This is Important?

3 Comments / Daily Dose, Day to Day, Pet Peeves /

TW: I have to tell you something about Rick Springfield.

Me: I do not want to hear anything about Rick Springfield.

TW: But, it’s important!

Me: I do not want to hear anything about Rick Springfield — go tell the internet.

TW: ….

Me: Fine. Tell me something about Rick Springfield.

TW: You know Rick Springfield?

Me: Yea, I know Rick Springfield. I also know that YOU did not listen to me when I told you to TURN IT OFF this morning.

TW: I heard you!

Me: Yea, but you didn’t turn it OFF.

TW: I don’t really know how to turn the TV off.

Me: CLICK THE POWER BUTTON, ANY POWER BUTTON!

TW: So, you know Rick Springfield? And that guy married to Angelina Jolie?

Me: Brad Pitt.

TW: Yea, him. And that other guy — the one all of the kids like and I sort of hate?

Me: umm, no?

TW: The Pirates of the Caribbean guy?

Me: Johnny Depp

TW: Yea, him. Well they all three must use the same stylist.

Me: ….

That’s what TW calls important. You’re jealous you don’t live with her, right?

This is Important? Read More »

Rebel Heart

2013, Books in Bed, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Young Adult /

We listened to the first book on audio and the spelling/grammar was a little troubling but we got used to it. Reading the print version of Rebel Heart, well, it was jarring every time I picked the book up. I understand its purpose but still jarring. I think we’re going to have to listen to the third book on audio, it seems easier (though it sure took longer to listen to than this one took to read.)

I also can’t decide whether I liked this one better or worse than the first one. I think maybe… both?

Too much Saba. Not enough character development of the other characters. And Lugh? Well I didn’t like him in the first book – I pretty much hated him in this one.

I’m gonna be all sad about the next book, I know that much right now. Poor Tommo.

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Rebel Heart Read More »

“You Missed a Day”

Daily Dose, Day to Day /

A couple of nights ago, TW was stalking reading my blog and said, “You missed a day!” I growled and told her that I had not missed a day — Bluehost was down so I blogged to Posterous, which would normally have auto-crossposted here — but Bluehost was down, so it didn’t.

I did blog that day.

The night that she was stalking my blog, I didn’t blog here at all. Or on Posterous either. But, I didn’t miss a day. I blogged on BlogHer.com.

I sat at my desk that day, for a good long while, trying to decide whether it was important that I blog HERE everyday or whether it was just important that I write something — somewhere.

I decided it was the latter and I just shut down my computer and let it go.

A couple of days later, I’m still ok with that decision.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be days when I blog in more than one place. It really just means that I want to blog more often — somewhere, anywhere, not just HERE in THIS space. I should really work harder on spreading the writing around. Crazy in Chicago? Johnny Mac Pippin? Prairie Dog Digest? All of those could use some attention. Or, I need to retire them.

All of this might be my way of saying that I really need to get back to work on that blogging calendar I was working on in January and let go because I didn’t think I needed it. Or because I convinced myself I didn’t need it. Someone remind me to stop taking shortcuts and just DO IT.

“You Missed a Day” Read More »

Making an Exit

2013, Books in Bed, Non-Fiction /

I had second thoughts about starting Making an Exit right before Jenn and JMP arrived – it seemed like maybe not the right book to be reading since Jenn and Teddy had just escorted a friend’s body back to the mainland and attended the funeral. Then again, it seemed like the perfect book to be reading because I had been thinking so much about death and funerals and such.

Turns out, it didn’t matter much since I read less than 25 pages while they were here. Hah.

The book was interesting, lots of different traditions and practices were covered – I really want a cool coffin from Ghana. I mean really….  But there were some things about the book that bugged me, like the author’s constant restating that her atheist father had a change of heart about his “organic matter” (though she doesn’t really know that for sure, she’s making the assumption since he did leave a request to have his ashes spread in the cemetery where his friends were buried.)  By the middle of the book, I was saying “Yea yea, change of heart, we know. Sheesh.”)

