Tuesday, November 30, 2004
A year ago...
A year ago I was busily making plans for my daughter's wedding. Well, actually, the PLANS were all made, it was finding the money to have the plans all come together that was so stressful.
But, from this vantage point, it doesn't seem like it was that stressful at all! In fact, it all seems like it was great fun.
Thankfully, I do have a memory, and I remember thinking how much easier it would be if they just eloped. We could have handed them a wad of cash and saved ourselves a ton of work.
I also remember that it was a year ago when our dryer broke. We are not the kind of people who can plan a wedding and replace a dryer in the same decade. We still don't have a dryer. BUT, I did learn something wonderful that I will pass on to you, just incase you ever find yourself without a dryer.
It is possible to dry an entire EXTRA LARGE load of (extra large) underwear on an undecorated Christmas tree. Really, I kid you not. It will dry overnight. Ours looked rather festive, with bras draped around it like garland.
My husband and children thought that this was dispicable, but they did like having dry underwear, sans the 'basement' smell.
This year, we did not put up the large tree. We found a smaller one at a thrift store a few weeks back, and set it right up in the living room. Out of the deep love and respect I have for each of my family members, I have refrained from hanging underwear on it. I hope my thoughtfulness shows up in gifts for me beneath the tree.
I also remember that last year we thought that our financial troubles would come to an end once the wedding festivities were over. What fools these mortals be.
But, from this vantage point, it doesn't seem like it was that stressful at all! In fact, it all seems like it was great fun.
Thankfully, I do have a memory, and I remember thinking how much easier it would be if they just eloped. We could have handed them a wad of cash and saved ourselves a ton of work.
I also remember that it was a year ago when our dryer broke. We are not the kind of people who can plan a wedding and replace a dryer in the same decade. We still don't have a dryer. BUT, I did learn something wonderful that I will pass on to you, just incase you ever find yourself without a dryer.
It is possible to dry an entire EXTRA LARGE load of (extra large) underwear on an undecorated Christmas tree. Really, I kid you not. It will dry overnight. Ours looked rather festive, with bras draped around it like garland.
My husband and children thought that this was dispicable, but they did like having dry underwear, sans the 'basement' smell.
This year, we did not put up the large tree. We found a smaller one at a thrift store a few weeks back, and set it right up in the living room. Out of the deep love and respect I have for each of my family members, I have refrained from hanging underwear on it. I hope my thoughtfulness shows up in gifts for me beneath the tree.
I also remember that last year we thought that our financial troubles would come to an end once the wedding festivities were over. What fools these mortals be.
Evan. His name is Evan.
Yes. This really did happen. I forgot my son's name. Blank. Just TOTALLY went blank.
This happened almost 21 years ago, just shortly after the birth of my youngest son. Who, by the way, weighed in at 10 lbs. 8 and one half ounces. This is the child we did not have a name for until the month he was born. And then, he was born two weeks early.
When he was 9 days old, and still sleeping a lot - a lot more than his brother and sister ever did, we attended a party in honor of my grandmother's 80th birthday. It did seem a bit surprising to me that this 9 day old baby stayed deeply asleep while being passed around by his adoring relatives.
Later in the day, while nursing him, I noticed that he felt quite warm and didn't seem hungry. A call to the doctor informed us that 9 day old babies should NOT have fevers, and to bring him in to the ER right away. From there, he ended up being admitted to the pediatric isolation wing. He was the only kid there. Everyone kept saying how tiny he looked, which isn't what they were saying in the nursery just a few days before.
Anyway...several people came into the room while he was being checked in, and also checked over. By now, it is late in the evening.
A woman comes in to take down information. I am sitting in a chair, tired, afraid, and experiencing the pain that only comes from having a child who should be nursing, but doesn't feel like it. This woman commented on how cute he was and how tiny he looked in the metal cage-like crib he was in. Then she asked me his name.
Name?
I looked at this child that I already loved so deeply with my whole heart, but...what's his name? I did not know. After all, hadn't we just met? And, I had a different named picked out for him, but his father didn't like it. His name. What DID we name this kid? Although it probably was only a matter of minutes, for what seemed like an eternity, I could not think of his name.
I sort of acted choked up about him being sick and all. Finally, it came to me, his name is EVAN.
And, he ended up being just fine. No long term damage from having had a fever, which he most likely caught from his sister, the 18 month old, who developed a high fever and a bad ear infection the very next day.
I, on the other hand, am still suffering from the long term damage...
This happened almost 21 years ago, just shortly after the birth of my youngest son. Who, by the way, weighed in at 10 lbs. 8 and one half ounces. This is the child we did not have a name for until the month he was born. And then, he was born two weeks early.
