Currently feeling:
missing my big tree this year
Thursday, December 06, 2007
If I had more dollars than sense....
I've never been into the whole "train circling the Christmas tree" thing. We didn't have one, we didn't know anyone who had one, and aside from my father, no one in my family is very into trains. BUT, if I had the money to spend, I would *totally* be getting one of these to go around our big tree (that we don't put up any more, but this might inspire me to do so) for my completely LEGO-crazy and train-enthralled son:
Currently feeling: missing my big tree this year
Currently feeling:
missing my big tree this year
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
November 2007 Round Up
Monthly Round Up idea borrowed from Katie the Scrapbook Lady.
Sorry, I know it is later than usual. Just been busy.
Credit: Pinky Blinkies
What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
New issue of Atlanta Parent, Kraft Magazine, and a zillion catalogs. Read another chapter or two of Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood (need to update the progress bars on my sidebar). Also started trying to read Kushiel's Dart, but I didn't get very far. Thought I would get more read at the airport and on the plane, and maybe over Thanksgiving, but it just never happened, and now I don't have time with Christmas in three weeks and the new job starting in less than two weeks.
What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
Was there anything new this month? I don't think so. Just way too busy getting over illnesses, helping with Dad's surgery, and Thanksgiving. Oh wait, I did see one episode of Dancing With the Stars, which my parents adore. I've always liked ballroom dancing, but DH never showed any interest, so I didn't pursue it when it came on. But the one episode (the semi-final) we watched at my parents he really seemed to quite like, so we may give it a try when the next season.
What special days did I celebrate and how?
Thanksgiving! Which was also a celebration of my grandmother's life; it would have been her 85th birthday. We had a great day, we shuttled my grandfather back and forth to Waycross (roughly 90 minutes away; we usually go there, but my father was not up to that much time in the car after his shoulder surgery), and we visited my grandmother's grave to replace the silk flowers. Luke spent the time at the cemetary blowing bubbles. Mom was concerned that other people might have been offended if they saw that, but Granny would have loved it, and that's all that mattered to me.
What gifts did I give and/or receive?
Passed out some of "the shirt" pictures to my parents. The rest of the family will get them for Christmas. Prepared several baby gifts, but haven't managed to get them mailed off yet (Jenni, I hope it gets there before baby does!).
What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
DH was sick, which didn't help him take care of Luke alone for several days as I went home to help Mom with the house while she cared for Dad after his shoulder surgery. Luke arrived in Brunswick for Thanksgiving with his ear dripping and a fever of 102, not four weeks after being treated for an ear infection that started from a sinus infection. We had to find a doctor in Brunswick, where no one has our insurance, the day before Thanksgiving. Fun. So more antibiotics, about the strongest they could prescribe, which have now caused some side effects that we are still dealing with. All because they wouldn't treat the sinus infection when I took him in the first time with "just a fever and a cough," despite me telling them that I knew it was a sinus infection. Yeah, I'm a bit ticked about it all.
What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
*Finally* took Luke to the aquarium. Seems like everyone in the US had been but us. Luke seemed to enjoy it (really liked the penguins), but he lost interest after about 30 minutes (he was tired and hungry), so I didn't get to see a whole lot of the "right side" of the place. I really thought he would be more interested than he was, so I was a little disappointed. Here are some pictures:
What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
I made it a point to try some new things at Thanksgiving. I tried oven roasted asparagus, squash casserole, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole (with pecans, not marshmallows). I'm sure I had had squash casserole and green bean casserole in the past, but it was so long ago that I felt the need to give them a try again. Don't feel the need to do so in the future, though. Green bean casserole was okay, didn't care for the squash. I liked the sweet potato casserole when the topping was intact, but when we mixed it in to store it (at my suggestion), I didn't like it nearly as well. Makes me wonder if I would prefer it simply as sweet potato pie with pecans on top? And the asparagus was okay.
What special or unusual purchases did I make?
Rotors, since my brakes got stuck in the "on" position for a few days and totally wore them out. Also twin sized bed linens for Luke's new bed, and the arrival of the mattresses. We do not have them on a bed frame yet; just the mattress and box springs sitting on the floor until he stops falling out of bed. The Finding Nemo pillow case and small quilt were from the toddler bedding set that my parents got for him. We never actually used a toddler bed like I thought we would, but we did use the fitted sheet from the set when he was still in the crib, and now the pillow case and quilt are being used, so I don't feel so bad. But, for Christmas, we got him a Star Wars Galactic Heroes bedding set that I think he is going to love!
Here is the bed, as it stands now, his first look at the bed, and some pictures from his first couple of nights sleeping in it. Don't quite have the hang of sleeping "properly" in the bed (in fact, he is usually fully transverse when we check on him), but that's okay.
