Last night I was talking to my sister on the phone about 9 p.m. when I heard the stair gate rattle. And the sound of little shuffling feet.
I got off the phone and sprang upstairs to the bug's room.
She was lying in bed, making little snuffling noises. Her eyes were tightly shut and it was quite clear she had just jumped into bed to avoid being caught by Mama out of bed after bedtime.
"What are you doing, bug?"
"I snoring."
Yup, that was what it sounded like.
"Why were you out of bed?"
"I listening. And giggling. Giggle giggle giggle." Yes, she said the word "giggle" three times; she didn't actually giggle.
"It's time for bed."
"I snore now? Not giggle?"
"That's the plan. Now, (tucking her back in,) good night."
"'Night, mommy."
3.29.2007
How do they survive without Thai takeout, those Nebraskans?
This absolutely cracked me up yesterday:
Omaha's Culture Club
They have restaurants in them there flyover states? And people making music, and movies? And ART! Real gosh-golly art, not just craft things like you see at the county fair.
I think my favorite quote was: “I’m relieved that Omaha doesn’t take itself too seriously in any obnoxious way,” he said. “There’s still a touch of the honky-tonk, and there are still some lingering tones of self-deprecation.”
As though my people have ever stopped gently making fun of ourselves. :)
New Yorkers need to get out of Manhattan just a bit more, methinks.
Omaha's Culture Club
They have restaurants in them there flyover states? And people making music, and movies? And ART! Real gosh-golly art, not just craft things like you see at the county fair.
I think my favorite quote was: “I’m relieved that Omaha doesn’t take itself too seriously in any obnoxious way,” he said. “There’s still a touch of the honky-tonk, and there are still some lingering tones of self-deprecation.”
As though my people have ever stopped gently making fun of ourselves. :)
New Yorkers need to get out of Manhattan just a bit more, methinks.
3.27.2007
Why headlines matter: a Reading Primer.
Take a look at this New York Times article:
"Poor Behavior is Linked To Time in Day Care"
Step 2: Read the fourth paragraph.
Step 3: Imagine the headline was:
"Stronger Vocabulary is Linked to Time in Day Care"
Step 4: Return to reality where day care can NEVER produce positive outcomes for any children, or women might not feel guilty enough for using it while they work.
Step 5: Reread the first three paragraphs which point out that any "poor behavior" is "well within the range for healthy children", and note that the people who seem to be most affected are "teachers who must manage large classrooms."
Step 6: Daydream about rewriting an article using this data to support cases for family and teacher-friendly policies, such as smaller class sizes, instead of an article designed to make working mothers miserable.
Step 7: Blog about the article and ask: what is your reaction to this kind of journalism?
"Poor Behavior is Linked To Time in Day Care"
Step 2: Read the fourth paragraph.
Step 3: Imagine the headline was:
"Stronger Vocabulary is Linked to Time in Day Care"
Step 4: Return to reality where day care can NEVER produce positive outcomes for any children, or women might not feel guilty enough for using it while they work.
Step 5: Reread the first three paragraphs which point out that any "poor behavior" is "well within the range for healthy children", and note that the people who seem to be most affected are "teachers who must manage large classrooms."
Step 6: Daydream about rewriting an article using this data to support cases for family and teacher-friendly policies, such as smaller class sizes, instead of an article designed to make working mothers miserable.
Step 7: Blog about the article and ask: what is your reaction to this kind of journalism?
The quiet that does not come from peace...
..may be the silence that comes from burnout.
Due to random husbandly business trips, a young daughter suffering from frequent nightmares who I believe has grown two inches in the last four days, an overload of minutiae at work, an undersupply of money and time, and a deep desire to dig a big hole and sleep in it, I have not been posting much of late. You all don't need to hear my plaintive cries in this regard.
I could use a haircut, a personal trainer, a pair of jeans that cost less than $50 and actually fit...but what I really need is someone just like myself who works for me.
I want to hire me. Full-time, if possible.
