Star Trek The Next Generation
11 months ago
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Three Day Weekend: Sunday Morning
Rebecca barfs during my workout, prompting the evacuation of the babysitting room. Silver lining: she waited until I was almost done...
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
In Case You Missed It
You can watch Barack Obama's speech accepting the democratic nomination for President at www.demconvention.com. Best political speech ever! I laughed, I cried... no, seriously.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Before and After
And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for (Okay I am willing to acknowledge the possibility that maybe it was just me)...
And the living room after:
All that's missing is the nice big plasma TV over the fireplace...
The living room before:
And the living room after:All that's missing is the nice big plasma TV over the fireplace...Wednesday, August 27, 2008
After the Rain
The sun has just come out after 2 days of basically non-stop pouring rain. From what I understand Charlotte has had something like 8+ inches of rain in the last 24 hours, and some areas of the city are being evacuated due to flooding and others are without power. Our neighborhood appears to be high and dry but nevertheless the effects of all the rain was still evident this morning. Joel reports having had to try three different routes to get to work due to flooding and downed trees (though there was no traffic because he left for work at 6am). I was not so lucky in the traffic department; the usual 7 minute drive to Ben's preschool took 40 minutes this morning. The road was not flooded between the house and the preschool but from what I understand it was flooded further up, causing major traffic problems. Ben endured the traffic jam with better grace than I did. I think he enjoyed 40 minutes of a captive audience and he talked (and sang) nonstop for the entire time.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Big Foot, Small Foot
Lately I have started to get my socks confused with Ben's. I've been finding my socks in his drawer and vice versa. He has some white ankle socks with a gray or navy stripe around the top, and I have similar ones. The only differences are that his say Gymboree on the bottom, and his are smaller than mine. Only apparently not much smaller than mine, because this morning when I was getting dressed I actually went so far as to accidentally put on a pair of his socks which I had mistakenly put in my sock drawer. After a moment I realized they felt a little tight and thought to investigate and sure enough I was wearing Ben's Gymboree socks! I am not sure if he has particularly large feet for a 4 year old or if I have particularly small feet or perhaps it is some combination of both. At any rate, I realize I must pay more careful attention from now on when I am sorting the laundry...
Monday, August 25, 2008
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Well, gone Wednesday, that is.
Since we have new living room furniture coming on Thursday, and Joel is on a mission to buy a new TV this week also (one of his favorite pasttimes), I listed the broken big screen TV and the old couches on craigslist this morning. The TV I put as free to whoever could come pick it up (didn't think charging for a broken TV would get many takers) and the couches I listed for a nominal price ($100 for the pair). By noon I had both deals done, including cash in hand for the couches. Joel thinks I could have gotten more for them, but I was more interested in making sure I could get rid of them quickly, before the new stuff arrives.
Anyway, the couches and TV are both scheduled to be picked up Wednesday. Perfect timing. Joel is now scheming about what else we have that he might be able to sell on craigslist.
Since we have new living room furniture coming on Thursday, and Joel is on a mission to buy a new TV this week also (one of his favorite pasttimes), I listed the broken big screen TV and the old couches on craigslist this morning. The TV I put as free to whoever could come pick it up (didn't think charging for a broken TV would get many takers) and the couches I listed for a nominal price ($100 for the pair). By noon I had both deals done, including cash in hand for the couches. Joel thinks I could have gotten more for them, but I was more interested in making sure I could get rid of them quickly, before the new stuff arrives.
Anyway, the couches and TV are both scheduled to be picked up Wednesday. Perfect timing. Joel is now scheming about what else we have that he might be able to sell on craigslist.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The First to Know
Dear Mr. Obama,
Informing your supporters of your VP choice via text message was a cool idea, but did you really need to do it in the middle of the night? I slept poorly enough as it was last night, between Ben's 1:30 AM chaperoned bathroom trip and Becca's 5 AM screamfest without the additional disturbance of my beeping cell phone at 3:15 AM. Next time, maybe you could schedule your news-making announcements for a more convenient time. Thanks in advance.
