Sundry’s New Year’s Quiz

It’s not too late for this – right?

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? A TON of stuff – much of it centered around raising my first baby (now 13 months), but more interestingly – I never read (or wrote) a blog until 2008.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Made none, so none to keep or break, and that will stay the same for 2009.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yep, Karin D. most recently.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully not.

5. What countries did you visit? The baby pretty much brought any international travels to a halt for the time being.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? LOTS OF MONEY

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  2/11 – First day of daycare and the start of Kellen consistantly sleeping through the night!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Managing motherhood and work while maintaining my sanity and my marriage.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not having lost all the “baby weight”.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A 2GB XD card for my camera – sounds basic, but it is SO much better to be able to take as many pics as I want without deleting.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Definitely the boy, he is the best baby anybody ever had.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Let’s just say practically every politician, “journalist”, and 53% of voters, and Casey Anthony.

14. Where did most of your money go? Technically, percentage-wise? to TAXES . The rest  – just living expenses, nothing extra to spend or save this year.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Planning a big vacation with friends for May 2009.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? thinner

c) richer or poorer? poorer…..but all three by very slim margins.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?  Exercise

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Fight with my husband.

20. How did you spend Christmas? With our families.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Over and over again (duh, the baby)

22. What was your favorite TV program? A tie between Dexter and TrueBlood, oh – and So You Think You Can Dance?

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.

24. What was the best book you read?  Twilight series, but that’s ALL I read.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Very sad department really, most of the new music that I heard and liked was from So You Think You Can Dance.

26. What did you want and get? A new job.

27. What did you want and not get? A new kitchen, fence around the pool, diamond earrings, Miele Vacuum, O the list is long.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Twilight, but I just saw it and it’s fresh in my mind.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 34, and my parents took us all out to dinner at Burton’s, and we took a day trip (sans baby!) to the Vineyard a few days later.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? MORE MONEY

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Also a sad topic. Generally it was transistioning from maternity clothes, into my old “fat” clothes, and far too slowly into my “newer” smaller stuff, making for complicated, disorganized closet with far too many clothes and still very little to wear!

32. What kept you sane? My mother.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Will you throw shoes at me if I admit – Sarah Palin?

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The election.

35. Who did you miss? The Brady’s and The Hobb’s.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Kate Riley at my new job.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Being judgemental is SUCKY.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Irresponsible, expectable

Stable on what’s going on

Self to carry

Help the helpless

But always remain

Mostly a little selfish

Get the balance right, get the balance right

Changes you can be leavin’

The 2 scariest things I’ve heard in a long time I learned about on Obama’s new website -www.change.gov. The first is his plan to create a “civilian national security force”, that will be as large and well-funded as our current military. SAY WHAT? Why would he want to create an enormous and well-funded separate army of his own? Doesn’t that ALARM you? It should. It’s the textbook beginning of every dictatorial regime in history.

FYI – Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist ideology that advocates itself as being a third position alternative to both capitalism and communism.^[1][2] It seeks to form a mass movement of militantswho are willing to engage in violence against their political opponents and groups or individuals that the movement deems to be enemies. (From Wikipedia).

The second chilling proposition will entail REQUIRING community service of all our children. I am horrified at the thought of the government having access to influence my child’s beliefs, actions, or whereabouts. But I also have a tendency to get all dramatic when my baby is involved. I was so upset when I heard this, I immediately called my husband, who is much more even-keeled and much less of an alarmist, to check my bearings on this. Was I over-reacting? I can’t say it was very reassuring when he told me to start thinking about where (as in which other country) I would like to move to and to sign us both up for gun licenses and training ASAP.  Apparently, the government isn’t taking our kid into service without a fight. This is some scary shit.

So – Would you allow the government to force your child into service for it’s causes? What if they were programs and causes that were out of line with your own family values and beliefs? What if it required taking them to places you don’t want them to go, and meeting people you don’t want them to meet? What will be the punishment for non-compliance with this mandate?  How much of a fine would you pay? Would you face imprisonment? 

Also   – any suggestions for places to live as patriots in exile? I’m thinking someplace warmer, maybe Jamaica or the Virgin Islands.

Post-Election Post

So –  it’s not going to surprise anyone who knows me that I’m NOT PLEASED about the outcome of the election. I’m mad at McCain for his crappy campaign, mad at 52% of voters who picked the wrong guy, mad at the media for their failure to remain impartial (hello Chris Matthews!), and actually pretty mad at myself for not getting more involved sooner. 

As I commented earlier in the week at Sundry’s blog, there is not a lot of incentive to vote here in my little blue state, and the lopsidedness leaves me feeling rather disenfranchised. I know my vote doesn’t make a difference here. So in addition to voting, isn’t there something else I could have done? Yes, of course there was, I could have voiced my opinion sooner and more often to more people.

