tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86559774188806730922012-01-30T17:41:31.899-08:00S.noreply@blogger.comBlogger10921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-63973894622001020672012-01-30T17:40:00.000-08:002012-01-30T17:41:31.906-08:00

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-86337203244548848892012-01-26T22:40:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:40:16.109-08:00

Wash was my favorite, and they killed him.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-76711695475088360362012-01-26T22:39:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:39:20.279-08:00

I ride the bus about three days a week, and mostly on the same route, out to work and back again. I'm on one bus for about 40 minutes, usually, and it runs along a soul-killing major arterial lined with vast parking lots, cash&carry grocery stores, bars, pawnshops, fast food, car repair places, and so on. There's some residential development, all of the cheap, windowless variety that already

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-71940280535545756192012-01-23T17:05:00.001-08:002012-01-23T17:05:32.757-08:00

Maybe it's just because I'm not on Facebook that I didn't know that. I loved Battlestar Galactica (though my passion dropped off precipitously after the first season), and have started watching it all over again.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-72514520461441272022012-01-22T09:58:00.000-08:002012-01-22T09:58:42.141-08:00

Dutch: This movie is really stupid. That kid climbed a pole to get the balloon and now he's just running around. Skipper: He is so fast! Dutch: Wait, is the balloon magic? Dutch: He speaks French! Dutch: Even the teacher wants the balloon! Dutch: Who took it? Dutch: What'd that man just do! Dutch: She just locked the boy in the CLOSET!! Why'd she do it? Dutch: The balloon is going to get the key

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-6610448867125698822012-01-20T20:39:00.001-08:002012-01-20T20:39:59.206-08:00

...ridiculous TV that I LOVE.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-39143263629785327782012-01-20T12:47:00.000-08:002012-01-20T12:47:15.900-08:00

I have found a new ridiculous TV show to watch. This time, I'm aware that there aren't very many episodes, in contrast to my experience with Downton Abbey AND Sherlock, which somehow BOTH caught me by surprise when I finished an episode and found there was nothing left to watch, which was terrible. Now I know to treasure every ridiculous moment.

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-85963958956461636602012-01-20T12:36:00.000-08:002012-01-20T12:36:22.393-08:00

We've had some Weather here in Portland lately. There's been some snow, and then there was a LOT of rain. Seriously, a LOT of rain. We're used to rain, of course, but mostly of the intermittent variety, but this was a major downpour that just went on and on and on. (The rain is continuing today, and will go on for at least another day, but it's not pouring any more.) Not only did all of us get

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-13520217554688323262012-01-18T08:36:00.000-08:002012-01-18T08:36:48.468-08:00

Cook posing with a victim (the stump, not Skipper)of Phase One of the Back Yard Renovation Project, an experience that led him to declare that an ax is an essential gardening tool Dutch at 7:30 this morning, frantically trying to make a snowman before all the snow washes away in the rain. Both her school and Skipper's preschool have a late start today, because, you know. Portland.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-81758151670195621082012-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:002012-01-15T20:16:08.137-08:00

Today it snowed. Nothing stuck, of course, but it was exciting nonetheless. Also, we have a recent household acquisitions on which I haven't yet reported - we received a sewing machine for Christmas. Cook took a shine to it, and doggedly tackled the actually pretty daunting task of learning to use a sewing machine without first knowing anything about any kind of

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-46237509583416717372012-01-12T22:13:00.000-08:002012-01-12T22:13:56.400-08:00

Girls: Marlowe Hadley Dory Mazzy Elise Sydney Matilda Juni Lucy Magnolia Boys: Hollis Kai Peter Lukas Max So, yeah. Portland. It's a little embarrassing. And in case you're wondering, Skipper adamantly insisted on going to the story time, and paid rapt attention the whole time, but refused to leave my lap (and when everybody else got up to do fun stuff like sing and dance, she buried her face

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-76032448234000375952012-01-11T22:51:00.001-08:002012-01-11T22:52:18.720-08:00

That Luther show is cah-RAZY, you guys. I can't decide if I think it's incredibly stupid or totally hilarious.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-44452047731037827412012-01-10T22:12:00.000-08:002012-01-10T22:12:07.961-08:00

"I need to exercise more!" said Dutch tonight, as she bounded around the house wearing just her tights.  Cook and I both looked at her speculatively, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then it did. Dutch clutched her belly with two hands and said gleefully "I'm too FAT!" I guess we should be glad that she made it all the way to age 7 before saying it. (The first part of her announcement was

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-53802108882620843522012-01-08T22:22:00.000-08:002012-01-08T22:22:46.984-08:00

All I want to do is watch British television. (Dutch is sticking with PBS.)