Informing your supporters of your VP choice via text message was a cool idea, but did you really need to do it in the middle of the night? I slept poorly enough as it was last night, between Ben's 1:30 AM chaperoned bathroom trip and Becca's 5 AM screamfest without the additional disturbance of my beeping cell phone at 3:15 AM. Next time, maybe you could schedule your news-making announcements for a more convenient time. Thanks in advance.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mission Accomplished
Today, since Joel and I had the day off work, we went furniture shopping. We had to bring the kids, since they were off too. We drove to what's known as "furniture row" where there's a bunch of furniture stores all next to each other. Joel's parents met us there to help. We were on a mission for new living room furniture. I've been complaining about our couches for approximately 5 years now as being too narrow and not good for laying on. We also have no coffee table, and our Home Depot rug has seen better days. So thanks in part to the really comfortable couches at the condo in Virginia Beach, I finally persuaded Joel that having a comfortable, pretty living room would be a good thing.
Anyway, furniture shopping with two little kids is not the easiest thing to do, even with grandparents along to help out. Ben "melted" (as I call it) about halfway through our 4 hour expedition, and for a while I had to carry him around limp in my arms. He got a second wind when he discovered a set of electrically powered recliners where you press a button on the side to make it recline. It was very easy for him to work so he got about a good hour or so of entertainment out of that. The only problem was when we told him we were not buying it. He was very disappointed that we were not getting a "chair that transforms into a bed" as he called it (being really into Transformers right now makes this especially appealing to him).
Becca on the other hand was fine just about until Ben got his second wind. Then she started to "melt". The problem was that she was overtired, having had only about a half hour nap, and she was also getting hungry because she had finished all her food and the bottle I had packed for her (I was not expecting us to be out so long). Joel's mom suggested that maybe if we put water in her bottle, she would drink it. I decided it was worth a try, because even though she'd never had water before maybe just sucking on something would calm her down. So Joel's parents took Becca's bottle and searched out a water fountain and filled it up. Unfortunately they did not screw the lid on properly so when Becca tilted it to put it in her mouth, the water dumped all over her lap. So now in addition to being hungry and tired, she was also cold and wet. She screamed loud enough to be heard across the whole furniture gallery.
Somewhere in the midst of all this we managed to buy a leather sofa and matching loveseat, a reclining chair (but not with an electric button for Ben), a coffee table, and a rug. Mission acomplished.
Anyway, furniture shopping with two little kids is not the easiest thing to do, even with grandparents along to help out. Ben "melted" (as I call it) about halfway through our 4 hour expedition, and for a while I had to carry him around limp in my arms. He got a second wind when he discovered a set of electrically powered recliners where you press a button on the side to make it recline. It was very easy for him to work so he got about a good hour or so of entertainment out of that. The only problem was when we told him we were not buying it. He was very disappointed that we were not getting a "chair that transforms into a bed" as he called it (being really into Transformers right now makes this especially appealing to him).
Becca on the other hand was fine just about until Ben got his second wind. Then she started to "melt". The problem was that she was overtired, having had only about a half hour nap, and she was also getting hungry because she had finished all her food and the bottle I had packed for her (I was not expecting us to be out so long). Joel's mom suggested that maybe if we put water in her bottle, she would drink it. I decided it was worth a try, because even though she'd never had water before maybe just sucking on something would calm her down. So Joel's parents took Becca's bottle and searched out a water fountain and filled it up. Unfortunately they did not screw the lid on properly so when Becca tilted it to put it in her mouth, the water dumped all over her lap. So now in addition to being hungry and tired, she was also cold and wet. She screamed loud enough to be heard across the whole furniture gallery.
Somewhere in the midst of all this we managed to buy a leather sofa and matching loveseat, a reclining chair (but not with an electric button for Ben), a coffee table, and a rug. Mission acomplished.
Are We There Yet?
We drove home from Virginia Beach yesterday, all in one shot. We left at 9:30 and arrived home around 6, including an hour and a half stop for lunch, one stop for gas, four unscheduled pee stops for Ben, and one detour to avoid a traffic jam on the highway.
Both kids were pretty high on the whine-o-meter for the first half of the drive. Becca I suspect may have an ear infection and was overtired. Ben was just, well, Ben trapped in a car all day. Ben's abillity to generate urine reached new heights of impressiveness; all he had to drink yesterday was a cup of milk at breakfast and a Shirley Temple at lunch and I swear he peed out about six times that amount despite taking him to the bathroom once right before we left in the morning and twice at lunch. I was starting to wonder if perhaps he has some medical condition that needs to be addressed.
It was nice to get home at a decent hour though and get the kids to bed at their regular bedtimes. Still, an all-day drive with a 4 year old and a 10 month old is not something I am eager to repeat.
