I got to see and snuggle with the babies. They are sooo cute. I, of course, offered to babysit with them, but Marcia really needs me to help with the other kids (I understand).
Mrs. Miller finally got the results of her liver biopsy. She apparently has chronic hepatitis, but she didn't pay attention to know if it was hepatitis B or C or even if it is for sure viral and not autoimmune or some other cause. She's still in the process of coming to grips with the information. She has an appointment with the clinic to figure out next steps and hopefully to get more information. Well wishes and information would be greatly appreciated.
Megan is still so freakin' skinny it isn't funny. She's starting to complain about weight gain "I gained 4 pounds in two weeks!". I just smile and say "I know" and "I understand" and remember that I was once the super skinny pregnant woman who alternately embraced the weight gain and despaired of ever being thin again (I did get thin again, it just didn't last). She's still nauseated and calls in to be late more often than not. By my reckoning, she should be entering the 2nd trimester soon and so maybe the nausea will abate (I suspect not, she's enjoying the excuse too much, in my opinion).
Edna at Curl up and Dye is still gambling and had a decent win this week. Haircuts are not going well. Get your hair cut at your own risk.
Lizzie at the diner wants everyone to know that they are bringing back "Blue Plate Specials" featuring a meat, 2 veg, drink and dessert. This is one of those things that most of us thought were gone with the dinosaurs. She says that the prices can't compare to the original prices on a blue plate but reminds us that she is doing what she can to keep eating out affordable and help us remember bygone days. Then she adds "without the whole 'whites only' thing, so nobody better suggest it".
The FHA and 4-H group cooperated to have a rummage sale/fashion show this weekend. We're proud to say that they raised $1,000 and had people drive as much as 100 miles one-way to come. They send thanks to everyone who donated items for the rummage sale and all the help with the fashion show. I think we all had a great time and some of us even got some neat items (okay, I didn't buy anything, I'm saving money and trying not to get too much clutter in my home).
Monday, May 21, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Sunday - rest day
We had planned to bike to the library today, but I slept in. When I woke up, I reminded Mr. Gaia that we needed to go to the library, so he grabbed his keys and went out to the storage building to claim the extra bike tire. By the time he got the flat fixed on that tire and got it on his bike, I realized it was raining.
Now, it's been threatening to rain for over a week now (I haven't done laundry in all that time because I thought it was going to rain) so when it was cool and cloudy, we figured it wouldn't rain and we could bike to the library anyway. Of course, we finally found the tipping point for making it rain. Hyperion heard the rain and came outside to run around in it.
Mr. Gaia and went and sat on our porch swing to watch the rain and enjoy the cool air. When we were shopping for a house, the big thing we wanted was a porch. One of the first things we bought for our house was our porch swing. Today reminded me why it was important to us. As we enjoyed watching Hyperion dance in the rain, I looked around and realized almost all of our neighbors were missing this wonderful day. The neighbor waaay down on the corner was out with the kids and enjoying it. Everyone else was stuck inside because they had no porch.
Since we clearly weren't going to the library, I used my day to take care of some business. I bagged up another bag of cans for the recycling center and then I baked bread. We still haven't been able to use the solar oven for baking bread - Murphy's Law dictates that as soon as we have time, the sky will be cloudy.
Now, it's been threatening to rain for over a week now (I haven't done laundry in all that time because I thought it was going to rain) so when it was cool and cloudy, we figured it wouldn't rain and we could bike to the library anyway. Of course, we finally found the tipping point for making it rain. Hyperion heard the rain and came outside to run around in it.
Mr. Gaia and went and sat on our porch swing to watch the rain and enjoy the cool air. When we were shopping for a house, the big thing we wanted was a porch. One of the first things we bought for our house was our porch swing. Today reminded me why it was important to us. As we enjoyed watching Hyperion dance in the rain, I looked around and realized almost all of our neighbors were missing this wonderful day. The neighbor waaay down on the corner was out with the kids and enjoying it. Everyone else was stuck inside because they had no porch.
Since we clearly weren't going to the library, I used my day to take care of some business. I bagged up another bag of cans for the recycling center and then I baked bread. We still haven't been able to use the solar oven for baking bread - Murphy's Law dictates that as soon as we have time, the sky will be cloudy.
Best laid plans and all that ...
So we didn't bike today. It was cloudy and looked like rain. Instead, I used the chance to take some more items to the recycling center (the party was very near the center). We say we recycle but the reality is that we have a pile of recyclables under our carport. So, I'm working at taking the chance to take a couple of bags every chance I get. Today it was a bag of bimetal cans and a bag of plastic bottles.
I still have a ton of cardboard, but we'll use some of that around the house. We'll lay it down over the grass, wet it heavily and then pour mulch over it. This will kill the grass in areas we want for flower/vegetable beds. Of course, it attracts cockroaches, but everything does here.
I still have a ton of cardboard, but we'll use some of that around the house. We'll lay it down over the grass, wet it heavily and then pour mulch over it. This will kill the grass in areas we want for flower/vegetable beds. Of course, it attracts cockroaches, but everything does here.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Help Identify a bird
We have parrots in our neighborhood. They're red-crowned parrots and we're used to seeing them (but we still get excited to see them).
Tonight we heard a different sound than normal. I thought it was either the whistling ducks that are thinking of nesting in our Washingtonia palm skirt and then maybe a grackle. But it just sounded like a parrot, but not our parrots.
We finally spotted the pair of them. They were parrots, but they had a yellow head. Their call was less harsh than the red-crowned parrot and they almost seemed to laugh (I think they were laughing at me thinking they were whistling ducks, but well, I tend to be insecure, so ...). They did appear to be smaller than our red-crowned parrots, but only marginally so. They had the squared off tail we are used to seeing in our parrots (in other words, when they flew off, they had a noticeable "parrot profile").
Honestly, if it wasn't for the yellow head and softer voice, I'd have thought they were our normal parrots.
Anyone know what we saw? Alas, we didn't have a camera to get a pick.
Tonight we heard a different sound than normal. I thought it was either the whistling ducks that are thinking of nesting in our Washingtonia palm skirt and then maybe a grackle. But it just sounded like a parrot, but not our parrots.
We finally spotted the pair of them. They were parrots, but they had a yellow head. Their call was less harsh than the red-crowned parrot and they almost seemed to laugh (I think they were laughing at me thinking they were whistling ducks, but well, I tend to be insecure, so ...). They did appear to be smaller than our red-crowned parrots, but only marginally so. They had the squared off tail we are used to seeing in our parrots (in other words, when they flew off, they had a noticeable "parrot profile").
Honestly, if it wasn't for the yellow head and softer voice, I'd have thought they were our normal parrots.
Anyone know what we saw? Alas, we didn't have a camera to get a pick.
Gas!!
Our previously "cheap" gas has spiked in prices. It's now $3.09/gallon (making a driving trip into Mexico to buy gas an attractive proposition).
We've been changing our lifestyle over the last year, but I've seen us fall into a pattern of driving more than we should. Mr. Gaia's bike developed a tendency to actually slit tire tubes (making patching an impossibility) and soccer got in the way of our training/conditioning/maintenance rides. We still walked but found ourselves driving places we had originally planned as "biking distance".
The prices are spurring us to reevaluate. We have an extra bike, we should be able to swap out the rim that is apparently slitting the tires (and maybe finally figure out the issue). We will still have a problem we've had all along - no good places to park and lock a bike (bike racks are almost nonexistant), but we figure we can always use a tree or convenient ice machine (as much we hate doing anything that might damage a tree).
One of Hyperion's classmates has a party tomorrow, and not being ones to ease into things we plan to bike to the party. We figure we should be able to find someplace to lock the bikes and the party isn't until noon, so Mr. Gaia should be able to replace the tire.
I once read a poster who had "no gas days". That's where we want to go. Clearly we will always have to use some gas (well, at least in the foreseeable future). Mr. Gaia's job requires him to drive 40 miles roundtrip and my job, while relatively close, is not really bike friendly, but there's no reason we can't make our weekends gas-free.
We've been changing our lifestyle over the last year, but I've seen us fall into a pattern of driving more than we should. Mr. Gaia's bike developed a tendency to actually slit tire tubes (making patching an impossibility) and soccer got in the way of our training/conditioning/maintenance rides. We still walked but found ourselves driving places we had originally planned as "biking distance".
The prices are spurring us to reevaluate. We have an extra bike, we should be able to swap out the rim that is apparently slitting the tires (and maybe finally figure out the issue). We will still have a problem we've had all along - no good places to park and lock a bike (bike racks are almost nonexistant), but we figure we can always use a tree or convenient ice machine (as much we hate doing anything that might damage a tree).
One of Hyperion's classmates has a party tomorrow, and not being ones to ease into things we plan to bike to the party. We figure we should be able to find someplace to lock the bikes and the party isn't until noon, so Mr. Gaia should be able to replace the tire.
I once read a poster who had "no gas days". That's where we want to go. Clearly we will always have to use some gas (well, at least in the foreseeable future). Mr. Gaia's job requires him to drive 40 miles roundtrip and my job, while relatively close, is not really bike friendly, but there's no reason we can't make our weekends gas-free.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
how does your garden grow?
The ginger root we stuck in a bucket of soil is putting up all kinds of new shoots which means we'll have fresh ginger before we know it. I can't wait.
The freesia nub that Mr. Gaia brought home and left on the counter for weeks and then finally shoved into a bucket of soil has 5 fully grown leaves and is sending up new leaves all the time.
The birds of paradise "liberated" from the neighbor's yard are 50/50. One has sent up a new leaf but the other hasn't (but is still green, so there's still hope).
My bengal tiger rose has been blooming but the darn things don't last long at all. I swear they must bloom first thing in the morning and then by the time I see them in the afternoon they're already overblown. But my belinda's dream has had a beautiful bloom for several days now. My cherokee rose is holding its own with one green stem and a few green leaves with only a little bit of brown on the margins. My peace rose is recovering from its transplant shock and is putting on lots of new growth.
My kale is just starting to bolt, but is still edible, so I'm holding it for now.
My cannas have lots of greenery and may actually bloom this year.
My aloe is reproducing at an alarming rate, and is going to have to be moved out of the pots and put in the ground.
I have what Mr. Gaia tells me are garlic chives filling a 5 gallon bucket (sense a pattern here with the buckets? We have a ton of them full of good topsoil and compost).
I have a volunteer watermelon growing in the bucket I used for compost over a year ago (so I'm sure it's fully composted now). I swear I can almost watch it grow.
One of my rosemary plants is still alive and will probably stay that way if I keep the bindweed off of it.
The friggin' oleander and tepeguaje sprout faster than I can keep up with. But I'm keeping on keeping on with the johnsongrass (completely eradicated in one bed and the alley).
The ginger root we stuck in a bucket of soil is putting up all kinds of new shoots which means we'll have fresh ginger before we know it. I can't wait.
The freesia nub that Mr. Gaia brought home and left on the counter for weeks and then finally shoved into a bucket of soil has 5 fully grown leaves and is sending up new leaves all the time.
The birds of paradise "liberated" from the neighbor's yard are 50/50. One has sent up a new leaf but the other hasn't (but is still green, so there's still hope).
My bengal tiger rose has been blooming but the darn things don't last long at all. I swear they must bloom first thing in the morning and then by the time I see them in the afternoon they're already overblown. But my belinda's dream has had a beautiful bloom for several days now. My cherokee rose is holding its own with one green stem and a few green leaves with only a little bit of brown on the margins. My peace rose is recovering from its transplant shock and is putting on lots of new growth.
My kale is just starting to bolt, but is still edible, so I'm holding it for now.
My cannas have lots of greenery and may actually bloom this year.
My aloe is reproducing at an alarming rate, and is going to have to be moved out of the pots and put in the ground.
I have what Mr. Gaia tells me are garlic chives filling a 5 gallon bucket (sense a pattern here with the buckets? We have a ton of them full of good topsoil and compost).
I have a volunteer watermelon growing in the bucket I used for compost over a year ago (so I'm sure it's fully composted now). I swear I can almost watch it grow.
One of my rosemary plants is still alive and will probably stay that way if I keep the bindweed off of it.
The friggin' oleander and tepeguaje sprout faster than I can keep up with. But I'm keeping on keeping on with the johnsongrass (completely eradicated in one bed and the alley).
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Good week
So, yesterday I got a surprise check in the mail. It was only $5, but it was $5 I hadn't expected to get. One of my survey sites does screening surveys. If your answers on the screening survey indicates that you fit the demographic the customer wants, then you get the longer survey which pays. But if your demographics don't match, you get entered into a drawing. I always just figured it was one of those things where no one ever wins. Surprise, surprise, I wound up having my name drawn.
Then, I signed up for a bzzcampaign (BzzAgent) and got a huge bottle of Eucerin lotion and 10 samples size tubes each with a coupon for $1 off a full size bottle. The samples are to give out when I talk about the product. And I also got a chance to sign up for coppertone sunscreen (which we use) and al fresco chicken sausages (this one is interesting, I hope I can find it locally).
I tried the Eucerin tonight. I put it on one leg, but not the other (no real reason, really, mainly because I was cooking and needed to go check on the food and then because I thought it would be interesting to see the difference in my skin). When I went out to garden, it seemed like the mosquitoes paid a lot less attention to the lotioned leg - at least at first. I don't know if it was a texture issue, a smell issue or maybe even just my imagination, but I plan to check it out further.
Then, I signed up for a bzzcampaign (BzzAgent) and got a huge bottle of Eucerin lotion and 10 samples size tubes each with a coupon for $1 off a full size bottle. The samples are to give out when I talk about the product. And I also got a chance to sign up for coppertone sunscreen (which we use) and al fresco chicken sausages (this one is interesting, I hope I can find it locally).
I tried the Eucerin tonight. I put it on one leg, but not the other (no real reason, really, mainly because I was cooking and needed to go check on the food and then because I thought it would be interesting to see the difference in my skin). When I went out to garden, it seemed like the mosquitoes paid a lot less attention to the lotioned leg - at least at first. I don't know if it was a texture issue, a smell issue or maybe even just my imagination, but I plan to check it out further.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Garden woes
I haven't been able to garden an hour every day as planned because the mosquitoes are really, really thick right now. The bad thing is that part of the reason they are thick is because the weeds are thick and high - see the problem? I can't get rid of the weeds because the mosquitoes are too thick, and the mosquitoes are so thick because I can't get rid of the weeds. So I do 5-10 minutes at a time and just hope that it will eventually get done.
I don't worry about the mosquitoes because they make me itchy. I don't react to them. I worry about them because of mosquito-borne illnesses. Living in the subtropics, there are diseases I need to worry about. I'm not invincible, as much as I would like to be.
And today I walked out and my Belinda's Dream rose looks like lace. The diagnosis? Leafcutter bees. The good news is that the bee (they tend to be solitary so it's probably just one female) probably won't do any major damage to my rose, it's mainly cosmetic. The other good news, since this rose is under my clothesline and close to the house, is that leafcutter bees tend to be nonaggressive.
I don't worry about the mosquitoes because they make me itchy. I don't react to them. I worry about them because of mosquito-borne illnesses. Living in the subtropics, there are diseases I need to worry about. I'm not invincible, as much as I would like to be.
And today I walked out and my Belinda's Dream rose looks like lace. The diagnosis? Leafcutter bees. The good news is that the bee (they tend to be solitary so it's probably just one female) probably won't do any major damage to my rose, it's mainly cosmetic. The other good news, since this rose is under my clothesline and close to the house, is that leafcutter bees tend to be nonaggressive.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
What would a holiday be without a few minor hiccups?
My day was wonderful. Mr. Gaia and the boys woke me up with pancakes (not in bed, but ready for me on the table) and gifts. Wonderful gifts.
Then we left the house to go to the butterfly garden. I looked up the directions last night, but Mr. Gaia didn't look at them saying "I'll check it out tomorrow". Needless to say, he didn't look it up and check it out. So we were stuck with my half-assed remembrance (it's somewhere I don't go so the roads didn't make sense to me and didn't really stick in my mind). We did eventually find it, only to find that right now it's really not much of anything. Not even any real trails to hike (not that we felt up to hiking in the 93F temps).