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-3510632157933255952012-01-05T21:01:00.000-08:002012-01-05T21:01:16.810-08:00

You guys, 2012 is kicking my ass. Nothing bad has happened, so I can't blame my limpness on that.* Even the weather has been unusually sunny this winter. I just can't seem to face this year. I drag myself through my days with this wincy, heavy feeling of foreboding...** So this weekend, 2012 and I are going to sit down and have a Talk. We've got to work this thing out. Also, Skipper is really

S.noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-48682882613070375382011-12-31T23:22:00.000-08:002011-12-31T23:22:16.376-08:00

2012 is going to be Dutch's lucky year. She announced that tonight after beating me at Carcassonne. She got the green light to stay up as late as she wants tonight, as she has every New Year's Eve since she turned 3. I think the first year she actually fell asleep before her normal bedtime, and she's never made it past 10:30, but tonight she's going strong, and I suspect she'll make it. I

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-49108513775375661472011-12-29T08:26:00.000-08:002011-12-29T08:26:45.896-08:00

While these tweets make me squeamish, I can see as how this could be Dutch in ten years.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-36100949230928348262011-12-27T19:33:00.000-08:002011-12-27T19:33:58.617-08:00

This society is not going well.* *This is what happens when I look at my Google+ feed after a long hiatus. Jeez, S & T. 

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-90167883040675438002011-12-26T16:13:00.001-08:002011-12-26T16:13:46.715-08:00

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-6510778940636341672011-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:002011-12-26T16:17:11.161-08:00

Christmas Eve morning Cook took the kids to play kickball with friends. They came back tired. Christmas Eve dinner: Skipper ate none of it. But it was delicious.  Stockings. I don't know why Skipper took her clothes off for the event. Skipper was pretty confused about the whole thing. Early on in the Big Present Opening Frenzy, she opened a set

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-66733567745018940732011-12-24T14:20:00.000-08:002011-12-24T14:20:41.848-08:00

Dutch is reading the Bible, for fun. And she's been wearing her new (to her) dark plaid dress with the puffed short sleeves and fake velvet collar every day. She's been watching "Colonial House," and is really sad that Cook and I are not going to put any effort into applying to be contestants on the next historical-themed reality show. We have baked/cooked up 6 sticks of butter so far (please

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-26278814964104681392011-12-22T22:38:00.000-08:002011-12-22T22:38:28.817-08:00

A few days ago, Dutch looked up and memorized a prayer to say every night before bed. We are a completely atheist family, but religion fits nicely into her passion for Old-Fashioned Stuff,  and her interest in Stuff That Is Important, so she's pursuing it in her own weird way. (And we're not stopping her, though we have explained carefully why we are atheist, and I did stop her from trying to

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-86866833113862845992011-12-21T20:00:00.001-08:002011-12-21T20:00:54.124-08:00

How many sticks of butter can we use?

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-51251888183666286252011-12-20T14:32:00.001-08:002011-12-20T14:32:38.128-08:00

Skipper's eye seems to be fine. We'll take more care with table-setting from now on.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-33759274175946121542011-12-19T23:01:00.000-08:002011-12-19T23:01:54.754-08:00

Tonight Dutch accidentally* stabbed Skipper in the eye with a fork. This is something I actually say as an ironically exaggerated figure of speech,** as in "I would rather be stabbed in the eye with a fork than vote for Newt Gingrich" or "OMG watching that preschool talent show was so like stabbing myself in the eye with a fork," and I really never, ever thought that I would experience an actual

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-30179803969015090042011-12-18T22:40:00.000-08:002011-12-18T22:40:01.831-08:00

1) Gluten-free baked goods do not age well. 2) There should be a role for Maggie Smith in every TV show. I really mean it.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-15887271778797286772011-12-17T21:24:00.000-08:002011-12-17T21:25:22.856-08:00

Skipper likes to supervise all baking and cooking activities. She fell asleep on the couch at 10:30 AM last week. That's Punghy lying behind her.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-5142207787462585532011-12-17T21:22:00.000-08:002011-12-17T21:22:53.154-08:00

Skipper: I want somebody to play hide and seek with me. Me: Maybe you should play with Punghy. S: Punghy doesn't know HOW to play hide and seek. I need to play with somebody who's, like, REAL.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-11721307668323773482011-12-15T22:04:00.001-08:002011-12-17T14:41:40.743-08:00

Today is the beginning of two weeks of holiday for Dutch and Skipper. Dutch is really, really excited. I'm excited to not have to deal with drop-off/pick-up for two weeks (the kids have a babysitter three days and are going to The Blonds' house* for one day so I can keep up my normal work schedule). Given how well I"m parenting my kids lately, I think I'm going to need to schedule some (or many)

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-52663646205977833742011-12-13T12:48:00.000-08:002011-12-13T12:48:49.953-08:00

Today Skipper told me "When I'm feeling sad, I have to hold Punghy upside down so he can't talk to me. I don't like him to talk to me when I'm feeling sad."

