tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167283462024-03-07T14:01:37.946-06:00One More MommyThoughts of a mom and her husband, son, daughter, pets, friends, job (or lack thereof), house, family, trying to be more ecologically aware...Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.comBlogger732125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-90285012405568812412009-03-24T09:59:00.001-05:002009-03-24T10:02:37.029-05:00The Baby Baby BabySo, as virtually everyone who knows me knows already, we are pregnant for the third (and last) time. I'm about twelve weeks along, but the third child neglect has already started as am I 11? or 12? Maybe 11.5 weeks? Who knows. Certainly with Luke and Courtney I had a MUCH better idea of where I stood.<br /><br />But in good news, so far this time I've only gained a pound. Which didn't stop me from pulling out all the maternity clothes last night. I'm in the midst of some insane nesting/spring cleaning and I had to GET THEM OUT NOW!<br /><br />Probably because I missed maternity underwear. I don't need them at all yet, but it's an attractive option to be able to pull your underwear up to your neck...Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-73095984429041311042009-03-23T05:59:00.002-05:002009-03-23T06:01:39.705-05:00How to make sure the day doesn't pass you byBuy your four year old a clock or watch. Place in room.<br /><br />(feet running down stairs)<br />MOMMY! It's 4:31!!!<br />(feet running up stairs)<br /><br />--pause--<br /><br />(feet running down stairs)<br />MOMMY! It's 4:32!!!<br />(feet running up stairs)<br /><br />--pause--<br /><br />(feet running down stairs)<br />MOMMY! It's 4:33!!!<br />(feet running up stairs)<br /><br />--pause--<br /><br />(feet running down stairs)<br />MOMMY! It's 4:34!!!<br />(feet running up stairs)Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-3408171492880869512009-02-18T08:35:00.002-06:002009-02-18T08:45:34.920-06:00Wakes and FuneralsIt's been a rough year or so on my father's side of the family. In a little over a year, three of my uncles have passed away. Two were my father's brother, one his sister's husband. I'm not very close to my father's side of the family - my mother wasn't close to them, so when my father died (I was 11) we stopped having regular contact with them. We see them at weddings and funerals. That's pretty much how it still is except for a couple connections with cousins here and there.<br /><br />So losing these uncles doesn't have a tremendous impact on my life (which is horrible to say, but true) except for the fact that these are my uncles, and their existence is simply taken for granted. They are out there, with my aunts, doing their thing.<br /><br />The first uncle that passed away was cremated and there was simply a memorial lunch. No body to view, but a gathering to commemorate him.<br /><br />The second uncle had nothing. No memorial that I know of (or I missed it) and no wake.<br /><br />The third is having the standard wake and funeral. And I going (at least to the wake).<br /><br />I don't mind wakes and funerals - and I've been to a lot. They bring closure for me, a chance to say goodbye and give some hugs. Shed some tears for a person and acknowledge their life. It's family, it's community, it's saying this person mattered. I still feel there are loose ends with the second uncle - he's somehow still out there, though he's not.<br /><br />Of course, I don't mind cemeteries either (well, in daytime). The stones a physical reminder of a life, and particularly my 'family' cemetery, where a dozen plus relatives are within 50 feet of each other. So I'm off for a wake in a few days, to say goodbye to the man who looked incredibly like my father, though was nothing like him in personality.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-88512748827142674672009-02-12T05:25:00.003-06:002009-02-12T05:31:33.211-06:00Four!I can't believe my baby boy is four today - 'they' don't lie when they say it goes by quick. I remember holding him in the delivery room, alone for a few minutes - he was content, I was shaking and weak. Now, at four, he struts around like he owns the place and pretends he has crickets in his pants. He gets more and more like us every day, silly above all else.<br /><br />There are a lot of ages I would like to have frozen him at, and this is no exception. I can still pick him and he wants to snuggle in at bedtime. He gives a good hug and can't wait to hang out with us. And yet, he's independent - able to go to grandma's house and spend the night, without wearing her out. He goes to sleep at bedtime without a fight (something I can't say for Courtney right now!)<br /><br />He loves games, games, and more games. He'll play several board games by himself and is starting to learn some strategy. He certainly plays by the rules and will correct you if you don't! He dances, he plays soccer, he rides a bike.