It could have been the entire bottle, but I stopped myself at a glass. I slept well and was up at 5, got my workout in and even though C was up and about by 5:45 I feel much better. Perhaps it is the fact that I know I will be leaving the house today to go to work (hark...do I hear...Adult Time?!...so this is why I teach university and not children) that makes things magically better on Tuesdays and Thursdays, even when they are not in reality any different than yesterday.
I had to cancel out of swimming lessons today.. K's cough is just not getting better and I would much rather her be able to go to school than for her to get worse due to having gone swimming today.
sigh. I would just love to be able to take a nap.
martes, 31 de enero de 2006
lunes, 30 de enero de 2006
drivin' mama to drink?
He screamed all day.
I know he is tired, but he won't take a nap.
I got 4 hours of sleep last night so I am at my wits' end, too.
When is bedtime?
Where's the wine?
I know he is tired, but he won't take a nap.
I got 4 hours of sleep last night so I am at my wits' end, too.
When is bedtime?
Where's the wine?
3 a.m. wake-up call
I think today the "to coffee or not to coffee" debate will be settled.
As I sit here at the computer squinting at the screen due to its brightness on my sensitive eyes this morning, I am reminded yet again that I have been up and about this morning since 3 a.m., as K is finishing up a little cold and todavía sufre de tos. Tenía que buscar la medicina...but she had to fight me on that, asking a million questions about how it would taste. It is homeopathic, honey-based. It tastes like honey. Of course, she would not believe me until I had already spilled 1/2 teaspoon all over the place trying to get her to taste it.
So by 4:30 I gave up my quest to conciliar el sueño, got dressed and went downstairs to get my workout in. 10 minutes into the workout, I hear pitter-patter upstairs, then "WAAAAAH" (my other pseudonym, remember?) so that was cut short. In fact, it is now 6:30--I had to stay laying with C all this time to get him to go back down to sleep. Mornings like this make me feel completely robbed. I go out of my way and sacrifice sleep just to get 1/2 hour of a workout in the mornings, and when even that is taken away from me, it really does not set the greatest mood for the day.
As MQE says, however, this stage will not last forever. And as I look down at C, his head lodged into the crook of my neck to cuddle with me, I know this and realize there will be a time in the not-so-distant future that I will long for this closeness.
As I sit here at the computer squinting at the screen due to its brightness on my sensitive eyes this morning, I am reminded yet again that I have been up and about this morning since 3 a.m., as K is finishing up a little cold and todavía sufre de tos. Tenía que buscar la medicina...but she had to fight me on that, asking a million questions about how it would taste. It is homeopathic, honey-based. It tastes like honey. Of course, she would not believe me until I had already spilled 1/2 teaspoon all over the place trying to get her to taste it.
So by 4:30 I gave up my quest to conciliar el sueño, got dressed and went downstairs to get my workout in. 10 minutes into the workout, I hear pitter-patter upstairs, then "WAAAAAH" (my other pseudonym, remember?) so that was cut short. In fact, it is now 6:30--I had to stay laying with C all this time to get him to go back down to sleep. Mornings like this make me feel completely robbed. I go out of my way and sacrifice sleep just to get 1/2 hour of a workout in the mornings, and when even that is taken away from me, it really does not set the greatest mood for the day.
As MQE says, however, this stage will not last forever. And as I look down at C, his head lodged into the crook of my neck to cuddle with me, I know this and realize there will be a time in the not-so-distant future that I will long for this closeness.
domingo, 29 de enero de 2006
no new housewives
My children are asleep, I have an hour to watch My Favorite Show on TV without any interruption...and it is a REPEAT.
Is this just the story of my Life or what?
I guess it is a good thing I have a plethora of other things to do...not that I am doing them now.
Last night S and I got to go out for a girl's night out. I had thought about a sweater I wanted, so we went back to Nordstrom and I tried it on along with a few others for color/size/opinion, and ended up walking out with exactly what I had tried on a week ago. Why I can't just buy myself something when I first see it, I don't understand; it has something to do with sacrifice (?! don't ask...) and never buying anything for myself. It would save me a lot of gas, in the long run, if I just purchased when I see what it is I want...as that happens so rarely anyway. Then we went to the other end of the mall and had dinner at the bar of TGI Friday's. I felt like the oldest one there; indeed, upon ordering my single glass of Merlot, I was not carded. Life certainly has changed. It wasn't even 10:00 by the time I returned home; there are no such things as late nights now that I'm up at 5 a.m. anymore. We enjoyed a wonderful night, though, which is always necessary for reminding myself of the existence of my alter-ego (insert real name here) that has been replaced in recent years by Mommy (aka Momma, Honey, WAAAAH, and the like).
And I must wait two more weeks for a new episode of Housewives. So much for perspective.
Is this just the story of my Life or what?
I guess it is a good thing I have a plethora of other things to do...not that I am doing them now.
Last night S and I got to go out for a girl's night out. I had thought about a sweater I wanted, so we went back to Nordstrom and I tried it on along with a few others for color/size/opinion, and ended up walking out with exactly what I had tried on a week ago. Why I can't just buy myself something when I first see it, I don't understand; it has something to do with sacrifice (?! don't ask...) and never buying anything for myself. It would save me a lot of gas, in the long run, if I just purchased when I see what it is I want...as that happens so rarely anyway. Then we went to the other end of the mall and had dinner at the bar of TGI Friday's. I felt like the oldest one there; indeed, upon ordering my single glass of Merlot, I was not carded. Life certainly has changed. It wasn't even 10:00 by the time I returned home; there are no such things as late nights now that I'm up at 5 a.m. anymore. We enjoyed a wonderful night, though, which is always necessary for reminding myself of the existence of my alter-ego (insert real name here) that has been replaced in recent years by Mommy (aka Momma, Honey, WAAAAH, and the like).
And I must wait two more weeks for a new episode of Housewives. So much for perspective.
sábado, 28 de enero de 2006
Where were you when...
20 years ago today the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after take-off.
I was in the 8th grade. My father taught math at the same junior high school I attended and all my peers came to me saying that he had cried upon hearing the news. My family had joked about submitting his name for the Teacher in Space program. One teacher from our school district, under whom I would later teach, made the Final 7 cut with Christa McAullife. Obviously not chosen, I remember the local news stations interviewing him that night and he was visibly shaken and greatly saddened, as he had been through various trainings with Ms. McAullife and had come to know her.
There is a nice memorial to those astronauts at Arlington National Cemetary, up in the same general area as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Up until this explosion, I was always up early for all Space Shuttle launches, excitedly watching them take off as a young girl, dreaming of what that experience must be like. Following that launch, and to this day, I have yet to see a take-off. However, I do remember holding my breath as the last Shuttle re-entered Earth's atmosphere, upon remembering the disintegration of Columbia at re-entry.
In my life, this was the first nation-unifying, national mourning tragedy I had experienced.
I was in the 8th grade. My father taught math at the same junior high school I attended and all my peers came to me saying that he had cried upon hearing the news. My family had joked about submitting his name for the Teacher in Space program. One teacher from our school district, under whom I would later teach, made the Final 7 cut with Christa McAullife. Obviously not chosen, I remember the local news stations interviewing him that night and he was visibly shaken and greatly saddened, as he had been through various trainings with Ms. McAullife and had come to know her.
There is a nice memorial to those astronauts at Arlington National Cemetary, up in the same general area as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Up until this explosion, I was always up early for all Space Shuttle launches, excitedly watching them take off as a young girl, dreaming of what that experience must be like. Following that launch, and to this day, I have yet to see a take-off. However, I do remember holding my breath as the last Shuttle re-entered Earth's atmosphere, upon remembering the disintegration of Columbia at re-entry.
In my life, this was the first nation-unifying, national mourning tragedy I had experienced.
promising?
I had a wonderful experience talking to a doctor's office yesterday on the telephone. That alone, I could write in the record books.
This office was highly recommended to me by the midwife through whom I had my son, and is in the field of Integrated Medicine, a holistic approach to lifestyle wellness, not simply the temporary treatment symptoms of whatever might be wrong. My chiropractor had recommended somebody to me as well, but after a series of telephone-tag and messages reflecting vocal tones bordering impatience, I really started to feel uncomfortable, as I do not wish to enter into a wellness relationship with somebody who causes me to feel stress. That, to me, seems counterproductive to what would be our common goal. Some personalities just don't jive.
So I was speaking to the receptionist who actually listened to me and, as I was calling for one doctor in the practice, she said that, hearing what I have to address, I would perhaps be better matched up with another woman, a bit closer to my own age, and would be able to get me in by next Wednesday.
I am hoping that this will be the beginning of discovery in how to live healthier and to guide my family along the same path, while also perhaps answering some questions and alleviating some of my fears.
This office was highly recommended to me by the midwife through whom I had my son, and is in the field of Integrated Medicine, a holistic approach to lifestyle wellness, not simply the temporary treatment symptoms of whatever might be wrong. My chiropractor had recommended somebody to me as well, but after a series of telephone-tag and messages reflecting vocal tones bordering impatience, I really started to feel uncomfortable, as I do not wish to enter into a wellness relationship with somebody who causes me to feel stress. That, to me, seems counterproductive to what would be our common goal. Some personalities just don't jive.
So I was speaking to the receptionist who actually listened to me and, as I was calling for one doctor in the practice, she said that, hearing what I have to address, I would perhaps be better matched up with another woman, a bit closer to my own age, and would be able to get me in by next Wednesday.
I am hoping that this will be the beginning of discovery in how to live healthier and to guide my family along the same path, while also perhaps answering some questions and alleviating some of my fears.
viernes, 27 de enero de 2006
to coffee or not to coffee...
