Sometimes, even at the age of 25, you want your Mom to come take care of you and make you feel better when you're sicker than sick.
Nobody can make ice water in a thermos, with a straw, taste so refreshing.
Nobody can rub your back and take away the aches like she can.
Nobody can tolerate Chicken Run on repeat, over, and over, and over, like she can.
Yes, even at 25, there is no replacing my Mom. Now if only we didn't live so far apart....
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
We Will Always Have the Memories
Two weeks of bad news.
It started with the news that a competitor from the Lumberjack community passed away suddenly. He left behind a wife and two young children. While I didn't know David well, my husband and his family did - and seeing your loved ones deal with emotional pain is misery.
David's death was followed by my Great Grandmother's passing on Thanksgiving day. She was 93. She lived a full life, her mind was still very sharp, and she stayed pretty active for someone aged 93. She hadn't been sick, or in pain. Her body just said, "time is up." I don't believe she suffered in her passing and she was surrounded by loved ones when she went.
Her funeral was today. I wasn't able to attend because of the distance, but I hope my family knows they were in my thoughts today.
And finally, the news I have been struggling with the most, my friend's mother passed away today after a lengthy battle with cancer. I did not know her well, but I hurt for my friends who are dealing with the loss of their mother/mother-in-law. Last week I had a lengthy discussion with my girl friend about the process of death and how the family was dealing. The entire conversation I was weeping in my rocking chair, all with the hopes that she would not hear this on her end of the line. The idea of loosing my own mother was painful, but putting myself in the position of the Mother saying goodbye to her children was unbearable.
I can only hope that there is peace to be found in knowing that her battle is over and she's no longer in pain. In the mean time, my phone is readily available and my ears are open. If that's not enough, the wine fridge is stocked and my home has plenty of spare beds.
While the passing of these three people has been emotional, it has been a solid reminder that we are lucky to have the time we have. I may grumble about my homework, the fever I've been running all day, or the dishes in the sink, but I have a lot to be thankful for....
Especially that adorable little boy who is fast asleep, butt in the air, dreaming the night away.
It started with the news that a competitor from the Lumberjack community passed away suddenly. He left behind a wife and two young children. While I didn't know David well, my husband and his family did - and seeing your loved ones deal with emotional pain is misery.
David's death was followed by my Great Grandmother's passing on Thanksgiving day. She was 93. She lived a full life, her mind was still very sharp, and she stayed pretty active for someone aged 93. She hadn't been sick, or in pain. Her body just said, "time is up." I don't believe she suffered in her passing and she was surrounded by loved ones when she went.
Her funeral was today. I wasn't able to attend because of the distance, but I hope my family knows they were in my thoughts today.
And finally, the news I have been struggling with the most, my friend's mother passed away today after a lengthy battle with cancer. I did not know her well, but I hurt for my friends who are dealing with the loss of their mother/mother-in-law. Last week I had a lengthy discussion with my girl friend about the process of death and how the family was dealing. The entire conversation I was weeping in my rocking chair, all with the hopes that she would not hear this on her end of the line. The idea of loosing my own mother was painful, but putting myself in the position of the Mother saying goodbye to her children was unbearable.
I can only hope that there is peace to be found in knowing that her battle is over and she's no longer in pain. In the mean time, my phone is readily available and my ears are open. If that's not enough, the wine fridge is stocked and my home has plenty of spare beds.
While the passing of these three people has been emotional, it has been a solid reminder that we are lucky to have the time we have. I may grumble about my homework, the fever I've been running all day, or the dishes in the sink, but I have a lot to be thankful for....
Especially that adorable little boy who is fast asleep, butt in the air, dreaming the night away.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Cleaning!
Tonight I cleaned with the help of my husband. Let me clarify... my husband cleaned while I drank wine. I'm classy like that.
