Wordless Wednesday 10 31 07

My sleeping Raggedy Ann on her first Halloween. Man, was she irate when she woke up.

Growing A Life: A baby's parting gift

I don't have anything at all creative or otherwise of my own to say this morning. I had been totally wrapped up in wallowing in my own miserable stress until I read Damselfly's unbelievable post (Growing A Life: A baby's parting gift). Take a few minutes, especially you with children, to sneak a peek. It's worth the click.

You're My Best Friend

I heart my BBF. She talks me down from stupid shit ALL. THE. TIME. She is the one person in life that understands my ridiculous fears. The one person that understands that puking is, in fact, the end of the world. The one person that knows I'm smart, but gets the fact that the shit that comes out of my mouth does not always reflect it. She reminds me continually that I need to have more confidence in myself. She listens to me bitch, moan, cry, whine, and wallow. And then gives me great advice and a dose of much-needed reality. She totally missed her calling as a therapist. She is one of the few people I can take my mouth filter off with and not regret it. I miss her on an hourly basis. Everyone should have a friend like her. I'm so lucky. She rocks. Give your best friend a squeeze today.

Question Mark

This is a meme I found on Full Plate (http://fullplate321.blogspot.com/)'s blog. She's one of my favorite bloggers and she requested people play along. I'm a sucker for these, so here we go.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Animal. She was trying to get back into the bathtub after her time was done, soaking wet and slippery with bubbles after she chose to lie face down on the soapy bathmat.
2. What were you doing at 0800? Emailing my students to let those lucky bastards know I was sick and class was cancelled.
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Dry-heaving on the side of my driveway.
4. What happened to you in 2006? Let's see. I became a mom. I am pretty sure that was the highlight. All else is a blur.
5. What was the last thing you said out loud? "I'm so sorry!" as my husband drove off with my daughter, taking her to daycare and thus making him late for work.
6. How many beverages did you have today? A bit of water. But, it's early.
7. What color is your hairbrush? Black? I think?
8. What was the last thing you paid for? Coffee at Panera's yesterday morning.
9. Where were you last night? At home.
10. What color is your front door? A lovely and exciting off-white.
11. Where do you keep your change? In my daughter's piggy bank.
12. What’s the weather like today? Rainy and seasonably cool. Finally.
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Chocolate chip cookie dough.
14. What excites you? What doesn't excite me?
15. Do you want to cut your hair? I'm holding off for 10" for Locks of Love.
16. Are you over the age of 25? Yep.
17. Do you talk a lot? When I'm comfortable with someone.
18. Do you watch the O.C.? I haven't ever seen it.
19. Do you know anyone named Steven? My doctor's first name is Steven. My BBF's fantasy husband's name is Steven.
20. Do you make up your own words? Sometimes without even meaning to. Just like Bush.
21. Are you a jealous person? I can be.
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Akeia
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kristen
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? My mom.
25. What does the last text message you received say? "Did you find the duck pond?"
26. Do you chew on your straw? Not that I know of.
27. Do you have curly hair? Pin, pin, pin straight.
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Likely the bathroom.
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? One of my sisters-in-law. Love her, but man, can she be rude.
30. What was the last thing you ate? Apple skins from my daughter's snack I was making for school at 5:30 a.m. And I wonder why the dry heaves came?
31. Will you get married in the future? I hope not. I like this one.
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? I haven't seen any.
33. Is there anyone you like right now? Artists? Friends? Fantasies? Yes. Yes. And Yes.
34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Last night. And, shockingly, there's a sinkful waiting for me again as we speak. How does that happen with two adults and one 13-month old?
35. Are you currently depressed? Not at all. Stressed, but certainly not depressed.
36. Did you cry today? No, but it's early.
37. Why did you answer and post this? Because I like the person who posted the meme.
38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey. I won't put that on anyone, but I'd love to read others' responses.

Wordless Wednesday 10 24 07

The dichotomy that is my existence. I am slightly creeped out that Raggedy Ann is in contact with Kid Rock. That can't be right.

Wordless Wednesday 10 17 07

Flowers in the field.

Fall into You

What a fantastic Saturday we had this weekend. We have been a bit on the desperate side, to say the least, to get out. We had our hearts set on going out to dinner on our anniversary last weekend. We actually lined up a babysitter, a woman who used to work at Animal's daycare center. They loved each other. She knew all of my daughter's wierd little quirks and Animal felt comfortable with her. We picked out a place down the road from us. I chose something to wear that didn't involve yoga pants. I worked a few extra hours to have a few extra dollars to spend. Then the fever and subsequent ear infection came for poor Animal and we called it off. The poor baby. So, we ordered take-out of a slightly higher quality than we usually splurge for and watched the first two episodes of Desperate Housewives and went to bed.

So, we were itching to get out, even if it wasn't for strictly adult time. Fall is our favorite time of the year, so what better to do for a celebration of it than go to a cider mill for fresh apple cider and freshly-made donuts? Okay, a few freshly-made donuts, a CRAZY apple crisp split between us and a bit of my husband's Johnny Cakes. It's a place called Clyde's Cider Mill. But before we hit the mill, my husband, being the incredible good sport he is, indulged me on a quick stop in Ledyard to this crazy old farmstead that I believe is part of a land trust so I could obsessively photograph the buildings. Because that's what I do. If you ever need photographs of agricultural outbuildings, I'm your gal.

