Margo: Out and About

Funny Things from T-Bone

2011-11-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

T-Bone has a quicker wit than most people. My humor looks like dry toast compared to his. I know he gets it from McDreamy...the master of all smart quips. This week, my boy has been cracking me up.

On the topic of handwriting (his is abysmal)...

"Why do I need nice handwriting. When I get older, the only things I will actually have to write by hand are checks and the grocery list."

"I've seen 1st graders with better handwriting than mine." (he say unaffected)

About his friend's very statuesque, slightly football-player built mom...

"Did you see his mother? She's 6 foot 3 and she looks like she could give you a real bad day."

His reaction when he saw his disappointing report card on Tuesday....

"This is terrible. My grades have plummeted."

Okay so that's not humor, but it's a great use of vocabulary which I am greatly impressed by.

Facebook ate my blog

2011-11-17T09:15:00.001-08:00

Those of you who know me and know this blog are pretty clear that I rarely write here anymore. I've wondered to myself, repeatedly, why that is.

Is it that I am busier with kids and work duties?

Could it be that my creative spark has petered out?

Maybe I don't have anything to say.

Those are plausible answers. But are they the real ones? You know what I think it is. It's Facebook. Yep, Facebook. I started this blog when Blogger and My Space were the only social media options. The concept was in its infancy.

Now it's everywhere. Facebook especially makes it easy, too easy sometimes, for me to connect with others, share tidbits of daily life, and spread the love. The down side is that FB trades in small bites where as blogs are for longer, more in depth contemplation. I guess I've gotten a taste for the short, easy connect and haven't maintained the discipline for longer writing.

But I haven't given up completely. Have I?

A Note

2011-10-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today I wrote my son a note.

He had a rough Monday morning. Really rough. Something small set him off then he poured out ten volumes of complaints, frustration, and pain. I love his sister more. I don't appreciate his hard work. He wanted to throw away the medal from the 5K we ran together on Sunday (our first race together.)

Very hard things for a mother to hear.

I listened with patience at first. I tried to reassure him. But he kept escalating and I lost my temper. Not in a really bad way (I have done that before), but I wasn't kind and loving, which is probably what he needed this morning.

He left for the school bus with parting word "I am not going to say a word for the rest of the day."

Sometimes moments are given to us that require deep reflection. To face it and ask The Big Question - What do I need to learn from this? Hopefully we recognize these moments, and let the ego drop to the floor to make way for something substantial. My kids have had basketfuls of tempers. This one was different. And I couldn't stop thinking about what it all meant.

On the walk back from the bus stop, the idea came to me to write my son a note. To answer his complaints. To reassure him. To tell him I loved him without end.

There was a moment of hesitation. Would this be pandering to him? Does a child who throws a huge fit warrant his mother pouring her heart out to him?

But I trusted my instinct. When I am moved to write to someone, to take words to paper, I go with it.

I wrote my son a note about how much I love him. I told him what a gift he his and how he is a one of a kind. In two pages of typed print, he got to hear straight from his mother that he is my perfect son. And how it's impossible for me to love one child more or less. I am not built that way. And with all the love I have for him, my job is still to raise him right. To do the hard things that teach him responsibility, discipline, and hard work.

I had no idea how he'd react. Maybe he'd rip it up. Maybe he'd act nonchalantly. It might even stir the pot.

He came home still leaning toward grumpy. I gave him some time to get on good footing, then I gave him the note. It took him 10 minutes to read it and then he found me upstairs.

"I didn't know anyone could write a note that good." He was smiling with a tender look blasting from his face.

"Or that long. If I turned something in like that at school, I'd get an A++."

Ragnar DC 2011: Race Recap

2011-09-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

I am back from running my first Ragnar.
It won't be my last.

It was an exhilirating way to share running, adventure, and triumph in a team environment. Running is usually solitary. A relay is anything but! This runner's high has lasted for days and I can't help but think that Ragnar laced my water bottle with some A+ team juice!

Where do I start ? How can I synthesize the abundance of thoughts, feelings, and memories into a summary? I've got about 20 minutes before I head out for my day and want to start sharing some of the Ragnar experience with family and friends.

Let's start with a definition. What is a Ragnar? It's a 199 mile overnight relay race through gorgeous countryside and sprawling cities. Twelve team members crowd into 2 vans and each runner takes three turns running. The van positions the active runner to his/her start point. She starts running and the van heads along the route to cheer the runner and offer support. The van then gets to the next "exchange" point and gets the next runner ready to go. The active runner comes in the exchange, hands the baton off to the next runner, and off she goes. The tired, sweaty runner hops in the van and it starts all over again. And you do this over, and over and over again for 199 miles.

Who was my team? My team was initiated by a mom I know in the neighborhood. She's a relatively new runner and I ran her first 5K with her 2 years ago. I agreed to be a co-captain. She gathered some of her college buddies, they got a few of their friends involved, one of my friend's husbands jumped in at the last minute when we had a runner drop out, and our exercise class instructor came aboard with 2 friends.

Van 1 was co-ed, but Van 2 was all boys. They were faster and I think more hard core than my van. Van 1 was having fun and doing our thing but from what I can tell, the other time was trying to beat the competition. Good for them!

Where did we run? All over the place! From Rocky Gap State Park outside of Cumberland, MD to National Harbor just outside of Washington, D.C. We followed the Potomac River from the Applachian Mountains down into the city. The first 2/3's of the relay were in pristine countryside, winding through state parks, civil war battlegrounds and up and over mountain after mountain. Most runners had some killer elevation gains...I somehow lucked out and got rolling hills but no steeps. I will never complain about the "hills" along my neighborhood routes.

The Start Line. I was Runner 1 and had the first leg. It was a 5-mile trail run around Lake Habeeb. Isn't it pretty?

It was the only leg of the course that a) was a loop and b) you couldn't see your teammates at points along the course. I felt like a deer bounding through the woods, bobbing in and around trees, roots, and rocks. At times I was 2 feet from the lake, other times 30 feet above the shore line. My start time was 7:00am when light was breaking. It would have been a bear in the dark - really hard.

Conditions - It took us about 32 hours to complete the course. We ran in daylight, pitch dark, fog, light rain, and heavy rain. We ran on trails, highways, country roads, over mountains and across streams. We had serious inclines, dark highways, and spooky cemeteries. And we had LOTS of time in the van...cheering our active runner, positioning the next runner for his exchange, then, during inactive times, showering at campsites, eating at country diners, and sleeping wherever - in the van, on a highschool gym floor, in a random hotel along the way.

That's my first attempt at a summery. There's more to come.

Summer Rock

2011-09-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

Last night, McDreamy and I took our kids to their first grown up concert. We went to an outdoor arena to rock out to 80's legends Night Ranger and Journey.

What can you say about Journey? Even with their new lead singer, Arnell, the soaring ballads shot me right back to my teens when every crush and every heart ache was accompanied by an endless loop of Faithfully and Open Arms. They sounded terrific.

But it's not the music I will remember from this concert. It's the kids' reactions.

T-Bone was the most surprising. He wanted his earplugs as soon as we got to the concert, 1 hour early. We were sitting in the pavilion eating greasy grub, and he claimed the music coming from the stage (a recording just for back ground music) was giving him a headache. Whaaaa? Then during the first half of the Night Ranger set, he was really uncomfortable. He sat with his head tucked in his lap, or leaned over on me saying he had a migraine (a first.) McDreamy finally took him back to the pavilion for a break. I guess he's not a Night Ranger fan. He returned for Journey and finally got into it once he recognized the music. But he said he could feel every song, the music vibrating uncomfortably in his young body.

The Bug had a different reaction. She wanted to stand, sway, fist pump and groove all the way through both sets. And I stood next to her feeling a bit torn. She's got rhythm, she connects with the music, she rocks out. But she's 6. It felt wrong to have a little thing going at it with such abandon. A couple of times, I asked her sit down. I told her to stop when she started swing her long hair back and forth like the lead guitarist.

People always watch her. She's got so much natural talent. And confidence. But it often makes me uncomfortable. Like last night. Regardless of her gifts, she is a child even though she doesn't act like one. I am torn. How do I respect her natural talents and gifts, but keep her from growing up too fast, acting too old for her age? How do I expose her to things that fit with her interests and talents but keep her protected too.

The Night Ranger/Journey concert was a great way for us to cap off Summer 2011. And a great reminder of our kids different temperaments.

Why Ragnar?

2011-09-01T04:25:00.001-07:00

If you know me well enough to know me apart from this blog, then you probably know I am running a Ragnar Relay this month.

A what? you say. A Ragnar Relay. 197 miles. 12 runners. 30+ hours. 2 cargo vans. Each runner going at it three different times to get us across the finish line. Including a night run.
If you know me well enough to know about Ragnar, do you know me well enough to know why I am doing this? My guess is you have more insight into my September endeavor than I do. Haven't you found that to be the case? You scratch your head why why why, and your husband or mother or best friend can tell you why succinctly because they see you without the fog of your own self delusions.

One of my Ragnar teammates asked us why we run. I thought about it. And wrote about it. Two years ago apparently. I dusted off that entry and refreshed my memory.

My question now is Why Do You Do Crazy Things
Like Ragnar? (I am really asking myself this.)

I am not an all-out, balls-to-the-wall go getter. No, I am not that person always pushing, stretching, seeking adventure. Small doses are fine, but not as a lifestyle. So why do I occasionally sign up for a Ragnar or an Army Ten Miler when I am really barely a runner these days?

Here's my best guess.

1. Challenge is good. There is tremendous value in my life as a stay at home mom. But there's isn't a lot of immediate, grand sense of accomplishment. Parenting is a long, slow haul of sowing seeds of decency. Maybe a wild wacky relay race is a way to have something concrete and bold to accomplish in a day (or in this case two.) Then to reflect on it and feel proud.

2. Shaking it up is good. I get set in my ways. Life becomes routine. The same breakfast. The same radio stations. The same pajamas. The same vacations. Much of that is good. But it's worthwhile to occasionally choose a different road, disturb those neural pathways, see things out a new window. It cultivates fresh insight and learning. I like that. I need that.

3. Bold is magnetic. Maybe it takes bold and ballsy to get me off the couch. Maybe as I get older it takes more to ignite my motivation.

4. A conversation starter. I am not proud of this. It might be rather petty. But it's fun to have something a little outrageous to talk about, to add to the conversation. I enjoy the stunned looks of disbelief when Ragnar comes up. I get a sense of pride when someone says they'd never do that! But I would. I am. I guess I am that kind of person. I want to be that kind of person.

Do you have a good guess why I am the kind of person who plugs along, slugs it out, then does something out of left field like this? I am curious.

Taking the World by Storm

2011-08-28T20:08:00.001-07:00

It's been a fire and brimstone kind of week in Virginia. Almost.

We had an earthquake. And I missed it. We had the largest quake on the East Coast in 100 years and as it turns out, if you are driving three kids to play laser tag in a far flung suburb in the greater metro area, you won't feel a 5.8 on the Ritcher. I was disappointed. Until I really thought about it. My Bug has a hard enough time sleeping all night in her room without creeping into mine with groggy complaints of ghosts and nightmares. A good house shaking might have undone her for months.

And then came Irene. We had a few downed leaves and a couple of wicked puddles to contend with. Other areas got it pretty bad. We were far enough from the coast to avoid power outages and flooding. We prepared nonetheless. I stocked up on milk, chips and eggs. McDreamy got a mini-keg of New Castle. We sat on the deck waiting for wind gusts. But mostly we ate Snickerdoodle cookies and pizza. And drank New Castle.

Like a lot of things, I've procrastinated prepping for my crazy run in mid-September. This week I got serious. 5 weeks to go and THIS week I decide to get on it. So in hurricane winds and rain, I ran 3 yesterday and 4 today. I need to be able to run 13 miles in a 30 hour time span. My strategy is to work up to 5 this week. And two weeks before the race, run 5 miles one morning, then 5 miles again that same night. If I can do than, then I don't think I'll die at the Ragnar. Sometimes it's fun being absurd.

I've missed you too by the way. I really have!

Things you might not know

2011-06-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kinda of feeling like a random list of things you might not know....

T-Bone has taken up running. He runs to and from the pool (1.6 miles), he runs to friends' houses. And he likes to run with his shirt off.

I have cut out processed food and am eating almost exclusively fruits, veggies, lean protein and low fat dairy. I've lost 7 pounds in two weeks. No bread, pasta, crackers, chips, red meat or pretty much anything that comes in a box or bag. And I feel amazing. (I hope I can keep this up until I get to my prepregnancy weight which is sooooo far away.)

We are doing the Super Summer Challenge again because I like to make things fun.

We will drive 3000 miles this summer, in 12 to 13 days. I am having a hard time getting excited about it.

Two small toads live in an aquarium. In our kitchen. Gross.

Toad hunting was fun once. The 2nd attempt was a disaster and it is now one of the few things my kids refuse to participate in.

Fireflys get in your house just like flies do. But they are faster and harder to catch.

The kids are challenged to eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies a day (preferably with at least 3 veggie servings.) It's harder than you think. The key is finding veggies they like to snack on. So far: carrots, cucumbers, kale chips and cherry tomatoes.

We have a beautiful, giant cabbage growing in our miniscule side yard. Thanks to the elementary school who gave us a seedling, we are entering our gargantuan specimen in a giant cabbage contest in September. And it got the kids excited to plant their first tomato plants, which are also massive.

My kids and my husband are amazing. But you probably know that already.

I am running again and am almost at the point where I can claim that I am consistently running four times a week.

Ranger is stiff and can't hear well and lays around most of the time. But he is still an uber-dog of great temperament and high character. He's a champion.

I still like cooking after all these years.

What else might you not know?

Super Summer Challenge, round 2

2011-06-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

Summers around here are lazy enough, wonderfully unstructured, plenty of room for spontanouse adventures. But summers also find Mom concocting ways to encourage the kids' intellectual, physical and creative development.

Will it happen naturally, without a "program"? Maybe. Probably.

But I like stuff like this. We've dusted off last summer's SUPER SUMMER CHALLENGE and we are ready for round 2.

The Bug and I are ready. T-Bone is bowing out. I claim it's voluntary and he's putting me to the test.

What's the Challenge?

Earn 200 points throughout the summer and get a $75 gift card or cash gift at the end of summer. Or collect points in increments of twenty and turn them in for $7.50 gift cards. Isn't $75 a lot? It's probably too much. (Last summer was more, I think that's T-bone's beef.)

How do the kids earn points? Doing things I'd be encouraging or demanding they do anyway. Should they be rewarded for things they should already be doing? Tough question. I am trying to make the challenges just a bit more than they'd do naturally - a bit more effort, more tenacity.

Run/bike/hike/walk a mile.
Swim laps using a new stroke.
Eat 5 vegetable servings in day. (We are all working on this. And, YEA, I've finally mastered it.)
Eat a new food.
Prepare dinner with help from Mom. (menu plan, cook, set the table, clean up.)
Do 2 pages in the summer scholastic workbook.
Write a page in your summer journal.
Do outside chores with dad (washing cars, cutting the lawn.)
Do 20 minutes of calisthenics.
Practice an instrument for 15 minutes.
Go on a field trip.
Go to church with a friend.
Read 20 minutes.

This isn't hard stuff. It's just good stuff. I should call it the SUPER SUMMER EASY WAY TO GET CASH.

Let the games begin.

Book Club BEWARE - The Passage

2011-06-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

Quick book summary: It's a post-apocolyptic, sci-fi, vampire, transcontinental epic. Ya, that about sums it up.

Tomorrow night is book club at Jen's. And she is gonna get it!

She picked The Passage by Justin Cronin, on whim, under pressure, and obviously while sleep deprived. She didn't know much about the book but she claims the summary sounded good.

Jen quickly realized it was EIGHT HUNDRED PAGES and the first part of the THREE PART (yet to be written) trilogy. But it was too late. She tried to rewithdraw her choice but too many people had already taken the plunge. Including me.

(Did I mention it was 800 pages? Our guideline is 400 or less. Oh geez Jen!)

But you know what? I read it. The girl who hasn't read the last four books - all stellar, well reviewed books - ended up being snoockered into reading The Passage. How did that happen?

Kindle! I bought the book for my Kindle. Felt like an electronic read. I didn't know it was 800 pages when I pushed the "Download" button on Amazon. There was no Buyer Beware message to alert me.

And the darn book was good (at least at first it was.) I admit it. I was sucked in.

The first part was creepy (about picking the people to be infected with the virus). It was very well written and full of intrigue.

The 2nd part was more twisted. (About the science center where people became vampires)

And 3rd part was so creative. (Set in the colony 100 years post-vampire release; it's about how the few survivors live and protect themselves from the "virals.")

And then it got long and repetitive.....and this was about page 500.

