My sister did some laundry the other day before she left our home. I opened the dryer this morning and was surprised to find her thumb drive in there. Lo and behold, one wash and dry did not wreck it! So at least some things manufactured today are not all about planned obsolescence ; )
PS, I'm starting to feel much better than I did a few days ago; hopefully my body catches up with my brain I will be a posting fool.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Love Thursday
My sister and her son visited this week. The kids are totally in love with him, and he is equally smitten with them. Two of his favorite words are Maya and Sam.
More Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters
Everyone had a great time at the playground on Tuesday afternoon. Lots more photos of teh cuteness here.
We're so looking forward to visiting them in one month!More Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters
Thursday, February 21, 2008
emotional vacuum cleaner
I'm in the midst of switching medications. My psychiatrist finally agreed that my medication wasn't doing enough for me. The first two weeks have gone really well. I was surprised- I thought getting off of the paxil would be horrendous. I've really only had one headache. And while I'm still ramping up to the full dose of zoloft, I've noticed that things that would ordinarily bring on the stampede of horses in my chest haven't.
I don't feel in the clear yet, though. I'm not completely sure why, but I've had some major free-floating anxiety the past two days. My heart isn't racing, but I feel like a very large person is sitting on my lungs when I try to breathe deeply and relax. I feel awash in adrenaline.
One part of it is my tendency to absorb the emotions of those around me. My husband is cranky with work, and as the frustration spills out of him I feel like I'm sticking my finger into the electrical current of his words.
I read this a few weeks ago, and I just love how Uncle Douglas turns Vicky's empathic nature into something positive and valued:
I don't feel in the clear yet, though. I'm not completely sure why, but I've had some major free-floating anxiety the past two days. My heart isn't racing, but I feel like a very large person is sitting on my lungs when I try to breathe deeply and relax. I feel awash in adrenaline.
One part of it is my tendency to absorb the emotions of those around me. My husband is cranky with work, and as the frustration spills out of him I feel like I'm sticking my finger into the electrical current of his words.
I read this a few weeks ago, and I just love how Uncle Douglas turns Vicky's empathic nature into something positive and valued:
Because you have an artistic temperament, Vicky, and I've never seen you be
objective about anything yet. When you think about Aunt Elena and how she must
be feeling right now, you become for the moment as though you were Aunt
Elena; you get right inside her suffering, and it becomes your suffering too.
That's empathy, and it's something all artists are afflicted with.
Uncle Douglas to Vicky in Madeline L'Engle's Meet the Austins
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Not so sure that sponsors/advertisers influence kids?
Two posts on Blogher reminded me to share this:
Maya came home with a sample of kids' toothpaste and a new toothbrush. She informed me that it was the best kind, and the kind we use is no good. She may have added that we should throw away ours and buy a tube of the sample. I said "Really? Did Mrs. D say that this was the best kind?"
She thought a second and said no, she didn't tell them that. I explained that all toothpastes work pretty much the same, and that I feel good about the kind I buy for the kids.
It's great that they are reinforcing dental hygiene at school. I'm just not comfortable with my kid getting a sample of something and internalizing it to mean "this must be the best, because why would my teacher give it to me otherwise."
Our school has a lot of freebies for the kids- the Pizza Hut Book It program gives kids a free personal pizza when they read at home all month, good grades get them a free "all American" meal at Mc Donald's with their report card envelope, and you can even buy Orlando Magic tickets at a discount when you are on the honor roll. This stuff has always made me vaguely uncomfortable. Partly because my parents believed that learning was its own reward- no money for grades at our house. ha! But more deeply because of what Maya made so clear to me this week with her free toothbrush.
Maya came home with a sample of kids' toothpaste and a new toothbrush. She informed me that it was the best kind, and the kind we use is no good. She may have added that we should throw away ours and buy a tube of the sample. I said "Really? Did Mrs. D say that this was the best kind?"
She thought a second and said no, she didn't tell them that. I explained that all toothpastes work pretty much the same, and that I feel good about the kind I buy for the kids.
