If I Had Super Powers ...

Lately, I have been craving supernatural powers. Specifically, powers of mind control, or just a good Imperius Curse. Because I swear to All That Is, I am really sick of waiting for other people to take care of their own effing responsibilities. I have been waiting two years for this tree to come down. I talked to my neighbors, whose tree this is, earlier this year, expressing my concern about this tree, and its twin (which is bigger, just as dead, and has yet to fall) and about four tree-sized dead limbs which are dangling right near our fence. And they politely blew me off.

And when I saw one of those limbs fall this morning, while I was having my coffee, I shouted, "I KNEW IT!" because it did, in fact, fall into our yard, mere yards from where my children built a snowman yesterday, despite their assurance that if the limbs dropped, they would drop into their own yard.

It was a few hours later that the pine keeled over, crushing part of the fence in the process.

This only compounds my housing angst, because, though I haven't written about this, our attic and our basement are full of mold, which tested positive as "toxic black mold," which I'm told former tenants complained about, which had apparently been tidied up enough for us to rent the place and then came back full force. And since we had it analyzed and tested, my landlord has been mysteriously incommunicado.

So, if I had powers of mind control, I would spend one morning -- that's all it would take, I believe -- to force people to have fixed all the numerous health hazards in and around this house, so that I wouldn't have to go to the trouble and expense of moving again, and probably into another Mystery Rental which may have mice or lead paint or a mild demon infestation.

Lacking mind control, I could just assume powers of SuperHuman Strength, crush a few skulls, and then manually move all my own furniture and belongings into the next Mystery Rental. Then there's the demons. I could bring them a sacrifice -- I have a few choice people in mind -- but as far as I know, lead paint is unmoved by human sacrifice. And so, you see, I have yet to identify the ideal Tenant Superpower.

Perhaps the ideal Tenant Superpower is as simple as a degree in law.

Honk!

I do not think it's a coincidence that I came down with a cold within hours of my Christmas guests leaving. Fortunately, this feels like "just" a cold, not anything like those horrid diseases we were infected with all fecking November long. I'm tired and stuffy and fuzzy-headed and taking advantage of my husband's good nature by lying around and ignoring my children. (Hey, it's not like I got to do this the other 47 times I've gotten sick since having children, so sue me.)

I hope this is mostly gone by tomorrow, though, because I'm getting bored. I don't have the energy to do much, but on the other hand, there are only so many OkCupid quizzes I can take, and I'm afraid at some point I will come crashing to the end of the internet. Online shopping is great, but if I have nothing to do but lie in wait for the UPS man (closer ... closer), the gratification delay is much more noticeable.

The period between Christmas and New Year's feels like a weird holding pattern, like lost time. The normal rules of time and space are suspended, people aren't working, some things are closed, the world is topsy-turvy. At the same time, the major holidays are over, so there isn't much to actually DO while waiting for New Year's. And New Year's is no big deal around here. I was never big into the NYE party scene even before kids, and that hasn't changed.

But I guess if I HAVE to be sick again, it may as well be during this lost time, when at least my husband is on vacation and I can lie around and paint my toenails while I sneeze and cough. Right?

I Do Write Daily, Sorta

I have an awful lot of draft posts. If I'd ever just finish them, I'd be up to date on my darn dailies.

Oh well. Merry Christmas, to all who celebrate. My immediate family came over, and we had an early dinner and gift opening. A gave us all a demonstration of her mad karate skillz. Though, most of the things she demonstrated were things like jumping jacks and push ups. Whilst impressive, they are not an ancient Japanese martial art. Or are they?

I made Italian sausage over peppers and onions, meatballs and sauce, polenta, and pasta. My mother brought a warm broccoli salad, stromboli, a filo-cup appetizer that was very good, but I don't know the name of, and a great jumble of fat and perfect cold cooked shrimp. Oh, leetle shrimps, why do you live so far away from me? Come live in my creek and let me catch you for dinner every day.

Ahem. Excuse me. I am seafood crazy.

