I usually have no problem whipping up a few dozen points of meaningless nothings for Friday … but today I’ve got nothing. Nothing, I tell you! Okay, well maybe something, let’s see:
- I have hardly worked out this week at all. I was too tired to go to yoga on Wednesday, which was the last day of my month Groupon. I did my 5k on Sunday, and ran on Tuesday and Thursday and that’s it. And I really don’t know that you can count Tuesday as running, it was more of a halfhearted jog/walk to get us out there. Thursday we still weren’t in it to win it, so we did “interval training” … or more conventionally known as walk/run/walk/run. Ha!
- I did buy another yoga Groupon though. This one is closer to my house, 10 class punch card for $39. I didn’t look at the class schedule before getting it though, so I may have to be creative in what classes I take.
- Henry still has no interest in walking, but if he’s standing while holding your hand and you let go, he’ll stand there for a minute deciding what to do before dropping to his knees and crawling off. It’s great fun to do this to him over and over and over …
- I had to buckle down and finish Never Let Me Go last night, because it was on my Netflix and I didn’t want to watch the movie when I was still reading the book. I’m not sure I liked the book – I think I needed more explanation. I’ll weigh in on the movie, because it seemed that I might actually like the movie more (which is a revelation).
- This rain just will not stop! I’m not a huge fan of heat, but please give me just a little sunshine!
- Oh wait, I may (or may not) have been talked into some topless tanning on my birthday and got a little burned. Not pain burn, but tender-to-the-infant-grabbing burn. So I’ll be okay without sun for now. Where are the movies and the cuddle blankets?
- Yes, we have a cuddle blanket. It was my great grandmother’s quilt, and any time I ask Spencer to snuggle with me, he runs for the cuddle blanket even if it’s eight million degrees. Must start opting for cuddle sheet in the summer.
- We gave Spencer a haircut with Hubby’s beard trimmer on Tuesday. Obviously I have had enough with the bowl cut. New cut: not bad, needs some product. S hates product, but I’m going to see if he has his own if he’ll let me faux hawk it. Because that is just so cute.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Writer's Workshop: My Child's Obsession(s)
For this week's writing prompts, I chose the one that spoke to me: an open letter to my sons' obsession.
For Spencer:
Dear Caillou:
Please stop being such a whiny bitch.
Yours,
Dear Super Readers:
Thank you thank you thank you so much for currently overriding Spencer's love of Caillou.
Sincerely,
Dear Tampa Bay Rays:
Please start hitting the ball. And make sure you keep Zobrist and Damon on your team always, because those are Spencer's favorite players. And maybe Spencer could through the opening pitch? He's only three, but he's got a great wind-up.
Always,
Dear Morning Routine:
I shouldn't be resentful of you. It's probably good to know that the moment he walks out of his room he wants cereal, sippy cup (even though he no longer drinks out of a sippy cup) and Disney. And a waffle, if available. And Henry, if awake. I know you irritate me when I'm trying to get ready for work, but at least I always know what he wants.
Eternally,
and for Henry:
Dear food,
Eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat ... yum. Thank you for making my youngest so happy. He's not fat, so I don't know where it's going.
Truly,
For Spencer:
Please stop being such a whiny bitch.
Yours,
Thank you thank you thank you so much for currently overriding Spencer's love of Caillou.
Sincerely,
Please start hitting the ball. And make sure you keep Zobrist and Damon on your team always, because those are Spencer's favorite players. And maybe Spencer could through the opening pitch? He's only three, but he's got a great wind-up.
Always,
Dear Morning Routine:
I shouldn't be resentful of you. It's probably good to know that the moment he walks out of his room he wants cereal, sippy cup (even though he no longer drinks out of a sippy cup) and Disney. And a waffle, if available. And Henry, if awake. I know you irritate me when I'm trying to get ready for work, but at least I always know what he wants.
Eternally,
and for Henry:
Eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat eat ... yum. Thank you for making my youngest so happy. He's not fat, so I don't know where it's going.