And the ending made me so mad. This was the worst part of The Passage experience. I felt angry and taken advantage of when I finished. Downright betrayed. I knew it was the first in a series; Jen ended up warning me a few days into my reading. But the end was nothing more than a marketing set up for book 2. There was NO resolution, NO natural ending to the intense drama and emotional conflict in the book, NO eloquent close. It just stopped.

Reader beware. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't read it and I won't be reading the sequels because who knows what Cronin will pull on me next time.

Bring on summertime rhapsody

2011-05-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

I love it endlessly. I welcome it each enthusiastically. Summer is upon us, and I am bubbling with excitement.

Summers with my kids are worth all the sacrifices of a one income family. We may not have resources for cruises, Disney vacations, private schools or designer clothes, but we have a cheeky mama primed for days at the pools, exploring the region, and general summer mayhem. I want my kids to have luscious memories of summers at home.

I write about it every year. It's a warm weather ritual. And I go back and read what I wrote as part of the plunge into my seasonal love affair.

When was this nostalgia hatched? Did it grow from boiling memories of Texas summers lounging at the pool and on the river? Was it born from the heat of my first 28 years when summer meant both oppressive humidity and reckless abandon.

Sweat drips and freckles sprout. Summer is here.

!CANNONBALL!

Running behind but saved by the dandelion

2011-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am running behind on life in general, and not running (literally) at all. I thought by this time in what has turned out to be a lovely spring, I'd be well into my running routine. Wrong.

And I've slipped on the veggie front, too. But one trip to Suburban Mother's Heaven (Wegman's grocery store) remedied that. I found an heirloom tomato that looks like a pirate's beard, a bag of mini-squash ready for microwaving and snacking, and yay, dandelion greens.

I love the idea of eating something that grows in my yard. And I don't love the idea that instead of getting them fresh and free out front, I bought them from a store for four bucks.

My plan is to slice and saute them in garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, them stir them into warm angel hair pasta with creamy goat cheese. Maybe throw in some shrimp. Sounds dandy!

Mother's Day Wishes

2011-05-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

What a lovely day.

I woke up to the mug of The Bug peering over my bed claiming, "There's something I've been waiting to tell you. You are THE BEST mother ever." Then she climbed up and snuggled. After giving me dangly gold earrings. She tried to wake up McDreamy and T-Bone. No luck. I guess they need to sleep in on Mother's Day.

Fifteen minutes later, T-Bone managed to wake up and he lumbered in with sleep in his eyes and a music card in his hand. Something about I have pretty eyes, but not as cool as the one's I have in the back of my head, while Michael Jackson sang "Somebody's Watching Me." Funny. He picked it himself.

He wrote three poems in class, bound them with artwork, and handed them over this morning while I was still warm in my covers. Here's my favorite poem:

Silly, awesome, fast shy. Son of Margo and
McDreamy. Lover of my mom, dad and sister. I feel active, imaginative,
creative. I need love, food, and air. I give love, friendship, and
happiness. I fear Death, the Apocolyse, and Hell. I would like to go
to Legoland, Disneyland and Hawaii. Resident of [insert city name],
[insert street name].

Week 6 - Mini Peppers

2011-04-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, I picked a pack of pretty peppers.

My shopping forays only went as far as Target, a sad source for phytonutrients. The only thing I spied worth my vegetable adventure was a packaged carton of multi-colored peppers. The plan was to saute them and add them to angel hair and shrimp. But the week was weak and we ate them raw as our veggie side dish with chicken, and more chicken.

I liked them. Crunchy, sweet, a bit of tang. And The Bug liked the red ones. So far she likes Bok Choy and the mini red peppers. This is so fun.

Week 7 - Green Kohlrabi

2011-04-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Isn't this amazing?

Look at this big ball of green delight!

It was nestled next to the kale, and it jumped right on out of the bin into my cart.

This one is going to be fuuuuuuuun.

Green Kohlrabi. "Kohl" is German for cabbage, "rabi" a turnip. It comes in purple too. While researching this great green globe, this paragraph jumped out at me.

While fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of nutrients, the
consumption of vegetables is more helpful in reducing cancer because they
contain higher amounts of cancer-protective compounds especially green
vegetables. Among these green vegetables, the cruciferous family has
demonstrated the most dramatic protection against cancer. Cruciferous
vegetables (broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, collards,
arugala, watercress and cabbage) contain a symphony of phyto-nutrients with
potent anti-cancer effects. from DiseaseFree.com

We are going to try it raw. And for Easter, I will be trying this Ham Kohlrabi Bake, a German-inspired dish.

Some year

2011-04-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the annual ritual of kindergarten registration.

Little tykes in new spring clothes lumbered with over-sized backpacks up to the schoolhouse doors. Parents gripped tiny hands, hoping their excitement masked the accompanying bewilderment. Forms were filled out, the children ready to recite their ABC's to prove their readiness.

Both of my kids are already school age. I went through the kindergarten ritual last April. But yesterday I happened to be that the school and saw the march of the 5 year-olds. I was there to deliver papers to the nurse. Papers about my son's concussion. Seeing all those fresh faces made me reflect on this year. It's been a good school year but will surely be remembered for several key moments.

Our 6 year-old daughter fainted in the cafeteria when she saw her friend lose a bloody tooth. It caused quite a stir.
Our 9 year-old son was unaccounted for for 20 minutes after the bus. On his birthday. The school couldn't find him. The bus drivers couldn't find him. Someone spotted him on a street in our neighborhood. We were moments from calling 911 when a friend found him on her back porch. Crying.
This week, 911 was called when our son hit his head on a door frame in PE while running laps. He started throwing up. He was rushed to the ER but they couldn't reach me for 40 minutes (I was at the gym - for once.) He had (has) a concussion and he's doing fine.

This year the kids improved their reading, writing and arithmetic. They made friends, starred in the school play, and grew in poise and confidence. There will be lots to remember but somehow the catastrophes may rise to the surface.

Idol Chatter 2011

2011-04-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

I am watching Idol tonight. My interest has not reach the level of obsession it has in years past, but I am enjoying it thoroughly. And I feel compelled to offer my once a season critique.

Tonight is Movie Night. I love that the themes are more general this year, and not so clamped down. It's better for the kids, um the singers.

Paul McDonald - Really? Don't get it. I fast forward over him every time.

Lauren - Love her. Still a little rough. Has so much potential and raw talent and personality. Can't wait to see when it all connects.

Stefano - That's more like it! He connected to the audience, finally, and had a super star night.

Scotty - He's better when he's moving around because sitting on that stool he looks like he's going to fall off with all the right leaning and singing out of the side of his mouth. I find myself cocking my head to make sure I am seeing it right. My kids LOVE him.

Casey - Fun to have an offbeat guy on the big stage. I didn't love the song. Wish he'd taken the producers advice even though the judges loves it. I dig the double bass though - my middle school instrument!

Hailey - Potential but feels like a kid trying to play a grown up.

Jacob - They fell all over him. I thinks he's amazing but this song started off rough and he had some pitch problems. I didn't like the vebratto in his quiet moments, but his power notes knock me off the couch.

James - Raging voice and supernatural performance powers. Love it! Love him.

What will the voters think?

Week 5 - Baby Bok Choy

2011-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

My weeks are a little jabberwackie! It's week 6 but the week 5 veggie is in my crisper and the week 6 selection is still an illusion.

But that's okay.

Tonight's dinner was one of those welcomed surprises. The day had not gone has I'd expected. FUBAR is more like it (ambulance, concussion, every one is OK! Ya one of those days!) Yet dinner time comes like clock work and tummies need food. We were back on planet earth after a whirlwind morning, and we needed nourishment. I had leftover steak from the grill, a box of mashed potatoes and bright greens in the fridge from last week's shopping. Baby Bok Choy.

The vegetable transformed what could have been a mundane dinner *yes* I said a BOX of mashed potatoes, evil I know* into a delight. The Bug gobbled it up. I thought it was fresh and light. TBone (Mr. Slight Concussion) stuck to meat and potatoes and got 2 scoops of ice cream, no greens required.

Week 4 - Let daikons be diakons

2011-03-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

It's week 4 of Veggies with a Vengeance. Ran to the store today to make our selection. Had no notions for what I'd find. Figured I'd see what the wonderful Wegman's might have in store.

This caught my eye.

Diakon.

Chinese radish.

Japanese radish.

Given the vitriol I let go of this weekend, now is a good time for diakons to be diakons. The perfect choice for Week 4.

Peace

2011-03-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

The weekend's calamity has passed. Time, distraction, and my better angels have provided the prospective I need. This is a situation that requires compassion not contempt. What happened? A "friend" from down the street b*tched, in a drunken stumpor, that I interjected my business (Mary Kay) into her birthday party. 18 months ago. We all go to a mom's group every week and she thought I stole her thunder the week of her birthday. 18 months ago. We had a cake at mom's group, and during our 2 hour gathering, I talked about/demo'd a few new products (because several/most of the gals love MK products and want to see the new things I get in.) Yes, this is what I got upset about. What's wrong with me? The gal was obliterated when she launched her snide remarks. She was at another neighbhorhood function where alcohol is encouraged, unlike during our Wednesday morning mom's group. Where alcohol is tolerated (kidding!) Yes, I felt like ripping her a new one when I found out that she snarked behind my back. But her life is in turmoil. She needs prayer. She needs the blessings of many to pull her out of a downward spiral she is in. I am not going to be mad or vindictive when this gal needs all the help she can get. So that's it. I calmed down. My better angels stepped in. And instead of confronting her and "putting her in her place", I am going to pray for her. And hope that all of the world's blessings can help her get her life moving in a positive direction.

Loyalty. The buck stops here!

2011-03-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Don't you love it when life hands you a lesson. Today it was in a messy, ugly package, hidden behind steam and anger. It took about an hour to recognize it. After a bit of calming down and rumination. You know how I loooooove to ruminate.

The lesson was about what I place a ridiculously high value on. I was surprised a few years ago when I overheard my husband say one of the things he loves about me is how loyal I am. I wasn't sure what he meant. Maybe now I do.

You can lie in my face,
and I will be the first to admit it's hard to be honest to everyone all the time.

You can steal from me,
and I will feel compassion for your desperation and worry about what's happening in your life.

You can criticize my kids,
and I might actually agree with you or at least try to understand your perspective.

But you cannot lean on me in your hard times,
ask for my advice and counsel,
then talk about me behind my back.

If you consider me a friend, I will hand you your asspants if you mock, disparage or chide me among my peers, in my absence. The End!

I am not an unreasonable person. If you are my friend and occasionally have conversations about me when I am not there, well, that doesn't bother me - as long as it is out of concern, compassion, and in an attempt to understand or possibly help me.

But if you cross the line, criticize me harshly, behind my back, that to me is disloyal. And it appears, based on how upset I got today, that being disloyal is a surefire way to turn this peace loving gal against you.

I am one of those people that gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, tries very very hard to not judge others (and I've gotten good after decades of practice), and I can see the good in almost any eff'd up situation. I am the peacemaker, the community builder, someone who builds bridges for understanding so that we can all just get along.

But I have my limits. So call me loyal with a capital L. The good news is for all you friendly readers out there, I hold myself to a ridiculously high standard. I will not gossip about you, chit chat about your faults, or judge your every move. You are safe with me. You can consider me a fiercely loyal friend.

I can't Handler her

2011-03-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

It's Monday night. The couch rises up to greet me, as does the Chardonnay, as I decompress from my meeting tonight. My fingers are on autopilot for Bravo TV, and E! My go-to's. My cheap entertainment.

Chelsea Handler is up. But what's up? I've watched her show off and on depending on how late I want to stay up and what's recorded on my DVR.

Watching Miss Handler now, with her cowboy plaid pearl snapped shirt and middle part, I realize she's not that funny. The panel chit chat with other comedians is funny, but her stand up and her interviews...well...I just don't get it. She complains. She's mean. It gets old. And whoever is doing her makeup needs to be fired. She's a big vanilla mess and we need some eyelashes popping to help us see her baby blues.

It's late. I need to go to bed.

Sunflower Choke Delight

2011-03-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Wow. These rock. It's Week 3 on the veggie quest and I've already hit a homerun.

Sunflower Chokes

aka Sunchokes, aka Jerusalem Artichokes

They look like a fat ginger root, all knobbly and unappealing. You'd probably pass them by at the farmers market or produce stand, like I almost did. But somewhere supplanted in my subconscious was the chop chop of Top Chef. Sunchokes have made many an appearance as a gourmande side. I must have stopped for a second look inspired by my favorite show.

A sunchoke has the texture of a potato but the taste of a dense sunflower seed, albeit mild. You can eat them raw (peeled or unpeeled) on salads or in any subtle dish that needs a mild crunch. Many recipes saute or roast them. Of course there is the old standby puree and bisquey soup. According to one website they are in season until March so they are more of a winter staple then summer favorite.

EATERS BEWARE: I found many recipes and almost every one had a long list of reader comments about gastrointestinal distress caused by the choke (bloating, gas, diarhea.) I'll have to warn my girlfriends coming over on Sunday afternoon for some chicky time.

Some background

Fun I found online:

Roasted Sunchokes from TheKitchn Blog
Sunchokes Gratin from Izzy Eats Blog
Bacon, Arugala, Sunchoke Salad from Dinner: A love story Blog
Roasted Sunchoke, Hazelnut, and Goat Cheese Salad from The Weekend Gourmande Blog

Week 3 - Sunflower Chokes

2011-03-18T18:34:00.001-07:00

Early in her walk with veggies, a few things became clear:

...A new week of veggies may start on a Friday or a Saturday, whenever she's in the vicinity to a grocery store with a decent produce section. Unfortunately, the best selection of vibrant veggies is not on her regular route, and sky high gas prices prohibit a special trip.

...Sometimes she will choose a produce that looks interesting and worth exploring, but it might not even be a vegetable. And she won't know until she gets home and researches it. (This week she lucked out, sunflower chokes ARE vegetables.)

...Olive oil, butter, salt, and/or pepper and a hot oven or a hot skillet are frequent contributors to veggie cooking. In late winter at least. She guess that come spring and summer, lemon juice or peel, and vinaigrette will move into prime time. Parmesan never hurts.

...Bystanders on this veggie journey fall into two camps - those who have great recipes and those who think I am crazy. There is no middle ground.

...It's a process.

Parsnips two ways

2011-03-15T06:31:00.001-07:00

Parsnips look like white carrots. Who knew?

We've tried them two ways this week. The easy way: sliced and roasted for 20 minutes at 300 after being tossed in olive oil and salt/pepper. I liked them this way, and was surprised with how sweet they were. Unfortunately, I mixed in a turnip with it - yuck. Too bitter.

Last night I mixed up a batch of Parsnip Puree. The plethora of potato/parnsip puree recipes should have been a clue. But I didn't want to take the time to peel potatoes so I went with only parsnips. Now I see that a mix might have been more balanced with white or sweet potatoes.

Peel and slice 2 pounds of parsnips.
Add to cold water and bring to a boil until the veggie is tender, about 15 minutes.
Mix is 2 Tbsps or more of unsalted butter.
Mash with a potato masher.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

I should have cut out the stringy cores because the puree had lots of hairy stuff. The kids refused to eat it. McDreamy didn't like it either. Perhaps parsnips should be a bit player instead of the star.

Other ideas sent by friends:

Include in a crock pot with a roast
Mix with a variety of veggies (cauliflower, red peppers, onions) then roast. Yum!
Roasted with parsley
Parsnip, Parsley and Leek soup

It seems roasting is the preferred method. I need to find my friend's recipe for parsnip bread.

Veggies with a Vengeance Week 2 - Parsnips

2011-03-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

Parsnips are cued up for week 2 because someone told me last week she made Parsnip Bread. And they sound cool.

Today I woke to bright sunshine and not much on my to-do list. Around 11:00 a.m. the neighborhood kids were out in full force getting a blast of much needed Vitamin D. The men were working on the car brakes (again) and I felt a BBQ coming on. I made a mad dash to the closest grocery store to get enough hot dogs, pickles, and papaya to fuel the kids for a day of outdoor play. I figured I'd look for parsnips too even though I wasn't really doing me weekly shopping yet.

Perchance a parsnip?

There were none to be found. This is a decent grocery store with a large produce section. I figured they'd have it. As I wound my way to the bagged cabbage, I spied a sad soup mix with veggies prepackaged in saran. Under the Italian Parsley and limp celery, I recognized a parsnip.

This would have to do. For now. They are in the oven being roasted with the turnip I thought was an onion.

Later this week I'll be more purposeful with my parsnip. I'll make my trips to Wegmans and take time to find inspiring recipes.

It's a Kale-iedoscope

2011-03-08T06:29:00.000-08:00

Kale tales are creeping out of the woodwork. Apparently most people I know have great things to say about kale. Here are some combinations they've recommended. I am intrigued.