The kids made out like little bandits. Don't they always, though? C got a big beautiful wooden star lamp to hang in her room. A's hanging room gift was an "under the sea" canopy, which was resplendent with hanging seaweed and little stuffed sea animals that can attach to the seaweed with velcro. It's gorgeous, and they are beyond excited to get that hung up and huddle underneath it. They also got some great books, some PJs; C got some puppets. I think there was more, but I can't remember.

I got a set of Jabra Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. Woot! I hope I can figure out how to use these in the way I am imagining. I am extremely attached to my music lately. Music soothes the savage beast, right? It enables me to go shopping without having deep homicidal impulses. What could be better than that, I ask you.

The husband got some very intriguing books from his wishlist that I may have to steal.

I had portraits done for family gifts, but, er, they didn't get done (or maybe it was picked up, ahem) in time. I was pretty slack this year in a lot of departments, and oddly enough, I don't really care that much. My cards still haven't even arrived for me to mail out, and I'm glad they say "Happy Holidays" so I can pretend they're for New Years or Epiphany or somesuch. Yeah, you got it.

Everyone's gone now, and I feel in desperate need of some complete vegetational time, but I don't think that will happen until the kids are in bed. They are still extremely excited and reeling wildly betwixt gleeful elation and "my head is on fire!" frantic despair. For my part, I enjoyed everything well enough but I'm quite thankful it's over. I'm just looking forward to doing a little shopping and maybe unloading my kids on the grandparents with lots of vacation days next week, if you know what I mean. I love the kids desperately but C's been off preschool for almost a month now and a mother has her limits. A MOTHER HAS HER LIMITS!

Ahem.

I'm off to sneak past the kids, steal my husband's book, and grab a festive beverage. (That might just be coffee with a candy cane in it, so don't smirk.)

Cool Yule

Really, what could be more perfect than nonstop heavy snow on Solstice, when we're celebrating quietly at home and had no intention of going anywhere anyway? I am not being sarcastic. (I'm aware it's sometimes hard to tell.)

I was a little stressed out last night getting ready. Some things were forgotten, and some things in the massive box o' toys weren't shipped and we didn't notice. Our stocking holders from Target kept plunging to the floor repeatedly, smashing against the hearth and eventually blasting into pieces. Consequently, one of the clay bird warblers I bought for the kids also broke, and now they have one to fight over. Seriously, those stocking hangers are dangerous. Had they fallen on someone's foot or head, the fun would have been over really quick.

They're really enjoying their day, though. A was awake by 6, and lay fidgeting in bed next to me until I begged my husband to just get up and stop prolonging our collective anticipation. They were so excited when they peeked down the stairs at the tree. C, who does not remember last year's festivities, stopped on the stairs and gaped. We did not get them all that much this year, but fortunately my in-laws gifts arrived yesterday, so we put them under the tree as well, and that prolonged the unwrapping frenzy a little and they've been happily occupied all day playing with everything and wearing their new dresses and slippers.

The Waldorf dolls I made worked out. I made them (somewhat) to resemble the girls. They had the same skin tone, but one had sandy straight hair and light blue eyes. The other had brighter, curlier blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Then I worried that they might not like the one "meant" for them, so I didn't label them at all, just put them both under the tree together. Amazingly enough, A handed the "C-a-like" doll directly to C, and took the "A-a-like" doll for herself. Later, she observed, "This one is MUCH more beautifuller, because it has hair more like mine and bright blue eyes. So this is my very favorite."

PHEW.

I made Crumb Cake for breakfast, and then got the beast roasting in the (new and NOT Rival-brand) slow cooker. I took a long bath with bubble bath my mother in law sent me. She always sends me a nice little pampering package, and this year was no exception: I got a fleece nightshirt, a Turbie-Twist (how did she know?), some chenille slipper socks, and a PedEgg. My husband got me a a Flex-Shaft, which sounds seriously naughty but is, in actuality, hardcore jewelry making equipment. I can't wait to try it out!

Now I have a horrific headache, and I am sore all over from three consecutive days of punishing workouts, so I'm going to go lie around some more, re-read Goblet of Fire, and eventually finish up the rest of the Solstice Feast, which will include mashed potatoes and collard greens to go with the roast beast. I'm dying for a nap, but it's not to be, I think. I'm starting to suspect the kid might not even have school tomorrow, if this snow keeps up, which will be OK by me.

