One big post in December so far.
So much for increasing the frequency of my posts.
Dang life.
Dang holiday season.
Oh well... there's always next year.
Right?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Making Christmas Simple
We decided to do the majority of our Christmas shopping online here at Chez Babble this year.
Things have just started to slow down for us after several months of crazy, and we did not have it in us to spend our expanded and highly coveted unscheduled time fighting crowds at stores.
That means that I have a ton of boxes showing up on my front porch. They are all piled under the tree now.
#2 commented that it really looked like christmas with all those boxes stacked under the tree, even if they aren't wrapped.
Well if the 9 year old thinks it is festive, who am I to contradict? Screw present wrapping I say! Save some trees!
SO, I thought maybe I could just leave the boxes as they are, we can divvy them up Christmas morning, everyone opens a few boxes and then figure out which gift goes to which person.
Fun! Right?
Not at all lazy and slackerish!
Things have just started to slow down for us after several months of crazy, and we did not have it in us to spend our expanded and highly coveted unscheduled time fighting crowds at stores.
That means that I have a ton of boxes showing up on my front porch. They are all piled under the tree now.
#2 commented that it really looked like christmas with all those boxes stacked under the tree, even if they aren't wrapped.
Well if the 9 year old thinks it is festive, who am I to contradict? Screw present wrapping I say! Save some trees!
SO, I thought maybe I could just leave the boxes as they are, we can divvy them up Christmas morning, everyone opens a few boxes and then figure out which gift goes to which person.
Fun! Right?
Not at all lazy and slackerish!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
I was on such a roll
Whew.
The past three weeks have been doozies.
We have succesfully opened and closed the Wizard of Oz at the school where BH teaches and directs.
#2 got to be a munchkin and flying monkey in the show.
For those of you not in the theatre know, Wizard of Oz is a huge undertaking as far as shows go.
I believe there were 90 cast, crew, and orchestra members when it was all said and done.
Nearly every performance sold out so that was a good thing.
Getting that bad boy done took up two of the last 3 weeks. Last week was taken up by holiday travel.
I am still trying to figure out why preparing an entire meal for 11 people in a kitchen that I am unfamiliar with was so much more relaxing than hosting the dinner at my own home, where I usually only make a couple of dishes at most.
Could have something to do with having 25+ people converging on my home, all of whom have 10,000 questions about where things are and where should things go.
Just a guess.
In fact Thanksgiving was SO low key this year that I almost, ALMOST want to suggest that going to BH's grandparents become our new Thanksgiving tradition. If it wasn't for the 13 hour drive....
I made a new dessert this year that I think will be part of my contribution from here on out. Chocolate Pecan Pie. Oh my heavens. I think it may have reached the ranks as my #1 favorite pie. I had to leave almost a whole pie at BH's grandparents house and I might have almost shed a tear about that.
So November is ending. I didn't have quite as many blog posts as I had hoped, but a girl only has so much time.
I hope to have many posts in the next month about having a 13 year old in da house. (Oy. Oy.)
I also hope to do much sharing about yummy Christmas food I will be preparing. It has finally gotten cold and jump started my desire to be in the kitchen.
The past three weeks have been doozies.
We have succesfully opened and closed the Wizard of Oz at the school where BH teaches and directs.
#2 got to be a munchkin and flying monkey in the show.
For those of you not in the theatre know, Wizard of Oz is a huge undertaking as far as shows go.
I believe there were 90 cast, crew, and orchestra members when it was all said and done.
Nearly every performance sold out so that was a good thing.
Getting that bad boy done took up two of the last 3 weeks. Last week was taken up by holiday travel.
I am still trying to figure out why preparing an entire meal for 11 people in a kitchen that I am unfamiliar with was so much more relaxing than hosting the dinner at my own home, where I usually only make a couple of dishes at most.
Could have something to do with having 25+ people converging on my home, all of whom have 10,000 questions about where things are and where should things go.
Just a guess.
In fact Thanksgiving was SO low key this year that I almost, ALMOST want to suggest that going to BH's grandparents become our new Thanksgiving tradition. If it wasn't for the 13 hour drive....
I made a new dessert this year that I think will be part of my contribution from here on out. Chocolate Pecan Pie. Oh my heavens. I think it may have reached the ranks as my #1 favorite pie. I had to leave almost a whole pie at BH's grandparents house and I might have almost shed a tear about that.
So November is ending. I didn't have quite as many blog posts as I had hoped, but a girl only has so much time.
I hope to have many posts in the next month about having a 13 year old in da house. (Oy. Oy.)
I also hope to do much sharing about yummy Christmas food I will be preparing. It has finally gotten cold and jump started my desire to be in the kitchen.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
602!
Hey I just noticed that this post will be #602.
That is a big number.
Only 398 more to go until 1000.
Yes I used a calculator to do that math. Because I am lazy, and I don't trust my horrid math skillz. Rather...... lack of math skillz to be perfectly honest.
I believe in full disclosure of my deficits here at Babble On.
Maybe that topic will be for post # 603.
Hell that could probably be posts 603-703.
I got lots of deficits.
Yes I do.
I got lots of deficits.
How 'bout YOU!!?!
(insert flippy high kicks, hoots, and hollers here.)
That is a big number.
Only 398 more to go until 1000.
Yes I used a calculator to do that math. Because I am lazy, and I don't trust my horrid math skillz. Rather...... lack of math skillz to be perfectly honest.
I believe in full disclosure of my deficits here at Babble On.
Maybe that topic will be for post # 603.
Hell that could probably be posts 603-703.
I got lots of deficits.
Yes I do.
I got lots of deficits.
How 'bout YOU!!?!
(insert flippy high kicks, hoots, and hollers here.)
Friday, November 05, 2010
Oh Come ON.
The family and I went to see Megamind 3D today.
The kids have been excited about the movie for a long time, and we really were overdue for a fun family outing.
Also BH thought it would be fun to see a movie on it's opening day.
My issue is with the extra $3.50 you must pay every time you see a 3-D movie. This is presumably to pay for the special glasses required for the movie. Glasses that we don't keep, but instead put in a giant bin to be recycled.
What we at Chez Babble propose is that if you choose to keep the glasses and bring them with you the next time you see a 3-D movie, and not have to pay the $3.50 again. Of course if you have no glasses then of course you pay the $3.50 extra.
This is what seems fair in our world.
So get with it movie theatre people! I know you are raking it in, so give a family a break willya!?
The kids have been excited about the movie for a long time, and we really were overdue for a fun family outing.
Also BH thought it would be fun to see a movie on it's opening day.
My issue is with the extra $3.50 you must pay every time you see a 3-D movie. This is presumably to pay for the special glasses required for the movie. Glasses that we don't keep, but instead put in a giant bin to be recycled.
What we at Chez Babble propose is that if you choose to keep the glasses and bring them with you the next time you see a 3-D movie, and not have to pay the $3.50 again. Of course if you have no glasses then of course you pay the $3.50 extra.
This is what seems fair in our world.
So get with it movie theatre people! I know you are raking it in, so give a family a break willya!?
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Trippin'
As a general rule I avoid travel at the holidays like it is the most heinous disease in existence.
I just like to be home at that time.
The last time BH and I traveled over a holiday was about 13+ years ago when we lived in California where we had no family and only a few friends. We came home for one of the major holidays each of the two years we lived there.
Since we came back to Kansas and subsequently had children we have not left the state on any holiday.
This year though, the times they are a changin'.
We are hitting the road to visit BH's grandparents.
Now that someone else in my family has a home large enough to accomodate our masses, we no longer have to host all holiday family gatherings. This is allowing us to take a trip this year.
Sadly BH's grandma has not been doing well, so an extra visit this year seemed like a good idea.
So I am sucking it up and coping with my disdain for looong ass road trips and holiday travel.
Cuz that is how this wifey rolls.
What are your feelings about holiday travel?
I just like to be home at that time.
The last time BH and I traveled over a holiday was about 13+ years ago when we lived in California where we had no family and only a few friends. We came home for one of the major holidays each of the two years we lived there.
Since we came back to Kansas and subsequently had children we have not left the state on any holiday.
This year though, the times they are a changin'.
We are hitting the road to visit BH's grandparents.
Now that someone else in my family has a home large enough to accomodate our masses, we no longer have to host all holiday family gatherings. This is allowing us to take a trip this year.
Sadly BH's grandma has not been doing well, so an extra visit this year seemed like a good idea.
So I am sucking it up and coping with my disdain for looong ass road trips and holiday travel.
Cuz that is how this wifey rolls.
What are your feelings about holiday travel?
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
One Year
Today marks one year since I started my private therapy practice.
All in all I would say that it has been a pretty good year.
All of my worst fears did not come true.
I am still in business.
I have not put us in the poor house.
All good things.
So what have I learned over the past year?
I think one of the biggest surprises has been how difficult it has been for me to lose what I call the "Mental Health Center Mentality." Meaning that my schedule must be completely filled with appointments all available working hours of the day.
Ummm...a big reason I left the MHC was due to my not wanting to have clients 8+ hours a day five days a week. I have had a difficult time letting go of that feeling of pressure to make sure all my working hours are filled with client appointments.
It is getting a little better, but I still have a ways to go.
I also have decided to be a bit more focused in the types of clients I agree to see. I am also considering some marketing as well.
I don't always wake up raring to go to work, but I don't start dreading Monday on Friday as I am leaving work like I used to.
I have said it before, I think my issue is that in reality I just don't want to work.
But if I have to, this seems to be a good fit for me for the time being.
That, as Martha Stewart would say is, "A good thing."
All in all I would say that it has been a pretty good year.
All of my worst fears did not come true.
I am still in business.
I have not put us in the poor house.
All good things.
So what have I learned over the past year?
I think one of the biggest surprises has been how difficult it has been for me to lose what I call the "Mental Health Center Mentality." Meaning that my schedule must be completely filled with appointments all available working hours of the day.
Ummm...a big reason I left the MHC was due to my not wanting to have clients 8+ hours a day five days a week. I have had a difficult time letting go of that feeling of pressure to make sure all my working hours are filled with client appointments.
It is getting a little better, but I still have a ways to go.
I also have decided to be a bit more focused in the types of clients I agree to see. I am also considering some marketing as well.
I don't always wake up raring to go to work, but I don't start dreading Monday on Friday as I am leaving work like I used to.
I have said it before, I think my issue is that in reality I just don't want to work.
But if I have to, this seems to be a good fit for me for the time being.
That, as Martha Stewart would say is, "A good thing."
Monday, November 01, 2010
Crazy Excited
Have I ever mentioned my family's strong and abiding love for Rockband?
Well...we here at Chez Babble have a strong and abiding love for Rockband.
We have recruited many many followers through our totally rockin' Rockband parties.
To date, after each party we have thrown (and there have been several) someone who attended has gone out and bought the game.
Harmonix should absolutely sign us up as spokespeople.
So Rockband 3 is out.
It has a KEYBOARD and cooler drums, and a supposedly cooler guitar that has not received great reviews.
Tonight we looked at the playlist.
So SO many lovely songs.
BUT we are making ourselves wait until Christmas.
Things are very busy between now and then, and once a new Rockband game gets in da house, that tends to be how we spend all of our time.
And we gots lots of other things we gots to do.
So we will covet and dream until December.
Then we will. ROCK. the. F. out!
I gotta start warming up the vocal chords.
Because my best instrument believe it or not...
My SINGING VOICE.
No one was more surprised by this than me.
But I apparently can rock the f out with my voice.
Can't WAIT!!!
I was in no way compensated by Harmonix or any other company associated with Rockband for this post. However, if they want a rabid fan and recruiter to write some testimonial or something I will jump on it.
Well...we here at Chez Babble have a strong and abiding love for Rockband.
We have recruited many many followers through our totally rockin' Rockband parties.
To date, after each party we have thrown (and there have been several) someone who attended has gone out and bought the game.
Harmonix should absolutely sign us up as spokespeople.
So Rockband 3 is out.
It has a KEYBOARD and cooler drums, and a supposedly cooler guitar that has not received great reviews.
Tonight we looked at the playlist.
So SO many lovely songs.
BUT we are making ourselves wait until Christmas.
Things are very busy between now and then, and once a new Rockband game gets in da house, that tends to be how we spend all of our time.
And we gots lots of other things we gots to do.
So we will covet and dream until December.
Then we will. ROCK. the. F. out!
I gotta start warming up the vocal chords.
Because my best instrument believe it or not...
My SINGING VOICE.
No one was more surprised by this than me.
But I apparently can rock the f out with my voice.
Can't WAIT!!!
I was in no way compensated by Harmonix or any other company associated with Rockband for this post. However, if they want a rabid fan and recruiter to write some testimonial or something I will jump on it.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
When did it go from Halloween Day to Halloween Week?