When he was 9 days old, and still sleeping a lot - a lot more than his brother and sister ever did, we attended a party in honor of my grandmother's 80th birthday. It did seem a bit surprising to me that this 9 day old baby stayed deeply asleep while being passed around by his adoring relatives.
Later in the day, while nursing him, I noticed that he felt quite warm and didn't seem hungry. A call to the doctor informed us that 9 day old babies should NOT have fevers, and to bring him in to the ER right away. From there, he ended up being admitted to the pediatric isolation wing. He was the only kid there. Everyone kept saying how tiny he looked, which isn't what they were saying in the nursery just a few days before.
Anyway...several people came into the room while he was being checked in, and also checked over. By now, it is late in the evening.
A woman comes in to take down information. I am sitting in a chair, tired, afraid, and experiencing the pain that only comes from having a child who should be nursing, but doesn't feel like it. This woman commented on how cute he was and how tiny he looked in the metal cage-like crib he was in. Then she asked me his name.
Name?
I looked at this child that I already loved so deeply with my whole heart, but...what's his name? I did not know. After all, hadn't we just met? And, I had a different named picked out for him, but his father didn't like it. His name. What DID we name this kid? Although it probably was only a matter of minutes, for what seemed like an eternity, I could not think of his name.
I sort of acted choked up about him being sick and all. Finally, it came to me, his name is EVAN.
And, he ended up being just fine. No long term damage from having had a fever, which he most likely caught from his sister, the 18 month old, who developed a high fever and a bad ear infection the very next day.
I, on the other hand, am still suffering from the long term damage...
"My car is blue"
Okay. I said I would post it later. And since dozens and dozens of people have not asked for me to explain, I thought that I would.
I once was the person that EPS Alarms called if the security alarm went off after hours at my son's school. I lived the closest, and that was my 'parent contribution'. This certainly beat vacuuming.
Well, one day the alarm went off. This was actually the first time I had to take the call, as my husband is always much faster at getting out of the house than I am. But, he wasn't home.
The woman from EPS said that the alarm had gone off, and could I come to the school with the key. I said yes, silently cursing myself for not being showered, dressed, made up and knowing where my keys were. She asked how long it would take me to get there (under five minutes) and what kind of car did I have (i didn't have a clue). Really. Such a deep question. I did not know what kind of car I had. All I knew was that it was blue, and looked like a 'grandpa' car. Thankfully, this was enough information for the EPS lady. Although, she did laugh a bit.
So, the whole episode was really nothing. A teacher had come in after hours, and didn't get the alarm code in quickly enough, and the door to the office was locked, so he could not call it in himself.
But, for my self sacrificing parent contribution, I get years of embarrassment. Now my children always quiz me on what kind of car I have (i no longer have a car - my husband's car is a black ford focus with a dent on the driver side).
By the way, my son now has my old 'blue' car, and I still don't know what it is, although I've been told. I just can't seem to have it mean enough to me to remember it. It is an '88. Maybe a 1992 '88. An Oldsmobile, I think.
Anyway, that is nothing compared to the time I forgot my kid's name...
I once was the person that EPS Alarms called if the security alarm went off after hours at my son's school. I lived the closest, and that was my 'parent contribution'. This certainly beat vacuuming.
Well, one day the alarm went off. This was actually the first time I had to take the call, as my husband is always much faster at getting out of the house than I am. But, he wasn't home.
The woman from EPS said that the alarm had gone off, and could I come to the school with the key. I said yes, silently cursing myself for not being showered, dressed, made up and knowing where my keys were. She asked how long it would take me to get there (under five minutes) and what kind of car did I have (i didn't have a clue). Really. Such a deep question. I did not know what kind of car I had. All I knew was that it was blue, and looked like a 'grandpa' car. Thankfully, this was enough information for the EPS lady. Although, she did laugh a bit.
So, the whole episode was really nothing. A teacher had come in after hours, and didn't get the alarm code in quickly enough, and the door to the office was locked, so he could not call it in himself.
But, for my self sacrificing parent contribution, I get years of embarrassment. Now my children always quiz me on what kind of car I have (i no longer have a car - my husband's car is a black ford focus with a dent on the driver side).
By the way, my son now has my old 'blue' car, and I still don't know what it is, although I've been told. I just can't seem to have it mean enough to me to remember it. It is an '88. Maybe a 1992 '88. An Oldsmobile, I think.
Anyway, that is nothing compared to the time I forgot my kid's name...
Friday, November 26, 2004
The day after...
