Yep. Pinkeye.

Yeah. I'm gonna try not to declare my health anymore. On the heels of my last post, I contracted Pink Eye. I was going to write about it at the time, but each time I tried to compose something, it just came out a bunch of profanity. I gave it up as a bad job.

Went to taiko last night, and did my best, which was sometimes spectacularly crappy, but sometimes nearly accurate. I'm still playing catch up. I have hopes that I'll at least get back to my usual level of proficiency, even if it was never that great. I was excited to learn Matsuri Taiko left-handed. Whee!

Wanna hear a weird little story? Well, we were going to take the dogs to have their toe nails clipped just before Christmas, since we were taking them to Josh's mom's house with us. Unfortunately, I started doing the vomit thing, and Josh can't take both of them alone. (You will recall, of course, that Callie came to us very VERY not leash trained.) The toenail event was rescheduled for yesterday. All four of us, plus the two dogs, went to Wentzville in the truck. At Petsmart, Jake was more well behaved even than usual, and Callie was bonkers. She pulled, and wandered, and wrapped Josh up in the leash. She was awful during the clipping, too. I had told Josh that I wanted to get her a harness. She's going to pull, anyway, we might as well not have to worry about strangling her, on top of everything else. After checking out, we put Callie in the harness. What do you think happened? She walked sweetly and quietly out to the car, without even pulling! Darn those Humane Society girls! I asked them specifically if she had been walked with a harness and they said they had done both! They could have mentioned that she did infinitely better with the harness. But it was funny. And I just love it when you purchase something and know right away that it was a good idea.

About the "truck": During this recent cold, the fuel gauge froze and broke. We now use the tripometer to determine if it's nearing time to add gas to the car. And did I ever tell you that the locks broke? It's a beaut'.

Been watching Firefly with Josh. I like it. That Captain Hammer can actually act. Anyway, lots of lovable characters. And now I must watch Serenity again.

Today we are going to do some cleaning. This is good. All this squalor is getting very stifling. I think we're also going to remove the Christmas decorations.

I want to go out. I have several invitations, even. But it's looking like I will have to decline. Josh is still working second shift. Still working Thurs - Monday. He's working New Year's Eve (and day, too). I was going to go to my mom's for her New Year's party, but Josh will be getting back home right at midnight, and it doesn't seem nice. I've also declined another invitation already, but didn't say either way to our neighbors down the street. Maybe that's a good compromise? But I shudder at the thought of hauling the kids down the block without help. Really none of these are the "out" that I want to go, anyway.

Well, enough about me. What did you think of 2010? I keep trying to remember, but it's hard to get past knowing I've been sick since my birthday. I think it was good. Josh got his new job this year. Can that be? Wow. It's only been 7 months. Seems like forever. Grant started Kindergarten. We got Callie. We went to Colorado to see Brother.

Next year, I hope to be in better shape and better health. I also want to learn a little conversational Japanese so that when our visitors come from Osuwa Taiko, I can be somewhat of a help. I plan to start working after they return to Japan, so I am hoping for good things from that, too. I hope Abbie likes school when she starts in the fall. Before that, though, I hope the swimming lessons go better than last year.

Next year, I hope the country can finally turn it's head to education, and that something sensible can be done about health provision. I hope people can be a little bit more considerate, without stalking around in high dudgeon, ranting at people who do not/cannot/will not consider their every feeling above his/her own. It's getting ridiculous what people think is their due, versus what they think is their duty. I also think we need to clean house in congress and get rid of pretty much everyone and start over. Grudge matches are the opposite of productive. Next year, I hope we can take the fashion industry far, far away from the 1980's. I made plenty of jokes about it yesterday, but 80's clothes were unprecedentedly ugly. There is really no reason to re-visit them. Oh, and I want to not hear about any movie and it's record breaking ticket sales, unless they are factoring in the fact that the price of tickets keeps increasing.

That wasn't great, but I was very distracted. It's getting very busy here.

And now....let the housecleaning begin. Hugs to you all! I hope your day is a good one!!

Merry!

I'M NOT SICK! Hold your applause, please.

It's true, though. I am healthy! Now all I have to do is get the smoke out of my house, and all will be well.

Merry Christmas to all who observe. And to those of you who do not: Happy snowy Saturday in late December! Today was good. Unpleasantness was minimal, and cute moments plentiful. Life is good.

Yesterday we spent the morning at Josh's mom's house. My color wasn't quite right, but I was able to eat, so that made me happy. Besides, nobody is interested in what I look like, anyway. The food was good, and we got leftovers, which made me happy. Plus, we were given presents, too. Very generous of everyone, and we are grateful. I now welcome any crock pot recipes!

Josh left to go to work in the snow, and then we left somewhat later. The weather was kind of weird. It really didn't get bad until very near our exit, so I'm not sure if any of my friends were inconvenienced by it. Our neighborhood was actually quite scary, but we made it. Then, I unloaded the car, put the dogs in the back and the kids in the front and shoveled the driveway. then, Grant and Abbie made a snowman. He was funny. He kind of looked like a blob of whipped cream with eyes. Some neighbors came by, and we threw snowballs until we started to get cold, then it was inside to the hot chocolate!

After a dinner of leftover ham, we set out stockings and cookies. Santa got good cookies this year (if only my tummy had been better, I could have shared some): Pepridge Farm Veronas, my oatmeal toffee ones, a few that the kids decorated, and selections from Sara Pelikan's cookies.

At Josh's house, Santa always took one bite of each cookie and left the rest. Have you ever heard of anything so wasteful, bad mannered and ridiculous? At my house, he left suspiciously large crumbs, and thank you notes.

The kids ran out about 5 something, after we were accidentally awakened by something falling in Grant's room. Grant is now the proud owner of lots of Bakugan, and lots of Bionicles (among other things) and Abbie has dolls of all shapes and sizes, including a Rapunzel Barbie from the movie Tangled. Josh actually liked the wireless networking adapter I got for him, and we've already watched Ponyo, and How to Train Your Dragon (twice).

Josh left around 1, armed with brownies and bacon smokies for the Christmas Feast at work. Before that, we had our steaks. Josh didn't get the kind I wanted, and the ones he got instead were super fancy ($$), so I asked if he wanted to sear them for me. (This is because I am to fragile to lug the huge cast iron pan around. Plus, he just likes it.) The preparations seemed in order. Then, when the time came, large billows of gray smoke flowed from the kitchen, and set off several of our smoke detectors. At least I don't have to worry about the batteries being dead. It would seem that Josh marinated the meat in Yoshidas without ever saying so. For those of you who don't know, Yoshidas is an Asian style sauce that is high in sugar, which you don't really want to put directly onto a hot surface...because it burns.

In the past few hours, I've been scrubbing all the kitchen surfaces, trying to get out the smell. I've had the windows open a lot, too. The meat tasted really good, despite a bit of charring, but I won't be able to eat it after smelling it all day and night. Good thing I didn't wear myself out cleaning for "Santa" last night, eh?

I got tabisocks in my stocking!!!! So, naturally, there is no taiko tomorrow morning. Oh, well, it's probably just as well I wait until Tuesday to show them off, with my delicate immune system. But I am currently NOT sick. (Whee!)

Tomorrow is Boxing Day, otherwise known as the Feast of Stephen. Will you be taking anything to Goodwill? We aren't doing it tomorrow, but are planning our "boxing" for next week. The actual purging of un-needed items, etc., might actually happen on a nicer day, but the collecting and boxing part is scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday.

Okay, I'm not procrastinating this deep look into the past year and the future one, but it is now time to put Grant and Abbie to bet with their haul. I wish for you the happiest of Christmas nights. Sing and rejoice!

I love Christmas carols...

Are you kidding me?

Yesterday was the first day that I really felt alright. I wasn't over the infections, but I could feel myself just starting to feel better. I was so excited about taiko, but nervous, too. I warned Andrew that I might get tired and have to sit out....but I never really did! I made it all the way through practice, even though we started with the 6-minute drill. I got a blood blister, so I didn't wear Gran's fancy gloves home, but I was still very cheerful.

When I woke up this morning, I wasn't very sore, either. I did have a headache, though. Yesterday I started to really catch up on my Christmas cards, and I thought today I might do some more, and a load of laundry. Then, the plan was to eat out, get Grant a very belated haircut, and take the dogs to have their toenails clipped.

Instead, I started throwing up just after lunch.

One sickness to another, I guess. I don't know why I bother to be crushed. I should be expecting it, at this point. Crushed I was, nonetheless, and Abbie and I are staying home, while the boys eat out and get haircuts. The dogs will have to wait for me to feel better, sadly.

Abbie had a great time at dance on Monday. There are presents under the Christmas tree. On the whole, life is pretty okay. And now Grant is done with school until January, so I don't have to be too worried about the weather. Well, except for the sakes of my traveling friends and family. (Be safe!!)

Well...on that note, I shall go lie down. Love to you all. You can tell me your aspirations for 2011 if you want, but I'm not playing today. Maybe next time, though.

5 Days and Counting

Weekend is over. Not that it felt like a weekend. Thursday did, though. Josh was home all day, and Grant was snowed out of school. Josh worked his new schedule Friday and yesterday, and is there today. I don't really know what he thinks, yet.

Me and the kids made snowmen out of construction paper. I helped with detail stuff, but they were largely on their own. And now they are having hot dogs and fruit and goldfish crackers for dinner (don't scoff, we had fillet mignon for lunch, so there!) and I'm having Jello, because my throat is still swollen. So much ouch. But I have the feeling that I might start getting better tomorrow. That's good, because I couldn't swallow my fancy lunch, so I had to put it in the fridge.

To appease your curiosity, the meat was on sale at the butcher. We also got Josh some Krakow, which was very, very not on sale.

OW! (Just yelled at the dog.)

We are watching Frosty the Snowman, in honor of our recent creations.

Josh went this morning to help our friend Johnny move into his new house. All our friends are moving into fancy houses. This one came with 3 acres. I didn't see it, though. Me and the kids and dogs stayed home. I saw Josh for about 20 minutes for lunch, and then he went off to work. No fun for the sicky.

Christmas approaches. Are the people around you starting to get a crazed look in the eye? Just asking. Christmas may be ridiculous, but I'll tell you one thing: no one would be out there putting money back into the economy for any less reason, with all this cold weather. But that doesn't mean I like the way Christmas is presented. I feel like the kid in the old cartoon, "I'll eat it...but I won't like it!!"

Tomorrow is a school day. We have three of those, this week. I'm not really sure what this week is going to be like, actually. I think we are going back to the butcher at some point, and then Grant will be off on Thursday, and Friday we will go to Josh's mom's house. Josh will have to leave at 1 to go to work. I'd like to leave in time to make it home before dark. I wonder how easy that would be. Not very, I'd imagine.