Y'all I would love to have a nice long bloggy chat, but I am TAH-erd.
Yes ma'am.
This week I have been responsible organizing and executing a 4th grade classroom Halloween party, and a home Halloween party.
I am officially Halloween'd out.
So much so that I gladly gave up carving the pumpkins we bought.
This is an activity I typically absolutely insist on.
But I could not do one. More. Halloween. Activity.
Nada. Zip.
So now I think I will have one more cup of warm apple cider with a shot of Cinnamon Schnapps thrown in for good measure, scarf a little more chocolate and call it good.
Good night that is.
'Cuz I am TAH-ERD!
Yes ma'am.
This week I have been responsible organizing and executing a 4th grade classroom Halloween party, and a home Halloween party.
I am officially Halloween'd out.
So much so that I gladly gave up carving the pumpkins we bought.
This is an activity I typically absolutely insist on.
But I could not do one. More. Halloween. Activity.
Nada. Zip.
So now I think I will have one more cup of warm apple cider with a shot of Cinnamon Schnapps thrown in for good measure, scarf a little more chocolate and call it good.
Good night that is.
'Cuz I am TAH-ERD!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Double Digits Baby!!
I just noticed that my number of blog posts this month has reached the double digits.
Wow!
Anyone wanna guess how long it has been since I last had double digit posting numbers?
Maybe I could turn this into a contest and give away a prize.
Only....it would be really easy to figure out the answer.
Hmmm....so much for my first blog contest idea.
But hey! Double digits! More frequent posts!
All three of you must be so happy!
Wow!
Anyone wanna guess how long it has been since I last had double digit posting numbers?
Maybe I could turn this into a contest and give away a prize.
Only....it would be really easy to figure out the answer.
Hmmm....so much for my first blog contest idea.
But hey! Double digits! More frequent posts!
All three of you must be so happy!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
WEEENNNIIEEEESS!!! WEEEENNIEESS!!!
This is what #2 has been yelling at random times all evening.
It started when she found out I was planning to wrap cocktai weenies in cresent roll strips so they will look like mummies for her school Halloween party tomorrow.
The best part is she has no idea why her yelling weenies repeatedly might be funny.
It is kind of fun.
I challenge all of you to give it a try soon.
It started when she found out I was planning to wrap cocktai weenies in cresent roll strips so they will look like mummies for her school Halloween party tomorrow.
The best part is she has no idea why her yelling weenies repeatedly might be funny.
It is kind of fun.
I challenge all of you to give it a try soon.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Defeated
I am throwing up my hands.
Waving the white flag.
At this point I can not fathom getting my family to consistently consume a healthy diet.
I am out of ideas.
Isn't one of the first steps in recovery admitting you are powerless over the problem?
(Hey I am a child and family therapist not a D and A counselor, so forgive my lack of certainty.)
If so then here it goes.
I am totally powerless over my family's shitty eating habits.
Now. Let the recovery process begin.
Waving the white flag.
At this point I can not fathom getting my family to consistently consume a healthy diet.
I am out of ideas.
Isn't one of the first steps in recovery admitting you are powerless over the problem?
(Hey I am a child and family therapist not a D and A counselor, so forgive my lack of certainty.)
If so then here it goes.
I am totally powerless over my family's shitty eating habits.
Now. Let the recovery process begin.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
It's ALL in the eyes
It would seem that #2 is quite popular with the young boys in her class.
At least according to her.
She rattled off a long list of boys who would like to be her boyfriend this evening in the car.
"So how do you know all of these boys want to be your boyfriend?" Inquires Mommy.
"It's alllll in the eyes mom." Replies #2.
OK then.
Who am I to dispute the eyes?
Too bad for the boys. #2 ain't interested.
Wonder what kind of eyes you use to communicate disinterest?
At least according to her.
She rattled off a long list of boys who would like to be her boyfriend this evening in the car.
"So how do you know all of these boys want to be your boyfriend?" Inquires Mommy.
"It's alllll in the eyes mom." Replies #2.
OK then.
Who am I to dispute the eyes?
Too bad for the boys. #2 ain't interested.
Wonder what kind of eyes you use to communicate disinterest?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Pressure! (insert synthesizer riff a la Billy Joel here)
For the earworm...you are welcome.
Some of the five of you who read this may know that BH is a very funny and very clever man.
I love the fact that he is funny and clever, it makes my life at home very entertaining. I like that.
However sometimes being in the presence of such amazing humor and cleverosity (sometimes I like to add osity to words a la Georgia. Makes things so much more fun. Read that series of books I just linked too. You won't be sorry and don't let the YA aspect turn you away.) causes me to feel less than clever and humorous in comparasin. I like to be entertaining too.
Shallow of me? Yes indeedy. But what can ya do. Sometimes shallow happens.
My husband created a note on his FB page that talks about a discussion on a website he frequents. He posed the question on FB to open it up to responses.
I can not come up with an answer to the stupid question because I am allowing myself to be paralyzed and pressured by the idea that my response must be funny and entertaining. This is making me crazy.
Stupid? Probably.
Shallow? For sure.
But there it is.
Hope you all enjoyed my little confessional today. Feel free to share your own confessions.
Really.
Crazy doesn't like to be lonely.
Some of the five of you who read this may know that BH is a very funny and very clever man.
I love the fact that he is funny and clever, it makes my life at home very entertaining. I like that.
However sometimes being in the presence of such amazing humor and cleverosity (sometimes I like to add osity to words a la Georgia. Makes things so much more fun. Read that series of books I just linked too. You won't be sorry and don't let the YA aspect turn you away.) causes me to feel less than clever and humorous in comparasin. I like to be entertaining too.
Shallow of me? Yes indeedy. But what can ya do. Sometimes shallow happens.
My husband created a note on his FB page that talks about a discussion on a website he frequents. He posed the question on FB to open it up to responses.
I can not come up with an answer to the stupid question because I am allowing myself to be paralyzed and pressured by the idea that my response must be funny and entertaining. This is making me crazy.
Stupid? Probably.
Shallow? For sure.
But there it is.
Hope you all enjoyed my little confessional today. Feel free to share your own confessions.
Really.
Crazy doesn't like to be lonely.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Epiphany
Every once in a while I will have an epiphany about something. Which can be a good thing, or more along the lines of good for you.
I am not going to write today of any specific realizations, although I did have a great one the other day. It was one of those good for you types, that at first you are kind of sorry had the epiphany, but with further thought and examination you discover that it is not so bad and may actually help. I think I like those kind the best.
ANYway...I thought I would discuss where I tend to have my stunning revelations.
They almost always happen while I am drying my hair.
Seriously.
Not kidding.
I find this a bit odd.
This also makes me curious about where/when other people do their best thinking.
So if the 5 of you who still read this thing want to share about your thinking spot I would just love that.
Now.............discuss!
I am not going to write today of any specific realizations, although I did have a great one the other day. It was one of those good for you types, that at first you are kind of sorry had the epiphany, but with further thought and examination you discover that it is not so bad and may actually help. I think I like those kind the best.
ANYway...I thought I would discuss where I tend to have my stunning revelations.
They almost always happen while I am drying my hair.
Seriously.
Not kidding.
I find this a bit odd.
This also makes me curious about where/when other people do their best thinking.
So if the 5 of you who still read this thing want to share about your thinking spot I would just love that.
Now.............discuss!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I might have eaten lunch here two days in a row
I may very well be a Chipotle addict. I honestly believe that I could eat here every day and be perfectly content. I usually order salad, but when I am feeling really naughty I go for the crispy chicken tacos. Ooh crispy chicken tacos. How can I every fully express my love for you? No words can do justice to the happiness I feel when I put you in mah belleh!
*Chipotle is not compensating me or encouraging me in any way to share my love. This is purely my idea. However if they ever need a spokesperson to spread the gospel I am more than willing to preach.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Maybe this could become the new theme for my blog
Cute kitties! Cute kitties are happy and non-whiny!
Everybody loves cute kitties!
I am on a roll here people. This is now what could be considered several complaint free posts in a row.
Wonder how long I can keep this happy happy shit up?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Holy Crap!
As of last week I have been blogging for 5 years!
FIVE YEARS!
This is amazing to me. I didn't think this blog would last 5 months. Heck 5 weeks!
So uhhhh...go me!! Woo hoo!
To my five readers....thanks for hanging in there with me. Maybe someday my blogging will become more interesting and consistent like it was in the beginning.
A girl has gotta dream!
FIVE YEARS!
This is amazing to me. I didn't think this blog would last 5 months. Heck 5 weeks!
So uhhhh...go me!! Woo hoo!
To my five readers....thanks for hanging in there with me. Maybe someday my blogging will become more interesting and consistent like it was in the beginning.
A girl has gotta dream!
Monday, October 11, 2010
I Love NYC
Brooklyn Bridge! Brooklyn Bridge! Brooklyn Bridge!Spontaneous solo mini-vacations to New York where you get to spend the day with one of your favorite people are a good thing. Happy! Non-Grumpy! Good memories! Good times! I wanna go back again tomorrow!
I only wish my friend was in the picture with me!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 08, 2010
A post that likely is not worth reading
Our schedule continues to be ridiculous and is not likely to change anytime in the forseeable future.
So every time I try to post it winds up being a big long whine-fest about the panic attacks I have when I see our calendar with tinges of my fantasies about chucking that motherfrakker out the window. Who wants to read that?
Hell I don't even want to write it.
So I won't.
Here is me in a nutshell:
Grumble whine complain eat junk food ignore the treadmill feel guilty grump at someone out loud or in my head.
Rinse and Repeat.
I think maybe I will just post pictures of things I like until after Thanksgiving.
Think I can find one of a unicorn farting rainbows?
THAT would be happy and interesting at least.
So every time I try to post it winds up being a big long whine-fest about the panic attacks I have when I see our calendar with tinges of my fantasies about chucking that motherfrakker out the window. Who wants to read that?
Hell I don't even want to write it.
So I won't.
Here is me in a nutshell:
Grumble whine complain eat junk food ignore the treadmill feel guilty grump at someone out loud or in my head.
Rinse and Repeat.
I think maybe I will just post pictures of things I like until after Thanksgiving.
Think I can find one of a unicorn farting rainbows?
THAT would be happy and interesting at least.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Don't ask me 'bout the train
Let's just say the train is in the shop for maintenance this week shall we?
MMMkay.
I don't even know where to begin.
Have I mentioned yet that I don't always care for the beginning of the school year?
I bet that if you look back on the nearly 5(!) years I have been writing this blog at some point in mid-September to early October there is a post where I whine about how hectic the schedule is, and how I miss my house husband.
Well I ain't about to stop now.
I hate this time of the year.
I hate feeling like the wicked witch who does nothing but crack the "oh my God we have to hurry and get everything done and we have no time" whip.
I hate feeling like my only interactions with my children involve me reviewing the checklist to make sure everything is done.
I could list several more things I hate, but I am beginning to hate writing about things I hate.
Let's just say the past two weeks have been hectic, and adjusting to school and activities in full force life blows.
Hopefully my next post will have less grouch and more hooray.
Until then......
Pbbbbbffffffttttttt!
MMMkay.
I don't even know where to begin.
Have I mentioned yet that I don't always care for the beginning of the school year?
I bet that if you look back on the nearly 5(!) years I have been writing this blog at some point in mid-September to early October there is a post where I whine about how hectic the schedule is, and how I miss my house husband.
Well I ain't about to stop now.
I hate this time of the year.
I hate feeling like the wicked witch who does nothing but crack the "oh my God we have to hurry and get everything done and we have no time" whip.
I hate feeling like my only interactions with my children involve me reviewing the checklist to make sure everything is done.
I could list several more things I hate, but I am beginning to hate writing about things I hate.
Let's just say the past two weeks have been hectic, and adjusting to school and activities in full force life blows.
Hopefully my next post will have less grouch and more hooray.
Until then......
Pbbbbbffffffttttttt!
Monday, August 30, 2010
First week back on the train
Ok. So....first week back on the train. I exercised 6 out of 7 days. 5 out of those 6 I got in a whole hour of exercise. Win!
I started doing a 20 minute Pilates workout this weekend. Ow. Owie. Ow. But again...Win for toning!
Healthy eating...healthy eating you evil evil beeyotch.
I did GREAT all week. Then came Friday. Ohhh Friday. Then it was Saturday. Friday was going well until we made an unplanned trip to On the Border. I have no willpower when it comes to Mexican. N.O.N.E. Chips and Salsa are like crack on crack to me. I will continue to eat that shit even if I am stuffed so full of it chips and salsa are coming out of every orifice. Then I had a huge soda too. I can not and will not drink diet soda. Icky Poo. I did not order a soda. I started off with a large glass of water with lemon. However my fair city is currently having a water quality problem. In a nutshell our tapwater smells and tastes like dirt. Yes a lovely musty dirt. It is not palatable and apparently is not going away any time soon. At any rate after one swallow of the dirt water, it was soda for me.