Both kids were pretty high on the whine-o-meter for the first half of the drive. Becca I suspect may have an ear infection and was overtired. Ben was just, well, Ben trapped in a car all day. Ben's abillity to generate urine reached new heights of impressiveness; all he had to drink yesterday was a cup of milk at breakfast and a Shirley Temple at lunch and I swear he peed out about six times that amount despite taking him to the bathroom once right before we left in the morning and twice at lunch. I was starting to wonder if perhaps he has some medical condition that needs to be addressed.
It was nice to get home at a decent hour though and get the kids to bed at their regular bedtimes. Still, an all-day drive with a 4 year old and a 10 month old is not something I am eager to repeat.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Beach and Ben
Ben and the beach have sort of a love/hate relationship. This year he made some small improvements -- actually went in the water for the first time, albeit only ankle deep -- but in many ways it was a repeat of past performances. There was anxiety about the waves, the sand, the sea weed, the possibility of sharks, crabs, fish, and orcas (yes orcas, thanks to Go, Diego Go!).
Yesterday's trip to the beach was pretty much a disaster; we timed it wrong and the tide was coming in, the surf was rough, and Ben spent the entire time walking to the water's edge and then screaming and running back up the beach with every wave.
I didn't want to end our vacation with a bad beach experience for Ben so late this afternoon I took him back to the beach, just the two of us. The tide was going out so the waves were not so intimidating. If this was going to be successful we had to do it on Ben's terms, I decided. So I patiently carried him over every clump of sea weed on the sand, allowed him to sit in my lap instead of trying to persuade him to sit directly on the sand, and didn't push the idea of going into the water.
We had a great time. We built a sand castle, complete with a sea gull feather for a flag (Ben's idea), and gradually worked our way into the water. We sunk our feet into the wet sand up to our ankles and pretended we were stuck and then waited for the surf to wash over our feet. When it was time to go, I had to coax Ben off the beach.
I still am holding out hope that when he is a little bit older, Ben and the beach will have a good relationship. For now it's an uneasy truce, but that's fine with me.
Yesterday's trip to the beach was pretty much a disaster; we timed it wrong and the tide was coming in, the surf was rough, and Ben spent the entire time walking to the water's edge and then screaming and running back up the beach with every wave.
I didn't want to end our vacation with a bad beach experience for Ben so late this afternoon I took him back to the beach, just the two of us. The tide was going out so the waves were not so intimidating. If this was going to be successful we had to do it on Ben's terms, I decided. So I patiently carried him over every clump of sea weed on the sand, allowed him to sit in my lap instead of trying to persuade him to sit directly on the sand, and didn't push the idea of going into the water.
We had a great time. We built a sand castle, complete with a sea gull feather for a flag (Ben's idea), and gradually worked our way into the water. We sunk our feet into the wet sand up to our ankles and pretended we were stuck and then waited for the surf to wash over our feet. When it was time to go, I had to coax Ben off the beach.
I still am holding out hope that when he is a little bit older, Ben and the beach will have a good relationship. For now it's an uneasy truce, but that's fine with me.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hot Sand!
In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, I will relay the following incident which occured at the beach yesterday. We walked down to the beach late morning, and Ben had convinced me that he didn't need to wear his crocs (said they were too small which was reasonable to believe). So he was barefoot. The dry sand at the top of the beach was hot, but not too hot to walk on at that point.
A couple of hours later we packed up and headed off the beach to the pool area for a swim. I was carrying an armful of stuff (diaper bag, towels, etc) including my sandals which I had not bothered to put on. Ben as I have already mentioned, was barefoot. As we got to the area of the beach where the sand was dry, the sand was very hot. I mean, REALLY hot. Burning hot. Ben freaked of course, so I picked him up and started running as best I could to get off the beach. But in bare feet myself, it was like walking on hot coals. Carrying Ben.
So picture me running across the beach carrying Ben (and my sandals) dropping F-bombs every step of the way. Until finally we got to the top of the beach where there was a low wall and I could put Ben down without fear of burning him, to put my sandals on.
Joel, by the way, was calmly walking up the beach, comfortably flip-flopped, carrying Becca and doing his best to pretend he didn't know me.
Okay, lesson learned. Put footwear on before picking up crying son. Make son bring footwear to the beach.
