We learned last week that Howie has already been adopted by "a wonderful couple with a back yard."* He was homeless less than a month. I'm not surprised. He is adorable.
*according to his foster mom
Monday, March 2, 2009
Pete Made a Snowman!
(image almost actual size)
The tiny snowman is in proportion to the tiny snow we got. It sure was pretty, though.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
That's Not Right!
Okay. I live in The South, you know? But I used to live in The Northeast, grew up there, really. I learned to drive on snowy streets and am familiar with snow in March, even April, possibly early May. However, I have been Here for almost 16 years and have been comfortable with spring coming early and winter weather ending the instant we change the calendar from pink hearts to green shamrocks. I have even declared, out loud and confidently, that "winter" is over on March 1st around here.
Now, check the date on this post. See? It should be spring, right? If you go by me. Tonight, though, my seasonal truths have been shattered. Smashed. Crumbled into a million tiny pieces. Look at that picture. I took it just now. The white specks aren't dust on the lens. Those are more snow falling. And it's going to keep falling for the next 6 to 7 hours! Today. The unofficial first day of spring at my house.
And tomorrow will be an honest-to-goodness snow day, for sure (not like last time). At least that will be fun. If not quite right...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Pete Is "Excellent"
Pete played 2 memorized pieces for a judge this morning. She's been working hard getting ready for this for the last few weeks, and apparently all the hard work paid off because, her rating? "Excellent." Yay Pete!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Random Catch-Ups
My little family was computerless for nearly 4 days this week. That's why I've been absent from the blogosphere. Did ya miss me? What?! Not really? Fine. Here's what you did miss while I was away.
* Lulu is almost exclusively wearing panties now. She sleeps in a Pull-Up for naps and at night, but when she's up and around she wears tiny underwear. I am nearly ready to declare her potty trained (when she says she is, I agree, but I'm not saying it yet without the word "almost"). Here's some evidence that she probably is mostly there, though. Also, I know you love my poopoo stories... The other morning, before she got dressed, when she was still wearing her nighttime Pull-Up, she disappeared. When I heard the toilet lid, I calmly said, "Whatcha doing, kiddo?" because 2 year-olds and toilets are sometimes not a good mix. Her answer? "Poopin' in the potty," like that was what she always did. I peeked into the bathroom and she was wrestling out of her footie jammies. Then she sat on her little potty and made a big poop and I gave her 2 jelly beans (before breakfast) because I was so proud! She's done it a couple of times since then, too, but that was my first big hint that she's really ready for this finally.
* A couple of days ago I had something in my eye. I noticed it first in the morning so I did a lot of blinking and holding my hand over my eye so I didn't lose my contact and eventually the feeling went away. I assumed it was an eyelash. Later that evening I felt it again in my eye and went into the bathroom to check it out. After a few minutes of poking around I noticed something sticking out of my eye. It was ¾" of HAIR. Like from my head. And when I pulled it, it just kept coming. I had a 2" hair in my eye all day!! Um, ew? I almost threw it away but couldn't resist showing it to Husbandguy. He was characteristically unimpressed.
* My house is cleaner than it was when the computer left us on Monday morning. WAAAAY cleaner. Apparently I waste a lot of time sitting at this desk on a daily basis. I made a list of the things I did each day so I could refer to it next week when I'm tempted to revert to my old habits and sit here all day. The living room has been clean SINCE MONDAY and IT STAYED THAT WAY ALL WEEK! And the laundry is folded and put away. Did you hear me? I said it is PUT AWAY. HG is loving it. I like it too. PhD and I discussed me making myself a star chart, like the one I made Pete, that says that I can sit at the computer for an hour or whatever as long as I've finished this and that thing around the house...
I bet there are more things to report, but I've got work to do. Besides, what would I write about later if I post it all now?
* Lulu is almost exclusively wearing panties now. She sleeps in a Pull-Up for naps and at night, but when she's up and around she wears tiny underwear. I am nearly ready to declare her potty trained (when she says she is, I agree, but I'm not saying it yet without the word "almost"). Here's some evidence that she probably is mostly there, though. Also, I know you love my poopoo stories... The other morning, before she got dressed, when she was still wearing her nighttime Pull-Up, she disappeared. When I heard the toilet lid, I calmly said, "Whatcha doing, kiddo?" because 2 year-olds and toilets are sometimes not a good mix. Her answer? "Poopin' in the potty," like that was what she always did. I peeked into the bathroom and she was wrestling out of her footie jammies. Then she sat on her little potty and made a big poop and I gave her 2 jelly beans (before breakfast) because I was so proud! She's done it a couple of times since then, too, but that was my first big hint that she's really ready for this finally.