Here's how my contribution to the cleaning effort panned out:
1. Drink half a glass of wine.
2. Do some dishes.
3. Finish glass of wine. Pour second glass
4. Pretend to do some more dishes, really - just stand there and splash in the water. Sip on wine
5. Dance like an idiot in the corner. Pray nobody is watching.
6. Update Facebook status.
7. Drnnk more of that redddd stuff.
7. Mop the baby. Kiss the floors.
8. Give thanks to the Gods that possessed your husband to clean.
Now if only the laundry would be put away....
Here's how my contribution to the cleaning effort panned out:
1. Drink half a glass of wine.
2. Do some dishes.
3. Finish glass of wine. Pour second glass
4. Pretend to do some more dishes, really - just stand there and splash in the water. Sip on wine
5. Dance like an idiot in the corner. Pray nobody is watching.
6. Update Facebook status.
7. Drnnk more of that redddd stuff.
7. Mop the baby. Kiss the floors.
8. Give thanks to the Gods that possessed your husband to clean.
Now if only the laundry would be put away....
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Dear Dish Fairy
Every night I go to bed in hopes that the Dish Fairy will visit my house and I will awake to a sparkling kitchen. Somehow, the Dish Fairy always passes over our house. In fact, not only does the Dish Fairy pass over the house, but the dishes are like rabbits wildly reproducing during the wee hours of the night.
Is there like a special Mezuzah that you need to put out to encourage the Dish Fairy to stop at your house? Do I need to nail a sponge to the trim of my front door to signal the Dish Fairy in?
Just in case my sponge at the front door doesn't encourage the Dish Fairy to stop, I wrote the Dish Fairy a love note:
Dear Dish Fairy,
I wish I may,
I wish I might,
Be the house you wash tonight.
My sink is full,
my cupboards bare,
And Brody has no fork to share.
So please do stop,
I'll love you so,
Cause Mama's hands can wash no more!
Is there like a special Mezuzah that you need to put out to encourage the Dish Fairy to stop at your house? Do I need to nail a sponge to the trim of my front door to signal the Dish Fairy in?
Just in case my sponge at the front door doesn't encourage the Dish Fairy to stop, I wrote the Dish Fairy a love note:
Dear Dish Fairy,
I wish I may,
I wish I might,
Be the house you wash tonight.
My sink is full,
my cupboards bare,
And Brody has no fork to share.
So please do stop,
I'll love you so,
Cause Mama's hands can wash no more!
You do this because..... ?
Deer season - still a mystery to me. Why do people get so excited for this?
First, you have to wake up before the sun comes up. Enough said.
Second, you have to put so many layers on that you look like this:
Yes, this may be a fashion statement, but probably not one you want people remembering you ever wore. Just saying.
Third, you have to walk. Really far. Up hills. In the cold. Probably in snow.
Fourth, you have to be quiet. Like, really quiet. Have you met me? Not.gonna.happen.
And finally, IF you kill Bambi you then have to gut it and drag it to your wife who will grit her teeth and smile while silently thinking "*!@#&$@ there goes my Saturday. Looks like I'll be canning and freezing meat!"
Now don't forget, if you kill a deer you will have to have your picture taken with your kill so you can show all your friends on Facebook and Twitter how manly you are. This means that awful outfit you're wearing will forever being immortalized on film and I will laugh at you. True story.
I can think of a few more productive ways to use my time rather than sitting half way up a tree being quiet. This morning I've done two loads of laundry, fed the baby, made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, showered, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on homework. Oh, and it's only 9:30.
JR sat in a tree. He's returned home to nap because this hunting business is exhausting.
I should have been born a man.
First, you have to wake up before the sun comes up. Enough said.
Second, you have to put so many layers on that you look like this:
Yes, this may be a fashion statement, but probably not one you want people remembering you ever wore. Just saying.
Third, you have to walk. Really far. Up hills. In the cold. Probably in snow.
Fourth, you have to be quiet. Like, really quiet. Have you met me? Not.gonna.happen.