Okay, so that was a bust. So off to the new birding center. Oops, not open today.
Okay, so let's go to Target and get Oceanus the posterboard he needs for his school project due tomorrow (which he mostly forgot about and I reminded him). He picks out the last blue piece and we make our way to the checkout stand. At the checkout stand, the cashier mauls the poor thing and creases it to hell and back and it won't scan. So she calls for help and then clears our previous purchases out of the register and starts scanning the people behind us. We were in the express lane, so I mostly understand. However, the people behind us kept adding items, two here and two there until there was no end in sight and well after they had called with the correct scan information (or so we assume). At the point where they were adding 5 more items, I looked at the cashier and said "nevermind" and we left. I really do understand her ringing up the next people in line, but when it was clear it was waaaaay more than the 10 items, she should have figured something else out for us, rather than leaving us standing around forever and a day. So we came home and went to our local Target and the things we were going to buy were actually cheaper.
Between Target trips, we went to eat. Oh my goodness. Talk about noisy and crowded and pricy. They added an addition $3/person for the meal (it was a buffet and their normal prices were also posted). This wouldn't have been so bad, except it was the same exact food and it was stale. Yes, stale. It was a chinese buffet and the eggrolls were cold. The wonton soup had no wontons. The fish was ice cold.
But it was still a good day.
The preacher's wife had her twins Thursday. Esther and James were born at 9:39 am and weighed 7lbs4oz and 8lbs3oz respectively. They're absolutely beautiful and healthy as can be. They nurse like champs and adore their older siblings (thank goodness, Marcia (preacher's wife) needs all the help she can get).
My day was wonderful. Mr. Gaia and the boys woke me up with pancakes (not in bed, but ready for me on the table) and gifts. Wonderful gifts.
Then we left the house to go to the butterfly garden. I looked up the directions last night, but Mr. Gaia didn't look at them saying "I'll check it out tomorrow". Needless to say, he didn't look it up and check it out. So we were stuck with my half-assed remembrance (it's somewhere I don't go so the roads didn't make sense to me and didn't really stick in my mind). We did eventually find it, only to find that right now it's really not much of anything. Not even any real trails to hike (not that we felt up to hiking in the 93F temps).
Okay, so that was a bust. So off to the new birding center. Oops, not open today.
Okay, so let's go to Target and get Oceanus the posterboard he needs for his school project due tomorrow (which he mostly forgot about and I reminded him). He picks out the last blue piece and we make our way to the checkout stand. At the checkout stand, the cashier mauls the poor thing and creases it to hell and back and it won't scan. So she calls for help and then clears our previous purchases out of the register and starts scanning the people behind us. We were in the express lane, so I mostly understand. However, the people behind us kept adding items, two here and two there until there was no end in sight and well after they had called with the correct scan information (or so we assume). At the point where they were adding 5 more items, I looked at the cashier and said "nevermind" and we left. I really do understand her ringing up the next people in line, but when it was clear it was waaaaay more than the 10 items, she should have figured something else out for us, rather than leaving us standing around forever and a day. So we came home and went to our local Target and the things we were going to buy were actually cheaper.
Between Target trips, we went to eat. Oh my goodness. Talk about noisy and crowded and pricy. They added an addition $3/person for the meal (it was a buffet and their normal prices were also posted). This wouldn't have been so bad, except it was the same exact food and it was stale. Yes, stale. It was a chinese buffet and the eggrolls were cold. The wonton soup had no wontons. The fish was ice cold.
But it was still a good day.
The preacher's wife had her twins Thursday. Esther and James were born at 9:39 am and weighed 7lbs4oz and 8lbs3oz respectively. They're absolutely beautiful and healthy as can be. They nurse like champs and adore their older siblings (thank goodness, Marcia (preacher's wife) needs all the help she can get).
Thinking Blogger
Tanya tagged me as a thinking blogger a week ago. I've been thinking about this for the last week. I didn't post much all week - not because of this but because Mr. Gaia was travelling and I'm not good at the single parent gig. It took it all out of me to keep house and hearth together.
Here are the participation rules:
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote
The hard part is 5 blogs that make me think. Most of the blogs I read get 1000s of hits a day, they won't recognize me at all. The others have already been tagged.
Grace always makes me think. Her recent posts on fire take me back to college and my first summer out of college working for the forest service. I had my red card (for forest fire fighting) except for passing the physical (my resting heart rate was too high to even come close to passing for the physical part).
Tikvahgirl's posts always make me think. She hasn't posted a new post in a while, but I know that it's a busy time of the year for her and when she does post again, it'll be a thought provoking post.
Jenny is a wonderful resource for me. I'm trying to live a life more green and she has so many wonderful ideas.
Mathew draws a 4 frame comic strip that says more in 4 short frames than most people say in 10 pages.
Rani has one of my new favorite blogs. Soon, I'm going to post some pics of some items of clothing I own that I have no idea how to fix/refashion and I hope to goodness she'll weigh in.
Here are the participation rules:
The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote
The hard part is 5 blogs that make me think. Most of the blogs I read get 1000s of hits a day, they won't recognize me at all. The others have already been tagged.
Grace always makes me think. Her recent posts on fire take me back to college and my first summer out of college working for the forest service. I had my red card (for forest fire fighting) except for passing the physical (my resting heart rate was too high to even come close to passing for the physical part).
Tikvahgirl's posts always make me think. She hasn't posted a new post in a while, but I know that it's a busy time of the year for her and when she does post again, it'll be a thought provoking post.
Jenny is a wonderful resource for me. I'm trying to live a life more green and she has so many wonderful ideas.
Mathew draws a 4 frame comic strip that says more in 4 short frames than most people say in 10 pages.
Rani has one of my new favorite blogs. Soon, I'm going to post some pics of some items of clothing I own that I have no idea how to fix/refashion and I hope to goodness she'll weigh in.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Goals update
I'm not going to make my May 15 goal. I'm not terribly short, moneywise, but I am still short. Mr. Gaia is looking into ordering the study materials for his office. I can't push him on it, he wants me to do this, but he can't be pushed. I'm going to move my original goal to June 15.
I should be able to pick up more shops in June because the kids will be staying with their grandparents for that month. Mr. Gaia and I have set a goal of not eating out during the time they're gone, so if a chance comes up, I'll grab a restaurant shop.
My save money for April goals have gone fairly well. I did not use the dryer at all. Mr. Gaia did for his work clothes because they wrinkle so much worse than my work clothes (which are hung up fresh from the washer). I went through the drawers and the cabinets and pulled out all my samples. I have shampoo samples that will last until fall (if not later). I have a ton of lotion samples (and by samples I mean hotel freebies). I don't really use lotion much, so I have no idea what to do with all of this. I didn't, however, get any garden planted.
May is tight because April was expensive. So we're having to watch May as well. June will be much better (with the kids gone, I'll work full time).
I've added some exercise goals (because I now have 2 skirts and 2 pair of slacks I can't wear because they're too tight and I don't have that many clothes). M-W-F I do tricep dips, T-Th-S I do "mountain climbing". Throughout the week I do garden and yard work for about an hour. The next step is to simply stop eating so much. I don't really drink soda any more - just when we eat out, which is rare. I think it's the sweet tea that's doing it. I go through half a gallon of sweet tea every other day. I don't "do" artificial sweeteners (they aren't organic).
I should be able to pick up more shops in June because the kids will be staying with their grandparents for that month. Mr. Gaia and I have set a goal of not eating out during the time they're gone, so if a chance comes up, I'll grab a restaurant shop.
My save money for April goals have gone fairly well. I did not use the dryer at all. Mr. Gaia did for his work clothes because they wrinkle so much worse than my work clothes (which are hung up fresh from the washer). I went through the drawers and the cabinets and pulled out all my samples. I have shampoo samples that will last until fall (if not later). I have a ton of lotion samples (and by samples I mean hotel freebies). I don't really use lotion much, so I have no idea what to do with all of this. I didn't, however, get any garden planted.
May is tight because April was expensive. So we're having to watch May as well. June will be much better (with the kids gone, I'll work full time).
I've added some exercise goals (because I now have 2 skirts and 2 pair of slacks I can't wear because they're too tight and I don't have that many clothes). M-W-F I do tricep dips, T-Th-S I do "mountain climbing". Throughout the week I do garden and yard work for about an hour. The next step is to simply stop eating so much. I don't really drink soda any more - just when we eat out, which is rare. I think it's the sweet tea that's doing it. I go through half a gallon of sweet tea every other day. I don't "do" artificial sweeteners (they aren't organic).
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Faith the size of a mustard seed
Today was a good day. I slept in while Mr. Gaia worked to prepare yet another side of the house for painting.
When it cooled off, I decided my bok choy had died enough that I could harvest the seeds. Bok choy is in the mustard family. Most of us have heard the bible quote "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed". Let me tell you, they're not the smallest seeds I've seen, but it takes a HUGE lot of them to look like you have any. I gathered enough to have two planting next year. The research I've done indicates the seeds won't need any special treatment.
After I gathered the seeds, I pulled out the plants. I now have a mostly open garden bed. The aphids had been having a field day on the bok choy and it was quite disgusting messing with the stalks. I should have caught some of the ladybugs that were feasting on the aphids and taken them to my poor Bengal Tiger rose in the front yard.
I cleared the johnsongrass out of the main bed I've been working on. There is still one plant that I need to get from the other side of the fence, but I've got to clear the alley area so that I can close the gate to get at it. AND the stupid thing is in the trunk/roots left after an oleander was removed, so it's going to be a pain to remove.
When it cooled off, I decided my bok choy had died enough that I could harvest the seeds. Bok choy is in the mustard family. Most of us have heard the bible quote "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed". Let me tell you, they're not the smallest seeds I've seen, but it takes a HUGE lot of them to look like you have any. I gathered enough to have two planting next year. The research I've done indicates the seeds won't need any special treatment.
After I gathered the seeds, I pulled out the plants. I now have a mostly open garden bed. The aphids had been having a field day on the bok choy and it was quite disgusting messing with the stalks. I should have caught some of the ladybugs that were feasting on the aphids and taken them to my poor Bengal Tiger rose in the front yard.
I cleared the johnsongrass out of the main bed I've been working on. There is still one plant that I need to get from the other side of the fence, but I've got to clear the alley area so that I can close the gate to get at it. AND the stupid thing is in the trunk/roots left after an oleander was removed, so it's going to be a pain to remove.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Unloading thoughts
1) When will I figure out what I want to be when I grow up? Mr. Gaia has suggested I look into a master's of biology which is probably offered online. I know I would enjoy the classes, etc, but what would I do with it?
2) Mr. Gaia has found an online degree program he thinks would be great for him - $50,000 plus he would have to travel to the school 2-3x year. Part of me thinks "it's only money" the other part of me thinks "we have 2 kids who will start college 10-12 years from now, if we take on this debt now (and this is almost as much as our first mortgage) how will we possibly help them with their education?"
3) I get a solar oven and we finally get rain. I'm not saying the two events are connected, you understand, but it does stand to reason that our unrelentingly sunny days would suddenly become cloudy days as soon as I need/want sun.
4) Mr. Gaia and I have been married 12 years now. That's a really long time. I'll bet a lot of people are surprised that we're still married (okay, sometimes I am too). We clashed a lot at the beginning as we figured out our respective roles, and we're still working on what roles we play in the partnership, but I think we're probably happier for having hashed out our expectations and desires.
5) I'm tired of my negative self image with my body. I have a healthy weight. Yes, I have some fat around my belly, but some of it is loose skin from carrying big babies. But why did I have to be afflicted with cellulite even when I'm at my thinnest (and have a BMI that sends up alarm bells)?
6) The preacher's wife is "full term" now. She's hit 38 weeks and her OB is pressuring her to have an induction. As uncomfortable as she is (and she is) she's holding strong with the "are my babies okay? Am I okay?" line.
7) My blog's google hits mostly come from people asking "is Michelle Duggar pregnant again?" Well, this is the best source I can find. Their family website is very bare and doesn't say anything at all. Supposedly the new baby (babies?) is (are?) due July 27.
8) Things have been quiet in Bug Hill lately. We're all mostly waiting for the preacher's wife to have her twins. The knitting needles have been flying and the babies have more things than they can ever need - especially in our current heat.
9) While things have been quiet, there was a minor excitement 2 weeks ago in our office. Megan, our office assistant (for lack of a better title) took a pregnancy test at work (this one boggled my mind) and then proceeded to announce her positive result to everyone. She then hared off to Planned Parenthood (I'm still amazed we have a chapter here) and took another test and got prenatal vitamins, etc. She's about 7 weeks now. Geez, I actively denied my pregnancy at work until I was about 15 weeks along and hiding it was getting difficult. She's embraced her pregnancy - she's called in sick several times - once for excessive nausea and once for swollen feet. If she thinks her feet are swollen now, well, it's going to be a loooooong 33 weeks.
2) Mr. Gaia has found an online degree program he thinks would be great for him - $50,000 plus he would have to travel to the school 2-3x year. Part of me thinks "it's only money" the other part of me thinks "we have 2 kids who will start college 10-12 years from now, if we take on this debt now (and this is almost as much as our first mortgage) how will we possibly help them with their education?"
3) I get a solar oven and we finally get rain. I'm not saying the two events are connected, you understand, but it does stand to reason that our unrelentingly sunny days would suddenly become cloudy days as soon as I need/want sun.
4) Mr. Gaia and I have been married 12 years now. That's a really long time. I'll bet a lot of people are surprised that we're still married (okay, sometimes I am too). We clashed a lot at the beginning as we figured out our respective roles, and we're still working on what roles we play in the partnership, but I think we're probably happier for having hashed out our expectations and desires.
5) I'm tired of my negative self image with my body. I have a healthy weight. Yes, I have some fat around my belly, but some of it is loose skin from carrying big babies. But why did I have to be afflicted with cellulite even when I'm at my thinnest (and have a BMI that sends up alarm bells)?
6) The preacher's wife is "full term" now. She's hit 38 weeks and her OB is pressuring her to have an induction. As uncomfortable as she is (and she is) she's holding strong with the "are my babies okay? Am I okay?" line.
7) My blog's google hits mostly come from people asking "is Michelle Duggar pregnant again?" Well, this is the best source I can find. Their family website is very bare and doesn't say anything at all. Supposedly the new baby (babies?) is (are?) due July 27.
8) Things have been quiet in Bug Hill lately. We're all mostly waiting for the preacher's wife to have her twins. The knitting needles have been flying and the babies have more things than they can ever need - especially in our current heat.
9) While things have been quiet, there was a minor excitement 2 weeks ago in our office. Megan, our office assistant (for lack of a better title) took a pregnancy test at work (this one boggled my mind) and then proceeded to announce her positive result to everyone. She then hared off to Planned Parenthood (I'm still amazed we have a chapter here) and took another test and got prenatal vitamins, etc. She's about 7 weeks now. Geez, I actively denied my pregnancy at work until I was about 15 weeks along and hiding it was getting difficult. She's embraced her pregnancy - she's called in sick several times - once for excessive nausea and once for swollen feet. If she thinks her feet are swollen now, well, it's going to be a loooooong 33 weeks.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Sun Oven Report
We got it yesterday, but didn't have time to try it out then (and it was a little overcast).
Tonight, we cooked bratwurst in it. Within 30 minutes it was 310F (the outside temp was 89F). This was at 4:30, so not at the sun's full strength.
One mistake we made is that we didn't use a covered pan. The moisture from the bratwurst condensed on the glass lens and blocked some of the sun's rays. The temp dropped to about 210F. They cooked for 1-2 hours (I'll admit it, I took a nap) reaching an internal temp of 150F. The final temp of the oven at 6:30 was 150F.
This was a great success. The brats were moist and well cooked. The next experiment will probably be cornbread. I'm not sure how to handle the covered pan issue, maybe cornbread won't be as big of a deal. Cast-iron isn't the most suitable for a solar-oven, but I'm thinking heating the pan to melt the butter won't use that much energy and once the pan is heated, it will work fine in the solar oven.