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-61849279677291991642011-12-12T21:56:00.000-08:002011-12-12T21:56:18.765-08:00

I've been reading a book about social structures in high school. And I've been watching a movie about public schools. I'm feeling... oh, a LITTLE DISHEARTENED.

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-90634669395344631952011-12-11T18:21:00.001-08:002011-12-11T18:27:52.726-08:00

Skipper and I were setting up for her nap this afternoon when she started making frustrated noises. I looked over at her, lying in her bed, and she said angrily "There isn't enough room! Punghy didn't scoot over!" After a moment's contemplation, I said "Honey... Punghy can't scoot over." and she said "Why NOT!?" and I said "Because he's a stuffed animal. He's not alive. He can't move by himself."

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-37362525573611203072011-12-10T18:07:00.001-08:002011-12-10T18:10:43.561-08:00

The wife of an acquaintance of Cook's is starting a business taking pictures of kids, and she came over a few weeks ago (on the day of Dutch's birthday party, which is why Cook is wearing a tie) to bulk up her portfolio a bit. We weren't very photogenic, but here are some of her shots, post-production.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-15356733190102527422011-12-09T22:36:00.001-08:002011-12-09T22:36:53.824-08:00

...we still have squash all over the house.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-13299023268333421932011-12-09T09:51:00.001-08:002011-12-09T22:35:34.394-08:00

I haven't been writing because I've got very little to say. Here, in no particular order and with no attempt to stitch it all together, are your random updates: 1) I crashed my bike today. No cars or kids were involved - it was just me, my bike with its slick tires, and a frost-rimed intersection on which I was turning left. I went down pretty hard, but not very fast, and neither my bike nor I

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-1723618942723222292011-12-06T20:03:00.001-08:002011-12-06T20:12:21.458-08:00

Skipper (obsessively): One Morning in Maine Me: The Titan's Curse* Cook: Oblivion Dutch: This and this and this and this and probably some others I'm not aware of. (Has she finished a book in the last three months? Not that I'm aware of.) *Yes, I am aware that it is a kids' book. Several friends have recently steered me toward kids' books that I have very much enjoyed. Adulthood isn't exactly

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-42423302180917384062011-12-04T16:45:00.001-08:002011-12-04T16:53:25.503-08:00

We just got a new tree planted in our parking strip, courtesy of the wonderful Friends of Trees - it's a cascara tree* and this is what it looks like.**  And here is a bonus photo of the scene in our backyard a few hours later. * It was not as pretty as many of our other options from the list of city-approved trees for purchase, but it was our only native option, and it apparently

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-46162442630738460542011-11-29T13:44:00.001-08:002011-11-29T13:51:10.700-08:00

Waiting for the bus with Baby Baby, after dropping off Dutch at school Skipper loves play dough. Obsessively pouring sand with a family friend. There's this crazy contraption with blowing air...

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-50994003170713181952011-11-29T07:30:00.001-08:002011-11-29T07:32:25.870-08:00

This is Skipper's preschool menu: Wednesday, 11/30Breakfast: Banana BreadSnack: Apples with Pumpkin SeedsLunch: Red Lentil Dip with Flour Tortillas, Pan-fried Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Shallots, Pickled BeetsSnack: Granola with OrangesFriday, 12/2Breakfast: Rice Pudding with CranberriesSnack: Bananas with Pumpkin SeedsLunch: Gigante Lima Beans with Tomatoes, Kale and QuinoaSnack: Cranberry

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-3778139179795032232011-11-28T22:12:00.000-08:002011-11-28T22:12:00.485-08:00

A few months ago, I went to the doctor because I'd been having chest pains and shortness of breath. I was pretty sure it was anxiety, because I am an anxious person, and I have some legitimate things to be anxious about, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't terribly ill. The doctor said, after verifying that I am, in fact, quite healthy for a fat lazy person, "Is there a chance it could be anxiety?