And finally, IF you kill Bambi you then have to gut it and drag it to your wife who will grit her teeth and smile while silently thinking "*!@#&$@ there goes my Saturday. Looks like I'll be canning and freezing meat!"
Now don't forget, if you kill a deer you will have to have your picture taken with your kill so you can show all your friends on Facebook and Twitter how manly you are. This means that awful outfit you're wearing will forever being immortalized on film and I will laugh at you. True story.
I can think of a few more productive ways to use my time rather than sitting half way up a tree being quiet. This morning I've done two loads of laundry, fed the baby, made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, showered, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on homework. Oh, and it's only 9:30.
JR sat in a tree. He's returned home to nap because this hunting business is exhausting.
I should have been born a man.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Change is Good
Yesterday, I had some "me" time. It was the first time in a while that I've had the opportunity to do something all by myself and for myself. Like many girls, I spent my time gossiping while spending copious amounts of money on the most important accessory a girl has: my hair.
I haven't had my haircut since the beginning of July. July, people! My blonde outgrowth was turning into trendy ombre and my layered bob was long enough to pull back into a pony tail.
As I was sitting in the chair deciding what to do with my locks, a rush of courage came over me and I made the bold decision to chop it all off. Why not? You only live once, and hair grows back.
Not only did I chop it all, but I colored it dark brown.
And this is why it's important to make time for yourself more than twice a year. Drastic things happen when you don't have "me time" in small, frequent chunks.
My hair is now fashioned in a trendy pixie type cut with super long sweeping bangs. It's... different. I keep catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and wondering who that strange person is in my house.
I'm pretty sure the husband isn't a fan. This morning he told me someone chopped all my hair off in the middle of the night and that the back of my head "looks like a ducks butt." So very charming. He's a keeper.
Brody still thinks I'm fabulous. He didn't even give me a surprised "who the heck are you?" face. He was just happy to see that I was home and available for snuggle time. I think I'll keep em.
I haven't had my haircut since the beginning of July. July, people! My blonde outgrowth was turning into trendy ombre and my layered bob was long enough to pull back into a pony tail.
As I was sitting in the chair deciding what to do with my locks, a rush of courage came over me and I made the bold decision to chop it all off. Why not? You only live once, and hair grows back.
Not only did I chop it all, but I colored it dark brown.
And this is why it's important to make time for yourself more than twice a year. Drastic things happen when you don't have "me time" in small, frequent chunks.
My hair is now fashioned in a trendy pixie type cut with super long sweeping bangs. It's... different. I keep catching glimpses of myself in the mirror and wondering who that strange person is in my house.
I'm pretty sure the husband isn't a fan. This morning he told me someone chopped all my hair off in the middle of the night and that the back of my head "looks like a ducks butt." So very charming. He's a keeper.
Brody still thinks I'm fabulous. He didn't even give me a surprised "who the heck are you?" face. He was just happy to see that I was home and available for snuggle time. I think I'll keep em.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Very Hungry Germ Catcher
Here is a picture of our summer garden.
Tonight's dinner has made me realize that I need to double the size of this baby next year.
My 15 month old son ate two cups of pasta, a quarter cup of broccoli, and two ego waffles. Don't forget the giant cup of milk he washed it all down with.
If a 15 month old can consume more food than I can, what on earth am I going to do when he reaches 14?
And so I've decided, next summer the garden expands and I spend even more time slaving away in the kitchen canning and freezing the harvest. Either that or I win a million dollars so I can afford to buy all of the wholesome foods I believe in feeding my child.
In other news.....
Daycare is sending home the plague with my child, and my very hungry germ catcher seems to find it sweet to share with me.
It all started the weekend of Halloween. Brody came home running a fever and had a snotty nose. I snuggled him up like any loving Mom and let him sneeze, snot, and cough all over me. He felt fine after a day or so. A few days later I noticed I was really tired, but that's normal when you're trying to be Super Mom, right?
Thursday morning came around and I woke up with what I thought were canker sores in my mouth. By Friday morning my mouth was COVERED in blisters. Painful. Then they started showing up on my hands. Could it be, do I have hand, foot, and mouth disease?