<br /><br />Four is pretty awesome already, and we haven't even started yet.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-89482633982617950442009-01-19T15:36:00.003-06:002009-01-19T15:56:38.845-06:00Get Over It AlreadyI had a discussion this past weekend that referenced the SAHM vs WAHM "debate". I'm in a group that is made up of mothers of every variety - at home, to part time employment, to full time employment. Business owners and those that work for 'the man'. Creative types, science types, people working basic jobs just for the spending cash. Those of us who don't work and sacrifice vacations and new gadgets and remodeled kitchens to do it. (ahem, guess where I fall?)<br /><br />We make these choices. Some people never wanted to stay home with children all the time. Some people do but can't afford to quit and live the lifestyle they want. And some people forget that they are making a choice.<br /><br />I glanced at local moms groups and saw a group titled "Full Time Mommies" - my first thought was "Who's doing this part time?"<br /><br />I have not encountered the judgemental mother - the one who thinks that you are doing it wrong because you have not made the choice she has. At least, not to the degree that I see it on the internetz, where nasty comments abound behind the veil of anonymity.<br /><br />But I do see thinly veiled jealousy. The people who want to stay home, or want to be able to afford the shiny gadgets, and thus become bitter and say things with a biting edge. I don't mind the jealousy - I am unabashedly jealous of kitchens with appliances under, say 41 years old. But just admit that you are jealous.<br /><br />It's been awhile since I've seen this behavior, so I'm not sure why this is resonating with me today.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-84894166088928665112008-12-28T18:19:00.003-06:002008-12-28T18:22:11.466-06:00NormalizeIt's been a week solid of activities and cleaning and destroying, unwrapping, unpacking and playing. Whining and cookies and beer. Bowling and parties and The Improv. The children were completely fried by Saturday afternoon, and yet, there was still another family party to attend. Today (Sunday) has been filled with sitting around the house and playing with toys and a three and a half hour nap for Courtney - and she woke up from that still looking tired. They're trying to sleep in, but they're small and they can only get to 7:30 or 8 before the sun wakes them up. And then those new toys beckon. But tonight we all ate actual food, with vegetables and meat and no sugar, so hopefully their little systems will properly reboot.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-11564341215446173622008-12-21T21:41:00.002-06:002008-12-21T21:47:14.771-06:00Party ManiaWe have now solidly entered the era of childhood birthday parties. Everyone is having one this year, Luke included. Childhood parties nowadays are extravagant. Buildings dedicated to giant bouncy equipment, craft parties, art parties, Chuck E Cheese - you can have a birthday party just about anywhere you can think, if you shell out the cash.<br /><br />I have clunked around with guest lists and ideas for months now, it feels, until finally coming to the decision that Luke will be having a SMALL birthday party at home. Small as is 5 kids on the invite list, not small like my SIL's 12 children... Luke prefers smaller groups, I prefer smaller groups, and we can probably do cooler things with a smaller group.<br /><br />And it's a space party. I spent this evening making up rocket ship invitations that are just too gosh darn cute for words, and easy as well. I only had year old pictures of Luke on hand (because you can see his head in the window of the rocket ship, of course!) but I'm not concerned. They are AWESOME.<br /><br />Next, games, favors, and lunch. This should be fun. Especially since I really like all the kids we're inviting!Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-7480544034555233002008-11-30T22:17:00.002-06:002008-11-30T22:19:47.571-06:00The moniesAs per usual, we lack money. Please send cash.<br /><br />***dramatic sigh***<br /><br />I am spending approximately $60 per child for Christmas. This may be world-record cheap on my part, but hey, they have four aunt/uncle sets and two grandmothers. They're fine.<br /><br />I will also take Lotto cards because I hope to win.<br /><br />C'mon February, let's get the tax refund going.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-43513971800967635332008-11-10T20:52:00.002-06:002008-11-10T20:56:03.857-06:00AntiLuke: When can Courtney and I get married?<br /><br />Mommy: Well, you hve to find other people to marry. Right now there's a little girl* out there who will someday be a woman and want to marry you when you're a man.