...that IS the question as of late.
I don't want to get hooked on the caffeine, and for years have been proud of the fact that I just DON'T NEED IT. My high energy level, partnered with the fact that I am naturally a morning person has always worked to my benefit.
Then I had children.
Now I find, as I awake at 5 a.m. each and every morning to have a little "alone" time B.C. (Before Children) that by about 11 in the morning or so I could take a nap...and by 3 or 4 in the afternoon I am so ready to crash that I can hardly keep my head above the proverbial water. This is not good, since two afternoons a week now through May I teach from 4-7 at night! Somehow I don't seem to have a problem at work, but I fear for my students should I start caffeinating myself. I know that my rate of speaking greatly increases in speed with caffeine, and that is the last thing my Spanish students need from me (ja ja ja).
Can you believe, I am actually pondering a vice? That is to say, besides wine...but I don't drink hardly enough wine to call it a vice. That is a pure luxury once in a while...or I suppose, becoming more and more medicinal in purpose, however I care to see it by the weeks' end when I might be able to actually enjoy a glass of Rioja.
So...will I be spending some buckies at Buckies today? We shall see...
I don't want to get hooked on the caffeine, and for years have been proud of the fact that I just DON'T NEED IT. My high energy level, partnered with the fact that I am naturally a morning person has always worked to my benefit.
Then I had children.
Now I find, as I awake at 5 a.m. each and every morning to have a little "alone" time B.C. (Before Children) that by about 11 in the morning or so I could take a nap...and by 3 or 4 in the afternoon I am so ready to crash that I can hardly keep my head above the proverbial water. This is not good, since two afternoons a week now through May I teach from 4-7 at night! Somehow I don't seem to have a problem at work, but I fear for my students should I start caffeinating myself. I know that my rate of speaking greatly increases in speed with caffeine, and that is the last thing my Spanish students need from me (ja ja ja).
Can you believe, I am actually pondering a vice? That is to say, besides wine...but I don't drink hardly enough wine to call it a vice. That is a pure luxury once in a while...or I suppose, becoming more and more medicinal in purpose, however I care to see it by the weeks' end when I might be able to actually enjoy a glass of Rioja.
So...will I be spending some buckies at Buckies today? We shall see...
fear of leaving the house-type ramblings
I find myself wondering today if I suffer from a fear of leaving my house now with my children after all que sucedió this week every time I did leave. I am not a patient person by nature and, although I fight this and my nature to be very perfeccionista on a constant basis, these personality traits constantly bubble to the surface when our in public with kids. I have high expectations for them. I am constantly told I need to lower my standards, but I feel that doing so would be a great disservice to my children. For example, I expect nice words to be used: my 17-month old cannot verbalize like my 4 year old, but he can say "please" and "thank you" with signs very clearly and uses them on a constant basis. My four-year old can be very polite but needs to be reminded that I answer not to demands but to nice words and requests.
Perhaps I am overreacting and what we need is to take a day out. It should be a bit warmer today, without a northwest wind to chill our bones. Maybe we can get outside and play at the playground and do something more child-oriented instead of mommy-oriented, even though I have so many other things I could accomplish today (like groceries? lesson plans? grading papers? finishing the last class website? trying to get over this headache?...and the list continues). Knowing that MQE will not be around for 1/2 day tomorrow either doesn't help, but I do need to remind myself that he needs his own time for his activities as well, and it is extremely selfish of me to expect him home all weekend every weekend. He is so good with the children, does so much around the house to help me keep up...we have a pretty good partnership going in that regard, of which I am eternally grateful.
So the question remains: what shall I do with the kids today? There is no school for K due to teacher inservice today and next Monday. It used to be easier when I could just put C in the Ergo carrier and backpack him all over the place. Now he is just too heavy for my frame to manage and he wants to RUN. EVERYWHERE.
Maybe it all boils down to this question: why is it so hard to let my children discover their wings and soar? Isn't that supposed to be my goal?
Perhaps I am overreacting and what we need is to take a day out. It should be a bit warmer today, without a northwest wind to chill our bones. Maybe we can get outside and play at the playground and do something more child-oriented instead of mommy-oriented, even though I have so many other things I could accomplish today (like groceries? lesson plans? grading papers? finishing the last class website? trying to get over this headache?...and the list continues). Knowing that MQE will not be around for 1/2 day tomorrow either doesn't help, but I do need to remind myself that he needs his own time for his activities as well, and it is extremely selfish of me to expect him home all weekend every weekend. He is so good with the children, does so much around the house to help me keep up...we have a pretty good partnership going in that regard, of which I am eternally grateful.
So the question remains: what shall I do with the kids today? There is no school for K due to teacher inservice today and next Monday. It used to be easier when I could just put C in the Ergo carrier and backpack him all over the place. Now he is just too heavy for my frame to manage and he wants to RUN. EVERYWHERE.
Maybe it all boils down to this question: why is it so hard to let my children discover their wings and soar? Isn't that supposed to be my goal?
martes, 24 de enero de 2006
I love to teach!
I always enjoy stepping back into the classroom after a hiatus. Something just comes over me and the class is just so much fun. The students and I share novelty and absolute magic can happen, which reaches far beyond the complements and the initial hubbub. I miss teaching when I am not, I enjoy my students so much, and that shows me that I am doing exactly what I should be doing. How blessed am I, to have figured this out so early in my career?
critiquing the mamacita
Do NOT mess with Mamacita.
I do not like to have our parenting critiqued, especially when trying to teach my children a lesson.
When my daughter strayed from my side today after swimming lessons, I called for her nicely once, twice...and the third time I turned on the "I-am-so-serious-you-had-better-get-your-butt-over-here" voice, to which she of course ever so promptly responded. I continued to simply do her and her friend's hair, blowing it dry before having to head back out into the cool January air, as I am not going to scold her in front of a locker room full of strangers; I am not into publicly humiliating my children. The lesson can wait for later.
So then a grandmother comes over and greets K, and wishes her a nice day, then looks at me and tells me I need to calm down. As politely as my boiling blood would permit me, I told her through clenched teeth that she was wandering and, by the third warning my voice gets not-so-nice in those kinds of situations. She responded that she used to yell at her children, too, but now wishes she hadn't so much, and that now as a grandmother she doesn't have to yell at all. I, in turn, retorted that, as a grandparent one must be granted certain prerogatives that parents simply are not allowed.
A great discussion of the dangers of wandering off in a public place out of my view in a room filled with strangers ensued in the car on the way home, as I wanted my daughter to realize precisely how scared I was, which required the locker-room use of my not-so-nice voice.
However, this entire experience leaves me absolutely shocked and astounded as to the fact that people are so afraid to step on their children's toes anymore. If parents are not the ones to scare the living daylights INTO their children, whose responsibility is it? I will not raise two spoiled brats who will not listen to and who will walk all over their parents. That will, I am sure, come naturally in time (teenage years?). I will, however, appropriately let them know when they have stepped out of line, in private and/or in public, and it is not anybody's job to undermine my authority in doing so.
Shame on you.
I do not like to have our parenting critiqued, especially when trying to teach my children a lesson.
When my daughter strayed from my side today after swimming lessons, I called for her nicely once, twice...and the third time I turned on the "I-am-so-serious-you-had-better-get-your-butt-over-here" voice, to which she of course ever so promptly responded. I continued to simply do her and her friend's hair, blowing it dry before having to head back out into the cool January air, as I am not going to scold her in front of a locker room full of strangers; I am not into publicly humiliating my children. The lesson can wait for later.
So then a grandmother comes over and greets K, and wishes her a nice day, then looks at me and tells me I need to calm down. As politely as my boiling blood would permit me, I told her through clenched teeth that she was wandering and, by the third warning my voice gets not-so-nice in those kinds of situations. She responded that she used to yell at her children, too, but now wishes she hadn't so much, and that now as a grandmother she doesn't have to yell at all. I, in turn, retorted that, as a grandparent one must be granted certain prerogatives that parents simply are not allowed.
A great discussion of the dangers of wandering off in a public place out of my view in a room filled with strangers ensued in the car on the way home, as I wanted my daughter to realize precisely how scared I was, which required the locker-room use of my not-so-nice voice.
However, this entire experience leaves me absolutely shocked and astounded as to the fact that people are so afraid to step on their children's toes anymore. If parents are not the ones to scare the living daylights INTO their children, whose responsibility is it? I will not raise two spoiled brats who will not listen to and who will walk all over their parents. That will, I am sure, come naturally in time (teenage years?). I will, however, appropriately let them know when they have stepped out of line, in private and/or in public, and it is not anybody's job to undermine my authority in doing so.
Shame on you.
screaming in front of the priest
As mi cuñado came back into town to stay with us for a few more days this week before heading back to The (real) Land of Hanalei, we took the opportunity to go downtown. There were lots of demonstrations yesterday as it was the National March for Life day and, although not participating in the March itself, we found ourselves right smack dab in the middle of it! Fortunately two cute children in a tandem stroller was often enough to help us push through crowds, but in the end it was two police officers who came up behind us that helped us get through.
The hardest part of just about anything...out of town visitors (even though we love having them), going downtown for the day, etc., is the fact that it knocks our daily schedule out of whack, and C really needs a good nap during the day, or he is just a Nasty Little Man come nightfall. And not only that, he s.c.r.e.a.m.e.d. all the way home on the metro.
Permit me to elaborate one minute on this. We were surrounded by an entire trainload-full of pro-lifers who instead were looking like "oh, how cute", and there was a priest right next to us, seated. K just wanted to get out of the stroller and couldn't understand reason why I couldn't let her (reason being way too crowded, no seats, etc.) so trying to reason with my 4 year old amidst screaming from my 17 month old just didn't happen very well. Am I being tested here?...I thought to myself.
