I needed to break off a branch of the aloe vera plant to rub on the all the cuts I got pulling the weeds around the ... aloe vera plant. It injures and then heals!
There are at least two lizards living in the aloe vera. They eat bugs. This is not a hazard, but a good thing as far as I can tell. They don't mind me, I don't mind them, we co-exist peacefully.
Sunscreen is a good thing. Shoulders are pink, arms are brown, ears red. I have a tan line on my wrists from wearing gardening gloves. Must purchase big floppy sun hat.
My new strength training regimen consists of a shovel. That's the only equipment needed. Well, and some dirt. I never knew what a workout you can get digging - arms, shoulders, legs, butt, I can even feel it in my abs.
When you hear rustling nearby when you turn on the garden hose, step away and watch. Yes, we had a snake in the yard (under the banana tree, where no one goes anyway, and we have frequently seen frogs toads and other things yummy to snakes). As best I can tell, I don't think it's poisonous or otherwise dangerous. It disappeared and hasn't been seen again. Also as far as I can tell, blonde woman with shovel beats snake in most battles.
Not a gardening hazard exactly, but: If you don't want your mom (who is coming for a visit in 11 days, and is terrified of both flying, which she is about to do, and snakes) to know there was a snake in the yard, then don't tell your son as he is dialing her number, "Whatever you do, DON'T tell Grandma there was a snake in the yard!!!" Because the surest way to get a child to do something is to tell them not to, and of course then the first thing he said when she answered the phone was, "Grandma we saw a snake in the yard!!!!" (Which he in fact did not see.)
And finally, who wants to take bets on how many things will actually grow when as soon as I had some seeds planted and done, Turner immediately went over and sat in the garden patch to play in the dirt?
Monday, April 07, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Why does my garden grow
There were lots of things that prompted me to consider a garden. I just read Michael Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food, (which I highly recommend, btw) and one of his tips is to grow a garden - the ultimate in local, seasonal, organic eating.
The increasing food prices have made me think about it too - it's not hurting our budget too much yet, as we don't eat a lot of the foods showing the biggest increases - little meat, we've cut back on dairy already - but it is enough that if we grow our own produce, or what we can, then we don't have to be as bothered by the increases in other things.
I've also thought this would be good for the boys. Our kids (and adults) are often so separated form nature, and our food supply, that they don't get it at all. We don't know where our food is coming from, what it looks like growing, what it tastes like fresh.
And so I decided what the heck, let's give it a shot.
Only I've never been successful as growing any non-human living things before (I've had a few pets, but I've not been the best pet owner and they've mostly been other people's responsibilities, and I've become allergic to cats and dogs), and I've never really witnessed gardening in action, and I'm basically clueless as to what I'm doing. My dad grew a garden a few years when I was little, but I didn't pay much attention to what he actually DID, just helped pick, prepare and eat things when they were ready. Last year we tried a couple strawberry plants, but the birds always got to the berries before we did, and I gave up on it pretty fast.
I've gotten some books from the library, found some good websites, and gotten reassurance from the guy working at Lowe's that it's just not that hard, and we can really grow just about anything here. I got a few tomato plants yesterday, put the cherry tomatoes in barrels and put the tomatoes in the ground. Guthrie and I planted some flowers, and put some cilantro and basil in some other little containers. Containers are not nearly as intimidating as digging up the lawn and putting things in.
I find the whole thing frightening and intimidating, but a little exciting, and I feel good already having started.
Just now, we went out in the back and I started digging, trying to get the grass pulled up out of the ground. (Turner does not seem to be scared of the shovel today.) I can tell the garden is going to be good for me in more ways than one - healthy fresh veggies for fuel, and the workout that is digging, shoveling, hoeing, and planting. I'm hoping the boys will be more eager to eat more veggies if they have helped grow them too.
It's an adventure for me, and we'll see how it goes. If the only thing we get out of it is some tomatoes and playing in the dirt, it will be time well spent.