Truly,
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
TOT - red, white blue edition
Usually via Chelsea, but this week contributed by Molly
1. What do you traditionally do for 4th of July?
Traditionally we don't have any traditions. We never really do fireworks, and most years I can't honestly remember doing anything. This year we had a great party with lots of kids in the pool and fantastic food. It was a fabulous time (although we started a bit too early and everyone was gone before dark, but we had a small firework show which was the first one S didn't completely freak out about).
2. Did you follow your tradition this year? How did you celebrate yesterday?
Oh, I guess I should have read ahead. See above. Mmm, ribs. Mac & Cheese. Beans. Burgers and Dogs, Guac, Bacon-wrapped jalapenos, sangria ...
3. What's the best fireworks show you've ever seen?
Chicago two years ago, we went for Taste of Chicago. They do their big fireworks celebration July 3, and it was awesome. Also, on the 4th we were at the top of Willis Tower (Sears) and watched all the suburban shows from above.
4. Have you ever been injured by a firecracker? No, but my shirt did catch fire during a bottle rocket war in high school.
5. Burger, Brat, or Hot Dog? Must I choose? I usually get a hot dog. Catsup and Mustard only, please. But those ribs were A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
6. Do you sport red, white and blue on our Independence Day?
Not really. This year I wore a black sundress and red flats. And red and blue dangly earrings, so I guess I did, but more chic, I think. I hope.
7. If you had to be from any country other than the USA, what country would it be? My friend Shelly lives in Belgium, and that always seems like a nice place to be. Not honestly interested in living anywhere else though. Visiting - totally different story.
8. Charcoal or gas? charcoal ideally, but it's such a pain. We live by our gas grill.
9. What's your favorite thing about this fair country of ours? Has Casey Anthony been convicted yet? I think it's our justice system. **update - they found her not guilty. Pretty sure I need a new favorite thing.
10. God Bless the USA, My Country Tis of Thee, or the Star Spangled Banner? I like 'em all. Amazing Grace, and all that.
ps - today's my birthday! :)
1. What do you traditionally do for 4th of July?
Traditionally we don't have any traditions. We never really do fireworks, and most years I can't honestly remember doing anything. This year we had a great party with lots of kids in the pool and fantastic food. It was a fabulous time (although we started a bit too early and everyone was gone before dark, but we had a small firework show which was the first one S didn't completely freak out about).
2. Did you follow your tradition this year? How did you celebrate yesterday?
Oh, I guess I should have read ahead. See above. Mmm, ribs. Mac & Cheese. Beans. Burgers and Dogs, Guac, Bacon-wrapped jalapenos, sangria ...
3. What's the best fireworks show you've ever seen?
Chicago two years ago, we went for Taste of Chicago. They do their big fireworks celebration July 3, and it was awesome. Also, on the 4th we were at the top of Willis Tower (Sears) and watched all the suburban shows from above.
4. Have you ever been injured by a firecracker? No, but my shirt did catch fire during a bottle rocket war in high school.
5. Burger, Brat, or Hot Dog? Must I choose? I usually get a hot dog. Catsup and Mustard only, please. But those ribs were A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
6. Do you sport red, white and blue on our Independence Day?
Not really. This year I wore a black sundress and red flats. And red and blue dangly earrings, so I guess I did, but more chic, I think. I hope.
7. If you had to be from any country other than the USA, what country would it be? My friend Shelly lives in Belgium, and that always seems like a nice place to be. Not honestly interested in living anywhere else though. Visiting - totally different story.
8. Charcoal or gas? charcoal ideally, but it's such a pain. We live by our gas grill.
9. What's your favorite thing about this fair country of ours? Has Casey Anthony been convicted yet? I think it's our justice system. **update - they found her not guilty. Pretty sure I need a new favorite thing.
10. God Bless the USA, My Country Tis of Thee, or the Star Spangled Banner? I like 'em all. Amazing Grace, and all that.
ps - today's my birthday! :)
Monday, July 4, 2011
Celebration!
Happy independence day! The 4th of July always means to me a time to be with friends and/or family. It helps that my birthday is tomorrow and I spent many years having birthday parties that no one could/would come to because it's a national holiday. But 4th parties - everyone's up for that now that we're older!