A couple of hours later we packed up and headed off the beach to the pool area for a swim. I was carrying an armful of stuff (diaper bag, towels, etc) including my sandals which I had not bothered to put on. Ben as I have already mentioned, was barefoot. As we got to the area of the beach where the sand was dry, the sand was very hot. I mean, REALLY hot. Burning hot. Ben freaked of course, so I picked him up and started running as best I could to get off the beach. But in bare feet myself, it was like walking on hot coals. Carrying Ben.
So picture me running across the beach carrying Ben (and my sandals) dropping F-bombs every step of the way. Until finally we got to the top of the beach where there was a low wall and I could put Ben down without fear of burning him, to put my sandals on.
Joel, by the way, was calmly walking up the beach, comfortably flip-flopped, carrying Becca and doing his best to pretend he didn't know me.
Okay, lesson learned. Put footwear on before picking up crying son. Make son bring footwear to the beach.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Road Trip
We left Charlotte at 3:30 yesterday afternoon and drove about 2/3 of the way to Virginia Beach. The drive was fine -- both kids were mellow, thanks in part to a rowdy game of indoor soccer I played with Ben before we left. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for dinner, and Ben picked out a slinky and a harmonica from the gift store. Both were fairly ill-advised choices; the slinky kept whipping me in the back of the neck as we drove, and the harmonica... well, the problem with that one should be fairly obvious.
We would have had no problem making the entire drive in one shot, but we figured the closer we got to Virginia Beach the harder it would be to find somewhere to stay. The four of us sharing one hotel room was not ideal. Becca was a wreck at first, but eventually settled down and slept peacefully in her pack n play. Ben and I shared a king sized bed, and Joel slept on a cot. Joel reports the cot to have been uncomfortable, though having spent the night with Ben plastered to me like a Band-Aid, I didn't have much sympathy. Let's just say I really need to trim that kid's toe nails...
Anyway, we drove the rest of the way this morning and spent the afternoon settling in and checking out the pool (haven't checked out the beach yet). The place we're staying at is very nice except that we seem to be in a cell phone black hole so for those of you who are expecting a call, this might have to do!
Ben and Becca are sharing a bedroom for the first (and possibly last) time tonight so we'll have to see how that goes.
Pictures tomorrow.
We would have had no problem making the entire drive in one shot, but we figured the closer we got to Virginia Beach the harder it would be to find somewhere to stay. The four of us sharing one hotel room was not ideal. Becca was a wreck at first, but eventually settled down and slept peacefully in her pack n play. Ben and I shared a king sized bed, and Joel slept on a cot. Joel reports the cot to have been uncomfortable, though having spent the night with Ben plastered to me like a Band-Aid, I didn't have much sympathy. Let's just say I really need to trim that kid's toe nails...
Anyway, we drove the rest of the way this morning and spent the afternoon settling in and checking out the pool (haven't checked out the beach yet). The place we're staying at is very nice except that we seem to be in a cell phone black hole so for those of you who are expecting a call, this might have to do!
Ben and Becca are sharing a bedroom for the first (and possibly last) time tonight so we'll have to see how that goes.
Pictures tomorrow.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Becca Plays Hide and Seek*
*Or, How Joel Lost the Kids
So, we're leaving for Virginia Beach later this afternoon, and I've been running around trying to get everyone packed. Ben and Becca were sitting on the floor in the master bedroom playing with a ball popper toy. Joel was in there also, starting to pack his half of our suitcase. I said to Joel, "Can you watch the kids for a few minutes? I need to go finish packing their suitcase."
"Sure," he said. I went upstairs for a few minutes, stopped back into the bedroom to grab the baby monitor to pack (everyone still where I'd left them) and then went into the kitchen to pack up a few more things.
So probably 15 minutes after I'd asked Joel to watch the kids, I headed back into the master bedroom. It was empty. (the rest of the downstairs, having passed it on the way to the bedroom, was also empty). I barged into the master bathroom, and find Joel in the shower. No kids anywhere in evidence.
"Where the [expletive] are the kids?" I yelled.
"What? I thought you had them!"
"I told you to watch them! I have no idea where they are!" Joel was out of the shower by this point and we headed back into the bedroom. Almost immediately I noticed that the closet door was shut, and when I tried to open it, I heard Ben giggle.
"Ben! Is the baby in there with you?"
"Yes," he giggled.