The increasing food prices have made me think about it too - it's not hurting our budget too much yet, as we don't eat a lot of the foods showing the biggest increases - little meat, we've cut back on dairy already - but it is enough that if we grow our own produce, or what we can, then we don't have to be as bothered by the increases in other things.
I've also thought this would be good for the boys. Our kids (and adults) are often so separated form nature, and our food supply, that they don't get it at all. We don't know where our food is coming from, what it looks like growing, what it tastes like fresh.
And so I decided what the heck, let's give it a shot.
Only I've never been successful as growing any non-human living things before (I've had a few pets, but I've not been the best pet owner and they've mostly been other people's responsibilities, and I've become allergic to cats and dogs), and I've never really witnessed gardening in action, and I'm basically clueless as to what I'm doing. My dad grew a garden a few years when I was little, but I didn't pay much attention to what he actually DID, just helped pick, prepare and eat things when they were ready. Last year we tried a couple strawberry plants, but the birds always got to the berries before we did, and I gave up on it pretty fast.
I've gotten some books from the library, found some good websites, and gotten reassurance from the guy working at Lowe's that it's just not that hard, and we can really grow just about anything here. I got a few tomato plants yesterday, put the cherry tomatoes in barrels and put the tomatoes in the ground. Guthrie and I planted some flowers, and put some cilantro and basil in some other little containers. Containers are not nearly as intimidating as digging up the lawn and putting things in.
I find the whole thing frightening and intimidating, but a little exciting, and I feel good already having started.
Just now, we went out in the back and I started digging, trying to get the grass pulled up out of the ground. (Turner does not seem to be scared of the shovel today.) I can tell the garden is going to be good for me in more ways than one - healthy fresh veggies for fuel, and the workout that is digging, shoveling, hoeing, and planting. I'm hoping the boys will be more eager to eat more veggies if they have helped grow them too.
It's an adventure for me, and we'll see how it goes. If the only thing we get out of it is some tomatoes and playing in the dirt, it will be time well spent.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Because there is something to be said for feeling like a 12-year-old girl again
and
So, we don't have a TV or cable, so I'm checking to see if I can watch this live online. And if not, I've gotta figure out where I can go to see it live, even that early in the morning. (Denny's?)
Oh, yes, I am a total dork. But, see, it gets worse. My bedroom, when I was 12 or so, actually looked like this:
Okay, stop laughing. I'll wait. Done?
Obsessive is probably the right word to use. But anyway ...
Who knew Joey would be the hottest one 20 years later? Or that time would be the least kind on Jordan (whose poster I had hanging on my ceiling - it's not in the pictures - so I could look at it as I fell asleep at night)? And you know, Danny wasn't all that hot back then, but time HAS been kind to him! Whoo!
The big question has become, when they finally announce their reunion tour dates, who am I going to go to the concert with? And where? Goodness knows they're probably not coming to the RGV - Austin? Do I go back to KC?
So ... who's in for a little old-fashioned NKOTB party? I'm still "Hangin' Tough" as long as they've got "The Right Stuff." Just taking this all "Step by Step."
(Oh goodness I've gone over the edge now. Someone stop me. But I'm practically giddy right now thinking about it. I do feel almost 12 again.)
How does my garden grow
So the totally insane and brilliant idea I had to try to grow a garden might be going much better if Turner was not frightened to death of the shovel. Yes, the shovel. What was I doing with it? Trying to dig a hole to plant some tomatoes. Pretty scary stuff.
Yes, the kid has some weird fears. At Wal-Mart (don't ask - we try to avoid it, but sometimes we just have to - plus it's the only place we've found that carries the kind of cheese we eat) in the Garden section they have these enormous fans on the ceiling. Those are so scary he had to cling to me - while still sitting in the cart - whenever they were in view. The vacuum he thinks might eat him. Same with the leafblower that was being used at the park. The street cleaner? Might as well be a monster from Mars. Lizards are not at all scary, but flies cause screaming hysterics. The mop - the MOP - at the restaurant last week had him jumping out of his seat.
