Eclectically Yours,

Controversy and Debate

I found this information on RegularMom's site. I hate to bring up anything controversial on my website. I have real mixed feelings on this issue, because while I inoculated my child for most childhood diseases at the time, I have learned so much about the effects of inoculation. I feel the jury is still out on this issue. I absolutely feel that education is necessary. And while, I support the creators of this message, I feel education in this matter is paramount to inoculation. You can decide for yourself. I welcome your comments on the issue.

Oh, how silly I was. To think I could update daily. I had my dreams, didn't I? Well, in lieu of my erstwhile daily check in during Anna and Josh's visit, here are a few photos. Hopefully will update some more tomorrow.

Crafting Afternoon with Anna:

A very interesting pottery shop...with no one around...

A beautiful (if slightly chilly) day by the water front...

And guess what? The boats were being "un tucked" after winter...a really, really, good sign!!

When I think picnic by the water, I'm thinking a beautiful wicker basket, linens, chicken salad sandwiches, deviled eggs on a glass tray, wine, cheese, crackers and silverware. And preferably foot men waiting to re- pour my wine. But, you know, Subway tastes pretty decent...

It seems I NEVER get to be in pictures during this trip. Which, frankly, since I'm not ultra lovin' my new hair and have gained a huge amount of weight over the winter, that's really okay. People can't seem to figure out how to run the new camera, either, so it's easier to skip it. However, Ms. D grabbed the camera for a bit...

This is our pseudo Olan Mills pose..

Do YOU see buds on those trees, 'cause I'M seeing buds on those trees...

One of our favorite local libraries...favorite, but we don't get there often enough. It has a wonderful lighthouse in the wee tots section. With a working light!

I took pictures, and took pictures...and took pictures...

I finally had to amuse myself...with some of MY OWN friends...(try to see past the double chin. Mine, not theirs...)

We had deep discussion...

...and then they turned on me as reptilian predators, even in a children's book section, are wont to do.

It was really more the verbal attack that bothered me. They claimed that my chin was getting a bit thick..and although I didn't really hear the word double, I think it was implied.

Turning my back on my new friends and their implications, we went out to eat...with this for a view...

...and this...

Do these two seem a little tense to you?

Our food was cooked with this...the real thing! They add wood to it every morning. No namby -pamby gas lighter for this place!

And I will end with this. I haven't quite figured out what this means.

I mean, I live in a fishing type community, I should be able to ask, right? But I keep forgetting. Maybe believing, probably falsely, that I'll be laughed out of the store for asking.Growing up in a farming community in SW WI, I know the looks I'd get if I asked about, say, a manure spreader. My guess is that a Mackerel Killer is a type of lure, because it's "Handmade in the Northwoods of Maine"...if anyone knows, you can save me the embarrassment by writing me a line or two of explanation.

I still haven't forgotten the give- away we've planned! We're working on a few questions to pose, but so far haven't found the "tackiest Maine gift possible" which will be the prize. A little piece of Maine Kitch for your home. I have exactly one billion more pictures, but haven't the time to post. Will try to do more tomorrow. If you ask nice.

My Life In Music

So Mommylion at In A Tiny House listed the music of her life. I drew a blank when she challenged others to do the same. But it was late. And today I've got a few. Quite a few. It's amazing how music can really take you back. Not just to a place, but so reminds me of a person and a moment. Whether it's friends, family or some guy I had an insane crush on. Much of the music here runs through various decades, but I posted the songs that evokes a memory. Maybe you'll discover something new or some music you forgot all about. Or maybe you'll figure it just takes WAY too long to slog through this list. If you click on nothing else, click on Jelly Man Kelly by James Taylor. It's just too fun.

The 70's
Childhood:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (the first song I can truly remember on the radio)
Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast (I thought they wrote it for me. Really. I could never keep up with my Dad.)
Ladybugs Picnic (I will never get tired of this)
Original Broadway My Fair Lady
Original Broadway Sound of Music
Original Broadway Fiddler on the Roof
Soundtrack from West Side Story
Happiest Girl (In The Whole U.S.A.)
I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)
Barbara Streisand
Debbie Boone
Anne Murray
Helen Reddy (I remember hating this haircut even at the time. I still do...horrific)
johnny cash
Statler brothers (my dad had this song on an 8 track tape...I loved it)
Grease
Convoy (my friend, Nicole and I, new ALL the words...)
Queen (my best friends brothers listened to Queen and ACDC. I thought her brothers were pretty cool, but wild, which makes me laugh at what a six year old thought was wild!)
On the Radio
Rainbow Connection ( I loved the Muppets!)
Sonny and Cher ( I mostly saw this at my cousins because we didn't have T.V. We always hoped for Chasity to come out in the end..(. no pun was intended when I wrote that...))
Blondie
Pink Floyd (anthem of 5th grade)