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-46838985574984700562011-11-26T18:09:00.001-08:002011-11-26T18:17:53.769-08:00

And they were delicious! What we've been doing: Shopping locally (and not locally, but we feel bad about that) Eating our huge pile of squash (mostly from our CSA). I really loathe peeling and cutting squash, but we have to eat at least one squash a day in order to avoid being buried. I've already cut my finger once, and I anticipate more injuries as the battle continues. But the food is

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-74697876766216800972011-11-23T08:37:00.001-08:002011-11-23T08:37:26.430-08:00

You're welcome.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-27792231827920638262011-11-22T17:09:00.001-08:002011-11-22T22:11:35.008-08:00

So, Dutch. My girl. Dutch is a lot of things, and when I start listing adjectives to describe her, the list gets long and very contradictory. Today I went to her parent-teacher conference. Her teacher has nothing but good things to say about her - she's on track to exceed benchmarks in reading and writing, and meet them in math. She's nice to her classmates and doesn't brag. She comes to class

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-86526327484999651772011-11-21T13:56:00.001-08:002011-11-21T13:57:08.282-08:00

This is pretty cool.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-27796900474580076242011-11-19T22:38:00.000-08:002011-11-20T08:17:42.324-08:00

Two weeks ago, I took Skipper to a library story time for 2-year-olds. The room was packed with excited kids, all running around, dancing, pushing up to the librarian to get her attention and see the books up close. Skipper sat in my lap, scowling, the whole time.* There were a lot of parents there, too, of course, and I suddenly became aware of my total disinterest in engaging with them or

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-19814618581951715192011-11-19T19:45:00.001-08:002011-11-19T20:07:02.888-08:00

We did it! We survived Dutch's party!  Cook honored the festive occasion by dressing up. The tie, FYI, has his clan plaid on it.It was fun. It was, however, faster-moving than I'd expected, so I didn't get as many pictures as I'd have liked. The main activity was a scavenger hunt involving invisible ink pens (when Dutch and I were shopping for party favors, she saw those pens, and she Had To

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-52029661819113144102011-11-17T13:37:00.001-08:002011-11-17T13:37:09.317-08:00

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-1811730838116736692011-11-17T12:03:00.001-08:002011-11-17T12:15:16.697-08:00

Everybody has some preferred ways to escape reality. Some people choose healthy, constructive tools, like exercise, meditation, sewing, painting, music, etc. I go for food, trashy books, and mindless surfing of the internet. Cook likes frisbee and cheap video games, and Dutch reads fairy books. Skipper, apparently, sleeps. I had to work on a Tuesday this week, a day when Skipper normally stays

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-71555229687390153322011-11-16T20:07:00.001-08:002011-11-16T20:38:34.411-08:00

 Dutch had a good birthday. We did the traditional wake-up with singing and (this year) apple muffins with candles in them. Skipper refused to wake up for it, so the waking and present-opening were all about Dutch, which was nice. She loved her presents, and just the sheer gleeful Dutch-centric-ness of it all. Then Skipper finally woke up, and we ate

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-88184834195672264512011-11-14T21:04:00.001-08:002011-11-14T21:45:40.986-08:00

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned the altered state Dutch enters every year about a week before Halloween, and sustains until New Year's Day. Because her birthday is in November, she spends the last two months of every year receiving and giving gifts, attending and hosting parties, and taking time off from school at such high frequency that it pretty much feels like a non-stop celebration.  This

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-29003695657729134042011-11-12T22:59:00.001-08:002011-11-12T23:17:24.966-08:00

Hello! No lecturing today. I'm just writing to say hi! We're having a lovely but hectic weekend. We had house guests  for a breezy 30 hours, then went over to another family's house for dinner. Dutch had a wonderful time with two successive playmates. She swore eternal friendship to one of our guests (a gorgeous, fearless ball of mischief aged just a wee bit less than 5) when she left (the two

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-1165860191012177592011-11-09T20:56:00.000-08:002011-11-09T20:56:44.640-08:00

Today I was riding the bus home, thinking about life,* and the bus passed Dutch's school. She was at school still for her after-school Spanish class (I was heading further west to pick up Skipper at preschool), and I craned my neck, hoping to catch a glimpse of her in the classroom. I didn't see her, but I started thinking about her, particularly her crazy-ass moods, and her near-total lack of

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-80379115219876597252011-11-06T20:54:00.000-08:002011-11-07T11:02:37.268-08:00

Here's the question I always want to be asked, and never am: "How do you get around with kids with no car?" I want to be asked this question because I could answer it for HOURS, and I do love to talk about me. And what's a blog FOR but boring unsolicited monologues, after all? (With that said, you should all feel free to not read this post... you've all heard it all before, anyway!) So here

