Oy Vey Maria!

Breeder

2009-01-14T21:12:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine jokingly called me a breeder this morning. She pointed out that I managed to find a way to have more children, even when hubby got the old snip-snip.

Do you think I should point out to her that adoption isn't exactly cutting edge? Or let her continue to think that I invented it?

Already feeling better...

2009-01-12T21:56:00.003-05:00

On the day after I decided/was asked to leave my job (not due to performance but due to budget cuts), I went to the Dr's and my blood pressure was down from 160/90 to 130/60.

Maybe I'll even feel like exercising again.

yet another long overdue post

2009-01-10T20:44:00.001-05:00

But news!! Oh the news!!

I'm leaving my job: Onward to greener pastures! Last day is January 29th.

On to full time private practice as a therapist.

Glory day.

That is all.

wow..

2008-10-13T22:01:00.000-04:00

This one really is me. Except for looking like Marilyn Monroe and all..

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

* Be direct and clear

* Listen to me carefully

* Don't judge me for my anxiety

* Work things through with me

* Reassure me that everything is OK between us

* Laugh and make jokes with me

* Gently push me toward new experiences

* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

* being committed and faithful to family and friends

* being responsible and hardworking

* being compassionate toward others

* having intellect and wit

* being a nonconformist

* confronting danger bravely

* being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind

* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself

* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of

* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger

* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right

* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn

* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger

* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent

* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel

* are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty

* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence

* worry more than most that their children will get hurt

* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

hungry

2008-09-22T12:45:00.000-04:00

I hate dieting. Even when I'm not calling it "dieting," but instead, "eating healthy," I know what it is. It's dieting. It's dieting to look like everyone else. All those impossibly skinny, flat-chested, hip-less soccer moms out there. All those women who look like they have it all together, in their shiny cars, with their clean and well-behaved children.

THEIR hair is always washed and perfectly styled. Hell, they can wear a ball cap and look good.

THEIR children never throw tantrums because their socks hurt their "baby pinky toe!"

THEIR husbands are the fodder for eye-rolling sighs, "Its just so much easier when he's out of town.." they say.

Why am I so freakin' different?

Or maybe not.

Maybe they are skinny because they don't eat because they're scared their husbands will leave them.

Maybe their children save up the tantrums for when they get home.

Maybe they base their self-worth on how useless they can imagine their husbands to be.

Or maybe not.

Maybe we're all flawed. Maybe I am a round, well-rounded woman, with four awesome kids, a husband who I know loves me no matter how chubby I am, no matter what kind of sloppy housekeeper I am, no matter how the children behave.

Maybe I'm worthwhile, regardless of what I perceive myself to look like.

Maybe my husband is telling me the truth when he says that I'm sexy and beautiful, even though I may feel like a fat cow.

Maybe.

Juggling

2008-09-18T20:01:00.000-04:00

Juggling two jobs, four kids, one more freakin' graduate class, and one tight-knit school/community that requires a LOT of volunteerism equals nervous breakdown.

Just sayin'.

overheard

2008-09-11T21:19:00.001-04:00

8 year old son gets a phone call... Here's the one-sided conversation..

C: I'm about to go outside, but I can talk for a minute.\
C: So, who are you voting for?
C: I mean, who are your parents voting for?
C: Well, we're voting for Barack Obama.
C: Yeah, we're Democrats.
C: Well, I have no use for them, that's why.

Just in case you weren't sure...

2008-09-06T23:56:00.000-04:00

You are a
Social Liberal
(80% permissive)

and an...
Economic Liberal
(8% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Socialist

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

New School Year... New Job... New Beginnings

2008-09-03T19:17:00.001-04:00

It's September and I've hit the ground running. Homework, cello practice and early bedtimes. Plus, as a teacher at the kids' school, I have meetings twice a week that keep me there past 5 pm. I've worked at the school for 2 years now and I really like what I do. But...