A me would be someone who answers my phones, screens so that I only speak with people I actually wish to talk to, and deals with difficult callers so I don't have to. Someone who drafts my personal correspondence and reminds me to sign it, then sends it for me. Someone who manages my address books, daily planner, personal and professional appointments, and travel arrangements. Someone who pays my bills and checks my balances so I'm living within my means, who comparison-shops so I know I'm getting the most for my money. Someone whose job it is to be punctual, cheerful, organized, communicative, and concise. Someone who does my grocery-shopping, laundry, and dry cleaning--okay, I don't actually do that at work for anyone, but it would be really nice. Everyone could use a me, really. Someone to get the crap out of the way so they can focus on the living parts of life.
I want more time to spend with my family, and less time taking care of the environment that my family lives in. I want more storytime and less housework. More romping around the backyard, less scrubbing in the laundryroom. More time savoring good meals, less time scrubbing the greasy pans afterward. Less scrubbing in general, I guess. Less time caretaking and more time enjoying each other's company.
Think of this as an early Christmas wish list. Not that anyone could actually provide these things as gifts...I'm sharing because I'm guessing I have other readers who sometimes feel like they run and run and run in place and still don't get anywhere worth going after working their butts off all day long. That the peaceful happy good times are always "over there."
As you might guess from this post, I had energy to burn today. So I ran over lunch and broke 27:00 over 5K distance for the first time this year. Perhaps I'll find other ways before long to pour this negative energy into more positive accomplishments.
Due to random husbandly business trips, a young daughter suffering from frequent nightmares who I believe has grown two inches in the last four days, an overload of minutiae at work, an undersupply of money and time, and a deep desire to dig a big hole and sleep in it, I have not been posting much of late. You all don't need to hear my plaintive cries in this regard.
I could use a haircut, a personal trainer, a pair of jeans that cost less than $50 and actually fit...but what I really need is someone just like myself who works for me.
I want to hire me. Full-time, if possible.
A me would be someone who answers my phones, screens so that I only speak with people I actually wish to talk to, and deals with difficult callers so I don't have to. Someone who drafts my personal correspondence and reminds me to sign it, then sends it for me. Someone who manages my address books, daily planner, personal and professional appointments, and travel arrangements. Someone who pays my bills and checks my balances so I'm living within my means, who comparison-shops so I know I'm getting the most for my money. Someone whose job it is to be punctual, cheerful, organized, communicative, and concise. Someone who does my grocery-shopping, laundry, and dry cleaning--okay, I don't actually do that at work for anyone, but it would be really nice. Everyone could use a me, really. Someone to get the crap out of the way so they can focus on the living parts of life.
I want more time to spend with my family, and less time taking care of the environment that my family lives in. I want more storytime and less housework. More romping around the backyard, less scrubbing in the laundryroom. More time savoring good meals, less time scrubbing the greasy pans afterward. Less scrubbing in general, I guess. Less time caretaking and more time enjoying each other's company.
Think of this as an early Christmas wish list. Not that anyone could actually provide these things as gifts...I'm sharing because I'm guessing I have other readers who sometimes feel like they run and run and run in place and still don't get anywhere worth going after working their butts off all day long. That the peaceful happy good times are always "over there."
As you might guess from this post, I had energy to burn today. So I ran over lunch and broke 27:00 over 5K distance for the first time this year. Perhaps I'll find other ways before long to pour this negative energy into more positive accomplishments.
3.22.2007
Recipe of the week
As requested by a number of people at my office and elsewhere, after I made them for a few recent festivities...one of my mom's bar cookie recipes that I loved as a kid.
French Bar Cookies
1st Layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 square unsweetened chocolate
1 tsp vanilla
Cook above ingredients over very low heat until blended, stirring constantly.
1 egg beaten
Add to above and stir about five minutes. This will thicken slightly as it cooks.
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup loosely packed moist coconut
Add to above. Line a 9X13 pan with aluminum foil (bottom and sides, these stick like gangbusters otherwise). Pat the crust into the pan. Cool at least fifteen minutes before adding the 2nd layer.
2nd layer:
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsps. instant vanilla pudding mix
3 Tbsp milk
2 cups powdered sugar
Have ingredients at room temp and beat until smooth. Spread over bottom layer. Chill until solid.
3rd layer:
4 squares of semisweet chocolate
1 generous Tbsp butter
Melt together over very low heat. Quickly and gently frost the second layer. Score the top layer and chill. (The pre-cutting makes it possible to get them out of the pan later without breaking, as they get quite solid when cold.) Return bars to room temp before cutting and serve.