It's great that they are reinforcing dental hygiene at school. I'm just not comfortable with my kid getting a sample of something and internalizing it to mean "this must be the best, because why would my teacher give it to me otherwise."
Our school has a lot of freebies for the kids- the Pizza Hut Book It program gives kids a free personal pizza when they read at home all month, good grades get them a free "all American" meal at Mc Donald's with their report card envelope, and you can even buy Orlando Magic tickets at a discount when you are on the honor roll. This stuff has always made me vaguely uncomfortable. Partly because my parents believed that learning was its own reward- no money for grades at our house. ha! But more deeply because of what Maya made so clear to me this week with her free toothbrush.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Mo Knows Pigeon!
If you are a kid, have a kid, know a kid, or ever were a kid, you should know Mo Willems. Mo is the author of some of our favorite books: Knuffle Bunny, Leonardo the Terrible Monster, and our hands down favorite, the Pigeon Books. We fell in love with the Pigeon in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and we squeal whenever a new Pigeon book comes out (I may bust by the time he reveals the title of the one due out in April). My personal favorite is Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late.
Now, the only person who could possibly compete for our love of Mo and the Pigeon is our local children's librarian. Her name is Carrie, and we adore her. Carrie had a baby this year. Since Carrie loves Mo and the Pigeon as much as we do, we thought the perfect baby gift would include the Pigeon. Mo has an awesome tutorial for drawing the Pigeon, so Sam set about making a suitable drawing. I turned the drawing into an iron on for a onesie, and voila! Perfect Pigeon loving baby gift!
I made this one for the baby as well
Carrie loved them, especially the Pigeon one, and even sent us a photo of Isabel modeling it. I'm sure she's a big fan of the Pigeon already.
Now, the only person who could possibly compete for our love of Mo and the Pigeon is our local children's librarian. Her name is Carrie, and we adore her. Carrie had a baby this year. Since Carrie loves Mo and the Pigeon as much as we do, we thought the perfect baby gift would include the Pigeon. Mo has an awesome tutorial for drawing the Pigeon, so Sam set about making a suitable drawing. I turned the drawing into an iron on for a onesie, and voila! Perfect Pigeon loving baby gift!
I made this one for the baby as well
Carrie loved them, especially the Pigeon one, and even sent us a photo of Isabel modeling it. I'm sure she's a big fan of the Pigeon already.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Preparations
Best Cake Ever. Really. Aunt Rose's Pound Cake
mmm butter and cream cheese
is this not the most beautiful cake batter you've ever seen? You add the dry ingredients to the butter and cream cheese mixture, and then the eggs. As you add the eggs it turns into this beautiful, silky, yellow batter.
cooling in the pan
ready for the oneg after services on Friday night
I should have snapped some pictures of the challah, but by the time I finished braiding the loaves I really needed to go outside and sit under the stars. I'll take a snap later.
mmm butter and cream cheese
is this not the most beautiful cake batter you've ever seen? You add the dry ingredients to the butter and cream cheese mixture, and then the eggs. As you add the eggs it turns into this beautiful, silky, yellow batter.
cooling in the pan
ready for the oneg after services on Friday night
I should have snapped some pictures of the challah, but by the time I finished braiding the loaves I really needed to go outside and sit under the stars. I'll take a snap later.
Monday, February 04, 2008
The Indignities of Motherhood
I'm going to see this 3D movie, before seeing this one. Tis sad indeed. However my girlie is very excited about it, and so are her friends. I'm sure the looks on their faces this afternoon will make it worthwhile.
And if that isn't enough to sustain me, I'll just have to close my eyes and recall yesterday's great game.
And if that isn't enough to sustain me, I'll just have to close my eyes and recall yesterday's great game.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Refrigerator Repair
My fridge has been pooling water at the bottom for a while now, and I finally got to call for repair. The repairman is here now. He had to take quite a few things out of the fridge in order to get to the problem. It's just food and drink--why do I feel more exposed than at my annual gyn visit? Wow, did not expect this to feel so intimate and uncomfortable!
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