(The 80's)
Pre teen and Teen Years:
Grandpa Jones  (weep for me because my father loved this song)
Spike Jones (you may continue to weep at my upbringing...)
Homer and Jethro (you're sobbing now, aren't you?)
Shawn Cassidy (Do Run Run...again, my cousins influence)
Bay City Rollers (S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y.)
Do You Think I'm Sexy (Rod Stewart, my cousins, again...)
Don't You Want Me (Human League, my cousins...man, they are connected with a lot of music)
Like a Refugee/Tom Petty (the first song as a preteen I really got "into". I had a little transistor radio. Pre boom box days)
Cindy Lauper
We Got The Beat (8th Grade Graduation Dance)
Run D.M.C. (first rap I was aware of,sad huh?)
Madonna
Valley Girl (this, is, like, SO 8th grade?)
Hey MIckey

A-ha (Take On Me, he was SO cute!)
Chicago  (Okay, a guy I liked made me TONS of tapes of Chicago)
Talking Heads (And She Was~Callie, I"m sorry but this reminds me so of your dad the first time I met him when he was checking out Dton from New York.)
ZZTOP (I was never a ZZ fan, but this SO reminds me of a dear friend. So despite their beards ZZ is good memories...)
Leather/Lace (Stevie Nicks/Don Henley...I suppose there is another guy in this memory...)
Janet Jackson
The Cure (their hair was so much better than mine...)
The Smiths
Siouxie and the Banshees
Devo
Money For Nothing
Tears for Fears
Michael Jackson 
Phil Collins
Rock Me Amadeus (some German influence comin' on..)
99 Luftballoons
Don't Worry Be Happy
Tracy Chapman (my first 'real' job memories)
Eurythmics
More Than Words (Extreme)
MCHammer
Vanilla Ice
Phantom of the Opera
Les Miserable (saw it four times)
Pat Benatar

The 90's
Courtship:
Paula Abdul
Cat Stevens
REM
Kate Bush  (the cutest guy in the world turned me on to Kate Bush)
Enya
Annie Haslam (same guy gave me this album, and  I ended up marrying him)
Out of Africa Soundtrack
Room with a View Soundtrack
Sinead O'Connor (I loved her ever since I saw her on the Grammy's. This is my favorite song. Reminds me of my cousin, Rachel, my husband and good times...)
Warrant (I am REALLY  embarassed, but in the spirit of full disclosure it was the wink that got me in the end, and the fact that my friend and I could do harmony to this really well!)

Kiss The Girl (Little Mermaid) "Our Song" from our wedding

Newly Married:
Oliver Brighton (gee, they aren't on youtube. Probably because my husband wrote the songs for this album and his friend, Jeff, made them into a CD with his new band. Awesome gift to see David's songs produced...)
Hank Williams Sr.
Sarah McLachlan
Fuggees
Dylan
Cranberries
Elvis (trip to Graceland)
Lisa Loeb (I had a 'friend' I secretly sang this song in my head to...)
Tori Amos (I'm SO getting this song down on the piano...almost there...)
Jewel
Talking Heads (revisited, once again Andy and Jeanenne prove you CAN polka to anything)
SixPence None the Richer
10,000 Maniacs (this should belong in the late 80's I tried to learn this song...but it belongs here too...)
Poi Dog
MOBY
Gaelic Storm
Alanis Morrisette
Lindsey Buckingham
Shawn Colvin
Paula Cole

Trip To India:
Alisha (We got this album when we were in India...it played on the streets of Goa)
Anything from Diwale Dulanya LaJeyenge (this is my favorite scene(Mehndi) and don't tell me Shah Rukh Khan is not adorable!)

The '00's
Baby Girl Years:
On A Starry Night(birthing music)
Andrews Sisters
Bee Gees
ABBA (we bought this as a joke for a friend and then wouldn't give the album to her. We loved it)
Sesame Street Jelly Man Kelly (James Taylor...yummy!)
Sesame Banana Song
Sesame Monster in the Mirror
Blondie (strange kids music, but there it is...)
Sarah Brightman's Harem
Bob Marley
Shrek Soundtrack I and II
Nelly Furtado (three year olds LOVE this song!)
No Doubt
The Beatles (oh, how she loves the Beatles!)
Candace Knight
Loreena McKennit
Celtic Music
Louise Prima and Keely Smith
Hank 3

Music of My Brother:
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Green Day
Wyclef
Beck
Stand By Me (Josh and Anna had this song in their wedding when the bridal party walked down the aisle. So cool!)

Death:
Kate Bush Woman's Work
No Woman No Cry

Back to Maine:
Soundtrack O, Brother Where Art Thou? (fit in nicely with discussion of The Odyssey)
Shane McGowen/Pogues
Gwen Stefani (why does this remind me of early Madonna?)
Libera
Shakira
Santana
Flat Duo Jets
Aqua (Ms. D has a dance to this)
Pink Martini
A Fine Frenzy

Hey, Mommylion. I took this challenge perhaps a little TOO seriously.

Merfun

You may recall this ever so lovely mermaid painting my friend, Nona, did. (Her website is looking good, although not quite finished. Check it out here!)

Well, in honor of mermaids everywhere Lands' End, a place close to my heart and pocketbook, has some pretty cool mermaid-esque stuff.