Otherwise, Guthrie and I planted some flowers while Turner took his nap. Eric dug up the nasty rose bush (that didn't bloom, and housed an enormous black bumble bee) and the tiny oleander in the front yard. I planted two cherry tomato plants in barrels, and as soon as Eric can dig the hole (because I'm not going to try again) I'll put the other tomatoes in the ground.
We have a TON of seed packets, because the boys (and I) went a little nuts at the store, buying everything that seemed interesting. I have to figure out how much space I'm actually going to have and prioritize what I want to try. I've always had black thumbs, but I figure it's worth a shot. Wish me luck. And hope Turner gets over his irrational fears.
Yes, the kid has some weird fears. At Wal-Mart (don't ask - we try to avoid it, but sometimes we just have to - plus it's the only place we've found that carries the kind of cheese we eat) in the Garden section they have these enormous fans on the ceiling. Those are so scary he had to cling to me - while still sitting in the cart - whenever they were in view. The vacuum he thinks might eat him. Same with the leafblower that was being used at the park. The street cleaner? Might as well be a monster from Mars. Lizards are not at all scary, but flies cause screaming hysterics. The mop - the MOP - at the restaurant last week had him jumping out of his seat.
Otherwise, Guthrie and I planted some flowers while Turner took his nap. Eric dug up the nasty rose bush (that didn't bloom, and housed an enormous black bumble bee) and the tiny oleander in the front yard. I planted two cherry tomato plants in barrels, and as soon as Eric can dig the hole (because I'm not going to try again) I'll put the other tomatoes in the ground.
We have a TON of seed packets, because the boys (and I) went a little nuts at the store, buying everything that seemed interesting. I have to figure out how much space I'm actually going to have and prioritize what I want to try. I've always had black thumbs, but I figure it's worth a shot. Wish me luck. And hope Turner gets over his irrational fears.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Our lazy Sunday afternoon
We walked out this afternoon and looked at the outside of the bedroom window to see this:
As I have two young sons, they were of course fascinated by the lizard on the window. Which proceeded to be terribly frightened by the two tow-headed two-legged creatures which so desperately wanted to touch it that it jumped right onto Guthrie's head and now his back, only to hide under a table, where it was much easier to get to.
As I have two young sons, they were of course fascinated by the lizard on the window. Which proceeded to be terribly frightened by the two tow-headed two-legged creatures which so desperately wanted to touch it that it jumped right onto Guthrie's head and now his back, only to hide under a table, where it was much easier to get to.
We spent the next 45 minutes or so watching it,
squealing with joy at it,
curious as to what exactly it was
whether it was going to get us,
and why it didn't understand our repeated explanations that we were, in fact, people, and not a predator going to get it, and why wouldn't it just let us give it a kiss or hold it for a minute,
before it finally got away.
And such is life with Guthrie, Turner, and our various and sundry lizards and other wildlife here in the Rio Grande Valley.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Birthday Boy!
Okay, two days late, here are 4th birthday pics.
(I don't know what's up with all the weird spacing. It does this sometimes with pictures. I'm not going to fight to get it just right.)
Breakfast at IHOP:
Presents:
The Play-Doh doggy doctor set (he got this for another little girl for her birthday a few weeks ago - because he wanted it of course - so we got it for him, too)
(I don't know what's up with all the weird spacing. It does this sometimes with pictures. I'm not going to fight to get it just right.)
Breakfast at IHOP:
Presents:
Making the cake
(No comments about raw eggs. Yes, I'm letting them lick the bowls. It's the best part.)
The Play-Doh doggy doctor set (he got this for another little girl for her birthday a few weeks ago - because he wanted it of course - so we got it for him, too)
Play-doh beard
Cake - he wanted orange icing.
Happy Birthday little boy!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sick, sick, sick
Guthrie's birthday was yesterday. He is now 4. I've been trying to post pics and stuff, but our internet has been slow. I'll try again later.
In other news ...