French Bar Cookies
1st Layer:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 square unsweetened chocolate
1 tsp vanilla
Cook above ingredients over very low heat until blended, stirring constantly.
1 egg beaten
Add to above and stir about five minutes. This will thicken slightly as it cooks.
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup loosely packed moist coconut
Add to above. Line a 9X13 pan with aluminum foil (bottom and sides, these stick like gangbusters otherwise). Pat the crust into the pan. Cool at least fifteen minutes before adding the 2nd layer.
2nd layer:
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsps. instant vanilla pudding mix
3 Tbsp milk
2 cups powdered sugar
Have ingredients at room temp and beat until smooth. Spread over bottom layer. Chill until solid.
3rd layer:
4 squares of semisweet chocolate
1 generous Tbsp butter
Melt together over very low heat. Quickly and gently frost the second layer. Score the top layer and chill. (The pre-cutting makes it possible to get them out of the pan later without breaking, as they get quite solid when cold.) Return bars to room temp before cutting and serve.
3.15.2007
Time blocks
I spend an undue amount of time juggling other people's schedules. Part of this is by trade; one of my primary responsibilities is to schedule meetings of various sorts for a collection of deans.
[Side note: I would love to hear some suggestions for what to call a group of deans if you have any. A "distinction" of deans? A "dithering" of deans? You get the idea...]
As a stage manager, I set up the rehearsal schedule and the tech schedule, negotiating between actor desires and building hours and so forth. I'm also the person who holds the family calendar in my head, making sure we remember birthdays (um, try to remember...) and holidays, plan vacations far enough ahead to get good airfare, and the like. I appear to have a peculiar talent for stacking people's time blocks side-by-side and finding common spaces. It's basically a spatial-relations talent but in the fourth dimension.
Someone asked me what a truly relaxing day would look like recently and I've been giving the question quite a bit of thought. It definitely involves a day where I am not responsible for where anyone else is or for what they are supposed to be doing. But that same imaginary perfect day isn't relaxing if I know the next day I will return to reality to find things have gone to hell in a handbasket in the meantime.
There are a lot of duties in my life that I can let slide for awhile in times of stress (cleaning, ironing, writing letters, getting pictures developed, just to give a few examples). The scheduling aspect, though, does not appear to be one of them.
It would be a really cool skill, when I go on vacation, to be able to forget when the last day of vacation is. The thought of returning to work doesn't stress me specifically, but I do have problems staying in the vacation moment, so to speak.
Not that I'm anywhere near a vacation now. The lack of unscheduled time in my life for the next few months is pretty apparent. Just daydreaming about time and how it works.
[Side note: I would love to hear some suggestions for what to call a group of deans if you have any. A "distinction" of deans? A "dithering" of deans? You get the idea...]
As a stage manager, I set up the rehearsal schedule and the tech schedule, negotiating between actor desires and building hours and so forth. I'm also the person who holds the family calendar in my head, making sure we remember birthdays (um, try to remember...) and holidays, plan vacations far enough ahead to get good airfare, and the like. I appear to have a peculiar talent for stacking people's time blocks side-by-side and finding common spaces. It's basically a spatial-relations talent but in the fourth dimension.
Someone asked me what a truly relaxing day would look like recently and I've been giving the question quite a bit of thought. It definitely involves a day where I am not responsible for where anyone else is or for what they are supposed to be doing. But that same imaginary perfect day isn't relaxing if I know the next day I will return to reality to find things have gone to hell in a handbasket in the meantime.
There are a lot of duties in my life that I can let slide for awhile in times of stress (cleaning, ironing, writing letters, getting pictures developed, just to give a few examples). The scheduling aspect, though, does not appear to be one of them.
It would be a really cool skill, when I go on vacation, to be able to forget when the last day of vacation is. The thought of returning to work doesn't stress me specifically, but I do have problems staying in the vacation moment, so to speak.
Not that I'm anywhere near a vacation now. The lack of unscheduled time in my life for the next few months is pretty apparent. Just daydreaming about time and how it works.
3.09.2007
Is this the kind of time I have on my hands?
Recently a group of women in my parish hosted a ladies' luncheon entitled "Chicken Soup for the Soul." Readers who know me at all will suspect that I am not well-suited to this type of event, and indeed I do believe I lack the fundamental inability to avoid cynicism necessary for its enjoyment. However, I did stop by to donate a door prize since the funds from the event went to help pregnant and new mothers.