Tonight, we cooked bratwurst in it. Within 30 minutes it was 310F (the outside temp was 89F). This was at 4:30, so not at the sun's full strength.
One mistake we made is that we didn't use a covered pan. The moisture from the bratwurst condensed on the glass lens and blocked some of the sun's rays. The temp dropped to about 210F. They cooked for 1-2 hours (I'll admit it, I took a nap) reaching an internal temp of 150F. The final temp of the oven at 6:30 was 150F.
This was a great success. The brats were moist and well cooked. The next experiment will probably be cornbread. I'm not sure how to handle the covered pan issue, maybe cornbread won't be as big of a deal. Cast-iron isn't the most suitable for a solar-oven, but I'm thinking heating the pan to melt the butter won't use that much energy and once the pan is heated, it will work fine in the solar oven.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Garden for your Health
I swear, gardening is the best exercise. I exercise for a specific reason - to shrink my belly and stay in my clothes. If I don't see results in a week, I lose interest and eventually quit when something else comes up.
But with gardening - well, you may not see results in your physique (and I haven't) but you definitely see results in your garden. I'm happy to report that one bed is 95% Johnsongrass free. I flat ran out of steam before I could get that last little bit.
Of course, the bad part is that this leaves my compost pile (and I do mean pile) exposed to the view of anyone driving down the alley (see completely off topic rant below). Mr. Gaia decided that the boxes our salad comes in decompose, so we should compost them. We store the compost in them in the kitchen and when they get full or stinky (or fruitflies) we just take the whole thing to the pile and leave it there. Now, in theory, this is a good idea. In practice? Yeah. The plastic (made from veggie starch, supposedly) doesn't decompose in anything resembling a halfway timely manner. So my compost pile looks extremely trashy. So I foresee a few days with a garden fork mashing and crushing and somehow making them hide.
Okay, now for my completely off topic rant. People are such assholes. Apparently the people on the corner are moving out or moving in. The CORNER - which means they can park any number of places. They decide to park a huge minivan (and really, it was the biggest minivan I have ever seen) about 2 feet from the curb and about six inches encroaching on our alley, on the other side, they parked a truck, so you had to pull all the way into the traffic lane, no driving on the shoulder to merge into traffic. I literally could not see around it to get out of my alley this morning. I tried inching out and almost got hit many, many times. I could see a huge group of people on the other side of the moving van (in the driveway), so I roll down my window and yell, very loudly, "Could you please help me get out, you're blocking the sightlines". They ignored me. I yelled louder, I see feet turn toward my car and then I hear laughter. Assholes. I should have called the cops. I ended up having to back down the alley to my driveway (there was one a little closer than my house, but not enough for me to be rude enough to use their driveway) and then go down the alley the other way and get caught in traffic there. I started out being early for work, I ended up late, this added about 7 minutes to my 7 minute commute.
And the kicker? We have trash cans to serve 4 homes. They filled their can and now have filled our can. I actually saw him wheeling a kitchen can down the alley looking for a can he could use. Now, we're pretty loose with our cans, if one is full, sure you can add a bag or two to another can, but you just don't fill it up. You just don't. When Mr. Gaia took our one small bag out (it was starting to smell) he had to walk down 2 trash cans to find one empty enough to put it in. So, they fill our garbage cans and they block our alley. I hope they are moving out because if they are moving in, this does not bode well.
But with gardening - well, you may not see results in your physique (and I haven't) but you definitely see results in your garden. I'm happy to report that one bed is 95% Johnsongrass free. I flat ran out of steam before I could get that last little bit.
Of course, the bad part is that this leaves my compost pile (and I do mean pile) exposed to the view of anyone driving down the alley (see completely off topic rant below). Mr. Gaia decided that the boxes our salad comes in decompose, so we should compost them. We store the compost in them in the kitchen and when they get full or stinky (or fruitflies) we just take the whole thing to the pile and leave it there. Now, in theory, this is a good idea. In practice? Yeah. The plastic (made from veggie starch, supposedly) doesn't decompose in anything resembling a halfway timely manner. So my compost pile looks extremely trashy. So I foresee a few days with a garden fork mashing and crushing and somehow making them hide.
Okay, now for my completely off topic rant. People are such assholes. Apparently the people on the corner are moving out or moving in. The CORNER - which means they can park any number of places. They decide to park a huge minivan (and really, it was the biggest minivan I have ever seen) about 2 feet from the curb and about six inches encroaching on our alley, on the other side, they parked a truck, so you had to pull all the way into the traffic lane, no driving on the shoulder to merge into traffic. I literally could not see around it to get out of my alley this morning. I tried inching out and almost got hit many, many times. I could see a huge group of people on the other side of the moving van (in the driveway), so I roll down my window and yell, very loudly, "Could you please help me get out, you're blocking the sightlines". They ignored me. I yelled louder, I see feet turn toward my car and then I hear laughter. Assholes. I should have called the cops. I ended up having to back down the alley to my driveway (there was one a little closer than my house, but not enough for me to be rude enough to use their driveway) and then go down the alley the other way and get caught in traffic there. I started out being early for work, I ended up late, this added about 7 minutes to my 7 minute commute.
And the kicker? We have trash cans to serve 4 homes. They filled their can and now have filled our can. I actually saw him wheeling a kitchen can down the alley looking for a can he could use. Now, we're pretty loose with our cans, if one is full, sure you can add a bag or two to another can, but you just don't fill it up. You just don't. When Mr. Gaia took our one small bag out (it was starting to smell) he had to walk down 2 trash cans to find one empty enough to put it in. So, they fill our garbage cans and they block our alley. I hope they are moving out because if they are moving in, this does not bode well.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Gratitude Post
It's been a while since I did a gratitude post, so here goes.
I am grateful for:
1) Mr. Gaia who did paint the front of the house while I slept in. I love it. It's a bit lighter than I really wanted, but I still love it.
2) Hyperion who is turning into a great little helper. He helped scrub the house and paint.
3) Oceanus who knows how to have fun and rope everyone else in with him. He got us all involved in playing mini-soccer (I have no idea if that's an actual game, but we use a mini soccer ball and a very small goal).
4) Beautiful weather that has enabled us to paint and to use the clothesline almost exclusively (Mr. Gaia feels he has to use the dryer for his work clothes).
5) Strong arms and legs to pull out the weeds (not done and not even close, but you can see the difference).
I am grateful for:
1) Mr. Gaia who did paint the front of the house while I slept in. I love it. It's a bit lighter than I really wanted, but I still love it.
2) Hyperion who is turning into a great little helper. He helped scrub the house and paint.
3) Oceanus who knows how to have fun and rope everyone else in with him. He got us all involved in playing mini-soccer (I have no idea if that's an actual game, but we use a mini soccer ball and a very small goal).
4) Beautiful weather that has enabled us to paint and to use the clothesline almost exclusively (Mr. Gaia feels he has to use the dryer for his work clothes).
5) Strong arms and legs to pull out the weeds (not done and not even close, but you can see the difference).
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Busy Saturday
I love living in a neighborhood. Love, love, love it.
This morning, one of the kids' friends from school came over to play. They played for a couple of hours and then we walked him home and visited with his family for half an hour or so. It's so nice.
Then, we came home and started working on ... painting Chez Gaia. Right now the house is a beige brick with beige siding on the front of the house (covered by the porch) and this green-ish brown (pond scum brown) on the eaves and soffits. I've picked out what I hope is a sage green, but it looks more like it will be a bit on the mint side.
Our hope is that by using a lighter (much lighter!) color, the attic will absorb less heat and stay just a bit cooler. Of course, for the money, we would have been better off installing radiant heat barriers. But it's already too hot to consider crawling into the "attic" space.
All we've done so far is scrub the old paint with a wire brush to roughen it up and get it ready to take the new paint. We've rinsed off the dust created by that. I suspect Mr. Gaia will work on painting while I'm napping tomorrow.
While he was getting the highest spots, I worked on the beds around our trees. I cut off the root suckers, pulled out the dead leaves and weeded out the st augustine grass (a grass that is nice in the lawn, but persistant as all get out when it's in a flower bed).
This morning, one of the kids' friends from school came over to play. They played for a couple of hours and then we walked him home and visited with his family for half an hour or so. It's so nice.
Then, we came home and started working on ... painting Chez Gaia. Right now the house is a beige brick with beige siding on the front of the house (covered by the porch) and this green-ish brown (pond scum brown) on the eaves and soffits. I've picked out what I hope is a sage green, but it looks more like it will be a bit on the mint side.
Our hope is that by using a lighter (much lighter!) color, the attic will absorb less heat and stay just a bit cooler. Of course, for the money, we would have been better off installing radiant heat barriers. But it's already too hot to consider crawling into the "attic" space.
All we've done so far is scrub the old paint with a wire brush to roughen it up and get it ready to take the new paint. We've rinsed off the dust created by that. I suspect Mr. Gaia will work on painting while I'm napping tomorrow.
While he was getting the highest spots, I worked on the beds around our trees. I cut off the root suckers, pulled out the dead leaves and weeded out the st augustine grass (a grass that is nice in the lawn, but persistant as all get out when it's in a flower bed).
Friday, April 27, 2007
April 19
I wonder if there will ever come a time when I don't get that weepy, stone in my gut feeling when I read something about April 19?
I accidently saw the memorial in OKC twice while I lived there (stupid one way streets) and both times I had to pull over because I couldn't see.
I don't see how people who live in NYC can handle it. A major part of their skyline gone. I would cry all the time.
I don't know if it's something you just deal with and accept. I mean, eventually we get used to visiting places where departed loved ones lived and which necessarily remind us of them.
Mr. Gaia's family planned a trip to the memorial and couldn't understand my issue with it. I couldn't explain it myself. They're normally very accepting, so I was a bit surprised that they had such a problem with me not going. I told them Mr. Gaia had a cellphone, he could call me when they were done and I would meet them at their next activity, but still, somehow, I was spoiling their plans. Eventually (and this is how they are so different from my own family) we worked it out and they did their thing and I met them at the end. They even agreed with me that maybe it was a tad bit too much for a new mother (Hyperion was about 18 months old at this point). The pictures of the babies, etc.
Tanya has a post up with the most gorgeous pictures. Breathtaking, really. Including one of her son at a memorial for the children of April 19.
I accidently saw the memorial in OKC twice while I lived there (stupid one way streets) and both times I had to pull over because I couldn't see.
I don't see how people who live in NYC can handle it. A major part of their skyline gone. I would cry all the time.
I don't know if it's something you just deal with and accept. I mean, eventually we get used to visiting places where departed loved ones lived and which necessarily remind us of them.
Mr. Gaia's family planned a trip to the memorial and couldn't understand my issue with it. I couldn't explain it myself. They're normally very accepting, so I was a bit surprised that they had such a problem with me not going. I told them Mr. Gaia had a cellphone, he could call me when they were done and I would meet them at their next activity, but still, somehow, I was spoiling their plans. Eventually (and this is how they are so different from my own family) we worked it out and they did their thing and I met them at the end. They even agreed with me that maybe it was a tad bit too much for a new mother (Hyperion was about 18 months old at this point). The pictures of the babies, etc.
Tanya has a post up with the most gorgeous pictures. Breathtaking, really. Including one of her son at a memorial for the children of April 19.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Mystery Shopping and other goals
I've been shopping for Speedmark Vision. I've done 4 shops so far - which totals $53. I have another 3 scheduled for the next week which will add $41. For a total of $94.
Through Opinion Square, I've ordered a $5 Target gift card (if you want to join, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me refer you, but it's no big deal if you don't).
Through My Points, I've ordered a $25 Target gift card (again, I'd appreciate the referral, but no biggie if you just join on your own).
I received a $15 rebate from paypal - I hesitate to count this, but I will for now.
So for now, I have a total of $98 with a guarantee of $139. It is short of my goal, but it's getting there. I've applied for 4 more mystery shops which (if I get them) would add $48 and I would top my goal. But none of them will happen before May 15.
Mr. Gaia is supposed to look into ordering the study materials to have in his office. There's some local legislation that, if passed, will greatly increase the demands for Certified Arborists. So it's a good time to get started. Of course, the city with the pending legislation is 4o miles away, so it is farther than I want to travel.
Through Opinion Square, I've ordered a $5 Target gift card (if you want to join, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me refer you, but it's no big deal if you don't).
Through My Points, I've ordered a $25 Target gift card (again, I'd appreciate the referral, but no biggie if you just join on your own).
I received a $15 rebate from paypal - I hesitate to count this, but I will for now.
So for now, I have a total of $98 with a guarantee of $139. It is short of my goal, but it's getting there. I've applied for 4 more mystery shops which (if I get them) would add $48 and I would top my goal. But none of them will happen before May 15.
Mr. Gaia is supposed to look into ordering the study materials to have in his office. There's some local legislation that, if passed, will greatly increase the demands for Certified Arborists. So it's a good time to get started. Of course, the city with the pending legislation is 4o miles away, so it is farther than I want to travel.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Johnsongrass!
I've been trying to get rid of johnsongrass. I swear I had it gone last year, but it's back and stronger than ever this year. I suspect I missed a bunch because I just didn't want to see it. And now I'm paying the price.
I'm organic (and making every day Earth Day), so I don't want to spray anyway. Plus, I won't use a Monsanto product even if they paid me, so that leaves out round-up and many other common herbicides. But I started doing some research on how to control and eradicate it and found that it is rapidly becoming resistant to many common herbicides. So even if I wanted to spray, and didn't mind that it might kill all my plants, it might not do much good anyway.
My legs and hands are so sore. Even with gloves, I'm getting friction spots on my hands. My calves are cramping all night long and yet I've only cleared about 1/4 of what I have to clear. Sooo frustrating.
The good part of all this is that I feel like I'm burning some extra calories.
I'm organic (and making every day Earth Day), so I don't want to spray anyway. Plus, I won't use a Monsanto product even if they paid me, so that leaves out round-up and many other common herbicides. But I started doing some research on how to control and eradicate it and found that it is rapidly becoming resistant to many common herbicides. So even if I wanted to spray, and didn't mind that it might kill all my plants, it might not do much good anyway.
My legs and hands are so sore. Even with gloves, I'm getting friction spots on my hands. My calves are cramping all night long and yet I've only cleared about 1/4 of what I have to clear. Sooo frustrating.
The good part of all this is that I feel like I'm burning some extra calories.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
No More Soccer!! (for the season)
Soccer is over for the season. They've played their last games, they've had their end of season parties, they've gotten their medals.
Hyperion so wants to play again next year. His team ended up really small - about 5 kids would show up at a time - so he got to play A LOT. I can really see a huge improvement. He's much more focused when he's playing the game. He's starting to think ahead and plan ahead and know where the ball will go and be.
Oceanus says he doesn't want to play again next year. I think it's because he thinks his friend is going to be on a more elite team and he doesn't think he'll make the cut. It doesn't matter how much I encourage him and tell him he was one of the better players, he doesn't think he'd make the cut. I did pass on comments from the other parents that he was the most improved player this year, but I suspect he's a lot like me and thinks that means that he was really bad to begin with and now is only marginally bad.
I'm in the position of making the decision of "do I let my child quit, or do I push him to do something that he could enjoy and be fairly good at, if he'd only let himself?" He'll never be a star and probably won't even make the high school team, but he's pretty good for his age. And if we continue to live in this area, knowing how to play soccer will be important. Here, kids don't have pick-up baseball and football games like they did when we were kids, they have pick-up soccer games.
Hyperion so wants to play again next year. His team ended up really small - about 5 kids would show up at a time - so he got to play A LOT. I can really see a huge improvement. He's much more focused when he's playing the game. He's starting to think ahead and plan ahead and know where the ball will go and be.
Oceanus says he doesn't want to play again next year. I think it's because he thinks his friend is going to be on a more elite team and he doesn't think he'll make the cut. It doesn't matter how much I encourage him and tell him he was one of the better players, he doesn't think he'd make the cut. I did pass on comments from the other parents that he was the most improved player this year, but I suspect he's a lot like me and thinks that means that he was really bad to begin with and now is only marginally bad.
