that I have been a bit soured on the entire experience.
I am not going to tag anyone because I don't have three parents with blogs to tag. However, if anyone reads this and would like to do it, please feel free to leave a comment so we can check out your answers.
1) What was your biggest surprise when you became a parent?
That my children's personalities bare little or no resemblance to my own, but greatly resemble my husband and his family. They are loud (mostly singing) and constantly in motion. But they are also very outgoing and loving.
2) Name some things you vowed you'd never do, but find yourself doing now.
Make three dinners every night.
3) What's the one thing you thought you would do, but actually don't.
I thought I would have more than two kids.
I also thought I would be more involved with Henry's school once he started, but I have been so unimpressed by everything and everyone there, particularly his teacher that I have been a bit soured on the entire experience.
I am not going to tag anyone because I don't have three parents with blogs to tag. However, if anyone reads this and would like to do it, please feel free to leave a comment so we can check out your answers.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
No Joakim', No Foolin' around -- stuff went wrong
1. Not only did Cary fail to win the Best Pool Ever by the narrowest of margins, losing for the second year in a row to Mommy at Work's Dad (Grampa at Work?), but my enjoyment of the game was interrupted by Lucy. Lucy woke up screaming at about 10:30 and really didn't go back to sleep for good until 1:00 a.m., so I went from happily drinking a beer with Cary, watching our hope of winning 30 odd bottles of good wine slip away, to sitting in a darkened room with a cranky 3 year old reading the books that I have already memorized because I didn't want to turn on any lights.
2. Yesterday I spent more than an hour pointlessly hooking up my parents web cam and signing up for Skype in an effort to be able to chat with Auntlyh while she and her lovely husband are in Vienna. I say pointless because I cannot figure out how to make it work for the life of me. I suspect it has something to do with the microphone not being properly configured, but it will have to wait for a day where I have more patience because it caused the computer to crash, and I am too sleepy to sort through it all now.
3. I saw a reporter from Vanity Fair magazine on the Today Show this morning espousing the argument that all women should work and put their kids in day care because 40% of those women will get divorced. She said something like, "you women who stay home are taking such a gamble that your husband will die or divorce you. It's really dangerous." Umm, going to Iraq is dangerous. Getting married is sometimes not the best idea, but I wouldn't call it dangerous. And I personally have no problem with day care, or with my friends who have chosen to use it. I do, however, have a problem with that kind of logic. Why didn't she just say, "Twentysomething young ladies, don't even marry, you are taking such a risk! Don't Kiss Him -- He Might Have Cooties!!!" Talk about an agoraphobic way of living your life and so unhelpful.
I tried to look up the article on Vanity Fair's website, so I could refer to her by her name, but no luck -- maybe it will come out next month.
4. One good thing did happen. If you go here you can read another review by me at venuszine.com. Sweet.
2. Yesterday I spent more than an hour pointlessly hooking up my parents web cam and signing up for Skype in an effort to be able to chat with Auntlyh while she and her lovely husband are in Vienna. I say pointless because I cannot figure out how to make it work for the life of me. I suspect it has something to do with the microphone not being properly configured, but it will have to wait for a day where I have more patience because it caused the computer to crash, and I am too sleepy to sort through it all now.
3. I saw a reporter from Vanity Fair magazine on the Today Show this morning espousing the argument that all women should work and put their kids in day care because 40% of those women will get divorced. She said something like, "you women who stay home are taking such a gamble that your husband will die or divorce you. It's really dangerous." Umm, going to Iraq is dangerous. Getting married is sometimes not the best idea, but I wouldn't call it dangerous. And I personally have no problem with day care, or with my friends who have chosen to use it. I do, however, have a problem with that kind of logic. Why didn't she just say, "Twentysomething young ladies, don't even marry, you are taking such a risk! Don't Kiss Him -- He Might Have Cooties!!!" Talk about an agoraphobic way of living your life and so unhelpful.
I tried to look up the article on Vanity Fair's website, so I could refer to her by her name, but no luck -- maybe it will come out next month.
4. One good thing did happen. If you go here you can read another review by me at venuszine.com. Sweet.
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