I have been waiting for years to be ready for private practice. I have been slowly working towards finishing the requirements for the LPC-A (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate) for the last 2 years. And... I started working as a Counseling Intern in August. I interned 10 years ago, as a requirement for graduation, but the laws have changed and I need 200 more hours of internship before I meet licensure requirements. 80 of those need to be in direct service, i.e. counseling people. With some luck, I'll be finished in December and have my license by the new year.

And can I tell you how much I love it? I really really love it. I walk out of work with more energy than I came in with. That has never happened before. I know that this is what I'm meant to do.

Thank you, Universe.

Still neglecting my blog

2008-08-14T19:37:00.002-04:00

Ok, I'm still too lazy to post most days. But, the girls are playing with their Leapster, and the boys are in bed for the night because they were fighting over their new Wii. I'm such a mean mommy. Anyway, I have a few minutes.

I just got back from my most funnest ever girl-cation: FRED, The Second. What is FRED, you might ask? Well, as a matter of fact, you might ask. It stands for nothing. What it means, though, is 4-5 days with the rockin-est, kick-ass group of women you could ever want to meet. I don't think I am the first to refer to these women as rockin and kick-ass, but no other words seem to suffice.

Because Melessa from www.greggdigressions.blogspot.com is doing such a great job of summarizing the trip, I do not feel the need to write up a trip synopsis. She has 3 installments up, so far, plus a "greatest FRED one-liners" post that makes me howl with laughter each time I read it. Of course, maybe you had to be there.

We're leaving for Hilton Head on Saturday morning. Perhaps I'll blog from the road???

Oh, blog! How I have neglected you.

2008-03-28T13:51:00.000-04:00

I'm so sorry, dear blog, that I haven't written lately. The children have been sick, the house has been a mess, work has been stressful, and I haven't folded any laundry in about 3 months. I know you understand, because you are such a compassionate blog and you don't get your feelings hurt easily.

So, blog, what's new with you? I've been busy with all the above things, plus I've been trying to knit fingerless gloves. So far, I haven't succeeded. Are you still seeing that livejournal hunk? What about that flickr guy? I want ALL the juicy details!

Well, I must head out and pick the children up from their grandparents' house.

Talk to you soon, ok?

Emily

And my new favorite lolcat is........

2008-02-03T21:40:00.001-05:00

moar funny pictures

I've started...

2008-01-07T22:54:00.000-05:00

and stopped posting to this blog at least three times in the last few weeks. Do you really want to hear more of the same from me?? I think not.

I've got some creative juices that are pumping through me right now... looking for the proper outlet. I can't draw. Can't write songs or music. Hate writing poetry because I'm wayyy too hypercritical. I do love my new camera and Brian and the kids gave me some lenses for it for Christmas. I've been asked to write up some info about alternative ways to promote literacy for a local social service agency that I've been moonlighting with so there's that potential outlet. I guess I'm stymied by inaction again. Stuck because I'm stuck. Any ideas out there?

So tired..

2007-12-15T19:32:00.000-05:00

My oldest is going through something.... not sure exactly what, but he's driving me nuts. We thought it was OCD, but his therapist thinks its a Major Depressive Episode, and wants us to seek anti-depressants for him. The therapist has been using hypnotherapy for him, but his anxiety and general irritability are too much right now. I feel like such a bad mom when I lose patience with him... sigh...

For Toni...Wilford Brimleycat

2007-12-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

moar funny pictures

Warning... not for the weak of stomach

2007-11-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

Miss N just puked everywhere. I cleaned her up, brushed her teeth, gave her some tylenol for her sore throat. Then she puked some more. I don't know who gave this child beef stew... but it sure looked like that when it came out.

Here's a pic of my poor pathetic little missy.

Grateful

2007-11-23T19:11:00.000-05:00

I complain a lot. Really. A lot. But, I do not fail to see the many blessings, big and little, in my life. One big blessing is my son's teacher.