Eric was in New York last week, from Wednesday through Saturday. Friday I thought I had allergies, but it turned into a cold, and I've been feeling generally icky. I was looking forward to Eric getting home (he was in Savannah the previous weekend) so I could maybe get a nap, a long shower, start to feel better. Except his flight was late (just a little) and when he got home he was complaining of aches and pains.
Sunday morning: 102F fever. By yesterday it was 103. I think he officially has "the flu." He's sicker than I've ever seen him. He couldn't even eat birthday cake with us.
Daylight Savings Time is a PITA. How do you get toddlers and preschoolers to transition without having screaming tantrums at weird hours of the day?
For his birthday, we got Guthrie the Thomas the Tank Engine movie, Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Guthrie loves it, of course, although Diesel 10 is scary. But the movie? It's awful. Get it for your sons if they love Thomas, but try not to subject yourself to watching it if you can get away with it. It's just dreadful.
Cheesecake Brownies (I got the recipe here) are HEAVENLY and definitely worth making.
And without trying, Eric figured out how to save us money. See, we were going to spend a night (or two) of spring break in Corpus Christi or Austin. But now that he has the flu, and has only emerged from the spare bed a few times in the last few days, we're not going anywhere. So that's a few hundred more dollars in our pockets, right?
In other news ...
Eric was in New York last week, from Wednesday through Saturday. Friday I thought I had allergies, but it turned into a cold, and I've been feeling generally icky. I was looking forward to Eric getting home (he was in Savannah the previous weekend) so I could maybe get a nap, a long shower, start to feel better. Except his flight was late (just a little) and when he got home he was complaining of aches and pains.
Sunday morning: 102F fever. By yesterday it was 103. I think he officially has "the flu." He's sicker than I've ever seen him. He couldn't even eat birthday cake with us.
Daylight Savings Time is a PITA. How do you get toddlers and preschoolers to transition without having screaming tantrums at weird hours of the day?
For his birthday, we got Guthrie the Thomas the Tank Engine movie, Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Guthrie loves it, of course, although Diesel 10 is scary. But the movie? It's awful. Get it for your sons if they love Thomas, but try not to subject yourself to watching it if you can get away with it. It's just dreadful.
Cheesecake Brownies (I got the recipe here) are HEAVENLY and definitely worth making.
And without trying, Eric figured out how to save us money. See, we were going to spend a night (or two) of spring break in Corpus Christi or Austin. But now that he has the flu, and has only emerged from the spare bed a few times in the last few days, we're not going anywhere. So that's a few hundred more dollars in our pockets, right?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
He can R-E-A-D
We don't own a TV. We had one when we moved here, but we never set it up, so we gave it away. Besides, we're not going to pay for cable, and with just an antenna we could only pick up Spanish language stations. (Although I know that would be a great way to learn some Spanish. But do I really want to learn a language by watching Mexican soap operas?)
That said, we're not entirely anti-TV. Guthrie gets to watch movies on a DVD player or the computer, and Turner has been watching with him some lately. Guthrie also LOVES to play on the computer.
A couple weeks ago I started letting him play the games and watch the videos of Word World, a show on PBS. He loves it. And he's started wanting to write his letters and spell out words since he's been watching the show. We have a big table (it was actually a bed frame, but now it's a low table) that Eric and Guthrie painted with chalkboard paint, and we clear that off and take turns writing words. He wrote his name on the Valentine he sent Grandma.
I still wasn't sure how much he was learning, and how much of it was just recognizing the words he'd seen on the show, though, and how much he really "got" sounding words out.
Turner has been in a stage for awhile where he FREAKS OUT if I go to the bathroom. I can leave the house without him, and he will stay home with Eric just fine, but if he hears me saying I'm going to the bathroom he'll start crying and won't let me out of his sight. A little while ago, I told Eric I was going to go off to the P-O-T-T-Y, spelling it out so Turner wouldn't know and would let me pee in peace.
As I was walking that direction I heard Guthrie saying "po-t-t-ee" and sounding it out. "POTTY!" He announced. "You're going to the potty!"