I'm in the position of making the decision of "do I let my child quit, or do I push him to do something that he could enjoy and be fairly good at, if he'd only let himself?" He'll never be a star and probably won't even make the high school team, but he's pretty good for his age. And if we continue to live in this area, knowing how to play soccer will be important. Here, kids don't have pick-up baseball and football games like they did when we were kids, they have pick-up soccer games.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Towards Energy Self-sufficiency
We did it. We ordered our Global Sun Oven tonight. This is - officially - our anniversary gift to each other. The hope is that when summer and 90+F temps come, we'll continue to bake bread. The fear, as always, is that we will feel the major heat and say "I don't want to make the house even hotter!"
Plus! This means we will use less energy to cool our house. Less energy to bake bread and less energy to cool the house? Maybe our summer electric bills won't be sky-high this summer.
This is part of our effort to "make every day Earth Day". I know it's a very trite phrase, but it's one my kids can understand and internalize. They did a very good job of explaning Earth Day yesterday and knew exactly why we were planting a tree and a rose bush. They were even able to list some of the benefits of green plants.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Earth Day
One last tip from Stonyfield Farm
SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS
Find a Farmer’s Market near you.
Join a Community Supported Agriculture project. Local Harvest can help you find locally grown organic food.CONSIDER ORGANICS
Learn about the National Organic Program.
Stay on top of news from and about the organics industry, visit the Organic Trade Association.
Learn what the EPA has to say about pesticides in your food.
Find suggestions for sustainable agriculture, and controlling pesticide use in the home at the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
OPPOSE GMOs
Learn what Genetically Modified Organisms-- GMO -- can mean to you and your family.
Join the campaign to require GMO labeling in the United States.
So for Earth Day we planted a tree (a Satsuma Mandarin) and a rose (Peace). We went to the library (rather than buying new books) and shopped for organic groceries. We had planned to take our plastic grocery bags back for recycling but had a minor issue with the vehicle (not driving would have been even more environmentally friendly, but I had a mystery shop at the grocery store which was too far away for walking) and ended up having to leave it at the library while we walked home and got the other car (it was just a battery malfunction, I'm happy to report it is now running fine).
SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS
Find a Farmer’s Market near you.
Join a Community Supported Agriculture project. Local Harvest can help you find locally grown organic food.CONSIDER ORGANICS
Learn about the National Organic Program.
Stay on top of news from and about the organics industry, visit the Organic Trade Association.
Learn what the EPA has to say about pesticides in your food.
Find suggestions for sustainable agriculture, and controlling pesticide use in the home at the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
OPPOSE GMOs
Learn what Genetically Modified Organisms-- GMO -- can mean to you and your family.
Join the campaign to require GMO labeling in the United States.
So for Earth Day we planted a tree (a Satsuma Mandarin) and a rose (Peace). We went to the library (rather than buying new books) and shopped for organic groceries. We had planned to take our plastic grocery bags back for recycling but had a minor issue with the vehicle (not driving would have been even more environmentally friendly, but I had a mystery shop at the grocery store which was too far away for walking) and ended up having to leave it at the library while we walked home and got the other car (it was just a battery malfunction, I'm happy to report it is now running fine).
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Countdown to Earthday
Again, from Stonyfield Farms
SWEEP YOUR HOME FREE OF CHEMICALS
Determine whether your home poses a health risk for your children by assessing the chemicals you may have around the house. The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition pages include information on safe household cleaning products, a healthy house quiz, and a list of chemicals commonly found around the house.
Take the virtual tour of your house at The EPA, with its web resources on household chemicals of your house.
Keep pests out of your home garden without resorting to toxic chemicals.
Consider organic gardening. Organic gardening requires home composting. Here are fact sheets with all the basics—one from Ohio and one from Cornell University.
Several years ago, before we had kids, Mr. Gaia and I switched to using baking soda and vinegar almost exclusively for cleaning. We do still use laundry detergent and dish detergent, but we've committed to cutting back on that too. Looking for houses without carpets have probably done the most for helping us to stay committed to no harsh chemicals.
SWEEP YOUR HOME FREE OF CHEMICALS
Determine whether your home poses a health risk for your children by assessing the chemicals you may have around the house. The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition pages include information on safe household cleaning products, a healthy house quiz, and a list of chemicals commonly found around the house.
Take the virtual tour of your house at The EPA, with its web resources on household chemicals of your house.
Keep pests out of your home garden without resorting to toxic chemicals.
Consider organic gardening. Organic gardening requires home composting. Here are fact sheets with all the basics—one from Ohio and one from Cornell University.
Several years ago, before we had kids, Mr. Gaia and I switched to using baking soda and vinegar almost exclusively for cleaning. We do still use laundry detergent and dish detergent, but we've committed to cutting back on that too. Looking for houses without carpets have probably done the most for helping us to stay committed to no harsh chemicals.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Countdown to Earth Day
As usual, from Stonyfield farm
Choosing Organic Food
Buying organic is one way we can leave a better world to future generations. Organic refers to the way food is grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of cutting-edge practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release, and composting.
Organic farming can be catalyst for rural economic development by offering an alternative market where small farmers can receive a premium for their crops.
Pesticide use in the U.S. has increased ten-fold from 1945 to 1989, yet total crop loss from pests nearly doubled in that period from 7% to 13%.
By refraining from using toxic chemicals, organic farmers may contribute to the survival of populations of songbirds, bees, fish, bald eagles, wetlands species, and many other species that have been hurt by chemicals in the environment.
Since organic practices prohibit the use of toxic and persistent chemicals, there is no risk of pesticide-contaminated water sources.
Organic is one of the fastest growing trends in the food industry. With annual sales of about $6.6 billion, and growth rates of at least 20% annually throughout the 1990's, there's no slow down in sight. As more companies produce it and more stores sell it, buying organic is becoming one of the easiest and most valuable things we can do to reduce the impact that food has on our world.
- To learn more about organic, click here.- To learn more about organic farming methods, click here.- To find out about organic options in your state, click here.- To understand the labeling of organic food, click here.- For the latest news on organic food, click here, here and here.- To see what you and your family should know about pesticides on food, click here, and here.- To learn more about the danger that pesticides pose for children, click here.- For more information on pesticides, check out EPA, NCAP, NCAMP and Panna.
We buy organic whenever we can. We do pay a lot more for it and I'm grateful we can afford it. For people who can't afford it, a good resource for veggies is local farmers' markets (which we don't have here, unfortunately). If you live in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Food Coop is a great source.
I've found that organic gardening is actually much less expensive than conventional gardening. It does require a little more work, but really not that much more. What it does take more of, is acceptance of "blemishes". You won't necessarily have perfect lettuce with no bug holes. These things don't affect the flavor at all.
Choosing Organic Food
Buying organic is one way we can leave a better world to future generations. Organic refers to the way food is grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of cutting-edge practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release, and composting.
Organic farming can be catalyst for rural economic development by offering an alternative market where small farmers can receive a premium for their crops.
Pesticide use in the U.S. has increased ten-fold from 1945 to 1989, yet total crop loss from pests nearly doubled in that period from 7% to 13%.
By refraining from using toxic chemicals, organic farmers may contribute to the survival of populations of songbirds, bees, fish, bald eagles, wetlands species, and many other species that have been hurt by chemicals in the environment.
Since organic practices prohibit the use of toxic and persistent chemicals, there is no risk of pesticide-contaminated water sources.
Organic is one of the fastest growing trends in the food industry. With annual sales of about $6.6 billion, and growth rates of at least 20% annually throughout the 1990's, there's no slow down in sight. As more companies produce it and more stores sell it, buying organic is becoming one of the easiest and most valuable things we can do to reduce the impact that food has on our world.
- To learn more about organic, click here.- To learn more about organic farming methods, click here.- To find out about organic options in your state, click here.- To understand the labeling of organic food, click here.- For the latest news on organic food, click here, here and here.- To see what you and your family should know about pesticides on food, click here, and here.- To learn more about the danger that pesticides pose for children, click here.- For more information on pesticides, check out EPA, NCAP, NCAMP and Panna.
We buy organic whenever we can. We do pay a lot more for it and I'm grateful we can afford it. For people who can't afford it, a good resource for veggies is local farmers' markets (which we don't have here, unfortunately). If you live in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Food Coop is a great source.
I've found that organic gardening is actually much less expensive than conventional gardening. It does require a little more work, but really not that much more. What it does take more of, is acceptance of "blemishes". You won't necessarily have perfect lettuce with no bug holes. These things don't affect the flavor at all.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Difficult Day
April 19, 1995
I was in college at Stillwater. It was a Wednesday, so I had lecture classes. Mr. Gaia and I had a break at the same time and we would meet in our department's student lounge for lunch. We walked in to hear students upset. They were being more racist than normal and using slurs I had never heard before (yes I was sheltered). I heard "sand ni----" "rag-head" "camel jockeys". Once we got people to shut up and tell us what happened, we were staggered.
Oklahoma is a small state. It's a small-town state. A bombing of that magnitude was sure to touch us in some way.
The next two weeks are still a blur. We were finishing the last minute plans for our wedding in 2.5 weeks, we were studying for finals, we were trying to finish our senior capstone project, we were packing up our apartment to move right after our wedding.
Every day the school paper printed stories of people who had lost family members in the bombing. I watched the news every minute I wasn't in class. I cried daily. I sank into a depression that lasted for months.
Mr. Gaia and I were lucky. We didn't lose any family members or friends. Even now, we only know a few people who did lose family members and friends.
It's been 12 years. I look at my kids and I hug them even closer and remember all the babies who didn't get to live this long. I think of all the parents who lost their babies much too early. I'm not sure if I'll ever write April 19 without remembering those babies. 9/11 is our national tragedy. April 19 is our personal tragedy.
I was in college at Stillwater. It was a Wednesday, so I had lecture classes. Mr. Gaia and I had a break at the same time and we would meet in our department's student lounge for lunch. We walked in to hear students upset. They were being more racist than normal and using slurs I had never heard before (yes I was sheltered). I heard "sand ni----" "rag-head" "camel jockeys". Once we got people to shut up and tell us what happened, we were staggered.
Oklahoma is a small state. It's a small-town state. A bombing of that magnitude was sure to touch us in some way.
The next two weeks are still a blur. We were finishing the last minute plans for our wedding in 2.5 weeks, we were studying for finals, we were trying to finish our senior capstone project, we were packing up our apartment to move right after our wedding.
Every day the school paper printed stories of people who had lost family members in the bombing. I watched the news every minute I wasn't in class. I cried daily. I sank into a depression that lasted for months.
Mr. Gaia and I were lucky. We didn't lose any family members or friends. Even now, we only know a few people who did lose family members and friends.
It's been 12 years. I look at my kids and I hug them even closer and remember all the babies who didn't get to live this long. I think of all the parents who lost their babies much too early. I'm not sure if I'll ever write April 19 without remembering those babies. 9/11 is our national tragedy. April 19 is our personal tragedy.
Countdown to Earthday
Again from Stonyfield Farms
GET CLEAN POWER
Clean power -- energy for our homes, vehicles, businesses, and schools –- doesn’t require polluting fossil sources to make it or replace it. By buying clean energy, you encourage local utilities to build more solar panels, wind farms, and other clean-energy resources -- and to cut back burning fuels that contribute to climate change.
There are two easy ways to get clean power:
A. Buy clean power from your local utility. Click on the map below to see if your utility offers a clean power program. If they don’t have one, demand that they do! And be advised that while some utilities do offer clean energy, it’s a time-consuming process. Rest assured---you can always return to this page and opt for Plan B, if that’s more to your liking.
OR
B. Invest in clean power by buying CoolWatts. You can “green up” your power use -- at home, at work, or on the road -- for just a few dollars a month. To learn more, Click Here.
This is next on our list. The electric rates in Texas are sky-high, but surprisingly we can get green energy for less than our current rate. If you do have a choice, you might be surprised that it isn't as expensive as you might think.
GET CLEAN POWER
Clean power -- energy for our homes, vehicles, businesses, and schools –- doesn’t require polluting fossil sources to make it or replace it. By buying clean energy, you encourage local utilities to build more solar panels, wind farms, and other clean-energy resources -- and to cut back burning fuels that contribute to climate change.
There are two easy ways to get clean power:
A. Buy clean power from your local utility. Click on the map below to see if your utility offers a clean power program. If they don’t have one, demand that they do! And be advised that while some utilities do offer clean energy, it’s a time-consuming process. Rest assured---you can always return to this page and opt for Plan B, if that’s more to your liking.
OR
B. Invest in clean power by buying CoolWatts. You can “green up” your power use -- at home, at work, or on the road -- for just a few dollars a month. To learn more, Click Here.
This is next on our list. The electric rates in Texas are sky-high, but surprisingly we can get green energy for less than our current rate. If you do have a choice, you might be surprised that it isn't as expensive as you might think.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Countdown to Earthday
(Again, tip from Stonyfield Farms)
CHOOSE YOUR COMMUTE (OR NOT)
Convince your employer to try Commuter Choice, a group funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help company’s solve the transportation and commuting problems or their workforce. The site contains resources for commuters in some of the nation’s most congested areas.
Calculate the cost of the fuel you’re using in your car and compare fuel efficiencies of the cars on the market to help you make an informed car purchase.
Check out this list of the “greenest” cars on the market at GreenerCars.com.
Consider telecommuting to save time, energy and money.
The plan is that when my car craps out (or when we save the money) I will buy a little scooter. My commute is 2 miles (give or take, depending upon what errands I need to run) all on neighborhood streets. It's just a tad too far to walk, but it seems silly to drive. I can't bike there because it's an office and I'm expected to wear business clothes. So a scooter seems the best idea.
Whenever I get tired of my job, I remember that one of the benefits is how close it is to home. A different job would most likely require a much longer commute.
A tip I wish more people would consider here is walking the kids to school. We live half a mile from the school. It takes 10 minutes to walk it with the kids. We're getting good exercise and not using fuel. Most people literally live within 1 mile of the school. I've seen people drive 3 blocks to pick up their kids from the school. Yes, it's hot, but it's not that hot.
CHOOSE YOUR COMMUTE (OR NOT)
Convince your employer to try Commuter Choice, a group funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help company’s solve the transportation and commuting problems or their workforce. The site contains resources for commuters in some of the nation’s most congested areas.
Calculate the cost of the fuel you’re using in your car and compare fuel efficiencies of the cars on the market to help you make an informed car purchase.
Check out this list of the “greenest” cars on the market at GreenerCars.com.
Consider telecommuting to save time, energy and money.
The plan is that when my car craps out (or when we save the money) I will buy a little scooter. My commute is 2 miles (give or take, depending upon what errands I need to run) all on neighborhood streets. It's just a tad too far to walk, but it seems silly to drive. I can't bike there because it's an office and I'm expected to wear business clothes. So a scooter seems the best idea.
Whenever I get tired of my job, I remember that one of the benefits is how close it is to home. A different job would most likely require a much longer commute.
A tip I wish more people would consider here is walking the kids to school. We live half a mile from the school. It takes 10 minutes to walk it with the kids. We're getting good exercise and not using fuel. Most people literally live within 1 mile of the school. I've seen people drive 3 blocks to pick up their kids from the school. Yes, it's hot, but it's not that hot.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Countdown to Earth Day
Sunday is Earth Day. So, in preparation for that, I'm going to (try to) count down to Earth Day with a daily tip to help the environment. Because I'm feeling extremely uncreative, I'm going to borrow these from Stonyfield Yogurt.
Tip 1:
CONSERVE AND RENEW YOUR HOME ENERGY
Read up on energy efficiency and renewable energy with fact sheets from the U..S. Department of Energy.
Conduct a do-it-yourself home energy audit, with information on how to make your home more energy efficient and the profitability of making energy upgrades.
Energy Savers
Evaluate your home’s energy usage with the tools available in this Energy Department website.
Compare and contrast homes appliances and learn about home improvements at Energy Star, a government-backed program that can help you choose appliances and other home improvements based on their energy efficiency. In 2004, enough power was saved through Energy Star efforts to power 24 million homes, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by the equivalent of 20 million cars, and saved $10 billion.