This continued all the way to the end of the line, where our car is parked and trying to ply C with cookies did not help; indeed, Nasty Little Man had returned and he would take each cookie offered him and THROW it with all his might away from the stroller.
Then to deal with the people going to the parking deck up the elevator...the same one we had to take (if I had a choice I would have walked, but there was no choice). I know they meant well, but I really don't want to hear simpatía ni empatía when your child won't stop screaming...I would much rather they make my child stop, since I obviously was not doing a very good job of that myself.
As soon as he got into his carseat, he stopped crying. Familiarity, perhaps? Who knows, but at least I had MQE with me next time last night he threw his big 1 hour fit at 11 p.m.
I'm tired.
Oh, and today is the first day back at classes. I love the first day, as it is always charged with adrenaline and new faces to get to know and first impressions to make. I like my students to leave the first day thinking, "Dude, this class is gonna rock!"
The hardest part of just about anything...out of town visitors (even though we love having them), going downtown for the day, etc., is the fact that it knocks our daily schedule out of whack, and C really needs a good nap during the day, or he is just a Nasty Little Man come nightfall. And not only that, he s.c.r.e.a.m.e.d. all the way home on the metro.
Permit me to elaborate one minute on this. We were surrounded by an entire trainload-full of pro-lifers who instead were looking like "oh, how cute", and there was a priest right next to us, seated. K just wanted to get out of the stroller and couldn't understand reason why I couldn't let her (reason being way too crowded, no seats, etc.) so trying to reason with my 4 year old amidst screaming from my 17 month old just didn't happen very well. Am I being tested here?...I thought to myself.
This continued all the way to the end of the line, where our car is parked and trying to ply C with cookies did not help; indeed, Nasty Little Man had returned and he would take each cookie offered him and THROW it with all his might away from the stroller.
Then to deal with the people going to the parking deck up the elevator...the same one we had to take (if I had a choice I would have walked, but there was no choice). I know they meant well, but I really don't want to hear simpatía ni empatía when your child won't stop screaming...I would much rather they make my child stop, since I obviously was not doing a very good job of that myself.
As soon as he got into his carseat, he stopped crying. Familiarity, perhaps? Who knows, but at least I had MQE with me next time last night he threw his big 1 hour fit at 11 p.m.
I'm tired.
Oh, and today is the first day back at classes. I love the first day, as it is always charged with adrenaline and new faces to get to know and first impressions to make. I like my students to leave the first day thinking, "Dude, this class is gonna rock!"
viernes, 20 de enero de 2006
bubble wrap blues
I love bubble wrap. The little tiny ones, especially, that just pop so delicately in between your fingertips with hardly any effort necessary, are what I find especially cathartic. With the miniscule bursts I can feel my stress melt into joy as I effectively destroy the purpose for which the air pustules were created.
I am now selflessly passing this joy on to the next generation of bubble wrap addicts; namely, my daughter. Fast-forward fourteen years, we're sitting at the dining room table together, trying to find something about which we can talk, and then we reach for...the bubble wrap! The Great Conversation-Starter! Let's see who can pop all the bubbles first!
But alas...all the bubble wrap has been popped for the night. Maybe tomorrow's mail will bring more.
I am now selflessly passing this joy on to the next generation of bubble wrap addicts; namely, my daughter. Fast-forward fourteen years, we're sitting at the dining room table together, trying to find something about which we can talk, and then we reach for...the bubble wrap! The Great Conversation-Starter! Let's see who can pop all the bubbles first!
But alas...all the bubble wrap has been popped for the night. Maybe tomorrow's mail will bring more.
departmental bickering
Can I bitch for a moment?
Anyhow, I left the meeting today at school at 3 because I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. All the henpecking, the catfighting over how to grade exam points and ser/estar, preceeded by henpecking and catfighting over oral sections and cultura. Geez Louise...so then one of our very old-timers had to get in his three cents worth about dictation (to which the one the department actually just hired as a full-time WHOLEHEARTEDLY agreed, mind you--ugh) and I had to open my big mouth to suggest even more work for the poor, overworked test writers about my idea for the guion of criteria if they feel SOOOOOOOOOOO strongly that we have to battle over this for hours asi. And if anyone has issue with these criterion, they should be sent out with the exam drafts and let everyone review the point breakdown and why it’s so, and then contest it before the exam is given, if they feel that strongly about it (as if anyone even looks at the drafts, anyway, right?) and somebody thought I was talking about an answer key, and I said, of course not, just a section-by-section breakdown of, for example, if it’s conjugated in 3rd person singular but the wrong verb, they still get 1 point, the verb and conjugation are both wrong, minus two, missed accent is minus 1/2, etc. In a large department, if you need to standardize grading so much, that is the only logical answer. However, logic does not always appeal to the masses. Giving wanna-be grading workshops in which all that is done is open-ended fighting and a bunch of latinos trying to talk above the other is just plain pointless and it gave me a headache.
Then I got up and left, because I had MUCH better things to do with my time today than sit and listen to that catfighting. Like weeding my yard. Nothing like playing in the mud to rid oneself of excess angst.
Ah. Feel better now. I think I need more protein in my diet.
Anyhow, I left the meeting today at school at 3 because I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. All the henpecking, the catfighting over how to grade exam points and ser/estar, preceeded by henpecking and catfighting over oral sections and cultura. Geez Louise...so then one of our very old-timers had to get in his three cents worth about dictation (to which the one the department actually just hired as a full-time WHOLEHEARTEDLY agreed, mind you--ugh) and I had to open my big mouth to suggest even more work for the poor, overworked test writers about my idea for the guion of criteria if they feel SOOOOOOOOOOO strongly that we have to battle over this for hours asi. And if anyone has issue with these criterion, they should be sent out with the exam drafts and let everyone review the point breakdown and why it’s so, and then contest it before the exam is given, if they feel that strongly about it (as if anyone even looks at the drafts, anyway, right?) and somebody thought I was talking about an answer key, and I said, of course not, just a section-by-section breakdown of, for example, if it’s conjugated in 3rd person singular but the wrong verb, they still get 1 point, the verb and conjugation are both wrong, minus two, missed accent is minus 1/2, etc. In a large department, if you need to standardize grading so much, that is the only logical answer. However, logic does not always appeal to the masses. Giving wanna-be grading workshops in which all that is done is open-ended fighting and a bunch of latinos trying to talk above the other is just plain pointless and it gave me a headache.
Then I got up and left, because I had MUCH better things to do with my time today than sit and listen to that catfighting. Like weeding my yard. Nothing like playing in the mud to rid oneself of excess angst.
Ah. Feel better now. I think I need more protein in my diet.
back to work
The wonderful thing about education is that we have winter and summer vacation. It is truly a time to reestablish ourselves, our identities, clean our desks off, organize our past semester's paperwork...and still anticipate the new school term.
Teaching at the university level, I don't often have repeat students, which is nice as I get to meet so many new faces each term. It proves to be a great brain exercise in memorization. Last term I was given the chance to teach an advanced course that only majors and minors take, which was a wonderful class, albeit extremely time-consuming outside of class. This term I teach both an elementary and an intermediate course.
This institution has been very good to me, allowing me to only take on the late afternoon-evening courses two nights a week so that I may stay at home during the day with my children and fulfill my primary job as Mommy. I don't know of too many people who have it so lucky; indeed, for me it is more of keeping my proverbial foot in the professional door than anything. However, I am reminded of how much time my work takes away from my family life each term, how "relaxation time" is filled with grading papers and working exams and lesson planning, and how much more PBS my children watch while I am in the middle of my semester.
It is an irony of Life, and I so often feel pulled, but I know to be thankful for that which I have because I somehow played my cards right and can have the best of both worlds.
Teaching at the university level, I don't often have repeat students, which is nice as I get to meet so many new faces each term. It proves to be a great brain exercise in memorization. Last term I was given the chance to teach an advanced course that only majors and minors take, which was a wonderful class, albeit extremely time-consuming outside of class. This term I teach both an elementary and an intermediate course.
This institution has been very good to me, allowing me to only take on the late afternoon-evening courses two nights a week so that I may stay at home during the day with my children and fulfill my primary job as Mommy. I don't know of too many people who have it so lucky; indeed, for me it is more of keeping my proverbial foot in the professional door than anything. However, I am reminded of how much time my work takes away from my family life each term, how "relaxation time" is filled with grading papers and working exams and lesson planning, and how much more PBS my children watch while I am in the middle of my semester.
It is an irony of Life, and I so often feel pulled, but I know to be thankful for that which I have because I somehow played my cards right and can have the best of both worlds.
jueves, 19 de enero de 2006
childrens' voices
The house is filled with the happy sound of my daughter and her friends playing Mommy, Daughter and School today. Listening to their interaction is just magical. S is taking her eldest to kindergarten now, so I can eavesdrop on the younger three playing together and reminisce a bit. K and B started playing together when they were just 6 months old or so...they are 6 weeks apart in age and get along beautifully. I think that today will be a good Mommy day as well, which S and I don't get so often anymore, so we have to take it as it comes.
Mi cuñado mentioned coming back through here for a couple more days next week before heading back to Hawai'i, and we would love to have him back. I guess that means my children have not, in fact, scared him away...nor has my cooking.
Mi cuñado mentioned coming back through here for a couple more days next week before heading back to Hawai'i, and we would love to have him back. I guess that means my children have not, in fact, scared him away...nor has my cooking.
Oh, yeah....