And what will I do on Christmas Day after Josh leaves? At one point, I had decided to grab a neighbor or two and go caroling. Doesn't that sound kind of nice? Well, the swollen throat thing is making that pretty impossible. That reminds me, I had wanted to go to Herman this December to see the carolers there...but this was the last weekend before Christmas. Maybe next year, if I'm not sick again. Jenn would go with me, wouldn't you, Jenn?

Next time, perhaps we should discuss highlights of 2010, and our personal and world hopes for 2011. Start thinking. This will be on the exam. Oh - pardon my joke. Some of you might be a touch sensitive to the word "exam" at this time of year.

Well, I don't know what time it says I wrote this, but many minutes have escaped while the writer was a-writing. I need to supervise some brushing of teeth and tuck in some tired children. It is a school night, after all.

Hoping that all is well in your heart and home. Take care, and wash your hands often!

December Snow Days

I thought, since my sinuses were much less painful, and my ears might actually be normal again, that after a night's sleep, I would wake up today very much on the road to recovery. Instead, I was feverish last night, and don't really know how I am today, but it sure doesn't feel better. Especially not in the throat area.

I'm still a slacker with the Christmas greetings. If your last name ends with the letter G or anything past it alphabetically, I haven't got to you yet. If it starts with A-F and you haven't heard from me, that means I don't have your correct address. Here is a complication: I found a box of real cards. Should I still continue with the home-made ones?

Today is the second of two snow days in a row. Well, this being Missouri, they are actually ice days. You can skateboard on my driveway without a skateboard. Well, as long as you are wanting to go down hill.

Wow. My throat is ballooning again. It makes me dizzy.

Here's something I've been thinking about: When was the last time you heard of someone having a still birth? Two of my friends were put through this misery, and both this week. My heart bleeds for them! And here comes the problem: What is the correct thing to do when informed of a couple's infant child not surviving past delivery?

In times past, if a friend failed to write a letter of condolence when you experienced a loss in the family, that person was dropped from your acquaintance. It was just the custom; when someone you knew lost a family member, you wrote a letter. You knew what to do. It was kind, but it was also expected. But America is not like that. We've abandoned a lot of customs that were in place to insure the relative comfort of all in sticky situations. Now I find myself in a situation where I am supposed to consider the delicate feelings of grieving parents, which includes not being able to politely bring up the subject to find out what would be most appreciated, just in case what would be appreciated is not re-opening the wound by bringing up the subject. I am left, in one case, to the practice of asking my mom to ask her best friend what she thinks her daughter would like done or not done in the situation, and then waiting to hear back from her. The whole thing is uncomfortable and awkward in addition to being painfully sad.

Americans are experts at making easily navigable situations into awkward ones. How about this one: A gentleman walks through the door. There is someone behind him, and he pauses to hold the door. Then, he sees that the person is female. Now he has a small stroke as he mentally runs around like a chicken with his head cut off out of terrible fear that the woman, whom he was merely trying to consider, will be offended that he held the door for her. "Why couldn't it have been a 95 year old man with his arms full of shopping bags?" Men don't seem offended when I hold the door for them, if they are immediately behind me as I go through it. Why is the reverse true? (Not that I personally have ever been offended when someone was trying to do me a no-strings-attached kindness.) It would seem that customs of all sorts are considered Politically Incorrect these days. It saddens me. Most of them are designed to avoid offence, not create it. A little bit of tolerance is required by the recipients of these politenesses for them to function as intended. People around here just want to be offended. So they are.

Today is Josh's first day on his new shift.

Nearly done with the photo DVD. I printed out a sample and found a few mistakes. I think they've been corrected, but I haven't done another sample yet.

It looks like more bad weather is scheduled for Monday. Very depressing. This week has been a little depressing. Illness...inclement weather...death....

At least there's no shortage of chicken soup, here.

I wasn't feeling too great, but I was going to go to taiko anyway last night, until Josh fell down going to warm the car up. Then I was informed that it wasn't safe enough and to stay home. I almost argued, but it was good advice, so I didn't. Besides, I was to tired and sick to argue....much.

It's been really, REALLY hard being home with the kids yesterday and today. I can't count how many times I've said, "Don't pick your nose. Get a Kleenex," or, "Don't grab. Ask nicely," or, "We don't talk like that. If you can't say it nicely, don't say it," or, "No climbing. You're too big for that," or, "Leave the dog alone," or, "What did I just tell you?!?!!" All my friends are telling me to get rest. HA!

Oh. I didn't have the chance to tell you. Monday night I was at dance with Abbie, and while I was sitting with a book out in the parents' waiting room, one of the other girls' grandmother struck up a conversation with me. While we were talking, she actually told me that I should read books for a living! She said that once I was reading a book to "some little boys" (that would be Grant and Keegan) and it was so interesting that even though she was in another room, the grandmother stopped what she was doing to listen. Is it a sign? My secret ambition is to read books on tape, you know. (Although, obviously, not a very well kept one.) If you have any sort of clue how one embarks on this sort of career, please let me know. So far, my best idea is to attempt to get the local radio station to allow me to read a few commercials for experience. But I still don't have any idea of a next step after that.

Have you seen a movie called Mumford? It's cute. We also saw Public Enemy the other day, but didn't find it enjoyable, really. The acting was incredibly good, of course, and the costumes, scenes and weapons were exactly to period. The plot was...seeming to lead somewhere, but didn't ever make a definite point. It raised a few proposed Meanings, but never actually supported anything. And there was very nearly character development, but then not. There weren't enough face shots in the beginning to even get a good bearing of who was on which team, but otherwise the camera editing was decent. One of my biggest problems was with the Christian Bale character, Agent Purvis. He's very into his work, and very bent on catching the bad guy. When urged, he is completely ruthless and cares nothing for the collateral damage his manhunts cause. In the end, we have no reason to suspect that his heart is changing (or shockingly little), but then in the ending credits we are informed that he resigned a year later and eventually "took his own life" to quote Andrew's favorite suicide phraseology. I'm all for characters surprising you, but during the movie, please, not after. Grr. We also saw Plunket and Macleane. It was actually pretty good, too. Squalid, vulgar, gruesome at times, and the characters can miraculously shoot accurately with pistols that were not accurate themselves, but otherwise a decent film, and even grimly funny.

Well, as much as I would like to say more, I'm starting to feel pretty un-well. But I do hope that all is well where you are, and that you are happy and healthy. If you have some tender thoughts to spare for my friends who lost babies, I would be grateful. I think of them often, with a heavy heart. I would so like to send flowers. Then again....

Oh, and it's the weekend for some. Have a good weekend!

Winter Illnesses and Winter Clothes

My back doors are frozen shut. Both of them. I tried thawing the upstairs one with a hair dryer, but so far no luck.

As an update, my Infected Head is progressing, I think my ear is finally better, but the throat infection is stubborn, and hasn't improved yet. Sinuses are...a little bit improved, but far from "better". No sleep again last night.

Did I tell you that we bought Ponyo for Abbie for Christmas? Well, when I went to put it in the bag with the others, I couldn't find it. I looked and looked and took everything out of the corner and tried to look behind the night stand and dresser. I was really starting to get worried. Then I remembered some liquid motion toys I'd bought in the summer and intended to save some as stocking stuffers. Ponyo was in with them. I probably moved the box 6 times during the search without ever having opened it, since I "knew" what was in there. So, it took 3 days, but Ponyo has been found, and is now in a more reasonable place.

I bought Josh some stocking stuffers, finally. I actually have enough presents to wrap a few and get them under the tree.

Grant has a sinus infection, too. I'm not sure about Abbie.

Abbie has dance tonight. Wish she had a long sleeved leotard, but she doesn't. You know, I may have said that her Observation Night was "cute", but I'm not sure I was telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I'm actually horrified at the sorts of "dance" they are teaching the Pre-dance class. Lots of gyrating and "shake it". Is this just what happens when two 15 year old girls teach the class? And here's poor Abbie wanting me to teach her the steps to The Nutcracker in classical ballet (which, in case you couldn't tell, I don't know).

Saturday was when we got all the weather. Rain first, and then cold wind and snow. This is actually a tad unusual for Missouri. Usually we get rain that turns into snow. The subtle difference is very important. Rain that turns into snow turns into sleet and ice right in between, but rain that stops and then begins as snow is much safer for driving. Except for the wind. It was extremely windy, and so cold that the snow blew across the street like sand. It was safer Saturday, though, than yesterday when I went to buy groceries. I slid all over the place on the slush, and my fingers took hours to thaw, even though I had gloves.

GLOVES! My wonderful and sweet grandmother has gifted me all her remaining gloves! My mother and I both have the same sized hands as when she was in her 20's and 30's. Gran can't wear the gloves anymore, so they were passed on to me. I'd tell you about them, but I might drool. Oh, why not? I'll get a handkerchief. They were bought in Spain (with, I believe, two exceptions) when the husbands were assigned there. My grandfather and two of his good friends bought lots and lots of gloves for their wives....at 5 dollars a pair. Isn't that incredible? Gran says she used to have colored ones, but doesn't know what happened to them. I got the remaining blacks, whites and browns. (Suits me!) There were 8 pair of 4 button gloves, two pair of 8 button, and two pair of 18 button, one with musketeer, and one without. Several of them were in beautiful, soft leather. I've been wearing a little cloth pair of 4 button black. This morning I wore them and put knit mittens over them and was still freezing, but when it's 3 degrees and dark out, there isn't much more that one can do.

It was so cold at the bus stop. And Grant doesn't have any boots this year.

At the party on Saturday, I was asked what sort of job I'm going to get next year. I said I didn't know. As if that wasn't pathetic enough, I was then asked, "Well, when you were in school, what job did you want your degree for?" Did I mention that I have an English degree? It sucks to be me.

In my next life, I'm going to be a beautiful and charming polymath, noble, scrupulous, wise beyond my years and extremely talented in music and athletics.

I'm not going to feel any better for several more days, so I don't know why I'm still putting off cookie baking and card writing. I'll try and get motivated, but I am making no promises! This weather is really not of the motivating sort.

I wonder why Josh isn't home yet.

I wish you all a successful day. Stay warm, if at all possible!

Medicine Head

Ha, ha, ha! I had all the answers a minute ago. Let me tell ya'! My brain contained the How To Behave Your Whole Life manual for everyone from the President down! But I'm on cold meds. So...it's gone. Woops.