Happy Solstice!

Snow Day

Yeah, yeah. My Holidailies are really "HoliEveryOtherDailies." As long as I won't be arrested, I'm cool with that.

We have a snow day today. I don't remember ever having a snow day called before it actually started snowing before, but by the time I got out of the shower, it was snowing pretty hard and is still going. The kids are watching Curious George or something so I can get appropriately caffeinated to deal with the day.

Because this weekend is our big holiday celebration, y'know, so I have a lot to do. My deadline is a little shorter than most people's. This is what makes the timing of our year end bonus (the 24th this year) so frakkin' annoying. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a bonus, especially when the end of the year is always so tight (the FSA's run out, we had big bills from A's double emergency room visit + limo ride ambulance transfer in between the two hospitals, etc.), but would it kill them to give it to us at the beginning of the month?


This snowstorm is perfectly timed, as we don't have much scheduled on Fridays, so it's not interfering with anything. Yesterday A had board breaking class. She broke two boards, but on the second, thicker board, she got a splinter. OMG, the drama. I couldn't get it out last night, and she was nearly hysterical and ready to be sick, so I cleaned it and bandaged it and said we'd deal with it tomorrow. Which is now today. Blech.

Then I went to my own class. I took a lot of breaks this year, but I'm thoroughly re-addicted and having a lot of fun in the classes. Maybe that's because a lot of things are starting to "click" and feel a little more natural. My goal for the new year is to go four times a week to the best of my ability. I decided on that because I realized that I wasn't going often enough to really develop cardiovascularly, even though everything else was improving. I've discovered I pretty much hate to do cardio at home or on my own, and since I'm paying a monthly fee for unlimited classes, I may as well make the most of that.

I really would like to get my brown belt in 2009. If I can manage my purple by April, which I think is a decent estimate, that gives me eight months. I know it takes longer to move between the higher belt ranks, but don't know how much longer, and this is also assuming I don't have any or many more unintended breaks. I owe a ton to karate. I am in better shape (at least cardio- and muscle-wise) than I have ever been in my adult life, and have lost thirty pounds since I started. That wasn't all karate, I had to do some calorie cutting as well, but it didn't hurt.

Now the kids are bugging me to get started on the day's activities, which are cookie frosting and gingerbread house making. And for me, laundry! Because laundry is the gift that keeps on giving. And giving. And giving! And giving!

Wednesday

So, today dawned with my big kid protesting going to school. Her list of complaints kept changing, however, and she had no fever, and whenever we were not actively talking about school, she was quite animated and energetic and cheerful. So after some waffling, I said, "Get dressed, you're going."

She knows if she's really feeling bad, she can go to the nurse and get picked up. It's not like we haven't done THAT several times already. Bleh.

And it was important to me that she go, darnit, because I had a coffee date with a friend I haven't seen in weeks and who is leaving to go out of town until January, and I wasn't going to miss that for a kid who wasn't sick and was just feeling like skipping school. I know that's horribly cruel, but I've missed enough due to rampant sickness, thanks.

And! It was my little kid's birthday! She is the Big 3 today, about which there has been much build up for months, and she helped me bake her cake and get everything ready for her big birthday To-Do. It's just us, alas, because I still don't have the hang of squishing in a birthday party at this time of year. And she's little, and doesn't care, and I'm all about simplicity until I can no longer get away with it. So there.

We had hot dogs (organic uncured hot dogs, tyvm) because it's such a little kid meal, and because oh, right: I was lazy. I made a black magic cake with white frosting. I veganized the chocolate cake recipe, and though even when veganized, it remains The Best Chocolate Cake Ever, it is very gooey and hard to frost as a general rule. This time, it kicked the difficulty level up a notch and a big chunk stuck to the pan. So her heart-shaped cake had a random hole in the center, which I filled up with frosting. No one noticed the difference.

She got a post office playset from her Dad and me, and a Curious George Jack in the Box from her sister. I got so many excellent "OMFG WHAT HAPPENED?" pictures the instant after the jack popped out, which I will hopefully Flickr tomorrow. (Well, "excellent" is relative, since my camera is a PIECE OF SHIT.)