<br /><br />Luke: But I want to marry Courtney.<br /><br />Mommmy: That's called incest and that's not allowed. You and Courtney are already brother and sister and that's a very special relationship, you can't be husband and wife.<br /><br />Luke: Courtney and I are going to marry each other.<br /><br />(It did cross my mind 'what if' he's gay and there's actually another litle BOY out there, but really, let's not overly confuse the issue, we're trying to clarify NO MARRYING YOUR SISTER.)Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-44508098169836080532008-11-05T23:03:00.003-06:002008-11-05T23:10:06.087-06:00Gobama!I didn't get into any heated arguments re: presidential candidate BEFORE the election but now that (my) candidate has won, I've stumbled into a more than a few comments about the horrible way our country is going to go now, or even better, how those who voted for Obama CLEARLY didn't understand the ISSUES. Clearly, or maybe WE JUST DON'T THINK LIKE YOU.<br /><br />One person asked <em>exactly what issues</em> did I agree with Obama on? and my mind went (glarble glurp?)... and I could hardly even name an "issue". I blame lack of sleep and giddiness. To remind myself what I agreed with I went to the big O's website and read through his issue stances, saying, oh yeah! Word! Got it! all along. And so yeah, pretty much I agree with Obama on ALL of his stances.<br /><br />The people who say they are moving out of country or fear for our future shock me at this point because, um, where have you been living these past seven years as GWB drove us into International scorn? You think things are going good? Obama or McCain - both are better than GWB.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-27163748120235188992008-10-02T07:22:00.003-05:002008-10-02T07:29:13.515-05:00Speed ReadI read fast. I always have, I like to read. This skill is only good if you have a lot of good books to read and time to read them, it was not helpful at all in reading textbooks, I would still fall asleep for those.<br /><br />I read a book last night - 404 pages, less 42 pages at the start/end of chapters, assuming 10 words per line on average, 32 lines per page, it took me about 4 hours to read it. This means I read between 450 and 500 words per minute.<br /><br />Apparently there's some guy who can read, ten. thousand. words per minute. There are not that many good words to read. That's too fast.<br /><br />Anyway, read "The Woods" by Harlen Coben - good mystery, liked it. New author, yay!Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-49410936104481270012008-10-01T14:19:00.002-05:002008-10-01T14:26:49.893-05:00ExplosionI'm not sure how this happens to SAHMs, but it does just the same as it happens to working moms - you look at your kid and he can suddenly do five more things than you thought he could and it completely blows your mind.<br /><br />We've been watching SuperWhy and WordWorld (in addition to Land Before Time, oh I hate the Land Before Time) pretty exclusively these days and it's been, like, teaching my kid stuff. Stuff about words and sounding things out and that letters make up words and the light bulb has gone off in his head. We are writing letters, lining up letters, sounding things out - it's a whole new world. I don't know how long it will be from here to reading, but if the kid's whole hearted attention to a topic (see: cars, numbers and dinosaurs) is any indication, we should see progress.<br /><br />Then there was the solar system lesson this morning, in which we cut out nine planets (and by we, I mean HIM) and wrote their names on them (sounding them out and with much help) and hung them on the wall. Tiny purple stars were even cut and taped to the wall. It was a half hour of focused learning there.<br /><br />And for the final Holy Crap - he's interested in playing SONGS on the piano. Like, MUSIC. The boy wants to play MUSIC. Good grief.<br /><br />So today, mind has been blown.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-68628890871812369172008-09-28T10:56:00.003-05:002008-09-28T10:57:08.356-05:00Guess!No, really, guess what Luke did at Sunday School today.<br /><br />Here is the exchange in the car on the way home:<br /><br />Me: Luke, did you have fun at Sunday School?<br /><br />Luke: Yeah, but I didn't like this finger being a light.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-63551092799460255272008-09-25T06:50:00.004-05:002008-09-25T07:00:05.467-05:00Preschool, Month 1Luke has gone through a month of preschool now, and he's got it pretty down pat. The teachers report that the class is a smart group, they were involved and ready to go from day one, though they are acting up as they get more comfortable with the routine and each other.