Oh so useful. Anywho, it was a gorgeous day so we did a bit of the trail adjacent to it. Nice start to the day, I'd say. Then, on to Clyde's. I love apples in the fall.

My father-in-law used to take my husband and his sister there when they were kids, so it has fond memories for him. He and I have gone several times, I guess in off-peak moments, because it was nothing like the zoo it was on Saturday. Tons of people (mostly with NY license plates and shoes that didn't belong tromping around a cider mill, my husband noticed) milling around (get it? "milling" around? ha. ha.), cars parked up and down this normally slow rural road, a three-piece band playing Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, kids running around all hopped up on donuts. Yet, it was still fantastic. Animal was enthralled both by the kids playing among the pumpkins and the resonation pumpkins make when you slap them with an open hand. I, along with every other yuppy mother there, felt compelled to catch it all on film. I sicken myself sometimes, yet can't stop myself from partaking.

After coming down from our own sugar high, we made a quick visit with my mother-in-law who had just had knee surgery in a neighboring town. She looked good. Fit and fiesty as ever, I was glad to see. We ran a few errands in my husband's hometown, visited his dad's boat, and headed home. Millie was a bit crankish on the ride home, but she was hungry and tired and had been super dooper trooper all day.

Sunday was a different story. Husband and Animal both woke up with colds (how she can have a cold AND be on Augmentin blows my mind.) and she was miserable. Clingy. Whiny. Temper-filled. I felt for the two of them. Animal is asleep at the moment; I can hear her snoring in the monitor, the poor thing. She was fantastic this morning, though, when mommy was chained to the bathroom getting sick for most of the pre-Sesame Street hours. She's fantastic when it counts. She's so damned cute, I could just bite her. Even with the abrasion to her cheek caused by her falling with her toothbrush in her mouth. Just like her mama.

Wordless Wednesday 10 10 07

The union of two socially stunted people trying to figure out how the cake cutting goes. In front of 125 of our closest relatives and friends. After one of my aunts loudly insisted we go through the whole process. Two years ago this past Sunday. Oh the joy.

Short Skirt Long Jacket

Sweet. The new theme song for Chuck is one of my favorite Cake songs. Maybe it won't tank after all?

Cry

Okay, there is something wrong with me. The granddaughter of the woman living downstairs from me was just dropped off by her parents who apparently had to go somewhere. She's about 5 or 6 I would say. Cute as a button. As they got in the car, she started sobbing. SOBBING. S.O.B.B.I.N.G. That hitching, pathetic, full-bodied cry. And I am bothered by it. Really bothered by it. I can't stand to hear Millie cry (although I am getting better at not paying attention to the big fat faker cries)-it physically makes me ill to hear her cry if there's something truly wrong. The cry from the kid downstairs is giving me the same reaction. That's not right, is it?

On a happier note, did anyone catch "Pushing Daisies" last night on ABC? It was very quirky and visually stunning. Much like a Tim Burton flick. Bizzaro characters. Bright, contrasting colors. Unique camera angles. Fun. We'll see. Again, different concept and hopefully they'll be able to sustain the plot.

Backstreets

M. Jodi Rell, the governor of our fair state, proclaimed yesterday to be Bruce Springsteen Day in Connecticut. How sweet is that? He kicked off his tour in Hartford last night. Where was I? Distracting Millie while my husband cleaned and cleaned and cleaned the kitchen floor after he accidentally turned the wrong stove burner on and the glass casserole dish on it exploded into little tiny shards of death all over the kitchen. He was so lucky he didn't get penetrated with any of it. Poor guy. Two sweeps, two vacuums and a mop later, there were still traces on the floor. Are my rock and roll days over?

Have you guys seen Chuck on NBC Monday nights? The guy is wicked wicked cute in a dork kind of way. The first episode was really fun, really funny and kind of smart, considering the genre. The one on this week was good, but not AS good. I have to wonder how they are going to keep the plot going. I hope they do. The characters are interesting and like people I think we all know. Minus the government secrets in their heads, of course.

Speaking of dorks...we went to the library on Saturday in search of the Chicago Style Guide. Why was I spending a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the reference section of the local library? Long story, but I was asked to contribute an article on Internet sites pertinent to historical archaeology to a history journal and of course it was supposed to be formatted according to Chicago, which I didn't have. Anywho, I forget how much I absolutely love public libraries until I go. The books, the curiosity, the helpful people full of knowledge. FREE books. You have to give them back, but so what? My youngest brother and I used to attack our library's LP section for old recordings, too. Things have changed a bit since I was kid, but for the better. Our public library has a whole giant room full of DVDs for loan!! Holy crap, it's awesome. People were there with their laptops taking advantage of the wifi. No cumbersome card catalogs. Still a few constants, though. I remember being intrigued by the old men with haggard beards wearing well-worn overcoats in the summer reading the newspapers every time we went to the library when I was a kid. This library had its share of those patrons. The smell of books. I know that sounds insane, but they have a scent and I love it. I'm going to attempt a weekly trip to the library with Millie. It used to be the highlight of my week as a kid. She's obsessed with books. Why not foster it?

I went to a new dentist today. He argued with me about how humans got to North America. I like that in a dentist. He was thorough. I like that in a dentist, too. Maybe this one will stick.

Well, off to do some work. Hopefully.

Wordless Wednesday 10 3 07

Where I'd like to be right now.