First, how cute is this mermaid tale towel/beach coverup? Here's the link so you can run and buy it!

 

And the piece d'resistance would be right here:

I know, I know ...FINS!!! I want them, frankly. And they go up to size 7 in kids, which, with my inside knowledge is a size 9(!) in womens! That means you can get a pair too! Click here for the link to go get your pair! (Sadly, this is NOT a paid advertisement....it just sounds like one...)

Nona has a pair of fins on the way for Ms. D....shhhhhhh...it's a surprise...well, sorta...

And now I leave you with some corny mermaid stuff....to put a corny lilt in your step...or your fin...how do mermaids manage to swim, dance and sing all at once?

Oh, let's just take this further, shall we??

I'm SO Proud...

...the other day I was linked from someone googling "homeschooling moms going crazy". My blog work is done, here. I have truly  made a mark in this world and feel fulfillment. I have added to truth and stereotype all in one fell swoop.

Oh, Right. I Have a Brother, Too...

Lest you think, from this post, that I am an only child whose parents lives revolved entirely around her, who constantly needs attention and validation, I would like to set the record straight.

I have a brother.

Look, here is a picture of my mom pregnant with the future lad.  I think it's the only one we have of her pregnant with him. You may not be able to tell what with all the 70's pattern in this photo, but that's me on the bottom right. We're watching T.V. Probably "Happy Days".

And here is another photo with Dad. Funny there is no writing on the back of that one, like there was with  mine.

Here is another one of him as he's older. Too bad about those eyes.

I look happy. A little TOO happy. Is there some hysteria behind my eyes? And what does it say that my hair still looks the same and this picture was taken over five years ago? Oh, wait. This was about my brother.

Here is a picture of him a few months before he was married.  I trained him well enough that he managed to land a very decent wife. In fact, she reminds me of me. It's only right that my brother would want someone as magical and perfect as his sister. Any other woman would pale in comparison.

Oh, look! It's ME at his wedding!! I got to walk down with my husband! How cool was that? (You know how those bridesmaids dresses add additional weight to make the bride look good? That was the case here, too. Because I was at my thinnest here. Size 4. Juniors. Incredible the visual fat these dresses add, huh?!)

And here I am again, looking on as the beautiful couple are wed. It's too bad you can't really see them, isn't it? I'm actually crying. I think it was because I hated my hair. I giant pastry seemed to have attached itself to the back of my head.

Here is a better view of the pastry on my head.

It was such a beautiful wedding. Oh, look! Here I am again! Look at that soft Photoshop glow that surrounds the picture. A romantic glow in case you couldn't tell from the photo alone.

Anyway, it's like I said. I have a brother. And without sounding too much like Napoleon Dynamite,  it was pretty much the best thing that ever happened to me.

Controversy, Commentary and Debate

One can only imagine my surprise when I  noted that someone found my blog via a CNN news page. Given my addiction to stats and figures, I was agog and aghast. Now, HOW, I asked, would someone find my blog via a link from CNN? I'm newsworthy, there is no doubt about that, but has the world caught on so very quickly? Apparently so. Here was the page from whence my link came.

Link: Killer ex-cop gets 57 to life after jury spares him - CNN.com.

Now look down and see the part that says "FROM THE BLOGS: Controversy, Commentary and Debate."? Yes, my blog was linked first. Me. Who has never used my blog for the above three reasons of Controversy, Commentary or Debate. Okay, maybe Commentary. But have I even mentioned current news, besides my own fascinating life, ONCE on this oh -so -innocent blog? Apparently, my post on blurkers somehow tied into this tragic piece of news. I have no idea how. I actually kinda feel icky at the seemingly arbitrary world of automatic searches that links me to this piece of news. Here I am, a light hearted homeschool mommy linked in some weird twist of Internet mischance to this sordid current event.

But if I was surprised, can you imagine the person who actually linked here? Hoping to cash in on some intense Controversy, Commentary and Debate? Instead he finds him/herself surrounded by issues of blog stats, husbands who wear denim jumpsuits, my daughter's eye appointment, my desperate need for spring, and desperate need for validation from my family.

Wait a minute. That IS all under the heading of Controversy, Commentary and Debate. Suddenly, it all becomes very clear to me WHY I was linked on CNN. Could a call from Larry King be far behind?

Blurker Round Up

Well, I'd like to thank my blurkers for coming out of hiding! Those of you that did. That would NOT include my brother, his wife or my parents. My therapist will be hearing about this. I feel a deep sense of loss at not being validated in public by those who are nearest and dearest to me. Please send money. I will now keep posting embarassing pictures of all of you.

Moving on...I finally got to put some names to the elusive stats that I see on line. For example, my Belgium blurker, Karena, came out of hiding and I was quite pleased! I'll excerpt her comment:

Guilty as charged. I am your Belgian "blurker." I'm actually an American living over here, so maybe that takes away a few of the cool points. My husband is from Ashland, WI. But I could throw in a few French phrases here and there to make myself more interesting.

