Weekend Link

I loved Alice's Wonderland post about breastfeeding: "Now show us your tits! Get that baby out of the way, first!"

This from Amalah, for Thomas love-to-haters everywhere: "Can Thomas and Al Gore save the day?"

And, a little Aloha from Karin.

This concludes NaBloPoMo. Thank you, and good night.

I Win Target Shopping

I shopped at Target three times today.

Three.

In one day.

Where's my prize?

Random Things To Fill NaBloPoMo Space

E3 wants to go back to Hawaii...so she can eat some more of that cereal. The super magical Hawaiian cereal she's speaking of? Rice Crispies. Of course, one could argue that they taste better when you eat them out on the balcony overlooking paradise and the ocean AND use a spoon with a bamboo-like handle.

"It's like a coconut tree on the handle!"

I'm not feeling the love from E2's first grade teacher this year and there have been several things lately that have me venting and lamenting to Rob. But E2 says Mrs G is a good teacher so maybe I should shut-it for a while and suck-up with a Christmas gift like I always do(winery gift certificate, because teachers are worthy of drunkeness! Actually, I leave the certificate blank - totally paving the way for any re-gifting they might choose to do).

E1's health is markedly improved from Tuesday, and if the classmate that had an emergency appendectomy about a week ago would return to class all would be pretty much right in her world.

E1 and E2 had toasted ravioli for the first time tonight. All the St Lou area readers are throwing marinara sauce at me now, I know. They're FINALLY choosing menu items besides chicken strips and cheese burgers and I owe it all to The Food Network - I'll have to write about that one of these days.

Now go on home and let me get to sleep - I have a long day tomorrow that includes shopping with my Mom for all the grandkids. It's mentally challenging for me to keep up with what we got for this one and what we still need for that one and let's not forget to look for this. I may need to break open my emergency bar of dark chocolate.

Stay tuned.

Dancing Finale

Well, I'm slightly underwhelmed that Helio and Julianne won...even though I thought they were a really great dancing team. I truly felt that Mel and Maks were the better pair overall. Also, I think Julianne can be kind of bratty on the show.

Poor little E2 was crushed by the results, or maybe just by the late ending of the show (a.k.a. well past bedtime).

I DID like the way they brought back the dancing pairs and had some of them perform again - they always do so much better when they're not being judged. Jennie Garth in particular gave a stellar performance.

It's been an exhausting day, beginning with me yelling out in my sleep at a dog that was showing some aggressive behavior and I couldn't think like Caesar fast enough.

E1 was coughing all night long, stayed home from school today, and got a bronchitis diagnosis from the doctor. She's feeling better already, but boy is that albuterol throwing her for a loop tonight!

There's a book fair at school this week, and I'm glad E1 is feeling well enough to attend school tomorrow. You see, last year the school hit upon the grand idea of 'invite a friend to lunch' day during the book fair week. So, it winds up being 'invite a friend to lunch so you can sucker them into buying you a bunch of books'. It worked on my Dad last year, and this year both of Rob's parents will be in attendance. Draw your own conclusion on that result.

This morning, after listening to E1 cough and hack up a lung, I put my ear to her chest and could hear some minor wheezing but couldn't decide whether I should bring her to the doctor. I decided to consult her - sure she's not even ten yet, but she's never been a faker when it comes to being sick.

"I want to go to the doctor."

A reply like that makes me wish that sometimes she was a faker; to hear her essentially say that yeah, that cough is really getting bad and I can tell I need medical intervention.

At the end of our appointment, when the doctor was writing out a prescription he asked if I'd prefer the medicine in liquid or pill form. I asked how many times a day she'd be taking it and he said just once a day. I turned to E1 and told her it was her choice, since she is able to swallow pills; did she want liquid medicine or a pill?

"Ummm, liquid."

I thought to mention that the liquid might taste bad, as antibiotics often do, but I figured she had her reasons for her choice. Both of her younger sisters still take liquid medicine when the need arises and I think she was wanting to go back to her younger days.

Once we arrived home I gave her the first dose of the pink, cherry-flavored concoction. Her reaction?

"That. tastes. terrible!"

"Yeah, I wondered how it would taste...." Live and learn, right?

Friday On Monday

I can't shake the feeling that today should be Friday.

Someone remind me to put the trash out tomorrow.