... in a bed of onions, garlic, and potatoes when roasting chicken (bone in, skin on.) The parts that stick out get crispy (recipe) (Thanks Robin)

...in a potato-based creamy soup with spicy Italian sausage based on an Olive Garden staple (recipe) (Thanks Kristi)

...in a broth-based soup with lots of kale and porkback (Thanks Robin)

...in a smoothy with tomato juice for a cleanse (No thanks Shacasia)

And I saw these online. Looks YUMMY.

Veggies with a Vengeance Week 1 - Kale

2011-03-08T03:37:00.000-08:00

In the beginning, there was Kale.
(Served with a side of Mexican Pear because the kids asked if we could add fruits to our plan.)

Why this vegetable? I was invited to a potluck last night and was asked to bring something starting with a random letter in my name. K. Ouch. Kale was all I could think of and it fit nicely in my plan to get cozy with new veggies. Heck, it helped inspire this plan!

I made kale two ways last night.

KALE CHIPS
Check this website for pretty pictures. SmittenKitchen.com rocks!
One bunch of kale
2 to 3 tbsps olive oil, enough to that you can see some on each leaf
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp seasoning like paprika, crushed red pepper or garlic salt

Preheat oven to 300. Cut thick stems out of kale then cut or tear into 2 inch pieces (they will shrink up in the oven.) Toss in a bowl with olive oil, sea salt and seasoing. Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes.

This makes about 4 servings and fills your kitchen with a stink like when you steam too-old broccoli. Do not overcook or they will taste too roasted. The chips turn out so delicate and crispy. I thought they needed more zip; the potluck guests thought they were amazing. Who knew?!

(P.S. I took these to another event during Week 3 of the march with veggies. Beware of dark green bits stuck in tight places in her teeth. Yummy, but not pretty.)

Grades - Son and Daughter gave Kale Chips an F, but Mexican Pear A's all around despite all the seeds.

BRAISED KALE WITH ORIENTAL FLAVORS
Got this one from the Wegman's website. They have a video on how to do it.
3 bunches of kale
1 bag of matchstick cut carrot
1 cup water

Cut thick part of stalk off the bottom but leave some stalk, it cooks nicely. Cut or tear into 2 inch pieces. Pour olive oil and water into braising pan or large skillet. Heat to a medium, steaming simmer. Add kale bunches at a time, until it steams down and there is room for more kale in your pan. Add carrots. Steam for 4 to 6 minutes until kale looks tender but not decimated. Add more water to pan as needed. Drain and return to low pan. Add Wegman's Stir Fray Sauce (found in Asian section) or an oriental flavored sauce like a salad dressing or another stir fry sauce. Toss to coat and warm. Add toasted sesame seeds as a nice, bright touch.

Grades from Son=B+, Daughter=F. (But, she loved the Tilapia al forno with dinner.)

All Hail Kale.

Veggies with a Vengeance - Let's Do This!

2011-03-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

A food project is in sprouting at my house.

I am ready to embrace vegetables with a vengeance and throw open the door to minerals aplenty, fiber galore, and new taste sensations.

Every week we will choose a new vegetable to add to our family dinner. I say "we" because the kids are going to get involved. The plan is they will come with me to the store and help pick our weekly choice. Ideally, the veggie should be something I am not familiar with, don't recognize and wouldn't dare approach it it weren't for this wild hair scheme. The goal is to experience new vegetables and make them a part of our family's life. When I talked to my kids about this, their only request was to do it with fruits too. Agreed. Are there 52 new fruits at the store for us to try?

A perfect storm has propelled me to this place.

1. Catherine at Wegman's ushered the Rabe into my life last week (broccoli rabe.)

2. Many New Year's resolutions have gone awry. I always pledge to eat more veggies. But my boring routine of iceberg lettuce, carrots and cherry tomatoes sinks my effort around January 17. What I've been doing hasn't worked!

3. Julie and Julia. The Book. A wonder and an inspiration. I devoured Julie's adventure in cooking every recipe in Julia Child's The Art of French Cooking in one year. For weeks I thought about what would I be willing to do for a year. I even started a few things. But no. Perhaps one-new-veggie-a-week is more my style.

4. I was invited to a potluck this week, and we are bringing foods from a weird letter in your name. I have a stray K. KKKKKK people. I thought kabobs. My friend Robin whispered kale in my ear. Kale? Never.

Veggies with a Vengeance - Week 1 - Kale.

I did a bit of research today on this scheme. My lessons learned:

Food Blogs are plentiful, beautiful and masterful. Mine will not be a food blog. Just writing. (And eating.)

Pretty pictures seem to be the star on most food related blog posts. I don't take pretty pictures. Please note I am not a photographer, food stylist, magazine layout artist, or anything else that I think makes those blogs magical.

Omnivore! This is not a step towards a vegetarian mindset or lifestyle (I don't think it is.) This is about

The kids have to learn something along the way. They will pick, help cook, and rate each vegetable. My son insists we pick alphabetically. I am trying to describe the need for seasonal selections.

Let's do this!

Template Maintenance

2011-03-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Hold on to your sidebars. I am doing seasonal maintenance on my template. Expect odd sights for a few days.

A job well done!

2011-03-06T03:23:00.000-08:00

Do you know Wegmans? Are you lucky enough to live near one?

The divine W has transformed the mundane, much despised chore of grocery shopping into a wonderland experience. We have a Wegmans in our area, what a blessing. I know women who, after a week of tending sick kids and weathering injury and insult, carve out 2 to 3 hours to escape to this foodie destination. The ambiance is warm, the staff well groomed, and the prepared food section legendary. (Not to mention the bakery and pastry sections. Try the seasonal iced sugar cookie.)

But it's the vegetable aisle that recently stole my heart.

Thanks to Catherine.

She was standing there last Thursday in her booth, doing her cooking demonstration, handing out samples. I'd passed by once already on my way to sugar snap peas, but this time she asked if I wanted a sample. Broccoli Rabe (rob) aka Rapini (rop-ee-nee) was on the menu. I'd never stopped to see what she was doing before even though she tol me she works there 40 hours a week cooking vegetables.

I grabbed her tablespoon sized sampling of the bright leafy green concoction. I'd heard of Broccoli Rabe on 30-Minute Meals with Rachel Ray, eons ago when I watched cooking shows. Wouldn't you know it, that Catherine knows what she's doing!!!! The veggie was spicy tender, delicious with flecks of garlic and my all-time favorite Parmesan.

I bought a bunch, cooked it up a la Catherine. Served it with leftover salmon. The whole house was sick, so it was all me. And I ate 3 servings of broccoli rabe. I could feel the potassium coursing through me.

Who hasn't resolved to each more veggies at the dawn of a new year? Me. Who has ever succeeded? Not me. But Catherine inspired me. Moved me. It's time to embark on an adVenture in Veggies. With Wegmans help, I will select a featured vegetable each week to prepare at home. Their online videos will be much needed support. The lovely Catherine in her booth all week will be a great coach.

This is about selecting veggies I've been afraid of, unable to recognize or pronounce. About cooking healthy with variety. And fun. (It's gotta be fun!)

The kids will have to get involved because the chances of them devouring a new veggie is slim. They are great eaters and will eat vegetables but new veggies? Ummmm, I'm not so sure. Maybe they can be the selection committee. Maybe they can sketch the selection for display that week in the kitchen. Sounds like we should have a Veggie Report Card where THEY grade the food. Sounds like fun.

Up next - All Hail KALE.

And then there was Sheen...

2011-03-03T17:16:00.000-08:00

So many tedious things to think about, write about.

Diet Coke has taken a beating and has been demoted in my life. It's no longer a daily deal. And this is a big deal for me.

Charlie Sheen has gone cocoa puffs. He's "winning" on his frenetic media blitz. His narcisism, bombastity, and prickness get in the way of my sympathy. Either he is in a mad manic state (that I could sympathize with) or his brain has been pickled by Coke, and I don't mean Diet Coke.

And American Idol. I am on it. I've obsessed in years past, and blogged nonstop. This year I will merely watch. And maybe download a few tunes.

My son got a girl's phone number. Yikes. And gross. Truth be told, she gave it to him. Grosser.

My daugther's classmate asked me if she was allowed to get on a plane to go to France with her. To see Justin Beiber. This after she claimed she googled his phone number but he didn't answer last night when she called. He was probably sleeping.

I've started running again. A good 14 months after my last running victory. A BHAG was presented to me (big audacious hairy goal) and I grabbed hold. The Ragnar Relay with some fun, crazy guys and gals. In tutus. In September.

Book Review - Tempting Fate by Meryl Sawyer

2011-02-13T16:36:00.001-08:00

Giovanna, our divine hostess, selected a romance novel for our February book club. This genre is foreign to me. Actually, there is a lot about romance that's foreign to me, but that's a different blog entry. (he he!)

After a bit of sniffing around (I love reading other book reviews) I discovered that Tempting Fate by Meryl Sawyer falls deeply in the subgenre called Romantic Suspense which I think if am going to read formulaic, predictable fiction, Romantic Suspense is right up my alley.

I am glad I didn't read the back cover of this book because I would have been misled. Terribly. According to the back, this book is about a woman on mission to find her dead husband's bastard child and tricking a hot commando into helping her do it. That was the last 1/3 of the book. The novel I read was about Kelly Taylor, a disgraced journalist back home in Sedona, AZ, to care for her grandfather and to run his local newspaper. She was in a cold state of despair having lost her career in NY to a careless error and lost her husband in an airplane crash.

Settled into her grandfather's place in AZ, she got tipped off on a story that would resurrect her career (and a lot more.LThe local Senator, Haywood Stanfield, lost (as in misplaced) his adopted child Logan 25 years ago in a hiking incident. Logan Stanfield was long thought dead. But new FBI technology located him and he ended up being a highly trained, vicious commando with a fierce loaner streak. His new name is Logan McCord. With his identity revealed, the lost lost Logan comes to town to meet his family and to try to shape the news story to enable him to continue his highly confidential work. Good luck.

Kelly goes after the story to help revive her career. Logan goes after Kelly because he thinks he can manipulate her into telling it his way. She's sexy and serious. He's hot like lava and a sly fox. He ends up staying at her family compound away from the media frenzy. She's in a crazy state trying to do her job and resist his natural charm. As predicted, he begins to loosen his loner ways in the loving, doting home she shares with her cool gramps called Pops.

There are lots of subplots like Logan's family realizing Logan wasn't just an adopted child way back when, he was the child of Haywood and a mistress who Haywood was bribed into adopting to maintain his reputation. And maybe Logan didn't just simply disappear on a hike with his 15 year old twin siblings when he was 5. Maybe it was deliberate, and covered up. Kelly also learns that her dead husband had a child with a mistress in Venezula. The mistress died beside him in the plane crash and the child was recently discovered in an orphanage.

Oh just read the book.

I liked the main characters and the back and forth tension of attraction and resistance. Their chemistry made my heart pump like a good hour of Jazzercise. I liked most of the subplots too, but the intense action of the adoption in South America was more than I was expecting (because I didn't read the book cover.)

The characters were compelling, the plots plausible enough, and the chemistry was smoking.

Maybe I will try another Romantic Suspense. This could be a new trend.

Sunday Lovely Sunday

2011-02-13T12:11:00.001-08:00

Things I love today:

Freshly shaved legs.

Dove dark chocolate as it melts in my mouth.

That sore feeling in my hips after a nice run yesterday.

That elated feeling that I actually ran yesterday.

My husband getting greasy working on our 14 year-old car.

My daughter outside for three hours rollerblading in the alley with her neighborhood best bud - the boy next door. I guess that makes her the girl next door.

Some free time to write on my blog

Bravo TV.

Reading the volunteer manual for my shift tomorrow at WAMU 88.5 for the National Public Radio membership drive.

Checking out the Ragnar Relay website and figuring out which legs of the 197 mile relay I might be willing to do in September. (Thanks Crazy Marie for inspiring me to do this with you.)

Another Dove dark chocolate.

Recipe - Comfort Food Goulash

2011-02-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Recipes on this blog have gone the way of the boom box, dead and gone. But I had to share this one. This is a comfort food classic, a go-to in this house. A friend brought it over when The Bug was in the hospital 2 years ago, and it was love at first bite. I made it recently for a work potluck and got requests for the recipe.

A box of elbow noodles
One third to half of a large box of Velveeta cheese, or 2 to 3 cups of grated, mild cheese mix like cheddar and mozzarella
8 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 pound ground meat - beef, turkey, or chicken

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Drain. Brown the ground beef in a skillet and drain excess grease. Stir canned tomatoes with juices into the meat in the skillet. Stir.

Coat the sides of a 9x12x3 baking dish with Pam or butter. Stir in hot pasta. Fold in ground beef/tomato mixture. Cut Velveeta into half inch cubes. Scatter cubes of cheese into baking dish. Add enough so dish will be yummy cheesey. Cover loosely with foil. Cook 15 to 25 minutes until cheese is nicely melted.

I want to remember this conversation forever

2011-02-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

Tonight was one of those nights I want to remember forever. One of those sweet moments that comes out of no where.

T-Bone, The Bug and I were out making deliveries tonight. McDreamy was at work so the kids had to come with me. We stopped to get gas and went inside to buy a candy. The kids chose Valentine candy hearts. My favorite!

In the car the kids started chomping away. I asked they eat only half of their candy and save some for later. "I'll take the rest of mine for my snack at school tomorrow," T-Bone suggested. I've been caught off guard by seemingly innocuous things that embarrassed him thoroughly this year. So I cautioned him, "You might get teased for bringing hearts to school."

"Some boys have figured out that girls are cooler than action figures," he said nonchalantly from the back seat.

What? Did I hear him correctly? This boy who has NEVER once indicated an interest in girls. This boy who acts oblivious even though his best friend is certifiably girl crazy.

"Oh, really," I said as I tried to mask a tender motherly giggle.

"This boy has figured that out." There it is. Oh wow, my boy is sharing with me bits of his blossoming heart. And I remembered what he did at school on his birthday. I took cupcakes in for his classmates at lunch. He passed them out to his table then asked if he could take one to a friend at another table as the boys from the neighboring tables clamored for a cupcake. T-Bone walked straight over to a girl four tables away, handed it to her with a smile on his face, and beelined back to his spot. The girl had a big smile on her face too.

I drove the car through the dark streets trying not to giggle out loud, and to take it all in. When I got back in the car after a quick delivery, the kids were discussing the words stamped on The Bug's confection heart.

"Puppy Love. Is puppy love when you love your dog like he's in the family?" The Bug wanted to know. My memories of puppy love are so special and I enjoyed sharing with the kids a candy-coated definition which I tried to skew towards the middle school or high school years. Intense feelings, mutual attraction, a first relationship...things like that.

"What about when that happens to you when you are in 3rd grade?" Mr. Confession chimes in again from the back seat.

Don't ask direct questions. Don't gush. Don't giggle. I was coaching myself through this magical moment of personal admissions. Don't baby him. Don't overreact. Just listen.

But that's not all. Somehow the concept of boyfriend/girlfriend came up and I used words like relationship and commitment and again in context of being much older - not elementary school. And how when you have a commitment with someone you don't go out with other, flirt with others, talk about that person behind their backs, etc.

T-Bone gravitated to the concept of not flirting with others when you like someone. "That will be easy." What a sweetheart.

Valentine candy hearts have been my favorite candy for decades. The sweet, chalky confection that is soft yet crunchy. The pastel words of affirmation. Like I needed another reason to adore them. And now they will be forever associated with this wonderful, first revelation by my charming son.

Dress for Success, diva-style!

2011-02-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

I have my first job interview today, the first in a long, long, LONG time. (Not exactly a job interview but more on that later.)

Thanks to my Mary Kay business, I have several nice outfits and shoes to choose from that I will be appropriate for making a good first impression. A handbag, not so much. My closet runneth over with colorful, hip bags - orange, purple, red, with tassels, ropes and trimmings. I love bags like many ladies love shoes. But most of mine are too flashy for an interview. I had to dig deep to find the right one. As it turns out, I will be wearing a plain black leather bag that I've been tempted to ditch every time I purge my closet. It's painfully bland. Now I know why it survived all this time. Just for this occasion.

And my jewelry! Too big, blingy, diva for an interview. When did I become a hog for big hoops and shiny baubles? Oh ya, when I was 13. Turns out I have almost no jewelry appropriate for a job interview. I guess I will wear the plain, fake pearl necklace. Ouch. So conservative.

As I stand in the bathroom ready to put on my makeup, the words of many clients come rushing in my ears.

"I don't feel comfortable wearing something shiny at work," says my client who works at the White House.

"I can't have on shiny glossy lip gloss when I am telling a parent her
child is autistic," declares my client, the speech therapist."

I always listen and agree with them. But this time it's me, at an interview. And I feel their constraints. I reach for the cheek highlighter that gives me the airbrushed look but put it back thinking it's too showy. I load my brush with my favorite bronze eyeshadow but quickly decide to ditch it in favor of a plain, matte brown. And I don't even dare grab my Berry Kiss lipstick that gives me a bold bout. Today I am toning it down.