"Open the door!" (I was angry -- mostly at Joel -- but trying not to laugh at that point).
"I can't! She's sitting in front of it," he answers.
"You can't blog about this!" Joel said, as I forced the door open and retrieved Becca from her first game of hide and seek.
So, we're leaving for Virginia Beach later this afternoon, and I've been running around trying to get everyone packed. Ben and Becca were sitting on the floor in the master bedroom playing with a ball popper toy. Joel was in there also, starting to pack his half of our suitcase. I said to Joel, "Can you watch the kids for a few minutes? I need to go finish packing their suitcase."
"Sure," he said. I went upstairs for a few minutes, stopped back into the bedroom to grab the baby monitor to pack (everyone still where I'd left them) and then went into the kitchen to pack up a few more things.
So probably 15 minutes after I'd asked Joel to watch the kids, I headed back into the master bedroom. It was empty. (the rest of the downstairs, having passed it on the way to the bedroom, was also empty). I barged into the master bathroom, and find Joel in the shower. No kids anywhere in evidence.
"Where the [expletive] are the kids?" I yelled.
"What? I thought you had them!"
"I told you to watch them! I have no idea where they are!" Joel was out of the shower by this point and we headed back into the bedroom. Almost immediately I noticed that the closet door was shut, and when I tried to open it, I heard Ben giggle.
"Ben! Is the baby in there with you?"
"Yes," he giggled.
"Open the door!" (I was angry -- mostly at Joel -- but trying not to laugh at that point).
"I can't! She's sitting in front of it," he answers.
"You can't blog about this!" Joel said, as I forced the door open and retrieved Becca from her first game of hide and seek.
Friday, August 15, 2008
I Can't Get Started
I have about 8 billion things to do between now and tomorrow afternoon when we leave for Virginia Beach. My car is at Firestone getting an oil change right now, and I am working from the cafe at the nearby Barnes & Noble. In addition to what is shaping up to be a busy day at work, I have not packed a single thing yet, or gone grocery shopping, done laundry, cleaned the car, or begun preparing for our trip in any way. I slept terribly last night (and the night before that and the night before that), and despite the help of a venti vanilla latte, I just can't seem to get started this morning...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A Change of Plans
The Williamsburg trip has been modified -- to not include Williamsburg anymore. Instead we're going here. A beach vacation is preferred by all of us -- except possibly Ben, who had been looking forward to Busch Gardens. Maybe if I don't tell him that's not where we're going anymore, he won't notice the difference?
A Slow News Day
This week's issue of Newsweek has an interesting article about new research that describes the affects of certain genes on child development. Among other findings, it reports that children with "mellow" or "sweet" temperaments may be the least able to learn from and emulate their parents behavior.
So after months of exclaiming over what an "easy", "content" and "mellow" baby Becca is, now I am a little worried. The article suggests that precisely because she's so easy-going, she may be less able than other children to learn from mistakes and to emulate good behavior. On the other hand, children with "fussy" temperaments are more keenly attuned to their surroundings, including their parents, and so are more easily molded by them.
Perhaps my angel-baby may not turn out to be such an angel after all. Only time will tell.
So after months of exclaiming over what an "easy", "content" and "mellow" baby Becca is, now I am a little worried. The article suggests that precisely because she's so easy-going, she may be less able than other children to learn from mistakes and to emulate good behavior. On the other hand, children with "fussy" temperaments are more keenly attuned to their surroundings, including their parents, and so are more easily molded by them.
Perhaps my angel-baby may not turn out to be such an angel after all. Only time will tell.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mr Mom
Last night I had a hair appointment so Joel picked up the kids, fed them dinner, and put them to bed. He did a fine job, but I'd like to gripe about a few minor details anyway:
1. He forgot to bring Becca's bottles home from her day care
2. He forgot to bring Ben's schoolbag home from his preschool
3. He put Becca to bed still wearing her dinner all over her face
I am sure he deserves an "A" for effort, anyway. For the record, I still have not found Ben's schoolbag. Now apparently he may have forgotten that he did not forget it, and it may be in the trunk of his car. I am going to check out that possibility in a moment.
1. He forgot to bring Becca's bottles home from her day care
2. He forgot to bring Ben's schoolbag home from his preschool
3. He put Becca to bed still wearing her dinner all over her face
I am sure he deserves an "A" for effort, anyway. For the record, I still have not found Ben's schoolbag. Now apparently he may have forgotten that he did not forget it, and it may be in the trunk of his car. I am going to check out that possibility in a moment.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Hey Babe!