According to the Dr. I saw that just wasn't possible. The blisters were TOTALLY different and the dots on my hands were from dry skin. Never mind the spots on my feet that were starting to develop and looked just like the spots on my hands. Adults just simply do not get blisters with hand foot and mouth.
WRONG!
By the end of the weekend my body was covered in blisters. My mouth, my hands, my feet - even my ankles, elbows, shoulders were developing dots. A trip to urgent care the morning of my birthday would confirm - hand, foot, and mouth.
Turns out, Brody's daycare was having an outbreak of the virus and my little germ catcher was nice enough to pass it on to me. While he never developed the blisters, I was lucky to be the one random adult that developed them. Apparently when adults do develop blisters, they spread all over the body and don't stay contained to the hands, feet, and mouth. Oh, and hot water makes them worse just in case you ever need to know.
It was a lovely way to spend my 25th birthday. Sitting in urgent care with blisters covering my body.
So there you have it. Teaching your children how to share is dangerous to your health, but oh so worth all of the hugs and kisses they so lovingly give you.
Tonight's dinner has made me realize that I need to double the size of this baby next year.
My 15 month old son ate two cups of pasta, a quarter cup of broccoli, and two ego waffles. Don't forget the giant cup of milk he washed it all down with.
If a 15 month old can consume more food than I can, what on earth am I going to do when he reaches 14?
And so I've decided, next summer the garden expands and I spend even more time slaving away in the kitchen canning and freezing the harvest. Either that or I win a million dollars so I can afford to buy all of the wholesome foods I believe in feeding my child.
In other news.....
Daycare is sending home the plague with my child, and my very hungry germ catcher seems to find it sweet to share with me.
It all started the weekend of Halloween. Brody came home running a fever and had a snotty nose. I snuggled him up like any loving Mom and let him sneeze, snot, and cough all over me. He felt fine after a day or so. A few days later I noticed I was really tired, but that's normal when you're trying to be Super Mom, right?
Thursday morning came around and I woke up with what I thought were canker sores in my mouth. By Friday morning my mouth was COVERED in blisters. Painful. Then they started showing up on my hands. Could it be, do I have hand, foot, and mouth disease?
According to the Dr. I saw that just wasn't possible. The blisters were TOTALLY different and the dots on my hands were from dry skin. Never mind the spots on my feet that were starting to develop and looked just like the spots on my hands. Adults just simply do not get blisters with hand foot and mouth.
WRONG!
By the end of the weekend my body was covered in blisters. My mouth, my hands, my feet - even my ankles, elbows, shoulders were developing dots. A trip to urgent care the morning of my birthday would confirm - hand, foot, and mouth.
Turns out, Brody's daycare was having an outbreak of the virus and my little germ catcher was nice enough to pass it on to me. While he never developed the blisters, I was lucky to be the one random adult that developed them. Apparently when adults do develop blisters, they spread all over the body and don't stay contained to the hands, feet, and mouth. Oh, and hot water makes them worse just in case you ever need to know.
It was a lovely way to spend my 25th birthday. Sitting in urgent care with blisters covering my body.
So there you have it. Teaching your children how to share is dangerous to your health, but oh so worth all of the hugs and kisses they so lovingly give you.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
UW-Stout Tegrity Failure
UW-Stout has been a fantastic institution for higher education since I began my quest of learning in 2007. They rent out textbooks to their students - a huge cost savings. They have an amazing laptop program that ensures all students have a functioning laptop. They even have classes that include distant students via webcam!
After I became pregnant with Brody, I really began to question how I was going to finish my degree. Completing this degree has been a goal of mine that I have been chipping away at. How could I stop when I was so close to the reward? At the same time, how was I going to balance being the best Mom I could be and still achieve this goal?