* A couple of days ago I had something in my eye. I noticed it first in the morning so I did a lot of blinking and holding my hand over my eye so I didn't lose my contact and eventually the feeling went away. I assumed it was an eyelash. Later that evening I felt it again in my eye and went into the bathroom to check it out. After a few minutes of poking around I noticed something sticking out of my eye. It was ¾" of HAIR. Like from my head. And when I pulled it, it just kept coming. I had a 2" hair in my eye all day!! Um, ew? I almost threw it away but couldn't resist showing it to Husbandguy. He was characteristically unimpressed.
* My house is cleaner than it was when the computer left us on Monday morning. WAAAAY cleaner. Apparently I waste a lot of time sitting at this desk on a daily basis. I made a list of the things I did each day so I could refer to it next week when I'm tempted to revert to my old habits and sit here all day. The living room has been clean SINCE MONDAY and IT STAYED THAT WAY ALL WEEK! And the laundry is folded and put away. Did you hear me? I said it is PUT AWAY. HG is loving it. I like it too. PhD and I discussed me making myself a star chart, like the one I made Pete, that says that I can sit at the computer for an hour or whatever as long as I've finished this and that thing around the house...
I bet there are more things to report, but I've got work to do. Besides, what would I write about later if I post it all now?
Friday, February 20, 2009
What If You Had a Coffee and Nobody Came?
That happened to me this morning. I think it happened once last year too. It was weird. And I had made biscotti. I know what happened. The date wasn't clearly communicated to everyone. I take partial responsibility for that. I thought about sending a note to everyone on the newsgroup a couple of days ago but didn't. The principal usually sends out an invitation and I left it for her. She did send one, but not until yesterday... Only she, one other person, and I were there.
It was okay, though. Nobody's feeling were hurt or anything, and I got a few minutes of 1-on-1 time with her to talk about Pete. And there were biscotti left over (all of the biscotti) for me to leave in the staff lounge where they'll be well received.
Still, it was weird. And a little embarrassing. So I sent a note out already about the next 2 coffees and am planning on sending another one when each of the dates get close. It basically said, "You were missed this morning. You missed out on homemade biscotti. Please come next time." I didn't think it was necessary to mention that only 1 person had come this time...
It was okay, though. Nobody's feeling were hurt or anything, and I got a few minutes of 1-on-1 time with her to talk about Pete. And there were biscotti left over (all of the biscotti) for me to leave in the staff lounge where they'll be well received.
Still, it was weird. And a little embarrassing. So I sent a note out already about the next 2 coffees and am planning on sending another one when each of the dates get close. It basically said, "You were missed this morning. You missed out on homemade biscotti. Please come next time." I didn't think it was necessary to mention that only 1 person had come this time...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
How to Aquire 11,507 Pairs of Sneakers*
I got stuck in the middle of writing this and did a little reading and came across Rene’s post (click here) and it got me thinking about my Love History with Husbandguy. How we met (working at Wal-Mart), our first date (when was that? the night we went out as friends when my real boyfriend had to study for mid-terms – he told us to go – or the next afternoon at Pizza Hut to talk about what had happened the night we went out as friends without my boyfriend or the actual first “official” date at the little Mexican place with the live music – Spanish mumbled into a microphone accompanied by chords on the little Yamaha keyboard?), romantic things we have done for each other (…?...)… This is where I got stuck again.
Huh. “Romantic” is not a word I would use to describe us. Not in the traditional sense. I don’t think either one of us wishes we were, either. Sure, he’s brought me flowers and/or chocolates once or twice and I enjoyed getting them, but I don’t need or expect them. I think, if I did need or expect them I’d be disappointed because that’s not his thing, and I knew that. Sure, I bake him cherry pies just because sometimes, and he does seem to appreciate it, but I don’t think he’d notice if I didn’t. We say “I love you” and kiss and hug and hold hands and sometimes sit close to each other and stuff, but nothing like scattering rose petals in the bath we’ve drawn for each other or writing or reading love poems for or to each other. Okay. Sometimes there are chocolate-covered strawberries, but often I buy them for myself and don’t share. Oh hey wait! This actually is romantic because I usually sincerely offer to share and he says “no” so I can have it all to myself. But see? Not traditional (he doesn’t feed me the strawberry). Comfortable.