So yeah. Saturday. Hmm..where shall I begin. Smoothies....while tasty, the pack fairly high wallop calorically speaking. Even the ones that are all fruit like I had. Big soft pretzel.....Jesus H. Christ on a popiscle stick. I may as well have eaten a cheeseburger. Those things are off the fraking chart! Then there was a party with pizza rolls, cheesy potatoes, tiny cheesecake, cheese, peanut m&ms. Oh all hell just broke lose. Not to mention the Cosmo, AND another coke consumed as an effort to avoid dirt water. Oy. Yeah....Saturday was a big ol' fail.
Weight. My scale can suck it. Seriously. Saturday morning, Hooray! I lost two pounds. Which apparently all came back today. Whatever. Geez I wasn't THAT bad and I exercised! For an hour Saturday and Sunday!
So this week's grade fo the Journey. Slightly above a Meh. Some definite positive strides made.
Now...I must torture my core.
I started doing a 20 minute Pilates workout this weekend. Ow. Owie. Ow. But again...Win for toning!
Healthy eating...healthy eating you evil evil beeyotch.
I did GREAT all week. Then came Friday. Ohhh Friday. Then it was Saturday. Friday was going well until we made an unplanned trip to On the Border. I have no willpower when it comes to Mexican. N.O.N.E. Chips and Salsa are like crack on crack to me. I will continue to eat that shit even if I am stuffed so full of it chips and salsa are coming out of every orifice. Then I had a huge soda too. I can not and will not drink diet soda. Icky Poo. I did not order a soda. I started off with a large glass of water with lemon. However my fair city is currently having a water quality problem. In a nutshell our tapwater smells and tastes like dirt. Yes a lovely musty dirt. It is not palatable and apparently is not going away any time soon. At any rate after one swallow of the dirt water, it was soda for me.
So yeah. Saturday. Hmm..where shall I begin. Smoothies....while tasty, the pack fairly high wallop calorically speaking. Even the ones that are all fruit like I had. Big soft pretzel.....Jesus H. Christ on a popiscle stick. I may as well have eaten a cheeseburger. Those things are off the fraking chart! Then there was a party with pizza rolls, cheesy potatoes, tiny cheesecake, cheese, peanut m&ms. Oh all hell just broke lose. Not to mention the Cosmo, AND another coke consumed as an effort to avoid dirt water. Oy. Yeah....Saturday was a big ol' fail.
Weight. My scale can suck it. Seriously. Saturday morning, Hooray! I lost two pounds. Which apparently all came back today. Whatever. Geez I wasn't THAT bad and I exercised! For an hour Saturday and Sunday!
So this week's grade fo the Journey. Slightly above a Meh. Some definite positive strides made.
Now...I must torture my core.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Derailed
Friends, I have not discussed my "Journey to Better Health" for several months now.
There is a reason for that.
Not a terribly happy one either.
The reason is because my Journey has been derailed.
Big time.
Well....I guess it could be worse.
Exercise. This has not been too bad actually. I am usually putting in at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Some weeks I have even managed an hour a day. I really need to shake up my exercise and get in toning. But at least I am exercising.
Eating. Ugh. Not taking much care at all with what I eat. I usually do great at breakfast and lunch. Snacks..ehh somewhat hit and miss. Dinner...bad. After dinner....still bad.
Once I lost my mojo at the beginning of the year, I have never gotten it back.
So the couple of pounds I gained back are now up to 7.
Yikes.
Somewhere somehow I have to get my mojo back. I worked too damn hard to let things go back to where they were.
So what am I to do.
To start off with I am going to review all those scary lab results that got me started on this in the first place. I have not had my labs re-done since I lost the weight. I wanted a full year to pass, and get back down to my goal weight before I had them re-done. Well...I am not getting there so I guess it is time to give myself an ultimatum. I am giving myself until Oct 1 to get back down to my goal weight. Whether I am there or not come Oct 1 I am calling the doctor and scheduling the lab work. If I have met the goal then we will see if all this paid off. If not...well either the news will be good, or bad and if it ain't good then maybe that will put me over the edge and get me back on track. Or it may mean I have to start taking medication for high cholesterol. I am not thrilled at all by that prospect, but am bracing myself. Genetics is not in my favor here.
The next thing that has to happen is a change in mindset. I seem to think that I must eat what my family eats and that sadly is all to often not good choices. I am going to have to let go of this idea and start eating what I know is good for me regardless of what they are doing. This got me through before. It was not without some serious grumpiness on my part at times,( I might have had visions of stabbing people with forks as I watched them shovel in cheese fries as I nibbled my salad.) but it did encourage BH at least to start being more healthy too. So hopefully the same will happen again.
I have to religiously track what I am eating. This was a huge help before. It gets on my nerves at times, but it worked great for me before.
Lastly I have to stop beating myself up and letting everything go to hell just because I made one bad choice. That thinking causes me a great deal of defeat.
7 pounds is a drop in the bucket compared to where I was almost a year and a half ago. So I know this is do-able.
I just have to start....
Now.
There is a reason for that.
Not a terribly happy one either.
The reason is because my Journey has been derailed.
Big time.
Well....I guess it could be worse.
Exercise. This has not been too bad actually. I am usually putting in at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Some weeks I have even managed an hour a day. I really need to shake up my exercise and get in toning. But at least I am exercising.
Eating. Ugh. Not taking much care at all with what I eat. I usually do great at breakfast and lunch. Snacks..ehh somewhat hit and miss. Dinner...bad. After dinner....still bad.
Once I lost my mojo at the beginning of the year, I have never gotten it back.
So the couple of pounds I gained back are now up to 7.
Yikes.
Somewhere somehow I have to get my mojo back. I worked too damn hard to let things go back to where they were.
So what am I to do.
To start off with I am going to review all those scary lab results that got me started on this in the first place. I have not had my labs re-done since I lost the weight. I wanted a full year to pass, and get back down to my goal weight before I had them re-done. Well...I am not getting there so I guess it is time to give myself an ultimatum. I am giving myself until Oct 1 to get back down to my goal weight. Whether I am there or not come Oct 1 I am calling the doctor and scheduling the lab work. If I have met the goal then we will see if all this paid off. If not...well either the news will be good, or bad and if it ain't good then maybe that will put me over the edge and get me back on track. Or it may mean I have to start taking medication for high cholesterol. I am not thrilled at all by that prospect, but am bracing myself. Genetics is not in my favor here.
The next thing that has to happen is a change in mindset. I seem to think that I must eat what my family eats and that sadly is all to often not good choices. I am going to have to let go of this idea and start eating what I know is good for me regardless of what they are doing. This got me through before. It was not without some serious grumpiness on my part at times,( I might have had visions of stabbing people with forks as I watched them shovel in cheese fries as I nibbled my salad.) but it did encourage BH at least to start being more healthy too. So hopefully the same will happen again.
I have to religiously track what I am eating. This was a huge help before. It gets on my nerves at times, but it worked great for me before.
Lastly I have to stop beating myself up and letting everything go to hell just because I made one bad choice. That thinking causes me a great deal of defeat.
7 pounds is a drop in the bucket compared to where I was almost a year and a half ago. So I know this is do-able.
I just have to start....
Now.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Time for a Change
I decided it was time for a new template. I think after a hundred or so years it is good to spruce things up a little don't you?
Not sure if this will be the final product, but it is a start.
Now on to other things.
Whew! It has been a VERY busy summer, filled with travel, trips to the pool, theatre camps, work, 20 year high school reunions and other assorted activities. Suffice it to say there was no slowing down at Chez Babble for the summer.
Despite the 95 degree temperatures, for all intents and purposes summer is o-v-e-r for us. School started this week.
#1 has started Middle School. If I could figure out a way for there to be dramatic music there I would add it in.
I am fairly certain that I am more anxious about this transition than she is. (ME?? Anxious!! Surely not!) I view that as a good thing.
#2 is now in the 4th grade. I am waiting to see how things will go for her. This year there are very few kids that she knows in her class. Her best friend is not in her class for the first time ever, AND big sis is not there this year . #s 1 and 2 are pretty tight with each other for the most part. I am sure it will all be fine, but in a couple of weeks once this has all soaked in for her, I won't be at all surprised to see some extra emotional stuff from good ol' #2. It takes a while for the full impact of a transition to hit her sometimes.
Me? I am as boring as ever. Still private practicing, still wishing to win the lottery so I can be a woman of leisure at home, but failing to buy a ticket nearly every week. I am currently coveting a Macbook. I don't see one in my near future however.
So what's up with you?
Not sure if this will be the final product, but it is a start.
Now on to other things.
Whew! It has been a VERY busy summer, filled with travel, trips to the pool, theatre camps, work, 20 year high school reunions and other assorted activities. Suffice it to say there was no slowing down at Chez Babble for the summer.
Despite the 95 degree temperatures, for all intents and purposes summer is o-v-e-r for us. School started this week.
#1 has started Middle School. If I could figure out a way for there to be dramatic music there I would add it in.
I am fairly certain that I am more anxious about this transition than she is. (ME?? Anxious!! Surely not!) I view that as a good thing.
#2 is now in the 4th grade. I am waiting to see how things will go for her. This year there are very few kids that she knows in her class. Her best friend is not in her class for the first time ever, AND big sis is not there this year . #s 1 and 2 are pretty tight with each other for the most part. I am sure it will all be fine, but in a couple of weeks once this has all soaked in for her, I won't be at all surprised to see some extra emotional stuff from good ol' #2. It takes a while for the full impact of a transition to hit her sometimes.
Me? I am as boring as ever. Still private practicing, still wishing to win the lottery so I can be a woman of leisure at home, but failing to buy a ticket nearly every week. I am currently coveting a Macbook. I don't see one in my near future however.
So what's up with you?
Monday, August 02, 2010
Vacations and HS Reunions and Enrolling Children in Middle School Oh My!
That title pretty much sums up all that has gone on since I last posted.
Details to follow.
Soonish.
Details to follow.
Soonish.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Themeparkalooza Days one and two
I didn't quite make that goal of blogging every day of my vacation. But guess what? I am on vacation dammit so I will not blog if I want to!
I think I have decided that pictures will be waiting too. They take forever to upload and I haven't the patience after 8+ hours of sun, heat, humidity, crowds, waiting in line, and doing thrill rides. I'll upload pictures later.
So Day One. Last day at Cocoa Beach. #2 and I got up and had an early morning swim in the ocean. No porpoise today, but we had the beach virtually to ourselves AND we got to see the beach vacuum cleaner and a guy who had a way with the sea birds.
BH drug the two of us back to the hotel so that we could leave for Orlando and theme park one of THEMEPARKALOOZA 2010!
First up: Animal Kingdom!!
Not my favorite of the Disney Parks. It is kind of like a zoo on steroids and I am not that fond of zoos in general. I did get a lot of lovely animal photos. My girls however are hugemongous animal lovers, and this place was right up their alley. Did I mention that it was hot? And humid? Now being from Kansas I am no stranger to humidity, but Lord Baby Jeebus. I don't typically spend all day traipsing around in it. Sucks the life right out of you. Thank goodness for many air-conditioned attractions to help break up the heat. Thankfully most of the day was overcast too. Some favorites for me were the Finding Nemo show. It is done with puppets, but you see the puppeteers, as they fly the puppets on large sticks. It was quite the spectacle. I also enjoyed the 3-D movie, "It's Tough to be a Bug." Short but fun, and complete with smell, movement, and live action sorts of stuff. If you have the chance I would suggest you hit both of these attractions. Last time we were there about 6 years ago we saw the Lion King show. We opted out of it this time to do other things, but it was really good and worth a see too.
THEMEPARKALOOZA 2010 DAY 2! UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE!!
This was the first time any of us had visited Universal Studios. I would definitely go back. Our main objective was to of course see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As everyone in our party with the exception of yours truly are HUGE Harry Potter fans. I have to say that it was pretty stinking cool. AND RIDICULOUSLY BUSY. There are only about 3 rides, and the rest is pretty much stores and the like. But you had to wait in crazy-ass lines to GET INTO STORES! Stores! People! That is 10-different kinds of ridunculousness. But the stores were cool and full of every imaginable Harry Potter item. I have never been part of crowds like that before it was crazy. I highly recommend it, but I also highly recommend that you either wait a couple of years, or go in the way off season. The rest of the park was about what you would expect crowd-wise in the summer. I thought the Dr. Seuss area was fun. It was geared towards smaller kids, but the design was amazing. Of course we spent a fair amount of time in the Marvel Comic area, and rode a 3-D Spiderman ride. I couldn't tell you much about it. Between the 3-D and the movement I had to close my eyes or hurl from dizziness. I chose to close my eyes. Those were the highlights of today. Weather was similar to yesterday only with SUN. I am pretty sure I have never sweat so much in my life. I may never get the smell of sweat, sunscreen, and BO out of my nostrils. If the sun is out tomorrow, I swear that I will be reporting about the best $20 I ever spent on a battery operated fan-spray bottle combination that is filled with and kept in ice water, it will have Disney characters on it!