I almost forgot...the BIGGEST moment on housewives...
What is with Mrs. Hooper, back at the end? Dude...that gave me a Nasty Chill...
What is with Mrs. Hooper, back at the end? Dude...that gave me a Nasty Chill...
miércoles, 18 de enero de 2006
family
Two years had passed since we were able to see MQE's brother, out in Hawaii, and it has been so nice spending time with him again this week. The children really enjoyed Uncle K's attention and willingness to be the wrestle-magnet, and I think they both look forward to our trip out there next year. Such a shame, really, that we have to be so far away from all of our family. We all do whatever we must.
Thanks for taking the trip out to visit, and to get to know your newest nephew--we all enjoyed having you around, and hope you come again soon.
Thanks for taking the trip out to visit, and to get to know your newest nephew--we all enjoyed having you around, and hope you come again soon.
martes, 17 de enero de 2006
Love between brother and sister
Each day I find myself amazed by the burgeoning relationship between my daughter and my son. In the process of testing each other's limits and boundaries, they are also learning a great deal about mutual respect, about how to have fun with each other, and how to love one another, treating the other as they would want to be treated. It is the embodiment of the Golden Rule, always drilled into us as children but something perhaps we are unable to see until we are responsible for raising our children to know and live that rule themselves.
Nobody can make my son laugh like my daughter can. She is absolutely wonderful with him. Being 4, and being the eldest, she is also quite bossy and has had to learn a great deal about sharing with somebody on a 24/7/365 basis rather than just being on best behavior at a playgroup or at preschool. I am proud of her.
My son brings a joy and a youth into our home that is unequalled. We can hear him paddling through the house and we always know his smiling face will greet us when he successfully searches us out. He has a keen sense of humor for a 16 month old, and that keeps our daughter and our cat constantly on their toes.
My children are such happy children. My daughter's family and self portraits that she draws always are smiling and happy and active. Corey likes to make us laugh, performing for applause and approbation, yet ready to come and give love if I am not happy.
I can only hope and pray to be the best Mother I can to these two, the greatest treasures of my life. May they always bring joy to all those around them.
Nobody can make my son laugh like my daughter can. She is absolutely wonderful with him. Being 4, and being the eldest, she is also quite bossy and has had to learn a great deal about sharing with somebody on a 24/7/365 basis rather than just being on best behavior at a playgroup or at preschool. I am proud of her.
My son brings a joy and a youth into our home that is unequalled. We can hear him paddling through the house and we always know his smiling face will greet us when he successfully searches us out. He has a keen sense of humor for a 16 month old, and that keeps our daughter and our cat constantly on their toes.
My children are such happy children. My daughter's family and self portraits that she draws always are smiling and happy and active. Corey likes to make us laugh, performing for applause and approbation, yet ready to come and give love if I am not happy.
I can only hope and pray to be the best Mother I can to these two, the greatest treasures of my life. May they always bring joy to all those around them.
lunes, 16 de enero de 2006
our Goddaughter, and plans
F is turning 2 tomorrow. How is it that Time escapes us so? We have been so blessed with her presence during the past two years of our lives...she is a lovely, cuddly young girl, the kids all play so well together, and we have much for which to be thankful.
Her party last night was very nice, although since A and the Baby weren't there, there was certainly a missing link. Although she was sick, it has unfortunately become quite the norm that A isn't around anymore. I suppose we all make our own decisions. It is too bad, as we all would like to get to know the baby, who probably isn't so little anymore.
The potpourri of thoughts I have now:
Mi cuñado isn't coming in, turns out, until tonight instead of last night, so we won an extra day to get the house all cleaned up (!!!). K is really looking forward to seeing him; he has yet to even meet C. Gotta get meals planned.
We also have to make a life insurance decision today. So much to think about. Sometimes I despise planning.
Another family wants to go in on 1/2 a steer from a local organic farm with us, each taking home a quarter, so we are trying to get that, as well, planned.
Did I mention school starts again next week? Lesson plans...
The boys need their hair cut today, so must fit that into the day plan.
Freecycle pick-up, toy clean-up, Whole Foods trip, chiropractor pop...so, what again is the plan?????
Her party last night was very nice, although since A and the Baby weren't there, there was certainly a missing link. Although she was sick, it has unfortunately become quite the norm that A isn't around anymore. I suppose we all make our own decisions. It is too bad, as we all would like to get to know the baby, who probably isn't so little anymore.
The potpourri of thoughts I have now:
Mi cuñado isn't coming in, turns out, until tonight instead of last night, so we won an extra day to get the house all cleaned up (!!!). K is really looking forward to seeing him; he has yet to even meet C. Gotta get meals planned.
We also have to make a life insurance decision today. So much to think about. Sometimes I despise planning.
Another family wants to go in on 1/2 a steer from a local organic farm with us, each taking home a quarter, so we are trying to get that, as well, planned.
Did I mention school starts again next week? Lesson plans...
The boys need their hair cut today, so must fit that into the day plan.
Freecycle pick-up, toy clean-up, Whole Foods trip, chiropractor pop...so, what again is the plan?????
domingo, 15 de enero de 2006
this week's housewives
Okay, Susan...you get my vote for being the Go-Getter. Good catch. And real cute bra-and-panty set. Where did you find it? Very flattering on skinny, small-breasted women like you and me. But I digress: now what's going to happen with Mike? Are we going to have jealousy reigning? Should be interesting...I did miss that eye-candy this episode.
Touché to Mrs. Applewhite...but looks like Bree might just win out again. Bree, honey, don't mouth off to a police detective. Never. No, ossifer, I am drunk not.
Watch out, Lynette. Can't castrate a man both physically and emotionally. Only one or the other, but not both. (jajaja)
Gabrielle and Carlos, you two are just plain spunky. Now just waiting for Ms. Nun to reappear...we shall see what happens next week.
Touché to Mrs. Applewhite...but looks like Bree might just win out again. Bree, honey, don't mouth off to a police detective. Never. No, ossifer, I am drunk not.
Watch out, Lynette. Can't castrate a man both physically and emotionally. Only one or the other, but not both. (jajaja)
Gabrielle and Carlos, you two are just plain spunky. Now just waiting for Ms. Nun to reappear...we shall see what happens next week.
the temple?
Treating our bodies as a temple is certainly a recurring theme in my Life, and has been for quite a long time. Today's reading in Church (which? while wrestling two kids it is impossible to recall, but the important thing is that I actually heard something, which can be rare enough of an occasion...) focused on that. It brings me back to the food allergy discovery quest, the good eating habits we try to practice and instill in our children's heads--it is, for me, yet another place where science and religion have met and must peacefully coexist. Science and medicine has taught us the importance of eating well, exercise and the lack of abuse, and it seems to me impossible to separate that from the importance of maintaining our own bodies so that we have the ability to live well as God has intended.
Sounds pretty easy, no? Everything is in theory, I suppose.
--so, where's the chocolate?
Sounds pretty easy, no? Everything is in theory, I suppose.
--so, where's the chocolate?
sábado, 14 de enero de 2006
my favorite movie scene
Eating pho tonight made me remember this classic scene from the Japanese film "Tampopo" (1985).
This is a movie about food, following the life and times of a widow who opens the perfect ramen shop. Into this main theme are woven so many mini-stories:
This scene involves a Japanese woman who is in a Western-style culinary etiquette class, and the day's lesson centers around how to eat noodles *without slurping them*. Most Eastern cultures require you to slurp your noodles, not only because of the hot temperature (except in the case of ice ramen in the summer) but because of the belief that, if you bite your noodle you will shorten your life: long noodles=long life. Anyhow, the setting is a spaghetti house in which the class is set up in a banquet room, with the teacher giving a long explanation of how rude it is to slurp your noodles when eating Western-style food. While she is talking, there is a man sitting at a nearby table, obliviously slurping away at his spaghetti, interrupting the teacher every time she emphasizes the importance of non-slurping. So her entire class takes forks in hand and begin to attempt to eat these Western-style noodles without slurping, looking very meek and uncertain of themselves, all the while the man nearby is slurping happily at his. One by one, the students of the class start to slyly slurp their spaghettis until the entire banquet room erupts into a massive slurp-down, at which point the instructor yields to the pressure and starts to slurp her spaghetti noodles, too.
Why did I think of this? Because my daughter is *really* good at slurping her noodles, a fact we discovered over our pho dinner tonight (to which, I might add, I rather violently reacted to...I'm going to have to make my own from now on).
More on slurping found on my sister blog, http://nakanojofurusato.blogspot.com
(memoirs of a geisha-wannabe).
This is a movie about food, following the life and times of a widow who opens the perfect ramen shop. Into this main theme are woven so many mini-stories:
This scene involves a Japanese woman who is in a Western-style culinary etiquette class, and the day's lesson centers around how to eat noodles *without slurping them*. Most Eastern cultures require you to slurp your noodles, not only because of the hot temperature (except in the case of ice ramen in the summer) but because of the belief that, if you bite your noodle you will shorten your life: long noodles=long life. Anyhow, the setting is a spaghetti house in which the class is set up in a banquet room, with the teacher giving a long explanation of how rude it is to slurp your noodles when eating Western-style food. While she is talking, there is a man sitting at a nearby table, obliviously slurping away at his spaghetti, interrupting the teacher every time she emphasizes the importance of non-slurping. So her entire class takes forks in hand and begin to attempt to eat these Western-style noodles without slurping, looking very meek and uncertain of themselves, all the while the man nearby is slurping happily at his. One by one, the students of the class start to slyly slurp their spaghettis until the entire banquet room erupts into a massive slurp-down, at which point the instructor yields to the pressure and starts to slurp her spaghetti noodles, too.