We've played so much Pay Day in the last week that I was feeling burn-out during last night's game. E2 insists on reading every advertisement and 'non-essential' piece of mail she draws; the rest of us are all "it's not a bill, your turn" as we try to maintain a forward momentum. E1 was unusually frugal during the game last night, despite our advice that taking a few risks was the only way she would earn more money. She came in last place, but with her integrity intact.

My feeling of being almost done Christmas shopping was shattered by a couple of gift exchange name draws last week.

Last dancing night for Dancing With The Stars! I'm voting for Mel and Max, I think, unless Helio and Julianne just knock my socks off tonight.

I also plan to enjoy Samantha Who?

Audience Participation

Now that NaBloPoMo is drawing to a close, I've been pondering a couple of things...

Why is it National? Aren't there participants from other countries?

More though, I've been thinking about other themes that could make up a month of posts. There's NaBloShoeMo, of course, but what other items could we turn into a topic for a month's worth of blog posts?

Personally, I think I could pull off NaBloSockMo as I have a much wider variety of socks at my disposal than I do shoes.

I'd venture a guess that my friend Glenda could lead the charge in NaBloCookBookMo because she likes to maintain a lively cook book collection.

What about you? If you could create your own NaBlofillintheblankMo what would it be?

Don't You Wish Your Chimney Was Hot Like Mine?

Chimney bling.

Fabulous fabricated metal chimney caps, product of Foreman Fabricators, Inc.

Weekend Link

Really the only link I need to post today, particularly if you're shopping online; Mir is your gal.

Both Rob's parents and my parents came from large families, and I can so relate to this statement from Dana's recent STL Today column. "It’s like speed dating, but with gobs of food and obligation."

"One of the weird things about parenthood is that one of the more gratifying experiences you can have is taking care of a sick kid. Sick kids are just about the saddest, most pathetic creatures this side of three-legged dogs." Bob Rybarczyk is another STL Today columnist, and I use his full name because he admits to sometimes googling himself. Hi Bob!

Happy Thanksgiving

Turkey, taters, and pie - oh my!

Lame, I know, but I'm tired. A good time was had by all.

Squeaking One In

Totally phoning a post in under the wire. Spent too much time playing Payday!

Retire Your Rake

You need one of these instead:

It's the only thing keeping my kids from certain leaf burial.

Creating A Monster?

Or preventing shopper's rage?

Fresh from the toy closet at Grandma and Grandpa's:



We're hoping this game will help the girls, particularly E1, learn how to handle money. Physically handle it. She struggles with balancing the holding of her purse while counting out the cash she needs to make a purchase. It doesn't help that she hoards one dollar bills, even when we offer to trade for a larger denomination bill.

A couple of weeks ago while in the checkout line at Target, she made me hold her purse while she began peeling off one dollar bills for a $20 purchase...and then the conveyor belt began moving her dollars down the line, marching them to their destiny, and she tried to grab them, and...it was just a crazy mess.

At least it's an improvement over the old days when she would kneel on the floor in a store, purse unzipped and miscellaneous items lying about, in order to count out how much money she needed.

Now we just need to carve out some time to play the darn thing.

You Know, My Online Friend...

Today's issue of Parade Magazine has an article about forging friendships over these here internets. We're just a City of Bloggerly Love, my friends.

I Am Tired

I was up far too late last night, skulking around the internets for Christmas gift ideas.

I've got some Christmas gift organizing to do so I know where I'm at with all of that, and the place where they're all stored is massively cluttered. Do. Not. Want. To. Enter.

I'm drowning in papers, papers, and more papers that are the result of having two kids in school, Girl Scouts, and children's choir.

I have fluffed the same load of laundry three times now so it won't be wrinkled when I hang it up - but I never stay around until the dryer stops.

I bought new sheers for the living room and I can't get them to work with the pin hooks that were on the old curtains, or the other pin hooks my Mom gave me.

I'm going to take a nap.

Weekend Link

At The Silent I you can read a little about the hows and whys of all those poisonous toys we're importing.

This is something I've received as email a few times now, but it never fails to crack me up almost as much as the Chuck Norris Action Jeans (be sure to read the comments).

Finally, a game, complete with a sarcastic nemesis, to kick off your weekend.

Post-Halloween Conversation

"She had the books ready for me and I stopped by on my way home, but I was still wearing my Madonna costume."

"The singer, or the virgin?"

"The singer, circa Lucky Star."

How Do You Mend A Broken Jack-o-lantern?

