Thursday, August 30, 2007

Standing by my man



OMG you guys!!!

Barack Obama is walking in the Milford, NH Labor Day Parade!!!!!! OMG I am so excited. I just signed up Henry and myself to walk the parade route with him. oh my goodness am I thrilled about this. I had to let you know right away!

Oh Blog. You're always there for me, excited to hear my news. love you!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

I ignored you yesterday

Howdy, Ho.

Did you read my mom's blog?! about the murder outside her apartment building?! Dad would've loved that. Well, you know what I mean. The excitement and hubbub and drama, he would've loved that.

So many things I wish my dad had lived to see! Crazy that he's been gone not quite three months. I believe in my heart that he KNOWS about all these things, but it would just be so nice to hear what he has to say about them all. That's what I'm missing.

I read somewhere that when a loved one dies, your capacity to love them grows and grows and grows. The love you have for the person becomes more intense than was ever possible while they were alive. Since you don't have to attend to their needs anymore, and the risk of them not meeting your needs has gone away, all there is left to do is love love love. This has been epecially true for me.

I have been blurting out things he would say several times today. One was, "That, and seventy five cents would buy you the sunday paper." another was, "Fiddle dee dee." I also employ "What's the ssshhheddulle?" Soon I'll be wanting "EYE-talian food"!

Anyway. Miss you daddy. I'm not bumming out hard core, but I am sad for the fact that you aren't on the earth anymore. BUT! As you always said, nobody gets out of here alive.

And I'm sort of glad you weren't around for the shoot out at your old apartment, because you would've been hopping into your pants and scrambling down to the lobby to see what's what - MIGHTA GOTTEN SHOT YERSELF!

Monday, August 27, 2007

My Early Muir Owl



A wedding proposal, built around an elaborate gallery opening.

Heat.

It was SO HOT AND HUMID this weekend. totally miserable making. Saturday was the worst, Sunday was better. On Saturday, it was so hot (HOW HOT WAS IT?!) that anything anybody said to me was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard. And there seemed to be no escape from the oppressive weather.

We could get in the car and drive, crank the AC, but then the kids would tease and slap and tickle each other, driving the parents crazy. Any stores we went into just meant spending $$, handling repeated requests for toys and things for the kids, crowds, etc. YUCK. Going home would subtract the spending of money, and the parents could try to evade being in the presence of sanctioned slapping/teasing/tickling/ shouting of the kids, but then you add in the heat and humidity and it'd be a wash. There was no escape! It was the worst. This weekends weather would definitely be on the top five of worst days of the year. very very yucko.

But Sunday was better. Jeff and I seemed to get a lot of housework done, and early in the day too, which was nice. By 1:30pm I was able to lay under the fan in the *clean!* bedroom doing some embroidery work while Henry watched TV and Maggie and Jeff were somewhere else in the house. Jeff got loads of laundry done, and I got ours and Maggie's bedroom cleaned up finally. So that felt pretty good. And I was able to take a load of recycling to the dump. Lots of stuff that was able to be crossed off my list so I could head into this week feeling on top of my game.

We are currently missing two very important members of the family, NightNight and Margaret. nobody's sure where they are, we've looked everywhere, retraced steps, etc. I had a dream last night where they were in the backseat of Jocelyn's car, which is not possible, obviously. Luckily Maggie's not too freaked out about it. Hopefully they'll turn up!

Okedoke. have a good day now!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Friday afternoon

Today is a slow day, but I have been keeping busy. Today is the last day at Henry's summer camp program. They had a talent show. He'd asked us to come and see him perform - the only clue he gave us was that his talent was running. But when Jeff got there (before me) Henry informed him that his group may not be performing after all. So Jeff and I got to watch the other kids perform their talents, and it was very sweet.

one girl played her violin. She came on stage and sat down very calmly and then proceeded to saw out "Mary Had a Little Lamb" -- not hitting one right note during the whole performance. it was too cute. Another girl was scheduled to sing "Somewhere over the Rainbow", but she got stage fright and instead trembled and cried while the camp counselor held her on stage with a protective arm around the shoulder and led everyone in singing the first verse of the song.