Now I must rest. This theme-parking is tiring. Fun. But tiring. Oh yeah...
Sweaty.
After Animal Kingdom
I think I have decided that pictures will be waiting too. They take forever to upload and I haven't the patience after 8+ hours of sun, heat, humidity, crowds, waiting in line, and doing thrill rides. I'll upload pictures later.
So Day One. Last day at Cocoa Beach. #2 and I got up and had an early morning swim in the ocean. No porpoise today, but we had the beach virtually to ourselves AND we got to see the beach vacuum cleaner and a guy who had a way with the sea birds.
BH drug the two of us back to the hotel so that we could leave for Orlando and theme park one of THEMEPARKALOOZA 2010!
First up: Animal Kingdom!!
Not my favorite of the Disney Parks. It is kind of like a zoo on steroids and I am not that fond of zoos in general. I did get a lot of lovely animal photos. My girls however are hugemongous animal lovers, and this place was right up their alley. Did I mention that it was hot? And humid? Now being from Kansas I am no stranger to humidity, but Lord Baby Jeebus. I don't typically spend all day traipsing around in it. Sucks the life right out of you. Thank goodness for many air-conditioned attractions to help break up the heat. Thankfully most of the day was overcast too. Some favorites for me were the Finding Nemo show. It is done with puppets, but you see the puppeteers, as they fly the puppets on large sticks. It was quite the spectacle. I also enjoyed the 3-D movie, "It's Tough to be a Bug." Short but fun, and complete with smell, movement, and live action sorts of stuff. If you have the chance I would suggest you hit both of these attractions. Last time we were there about 6 years ago we saw the Lion King show. We opted out of it this time to do other things, but it was really good and worth a see too.
THEMEPARKALOOZA 2010 DAY 2! UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE!!
This was the first time any of us had visited Universal Studios. I would definitely go back. Our main objective was to of course see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As everyone in our party with the exception of yours truly are HUGE Harry Potter fans. I have to say that it was pretty stinking cool. AND RIDICULOUSLY BUSY. There are only about 3 rides, and the rest is pretty much stores and the like. But you had to wait in crazy-ass lines to GET INTO STORES! Stores! People! That is 10-different kinds of ridunculousness. But the stores were cool and full of every imaginable Harry Potter item. I have never been part of crowds like that before it was crazy. I highly recommend it, but I also highly recommend that you either wait a couple of years, or go in the way off season. The rest of the park was about what you would expect crowd-wise in the summer. I thought the Dr. Seuss area was fun. It was geared towards smaller kids, but the design was amazing. Of course we spent a fair amount of time in the Marvel Comic area, and rode a 3-D Spiderman ride. I couldn't tell you much about it. Between the 3-D and the movement I had to close my eyes or hurl from dizziness. I chose to close my eyes. Those were the highlights of today. Weather was similar to yesterday only with SUN. I am pretty sure I have never sweat so much in my life. I may never get the smell of sweat, sunscreen, and BO out of my nostrils. If the sun is out tomorrow, I swear that I will be reporting about the best $20 I ever spent on a battery operated fan-spray bottle combination that is filled with and kept in ice water, it will have Disney characters on it!
Now I must rest. This theme-parking is tiring. Fun. But tiring. Oh yeah...
Sweaty.
After Animal Kingdom
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Day 2. With Ibis! I think.And porpoise! But no proof of porpoise.
So! Day 2. Started off with Ibis after breakfast. I think they are Ibis. Anyone out there able to identify birds? We don't see these kinda birdies in the Midwest so it was exciting.
After the mystery to us birds it was off to Kennedy Space Center! We saw many cool spacey things. I think my favorites were the Hubble 3-D IMAX movie. Even if Leonardo DiCaprio's mellow voice and many dark shots at the end nearly lulled my slightly sleep deprived self to dreamland. I also found the Rocket Garden to be pretty cool.
After the mystery to us birds it was off to Kennedy Space Center! We saw many cool spacey things. I think my favorites were the Hubble 3-D IMAX movie. Even if Leonardo DiCaprio's mellow voice and many dark shots at the end nearly lulled my slightly sleep deprived self to dreamland. I also found the Rocket Garden to be pretty cool.
After the space center it was to the Beach. Alas my precious beach time was cut short due to a thunderstorm. But if there hadn't been a thunderstorm, we wouldn't have gone exploring and found this little gem!
Eventually the rain moved off and it was back to the beach! Much frolicking in the waves. There were even two porpoise swimming nearby. Unfortunately I was not able to capture them on film. But it was very exciting!
Tomorrow we depart Cocoa Beach and head for Orlando, and Themeparkalooza 2010.
Eventually the rain moved off and it was back to the beach! Much frolicking in the waves. There were even two porpoise swimming nearby. Unfortunately I was not able to capture them on film. But it was very exciting!
Tomorrow we depart Cocoa Beach and head for Orlando, and Themeparkalooza 2010.
But not until after I get my toes in that ocean one more time. Think we have decided to come back to visit Cocoa Beach one more time before we depart Saturday. LOVE IT HERE.
I had to sit on my hands to keep myself from making ridiculous calls on real estate I saw available near the beach. But man would I love a beach house. Lottery where are you when I need you?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Vacation Day One does not need to suck it.
So fellow follower of Babble. I am on VACATION.
Logically one might think that meant an absence of blog posts.
I am not always one for the logical.
In fact my plan is to blog every day I am on vacation.
I am sure you ask why.
There are several reasons, however I will only bore you with the primary. As much as I would like to think that I am going to print photos and make some lovely scrapbook pages, the truth is that I likely won't do it. Unless I win the lottery and can quit my day job. What is real is that my free time is not going to be used in such pursuits no matter how cool I think it would be. I don't find it cool enough apparently to do anything about it.
This blog has really been my scrapbook. Neglected too often, but kept up better than anything else I have tried.
So! Vacation Day One!
This year the Babble Family is visiting Sunny Florida! Today was spent seeing a movie at my favorite theater in Olathe where they bring you food while you watch a movie. We saw Despicable Me. It was better than I expected. It was not our first choice, but as we had a plane to catch later in the afternoon it had the best show times for us.
After the movie it was time to head for the airport. We had a smooth and event free flight. My favorite kind.
Our first night is in Cocoa Beach. After a very LATE dinner at a fine dining establishment (Yes it was McDonald's. 9:30 dinner time calls for quick and desperate measures.) We then made our way to the beach and splashed a bit in the Atlantic by the (very pale) moonlight. It was heavenly. The water was perfect. I wish there had not been a band playing nearby to interfere with the ocean sounds, but other than that....Heavenly. I wish that I had been able to record my children. They were blissfully happy. It was beautiful to see.
I swear if I thought I could get away with it I would sleep on the beach tonight. I already feel like I can't soak enough of it in.
Tomorrow we will tour Kennedy Space Center and then spend the rest of the day at the beach. I plan to wear my swimsuit to the Space Center, and shall request to be dropped of at the beach on the way back. Don't want to waste a minute of precious precious ocean time.
Oh yeah, that band playing. As we walked up they were playing "Pretty Woman" which then segued into "Blister in the Sun." On the way back they were playing some Pink Floyd. Interesting I thought.
Pictures tomorrow. It is very late and I must not sleep the day away.
Logically one might think that meant an absence of blog posts.
I am not always one for the logical.
In fact my plan is to blog every day I am on vacation.
I am sure you ask why.
There are several reasons, however I will only bore you with the primary. As much as I would like to think that I am going to print photos and make some lovely scrapbook pages, the truth is that I likely won't do it. Unless I win the lottery and can quit my day job. What is real is that my free time is not going to be used in such pursuits no matter how cool I think it would be. I don't find it cool enough apparently to do anything about it.
This blog has really been my scrapbook. Neglected too often, but kept up better than anything else I have tried.
So! Vacation Day One!
This year the Babble Family is visiting Sunny Florida! Today was spent seeing a movie at my favorite theater in Olathe where they bring you food while you watch a movie. We saw Despicable Me. It was better than I expected. It was not our first choice, but as we had a plane to catch later in the afternoon it had the best show times for us.
After the movie it was time to head for the airport. We had a smooth and event free flight. My favorite kind.
Our first night is in Cocoa Beach. After a very LATE dinner at a fine dining establishment (Yes it was McDonald's. 9:30 dinner time calls for quick and desperate measures.) We then made our way to the beach and splashed a bit in the Atlantic by the (very pale) moonlight. It was heavenly. The water was perfect. I wish there had not been a band playing nearby to interfere with the ocean sounds, but other than that....Heavenly. I wish that I had been able to record my children. They were blissfully happy. It was beautiful to see.
I swear if I thought I could get away with it I would sleep on the beach tonight. I already feel like I can't soak enough of it in.
Tomorrow we will tour Kennedy Space Center and then spend the rest of the day at the beach. I plan to wear my swimsuit to the Space Center, and shall request to be dropped of at the beach on the way back. Don't want to waste a minute of precious precious ocean time.
Oh yeah, that band playing. As we walked up they were playing "Pretty Woman" which then segued into "Blister in the Sun." On the way back they were playing some Pink Floyd. Interesting I thought.
Pictures tomorrow. It is very late and I must not sleep the day away.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Summer Colds Can Suck it too
I have stinking miserable summer cold, and I am more than a little grouchy about it.
So yes add this to the things that can suck it.
Better and less grumpy post coming as soon as I can stop sneezing, and blowing my nose.
So yes add this to the things that can suck it.
Better and less grumpy post coming as soon as I can stop sneezing, and blowing my nose.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Dementia can suck it
Hello all you Babble Faithful.
I was doing so well there for a while keeping up with regular posting.
Then the end of May hit and all hell broke loose.
A lot of stuff goes on in May.
So anyhoo... get ready for a ramble.
#1 has successfully completed 6th grade. An offsite after school hours party was held for the entire 6th grade at her school. Everyone had fun, and problems were virtually non-existent. Apparently that was not the case for another school in the district's party. Whoo-eee. Let's just say apparently the hormones among the children at my kid's school are lagging behind. I do believe all the parents are ok with that. The promotion ceremony was held the last day of school. I managed to make it through without bawling and wailing in front of everyone. I think it helped that the ceremony lasted all of about 20 minutes. Not much time to get teary. I do believe this parent was ok with that.
School has ended, but I don't think Chez Babble will be experiencing much of a laid back summer. BH has been cast in a show at the local university where he is chipping away at a Masters Degree. He is also taking a more lengthy summer class. The past few summers his classes have been about a month long. This one is two months. There are vacations, vbs, camps, violin lessons, piano lessons, and possibly another show thrown in there too. So busy business as usual for us this summer. I have just enjoyed my first day with the return of the house husband. Given the HH's busy schedule this summer my expectations were low, but of course BH the HH surpassed my expectations by a long shot. He's pretty good for that.
We just returned from a long weekend in Ohio to visit BH's grandparents and other family. It was a tough trip. His grandmother is suffering from some very sudden and serious dementia. Still trying to figure out what is going on. She was very paranoid, and at times verbally aggressive over the weekend, and obviously not herself at all. It was very heartbreaking to experience. Hopefully some resolution will come soon. Getting old sucks donkey balls sometimes. This would definitely be one of those.
In Shocking! And! Exciting! News!
I am headed to NYC in a week. Alllll by myself. To visit my good friend Ali. and maybe Dan if he feels he can squeeze me in. Hopefully some other friends too. Other than that I have no idea what I will be doing there, other than praying daily to the GPS God/Goddesses that I do not get lost 40 different times a day. Have I mentioned that I have absolutely NO SENSE OF DIRECTION WHATSOEVER??? BH who has been with me for a damn long time is still STILL astounded by my ability to always choose the wrong direction when given the opportunity. I am hoping to find some kind of GPS application for my Blackberry that will help guide me while I am there. This was a very spontaneous trip and that is worthy of a whole post itself.
There is some other stuff happening, but I think I will turn those in to their own posts. I got my Blogher gentle reminder today, so this should appease them. I just received my first check from them after about 3 years of running ads, so I guess I better keep em happy.
Later Gators.
I was doing so well there for a while keeping up with regular posting.
Then the end of May hit and all hell broke loose.
A lot of stuff goes on in May.
So anyhoo... get ready for a ramble.