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-27176085941420392832011-11-05T23:00:00.000-07:002011-11-05T23:00:35.049-07:00

Dutch's teacher is a rabid University of Oregon booster. Because of this, Dutch has begun thinking about college, and actually considering what college she might want to go to. I really had not expected that my child's introduction to the idea of post-secondary education would come from the classic Oregon Ducks vs. Beavers conflict. Today Dutch and I talked about college a little bit - what it is

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-41728925939748019662011-11-04T12:57:00.000-07:002011-11-04T12:57:56.200-07:00

I'm feeling pretty down these days. Today I find myself with childcare and without work, and  I made myself a to-do list (actually a teux deux list, because I completely love the app) in an attempt to keep myself from just dropping off the kids and then spending the day lying on the couch listening to The Swell Season and feeling sorry for myself. One of the items on the teuxdeux/

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-15233965955576954192011-11-03T21:00:00.001-07:002011-11-03T21:10:05.717-07:00

Yeah, actually it's not.  BUT. It is the time when I invite you to submit your contributions to the Great Dutch-and-Skipper Advent Calendars Adventure. If you have small (maximum 2" by 2" by 3") items in your house that you wish to dispose of,* please mail them to me.Anything is fair game - notes to Dutch, a cool rock, three jelly beans in a film canister, whatever. And okay, I know I promised

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-21188580115202974422011-11-02T20:59:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:59:36.060-07:00

Yesterday Skipper told me about what she will do when she becomes a grown-up. Here is the complete list: 1) Go to work and go to school and go to Gresham. 2) Sleep alone in a really big bed. 3) Wash dishes. 4) Do stuff on the computer.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-20593326067742612372011-11-02T20:58:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:58:32.952-07:00

This morning at 5:45, Cook and I were talking about our fears* over coffee (the kids were asleep! it was a miracle) and he pointed out cheerfully that at least he didn't have to wake up Dutch and take her off to work in the mine. So, you know, feeling sad because you can't afford to give your kid piano lessons, while a legitimate feeling and all, needs to be put into perspective. Perspective

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-22758715988986934332011-11-01T10:01:00.000-07:002011-11-01T10:01:00.213-07:00

I had kind of a bummer of a day yesterday. Not awful, or anything. Just kind of a bummer. My voice is still only partly recovered. I found out that my new job, which was supposed to start today, is at best delayed three weeks, at worst cancelled for good (budget cuts). I had to tell the babysitter I just hired that I can't hire her. A coworker told me about some hard, sad  things going on in her

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-23528110475878184782011-10-31T21:37:00.000-07:002011-11-01T11:24:36.438-07:00

Halloween! Dutch went as a Hogwarts student. She made some badges (a prefect badge and a Gryffindor badge, in case you're curious) out of construction paper this weekend. Skipper and Baby Baby watched. Skipper decided to make her own badge. Pumpkins were carved. Both kids were really manic, and Dutch was cracking Skipper up. Skipper wigged out when she realized what

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-13443927074935629182011-10-30T20:09:00.000-07:002011-10-30T20:09:31.285-07:00

We found a TV show that will brainwash Dutch into thinking that science is cool. (Plus, the girls in the show, or at least in the first episode, are completely adorable, for middle-schoolers.) After watching the episode, Dutch started telling me that she would like to do for work ... well, when I got through all the words, it kind of sounded like she's planning to be an ethnobotanist. A friend

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-10145089283526788042011-10-30T12:58:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:58:26.749-07:00

I've been to the local science museum this week twice, with just Skipper and then today with both kids and Cook. Skipper mostly hung out in the little-kids area. She liked watching the other kids. Both Cook and I were struck by the phenomenon of kids playing while their parents stood beside them, texting (and occasionally taking photos of their kids, presumably to be immediately posted to

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-2690888344094661872011-10-28T22:28:00.000-07:002011-10-28T22:28:45.274-07:00

I just spent half an hour watching Mythbusters while washing dishes, and it was awesome. Maybe this is the key to getting Dutch interested in engineering. Though if there were more women in serious roles on this show, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-39597860854697119222011-10-28T19:35:00.000-07:002011-10-28T19:35:10.723-07:00

I lost my voice. I've never really experienced this before, except a little bit toward the end of a long day of talking while sick with a cold, but today I've been unable to speak at any volume above a whisper. ALL DAY. It's driving me crazy, but I can see as how it's also an opportunity to learn a few hard things. Here's what I've learned: 1) My parenting, especially between 6:30 and 9 AM, is