The folks running his camp are terrific. I will be happy to incorporate their offerings into Henry's world as we head into the school year and it's various school vacations and whatnot.

As for weekend plans, we don't really have any, and I am thrilled. Putter, putter, putter, futz, futz, futz. YAY! Lots and lots of yard sales in the paper this week, too. And my friend Bob invited us out on Saturday night, but I never squared away a sitter, so there goes that. Maybe my wonderful mutton chopped husband (you know who you are) will encourage me to go out on my own!!!

I hope you have a great weekend, whoever you are. Wherever you are.

bye now!

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Is it almost Friday already?!

The days fly by even faster than before! Our house is such a pit right now, goodness gracious. I had been fantasizing about getting a housekeeper to come by a couple times a month, and now I am sure I want to. Maybe to come over every other Monday or something to spit shine the place. That way we can pick up on the weekend (to get ready for the spit shine) and then have a clean house during the week, which is really when we need it. I had been thinking it'd be nice to have them come towards the end of the week, so we could have a clean house for the weekend. but you have to pick up before they come, and I'd rather do that on the weekend than stressing out over it the weeknight before. Anyway. We'll see... All I know is at the end of the workday, I run out of steam after fixing dinner and cleaning up and so forth. And I've switched from fixing the kids lunch the night before to getting up 10 minutes earlier to do it in the morning while jeff is in the shower. Aren't you glad you know all this? Hey, I promised I'd blog more often, this is the best I've got right now!

Last night Jeff had a planning board meeting, so he was out for the evening. I made a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs that the kids totally devoured. Jeff is living la vida low carb right now, so instead of noodles he had brocolli and cauliflower under his sauce and 'balls.

My other low carb tip to those of you out there following along (Jocelyn, I'm talking to you) is to cook up boneless chicken breasts, then pour marinara over the top of 'em, add pizza cheese, add pepperoni, add more pizza cheese, and then pop 'em back in the oven again. it's like having a pizza, only your crust is breast! 100% low carb. (you could obviously put any of the standard pizza toppings on it.)

we love cold pepperoni for a low carb snack. our local food shop sells it from their deli - YUM! very tasty.

Weekend plans include a haircut for Maggie, hopefully. Plus cleaning house, plus laundry. I'd also like to get some new tennis shoes, onaccounta I'm a workout girl now and the shoes I have are old and nasty. Today at lunch I plan on checking out a quilt shop that is just up the road from my house, in the middle of nowhere!

I am really looking forward to my mom coming to visit! we have big plans to crank up my sewing skills (BANG!) and hit a couple of quilt shops and so forth. I would love love LOVE to make a quilt for henry's bed and also one for maggie's that is just like the quilt my mom made ME many years ago. The red and white flannel one, remember momma? the weight of that quilt is so perfect, I just love it.

Anyway. Back to work! bye now.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Ahhhh-CHOO!

Yesterday I came down with some hard core sneezing and runny eyes and my sinuses packing up, etc. BOO! All day long I told myself I should run home and take some Airborne, but I wasn't able to get away. So I sneezed my way home and climbed right into bed. Jeff, bless his heart, went to pick up the kids and some nyquil for me. When he got home, I took two nyquil gel caps, and one sudafed.

Boy howdy did that sudafed do the trick! I felt much much better eventually, but I still stayed in bed while Jeff made dinner. My new thing is to emrboider while I'm in bed. it was heaven! Jeff put some pork chops on the 'Q and whipped up one of the more delicious home cooked meals I have had in a very long time. Many thanks to my wonderful husband.