Ah, the day after Thanksgiving! I did not go to a mall or major store of any kind. Just a trip to the neighborhood thrift store, where they had all of their clothes half off. That is, the clothes that they sell were 50 % off. Had to clear that up.
Anyway, I hate to shop, except for books, art supplies and antiques. I did find a sweater, and also two children's books for 10 cents.
I finally finished reading Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres". It took me awhile, because I was reading at night, but two nights ago it just got TOO interesting, and I couldn't put it down until it fell from my hands when I fell asleep. So, this morning I finished it. Now I want to join a book club to discuss it.
Tonight I got in two games of Scrabble with my daughter while the guys watched the Pistons play. I won both games. Not because I have any real Scrabble playing skill, but because I happened to draw great letters both times.
Then, as soon as the last game was over, I painted the letter holders black and glued on letters for every family member's name as place cards for St. Nicholas Eve dinner next Sunday, and then to use to mark whose stocking is whose. They look really nice!
Anyway, I hate to shop, except for books, art supplies and antiques. I did find a sweater, and also two children's books for 10 cents.
I finally finished reading Jane Smiley's "A Thousand Acres". It took me awhile, because I was reading at night, but two nights ago it just got TOO interesting, and I couldn't put it down until it fell from my hands when I fell asleep. So, this morning I finished it. Now I want to join a book club to discuss it.
Tonight I got in two games of Scrabble with my daughter while the guys watched the Pistons play. I won both games. Not because I have any real Scrabble playing skill, but because I happened to draw great letters both times.
Then, as soon as the last game was over, I painted the letter holders black and glued on letters for every family member's name as place cards for St. Nicholas Eve dinner next Sunday, and then to use to mark whose stocking is whose. They look really nice!
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Thanksgiving
My catagory of thanks:
FAMILY: #1 - My husband. The man who stood by through all the problems I never would have had if I hadn't married him.
#2 - My children. Who had the audacity to grow up and leave me wondering what it is I'm supposed to do now.
#3 - My parents. For mellowing into people who truly appreciate who their daughters have become.
#4 - My sisters. Who have put up with having a spoiled rotten little sister for 46 years.
#5 - My pets. They know what I am really like, and they still want to sit on my lap.
HOME: #1 - My new dishwasher. I'm really shallow about this. I don't have a clothes dryer. I can live without that. But the dishwasher...wow...
#2 - My fireplace. NOTHING says 'home' to me more than my fireplace. Even though I've never had another home that had one.
#3 - My cheap old thrift store furniture. Whoever said it takes a lot of money to turn a house into a home hasn't spent a weekend shopping with my husband, who can find treasure anywhere (even in me).
#4 - Two bathrooms. 'nough said.
#5 - Porches. Front and back. Front with a swing and a bunch of odd wicker. Back with four shelves of window filled with cobalt blue glass. Lovely.
THINGS: #1 - Books. Hundreds and hundreds of books to read, to shelf, to hold up lamps. Can't have too many books.
#2 - Art supplies. Rubberstamps, ink pads, scissors, cutters, punches, markers, paints, brushes, paper...paper...and more paper. To create and experiment. To float away on an idea. To puzzle over. To dream...
#3 - Notebooks and journals and pencils and pens. Thoughts and doodles, side by side. What could be more inspiring?
#4 - Old Scrabble games. To play with. To glue letters onto things. To pile up in massive amounts for a rainy day. To possess.
#5 - Antiques. To ponder over. To display. To dust, and dust, and dust.
AND ALSO: #1 - My grand dogs. They stink, they run away, they come back. They love unconditionally.
#2 - My laptop. I like it. I own it. And I don't own much.
#3 - My two year old friend who reminds me that I should jump up and down when my husband comes home while yelling 'your friend!, your friend!, your friend is here!'
#4 - Food. Yum.
# 5 - Humor. Without it, I would have drifted far far away...
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Things I collect
Old baby bottles
Swan planters
Pastel planters
Cobalt blue glass
Baby plates
Odd pieces of china
Books
old children's books
classics
devotionals
art books
actually, ANY books
Scrabble letters
Postcards
Multi-tasking in my 40's
The 7am Hour -
Watch Fox/News, blog, look through a stack of magazines, rub the dog's tummy, hold a cat on my lap and excercise my calves (the ones on my legs), drink coffee
Watch Fox/News, blog, look through a stack of magazines, rub the dog's tummy, hold a cat on my lap and excercise my calves (the ones on my legs), drink coffee
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
A weird combination of words
What is it with people saying 'went missing'? When did this become the way to announce to the world that someone is lost?
This is right up there with 'irregardless' and 'a whole nother'.
This is right up there with 'irregardless' and 'a whole nother'.