When did I turn into the girl who accessories her face and clothing with bold color and dazzling sparkles? I didn't realize I was that far gone until today as I prepare to go someplace conservative and professional.

So where am I interviewing? This is terribly exciting for me. Around Christmas, I asked a local women's housing center if I they had any use for someone with my skills (former HR person). They said yes. Today I will meet the Case Manager to map out a plan. I am going to help them revamp their Employment curriculum and teach the women at the center how to do resumes, do a job search, and do great interviews.

And given the topic of our discussion, you can see why I am hyper sensitive about making the right choices for my appearance for our first meeting today.

Book Review - The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

2011-01-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is like a long, wild party night with the odd couple. On one hand you have the nerdy, hefty Dominican immigrant Oscar who speaks in stuffy, science-fiction sound bytes, who dreams of being a Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien. On the other hand you have the narrator, Oscar's best friend Yunior, also a Dominican immigrant, with mad player skills who longs for Oscar's sister.

Despite the title, this story is not just about the virgin Oscar. It alternates between his story and the way the ancient fuki (evil curse) has tainted the lives of Oscar's loyal troubled big sis Lola, and Beli his staunch mother, and their whole gene pool. The narrator also recounts stories of La Inca, the caretaker cousin who took in Beli after her family abandoned her as a newborn. Most of the stories begin in the Dominican Republic, during the terror reign of dictator Trujillo ("El Jefe") but we are also given the pleasure of Paterson, N.J. where Oscar grew up and Rutgers University where he went to school.

The stories were dark and twisted but kept me invigorated. They roamed back and forth with no apparent logic but were well paced and intricate. And the language - my favorite part of the book. The voice was immigrant, Dominican, funny, wild and caustic. The word choices were juicy and even though I missed the frequent Spanish slang, I kept up with the rhythm and roll of the narrator.

I really liked this book. All the main characters had love gone awry, but it was a treat to hitch a ride on the Fuku Express.

Back to Pulitzer

2011-01-17T19:17:00.000-08:00

I am thankfully back in the reading groove. At 43 years old, I should know by now that I can assess the state of my life balance by the books on my side table. And the table is piled high. That's a good thing. Thanks to Kindle. Thanks to my fervor for being more balanced. I want 2011 to be a banner year for reading. This will be so fun.

I have a book admission. I am a picky reader. It takes a bold, well written, insightful book to turn my head and earn space in my busy day. And I am moody! Sometimes I want meaty. Sometimes I want breezy. But always well written. And finding the right book to dive into is an art, a nuanced dance that often leaves me frustrated.

When in doubt, turn to winners. I have decided to start 2011 by returning to the Pulitzer's I embarked on in 2009. I wanted to read the last ten years of Pultizer prize winners for fiction. I fell short. And now I am back in the saddle.

My latest Kindle ebook is The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao (2008's winner). And I am loving it. It's a wild ride, colorful, imaginative. A bright start to the year.

Here is my progress.
2009 - Olive Kittredge - done
2008 - The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao - work in progress
2007 - The Road - done (holy cow)
2006 - March - done
2005 - Gilead - done
2004 - The Known World - not yet and I resist long books but I will submit
2003 - Middlesex - done (genius)
2002 - Empire Falls - read long ago, want to revisit
2001 - The Adventures of Kavalier and Klay - not yet
2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies - just downloaded to my Kindle
1999 - The Hours - read long ago, want to revisit

And because it took so long, I need to add 2010 to my list - The Tinkers - and I hate to admit I've never heard of it.

My birthday wish

2011-01-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

Who has had the good fortune of celebrating a birthday on Facebook? It's an event. It's a day filled with...

A burst of well wishes.
A fire hose of happy birthdays.
An abundance of how-do-you-dos.
A long list of long lost friends checking in.

If someone could build me a magic dream machine, I know what birthday wish I'd conjure. I would spend 5 mintues, in person, with each friend who sent me well wishes today. I'd fly about in a time machine to the different cities and homes of all the kind people who took a moment to check in with me on January 14th. Five minutes to see each person, experience them in the flesh, and feel their presence. Life has flung me far and near and flung them too. I haven't seen many of these friends for years.

If I can't have this birthday time machine, then Facebook will have to do.

Random Wednesday

2011-01-12T14:25:00.000-08:00

John Boehner is a weepster - he gets weepy at heartfelt moments. So do I. And I mostly hate it. He gets teary-eyed during speeches, interviews and at other public moments. One mental health professional told me my tearfullness might be a form of depression. DEPRESSION? ME?!?!?! Ummmm, no offense but me? I'd like Mr. Boehner's "condition" to get some media attention so that I can hear some experts discuss this tendency to tear.

My daughter likes to clean the house while dancing. In her bathing suit. In subzero winter temperatures.

She told me yesterday that she thinks I had a hard fall roller skating this summer because "I'm heavy." Because "I am very large." Then she used her hands to indicate she was referring to my height. Ya.

A wackjob opened fire in Tucson on Saturday, killing 6, wounding 13. And I can't remember his name. GOOD. I don't want his name to be the word I remember when I think of this tragedy. I want to think of the victims names like Gabrielle Giffords and Christina Green.

My birthday is around the corner. There's nothing like putting your birthday in perspective (in the backseat) like having a child who's birthday is within 7 days of your own. At 43, that's mighty fine with me.

Caught her in web

2011-01-09T05:12:00.000-08:00

The Bug is letting me read to her at bedtime. Asking me to. Finally. And it's oh so delicious.

Our Bug has never been interested in the time honored bedtime ritual gazillions of kids and parents enjoy. She was 2 years old (ancient) before she sat still to listen to an entire book; she was too on the go, an active girl. My son T-Bone has been a book monger since birth. McDreamy and I have been reading short books, long books, GIANT books to our son for almost a decade (and now he's a great reader himself.)

Something clicked with our Bug. And it's a buggy classic, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web.

My mom sent us the book a year ago. She mailed my copy from when I was a child with it's beautifully colored hard cover. It's been floating in The Bug's room from desk to bookshelf to floor and back to her desk. But never into our hands for reading.

A week ago I saw it on top of her toyshelf across from her bed. I grabbed it, snuggled up close to her in her bed (very close, it's a twin bed) and asked if I could begin reading it to her. She said yes. That part didn't surprise me.

She listened intently as Fern squealed to her father about the runty pig Wilbur. And the next night, The Bug asked me to read the next chapter. That part did surprise me.

For the last week, The Bug has searched for the book at bedtime and gleefully presented it to me, asking for the next chapter. She's in to it. She can't wait to hear more. And this Mama Bear couldn't feel more blessed.

There a countless priceless moments with your kids, but not many of them are quiet. Lying next to your daughter, with one of the best books ever written (it really is), her head nestled close to yours. "Terrific."

Definition: [trans verb.] to spark the imagination

2011-01-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

McDreamy gave me a Kindle for Christmas. He's a great gift giver.

I was tentative when e-readers first sprung on the scene. How could it simulate the reading experience? What would be lost in the process? I danced around the technology but did not fall for it. I was weary.

And now I have one. McDreamy probably grew tired of me admiring his nightly reading on his iPad. I leaned over his shoulder inquiring "Watcha reading? Can I read something on it?"

My first joyful thought upon opening the Christmas packaging was that I could now get the books I want without hassle or delay (albeit for more money.) I've read three e-books now and have a few more thoughts on the matter.

Pros:
- It's nice not having to worry about saving my place every time I get up to do something, or finish my nightly reading. My place is always saved.
- Reading with only one hand is handy. One hand holds open my Kindle and cover and the slight flick of my thumb turns the page. I can read in almost complete stillness.
- It is freeing to recline, move, and slouch about because the act of reading only requires one hand in any position I desire.

It's not all apple pie though. Figures.
- I look like a statue when I am reading versus like a person engaged in an activity, albeit a restful one.
- Without a beautiful cover and a title blasting in artsy font, how will my kids be prompted to inquire about my book. They may not even know I am reading. They won't be able to say "I remember the time my mom read that book" because they won't see it.
- Don't get me started on the difficulty of referring back to passages and drawings. This is irksome.
- There is no perspective. Without the volume of a book in hand, I miss the visceral effect of how much I've read and how far I have until the end of the book, or the section, or the chapter.
- I like the conversations that spring up when reading an actual book somewhere, when someone familiar with the book makes a comment or asks you a question about your choice. Like on the bus or on an airplane. Or a couch. There is something lost there.

These are my thoughts after my first two weeks and my first three books. I must research the e-library idea.

2010 - A Year in Review

2011-01-01T18:34:00.001-08:00

Headlines - Haitian earthquake, BP Oil Spill, 33 miners trapped in Chile for 69 days. 9% unemployment.

Fell in love with - iPod Touch in January, then with Samsung Galaxy (my new Android phone with data package) in September. Angry Birds. El Tio. Talking to my mom more frequently on the phone. Mary Kay opportunity. Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live on Bravo TV.

Favorite Books - I didn't read much this year, a clear sign that I was going gung ho in other areas of my life. But I did read. Some. I was deeply moved by Julie and Julia. Devoured The Host. Honorable mentions: The Help, Little Bee, The Art of Racing in the Rain, The Devil in the White City. I read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and thought it fascinating despite the distracting set up at the beginning of the book (trial, business tycoon, liberal magazine politics.) Not sure why it's such a rage right now though.

Trips to remember - My mom got on an airplane for the first time since 9/11. She did great and we loved having her visit our new home in Virginia. July in Kansas City is always a knock out, especially memorable this year because my father-in-law bought a lake house across the cove from other close family friends. We had two pads to enjoy. The kids could enjoy the water without constant supervision - a first. My first Mary Kay Seminar in Dallas - a grand show. New York over Memorial Day and got to stay in a friend's Upper East home while she was in the Hamptons. Connecticut for Christmas - can you say Lobster AND Prime Rib AND Filet Mignon?

Exercise routine - The lack of one. Curious how I could spend 2009 running and making personal bests, then one year later do nothing. How weird. And it really really bothered me. 2011 will be different.

Great Dates - McDreamy and I spent a night in Washington D.C. at a hip hotel in DuPont Circle. We had a great time in the cold city. He took me to several great concerts this year - loved Pearl Jam - and even though Ray LeMontainge wasn't great I loved the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD. We were trying to go out once a month and you know what, that's NOT enough. We are trying to go out more than that.

Kids - Son is certifiably gorgeous at age 8. He swam more, biked more, and played outside more this year than ever. Had sleepovers. My daughter started kindergarten. Can I say that 1,000 times? Loves her new rollerblades, great at soccer.

Other things to be added in the next few days...

Happy New Year - 2011

2011-01-01T18:00:00.000-08:00

The new year is ringing in my ears. Clang clang. Visions of a great year spark and sizzle. Many dreams are the same - healthier living, smarter financial decisions. But something feels different his time. More hope. Greater faith. 2011 - bring it on.

How grand to welcome the year with three new books under my belt. Writing and reading - soul's good food. I finished The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie on our drive to Connecticut for Christmas. It's a whimsical murder mystery told from an eccentric, chemistry-obsessed adolescent in mid century English countryside. The Art of Racing in the Rain is a dog's tale of loyalty, a view of his human's life through the companion's limited view. And today I finished The Devil in the White City, a historical tale of the Herculean effort to build and manage the Chicago's World Fair at the end of the 19th century while a secretly madman rages in the city.

In a few words:
The Pie - simple, kooky, witty but nothing really satisfying.
The Art - complex, some boring parts, but many thought provoking themes. The perspective of a faithful dog provides one long, deep view of life uncluttered by the wide range of human emotions.
The Devil - Sometimes bogged down by architectural details, but wow, an interesting tale of a city's drive, a nation's fervor, and evil incarnate.

Happy New Year!

A freezing five

2010-12-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

It's cold, bearly inching above freezing for the last 5 or 6 days. Or maybe 15 days. It feels like a lot. We've had a few inches of snow this weekend, so lovely. It feels like Christmas, but I can't bring myself to look at my countdown to-do list.

Here's five for this freezing day.

1. It takes a lot of milk to fuel a long, cold weekend and a snow day at school. Glad I bought two gallons in my panic to get groceries before the snow got too deep. The kids needed hot chocolate after snow ball fights and sledding of course. And they bring their friends. That's a lot of milk. And then when My Bug thawed out enough for round two, she wanted to make snow ice cream, which takes much milk and sugar.

2. Next year, we might be better off buying presents online and paying for gift wrapping, as long as we can tap into free shipping offer. I went to the post office today and mailed some very cute, well thought out gifts. I thought I'd done well managing the budget, but then the postman lady gave me the bill. Ick!

3. Did you know that when you decide to take a leisurely approach to your annual holiday letter and not fret too much about what is normally a big stressor, and you go out looking for festive paper on, say, the 18th, well you won't find any paper at all? Did you know that? Did you also know that clip art has some pretty blue snowflakes that print pretty well on my HP 4100 series printer? If not, you will soon find out. I plan to address my umpteen letters on the drive to and from CT.

4. The worst part of my week was when I realized I also had to clean my house really well before we leave for CT because my mother-in-law is returning with us for a week. When we head out, the house needs to look presentable. Another thing to add to the list.

5. It turns out that, despite my semi-rantings in above paragraphs, the holidays are a lot less stressful when you have two kids in school full time because you have more time to prepare for the joys of the season without wrangling the monkeys in the process.

13 Days to Christmas

2010-12-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

We got all kinds of Christmas up in here. This year is remarkably more peaceful, less stressed, and more mellow than years past. Or maybe I am just procrastinating and the snowballs will hit the fan in a few days. That's likely considering I haven't written the family letter or mailed off all the packages to here and there.

I can't seem to think in coherent, connected paragrapbs, so maybe a list of 13 makes sense. Let's pick a theme. How about Christmas Fun and Guilty Pleasures? Sounds good!

1. Let's start with guilty pleasures. Which for me is Bravo TV and E! If it's Sunday I am complaining about this time zone. In ET, I have to wait until 10:00pm for the Real Housewives of Wherever. I should be in bed at 10:00. I miss the days of hot TV at 9:00pm, but not in these parts. No. The goods don't come on until 10:00. Which means I've opened a bag of chips to help me stay awake. Very bad.

2. I had to look up "advent." Of course, my 8 year old son asked me what it meant after we'd spent a week poking open perforated flaps on our paper advent calendars to reveal chocolate surprises. I guessed it right...the coming of something important...like Christmas...or the iPhone. I am a sucker for tradition. I want my kids to have deep, fond memories of holiday traditions in this home. My mom wasn't excited by holidays, or so it seemed to me, and I felt a void in that department. For as long as I remember, I craved creating my own traditions. And I am doing it now. Not wild, over the top, excessive traditions, but habits none the less. One of ours is the Advent Calendar. Each child has one. They cost about 2 bucks and I get them at the grocery store in late November. NOTE: Get them early because these paper wonders sell out fast. We keep them on the fireplace mantel in the breakfast room (oooo I still love a fireplace in the breakfast room.) The kids roll out of bed and they head straight downstairs for the chocolate.

3. I'm not done with Bravo. This is a fun time of year. Housewives of Atlanta is on Sundays and the Beverly Hills hotties are on Thursdays. Twice a week. And Andy Cohen. What Happens Live after the show is a hot mess, and I love it. When I first saw Mr. Cohen hosting the Reunion shows for all manner of Bravo reality shows, I was like, "Who's this dude, why is he hosting, how did he get this gig?" Wrong. He is a top dog at Bravo, a producing whiz kid, and he's a great on-air talent too. I love his mazel of the week.

4. Rolled sugar cookies...today's Christmas activity. There have been times in my life when I loved to cook. This is not one of them. And I am no baker. But I do like to make rolled sugar cookies at Christmas. There is a real art to this. Overwork the dough and your cookies turn out hard and tasteless. Mix is right and the cookies are buttery and soft. My 6 year old daughter and I decided to whip out some cookies. We made tree shapes and stars, and ate tons of raw batter. Sooooo good. The decorating will have to wait. Our decorations aren't the kind that makes Martha weep. We like a plain powdered sugar icing with a few festive sprinkles. Simple for the kids. Easy. Fun.

Sprinkles are a big deal in this house. We like the tiny, beaded sprinkles that crunch in your mounth, the kind that Dunkin Donuts ditched because too many customers complained they got lodged in their teeth. Wusses.

5. Top Chef All Stars - Yummo. These chefs are mighty creative and fiercely competitive. I love this show.

6. As I type in the TV room, the kids are asleep in the front room, nestled under the Christmas tree. Several times a season, they curl up in the front room, with the Christmas tree lights on in the dark, and slumber with the evergreen. I wonder if they dream of sugar plums.

7. Can you believe I am not watching my former guilty pleasure - Oprah? It's her last season. When my kids weren't in elementary school and they were still tiny beans jumping all over the house all day, I sank down in the couch during their nap times to recharge with Oprah. Every single day. There were times I thought I'd die when they grew out of their naps and I didn't have my hour with the O. As it turns out, I didn't die.