I'm quite offended just now, actually. See, I'm still sick. In fact, I'm getting worse and worse. This could, if not controlled, escalate into a man cold. No sleep for me last night. But...though rest is what I need, I am not allowed to have it anymore. Because (some of you have already guessed, I am sure) Josh has caught the cold. He has to work overtime tonight, so I am kicked out of my room. Hope I have everything I need. I think I'm going to start keeping a spare toothbrush in the hall bathroom.

Maybe I'm only slightly offended.

I still have things on my Wednesday list that aren't done. Fortunately, they are both cooking chores. I'm going to try to redeem myself by getting at least one of the items made today. The cookies might have to wait, though. I'm also behind on laundry, but when am I not, these days?

There were emergency vehicle sirens this morning. Lots of them. From about 6 to nearly 7:30. I tried to find out what was going on, but there isn't really a way to look online for news that is happening in Warrenton. There were a few things going on today in other places, but nothing that made me think I'd found the reason for what I heard.

Abbie wants a skating party on her birthday. Well, the weekend after, anyway. I'm looking into it, and there is just a lot more to consider than I ever thought about.

Did I mention that my Brother had a job interview? He's waiting to see if they make him an offer. Also, my mom has been offered several teaching positions, now that Columbia College offers an English degree, but she is waiting to see if her other job can afford take her on permanently.

DVD project is coming along. I have 4 slide shows made, am finishing selecting photos for the last one, and then I just have to make a menu screen, add the videos and put it all together.

It looks like my neighbors are digging up one of their big pine trees today. I wonder why they picked today to do it? They're going to want the wind break over the winter, aren't they? And it was perfectly healthy. And they chopped all the branches off first, so I know they don't want it as a Christmas tree...

Wow. I'm dizzy. I think the couch is calling me.

Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of Eggnog! Ew. Don't like Eggnog.

Dear Panera Bread baked potato soup from Costco, wheat bagel, and 3 decadent Lil' Smokies sausages,

I adore you. You were the best lunch ever - almost too good to eat! (Almost.) I shall never forget the moments we shared. Thank you for brightening my life.

-Me

Guess what I have!

If you guessed from the following list, then you are correct. All other answers are either incorrect, or not really interesting enough to make the list.

a. A sore throat.
b. 2 pairs of socks on my feet. (one pair are knee socks, one ankle)
c. A summons to jury duty next week.
d. Taiko tonight
e. A stack of Christmas stationary that is not depleting as fast as I'd hoped, but is underway.
f. A sleeping husband.
g. Three shirts on.
h. A full tummy and a happy smile.

Abbie's dance class had Observation Night last night. It was cute. Abbie seems reasonable attentive, but less coordinated than I had originally thought. And she does things at the wrong speed. We should practice at home, now that I know what to do. I took some video clips for the Annual photo DVD.

Speaking of which, I am WAY behind on that this year. Woops! I'm actually behind on everything. I have no presents for Josh, no stocking stuffers, and Grant's present has been decided on, but not purchased. Not to mention the list of mandatory presents for Josh's family.

Grant is eating school lunch for the first time today. He's all excited. Pretty awesome, considering that his mommy dropped the ball on making lunch and didn't notice until we were getting coats on! Two years from now, he'll be rolling his eyes and fussing at me. But not today! Today he thinks that hot lunch is an adventure.

I'm secretly on a quest for a women's' shirt that is neither a turtleneck nor leaves 4-ish inches of upper chest exposed to the elements. I want a nice, warm, still girlie looking (as opposed to digging in Josh's shirt drawer), crewe neck, wintertime shirt! Why is that so difficult to come by? The only choices I've found are large, shapeless and unflattering, or have a neckline heavily depending on my scarves being ultra warm.

So, I guess I haven't mentioned that Josh's schedule is changing in two weeks. Unless you are Rosemary and have taiko in the evenings, it's really not so bad. Josh would make breakfast for the kids, and put them on the bus, but would be gone in the evenings. They would have to give up watching Star Wars while Abbie and I are at dance, because Josh would be gone, and Grant would be coming with me. The unconfirmed upside would be Josh having weekends off. Well, we'll see if it happens, first. There are lots of "if"s and "hopefully"s involved, but the suggested plan is that a few weeks after he has changed schedules, Josh will become the Lead for that shift. Then, next time a Lt. job opens up, they can give it to Josh, and all looks correct on paper. I've said it before, but.....we'll see.

So, right before Christmas, let's assign Rosemary for Jury Duty, at the same time that we take Josh's "at home during business hours" schedule away, causing Rosemary to wonder who on Earth can watch Abbie while she is off dispensing justice? Not to mention someone to watch her kids while she goes off to play taiko. Is this starting to sound familiar to anyone else? Geh.

But if that's the worst news I've got, it's not such a bad year, eh? And the soup helped my sore throat very much.

I think I'm going to have to find a new source for news. Surely there is something more important than What Holiday Specials Say About You going on today. Besides, I read it and it was stooooooooopid.

I wonder if I will get a fancy surprise package in the mail today. I don't have a magic 8 ball, but I'm guessing that if I did, it would be saying, "Don't count on it."

I'm so happy that it's a sunshiny day! Because 20 degrees is just so depressing when it's overcast. :P

So many possibilities!

When faced with a bowl of Lucky Charms, you could:

1. Eat the cereal, just like you eat any other cereal.

2. Eat all the oat pieces first, then giggle maniacally at the prospect of eating a bowl full of colored marshmallows.

3. Pick a color, perhaps your favorite, and eat both oat and marshmallow pieces while avoiding the Chosen Color, until then end, when no other colored marshmallows exist.

4. Eat your least favorite colored marshmallow first, so as to not have it bother you while you finish your cereal.

5. Eat all the broken and mal-formed marshmallows first, then admire your soggy, but aesthetically perfect cereal before finishing it (as long as you are not too squeamish).



The halls are decked, dearies! So far the new dog has not eaten any ornaments, although her tail is strategically placed for batting them off the tree in fits of joy. Letters to Santa are next on the list!

Made brown sugar cookies yesterday and used my collection of cookie cutters. As can be expected, some turned out better than others.

I've been browsing Sockdreams.com. *drool!*

Had the tilapia with some of the famous family Swiss Green Bean Casserole. It's Josh's favorite, and since he wasn't with me at Thanksgiving, hadn't had any yet this year. Abbie only ate the cornflakes off the top, but otherwise it was a success! Everyone ate the fish, and I was even asked if there was more.

The computer is finally backed up, and I even am almost done with the Christmas picture for "cards". I'm going to add a border and print it out.

Hope you are feeling festive!

Food and Shopping

I'm not sore from taiko last night!! HA!

A horrible thing has happened. I bought a gigantic jar of Nutella. So you should all come over right away and have wheat bagels with Nutella before I eat it all and have to buy an entirely new wardrobe of mu mus. Actually, I am considering using it for some of the Christmas parties I'm going to as icing for cupcakes or brownies. Thoughts?

And speaking of cupcakes, poking Hershey kisses into yellow cake mix cupcakes is not really that special. I recommend just eating the kisses. I was going to bring the results of our experiment to taiko if they had turned out spectacular, but they were just kind of "eh".

I am disproportionately excited about the breaded tilapia we got at Costco. I like fish occasionally, but my mom doesn't. Even though she doesn't even eat dinner (she prefers a late lunch around 2 or 3), my mother doesn't cook anything she doesn't like, and I never learned to make fish because of it. I'm one of those people who likes to watch first, and then try something, unless it is a big casserole, which are not hard to get right. So, yay for the sample ladies.

I spilled hot tea down my neck trying to get into the car when my back wasn't good. I don't recommend.

Ooo! I'm going to put on the documentary about Ireland that we checked out from the library the other day.

Santa is going to bring Abbie a bumblebee pillow pet, and Grant the How to Train Your Dragon movie. And Mommy and Daddy are going to get (have already got, in fact) the movie Ponyo for Christmas, and Grant will be getting 2 Bionicles. Now, what should I get for Josh?

It's cold out. Very. I'm going to have to get my red teas out, because zillions of blankets aren't helping much at night. I wasn't always such a weenie. I don't know what I'll do when I'm old. I shall be forced to move back to Yuma!

This documentary is GREAT! It's the Destination Travel Guide: Ireland. Produced in 2003 and narrated/hosted by Ian Wright. He's slightly irritating, but not too bad for one of these. You should check it out from your library. I think I'll watch it now.

Happy Friday to you!

False Friends

First off, I'm cold, and I'm annoyed that my back didn't recover yet. I didn't do anything, took Motrin, slept on a real bed...but it's still hurting. And there is one other thing, too. Why should I waste affection on people who really don't give a shit about me?

I know that I once said that someone doesn't need to love you back for you to love them. However, that is assuming that the object of your affection is in some way worthy. But if you've been wasting thoughts and cares and worry and real, loyal, Love on a person who doesn't even count you among his/her friends and is also the kind of person you wouldn't waste time on if you first met them - it's still not too late. Maybe your love is based on experiences so far in the past that they no longer apply to either of you. (We are certainly not who we were in high school - none of us.) Or maybe you loved the person for someone else's sake. Whatever the reason, it's an act of foolishness to be so emotionally involved with someone who really shouldn't rate more than basic cordiality.

I plan to only make real effort for those of my acquaintance who truly enjoy and value me. And if you can't somehow let me know that you are on that list, then demotion is your return. Vague fondness will replace true interest.

Sorry. That wasn't meant to be addressed to you personally. (Although a note to say hello wouldn't hurt.) The people to whom that was directed don't actually read it. Well, I would be surprised, anyway. Come to think of it, though, I really don't know who does. Besides the people who write back, I mean. (Love you, Trish!!)

Yeah. I guess the part of having friends who have always been talented and clever and beloved is that you automatically become the material for comparison...and then you don't compare. The un-beautiful one. The un-smart one. The un-talented one. The un-sweet one. The un-clever one. The un-charming one. The un-impressive one. Geez! Why do any of you speak to me at all?? :P

Anyway, let's drink a toast to old friends who really are where they should be....in the background. It may sound pretty unlike me. It sounds horrible and cold, actually. But I feel like a cartoon character pouring out heartfelt friendship on everyone and receiving nothing but falseness and an occasional poorly concealed laugh behind my back. I will save it, instead, for people like Dave.

Dave thought he couldn't have kids, so when his wife got pregnant, they were through the roof! But she lost it. Their second pregnancy seemed to go okay, until they found an umbilical cord defect, and spent the entire second half worrying about whether the baby would live. To everyone's relief, she did. Now Dave's wife is expecting again...but there are even worse problems this time, and an equally bad, and more certain outlook. For this couple, I am wishing a normal, happy, comfortable pregnancy, complete with a completely healthy and happy infant at the end of it. Nothing in my whole life seems the least bit inconvenient when I think of what they have faced, what they are now facing.