In Waldorf education, the teacher will "loop" with her class, usually from 1st to 8th grade. Ms. C. has been with Jacob since the beginning of first grade. She has watched him fight his various phobias and worries. She prefers him to be off of his ADHD medication, feeling that he is more able to play with his friends and enjoy school without being drugged.

She has been a compassionate loving presence in my son's life, and in the lives of each of the children in her class. She has also worked tirelessly to, in Waldorfspeak, form the class, or teaching them how to get along, work in a group, and care for each other. It worked. I have never seen a group of children, boys and girls together, so kind and caring towards each other. They all recognize each other's strengths and weaknesses and cheer each other on. They are the sweetest class I have ever seen.

A few weeks ago, we were listening to a CD of children's music (Waldorf-y music) and Connor and Jacob were keeping track of the songs that they knew and the ones that were new to them. A song comes on, and Connor says, "I have definitely never heard this one before." Jacob's voice grows soft, and he says, "Ms. C sang this song to us in First Grade."

High and Blue the Sky

High and blue the sky
trees are very tall
wild geese flying seem so small
see on silent wings in flocks they go
never parting from a single row
we go through the land
like a wild geese band
brothers in one flight are we

clear and dark the night
star are very bright
lantern shining seems so small
see in single file we walk along
singing joyfully our lantern song
we go through the land
like a wild geese band
sisters in one light are we

Does this mean I have a foot fetish??

2007-11-19T20:10:00.000-05:00

I love handknit socks. I especially love handknit socks that I made myself. I think I'm going to photograph each new pair that I make, by itself and on the owner's feet.

Do you know what else I'm coveting??? Those butt-ugly UGG boots... I want the ones that are waterproof, but still lined in thick sheepskin, so that my toesies will be warm all winter long.

Maybe I'm just a comfort whore....

Lanterns

2007-11-16T19:56:00.000-05:00

Monday Shuffle

2007-11-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

First Ten songs to pop up when ipod is set to shuffle:

1. Now and Forever, Carole King
2. Barons of Suburbia, Tori Amos
3. Reach for the Rhythm, Shelby Lynn (I didn't know I even had this....never listened to it.)
4. Sweet Sangria, Tori Amos
5. Wickerder, by Forbidden Broadway Special Victims Unit
6. Happy Home, Paula Cole
7. Reprise, Patty Griffin
8. Hoochie Woman, Tori Amos
9. Please Stay, Warren Zevon
10. Boob job, David Wilcox

Why oh why does Tori keep popping up so much when I shuffle?? I don't even listen to her all that much any more.

You know what's missing on the radio today?? Tuba solos.

2007-11-07T21:43:00.000-05:00

So says my hubby, on our way to the They Might Be Giants concert last night at the Southgate house in Newport. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I met someone at the dog show
She was holding my left arm
But everyone was acting normal so I tried to look nonchalant.
We both said, "I really love you,"
The Shriners loaned us cars
We raced up and down the sidewalk twenty thousand million times

Why did they send her over anyone else?
How should I react? These things happen to other people
They don't happen at all, in fact

When you're following an angel
Does it mean you have to throw your body off a building?
Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead
Calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things
I heard they had a space program
When they sing you can't hear, there's no air
Sometimes I think I kind of like that and
Other times I think I'm already there
---She's an Angel, They Might Be Giants

The boys were disappointed that they couldn't come. TMBG is the glue that holds this family together, some days. We crank it up and dance around the house. We blast it in the car and sing our hearts out. All six of us. TMBG also inspires the bestest misheard lyrics from my kids.
2 points if you can guess this one:
"Dis squirrel came up to me and said, 'I'd like to tickle your mind.'"
---3 year old Jacob.

Have you noticed....

2007-11-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

.... that I subtitled this blog, "becoming more than just a mom," yet all I seem to talk about are my kids?? Hmmm. Well. Then. Pfftt.