8. We get a live tree. That's our thing. We go someplace scenic to pick out our tree, no parking lot tree of me, except last year when McDreamy was working too hard all month. And the kids are great decorators. They outgrew the phase when they stood in one place in front of the tree and hung every ornament in one cluster. Now they climb the bannister to reach the upper branches.

9. I like the Beverly Hills Housewives a lot. For the most part. They are all classy (except Camille, she's too much). They seem confident, classy and witty. But the faces are too tight, up, puffed and smoothed. They look like plastic mannequins. And Taylor's lips....ooooo. But her husband is worse. Just saying.

10. Hmmmm, more Christmas traditions. Well, we almost always travel. We hit the road to go to family's house. I think in the nine years we've had kids, we've stayed at home for the holidays twice. We are movers baby. Let's go!

11. Coffee and Diet Coke - now these are my real guilty pleasures. Please don't tell me how bad diet soda is for my skin and liver. Please. Daily, everyday, first thing in the morning. Coffee that is. And Diet Coke after noon.

12. Stockings. I love stockings. We hang them by the fireplace with care, hoping St. Nick will soon be there. This year the budget is tight so stockings may be a bit thin. (It adds up filling 5+ stockings with goodies.) My mom used to put socks in my stocking. Could it be because a stocking IS a sock or because I wore holes in mine but refused to throw them out?

13. Let's end this one with another Christmas tradition. The family newsletter. Yes, we do it. We've written a family letter, not just an ordinary card, but a full blown, overly detailed, probably boring, and the same old same old. No I haven't done it this year. What I've found is that the writing part is easy, it's picking the photos, printing them, cutting the photos, addressing the letters BY HAND, and adding personal notes makes this the laborious process that ends up being one of the biggest stressors. Will she do it this year? Stay tuned.

Where's my cardigan. It's a little chilly in here.

2010-11-28T14:45:00.001-08:00

Hubby and I did something over Thanksgiving that made us both feel old - very grandparent-ish. (Sorry grandparents.) We watched family videos.

We aren't big videographers; we rarely do it. This weekend marks the first time - EVER - that we watched any of the videos we've taken. We even forced our Thanksgiving guests to watch some too. Geezers, I know. Where's my cardigan?

We saw footage of Daughter eating her first solid food. We son our boy dancing around with his favorite blanket at 3 years old. (Oh he still does this.) And we watched our German Shepherd, now slow with achey bones, splash and dash in a mountain stream.

The walk down memory lane was refreshing. And as much as I was thrilled to see footage of our honeymoon, roadtrips, and touching infant moments, it was slightly uncomfortable watching a younger me. It made me feel old. And out of shape. And old. And heavy. And round.

My new kick is life balance. I am putting a few work goals on the back burner so I can get my priorities in order. One of which is greatly inspired by these videos - I am going to stop being complacent about being heavier and I am going to stop making excuses.

And you know me when I put my mind to something....

A Fine Balance

2010-11-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

This weekend I realized something quite sad.

I am not doing the things that I love most. I am not running. I am not reading. And I am not writing. This is a sad state of affairs.

What I am doing is figuring out how to work a part time job and make the most of it.

And it's finally sinking in; I am not good at multi-tasking. When something new and fun comes my way, I go whole hog. Which is great when you want to be good at something new, but it's not good for balance.

The fact is that I need to work now. I entered into it volunteerily, thought it would be something interesting and fun and a little extra money would be good. But my family really needs the extra income. It helps A LOT! But I don't like that it's taken me away from the things that for so many years have been a huge part of my pleasure and personality. It's only November, but I see a few new year's resolutions kicking around. I've gotta pound it into my head that I actually need to work, and that this job will only work for us in the long run if I can balance it with other personal priorities.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T11:14:00.000-08:00

I hosted Thanksgiving this year for our foursome and two neighborhood families. We divided the cooking duties which made it so much easier. Because my kin usually travel for Thanksgiving, the host family (which I've been 3 or 4 times recently) ends up doing all the cooking. So it was nice to be the hostess but have half the cooking to do.

Jackie made the turkey, mashed potatoes, and mixed veggies. Scrumptious! Amy made green bean casserole and two desserts. Decadent.

My habit is to critique my dishes relentlessly to make them better next year. Here is the verdict:

Cornbread/sausage stuffing was flavorful but needed more moisture.
Giblet Gravy was to die for but needed to be better pureed and a bit thinner. Note, next time someone else makes the turkey, make sure you reserve the turkey neck and giblets so you don't have to dig them out of the trash the next day. And it tastes fine without the giblets.
Cranberry Orange relish - a tad more sugar and the oranges need to be sliced more finely.
Candied Sweet Potatoes - less cinnamon and don't subsitute apple cider when you don't have OJ. (It tasted kind of like apple pie).
Pumpkin Cheesecake - PERFECTION! Not too sweet, mild pumpkin flavor.

I had a great Thanksgiving despite no immediate family being here with us. Not sure what I can point to. Adam was in a great mood. I was relaxed. We were vegging at the house and playing lots of games - War, Bananagrams, and Left Right Center. It was really nice to be together with nothing on our agenda but being together. That's the most delicious part of all.

The Perfect Girl For Me

2010-10-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

My unstoppable daughter turns 6 tomorrow. I've been thinking about how to celebrate her in words on this occasion. While I ponder, I am enjoying my thoughts from when she turned 5. Here's a repeat....

October 9, 2009 - From my family blog

My son was sick tonight. Dad gave him a purple popsicle at bedtime to bring down his fever. Lil Bug, already tucked in, sensed the presence of sweets nearby and leaped from her room to hunt the source. She froze in horror when she spied her brother sucking his frozen treat in bed. Then she burst into tears.

It turned into a thing.

She cried hard in her dark room because we wouldn't give her a popsicle. I figured she'd fall asleep. But no. The tears eventually subsided but she was still upset. She came downstairs to find me. Instead of being annoyed, I softened like pudding when I saw her on the stairs wrapped in her cotton candy pink fuzzy blanket, her huge blue eyes droopy, defeated. I scooped her up and took her to the rocking chair in her room.

Little Bug turns 5 tomorrow.

And it's been a very long time since we've rocked together in the squeaky rocking chair in the corner of her room.

It was my Grandmother Mamu's chair. The dark wicker was painted yellow too many years ago to recall. The fabric, a pale blue floral chintz, is still shiny after too manys years to count. The rocking chair sat in the corner of my grandparent's guest bedroom too, the room I slept in when I had sleepovers at their house.

Five years ago, my husband and I converted the porch off the master bedroom in our first house into a nursery. We adorned it in white, pale blue and yellow with my grandmother's rocking chair as its inspiration and centerpiece.

I rocked my big girl last night. And told her about our nights together in that chair when she was a newborn. Every night for months, she'd wake up hungry and I nursed her there. Her tiny body propped up on pillows to reach me. My feet propped up on a wooden footstool to be comfortable.

It was a cold autumn that year. The space heater kept us warm with its mechanic purr. And it was always quiet out there on the porch-turned-tiny-nursery. Just the two of us.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was dumbfounded thinking I would ever love a new child as much as my first child. It's a common worry I hear. Everyone told me I'd love the new baby just as much as the first. But I couldn't see how. I worried about it.

And then came this girl. THIS girl.

It's now unimagineable that I could ever question affection for this child. The whole world rises up to embrace her. She's a pistol. A firecracker. Wildly confident and friendly too. A bit bossy and prone to tantrums. But always ready for an adventure and eager to keep moving. She loves the outdoors, adores her brother and even fancies homework.

Happy Birthday Little Bug. You are the perfect girl for me.

Goodbye Summer

2010-09-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

The kids start school tomorrow. And a new era dawns; both kids will be in school full time. I am agitating about what that means for me. What it means for my Bug is that she will finally be a kindergartner. She's been ready for a loooooong time. She's going to hit the ground running.

Alas summer is over. Grand summer. Lazy summer. The land of sunshine and sleeping in. Last year will stand out for me as a shining example of all that is good in the time of heat and sweat, and I can't put my finger on why. This summer was no slouch though. Here's what I will remember.

-- A trip to New York City for Memorial Day where we enjoyed top sites and many spectacles in two short days.

-- Our glorious pool, of course, one of summer's staples. Big Boy was a decent swimmer and ended the year by swimming laps using his self taught breast stroke. The word flailing comes to mind but he did it. The Bug could doggy paddle without looking like she was in distress but she doesn't have a good stroke down yet.

-- Star Wars in concert. We heard about it at the last minute and shelled out big bucks to see a full symphony play all the amazing show tunes.

-- Super Summer Challenge

-- A visit to OKC to see Grandma, then a drive up to KC for the big Fourth of July family gathering. Chaos. Lake. Beer. Fireworks. For 5 days.

-- A visit to TX to see my mom. It's been a long time since the kids and I have been at her house. Then I went to Mary Kay seminar in Dallas - WOW.

-- Too much t.v. The kids and I lounged around most mornings for way too long and while I did a bunch of nothing but relax, they filled their brains with t.v. galore. And then we went outside.

-- Where it was HOT. This was smoking. Difficult. Melty.

-- Virginia Beach. Big waves. Sand in our pants. We love it.

-- The Bug had a one week art class and hip hop dance on Wednesdays. Buddy went to vacation bible school for the first time and really liked it.

-- Maybe I will remember that I did not exercise one dang bit, ate way too much, started and stopped Weight Watchers (but I am starting again this week) and felt HORRIBLE in a bathing suit. I am hoping I don't remember this part.

Now the pencils are sharpened. The backpacks are by the door. And first day outfits are picked out and hanging in the closet. Goodbye summer. We love you! Can't wait to see you soon.

The Movie vs The Book

2010-09-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I wrote a ridiculously brief review a couple of days ago of Martin Booth's The American (aka A Very Private Gentleman). And now I've seen the movie.

You know my policy, yes? If I love a book I won't see the movie version at the theater. I'd rather keep my mental play in tact rather than supplant it with a director's. Let's just say I felt very free to see the cinema version of The American. And since McDreamy just read the book too, we could compare the novel to the screen play. A fun date. (Did I mention George Clooney was the star?)

The movie stunk. And now I have a stronger appreciation for the book.

George Clooney stars as Edwardo, a mysterious man on the run from a shooting in Sweden where he felt forced to kill his lover who he believed set him up. He is in the killing business but it's usually his commissioned, handmade weapons in the hands of others that lead to death. He heads to Itlay with the help of his handler "Pavel" to lay low and work on his next job.

The book has a richness of detail that the movie lacks completely. The author goes into excrutiating detail (too much I thought) about how his character justifies his life and work. The screenplay is nothing if not stark - devoid of emotion and human connection. In the book, the character is a private but he is quite social and interesting. In the movie, there is almost NOOOOO dialog because Edwardo is so isolated. The novel was pared down to its simplest form because much of the book could not be told without more people to exchange dialog or a voice over to provide context.

I didn't like it. The cinematography was stunning but that was about it. I overheard a woman in the bathroom say it was the worst movie she's ever seen. As I sat through it I wondered what people thought that didn't know the author's version.

Skip the movie...the book would probably be popular with my male readers. Who knows.

Virginia Beach

2010-09-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

Ah Virginia Beach. Great beach, family atmosphere, not crowded when we go in late August. The kids love it. It's affordable. And just a few hours away. It's the best way to wind up the long hot summer.

Oh the neglect

2010-09-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

The books are planning a revolt. Their hushed whispers and nightime plottings are inching their way into my dreams. I hear them. They are up to something. Sitting in the bookshelf at the end of the hall, they complain, stomp and agitate about my neglect.

"Where has she been?" clucks The Joy Luck Club.
"How could she?" moans Cold Mountain.
"Let's pinch her until she squeams" suggests Snow Flower and The Secret Fan.

I have abandoned my books this summer. Instead of falling asleep softly with a good read propped on my lap, I've taken up the nasty, modern habit of playing....dare I say it....solitaire on my iPod touch at night. Obsessively. To help me go to sleep.

Oh the shame.

For some reason, the mental abandon required to play silly solitaire has had a nice numbing effect on my brain. But it's time to end the nonsense.

I read two books last week. Yea me. The American by Martin Booth (previously published as A Very Private Gentleman) and The Faithful Place by Tana French.

I read The American because I wanted a book and had nothing on hand. McDreamy had just finished it so I snatched it from his bedside table. Summary. I am not a big fan. The end of the book had interesting action and twists but the first 2/3's included entirely too much narrative and not enough plot. This gentleman has led a private, illegal life and has developed interesting life philosophies to justify his trade as an assassin's assistant. He's quirky dude in a fascinating world but the books falls terribly flat. I want to see the movie because I think a screenwriter can make the man and the plot pop. The book...not so much.

The Faithful Place is Tana French's third novel after her wildly popular debut, In The Woods. This book has her trademarks - good plot, offbeat and well developed characters, interesting twists. Summary. I liked this much better than The American, but it fell short compared to her previous work. The beginning felt cluncky; it didn't have the flow and ease of her other stories. It took a while to get into the meat of it. But I give her great props for a wonderful plot. I will keep reading her!

Super Summer Challenge - VICTORY

2010-08-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

They did it.

The kids accumulated points all summer long to earn their big gifts! They did all kinds of fun and stimulating activities to rack up points.

Jumped off the dock at the lake
Road bikes around the block three times without stopping
Did school worksheets
Practiced reading and writing (for the 5 year old of course)
Put on dance shows
Practiced instruments (guitar, drums and harmonica mostly)
Made their own healthy snacks and cleaned up after
Jumped on the pogo stick 75 times in a row

And so on and so on.....

Why did we do the challenge in the first place? That was the question McDreamy kept asking when we were down to the wire and the kids were frustrated with how many points they still needed, when our son got terribly upset when he misunderstood what his prize actually was, when the kids hollered they'd never do this again.

The histrionics have subsided and now they are thrilled. They are so proud of their hard work and their huge accomplishment. I think it's remarkable that they had a 3-month long project they stuck to, planned for, worked for and focused on. Way to go kids!!

Day 34 - STEAK

2010-08-16T04:46:00.001-07:00

McDreamy and I went to Merriweather Post Pavillion last night to see Ray LeMontange. The kids were spending the day (and night) with friends and we had a great date. Including a steak dinner! Oh my. I hadn't had a tender, melt in your mouth filet in a while. Ooooo it was topped with a cabernet sauce. And our appetizer was tops too, carpaccio (more beef) with fried capers. I am not usually a fan of capers but fried is delish.

Other things floating around in the noggin...

1. My girl starts kindergarten in a few weeks.
I can't stop thinking about this milestone. I will miss spending my days with her (son has been in school for 3 years so I am accustomed to him being at school, but not her. Not yet.) How will she do? Will she make new friends? Will she be a positive force in the classroom? Will she get on the wrong bus?

2. The Doritos are winning.
I was barely on the Weight Watchers bandwagon and I fell off right away. Blaming vacations worked in July but I don't have an excuse for August. I haven't totally blown it. I am using lots of the great principles. But I need to kick it back in gear.

3. When we will finally paint our master bedroom?
It's so drabbbbbbb. Our love nest is more like a shack. It needs a boost. With fall approaching, I predict a little overhaul in the making. And I hate painting. I won't do it alone. Many of my friends do it all the time. But not me.

4. Beach beach beach.
Trying to convince McDreamy we need to spend 2 nights at the beach before summer is over. The kids want to boogie board. I do too.

Is Mercury in retrograde?

2010-08-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

My best pal K. is aggravated several times a year when Mercury goes into retrograde. I don't know much about these things but I believe her. Communications go haywire, intentions are misinterpreted and it's general mayhem. She is a grump when that darn Mercury appears to be receding.

I don't know if Mercury is in retrograde now but man something was up last week. Which planet influences bodily harm? We had a rough go.

-- After too much travel, lugging too many bags and crappy pillow, I started the week with an aching neck. It was painful to turn my head for 4 days. Then I went roller skating with the kids and fell hard on my butt (twice.) The last time was so hard my head was spinning and I was nauseous for 10 minutes. Seven days later my backside is finally pain free.

-- Son was involved in a vicious (okay it was more chaotic than vicious) bouncy collapse (okay it just tipped over.) Too many kids were in a bouncy during our neighborhood party. One of the big boys egged on the girls to attack the boys. My son ended up at the bottom of the pile, then the bottom of the bouncy as it crashed into some boxes sitting next to it. He looked a mess - scratches and deep bruises along his neck, should and pecs.

-- Worst of all, Daughter had a mysterious bump on her back side that, after a trip to the ER and to our doctor, ended up being diagnosed as a MRSA infection. Ooooo. She had an allergic reaction to the first antibiotic (rash all over her body), ran a fever for 4 days, and cycled between energetic and lethargic. She had to take an awful tasting antibiotic 4 times a day. And she had an ear infection too. She is great now - healed up really well!