She thinks she wants to start karate now, as there is a 3-4 year old class 2 days a week, but I am not convinced she will participate without much coaxing yet, and I'm not really willing to tack an extra $40 a month onto my bill. I'm poor enough as it is.

We were reading in bed tonight, and reading a book that focused on sight words. On a particular page, we were looking for words in signs and no one could find "milk." C pointed to the sign and said, "There! MILK!"

Q said, "Hey, how did you know that said milk?"

C shrugged. "Its just 'cuz I'm a big girl now."

Monday Mehs

I have as many drafts as I have days missed in Holidailies. I should just post them in all their unfinished glory.

I am having this problem lately. I am completely and totally bored by food. It doesn't mean I'm not eating. It just means I'm bored with menus, bored with cooking, bored with just about everything we eat. Making anything is a chore and a mental grind. I'm eating, but not eating well, because I'm really only eating whatever is handy that requires no preparation at all. Like baked goods, or cheese.

Obviously, calorically and nutritionally, that's no good. I haven't gained any weight from it, but it can't go on.

I need to make a batch of something that can sit around (or in the freezer) as "ready made" but that's a little more nutritionally balanced. Still, I'm bored even thinking of most stuff like that I could make. Part of the problem is knowing that half the things I could make would be scorned by my picky eater, but that's a very small part of it. Mostly, I'm okay with making things I know she won't eat, figuring she might get there eventually. It's me. I'm sick of everything. I was going to make a batch of Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos -- though I don't find them that addictive -- but I just discovered my sweet potatoes have gone moldy.

The problem is not, I think, a lack of variety, because I change menus frequently. Not because I want to, really, but because boredom forces me to. But I seem to have reached a boredom threshhold, a critical mass of food boredom.

I wish someone made human kibble so I could just toss in a handful every once in a while and not have to think about it so much.

Another Meme

Stolen from everyone. Sorry it's long. I need to install a cut script on this blog and have just been too lazy.

JANUARY
1 Who kisse​d you on new years​?​ Quinn
2 Did you have a New Year'​s Resol​ution​ this year?​ I had two goals. I met one of them.
3 Does it snow where​ you live?​ Quite a lot.
4 Do you like hot choco​late?​ A little. Not as much as coffee or eggnog.
5 Have you ever been to Times​ Squar​e to watch​ the ball drop?​ Nope. It looks a little too insane for me.



​FEBRU​ARY
1 Who was your Valen​tine?​ Quinn
2 When you were littl​e did you buy Valen​tines​ for the whole​ class​?​ I think we had to by law.
3 Do you care if the groun​dhog sees its shado​w or not? We always have six more weeks of winter anyway.
4 What did you recei​ve for Valen​tine'​s day? Roses.
5 What did you give for valen​tine'​s day? My glorious presence. "Bask in my glow!"

MARCH​
1 Are you Irish​?​ A fair bit.
2 Do you like corne​d beef and cabba​ge?​ Yes, though IT'S NOT AN IRISH DISH! ;)
3 What​ did you do for St.Patri​cks day? I think we made lamb stew and soda bread.

​APRIL​
1 Do you like the rain?​ Depends on how cold it is.
2 Did you play an April​ fool'​s joke on anyon​e this year?​ I don't do April Fool's.
3 Do you get tons of candy​ for Easte​r?​ No, though I did hide a bag of robin's egg M&Ms for myself.
4 Do you celeb​rate 4/​20?​ Nope.
5 Do you love the month​ of April​?​ I am not a fan.

MAY
1 What is your favor​ite flowe​r?​ Morning glories.
2 Finis​h the phras​e "​April​ showe​rs…"​ can go suck it.
3 Do you celeb​rate May 16th:​ Natio​nal Pierc​ing Day? No.
4 Is May anyth​ing speci​al to you? My first daughter's birthday.

​JUNE
1 What year did/​will you gradu​ate from high schoo​l?​ 1992
2 Did you do anyth​ing fun durin​g this last June?​ Not anything out of the ordinary.
3 Have a favor​ite baseb​all team?​ Nah.

​JULY
1 What did you do on the 4th of July?​ I went to West Virginia.
2 Did you go to the firew​orks?​ No, it rained.
3 Did you blast​ the A/C all day? Since I was out of town, no, but my hosts did.