Ashland WI!! Did you hear that? Why we are almost neighbors since I grew up in Darlington. I'll bet we were both cheering for The Pack this year. She goes on....

I stay because..... the seemingly paradoxical combination of classical ed and unschooling.

I know, I know, that is a paradox. But believe it or not, I am finding quite a few share that bizarre combination!(see below) And I'll bet you stay for the great recipes, too. Oh. Wait that isn't my blog.

I do actually have a blog of my own, but it's kind of "generic family blog" right now. I have difficulty getting the grandparents to comment.

Well, isn't that interesting, Karena, do you think it is a generational thing? Do you think they are afraid of technology? That can't be, in my case, because they write me emails. Do you think that maybe they  are trying to tell you something? Are you, too, seeking therapy for this issue?

Suzanne from Chickens in the Road left a comment, too. I was very pleased she did so, as I have long been an admirer of her blog. Not to mention she is very busy painting, very likely as I type this. She isn't just a humorous blogger talking about her life in West Virginia but a bona fide author (authoress) also. She consoles me by saying that only 1 percent of her traffic actually leaves comments and that I shouldn't loose sleep over it, because the others never will. Oh, Suzanne, do you mean like MY FAMILY?

Angela from Lux Et Veritas Epistula (no, I don't have marbles in my mouth, duh!! That's Latin) came by to thank me for helping decorating her bedroom. Did you know I was a designer in my free time? Angela was being kind, because I doubt  she's ever really going to go with that "Elvis/Jungle Room" theme I suggested.

I have to say that Ruth from NC cracked me up.

Uhh, I'm a homeschooling mom of mostly teens and what else am I supposed to do between 7am when DH goes to work and 11am when the troops awaken? Clean house? I think not. Watch TV? Who do you think I am? And I really don't like bonbons. But now I have a new name for myself-blurker.

First of all. Her kids are up at 11 a.m!! Now that's what I'm talking about, sleeping in!! (Although, Ruth, you are up at 7 a.m. and that somehow seems, well, for lack of better word: WRONG!) Ruth clearly has an aversion to housework, so right there I'm liking her. She and her family do the travel trailer thing along with some letterboxing. Excellent.

Paige from Elemental Science stopped by, thank you very much. She has some free science downloads a lulu store with her own Grammar Stage Biology curriculum. Check it out!

Thislittlepiggy is from the  The Funny Farm. Her blog totally has THEME. And a great banner. And one doggone (in keeping with the theme) awesome quote: " I homeschool because I've seen the village, and I don't want it raising my child(ren)." ~~Anon.

And here is a word from Kristiana. (bold wording my own)

I know what you mean about stats though, I get comments from a few friends, rarely from family members, and I wonder just what everyone else is doing at my site!

Well, Kristiana, you seem to be pretty "okay" with that whole family issue? Do you come from a large family where you were ignored more and don't need constant reassurance? Do you live near them and see them alot? That must be the case, otherwise I would think they would COMMENT ONCE IN AWHILE!!

David of Oz (I think he means OZ like, Auz-tralia)gave me a new perspective.

We get lots of visitors from around the world and are always pleased to see comments from visitors. But we always see the comments as a bonus - like a little surprise letter from someone you haven't met.

David seems confidant, doesn't he? He seems to have less time on his hands to DIE of burning curiosity!! That having been said their blog is a neat peek at, okay I have to say it, "down under". I especially like their explanation of  Structured Classical Unschooling.

Freakmom claims she's from "boring old Illinois" but I know better. That place was always more "happening" than Wisconsin.  I liked her blog because there was something eerily familiar about the fact that she homeschools only one child, and her "favorite book list" looks a lot like mine. If you homeschool an only, she's started a yahoo group. Go to her blog to check for the link.

Myfivewolfcubs thanked me for some advice I had given her via one of the forums I frequent. In part, she had this to say:

Your blog makes me laugh...even if I don't always know what your exactly trying to say!

What a relief! I don't know what I'm trying to say, either, so we are in the same wonderful boat!

Some of my regular commenter's came by to tell me how much they loved me. Mommylion,( who has yet to tell me more about that very cool banner/tiles thing) Tara, (fellow Mainer who has some pretty cool pictures on her blog)and Urban Mom (from the great Mid West who keeps me in touch with Chicago).

I'm so not upset as you would imagine that Rechelle and bossy didn't comment. After all, they don't do the homeschool thing and I get that. I mean, I know that they pretty much stalk my site to see when I'm posting next...I can track these things you know, but I am so not upset at them.

This list also does not include a certain chick I went to highschool with, whom I know reads this blog avidly, (I mean, how could you not, it's all rather addicting isn't it? Especially if you are at work and terribly bored. And I know where you work. And how boring that can be...) If you don't come out of hiding I  will be forced to find em brassing pictures of you from the 80's. Don't make me do that.

And, the other 99.9% of you who don't comment...well, I guess you have left me very unhappy and discontent. (That's you, family.) And if you want that kind of guilt on your shoulders, then hey, who am I to try to get in the way of that?