Truth is, I live, breathe, and sleep my children. And my children definitely still live, breathe and sleep (in my bed) me. And when I'm not with my children, I'm at their school, where I work, so I can afford to send them there.

Oh, but that last part is not totally true. I also work at their school (as a type of guidance counselor) because its one step closer towards What I Want To Do With My Life. Which is finally get my LPC and practice psychotherapy. I will be finished with the last of my coursework either this spring or summer.

But, in the meantime, I am becoming more than just a mom in the few moments I can squeeze in between breakfastgetdressedbrushteethoutthedoordriveschoolworkpickup drivehomesnackdinnerbathtimebrushteethpajamasbooksprayerslights offalarmsetgotobednighttimebanditsstealingmycoverssleepingontopofme
orkickingmeinthebackwakeupanddothewholedarnedthingoveragain.

Halloween

2007-11-01T21:19:00.000-04:00

A good time was had by all. Ellie wins the prize for best line of the day.
During rest time at school, her teacher left the room and bedlam ensued, kids jumping on their cots, etc.
The teacher comes in and says, "Now you've all gotten that out of your system, its time to rest."
Ellie stands up on her cot and says, "Miss Lee, its NEVER out of my system."

Squirrels 1, Kids 0

2007-10-19T17:42:00.000-04:00

Well, Lucky the Squirrel has made his intentions clear. When I picked the girls up from school today, Ellie sadly looked at me and said, in her cute little way of speaking, "Mom, a quirr ate my lunch box."

Parents leave the children's lunches in a big basket outside, by the door. When the teachers went to bring in the lunches, Ellie's had been totally destroyed. It's an insulated zippered box.. and the squirrel had chewed through the zippered part of it and ate the whole thing, plastic sandwich baggies and all. Poor squirrel. Poor Ellie.

Apparently, the other children were fascinated that a squirrel found Ellie's lunch so appealing. Everytime a squirrel was brought up, during Squirrel Nutkin, the Saucy Squirrel game, Ellie burst into tears.

Only at a Waldorf School, right?

Today was a very long day, but Lucky

2007-10-16T22:07:00.000-04:00

Funny Natalie story for today.

Background: I work at my kids' school. My son's teacher, A., "loops" for 1st-8th grade with the same class, so she knows our familly well.

Spoke with A. on the phone today. She said, while going into a meeting, she saw a squirrel run across her path and jump into a tree. Looking over, she sees Natalie watching and says, "Hi, Natalie!" Natalie just looks at her and says, matter of factly, "A squirrel named Lucky just jumped into that tree."

We both giggle, because this is such a Natalie moment. I sometimes think she thinks her life is one big fairy tale.

my morning chuckle

2007-10-15T13:59:00.000-04:00

FRANKLIN - Terry Lee Collins should have worn a belt.

Collins, 20, was arrested late Sunday when his pants fell to his knees and tripped him as he ran from police, Franklin police said.

He is held this morning on $8,500 bond at the Warren County Jail and faces two counts of theft, three counts of theft of drugs and one count of failure to pay fines on a previous assault charge, jail records state.

He is scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. Tuesday before a Franklin Municipal Court judge.

Shuffle

2007-10-08T14:46:00.000-04:00

ok.. Melessa has me hooked.

The first ten songs on my IPOD (when set to shuffle)

1. You'll Remember, Patty Griffin
2. The Lone Wolf, Kathleen Edwards
3. Once You've Loved Somebody, Dixie Chicks
4. The End of You, Sleater-Kinney
5. This Train Still Runs, Janis Ian (now I'm embarrased)
6. The Beauty of the Rain, Dar Williams
7. Icicle, Tori Amos
8. 84,000 Different Delusions, Shawn Colvin
9. Pinocchio's Adventures in Funland (Audiobook for my kiddoes)
10. My Name Joe, Lucy Kaplansky

Unrelated note: The owner of the coffee shop I'm in just came in with her 4 boys (3 two year old triplets, and a 7 month old). I'm so glad that I'm not her. My lovely kiddoes are at school and my MIL is picking them up because I have class at 4:30 pm. Ah... bliss..