#1 has successfully completed 6th grade. An offsite after school hours party was held for the entire 6th grade at her school. Everyone had fun, and problems were virtually non-existent. Apparently that was not the case for another school in the district's party. Whoo-eee. Let's just say apparently the hormones among the children at my kid's school are lagging behind. I do believe all the parents are ok with that. The promotion ceremony was held the last day of school. I managed to make it through without bawling and wailing in front of everyone. I think it helped that the ceremony lasted all of about 20 minutes. Not much time to get teary. I do believe this parent was ok with that.
School has ended, but I don't think Chez Babble will be experiencing much of a laid back summer. BH has been cast in a show at the local university where he is chipping away at a Masters Degree. He is also taking a more lengthy summer class. The past few summers his classes have been about a month long. This one is two months. There are vacations, vbs, camps, violin lessons, piano lessons, and possibly another show thrown in there too. So busy business as usual for us this summer. I have just enjoyed my first day with the return of the house husband. Given the HH's busy schedule this summer my expectations were low, but of course BH the HH surpassed my expectations by a long shot. He's pretty good for that.
We just returned from a long weekend in Ohio to visit BH's grandparents and other family. It was a tough trip. His grandmother is suffering from some very sudden and serious dementia. Still trying to figure out what is going on. She was very paranoid, and at times verbally aggressive over the weekend, and obviously not herself at all. It was very heartbreaking to experience. Hopefully some resolution will come soon. Getting old sucks donkey balls sometimes. This would definitely be one of those.
In Shocking! And! Exciting! News!
I am headed to NYC in a week. Alllll by myself. To visit my good friend Ali. and maybe Dan if he feels he can squeeze me in. Hopefully some other friends too. Other than that I have no idea what I will be doing there, other than praying daily to the GPS God/Goddesses that I do not get lost 40 different times a day. Have I mentioned that I have absolutely NO SENSE OF DIRECTION WHATSOEVER??? BH who has been with me for a damn long time is still STILL astounded by my ability to always choose the wrong direction when given the opportunity. I am hoping to find some kind of GPS application for my Blackberry that will help guide me while I am there. This was a very spontaneous trip and that is worthy of a whole post itself.
There is some other stuff happening, but I think I will turn those in to their own posts. I got my Blogher gentle reminder today, so this should appease them. I just received my first check from them after about 3 years of running ads, so I guess I better keep em happy.
Later Gators.
Monday, May 17, 2010
For BH
I had a GREAT Mother's Day.
Let me tell you all the awesome things that happened!
Let me tell you all the awesome things that happened!
- I got to sleep in!
- I got a gift certificate from by wonderfully fabulous Beloved Husband to a local spa for a ONE HOUR MASSAGE AND A PEDICURE!!!!!!!(Both! I could even do them on the same day if I wish!)
- I got a lovely cookbook from #2
- I got lovely pictures and helpful coupons from #1
- I got to lie around the house
- I got taken out for breakfast
- I got to eat whatever the hell I wanted. And I ate a LOT people. Hello lovely french toast, sausage, and hashbrowns. You were worth every delicious excessive calorie.
- I got to be with my most favorite people in the whole world.
What was your Mother's Day like?
Monday, May 03, 2010
Cranky Gift Horse
Mother's Day is near.
I typically enjoy giving gifts. But I wonder if lately my enjoyment is beginning to wane.
The last few gift giving occasions have caused me to say, "Oh Crap!" instead of "Oh Good!"
Particularly those occasions that involve gifts for the parents.
I seem to be completely void of creative gift ideas. BH is no better.
We have avoided discussing Mother's Day because no one has a single decent idea.
Father's Day looms. Oy Father's Day. It makes Mother's Day look like something, well you can just make up your own metaphor here. Our father's are so difficult to buy for.
"But Missy," I know you are saying, "Just ask them what they would like."
Oh nonononononononono NO.
Not only is this a fruitless endeavor, it is one guaranteed to make my head explode loudly enough to be heard in Canada.
I won't bore you with the details, but I swear I am going to punch my dad the next time I ask him if there is anything he would like or need, and I hear, "OOhh it's just another day. It doesn't matter to me." Every. Single. Mother. ##$*&^.Time.
I had a gem of an idea yesterday while lying around and putting off getting myself around for the day.
Our girls love to pretend that they are wait staff at a fancy restaurant. So, thinks I, howz about we turn our house into a fancy restaurant and serve our moms a fancy dinner served by their very cute grandaughters?
It will work like this, on Sunday we will deliver fancy invitations and a bouquet of flowers to our mothers for a fancy dinner at Chez Babble in two weeks.
That gives us two weeks to plan, shop, and execute our fancy dinner.
Brilliant!
Now, what to put on the menu.......
I typically enjoy giving gifts. But I wonder if lately my enjoyment is beginning to wane.
The last few gift giving occasions have caused me to say, "Oh Crap!" instead of "Oh Good!"
Particularly those occasions that involve gifts for the parents.
I seem to be completely void of creative gift ideas. BH is no better.
We have avoided discussing Mother's Day because no one has a single decent idea.
Father's Day looms. Oy Father's Day. It makes Mother's Day look like something, well you can just make up your own metaphor here. Our father's are so difficult to buy for.
"But Missy," I know you are saying, "Just ask them what they would like."
Oh nonononononononono NO.
Not only is this a fruitless endeavor, it is one guaranteed to make my head explode loudly enough to be heard in Canada.
I won't bore you with the details, but I swear I am going to punch my dad the next time I ask him if there is anything he would like or need, and I hear, "OOhh it's just another day. It doesn't matter to me." Every. Single. Mother. ##$*&^.Time.
I had a gem of an idea yesterday while lying around and putting off getting myself around for the day.
Our girls love to pretend that they are wait staff at a fancy restaurant. So, thinks I, howz about we turn our house into a fancy restaurant and serve our moms a fancy dinner served by their very cute grandaughters?
It will work like this, on Sunday we will deliver fancy invitations and a bouquet of flowers to our mothers for a fancy dinner at Chez Babble in two weeks.
That gives us two weeks to plan, shop, and execute our fancy dinner.
Brilliant!
Now, what to put on the menu.......
Monday, April 26, 2010
Snack vs. Treat
Included in a recent post I talked about how my children, or more accurately their grandparents seem to be confused by what is a snack vs. a meal.
We often have umm.."discussions" with the children about what they should have as a snack.
When they are out from under the influence of junk food wielding grandparents, err..umm... I mean when they are home with us we don't often have the snack portion argument. I think they get it now that we are not offering after school meals.
However....
we have a lot of ummm..."discussions" about what is an appropriate snack.
Our first question to the children when they ask for a snack and then follow up with, "Can I have this bit of junk, or not so healthy option?" our response is, "How many servings of fruits and vegetables have you had today?" The answer to this question on a good day will usually be, "One." Unfortunately the answer most days is, "None." We are then forced to insist that the snack be of the fruit or vegetable variety, which is met with much grumbling, huffing, vulture posturing, and various other ways they like to make their unhappy feelings known. (My personal favorite is a note with a mad face sticking it's tongue out. That is a favorite #2 way of expressing anger. It always makes me laugh, and well if you have children I don't need to finish this story for you.)
The children will grudgingly get their fruit/veggie and then invariably ask if they can have the earlier requested junk/not so healthy option after consuming the fruit/veggie.
By now we are typically a bit worn down and just so damn happy that they are actually eating a fruit/veggie that we say ok.
So I guess the grandparents aren't the only ones to blame for all this. Damnit. I really wanted it to be all their fault.
BH was reading the US Today insert in the paper yesterday. He found a little article that discussed snacks vs. treats.
In a nutshell the article said that most people now don't know the difference between a snack and a treat. They pointed out that a snack is for warding off ravenous hunger bewtween meals. A treat is something like cake, ice cream, chips, candy bars, etc. that you eat every once in a while. The problem is that many people eat treats for snacks every day.
Hmmm...this sounds familiar.
So we had a bit of a discussion about that article last night.
Went over pretty well.
We decided that our treat this week would be shakes at the Fork and Dine movie experience we are planning for Saturday.
Tonight #1 asked if she could have the last of her chocolate Easter Bunny today. At first I said ok, because I honestly want the temptation gone. THEN #1 stopped and said, "Oh, but will that be my treat then?"
After I picked myself up off the floor, I said it would, and suggested that she save it for another time. She agreed without fuss.
Victory may be within grasp.
We often have umm.."discussions" with the children about what they should have as a snack.
When they are out from under the influence of junk food wielding grandparents, err..umm... I mean when they are home with us we don't often have the snack portion argument. I think they get it now that we are not offering after school meals.
However....
we have a lot of ummm..."discussions" about what is an appropriate snack.
Our first question to the children when they ask for a snack and then follow up with, "Can I have this bit of junk, or not so healthy option?" our response is, "How many servings of fruits and vegetables have you had today?" The answer to this question on a good day will usually be, "One." Unfortunately the answer most days is, "None." We are then forced to insist that the snack be of the fruit or vegetable variety, which is met with much grumbling, huffing, vulture posturing, and various other ways they like to make their unhappy feelings known. (My personal favorite is a note with a mad face sticking it's tongue out. That is a favorite #2 way of expressing anger. It always makes me laugh, and well if you have children I don't need to finish this story for you.)
The children will grudgingly get their fruit/veggie and then invariably ask if they can have the earlier requested junk/not so healthy option after consuming the fruit/veggie.
By now we are typically a bit worn down and just so damn happy that they are actually eating a fruit/veggie that we say ok.
So I guess the grandparents aren't the only ones to blame for all this. Damnit. I really wanted it to be all their fault.
BH was reading the US Today insert in the paper yesterday. He found a little article that discussed snacks vs. treats.
In a nutshell the article said that most people now don't know the difference between a snack and a treat. They pointed out that a snack is for warding off ravenous hunger bewtween meals. A treat is something like cake, ice cream, chips, candy bars, etc. that you eat every once in a while. The problem is that many people eat treats for snacks every day.
Hmmm...this sounds familiar.
So we had a bit of a discussion about that article last night.
Went over pretty well.
We decided that our treat this week would be shakes at the Fork and Dine movie experience we are planning for Saturday.
Tonight #1 asked if she could have the last of her chocolate Easter Bunny today. At first I said ok, because I honestly want the temptation gone. THEN #1 stopped and said, "Oh, but will that be my treat then?"
After I picked myself up off the floor, I said it would, and suggested that she save it for another time. She agreed without fuss.
Victory may be within grasp.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Cryiyiyiyiin...
#1 will be making the transition from elementary school to middle school next year.
I don't need to expound any more about fears and anxities.
Let's talk instead about my immense distaste for crying in public.
With the abovementioned transition comes the obligatory ceremonies and celebrations.
All to remind me that my baby is not a baby anymore and soon she will be a grownup and move away and and and and....
Waaahhhhhh!
Tonight I successfully made it through her final elementary school orchestra concert. This was really not difficult at all beause first, she will continue to play next year so it is not her last concert ever. Two: they made no mention of this being the last show for the 6th graders, so there was no trigger there either.
In a few weeks however will be the dreaded promotion ceremony.
Oy. I get teary just thinking about it.
This disturbs me greatly. I HATE crying in public.
I know I know, I am a therapist I should be comfortable with expression of emotion, blah, blah, blah.
At any rate it doesn't change the fact that I prefer my most profound emotional expressions to be in a private arena.
I am on the committee for the promotion celebrations, and so will have some work to do to keep me distracted, but all of that work is pre and post ceremony. There is nothing to keep me distracted during the ceremony when the power point with baby pictures comes up and all that other goodbye stuff.
Those baby pictures come on and somebody better pass the puffs.
Maybe I will use the ol' Twitter account and tweet my way through it.
(I would never be that rude, by the way!)
Maybe I better just get used to the idea that I am prolly gonna cry and I likely won't be the only parent to do so and it is ok.
I still hate it.
I don't need to expound any more about fears and anxities.
Let's talk instead about my immense distaste for crying in public.
With the abovementioned transition comes the obligatory ceremonies and celebrations.
All to remind me that my baby is not a baby anymore and soon she will be a grownup and move away and and and and....
Waaahhhhhh!
Tonight I successfully made it through her final elementary school orchestra concert. This was really not difficult at all beause first, she will continue to play next year so it is not her last concert ever. Two: they made no mention of this being the last show for the 6th graders, so there was no trigger there either.
In a few weeks however will be the dreaded promotion ceremony.
Oy. I get teary just thinking about it.
This disturbs me greatly. I HATE crying in public.
I know I know, I am a therapist I should be comfortable with expression of emotion, blah, blah, blah.
At any rate it doesn't change the fact that I prefer my most profound emotional expressions to be in a private arena.
I am on the committee for the promotion celebrations, and so will have some work to do to keep me distracted, but all of that work is pre and post ceremony. There is nothing to keep me distracted during the ceremony when the power point with baby pictures comes up and all that other goodbye stuff.
Those baby pictures come on and somebody better pass the puffs.