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-37988641519064021262011-10-27T22:17:00.000-07:002011-10-27T22:17:24.202-07:00

Remember how I was all like "Oh noes, we've got to get Dutch interested in science!" I didn't really do anything about it. However, a year late, I've decided that all birthday and Christmas presents* this year for both girls will be science-themed. Better yet, engineering-themed. I think anybody who spent more than twelve seconds in our house would agree that we have enough dress-up and

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-35260803864651278292011-10-26T20:03:00.000-07:002011-10-26T20:03:16.497-07:00

This month is about free trials. My thinking in setting them up was something like "Hey, free stuff! Cool! Also, it's fun to try new things and see what you like." It's been a reminder for me of what a dabbler Dutch is by nature. She loves all activities - if it involves social interaction and getting to experience the intoxicating first slope of a learning curve, it lights her up, and she gets

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-74764599128521479332011-10-23T14:19:00.000-07:002011-10-23T21:47:48.734-07:00

I took the kids on our traditional annual trip* to The Pumpkin Patch. Skipper hated most of it, and made me carry her most of the time. (She did find a clod of dried mud that she she liked a lot, and she brought it home.) Dutch had a great time. And now we have pumpkins! *2010,  2009, 2008, 2007

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-75416275545921918742011-10-20T22:22:00.000-07:002011-10-20T22:22:04.366-07:00

I got nothing. Things are pretty boring here. Halloween: Dutch is planning to dress as parrot belonging to mummified King Tut. Skipper plans to wear her purple pants for Halloween, but she's not very clear on how this all works. Yesterday she said "Mom, is Halloween a person?"* Potty training: Skipper's potty trained, but has the smallest bladder on the planet, which means a lot of visits to

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-54642931771120369182011-10-19T22:45:00.000-07:002011-10-19T22:45:46.736-07:00

1) I really, really want to watch the Footloose remake. 2) I really, really love the original Footloose.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-24633212644951421572011-10-18T09:34:00.000-07:002011-10-18T09:34:43.581-07:00

This morning Skipper asked for a snack. When I asked her what she wanted, she said "Cheese with butter." I gave her bread with butter and cheese. Then she asked for almond butter, in a bowl, and she ate it with a spoon.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-80325033361948297002011-10-17T22:30:00.000-07:002011-10-17T22:30:13.672-07:00

1) My boots. Oh, I love them. (In related news, it turns out that tights that aren't fifteen years old and ill-fitting are way, way more comfortable than tights that are.) 2) My new stand mixer. Oh, I love it. You should SEE it mixing stuff! You guys, it CUTS IN BUTTER FOR ME! 3) Skipper's new attitude toward preschool. Apparently being wrenched away from her routine for a week made her realize

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-5673884290673375522011-10-17T13:24:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:24:46.186-07:00

I like Halloween. I'm not a die-hard fan* but there's a lot about it that I like. We're really looking forward to our first-ever Halloween in our own house, and our first chance to actually receive trick-or-treaters. However, now I cannot in good conscience buy a giant bag of chocolate bars. Drat. *The principal at Dutch's school, who is now in her second year, banned Halloween costumes or

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-24104770599734330382011-10-16T16:25:00.000-07:002011-10-16T16:29:05.690-07:00

We're back. We had a great vacation. We're happy to be home. The kids turned out to be pretty decent travelers,* even on the day when we got up at 4 AM, flew all day, and then drove for three hours. However, (of course) Skipper required near-continual attention, and wailed/moaned "I want to go hoooooome!" at least ten times a day. Dutch had a wonderful, wonderful time, and beamed with happiness

S.noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-43298081930550261252011-10-12T09:05:00.001-07:002011-10-12T09:05:47.291-07:00

Back soon.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-43411072470151290652011-10-03T22:14:00.000-07:002011-10-03T22:14:51.198-07:00

I am now 35 years old.* This is the age I have always felt myself to be, and now I am at exactly the right age. This is it! This is my year. I think I'm just going to stay 35 forever. Last night, I sat in the dining room in the dark while Cook and Skipper and Dutch lit the candles on my cake. Cook said "Skipper, don't blow the candle out," and then he lit a candle and she immediately blew it out

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-36699465151422319832011-10-02T17:33:00.000-07:002011-10-02T17:33:11.259-07:00

Pizza! Tomatoes!   Boots! Underpants!  Cake!