Ben's expression du jour is "Hey Babe!" He tells me his friend Andrew taught it to him. (Along with, "Hey dude!" but he seems to prefer the former). The first time he said "Hey Babe!" to me I was a little disconcerted. I decided against broaching the subject of sexism with my four year old and simply told him not to say that to his teachers because it is not respectful.
I soon discovered, however, that Ben has absolutely no idea how "Hey Babe!" is supposed to be properly used, or even that it has a gender-specific connotation. I overheard him in the bathtub last night playing with his superhero action figures:
BEN:[as Batman to The Incredible Hulk, in a low menacing growl]: Hey Babe... I am Batman... You better watch out! I'm going to get you! [POW! THWACK! BAM!]
I soon discovered, however, that Ben has absolutely no idea how "Hey Babe!" is supposed to be properly used, or even that it has a gender-specific connotation. I overheard him in the bathtub last night playing with his superhero action figures:
BEN:[as Batman to The Incredible Hulk, in a low menacing growl]: Hey Babe... I am Batman... You better watch out! I'm going to get you! [POW! THWACK! BAM!]
Sunday, August 10, 2008
My Mommy Says I'm too Cute for my Own Good
Even with my funny ears. *
*Which clearly come from Daddy's side of the family.
*Which clearly come from Daddy's side of the family.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Take the Blogger Challenge
I guess with Joel being away I am pretty bored. After the kids go to bed, I mean. I have been sitting here for the last half hour clicking through random people's blogs (clicked 'next blog' at the top of my blog and just kept going, next... next... next...)
I cannot find a damn thing worth reading. Some words of advice for all you anonymous bloggers out there:
1. Do not set your blog to music. How can you expect me to read it when a stupid Jack Johnson song is playing in the background and I cannot figure out how to turn it off?
2. Choose a color scheme and font size that is actually humanly possible to read.
3. If you must post a thousand pictures of your baby, please put an explanation somewhere of why his head is so disproportionately large for his body.
4. Do not call yourself a "writer/poet" and then misspell the third word on your blog.
5. If you're going to use your blog to sell something, can it be something other than personalized pet miniatures?
So go ahead folks... take the blogger challenge... click Next Blog. Again. Again. If you find anything worth reading let me know. I'm bored.
I cannot find a damn thing worth reading. Some words of advice for all you anonymous bloggers out there:
1. Do not set your blog to music. How can you expect me to read it when a stupid Jack Johnson song is playing in the background and I cannot figure out how to turn it off?
2. Choose a color scheme and font size that is actually humanly possible to read.
3. If you must post a thousand pictures of your baby, please put an explanation somewhere of why his head is so disproportionately large for his body.
4. Do not call yourself a "writer/poet" and then misspell the third word on your blog.
5. If you're going to use your blog to sell something, can it be something other than personalized pet miniatures?
So go ahead folks... take the blogger challenge... click Next Blog. Again. Again. If you find anything worth reading let me know. I'm bored.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Too Much of a Good Thing
I think the phrase "too much of a good thing" adequately sums up the shopping and dining choices in south Charlotte. For instance, we live across the street from this shopping center. In some ways, this is very convenient. With something like 100 stores in there, you could pretty much never shop anywhere else. (I mean, if there were some sort of natural catastrophe and you couldn't shop anywhere else...)
But when we first moved here, it was all very confusing. There's so many stores over there and so many nooks and crannies that I used to see a store and then forget where I'd seen it or if indeed I'd seen it in there at all? Maybe I saw it someplace else... (Yes, looking at the directory I linked above would have been a good idea... no, I never did).
I must admit, it is still pretty confusing to me. Today for instance I was over there picking up some groceries at lunch time and I thought I'd try takeout from the new Noodle & Co. restaurant I'd seen in there, and it look me like 10 minutes of aimless driving and one irate soccer mom honking at me before I actually found it again (even though most of the restaurants are clustered in the same area). I have a particularly awful sense of direction coupled with very poor parking-lot-driving ability, so despite the fact that I am in this shopping center almost every day for one thing or another (usually groceries or coffee) I still have not mastered it (except for the goceries and coffee part).
Maybe in another year I'll have it figured out...