I celebrated last night by running the Mease Midnight Run 5k and beating my PR by SEVEN MINUTES. My last timed 5k, Miles for Moffitt, timed in at 38.05. Last night's was 31.16. This also isn't entirely accurate because since it's a small race, the timed from the gun instead of crossing a timer mat, so I probably beat that by about 15 seconds. My phone app clocked me at 31.07. I don't honestly know how I did that, except that I kept pace with my uncle and cousin who ran it with me, posting only 20 seconds behind them. I don't think I could have kept up that pace alone - I had an 8 minute first mile!
It was rough once I came down from that euphoria; my stomach has been in pretty rough shape this morning and I didn't sleep well last night. All worth it - I am in awe of myself for how far I've come.
Today we are having a party. I'm super excited - ribs are marinating, deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped jalapenos, beans and guac and sangria are done, mac & cheese is starting now. the larger kiddie pool is blown up, the house is still a mess, and there are a bunch of friends and family and kids headed over. Can't wait! Hopefully there will be pictures this time - I'm getting terrible about taking pictures of anyone exceot kids lately.
I hope your holiday is fantastic!
I celebrated last night by running the Mease Midnight Run 5k and beating my PR by SEVEN MINUTES. My last timed 5k, Miles for Moffitt, timed in at 38.05. Last night's was 31.16. This also isn't entirely accurate because since it's a small race, the timed from the gun instead of crossing a timer mat, so I probably beat that by about 15 seconds. My phone app clocked me at 31.07. I don't honestly know how I did that, except that I kept pace with my uncle and cousin who ran it with me, posting only 20 seconds behind them. I don't think I could have kept up that pace alone - I had an 8 minute first mile!
It was rough once I came down from that euphoria; my stomach has been in pretty rough shape this morning and I didn't sleep well last night. All worth it - I am in awe of myself for how far I've come.
Today we are having a party. I'm super excited - ribs are marinating, deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped jalapenos, beans and guac and sangria are done, mac & cheese is starting now. the larger kiddie pool is blown up, the house is still a mess, and there are a bunch of friends and family and kids headed over. Can't wait! Hopefully there will be pictures this time - I'm getting terrible about taking pictures of anyone exceot kids lately.
I hope your holiday is fantastic!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Second Quarter Books
I seemed to have a hard time getting centered on reading this quarter, and I read a lot of chick-lit. I'm over apologizing for my love of chick-lit. I do feel like I should have been reading something a bit more meaty. Maybe next quarter.
April
Stuck in the Middle - Virginia Smith
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen*
For you Mom, Finally - Ruth Reichl
Wings - Aprilynne Pike
Divine - Karen Kingsbury
Hero at Large - Janet Evanovich
Medium Raw - Anthony Bourdain (abandoned, forgot what a pompous ass he can be)
Born Round - Frank Bruni
Motor Mouth - Janet Evanovich
May
Before Ever After - Samantha Sotto
Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay*
Wicked Appetite - Janet Evanovich
Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah
Uncharted TerriTORI - Tori Spelling
Four Corners of the Sky - Michael Malone
13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
Heart of the Witch - Alicia Dean
Blood Crimes - Dave Zeitserman
June
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling (real version)
Such a Pretty Fat - Jen Lancaster
The Passage - Justin Cronin* (abandoned after 250 pages, hoping to pick it back up next month)
Life's a Beach - Claire Cook
Can You Keep a Secret? - Sophie Kinsella
Perfect Timing - Jill Mansell
Bitter is the New Black - Jen Lancaster
*Book Club books
Friday
-- Spencer woke up just as I was leaving for work yesterday. But he didn't ask for Disney, cereal or sippy cup this time.
Momma, can you wake Henry up?
No baby, Henry's sleeping.
But he needs to wake up because I need to play with him!
So cute. I appeased him with Max & Ruby.
-- Spencer. Loves. Wipeout. I had to promise to DVR it so he would go to bed.
-- I'm thinking of cutting my hair all off. I've gotten to the point again where it takes forever to dry, and half the time I don't like how it looks once it dries anyhow so usually I just have it up all the time.