And so, from someone who doesn't even own a TV set, and hasn't had cable in over 6 years, evidence that it CAN do some good.
But I don't want to think about the fact that he's not even 4 yet, and we're already past the stage where we can spell out words when we don't want him to know what we're talking about!!!
That said, we're not entirely anti-TV. Guthrie gets to watch movies on a DVD player or the computer, and Turner has been watching with him some lately. Guthrie also LOVES to play on the computer.
A couple weeks ago I started letting him play the games and watch the videos of Word World, a show on PBS. He loves it. And he's started wanting to write his letters and spell out words since he's been watching the show. We have a big table (it was actually a bed frame, but now it's a low table) that Eric and Guthrie painted with chalkboard paint, and we clear that off and take turns writing words. He wrote his name on the Valentine he sent Grandma.
I still wasn't sure how much he was learning, and how much of it was just recognizing the words he'd seen on the show, though, and how much he really "got" sounding words out.
Turner has been in a stage for awhile where he FREAKS OUT if I go to the bathroom. I can leave the house without him, and he will stay home with Eric just fine, but if he hears me saying I'm going to the bathroom he'll start crying and won't let me out of his sight. A little while ago, I told Eric I was going to go off to the P-O-T-T-Y, spelling it out so Turner wouldn't know and would let me pee in peace.
As I was walking that direction I heard Guthrie saying "po-t-t-ee" and sounding it out. "POTTY!" He announced. "You're going to the potty!"
And so, from someone who doesn't even own a TV set, and hasn't had cable in over 6 years, evidence that it CAN do some good.
But I don't want to think about the fact that he's not even 4 yet, and we're already past the stage where we can spell out words when we don't want him to know what we're talking about!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy V-Day!
We're celebrating with too much junk food, some wine, and the boys' new shovel and some dirt.
No heart-shaped sushi this year. Nothing over-the-top and romantic. Guthrie goes to tumbling class tonight, and hopefully they'll be asleep before 10. We've got a party platter of salami, cheeses and crackers to put together, chocolate covered almonds, chocolate dip for strawberries and pretzels, and I'd forgotten that the boys and I ate the whole thing of Choxie truffles we got from Target in the parking lot as soon as we left the store.
And I'm currently dunking chocolate almond biscotti in my coffee.
Apparently, Feb. 14 has become an excuse for me to seriously overindulge in chocolate. Does anyone see anything wrong with that?
Oh, yeah, and Eric and I have been married for 6 years today. Happy Annviersary to us!
No heart-shaped sushi this year. Nothing over-the-top and romantic. Guthrie goes to tumbling class tonight, and hopefully they'll be asleep before 10. We've got a party platter of salami, cheeses and crackers to put together, chocolate covered almonds, chocolate dip for strawberries and pretzels, and I'd forgotten that the boys and I ate the whole thing of Choxie truffles we got from Target in the parking lot as soon as we left the store.
And I'm currently dunking chocolate almond biscotti in my coffee.
Apparently, Feb. 14 has become an excuse for me to seriously overindulge in chocolate. Does anyone see anything wrong with that?
Oh, yeah, and Eric and I have been married for 6 years today. Happy Annviersary to us!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Blogger Issues/Phishing?
I'm currently getting a "Phishing" site warning from my internet security (I have Kaspersky) any time I try to open any blog supported through Blogger. Including my own (which I opted to open anyway).
Anyone know anything about this? Anyone else experiencing this problem?
Anyone know anything about this? Anyone else experiencing this problem?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Should I be concerned?
My husband (age 46) just came into the room, laughing hysterically at something he was reading in a newspaper we'd picked up free today.
The reason I was frightened? The newspaper was the "Senior News."
And now he's reading about what activities are offered in the area for the older crowd.
Scary?
(Oooh, he just said something about the annual "Chocolate Festival." I wanna go.)
The reason I was frightened? The newspaper was the "Senior News."