We can't leave McDreamy out of this. He fell victim to the St. Lucian bartender who hosted our Rally in the Alley block party last Saturday. I won't say anymore on this subject.

We've all had weeks like this. Aren't they exhausting?

Day 25

2010-08-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Geez it hasn't even been a month yet. A trip out of town. Weird illnesses and injuries in the house (MRSA - not a bad one, an ear infection, rash, and a bad fall on my a**). Many things diverting my focus.

Surprisingly the Eat Love and Pushup are the easiest to forget but to pray or say an affirmation is only one thought away. Always close. Readily accessible. My favorite way to pray is to express gratitude. I've never been good at the asking type of praying.

Bed bugs don't bite. But they do like to cuddle.

2010-08-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

We've got a bed bug. She's usually wrapped in a furry pink blanket and she occasionally smacks us in the head while tossing and turning.

This is a first for us. A kid who won't sleep in her bed. As parents, McDreamy and I have been diligent to teach our kids that they have their own beds, own rooms, and they don't sleep with us. From Day 1. Hospital to crib for us. No co-sleeping. (or very little) And our babes have slept in their lavendar and sailor-blue rooms like little angels. For years!

Until July 6.

We got back in early July from a ten day whirlind tour through OK and KC. We were piled up with family and sleeping 4 to 6 to a room. Seems our Little Bug liked that closeness. Now she refuses to sleep in her room. Maybe it was the closeness maybe it was Uncle Jerry's scary story about Lake Barbie with seaweed hair who emerges at night onto the docks. (He isn't even OUR uncle! Darm him!)

McDreamy and I let the Bug sleep with us for a few days before we tried to remedy it. We'd put her to sleep in her room then she'd sneak in when we were sleeping and make a pallet on the floor in our room. Once she slept walked into her big brothers room and crawled in bed with him. We tried to deal with it but soon enough we were off on another long trip with family - sleeping 2 to 4 to a room. And it started all over again.

It's been a month. I know to be firm. I know that it will only take a few days of tears and trauma to break this bad habit. It's simple but it's not easy.

She's dang adorable in that pink blanket, chestnut curls splayed out on the pillow, a little voice talking quietly in her dreams. But enough is enough.

Day 20 - Words of Wisdom

2010-08-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

I was in Dallas most of last week getting pink-ified. It was nice to take time on the airplane to review my notes and hightlight my favorite quotes. Listed below are a few gems that feed my fire to keep at it...just keep putting one step in front of the other and making women happy....because I want to live debt free, drive a free car, and put my kids through college paying cash while working part time with my family's needs as my top priority.

"The most important mile in your business is the extra mile."

"A happy customer is a walking billboard for your business."

"It's important to go out to give not to get."

"A woman doesn't want to be sold. And she won't invite someone who feels like a sales person in her home."

"It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you finish."

"You have the ability to work like others won't so you can live like most people can't."

"Tough times don't last but tough people do."

"A set back is a set up for a come back."

"There are four kinds of people.
1. People that make things happen.
2. People that watch things happen.
3. People that wonder what just happened, and
4. People who don't know anything happened."

Which quote do you like best?

Back from the bubble

2010-07-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

We like to call it the pink bubble. It's the feeling we get when we spend time with other MK beauty consultants who are dreaming, stretching, and striving for the best. I've been in the pink bubble for 4 days at our national convention. It was a great time. But on to the other project at had....

I FORGOT TO DO PUSHUPS during my trip. Oooooops.

And I forgot to pray every day too. We said grace a couple of times over meals and I frequently thanked my lucky stars. Does that count?

But I sure did eat well and I nourished my spirit with a zillion inspiring stories of amazing women. And August stretches out on the horizon with no travel plans. 5 solid weeks of nothing but pool and sunshine until school starts. I hope we sneak in a short beach trip. And I've got a power week of work lined up in August. Other than that...let the summer sun keep on shining!

Day - ??

2010-07-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Looks like I might need an easy way to figure which day it is in my 365 day project. Maybe it doesn't matter. What am I on now, Day 9 or 10? Maybe there's an online gadget out there somewhere.

Eat

I said I'd eat or "do something" nourishing, so the eat category may not always be about food. And that's a good thing considering I am trying to shake 20 pounds from this big girl frame. I've been up to something non-eating but very nourishing. I am using this cool software from Blurb to turn one of my blogs into a book. It slurps up the blog entries and formats them into a hardcover book. My book will be Countdown to 40. For the 40 days leading up to my 40th birthday, I embarked on a writing project to craft one essay a day on the topic of "what I know for sure." It was fun, arduous, and something I'd like to hang onto.

Today I am ordering the book. Just one copy. For me. Or maybe a couple copies since I might want to put it in my kids' keepsake boxes. (Do they have keepsake boxes?)

Onto other news....

The kids and I will be vacationing for the next 6 days. Maybe you'll hear from me. Maybe you won't. But you know I'll be doing some pushups!

Happy Summer!

Day 6 - Oh that kind of push up

2010-07-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

I saw Christi tonight. She's the friend who suggested we do a push up every day for a year. (Darn that girl.) We gnawed on olives and sipped sparkling pomegranate juice while catching up on summer news at book club. And we checked on our push up progress. Come to find out she is doing full military push ups and here I was thinking I could get away with the girly knee bent kind.

Looks like I'll be doing the harder kind from here on out.

Eat

Jumbo green olives stuffed with jalapeno and garlic cheese. So salty. And I will be so puffy in the morning.

Love

My mom is upset because I haven't been calling her enough. I applied my new work ethic to the motherly phone call and came up with an idea. Telephone appointments. Well sort of. Since the lackadaisical approach isn't working, I decided to commit to Tuesdays and Fridays. This is an act of love to make it happen. For her and for me.

Day 5 - Love in the time of Sun-Dried Tomatoes

2010-07-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

Eat

Blessed is the sun-dried tomato packed in olive oil. Preferably julienne sliced. If you forced me to pair down to my top staples, (besides the boring milk, butter and bread), my choices are:
- a block of tart Parmesan cheese
- good quality extra virgin olive oil for dipping and drizzling
- pasta (I like rigatoni)
- kosher salt
- and my beloved sun-dried tomatoes. (And that right there is a good meal folks.)

Tonight I was saved by a tomato.

The dinner hour was fast approaching and I was in the throws of the it's-been-a-week-since-I-went-grocery-shopping-and-how-come-we-don't-even-have-spaghetti-sauce conundrum. We had pasta in the pantry but the fridge was scattered with decaying leftovers, not even a half-empty jar of red sauce in sight. The chicken breast from 2 days ago smelled okay. (Alright, it was probably from 7 days ago, but I was willing to risk it.)

I sliced up those breasts, simmered them in a can of diced tomatoes with Italian spices, threw in some garlic for good measure and a squeeze of ketchup for intensity. I was not looking forward to this. It smelled sad. I went looking for a jar of olives, kalamata hopefully, to save this sad sauce.

But I found better. Hidden behind the tall bottles of fat free Ranch dressing and Green Goddess was a small, thin jar of julienned sun-dried tomatoes slightly congealed in the cold olive oil.

Sound the bells.

I scraped those savory slices into my sad sauce and voila. A little heat on the stove. A bit more simmer. And magic. That dang red sauce was wholely edible.

Tonight I salute the sun-dried tomato. May you never be far from my sauce pan.

Day 4 - Chickory Iced Coffee

2010-07-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Doing pushups. Sometimes just one. Hubby and I were getting ready for bed tonight and washing our faces in the bath. Oops. I realized I hadn't done my push up. Or told him about this project. I poppped into our bedroom to do my push up (6 this time). He thinks I'm so weird. And he's right. Wait until he finds out the truth.

Eat

Today brought the wonder of chickory iced coffee. At Denise's. I met her two days ago at a work party. She wanted to know more about this job so I went to her house this morning to talk about the opportunity. She has the cutest apartment, very artsy and sublime. Simple but with definite personality. She just returned from New Orleans with her chef husband and she had some chickory coffee on hand. It was DELISH! And so we our conversation. I like her A LOT!

A Classic Start

2010-07-17T04:48:00.000-07:00

The kids and I are going to "Star Wars in Concert" later today. And I paid a bunch of money for the tickets. Why? Because it's the symphony playing bad ass music. I remember the first time I saw a symphony; I was probably 11. My memories prior to 6th or 7th grade are fuzzy. I remember stuff but not with colored details and deep texture like my sister does.

But I remember the symphony.

My elementary school hauled us to the concert hall on a big yellow bus. The classical music with synchronized strings and blasting horns had me spinning. I sat in the dark hall while the music pulsed through me. I was mesmorized. Classical music wasn't foreign to me. My dad blared it on high on his top notch stereo equipment. He was always shouting in exhuberance at the joy of it all. Seeing it up close and live, at 11 years old, was magic.

I bought high priced tickets because I want to sit next to my kids today and watch their expressions at their first symphony performance. If it's half as memorable as it was to me, we are off to a classic start!

Day 2 - Star Wars in Concert

2010-07-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

Just did the daily push up. In a skirt. At 10:24pm.

Eat

Doritos. My first love. Not really on the Weight Watchers plan.

Love

My bud Hill mentioned that "Star Wars in Concert" is in town tomorrow. 86-piece orchestra. The largest LED TV to display edited scenes for all six movies. John Williams epic music. What's not to love? I bought tickets for me and the kids and sadly Pop's gotta work. Is this really for the Love category? I think it's an expression of love to my kids to make an effort to go this phenomenal show. It will be their first time to see a full symphony. (I remember my first time as a child - and it rocked my world.)

Day 1 - Prayer for little babies

2010-07-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Pray

It's 1:48 EST and day one brought a need for much prayer. My neighbor A. has been on bedrest at the hospital pregnant with twins for two weeks. An email just arrived that the babies were born at 26 weeks. The boy is over 2 lbs and the girl is 1 pound and a few ounces. As soon as I got the message, the kids and I joined hands in prayer for A. and her husband and the precious babies now being cared for by the best doctors and nurses.

Eat

My joyful eating was a petite scone this morning with my best girl at Starbucks. That little nugget was THREE Weight Watcher points.

Eat, Pray, and/or Love - 365. And always a push up.

2010-07-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

By George I think I've got it.

Weird me can't stop thinking about Julie Powell's expedition of 365 days of cooking. I don't have the desire or bandwidth to take on something grand like cooking every day or running every day, but 365 days of something meaningful (in addition to breathing) sounds intriguing. And uplifting. And interesting. Oh how I love interesting!

Eat, Pray, and/or Love - 365 (And always a push up)

I loved the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. In fact it was one of the first books I reviewed when I started this blog four years ago with the purpose of writing about books. And the movie starring Julia Roberts is coming out soon. I'll probably see it. Usually I don't see movies made from the books I love, but I will make an exception this time. My husband cannot stand the toothy sweetheart but I like her well enough.

This is my mission. For 365 days, from July 15, 2010 to July 14, 2011, I will do one or more of the following:

Eat (or enjoy) something I love.
Pray.
Express love through acts or words.
And I will always do a push up (hopefully more than one.)

And I will attempt to document it on my blog. Not because Julie Powell got a book deal out of blogging her adventures (who could ever repeat that tremendous feat), but because I write. I've gotten away from it recently with new commitments in my life, and I want to return to what I love.

Eat. This will be interesting because I joined Weight Watchers in June. Elizabeth Gilbert chose to eat for 3 months because she needed to reclaim comfort. I will eat (or enjoy) something I love because life is short. I'd love to achieve and sustain my desired weight while still enjoying one of my favorite pleasures- great food. And if the great food part isn't part of my day, then something nourishing to the soul can be. And I will document it here.

Pray. And affirmations. I will pray. And I will say affirmations for the life I want. "Build it and they will come", says the father in Field of Dreams. Say it and it will be. I plan on keeping this part private so there may not be much blog content here.

Love. An act. A word. Some demonstration of love. To my loved ones. To strangers. Family. Friends. The world at large.

Surely I can do at least one of the three every day.

And a push up every day because my friend Christi said this is what she'd be willing to do every day for a year. And because I need to focus on being good to my body. A push up won't transform my body. I realize that people! But maybe by doing at least one tiny physical thing every stinking day, I will become more attuned to taking better care of myself.

Update on the Super Summer Challenge

2010-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

Son - 79 points across 15 categories
Daughter - 90 points across 20 categories
They both need 200 spread points across at least 20 of the 30 categories by August 24 to earn their big prize.

It's going pretty well, they are having fun, and it's a great help in preventing our summer from turning into a TV/DS fest.

At first we had to overcome my son's 2-day long campaign of objections. I kept saying "You don't have to do it. This is up to you." When he finally came close to the accepting the idea, he gave a final push with a 30-minute period of near hysterics as he cried the injustice of working hard to get his prize, falling short by 5 points and getting nothing. I calmy assured him that he'd know well in advance that he was only 5 points from it and he'd have the choice to work to finish or to give up. I love this kid! He keeps me on my toes.

My daughter echoed her big brother's fits but as soon as he was on board she was too.

Now comes the hard part. They've gotten most of the easy points. Now they have to transition to doing things they don't necessarily enjoy or value. Wish us luck!

365

2010-07-13T06:19:00.001-07:00

What would you be willing to do

for 365 days in a row?

Julie Powell was willing to cook a French dish from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking every day for 365 days. She started at random. It wasn't well thought out. She was in a rut and reached for something eccentric and grand.

Oh how that idea appeals to me! (Not the rut part.)

I gave up sugar once for 40 days. And I wrote one essay a day on my blog for 40 days leading to my 40th birthday. That was a tremendous experience.

I've been thinking about what I would be willing to do for 365 days in a row. My first thought was write a bit on my blog every day. About the best part of my day. Something about gratitude. But then I thought, I am already so pollyanna and my subtle husband sometimes wonders at my unending enthusiasm. If I wrote about gratitude for a year I might be an incorrigbly perky person.

Other thoughts:

--Ride my bike or walk. Great idea but I don't want something that radically changes my routine. I don't need a shake up right now. Just some fun.

--Call my mom. She called late last night to gripe at me. Apparently I haven't been calling her enough. And she's right. But the last time I checked, she had a phone too. She call me too, right?

--Read.

--Pray.

--Have sex with my husband. I saw a couple on TV that said they did this to rebuild their relationship. Oh sure there are some things my hub and I work hard on to be a well functioning, fulfilled couple. But sex everyday? I'm too old for that.

Then I asked my friends online. Here's what they said. Pee. Read. Gratitude journal. Draw in sketckbook. Take pics of kids. Do a pushup. Drink wine.

I feel some momentum gathering. Do you?

Catching up on Books

2010-07-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

My summer reading is going along swimmingly. My writing may have fallen to the wayside of late, but reading floats to the surface. These won't be full fledged reviews because, you know me, two weeks past a book and I remember next to nothing. So frustrating!

The Host by Stephanie Meyer
Finished it last night. At 2:00am. All 600+ pages. LOVVVVVED it. This is a GREAT summer read. Captivating. Quick paced. Otherworldy. Romantic. And even swashbuckling.

Here is my weak attempt at summarizing a complex premise. Planet Earth has been taken over by peaceful, compassionate "souls." Souls use the human bodies as hosts. The human is erased and the body survives with it's new soul inside providing the life force and animation. A soul named Wanderer is inserted into a a human named Melanie who is thought to know about humans in hiding. Wanderer attempts to recover these memories but Melanie fights back. She won't fade away and won't reveal her secrets. Wanderer and Melanie form an unlikely alliance in adventure, love, and fear. And caves. And hot guys named Jared and Ian.

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
Sex and the City meets The Food Network.

Julie Powell is a down and out secretary coming to turns with her boring life. On a whim she decides to cook all 500+ recipes in Julia Child's masterpiece Master the Fine Art of French Cooking. In one year. Who wants to read about a nutball in New York City cooking brains, calf livers and pate every day splattering food remains around her cramped kitchen? Me, me, me!! It was delicious in every way. Interesting premise. Awesome characters. Unexpected.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
I usually love her writing. She's so funny. I've you haven't read Good in Bed go out and get it. Now. This is a dark comedy/mystery and I just couldn't go with the premise. Two misfit best friends from high school have a falling out. They reunite when one shows up at the other's door the night of the 10 year HS reunion after she thinks she's run over and left for dead the boy that came in between them so long ago. (That's a mouthful.)

Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice
I picked this up because I liked a book I read of her's last year. The Letters. This book kept my interest but the plot felt eerily similar to the Lace Reader. Estranged sisters, New England town, mysterious happenings.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
I forgot about this until I saw it on my shelf when I was cleaning today. I enjoyed this novel, especially the writing. A young Nigerian girl, Little Bee, is released from an immigrant detention center near London. She is in a country with no allies and no resources. She makes her way to the British family she encountered on a beach in Nigeria. Their lives are horrificly entertwined and interdependent.