My Husband's Disreputable Past

I think I have already shown you some compromising pictures of my husband here (scroll down) and I have titillated you with mention of a denim jumpsuit he actually wore at one time here.

Yet, the denim jumpsuit picture alluded me. I remembered it, but could not find it. It could have something to do with the fact that most of our belongings are still in a state 1500 miles and one U-haul away.

Imagine my complete surprise and delight when I found the picture! And where did I find it? Where you find anything and everything you are looking for, dearest readers. Google.

So now I can completely embarrass my husband yet again. Without further delay, without further ado, I give you, ladies and gentlemen, dear faithful readers (I think there are 12 of you,) stumblers upon my blog from foreign parts, and insomniacs all: Zeus!!



How completely funky is this circa 1976 garage band? Oh, wait. I am pretty sure they didn't even have a garage. While David was wearing this DENIM JUMPSUIT and clearly not getting haircuts at ALL, I was skipping merrily to first grade. Pony tails, braids and my Holly Hobbie lunch box. That's just wrong on so many levels.

Meanwhile, I know my readers want to know how, they too, can find embarassing pictures of their nearest and dearest by using Google. For now, that shall remain a secret, but I promise there will be more compromising photos of my husband in the near future with SECRETS of how you can Google for fun and blackmail!!

Kim and Jason Make Me Homesick

Okay, this has totally and in all ways made me homesick. Homesick for Wisconsin. Homesick for summer. Homesick for Madison. Homesick for ice cream. (Although, to be fair Mainers are VERY ice cream oriented, more so than, Wisconsinites. Wisconsinites take their ice cream for granted. Mainers protect, horde, and connoisseur their ice cream.) And most of all, it's Kim and Jason's accent that's making me cry. In a good way.

Now get out there and cure Adultitis!! (see yellow link to left!)

Green Speedo Goggles

Hair and Teeth

I suppose you may be wondering since I posted our agenda the other day, just HOW my hair turned out. Is it just the most ravishing "do" I've ever had? Does it make me look hip, of the moment and oh-so-chic? Okay, perhaps I'm getting too carried away. Is it an improvement at least. Let's go back in time a bit first.  In September I wanted to release the "real me" which I felt was curly hair. Long, curly, blowzy and slightly granola-esque hair. The hair do that all the girls at Whole Foods seem to have.



So I went to get a perm. I've had a million and one perms in my life. Some successful, (see my first one)  some not so. (see any given moment of the 80's) This "September perm", my first in probably three years,  was in the later category. Fried -to -an-electrical- wire- crisp would be the description that best describes what I ended up with. No amount of deep oils, moisture shampoo, moisture conditioner, moisture leave-in conditioner, moisture mousse or moisture ANYTHING was gonna help this bale of straw. At best it looked okay, at worst it looked terrible. Here's a close up of my perm at it's best. 

(Three months after "September Perm".)

I didn't like it. But wait! This handsome young man seemed to think I looked pretty decent!

Or maybe he was just amused by finding a elderly 40 year old  woman with a huge pile of hay on her head. (Perhaps its the fact I am the only one NOT making a weird face in this picture, by virtue of the fact you can't see my face.)

You know what? Forget me. Let's just get a better look at him.

You know, he SO dug my hair...and look! Here is someone else who liked that perm! He's not so bad himself.

But I digress. Despite the fact I hated my hair I am a girl who faces the consequences. So I let it grow. Chopped a bit of the ends off and waited.

(And while we wait let me give you more background. I am blonde. Most truly and emphatically blonde. Until my daughter was born. That girl messed with my hormones and from the minute I was pregnant my hair came in really really dark. No problem, I thought. I'm flexible. Adventurous. I went and asked the beautician to just dye my hair the color it was coming in. I can NOT describe to you the terror I had when I looked in the mirror. It just wasn't me. I couldn't find myself. The color was great, I'm all for brunette, but it just scared me. I have no other way to put it. So for the last 10 years I've been getting my hair "blonded" and fighting dark roots.)

So here we are to last week. I went in to my wonderful new hair dresser and told her my story. All of it. (Except for the part about the cute guy who seemed to like my hair at the wedding. The young one.) She understood and she said I have a choice. Perm and dark. Or straight and blonde. My course,  thick hair was not going to stand for both blonde and permed. I'm a big girl. I took it like a man.

So, we hacked off more length to get rid of the perm. And then we dyed the roots and crown a bit darker with just a few highlights. (If you are a guy and are reading this, I"ve lost you, haven't I? Just skip to the pictures) The majority of the hair is still somewhat blonde left over from last dye job. Slowly, over time, I will now be a straight haired brunette. I'm dealing with it. My choice has been made. For now.

I know you can't stand it any longer so here it is:

Oh, wait. That is me separating it into sections so I can straighten it. Let's try again:

Here it is in all it's straightened- semi -blonde -going -to- brunette glory!!

(I had to cover my mouth 'cause I didn't have any lipstick on. And my mom says I need lipstick because otherwise my mouth can't be seen in pictures. I was too lazy to put lipstick on.)