The things we have done include growing used to warmer temperatures. We slowly bumped up our thermostat until we had it as high as it would go (88F) for a good portion of the day. The programmable thermostat we have really helps, we can set it to be 84 during the evening when we're all home, eating supper and being active. Then gradually go up when it's time to go to bed. We are lucky that our climate is such that it gets much cooler at night, even in the hottest days of summer, so most nights we can turn the AC off completely and open the windows and use fans.
Of course, the clothesline makes the list. This did require getting used to stiffer clothes and planning ahead. It takes longer to do the laundry when you don't use a dryer (well, most of the time, on the hot windy days I find that the clothes on the clothesline dry in less than an hour - the amount of time they would take in the dryer).
We do buy energy star appliances, but most of our current appliances were in the house when we bought it. We'll replace them with energy star when we get the chance. We plan to replace our current water heater with an on-demand heater. We'll replace the stove with a gas stove when we replace it. For our anniversary, we plan to buy a solar oven, probably this one.
Tip 1:
CONSERVE AND RENEW YOUR HOME ENERGY
Read up on energy efficiency and renewable energy with fact sheets from the U..S. Department of Energy.
Conduct a do-it-yourself home energy audit, with information on how to make your home more energy efficient and the profitability of making energy upgrades.
Energy Savers
Evaluate your home’s energy usage with the tools available in this Energy Department website.
Compare and contrast homes appliances and learn about home improvements at Energy Star, a government-backed program that can help you choose appliances and other home improvements based on their energy efficiency. In 2004, enough power was saved through Energy Star efforts to power 24 million homes, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by the equivalent of 20 million cars, and saved $10 billion.
The things we have done include growing used to warmer temperatures. We slowly bumped up our thermostat until we had it as high as it would go (88F) for a good portion of the day. The programmable thermostat we have really helps, we can set it to be 84 during the evening when we're all home, eating supper and being active. Then gradually go up when it's time to go to bed. We are lucky that our climate is such that it gets much cooler at night, even in the hottest days of summer, so most nights we can turn the AC off completely and open the windows and use fans.
Of course, the clothesline makes the list. This did require getting used to stiffer clothes and planning ahead. It takes longer to do the laundry when you don't use a dryer (well, most of the time, on the hot windy days I find that the clothes on the clothesline dry in less than an hour - the amount of time they would take in the dryer).
We do buy energy star appliances, but most of our current appliances were in the house when we bought it. We'll replace them with energy star when we get the chance. We plan to replace our current water heater with an on-demand heater. We'll replace the stove with a gas stove when we replace it. For our anniversary, we plan to buy a solar oven, probably this one.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Spring!!!
Here is where I was going to talk about gardening and hanging clothes on the clothesline, but Grace beat me to it and I don't want to look like a copy-cat.
So, ummm, what to talk about?
Shall I rant about TAKS and how it is reducing Oceanus (my GT kid) to a sniveling pile of insecurity? Nah, that's just too painful to talk about. It will be over after tomorrow, until next year.
I can brag on Hyperion. We got his progress report and he is thisclose to making the all A honor roll and his behavior has been amazing lately (even at home). Both kids won their soccer games and Hyperion was really focused during the game.
One last soccer game. Tonight was the last practice and Saturday is the last game. Until fall. I am so ready for the break. I skipped practice last night to finish some weeding and get a nap.
I finally did my taxes. I used TaxACT and filed for free. I hope it goes through fine. We owed this year, so I'm afraid that it won't go through and we'll be hit with penalties.
My TV is in Texas, so maybe it will be delivered tomorrow. That would be nice. The Wii has been signaling new messages for days now (it glows blue and is really freaky to see), so I'm ready to get it hooked to a TV and have the messages reviewed.
I'm trying to eat less candy. My plan is to do house or yard work whenever I get a candy craving. We'll see how long it lasts. Tonight I ate leftovers rather than candy, so maybe I'll kick my sugar addiction (if you don't count the sweet tea).
Okay, was this random enough? Sheesh.
So, ummm, what to talk about?
Shall I rant about TAKS and how it is reducing Oceanus (my GT kid) to a sniveling pile of insecurity? Nah, that's just too painful to talk about. It will be over after tomorrow, until next year.
I can brag on Hyperion. We got his progress report and he is thisclose to making the all A honor roll and his behavior has been amazing lately (even at home). Both kids won their soccer games and Hyperion was really focused during the game.
One last soccer game. Tonight was the last practice and Saturday is the last game. Until fall. I am so ready for the break. I skipped practice last night to finish some weeding and get a nap.
I finally did my taxes. I used TaxACT and filed for free. I hope it goes through fine. We owed this year, so I'm afraid that it won't go through and we'll be hit with penalties.
My TV is in Texas, so maybe it will be delivered tomorrow. That would be nice. The Wii has been signaling new messages for days now (it glows blue and is really freaky to see), so I'm ready to get it hooked to a TV and have the messages reviewed.
I'm trying to eat less candy. My plan is to do house or yard work whenever I get a candy craving. We'll see how long it lasts. Tonight I ate leftovers rather than candy, so maybe I'll kick my sugar addiction (if you don't count the sweet tea).
Okay, was this random enough? Sheesh.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Stepping out of my comfort zone
I've always been socially awkward. I tend to say the wrong thing and to be unable to let silences happen. I'm the one always trying to get conversation going. Sometimes I'm successful, I've gotten pretty good a pairing people at parties (not my parties, I don't give parties, but kids' birthday parties), introducing people who will have interesting conversations, but when I fail? Yeah, it's not so pretty.
So, I was invited to a margarita night the other day. Ordinarily I make excuses, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and agreed to go.
It was at one of the mother's homes. She invited the kids and she lives in the neighborhood (about 7 blocks away). So I take my boys and I go. They had a ball, I had a ball. Mr. Gaia had to call to drag us away at 10:00 - the boys had soccer today.
I'm going to work on doing more stuff like this.
So, I was invited to a margarita night the other day. Ordinarily I make excuses, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and agreed to go.
It was at one of the mother's homes. She invited the kids and she lives in the neighborhood (about 7 blocks away). So I take my boys and I go. They had a ball, I had a ball. Mr. Gaia had to call to drag us away at 10:00 - the boys had soccer today.
I'm going to work on doing more stuff like this.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Nature!!!
I need a camera. I have one, but it eats batteries like mad, so it's like not having a camera at all.
Today I got pissed at the vine on my trellis, it grew way too fast and now it's just a mess at the top and hardly any on the trellis. So I decided to be ruthless and cut it off at the top. While doing that I managed to uncover some anoles. Poor things, they were in the middle of some lizard love.
Then being the freak I am, I ran to get my boys to show them. Okay, what kind of mom shows a 6 & 8 year old two lizards having sex? A freaky nature mom, that's who. They were interesting though, they didn't move while having sex, the male just moved her tail aside, clamped on and then they sat there.
There was another, smaller male hanging out. I don't know if he was waiting his chance or what.
I knew this was mating season for the lizards, I've been seeing them EVERYWHERE. The other day, I walked out and saw two on the siding of my soffits (which are brown). They were bright green. I walked down to look at the one that was a little lower. By the time I turned around, the other one had turned brown to match the soffit color.
Today I got pissed at the vine on my trellis, it grew way too fast and now it's just a mess at the top and hardly any on the trellis. So I decided to be ruthless and cut it off at the top. While doing that I managed to uncover some anoles. Poor things, they were in the middle of some lizard love.
Then being the freak I am, I ran to get my boys to show them. Okay, what kind of mom shows a 6 & 8 year old two lizards having sex? A freaky nature mom, that's who. They were interesting though, they didn't move while having sex, the male just moved her tail aside, clamped on and then they sat there.
There was another, smaller male hanging out. I don't know if he was waiting his chance or what.
I knew this was mating season for the lizards, I've been seeing them EVERYWHERE. The other day, I walked out and saw two on the siding of my soffits (which are brown). They were bright green. I walked down to look at the one that was a little lower. By the time I turned around, the other one had turned brown to match the soffit color.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
April Woes
April financial showers (downturns) bring May financial flowers (upturns)? I hope so.
So this month is expensive. Income taxes, car insurance and now our television died.
I'm actually embarrassed how tied to the TV I am. I mainly use it for background noise while I'm up late. I'm only up late to have my alone time. But, the thought of being without TV bothered me enough that I made Mr. Gaia rig something so that we can watch TV. He rigged our projector (don't ask) to make a HUGE television. He's ordered a new one from Costco so that we can take back our living room from the overpowering television. For right now, we truly have a big screen TV.
Car insurance. Well, I'm actually kind of overstating it. We have Progressive and they allow you to put it on your credit card. So it will actually be due next month. By putting it on the credit card (even though we did actually have the cash) we bought another month interest free and will get some bonus cash. I love rewards cards.
Income tax. First let me say that it is great to not qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. This is only the second year since Oceanus was born that we haven't qualified. It was nice to have it when we needed it, but it's really nice to make more money now. That said, I don't wanna send them a check that they'll use to wage war. I try to tell myself that *my* taxes go to social programs and environmental tax credits, but I'm not sure I believe it.
April feels expensive, and it is, but we're deferring a good portion of it interest free until next month.
I had to set some financial goals for April so that when the bills come due in May we'll have enough to cover it. My goals:
1) More mystery shops. They only pay about $12, but it's better than nothing.
2) Use my samples. No more buying new until all the samples are used up. I have enough samples and hotel bottles of shampoo to last at least through May.
3) Use the clothesline 100% (which has been difficult because April is proving to truly be rainy)
4) Commit to my garden. I need to go ahead and pull out the bok choy and arugula which have bolted and plant some tomatoes and peppers and okra. Yummm, fried okra - there's nothing better in the world. I have seeds for all of these. They may not be the most viable, but it only takes a few plants of each to have more than I can use.
So this month is expensive. Income taxes, car insurance and now our television died.
I'm actually embarrassed how tied to the TV I am. I mainly use it for background noise while I'm up late. I'm only up late to have my alone time. But, the thought of being without TV bothered me enough that I made Mr. Gaia rig something so that we can watch TV. He rigged our projector (don't ask) to make a HUGE television. He's ordered a new one from Costco so that we can take back our living room from the overpowering television. For right now, we truly have a big screen TV.
Car insurance. Well, I'm actually kind of overstating it. We have Progressive and they allow you to put it on your credit card. So it will actually be due next month. By putting it on the credit card (even though we did actually have the cash) we bought another month interest free and will get some bonus cash. I love rewards cards.
Income tax. First let me say that it is great to not qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit. This is only the second year since Oceanus was born that we haven't qualified. It was nice to have it when we needed it, but it's really nice to make more money now. That said, I don't wanna send them a check that they'll use to wage war. I try to tell myself that *my* taxes go to social programs and environmental tax credits, but I'm not sure I believe it.
April feels expensive, and it is, but we're deferring a good portion of it interest free until next month.
I had to set some financial goals for April so that when the bills come due in May we'll have enough to cover it. My goals:
1) More mystery shops. They only pay about $12, but it's better than nothing.
2) Use my samples. No more buying new until all the samples are used up. I have enough samples and hotel bottles of shampoo to last at least through May.
3) Use the clothesline 100% (which has been difficult because April is proving to truly be rainy)
4) Commit to my garden. I need to go ahead and pull out the bok choy and arugula which have bolted and plant some tomatoes and peppers and okra. Yummm, fried okra - there's nothing better in the world. I have seeds for all of these. They may not be the most viable, but it only takes a few plants of each to have more than I can use.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Gotta Get Goals
I've been asked to think about my Gotta Get Goals by Jenny at Green Mommy (you can check out her goals here).
I've been thinking about this and I think my goals are fairly common.
1) Financial Independence. I read Your Money or Your Life and I really want the life they describe. The idea that I can cut my expenses and increase my income so that at some point my investments are creating enough income that I don't have to work unless I want to? Heaven.
2) Peace. Mr. Gaia and I have always had very different money management styles. He does research carefully and get the best deals, but in the past he would buy things we didn't need because it was a good deal. Something changed in the past year and we are beginning to actually have peace in our home.
3) Travel. I really want to travel. Last year we were blessed and my father in law invited us to join him on a trip to Mexico. He gifted us with a place to stay, meals while there and paid for most of our activities. We only had to pay for airfare for the four of us. We had such a great time together and learned so much. I really want to do this more. I want to get to Europe and Asia. Australia, New Zealand and the Galapagos.
4) Sustainability. I want to make our lifestyle sustainable. We are working towards this by making our home more energy efficient, adjusting to warmer and cooler temps (so that we don't have to run the heater or air conditioner) and buying organic foods. We don't have a large lot, but it is large enough to supply at least a fairly good portion of our vegetables, if I will just do it. Eventually we will have solar panels and perhaps mini-turbines and rain barrels.
5) Giving. I want to be able to set up a foundation that will supply solar panels and/or mini-turbines to (eventually) anyone who wants them, starting with lower-income levels. Many people down here do not have electricity at all and other people pay 25-50% of their monthly income for electricity. The plan will be to supply them with the panels/turbines and then help them use the money they save/make to increase the energy efficiency of their home.
6) A Vocation. I have a career, but it isn't my calling. I'm not sure what my calling is, but I want to find it. I don't want to wake-up at retirement age and realize that I've spent all my time working at something I didn't like because I needed money and didn't have any better ideas.
7) Learn to speak Spanish. It's embarrassing that I don't speak more than a smattering of Spanish. I hate that I'm a typical American in this way (but I do at least have my passport).
If I can accomplish these, I will look back on my life and realize that I lived a great life.
I tag Tanya and any lurkers out there (I see you, but I don't know who you are, come forward and let me know)
I've been thinking about this and I think my goals are fairly common.
1) Financial Independence. I read Your Money or Your Life and I really want the life they describe. The idea that I can cut my expenses and increase my income so that at some point my investments are creating enough income that I don't have to work unless I want to? Heaven.
2) Peace. Mr. Gaia and I have always had very different money management styles. He does research carefully and get the best deals, but in the past he would buy things we didn't need because it was a good deal. Something changed in the past year and we are beginning to actually have peace in our home.
3) Travel. I really want to travel. Last year we were blessed and my father in law invited us to join him on a trip to Mexico. He gifted us with a place to stay, meals while there and paid for most of our activities. We only had to pay for airfare for the four of us. We had such a great time together and learned so much. I really want to do this more. I want to get to Europe and Asia. Australia, New Zealand and the Galapagos.
4) Sustainability. I want to make our lifestyle sustainable. We are working towards this by making our home more energy efficient, adjusting to warmer and cooler temps (so that we don't have to run the heater or air conditioner) and buying organic foods. We don't have a large lot, but it is large enough to supply at least a fairly good portion of our vegetables, if I will just do it. Eventually we will have solar panels and perhaps mini-turbines and rain barrels.
5) Giving. I want to be able to set up a foundation that will supply solar panels and/or mini-turbines to (eventually) anyone who wants them, starting with lower-income levels. Many people down here do not have electricity at all and other people pay 25-50% of their monthly income for electricity. The plan will be to supply them with the panels/turbines and then help them use the money they save/make to increase the energy efficiency of their home.
6) A Vocation. I have a career, but it isn't my calling. I'm not sure what my calling is, but I want to find it. I don't want to wake-up at retirement age and realize that I've spent all my time working at something I didn't like because I needed money and didn't have any better ideas.
7) Learn to speak Spanish. It's embarrassing that I don't speak more than a smattering of Spanish. I hate that I'm a typical American in this way (but I do at least have my passport).
If I can accomplish these, I will look back on my life and realize that I lived a great life.
I tag Tanya and any lurkers out there (I see you, but I don't know who you are, come forward and let me know)
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Real Woman meme
Tanya, the art butcher tagged me with this meme.
This is surprisingly hard. What is a Real Woman™? Most days I feel like it's something I'm not.
So, here goes. To me a Real Woman™:
-Isn't afraid to jump in and be physical. Whether it be helping carry heavy items or getting dirty, she knows she can do it and anyone who thinks doing so makes her less feminine can suck it.
- Isn't afraid to go after what she wants. The corner office, her own business, the "male job", etc.
- Accepts that she can't actually have it all, but figures out what is most important and manages to fit in many of the less important items.