Posted via email from Life. Flow. Fluctuate.

Making an Exit Read More »

*Sniff*

2 Comments / Family Funk, Kid Talk /

So – you know what it’s like… you’ve had some kids and you know you’re not going to have any more. This is the last one.

And the last one outgrows that cute little outfit that someone gave you and you have to decide whether to give it away or save it or take it to a consignment store. *sniff*

And then he outgrows the tiny onesies.

And then she outgrows the swing. And the bouncer. And the crib. And the cute little baby rattles.

*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*
~~

When we came home from taking Jenn and JMP to the airport, someone had (nicely?) cleaned up all of the baby toys. I know whoever did it (my guess would be Rebecca) thought she was doing something nice (and she was) but it made me sad to see everything stacked up in a corner — obviously no longer waiting for JMP to play with them.

*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*

I’m going to have to clean them up — put them away, for reals. And, put away the pack-n-play. And, send the clothes his mom left behind. And, the baby food sitting on the counter.

*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*

Yes, he’s going to come and visit again. Many, many more times. But… it’s still sad.

Melancholy-making.

*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*

*Sniff* Read More »

Oh, Happy Day

Daily Dose, Day to Day /

I changed TWO dirty diapers today!

We read two books on my iPhone and they made us laugh.

We visited honorary Grandma Joy and that was lots of fun — we love coming home smelling of Joy. It makes us happy. Very happy.

We watched Barney. We love that big purple dinosaur.

Someone ate organic bananas and liked them — someone also let the puppy lick them off his fingers, which made the puppy happy.

Michelle will be here in about an hour.

Today was a good day. Tomorrow will be a good day, too.

Oh, Happy Day Read More »

A Hug From Mike Ditka

3 Comments / Family Funk, Kid Talk /

During the drive to take the girls back to their dad’s house, the conversation made its way to friends who aren’t touchy-feely and don’t like hugs. Elly said, “People who don’t like hugs just haven’t found the right hug, yet.”

Which caused RJ to say “Yea, like those lesbians who just haven’t found the right man, yet.”

Which caused me to roll my eyes, again.

Which led TW to say, “Elizabeth, you know I’m one of those people who doesn’t like hugs, right?”

Which caused Elly to say, “Yea, you just need to go around hugging random people on the street until you find the right hug.”

Which caused me to roll my eyes again.

Eventually, the conversation turned to Mike Ditka. We had to explain to the girls who Mike Ditka is and then we told them about seeing Mike Ditka in O’Hare on Sunday night. After much laughter and joke making, Elly piped up with… “Mike Ditka! You should have hugged Mike Ditka! I bet that was your hug, mommy, and you missed your chance!”

Poor TW, she’ll never love hugs because she missed her chance to hug Coach Ditka. *sniff* *sniff* Maybe we’ll run into him again someday and she can give it a try. A hug from Ditka could change everything!

A Hug From Mike Ditka Read More »

I’m Glad I’m a Grandmother…

5 Comments / Family Funk, Kid Talk /

It’s really nice to be able to hand JMP back to his mom when he’s tired or hungry. Really, really nice — because then I can take a nap. Or sit down and write a blog post about how nice it is to hand him back to his mom.

It’s also nice to be able to watch his bath time rather than to be the one on her knees on the bathroom floor, bent over the tub, giving the bath. My back and knees hurt just watching Jenn do it.

Also, JMP is HEAVY. I’d be in shape again if I had to tote is 20lb chunky, cute self around all of the time. As it is, my right shoulder is kind of groaning. When I said yesterday that I couldn’t believe how heavy he was, TW rolled her eyes and said he wasn’t… she’s changed her mind because her shoulder is feeling a twinge, too.

It’s awesome to be able to just play with him or watch others play with him and take photos and leave all of the real work to his mom. This grandmother gig is freaking awesome.

I love it. And I love JMP, tons.

I’m Glad I’m a Grandmother… Read More »