Then I learned about the hybrid classes that Stout was going to offer. Online recordings of every course I needed in order to finish my degree in Professional Communications and Emerging Media. I would be able to complete my coursework while still being Super Mom, Wife of the Century, and Employee of the Year.
It sounded like a dream come true.
It's been a nightmare.
The Tegrity recordings are beyond flawed. Half the time, the recordings don't post so the online students are left with a tiny outline of what the in class students did for the day. We have been left to drag ourselves through homework that has had little to no explanation from a teacher.
Then, when things were "on track," I spent a weekend completely booted out of all of my courses. No access to them. It was like they didn't even exist. Did I mention it was the weekend? Nobody answers e-mail on the weekend. Why would tech support be available on Friday night? I'm sure they had much more important things to do like eat vodka soaked gummy bears in their parents basement.
Recently, we have been facing a new bump in the road. The recordings have become choppy. It's like talking to someone on a satellite phone who is in the middle of Iraq. Sure, every other syllable comes through, but you spend most of your time cursing at the connection and wondering what the heck they're trying to communicate! Perhaps this will more clearly demonstrate how I feel about choppy recordings:
Tonight, I am facing the reality that I have once again been booted out of all of my classes. Nothing is available. I'm looking at a pile full of homework and will have to rely completely on myself, my text book, and a very rough outline of what was covered in the class for the day.
I've had to rely on my course books so heavily this semester that I'm seriously wondering why I'm paying hundreds of dollars to complete a course when I could have purchased a book off Amazon.com for $30 and received the same education. I give this institution money trusting that they will provide me with teachers who can in turn provide lectures that will guide my education and help me be as prepared as possible for a job when I graduate.
Do not think that this is a matter of teachers not providing the information. I am watching all of my professors struggle to maintain their current work load while also trying to prepare material for the online students so that we can keep up with our coursework. Unfortunately, the material isn't the same. They do not have the time to create notes that talk about every detail from the class, and I don't expect them to have that added burden. This takes up precious time that could be used for grading and feedback - something I have had very little of this entire semester.
This is not an education. This is a self taught struggle that is unacceptable for an institution of higher learning. I'm facing the reality of having to pay for a babysitter on Tuesday's and Thursday's so that I can now attend the physical classroom setting because the Tegrity system is so unreliable. Who is going to cover the added cost of my sitter? My funds are stretched thin with the three days a week my child is already in daycare.
I'm willing to sacrifice my sleep, my time with my family, and my sanity, all so I can obtain a degree that will ultimately allow me to provide a better life for my child. I'm not willing to sacrifice the quality of that education. I really expected more from you, Stout.
After I became pregnant with Brody, I really began to question how I was going to finish my degree. Completing this degree has been a goal of mine that I have been chipping away at. How could I stop when I was so close to the reward? At the same time, how was I going to balance being the best Mom I could be and still achieve this goal?
Then I learned about the hybrid classes that Stout was going to offer. Online recordings of every course I needed in order to finish my degree in Professional Communications and Emerging Media. I would be able to complete my coursework while still being Super Mom, Wife of the Century, and Employee of the Year.
It sounded like a dream come true.
It's been a nightmare.
The Tegrity recordings are beyond flawed. Half the time, the recordings don't post so the online students are left with a tiny outline of what the in class students did for the day. We have been left to drag ourselves through homework that has had little to no explanation from a teacher.
Then, when things were "on track," I spent a weekend completely booted out of all of my courses. No access to them. It was like they didn't even exist. Did I mention it was the weekend? Nobody answers e-mail on the weekend. Why would tech support be available on Friday night? I'm sure they had much more important things to do like eat vodka soaked gummy bears in their parents basement.
Recently, we have been facing a new bump in the road. The recordings have become choppy. It's like talking to someone on a satellite phone who is in the middle of Iraq. Sure, every other syllable comes through, but you spend most of your time cursing at the connection and wondering what the heck they're trying to communicate! Perhaps this will more clearly demonstrate how I feel about choppy recordings:
Tonight, I am facing the reality that I have once again been booted out of all of my classes. Nothing is available. I'm looking at a pile full of homework and will have to rely completely on myself, my text book, and a very rough outline of what was covered in the class for the day.