And now he's reading about what activities are offered in the area for the older crowd.
Scary?
(Oooh, he just said something about the annual "Chocolate Festival." I wanna go.)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Customer Service?
Begin rant:
You know what really ticks me off?
When you call customer service for something, because you just have one simple tiny question, and they make it some huge hassle. Like, they need your name and information just to tell you how much something costs.
Sorry, but if you want my all my info (probably so you can then pester me with phone, mail or e-mail solicitations, or sell my info to somebody else who will do the same), you are probably not going to get my business.
If I call a business I already have an account with - my cell phone provider, for example, or my internet company - to see about a rate change, okay, fine, I see where it might be helpful to be able to look up my account information.
But if I'm calling a gym to find out what the monthly membership fee is, you don't need my name, address, and phone number, and if you ask for it, and make one very simple question and answer exchange (Me: "What's your monthly fee?" Them: "It's __ dollars, plus a __ dollar enrollment fee." What did that take? 20 seconds?), take longer than necessary, use up my cell phone minutes (no home phone, why spend the extra money), and generally make it into more hassle than it's worth, you are NOT going to get my business. Because if it's that difficult to find out the answer to one little quick question, what would it be like to do regular business with you?
End rant.
You know what really ticks me off?
When you call customer service for something, because you just have one simple tiny question, and they make it some huge hassle. Like, they need your name and information just to tell you how much something costs.
Sorry, but if you want my all my info (probably so you can then pester me with phone, mail or e-mail solicitations, or sell my info to somebody else who will do the same), you are probably not going to get my business.
If I call a business I already have an account with - my cell phone provider, for example, or my internet company - to see about a rate change, okay, fine, I see where it might be helpful to be able to look up my account information.
But if I'm calling a gym to find out what the monthly membership fee is, you don't need my name, address, and phone number, and if you ask for it, and make one very simple question and answer exchange (Me: "What's your monthly fee?" Them: "It's __ dollars, plus a __ dollar enrollment fee." What did that take? 20 seconds?), take longer than necessary, use up my cell phone minutes (no home phone, why spend the extra money), and generally make it into more hassle than it's worth, you are NOT going to get my business. Because if it's that difficult to find out the answer to one little quick question, what would it be like to do regular business with you?
End rant.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Our future chef and baker
All the cooking lessons you need - Guthrie teaches you how to make cookies. Don't follow his instructions too closely, though, or they may be a little ... burnt.
They're yummy. If you listen closely, you can hear Turner humming. It's 8 notes from the Nutcracker.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Who says I can't cook?
My men - all 3 of them - disagree.
I had a loaf of bread, fresh out of the machine (okay, it's made with a machine, but it's not from a mix, so does that count as homemade?), and we were tearing off pieces to eat. Until Turner realized it's easier to just pick up the whole loaf. And as someone who has a complex about her cooking abilities (or lack thereof), it made me feel like a MOM to have my boys running around loving something I had cooked. Just warmed my heart, and then my belly. Because there is nothing in the world like freshly baked bread.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
It is a Happy New Year
I know things have been kind of quiet on this end for awhile. First off, we've been busy - we had to get our daughters back to their other parents, Eric's been traveling and working, and we're still trying to recover from the Christmas "break."
More than that, though, I've been worried. Why? My mom was tested a few days ago, because they suspected colon cancer. I was scared. I'm not ready to think about those kinds of issues with my mom. So I was a general nervous wreck, impatient with my husband and children, unable to sleep well, and that's only how I was doing - let's not even talk about how she must have felt.
I talked to her after the testing, though, and guess what? They said, at least now, she's fine. FINE.
I'm sure you all, in your various parts of the world, heard my sigh of relief.
So now we can get back to normalcy, worrying about the everyday issues of what's for dinner and do we need milk?
And my big concern now is convincing my mom that she should move here, to south Texas, where she'll never have to scrape ice off her windshield again and she can watch her grandsons grow up, and go to the beach a good once a month.