- Isn't afraid to admit when she isn't typically feminine. If she doesn't like to shop, isn't into shoes, purses, or makeup, she isn't afraid of being judged when she admits it.
- However, a real woman doesn't judge her friends who are into the typically feminine things. If they like it, that's good enough for her.
- A real woman helps her friends be strong but isn't afraid to let them see her when she's weak.
I know there are more things I want to say and I'm not stating what I want to say as well as I would like, but my muse, she has left. I tag Jenny and Grace if they wish to be tagged.
This is surprisingly hard. What is a Real Woman™? Most days I feel like it's something I'm not.
So, here goes. To me a Real Woman™:
-Isn't afraid to jump in and be physical. Whether it be helping carry heavy items or getting dirty, she knows she can do it and anyone who thinks doing so makes her less feminine can suck it.
- Isn't afraid to go after what she wants. The corner office, her own business, the "male job", etc.
- Accepts that she can't actually have it all, but figures out what is most important and manages to fit in many of the less important items.
- Isn't afraid to admit when she isn't typically feminine. If she doesn't like to shop, isn't into shoes, purses, or makeup, she isn't afraid of being judged when she admits it.
- However, a real woman doesn't judge her friends who are into the typically feminine things. If they like it, that's good enough for her.
- A real woman helps her friends be strong but isn't afraid to let them see her when she's weak.
I know there are more things I want to say and I'm not stating what I want to say as well as I would like, but my muse, she has left. I tag Jenny and Grace if they wish to be tagged.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Ecotourism - Sabal Palm Sanctuary
We rarely get to play tourists in our area. Okay, let me rephrase that, I rarely get to play tourist. I never manage to have the chance to take a day off. Anyway ...
I had the day off for Good Friday and it was too cool for the beach today so Mr. Gaia suggested a trip to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary. Mother in law tells us that step-brother recently sent them a newsletter from their waldorf school talking about birding being the activity "progressive families" are pursuing these days. I'm assuming this is a work in progress, since I know very few kids who are capable of being quiet and still enough to see many birds. But, we're a family that figures kids won't learn without practice.
The Sanctuary is gorgeous. Sabal Palms are related to palmetto palms (found in Florida) but in the US are only native to the Rio Grande Valley and grow excrutiatingly slowly. It takes a sabal 12 years before it has even grown enough to have a trunk.
My only disappointment in the sanctuary was the large number of non-native plants. I understand that it isn't their mission to remain native only, but there were so many non-native plants that it was fairly distracting.
But, oh my was it gorgeous. I saw a green jay carrying straw for its nest. We heard and then saw a long-billed thrasher hiding in the tree top. It has a beautiful song and it is very loud. The kids never managed to see the birds (well, other than kiskadees, which are show-offs and can't manage to stay hidden no matter what), but sharp-eyed Hyperion managed to spot and point out several striped lizards (probably this) and lots of ants. He managed to spot a damselfly which was patient enough to let us examine it carefully. We also saw several dragonflies (my favorites).
Mr. Gaia got quite a few good pictures of a tepeguahe just sending out new leaves and flower buds. He also got some nice shots of the damselfly Hyperion and I examined and a butterfly that was willing to pose for a good long while. And the coolest wasp lookalike I've ever seen - it had the best colors and really did look like a wasp until you looked and realized it didn't have a "wasp waist".
I'd recommend this as a site to visit, but I warn you, you need insect repellant - the mosquitoes are quite thick.
I had the day off for Good Friday and it was too cool for the beach today so Mr. Gaia suggested a trip to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary. Mother in law tells us that step-brother recently sent them a newsletter from their waldorf school talking about birding being the activity "progressive families" are pursuing these days. I'm assuming this is a work in progress, since I know very few kids who are capable of being quiet and still enough to see many birds. But, we're a family that figures kids won't learn without practice.
The Sanctuary is gorgeous. Sabal Palms are related to palmetto palms (found in Florida) but in the US are only native to the Rio Grande Valley and grow excrutiatingly slowly. It takes a sabal 12 years before it has even grown enough to have a trunk.
My only disappointment in the sanctuary was the large number of non-native plants. I understand that it isn't their mission to remain native only, but there were so many non-native plants that it was fairly distracting.
But, oh my was it gorgeous. I saw a green jay carrying straw for its nest. We heard and then saw a long-billed thrasher hiding in the tree top. It has a beautiful song and it is very loud. The kids never managed to see the birds (well, other than kiskadees, which are show-offs and can't manage to stay hidden no matter what), but sharp-eyed Hyperion managed to spot and point out several striped lizards (probably this) and lots of ants. He managed to spot a damselfly which was patient enough to let us examine it carefully. We also saw several dragonflies (my favorites).
Mr. Gaia got quite a few good pictures of a tepeguahe just sending out new leaves and flower buds. He also got some nice shots of the damselfly Hyperion and I examined and a butterfly that was willing to pose for a good long while. And the coolest wasp lookalike I've ever seen - it had the best colors and really did look like a wasp until you looked and realized it didn't have a "wasp waist".
I'd recommend this as a site to visit, but I warn you, you need insect repellant - the mosquitoes are quite thick.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Rain!!!
We went weeks without rain and finally got some this weekend. All the flowers are blooming so nicely, the trees are fully leafed out.
And the grass has sprung up. It already needed mowed, but I got lazy. I went out to work on it tonight. I only succeeded in making a couple of paths.
Reel mowers are marvelous as long as you mow regularly. I suspect I'll be burning a lot of calories this week while I work to keep the house clean for my mother-in-law and uphold my half of the mowing (Mr. Gaia does the front yard and uses the weed-eater). I have to admit, it's lazy times like this that make me wish I had a gas powered or electric mower.
And the grass has sprung up. It already needed mowed, but I got lazy. I went out to work on it tonight. I only succeeded in making a couple of paths.
Reel mowers are marvelous as long as you mow regularly. I suspect I'll be burning a lot of calories this week while I work to keep the house clean for my mother-in-law and uphold my half of the mowing (Mr. Gaia does the front yard and uses the weed-eater). I have to admit, it's lazy times like this that make me wish I had a gas powered or electric mower.
Monday, April 02, 2007
First watermelon of the season
We had our first watermelon of the season. And it sucked. It was underripe and overripe at the same time. It was clearly picked too soon and then artificially ripened and it just didn't work. It's really too bad because we love watermelon in the Gaia household. We had a volunteer vine but a combination of chilly weather and too little water took it out.
I'm seriously behind on my gardening this year. My bok choi and arugula have bolted, but I haven't pulled them. They're just sitting in my garden being all yellow and white flowers. I've decided the flowers are pretty. I've also decided to let them go to seed and see if the seed will germinate. That would be really cool. Adding to the flowers in my garden is a radish that went to bloom in the compost pile. It's clearly not hot enough if the radish is surviving in the middle of the heap. Oh well, it'll eventually decompose.
My lancinato kale is still doing really well, except for the caterpillars and aphids. I need some ladybugs in the worst way. I love this kale, I had the same plants live through 17F temps and 105F temps unprotected. They eventually went to seed after about 9 months. That seed was not viable.
I seriously need to hurry up and plant my peppers and tomatoes or there will be none this year. Mr. Gaia can get free avocados fresh from the tree at work, so tomatoes and peppers are a must.
I'm seriously behind on my gardening this year. My bok choi and arugula have bolted, but I haven't pulled them. They're just sitting in my garden being all yellow and white flowers. I've decided the flowers are pretty. I've also decided to let them go to seed and see if the seed will germinate. That would be really cool. Adding to the flowers in my garden is a radish that went to bloom in the compost pile. It's clearly not hot enough if the radish is surviving in the middle of the heap. Oh well, it'll eventually decompose.
My lancinato kale is still doing really well, except for the caterpillars and aphids. I need some ladybugs in the worst way. I love this kale, I had the same plants live through 17F temps and 105F temps unprotected. They eventually went to seed after about 9 months. That seed was not viable.
I seriously need to hurry up and plant my peppers and tomatoes or there will be none this year. Mr. Gaia can get free avocados fresh from the tree at work, so tomatoes and peppers are a must.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
It's a new month
I never did follow up on my goals post. My plan is to become a Certifed Arborist. I have a degree in forestry and have dabbled in tree care for the last 12 years. Mr. Gaia is still in forestry and works for the government. He insists there is a market for consulting arborists in our area (2 counties making up over a million people).
I've been trying to break this down into a timeline. I looked up the testing dates, but they only go about 6 months out and I think I need more than 6 months to study.
My first step is to lay hands on the study material. It's only about $100, but I'd like to do this on the cheap, or at least as cheap as possible. I've asked Mr. Gaia to look into finding the materials cheaper - either from people who have already passed the test or maybe see if the government agency will pay for them (part of their mission is to train more qualified urban tree workers, having the study materials to become a Certified Arborist dovetails very well with that mission).
So, my first official goal is to lay hands on that by May 15. If I have to order them and pay for them myself, May 15 gives me time to earn the money by mystery shopping and doing surveys.
I've been trying to break this down into a timeline. I looked up the testing dates, but they only go about 6 months out and I think I need more than 6 months to study.
My first step is to lay hands on the study material. It's only about $100, but I'd like to do this on the cheap, or at least as cheap as possible. I've asked Mr. Gaia to look into finding the materials cheaper - either from people who have already passed the test or maybe see if the government agency will pay for them (part of their mission is to train more qualified urban tree workers, having the study materials to become a Certified Arborist dovetails very well with that mission).
So, my first official goal is to lay hands on that by May 15. If I have to order them and pay for them myself, May 15 gives me time to earn the money by mystery shopping and doing surveys.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Movies of the Week
Once again, my MIL is coming to visit, and once again, I've got a ton of movies scheduled to record. In order of appearance:
1. How to Marry a Millionaire I've never watched a Marilyn Monroe movie, so I'm going to give it a try.
2. We're Not Married Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen (and Marilyn Monroe)
3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes I figure if I'm going to watch Marilyn Monroe, this is one I need to see.
4. Move Over Darling Oddly enough, I thought of this movie just the other day, so when I saw it on the channel, I had to save it. It seems they don't much like Doris Day on the movie channels, this is only the 2nd Doris Day movie I've seen on there since I started checking regularly over a month ago.
5. Charade Because I can't get enough of Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant
6. The Bride Goes Wild The description sounded interesting.
7. Green Mansions Another Audrey Hepburn
8. Rafter Romance Ginger Rogers and it sounded interesting
9. Professional Sweetheart ditto
10. Father of the Bride I saw the remake, so I want to see the original
So, it's just 10 and I fully expect that some won't hold my attention and so will get deleted until next time they show.
1. How to Marry a Millionaire I've never watched a Marilyn Monroe movie, so I'm going to give it a try.
2. We're Not Married Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen (and Marilyn Monroe)
3. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes I figure if I'm going to watch Marilyn Monroe, this is one I need to see.
4. Move Over Darling Oddly enough, I thought of this movie just the other day, so when I saw it on the channel, I had to save it. It seems they don't much like Doris Day on the movie channels, this is only the 2nd Doris Day movie I've seen on there since I started checking regularly over a month ago.
5. Charade Because I can't get enough of Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant
6. The Bride Goes Wild The description sounded interesting.
7. Green Mansions Another Audrey Hepburn
8. Rafter Romance Ginger Rogers and it sounded interesting
9. Professional Sweetheart ditto
10. Father of the Bride I saw the remake, so I want to see the original
So, it's just 10 and I fully expect that some won't hold my attention and so will get deleted until next time they show.
Kid Brags
1) Hyperion's awards ceremony was today (they do them every 9 weeks). I told him I would do my best to come but didn't think I would be able to (it was at 9:15). At 9:00, I felt guilty, took my work to my boss and asked if I could use some comp time to go and he told me to "take on out". So I went. I am so happy I did. He got A/B honor roll, Homework Hero (means he turned his homework in every day), Perfect Attendance and Reading Hero (that means he met his A/R Goal). He was so excited to see me.
2) Everyone at Hyperion's school knows him. I'm choosing to believe this is because he is so cute with his freckles and smile and so charming. And not that he is so hyper and disruptive.
3) Oceanus had his awards ceremony Wednesday (I went to that as well). He got Principal's Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance (yeah, he didn't have perfect attendance, so I'm not sure how he got that), Homework Hero and Reading Hero.
4) Mr. Gaia was travelling for work this week. We made it with only one little meltdown (mine). We managed to go to McDonald's by ourselves without a meltdown. They did their homework with no problem. They were wonderful and patient with me.
2) Everyone at Hyperion's school knows him. I'm choosing to believe this is because he is so cute with his freckles and smile and so charming. And not that he is so hyper and disruptive.
3) Oceanus had his awards ceremony Wednesday (I went to that as well). He got Principal's Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance (yeah, he didn't have perfect attendance, so I'm not sure how he got that), Homework Hero and Reading Hero.
4) Mr. Gaia was travelling for work this week. We made it with only one little meltdown (mine). We managed to go to McDonald's by ourselves without a meltdown. They did their homework with no problem. They were wonderful and patient with me.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Be Still My Heart
On our walk tonight, we came across a tomato hornworm. It was being attacked by fireants (I don't know if it had somehow managed to appear to be a threat or if they were hoping to fill their coffers with some gooey insect protein goodness).The boys wanted to save it, but the damage these things have done to my tomatoes and peppers over the years taxes even my liberal heart. I did agree to move it a short distance and knock the ants away so that we could study it.
We discussed that insects have 6 legs, and then I flipped it over and asked them to find the legs. Hyperion pointed at the true legs, Oceanus got confused (or just wanted to disagree with his brother) and pointed at the prolegs. Fun teaching moment to explain the difference and allow them to observe the function.
Now, I do this all the time. Earth Sciences are my passion. Hey, forestry degree here. Usually they roll their eyes and gripe. But tonight? They were both excited and talked about how cool it was that I taught them that. Of course, we were on our way to McDonald's so they could have just been buttering me up.
On the way back, we found it almost where we'd left it, but curled up and almost dead. I suspect the venom from the ants was just too much for it. If you've ever been bitten by a fireant, you'll know what I mean. If you haven't, think of the worst steam burn you've ever had - the way it kept burning long after you've cooled the burn and that approximates the way these bites feel. They burn for hours.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
A letter that will never be sent
Dear family members,
It has come to my attention that you wonder why my family and I no longer attend family get-togethers. I am sure you really know the answer, but refuse to be introspective enough to recognize it.
For many years, I struggled to be accepted and loved by you as a group. I spent every holiday trying to pretend that your words and actions didn't hurt me. I tried to be understanding when I got in more trouble than my cousin (your daughter/niece), Jane, even when we were both naughty and when it was her idea in the first place. I tried to not care when my feelings and likes were ignored.
I left every family event feeling depressed, angry, irritated, ugly, unloved, unlovable, socially unacceptable and just "wrong".
As I got older and a little stronger emotionally, I tried to assert my own self-worth. I then found out that my christian beliefs were the wrong brand of christian beliefs (apparently Christ didn't mean that whole "turn the other cheek" bit or the "blessed are the peacemakers" bit). Every event was a celebration of what was wrong with me - I was too skinny, too tall, too many freckles, too much gray hair, too big when pregnant, starting to get fat (when I weighed 135 lbs at 5'8"), I went to the wrong school, the wrong church, had the wrong job. I was used to it, I was even willing to put up with it.
Christmas of 1997, Mr. Gaia and I arrived at 4:40 for a 4:30 event (we did drive an hour and a half to a large, unfamiliar city and to a house we'd only been to once) and found that all the gifts were opened, all the wrapping paper cleaned up and people eating seconds of christmas dinner. I didn't make a scene. I did ask why you started before the scheduled time and was told I was "too sensitive" and "the kids couldn't wait, besides you were late!", when I pointed out that that didn't all happen in 10 minutes, I was told I was being argumentative. I didn't point out that for years we had waited over an hour past the start time for John and Jane to get there. I heard the message loud and clear - I was not as valuable as John and Jane.