With a pumpkin patch! HA!

A side-benefit of having school-aged kids is re-learning things you may have forgotten since grade school (for me, that would be most of the math), and learning new things.

A couple of weeks ago, I learned from E1's Illinois Ag Mag (part of the Illinois Agriculture In The Classroom program) that: "Illinois farmers grow more pumpkins than anywhere else in the world. In fact, they grow 90% of the pumpkins used in processing. Most of that takes place in Morton, Illinois - The Pumpkin Capital of the World."

Right here in our own state! The Pumpkin Capital of the WORLD, people!

Included in the Ag Mag is information about the nutritional benefits of pumpkins, the life cycle of a pumpkin, the history of jack-o-lanterns, and jokes like the one above. Best of all, according to E1, was a pumpkin pie recipe that the Ag Classroom lady made for them - in the classroom. We tried it this week, after I came across a 6-pack of mini graham cracker pie crusts, and I adjusted the directions for E1 to make it in our kitchen instead of the 'on location' style of the original (which is on the last page of that link). There was far more pie filling than we could use in the minis, so I baked a regular pie crust and put the rest of the filling in the cooled crust - we haven't tasted it yet, but I suspect it will very close in taste to a regular pumpkin pie.

It was declared yummy by all, and the girls usually aren't interested in regular pumpkin pie. Plus, it's no-bake so it's a little less time consuming. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pudding Pie

2 2/3 cups cold milk
2 packages (4 serving size) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 can (15 ozs.) solid-pack pumpkin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
Graham cracker pie crust, or mini pie crusts
whipped topping

Combine milk and instant pudding in a large bowl and mix well.

Add the pumpkin, cinnamon, and ginger; mix well.

Put mixture in graham cracker crust; refrigerate until ready to serve.

Garnish with whipped topping.

Possibly Only Funny To Our Family

Or, really, only funny to Rob.


Lunchtime conversation:

E3: "Do you know anything about a dead cat?"

Nephew F: "Whipper* got runned over by a truck!"

E3: "Dead Cat Stew!"


*My parents dog.

It's Tuesday All Day

Just putting that up there for a personal reminder- feel free to use it as well.

Between Innocence and P.C.

Last night Rob told me about two separate instances with the girls, where they referenced a 'person of color', an African-American, a black person.

E2, watching a competition of some sort announced that she was rooting for the guy with the brown skin.

E1, after watching an Alltel Wireless commercial, asked why the dark skinned guy was mad at the guy who broke his bobblehead.

Rob wondered if their comments were appropriate, and if maybe we should give them other words to use to avoid offending others. To me, they were simply describing a physical characteristic in the same way they would a hair or eye color; skin color is a quick and obvious distinction.

But is that a naieve way of thinking? Should we give them other vocabulary to use? And what is acceptible and non-offensive?

If paint color can have yummy and delicious descriptions, why can't there be unique descriptors for skin color?

See the woman with the caramel-colored skin?

Of course, that would open things up for people to refer to me as the pasty white one...

We're living in a mostly-white area, but we often leave the sticks to travel to the big city. I'd love to hear how you've handled, or would handle this, in your neck of the woods.

From the 3 Year Old

"I don't like just one pony tail. It's NOT a good look."

Fashion, Party of Three

Once the cooler weather of fall started to make an appearance this year I began the mostly bi-annual, but sometimes tri-annual, task of Switching The Clothes. I've got bins of girl clothing, sorted by size, waiting for each kiddo to grow into them. Even E1 has clothing waiting in the wings for her since we get gently-used fashion from Rob's youngest cousin (He's the oldest of 24 grand kids; S is the youngest and only 4yrs older than E1).

This 'chain of clothing' system has many benefits - money-savings, of course, and not just because we don't have to buy much for the girls. The E's sort of equate the tubs-o-clothing with being shopped for...like that next tub is all select items chosen just for them by a personal shopper. E1 is almost ten and very, very rarely asks to buy clothing in a store.

Yes, I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

In the past, it's taken E2 three or so years to fit into the items E1 has outgrown. This does not diminish E1's love for said outgrown clothing; apparently for her, absence makes the heart grow fonder about favorite tops, skirts, and dresses. She has great love for certain beloved items that no longer fit her, and she's not above harboring some resentment that said item may fit E2 this season. I dread pulling some of those favorites out of the tub...

