Who knew I was going to become a fan of girls' lacrosse? It happened.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Hershey Park, Power Problems, Psych and Country Music
I think that title just about covers it.
Look! Everyone in the family is now a "Jolly Rancher". That means we can ride all of the rides. Not that we all want to, but more on that in a minute. I tried to make Ryan pose. Just like last year, he refused. I guess he isn't all that amused I get so amused by making him stand by the height markers. ;-) I'm pretty convinced Jac is going to be taller than any of us (That would not be a huge feat and that does not exactly mean he will end up tall. It's weird I even think about it, I suppose. Height is a non-issue for me. Fortunately.)
If I could have any picture that I didn't take from when they were small, among the choices would be of the one of her standing by this sign the first time we went to Hershey. She was 4. And short enough to be in the smallest category of riders. She's always been adventurous and was disappointed to find out she couldn't ride everything. For the whole next year, whenever we wanted her to eat something, we would say "If you want to be a whatever the next size up thing is, you have to eat this." And she would. That went on for a few years until she got big enough to ride everything she wanted to ride. It's funny now. And sort of interesting to think about. I've never made my kids eat anything and have generally been relaxed about what they eat and when they eat it. (Mostly, because I don't like people telling me what to eat and when to eat it?) I guess using amusement park rides to bribe her to eat is/was a little out of character with the rest of my philosophy. It must have been more about efficiency. "Eat and be done with it so I can get on with things." Yeah...pretty sure that's what it must have been about. :-)
Back to the rides. Jac and I don't like them. Ryan and Alicia can't get enough of them. For the first time ever, we split up at the gate and didn't meet back up until the park closed. Turns out, it was the perfect solution. Jac and I looked at the animals and watched a sea lion show and rode little kiddie stuff and had the best of time.
At some point, he wanted to ride some little, water thing that sort of resembled a low-level, roller coaster. Just as we were boarding, though, there was a power failure and the thing got shut down. I talked him into some other one. The power went out while we were on the tracks. That was fun. For like 20 minutes. Let me remind you neither of us was too keen on being on that thing in the first place.
So...we spent that whole time taking weird pictures. This one cracks me up. He looks like a caricature of Ryan, lol.
We found out at the end of the day Ryan and Alicia were stuck at the top of a loop on one of those things that's scary enough from the ground. For a long time. Maybe today was the day for working out electrical problems?
And now...on to the last part. Psych. and country music.
If I wasn't deeply involved in a psyche class that's messing with me a little bit, it would just be about the music. But, I am. And it is messing with me. Because those things always do. Not in a bad way, just in a "I'm thinking too much about it" kind of way. If you know me, you know I don't need to think more than I already do.
The bottom line with this class is that it has reaffirmed everything I love about myself are things I got while I was still a child. There isn't anything about who I am that didn't originate there and there isn't anything about who I am that would have come some other way. It is strange I have come to a point of knowing this. It is strange if I had to do it all over again and got to choose the environment in which it occurred, I wouldn't change a thing. It is even stranger that while I know that, I do not choose to raise my kids that way. For a variety of reasons.
Probably on the verge of offending some folks...so will move on.
We were listening to country music on the ride home.
For someone who doesn't listen to that kind of music, I know an awful lot of songs. It is also worth noting my life is evidently audibly organized with country music markers. Who knew?
Alicia does listen to it. She's old enough to have reasonable conversations about life. Trying to combine my markers with her experiences and level of being able to relate her life to mine....ha.
For example, this song came on:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a-pswfTBt78" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
What does it mark? A period of Saturday nights (possibly over a period of years) in a bar called "Elaine's" where there were dead deer on the walls, a shuffleboard table and a jukebox that gave you five songs for a quarter. I doubt I ever had more than a quarter, but I'd pick the same song all five times. This one. Unless "Elvira" was a choice. Then, I'd alternate. Pretty sure that got on everyone's nerves. Even if they were too drunk to care if the kids were being so rough with the shuffleboard the cornmeal was going everywhere.