More than that, though, I've been worried. Why? My mom was tested a few days ago, because they suspected colon cancer. I was scared. I'm not ready to think about those kinds of issues with my mom. So I was a general nervous wreck, impatient with my husband and children, unable to sleep well, and that's only how I was doing - let's not even talk about how she must have felt.
I talked to her after the testing, though, and guess what? They said, at least now, she's fine. FINE.
I'm sure you all, in your various parts of the world, heard my sigh of relief.
So now we can get back to normalcy, worrying about the everyday issues of what's for dinner and do we need milk?
And my big concern now is convincing my mom that she should move here, to south Texas, where she'll never have to scrape ice off her windshield again and she can watch her grandsons grow up, and go to the beach a good once a month.
Monday, December 31, 2007
As the New Year fast approaches
I've been thinking about past New Year's, especially those since 2001 and as long as Eric and I have been together, and I realized something.
We suck at celebrating New Year's.
This year? We're sitting at home, drinking wine (me) and beer (him), eating cookies, maybe YouTubing later for fun. (Oh, how lame we are.) At least we did put on some nice(r) clothes and a little makeup (well, I did) so we feel a little more festive.
Past years? I realized I couldn't even remember most of our NYE's together. 2001 we were in New York City. But as we walked around the city earlier in the day, and saw all of the preparations - including what felt like armies of police officers on various corners preparing for patrol (this was the first NYE post-9/11), we decided Times Square was the last place we wanted to be. We went to a party with a friend, but it was totally lame (what I remember most was a bunch of kids of various ages all sequestered in a bedroom that felt more like a closet, and some guy talking about how he'd been working on his dissertation - on James Joyce, of course - for way too many years). And so, at midnight, NYE, 2001, in NYC, we were in our hotel room, watching the ball drop on TV like everyone else in the country. Lame.
2002? I don't remember. At all. I don't think this is because I was too drunk, either, unfortunately. Looking back at pictures and trying to figure it out, I think we were either in a hotel somewhere, or were spending one night in our apartment after getting back off one road trip and about to depart on another to fetch Rosalind from Houston for her Christmas visit. No pictures, no memories. No clue.
2003? I was pregnant, with Guthrie. We had a party platter of meats and cheeses, drank sparkling grape juice with Sammie and Roz from pretty glasses, and watched the ball drop on TV. There are pictures. I remember that one.
2004? At our farmhouse, we drank a bottle of champagne Eric had gotten during his week in France promoting his book. (He was given the bottle as part of the festival he attended.) House full of kids. Not much excitement.
2005? No memories, again. None. *sigh* See a trend yet?
2006? That one was okay. We stayed the night in a hotel on South Padre Island, watched fireworks on the beach from our room, had a party tray and wine and beer, and stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning on the deck of the hotel room, kids asleep in the room. That was our best NYE.
We were going to go back to the beach this year, but the holidays left us broke. *sigh* Next year maybe.
So, this year, we're boring and lame again. I hope everyone else is having fun for us. Turner is already sleeping, Guthrie is watching a movie, Roz is reading, and look at what I'm doing. The neighbors are shooting off fireworks (illegally).
2007 was a decent year, but 2008 is going to be better. Much better. Good things are on their way.
Happy New Year everyone!!!
We suck at celebrating New Year's.
This year? We're sitting at home, drinking wine (me) and beer (him), eating cookies, maybe YouTubing later for fun. (Oh, how lame we are.) At least we did put on some nice(r) clothes and a little makeup (well, I did) so we feel a little more festive.
Past years? I realized I couldn't even remember most of our NYE's together. 2001 we were in New York City. But as we walked around the city earlier in the day, and saw all of the preparations - including what felt like armies of police officers on various corners preparing for patrol (this was the first NYE post-9/11), we decided Times Square was the last place we wanted to be. We went to a party with a friend, but it was totally lame (what I remember most was a bunch of kids of various ages all sequestered in a bedroom that felt more like a closet, and some guy talking about how he'd been working on his dissertation - on James Joyce, of course - for way too many years). And so, at midnight, NYE, 2001, in NYC, we were in our hotel room, watching the ball drop on TV like everyone else in the country. Lame.