Maybe I will use the ol' Twitter account and tweet my way through it.
(I would never be that rude, by the way!)
Maybe I better just get used to the idea that I am prolly gonna cry and I likely won't be the only parent to do so and it is ok.
I still hate it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Pet Healthcare Reform Needed Here AND I now am diagnosing cat anxiety.
We have had more pet health issues in the past year than I can recount at this point.
I don't think I would be in danger of exaggerating if I were to say that I bet we have not gone longer than two months without a vet visit.
We will be making another visit for our middle cat, who seems to have some serious anxiety issues.
Because ceiling fans are evil dastardly beasts that are out to get her!
This means she won't come upstairs.
Which means eating and drinking has likely been limited, and don't get me started on the pee...
I think she should meet criteria for Kitty Prozac. Serious anxiety that is impairing her ability to carry out daily functions.
That is my professional opinion and I am sticking to it.
I don't think I would be in danger of exaggerating if I were to say that I bet we have not gone longer than two months without a vet visit.
We will be making another visit for our middle cat, who seems to have some serious anxiety issues.
Because ceiling fans are evil dastardly beasts that are out to get her!
This means she won't come upstairs.
Which means eating and drinking has likely been limited, and don't get me started on the pee...
I think she should meet criteria for Kitty Prozac. Serious anxiety that is impairing her ability to carry out daily functions.
That is my professional opinion and I am sticking to it.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Teen Angst
So #1 is going to be a teenager soon-ish.
I can not honestly say that I am excited about this.
Unfortunately #1 is not excited about it either.
She really has nothing good to say about aging. This has become somewhat bothersome to her father and I.
Right now #1 seems only able to focus on what she can no longer do because she is getting older, and sees no benefit to becoming a teenager at this point.
This MIGHT be a teeny bit our fault. Maybe.
Could it be that she took all of our tease intended moaning and groaning about having a teenager to heart?
OR is it that we are just having a hard time figuring out how to let her grow up?
The world is scary. There are scary people out there who want to do bad things to unsuspecting young girls.
#1 is cursed with an anxious mother who has a unique ability to ferret out every possible danger out there.
I am finding it REALLY REALLY hard to decide what freedoms are ok. I have to sort through all my anxiety and be REASONABLE for God's sake.
That is a lot of work my friends. You just have no idea.
BUT the good news is that I am working on it.
This weekend BH and I were able to nail down a few perks and incentives to help #1 see some benefit from growing up.
The incentive package was small, but well received.
Baby steps to teenagedom.
Did I also mention that I have recently discovered several new gray hairs?
Wonder if there is any correlation here?
I can not honestly say that I am excited about this.
Unfortunately #1 is not excited about it either.
She really has nothing good to say about aging. This has become somewhat bothersome to her father and I.
Right now #1 seems only able to focus on what she can no longer do because she is getting older, and sees no benefit to becoming a teenager at this point.
This MIGHT be a teeny bit our fault. Maybe.
Could it be that she took all of our tease intended moaning and groaning about having a teenager to heart?
OR is it that we are just having a hard time figuring out how to let her grow up?
The world is scary. There are scary people out there who want to do bad things to unsuspecting young girls.
#1 is cursed with an anxious mother who has a unique ability to ferret out every possible danger out there.
I am finding it REALLY REALLY hard to decide what freedoms are ok. I have to sort through all my anxiety and be REASONABLE for God's sake.
That is a lot of work my friends. You just have no idea.
BUT the good news is that I am working on it.
This weekend BH and I were able to nail down a few perks and incentives to help #1 see some benefit from growing up.
The incentive package was small, but well received.
Baby steps to teenagedom.
Did I also mention that I have recently discovered several new gray hairs?
Wonder if there is any correlation here?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
It is wrong to throw out cupcakes. Right?
I am trying really hard to be vigilant about eating, so's I can drop the couple pounds of winter weight I put on.
SO WHY IN THE HELL DO PEOPLE BRING THINGS LIKE CUPCAKES TO MY HOUSE?
I have been pretty vocal about my work here. I have been equally vocal about what seems to be my total inability to ignore things like baked goods when they are in my house.
Just two days ago I announced a ban on such things until these few pounds are gone.
Yet today here comes my MIL fresh from the dessert auction at church with a beautiful plate of cupcakes. (Proclaiming that she knows we don't want them, but she couldn't resist buying them because they were so pretty. We try to be good children. Why WHY, does she insist on punishing us like this? BH is watching his eating too. His goal is to get below Spiderman weight. How I love my geeky man.)
Jesus Mary and Joseph.
They are very prettily decorated and delicious looking.
AND those evil bastards are taunting me all the way up here in my bedroom.
They don't respond to my firm, "Shut the hell up cupcakes!"
I just may have to go all trashcan on their asses.
SO WHY IN THE HELL DO PEOPLE BRING THINGS LIKE CUPCAKES TO MY HOUSE?
I have been pretty vocal about my work here. I have been equally vocal about what seems to be my total inability to ignore things like baked goods when they are in my house.
Just two days ago I announced a ban on such things until these few pounds are gone.
Yet today here comes my MIL fresh from the dessert auction at church with a beautiful plate of cupcakes. (Proclaiming that she knows we don't want them, but she couldn't resist buying them because they were so pretty. We try to be good children. Why WHY, does she insist on punishing us like this? BH is watching his eating too. His goal is to get below Spiderman weight. How I love my geeky man.)
Jesus Mary and Joseph.
They are very prettily decorated and delicious looking.
AND those evil bastards are taunting me all the way up here in my bedroom.
They don't respond to my firm, "Shut the hell up cupcakes!"
I just may have to go all trashcan on their asses.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Running Marathons at inopportune times.
So the stomach ache has apparently migrated.
Here is what happened at ridiculous o'clock last night/this morning ohwhothehellknows?
(Knocking on our bedroom door)
BH: (mumbles something that resembles, "What is it?" I think)
#2: My feet are hurting really bad and I can't even think.
Me: It is sleeping time. There is no thinking required.
#2: They hurt so bad I can't even sleep.
Me: What would you like me to do?
#2: I don't know. (Said as she climbs in next to me. Always next to me. Her dad is a cuddly guy, I think she needs to share the love.)
Me: Zzzzzzzzz
Me: (At some point later hopefully it really was only the few minutes I thought it was) Are your feet better now?
#2: Yes, only one hurts just a little.
Me: Will you be able to sleep?
#2: Yes.
Me: Get out.
BH's lines throughout this entire exchange: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Since the pain has migrated to her feet, let's hope toenails are the last stop before we are pain free.
Here is what happened at ridiculous o'clock last night/this morning ohwhothehellknows?
(Knocking on our bedroom door)
BH: (mumbles something that resembles, "What is it?" I think)
#2: My feet are hurting really bad and I can't even think.
Me: It is sleeping time. There is no thinking required.
#2: They hurt so bad I can't even sleep.
Me: What would you like me to do?
#2: I don't know. (Said as she climbs in next to me. Always next to me. Her dad is a cuddly guy, I think she needs to share the love.)
Me: Zzzzzzzzz
Me: (At some point later hopefully it really was only the few minutes I thought it was) Are your feet better now?
#2: Yes, only one hurts just a little.
Me: Will you be able to sleep?
#2: Yes.
Me: Get out.
BH's lines throughout this entire exchange: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Since the pain has migrated to her feet, let's hope toenails are the last stop before we are pain free.
Monday, April 12, 2010
If we were on an episode of House I would have a tantrum until we got the full body scan
#2 is about to do me in.
For reasons I fail to comprehend she has to tell us about every little tweak, squeak, and possible malfunction her body makes.
This leads us to make very little of it when she complains about not feeling well.
This has lead to us blowing her off at times when she really was sick.
This has lead to me having one foot in the door of the looney bin.
Our latest issue(s) have been that good old standby the stomachache.
She complains that her stomach hurts, but it never seems to slow her down. (Except at those most opportune times such as chore time or getting ready for school in the morning.)
There is rarely if ever anything else that goes along with these stomachaches, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and the like.
So I give her a Tums, and send her on her merry way.
This child's eating habits as I have discussed numerous times on this blog are atrocious. I believe that these poor habits may indeed be part of her problem.
So I told her that I did some research about stomach problems and determined that what we needed to do was make sure that she was eating healthy food most if not all of the time.
This includes after school snack at grandparents homes. (A grandparent who shall remain nameless took her to McDonald's last week for a "snack" after school. The "snack" consisted of an ice cream cone AND a medium order of french fries. That is a crappy meal, not a snack. This happens more than once a week too. Makes my head EX-PLODE. Another grandparent who shall also remain nameless regularly makes a huge bowl of excessively buttered popcorn AND a bowl of ice cream for the "snack." Then has the audacity to comment on the fact that the child does not eat dinner. Makes me say BAD BAD BAD words. No amount of straightforward comments or requests to stop make a difference either. Not even if I say them while beating my head against a brick wall at the same time.)
So we are going to try eating healthy food for a while (Hoepfully. Maybe the threat of illness will help curb the grandparents ridculousness.) and see if that doesn't end the complaints. I am also insituting an early to bed rule on days that she complains of stomach problems. She needs rest so that she can get better.
If after a week or so we see no improvement, then I guess it is to the doctor we go.
I just hope this doesn't turn in to one of those my disbelief that there is truly an issue biting me in the ass situations.
Parenting is hard sometimes.
For reasons I fail to comprehend she has to tell us about every little tweak, squeak, and possible malfunction her body makes.
This leads us to make very little of it when she complains about not feeling well.
This has lead to us blowing her off at times when she really was sick.
This has lead to me having one foot in the door of the looney bin.
Our latest issue(s) have been that good old standby the stomachache.
She complains that her stomach hurts, but it never seems to slow her down. (Except at those most opportune times such as chore time or getting ready for school in the morning.)
There is rarely if ever anything else that goes along with these stomachaches, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and the like.
So I give her a Tums, and send her on her merry way.
This child's eating habits as I have discussed numerous times on this blog are atrocious. I believe that these poor habits may indeed be part of her problem.
So I told her that I did some research about stomach problems and determined that what we needed to do was make sure that she was eating healthy food most if not all of the time.
This includes after school snack at grandparents homes. (A grandparent who shall remain nameless took her to McDonald's last week for a "snack" after school. The "snack" consisted of an ice cream cone AND a medium order of french fries. That is a crappy meal, not a snack. This happens more than once a week too. Makes my head EX-PLODE. Another grandparent who shall also remain nameless regularly makes a huge bowl of excessively buttered popcorn AND a bowl of ice cream for the "snack." Then has the audacity to comment on the fact that the child does not eat dinner. Makes me say BAD BAD BAD words. No amount of straightforward comments or requests to stop make a difference either. Not even if I say them while beating my head against a brick wall at the same time.)
So we are going to try eating healthy food for a while (Hoepfully. Maybe the threat of illness will help curb the grandparents ridculousness.) and see if that doesn't end the complaints. I am also insituting an early to bed rule on days that she complains of stomach problems. She needs rest so that she can get better.
If after a week or so we see no improvement, then I guess it is to the doctor we go.
I just hope this doesn't turn in to one of those my disbelief that there is truly an issue biting me in the ass situations.
Parenting is hard sometimes.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The Demon is Out!
Because I knew you were all waiting with bated breath...
After test driving EIGHT vehicles, and one failed deal....
I am happy to inform you that my demon has been exorcised.
It came out in the form of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
It is shiny, black, sporty, with SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. (This makes me feel like a race car driver!) It sports a 200 horsepower engine which ain't too shabby for a 4 cylinder. The extra power will take some getting used too. I was way over the speed limit all the way home and didn't realize it.
I am VERY happy with my purchase.
So who wants to go for a ride?
After test driving EIGHT vehicles, and one failed deal....
I am happy to inform you that my demon has been exorcised.
It came out in the form of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
It is shiny, black, sporty, with SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. (This makes me feel like a race car driver!) It sports a 200 horsepower engine which ain't too shabby for a 4 cylinder. The extra power will take some getting used too. I was way over the speed limit all the way home and didn't realize it.
I am VERY happy with my purchase.
So who wants to go for a ride?
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Ready to exorcise the demon
Holy shit I hate trying to by a car.
I um have been a bit occupied, nay obsessed by the notion. (I wish I knew how to do that strike through the word thing that the cool bloggers do. I don't have many appropriate occasions, but this was one of those times. If you know how to do it please educate the ignorant, err.. one who wants to be in the know.)
I have now test driven 6 different cars. Yes you read that correctly 6.
I have pretty much officially ruled out 4 of the 6. 3 SUVs and one car that while fun and sporty, was just a wee bit too small.