What were this month's disappointments?
That second ear infection really has me annoyed, and I was so disappointed that Luke didn't like the aquarium more than he did. Also having to leave Brunswick a day earlier than planned after Thanksgiving was disappointing, but it was the right thing to do. Luke was in total and complete meltdown mode after having nothing be "normal" for well over a week, and it was simply time to go home.
What were my accomplishments this month?
I finished the 2008 CD calendar! Finished it before the 10th of the month even. But have I printed it yet? NO! Sheesh. I have been busy since I got back from Thanksgiving trying to get everything ready to start work on December 17, though, so it's not like I've been a total and complete bum. But if I don't get on the stick and get Christmas mostly done and ready before work starts, I'm going to be in all kinds of trouble.
What were Luke's accomplishments this month?
Moved to a big boy bed. Even more improvement on the talking. He is actually conversant now, as opposed to just randomly talking, which is really neat to see.
Anything else noteworthy to record?
Had the Toyota emblem for the front of my car stolen while it was at the dealer getting new rotors. That's about the wackiest thing I've had happen in a while.
Currently feeling:
hurried (harried?)
Sorry, I know it is later than usual. Just been busy.
Credit: Pinky Blinkies
What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
New issue of Atlanta Parent, Kraft Magazine, and a zillion catalogs. Read another chapter or two of Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood (need to update the progress bars on my sidebar). Also started trying to read Kushiel's Dart, but I didn't get very far. Thought I would get more read at the airport and on the plane, and maybe over Thanksgiving, but it just never happened, and now I don't have time with Christmas in three weeks and the new job starting in less than two weeks.
What movies and/or tv shows did I watch this month?
Was there anything new this month? I don't think so. Just way too busy getting over illnesses, helping with Dad's surgery, and Thanksgiving. Oh wait, I did see one episode of Dancing With the Stars, which my parents adore. I've always liked ballroom dancing, but DH never showed any interest, so I didn't pursue it when it came on. But the one episode (the semi-final) we watched at my parents he really seemed to quite like, so we may give it a try when the next season.
What special days did I celebrate and how?
Thanksgiving! Which was also a celebration of my grandmother's life; it would have been her 85th birthday. We had a great day, we shuttled my grandfather back and forth to Waycross (roughly 90 minutes away; we usually go there, but my father was not up to that much time in the car after his shoulder surgery), and we visited my grandmother's grave to replace the silk flowers. Luke spent the time at the cemetary blowing bubbles. Mom was concerned that other people might have been offended if they saw that, but Granny would have loved it, and that's all that mattered to me.
What gifts did I give and/or receive?
Passed out some of "the shirt" pictures to my parents. The rest of the family will get them for Christmas. Prepared several baby gifts, but haven't managed to get them mailed off yet (Jenni, I hope it gets there before baby does!).
What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
DH was sick, which didn't help him take care of Luke alone for several days as I went home to help Mom with the house while she cared for Dad after his shoulder surgery. Luke arrived in Brunswick for Thanksgiving with his ear dripping and a fever of 102, not four weeks after being treated for an ear infection that started from a sinus infection. We had to find a doctor in Brunswick, where no one has our insurance, the day before Thanksgiving. Fun. So more antibiotics, about the strongest they could prescribe, which have now caused some side effects that we are still dealing with. All because they wouldn't treat the sinus infection when I took him in the first time with "just a fever and a cough," despite me telling them that I knew it was a sinus infection. Yeah, I'm a bit ticked about it all.
What fun things did I do with my friends and/or family?
*Finally* took Luke to the aquarium. Seems like everyone in the US had been but us. Luke seemed to enjoy it (really liked the penguins), but he lost interest after about 30 minutes (he was tired and hungry), so I didn't get to see a whole lot of the "right side" of the place. I really thought he would be more interested than he was, so I was a little disappointed. Here are some pictures:
What new foods, recipes or restaurants did I try this month?
I made it a point to try some new things at Thanksgiving. I tried oven roasted asparagus, squash casserole, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole (with pecans, not marshmallows). I'm sure I had had squash casserole and green bean casserole in the past, but it was so long ago that I felt the need to give them a try again. Don't feel the need to do so in the future, though. Green bean casserole was okay, didn't care for the squash. I liked the sweet potato casserole when the topping was intact, but when we mixed it in to store it (at my suggestion), I didn't like it nearly as well. Makes me wonder if I would prefer it simply as sweet potato pie with pecans on top? And the asparagus was okay.
What special or unusual purchases did I make?