But when we first moved here, it was all very confusing. There's so many stores over there and so many nooks and crannies that I used to see a store and then forget where I'd seen it or if indeed I'd seen it in there at all? Maybe I saw it someplace else... (Yes, looking at the directory I linked above would have been a good idea... no, I never did).
I must admit, it is still pretty confusing to me. Today for instance I was over there picking up some groceries at lunch time and I thought I'd try takeout from the new Noodle & Co. restaurant I'd seen in there, and it look me like 10 minutes of aimless driving and one irate soccer mom honking at me before I actually found it again (even though most of the restaurants are clustered in the same area). I have a particularly awful sense of direction coupled with very poor parking-lot-driving ability, so despite the fact that I am in this shopping center almost every day for one thing or another (usually groceries or coffee) I still have not mastered it (except for the goceries and coffee part).
Maybe in another year I'll have it figured out...
Pox Watch
The second universal law of parenting is that if one parent is away, someone will get sick. It hasn't happened yet this time, but I'm not terribly optimistic. (Joel's in Arizona for a wedding by the way).
One of the infants in Becca's room at day care has chicken pox. Her pediatrician refuses to give the vaccine before age 1, so for the next 21 days all I can do is wait.. and hope.. that Rebecca does not get chicken pox. Now, I am not one of those worry-wart parents who freaks at the slightest temperature, runny nose, etc... I'd consider myself to be on the other end of that spectrum. That's not to say I don't take my kids' illnesses seriously but thanks to Joel I like to think I know the difference between a serious health threat and a minor illness. However, my own experience with chicken pox (at age 10) involved a seizure and temporary facial paralysis, so chicken pox tends to worry me a little.
Besides which, chicken pox would be a very good way to fulfull the universal law of parenting #3, which is that illness will strike during a family vacation (we're leaving for Williamsburg, VA a week from tomorrow).
Let the Pox Watch begin.
One of the infants in Becca's room at day care has chicken pox. Her pediatrician refuses to give the vaccine before age 1, so for the next 21 days all I can do is wait.. and hope.. that Rebecca does not get chicken pox. Now, I am not one of those worry-wart parents who freaks at the slightest temperature, runny nose, etc... I'd consider myself to be on the other end of that spectrum. That's not to say I don't take my kids' illnesses seriously but thanks to Joel I like to think I know the difference between a serious health threat and a minor illness. However, my own experience with chicken pox (at age 10) involved a seizure and temporary facial paralysis, so chicken pox tends to worry me a little.
Besides which, chicken pox would be a very good way to fulfull the universal law of parenting #3, which is that illness will strike during a family vacation (we're leaving for Williamsburg, VA a week from tomorrow).
Let the Pox Watch begin.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Smelly Stunks
This morning on the way to preschool Ben told me this story:
BEN: Yesterday afternoon Miss Kelly was reading us a story, and I said something that was correct.
ME: Good for you! What did you say that was correct?
BEN: Miss Kelly was reading a story about stunks --
ME: Skunks?
BEN: --Stunks*, and she asked why are stunks very smelly and nobody knew the answer but me.
ME: What answer did you give?
BEN: I said stunks are smelly to defend themselves.
Stunks are smelly to defend themselves! I am so proud of my boy...
*I cannot for the life of me get Ben to correctly pronounce the word "skunk." I suppose a smelly stunk does make more sense to a four year old...
BEN: Yesterday afternoon Miss Kelly was reading us a story, and I said something that was correct.
ME: Good for you! What did you say that was correct?
BEN: Miss Kelly was reading a story about stunks --
ME: Skunks?
BEN: --Stunks*, and she asked why are stunks very smelly and nobody knew the answer but me.
ME: What answer did you give?
BEN: I said stunks are smelly to defend themselves.
Stunks are smelly to defend themselves! I am so proud of my boy...
*I cannot for the life of me get Ben to correctly pronounce the word "skunk." I suppose a smelly stunk does make more sense to a four year old...
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Someone Thought this was a Good Idea?
Clever, maybe. But a good idea? Not so sure. Joel went shopping today. He bought 11 shirts (yes eleven, not a typo), zero shorts (even though he needs them), and these flip flops*. Yes, that's a bottle opener it's got there on the sole... I imagine whoever came up with this idea must have been pretty drunk.
*For those of you who fell on the floor in disbelief at the words "Joel" and "flip flop" in the same sentence without an emphatic negative in between: Yes, Joel wears flip flops now. I was shocked too.