The nyquil knocked me out around 8:30 -- GET THIS: I didn't even stay awake to watch Big Brother!!! Can you believe that?! I can't. Thank goodness for Tivo, and the internet, and the chat forums at tvgasm. I don't feel like I missed the goings on inside the big brother house. I know Jen is going home, Jen knows she is going home, etc. Sigh. She was my favorite, too! Now I want Jessica to win. But not Eric! Eric is a shady character.

ANYWAYS. Feel a little better today. I took another Sudafed this morning before coming in to work, and I brought the Airborne tablets with me. So I might be okay!

Yesterday I worked out during my lunch hour, I am real proud to say. And I am actually looking forward to doing it again today! I need something trashy to read, though. I've got my ipod to distract me, but could use something for my eyeballs to rest upon while I work out. (I sense the perfect justification for buying the latest People magazine!)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

You don't yell "FIRE!" in a loaded movie house...

And you don't tell your child's daycare that she's got whooping cough. Or so it would seem!

Turns out that Maggie doesn't have whooping cough after all, she's just got croup! But that correction wasn't made for me until AFTER I'd called the daycare to explain why she wouldn't be in today.

Apparently a kid getting whooping cough is something the owner of the daycare has to report to the state, so she was alarmed to find Maggie being dropped off by her dad this afternoon! She'd already called "the state" to report it, and was going to get back to them to call off the hounds of whooping-cough-ery -

D'OH!

Tuesday Tuesday!

Maggie went to the ER at 1:30am last night! She's had a runny nose for the last couple days, and woke up at 11:30 and then again at 12:30 last night with a terrible honking cough and sore throat. Jeff had been out very late and came home at 1:30am to Maggie flailing around on our bed, crying and moaning. I think her throat was so sore that it made her cry, which made her throat hurt more, which made her moan, which made her throat hurt more, etc. I had been sort of waiting for her to calm herself down (like she'd done at 11:30) when Jeff came in and saved the day. He was so concerned by her behavior that he swept her up in his arms and brought her to the ER. They were home a couple hours later, with nothing major to report. I guess she has whooping cough and it sounded so terrible because of her smaller lung capacity or something. Anyway, Maggie.........will recover. She is at home today with her dad, but I'm sure she'll be heading back to "school" tomorrow.

I, on the other hand, am most likely catching what she's got. I have some Airborne (Thank you Maxine!) at the house that I keep thinking I should run home and take, because I can feel it coming on (sore throat, sniffles, etc.) but I am here at work, not there at home, so it may have to wait.

I brought my lunch today with the hopes of going to work out on my lunch hour. I may be heading off to do that real soon here. I had been thinking it would be too inconvenient to work out at lunch, but then it occurred to me that in fact, it wouldn't be. Yesterday I talked with my girlfriend Heather about tips and tricks on working out and she gave me the hookup and inspiration to give it a shot. Thanks Heather!

Okay, so this officially fulfills my promise to post each day at work. We were going to go see Barack Obama at a Nashua Pride baseball game tonight, but those plans have been run asunder by various forces no longer under my control. Boo. You and I will share the same space some day, Mr. Obama. Today is not your day, however.

Bye for now!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Weekend Update


I had a great birthday. And a wonderful weekend. First weekend in a very long time where the difference between monday thru friday and saturday and sunday was so evident. As a result, I found myself trying to cancel everything possible on Saturday so I could just stay home and putter!

On Saturday morning, the four of us went yard sailing, and boy oh boy did I score big. A woman was selling her recently passed mother's old quilting supplies. So for seven bucks I walked away with a box of notions and quilting supplies, and another big box of some of the craziest, vintage-iest fabric you have ever seen. it was like manna from heaven. I am trying to build up my stash, and this really helped.

UPDATE: The quilt:


We'd had plans to take the kids to see "Underdog" for my birthday, and then Jeff had secured a babysitter for Saturday night. But I was so anxious to get back home and incorporate my new stuff into my sewing supplies that I postponed what I could and brought us all back home for the day. IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO BE HOME!!!