Why did I think of this? Because my daughter is *really* good at slurping her noodles, a fact we discovered over our pho dinner tonight (to which, I might add, I rather violently reacted to...I'm going to have to make my own from now on).
More on slurping found on my sister blog, http://nakanojofurusato.blogspot.com
(memoirs of a geisha-wannabe).
6 degrees of separation?
I was suggested by C the other afternoon that it would be fun to see how far-reaching throughout the world my friendships and acquaintances run. I thought it to be perceived a bit narcisistic, but admit that could be fun, it could be done on a separate blog...we'll see if the spirit moves me.
Otherwise just getting the house ready for our guest tomorrow night. The first sibling (MQE's brother) to visit us here...finally.
Busy weekend...must keep pluggin'...
Otherwise just getting the house ready for our guest tomorrow night. The first sibling (MQE's brother) to visit us here...finally.
Busy weekend...must keep pluggin'...
viernes, 13 de enero de 2006
sudoku
So I finished all 5 of the Sudoku tournament puzzles. Now to send them in and see if my name is chosen for the tournament.
Oh, geez...need a 2 cent stamp!
Oh, geez...need a 2 cent stamp!
10 things about me I bet you didn't know!
1. I believe in ghosts.
2. I used to have a mole on my neck that made me so self-conscious I would walk around with one shoulder shrugged.
3. I prefer alcoholic drinks to non-alcoholic drinks.
4. I have climbed all the way to the top of an active, steaming volcano and picnicked on the edge of the crater, after which I ran down, picking blueberries along the way.
5. I have had a drink made from other people's saliva, called chicha.
6. The longest I have been without any sleep is 4 nights/5 days...after which I slept about 18 hours straight!
7. I pretty much always want to be somewhere other than where I presently am.
8. I love to play solitare.
9. My favorite song is "Beautiful Savior". I'll sing it for you sometime.
10. When "Wham!" broke up in 1986, I had to stay home from school because I was crying so hard.
2. I used to have a mole on my neck that made me so self-conscious I would walk around with one shoulder shrugged.
3. I prefer alcoholic drinks to non-alcoholic drinks.
4. I have climbed all the way to the top of an active, steaming volcano and picnicked on the edge of the crater, after which I ran down, picking blueberries along the way.
5. I have had a drink made from other people's saliva, called chicha.
6. The longest I have been without any sleep is 4 nights/5 days...after which I slept about 18 hours straight!
7. I pretty much always want to be somewhere other than where I presently am.
8. I love to play solitare.
9. My favorite song is "Beautiful Savior". I'll sing it for you sometime.
10. When "Wham!" broke up in 1986, I had to stay home from school because I was crying so hard.
jueves, 12 de enero de 2006
gettin' old, vol. 2
Well, my doctor thinks there is "something else" going on in my body beyond the bulging discs and is afraid that treatment of that might mask something else going on. What exactly, he doesn't seem to know and speculates only to the point of saying possibly something chemical, possibly hormonal, he doesn't know. But he wants me to see someone else.
As I am willing to do so in hopes things might get defined for me, if not solved, I don't like to hear that. Dad had a tumor on his pancreas the size of a baseball when he was 40 that almost killed him, and I, being so similar to him in body type, can't shake the wondering thoughts that there could be some hereditary link there--which scares the living hell out of me. After all, if that came about when he was 40, it was developing in his 30's (so I am not *really* 93!!!)
But best to know for sure, isn't it? He said that this other woman should be able to give me the answers through a series of tests that he can't give.
>>sigh<< We shall see.
As I am willing to do so in hopes things might get defined for me, if not solved, I don't like to hear that. Dad had a tumor on his pancreas the size of a baseball when he was 40 that almost killed him, and I, being so similar to him in body type, can't shake the wondering thoughts that there could be some hereditary link there--which scares the living hell out of me. After all, if that came about when he was 40, it was developing in his 30's (so I am not *really* 93!!!)
But best to know for sure, isn't it? He said that this other woman should be able to give me the answers through a series of tests that he can't give.
>>sigh<< We shall see.
chocolate
Chocolate is my lifeblood. No more of that Hershey's stuff for me, though...my tastes have changed greatly with my age... (!?!) That is all way too sweet for me now. I have developed quite the appreciation for dark, dark chocolate. My favorite is Dagoba 73% soy free "Concordao" chocolate. I will take, however, anything over 50%. I like the chocolate content to be greater than the sugar content, though--some 50%-range chocolate is still a bit too sweet for me.
So right now I am testing chocolate in this food allergy diet. Did you know that you can test potential allergens to your body by taking a pulse test after having fasted from the suspected foods for at least 4 days? By taking your pulse before eating the food, then 15 and 30 minutes following having eaten the food, if your pulse rate goes up by 8 beats or more a minute, you are most likely reacting to the food. It's really fascinating, as we tested this last year. Then, from there you can further test that food. Due to the fact that both MQE and my withdrawl reactions were so minimal this time around as compared to last year, I think we're really doing a good job with our daily eating habits, but this is becoming our New Year tradition, so to speak. It is a lot easier to palate, however, knowing what to expect than the first time around.
The 15 minute pulse test came up good for the chocolate...let me see now how the 30 minute is:
wow...I went DOWN by about 7 bmp...see??? That must *really* mean that chocolate is good for me. It relaxes me...give me more!!!!!
So right now I am testing chocolate in this food allergy diet. Did you know that you can test potential allergens to your body by taking a pulse test after having fasted from the suspected foods for at least 4 days? By taking your pulse before eating the food, then 15 and 30 minutes following having eaten the food, if your pulse rate goes up by 8 beats or more a minute, you are most likely reacting to the food. It's really fascinating, as we tested this last year. Then, from there you can further test that food. Due to the fact that both MQE and my withdrawl reactions were so minimal this time around as compared to last year, I think we're really doing a good job with our daily eating habits, but this is becoming our New Year tradition, so to speak. It is a lot easier to palate, however, knowing what to expect than the first time around.
The 15 minute pulse test came up good for the chocolate...let me see now how the 30 minute is:
wow...I went DOWN by about 7 bmp...see??? That must *really* mean that chocolate is good for me. It relaxes me...give me more!!!!!
miércoles, 11 de enero de 2006
reflections on nail polish
I have been reminded over the past two weeks why I never paint my fingernails.
I do a double-coat, followed by a topcoat, and within an hour one fingernail or another is already spoiled. Why? Because I cannot just sit still and let it dry. I don't have the luxury of that kind of time. No, instead I am up and trying to do things without touching my fingernails to anything, and in my angst I inevitably touch my fingernails to something.
So why bother?
It did look so nice for Christmas, but then after dishwashing, diaper changing, constant hand washing, etc., there is just nothing left but a few red globs in the center of each fingernail. What a pain.
Toenails, however, are a different story. I will not leave the house in sandals if my toenails aren't done. But I have yet to start washing dishes with my feet, so unless I find myself walking along sandy beaches, I think I'm safe there.
So much for vanity. Right out the window.
Does anybody else out there bother with their fingernails? How DO you maintain??
I do a double-coat, followed by a topcoat, and within an hour one fingernail or another is already spoiled. Why? Because I cannot just sit still and let it dry. I don't have the luxury of that kind of time. No, instead I am up and trying to do things without touching my fingernails to anything, and in my angst I inevitably touch my fingernails to something.
So why bother?
It did look so nice for Christmas, but then after dishwashing, diaper changing, constant hand washing, etc., there is just nothing left but a few red globs in the center of each fingernail. What a pain.
Toenails, however, are a different story. I will not leave the house in sandals if my toenails aren't done. But I have yet to start washing dishes with my feet, so unless I find myself walking along sandy beaches, I think I'm safe there.
So much for vanity. Right out the window.
Does anybody else out there bother with their fingernails? How DO you maintain??
martes, 10 de enero de 2006
NRA, alive and well
I am not condoning this at all.
However, we thought it really funny when seeing some of these signs while driving through Illinois en route to Minnesota this summer:
Tell your senator when he runs
Ban the criminals
Not the guns.
Guns are neither
good or evil
How they are used
depends on people.
Shooting sports
are so much fun
so there's no need
to fear a gun.
Proven in peace
tested in war
guns at home even the score.
Big guns
made America free.
Little ones are made
for you and me
However, we thought it really funny when seeing some of these signs while driving through Illinois en route to Minnesota this summer:
Tell your senator when he runs
Ban the criminals
Not the guns.
Guns are neither
good or evil
How they are used
depends on people.
Shooting sports
are so much fun
so there's no need
to fear a gun.
Proven in peace
tested in war
guns at home even the score.
Big guns
made America free.
Little ones are made
for you and me
lunes, 9 de enero de 2006
last night's housewives
Okay...so at least we still have a bad guy. After they killed off the pharmacist, who was just so hate-able, I thought, what are they going to do now?
But that Applegate (is that their name? Applewhite?) family is sure strange. I can't quite figure that entire situation out, but evidently the other son has some mental/emotional problems and can be uncontrollably violent.
The whole Kiss issue was so funny. Lynette totally overreacted to what was so obviously a big ol' sarcastic smack-a-roo-ski...but what got me was Carlos' proposition to Lynette at the end of the show...where on Earth did THAT come from? I've been waiting for him to start hitting on his savior inner-city-bred Nun.
Bree is heading right for AA, wouldn't you say? I guess I probably would be, too, if my husband had been killed by my trusted local lunatic pharmacist, my daughter was becoming a stoner and my son was sleeping with his boyfriends under my roof. Susan's ex gets my applause for the night, for standing up for Bree to her son.