I have no attention to waste on the self absorbed and the immature.

I think Thanksgiving was difficult for my mother in a lot of ways. She's been working two jobs, and has been very frustrated and tired. She also is still no longer smoking. Thanksgiving is an occasion when even her brothers who don't normally smoke bum cigarettes off each other. Not having "been there", I can only speculate on how agonizing that must be.

I'm not buying Christmas cards this year..I'm making them. I drew some sketches, and am going to mail them as cards. Nothing spectacular, sadly, but adequate, I guess. And the price is right.

Also, I wrote a little note with pictures that "Callie" is sending to the Humane Society she lived at. Usually I think that notes from animals is a little too cutesy, but I figured it was the appropriate thing to these particular girls and in this particular situation.

I miss my real friends. I feel very isolated out here. And I don't have that proud love of my house anymore. It has been abused by Josh and by the kids, and the yard treated neglectfully and it shows. I spent a lot of energy and trouble making it look nice, but the only one who thought that was worth protecting was me. And wasn't it bad luck that we bought it mere months before the housing market fell through! Now, even if we moved, we could only afford a much worse house. To make up for all that...you should come and visit.

I should cheer up. I am cranky. But I won't be able to play much taiko tonight. And when I decided I would make coffee cake to make me feel all better, it occurred to me that I can't bend to get it in and out of the oven. CURSES! I am thwarted.

Wanna hear something weird? Josh's cousin posted pictures online of a friend's new baby. And that baby is my neighbor. No kidding!!! It's the family who lives across from the bus stop. We like them a lot. I was going to visit the new baby, but it was born right as I was getting strep. Josh's cousin doesn't live in the area, but I'm hoping that this will make for a fun topic of conversation at Mandatory Christmas No. 2.

Josh's family was asking about Christmas ideas, and I said, "Why don't we all just bring food and board games! My kids don't need anything." So, at Thanksgiving they decided that everyone must bring a white elephant gift, and draw one name per family member (even the kids this year) with a dollar amount to also buy gifts for. And bring food. Conversely, my mom and dad and brother are meeting with my aunt and uncle in Texas for Christmas.

I had the idea of a Christmas tea. Instead of doing any of that other stuff, my house will be open on one day from 3:30 - 7:00 and I will provide treats, healthy and unhealthy, cider, juice and tea. Those who are really interested in seeing us will come. No gifts will be exchanged. Games will be played on a voluntary basis, and Christmas music will be played. I have every intention of implementing it. Maybe next year, even. You are invited.

Well, I can't make coffee cake, but I do have a few slices of cinnamon bread left that I can reach. That sounds almost as good. Things are looking up!

Wow! It's cold out there. I wish you all warm beverages and an easy day.

Sunday, yawning.

I am so exhausted on so many levels, I'm not surprised that I've been a touch emotional this morning. I don't mean that I've been weepy, but for such a short time, I have experienced quite a range of them.

This weekend really deserves the "Long Version", but as I said....I'm tired. It starts, I guess, with me being worried about the weather.

Monday, I babysat Izzy and Alivia for the last time, Josh worked overtime and Grant joined me and Abbie at dance. Grant played with Keegan, and there was a new girl whose mother...bothers me, but I can't quite put my finger on it. She's....hard. That's the best I can do. She's a type, but I don't have a word for it. There weren't many kids at dance that day, but the good news is that Abbie's tap shoes came in. And...it was rainy. When I got Grant from the bus stop that afternoon, Abbie and I got soaked to the skin on any part that wasn't directly covered by the giant umbrella. I was a puddle from the knee down, and my hair curled itself. When we went in and out of dance, though, it was only a light rain, and nothing too serious.

Tuesday was my performance. I left to get Michelle before Grant was even home, and we performed at Oak Hill Elementary school. I enjoyed it, I guess. I was a little sorry that the audience was as small as it was. There were maybe 25 or so kids, and fewer parents. The teachers, though, were enjoying the show just as much as anyone else, and that made me happy. Plus, there were sandwiches left over from the meeting and we were given them as we were packing up. It was wonderful.

Wednesday I had planned to cook, but after talking to my grandmother (She called to ask which way my Aunt was driving to Versailles. Why do people think I've been told these things??) I found out that there was no room at the inn for anything (the inn being the oven), so I had extra time. We went to lunch with Josh, instead. We had Culver's, and it was wonderful. It was still rainy, which was a problem. I spent half the day looking at the weather on the internet to find out if the 20 degree weather was going to get here before the wetness left.

Thursday morning, Callie woke up around 5 to go out, and everyone got up, so I just started the day an hour early. It was still 40 degrees, so I went ahead and packed the car and left before it had a chance to cool off. We got to Versailles in the mid morning, but were by no means the first there. I helped Gran get serving dishes and such, and when my Aunt Kathy made applesauce, I helped. I have to say, it felt weird that that was the only cooking chore I really did. (Making tea doesn't count. Especially when they are bags.) Oh, I almost forgot, I helped get Hannah's macaroni and cheese started, too. We were all so surprised that she didn't bring a dessert! She usually picks up desserts. And I was pleased that her Travis came.

Yes. The guests. Ben and Lisa came, but couldn't bring their dogs. It's a shame, but probably for the best. There wasn't much room! Amy, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob were there, and Uncle Bobby, Aunt Betty and Mackenzie, both of my parents, Uncle Tim, Aunt Laurel, Sky and Kelsey, Uncle Pete, Aunt Rose and Hillary, and Aunt Nanny, Hannah and Travis, as I said, and Brother. Miss Laura also came, as she usually does, and my mom's Aunt Betty. I wasn't expecting Ms. Mary Francis to come, but she did (old friend of the family). My grandmother was also there, as she was the hostess. Oh, and I almost forgot me and the kids. Is that 25 people? I think it might be. And everyone brought TONS of food. We were very much over the top with food. and I didn't get any leftovers. A pity, but not too bad. I think they ended up with the right people, for the most part.

Nothing too exciting occurred. Aunt Rose left the keys in the truck, and Hillary's dog danced on the lock button. Amy and Brother had to go and break into the truck. It took a while, and the audience was large. Since it ended well, we can call it entertainment. The really funny thing is that the same thing happened to a different guest with a different dog two or three Thanksgivings ago.

My mother kidnapped my children and took them to Rolla. She wasn't the first to leave, but nearly. Mackenzie went in her car, too. Brother and I stayed overnight and had breakfast with Gran and Uncle Pete in the morning. We said good-bye to Aunt Kathy's family, but funnily, most of them came back to the house one more time. Not long enough to have lunch, though. In the late morning, Brother and I left for Rolla. We had dinner with my mom and dad, Mackenzie, Uncle Bobby and Aunt Betty (and the kids). After dinner, me and the kids helped mom decorate her tree, and sang carols. I love carols.

Have you ever eaten white truffle oil? We had scrambled eggs with white truffle oil for breakfast. Brother gave a little bottle to mom and to me. It's very distinctive, without being overpowering. Now that I have some, I'm going to have to find some recipies that use it. It's very fancy.

I left with the kids around 11:30. Brother followed a few hours later. Poor Josh had a good time with his mom on Thanksgiving, but Callie was awful while I was away. She made potty messes in the house, and dug in the trash....the last night, she even ate my books. Yes. She ripped up two of my books completely, and mangled another one, and left tooth prints on a fourth. I am sad, of course, but the ones with my mother's handwriting in them weren't bothered, so I'm mostly relieved that it wasn't worse. Since I've been home she hasn't done a single naughty thing.

Brother and I picked up Michelle and watched movies last night. We had pizza, too. It was very reminiscent of Columbia, only the accomodations (and the pizza) were better. We saw the original Clash of the Titans, and a really horrible 70's B Sci-Fi cult classic, called Dark Star. Brother left to go back to Colorado this morning, much happier than last time when he was sick.

I've invited my uncle and grandmother over on Wednesday, but I'm not sure if they will be available.

It's really been great seeing everyone. With all the dog and kid difficulties, it makes everything exhausting, but what are holidays without kids and dogs? Well, what I mean is...I like my kids and dogs. And my friends. And my family. We should get together again soon!

I'm still looking forward to a taiko karaoke party, but now the general consensus is leaning toward a "We Have Our Own Place" karaoke party. Do you think everyone will show up? That is the most important part.

Since Callie had so many issues while I was gone for Thanksgiving, I'm not even going to consider adding a Christmas tree until after the weekend. She's doing great today, but I want to make sure she's in her routine again before I add anything.

I made that CD for Uncle Pete and forgot to bring it on Thanksgiving. I'll have to mail it. Well, unless he comes on Wednesday.

Wow. I get more tired every second. Well, know that I am thinking nice things about all the good people in my life, and wishing them good health, good times and good feelings. And rest.

Have a happy last few hours of Thanksgiving break. Tomorrow we return to our routines.

Wasn't it cold this morning?

I dreamed about a baby last night. A boy with brown hair, about 8-ish months, I would guess. He was a relative of some undetermined sort, and I was responsible for him. I remember putting milk in a bottle and then not knowing if he could use a cup already...

If this were Jane Eyre, it would be very bad luck.

I'm not even going to pretend, as I usually do, that I am not catching a cold. This year has been paying me back for past wrongs. Infected Head right before Japanese Festival, stomach virus right before Brother's Halloween visit. Strep right after it, and then more infections. Now a cold right before Thanksgiving. What the heck, Immune System? But I can't say I'm surprised. Once Alexander The Great breeches your defences, they are open to army and petty thief alike. They might refer to it as Flu Season, but really it's Everything Season.

Abbie and I were successful in getting our haircuts. I'm happy with mine, but that's nothing to how happy I am about Abbie's. The cut is cute, of course, but really what made me the most pleased was the stylist. She was wonderful! If you recall, Abbie's first stylist was cold, unsympathetic and absolutely no fun. This one, however, washed Abbie's hair in shampoo that smelled like cake, chatted cheerfully with her about brothers and puppies and pillow pets, and when she was done, added some gel with sparkles. How awesome is that? Abbie had a blast. I wished, as I was leaving, that I'd brought a bigger tip for her, even though the one I had was nearly 50% of the cost of the cut.

I feel feverish. Not good.

I don't know what to make for Thanksgiving. I've been looking at recipes. What I secretly want to do is make a recipe I have, but change one of the main ingredients. Never a good idea to do that for the first time right before an event. Therefore, I am trying to distract myself from the thought.