HG and I have been married for 11 years this month. That's a long time. A friend of mine who knew us way back then commented that it didn't seem like it had been that long to him, but I don't feel that way. It's not that the past 11 years have dragged by or felt like an eternity or anything cranky like that. Just, so much has happened and/or changed since that drizzly spring day in 1998 that it wouldn't make sense for it to have been much less than 11 years ago. Do you know what I mean? It’s harder for me to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been in The South for 16 years or that next year HG will turn 40.
We have gray hair and wrinkles (just a few). We have a kid who rides the school bus and takes piano lessons and writes in cursive and a kid who now wears panties about 80% of the time and knows what sound Q makes. We've had 4 pets (5 if you count the resilient beta fish someone gave Pete for her 1st birthday - please don't give a child a fish for her 1st birthday without checking with her parents first). We've had a total of 7 different cars, 4 different TVs, 10 different jobs (between us), 3 different computers, 2 different couches, 11,507 pairs of sneakers, and 2 different mortgages (but just 1 house). HG isto blame responsible for the cars, TVs, and sneakers. We share the rest.
The Bradford pear tree in front of our house was held up by stakes when we moved in. Now it barely flinches when the wind gets strong or when Pete and her friends scramble up into its branches. Neighbors have come and gone. Friends, family, and other loved ones have gotten married or divorced (although no one we know did both in the last 11 years). Some have had children. Family members have passed on and are missed.
And I bet that’s not even half of it all.
You’ll get no shock or surprise or disbelief from me when I say out loud that we’ve been married 11 years. It’s a lot, but it’s not out of proportion. And just imagine what that pear tree will look like after another 11 years (maybe we’ll drive by and check it out on the way home to our 3rd mortgage).
*Thanks go to ...45aA for the title inspiration.
Huh. “Romantic” is not a word I would use to describe us. Not in the traditional sense. I don’t think either one of us wishes we were, either. Sure, he’s brought me flowers and/or chocolates once or twice and I enjoyed getting them, but I don’t need or expect them. I think, if I did need or expect them I’d be disappointed because that’s not his thing, and I knew that. Sure, I bake him cherry pies just because sometimes, and he does seem to appreciate it, but I don’t think he’d notice if I didn’t. We say “I love you” and kiss and hug and hold hands and sometimes sit close to each other and stuff, but nothing like scattering rose petals in the bath we’ve drawn for each other or writing or reading love poems for or to each other. Okay. Sometimes there are chocolate-covered strawberries, but often I buy them for myself and don’t share. Oh hey wait! This actually is romantic because I usually sincerely offer to share and he says “no” so I can have it all to myself. But see? Not traditional (he doesn’t feed me the strawberry). Comfortable.
HG and I have been married for 11 years this month. That's a long time. A friend of mine who knew us way back then commented that it didn't seem like it had been that long to him, but I don't feel that way. It's not that the past 11 years have dragged by or felt like an eternity or anything cranky like that. Just, so much has happened and/or changed since that drizzly spring day in 1998 that it wouldn't make sense for it to have been much less than 11 years ago. Do you know what I mean? It’s harder for me to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been in The South for 16 years or that next year HG will turn 40.
We have gray hair and wrinkles (just a few). We have a kid who rides the school bus and takes piano lessons and writes in cursive and a kid who now wears panties about 80% of the time and knows what sound Q makes. We've had 4 pets (5 if you count the resilient beta fish someone gave Pete for her 1st birthday - please don't give a child a fish for her 1st birthday without checking with her parents first). We've had a total of 7 different cars, 4 different TVs, 10 different jobs (between us), 3 different computers, 2 different couches, 11,507 pairs of sneakers, and 2 different mortgages (but just 1 house). HG is
The Bradford pear tree in front of our house was held up by stakes when we moved in. Now it barely flinches when the wind gets strong or when Pete and her friends scramble up into its branches. Neighbors have come and gone. Friends, family, and other loved ones have gotten married or divorced (although no one we know did both in the last 11 years). Some have had children. Family members have passed on and are missed.