I *sooooo* want Susan and Mike back together, it's ridiculous. They were too cute. They still are. Shall we lay bets?
And, in my opinion, Tom is a hottie. I have a hard time believing he was ever the tuba-playing band nerd.
But that Applegate (is that their name? Applewhite?) family is sure strange. I can't quite figure that entire situation out, but evidently the other son has some mental/emotional problems and can be uncontrollably violent.
The whole Kiss issue was so funny. Lynette totally overreacted to what was so obviously a big ol' sarcastic smack-a-roo-ski...but what got me was Carlos' proposition to Lynette at the end of the show...where on Earth did THAT come from? I've been waiting for him to start hitting on his savior inner-city-bred Nun.
Bree is heading right for AA, wouldn't you say? I guess I probably would be, too, if my husband had been killed by my trusted local lunatic pharmacist, my daughter was becoming a stoner and my son was sleeping with his boyfriends under my roof. Susan's ex gets my applause for the night, for standing up for Bree to her son.
I *sooooo* want Susan and Mike back together, it's ridiculous. They were too cute. They still are. Shall we lay bets?
And, in my opinion, Tom is a hottie. I have a hard time believing he was ever the tuba-playing band nerd.
just another manic monday?
It was actually a pretty good day. I didn't feel overextended, just busy.
It was day 3 of the Diet and I'm still feeling pretty well. Perhaps a slight headache--yesterday my body ached a bit, but compared to last year's withdrawls, this has been cake (a big ol' slab of which, I might add, would taste REAL good right now).
SIDEBAR: Okay, any time I say "Speaking of which" in my family, K always responds with an "Oh, that's scary. Where's the witch?"
MQE isn't doing as well as I am, which leads me to believe we still haven't found his main food culprit. I will keep trying. I hope, for the good of his family and all his co-workers, it isn't coffee.
I got some good S time today. Her kids played really well with mine and so we got a long-esperada chance to sit and chat all afternoon, mientras tanto I could get another round of the ruffle on our new bedspread crocheted. So progress was made and friendships caught up on. It seems that, since the end of last year...even since the school year started, we all have just been missing each other's free time slots. P and I have figured things out for usually one morning a week while the older kids are in preschool, but I have to work on the rest.
K starts swimming lessons again tomorrow morning, and she is a little fishie so that is always fun to watch. B is taking the class with her this time, so it should be double the fun for both of the girls.
And in my Life, those are the main headlines. Complaints only abound regarding West Virginia mines, SC Justice nominee Alito and the entire DeLay debacle. Sucks to get caught, no?
It was day 3 of the Diet and I'm still feeling pretty well. Perhaps a slight headache--yesterday my body ached a bit, but compared to last year's withdrawls, this has been cake (a big ol' slab of which, I might add, would taste REAL good right now).
SIDEBAR: Okay, any time I say "Speaking of which" in my family, K always responds with an "Oh, that's scary. Where's the witch?"
MQE isn't doing as well as I am, which leads me to believe we still haven't found his main food culprit. I will keep trying. I hope, for the good of his family and all his co-workers, it isn't coffee.
I got some good S time today. Her kids played really well with mine and so we got a long-esperada chance to sit and chat all afternoon, mientras tanto I could get another round of the ruffle on our new bedspread crocheted. So progress was made and friendships caught up on. It seems that, since the end of last year...even since the school year started, we all have just been missing each other's free time slots. P and I have figured things out for usually one morning a week while the older kids are in preschool, but I have to work on the rest.
K starts swimming lessons again tomorrow morning, and she is a little fishie so that is always fun to watch. B is taking the class with her this time, so it should be double the fun for both of the girls.
And in my Life, those are the main headlines. Complaints only abound regarding West Virginia mines, SC Justice nominee Alito and the entire DeLay debacle. Sucks to get caught, no?
domingo, 8 de enero de 2006
Dietas...
So we're doing the exclusion diet again. It's a long haul, but at least we don't starve. MQE could hardly stay awake all day due to lack of caffeine, and although that didn't bother me I just feel a trite out-of-sorts. Not as bad as last year, however, which is good news...I must be staying away from whatever really was bothering me...now to sort out the details.
MQE's old friend from New Orleans, D, came out to spend the day with us yesterday. She's just recently been restationed here and it was great to see her again. The kids loved her, too. I was worried as all I had was our exclusion diet food, consisting of lamb, lentil soup and brown rice to offer for lunch, but she was so impressed with the meal and what we were doing that she went right down to Whole Foods and bought the same book herself. I have to admit, the lentils are a lot more palatable this year than last, when I didn't know what to do with them. Delicious soup this year, the kids love it, too.
It has just been a relaxing weekend with no big events. Kind of nice to have those once in a while!
MQE's old friend from New Orleans, D, came out to spend the day with us yesterday. She's just recently been restationed here and it was great to see her again. The kids loved her, too. I was worried as all I had was our exclusion diet food, consisting of lamb, lentil soup and brown rice to offer for lunch, but she was so impressed with the meal and what we were doing that she went right down to Whole Foods and bought the same book herself. I have to admit, the lentils are a lot more palatable this year than last, when I didn't know what to do with them. Delicious soup this year, the kids love it, too.
It has just been a relaxing weekend with no big events. Kind of nice to have those once in a while!
Gettin' old...
The MRI came back showing two bulging discs in my lower back which have more than likely caused my past 15 years worth of pain. It will be interesting to see what alternative treatments we can come up with...I will post it.
sábado, 7 de enero de 2006
Predictions for 2005
Here is the list of predictions we made and our guesses. Let's see who won!!! Order of answers given: Rd&Ae, Bl&Cy, Mk&Pa, Rn&Sa, Jn&Si
1. The price of unleaded gas would be, at the Mobile in Vienna: $2.35...Jn was closest without going over, Rn was closest/most pessimistic!
1.83, 1. 89; 1.50, 1.77; 2.51, 1.62; 1.61, 1.89; 2.00, 1.95
2. How many games did the Nationals win? 81...Si was closest!
85, 50; 75, 76; 52, 50; 79, 3; 40, 80.
3. New Year's Eve high temperature: 47 degrees at Dulles...Ae was closest!
41, 42; 35, 57; 41, 25; 33, 37; 30, 35.
4. Will Michael Jackson be in jail? Winners: Rd, Bl, Cy, Mk, Rn, Sa, Si
no, yes; no, no; no, yes; no, no; yes, no.
5. In December, did we have measurable snowfall? At Dulles, for month of December, it was measured at 5.7 inches.
Winners: Rd, Bl, Cy, Mk, Rn, Sa, Jn, Si.
yes, no; yes, yes; yes, no; yes, yes; yes, yes.
6. How many governmental shut-down days? 1 early dismissal day, 2 unscheduled leave days...I say Bl has it at 2!
8, 6; 4, 2; 13, 1; 0, 4; 6, 3.
7. What are big domestic headlines for the year? Winners: Rd, Sa, Jn
"Two major US Airlines shut down", "MJ is guilty"; "Cheney kicks the bucket", "Ted Kennedy dies"; "Britney Married Again", "Space Shuttle Program Resumes"; "California Secession", "Chief Justice Renquist Dies"; "Another Bad Hurricane Season", San Francisco breaks away from California and falls into Pacific."
8. Who is/are Time's Person of the Year? Bono, Melinda and Bill Gates
Some Chinese guy, Pope John Paul; Some Iraqi dude, The Pope; Katie Couric; Alawi, The Pope; The Pope, Kofi Annan.
9. What is the cool new electronic device? Winner: Rn (closest!)
PS3, Capture Saddam Video Game; Electronic ordering device for grocery shopping, Beam me up, Scotty; Personal Satellite Radios; Wireless Ipod, DVD 3D virtual reality glasses; Hands-free phone/pc computer/dvd/organizer/gps, some toy.
10. What is going in on Church Street? Bazin's on Church, fancy-schmancy restaurant
Office building, Dr's office; Shoestore, office/dr's; antique shop/offices, offices; office/cleaners, S's Scrapbook Shop; another professional building, coffee shop/knickknack/tourist shops.
11. Anyone here driving a different car this year? Winners: Ae, Bl, Cy, Mk, Pa, Rn, Sa, Jn, Si
No one, Ke and Jn; Jn, Ke and Mk; Jn and Mk, Jn and Mk; Rn and Ke and Rd, Jn; Jn or Mk, Ke and Mk and Sa.
12. How many Supreme Court justices dead or stepped down? Winners: Ae, Mk, Rn, Sa,
1, 2; 3, 3; 2, 3; 2, 2; 3, 1.
Bonus predictions:
1. Ae will be walking 5 miles a day while son is in kindergarten and will be lookin' mighty fine!!!!
2. Someone will be pregnant: Sa? Ae? Cy? (Jn WINNER!)
3. Bl and Cy will install a hot tub on their outside deck.
4. Ae will have a baby by then. (Pa WINNER!)
5. Sa will be pregnant.
6. Someone moves. (RN WINNER!)
7. Ae gets pregnant. (Ae WINNER!)
8. Ae will be pregnant, (Sa WINNER!)
Ke will be applying/accepted at Med school,
Pa will be turning profit at Pampered Chef.
9. A pregnant or just given birth. (RD WINNER!)
10. RD will get a new job.
11. Rn&Sa will be expecting #4
1. The price of unleaded gas would be, at the Mobile in Vienna: $2.35...Jn was closest without going over, Rn was closest/most pessimistic!
1.83, 1. 89; 1.50, 1.77; 2.51, 1.62; 1.61, 1.89; 2.00, 1.95
2. How many games did the Nationals win? 81...Si was closest!
85, 50; 75, 76; 52, 50; 79, 3; 40, 80.