[Brief soapbox speech: I think this is a group worthy of help because instead of waving signs and protesting at abortion clinics, they're helping women who have babies in concrete practical ways by cooking for them, buying diapers, gathering gently used clothes and furniture, and so forth. Actually helping mothers to take care of their children during pregnancy and early childhood equals supporting life in an engaged and responsible manner. End of soapbox.]
Anyway, when I arrived, each table was decorated in unique and spectacular fashion according to a theme. There was a "movie night" table with popcorn boxes and red-and-white dishes, for example. I thought the women who were table hostesses were amazingly creative and had clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the party decorations. Again, this is not a skill set I possess, although I have the capacity to appreciate it. From a distance, perhaps.
This morning I was blog-browsing and was cross-referenced to Food Network regular Sandra Lee. As Matt and I gave up cable several years ago, we are not au courant on the current hosts. She has been sharply critiqued by a number of blogs whose opinions I generally respect so I went to her website out of curiosity. Lo and behold, the concept of the tablescape:
[Brief soapbox speech: I think this is a group worthy of help because instead of waving signs and protesting at abortion clinics, they're helping women who have babies in concrete practical ways by cooking for them, buying diapers, gathering gently used clothes and furniture, and so forth. Actually helping mothers to take care of their children during pregnancy and early childhood equals supporting life in an engaged and responsible manner. End of soapbox.]
Anyway, when I arrived, each table was decorated in unique and spectacular fashion according to a theme. There was a "movie night" table with popcorn boxes and red-and-white dishes, for example. I thought the women who were table hostesses were amazingly creative and had clearly put a lot of thought and effort into the party decorations. Again, this is not a skill set I possess, although I have the capacity to appreciate it. From a distance, perhaps.
This morning I was blog-browsing and was cross-referenced to Food Network regular Sandra Lee. As Matt and I gave up cable several years ago, we are not au courant on the current hosts. She has been sharply critiqued by a number of blogs whose opinions I generally respect so I went to her website out of curiosity. Lo and behold, the concept of the tablescape:
I find the concept of tablescapes both frightening and fascinating simultaneously. Coordinating dishes, table linens, centerpieces, pieces of craftwork, and so forth sounds like a lot of work. As someone who rarely ventures past the paper-plates-and-coordinated-paper-napkins aisle in Target in terms of this type of creativity, I feel a bit unqualified to comment. Is Sandra Lee filling an unmet need for women who want to decorate for parties and need ideas? Or is she wasting a lot of women's time?
For those of my readers who entertain: is there still a place in our lives for the well-set table? (Even if Lee's type of table isn't it?)
Consider yourself recruited, ladies.
Since Matt and I are travelling during sections of May and June, the first race I can really commit to this year will be in July.
Last year, I did the Danskin Triathlon. The race benefits breast cancer research, and quite a few of the ladies who race are cancer survivors, so it was pretty inspiring. The majority of women who do the Danskin are first-time triathletes, and I can tell you from watching last year's race that they are all ages, weights, and sizes. I have never seen so many women cheering each other on and being supportive and screaming encouragement to each other.
On the downside, last year, I had several complaints about the race organization. The parking for the race was blocked off by the bike route so all participants had to arrive an hour before the first wave began at 7 a.m., and no one could leave til the last biker chick was off the course. Traffic at arrival time was awful, and it was about 2 miles from the parking lot to the transition site where the bikes were parked and we could dump our stuff. Not to mention it was 104 degrees by the time our wave started the run, but the heat wasn't really up to the race organizers. :)
All indications are that my complaints have been adequately addressed. They have apparently come up with a new bike route that will allow people to arrive and leave while the race is in progress, and they'll also let people pre-rack their bikes the day before the event. Practically speaking, this means no 5:30 a.m. arrival for a 9:00 a.m. start, and no two miles of lugging gear beside 1000 other women who are doing the same thing, half-awake.
So I'll be doing this race again, and I'm asking any of my female readers who's up for it to think about joining me. If you're an out-of-towner, think about coming to stay for a long weekend in the mountains--we've got guest room. :) July 14-15 is the key weekend. Hey, it's only about 15 miles of your life swimming, biking, and running--why not give it a shot? You've got four months to train!