And I bet that’s not even half of it all.
You’ll get no shock or surprise or disbelief from me when I say out loud that we’ve been married 11 years. It’s a lot, but it’s not out of proportion. And just imagine what that pear tree will look like after another 11 years (maybe we’ll drive by and check it out on the way home to our 3rd mortgage).
*Thanks go to ...45aA for the title inspiration.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
LL Says:
LL: I feel like I want to throw up, but I don't know how.
MN: What, sweetie?
LL (shrieking): YES I AM GOING TO!!
Then the poor kid proved to my shoes that she does indeed know how to throw up. Poor kid. She's only had 1 throw-up-free day since Saturday. I bet she's tired of it. I am.
MN: What, sweetie?
LL (shrieking): YES I AM GOING TO!!
Then the poor kid proved to my shoes that she does indeed know how to throw up. Poor kid. She's only had 1 throw-up-free day since Saturday. I bet she's tired of it. I am.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
What I (apparently) Need
Here’s how it works: Google “[your first name] needs” and share the first 10 results. That's it: it is that simple. But be honest! Tag the person who tagged you, and pass it on. (*NOTE: Be careful not to pull from other people's lists that pop up, but from actual links.)
1. Mommy’s Nintendo needs and deserves a lot of promotion. (you know it!)
2. What MN needs now. I guess learning about different methods to accept investors' backing. (I accept cash, check, gift cards...)
3. MN needs cement poured down her throat. (I disagree!)
4. MN Needs To Get Her Ears Cleaned. (huh?)
5. MN needs a strong man. ((blush))
6. MN needs to stop it. (sorry)
7. MN needs to turn 7 more or gain 163 more Vampire points to reach the next level. (you're next...)
8. MN needs to make a livable home for them and their son. (for whom and whose son? why is this my job?)
9. MN admits she needs anger management counselling. (I admit no such thing! and I'm totally ticked off that you'd say that about me!)
10. And of course MN needs a band-aid.
(I actually did the search using my real first name. You do it too, okay? I'm tagging You.)
1. Mommy’s Nintendo needs and deserves a lot of promotion. (you know it!)
2. What MN needs now. I guess learning about different methods to accept investors' backing. (I accept cash, check, gift cards...)
3. MN needs cement poured down her throat. (I disagree!)
4. MN Needs To Get Her Ears Cleaned. (huh?)
5. MN needs a strong man. ((blush))
6. MN needs to stop it. (sorry)
7. MN needs to turn 7 more or gain 163 more Vampire points to reach the next level. (you're next...)
8. MN needs to make a livable home for them and their son. (for whom and whose son? why is this my job?)
9. MN admits she needs anger management counselling. (I admit no such thing! and I'm totally ticked off that you'd say that about me!)
10. And of course MN needs a band-aid.
(I actually did the search using my real first name. You do it too, okay? I'm tagging You.)
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Bone Sticks Out When You Bend It
Did you cringe? When you read the title? I would have.
Our computer is busted. The left hinge is broken. It still closes and everything, but the case is cracked and the metal rod sticks out when it's shut. It's not a big deal except that we have to send it away to get it fixed so I'll be computer-less for at least a week very soon. I'm not looking forward to it, but the repair is free and maybe I can finish some projects around here while it's gone...
When I called customer service to set up the repair, the rep who answered the phone told me his name but I couldn't understand him. I asked him to repeat it but still didn't catch it so I said, "Could you spell that for me?" and he said, "F." Then he said, "That is all."
Oh. 'Kay then.
Our computer is busted. The left hinge is broken. It still closes and everything, but the case is cracked and the metal rod sticks out when it's shut. It's not a big deal except that we have to send it away to get it fixed so I'll be computer-less for at least a week very soon. I'm not looking forward to it, but the repair is free and maybe I can finish some projects around here while it's gone...
When I called customer service to set up the repair, the rep who answered the phone told me his name but I couldn't understand him. I asked him to repeat it but still didn't catch it so I said, "Could you spell that for me?" and he said, "F." Then he said, "That is all."
Oh. 'Kay then.
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