3. New Year's Eve high temperature: 47 degrees at Dulles...Ae was closest!
41, 42; 35, 57; 41, 25; 33, 37; 30, 35.
4. Will Michael Jackson be in jail? Winners: Rd, Bl, Cy, Mk, Rn, Sa, Si
no, yes; no, no; no, yes; no, no; yes, no.
5. In December, did we have measurable snowfall? At Dulles, for month of December, it was measured at 5.7 inches.
Winners: Rd, Bl, Cy, Mk, Rn, Sa, Jn, Si.
yes, no; yes, yes; yes, no; yes, yes; yes, yes.
6. How many governmental shut-down days? 1 early dismissal day, 2 unscheduled leave days...I say Bl has it at 2!
8, 6; 4, 2; 13, 1; 0, 4; 6, 3.
7. What are big domestic headlines for the year? Winners: Rd, Sa, Jn
"Two major US Airlines shut down", "MJ is guilty"; "Cheney kicks the bucket", "Ted Kennedy dies"; "Britney Married Again", "Space Shuttle Program Resumes"; "California Secession", "Chief Justice Renquist Dies"; "Another Bad Hurricane Season", San Francisco breaks away from California and falls into Pacific."
8. Who is/are Time's Person of the Year? Bono, Melinda and Bill Gates
Some Chinese guy, Pope John Paul; Some Iraqi dude, The Pope; Katie Couric; Alawi, The Pope; The Pope, Kofi Annan.
9. What is the cool new electronic device? Winner: Rn (closest!)
PS3, Capture Saddam Video Game; Electronic ordering device for grocery shopping, Beam me up, Scotty; Personal Satellite Radios; Wireless Ipod, DVD 3D virtual reality glasses; Hands-free phone/pc computer/dvd/organizer/gps, some toy.
10. What is going in on Church Street? Bazin's on Church, fancy-schmancy restaurant
Office building, Dr's office; Shoestore, office/dr's; antique shop/offices, offices; office/cleaners, S's Scrapbook Shop; another professional building, coffee shop/knickknack/tourist shops.
11. Anyone here driving a different car this year? Winners: Ae, Bl, Cy, Mk, Pa, Rn, Sa, Jn, Si
No one, Ke and Jn; Jn, Ke and Mk; Jn and Mk, Jn and Mk; Rn and Ke and Rd, Jn; Jn or Mk, Ke and Mk and Sa.
12. How many Supreme Court justices dead or stepped down? Winners: Ae, Mk, Rn, Sa,
1, 2; 3, 3; 2, 3; 2, 2; 3, 1.
Bonus predictions:
1. Ae will be walking 5 miles a day while son is in kindergarten and will be lookin' mighty fine!!!!
2. Someone will be pregnant: Sa? Ae? Cy? (Jn WINNER!)
3. Bl and Cy will install a hot tub on their outside deck.
4. Ae will have a baby by then. (Pa WINNER!)
5. Sa will be pregnant.
6. Someone moves. (RN WINNER!)
7. Ae gets pregnant. (Ae WINNER!)
8. Ae will be pregnant, (Sa WINNER!)
Ke will be applying/accepted at Med school,
Pa will be turning profit at Pampered Chef.
9. A pregnant or just given birth. (RD WINNER!)
10. RD will get a new job.
11. Rn&Sa will be expecting #4
jueves, 5 de enero de 2006
Our resolutions for 2005
Okay, gang--here's what we've been waiting for!
Let's start with resolutions. I'll do the predictions in the next blog, since it will take some time to research.
A, did you 1. exercise more? 2. drink less caffeine? 3. dine in more? 4. lose weight?
R, did you 1. eat more salads? 2. drink less Coke? 3. "learn" to eat more salads? 4. get more exercise?
J, did you 1. get up when your alarm goes off?
S, did you 1. eat one treat per day? 2. be more patient? 3. be super-duper mom (ja!)
R, did you 1. get into better shape and ride more? 2. not get wife pregnant? 3. spend more time with kids? 4. teach son to ride a bike without training wheels?
S, did you 1. scrap more, spend less? 2. lose weight? 3. get organized? 4. buy less scrapbook stuff?
B, did you 1. pray every morning? 2. call parents more? 3. be nicer in the office? 4. dine with godchildren?
C, did you 1. read scripture daily? 2. have more sex with spouse? 3. spend more time with friends? 4. take a walk around the block 3x a day? 5. try a new recipe every week?
Those were predictions from our significant others of our resolutions and our personal resolutions all rolled into one. So....how did you do in 2005??? Pass muster?
Let's start with resolutions. I'll do the predictions in the next blog, since it will take some time to research.
A, did you 1. exercise more? 2. drink less caffeine? 3. dine in more? 4. lose weight?
R, did you 1. eat more salads? 2. drink less Coke? 3. "learn" to eat more salads? 4. get more exercise?
J, did you 1. get up when your alarm goes off?
S, did you 1. eat one treat per day? 2. be more patient? 3. be super-duper mom (ja!)
R, did you 1. get into better shape and ride more? 2. not get wife pregnant? 3. spend more time with kids? 4. teach son to ride a bike without training wheels?
S, did you 1. scrap more, spend less? 2. lose weight? 3. get organized? 4. buy less scrapbook stuff?
B, did you 1. pray every morning? 2. call parents more? 3. be nicer in the office? 4. dine with godchildren?
C, did you 1. read scripture daily? 2. have more sex with spouse? 3. spend more time with friends? 4. take a walk around the block 3x a day? 5. try a new recipe every week?
Those were predictions from our significant others of our resolutions and our personal resolutions all rolled into one. So....how did you do in 2005??? Pass muster?
miércoles, 4 de enero de 2006
remembrances
It is customary to begin the New Year by looking ahead at the year to come, making resolutions about how to live Life better, with desires to become a better person, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
A friend died yesterday, and having just learned this out today I now find myself in a eulogistic mood, perhaps not as much for him as for those who survive him.
He was a good man who happened to be paraplegic. This happened in a football accident in high school, changing the course of his life forever. He met his wife some years later, when taking tennis lessons--she was a teacher for disabled tennis students, and he was her pupil. The rest was history.
They were married for about 10 years, maybe more or maybe less. They have a beautiful little boy who has Down's syndrome.
She is perhaps one of the strongest, most courageous, beautiful people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Knowingly committing oneself to a lifelong partnership with a man who has, on average, 20 to 25 years following initial paralysis is the embodiment of God, of true love, and of selfless sacrifice.
We first met them at Church one day. His parents were in the pew with them, and as we had a daughter about the same age as their grandson, we started talking--children are great conversation-starters, no es cierto?--and learned they were from Mississippi. With our New Orleanean connection, we had a lot of common knowledge to share which rapidly established the connection between our families. His parents visit here quite often to help out with watching their grandson when the couple must be away for his work, which required him to travel a great deal back and forth to New Mexico. They were to be in the area here for a few years, then head back to New Mexico. We thus had the opportunity to get to know this family and, indeed, look forward to the grandparents' visits every so often as well.
At Easter this year, she and I sat outside the sanctuary of our Church in the Narthex area as my son was fussy and her son needed to move around. We did not listen to the Mass being broadcast through speakers but instead she told me that her husband was failing. This woman, who never once is seen without a smile on her face, tears rolling down her smiling cheeks, confided that she is so tired of the hard downhill crashes after such great plateaus with her husband's state of health. She said the mini-strokes were scaring her. She said there were days that he didn't know if he would wake up the next morning. She said she was not ready to lose him, that they had come so far. Then she had to dash up and chase her son and, once effectively reining him in closer to her, we had the chance to hold hands and say the Our Father together.
I have been praying for peace for her since.
In May I saw her mother-in-law again, who said that things are really looking up and that the medications he is now on have been doing him a great deal of good. We went away for vacation in the summer, and our Mass attendance schedule changed radically in late summer and into the fall, so we would only see the family sporadically. However, whenever we did, we saw them together and could always wave and catch their eyes, albeit from across pews and aisles.
He was a courageous man. I could never imagine waking up each day thanking God that I was still alive.
She is a courageous woman. I could never imagine waking up each day thanking God that my husband was still alive.
We healthy people take so much for granted. We have to be thankful for each and every moment, and for each and every time God's hand spares us harm.
I hope they can somehow know how many lives they have touched, just by example.
A friend died yesterday, and having just learned this out today I now find myself in a eulogistic mood, perhaps not as much for him as for those who survive him.
He was a good man who happened to be paraplegic. This happened in a football accident in high school, changing the course of his life forever. He met his wife some years later, when taking tennis lessons--she was a teacher for disabled tennis students, and he was her pupil. The rest was history.
They were married for about 10 years, maybe more or maybe less. They have a beautiful little boy who has Down's syndrome.
She is perhaps one of the strongest, most courageous, beautiful people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. Knowingly committing oneself to a lifelong partnership with a man who has, on average, 20 to 25 years following initial paralysis is the embodiment of God, of true love, and of selfless sacrifice.
We first met them at Church one day. His parents were in the pew with them, and as we had a daughter about the same age as their grandson, we started talking--children are great conversation-starters, no es cierto?--and learned they were from Mississippi. With our New Orleanean connection, we had a lot of common knowledge to share which rapidly established the connection between our families. His parents visit here quite often to help out with watching their grandson when the couple must be away for his work, which required him to travel a great deal back and forth to New Mexico. They were to be in the area here for a few years, then head back to New Mexico. We thus had the opportunity to get to know this family and, indeed, look forward to the grandparents' visits every so often as well.