I had high hopes for one of the SUVs last weekend, but they would not come down a measly $1000 so we had to say no. However apparently the salesperson was a toddler. Or at least it felt that way to me, as I had to explain about 200 times that unless they came down that measly $1000 we could not buy the car. Not didn't want to, COULD.NOT. No matter how great the deal was it was still $1000 more than we could pay. I was about to go all preschool teacher on the dude, but he finally got the message.
So I have officially ruled out SUVs. I originally wanted one because I thought I might get a third row of seating, but those are out of my price range. If I can't get the extra seating, then it is a bit hard to justify the purchase for me.
I am now looking at Sedans.
Sigh.
So. Boring.
So....not me.
The problem is I grew up in a family with some pretty serious car guys. I paid attention enough to develop a strong affinity for sports cars. I have had the privilege of owning two.
My favorite....was a 1988 red Dodge Daytona. 5-speed, turbo engine. God I loved that car. Bought it my sophomore year of college, and gave it up not long after #1 was born. Her car seat did not fit well in the rear bucket seats and trying to wrangle her in and out of it was a chore.
So I delved in to the land of the 4-door sedan, and there I am apparently going to stay for the forseeable future.
I have found a couple that don't look like something my grandma would have driven, so that is helping.
Now I just have to make my decision and then go try to buy it.
Honest to Sweet Baby Jesus I would rather scoop my eyes out with a spoon and feed them to myself.
I do not do numbers. They freak me out. I get paralyzed and can't think when numbers and math get involved.
This is why I am a therapist. Limited if any math.
So when the sales person starts flinging those numbers around like it is nothing, my head starts to spin, and I become a robot, a really defensive and angry robot who is only capable of repeating the price BH and I agreed upon before we leave the house. I am sure that they are out to take horrible advantage of me and that coupled with my numbers phobia makes for some bad situations.
So I have been test driving cars, and deciding what I want. BH who could care less what he drives as long as it gets him where he is going is my numbers man.
I have almost done my part. Now it is BH's turn. I will strive not to be an angry defensive price spouting robot. I will be quiet bystander, who confers privately with her numbers man before making any statements during the negotiating process.
It is better for everyone.
Now I just want to get this done, so that I can get other things done.
Stay tuned.
Demon be GONE!
I um have been a bit occupied, nay obsessed by the notion. (I wish I knew how to do that strike through the word thing that the cool bloggers do. I don't have many appropriate occasions, but this was one of those times. If you know how to do it please educate the ignorant, err.. one who wants to be in the know.)
I have now test driven 6 different cars. Yes you read that correctly 6.
I have pretty much officially ruled out 4 of the 6. 3 SUVs and one car that while fun and sporty, was just a wee bit too small.
I had high hopes for one of the SUVs last weekend, but they would not come down a measly $1000 so we had to say no. However apparently the salesperson was a toddler. Or at least it felt that way to me, as I had to explain about 200 times that unless they came down that measly $1000 we could not buy the car. Not didn't want to, COULD.NOT. No matter how great the deal was it was still $1000 more than we could pay. I was about to go all preschool teacher on the dude, but he finally got the message.
So I have officially ruled out SUVs. I originally wanted one because I thought I might get a third row of seating, but those are out of my price range. If I can't get the extra seating, then it is a bit hard to justify the purchase for me.
I am now looking at Sedans.
Sigh.
So. Boring.
So....not me.
The problem is I grew up in a family with some pretty serious car guys. I paid attention enough to develop a strong affinity for sports cars. I have had the privilege of owning two.
My favorite....was a 1988 red Dodge Daytona. 5-speed, turbo engine. God I loved that car. Bought it my sophomore year of college, and gave it up not long after #1 was born. Her car seat did not fit well in the rear bucket seats and trying to wrangle her in and out of it was a chore.
So I delved in to the land of the 4-door sedan, and there I am apparently going to stay for the forseeable future.
I have found a couple that don't look like something my grandma would have driven, so that is helping.
Now I just have to make my decision and then go try to buy it.
Honest to Sweet Baby Jesus I would rather scoop my eyes out with a spoon and feed them to myself.
I do not do numbers. They freak me out. I get paralyzed and can't think when numbers and math get involved.
This is why I am a therapist. Limited if any math.
So when the sales person starts flinging those numbers around like it is nothing, my head starts to spin, and I become a robot, a really defensive and angry robot who is only capable of repeating the price BH and I agreed upon before we leave the house. I am sure that they are out to take horrible advantage of me and that coupled with my numbers phobia makes for some bad situations.
So I have been test driving cars, and deciding what I want. BH who could care less what he drives as long as it gets him where he is going is my numbers man.
I have almost done my part. Now it is BH's turn. I will strive not to be an angry defensive price spouting robot. I will be quiet bystander, who confers privately with her numbers man before making any statements during the negotiating process.
It is better for everyone.
Now I just want to get this done, so that I can get other things done.
Stay tuned.
Demon be GONE!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Healthcare Reform
A lot of people seem to be up in the air over this whole healthcare reform deal.
I posed a question on FB asking people to say why they were or were not in favor of the reform bill.
I got several replies from people who were in favor of the bill, or I guess now I should refer to it as a law. I did not hear from one person who was not in favor. Most said that it was not perfect, but that overall they were happy to something done.
I was not attempting to start arguments and the commentary on my FB status was very tame and friendly. I am simply curious to hear what people think as it is not often that an issue raises such a strong response.
I wondered if people even knew what the bill was about as there has been so much propoganda and rhetoric from both ends of the debate. I really questioned if people were simply reacting to what they have heard in the media.
So I will attempt to post the same question here, just to see what people have to say as I really am curious. If I get more than one response I hope that people will keep it friendly.
So comment away!
I posed a question on FB asking people to say why they were or were not in favor of the reform bill.
I got several replies from people who were in favor of the bill, or I guess now I should refer to it as a law. I did not hear from one person who was not in favor. Most said that it was not perfect, but that overall they were happy to something done.
I was not attempting to start arguments and the commentary on my FB status was very tame and friendly. I am simply curious to hear what people think as it is not often that an issue raises such a strong response.
I wondered if people even knew what the bill was about as there has been so much propoganda and rhetoric from both ends of the debate. I really questioned if people were simply reacting to what they have heard in the media.
So I will attempt to post the same question here, just to see what people have to say as I really am curious. If I get more than one response I hope that people will keep it friendly.
So comment away!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Panda Bear Cupcakes
Of all the many posts I have done on this blog, the one that gets the most hits is one that shows a picture of wizard hat cupcakes I did for #1's birthday a couple of years ago.
I decided to see if Panda Bear Cupcakes can break in to the #1 spot.
I will keep you posted.
(These cupcakes were made in honor of #2's birthday. My baby will be 9 in just a few days.)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I got nuthin'
Not much to report on here.
Let me see in the two plus weeks since I last posted I have:
Let me see in the two plus weeks since I last posted I have:
- Created a dance titled, "It's Time to go to Sleep" that I perform for #1 before I tuck her in much to her horror. I keep offering to let her have friends sleep over so I can show them. For some reason she is not biting...
- I turned 38 years old.
- Went on a mini-vacation with some friends and their children to an indoor waterpark.
- Finally gotten the estimate and check for repairs on my car that was wrecked in January
- Have sort of made a decision to look at getting a new car, but not until we find out what the state budget is going to do to k-12 education and my BH's income. Hence the sort of. If the news is bad I will be repairing the car.
- Sloooowwlly getting back in to exercising regularly.
- Have been not so patiently waiting for a full on vacation that happens in July and will involve time at the beach.
- Bought a really boring swimsuit. Apparently 30 pounds less of me did not equal comfort with buying a suit that was not a basic black one piece "mom suit."
- Neglected my blog.
What have you done over the past two weeks?
Monday, March 08, 2010
Climbing up out of the rut
BH and I have been in a food rut for ohhhhhh..probably 10 years or so. (I might be exaggerating, but it sure feels that long.)
We have been trying to eat at home more, and have been fairly successful for awhile. Even during really busy times, we have managed to eat home food rather than fast food.
For quite a while last year we had a rule that we ate at no restaurant that had a drive-thru. That limits one's choices when in a hurry, and it soon became much easier in many many many ways to just eat at home rather than engage in the 4 year long debate about where we were going to eat that would be without complaining. The answer to that question is no where. There is no non-drive thru fast food restaurant where everyone at Chez Babble will happily eat. Give me a PB&J over pouty people at dinner any time.
As these things go, we eventually slacked on that rule. However recently we have gone back to our no-drive thru vow. It has been easier this time. Why I am not sure. I could try and analyze it, but I really don't want to. Feel free to share your thoughts about it if you like tho'!
BH recently stated that he thinks one reason we have not wanted to eat at home is because we eat the same thing all the time and we rarely plan meals that involve much real cooking. Real cooking meaning that we have to put some effort in to preparation, not just heating and eating.
So we have been hitting the cookbooks when menu planning lately, and planning meals that cause us to have to cook. Like with chopping and marinating and getting our saute on. I had my doubts about our follow through, but so far so good.
BH and I used to really cook quite a bit back when we were young and child free. It was one of our favorite pastimes.
Somewhere along the way after the kids came along we just forgot about it. Easy and hassle free became the name of the game for us.
I guess we are ready for the hassle again.
I think our more adventuresome cooking is having a positive effect on the children.
#1 for a while now has been far less picky and willing to try new foods.
#2. Ohhh #2. No way no how is she trying anything that she doesn't already know she likes. That means she will eat about 5 foods max.
Yesterday however...I think we may have upped her number of foods she is willing to eat. We had cheese ravioli. Man was she having a pout and attitude about dinner. (This happens everytime we have a dinner that does not involve one of those 5 foods. As I don't believe in catering this way, we encounter attitude SEVERAL nights a week. I think I am almost immune to it at this point.) But for whatever reason, and again I am not going to try and figure out the whys of it all, and just enjoy the moment. I digress. For whatever reason she decided she was going to try the cheese ravioli. Try she did and like she did. I nearly fell out of my chair. I even gave her money for trying a new food. (Yes I did, and I will do it again. If you knew what we have been through with this child and food you would be right there with me.)
Tonight she talked about trying the new chicken dish we made. She never did actually try it, but she talked about it AND there was no attitude at dinner.
Happy Happy Days!
If this doesn't keep us motivated on the path to cooking better food then I don't know what will.
We have been trying to eat at home more, and have been fairly successful for awhile. Even during really busy times, we have managed to eat home food rather than fast food.
For quite a while last year we had a rule that we ate at no restaurant that had a drive-thru. That limits one's choices when in a hurry, and it soon became much easier in many many many ways to just eat at home rather than engage in the 4 year long debate about where we were going to eat that would be without complaining. The answer to that question is no where. There is no non-drive thru fast food restaurant where everyone at Chez Babble will happily eat. Give me a PB&J over pouty people at dinner any time.
As these things go, we eventually slacked on that rule. However recently we have gone back to our no-drive thru vow. It has been easier this time. Why I am not sure. I could try and analyze it, but I really don't want to. Feel free to share your thoughts about it if you like tho'!
BH recently stated that he thinks one reason we have not wanted to eat at home is because we eat the same thing all the time and we rarely plan meals that involve much real cooking. Real cooking meaning that we have to put some effort in to preparation, not just heating and eating.
So we have been hitting the cookbooks when menu planning lately, and planning meals that cause us to have to cook. Like with chopping and marinating and getting our saute on. I had my doubts about our follow through, but so far so good.
BH and I used to really cook quite a bit back when we were young and child free. It was one of our favorite pastimes.
Somewhere along the way after the kids came along we just forgot about it. Easy and hassle free became the name of the game for us.
I guess we are ready for the hassle again.
I think our more adventuresome cooking is having a positive effect on the children.
#1 for a while now has been far less picky and willing to try new foods.
#2. Ohhh #2. No way no how is she trying anything that she doesn't already know she likes. That means she will eat about 5 foods max.
Yesterday however...I think we may have upped her number of foods she is willing to eat. We had cheese ravioli. Man was she having a pout and attitude about dinner. (This happens everytime we have a dinner that does not involve one of those 5 foods. As I don't believe in catering this way, we encounter attitude SEVERAL nights a week. I think I am almost immune to it at this point.) But for whatever reason, and again I am not going to try and figure out the whys of it all, and just enjoy the moment. I digress. For whatever reason she decided she was going to try the cheese ravioli. Try she did and like she did. I nearly fell out of my chair. I even gave her money for trying a new food. (Yes I did, and I will do it again. If you knew what we have been through with this child and food you would be right there with me.)
Tonight she talked about trying the new chicken dish we made. She never did actually try it, but she talked about it AND there was no attitude at dinner.
Happy Happy Days!
If this doesn't keep us motivated on the path to cooking better food then I don't know what will.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
UPDATE!!
This is probably most exciting to me BUT...
apparently local law enforcement did go after the person involved in our recent hit and run. Insurance information was procured and a claim is being filed.
Now do we fix the car, or use the money for a downpayment on a new one?