<br /><br />He has never cried when I leave and is always happy to head to school. He has two best pals, one of whom is a friend we've known a couple years, and the other is a new kid they picked up. His friend's mom volunteered in the class last Tuesday (we're required to) and she reported that the three of them spent much of the time playing together. When I picked Luke up last Thursday, I saw all the children on the playground, and those three were chasing each other.<br /><br />At the end of the day, they march in from playing outside while the parents wait in the hall - a three year od parade. Luke always has a proud cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on his face, and never runs to me as others have done to hug their moms. They have to go sit down in class, you know, there's none of this hugging in the halls! (He always gives me a big hug in the classroom).<br /><br />He's done more art in preschool than he does at home, which is something I really wanted him to get from classes. I do as much as I can, but there's so much to gain from seeing other kids doing something.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-1228566437320213692008-09-08T19:22:00.003-05:002008-09-08T19:30:35.556-05:00Girls Are Different Than BoysI think I've mentioned it - stereotypes suck. Get your son a doll and your daughter a truck. BUT... girls and boys ARE different, and it rocks.<br /><br />We've made a couple purchases over the past few days - small Cabbage Patch Dolls at a garage sale and dress up from the dollar store - including a police helmet and police vest with walkie talkie...<br /><br />Courtney loves the little dolls, she stripped them naked and carries them everywhere. Luke likes them, too, he tucked them all under his blanket in his room, but he also named them Hammer, Nail, and Drill.<br /><br />Luke loves the dress up - he has another shield and a skeleton mask and he spends his time yelling and roaring and screaming. Courtney likes the police hat and vest in particular, refusing to take it off at the store and blindly stumbling around in it (because it's far too big for her head and falls over her eyes) at home.<br /><br />The two worlds collided when Courtney tucked her dolls into the police helmet and began 'feeding' them with the stem of the walkie talkie. Sometimes, nature wins!Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-88066481553487609202008-09-08T08:03:00.002-05:002008-09-08T08:13:38.873-05:00Take Your Kid to ChurchIf only for the humor...<br /><br />Luke had his first day of Sunday School this past weekend and of course there was singing. Singing for Jesus. I like a lot of church hymns, they can be beautiful. But children's church songs are insufferable. There were 17-18 kids in Luke's three year old Sunday School, and for the singing portion, they brought in the equally large 4 year old and kindergarten classes. Picture 45 children in a room. (Remarkably well behaved, though, I think they were confused. Also, they didn't know each other.)<br /><br />The singer has a guitar and starts singing The Jesus BeBop or some such thing. *shudder* The kids were supposed to JUMP UP every time she 'beeped'. There was one kindergarten-er in particular who was actively instructing her younger brother to jump at the appropriate time (across four children), and Luke happened to be standing next to her. Standing. Absolutely still. Arms at his side, as 44 other children jumped and bounced and BeBopped with Jesus.<br /><br />It was really hard to stifle my laughter in the back of the room. Luke does not do the BeBop for Jesus.<br /><br />It got better when the older kids left and we moved onto the creation myth for the three year olds. (Yeah, myth. I really don't understand why some Christians have to cling to a LITERAL interpretation of the Bible, because it doesn't make scientific sense. I like science.)<br /><br />They had a big giant book about the six days of creation. You know what they didn't have pictured in the big giant book of creation? Dinosaurs. And Luke is a tad obsessed. So of course he had to add in there that "Dinosaurs came before people". I don't think the teacher heard him... is it wrong to want her to address dinosaurs?Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-37106513903990869762008-09-06T22:44:00.003-05:002008-09-06T22:49:59.107-05:00Five Years ApproachethIn two weeks we celebrate our five year wedding anniversary, and can I just say HOLY CRAP THAT WENT FAST?!?! I mean, we do have two kids and all, but we've also been in this house four years. The last couple-few years have been pretty slow on the ol' accomplish-o-meter, as in travel/life experience shit like that, but I guess the "two children" are a pretty big thing and decent reason to have slowed down on the travel. They kind of rock.