Dramarama?

2007-10-06T22:15:00.000-04:00

Does anybody (besides my good friend Melessa)still read this thing?? Jeez, its less than a month old and it already seems dead in the water!

So... I've been told twice this week that I am a drama queen. What the. fuck. If I get mad and upset and even cry it's only because I'm PAYING ATTENTION. And forgive me if I don't feel like blowing sunshine up your ass.

But I don't mean you, dear reader(s?). I know each and every one of you (or one of you) recognizes me as a complex being, full of life and passion. Anyhoo.....

Let me put in a recommendation for La Ferme Vielle, a white table wine. It packs a punch, it does. One glass and I'm on my ass. And these days, thats a good thing.

Music Monday

2007-10-01T21:56:00.000-04:00

Again... that Melessa from greggdigressions.blogspot.com has the funnest things.

She put her iTunes on shuffle, and wrote the first few lines of the first 15 songs.

See if you can guess mine..

1. Where you going, with your head hung down? Papers flowing through the streets of town. They've already taken all of your posters down.

2. China, all the way to New York, I can feel the distance, getting close. (ok...this one is easy)

3. I vow, that its goodbye, I vow that its goodbye, and God bless.

4. And through the life force and there goes her friend, on her Nishiki, its out of time.

5. Oh yeah.. from baby to best, with no second test, little storms destroy you.

6. You went down in the very first round, sitting ringside in a tiny town, knock out, first round!

7. Caught a lite sneeze, caught a light breeze, caught a light wave...(damn...another easy one)

8. If you find me in a blue, catch me in a dream, inside my lonely room, there is no inbetween.

9. I threw your keys in the water, I looked back, they'd frozen half way down in the ice.

10. He was a drinking man with a guitar problem. He didn't have a dollar to his name.

11. Copper on the corner, and he loaded two rounds, and I can't even cross the line to talk you down.

12. A little dust never stopped me none, he liked my shoes, I kept them on.

13. Back to the earth I screamed down, no one listened to me

14. Jenny came over and told me bout Fred, he's such a hairy bohemian, she said, "Dumb as a box of hammers, but he's such a handsome guy."

15. Sunny came home to her favorite room. Sunny set down in the kitchen. She opened her book, and her box of tools. Sunny came home with a mission. (those that went to FRED will remember that this is my theme song..)

Some observations:

--I didn't know a lot of the lyrics to these songs. I have a lot of music on my iPod and in iTunes that I don't know really well... just wanted to try it out. But I also have a lot of favorites that are largely unintelligible.

--I have a lot of audiobooks in iTunes, so I didn't add those, though it would have been funny to throw in some Barbara Kingsolver.

--Even though I have a ton of artists in my iTunes... it seems like one in particular keeps popping up in my shuffle. bonus points if you know who it is :)

2007-09-27T22:41:00.000-04:00

thanks to Melessa at www.greggdigressions.blogspot.com for posting this.

yes!! I always wanted to be a cool history/lit geek!!! I'm COOL!

Disney and Politics

2007-09-23T10:16:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that one week ago today, we were still in Paris. Eurodisney, now called Disneyland Paris, was a lovely reward for our (mostly) well-behaved children, who patiently gawked at countless monuments and trudged through several museums.

We took the Paris Metro, the efficient subway/train system. An accordion player treated the passengers to live music. When he passed his hat, we gladly gave him a few euros. The doors to the train opened and we walked out of the station and straight into the park. Can I be trite and predictable and tell you that here the magic began? Thank you, I feel much better now.