AUGUS​T
1 Did you do anyth​ing speci​al at the end of your summe​r?​ Went to NJ for part of a week.
2 What was your favor​ite summe​r memor​y of '08? Taking the kids to the pool.
3 Did you have a sunbu​rn?​ I got a little pink on the shoulders.
4 Did you go to the pool a lot? Not a "lot," but averaged once a week.

SEPTE​MBER
1 Are you atten​ding colle​ge/​schoo​l?​ No.
2 Do you like fall bette​r than summe​r?​ Yes.
3 What happe​ned this last Septe​mber?​ A started kindergarten!

OCTOB​ER
1 What did you do for Hallo​ween?​ Handed out candy while the kids were out ToTing.
2 What is your favor​ite candy​?​ Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
3 What was your favor​ite thing​ about​ Octob​er?​ The magical feeling in the air.

NOVEM​BER
1 Whose​ house​ do you go to for Thank​sgivi​ng?​ We've been alternating our house with my in-laws'.
2 What are you thank​ful for? My family, my dojo, good health, and a comfortable existence.
3 Do you love stuff​ing?​ I'm losing my taste for it.
4 Anyth​ing speci​al in this month​?​ I got my blue belt!

​DECEM​BER
1 Do you celeb​rate Chris​tmas?​ We celebrate Solstice.
2 Have you ever been kisse​d under​ the mistl​etoe?​ I don't remember that ever happening.
3 Get anyth​ing speci​al last year?​ I got several bottles of My Preccciooooussss.
4 What do you want this year?​ I already answered this one.
5 What do you love most about​ Decem​ber?​ Making cookies, playing in the snow, all the lights and decorations.

Holiday Meme

Is this cheating? I don't care! Snagged from Mar over at All My Junk:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Usually wrapping paper. I've been working the same two rolls for the last three years, so I don't feel too bad about this.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
As I wrote before, artificial, but will be switching to real as soon as practical. I'd like to try the potted kind you can plant afterward.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the first weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Soon after New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes. But we go the soynog route, usually.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
One year I got a Swan Lake music box. It was made of porcelain, two swans cozied up on a porcelain base, and the base rotated when the music played. I adored that box. I used to play it a lot at night when I went to bed. Shortly after I got married, despite putting it on the highest shelf in the apartment, our cat got up there and knocked it down, completely breaking it apart.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My husband. He rarely wants anything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Both of the kids.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, when I get around to it. Some years I don't.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't think of one that was really, truly awful. The giant bear nightgown -- which I've written about before -- springs to mind.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Scrooge (1951 version of "A Christmas Carol" with Alastair Sim)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually November. Every year I say I'm going to start earlier and I never do.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes, I think so. Usually, it was something that was lovely that I had no place or use for.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Anise cut out cookies and the hazelnut coffee cake.

16. What decorations are on your tree?
Snowflakes, icicles, stars, cranberry garland, gilded fruit, pictures of the kids, pinecones, and some odds and ends.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
I tend toward the nontraditional. I love "I Want a Hippopotamous for Christmas," "Dominic the Donkey," the snow miser/heat miser song, and the Grinch song.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Home. I don't like traveling on Christmas, even if it's just to the next town.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
I don't think so.

20. Angel on top of tree or star?
Star. Except I can't get it to stay up.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Solstice morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Commercial frenzy.

23. What theme or color are you using when you decorate?
Oh, the usual, I suppose.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Hm. I don't know!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Either a king sized down comforter or a Rugged Ridge Parka. I think those are my top two lusts right now.

File Under "Duh"

This is going to be a new tag. Honestly.

NEW HAVEN - Children need more exercise and less medication to offset the symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study of a local doctor's fitness program.

Seriously, does this come as a surprise to anyone? I have been bitching for years about the way schools keep kids in their seats and following directions and walking in the hallway, blah blah blah, while cutting recess down to the bare minimum or NONE. Does anyone really think it's normal and natural for (most) kids to be sedentary most of the day? Is anyone surprised when some kids just CAN'T?

I'm sure that more exercise (especially outdoors) during the day would also help regulate sleep, cut obesity, and fend off other childhood disorders.