Much will depend on the actual damage estimate.
It would be nice to have something big enough that we can take the girls and their friends places in ONE vehicle. Or all go in one car when we go places with grandparents....there are many times I have wished for more capacity in our car. Driving two cars to one place makes me batty. I also don't believe that it is any better for the environment than taking one larger vehicle.
It is nice not having a car payment though......
Oh the waffling.
Betcha can't wait for me to work this one out on the Blog!
apparently local law enforcement did go after the person involved in our recent hit and run. Insurance information was procured and a claim is being filed.
Now do we fix the car, or use the money for a downpayment on a new one?
Much will depend on the actual damage estimate.
It would be nice to have something big enough that we can take the girls and their friends places in ONE vehicle. Or all go in one car when we go places with grandparents....there are many times I have wished for more capacity in our car. Driving two cars to one place makes me batty. I also don't believe that it is any better for the environment than taking one larger vehicle.
It is nice not having a car payment though......
Oh the waffling.
Betcha can't wait for me to work this one out on the Blog!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Journey and other updates
So I haven't posted about my journey to better health in a long time.
Mainly because there hasn't been much to post. I more or less made it to my goal. (One pound away to be exact, but who's counting.)So I was continuing to exercise on a regular basis, and eating appropriate portions, but not really restricting myself about what I was eating. I was maintianing, so I figured all was well.
Then came Christmas and a lot of snow. Still exercising regularly. But junk food consumption increased a lot for a couple weeks.
Then came a show. Still some junk food consumption, but late nights led to later sleeping in the morning which led to an all out lack of exercise. I also find it hard to eat much before I perform, so there were a few nights where I consumed dinner at about 10:30 or 11:00 at night. Not smart eating. Guess what is open on the way home at that time of night?
That has led to a couple pounds of weight gain.
So the show is over, I am over my ear/sinus infection, and it is back to vigilant eating and regular exercise until those few pounds go away. Why is it so easy to break an early wake up time and so hard to get back to it? I have certainly learned however that for me, even though I am not a morning person I am far more likely to exercise regularly if it is the first thing I do in the morning.
So here is hoping that these few pounds go quickly and I have learned a lesson.
In reality I am sure this is not the last time this will happen. BUT as long as I nip it quick all is good.
Business is going well. I REALLY need to say no to new referrals for a while. That is scary to think about. WAY scary. What if I say no and no one calls me again?
So as you can see my tendency towards ridiculous anxiety is still as present as it ever was.
Last post I ended with the news that BH had just been in an accident.
He was OK and we even made it to the show on time.
I however am experiencing some anger. It was a hit and run. Some dude in a truck ran a stoplight and BH t-boned him. BH saw a bit ahead of time what was going to happen so he was able to slow up a little, which caused less damage. A kind witness to the accident, followed the dude, got his tag number and managed to get him to pull over.
According to the kind witness....dude was drunk.
So it has been almost two weeks and we have heard nothing from the police saying that they went after the guy. Which means we have no insurance information from him.
Which means we have to make the claim on our insurance.
Oh and pay the damn deductible.
This displeases me greatly.
I had expected more from our fair city's law enforcement.
But apparently as they often seem to be my expectations run too high.
Stupid drunk drivers.
I am just grateful the outcome wasn't far worse.
Mainly because there hasn't been much to post. I more or less made it to my goal. (One pound away to be exact, but who's counting.)So I was continuing to exercise on a regular basis, and eating appropriate portions, but not really restricting myself about what I was eating. I was maintianing, so I figured all was well.
Then came Christmas and a lot of snow. Still exercising regularly. But junk food consumption increased a lot for a couple weeks.
Then came a show. Still some junk food consumption, but late nights led to later sleeping in the morning which led to an all out lack of exercise. I also find it hard to eat much before I perform, so there were a few nights where I consumed dinner at about 10:30 or 11:00 at night. Not smart eating. Guess what is open on the way home at that time of night?
That has led to a couple pounds of weight gain.
So the show is over, I am over my ear/sinus infection, and it is back to vigilant eating and regular exercise until those few pounds go away. Why is it so easy to break an early wake up time and so hard to get back to it? I have certainly learned however that for me, even though I am not a morning person I am far more likely to exercise regularly if it is the first thing I do in the morning.
So here is hoping that these few pounds go quickly and I have learned a lesson.
In reality I am sure this is not the last time this will happen. BUT as long as I nip it quick all is good.
Business is going well. I REALLY need to say no to new referrals for a while. That is scary to think about. WAY scary. What if I say no and no one calls me again?
So as you can see my tendency towards ridiculous anxiety is still as present as it ever was.
Last post I ended with the news that BH had just been in an accident.
He was OK and we even made it to the show on time.
I however am experiencing some anger. It was a hit and run. Some dude in a truck ran a stoplight and BH t-boned him. BH saw a bit ahead of time what was going to happen so he was able to slow up a little, which caused less damage. A kind witness to the accident, followed the dude, got his tag number and managed to get him to pull over.
According to the kind witness....dude was drunk.
So it has been almost two weeks and we have heard nothing from the police saying that they went after the guy. Which means we have no insurance information from him.
Which means we have to make the claim on our insurance.
Oh and pay the damn deductible.
This displeases me greatly.
I had expected more from our fair city's law enforcement.
But apparently as they often seem to be my expectations run too high.
Stupid drunk drivers.
I am just grateful the outcome wasn't far worse.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
No I am Not Two Years Old
I have had an ugly cold for over a week now. Lots of head congestion. Lots.
My ears have been pluggy for over a week now too.
Today, one ear felt less pluggy, the other more so.
Yay.
As the day has gone on the ear has begun to hurt. Especially if I bend over or lean my head forward.
"That cain't be right." Sez I.
So I took myself to the local minor medical issue clinic so that they could have a lil' look-see.
Turns out. I have an ear infection.
In all my 37 years I have never had an ear infection. I am pretty sure I could have lived a fulfilled existance without this experience.
So now I am armed with a heating pad, motrin, and a $110.00 antibiotic.
Yes friends you read that correctly. That is for the generic version too.
Don't be allergic to mulitple antibiotics. Especially if your health insurance does not cover prescriptions.
OK. So I just got word while that BH was in a hit and run accident on his way home with pizza for dinner. He is ok thank GOD. Unfortunately though we are supposed to be at the theater in 30 minutes for our last performance. This is not a good day for Chez Babble.
My ears have been pluggy for over a week now too.
Today, one ear felt less pluggy, the other more so.
Yay.
As the day has gone on the ear has begun to hurt. Especially if I bend over or lean my head forward.
"That cain't be right." Sez I.
So I took myself to the local minor medical issue clinic so that they could have a lil' look-see.
Turns out. I have an ear infection.
In all my 37 years I have never had an ear infection. I am pretty sure I could have lived a fulfilled existance without this experience.
So now I am armed with a heating pad, motrin, and a $110.00 antibiotic.
Yes friends you read that correctly. That is for the generic version too.
Don't be allergic to mulitple antibiotics. Especially if your health insurance does not cover prescriptions.
OK. So I just got word while that BH was in a hit and run accident on his way home with pizza for dinner. He is ok thank GOD. Unfortunately though we are supposed to be at the theater in 30 minutes for our last performance. This is not a good day for Chez Babble.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Hottie of the...enter timeframe here.
Once upon a time here at Babble On I had a weekly entry I cleverly called "Hottie of the Week."
It has been a veeerrrryyy long time since I did a HOTW post.
It was too difficult to keep up with on a weekly basis. There are only so many men I find hot enough to warrant a blog post.
It has been a long time and I am in need of something to post about so I am resurrecting the HOTW.
For this week anyway.
Last year I finally got around to checking out Mad Men. I do believe I can say that it is my absolute favorite show at present.
So many layers to the story and characters. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that I can never predict where it is going.
I could rattle on for a long time. So let's get down to the hottie shall we?
For those who watch I am sure my HOTW will come as no surprise.
My hottie is that big ol' handsome cheating liar Don Draper.
Or as he is known in real life....Jon Hamm.
MMmmmmmmm....supposedly he was shirtless numerous times on SNL last week. Guess I am gonna hafta make myself sit through it for once. I think it will be worth it.
It was too difficult to keep up with on a weekly basis. There are only so many men I find hot enough to warrant a blog post.
It has been a long time and I am in need of something to post about so I am resurrecting the HOTW.
For this week anyway.
Last year I finally got around to checking out Mad Men. I do believe I can say that it is my absolute favorite show at present.
So many layers to the story and characters. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that I can never predict where it is going.
I could rattle on for a long time. So let's get down to the hottie shall we?
For those who watch I am sure my HOTW will come as no surprise.
My hottie is that big ol' handsome cheating liar Don Draper.
Or as he is known in real life....Jon Hamm.
MMmmmmmmm....supposedly he was shirtless numerous times on SNL last week. Guess I am gonna hafta make myself sit through it for once. I think it will be worth it.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Mandatory Post
Things are busy, show is going well. Still having fun, but definitely feeling some stirrings of the desire to have my regular schedule back.
Work is busy. VERY busy. I need to reign things in and may need to halt taking new referrals for a bit. Yikes.
Political things have been depressing me lately. As has the general lack of sunlight. I am not sure that we have actually seen a full 8 hours of true squinty, put on your sunglasses sunlight in these parts for nearly a month now.
OK. Would love to chat more, but my current busy life has put me behind on more than just blogging, so I gots to go start playing the catch up game.
Can't. Wait.
Work is busy. VERY busy. I need to reign things in and may need to halt taking new referrals for a bit. Yikes.
Political things have been depressing me lately. As has the general lack of sunlight. I am not sure that we have actually seen a full 8 hours of true squinty, put on your sunglasses sunlight in these parts for nearly a month now.
OK. Would love to chat more, but my current busy life has put me behind on more than just blogging, so I gots to go start playing the catch up game.
Can't. Wait.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
What to do what to do...
I usually like to come up with a good new year's resolution.
For most of the past 12 years or so my resolution has been to lose weight, exercise and generally adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Well....I have sort of already done that. (If you don't count the past two-three weeks of indulgence AND lack of exercise. I wish my scale didn't count it. All in all though I didn't do too badly.)
So of course I plan to keep that all up in 2010. And beyond. That has more or less become a rest of my life resolution I guess you could say.
So when it came to self improvement choices for this year I have been a bit stumped without my old standby to rely on.
I think I have finally decided on two things.
First, most days of the week I am striving to eat the daily recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. While I have adopted a healthier lifestyle and dropped some major poundage, I do not eat anywhere near enough fruits and veggies. That will be important for controlling my cholesterol, so a very beneficial change indeed. Two days in and I am doing pretty well. To maintain though, I have got to find some ways to prepare veggies that I will eat. I am pretty picky on this front so it will most certainly be a challenge.
Second, and boy hidee this one will be a huge challenge for me. I am trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on the computer engaged in non-work related pursuits. In a word, I gotta cut down on the Facebooking. Some comments from my children have led me to examine my computer time and I see now that I am spending more time on than I should. That one is only going marginally better so far. I need to figure out and set some limits for myself and that should help.
I am considering dedicating a day where I do absolutely no extra curricular computer time at all. I haven't quite made that decision however.
So I think those two are enough for now. There are as ever a million things I would like to do/change/etc. But one must start with small bites.
Now. I have told you about my plans. What are yours?
For most of the past 12 years or so my resolution has been to lose weight, exercise and generally adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Well....I have sort of already done that. (If you don't count the past two-three weeks of indulgence AND lack of exercise. I wish my scale didn't count it. All in all though I didn't do too badly.)
So of course I plan to keep that all up in 2010. And beyond. That has more or less become a rest of my life resolution I guess you could say.
So when it came to self improvement choices for this year I have been a bit stumped without my old standby to rely on.
I think I have finally decided on two things.
First, most days of the week I am striving to eat the daily recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. While I have adopted a healthier lifestyle and dropped some major poundage, I do not eat anywhere near enough fruits and veggies. That will be important for controlling my cholesterol, so a very beneficial change indeed. Two days in and I am doing pretty well. To maintain though, I have got to find some ways to prepare veggies that I will eat. I am pretty picky on this front so it will most certainly be a challenge.
Second, and boy hidee this one will be a huge challenge for me. I am trying to reduce the amount of time I spend on the computer engaged in non-work related pursuits. In a word, I gotta cut down on the Facebooking. Some comments from my children have led me to examine my computer time and I see now that I am spending more time on than I should. That one is only going marginally better so far. I need to figure out and set some limits for myself and that should help.
I am considering dedicating a day where I do absolutely no extra curricular computer time at all. I haven't quite made that decision however.
So I think those two are enough for now. There are as ever a million things I would like to do/change/etc. But one must start with small bites.
Now. I have told you about my plans. What are yours?
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