-- Henry has no interest in walking. He stands against the couch with his head arched onto the seat, and then takes a step to face-plant into a pillow on the floor. He thinks it's hilarious. But why bother trying to walk? He can move so fast on his knees or holding onto things!
-- If you want to keep an under-one busy for a good 20-30 minutes, pile a bunch of different sized pillows on the floor. Don't pile them UP because then he'll fall over them while climbing. Just lay them all over the floor and observe crawling, face-planting, rolling and general cuddling with the pillows. It's adorable.
-- There are so many movies coming out that I want to see! Harry Potter! Muppets! What are you looking for? Are you like me and won't get anywhere near actually seeing them? (ps - it's on my resolution list; I've only seen two and the resolution is six. I need to get hopping.)
-- For Mama Kat's writing prompts yesterday, I nearly wrote about a parenting pet peeve of mine. After going through every submission on the subject, I think that I'm happy I chose to go lighter and telling the world about my bad dates (there are more - don't think you've seen the last of that!) I think that I'm judgmental. I know that I'm judgmental, but with an open mind. Everyone makes snap judgments. It's being open to know that your original observation might be wrong. Some peoples' rants made sense to me, and some just seemed mean. But overall, it just made me want to step back and remind myself that none of us are perfect.
Momma, can you wake Henry up?
No baby, Henry's sleeping.
But he needs to wake up because I need to play with him!
So cute. I appeased him with Max & Ruby.
-- Spencer. Loves. Wipeout. I had to promise to DVR it so he would go to bed.
-- I'm thinking of cutting my hair all off. I've gotten to the point again where it takes forever to dry, and half the time I don't like how it looks once it dries anyhow so usually I just have it up all the time.
-- Henry has no interest in walking. He stands against the couch with his head arched onto the seat, and then takes a step to face-plant into a pillow on the floor. He thinks it's hilarious. But why bother trying to walk? He can move so fast on his knees or holding onto things!
-- If you want to keep an under-one busy for a good 20-30 minutes, pile a bunch of different sized pillows on the floor. Don't pile them UP because then he'll fall over them while climbing. Just lay them all over the floor and observe crawling, face-planting, rolling and general cuddling with the pillows. It's adorable.
-- There are so many movies coming out that I want to see! Harry Potter! Muppets! What are you looking for? Are you like me and won't get anywhere near actually seeing them? (ps - it's on my resolution list; I've only seen two and the resolution is six. I need to get hopping.)
-- For Mama Kat's writing prompts yesterday, I nearly wrote about a parenting pet peeve of mine. After going through every submission on the subject, I think that I'm happy I chose to go lighter and telling the world about my bad dates (there are more - don't think you've seen the last of that!) I think that I'm judgmental. I know that I'm judgmental, but with an open mind. Everyone makes snap judgments. It's being open to know that your original observation might be wrong. Some peoples' rants made sense to me, and some just seemed mean. But overall, it just made me want to step back and remind myself that none of us are perfect.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Writer's Workshop: First Dates
I had a problem deciding on a writing prompt this week. On the one hand, I really had something to say about other people's parenting styles (ha!!)
BUT!
I long to entertain you, so today I bring you ... a "memorable first date". Or two. I love to hear you laugh that much.
First, background. I was with my ex for several years, and we broke up in July of 2002. I had my first date with my husband in December of 2002.
Between them, I had a few first dates.
The first, I'll call Adolf. I'm calling him that because I really have blocked his name from my mind.
I met Adolf online, at a time where people were really starting to meet people online but there weren't those nifty dating web sites. There was AOL. I honestly cannot remember how we started talking, but he thought it was great that I loved German culture, and was studying the German language. He said he was German, blah blah blah. (Let me now mention that the reason I was so interested in German was because I listened to an online radio station called Radio Salue, and they played awesome music but I couldn't understand what they said in between the songs. I took German for the sole purpose of understanding my favorite radio station. Yes, I'm a nerd.)
Anyhow, after a bit, we decided to meet at the local Steak n Shake.
Oh. My. Lord.
BUT!
I long to entertain you, so today I bring you ... a "memorable first date". Or two. I love to hear you laugh that much.