At Easter this year, she and I sat outside the sanctuary of our Church in the Narthex area as my son was fussy and her son needed to move around. We did not listen to the Mass being broadcast through speakers but instead she told me that her husband was failing. This woman, who never once is seen without a smile on her face, tears rolling down her smiling cheeks, confided that she is so tired of the hard downhill crashes after such great plateaus with her husband's state of health. She said the mini-strokes were scaring her. She said there were days that he didn't know if he would wake up the next morning. She said she was not ready to lose him, that they had come so far. Then she had to dash up and chase her son and, once effectively reining him in closer to her, we had the chance to hold hands and say the Our Father together.
I have been praying for peace for her since.
In May I saw her mother-in-law again, who said that things are really looking up and that the medications he is now on have been doing him a great deal of good. We went away for vacation in the summer, and our Mass attendance schedule changed radically in late summer and into the fall, so we would only see the family sporadically. However, whenever we did, we saw them together and could always wave and catch their eyes, albeit from across pews and aisles.
He was a courageous man. I could never imagine waking up each day thanking God that I was still alive.
She is a courageous woman. I could never imagine waking up each day thanking God that my husband was still alive.
We healthy people take so much for granted. We have to be thankful for each and every moment, and for each and every time God's hand spares us harm.
I hope they can somehow know how many lives they have touched, just by example.
lunes, 2 de enero de 2006
The shrimp
We had quite a mystery to solve recently.
About three weeks or so before Christmas, K started talking about this shrimp. It was a mean shrimp that wore a red Santa hat, she said. Whenever she talked about this shrimp she would become quite upset. As most of this came up at the dinner table, I gave it little thought, thinking it might have been a book that was read at school, a new Christmas book about a Christmas shrimp.
As talk of this mysterious shrimp went on, more descriptive detail emerged...This shrimp wore green fur, too.
All I could think of was Pepe the King Prawn from the Muppets, wearing a Santa hat and a green fur boa.
In my mind, this image gave plenty of reason to K's discontent.
One magical morning the pieces of this puzzle magically fell into place. As we drove to school one day, we heard the song "You're a MEAN one, Mr. Grinch" while awaiting the notoriously long light at Nutley and 123. K became quite upset again, talking about this shrimp that was so scary. Still unable to put 2 and 2 together, perhaps due to the fact I had not yet had any caffeine, coupled with my concentration on traffic, I vowed to bring this issue up to her teacher that morning.
Once she and I figured out the "shrimp's" true identity was the Grinch, lights went on, angels from Heaven sounded and the great moment of realization was magical. Somebody had, a few weeks back, brought a toy Grinch for show-and-tell for Letter G week at preschool.
A----------ha.
Yesterday while awaiting the Chicken Little movie, we found a copy of The Grinch that Stole Christmas. I sat down and read it to K and she enjoyed it, but had lots of questions about why anyone would do such a thing, anyway.
I think that would be a good book to add to our yearly Christmas library.
And I thus resolve to listen better to my children. No, not just HEAR them...but LISTEN to what they have to tell me.
About three weeks or so before Christmas, K started talking about this shrimp. It was a mean shrimp that wore a red Santa hat, she said. Whenever she talked about this shrimp she would become quite upset. As most of this came up at the dinner table, I gave it little thought, thinking it might have been a book that was read at school, a new Christmas book about a Christmas shrimp.
As talk of this mysterious shrimp went on, more descriptive detail emerged...This shrimp wore green fur, too.
All I could think of was Pepe the King Prawn from the Muppets, wearing a Santa hat and a green fur boa.
In my mind, this image gave plenty of reason to K's discontent.
One magical morning the pieces of this puzzle magically fell into place. As we drove to school one day, we heard the song "You're a MEAN one, Mr. Grinch" while awaiting the notoriously long light at Nutley and 123. K became quite upset again, talking about this shrimp that was so scary. Still unable to put 2 and 2 together, perhaps due to the fact I had not yet had any caffeine, coupled with my concentration on traffic, I vowed to bring this issue up to her teacher that morning.
Once she and I figured out the "shrimp's" true identity was the Grinch, lights went on, angels from Heaven sounded and the great moment of realization was magical. Somebody had, a few weeks back, brought a toy Grinch for show-and-tell for Letter G week at preschool.
A----------ha.
Yesterday while awaiting the Chicken Little movie, we found a copy of The Grinch that Stole Christmas. I sat down and read it to K and she enjoyed it, but had lots of questions about why anyone would do such a thing, anyway.
I think that would be a good book to add to our yearly Christmas library.
And I thus resolve to listen better to my children. No, not just HEAR them...but LISTEN to what they have to tell me.
domingo, 1 de enero de 2006
resolutions???
Oh, yeah...the Best Part of the New Year, right? It only took us 362 days last year to complete our finance transfers last year, so at least we got that resolution completed, with two days to spare!
I think I'll publish the results to last year's New Year's party guesses on this site, so stay tuned.
Okay, a volver a las resoluciones del año nuevo, besides the usual...be a better wife, be a better mommy, be a better friend, be a better teacher, etc.,...what's left? (jajaja)
Complain less. Don't be such a burden on my friends. Tell my family I LOVE YOU at least once a day. Eat more dark chocolate. Eat less sugar. Drink more wine (so, what are you doing tonight??? jajaja). Enjoy Life more. Pray more. Exercise more.
Oh...better get started on that last one. 'Bye!
I think I'll publish the results to last year's New Year's party guesses on this site, so stay tuned.
Okay, a volver a las resoluciones del año nuevo, besides the usual...be a better wife, be a better mommy, be a better friend, be a better teacher, etc.,...what's left? (jajaja)
Complain less. Don't be such a burden on my friends. Tell my family I LOVE YOU at least once a day. Eat more dark chocolate. Eat less sugar. Drink more wine (so, what are you doing tonight??? jajaja). Enjoy Life more. Pray more. Exercise more.
Oh...better get started on that last one. 'Bye!
Feliz año nuevo...お正月おめでとう。。。Happy New Year!
Definitely one of the quietest New Years' Eves that I have ever had. Didn't have the desire to be up 'til 3 cleaning up the house after a party like last year, though, so that way it worked out great.
Did you see Dick Clark last night? America's Oldest Teenager...poor man doesn't sound like it anymore. I was impressed he was doing the show, but my heart ached for him as I heard him talk and could practically feel his labored breathing. It's hard to see icons of our youth aging, fading away and dying.
The Manor house across the street let off aerials last night. Down our street (the "wrong side of da tracks") someone went out to their porch, banged on a piece of kitchen Revereware with a spoon yelling, and I quote, "HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2006! YEAH!"
We, being sick of the kids by 10:30, told them to get their slippers and hats on quick because they were going to miss New Year, and to run out to the porch so they wouldn't miss it, and then we counted down at approximately 10:37 p.m., K yelled "Happy New Year", we all gave each other a kiss, and then we put the kids to bed.
This all follows what felt like one of Father Pat's longest Masses and some great Indian take-out.
We bought the truck, by the way. I like it. A definite update for our changing needs. The kids got cool balloons. Conocí una nicaragüense y un peruano, de Pisco, que eran sorprendidos que hablara su idioma. Dicen que todos los latinos van por los Toyotas y los Mercedes. Charlamos mucho, y aun K trató de mostrar lo que sabe del castellano.
The New Year is so much a larger deal in Japan than here, and I miss the emphasis and the preparation placed on the New Year there. It is a very spiritual time. One year I got to toll the giant bell in the temple, which is done 108 times. We watched 演歌、テレビで、そばとそしてオゾニ(sorry, no ozoni this year!!!)も食べました。いつも島温泉で盆宴会いくつへ行って、たくさんすしを食べたり、お酒も飲んだり、すごく楽しみました。そして１月１５日ごろは中之条町の鳥追い祭りです。
それからね。。。新年おめでとうございます！今年も、たいへんよろしく御願いします。
Did you see Dick Clark last night? America's Oldest Teenager...poor man doesn't sound like it anymore. I was impressed he was doing the show, but my heart ached for him as I heard him talk and could practically feel his labored breathing. It's hard to see icons of our youth aging, fading away and dying.
The Manor house across the street let off aerials last night. Down our street (the "wrong side of da tracks") someone went out to their porch, banged on a piece of kitchen Revereware with a spoon yelling, and I quote, "HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2006! YEAH!"
We, being sick of the kids by 10:30, told them to get their slippers and hats on quick because they were going to miss New Year, and to run out to the porch so they wouldn't miss it, and then we counted down at approximately 10:37 p.m., K yelled "Happy New Year", we all gave each other a kiss, and then we put the kids to bed.
This all follows what felt like one of Father Pat's longest Masses and some great Indian take-out.
We bought the truck, by the way. I like it. A definite update for our changing needs. The kids got cool balloons. Conocí una nicaragüense y un peruano, de Pisco, que eran sorprendidos que hablara su idioma. Dicen que todos los latinos van por los Toyotas y los Mercedes. Charlamos mucho, y aun K trató de mostrar lo que sabe del castellano.
The New Year is so much a larger deal in Japan than here, and I miss the emphasis and the preparation placed on the New Year there. It is a very spiritual time. One year I got to toll the giant bell in the temple, which is done 108 times. We watched 演歌、テレビで、そばとそしてオゾニ(sorry, no ozoni this year!!!)も食べました。いつも島温泉で盆宴会いくつへ行って、たくさんすしを食べたり、お酒も飲んだり、すごく楽しみました。そして１月１５日ごろは中之条町の鳥追い祭りです。
それからね。。。新年おめでとうございます！今年も、たいへんよろしく御願いします。
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