I find it difficult, at this time of year, to get the kids enough outdoor time and exercise on my own. So I find it more than a little frustrating that the school, which keeps my oldest for most of the day, with the nice big gymnasium and playground, can't be bothered to give her recess on most days. "Free time" is not the same thing. It's nice and it's necessary too, but it's Not The Same Thing.

The amount of research out there on the benefits of recess and exercise is overwhelming and obvious. Why are the schools ignoring it? I really don't know: is there any research that indicates that standardized testing really improves educational outcomes or offers some long term benefits to the student? Dropping recess to spend more time prepping for the tests seems counterproductive.

I'm still working on addressing this at our school, but I have to admit not having much hope. There is a board member actively working for mandated recess, and it appears at the last meeting the board overall decided that it wasn't really necessary and should be managed at the building level (principal's discretion).

That is not a good sign.

Oops

So, I missed yesterday on Holidailies. I had a good excuse, though. Despite my copious applications of Lysol, Purell, and hot water and soap just about everywhere, C developed a nearly identical illness to what A had earlier in the week. She recovered faster, though, thank goodness. Today she seems back to her usual, crabby/sweet bipolar (almost) three year old self.

So yesterday was spent doing laundry and cleaning, and more laundry and cleaning, and today is cleaning and laundry, and more cleaning and laundry, and perhaps soon I'll set the furniture on fire. I'm just not sure yet.

I also spent a lot of time setting up every humidifier and vaporizer we own. Low humidity contributes to virus transmission, did you know? It's almost funny. We have mold in the attic and in the basement, and the rest of the house is bone dry. Hee hee hee hee. (You can't hear the Renfield-like cadence of my giggles.)

My mission today is washing all the blankets and scrubbing down the kitchen from top to bottom. I will be conspicuously consuming hot water and bleach and I don't even care. I also need to make muffins and soup and granola bars. But those are low priority. First is death to viruses. I'm wondering if giving A a bath as soon as she gets home from school would be overkill ...

Potential Mutiny Syndrome

I never thought about it, until I read a blurb and then this article about strollers. But now that I think about it, how disorienting and weird must it be to ride in a stroller when you're a baby? Especially up until you grasp that whole "object permanence" thing. You get strapped in and your parents -- as far as you know -- disappear, and then you're being wheeled and swiveled helplessly through strange environments and sometimes throngs of people. That sounds like one bad trip, dude.

Neither of my kids were especially keen on the stroller until they were past the baby stage and well into toddlerhood, and even then, only for short durations. I was all gung ho into the slings and things anyway, so I didn't care, but it would have never occurred to me that they'd be happier facing backwards.

They sure as heck hated being rear facing in the car. Especially A. C was better with it, once she learned to use her hands and could hold toys. I'm sure it helped that A was back there with her. But A, alone in the backseat, would be okay for about ten minutes and then start screaming her freaking head off. I'd sing, or play music, or talk, to no avail. A few times on drives I took a friend with me, with her baby strapped in next to A, and if anything, that made her worse. That went on until I turned her forward facing, which I think wasn't until she was close to 2.

I don't miss that. Driving a car with a baby screaming in the backseat ranks pretty high on the stress-o-meter. I had a few friends who would always insist that they would stop their car every.stinkin.time the baby cried to nurse or resettle them before starting on their way. That never worked for me. The minute I would get back in the driver's seat, the screaming would start again. It was more realistic to just get where I was going more quickly. Or, if the destination wasn't especially necessary or desirable, just avoid the drive in the first place.

(I also had a friend who espoused this method and was chronically and seriously late for everything, which didn't give it a lot of points in my book.)

I have to admit, even though they find plenty of tihngs to be pains about, at (almost) 3 and 5, the kids are pretty darn tolerable in the car. That is one facet of babyhood I do not miss at all.

But now that I have this new interesting perspective on strollers, maybe I will have another baby just so I can buy a really posh perambulator.

EnTitlement Issues

Yesterday I was generally bummed and unenthused. It was my third straight day of being stuck home, and it was terribly gloomy to boot. There is only so much shit gray weather I can take, especially when there is no snow on the ground to brighten things up. I made gingerbread dough, but otherwise, I was in a crappy mood and I let the girls know it. By which I mean not that I acted like a jerk, but that I told them, "I am in a crappy mood. Please go play."