<br /><br />Courtney, easiest child on the planet. This is where the second child wins because she could possibly not be the easiest child on the planet, but after the first one, my perspective says she is.<br /><br />Booking a hotel in downtown Chicago to celebrate 5 years without spending $350 is chafing my ass.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-78235295929578085552008-09-01T22:04:00.004-05:002008-09-02T05:10:11.658-05:00Parenting Happy Days StyleAs we are all waiting, desperately, for the new TV season to start (anything, people, ANYTHING), I turned to MeTV for entertainment tonight, and found first year episodes of Happy Days. You know, when the Cunninghams lived in a different house, there was an older brother Chuck, and Fonzie didn't even wear a leather jacket?<br /><br />And yet, in the episodes I watched, Richie went to a stag party - after asking Mr. C if he could go, of course (Mr. C agreed, easily) - and he and Potsie got drunk. When he got home drunk, Mr. C tucked him into bed and made a few jokes at his expense. Marion woke up and tut-tutted a bit and then went off to bed.<br /><br />Is it just me that thinks this is a far better reaction to a kid drinking than the hard core, zero tolerance insanity we have going on now? Let's teach people how to handle alcohol, not ban them from it so it becomes a prize to attain. But then, I also credit people with a modicum of intelligence, and that' not always a good idea on my part...Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-9080494235928472742008-08-28T06:54:00.002-05:002008-08-28T06:59:32.460-05:00Command of EnglishI buy things off Craigslist at times - toys and clothes for the kids - and the typical gaffes annoy me. THE TYPING IN ALL CAPS. Not listing a location. Overppricing. And of course, spelling and grammar. I do like to give a spelling a grammar pass to those who have English as a second language, but there is a lot of horrific typing out there. And when I *think* I'm dealing with a foreign-born person and show up to buy something and their speech reveals them to be clearly American-born, it's always a shock. How can they communicate THAT poorly?<br /><br />But this one, HAS TO be foreign born just because of the correct grasp of SOME of the English spelling tricks...<br /><br />TETTER TAUGHTERElisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-76773769455397509202008-08-27T20:37:00.001-05:002008-08-27T20:38:42.205-05:00CollegeIt's the only video available on YouTube. I don't know this guy. But I sure as hell know that 'poetry'.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trldoxlu8cUElisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-19368431857336458142008-08-27T20:10:00.003-05:002008-08-27T20:19:12.671-05:00Two and A Half HoursDoes not want to try dinner. <br />Screams.<br />Does not want to take a bath with sister. <br />Screams.<br />Does not want to brush teeth if toothpaste was put on the toothbrush by someone else. <br />Screams.<br />Does not want sister to be OUT of the bath, as he had not yet gotten IN. <br />Screams.<br />Plays with toys in his room and the hall for half an hour, happily.<br />Eats watermelon - three slices - for dinner.<br />Does not want to change into PJs. <br />Screams.<br />Kicks mother.<br />Sent directly to bed, BEFORE SISTER! <br />SCREAMS!<br />Loses a bedtime book. <br />SCREEEEEEEAMS. <br />Sobs. <br />Hysterical.<br />Still crying about that book.<br />Hiccup crying.<br />OH GOD, GOING TO BED BEFORE MY SISTER! <br />AAAAAGH!<br />Throwing self on bed.<br />Light turned off and mother exits.<br />Comes out begging to brush teeth. <br />Request denied.<br />Further screaming.<br />Sobbing.<br />Hiccough crying. <br />Wants water.<br />Mother lays with him to calm him.<br />Accuse mother "You NEVER come when I ask!"<br />Mother brings water.<br />Sleep.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-31119029281836799062008-08-26T13:46:00.004-05:002008-08-26T14:18:53.814-05:00THEY DO NOT!The scene: <br /><br />Mother and son sitting at the table with an array of paint pots, paint brushes, paint in trays, paper, and a wooden craft dinosaur. The boy wears a blue smock to "protect" his clothes. A stack of used, paint filled baby wipes sits in one corner of the table.<br /><br />Begin:<br /><br />The boy picks up a small paint brush, sweetly calling it 'the tiniest brush in the world', and the mother begins to contradict him but thinks the wiser as truly, it is the tiniest paint brush in HIS world.<br /><br />He dips his tiny paint brush in the black paint and gives the wooden dinosaur an eye, which ends up taking over most of his head. The boy exclaims "He's got lots of eyes." Again, the mother thinks to correct him but refrains and simply says "hmmm" in an approving way.<br /><br />He paints the body of the dinosaur black and then dips his still black soaked brush into the blue paint with a quick follow into the green paint.