This year E2 is at a weird place size-wise. She has somehow stretched her torso over the summer, and combined with the school rule that midriffs must be covered EVEN when arms are upraised, she's needing the length of the shirts E2 has just outgrown. Of course, they're too long in the sleeves and too wide through the shoulders.

The curse of hand-me-downs, no matter how gently used, is that styles change. I try to be mindful of that and pass the not-so-classically styled things on rather than store them for years before they'll fit E2. In this case however, the tops aren't out of style but they ARE part of the short-midriff-exposing phase on the fashion time-line.

Some days I consider just donating it all and starting anew, but the cost and the insanity of negotiating that many clothing purchases with the girls slaps me back to reality pretty quick. That leaves me with E2 in either over-sized but midriff covering shirts, or well-fitting midriff exposing shirts (and she's a freak for the jungle gym bars so asking her to keep her arms down is out), and wondering how to bridge the gap. I kept seeing, and coveting, the more recent styles with the layered tanks and tees that come down well below the waistline...and then I did a V-8 type smack to the forehead.

A longer tee or tank as a foundation piece! DUH.

I've been looking for a while now, and while we have plenty of under-tanks, and camisoles, none of them are long. Earlier this week it finally occurred to me - why not ask those younger cousins of Rob's where they get their long tanks? Even if they have outgrown of girls' sizes, it would still be a lead in the search. DUH again.

After a quick email I had five or six store suggestions, and I struck gold (and a sale!) on my first stop Thursday at Kohl's

The Frugal Fashion System has been saved for another season!

Weekend Link

Today's first link, is mostly for my St. Louis area peeps...BUT it could come in handy if you find yourself in the lovely Gateway to the West. Sauce Magazine is something we came across at a restaurant in St. Louis. Now, Rob brings them home for me every month and reading it kindles the foodie wanna-be in me. Their website offers a search tool for St. Louis dining.

Muscat Love is still a little new to me, but I find it interesting to read bloggers like Jennifer who live outside of the U.S. Enjoy your virtual visit to Oman, please act respectable and keep your head screwed on straight*.

I clicked through Becky's comment on Mamalogues to discover her blog AL-O-HA! Having been fortunate to visit the islands twice, it's a destination near and dear to our hearts. Becky is an Army Wife, and her husband Jim just returned home after 15 months of duty and was still game to dress-up for Halloween.

On to the weekend.

*A popular Dad-ism from My Dad, sometimes preceded by "Now, this is a high-class joint.."

Ticking Away

Free Christmas Countdown Generator

Missing Your Daily Mir?

I was! She's having server (or something, I'm really not sure) issues with both the WouldaCoulda site and WantNot.net. She's still posting at her WorkIt! blog though, and has started listing some of her WantNot deals there. With the upcoming holidays, this is a good thing.

Of Lawyerly Legend

After once again marveling about yesterday's turn of events, I gave my first ever deposition today and was told I did a good job. Still, it was pretty strange, going through what I could remember from five years ago; there were repeated questions focused on events that I barely recall which just made me very curious about...whatever they were trying to get at.

Did you see...?

Do you recall...?

Was there any...?

In the end, the lawyer for the defense said I did some damage to both sides and the lawyer for the plaintiff agreed. They've pushed off the trial until January so they'll be drawing from a new jury pool - they don't want to risk pulling one of the jurors that was present again for this trial. It's understandable - one of my fellow jurors, a friend, called me last night to check on me.

Did they throw you in the clink?

He reported that they dismissed the jurors soon after I was pulled into the conference room, but they never saw me leave...and they were all speculating about the case amongst themselves.

So, I should be treated to another 'first' in the next few months. Being subpoenaed.

I requested they deliver it during the morning so as not to interrupt nap time. Hey, I gotta manage my day-job, right?

Jury Duty Twilight Zone

Today I went to the county courthouse for jury duty. Less than an hour into proceedings I was dismissed as a juror…because they want to depose me as a possible witness.

I think it was almost five years ago that I happened by an accident where a girl had cut her arm in front of an apartment building. She’s suing the landlords estate. When I explained how I was familiar with the case I think the lawyers for both sides dropped a load in their pants. “We’ve been looking for you,” is what the one said.

I've had the song How Bizarre running through my head ever since.

SWEET!

I finally got my NaBloPoMo badge fixed!