I've spent a lot of time at home these past several years. To be thrilled to stay home and putter was a new and wonderful feeling, let me tell you. And there was this wonderful balance of "my house is a shambles! I don't want to do work on my birthday! It's my birthday, I feel like doing a bit of work to get things just so, so I can turn my back on it all and fondle my notions and maybe sew up a tote bag! I think I'll do the dishes! Hey, this is nice! this feels good, doing the dishes!" etc.

For my birthday, Jeff and the kids gave me a couple of wonderful cards, and a three photo collage for my desk at work. These two pics are from the series of photos they gave me - aren't the colors wonderful?




On Friday night I had a girls night out with three good pals. We went out for mexican food and margaritas, and I had a great time. thanks gals! After dinner, Nicole and I kept the party going by prowling the fabric section at WalMart. GOOD. TIMES.

This extended blog post is dedicated to my sister Jocelyn, who worries that my posts will diminish as my professional career takes off. FEAR NOT DEAR READER! I promised her I would try to post each weekday morning, and I will try very hard to do so. Time to get back to it!

have a great day, blog, I love you.

Friday, August 17, 2007

PEACE Quote

This is the true joy in life, to be used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, to be thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap. To be a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am a member of a community and as a member it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can before I die. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
--George Bernard Shaw

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Hey, did you know I got a job?

Yep! Working full time and everything. In fact, I'm writing this entry at work! ha! I'll try to expand on this post later, but I wanted to touch base with my loyal subjects and let you know why I haven't been posting too often around here. Busy working mom you know! the job so far is great, the commute can't be beat, and the people are my kind of people.

I want to make myself a T-shirt that says "EARNER!" across the front.

Maggie is in a preschool/childcare situation directly across the street from Henry's school. She is loving her new life as a busy school go-er and they are charmed with her at the daycare. (as well they should be!) Until school starts up for Henry, he is attending summer camp at the local boys and girls club, and is also happy happy happy there. Once school starts he'll be going to where Maggie is after school, unless I can figure out how to transport him from school to the boys and girls club (where I think he'd have a more stimulating time of it).

Jeff is the only one whose daily schedule hasn't been turned upside down. He takes the kids to their situations in the morning and I pick them up. I think he enjoys the fact that we are all up at the crack of dawn now, not just him while we sleep in and lay around the house all day.

anyway, more later!

p.s. did you know my birthday is this Saturday?! 37!

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Crafty! Fused Plastic Shopping Tote





How about this now! I read about fusing plastic bags online and thought I'd give it a try. Apparently, if you place 6-8 layers of plastic shopping bags between two pieces of waxed paper, (trimming the bottom and the handles off and opening it wide, giving you two layers of plastic per bag), then iron it for 15 seconds or so, you can create plastic sheets that you can sew on your sewing machine!

Market Basket is my much loved local grocery, so I was happy to see it's logo figuring prominently. And that's duct tape binding the seams, lining the bottom and making the handles. Sure did use up a lot of plastic bags! A pretty fun project. And the bag is very sturdy, I assure you! Will be perfect for food shopping.

Here's a great looking bag that inspired me and gave me many good tips... from a really terrific website, by the way. I have been going to craftster.org many many times a day lately... Craftster.org, "Extreme Plastic Bag Makeover"

Funny Toilet Guy





I'll try to make a video of this guy in action, but until then, just look at Margie's face. This guy just thrills her. He farts and wiggles and grunts and says, "oh yeah, oh yeah" -- then he sings "Halll-Lol-ooya, Halll-Lol-ooya" and then stops. The kids find it endlessly amusing. I picked it up from a free pile of stuff I heard about on craigslist.

Baby Eli is about 5 weeks old!





We babysat Matt and Nicole's baby Eli last night. What a cutie.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Crafty! Headband





This is a little headband I whipped up. It looks so cute on Maggie, but you should know that she disposed of it immediately after I put the camera down. :-(