<br /><br />"What do blue and green make?" he asks as he aims his paintbrush at the dinosaur. "Black!" he exclaims as the residual black on the brush overtakes the colors. "No, no, honey..." the mother explains...<br /><br />Repeat for red and yellow, red and blue, green and blue (again). Each time with returns to the black paint the boy creates BLACK rather than the actual mixing of the colors.<br /><br />The mother's brain starts smoking as she attempts to prove to her child that mixing colors does NOT in fact always create black. The boy disagrees, as his experiments have clearly proven that when mixed, colors create black.<br /><br />The woman begins waving her hands about talking about corrupted experiments, isolating variables, and generally poor use of the scientific technique. <br /><br />The boy states he is done with the dinosaur craft. It is all black.<br /><br />End scene.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-6765886613590524622008-08-25T14:39:00.002-05:002008-08-25T14:44:08.016-05:00Facebook... All the Kids are Doing ItI joined Facebook recently, or months ago, I really don't know. It's all recent to me. I had tried Myspace last year, but the whole thing burned my retinas and made me cry - people had pages set up so freaking music started blaring out at me immediately, the 'skins' and the scrolling... I'm particular about how my pages read and I should never had to scroll left-right to see anything. Only up-down.<br /><br />So, Facebook! I jumped on and found a few people from high school - two, I think. These were people I actually spoke with on a regular basis in jr high or high school. So I have some memories of them. Now through them I've been found by other high school people. Who I have virtually NO memories of - good or bad. I guess it's nice to connect? But I don't... have anything... to connect you with... sorry.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-62092675183509486522008-08-24T21:27:00.002-05:002008-08-24T21:33:24.046-05:00Eight Hours in the CityCrap, we have gone to Chicago more this year than in the last three years combined! Esposo competed in the Accenture triathlon with his brother and sister, and my MIL and I schlepped my nephew (8), niece (6), Luke, and Courtney in the see them race. You know, for the five seconds you see them run by at the end. But the kids were ridiculously excited! And then we spent some time wandering around watching other racers, seeing Buckingham fountain and going out to lunch while Luke (again) tried to physically meld himself to him 8 yr old cousin. Who, as it happens, is a perfectly normal eight year old boy. And perfectly normal eight year old boys are not always the best influences on their three year old cousins as they wander off, punch their shadows, ask incessant questions, and operate in general all around conceit. Please proceed to blame all of Luke's bad behavior on his cousin. Even if it's been around since well before he saw his cousin. I LIKE MY CONVENIENT SCAPEGOATS.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16728346.post-33640676786287922982008-08-18T20:27:00.002-05:002008-08-18T20:34:48.160-05:00People in My NeighborhoodFor the vast majority of the time - and I do mean VAST majority, no one in my neighborhood bothers me. Sure, the people across the street with their dead dead dead tree that they haven't cut down are causing some visual twitching but that's OKAY. Really. siiiiiiigh.<br /><br />But lately, there have been some new people in the mix. The first is the most annoying, as he walks by every day with his small yappy dog. Small yappy dog is uncontrolled on leash and runs into our yard, yapping. Snow, being a dog, hears yappy, and either starts barking at it, or if it's outside, barking and flipping out a bit more. Snow does not particularly like other dogs. She would prefer everyone just keep on moving. But not only is Yappy jumping, barking, and running at our fence (set well back from the sidewalk), Yappy's owner likes to then STOP and let Yappy run about making Snow flip out further.<br /><br />MOVE ALONG, MY DOG IS NOT HAPPY.<br /><br />The second was a one time incident and she freaked me out right good. Last week sometime, the kids and cat went out back to play, and I popped in to grab a pump for the constantly deflating play balls. Give me time gone at 10 seconds - ON THE HIGH END. I walked back outside to find a woman with a German shephard on leash staring over my fence.<br /><br />My fence, that is, as I just said, set well back from the sidewalk. So, she's in my yard. WELL in my yard.<br /><br />"I was just looking at your cat!" She said. "He's big!" Er, yes, he is. Please go now.<br /><br />CREEEEEEEPY.Elisettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17592320441293640985noreply@blogger.com1