I’ve had a passion for politics since I was about 10. My family always discussed it around the dinner table, and I was never shy about voicing my opinions around them, or sparking conversations about it with my classmates. Needless to say, at that age there really weren’t too many other children who cared about it, but some of the few that did became lifelong friends. I majored in political science at a very liberal university and enjoyed the heated debates that ensued in my classes there. After graduation however, it became apparent that speaking your mind about certain issues wouldn’t get you very far in the business world, and I kind of tucked my beliefs under the rug. I felt it was important to maintain a professional persona for many reasons, and until recently I thought it in my best interest to “keep quiet” about things. What has happened during this election season has changed my mind about keeping quiet, and I am now resolved to get a lot more involved with how politics are shaping my life. I cannot sit back and trust that others will push government to develop in a manner that is in my best interests, and if I’m not brave enough to enter the arena, well, how can I be surprised when things don’t go my way?

Ridiculously Elated Over a Carseat

While driving home from food shopping last night I slowed as I saw two Chinese woman going through the trash a couple of streets from my house. They had picked up a carseat, which looked a lot like mine. I know it well because, 1) I “fully vetted” all the carseats on the market before opting for the pricey Britax Marathon, and 2) I am the only one in my house who knows how to install it, and since we only have the one, I switch it between our vehicles on almost a daily basis. Not only that, but I spent a lot of time deciding which fabric to order mine in, so I recognized the pattern. My husband and I have been debating for quite awhile as to whether to spend the money for another.

I kept driving while I watched in my rearview mirror as they turned it over to examine it, hoping they would leave it, and fearing if I showed my keen interest they would realize their find and snatch it up for sure. They put it down and moved onto a box full of clothes & toys, and I banged a U-ey in the middle of the street. As the pair of them hauled the large box across the street to their car, I pulled my van in between them and the coveted seat, jumped out, threw it in the back and sped off – I’m not sure I ever even put the car in park.

On the way home I cautioned myself about getting too excited. There was no way it could have all it’s parts, it had to be damaged, there had to be something wrong with it. I completely disassembled it at home, cover, straps, foam cushion, even the styro-cushions under that. It was crumby, but perfect. It was even the Platinum fabric that we thought would be the best for my husbands car. I scrubbed every last piece and they sit drying in the sun on my deck at this very moment. I still can’t imagine why anyone would have thrown it out, but I just found $279 on the curb!

Clearly this is the best thing I’ve ever pulled out of the trash. So my question to you guys – do you ever “trash-pick”? “Dumpster Dive”? What about garage sales? Any fantastic finds or funny stories?

Girl Fights

So I’ve kind of been getting into it lately with this crunchy Mom from Nova Scotia. It all started when she commented over on Sundry about how letting your children cry is child ABUSE. You can’t read her first comment as it was removed, but she followed it up with her own post on the whole CIO issue, and, well I couldn’t help putting my 2 cents in. We obviously have fundamental differences on just about every theory and manner of child-rearing, but it’s somehow fun to shake the dust off my beliefs and just put them out there and see what other people think. It seems to be the whole point of blogging no?

What I am newly appreciative of is that I DON’T have these disagreements with my friends in real life. It’s amazing how deep the “need to feel I am a good parent” goes, and how crazy-making it is when your abilities are called into question. I am grateful that the many, many Moms I am close to off-line are all of the live-and-let-live variety and do not pass judgement on me. I fervently hope that I am not too judgey of them in return (although I slightly suspect that I have been at times). “Oh, YOU don’t make all your own organic babyfood?” Barf. Why is it so easy to be so self-righteous?

So here is my new resolution, no more smug-judging for me, and I encourage my friends to call me out on if I do. It’s just unbecoming, unwelcome, and unnecessary – not to mention counterproductive.

Vacation Week Recap

OK, so I have to admit that this is practically the unblog. While I think I have a lot to say, I just don’t really seem to have enough time to write it. Days go by and I don’t even turn my computer on – truely pathetic. So instead of broadcasting the whole game, I’m going straight to the highlights.