The Help by Kathryn SockettMy friends in Kansas City RAVED about this book. I picked it up three times before I could get into it. Once I did I found it so touching and thoughtful. The story is told through multiple women's perspective in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi - a college graduate ready to chart an unconventional course, and two black maids working in the white dominated and segregated society. We see life through their eyes. Interesting characters. Unique storyline. A worthwhile read.

Super Summer Challenge

2010-06-24T19:36:00.001-07:00

My friend H. has four kids ages 7 to 13. Last year I was in awe of her family's Super Summer Challenge. The kids worked together to earn points for a big family prize - a trampoline.

I decided to try it this year at our house. Why? Points, challenge, structure, coolness. I'm all over it. The purpose is to engage kids in interesting, character building activities over the summer. There will be plenty of time to contemplate split ends (thanks Anna Quindlen) but the Summer Challenge adds a little flavor to the season's frivolity.

My son will get to upgrade his DS to a DSi if he accumulates 200 points. My daughter will get her first DS. Hubby and I thought about alternative prizes, like a trip to Great Wolf Lodge or a camping trip. But the kids got most excited about electronics.

Here's the gist of the program.

There is a list of 30 challenges. Most are worth 1 point, some are worth more.
Each child has to accumulate 200 points to win the big prize. Those points must be spread across a minimum of 20 challenges (no loading up on one favorite task all summer long.)
The maximum number of points in each area is 15.
We have two posters in the breakfast room where they track their own points.

What do my kids think about this? They wigged at first. Flipped. But after a few days of me acting nonchalantly about it, reminding them its voluntary, they began to warm to the idea. Now they are psyched and constantly ask how many points they have. Him 16, her 16.

This is a sampling of my son's challenges.

Go to church with a friend.
Gather a box of your things to donate to charity.
Bake something special for a friend or neighbor.
Go on a walk.
Swim a lap across the pool.
Spend a day with no media or electronics.
Go to a movie and write a movie review.
Turn off all the lights before we leave the house.
Read 50 pages in a book.
Practice an instrument for 10 minutes.

My daughter's:

Jump on your pogo stick 75 times (but not necessarily in a row)
Float on your back for 10 seconds.
Learn a new song and sing it to the family.
Do an art project
Practice reading
Practice writing
Count to 100

Does this sound like absurdity to you?

No French Fries for 25 years and now THIS....

2010-06-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Summer 1985. The Texas sun fries freckles onto teenage noses. Two high school gals decide to get super hot for senior year and belly up to Weight Watchers for inspiration. The meeting Nazis tell the girls to obstain from their "red light" foods for a few months - those yummy foods that that take over and don't let you stop munching and crunching.

Me and Marlene. 17 years old. She gave up Domino's pizza. I gave up French Fries. For 25 years. This August makes 300 months without those mouth watering fried potatoes dripping in salt and saturated fat.

Look where it's gotten me. Not very far! I am back at Weight Watchers. This time Jackie and I showed up at a meeting and flipped at the scale. The last 5 months have been fast and furious and so much fun, but the chips have gotten the best of me.

Three days on Weight Watchers and I now see clearly, without denial, just how crappy I'd been eating. I thought I was on top of things by eschewing fast food and resturants. But even what felt like reasonable nibbling 'round the house was obviously too much.

Let the healthy gnoshing begin!

Not quite sure how to answer this one

2010-06-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

While teaching my 5-year old how to clean the toilets this afternoon, (yes I just said that) she started to get the far away dreamy look and asked me..

"Is there a future?"

My mind cranked and cogs turned trying to understand her question. Hmmm. Is there such a thing? What does a 5-year know or think about an esoteric concept like the future.

Discuss amongst yourself.

Summer Loving

2010-06-12T03:34:00.001-07:00

(Thank you Ian Kahn for this free digital image.)

Last year my love affair with summer was hot. Smokin' hot! It was our first summer in a neighborhood with a community pool. (I highly recommend it!) I couldn't wait for freckled faces, the tinkling ice cream truck and late nights with no promise of school in the morning. And I wrote about it frequently.

This summer feeling is mighty nice but perhaps there's nothing quite like your first. Don't get me wrong, I am still plenty amped! If you have the chance to spend summer in our shoes, here's what you'll get.

#1. Splashdown.

Days on end at our big, sparking pool. It's sits on a hill top at the back of our neighborhood overlooking pastures, towering trees, and nothing but blue sky overhead. Sit awhile because our favorite neighbors (and there are many) are sure to be here any moment.

#2. B-ball on the blacktop.

Our alley is the place to before and after all things water. You'll find the kids playing hoops, roller skating, skateboarding, hoola hooping, of course bike riding, and the occasional game of hide and seek. There's always a crowd. It's a block party waiting to happen.

#3. Grilling on our new deck!

Yay. The guys finished our deck last year and it is wonderful. A good feng shui tip from an unsuspecting neighbor helped make it even better and our oversized table now feels cozy!

#4. Field trips.

I love being at home but this girl's gotta move too. (Lesson learned from 8 years of parenting "more time at home with kids=more mess at home to clean up.") So we'll head out to aquariums, museums, bowling alleys, and petting zoos to feed my passion for outings. The kids will just have to deal because there main wish would be to swim and watch TV all summer. Nothing else. Which leads me to.......................

#5. The Summer Challenge.

I got this idea from a friend with 4 kids. The purpose is to encourage the kids to be helpful and engaged over the summer (and not complain of boredom. Boredom?!?!? Do you see #1-#4 up there? Who could be bored.) Each child has a custom made list of challenges he/she can do all summer to accumulate points. The list is tailored to that child's age, temperament and specific areas of development. The challenge - Accumulate points by doing EVERY challenge at LEAST one time and at the end of summer you earn a wingdinger of a gift.

#6. Bologna.

Popsicles. Ice Cream Truck. Cold Pizza. Need I say more?

#7. Happy, grateful mother.

If you spend any time with us this season, you'll find a mother that loves this time with her kids. I am not the gal aching for the return of school. Our schedule will not be overloaded with camps and classes and practices to get them off my back. Nope, the kids will be home with me and I will LOVE it. With any luck my kids will remember their summers with gut wrenching fondness. Perhaps they will grow up saying that summers at home were the best times of their young lives. I'd like to give that to them.

See y'all at the pool!

How Deep is Your Love?

2010-05-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

It's Idol finale night. I've been absent much of this season partly because I had to recover from last year's obsession. But of course I am watching tonight and have my favorite.

I wasn't going to write about the show though. My writing flow has been plugged up.

But then Alice Cooper kicked off the show with a great song. School's Out for Summer! (Not really - in Northern Virginia we've got 3 more weeks.) I love that song. Poor old Alice sounded like a funky old sock but man it's a fun song. (I think he's old enough to be the contestants grandaddy, or great grandaddy.)

Still wasn't going to comment.

But then the Bee Gees (or what remains of them) appeared on stage. Do these contestants, hell do these viewers, even know who the Bee Gees are? This old fart does. And you know what. I LOVE the Bee Gees. I must have been that perfect tender age when they were super hot (think Saturday Night Fever) and my first memories of music were dancing around my dad's house for hours listening to Bee Gee harmonies and high pitched love songs.

Oh crap, but now it's Dan Folgeberg. No wait, it's Michael McDonald. This is nuts. What super freaky contract must Idol producers have with those record companies promoting old farts? Have the Boomers risen to the top of the record buying demographic?

Thank goodness we have the amazing, crystalline Christina Aguillera on the show. Isn't she spectacular. That voice, those lyrics, her throaty drama was kicking!

As the boys are queing up Hall and Oates (this is getting RIdicuLOUS) I am noticing that the boys kinda sucked this year. Most of them sound puny tonight or maybe it's keeping up with mediocre lyrics older then they are while doing the worst group dance moves. (I am fast forwarding the recording now...)

I guess it makes sense to just roll with the running commentary. Let's do this:

Alanis Morisette - Not quite of this century but more contemporary than a McDonald. And that Bowersox is knocking the sox of this angry women's anthem. MamaSox is holding her own with Ms Morrisette!
Carrie Underwood - Gorgeous. Love the boots. Fun song. A+ with the metal vest.
Bret Michaels makes an appearance. God speed to him. (I thought Casey did great.)
"A medley of hits from the band Chicago." Where is my Geritol. Please people! I'd put a thousand dollars on the fact that not one Idol voter owns a Chicago album or knows a smidgeon of one chorus. Bad, very bad. (The future of Idol is becoming clearer. Simon is leaving and they are rolling out the red carpet for Neil Diamond as the next judge, or maybe they are holding out for Barry Manilow. No it's Paula Abdul. She's getting a lot of air time. Maybe we will see her next year!)
Loved the Idol winners and the collection of past contestants on stage.
How much does Janet sound like Michael? Jackson of course. Janet goes for the Grace Jones look. Sleek, modern and fabulous. (I have to admit it's good to see a Jackson on top. But I think she lip synced most of her last song.)
Joe Cocker - a great compliment to Crystal's style but on the highest rated TV show in the U.S. I don't get it.

Shit, Lee won. I wanted Crystal. So wanted Crystal.

Too busy

2010-05-07T16:37:00.001-07:00

Her hair is the longest it's ever been. She's got her first loose tooth. And now she's registered for Kindergarten. My peanut ain't so small anymore.

He is an avid reader. Is tolerating soccer. And can't wait to ride his bike or trade Pokemon cards with the kid up the street as soon as he gets home from school.

My Mister carries a heavy load at work these days. But thankfully he seems to be better at coming down to earth when he's home with us.

And me. Well, I'm too busy. My mom tells me. My best friend tells me. And this week I was a ball of frustration because everything felt out of balance. Crying while doing the dishes is probably a good sign that life is out of kilter. But I'll get it back. Just need to slow down. Right now I am on our deck with the sun sinking low, a cool breeze keeping things lively, watching the kids on the block attempt to master our pojo stick. So nice.

So my plan in this. Take time off. Have whole days - entire days - when I do zero work - other than housework of course. I am that girl who can throw herself deep into her passions. That's a good thing. But I am in this for the long haul. Don't want to burn the candle at both ends. So more time outside. Less time on the computer.

And you know my favorite season is getting closer. Day by day. Hot days, cool waters, kids at play from sun up to sun down.

How have you been lately?

Thinking Pink

2010-04-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

Things have slowed down on this blog, haven't they? Or maybe a complete standstill is more accurate. After a fistful of years writing consistently it's hard to imagine what could derail me. Can you guess?

A new baby? NOOO.
We are packing up to move yet again? Please God no.
Could it be I've started a new workout regime and I am so dedicated to it I've lost 28 pounds? I wish.

It's because I have a job. Granted it's a part time job. Very part time. I get to choose my own hours. And it seems I take a week off every month for mother's visit, spring break, whatever. But it's a job, and I seem to be thinking about it a lot. Six months ago I decided to teach skin care and makeup for that TX based company with pink Cadillacs. My intention was to make a few extra bucks each month doing something fun and still be able to take my kids to the bus and preschool drop off morning and afternoon. And I did that for the first 3 months.

But here's the thing. Since January I've stepped it up a notch. And, I've been enjoying myself a lot. It's hugely rewarding pampering women and helping them with their questions. And, I like being my own boss. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the money is fantastic while still giving me the chance to do what I love best - raise my kids as a stay at home mom.

I am not writing as much right now because I am knee deep in figuring out how to take this passion and turn it into paying for my kids' college. That's the goal. Big, isn't it? But it's possible. Thousands of women have done it and I am going to be one of them.

Who needs a facial?

Find your way to beautiful

2010-03-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

I love this commercial.

Fill my bucket

2010-03-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

The counselors at my son's school teach a weekly class called "Guidance." This week's topic was your bucket. Everyone has a "bucket" that people fill up when they do and say nice things for you. That bucket gets emptied when people say and do unkind things.

What a great thing to teach kids. That your choices affect the moods and spirits of other people. Love it!

Each kid filled out cards of things they would say to you to fill your bucket. Here are what a few of my son's friends cards said for him.

"Your the nicest person I have ever met".
"You are funny."
"To go with me and my friend to chuckie cheese."
"I will share my games with you."
"You are a total kraken."
"Your funny."

What fills your child's bucket? What fills yours?

Book Review - Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille

2010-03-12T18:21:00.001-08:00

It's raining. I curled up on the couch this afternoon in my favorite spot with my favorite white fake fur blanket and finished this long novel.

A book club pick. Again not my usual genre. But I liked it.

Upper middle class Long Island lawyer married to the daughter of a formerly filthy rich blue blood Long Island family gets mixed up with the unwelcomed new neighbor, the head of the NY mafia. How's that for a summary?

John Sutter comes from Long Island and a fair amount of money. He marries into the elite class of wealthy families in residence on the Gold Coast of Long Island but remains a class below them. The heyday of the Rockefellers, Whitneys, Vanderbilts and DuPonts is long past but the customs of the WASPy upper crust don't die easily. John's wife Susan is one of the elite and their relationship feels like a cold stalemate of two classes.

The Gold Coast abhores new blood, but blood is the air when mafia don Frank Bellarosa snaps up a 200 acre estate adjacent to the Sutters.

I enjoyed the narrator's unique wit, keen eye to the stale traditions of the Gold Coast gentry, and his slowly evolving entanglements with the charismatic don. The author gives us the clash of two cultures - elite and mafia - and gives us wonderful detail of both.

My only criticism is that it took a while for the momentum to get rolling. And I found myself skipping paragraphs of detail that seemed superfluous.

Idol chit chat

2010-03-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

Of course I am watching Amercian Idol. But I'm not saying much. Not this year.

Last year my obsession was a bit much. I watched, and rewound and watched again. I spewed commentary every week on my blog, rating the performances, assessing each person's chances, and waxing on and on about Idol nonsense.

It was fun. But it took a lot of time. A lot! This year I said I wouldn't do it again. And I haven't. But I am itching to just a little.

This is all I'll say.

I am not overwhelmed with the talent this year. We've got more pitch problems on our hand than the Bad News Bears. There are some great voices, but mostly I think "this is what we have after all those auditions."

The guys - The mullet guy with no experience (Alex) has a fun voice but his hair is worse than Donald Trump's. A mullet, really?, that's what you want for the big show? Michael Lynche - LOVE HIM. The short fella with Elvis Costello glasses peaked in the audition but I want him to do well. And for Cowboy Goldilocks - his songs are too small, the stage is too big but his blue eyes and golden curls are just right.

The gals - The girls have it hands down this year. But I've got a feeling many of them are sounding like a few quirky bigtime female artists that I should know but don't because I am too old. I like Bowersox's smoky voice and give-him-hell stare. Siobahn surprises me and I worry (in a good way) that she's going to pull a dagger out from her short skirts. Didi sounds good like a lovely bird in flight but who does she sound like?

And the judges. Ellen doesn't bother me. I've always liked Kara. And her eye makeup is spectacular. (Did I just say that? Yep!) Simon seems bored and disgusted with the lack of star power on stage. But he knows how to cut to it and I think he's always right. Rude or not, he's right. Randy is better this year giving more good feedback.

See I did it. I couldn't resist. Will I write again? Maybe. But I'm certainly watching.

Boing boing boing

2010-03-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

Spring is rearing her sleepy head.

Today it climbed to the 60's. And yesterday too. Yippee!
Yesterday we went to the park. Twice. Holla!
The bike tires are aired up. Whoo-aaaa!
We just had a picnic with hard boiled eggs and celery. (My daughter's menu.) Yummo.
I might need to dig out the lawn chairs for the driveway. Mmmmmm.

Boing, boing, boing. This is the sound of me excited. I've got a spring in my step!

2010-02-27T05:23:00.000-08:00

My 5 year-old gets lots of air time. On my blog. On Facebook. I document her quips and silly sayings. My 8 year-old doesn't get much press. And this bothers me. But only a little because I understand why. I really understand it. Nevertheless, I wonder if others notice the difference and might feel I am playing favorites with my kids. Rest assured I am not.

Since I've been thinking about it, and wondering about what you think, here is my explanation.

Life at 4 and 5 years old is pretty freaking hilarious. The things that come out of these young mouths make the weariest parents giggle and forget the mound of dishes accumulating in the sink. When my son was this age, I wrote tons of stories about what he was doing and saying. Remember the "The Kiss" story from his first day of kindergarten. Maybe it's the age, maybe it's the stage of brain development. Hard to say. At this lovely age, the world is still fresh, a child's sense of humor is starting to develop, and she doesn't yet have a hard edge developing against the worlds ills.

It's the age of one liners. Comedians should study youngsters. Their fresh vision and unguarded sensibilities lead to laser like observations and spot-on one liners.

My son cannot be easily summarized. While it's easy to tell you about my daughter's daily gems, my son's are more nuanced. More complex.