The first thing we saw upon entering the park was a "meet-n-greet" with Belle and "Le Fete." Of course, Amanda and I popped right into line with the girls, while Brian took the boys on a couple of rides. The girls loved Belle. It was surprisingly fulfilling for me to see the look of sheer adoration on Natalie's face, when faced with her hero.

After having a little lunch of hotdogs and chips, We walked past a sign advertising Princess breakfasts and lunches. Wow...imagine that! I called Disney before we left, trying to get us reservations for the breakfast, and they told me they didn't have anything like that. Though their Paris website advertised it, I didn't argue. Anyway... I stopped at the front desk on a whim and asked them if they had any spots left. BINGO! We could come in at 2:45 pm for lunch, for the bargain basement price of 48 euros per adult, and 20 euros per child (about $60 per adult and $30 per child USD). Like any parent who drank the water at Disneyland, I enthusiastically agreed and made a reservation for 4. The boys had informed me that there was no way they wanted to be a part of this, so Amanda took them on Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Carribean.

The lunch was great. We saw Belle and the Beast again, and they remembered the girls' names from earlier in the day. Then the girls got to see Princess Aurora and Prince Phillipe, as well as two of the mice from Cinderella.

What else can I tell you about Disney? We had a great time. Our girls were happy to meet their heros. Our boys were thrilled that Disney wasn't just for little kids. Wait... aren't they still "little kids?" Apparently not.

On the way home on the metro, the kids fell asleep. A woman from Iran, on vacation with her children, sat next to me. She had a sleeping child in a stroller, and struck up a conversation with me. We started to talk. Comparing notes. Comparing cultures. We talked children, family size, childbirth, birth weights of our children, breastfeeding, what its like to be an older mom (her) and a younger mom (me). She was curious (like many folks we met in Europe) as to why we would take our children to Eurodisney, when we lived in a country with two Disneyland resorts. I explained to her that both parks were very far away from us and would require a separate family vacation. She helped me wake up the children when it was time to get off the metro. I told her it was a pleasure to meet her, but I didn't get in a final goodbye as we rushed off the train with arms full of sleepy children, strollers and backpacks. In hindsight, I wish I had asked for an email address.. a way to keep in touch. But I didn't think to, so I will just have to sit with the awe of meeting someone from a country that I'm supposed to be afraid of. Axis of evil, anyone?? I don't think so.

Home

2007-09-20T06:17:00.000-04:00

We made it home at around 6 pm last night. Everyone is exhausted, but happy. Well, everyone but Ellie is happy. When we arrived at the airport last night, Ellie began to cry, "I NOT go HOME!! I sleep here tonight! They have beds!" She fell asleep in the car, only to wake up when we got home and cry some more, "I not want be home! I want be in hotel!" Everyone else was thrilled to be back. We ordered pizza and all crashed before 9:30 pm. Of course, Natalie and I were up at four this morning. I will post more today or tomorrow, recapping Disneyland Paris (fab) and London (craptacular).

Vive Le Mickey!

2007-09-15T17:23:00.000-04:00

We left Normandy today (sniff!) to go back to Paris. Though Normandy was wonderful, J'adore Paris... Really... I love every part of France I have seen. It stinks to think that we will be leaving here Monday morning for London. While I hope to see Stratford-upon-Avon, and perhaps Stonehenge, London doesn't speak to me the way that Paris does. I can't explain it.... its just, well... sprinkled in fairy dust here or something.

While taking a night cruise of the river Seine, Natalie got to see "her" Eiffel Tower lit up. Every 30 minutes or so, the lights blink. Natalie said, "Mom! Look! The Eiffel Tower! Its so sparkly!" Our friend Amanda, who came to help with the children, joked that all it needed to be was pink, as well as sparkly, and it would be perfect in Natalie's eyes.