Whatdya think, huh? Check out the way it moves when I turn my head really fast:

Here is the side view  and it's pretty saturated with light. The color is more correct above.

(I covered my nose so it wouldn't stick out and look unsightly. It's kinda big. The nose. And the hair.)

Hey let's check out that movement one more time....let me just throw my head to the side again...

All in all, I would say I'm fairly pleased. A bit shorter than I like, but it'll grow.

Oh. Wait. What about Ms. D's dental appointment? It went really really well. She loves her dentist, but told the hygienist. "Could you be a bit careful. I have this one tooth that is, like, hanging from a thread and I'd hate for it to come out." Thoughtful look from hygienist. Under my breath I said "I wouldn't even try it if I were you...."

You know what happened the next day?

Were You Born In A Barn?

"Do you think money grows on trees?"

"Does anyone listen to me around here?"

I'll bet you could name your own. "You'll poke your eye out!" The list goes on and on.

It is said, that the older we get, the more we can relate to our parents. This was my relating this week.

How many times did I hear this? "I am SO sick of picking up after you people!" Mostly when, for the skiddy eighth time, my mother picked something up that my brother, my father or myself could've picked up if only we had actually bent from the waist. I am convinced that it was the sheer fact that we just didn't think. 

Usually, I just figure. "Hey, I'm not nagging. I have it pretty doggone good. A husband who vacuums.

Who makes supper two nights out of seven. (And well presented, too.) And doesn't mind when I call cold cereal "supper".

When I ask Ms. D to pick up, she just does it. No balking. Usually."

So why should I complain about wet towels and dirty clothes strewn about? My part in our family is the daily household chores. Everyone has a part to play, right? We're one  big happy team, here.

But I almost lost it (until I figured it would be fodder for blogging) when I saw this complete lack of common sense and respect for my job as mother.

Can you see that?? That is a plate on the EDGE of the chair arm, people. (That is also a lamp with a seem showing, but since Martha Stewart doesn't read this blog, I'm okay) It's a precariously tipped plate, my friends. Let's get a closer look, shall we?

Yes, that's right. It's Annie's Organic Brand Raspberry Salad dressing with baby spinach. Organic or not, I'm thinking Annie's dressing is not going to come out of that chair none to easily, do you? I don't care if the chair needs reupholstering anyway and is a ratty old thing. That is not the point, young lady.
I was about to work myself into a really good lecture about how no one THINKS around here except maybe myself and the cats, when I saw this:

It's kind of washed out, but do you know what that is??? That is a CAT. On the counter top. On the CLEAN dish towel. Sleeping. As if I have nothing better to do than to wash down the counter top and spare clean dish towels. Sleeping!! On the counter Top!! Does anyone listen to me around here??!!

OH. Sorry. Did my yelling interrupt your nap?

In the end I gave in. I didn't say a word. And in a few minutes Ms. D came in from whatever she was doing that interrupted her spinach meal and picked up the plate (probably not thinking, "My goodness, that was terribly close to making more work for my dear mother!") and put the plate in the kitchen where it belongs. And as for the cat?

I'm pretty sure she's still there.

MEMEMEMEMEME....

I know, I know, you're thinking "Isn't it always about her?" and of course, you'd be correct. However, this time it's just a bit different.

When I first arrived in the blogoshere I saw and heard this thing called a meme. Huh? It seemed to be like these emails one gets telling you to answer the questions and pass it on our else. I looked up the definition in Wikipedia, which seemed a bit too much to ingest so I went to the lazy persons "I- want -a sound -bite" dictionary, Urban Dictionary and here is what they said:

1.Meme (noun)

4 : in blogspeak, an idea that is spread from blog to blog

Well, you know me, I am not all for those group-every-one-else-is-doing-it sort of things. (Which is silly because of course I do what everyone else does, I just can't do it purposely, see? Case in point: The Macarena. Sure, I did it in the privacy of my own home, but not in large gatherings. That would be too sheep like. And probably made me miss out on a lot of the fun. And just so you don't think I'm totally stuck up I actually did the {insert current mass dance of choice} at the last wedding I attended. AND I do the Chicken Dance. AND I own a Suburu, which everyone around here owns. Which was actually buying into the L.L.Bean lifestyle I dream of having. But don't. So, you see it's entirely different.)

Where was I? Right. Meme. So, I found them very interesting to read on others' blogs. Especially those ones that started "10001 Thing You Don't Know About Me". But the other day I realized I had "arrived" when I got tagged for a meme. You see, someone has to tag you to join the meme. I felt so honored, truly. (See mind slowly changing about all these group activity things) RegularMom who regularly makes me smirk, laugh and chuckle tagged me on this book one. (Books also being redeptive when following a crowd.) So here are the rules:

Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
Open the book to page 123.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post the next three sentences.
Tag five people and ask them to do the same

So my nearest book (among many, but I choose one haven't read..)is:

Duluxe: How Luxury Lost It's Luster by Dana Thomas

Pg 123, fifth sentence, and the next three are:

They married in 1998. He worked for a few years as an investment baker. Now he is now president of Recognition Media, a company that owns awards shows, such as the Webby Awards for excellence on the Internet.