For example, we drove through McDonald's last week and he asked me if you have to be Mexican to work at McDonald's. And he didn't ask in a sarcastic, derogatory way. He was asking a serious question. It turned into a discussion about people coming to this country for opportunity, the type of skills needed to work at McDonald's, and the types of wages at fast food restaurants. And my lovely, observant son asked a question that made his mommy very proud. "Can you support a family working at McDonald's?" No you cannot, darling Son, no you cannot.

These types of conversations happen a lot, and it's feels nearly impossible to convey in words his amazing observations, thoughtful probes, and startling conclusions.

Remind me to tell you about the time he told me his feelings about murder because it doesn't seem fair that someone else gets to choose when you die instead of God choosing when your life is over. Ya, that's my son. He was 4 at the time.

I am grateful to live with these very different children. I've probably written this before. My daughter's blessings tend to be right out there for the world to see (and easy to put on Facebook), and my son's are deep and require a stillness to unfold. He needs time and space and the keen observer will be wowed by his intellect and compassion. Not exactly the stuff of Facebook and blogs. Well, probably blogs.

She told me!

2010-02-27T05:06:00.000-08:00

Mother runs to the microwave as a sheet of not yet hot chocolate pours from the microwave door and pools on the stovetop. (Apparently a full jug of milk lying on its side is not a good way to heat up a liquid.)

Young daughter stands in the kitchen watching her mother manhandle the mess and mutters "I guess Dad is the smart one."

Guess so.

The sun is shining...

2010-02-12T06:01:00.000-08:00

This is what blogs are for. A diary of sorts. And I've got to write this down because, knowing me, I won't remember this craziness once the shades come down on the winter of 2010. Plus without pictures who would believe it?

December 2009

We got our first snow in early December, enough to build snow walls in the front yard and end up with a few scrapes from hard snowballs to the face.

Then came December 19. About 2 feet of snow fell from Saturday to Sunday. Our first impulse was to layer up the kids and head to the snow hill on Saturday morning. Mistake. My husband had to go back to get the car. One dog, 6 kids, 3 adults, plus sleds packed in for the ride home, and two dads on inter-tubes were pulled along behind. The kids were crying their fingers were so cold. The snow stuck around a while and we had a white Christmas.

February, 2010
A beautiful 5 inches fell on Tuesday night Feb 2. There was no wind so the fluffy flakes clung to branches, a glorious sight. School was closed on Wednesday which was the same day weathermen started forecasting a big storm for the weekend. Some were saying 2 to 3 feet of snow.

They were right. School was cancelled on Friday as a precaution. The snow started coming down around 3:00. Overnight and into the morning, it snowed 2 to 3 inches per hour - unbelievable to see. By Saturday afternoon, we had about 28 inches of snow piled up (that's a car covered up in the picture above ) and everything was locked down in a white out. We couldn't get out of the alley, our street was a mess, and it took a while for the plows to make their way to us. School was cancelled for the foreseeable future. My husband's company was closed.

But it wasn't over.

The forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday was blizzard like conditions with 6 to 20 more inches of snow possible. We got the high winds and we got more snow, but only 8 more inches. Ya, it's the kind of winter where we say "only 8 inches."

Are we done yet? It's Friday February 12 and the kids have only been to school two days this month. This is my husband's first day in the office this week. And Monday is another vacation day - President's Day.

This winter is going down in the record books. And on this blog!

Book Review - Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

2010-02-11T16:51:00.000-08:00

February Book Club inspired a romance pick. Our hostess chose from Nora Roberts' vast collection. This is not a genre I normally turn to. I'd tried Nora Roberts only once before, but put it down after 5 pages. Too cliche.

After 5 days of blizzard boredom, I decided it was time to get in gear and do something worthwhile. Like read this month's book. And I read it in one day. On the couch by the front window with cold air seeping in from the high winds howling outside. With a great view of towering snow mounds and snow covered pine trees. Most of the time I was curled up in my furry blanket with my two kids and the neighbor's three kids running laps around the house. Occasionally my son would plop down by me and read a few pages of The Deathly Hollows then scoot off again to chase his sister.

I liked this book. Or maybe I should say I liked reading this book in these conditions. It was a fun read, and a great way to spend a snow day.

Cameron Quinn, a jet setting Romeo known for fast boats and fast cars, rushes to his father's side as Ray Quinn lays in bad shape after a car accident. Cameron and other adopted brothers, Ethan and Phillip, gather to hear their father's final wishes - for the men to come together to raise the newest lost boy that Mighty Quinn has taken under his wing, Seth, an angry and sullen 10-year old.

Enter Anna Spinelli, the social worker assigned to assess Seth's situation since Ray Quinn's adoption proceedings are shelved upon his death. Three men, one child, and one hot number (in Miz Spinelli) jumble up for a formulaic, but interesting, read.

I don't want to write much more because it will sound kinda stupid. The plot is pretty predictable. The conflict is not unique. Hot chemistry between Cameron and Anna adds some mild spice. But I found it all quite captivating. Not too predictable to be boring. The characters rich enough to stick with.

Sea Swept was a nice escape from mine own Snowlapalooza!

What would you do?

2010-02-10T05:23:00.001-08:00

What would you be doing if you were stuck in your house for five days buried in snow, with snow end in sight?

Would you be...

organizing your closets
rearranging your daughter's bedroom (she's been begging to put her bed by the window)
getting all the laundry done
and oh ya, decluttering the laundry room, finally getting the empty fish tank and extra curtains off the shelf above the dryer
putting away the Christmas decorations that your husband thought he was putting away in December but he really just stacked them on the storage room floor
doing crafty projects with your kids making colorful objects to hang on the windows
making homemade Valentines cards since you won't be driving to the store any time soon
cooking homemade soup
reading reading reading all the great great books stacked up on the bedside table

Would you be doing those productive and creative things? It feels like that's how I should use this gift of time.

But instead, I am...

playing online solitaire, a lot
barely keeping up with the clutter the kids unleash hourly since they are trapped in the house too with no school in the forecast
looking at all the blizzard photos on my neighbors' Facebook albums because their pictures looks so different than the snow drifting in my yard
watching movies mostly kid stuff that I've seen a thousand times already
working a little, making phone calls, doing an online sale

But mostly I've been playing online solitaire. Someone stop me.

Snowlapalooza

2010-02-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Snowlapalooza. Snowmagadon. It's big, almost too much. Well it is too much.

This Colorado-via-Texas-with-a-pass-through-Missouri gal loves her some snow. I dig it. But dig and dig and dig was all we did this weekend. The snow blew down fast and thick for a day and a half leaving us post-holing through two+ feet of powder not to mention the high drifts. My husband shovelled for 5 hours yesterday creating a tower of snow in our side yard. He was back at it today to get his work car ready to go tomorrow.

Ug.

But it sure is perty out there! It reminds me of winters in the mountains when fresh snow clung to pine boughs and bizarre Dr. Suessian white mounds heaved and balanced in odd formations.

Sledding today was nuts. Big kids carved out several chutes for sliding, and parents pounded down a path so kids could climb back up without fighting hip deep snow. We worked our butts off and had a load of fun.

And more snow is on the way. Six inches mid week. Or more. My mom was scheduled to come visit today. It was to be her first time flying since 9/11. Let's just say she isn't a confident traveler. Yeah, we cancelled her trip. Smart move! We'll wait for warmer temperatures. When will that be?

Did I mention it sure is perty out there!

God and the American Flag

2010-02-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

"Mom, what is more important, God or the American Flag?" my preschooler inquired.

"God is. Why honey?"

"Because at Brother's school, all they do is say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. They don't even talk about God. At my school we get to talk about God all the time and do songs and have shows about God. My school is so much sweeter."

------------------------------------

This from a 5-year-old.

And she's been talking about it with her brother a lot this week. He thinks it's because elementary school students already know about God. You should hear me trying to explain separation of Church and State in language they can understand. Not easy. Not easy.

My spirituality is broad and deep and sustaining. But I haven't incorporated church into my spiritual practice in a long, long time. I've been waiting for something to move me.

And, she just did.

Today she told me she wanted to grow up to be like the guy that comes to the school programs with the white collar and talks about Jesus. The Reverend.

It's time. Even if my husband and son would rather scrape a chalkboard than go to church. Looks like the girls will be getting polished up for a few Sunday mornings.

Things to be thankful for

2010-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

(Besides the obvious stuff. Obviously!)

Snow (Man I love snow).

Dogs that love snow.

Kids that love snow.

And husbands that love it too. (Can you tell it just snowed here? Twice this week. And more is on the way.)

Online solitaire which seems to be the only way to turn my brain off these days, besides sleep. I am snuckered by it.

Dark hair with little gray which means I don't have to spend big bucks on professional coloring.

A few extra dollars to spend on daily fountain diet cokes. Canned soda won't do. Chick-Filet's got good fountain drinks. And Wi-Not-Stop. But not McDonalds. Not enough ice.

Streaming movies on my laptop because there is nothing better on those days when you are sick in bed than watching really bad romance comedies. (And there are lots to choose from.)

Having lived in lots of great states which means there are lots of great states to go back and visit.
Candy hearts.

Red candy too. So happy there is red candy. Like red hots, hot tamales, cherry sours. Does cabarnet count?

NPR. My go to station.

Book clubs. Mine. From three states. They have all been humongously special to me.

And my glorious, ingenius, handy dandy iPod Touch. My husband gave me one for Christmas and I didn't even know what it was. (I've had an iPod nano for two years so I know what an iPod is, but not a Touch.) Now I know. And love it! I don't have the bells and whistles loaded it on it yet. But let's just say this disorganized work from home mom is now so much more organized with an electronic calendar I can carry with me all the time. Love it! Check my email while standing in the kitchen. Love. Thanks honey.

Crockpot 365

2010-01-31T14:53:00.001-08:00

5 inches of snow on the ground.
A pinch of bitter temperatures.
3-day weekend due to teacher inservice on Monday.

Sounds like a crockpot kind of weekend. And where better to find comfort food recipes than right here on good old blogger. Love this site. It's full of inspiration. www.crockpot365.blogspot.com.

Bon appetit!

A little this, a pinch of that

2010-01-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

Finally the weekend and much needed rest after a hard push in my new venture doing facials and makeup consultations. The business is going great, I am having a ton of fun, but I don't think I can sustain this pace. The money is nice though...so very, very nice. It's a huge relief knowing extra income is streaming in. (We just might make it to Disneyland this year!) I set huge goals in January, I met them, and now I am pooped!

My son competed in his second Pinewood Derby this morning. His car was faster this year. The set up was better too so it was easier for the boys to stay engaged during all the heats, not just their own.

My daughter is sick. She's laying beside me on the couch after an afternoon of dry heaves. Poor gal. She will sleep in my bed with me tonight so I can keep an eye on her. Sorry Hubbie, you're out of here..

Snow again. Five inches. Pretty. I was driving in it today (had lots of deliveries to make) and everyone was cautioning me to be careful. Nine years in Denver makes 5 inches in Virginia a walk in the park.

Valentine's Day is coming which means it's time for candy hearts, my favorite candy. But what brand is the real deal? I bought Brach's but they didn't taste right. Too hard. Is it Necco brand that I long for?

The new haircut felt great for two days and now I hate it. I can't style it myself. Why do hairdressers always want to "take out some of this volume." I have the world's thickest hair AND I LIKE IT THAT WAY. Bring on the volume, let the wild hair fly. There must be a chapter in Hair Design 101 that states "thick hair must be tamed, take it down, smooth it out." I've been going to this gal for 16 months and she's good. She usually lets the curls bounce. But every once in a while she gets a wild hair to tame the beast. Do Not Tame This Beast!

I feel like chilling in bed and watching tons of streaming movies, my sick daughter by my side and movies flickering in my bifocals. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - oh ya teen angst in one night on the town. Loved the music and city scene but Michael Cera has zero appeal. Zero. The gal who played Norah was hot though. Quite luscious.

The bangs are good though. The rest of the haircut...not so much...but the bangs are happening.

Plans for tomorrow. None. Doesn't that sound grand? Oh ya!

Up late. Need sleep.

2010-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

When chaotic days threaten to topple me, nightime is my refuge. I should head to bed. But it takes me a while to unwind. Even if I'm harried and befuddled, I need a few hours to numb the brain before I can crash. Between 9 and 11:30 you can find me reading blogs, checking out new pictures on Facebook, surfing bad reality TV, reading. Chilling.

I wish I could slump into bed and let bedbugs overtake me. My husband does. Why does my brain and body work this way? It's frustrating but not sure what I can do about it. Or if I should care.

testing testing 1 2 3

2010-01-18T21:18:00.001-08:00

New blog templates getting a workout. Can't find one I love yet. Tune in next time.

Book Review - The Lace Reader

2010-01-18T05:04:00.001-08:00

A recent query on Facebook asked readers to list their favorite novels of 2009. I jotted down people's responses. It was soooo much fun. Lace Reader popped up on that list and I was interested.

Towner Whitney reluctantly returns to her hometown, Salem, Massachusetts, when her beloved Aunt Eva disappears. Towner lived with Eva for a while as a teenager when Towner's mother May failed to provide a healthy environment out her isolated island. Towner admits she is one of the "unusual" women of Salem, a town long associated with witches and persecution. The women in her family are well known for their mystical ability to read people's fortunes in lace. Towner can do it but she tries not to.

Towner is back in Salem and hates it. This town is the sight of her parental abandonment, her twin sister's suicide 15 years earlier as a teenager, and it is still the stomping ground of Cal Boynton, her brutal uncle who leads the town's religious zealots against the non-Christians. Some believe he is at the heart of Aunt Eva's disappearance.

The story is told mostly through the voice of Towner Whitney, whose real name is Sophya. (She decided to change it when she got mad at her mother as an adolescent). On the first page of the novel, our heroine admits she lies about everything. So reader beware. We also learn that Towner's life spun out of control when her sister died. Towner spent time in a mental hospital, underwent shock therapy and is now figuring out how to piece her life together. A big element of that is staying far away from Salem. Aunt Eva's disappearance threatens to crumble Towner's fragile balance.

I liked this book. Mostly I did. It felt ethereal sometimes, dreamy in a dark way. Several times I felt like the narrative bobbed along on the surface without diving in. The characters are quirky, lovely, and confusing. The storyline is unique, creative, and sometimes bewildering. But the ending is the real shining element. That's where I really appreciated the story line and the author's imagination. I won't spoil it here but I had a fleeting suspicion early on that maybe it would turn out like it did. Really I did. (But you probably won't believe me.)

And my problems with the story...like something big was described from childhood and then just dropped...made sense once the story was over.

It's a fun read. A creative story that in ways reminds me of the mind bender of Audrey Niffenberger's Time Traveler's Wife.

Streppy Sunday Sevensies

2010-01-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

One hour. Thankfully I called the doctor at 3:00pm on Friday and she got me in at 4:00. It's strep. Again. Ouch. I get it a lot but this time I thought it was something different. So glad I went in at the last minute since this will end up being a long weekend with the MLK holiday. Antibiotics to the rescue. Friday and Saturday were brutal. Today is much better.

Two pancake mornings. Hubbie made pancakes Saturday and this morning. I like mine with chocolate chips. Daughter likes hers with syrup. Son with butter. Hubby with butter and syrup, hold the chips. (I have to be pretty darn sick to lose my appetite. It is my constant companion.)

Three kids in our house this weekend. My son's best friend is spending the entire weekend with us. His parent's went skiing - jealous!!! These two boys are like twins separated at birth. They are both smart, polite, slightly nerdy, and creative. They've gotten along all weekend without bickering or outbursts. They sit on the couch together with feet intertwined playing DS, legos and obsessing about Star Wars. Ahhh, to be 7.

Four movies. We let the boys go crazy with movies. Two Star Wars. Up. The Incredibles.

Five games played this weekend (which was mostly cold and rainy.) Solitaire. Chess with our young guest. A simplified version of Bananagrams with the boys. United States puzzle (does that count as a game? Let's just go with it.) And hours of DS. (That shouldn't count.) Board games were the only way I could contribute to the boy's festival of togetherness.

Six more times I need to express gratitude for my grand husband who not only took great care of me and the kids but did it with a lovely smile and much finesse.

Seven o'clock. The time I plan to crawl into bed tonight and watch another Netflix streaming movie. It's a great era in which to be sick. You get to curl up in your covers, stream cool movies on your computer and chill. Totally chill.

42

2010-01-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

Forty-Two.

A four and a two.

4 + 2 = 6. Six hairs that grow in weird places on my face (but thankfully not from the tip of my nose. Yet.)

4 - 2 = 2. Two sizes bigger after two kids.

42 is the new 27. (Whaaaaa?)

Two young couples on either side of my husband and me at the bar on Dupont Circle last week. We sipped cocktails and eavesdropped on their conversations. The tall blond on my left talked nonstop about himself while his ponytailed friend looked trapped. The fast talking guy on my right advised his friend to "find her passion" and "do what she loves." One woman in the middle, me, was relieved to be past that kind of bar banter.

Happy Birthday Me.