Last night I played taiko. Zoku always makes my right thumb hurt. No idea why. Anyway, I hope that I am playing well enough that Andrew isn't sorry he let me stay on the set. And I also hope I remember to take some Motrin before the show. My back isn't used to this anymore. Isn't that horrible? It's the worst thing about being sick so much lately. I don't just miss taiko...I sort of need it. Let's all cross our fingers that I am able to attend more practices from now on.

Josh and I stayed up late and saw Date Night the other day. It's cute, but not ever going to make my top 10 list. Do you have a list of top comedies? Here's some from mine: My Cousin Vinny, Coming to America, City Slickers, Maverick, Auntie Mame, Snatch (okay, well I think of it as a comedy), Galaxy Quest, Sneakers... Well. That's a start.

I told Abbie I would put on Cinderella for her. Hope you are all having a good pre-Thanksgiving weekend.

Tra-la -> Fa-la-la!

Well, things are settling down a little with the new dog and all. Jake is getting much more than his usual exercise, which I think is great, but it inclines him to drag his feet (figuratively) when it comes to the new schedule. He's a tad old and arthritic for her youthful exuberance. The dogs are out back quite a bit, and I still worry a little what would happen if the weather were to become very wet. The one night it rained since Callie joined us, I took her out the front. It didn't work out. She wouldn't do any necessary dog stuff, and I ended up cleaning both sorts out of my carpet instead.

It is officially the busy season, starting this week. Although, I can really date it from Friday. Friday, I took Grant in to the dentist because he had a half day. Now, all Grant's permanent teeth are sealed - a count of 4. Saturday morning, we helped the Frankes move into their new house. Josh just stayed awake after coming home from work. Then, when we had them fairly settled with an empty moving truck, and busily arranging furniture with much help, we went home and Josh went to bed. Sunday I cleaned house, and my mommy came over in the afternoon. Then, as she was leaving, the Keiths came over. Then dinner was ready. Yum for baked potatoes with sour cream and mixed cheeses! The rest of the dinner paled in comparison.

Next is all that comes with early Thanksgiving arrivals, and then is Thanksgiving itself. I'm so glad that freezing rain is no longer in the forecast for Thanksgiving! I still haven't made my plans for that weekend. Maybe I should just pack like I'm going to be gone the whole time and wing it. Doesn't sound much like me...well, except the whole preparing for it part.

We're all just a tad behind on sleep, here. I hope today I can take a small nap. Tonight is Abbie's dance class, of course, and Josh has promised to show Grant Star Wars (ep.3) for the first time tonight while we are gone. We decided that he was perfectly ready, but Abbie isn't.

Oh, dear. I'm so not ready for this weekend to be that wedding I'm going to!!! But at least I don't have to be grumpy about my hair. It's finally going to be cut tomorrow. YAY!

Still worried about the taiko group being homeless.

Uncle Pete is coming this week. Yay for that, too! I hope he likes the CD I made for him. Oh, and yesterday was my Aunt Nancy's birthday. My mom and grandmother took her to lunch, and I called her and left her a bunch of emails.

I have been reading the news, but it doesn't seem like much is going on, or maybe it's just that there are so many articles about what earrings to wear with your Christmas socks that the real news gets overlooked. Christmas is so depressing. I hate hearing "The Season of Giving". Let's change it into "The Season of Sharing" and just have a nice evening of board games and hot chocolate. In December. Not October. Instead, here comes the season of mandatory attendance and obligatory gift buying. It takes all the charm out of seeing family that you don't usually see.

But my own little annual Christmas gripe isn't going to help, so I think I will change the subject.

Except that I'm starting to tire again. Bleh. I think I'll put on a movie for Abbie and let the dogs stay in the yard. Unless they get cold. Personally, I'm freezing. Time for a morning on the couch!!!! (...and if you believe that...)

Happy Monday to you all!

Well, that was unexpected.

We have a new dog. Let me explain.

The short version goes like this: I was looking on the Internet about dogs like Jake. I found the national recognized hybrid dog list and I was laughing at the really annoyingly silly names. Go check. I'm not kidding. I think these guys breed the dogs just so they can use the dumb names. Anyway, some of the breeds don't have any pictures available, so I was typing the two breeds in to see what would come up in a search. That led me to the Humane Society....which led me to Callie.

Josh saw the picture, and immediately wanted to meet her. I was reluctant and dragged my feet the whole way. The only reason I agreed to go to the Humane Society at all was that I was pretty sure she would be wild and noisy and not a good fit for us at all. So, we went on Friday. We met Callie. Josh was instantly in love. I liked her, too, but wasn't about to say so. I told Josh that he would probably love anything in dog form that walked in and wasn't a toy breed, so I insisted that we meet another one. We met Brownie. He was somewhat smaller, and much better at fetch. But we didn't love him. Then, I made Josh go out to the car for a Very Serious Conference. There was no dissuading him. So we decided that he could have her as his birthday present. As they were preparing the papers, a girl came in wanting to adopt Callie. This bothered me, deeply.

So, Callie came to live at our house. Would you like to hear about her? She is half lab, half collie (the short haired version). I'm sure that is how she got the name Callie. I've decided to officially name her Caledonia, though. Collies are Scottish, right? Also, we didn't name Jake, but he was named after a ridiculous country song, so I thought Callie should have a song, too. I have one called Caledonia.

Callie is black, with some traces of white on her chest. She is 1 year 8 months old, but thin. She was found as a stray, and when she was brought in, she had worms. The ladies at the Humane Society told me that Callie should gain around 10 pounds to be at her true and healthy weight. She's not a genius at Fetch. She likes people more than toys. She is also somewhat of a clown. And she's very kissy. Her favorite games are "Ha, ha! Kissed your ear," "Wanna see me bonk my head?" and "Torment Jake". We also played a round of "Guess who pooped on the carpet!" last night at about 4am. Not my favorite, so far. She follows us around (me in particular), and has a very intelligent expression when she is watching things. Some cues make me think she has never lived in a house before. She didn't understand about my opening the refrigerator, and totally did a startled double take when she saw me looking in a mirror. She's quiet, and calm when she isn't playing. She also does little donuts when she's excited, just like some little dogs do. I've never seen a big one do it before. If you fuss at her, she's sorry, and at night she sleeps just like me! That means, if the kids roll over in their beds she gets up to check on them. I might have to start sleeping through the night with her around to check things for me! She loves to play outside. I hope the back yard stays dry. Callie isn't interested in going in the front yard at all. She doesn't seem to want to be there. Also, she is not leash trained. Not even a little.

Josh took both dogs to his sister's birthday dinner over at his mom's place. It was difficult. Jake used to live there, you know. He seems okay with sharing us with Callie, but he wouldn't share them with her. Plus, they have a little dog, and Missy had her little dog visiting. There were lots of people, and more kept showing up, and then Backy showed up with her little dog, too! But she took it like a champ. She was accepting of everyone, no matter the size, and didn't do anything unpleasant. When we came back, she acted like a dog coming home, which pleased me. It is already her home.

So, I've been very busy with this, and have barely had time to feed people, and no time to do anything else. I'm hoping that today I can get started on a few lingering chores, and some housecleaning that was brushed aside when Callie joined us. We'll see how that goes.

In other news, Josh might stay home from Thanksgiving after all. Just the thought of having to leave early and drive for 3 hours, shower and shave, and then drive another hour to work was starting to make his eyes bug out. Even if we went to Versailles the day before (3 more hours!!) instead of that morning. The driving was sounding horrible, but I think he was more worried that he would have to go before the food was served. Poor man. And he's sad about missing everyone at Versailles. He's particularly fond of all my uncles. But this way he can spend it with his own family, who aren't that far away.

I'm a little sad about it, but don't tell him. I will be very lonely for him. On the other hand, I guess it frees me up to make spur-of-the-moment plans.

Duty calls! I am wishing you all a wonderful Monday. (They make those, right?)

Things that are true.

* I like all three versions I have heard of the song, "Baby, I love your way." I must like the song. But I don't own any of the afore mentioned renditions.

* I voted! Whee! Even though I was sick! The going out didn't affect me much, but adjusting to the cold temperature outside really did me in. I felt terrible last night.

* Christmas is not my favorite holiday, but I LOVE carols. I always sing them on the way home from Thanksgiving, and I consider that the official opening of Christmas Carol season. What are your favorite Christmas carols?

* My geraniums blew off the deck in the recent wind storm, and I left them for dead, having my hands full with Brother arriving. Josh went out back today and claims that they are somehow still alive, though pot-less.

* Hash brown soup is yummy. Soup-er yummy. Hee hee. Now I'll have to see if I can get a hold of the mix again. It's great comfort food. It was perfect for after carving pumpkins on my chilly front porch.

* I cancelled Cousin Weekend. I don't really want to talk about it.

* I kind of feel like getting packages in the mail. Want to send me some?

* Can you think of any Thanksgiving movies? Now that my Halloween movies have expired, if you will, I'm ready to move on....but not to Christmas. Do you know any movies that are about late fall? Let me know if you can think of any.

* Prescribing giant horse pills to someone with a sore throat is not a funny joke.

* My mother craves ice cream in cold weather. Any one else like that? I wonder why that would happen. It doesn't make much sense in my mind.

* I'm thinking of reading Persuasion again (Jane Austen).

* Feeling like making new recipes again. Anyone have any spectacular ones to share?

* I'm dreading the arrival of the doctor bill, but it hasn't arrived yet. We also have not received any news about potential staffing changes at Josh's work.

* I have babysitting this week.

* As soon as we are done getting sick (please, please, please) I have a lot of appointments to make. In fact, I might make a dentist appointment for Grant on his next half day.

* I need cider. BRRR! :)

All Hallow's

Hi, and Happy Halloween. All the plans I made for this week and weekend were scrapped at some point, with a few exceptions: Brother came and we carved pumpkins, I made the hash brown soup and a yellow cake with cinnamon apples, and tonight, we will be trick-or-treating. The rest was hashed and re-hashed and became it's own creature and was then slaughtered. (Rather a gory metaphor, but it is Halloween, after all!)

Here are the highlights of what did happen:

Carved pumpkins (from Thierbach Orchards) and had yummy food, as seen above.
Did not, in fact, stay up late and watch Halloween movies.
Only played one board game, and it was Candyland.
Took Brother to the mall....at his request.
Did NOT go to any of the parties we were invited to, even the one I REALLY wanted to, that Brother even said we would go to, but changed his mind closer to time.
Had dinner out with my parents (wasn't expecting that...).
Watched the pilot episode of Arrested Development instead of Halloween movies.
Said an early and not very happy good-bye to Brother this morning, as he was not feeling well.
Watched Little Shop of Horrors. (SO THERE!)