Today was better. A, who was quite perky and mischievous yesterday, went to school today. It's cold but brightly sunny. I was able to take C and go out for some odds and ends, and then I took her to lunch. We got construction paper to make an "advent" chain, and I got some glitter glue to put on paper snowflakes.

Have you ever heard the expression, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothes?" I have bad clothes. There are a hundred reasons for this and none of them matter. All that matters is that I need a new jacket and a few more sweaters/fleeces and some thermals. I have been endlessly, horribly cold ever since the weather changed and that doesn't encourage me to go outside even for the fresh air and (what little) sunlight (there is.) I also desperately want another down comforter. I gave mine to the girls', since it was too small for our bed, and I had futile hopes that they would not like it and not want to keep it. But they do, as they should, and I am jealous. Maybe I can find a big enorminous (sic) one on sale after the holidays.

(I like to say "enorminous" because of the "Big Enormous Turnip" story. After saying "enormous turnip" about a dozen times, it became "enorminous turminip.")

All I can think of at the moment is being cold, and how to fix being cold. My kitchen, in particular, is ungodly cold. It feels like someone screwed up building it, honestly. The floor is icy cold, and cabinet nteriors are so cold inside that some of my oils solidify. That's just strange. I don't think even ghostly infestations can pull that off.

So I guess I'll go fire up the oven to bake something and start knitting some socks. Brr!

You May Have Had to Be There

My kids say a rote blessing at night. It's something we all came up with by trial and error, and they both memorized it and say it each night with glee.

Now, I should add that I don't do every single bedtime, so perhaps I missed out on some prior discussion.

This blessing usually ends with, "... and please send us good, beautiful, happy dreams. Amen."

Except last night, C (who's two weeks from age 3) said this:

"... and please send us good, beautiful, happy B'rackObama. Amen."

About "The Tree"

A* is feeling better, blessedly, for which I am extremely grateful. Since this bout of gastro illness (IF it is, which I'm not convinced) followed so hard upon the last one, I was Dr. Googling last night, which is just a Bad Thing to Do. I went to bed all anxious, which led to poor sleep. I had a nightmare that seemed to go on all night long, in which I realized we had, at some point, buried a body in our front yard, and then I was not only worried about its discovery, but I was worried sick about what we should do if we moved. It's not the kind of thing you want to pack in your moving truck.

I mean, I assume. Not like I'd know.

So since she seemed on the mend, but still couldn't go to school (following the old 24 hour rule), I let the kids decorate the tree.

I suppose I technically should not call it a Christmas tree, since we don't celebrate Christmas per se. I tend to, though, just for general ease of usage and convenience. I also figured it's okay because a lot of people celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday. I also feel conspicuous making references to solstice or Yule with people I don't know well.

But I suppose, being perfectly literal, we are not celebrating a mass for Christ, so I guess I'll drop the term. I hear there are folks who are quite upset that non-Christians are celebrating Christmas in a secular way and stripping Christmas icons, such as the TREE and SANTA and EVERGREENS of their Christian symbolism.

Except that most of the traditional "Christmas" trappings predate Christianity, aren't really symbolic of Christ's birth, except in maybe the vaguest and most general of ways, and Jesus wasn't actually born in December anyway.

I have no problem with Christmas, of course. I respect it as a holiday, and respect the rights of people to celebrate it whenever they wish, however they wish, and I'm particularly impressed with people who wish to celebrate it as a sacred holiday, and not a crass commercial one.

What I do have a problem is the suggestion that the entire season and all of the "associated trappings" belong to the Christians and you shouldn't participate if you're not doing it "their way." Since most Christmas traditions, down to the day it's celebrated on, were almost completely snagged from older traditions and celebrations, that's kind of a big old pot calling the kettle black.