Tomorrow is our Eurodisney day. I've been to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, many many times, and have been to Walt Disney World once, but our children have never been to a Disney park, and the boys are going to be too old in a few more years for it to be magical for them. So, though people look at me quizically when I say we are in Paris and hitting Disneyland, I say..."hmmm...another 200 euros tacked onto our vacation expenses or $5000 USD for a whole 'nother family vacation.... what would you pick? Though my mother insists we must take the children to Disney World in the next couple of years, I tell her that if its that important to her that she can pay for it. As far as I'm concerned, this takes care of my Disney obligation.

Normandy

2007-09-12T14:24:00.000-04:00

Normandy is beautiful. While we were in Paris, I often said, "I want to live here!" But, in Normandy, I insist that I am NOT leaving!! Do not be surprised if I do not come back. I may just squat in this gorgeous 18th century stone farmhouse, totally renovated on the inside, and never ever leave.

Oh.. and one more thing... pain au chocolat.... yummy

2007-09-07T03:43:00.000-04:00

Don't ever believe anyone who tells you that Parisians are rude. We have found them to be kind and helpful. They are so patient with me, when I speak my bumbling french, and when I look puzzled because I can't interpret their answers, they happily switch to english, or sometimes franglais.

Yesterday we went to the Louvre Museum and Musee D'Orsay. We were pretty wiped out after that, so we pushed visiting the Notre Dame back to today. Today we will (hopefully) see Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Le Notre Dame, and Le Jardin Tuilleries. I'd still like to make it to L'Orangerie (where Monet's Waterlilies are) but we will have a little bit more time in Paris after we get back from Normandy next week.

Tomorrow, we leave for Bretteville-sur-Ay in Normandy, France, for a week by the sea. We will visit Mont St. Michel, Rouen, and one or two other cities.

Bonjour Mes Amis!

2007-09-06T00:25:00.000-04:00

We are all here, in one piece. Monday and Tuesday were travel days, but the children did great! Sorry....my writing is very stilted, and will probably have beaucoup de typos as the french keyboard is very different from the english one. I cannot figure out the wi-fi connections here, but our apartmente has a computer with internet access.

Paris is beautiful! I will post some pictures as soon as I get the wi-fi thing figured out. For now, I leave you with some highlights......

watching Jacob, my most anxious child, thoroughly enjoy flying

seeing la tour eiffel for the first time

having le café au lait on le Champs Elyseé

Connor informed us he had to pee right now, because his bladder was as small as a protazoa

The Amputee

2007-08-23T17:02:00.000-04:00

Peach the water dragon (top) during happier times..

Yesterday, while Connor was getting his Chinese Water Dragon, Peach, out of the tank, he accidentally caught the tail in the lid and took 5 inches off of it. Poor Peach, poor Connor. Peach is, miraculously, one of those resilient lizards who can survive 7 year old boys. So, the amputated tail was still wriggling around in the mulch, the still-attached tail was dripping blood, with part of the bone exposed. And Connor was in hysterics. I do what any mother would do, I take care of the child first. We then called a vet, who had us bring Peach in early this morning. One stitch, one shot of antibiotics, one bone removed, and $35 later, Peach is back home, in her tank, hanging out with her boyfriend George (our other water dragon).

Isn't this cool??

2007-08-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

A caterpillar found on a hike yesterday.

15 days.....

2007-08-19T11:26:00.000-04:00

and we leave for France!! I can't tell you how excited we all are, but I'm sure you have a pretty good idea anyway.

Natalie says, "Ellie belongs to China, but I belong to Paris."

No surprise here, but it is extraordinarly hard to travel in Europe when you have 4 children. Minivans are hard to come by, so it looks like we will have to rent two small cars. Manual transmissions are the norm and automatic transmissions are expensive. Out of the nine people in our travelling group, I believe two of them can drive a stick.

I believe that everything will fall into place. I got an email from the US Government saying the kids' passports were ready, and in the mail! Geez... we applied for them in April. Our friend, Amanda, who is coming to be an extra set of hands, got her passport two weeks ago. So, of course, the rental car situation will work out. Its this kind of laissez-faire attitude that drove my mother nuts when we went to China (aka Emily and Jan's Excellent Adventure). We did manage to convince China to let us leave the country with a baby, despite having very little help from our local guide, no guide in Beijing, and a Chinese vocabulary of 3 words. So, the very fact that I took six years of French puts us in a significantly more comfortable position.