It was a whirlwind, and I feel like I haven't sat down for two minutes since Brother got here, with the exception of the sit down dinner last night.

The kids are all ready for tonight: Abbie has a lovely red wig for her Annie costume, and Grant has his dragon costume. We're going to visit a few houses of people we know, and then pass out candy for the rest of the night. That's really my favorite part. And we can eat apples and watch more of my movies while we do that. I had planned to dress up this year, but with all the sickness, it was not to be.

Did I tell you about Grant's parent teacher conference? First of all, I must brag, briefly. He had top scores in everything. His teacher said his good behavior was encouraging, and that he is reading so well, she is going to start getting him first grade level books. I forgot all the questions I was going to ask her. Yes, all of them. But I did get to see a pumpkin that Grant drew.

I still haven't made a haircut appointment. And I need to make Grant's dentist appointment.

Josh didn't get the job he applied for at work, and we are still trying to figure out if his schedule will be affected by the staffing change.

Haven't thought ahead to this next week, much. Gonna try and vote.....and some other stuff. Can't remember. I wonder if I'm not feeling well?

Well, I'm looking forward to tonight and seeing all the little kids in their costumes. I hope the medium sized kids all have good manners. If they do, I will be more than happy to load them up with sugar!!!

Hope you are all having a great Halloween! Oh! I forgot to make the pumpkin-shaped cookies! I will do that today.

The Moan of the Mummy

I don't feel like being tough today. As the Mommy, I am expected to handle anything that comes along. And I have. Any plans that are sacrificed are always mine. I've run this house on nothing - and less. I've cleaned up spills and vomit and still been capable of putting lunch on the table. There has always been food in the house. I've done without for the sake of the kids, and I've made holidays out of green sprinkles or construction paper. I've driven to soccer practices and dance classes and zillions of dentist appointments and run countless baths.

Josh came home from work the other night with a fever. Then, during the afternoon, Abbie developed a rash on her torso. I immediately made a doctor's appointment, knowing what I do about strep. All four of us went. Neither of the kids showed symptoms of strep, but Josh has it. (I didn't get checked for anything.) Abbie's rash means she's about to come down with some sort of virus, but chances are slim that it will be strep. So. Now I have two diseases to deal with at once, not to mention that Brother is in the state visiting and how this will complicate that. And just after we all suffered from a stomach virus. Now Poor Sick Josh is too sick to help with anything. He just lies on the couch all day snoring. That is...until we're in bed. Then I hear cheerful footsteps all over. Last night, for instance, he played on the computer all night and ate candy for the trick-or-treaters. The night before, all the movies were scattered over the living room in the morning. Poor thing. How he must suffer.

I wonder how we're going to pay for that doctor visit. I saved up that Christmas money myself. I will weep buckets if I have to give it to the doctor.

So, if you don't mind, why don't you tell me all the news where you are. Tell me some good things that happened this week. Or some bad ones. I promise to be very sympathetic. I just need to not think about my house for a little while. I'd run away to the mall if I could...but I have to do laundry and get ready for Grant's parent-teacher conference.

I must be very selfish if such normal things seem to matter so much. Here's the thing, though: No one is going out of his/her way to make my life happier. If it were even, then I would be perfectly happy putting 90% of all my efforts for others. No, really, I would. I've always been like that. It's in my nature. If you take care of me, I'll take care of you.

But, in general, I think people need to get over it and suck it up. (I will, too. Just tomorrow.) For instance: They are trying to legislate against bullying. I don't care for bullying. I've been bullied. I've been bullied for trying to keep people from bullying someone else. I've been called horrible things. I've had things thrown at me. I've had people follow me around just to make me miserable. The thing is...sometimes I dreamed of moving away, but I never dreamed of killing myself. But would I if the news informed me that it was a normal consequence of bullying? Who knows. I was told to get over it. "Someday you will grow up and be able to live wherever you want - somewhere where they don't live. And by then what they say won't be so important to you, anyway."

I've said before that this planet's most frightening things are other people.

If a child is assaulted, then the assault should be reported as such, the same as any other crime. If a child is taunted, the child should be taught endurance. You can't make the world taunt-free. It's survival of the fittest. Please stop telling kids it is okay not to be fit. You are not preparing them for life as it is. My kids have to learn to live in a paradox: You make sure your behavior is considerate and polite, while at the same time, not expecting consideration or politeness from others, but to appreciate it when you get it.

Oh, I forgot. I don't want to think about my house.

I needed to get bread at the store last night, but forgot. We ran into our neighbors, and it threw me off.

Not much in the news, at least the way I get it. I'm assuming not too much is going on today. We have a red flag weather warning today. Do you know what that is? Risk of wild fires. I'm used to hearing about "Flag" conditions in terms of PT on military bases, so I had to look it up. Today will have high winds and low humidity. If you were thinking of burning your autumn leaves, please refrain. Tomorrow it is supposed to cool off. Perhaps I will make that soup mix.

And now it is time for you to tell me how you are. How are you? I am....fine. We'll make it.

The Busy Post-Recovery

Well, first of all, we are not sick anymore. In case you have children, or even if you don't, here is some advice that may or may not have been instrumental in helping Grant back to his normal self: If the virus is gone, but you still have symptoms, try unpasteurized yogurt to re-introduce what might have been forced out of the system. Dr. Sievers was kind and sent me an email and eased my mind about the doctor. She says they would probably tell me that it was a virus, and to wait it out. Which is the truth. It was just a virus. It was my dad who suggested the yogurt.

I've been babysitting this week, too. The kids just left, and I had them Monday and Tuesday, too. I'm saving up for Christmas, and for the company I'm having this month and next. Tomorrow, I'm going to take Abbie to the pumpkin patch in Wright City. Grant went on his school field trip there last week on one of the days we thought he wasn't sick anymore.

I have a new phone. It was kind of an ordeal. I'm not meant to have fancy phones, I think. We needed them because now that Josh works for Pinkerton Security, he is eligible for the Boeing Spring discount, which would actually cost less than our Wal-Mart re-chargeable ones. Except that our phones weren't Sprint phones, so we replaced them. And now I have a strange little phone. I want to keep my old text message sound. It goes, "Took, took, took!" But I don't know if I can. And Josh's new phone has my other phone's ring, but mine doesn't. At least I still have the same phone number.

I'm making a music CD for my Uncle Pete. It's a fun project, and I hope he likes it. I also have to re-start the taiko J-Fest photo project today, too. I've started it several times, but kept having problems. Now that Eddie has fixed all the problems, I just need to get it done. I also need to go to the grocery store, do LOTS of laundry...and about a hundred other things.

Did I mention that we finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? We've started on The Hobbit. Fun. Slow going, though. Little kids require lots of explaining, but it shows that they are paying attention, and that they are interested. I'm not reading anything else at present. I read 5 of Gran's Agatha Christies and am taking a break.

I talked to Brother on the phone, and today he is getting his roof fixed. If they get done today, he's leaving tomorrow to come to Missouri. Eek! My house isn't clean.

Tonight is taiko. We have been working on looking interested in what we are doing. You know...I think the people who are going to improve in that area have officially been informed of its benefits and need little more than occasional reminders. The others aren't going to do any better no matter how you attempt to entice them. I'm going to gloss over the staring at people tactic by saying it wasn't my favorite. A difficulty with this topic, for me, anyway, is that the songs we've been practicing our happy faces on are really kind of no-brainers. What we need to do is find out what face to make on songs that are neither happy nor angry. How do I know what an intense face looks like on me? I'm not really so intense. We're also learning new songs, and teaching new parts of old songs. I played Tenchi all the way through without throwing anyone off. Yay!

Just thinking....I really wish we could see what we look like while we're playing.

I still haven't made my hash brown soup. I'm waiting for the perfect weather. Last night Josh brought home Chinese food. He was off flying a helicopter. He's considering taking classes toward certification. The only hang up is that we found out that it isn't covered by his GI Bill. Why not?? Anyway, he had a great time, I think.

Grant needs a dentist appointment, and Abbie and I need haircut appointments. Grant and Josh had theirs cut last weekend. Thank goodness! Grant was so shaggy, he was almost stylish!

Well, I need to get ready to go to Wal-mart, or I won't get dinner done in time to leave for taiko tonight. I hope that you are happy today. I also hope that you are not sick. I don't want anyone to be sick. I want you to be happy and healthy.

Illness.

We've been sick.

8 days is a long time for a little boy to be getting sick, even if it's only during the night. Missing taiko and having to cancel lots of plans = not great. Missing school and having to decline babysitting are unfortunate and inconvenient. But what do I do to help my little boy feel better? Be better?

I'm still making monthly payments on the shots he needed to go to school. I have no insurance. And what can you do for a virus, anyway? So...do I take him to a doctor?

Today lunch was chicken soup with stars and toast. I feel ridiculous. His appetite has been normal. I gave him a vitamin. I've changed the sheets, cleaned the bathroom almost constantly, opened the windows....

Josh and I had it, for about 6 hours each. Abbie had it for about four days. How do I make it leave Grant alone? I'm about one step away from burning incense.

....And Wiser? We Can Only Hope.

Hello. I have gained another year. I'm not sure what comments I should make regarding aging, or birthdays, or life wisdom. I am nearly certain that not much has changed in my observation power. However, from now until my memory fails me, I am equipped with, "Oh, yes. I know what it is to be 31...." (You will note that having only been 32 for a day, I don't really list it among my achievements.)

Just sort of as a mental Checking In, I will declare the following:

I still believe that people should be considerate. They should consider the needs and preferences of the people they encounter, and they should also spare some considerate thoughts and deeds for the other plants and animals who share this planet with us (it really wasn't their choice, you know).

I still think that students should be required to actually learn (which includes retaining what information they have previously covered), not just get the right results for their schools on standardized tests. I also believe that Universities allow pretty much anyone to attend. How then, does an "education" indicate someone with specialized knowledge these days?

I still think that the United States of America is in need of a cultural revolution that takes us away from our tolerance of things that are not healthy. I'm working on the details.

I still think that at some point a person is responsible for his/her own actions, regardless of the quality of his/her upbringing. I still think that age is about 14.

I still think that the scariest thing on Earth is the other people in it, but I would rather be victimized by the evil of man than take on qualities of those who survive at the expense of others.

I still think that you should follow the rule or change the rule, not break the rule.

I still think that Welfare as it is only rewards the lazy and the selfish. But you have already heard my genius plan for solving that problem.

I still think that what passes on the tv as "appropriate for all audiences" is horrifying. Especially the commercials.