More details are at:
http://www.danskin.com/denvermain.html
Drop me a line if you're curious.
Last year, I did the Danskin Triathlon. The race benefits breast cancer research, and quite a few of the ladies who race are cancer survivors, so it was pretty inspiring. The majority of women who do the Danskin are first-time triathletes, and I can tell you from watching last year's race that they are all ages, weights, and sizes. I have never seen so many women cheering each other on and being supportive and screaming encouragement to each other.
On the downside, last year, I had several complaints about the race organization. The parking for the race was blocked off by the bike route so all participants had to arrive an hour before the first wave began at 7 a.m., and no one could leave til the last biker chick was off the course. Traffic at arrival time was awful, and it was about 2 miles from the parking lot to the transition site where the bikes were parked and we could dump our stuff. Not to mention it was 104 degrees by the time our wave started the run, but the heat wasn't really up to the race organizers. :)
All indications are that my complaints have been adequately addressed. They have apparently come up with a new bike route that will allow people to arrive and leave while the race is in progress, and they'll also let people pre-rack their bikes the day before the event. Practically speaking, this means no 5:30 a.m. arrival for a 9:00 a.m. start, and no two miles of lugging gear beside 1000 other women who are doing the same thing, half-awake.
So I'll be doing this race again, and I'm asking any of my female readers who's up for it to think about joining me. If you're an out-of-towner, think about coming to stay for a long weekend in the mountains--we've got guest room. :) July 14-15 is the key weekend. Hey, it's only about 15 miles of your life swimming, biking, and running--why not give it a shot? You've got four months to train!
More details are at:
http://www.danskin.com/denvermain.html
Drop me a line if you're curious.
mid-1990's music quiz
Your 1996 Theme Song Is: Ironic by Alanis Morisette |
 It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought ... it figures |
This quiz was surprisingly accurate. I played this Alanis CD until it just about wore out during my junior and senior years of college. However, I frequently skipped this song because as an English major I knew perfectly well that none of the situations described in the lyrics was, in fact, ironic. Still, an enjoyable diversion this morning. Hat tip to Staci for the quiz link.
3.06.2007
Just fine. Thanks for asking.
I got in the car yesterday after work and the bug was tired. Matt had her all wrapped up in blankets and she was just about ready to nap out. He and I talked for a few minutes and then I heard a little waking-up noise from the back seat. I turned around to look at her and she said,
"Hi, honey. How was your day?"
And she waited for an answer.
Wow. Just wow.
"Hi, honey. How was your day?"
And she waited for an answer.
Wow. Just wow.
3.02.2007
flashback to Frisco
We spent a night in Frisco with some of our friends a few weekends ago, and it has taken me this long to find the camera and get the photos in order and onto a computer for blogging purposes. So, without further delay, some of the highlights of the weekend:
After arriving through snow, closed highways, and traffic jams, the girls settled down for a good story:
That's three of the four-under-four little girls who accompanied the six adults on our trip. Here's a look at the fourth little one, with her mama:
After a late, rather sleepless night for both girls and parents, it was time to go out into the mountain air for some sledding fun:
That was pre-face-plant, as each girl got a turn falling off the sled as well. The dads seemed to have a good time towing them around, though:
All in all it was a mentally and physically active weekend and really fun to get away from our own snowbound homes for a change. Many thanks to Fred who loaned us his place for the weekend, and to the fabulous bariste at the local coffee/chocolate shop who assisted the ladies in enjoying a childless hour of celebrity movie gossip and gave us free tasting samples!
After arriving through snow, closed highways, and traffic jams, the girls settled down for a good story:
That's three of the four-under-four little girls who accompanied the six adults on our trip. Here's a look at the fourth little one, with her mama:
After a late, rather sleepless night for both girls and parents, it was time to go out into the mountain air for some sledding fun:
That was pre-face-plant, as each girl got a turn falling off the sled as well. The dads seemed to have a good time towing them around, though:
All in all it was a mentally and physically active weekend and really fun to get away from our own snowbound homes for a change. Many thanks to Fred who loaned us his place for the weekend, and to the fabulous bariste at the local coffee/chocolate shop who assisted the ladies in enjoying a childless hour of celebrity movie gossip and gave us free tasting samples!
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