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-24105728362675072662011-10-01T22:37:00.000-07:002011-10-01T22:37:41.123-07:00

We had another family over for dinner tonight; they have a daughter the same age as Dutch. (This is a quiet girl, dreamy and private, an only child whose parents are very mindful and calm about their family life. She and Dutch get along very well, in spite of their very different approaches to life.) As the children ran amok, we, the parents, complained to each other about how awfully our almost-

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-33314856920663250942011-09-26T12:22:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:22:26.389-07:00

Here's how you know: 1) It's raining! At last. 2) Today I get to wear, for the first time, my incredibly awesome new boots.*  They're like tall, clunky rainboots, which I needed, but made of leather, so they're comfortable and don't make my feet sweaty.** (I did feel like a Nazi character from an Indiana Jones movie when I first tried them on, but the faint desire to slap a riding crop on my leg

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-76192394841358664002011-09-25T19:48:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:49:25.479-07:00

 Dutch started telling us this evening that she might decide to get rich when she grows up. "I know how to get rich," she informed us casually. Cook and I gave her our full attention, but when she said "Well, to start with, you have to have at least $300," I decided I had to film the explanation. * And then when I plugged the camera into the computer to download the video, I discovered

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-48465900236809450752011-09-25T12:47:00.000-07:002011-09-25T12:47:27.030-07:00

Dutch is playing a quiet game this rainy* afternoon (Skipper is napping, so the household is in a pleasant state of calm) with a lot of beads. Apparently, some beads are getting married, and she's arranging them into groups and holding a wedding ceremony, etc. She showed me Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown... and Mr. Brown. I asked if the second Mr. Brown was the brother of the first Mr. Brown, and she

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-32116192609227377362011-09-23T21:27:00.000-07:002011-09-23T21:27:43.103-07:00

You might almost think that I am very, very square. So square that I use the phrase "square." News... we don't really have any. We've been busy. I've had a lot to do this week. Dutch thinks first grade is "awesome," and Skipper sleeps through most of the day at preschool, a brilliant coping mechanism. Skipper claims to be "a big gril!" and may someday leave diapers behind. Someday. There are

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-88784870154711061632011-09-18T21:12:00.000-07:002011-09-18T21:12:48.548-07:00

This is what Dutch is reading right now. It is apparently very, very gripping. This is Skipper's current favorite book, and it must be read to her at least twice a day. This is what Cook's reading. He's not sure yet if he likes it or not. This is what I'm reading. I find myself the least literary of the family.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-30275474615452702462011-09-18T21:04:00.000-07:002011-09-18T21:04:08.534-07:00

So - tomatoes. We're overrun. What with the farmshare and the nine tomato plants in various states of health in our yard, it's a continual battle around here. We ate pasta with raw tomato "sauce" twice this week (and if we had to eat it every day forever, that would be okay with me). We ate pasta with a cooked tomato sauce. We ate a Big Tomato Sandwich. Cook made another batch of sauce and froze

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-59627067200217786132011-09-18T08:39:00.000-07:002011-09-18T08:40:19.724-07:00

Yesterday Cook escorted Dutch to a birthday party. The birthday party took place at an amusement park by the river, and they had a choice of biking five and a half miles each way or riding the bus for over an hour each way. They picked bike. It rained. Dutch had an awesome time at the party, and was apparently a total trooper about the biking.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-58885246900885205142011-09-15T19:14:00.000-07:002011-09-15T19:14:28.993-07:00

Tom Coburn backed down. (Apparently, people like biking and walking some, but what they really like is not losing more jobs due to shut-down of the FAA.) Good job, team! Now rest up until March, when you're going to have to lobby the heck out of your legislators to get a GOOD transportation bill passed.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-37584854339709330042011-09-14T22:10:00.000-07:002011-09-14T22:10:10.733-07:00

Dutch and I have had the Conversation. Remember that? Well, she doesn't. Yesterday, as we were chopping tomatoes  together, she mentioned (in the context of a conversation, not out of the blue) that she plans to adopt her kids rather than give birth to them. I nodded; she's talked about that before.* Then she said "Mom, how do you stop yourself from having a baby?" and I fumbled around a little

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-80964407584204052292011-09-14T20:06:00.000-07:002011-09-14T20:06:33.612-07:00

I recently read a frightening post on a local mommyblog. It was about the blogger's 11-year-old daughter's recent shift in eating habits - when she entered middle school she started packing herself very small lunches, and often not eating any of what she packed. She comes home ravenous. The author, and many commenters, report that it is not okay for girls to eat lunch in middle school. Being seen

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-33830640587104320812011-09-13T12:49:00.000-07:002011-09-13T12:49:28.219-07:00