(I would just like to add that the two 'nows' in the above sentence are not my mistake. They are in the book. How delightful. How deliciously imperfect.)

Meanwhile, I can't wait to read this book. Shall I excerpt the book jacket for you? Or you could go to the Amazon link. Or how about that "sound-bite" I can't resist? "A Hard-Hitting Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Luxury Fashion Industry Today" (yes, that's all Caps beginning each word and all those hyphens make you reel don't they?)

But the part that really hooked me into getting this from the library? From the Jacket:

"Dana Thomas....digs deep into the dark side of the lucury industry to uncover all the secrets that Prada, Gucci and Burberry don't want us to know"  How juicy does THAT promise to be?

And now I have to tag five people. I don't know if I know five people in the blogosphere. Can they be someone already tagged? Let's see, how about Mom In Madison, Irene, Laura, Soliloquy and Mommylion.

And ladies, if you don't want to do the Macarena with me, I totally understand.

Welcome!

Glad you found your way over here. If you used to subscribe to my blog when I was at blogspot, please feel free to do so once again! If not, sign up! I you don't have a reader, then sign up for emails to not miss EVERY SINGLE WORD UTTERED by ME!!

If by any chance you have me listed on your blog (which I'm sure ALL of you do, right...) you may want to change the address!

 

Meanwhile, do me a favor and play around a little bit with this site. I wanted it to be easy to navigate, so let me know if you're having problems.  I'm still working the bugs out, so if you stop by and notice things are out of wack, just wait a day or two.

In moving everything over here, I may have lost some of your comments. That is why I will shortly announce the Commenters Challenge Award from the blogger site! That's right, for those of you who responded to that challenge I will be randomly and very high technically choosing a winner for this first time illustrious award....stay tuned....

Now back to the fun and games....

I Coulda Been A Contender

Have you seen the blogs out there? I mean really. Have you seen their gorgeousness? Or is it just the blogs I hang out at? These people are doing such interesting and neat things. And then they blog about it. Oh, no, not just "blog" about it. But artfully and wittily describe their interesting and neat things in words and pictures that belong in a coffee table book. I can't compete. And maybe this is the real issue of my creative stupor.

Here is an idea of the blogs I visit (not all in one day, you silly goose! I have Harlequins to read, duh.) Homeschoolinga blogs, Unschooling blogs, Handmade Creativity blogs, Travel blogs, Photography blogs, Book blogs and Knitting blogs. With all of those interests, do you think I could even begin to compete or aspire to have my blog look like a coffee table book? Uh ah. No way. So I don't even try.

Instead of trying to compete, I settle for mocking myself. Mocking my inability to compete and my lack of motivation to actually try to compete. (It quite possibly has a larger meaning in the context of my life and my personality as a whole. But frankly, I'm too tired to find out.) Like today. I had just quickly reviewed a nice blog in which someone (I won't mention names here, but let's just say "Pioneer Woman" I don't think that gives it away too much, do you?) had posted some lovely photos of her SuperBowl recipes. I thought there was a definite irony in the fact I was oohing and aahing over these photos and serving my daughter left over Pizza Hut Pizza. For breakfast no less. There was something achingly tragic about my inability to be anywhere NEAR to creative and artful whilst serving leftover Pizza Hut pizza. I had a pretty fork, though. I should take a picture and post it.

And then Ms. D brought it all home to me as she so often does. Concisely and in few words.

Me: "Wait, wait! I want to take a picture of your pizza before you eat it!"

Ms. D: Ah, why?

Me: For my blog.

Ms. D: That's what is with all these pictures lately, huh?

Me: Ya, could you move.... Everyone else has such cool pictures on their blogs, I want to see if I can do something artful with Pizza Hut leftovers.

Ms. D: (Patiently) Mom. If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?

Me: Wow. You are SO right. I just need to be me, huh?

It would be nice to think that right there, right then, my striving stopped. That I sat back and accepted myself. That despite the fact it's not beautifully photographed or artfully arranged my blog validates MY life as authentic. But then I got thinking:


Me: (thinking) Jumping off a cliff, huh? That depends on if I pushed them from the cliff...and could I write about it in an ironic, humorous, tongue in cheek way? Especially if I jumped less gracefully...now that would kinda be funny.


I stood back and clicked the shutter button anyway.

My New Favorite Past Time

I've always loved to embarrass David. The thing is, he is so stinking, unflappable. Nothing seems to embarrass him. He finds everything amusing and cute. Even my silliness in public. He doesn't just tolerate, he joins. It's really no fun. Until now. I've found his Achilles heel. He's embarrassed by pictures of his past. Especially when posted online. (insert evil laughter here)

This is odd to me. I mean, it's in the past. I was bold enough to post my Duran Duran picture. Who doesn't have some crazy pictures in their past? It's all fun in games. Look at this site for example. Olan Mills Photos. How much worse can it get? I think the collective pain we feel is in the remembering. We were there. We recall those clothes, those pictures, that DAY, in all it's horrific glory and nostalgia. It's bitter sweet. And embarrassing.