Chris had this past week off and I kind of took it off as well, which is really to say, I’m not working anymore. I have some kitchen projects in the works for family & friends, but beyond that I am not keeping office hours, and I’m not advertising for new customers. It will only be a matter of time before I get a “real” job (where someone else is in charge of paying me) or have to give up daycare, and neither appeals to me much.
Monday we left Kellen with my Mom and spent the day on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s amazing that the ferry is a 45 minute ride from my house, and for $15 round trip we can spend the day there. You get your money’s worth on the boat ride alone. I started, and finished, the first book in the Twilight series on the beach & boat ride home. Heaven.
Tuesday we went to my parent’s house, strolled around the beach, and had steamers and lobster for dinner.
Wednesday & Thursday I worked and Chris golfed. Thursday night I bought the second book in the Twilight series and finished it before the baby’s morning nap on Friday.
Friday I spent cleaning and shopping, as I hosted a dinner party for my Aunt Ann & Uncle Owen from Alaska that evening. They had yet to meet Kellen, and I made delicious zucchini boats stuffed with cheeses and fresh corn and pepperdews. Chris grilled us up some incredible swordfish. A good time was had by all. I was slightly peeved that my enchanting outdoor tablescape was wasted as all the old folks wanted to eat indoors, but it probably would have been too buggy to be comfortable anyway.
Saturday we went to Chris’ folks in Beverly and visited with his cousin’s family from Pennsylvania. I baked some killer brownies with white chocolate chips.
Sunday we went to my dear friends – Karin & Matt’s cookout/pool party. We just finished an extensive remodel of their kitchen and had fun showing the results off to the crowd. Kellen “jumped” in his first bouncy house. I brought another double batch of the same brownies from yesterday, as they were a big hit.
Today we went to Marina Bay in Quincy and spent the afternoon with the Alaska relatives, and Grandmother, on my other Uncles’ boat. Well, at 45+ feet, it’s a bit more than “a boat”. It’s really my Uncle’s baby, and he had invited us a million times, and I felt like such a shit that the first time we got over there (20 min. from my house) was the Last Day of Summer. Kellen would have had a MUCH better time if I hadn’t put so much sunblock on him that he got it in his eyes. He kept rubbing them with the backs of his (also well-lotioned) hands and making it worse. The reddness and puffiness (not to mention periodic crying) kept our visit shorter than we would have liked.

In all, it was a great, albeit way too short, summer. I know it’s a cliche to say that the time keeps speeding up/flying by whatever. But what I really want to know is what is there to DO about it? Since we (the collective we – everyone I know) realize that this phenomenon occurs, what can we do to prevent it? At this rate the end of NEXT summer will be in 2 weeks.

Wild Kingdom

I am well accustomed to handling all manner of pests and beasties. Spiders? No problem – I just grab a paper towel, squeeze, and flush. Anything smaller, I go barehanded. Last summer – I fished DOZENS of dead mice/moles/frogs from the skimmer baskets of the pool, and had to use a large net and garbage bag to remove an ENORMOUS (also dead) opossum. I removed 1 half-drowned chickadee by hand (and nursed it to health). In my old house I chased a bat around my living room/dining room/kitchen for an hour, trying to shoo it out, before accidentally hitting it with the broom. I ended up having to mercy kill it, and it still bothers me. This year however, the beasties are upping the ante considerably.

During the coldest snap last winter, in the middle of the night (I was up with my newborn for a 2AM feeding) I saw a large mouse in my kitchen. Although it pains me to kill (seriously I wept about the bat) I set the traps and removed a pair of carcasses the next day. I mean geesh, all I could think about was them crawling all over my baby while he slept – it had to be done. This Spring I started hearing scurrying in my attic. More mice? Not so fast. I carefully pulled down the trap door in the ceiling and crept up the ladder with my flashlight. Fan-fucking-tastic, a family of squirrels. Long story short, the exterminator was $450 and said they MUST kill their catches, the live-trap was $20, plus the cost of the peanut butter and apple to bait it. I caught them one at a time, drove them to the wild-animal shelter in the next town. I also laid stomach down under the eaves with my face hovering over the nasty nest they made in the insulation and nailed into place the special metal plate I fashioned to block the huge hole they chewed in my roof. Go me.

So this morning, when I stepped out the front door, baby in arms, to take him to daycare, I can’t say I was overly surprised by what I saw. At first I just heard startled rustling from under my front porch. I swung around to catch a glimpse of…a stray dog? Hmmm. I stashed the baby in the car (and YES left him there alone for a minute) while I went back for a closer look at, a HUGE coyote. Great. A call to the police department basically told me there’s nothing they can do, I left a voicemail for the “animal control” officer, but his message was very clear that he would only remove animals that were “double bagged and left on the curb”. So….does anyone know what I should bait a coyote trap with? Chrissakes, I live in suburbia, WTF?

Re-Launch Special

I was told by many, but did I listen? Blogger bites. They think I’m spam, and I’ve been blog-blocked for over 3 weeks. I have lost all hope that I will ever be able to access my posts there again. Admittedly, there weren’t many. I was just getting started, finding my footing if you will, and they hobbled me. wah.

Onwards and upwards, and welcome to my new blog, with it’s spiffy new look and location. Thank you for finding me here.