So today I would like you to do something small, just for me. Tom Coburn, whom I hate so much that it physically hurts me when I think about him, is attempting to strip all of the good stuff out of the transportation bill - the eentsy teensy weentsy little bit of funding that goes to make it an eentsy bit easier to walk and bike in this country - and I would really be grateful if you would make

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-13642542447213941982011-09-12T23:06:00.000-07:002011-09-12T23:06:15.056-07:00

Skipper hates going to preschool. She doesn't actually hate preschool itself; she seems to like her teachers and classmates and the classroom and the yard and everything they do. But she loathes going to preschool. In practice, this means that I spend about 45 minutes, three days a week, listening to her yell, over and over again, variations on the theme of "I really don't want to go to

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-83110050944493761492011-09-12T22:35:00.000-07:002011-09-12T22:35:26.121-07:00

The scene: Dutch and I are walking home from school, just the two of us. Dutch: I played with F all day today! Me: Oh? D: Yeah! We played Cops and Robbers. M: Seriously? I didn't know anybody had actually played that game since 1953. Were you a cop or a robber? D: I was the treasure! M: Really? D: Yes!  I was the girl who had to do everything anybody told me to do! M: Ew. D: Except the bad guys.

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-10766674242862745252011-09-09T21:07:00.000-07:002011-09-09T21:07:56.886-07:00

Here's what I've been doing lately, not necessarily in this order: 1) Listening to this song (but not watching the video). What, you don't like the song? You find the subject matter creepy? I don't care. 2) Wishing that our summer weather had happened IN THE SUMMER, instead of waiting until September to do its thing. 3) Having more bike conversion experiences. Today, you guys, I biked ALL THE

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-48708893378351664242011-09-07T21:16:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:16:21.020-07:00

This is just so wrong. Why are Republicans such crazed socialists about subsidizing cars, anyway?

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-27073134146744911992011-09-07T21:14:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:14:36.067-07:00

Maybe you remember your recent first days. First day at a new job, first day in a new home, first day in school... I just hope that you looked this good on your first day. No? Well, that's because you weren't wearing socks with turtles on them AND shoes with lemurs on them. Maybe next time.  Today was Skipper's first day of preschool. Dutch had to get in on the posing, too. Skipper did okay

S.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-23596574437364285022011-09-06T12:07:00.000-07:002011-09-06T12:07:16.974-07:00

This morning, Skipper and I left Dutch cheerfully digging in to her first day of first grade. Her old teacher must have talked to her new teacher, because she is sitting next to one mild trouble-maker and across from one notorious trouble-maker. My daughter, the human buffer and rule-enforcer.

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-22283491930378658622011-09-04T11:05:00.000-07:002011-09-04T11:05:02.998-07:00

We made popsicles yesterday. We're having very summery weather this week, after a week of autumnal weather, and the kids are draining the last drops of summer joy. At this point, Cook opened the back door and asked me if we should just give sticky Skipper her shower (we do this more or less weekly, because she hates it so much and it's miserable for everybody) instead of wiping her

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-662271379910441692011-09-04T10:56:00.001-07:002011-09-04T10:56:47.876-07:00

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-23235675347973590742011-09-03T20:26:00.000-07:002011-09-03T20:58:31.305-07:00

I haven't been posting because... there's really not much to say. Here's what we've got for news:1) We had a party! It was our first party in five years. It was nice! Parties are nice! However, they are very tiring, and we'll have to rest up for at least a few more years before doing that again.2) Dutch starts school again on Tuesday. She's excited/scared. However, she has new (to her) shoes, and

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-45955328130942371982011-09-02T14:10:00.000-07:002011-09-02T14:13:37.117-07:00

http://xkcd.com/946/

S.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-37583155705958498102011-08-27T12:29:00.000-07:002011-08-27T12:39:44.836-07:00

Dutch got a tooth pulled yesterday, the prologue to an orthodontic adventure coming up in September. I offered her a bribe if she could make it through without freaking out, and she earned it. (She really did, too. I was impressed.) She decided in advance that she wanted her bribe to be a Harry Potter spin-off book that she had seen at a bookstore earlier this summer. When we got to the bookstore

S.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655977418880673092.post-40349461647482694652011-08-27T12:24:00.000-07:002011-08-27T12:28:40.140-07:00

This is Dutch and Skipper at the zoo. This is Skipper contemplating animals at the zoo. This is what Dutch looked like after her last day at day camp. This is what Dutch looks like to me most of the time.

S.noreply@blogger.com0