I don't begrudge anyone having a decorated holiday tree for any reason (although Cromwell and the Puritans sure did, finding it much too pagan and heathenish for good God fearing Christians), so I find it baffling that anyone would be upset that it be considered a "holiday tree." I find it mystifying that anyone would be upset if a store used "Happy Holidays!" as a greeting or in their marketing. It's not a slight on Christianity; it's a gesture of inclusiveness recognizing ALL the other holidays celebrated at this time of year, many, many of which predate any concept of a Christian Christmas. I would think people would enjoy a feeling of unity from knowing that many diverse cultures and religions celebrate this time of year as a season of light and love and generosity.

But nah. Let's keep Christ in Christmas by being peevish and nasty to people who have other belief systems and who dare to enjoy themselves anyway. 'Tis a long, noble tradition. As H.L. Mencken observed, "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."

Ok, my little rant is done.

On "the tree," I have mainly symbols of nature. Snowflakes, icicles, fruits, stars, pinecones, nuts and berries. Of course I have "Baby's First Saturnalia" ornaments (ok, not really) and "Our First Alban Arthan, 2000" (ok, maybe not) and bells and things. Oh, and the lights, of course. White, and some twinkle! I have yet to find any sun ornaments out and about; someday, maybe we'll make some.

I have rejected the idea I read in one or two pagan books of decorating with mermaids and centaurs and fairies because I don't tend to run into a lot of those out in the woods during the winter. I know! I must live in the wrong climate. I'm also not going the yoni and phallus route. The last thing I need is for the kids to tell people we have tiny "weenises" on the tree. That's a bit ... unsubtle for me. (Am I veering dangerously close to Puritanism? Oh noes!)

We have a plastic tree, even though it's the antithesis of what, I think, the trees stand for, but I have two small kids and don't want to cordon it off or constantly nag them not to touch the watering bucket which is perilously near many electrical cords. So we're putting off going the real tree route for a few more years. I remember having a fake tree most of my childhood, and thinking it was still magical, despite its lack of smell and vitality and its green pipe cleaner appearance.

I think I will get some evergreen boughs for the authentic piney smell.

I hope that will be okay with the Religious Right.

I just can't get enough

Sickness, that is. Whoooowee. Somehow, I knew there was a very good reason I didn't get into the shower in a timely fashion this morning. Had I done that, I'd have still been upstairs primping, and not heard my cell phone's delicate ringtone, when the nurse told me to come get my vomiting kid.

I had been planning to go get lights (yes, I know) for the tree, maybe pick up a latte, and grab some groceries we were low on. Instead, I'm making chicken soup and homemade play dough. Which is okay; I'll be moving on to cookie doughs next, I think. I'll make chai to cover for the latte. Not the same amount of caffeine, alas, but the sugar ratio is about the same.

I am doing this annoying thing, that I do every single year, of putting on the local "All Christmas Music, All the Time, All Freakin' December" music station on for most of the day. Somehow, even though I am a crabby old crank, I don't mind overdosing on Christmas music. (With the notable exception of "Christmas Shoes," which I find so appallingly maudlin and saccharine and exploitative that it makes me want to shove knitting needles into my ears while retching. I mute the radio every time it comes on.) The kids eat it up, too. The playlist isn't that great, though, so I really need to assemble my own and get it on the Sansa so we can have some variety.

The Christmas music and the snow lightly falling outside, combined with the spottily lit tree and the Yankee candles burning makes it quite nice and toasty and cheery inside.

Vomit and all.

Stuck

Sometimes I get stuck or stymied by the silliest things. I have my whole holiday To Do list ironed out, I believe, and the first thing I really did (or, well, had the husband do) is put up the tree. I planned to just put it up last night, and start decorating it slowly over the course of the week.

Except two of the strands on the "pre-lit" tree are out, and I can't seem to fix them. And it looks stupid, and I can't possibly put anything ON the tree until I either fix them or put standalone strands in their place. And I don't have any standalone strands, and don't really want to buy them (because I hate them), but I'm also leery of driving all over town looking for the Light Keeper Pro.

So I keep wandering around, starting to do things, staring at the tree, and giving up in a welter of confusion.

Sorry, I think I'm gonna blame SAD and a lack of caffeine for this.

I also just joined Holidailies, for the first year ever. I'm hoping either it will get me back into a posting habit and record this December's events for my better future recollection.

Or it will just fill me with shame and guilt when I neglect it.

C'est la vie!