David loves my blog. It amuses him. He's my biggest fan, but he wont' participate. I tried to convince him otherwise. Here is an excerpt from last night's conversation.

Me: You like my blog? (insecure/needing validation)

David: Yes. You make me laugh.

Me: You should comment. I'm giving prizes to people who comment.

David: Really?! (hopefully and with evil intentions) Like what kind of prize would I get???

Me: We'll discuss that later. You should comment.

David: I can't figure out how to. I just peck at the keys slowly. And then it's morning.

Me: I'll comment in your behalf. (Control freak from a mile away)

David: Then it wouldn't be my comment.

Me: You know, SOME husbands let their blogging wives interview them. Maybe you should let me interview you.

David: Why would I do that?

Me: To amuse my reading public. All 20 of them.

David: I don't want to, but I wish you would take those embarassing pictures of me off your blog.

Me:(innocently, but with evil intentions...) Reeeealllly?? Sure you wouldn't rather comment?

David: No.

Me: Have it your way.


How cute is that hair??

Here he has embraced the curls. In grammar school where he was known as "Curly" he tried to come the curl out.





He's the one on the far right. How adorable is that?  See, honey, nothing to be embarrassed about, is there? All my readers can relate.

In fact, I dare you to send me your pictures from the past. Show poor David he is not alone. On second thought maybe we should just let me bask in my new found power. My ability to embarrass my husband. My superiour skillz with the computer. He'll never know how to get them off of here!!! HAhahaahahahaHa!!!

He can't embarrass me with pictures of my past.  I was too cute. Here I am  all sweet and cuteness. Plaid pants. Spongy pink curlers in my hair. Posing with the Dodge Dart. ( I hated that shirt.)



Maybe you'd better try commenting instead, David.

Mom, This Is What I’m Doing While Not Schooling Your Grand daughter….

...but at least I thought of you....

Heaven knows I usually don't have time for polls and "who are you"/"what type are you" whilst online. Frankly, they, at times, make me roll my eyes. (give me a Glamour magazine on a long plane trip to WI and that is another story) but I was checking out this gardening blog: This Garden Is Illegal


...and of course, I thought of you. And your gardening prowess (I know your rolling your eyes because you haven't gardened for awhile, but your hand with plant life if renown amongst family members along with your ability to get a stain out of virtually ANYTHING...and your cooking, let's not forget that, which totally digresses into the fact I Got NONE of these genes. Nada.) and well, anyway, this site led me to this poll in which one defines which plant type one is by answering a few questions. Well, being the crazy kind of gal I am, my answers were all over the board. I couldn't wait to find out what type of plant I was as you can well imagine...wondering if I was perhaps an amaryllis that my grandmother loves, or a free wheelin' daisy.

When all was revealed I find I'm an Echinacea??? And the funniest part is the description:

You Are an Echinacea

"You are a health conscious person, both your health and the health of others. You know all about the health benefits and dangers of the world around you."

Which of course, brought me full circle back to YOU, Mom. Because you've always made me fully aware of all the dangers around me in life (see Worst Case Scenario Series that I firmly believe you should've wrote first. You had a niche and it's now too late to cash in on it....leaving me the profit as inheritance...)which is another thing along with your stain removal and gardening prowess and cooking that you are fully and lovingly and endearingly known for. (okay, there are times we laugh behind your back, but I suspect you know that...)AND that I actually inherited!

I sign myself proudly,

Your Little Echinacea

LOL Catz of Our Own

SLEEPEZ??

Tea For Two…or Four

A couple of weeks ago Ms. D and I traveled an hour or so to visit with some acquaintences that we wanted to get to know a bit better. To say it was a success is an understatement. Ms. D is between the two girls in age. "A" the Elder is 10 and "A" the Younger is 8. Within minutes they were producing a variety show to regale Joy, their mother, and I with. Next came the tea party.

The girls have a sweet little bird, whose name escapes me at the moment. Ms. D was in LOVE.

The bird was kind enough to join Ms. D for tea.

The bond was instant. The bird with unknown name is young, but will be bred at some point this spring. Which means babies. Which means Ms. D has her eye to the future of feathered friends.

While I'm sure this would go over just fine with Moxie the Hyperactive Kitty I think it would lead to a great deal of carnage. Ms. D. thinks we can circumvent any problems with a bird cage.

And I'm seeing visions of Sylvester and Tweety.

Those Crazy Medievalists

I am not at all sure how I stumbled upon Geoffrey Chaucers blog.

It could be my love of the evolution of the English language (oh, the things you can learn online!)

However, whilst perusing Geoff's blog I found the medievalists answer to LOLCats. Let it be known I'm still not quite "getting" LOL cats. I know that makes me terribly culturally dense, but there it is. I get it. But I don't. But what I DO get is Geoff's run with LOLCats. I'm telling you, it's a sad day when Geoffrey Chaucer is more culturally literate than me.

Meanwhile, in a fit of autodidactism I am researching The Great Vowel Shift.