Christmas of 2004 everyone in the family knew I was moving 2 days after christmas. Moving 750 miles away (and many times I think it wasn't far enough). I made no secret of it. When did you decide to schedule family christmas? The Saturday after christmas. The reason you gave was so full of holes a 2nd grader could have picked them apart. "Aunt Marcia has to work and that's the only Saturday she has off". Aunt Marcia works for a christian bookstore. She doesn't work Sundays, nor does she work all day on Saturday - we've often had family christmas starting at 6pm. I heard the message loud and clear - you didn't want me and my family to attend.
At this point, I stay away because I won't sit idly by while you "tease" other family members (always the young, the girls, and the "weak"). I understand that you would not be able to handle an "uppity woman" and that my standing up to you might make you violent (oh yes, I've seen the violence lurking just under the surface, I know it's there). I will not expose my children to your bullying.
I know much has been made of the special effort we make to see Mr. Gaia's family and that it "hurts" you. I make a special effort to attend events with them because they make me feel smart, attractive, loved and lovable, and just "right". Being around them is uplifting and wonderful.
You've conditioned me to apologize for saying these things. But I'm not sorry. You know in your heart that these things are true. I can't change you, but I can decide to not be around you.
It has come to my attention that you wonder why my family and I no longer attend family get-togethers. I am sure you really know the answer, but refuse to be introspective enough to recognize it.
For many years, I struggled to be accepted and loved by you as a group. I spent every holiday trying to pretend that your words and actions didn't hurt me. I tried to be understanding when I got in more trouble than my cousin (your daughter/niece), Jane, even when we were both naughty and when it was her idea in the first place. I tried to not care when my feelings and likes were ignored.
I left every family event feeling depressed, angry, irritated, ugly, unloved, unlovable, socially unacceptable and just "wrong".
As I got older and a little stronger emotionally, I tried to assert my own self-worth. I then found out that my christian beliefs were the wrong brand of christian beliefs (apparently Christ didn't mean that whole "turn the other cheek" bit or the "blessed are the peacemakers" bit). Every event was a celebration of what was wrong with me - I was too skinny, too tall, too many freckles, too much gray hair, too big when pregnant, starting to get fat (when I weighed 135 lbs at 5'8"), I went to the wrong school, the wrong church, had the wrong job. I was used to it, I was even willing to put up with it.
Christmas of 1997, Mr. Gaia and I arrived at 4:40 for a 4:30 event (we did drive an hour and a half to a large, unfamiliar city and to a house we'd only been to once) and found that all the gifts were opened, all the wrapping paper cleaned up and people eating seconds of christmas dinner. I didn't make a scene. I did ask why you started before the scheduled time and was told I was "too sensitive" and "the kids couldn't wait, besides you were late!", when I pointed out that that didn't all happen in 10 minutes, I was told I was being argumentative. I didn't point out that for years we had waited over an hour past the start time for John and Jane to get there. I heard the message loud and clear - I was not as valuable as John and Jane.
Christmas of 2004 everyone in the family knew I was moving 2 days after christmas. Moving 750 miles away (and many times I think it wasn't far enough). I made no secret of it. When did you decide to schedule family christmas? The Saturday after christmas. The reason you gave was so full of holes a 2nd grader could have picked them apart. "Aunt Marcia has to work and that's the only Saturday she has off". Aunt Marcia works for a christian bookstore. She doesn't work Sundays, nor does she work all day on Saturday - we've often had family christmas starting at 6pm. I heard the message loud and clear - you didn't want me and my family to attend.
At this point, I stay away because I won't sit idly by while you "tease" other family members (always the young, the girls, and the "weak"). I understand that you would not be able to handle an "uppity woman" and that my standing up to you might make you violent (oh yes, I've seen the violence lurking just under the surface, I know it's there). I will not expose my children to your bullying.
I know much has been made of the special effort we make to see Mr. Gaia's family and that it "hurts" you. I make a special effort to attend events with them because they make me feel smart, attractive, loved and lovable, and just "right". Being around them is uplifting and wonderful.
You've conditioned me to apologize for saying these things. But I'm not sorry. You know in your heart that these things are true. I can't change you, but I can decide to not be around you.
Monday, March 26, 2007
New Purchase
After abusing my poor kitchenaid mixer by making 2 large loaves of whole wheat bread every other week, we finally splurged and bought the monster shown here. It's a KitchenAid Professional 600 series.
I haven't tried it out yet. I made bread yesterday, which, as Mr. Gaia pointed out, was a little sad, but Sunday really is my best bread making opportunity. Soccer practice is Monday and Tuesday nights, so they're out. By Wednesday, I'm too exhausted to even think about making bread, that carries over to Thursday and Friday. Saturday is for soccer games and naps. But we needed bread for this week.
I let Mr. Gaia pick out the color. I really didn't care. Our old one is white because that's what was available at Sam's (it came with attachments!). He liked the steel gray color, so that was fine with me.
I joked with him that what he really wanted was a commercial kitchen one - the floor stand model. Truth be told, that would actually be nice. I have enough pans to make several more loaves, but not the horsepower in a mixer or the upper arm strength.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Best Soccer Game EVER!!!
Oceanus' team played the "entitled team" yesterday.
I call them the entitled team because they think they have the right to take over a whole practice field (we're supposed to share) and to send their kids to run laps around and through other practice fields. The coach throws frequent tantrums and they require their kids to take private lessons and hire private coaches to come in. They have 3 different uniforms (most teams have just the one provided by the league).
There were only 4 players from our team there at 11:25 (game starts at 11:30) and the other coach started pushing to start the game. So they started a few minutes early. One of our players showed up at 11:29, after the game was started, but that's no big deal.
We only had 5 of 8 players show up total. The other team had all 8.
The final score? 4-2, our team won. I've never seen our team play so well. Oceanus played goalie most of the time because he's really good at it. The other players have a little bit of trouble getting the timing down to meet an incoming ball (but damn, turn them loose with a ball and can they score!). But the ball rarely even came to that end of the field. Our boys were stealing the ball, putting pressure on the other players, etc. And they played a clean game. No elbows, no shoulders, no tripping. We can't say the same for the other team.
Oh they hated losing. The league rules requiring equal time for all kids present? Totally ignored so that they could keep subbing in their best players.It was a marvelous win.
Poor Oceanus, though. He didn't enjoy the win very much. He heard the other team's coach tell the team that the ball always gets past Oceanus (not true, but he is the weaker member of that group of 5). I told him that when teams start losing they often start trash talk to try to psych out the other team and he did a good job of not letting it effect his performance.
I call them the entitled team because they think they have the right to take over a whole practice field (we're supposed to share) and to send their kids to run laps around and through other practice fields. The coach throws frequent tantrums and they require their kids to take private lessons and hire private coaches to come in. They have 3 different uniforms (most teams have just the one provided by the league).
There were only 4 players from our team there at 11:25 (game starts at 11:30) and the other coach started pushing to start the game. So they started a few minutes early. One of our players showed up at 11:29, after the game was started, but that's no big deal.
We only had 5 of 8 players show up total. The other team had all 8.
The final score? 4-2, our team won. I've never seen our team play so well. Oceanus played goalie most of the time because he's really good at it. The other players have a little bit of trouble getting the timing down to meet an incoming ball (but damn, turn them loose with a ball and can they score!). But the ball rarely even came to that end of the field. Our boys were stealing the ball, putting pressure on the other players, etc. And they played a clean game. No elbows, no shoulders, no tripping. We can't say the same for the other team.
Oh they hated losing. The league rules requiring equal time for all kids present? Totally ignored so that they could keep subbing in their best players.It was a marvelous win.
Poor Oceanus, though. He didn't enjoy the win very much. He heard the other team's coach tell the team that the ball always gets past Oceanus (not true, but he is the weaker member of that group of 5). I told him that when teams start losing they often start trash talk to try to psych out the other team and he did a good job of not letting it effect his performance.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Music soothes the savage beast
Hyperion had good behavior marks the last two days. In an effort to reward good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior, we decided to try to come up with rewards for him.
We've noticed that his behavior is much better when he's listening to music (any kind of music), so Mr. Gaia ordered him a cheap MP3 player (he has a portable CD player but it eats batteries like you wouldn't believe, plus CDs are not really 6yo friendly). We replaced the earbuds with headphones and left the plastic protector on it.
So we gave it to him tonight. I swear, it's like he was on a sedative. He ate quietly and quickly (we normally do family meals, but tonight was a relaxed night where we just ate when we were hungry). He took his vitamins and brushed his teeth without complaint. He sat quietly while Oceanus got ready for bed.
It was night and day. I don't know if it will last, but it was definitely worth every penny Mr. Gaia spent for the MP3 player and every minute he spent loading it with music, even if it only lasts a few days.
We've noticed that his behavior is much better when he's listening to music (any kind of music), so Mr. Gaia ordered him a cheap MP3 player (he has a portable CD player but it eats batteries like you wouldn't believe, plus CDs are not really 6yo friendly). We replaced the earbuds with headphones and left the plastic protector on it.
So we gave it to him tonight. I swear, it's like he was on a sedative. He ate quietly and quickly (we normally do family meals, but tonight was a relaxed night where we just ate when we were hungry). He took his vitamins and brushed his teeth without complaint. He sat quietly while Oceanus got ready for bed.
It was night and day. I don't know if it will last, but it was definitely worth every penny Mr. Gaia spent for the MP3 player and every minute he spent loading it with music, even if it only lasts a few days.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
ADHD
So, my MIL brought me a book about ADHD. I do see Hyperion in the descriptions. But more than than, I see myself.
This is an interesting book, it's 20 Questions to Ask if Your Child has ADHD. It describes the way it stresses your family, which I soooo see in our family. And it describes the dysfunctional way families deal with it.
Trip down memory lane:
I'm 12 and a half. My brother died from injuries from a car accident 6 months before.
I became old enough to be in the youth group of the church at the beginning of the school year. We are at a youth group retreat. This is my first real event as a member of the youth group. My parents are there.
Also there is a boy who has always "teased" me (I'd call it bullying, but the adults insisted it was "teasing").
As part of the opening exercises we are supposed to do a trust building exercise. We are to reveal our biggest secret/fear, etc to the group. Starting with the youngest - me. I was a very vulnerable child, I was picked on constantly - by my family, my classmates, parents of classmates (I wish I was kidding). For me, this was just too much. I'm supposed to lay myself bare in front of EVERYONE, including my bully? I refused to go first. I told them that someone else needed to go first. When my parents intervened (rudely, in my opinion) all I could express was that I could not possibly talk about something like that in front of my bully. My parents had the nerve to take me to task for hurting his feelings.
When I started crying because I couldn't explain myself with my dad yelling at me and my mom griping at me for hurting Bully's feelings and the youth director for telling me that I HAD to follow the rules, my parents packed me up and took me home.
As an adult, I'm really angry and hurt that my parents never seemed to take my side or even listen to me. I'm angry that the adults were too stupid to realize that you NEVER make the weakest person in the group lay themselves bare first. I'm pissed that everyone could excuse outright bullying as teasing.
In my situation, I really think that any child would have a problem in those circumstances, but what I'm sure now is ADD in me (and maybe a slight bit of Aspergers) led me to be more than normally emotional (well that and having lost my brother 6 months before, I mean really - WHAT THE HELL??!!).
I'm so terrified that I will make the same mistakes my parents made. I see myself doing many of the things they did and that made me feel less valued and less loved.
This is an interesting book, it's 20 Questions to Ask if Your Child has ADHD. It describes the way it stresses your family, which I soooo see in our family. And it describes the dysfunctional way families deal with it.
Trip down memory lane:
I'm 12 and a half. My brother died from injuries from a car accident 6 months before.
I became old enough to be in the youth group of the church at the beginning of the school year. We are at a youth group retreat. This is my first real event as a member of the youth group. My parents are there.
Also there is a boy who has always "teased" me (I'd call it bullying, but the adults insisted it was "teasing").
As part of the opening exercises we are supposed to do a trust building exercise. We are to reveal our biggest secret/fear, etc to the group. Starting with the youngest - me. I was a very vulnerable child, I was picked on constantly - by my family, my classmates, parents of classmates (I wish I was kidding). For me, this was just too much. I'm supposed to lay myself bare in front of EVERYONE, including my bully? I refused to go first. I told them that someone else needed to go first. When my parents intervened (rudely, in my opinion) all I could express was that I could not possibly talk about something like that in front of my bully. My parents had the nerve to take me to task for hurting his feelings.
When I started crying because I couldn't explain myself with my dad yelling at me and my mom griping at me for hurting Bully's feelings and the youth director for telling me that I HAD to follow the rules, my parents packed me up and took me home.
As an adult, I'm really angry and hurt that my parents never seemed to take my side or even listen to me. I'm angry that the adults were too stupid to realize that you NEVER make the weakest person in the group lay themselves bare first. I'm pissed that everyone could excuse outright bullying as teasing.
In my situation, I really think that any child would have a problem in those circumstances, but what I'm sure now is ADD in me (and maybe a slight bit of Aspergers) led me to be more than normally emotional (well that and having lost my brother 6 months before, I mean really - WHAT THE HELL??!!).
I'm so terrified that I will make the same mistakes my parents made. I see myself doing many of the things they did and that made me feel less valued and less loved.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Make-up
Apparently there's now a tint for nipples. Geez, who knew there was a "right" color for nipples?
I don't even like to wear makeup on my face. I do it because it is expected in the office environment. I'm already bucking convention by refusing to wear pantyhose, I don't feel I can do it with makeup.
I know, I know, there is makeup that is so light you don't even feel it on your face. But damn, it's expensive. I want the cheapest shit I can find. I keep the bare minimum - blush, eyeshadow and foundation. No eyeliner, no lipstick (I am truly blessed in that my lips naturally look like I have on lipstick), no mascara, no concealer, etc. $5 for a single item is more than I want to spend.
I hate the way it rubs off and leaves residue on phone earpieces and smudges up my cellphone screen.
I hate the way it gets on clothes unless you're extremely careful.
I hate that it often ends up looking uneven because one side has rubbed off on the aforementioned items.
This, of course, doesn't mean that I think it's wrong if some women love it and love to play with it. If you love it, play with it to your heart's content. Just throw me a bone and sympathize with my hatred of it - okay?
I don't even like to wear makeup on my face. I do it because it is expected in the office environment. I'm already bucking convention by refusing to wear pantyhose, I don't feel I can do it with makeup.
I know, I know, there is makeup that is so light you don't even feel it on your face. But damn, it's expensive. I want the cheapest shit I can find. I keep the bare minimum - blush, eyeshadow and foundation. No eyeliner, no lipstick (I am truly blessed in that my lips naturally look like I have on lipstick), no mascara, no concealer, etc. $5 for a single item is more than I want to spend.
I hate the way it rubs off and leaves residue on phone earpieces and smudges up my cellphone screen.
I hate the way it gets on clothes unless you're extremely careful.
I hate that it often ends up looking uneven because one side has rubbed off on the aforementioned items.
This, of course, doesn't mean that I think it's wrong if some women love it and love to play with it. If you love it, play with it to your heart's content. Just throw me a bone and sympathize with my hatred of it - okay?
Saturday, March 17, 2007
In keeping with a theme
Several blogs are discussing the myth of the "Opt Out Revolution". The idea that women are choosing to be SAHMs in greater numbers than ever before.
At Pandagon it's pointed out that for many women, it isn't a free choice. It's a choice we make because our other choices are less palatable. Like the choice for Mr. Gaia to be a SAHD was basically forced because the daycares available to us were abysmal and my choice to be a SAHM was that my job market was absolutely flooded and I had a new baby.
Several of the commenters say that of course women choose to SAH, it's a free choice and anyone that says that they're choosing it mostly because the feel there are no other choices are just whining. Men there are saying that of course it's fulfilling and wonderful and more WOMEN should choose it.
These discussions remind me of a workshop I had while working for the USDA Forest Service in 1995. The point of the workshop was to stop sexual harassment and discrimination. At one point we broke up into groups by gender and wrote what we saw as the benefits and drawbacks of our gender and the same for the opposite gender. In both of our categories we had childbirth. The men had a FIT when we revealed that. How dare we think childbirth is a negative part of being a woman. THEY would give anything to be able to have a child. No amount of us explaining why it was a negative (harder to find a good job, being expected to balance job and family in a way men aren't simply because WE give birth, etc) would convince them.