First, background. I was with my ex for several years, and we broke up in July of 2002. I had my first date with my husband in December of 2002.
Between them, I had a few first dates.
The first, I'll call Adolf. I'm calling him that because I really have blocked his name from my mind.
I met Adolf online, at a time where people were really starting to meet people online but there weren't those nifty dating web sites. There was AOL. I honestly cannot remember how we started talking, but he thought it was great that I loved German culture, and was studying the German language. He said he was German, blah blah blah. (Let me now mention that the reason I was so interested in German was because I listened to an online radio station called Radio Salue, and they played awesome music but I couldn't understand what they said in between the songs. I took German for the sole purpose of understanding my favorite radio station. Yes, I'm a nerd.)
Anyhow, after a bit, we decided to meet at the local Steak n Shake.
Oh. My. Lord.
Over fries, I got to hear about how horrible the French are, and how great the Germans are, how Hitler was misunderstood. Over shakes, I heard about how he worked at Walmart because The Man was keeping him down.
I still occasionally expect to see him on the news.
****
Number two of my Summer O' Love was "T".
I also met T online (obviously, I needed to stay off line.) He told me his name was Taylor. He was younger (19) but he seemed fun. Young, but fun. But young.
So I went over to his house, where he lived with His Parents. Who weren't home, but I was wandering around the house looking at toddler photos and crayon drawings done by a little boy named Trevor.
Who's Trevor? Your brother?
No, Trevor is me. I changed it to Taylor when I got to college. I liked how it sounded. Call me Taylor.
I couldn't bear to call him Taylor anymore, so he was T from that exact moment on.
I should have stopped there, but he was fun. Just young. Instead we hung out some more outside his house, where he showed me his Rockin' Car. He had a Miata.
A Miata. I probably shouldn't have laughed at him, but at the time I hadn't met anyone with a penis who drove a Miata.
I should have stopped there, but he was fun (although young) and he came over to my house to watch movies (relax, my roommates were home).
We watched movies all night. Romantic comedies, that he picked.
And then he wanted to kiss me. So he LICKED MY CHEEK. I kid you not -- not a small lick, but a long lick like a giant Saint Bernard. Wet, and oozy.
And that was where I had enough of that. And just to show God had a sense of humor, it stormed during our Ro-Com extravaganza, and T left the top down on his little white Miata.
***
Thankfully, I started dating my would-be husband a short time later. I'm not entirely sure I would have lasted in a dating pool populated with such stellar quality guys. I may have drowned.
For more writers' workshop entries, go visit Mama Kat!
(photo credits via Google images)
I still occasionally expect to see him on the news.
****
Number two of my Summer O' Love was "T".
I also met T online (obviously, I needed to stay off line.) He told me his name was Taylor. He was younger (19) but he seemed fun. Young, but fun. But young.
So I went over to his house, where he lived with His Parents. Who weren't home, but I was wandering around the house looking at toddler photos and crayon drawings done by a little boy named Trevor.
Who's Trevor? Your brother?
No, Trevor is me. I changed it to Taylor when I got to college. I liked how it sounded. Call me Taylor.
I couldn't bear to call him Taylor anymore, so he was T from that exact moment on.
I should have stopped there, but he was fun. Just young. Instead we hung out some more outside his house, where he showed me his Rockin' Car. He had a Miata.
A Miata. I probably shouldn't have laughed at him, but at the time I hadn't met anyone with a penis who drove a Miata.
I should have stopped there, but he was fun (although young) and he came over to my house to watch movies (relax, my roommates were home).
We watched movies all night. Romantic comedies, that he picked.
And then he wanted to kiss me. So he LICKED MY CHEEK. I kid you not -- not a small lick, but a long lick like a giant Saint Bernard. Wet, and oozy.
(T wasn't near this cute)
And that was where I had enough of that. And just to show God had a sense of humor, it stormed during our Ro-Com extravaganza, and T left the top down on his little white Miata.
***
Thankfully, I started dating my would-be husband a short time later. I'm not entirely sure I would have lasted in a dating pool populated with such stellar quality guys. I may have drowned.
For more writers' workshop entries, go visit Mama Kat!
(photo credits via Google images)
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