I suppose it is worth mentioning there is only one person in my current world who can relate to this story? It's interesting to laugh with someone about something that really isn't that funny. Still...it's who we are.
My child? She didn't laugh. She didn't "get it". Why would I be in a bar when I was 8 years old? (As if I was really only there once and didn't spend a good portion of my life there from birth to thirteen.) She has never seen a juke box and she has no idea what shuffleboard is. Some things can only be explained so far.
Fast forward a whole lot of years to Tim McGraw. She, at least, knows who he is. Was asking her if she knew which song made him big. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact he was just singing in clubs in OKC when we lived there and then that song happened. And then the incredulous "So, he was just a normal person?" "Yeah. Isn't he still?" It makes me wonder if I ever thought famous people were somehow different than "normal" people.
And then Travis Tritt came on which reminded me of some outdoor concert we went to when she was a baby and he was there....
Hmm...this is making me sound like I listen to country music. I don't. I listen to Jesus music that is too radical to be played on mainstream radio or I listen to music on the other end of the spectrum respectable, forty-year-old, white women are probably not supposed to listen to.
Can I help it if I like it?
All of this brings me back to that psyche class. I am loving that class. .
Look! Everyone in the family is now a "Jolly Rancher". That means we can ride all of the rides. Not that we all want to, but more on that in a minute. I tried to make Ryan pose. Just like last year, he refused. I guess he isn't all that amused I get so amused by making him stand by the height markers. ;-) I'm pretty convinced Jac is going to be taller than any of us (That would not be a huge feat and that does not exactly mean he will end up tall. It's weird I even think about it, I suppose. Height is a non-issue for me. Fortunately.)
If I could have any picture that I didn't take from when they were small, among the choices would be of the one of her standing by this sign the first time we went to Hershey. She was 4. And short enough to be in the smallest category of riders. She's always been adventurous and was disappointed to find out she couldn't ride everything. For the whole next year, whenever we wanted her to eat something, we would say "If you want to be a whatever the next size up thing is, you have to eat this." And she would. That went on for a few years until she got big enough to ride everything she wanted to ride. It's funny now. And sort of interesting to think about. I've never made my kids eat anything and have generally been relaxed about what they eat and when they eat it. (Mostly, because I don't like people telling me what to eat and when to eat it?) I guess using amusement park rides to bribe her to eat is/was a little out of character with the rest of my philosophy. It must have been more about efficiency. "Eat and be done with it so I can get on with things." Yeah...pretty sure that's what it must have been about. :-)
Back to the rides. Jac and I don't like them. Ryan and Alicia can't get enough of them. For the first time ever, we split up at the gate and didn't meet back up until the park closed. Turns out, it was the perfect solution. Jac and I looked at the animals and watched a sea lion show and rode little kiddie stuff and had the best of time.
At some point, he wanted to ride some little, water thing that sort of resembled a low-level, roller coaster. Just as we were boarding, though, there was a power failure and the thing got shut down. I talked him into some other one. The power went out while we were on the tracks. That was fun. For like 20 minutes. Let me remind you neither of us was too keen on being on that thing in the first place.
So...we spent that whole time taking weird pictures. This one cracks me up. He looks like a caricature of Ryan, lol.
We found out at the end of the day Ryan and Alicia were stuck at the top of a loop on one of those things that's scary enough from the ground. For a long time. Maybe today was the day for working out electrical problems?
And now...on to the last part. Psych. and country music.
If I wasn't deeply involved in a psyche class that's messing with me a little bit, it would just be about the music. But, I am. And it is messing with me. Because those things always do. Not in a bad way, just in a "I'm thinking too much about it" kind of way. If you know me, you know I don't need to think more than I already do.