I've had to rely on my course books so heavily this semester that I'm seriously wondering why I'm paying hundreds of dollars to complete a course when I could have purchased a book off Amazon.com for $30 and received the same education. I give this institution money trusting that they will provide me with teachers who can in turn provide lectures that will guide my education and help me be as prepared as possible for a job when I graduate.
Do not think that this is a matter of teachers not providing the information. I am watching all of my professors struggle to maintain their current work load while also trying to prepare material for the online students so that we can keep up with our coursework. Unfortunately, the material isn't the same. They do not have the time to create notes that talk about every detail from the class, and I don't expect them to have that added burden. This takes up precious time that could be used for grading and feedback - something I have had very little of this entire semester.
This is not an education. This is a self taught struggle that is unacceptable for an institution of higher learning. I'm facing the reality of having to pay for a babysitter on Tuesday's and Thursday's so that I can now attend the physical classroom setting because the Tegrity system is so unreliable. Who is going to cover the added cost of my sitter? My funds are stretched thin with the three days a week my child is already in daycare.
I'm willing to sacrifice my sleep, my time with my family, and my sanity, all so I can obtain a degree that will ultimately allow me to provide a better life for my child. I'm not willing to sacrifice the quality of that education. I really expected more from you, Stout.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Answer the Phone!
I have a new annoyance in my life... trying to schedule a hair appointment.
The salon my hair stylist moved to is relatively small and just getting up and running. The inside is modern and relaxing and it's a quiet salon with just a few stylist. It's an Aveda salon, so it's not cheap to get a cut and color. While I love that it's small, it has it's disadvantages - like the fact that they don't have a receptionist.
I've tried to call and schedule and appointment a number of times now, but I'm always taken to the voicemail system. I'm sorry, I'm suppose to leave you a message so that we can play phone tag to set up an appointment? Or so that you can call me back when it's convenient for you, which will inevitably be during nap time. I think if you wake up my napping child that should automatically provide me with a free hair cut.
Not only is it exceptionally annoying to not be able to schedule an appointment, but when I'm getting my hair cut and colored I don't care for my stylist to be running back and forth answering a ringing phone. I want all of her attention on my head so that I can get in and out as quickly as possible.
As I was grumbling to a friend about this, she mentioned that I can't forget the cost of a receptionist and pointed out that this would, without a doubt, increase the cost of my appointment. Fine. Add another 5 bucks on. If that means I can schedule an appointment and talk to a person when I have time, I'm OK with that.
So what do you think.. am I being unnecessarily grumpy (or snobby?), or should the salon have a receptionist?
The salon my hair stylist moved to is relatively small and just getting up and running. The inside is modern and relaxing and it's a quiet salon with just a few stylist. It's an Aveda salon, so it's not cheap to get a cut and color. While I love that it's small, it has it's disadvantages - like the fact that they don't have a receptionist.
I've tried to call and schedule and appointment a number of times now, but I'm always taken to the voicemail system. I'm sorry, I'm suppose to leave you a message so that we can play phone tag to set up an appointment? Or so that you can call me back when it's convenient for you, which will inevitably be during nap time. I think if you wake up my napping child that should automatically provide me with a free hair cut.
Not only is it exceptionally annoying to not be able to schedule an appointment, but when I'm getting my hair cut and colored I don't care for my stylist to be running back and forth answering a ringing phone. I want all of her attention on my head so that I can get in and out as quickly as possible.
As I was grumbling to a friend about this, she mentioned that I can't forget the cost of a receptionist and pointed out that this would, without a doubt, increase the cost of my appointment. Fine. Add another 5 bucks on. If that means I can schedule an appointment and talk to a person when I have time, I'm OK with that.
So what do you think.. am I being unnecessarily grumpy (or snobby?), or should the salon have a receptionist?
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