Not Speaking

E2 lost her voice Thursday night and, concerned about the next day of school, asked me to write her teacher a note. Those I considered:

Mrs G,

E2 has lost her voice! We’re still looking for it here at home, but until it turns up please remind her to go easy on the whisper-talking.

Nancy R

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs G,

E2 has lost her voice! Enjoy it while you can!

Nancy R

Shopping Like The Hillbillies

Lake Ozark

So, yes, I came back from my outlet shopping adventure without shoes, shoes, and shoes. I cleaned up at Eddie Bauer though, which was nice, and I got a great corduroy jacket too.

Our group was fortunate in that one of the Aunts present has friends with two condos only about a mile from the Osage Beach Outlet mall. Considering the size of our group, this was far nicer than getting hotel rooms. The size of our group, while it didn't surprise me, apparently caused astonishment with some of the other girls' friends and co-workers; there were 18 of us.

Those in attendance:

Grandma's three daughters and three daughters-in-law, 11 of her granddaughters, and me granddaughter-in-law...oh, and one nursling great-granddaughter.

We had breakfast at Panera, and then shopped our feet off from 9am until 7pm when we were to meet for dinner. About 45 minutes before our dinner reservation, my Mother-in-law and I decided we'd visited all the stores we wanted to and so we parked the car in front of the restaurant to hang out and wait. We both sorted through our purses in an attempt to put them back together, what with the various receipts, pre-printed outlet mall coupons, and one dollar bills that had been haphazardly shoved back in throughout the day. I declared myself ready to visit the gentleman's club we'd seen on the way into town I had so many singles; the resulting laughter confirmed that we were slap-happy. I tried my best to chill out with my eyes closed because my eyes were dry, it felt like a migraine was coming on, and my feet and legs were aching.

Our group converged upon Stockton's Pub and Grill for a pre-arranged shop and sip dining package. They made a table big enough for ALL of us and we enjoyed appetizers paired with wines, and generally...just took up space for two hours. The service and the food was fantastic. So was the wine.

Wimmin Folk

Actually, more wine was consumed both Friday and Saturday nights than anything else - the whiskey bucket that was threatened never appeared, the rum and juice I brought were never opened, and only a few beers were consumed.

As we were sitting around the faux fire place, the heat-less flames silently flickering, there were several stories of calls home to flustered, irritated Dad/Husbands and I was so glad that's not how Rob is or ever has been. He just handles things and lets me enjoy myself.

My call home was me complaining that I could probably chop my feet off right at the ankles and not notice because they'd lost most circulation by then, and a group good night with E2 and E3. E1 was at a sleepover, but I'd spoken with her earlier in the day when I called from a shoe store to check shoe sizes, and E1 valiantly sifted through each of their closets to help me out.

Overall, it was a grand weekend - I'm looking forward to next year.

Weekend Links

Last weekend I did the link thing and it was fun to share, so I'm doing it again and may continue until we all get sick of it! Whee!

First, go see! Go look! I won SpacyTracie's blog trivia contest! I feel like I had an advantage, since I've been on a message board with Tracie for almost ten years now...but I'm taking the win! Thanks, Tracie!

Next, Julia over at Kidneys and Eyes is also participating in NaBloPoMo and following a theme of life with her Super Special Kiddos. I don't know how she does all she does, and then manages to write so well about it, but it makes for some enjoyable reading. Also, she has beans in her header; kidneys...beans...get it? HA! It's brilliant.

Finally, once again I finish with a blogger that is not exactly a new discovery...BUT, Miss Zoot is not only participating in NaBloPoMo, but she's upped the ante and has challenged herself to write 100 posts this month. This is a good thing for everyone because she has a lot to say, and it's darn funny to read along. Today, she comes clean about not understanding how Facebook works - I feel exactly the same way. I have an account and am 'friends' with several of Rob's young cousins, my Godchild, and other bloggers...but I don't get it. Message boards and blogs are so much simpler. I need to have one of those whippersnappers give me a guided tour, I guess.

Have a great weekend!

Day One

We're all drunk on candy; peanutty on the left, peanut-free on the right, grown-up candy in the back.

Day one of Nablopomo (National Blog Posting Month), and I still can't figure out how to get rid of the little red x box next to my Nablopomo badge.

I DO have this to share from my email spam:

wokna pod vjetrznjokami ale i wokno wotmika o

Screw around and get paid, but you need a big tusk

I know.

Life's all about those things that make you go hmmm? isn't it?