Seriously, if staying a home is such a great choice that more and more women are choosing it simply because they want to and society has no effect on that at all, why aren't more men choosing it? Why when a woman works 80 hours/week she's seen as neglecting her children, but no one says boo when a man does it?
Apparently I'm radical because I think the "choice" to SAH is all too often a matter of choosing the lesser evil. For us it was put our son in a substandard daycare or live in relative poverty with a SAHD (or abject poverty with a SAHM). Of course, we benefitted from Mr. Gaia staying at home - when he went back to work a short 2 years later, it came with a 50% pay raise and good benefits (with absolutely no change in his qualifications). When I went back to work, it was to a 10% paycut and the only benefit I have is a part time work schedule (and that 10% paycut is based on the idea of what I would make if I worked full time, if I compare what I actually make part time to what I made full time, it would be a much larger paycut)
At Pandagon it's pointed out that for many women, it isn't a free choice. It's a choice we make because our other choices are less palatable. Like the choice for Mr. Gaia to be a SAHD was basically forced because the daycares available to us were abysmal and my choice to be a SAHM was that my job market was absolutely flooded and I had a new baby.
Several of the commenters say that of course women choose to SAH, it's a free choice and anyone that says that they're choosing it mostly because the feel there are no other choices are just whining. Men there are saying that of course it's fulfilling and wonderful and more WOMEN should choose it.
These discussions remind me of a workshop I had while working for the USDA Forest Service in 1995. The point of the workshop was to stop sexual harassment and discrimination. At one point we broke up into groups by gender and wrote what we saw as the benefits and drawbacks of our gender and the same for the opposite gender. In both of our categories we had childbirth. The men had a FIT when we revealed that. How dare we think childbirth is a negative part of being a woman. THEY would give anything to be able to have a child. No amount of us explaining why it was a negative (harder to find a good job, being expected to balance job and family in a way men aren't simply because WE give birth, etc) would convince them.
Seriously, if staying a home is such a great choice that more and more women are choosing it simply because they want to and society has no effect on that at all, why aren't more men choosing it? Why when a woman works 80 hours/week she's seen as neglecting her children, but no one says boo when a man does it?
Apparently I'm radical because I think the "choice" to SAH is all too often a matter of choosing the lesser evil. For us it was put our son in a substandard daycare or live in relative poverty with a SAHD (or abject poverty with a SAHM). Of course, we benefitted from Mr. Gaia staying at home - when he went back to work a short 2 years later, it came with a 50% pay raise and good benefits (with absolutely no change in his qualifications). When I went back to work, it was to a 10% paycut and the only benefit I have is a part time work schedule (and that 10% paycut is based on the idea of what I would make if I worked full time, if I compare what I actually make part time to what I made full time, it would be a much larger paycut)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
One down, 2 to go
My MIL visited this weekend. I enjoy my MIL and we get along well, but I can't pretend that it isn't stressful having company.
FIL (my inlaws are divorced and remarried) comes this Wednesday. He'll leave Tuesday. Before he leaves, Mr. Gaia's aunt and uncle will come visit on Monday and will stay until Friday. None of them will stay in my home, though (cat allergies).
We had a nice visit. Neither boy won their soccer game, but they played well and tough. Poor Oceanus got hit really hard and sent flying, but still got up and continued to play. Winning two games in a row gave their team new found confidence. They played a tough game and really it was just a matter of some luck and just a tad bit extra skill (the other team were masterful at ball handling) plus not being afraid to be extremely physical. Besides the flying tackle, I saw one kid grab one our boy's foot and all but pull him down, Oceanus took a kick to the nuts, and there were multiple elbows, shoulders and kicks thrown at our boys.
MIL and the boys got to play some games and just have the time together they like to have. I'm glad they get to have this time together. I'm sad that we live so far apart, because I want them to have a close relationship.
FIL (my inlaws are divorced and remarried) comes this Wednesday. He'll leave Tuesday. Before he leaves, Mr. Gaia's aunt and uncle will come visit on Monday and will stay until Friday. None of them will stay in my home, though (cat allergies).
We had a nice visit. Neither boy won their soccer game, but they played well and tough. Poor Oceanus got hit really hard and sent flying, but still got up and continued to play. Winning two games in a row gave their team new found confidence. They played a tough game and really it was just a matter of some luck and just a tad bit extra skill (the other team were masterful at ball handling) plus not being afraid to be extremely physical. Besides the flying tackle, I saw one kid grab one our boy's foot and all but pull him down, Oceanus took a kick to the nuts, and there were multiple elbows, shoulders and kicks thrown at our boys.
MIL and the boys got to play some games and just have the time together they like to have. I'm glad they get to have this time together. I'm sad that we live so far apart, because I want them to have a close relationship.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Blog against sexism day
So, I've been reading various blogs (Bitch Ph.D., Feministe, Redneck Mother, Mom 101 and Pandagon) and discover that today is Blog Against Sexism Day.
As a child, I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church. It was a big deal to them that women were not meant to teach men, women were NOT to be smarter than men, women were best kept at home. Unconsciously echoing Galileo's thoughts ("I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them."), I would say "God wouldn't have made me this smart if he didn't intend for me to do something with it". This was considered almost as bad as blasphemy and I was told that God wanted me to submit, and he just made me smart so that I'd have more to sacrifice. Other people told me that God didn't give me my intelligence, but Satan did.
The Mother's Day I was pregnant with my first, I went to church with my mom. I've never sat through a more misogynisitc sermon (and that is saying A LOT). My husband was extremely offended. Basically, we were told that if we worked outside of the home we were neglecting our children, UNLESS, of course, we were like the preacher's wife and made sure that we were home when the kids got home from school.
At the time, we had all but decided that Mr. Gaia was going to be a stay at home dad. We were still trying to find a good daycare but were growing discouraged and realizing that we were not going to find the right daycare for us.
I walked out of that church, turned to my mom and said "Would it really be better for ME to stay at home, even though I SUCK at the childcare thing? Mr. Gaia is GOOD at it, why would it be better for me to be with the baby than him?" My mom looked me in the eye and said "Because God's plan is for you to stay home and be supported by your husband."
I lost all respect for my mother that day. All respect. At that point, I knew that it wasn't about what was best for my children or me, it was about what these people thought God wanted. And what my mom knew was that I made 50% more than Mr. Gaia and there is no way we could have lived on what Mr. Gaia made.
It became abundantly clear to me WHY women make less than men. Why women aren't equally represented in upper management. It's because there are enough people out there that believe women are supposed to stay home and care for the kids while their husbands support them. That believe that allowing a woman to make a living is actually perverting God's plan.
As a child, I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church. It was a big deal to them that women were not meant to teach men, women were NOT to be smarter than men, women were best kept at home. Unconsciously echoing Galileo's thoughts ("I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them."), I would say "God wouldn't have made me this smart if he didn't intend for me to do something with it". This was considered almost as bad as blasphemy and I was told that God wanted me to submit, and he just made me smart so that I'd have more to sacrifice. Other people told me that God didn't give me my intelligence, but Satan did.
The Mother's Day I was pregnant with my first, I went to church with my mom. I've never sat through a more misogynisitc sermon (and that is saying A LOT). My husband was extremely offended. Basically, we were told that if we worked outside of the home we were neglecting our children, UNLESS, of course, we were like the preacher's wife and made sure that we were home when the kids got home from school.
At the time, we had all but decided that Mr. Gaia was going to be a stay at home dad. We were still trying to find a good daycare but were growing discouraged and realizing that we were not going to find the right daycare for us.
I walked out of that church, turned to my mom and said "Would it really be better for ME to stay at home, even though I SUCK at the childcare thing? Mr. Gaia is GOOD at it, why would it be better for me to be with the baby than him?" My mom looked me in the eye and said "Because God's plan is for you to stay home and be supported by your husband."
I lost all respect for my mother that day. All respect. At that point, I knew that it wasn't about what was best for my children or me, it was about what these people thought God wanted. And what my mom knew was that I made 50% more than Mr. Gaia and there is no way we could have lived on what Mr. Gaia made.
It became abundantly clear to me WHY women make less than men. Why women aren't equally represented in upper management. It's because there are enough people out there that believe women are supposed to stay home and care for the kids while their husbands support them. That believe that allowing a woman to make a living is actually perverting God's plan.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Gratitude Wednesday
I haven't had a gratitude post in a while.
1) The TAKS scores. I know it's silly, but if we have to devote so much time to them, thank goodness they were good scores.
2) Clean laundry.
3) Having a husband who is good at cooking and cleaning.
4) Family who are willing to travel for hours and hours to come visit us and spend time with our kids.
5) A good soccer coach and good soccer families.
6) A husband who is willing to step up and help coach the team.
7) Healthy kids.
8) Good jobs
1) The TAKS scores. I know it's silly, but if we have to devote so much time to them, thank goodness they were good scores.
2) Clean laundry.
3) Having a husband who is good at cooking and cleaning.
4) Family who are willing to travel for hours and hours to come visit us and spend time with our kids.
5) A good soccer coach and good soccer families.
6) A husband who is willing to step up and help coach the team.
7) Healthy kids.
8) Good jobs
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
This week's movie list
Here's the list of movies I'm recording to watch this weekend:
Summer Stock
Return to Peyton Place
Dangerous Blondes
Paris When it Sizzles
Alfie
History of the World: Part I
Love Potion No. 9
I have no idea when I will get to watch these, necessarily. My mother in law is coming to visit Friday morning and won't leave until Sunday. Our "guest room" is the front room of our house (the one we don't really use) and I will disturb her if I watch TV in the family room (adjoining rooms). So, some may get sacrificed in order to make space for the tv shows we tape.
Summer Stock
Return to Peyton Place
Dangerous Blondes
Paris When it Sizzles
Alfie
History of the World: Part I
Love Potion No. 9
I have no idea when I will get to watch these, necessarily. My mother in law is coming to visit Friday morning and won't leave until Sunday. Our "guest room" is the front room of our house (the one we don't really use) and I will disturb her if I watch TV in the family room (adjoining rooms). So, some may get sacrificed in order to make space for the tv shows we tape.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Reading TAKS scores are in
And our school did well. Thank God. As much emphasis as they put on these stupid tests, I'd hate for it to have been for naught.
Oceanus got Commended Performance (along with about 7 others in his class).
Now this isn't surprising for him. He reads well and a lot. We spend time reading to him and discussing what we read.
I gotta tell you, the Series of Unfortunate Events books are downers and really, really depressing, but they do a great job of enriching vocabulary. Hyperion has an amazing vocabulary and I'm sure a lot of it is from listening to us read these books.
We've done some reading about ADD and I have to say, Hyperion fits most of the characteristics. His teacher didn't mention it just because he is active, she specifically mentioned his need to "fiddle", his inability to control himself when he knows the answer, his lack of impulse control (he will do exactly what he just got reprimanded for and says he just couldn't help it). I don't think drugs are the answer for him - he is learning and doing well, but we do probably need to look into some behavioral modifications, if for no other reason than because I don't want him being "that kid", the one that distracts the class, the one that "doesn't live up to his potential", etc.
I've got to remember my own behavioral modifications. I let myself go too long without food today. I know better. I totally snapped. I yelled at Hyperion for asking for help (there was a bit more to it, but it was still not something I should have responded so strongly to). By the time I had my self back into control, it was time for soccer practice. Thankfully, soccer practice went well.
Oceanus got Commended Performance (along with about 7 others in his class).
Now this isn't surprising for him. He reads well and a lot. We spend time reading to him and discussing what we read.
I gotta tell you, the Series of Unfortunate Events books are downers and really, really depressing, but they do a great job of enriching vocabulary. Hyperion has an amazing vocabulary and I'm sure a lot of it is from listening to us read these books.
We've done some reading about ADD and I have to say, Hyperion fits most of the characteristics. His teacher didn't mention it just because he is active, she specifically mentioned his need to "fiddle", his inability to control himself when he knows the answer, his lack of impulse control (he will do exactly what he just got reprimanded for and says he just couldn't help it). I don't think drugs are the answer for him - he is learning and doing well, but we do probably need to look into some behavioral modifications, if for no other reason than because I don't want him being "that kid", the one that distracts the class, the one that "doesn't live up to his potential", etc.
I've got to remember my own behavioral modifications. I let myself go too long without food today. I know better. I totally snapped. I yelled at Hyperion for asking for help (there was a bit more to it, but it was still not something I should have responded so strongly to). By the time I had my self back into control, it was time for soccer practice. Thankfully, soccer practice went well.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
In this day and age
I really thought this shit had stopped.
In the delivery from school today, ie - the flyers, the notices, etc, was "Champs Camp 2007".
Done at the baptist church during spring break. $40 for the week and it's 8-5. This is cool, if we needed child care that week, I'd be all over it.
Until. I look at the list of activities and see: Basketball, swimming, volleyball, soccer, skating, golf, baseball (guys only), softball (girls only), tennis, aerobics/dance (girls only), football (guys only), arts & crafts, martial arts.
This is EXACTLY why I will not attend a baptist church. Why do they see the need to keep girls from playing baseball and football and boys from playing softball and doing aerobics/dance? My boy? Would love to do the aerobic/dance. As a kid, I would have wanted to play football and baseball. I HATED softball and dance. I would have been upset, the adults and kids would have teased and I would have had a meltdown (because of the teasing, not, as they would claim, because I couldn't do what I wanted). I would have spent the rest of the week being embarrassed by my meltdown, IF my mom or the organizers had let me go back. Hyperion is so much like me, it's not even funny.
Oh, and kids are required to participate in every sport (gender appropriate of course) so a girl who doesn't like softball is SOL, she's expected to participate. A boy who doesn't like football? Equally SOL.
Okay, seriously? Why can't girls play football? Because they might get hurt? And? Boys might get hurt too. Boys aren't tougher than girls when it comes to pain (who lives with menstrual cramps?). Boys aren't immune to getting hurt. If a girl chooses to take that risk, who should say it isn't her right?
And why shouldn't boys be in aerobic/dance? Are they afraid it will turn them gay?
I want to call and at least say "hey listen, I got your flier from the school and my daughter saw it and wants to play football, but it says "boys only". Is there a reason it's only for boys? Because my daughter really likes to play football with her dad and brothers and is pretty good at it." I'm just not sure I can do it without being insulting to them.
In the delivery from school today, ie - the flyers, the notices, etc, was "Champs Camp 2007".
Done at the baptist church during spring break. $40 for the week and it's 8-5. This is cool, if we needed child care that week, I'd be all over it.
Until. I look at the list of activities and see: Basketball, swimming, volleyball, soccer, skating, golf, baseball (guys only), softball (girls only), tennis, aerobics/dance (girls only), football (guys only), arts & crafts, martial arts.
This is EXACTLY why I will not attend a baptist church. Why do they see the need to keep girls from playing baseball and football and boys from playing softball and doing aerobics/dance? My boy? Would love to do the aerobic/dance. As a kid, I would have wanted to play football and baseball. I HATED softball and dance. I would have been upset, the adults and kids would have teased and I would have had a meltdown (because of the teasing, not, as they would claim, because I couldn't do what I wanted). I would have spent the rest of the week being embarrassed by my meltdown, IF my mom or the organizers had let me go back. Hyperion is so much like me, it's not even funny.
Oh, and kids are required to participate in every sport (gender appropriate of course) so a girl who doesn't like softball is SOL, she's expected to participate. A boy who doesn't like football? Equally SOL.
Okay, seriously? Why can't girls play football? Because they might get hurt? And? Boys might get hurt too. Boys aren't tougher than girls when it comes to pain (who lives with menstrual cramps?). Boys aren't immune to getting hurt. If a girl chooses to take that risk, who should say it isn't her right?
And why shouldn't boys be in aerobic/dance? Are they afraid it will turn them gay?
I want to call and at least say "hey listen, I got your flier from the school and my daughter saw it and wants to play football, but it says "boys only". Is there a reason it's only for boys? Because my daughter really likes to play football with her dad and brothers and is pretty good at it." I'm just not sure I can do it without being insulting to them.
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