I still think that exposure to the flaws or sometimes crimes of mankind through the various media, we have been conditioned to think that flaws and crimes are unavoidable, necessary even. When the shocking fails to shock us, is it normal, then? I should hope not. We concentrate so hard on being appealing, but no one concentrates anymore on being worthy. I have a strong desire to go live on a farm in a far away country some days.

Well, I seem to be pretty much the same as last year. Except now I have waged mental war against school fund raisers, and can add that to my list. I do not believe that kindergartners should be asked to sell anything, unless they made it. It's INSANE what they ask those kids to do, and unless my kids have aspirations to grow up to be lobbyists, these fund raisers are teaching them nothing of value, and plenty of things I don't agree with. For instance: Let's learn to push our responsibilities off on someone else, by sending order forms with Mom and Dad to work. They will pressure their friends and co-workers into buying stuff they don't remotely want in order to maintain a pleasant environment, and the school will reward me for it. And that's only the beginning!

But I digress...

You want to hear about the festival last weekend, don't you? We went to Gran's on Friday, and spent the night. It's a good thing I packed the warm clothes, it was very cold! The kids rode ponies and we had apple cider and Nanny even found chocolate-dipped fruit on a stick! Whoever decided that this was good fair food deserves to be richly rewarded. Yum.

There was a parade, and if I hadn't been freezing and on my knees in a street, I would say that it was a great parade. As it was, I still had fun. The kids caught lots of candy, and the Shriners were great, as usual. The Clowns for Jesus, were, admittedly, a little much, but were very nice. And there were lots of tractors and some horses and bands and dance teams and politicians and the Knights of Columbus. Good parade.

I had a brisket sandwich for lunch and it was so good. I love brisket. Love it. As the day wore on, the weather became very funny, although not so much convenient: anytime the sun was out, it was quite warm, and we would all peel off our layers, but as soon as the clouds came back, it was cold to the point of my needing both hat and gloves! (Okay, actually they were mittens.)

Gran got me a pack of soup mix for a Hash brown Soup. You buy the cubed hash browns and and them to a pot with the soup mix and Velveeta cheese, and you end up with a pot full of yummy comfort food. I can't wait for the next frost. I'm going to try it out. For herself, she grabbed a roasted ear of corn, dipped in melted butter. I heartily approve of that, as well. We also bought apple pies. One large crumb crust, one small (which got eaten in Versailles), and one small regular crust. I gave the small one to my mom, and we've been eating the large. It's very meg-y and fragrant. I told Gran that if I had been making a pie, I would have been going for something completely different, but it was, in fact, a delicious pie! Love it! The hypothetical pie I was making would have probably been inferior. I gave the kids two dollars each to spend as they chose, as well. Naturally, since it was a fall festival, they ended up both getting inflatable purple alien toys. Why not? Abbie very nearly got her face painted instead, but she says she will do that next time, maybe.

After the parade, Gran took us to B&B's for ice cream. Grant got a chocolate shake, and Abbie got an ice cream cone, and then dumped it in her lap. We helped Gran fix one of her wind chimes, and set the table for fall, and change the sheets... I actually wish I had been able to do more, but she declined help with most things. For lunch on Sunday I made the vegetables. We heated up some small sweet peas in butter, and then I sauteed some green beans and onion. That one was a particularly big hit. I gave Nanny the banana nut muffins I had made.

We stayed as late as we could on Sunday, giving Josh time to sleep in. Then, the long drive home. I didn't actually sleep too well at Gran's. Shh! The kids slept most of the way home, so that's good. It turns out that Josh was awake watching the football game, though, so the second we got home, he declared that he was now going to go to bed. Hmm. I made dinner and bathed the kids and unpacked. My grandmother really did give me all her Agatha Christie books. We counted them, and there were over 70 of them. She has already borrowed one back. Isn't she funny?

Monday was dance class, Tuesday was taiko. It is so cold in that room!!!! I got a new blister and I hit my left pinkie finger, but the good news is that I can play Tenchi now! Well, I could muddle through it, anyway. Fun practice. Wednesday, my mommy came to take us all to Olive Garden. She had to leave right after dinner, but it was still so nice to see her!!! (I sent here off with that pie and some school pictures of Grant, at least!) She brought me some presents, and Josh got me my first iPod! I feel so grown-up! Then, later that night, he we had a huge fight that started because he didn't believe me that iTunes set up required credit card info. I told him, "Go look for yourself." He interpreted that as, "Hey, why don't you close the window that I've been working in for an hour so I can start over again."

Are all husbands like that? Just curious.

Well, all is fine now. Had good taiko on Thursday, although I don't really like leaving early. Fortunately, I-70 wasn't one lane like it was on Tuesday. That would have made Josh late for work!

Today, I am doing as little as possible. It's my one day of nothing. Tomorrow we are picking apples (So excited!!! Already recipe shopping!) and Sunday after I'm done with beginner taiko we are going to visit our friend Chris, who has been off the radar lately. I don't know how I'm going to get out of bed on Monday morning!!! I bet I'll be babysitting at some point, too. Eeep!

Wishing you a wonderful and fun weekend. I hope today is just as you would have it.

...And Away She Went!

My back is still a tiny bit sore. If you don't know what I'm talking about...don't worry. It's not "out", it's just "unhappy". But I am pretty ready to spend the afternoon in the car.

I am doing things I've never done before this weekend! It starts with today. I'm going to pick Grant up from school. I don't know where I'm supposed to go for that, or exactly when...it's going to be an adventure.

After that is accomplished, we are going to Versailles to the Apple Festival! I've never been before! First, we are spending the night with my grandmother, and the festival is tomorrow. I've packed lots of different clothing options for the kids: t-shirts, long sleeves, sweaters... I even would have packed mittens, except my grandmother told me she has some for the kids. You see, I am prepared for weather eccentricities! And before you ask...yes, I packed mittens for me, too. I will probably wear them.

Yay for grandmothers and yay for festivals. They are the themes for this weekend.

Gran is making chicken fingers and mashed potatoes....because she just wanted some mashed potatoes. Well, it sounds great to me! I made a DVD for her. It's a copy of a David Suchet Agatha Christie movie I have. I also made banana nut muffins from a mix that was on sale. I don't think the taste of the mix was worth the convenience, though. I won't be buying it again. The lemon poppy seed ones taste nice, but I made the others for today.

I missed two calls from my brother this week. I might try calling him a little later on. But he should seriously know better than to call on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

How are you? Autumn is here! Get out your baking recipes!

Off I go to pack the camera, etc.!

Just a few things:

I made pistachio pudding and poured it into a graham cracker crust. It was very yummy, especially with whipped cream on top. Is that called something? I think grasshopper has mint flavor, not pistachio. Anyway, it tasted good.

I'm having a minor stroke just thinking about public schools and fund raisers. Best not to ask me about either, really.

In a country that thinks nothing of exposing bra straps and even thong straps, why are women so afraid of panty lines? Personally, I think people should be grateful that I am wearing undergarments, and keeping them covered. I was always taught that if people can see your underwear through your pants, it means that your pants are too tight, and that if people can see your underwear through your skirt, then you should be wearing a slip. How did that ever get warped into the idea that less underwear or no underwear is somehow more decent? Boggles the mind.

Beginner class has started at taiko. I do not have much stamina for jumping jacks, which is shameful, but I don't give up. So far, I've only experienced very slight soreness around my inner elbows, and tightness in my neck and shoulders. Not bad, really.

Today I was angry at someone. There is someone who always comes early, but hides in other rooms and is sometimes very clever about doing as little actual work as possible. No one else has noticed. Today, this person was the first there. He decided that standing and holding the door of the practice room open was the best use of his time, since the doorstop was being used for another door temporarily. Everyone else was actually working - physically. I was very nearly rude. And that makes me twice as mad. If there is one thing I hate, it is when someone won't allow me to navigate a situation reasonably. I really do have an awful temper, but I work hard not to be outwardly angry. If someone forces it out of me, I feel a great number of things at once. Firstly, I am always extremely offended to be forced. Secondly, I am ashamed to give in to my angry impulses. Thirdly, I am frustrated by the other person's inability to cooperate and help me keep things civil. Not to mention that I despise rudeness in others, and certainly don't like disappointing my own scruples.

Josh does that, frequently. One of our greatest problems is that I loath public fighting, and in his mind, there is no such thing as, "We'll talk about it later." He even fights (or deliberately provokes fights - as seen above- out of me) in front of the kids! There is no reason that they should ever, EVER have to witness that. EVER. We actually talked about this sort of thing a few days ago. Hopefully, it will never need to be brought up again. (Well, I can dream, can't I?)

Having Josh's days off in the middle of the week hasn't gotten any better, just yet. It comes out to him having two nights off a week, but at a time where he can't put them to any kind of use in a social sense. Don't know why he is also prevented from household chores, etc. And then, of course, I have no days off. Or nights. Or mornings. I occasionally have help during dinner time, but that doesn't translate into help with dinner.

It sounds like I'm furious at Josh, but really I'm not. (That was last week. :P)

Tomorrow morning I am babysitting again. I've finally saved up for a haircut AND tip, but I'm thinking I should also save up for Abbie's haircut and tip, and then we can go together one day while Grant is in school.

My latest project has been copying all the CDs I own onto the computer as digital music files. They aren't actually MP3s, but I can't remember what they are, so you'll have to just use your imagination. The result is that I can now make CDs for the car with all the songs I bought in my teens and 20's mixed together with ones that I've recently recorded off the radio. OK, so I'm still a little behind the times, but I can pretend that I have a cool IPOD-type thing like you do. And Cahen very sweetly gave me a CD player and it lives in my kitchen. Ah! Can't wait to listen to The Cambridge Singers, followed by Clutch, followed by Fiona Apple, followed by Sissel, followed by Maroon 5!! You know, once when we had a serendipitous windfall, I actually bought 5 songs off of Amazon Music, but somehow they didn't get backed up and are gone. So sad. So wasteful.

Well, I am off to make tomorrow's lunch for Grant. He still loves school. His first "mid-term" is all top scores. And Abbie loves dance class, too.

Today was chilly. I hope you have some season-appropriate comfort food. Wishing you all a happy week!

Slightly Mad

First of all, the external:

Did you see the bit written by the ER worker who treats patients on government assistance who seem to have enough money for fancy phones and expensive shoes and the like? Funnily enough, that was about a day after I was telling a friend what I think the government should do when people apply for welfare.

I decided that it would be perfectly fair for the government to deny TV/Satellite reception to the address of those collecting welfare. After all, the citizens of the country are helping those in need, right? Not those who would like to entertain themselves. In fact, it really shouldn't be used for anything except rent, utilities of a very basic nature, and food. So this medicaid article was sort of like an echo of what I was already harping about.