The bottom line with this class is that it has reaffirmed everything I love about myself are things I got while I was still a child. There isn't anything about who I am that didn't originate there and there isn't anything about who I am that would have come some other way. It is strange I have come to a point of knowing this. It is strange if I had to do it all over again and got to choose the environment in which it occurred, I wouldn't change a thing. It is even stranger that while I know that, I do not choose to raise my kids that way. For a variety of reasons.
Probably on the verge of offending some folks...so will move on.
We were listening to country music on the ride home.
For someone who doesn't listen to that kind of music, I know an awful lot of songs. It is also worth noting my life is evidently audibly organized with country music markers. Who knew?
Alicia does listen to it. She's old enough to have reasonable conversations about life. Trying to combine my markers with her experiences and level of being able to relate her life to mine....ha.
For example, this song came on:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a-pswfTBt78" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
What does it mark? A period of Saturday nights (possibly over a period of years) in a bar called "Elaine's" where there were dead deer on the walls, a shuffleboard table and a jukebox that gave you five songs for a quarter. I doubt I ever had more than a quarter, but I'd pick the same song all five times. This one. Unless "Elvira" was a choice. Then, I'd alternate. Pretty sure that got on everyone's nerves. Even if they were too drunk to care if the kids were being so rough with the shuffleboard the cornmeal was going everywhere.
I suppose it is worth mentioning there is only one person in my current world who can relate to this story? It's interesting to laugh with someone about something that really isn't that funny. Still...it's who we are.
My child? She didn't laugh. She didn't "get it". Why would I be in a bar when I was 8 years old? (As if I was really only there once and didn't spend a good portion of my life there from birth to thirteen.) She has never seen a juke box and she has no idea what shuffleboard is. Some things can only be explained so far.
Fast forward a whole lot of years to Tim McGraw. She, at least, knows who he is. Was asking her if she knew which song made him big. She couldn't wrap her mind around the fact he was just singing in clubs in OKC when we lived there and then that song happened. And then the incredulous "So, he was just a normal person?" "Yeah. Isn't he still?" It makes me wonder if I ever thought famous people were somehow different than "normal" people.
And then Travis Tritt came on which reminded me of some outdoor concert we went to when she was a baby and he was there....
Hmm...this is making me sound like I listen to country music. I don't. I listen to Jesus music that is too radical to be played on mainstream radio or I listen to music on the other end of the spectrum respectable, forty-year-old, white women are probably not supposed to listen to.
Can I help it if I like it?
All of this brings me back to that psyche class. I am loving that class. .
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tank Wigglesworth
After living here for nearly a month, this thing finally has a name: Tank Wigglesworth. I thought, two days ago, he would be called "Mo" (short for Mozart), because Jac told me "Mozart" sounds like a lizard name. Until today's sudden appearance of "Tank", the choices were "Mozart", "Bubba" and "Bosco". My submissions of "Elvis" and "Solomon" were shot down immediately.
The business of naming things is important, you know. This thing is going to live here for roughly 10 years.
Which brings us to the obvious...Jac is not scheduled to live here for 10 more years. So...umm...don't kids have a history of not taking their pets with them when they leave?
Hmm...
You all know I am irrationally afraid of snakes. I can't even look at them through the glass at the pet store. Blech.
I am sort of o.k. with this thing. I don't have nightmares about him or anything. (Let us not have a discussion of whether or not it's actually a him. It was assumed he is for the simplicity of naming him.) Still, it's not like I want to cuddle up with him or something.
Even if my friend, Tammi, told me one of the highpoints of owning a bearded dragon is that they like to cuddle up on your shoulder when you watch tv. Umm...o.k.? Going to just have to take her word on that.
So, I sucked it up and made myself pick him up.
Because, let's be real. You know who will be taking care of him.
He feels "squishy with a crust". I wouldn't really describe that as something I enjoy, but...it is what it is?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Here's a weird thing: I'm not all stressed out this year. I mean, I should be completely stressed out, but I'm not. I have more going on right in this season than I've ever in my life had going on and so many revolving due dates (for a variety of things) it seems impossible I would not be tense. And worried I won't get it all done. And crunched for time. I'm not any of that. Instead, I'm calm. I seem to have enough time for everything I want to do. I'm all over the place with my kids' activities and my activities and hanging with friends. How can this be? I'm kind of marveling over it.