2002? I don't remember. At all. I don't think this is because I was too drunk, either, unfortunately. Looking back at pictures and trying to figure it out, I think we were either in a hotel somewhere, or were spending one night in our apartment after getting back off one road trip and about to depart on another to fetch Rosalind from Houston for her Christmas visit. No pictures, no memories. No clue.
2003? I was pregnant, with Guthrie. We had a party platter of meats and cheeses, drank sparkling grape juice with Sammie and Roz from pretty glasses, and watched the ball drop on TV. There are pictures. I remember that one.
2004? At our farmhouse, we drank a bottle of champagne Eric had gotten during his week in France promoting his book. (He was given the bottle as part of the festival he attended.) House full of kids. Not much excitement.
2005? No memories, again. None. *sigh* See a trend yet?
2006? That one was okay. We stayed the night in a hotel on South Padre Island, watched fireworks on the beach from our room, had a party tray and wine and beer, and stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning on the deck of the hotel room, kids asleep in the room. That was our best NYE.
We were going to go back to the beach this year, but the holidays left us broke. *sigh* Next year maybe.
So, this year, we're boring and lame again. I hope everyone else is having fun for us. Turner is already sleeping, Guthrie is watching a movie, Roz is reading, and look at what I'm doing. The neighbors are shooting off fireworks (illegally).
2007 was a decent year, but 2008 is going to be better. Much better. Good things are on their way.
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas
The goods, the treats, and the aftermath.
And this doesn't even show the Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake from my mom (there's still plenty left), half of the goodies (Santa - and my mom - were very good to us this year) or half the mess.
Guthrie is still sick, but better. His fever got up to 104 last night, but today it's been mostly normal, and he was up to doing Christmas. But what kid isn't?
Hope everyone's holiday was wonderful, and Santa brought you just what you wanted!
(And the pictures were taken with my present, a new digital camera that's just the right size to fit in a pocket or purse, so I can always have it with me! Yeah!)
Monday, December 24, 2007
'Twas the night before Christmas
And Guthrie was sick. 102F fever. Passed out, on the living room floor, at 4:30 in the afternoon, with Christmas cookies waiting to be decorated and left out for Santa, a Santa tracker to track, and all the other Christmas Eve fun waiting to be done.
Poor kid. Turner was sick Saturday, in the hotel in Austin, then while we had to wait for my mom and Samantha's plane to arrive - 7 hours late! The up side of the illness (if there is an upside) is that Turner slept Friday night for a 7 hour stretch, for the first time in his life. His previous record was 4 hours. I knew something had to be wrong, though, and that was confirmed when I felt his hot little belly first thing the next morning.
Hopefully all will be well tomorrow morning, Santa will have come, and we will have a Merry Christmas after all.
Poor kid. Turner was sick Saturday, in the hotel in Austin, then while we had to wait for my mom and Samantha's plane to arrive - 7 hours late! The up side of the illness (if there is an upside) is that Turner slept Friday night for a 7 hour stretch, for the first time in his life. His previous record was 4 hours. I knew something had to be wrong, though, and that was confirmed when I felt his hot little belly first thing the next morning.
Hopefully all will be well tomorrow morning, Santa will have come, and we will have a Merry Christmas after all.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Santa!!!
Guthrie liked Santa.
A LOT!!!
Turner ... didn't.
I think we're *almost* done shopping. One more gift to get, and Eric is insisting he get some money to get me a gift (which I'm reluctantly agreeing to, after being unable to stop getting him gifts once I started). Oh, stocking stuffers too - that could get expensive. Maybe we're not quite done after all ...
This was a very good Santa too. Not quite the one I grew up with, who is the *real* Santa I am certain, but he was still very very good. But oh, if only the threat of "behave now, or we'll go back and tell Santa that you are not minding" would work all year long. It works so very well.
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