Unemployment and welfare services are already part of the government, are they not? So perhaps they need to be refurbished. Instead of handing a check to a person or family, maybe they should be doing what those credit rehab companies do and have a file of the person or family's bills, and pay the appropriate ones and cancel service on the inappropriate ones. Then send a messenger with food supplies. It would mean hiring more people to implement the new, well controlled system. Hey, look! I just created government jobs!

But I've lost my enthusiasm for it, really. I'm just in a lousy mood. Now that I'm not sick anymore, I'm hyper sensitive. Everything is worrying and upsetting me. But I'm going to avoid talking about that.

Here is an ode to my dog:

Jake is the best dog I've ever owned, and maybe the best I've ever seen. Although, in terms of obedience, he might lose that race. He knows what I want, but half the time tries to not do it. Jake is best in personality. He loves kids and company, doesn't bark frantically or jump (well, he does occasionally put his feet on guests briefly) or wet himself with excitement. He is friendly with other animals, too. At first, I was upset because he chased cats, occasionally. But then he finally caught up with one, and come to find out, he just wanted to introduce himself. He doesn't bother our things, and only begs for food unobtrusively. Mostly, Jake just wants to be where we are. It's so lovable. And he is a connoisseur of comfort. He loves blankets and pillows, and we've even caught him tenderly laying his head on discarded dirty socks. He is entirely charming. And how could I not loves something that is so devoted to my children?

Abbie has had an injury. On Sunday, Grant asked Josh if he and Abbie could go downstairs. He told Grant to ask me. I had to find all this out later, because instead of asking me, Grant and Abbie went downstairs. Whether he misunderstood or was disobeying I'll never know, because the action was eclipsed by the following one. That was Abbie climbing on top of the play stove (she knows better) and falling from it. Because I was upstairs, I didn't see the fall. That has been the most upsetting part, because it has been so difficult finding out what happened, what was injured, what was it hit against, etc. Grant could only tell me she climbed on the stove and fell, and Abbie could only cry. I finally discovered that it was her arm that was hurt. Eventually, she was able to point, and it upset me even more that I could see an obvious swelling, but that Abbie was pointing to a place an inch away from it. Well, what can one do? I gave her meltaway Tylenol and had her hold a juice box from the refrigerator on it.

She claimed it was fine the next day, but I suspect that was because she didn't want to miss her first dance lesson. She spent the first part of the day carrying it, and the second part eating and drawing with her left hand. By yesterday I could still see the swollen area, but it looked better, and she could almost extend her arm completely. It's taking a long time, but seems to be healing. I'm still keeping an eye on it. At least she's using it normally.

Grant has had no recent injuries, I'm pleased to say. He's been doing well at school, especially in his behavior, and he still loves it and thinks it is wonderful. They have studied the letters M and A and now are studying P. On Tuesday it was his day to bring snacks. He picked Phinneas and Ferb gummy snacks, and thought he was the coolest guy in town.

Josh experienced his first mid-week days off this week. They are Tuesday night and Wednesday night. It was very disruptive. I'm not sure if I can get used to it, or if that would be a good and helpful thing.

Yes, everything is upsetting me. I'm trying to work on it. But Abbie's arm might have a real injury, the kind that needs (or ought to have had) medical attention, we suddenly have a ton of bills, I have to call about Grant's school pictures because there was an error at the bank and the check didn't clear, Josh agreed to more overtime TOMORROW, when he knows I won't be here to watch the kids, my parents have company and it's some relatives that I am particularly fond of, but I just don't know how the hell to work in a visit, people keep trying to make plans with me and I don't have the ability to answer, Josh cancelling my plans in favor of his is driving me crazy, this computer was supposed to be mine, but Josh won't leave it alone and stop downloading random stuff on it, plus it's been making funny noises, I'm supposed to pass out fliers tomorrow from 8-3, I suck at the song we're learning in taiko and so far have only succeeded in embarrassing myself, I'm behind in the birthday present buying for Josh's family and the neighbors, I just found out I want to do all my grocery shopping at Dierbergs, but can't afford it, I'm behind on my chores, I haven't had two seconds together to watch the movie my grandmother lent me, Josh bought a tent and two sleeping bags and a can of mace for me to carry to the commuter lot at UMSL, and I just can't get him to stop spending, and everyone I know is looking for a job (except me) and my mother got TWO of them, and I just don't know what I'm going to do.

I think I need a cheesecake. With strawberries. And some baked potato soup from St. Louis Bread Co. And a nap. And a hug. And a day off.

While we're wishing, could I also get a housekeeper and a winning lottery ticket? I'm not greedy, just 500 thousand dollars or so would be fine.

It's Friday, for those of you to whom that means something. Hope you enjoy it.

J Fest vs. The Crud 2010

Japanese Festival is over. This is now sort of the beginning of the next taiko year, and in a few weeks, the beginner class will start.

The weather for the festival was absolutely wonderful. It was sunshiny and breezy and not too hot. It was cheerful, and beautiful...and I was horribly sick. My un-favorite sick: the infected head. My eyes were bugging and watery, by sinuses filled to bursting with slime, my throat was raw and swollen, nose runny and also swollen. Lots of swelling going on. I could see my swollen glands in the mirror, they were so big. I guess it sort of all evened out. Nice weather, but sick.

Laura was the first to be sick, and then Melanie, and then me. At J-Fest, several others started to feel bad, too, but we were all hoping that it maybe was an obscure allergy or something.

I really started the J-Fest adventure on Friday. Grant came home from school and my mom piled the kids and Jake into her car and took them to Rolla. Then Josh and I rushed to the Botanical Gardens, where he dropped me off. Then he (along with a huge suitcase for me) went to his grandmother's house for the night.

The spiking rehearsal was very complicated and time consuming. Eventually it got done, but nothing was practiced. After practice, Eddie kindly dropped me at Grandma Mroczkowski's house.

The morning began the official Day 1 of F-Fest, and I woke up feeling even sicker. But I must be an Opening Night kind of girl. I spent a lot of the day in the Dashi letting kids play on the drums. It was a lot of fun. I also found out that my sunscreen and myself were a particularly bad mix. It didn't really work the way I used it, and I did get a burn. The opening ceremony was actually my very first one, since last year's was rained out. We played well, I think, and had a good time. Our great friend Megan came all the way from Louisiana! Great to see her. I went back to the maintenance building (after more fun in the Dashi) and straightened my hair and got all costumed up. Then.....the first show! I was smiling hugely and having a ton of fun...right until the intro section to Hiryuu San-dan Gaeshi. I sit still for a long time, and besides watching mosquitoes land on my arms and feet and not being able to shoo them away, I had time to realize how tired and sick I was. My playing was very not great. Well, to be more specific, I didn't miss any hits, but I did have terrible and even wrong-looking arm movements. I was embarrassed. But I do have a little bit of a break after that, and pulled myself together for the rest of the show. A friend from college, John, came to see the show, and I got to see him and meet his girlfriend and everything. It made my day when he came up afterward to say hi.

The rest of the shows were similar. My energy wasn't as great as the first night, but neither were my screw-ups as noticeable. I hear rumors that I had another friend and a cousin in the audiences, but they didn't come up to say hi. Josh did come to the early show on Sunday, but he didn't even stay to the end. I confess that I was a little hurt by that. My biggest show of the whole year - I was in almost every main song - and my parents didn't come, my kids didn't come, and my husband left half-way through.

Well, I got more and more sick, but slogged on, and I think the shows went pretty well. The drum movement problems never really ended, but we got faster at making up for the people who couldn't remember what to do.

I stayed the first night with Josh at his grandmother's house again, and the second night I stayed with Helena and Kevin. they have the sweetest cats. How did they find two snuggly, people friendly cats?

On Monday, I ended up with some time before the show, and did a tiny bit of shopping. I had wanted to buy more tabi socks, but they were sold out. I bought beautiful chopsticks for Grant and Abbie, and a dangling Buddha for Eddie, as a thank you for driving me around. I was actually going to get him a silly looking owl one, but when the lady found out I was buying it for a grown man, she really recommended against the owl. Oh, well. And I got my mom a sakura pin (that she probably didn't want) for watching the kids all weekend.

Eddie dropped me off - sick, sweaty and exhausted - at the mall, where Josh was book shopping. I waited for him to get done, and we drove home. The kids were supposed to meet us there at 6:30, but my mom called and said that they were running horribly late and had had to stop for emergency potty breaks and the dog almost got away.... One of those days. While we waited, Josh and I watched a few minutes of Twilight: New Moon. I gotta say....it's TERRIBLE! And I know I have some cousins who really worship Kristin Stewart, but either she is totally wrong for this role, or she can't act. It is impossible to sympathize with her and she is snotty an irritating, even in the parts where she's supposed to come of as sweet. I was just waiting to see what would happen if that same crew from the first movie came up with a budget, but it still had a soap opera sort of look to it. The music was better, but the writer still took liberties with the dialog that lost Twilight one of its few charms. I don't even know if I'm ever going to finish watching it. Then the kids came home, and my attention was all for them. Abbie was especially homesick on Monday.

When I was putting Abbie to bed, it came to my attention that my mom had shown them The Incredibles. I've never let them watch that. Too much violence, and too much sibling snottiness. I was upset. I came out after she was asleep and told Josh, who then informed me that he didn't have the energy to comfort me. I had just spent the weekend doing very physical shows, loading and unloading, getting no sleep at other people's houses AND I did it sick. But he doesn't have the energy. I totally wanted to poke him in the eye. Instead...I went to bed. In my own bed. Finally.

But it wasn't over!

Yesterday I babysat again. The day was actually not as crazy as I had thought. Abbie's dance class opened for registration, and I thought I was going to have to rush to the store and buy a leotard, then come back and make dinner and then somehow get Abbie to dance lessons. That was wrong. I called the place, and since she is going to be in the Monday class, I don't have to register until next Monday. WHEW! But I did have to babysit, and I do again today.

I'm curious. How many weeks in a row am I going to be babysitting? I was under the impression that last week was the end. Then, she forgot to pay me on Thursday and said, "Oh, I'll just bring it next time. Are Tuesday and Wednesday alright?"

Yesterday I decided that I was getting better. Today I'm not so sure. I think I'm just progressing. In a way, it's getting me closer to the end, but I think using the word "better" might be a little optimistic - even for me.

I need a day in bed. Badly. But it's not in the cards. I'm about to go and shower (I hope) and do a quick housecleaning for the girls. After they go, I'm going to have to go grocery shopping. You see...it never ends. But I'm definitely penciling in a nap on Thursday!!! Ho-ho!

Hope you are all having a good Wednesday. You should have lunch outside. It's going to be beautiful!!!