Highlight of my day = Coffee and a 15 minute quiet time challenge with my JRNE girls. :-)
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Yard Work
Everything is green! I love spring. Just love it. Even if it does take hours and hours to get my yard back together (i.e...The yard refuse collection people are probably going to put a curse on me when they come by on Tuesday.). When we bought this house, it was for the yard. The yard looks nothing like it used to look (Because she had a gardener and we don't?), but it's mine. There weren't any gardens when we moved in. Now, they are all over the place. Love it. Love it. Love it. But yeah....they take hours of my time.
See that playground? I built in when Alicia was a baby. One of my summer projects is going to be taking it down. It's old. I didn't maintain it all that well. While it's still mostly safe, the kids are too old for it. For the most part. I might leave a piece of it for another year or so. Jac and his friends still hang out there from time to time. It's kind of sad to think of it gone. Pretty sure it's the first thing I ever built.
That red maple in the foreground came from a seed I picked off a tree across the street. It's finally coming into its own. :-)
Clearly, lacrosse and archery have taken over the back. For a season.
In the front, if you look closely, there is a very tacky gnome. I'm not really into yard art, but Jac gave me that thing for Valentine's Day and planted it front row/center as soon as spring hit. As soon as I find a "special spot" for him in the backyard, negotiation will begin. :-)
Totally unrelated, but I took a picture of my couponing haul today. I don't have the patience to get good at it like those extreme couponing people. Nor do I have the time. They treat it like a job. I already have a job. Still...$120 worth of stuff for free. I actually made money if you consider the fact they gave me almost $30 in bonus bucks for my next trip. At any rate....proud moment, lol.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Itch
I'm pretty sure I would frustrate/annoy myself if I wasn't me. Does that make sense? There really isn't anyone like me (that I'm aware of...How could there be?), but if there was and I had to deal with them on a regular basis...yeah...it would get to me. This guy at work always says "You know you are hyper, right?" I see what he's saying, but "hyper" isn't the right word. "Hyper" insinuates (to me) behaviorally out of control in a loud and boisterous way. I'm not like that most of the time. A better word would probably be "distractable." I have no problems with that word. It's true. I admit it.
For example, I need to write two papers, a lesson plan and then a bibliography and outline (using research I have yet to do) for a final paper this weekend. I also need to wash my sticky, kitchen floor (among other things). Jac has a lacrosse game, we have a family portrait sitting today, I told my friend I'd go to her jewelry party this afternoon, church and youth group tomorrow, I'm planting my garden this weekend....it's already a fully-scheduled two days.
I made my plan of attack and was good with it for a whole ten minutes (Nine of which were spent sorting out all the laundry I need to wash and the final minute was spent with my stray eye spotting a piece of fabric I bought a year or two ago.) before it changed.
Sewing, for me, is like that itch that occurs when you can't scratch it. You know...like when you are kneading bread and your face gets an itch? Sigh...I've learned it's better to just stop and scratch.
And, now, I'm all better. :-)
Colette's Sorbetto. The best free pattern out there. I can make it in an hour, it's the perfect top for hot days and is as easy to wear as a t-shirt (except it looks way less sloppy). It goes with jeans and looks nice with a skirt (I'm going to pair it with a black, scalloped hem skirt I've yet to make.). I need more of them.
Now...on with the paper writing. :-)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Peach Blossoms
From my peach tree...the one that doesn't actually make peaches beyond tiny, green balls that fall off long before they are ripe. The first year I planted the tree? Tons of peaches. After that? This is the highlight.
I'm interested in the picture. Not sure why the background shows up dark (since it was daylight), but it's kind of cool, don't ya think?
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