So... does anyone have any ideas for a name for this vacation of ours?

this is almost accurate, and will be after September 4th..

2007-08-17T18:16:00.000-04:00

I take it back...

2007-08-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

These two days at work have been wonderful. Colleagues coming up, hugging me, and telling me that they've been praying for my family. I've never been so proud of our little school, though I know that many will be angry with us. We will anger some community members no matter what is decided. Sorry I can't be any more specific than this.... confidentiality issues, y'know...

Our new camera came today!!! Jen-- I got the Canon S3 IS!!! I'm so pleased with it. I've been playing around with it and am amazed at the quality the images. Of course, when I came home from FRED, my in-laws had purchased the S5. But, I still take better pictures than they do. So there!!

Tonya recently asked us what lessons we took away from FRED 2007. I learned that my words and my actions can, and do, make a difference for those around me. I've spent much of my life believing that I'm less than human; unlovable, annoying, etc. Hearing my friend (and fellow freddie) Toni talk about some of the things that I have said to her over the years, little things really, and how they have affected her, and her family, for the better.... well, it's given me pause. I am not worthless??? How on earth could that be? I'm not defective? Really? I am considered wise??? Holy shit, Batman! For those of you "in the know," I'm famous for my negative self talk. And many of you know why.

Today

2007-08-13T20:52:00.000-04:00

I went to a meeting today, regarding our school's recent problems. I'm a faculty member and Brian (my husband) is on the board. Blechhhhh.... I'm tired of this conflict. I'm tired of my own yo-yoing, unable to pick a side and stay on it. I'm tired of having my husband whip bagels across the kitchen because he's so pissed off about the "conflict." Those were cinnamon raisin bagels and I would have eaten them, gladly.

My paternal grandmother's funeral was last week. I forgave her and wished her peace and safe passage. My father didn't show up, thank God.

But... right now...bliss. My girls are in the bathtub, playing out one of their endless fantasy plays, all revolving around the main character, "soapy." Soapy is of the Lever variety, specifically, Dove.

Some dialogue:

"Oh, Soapy!!!! You're gone!!"
"Soapy!! You came back to me!!!"
"Soapy, you're an oval and stuff!!!"
"Soapy, you're all covered with soap and stuff!!"
"Oh, Soapy, I love you."

Oy Vey Maria begins....

2007-08-13T10:33:00.000-04:00

Hello:

What I'm not:
I'm not Jewish, nor really Catholic, anymore. Nor can I lay claim to the phrase, "Oy vey, Maria!" It comes from a story that my co-worker told me, involving a choir, the pope, and being the only Jewish person in the Vatican. Though it is not my own, it is fits my life nicely. By nicely, I mean that its not nearly as offensive as some other titles I could have picked.

What I am:
I'm a mother of four children: three biological, one adopted, all of them wonderful and all of them my "own." I work part time at a school as the coordinator of services for special needs kids. I'm three classes away from my L.P.C. (Licensed Professional Counselor) and am anxious to start my own private practice. Oh, and I am married to a great man, who is continually stressed out and overworked.

What makes me think I have something important enough to say that I need to blog it?:
Hey... I really don't think that anyone is actually going to read this, except for my friends. But, after having gone to FRED 2007 (a fantastic retreat for creative women), I realized that I have let creative expression suffer in the name of being a "good mother." Meeting all of these wonderfully imaginative, talented women, and seeing that they are good mothers and have time for themselves, made me question why I've been on auto-pilot for the last 9 years. I haven't answered why, yet, but I'm pretty sure it was necessary for survival. It is no longer needed, however, and its time to get a little piece of my life back.