*For those of you who fell on the floor in disbelief at the words "Joel" and "flip flop" in the same sentence without an emphatic negative in between: Yes, Joel wears flip flops now. I was shocked too.
Just Playing
I downloaded the desktop Picasa application from Google (I use the web version to make the slide shows I post). I like the collage I made for my title picture, except for the fact that I don't like the title. The title options in Blogger are pitifully limited and so what I would prefer is to be able to add the blog title directly to the image, in a black hand-written font with a strikeout through the word 'chaotic' and 'nice' directly after it. But alas, Picasa does not seem to have a way to add text to a picture.So, calling all you computer-literate types, if you know of a (easy and free) way to edit my collage to add text as I have described above I am eagerly awaiting your suggestions.
UPDATE: that looks pretty much like how I wanted it, now -- I downloaded PhotoPlus 6. Not terribly thrilled with comic sans ms for the font but it'll do. Yay me, I rock :)
UPDATE #2: Jon rocks even more than I do! Yay Jon! I love it! (For those of you who arrived late to the party, here was mine)
Monday, August 4, 2008
Oops
I discovered quite by accident what happens when you put your car keys through the washer and dryer:
*Except that the remote keyless entry does not work anymore and I have masking tape wrapped around my key. (Remote keyless entry? Who needs it? When I was a girl we had to walk 3 miles up hill in the snow to lock and unlock our cars...)
There we go.... Good as new!*
Where Has the Time Gone?
I am having some trouble digesting the fact that it is August already. Ben's summer camp finished on Friday (six weeks went by at super sonic speed) and this morning he started the August interim session at preschool - which is a scaled-down version of regular preschool: fewer kids, a few special activities, scaled-down Shabbat on Fridays, and daily trips to the splash park but no formal lesson plans and none of the weekly classes he'll have starting in September (gym, music, library, Judaica, etc).
So this morning was his first official day in the full-day-fours class (he did fine at drop-off this morning since he already knows most of the kids in the class and knows the teacher already as well). It's the beginning of his final year of preschool and I can't help but think ahead to Kindergarten registration which is coming up in a couple of months, preschool graduation, etc.
I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself... it is only August after all...
So this morning was his first official day in the full-day-fours class (he did fine at drop-off this morning since he already knows most of the kids in the class and knows the teacher already as well). It's the beginning of his final year of preschool and I can't help but think ahead to Kindergarten registration which is coming up in a couple of months, preschool graduation, etc.
I guess I shouldn't get ahead of myself... it is only August after all...
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Having Fun is Hard Work
This afternoon as I got ready to meet Joel at the pool (he was at work this morning) I suddenly realized what a production it is to get the kids ready to go to the pool. It took me almost all of Becca's naptime to get us ready to go. I packed a tote bag-- towels, diapers, wipes, swim diapers, water toys, Joel's bathing suit, sun block, extra clothes, etc etc. I packed a small cooler -- bottle for Rebecca, snack and drink for Ben and Joel (they both get ratty without their afternoon snack). I loaded the trunk with an assortment of things that would not fit in the tote bag -- Ben's noodle, arm floaties, large purple sea-horse (see pictures). Changed into my bathing suit. Nagged Ben until he changed into his. When Rebecca woke up I put her in her bathing suit and applied so much sun block that she turned about 3 shades whiter than usual. Loaded her in the car. Loaded Ben in the car. Arrived at the pool. Unloaded: Stroller, tote bag, cooler, Becca into the stroller, Ben, noodle, arm floaties, large purple sea horse... phew.
Once we get there and get settled it feels like we're on vacation. Well, almost. It's just that after going through all that work to get there, you almost do need a vacation... and then when you're done you have to load and unload everything all over again.
Rebecca chillin' at the pool:
And Ben swimming: (Sort of. Considering where we started at the beginning of the summer --refusing to let go of me in the water and refusing to put his head under-- this is great progress).
Once we get there and get settled it feels like we're on vacation. Well, almost. It's just that after going through all that work to get there, you almost do need a vacation... and then when you're done you have to load and unload everything all over again.
Rebecca chillin' at the pool:
And Ben swimming: (Sort of. Considering where we started at the beginning of the summer --refusing to let go of me in the water and refusing to put his head under-- this is great progress).
Saturday, August 2, 2008
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