Rotors, since my brakes got stuck in the "on" position for a few days and totally wore them out. Also twin sized bed linens for Luke's new bed, and the arrival of the mattresses. We do not have them on a bed frame yet; just the mattress and box springs sitting on the floor until he stops falling out of bed. The Finding Nemo pillow case and small quilt were from the toddler bedding set that my parents got for him. We never actually used a toddler bed like I thought we would, but we did use the fitted sheet from the set when he was still in the crib, and now the pillow case and quilt are being used, so I don't feel so bad. But, for Christmas, we got him a Star Wars Galactic Heroes bedding set that I think he is going to love!
Here is the bed, as it stands now, his first look at the bed, and some pictures from his first couple of nights sleeping in it. Don't quite have the hang of sleeping "properly" in the bed (in fact, he is usually fully transverse when we check on him), but that's okay.
What were this month's disappointments?
That second ear infection really has me annoyed, and I was so disappointed that Luke didn't like the aquarium more than he did. Also having to leave Brunswick a day earlier than planned after Thanksgiving was disappointing, but it was the right thing to do. Luke was in total and complete meltdown mode after having nothing be "normal" for well over a week, and it was simply time to go home.
What were my accomplishments this month?
I finished the 2008 CD calendar! Finished it before the 10th of the month even. But have I printed it yet? NO! Sheesh. I have been busy since I got back from Thanksgiving trying to get everything ready to start work on December 17, though, so it's not like I've been a total and complete bum. But if I don't get on the stick and get Christmas mostly done and ready before work starts, I'm going to be in all kinds of trouble.
What were Luke's accomplishments this month?
Moved to a big boy bed. Even more improvement on the talking. He is actually conversant now, as opposed to just randomly talking, which is really neat to see.
Anything else noteworthy to record?
Had the Toyota emblem for the front of my car stolen while it was at the dealer getting new rotors. That's about the wackiest thing I've had happen in a while.
Currently feeling:
hurried (harried?)
Saturday, December 01, 2007
A Christmas Computer Miracle
Looks like we have been given a second chance. Apparently, booting up the desktop in Safe Mode seems to have corrected whatever glitch we were having. Things seem to be working fine. However, we are not going to assume that all is hunky-dorey. We will spend our newly-granted time wisely and shop for the computer we want as a replacement (instead of having to rush through the decision today without being able to really think things through). We'd like to put it off until after Christmas (and my first paycheck, which will not be until early January), but we'll just see how well it behaves the rest of the month.
Currently feeling:
aggrivated with technology
Currently feeling:
aggrivated with technology
Desktop Demise
Well that's just peachy. Our desktop just died. We were going to buy a new one, probably as a joint birthday gift to ourselves next year. All it had to do was last 9 more months! Now, not only do we not have a desktop computer, we have no computer that will run Luke's favorite computer game (Lego Star Wars), and I have no computer that will run my graphics software so that I can finish the 2008 CD calendars!! The laptop is still functional (obviously), but it would choke trying to run either of those things. Both computers are 3.5 years old, but still! Is it really too much to ask to get 4+ years out of a stupid piece of electronics?
Thank goodness I am a smart woman and chose to back everything up before I left for Thanksgiving, just in case. The external hard drive still works fine (it is currently connected to the very laptop on which I am typing), so everything I backed up on it is also there. The last couple of things that were not backed up that I wanted (like fonts, which I only back up every 3-6 months) are burning to a CD right now (from Safe Mode).
Guess I know what DH and I are getting each other for Christmas. The thing that really sucks is that it is DH who is going to be hurt by this. He bought my Christmas present back in October! I haven't bought a single thing for him, and with a new desktop in our future, I won't be spending nearly as much as I planned. Guess it is good that it happened before we spent our entire Christmas budget rather than after, but please!
We've had one major something happen, financially speaking, basically every month since August. August, I found out I couldn't start a new contract for 90 days, which killed our budget for the rest of the year, including having to accept financial help so Luke can stay in daycare (otherwise it would wipe out a not-insignificant portion of our savings account, which those helping felt it was more important to keep on hand in case of true emergency). September was a new washer and dryer, which we felt confident getting because there were no other large expenses planned for the rest of the year (haha, the joke's on us). October was mattresses and new bedding for Luke. November was a nice chunk of change for car repairs. And now, (apparently) December is both Christmas *and* a new computer. Can we please just get a break?
Guess it is a good thing my paperwork came in from the contracting company today. Then again, I got papers (and computer equipment!) last time around with this, and still didn't get the job. My start date is December 17. Either the third time is the charm, or it is three strikes and I'm out. Keep your fingers crossed, please!
Currently feeling:
and the money kept rolling out....
Thank goodness I am a smart woman and chose to back everything up before I left for Thanksgiving, just in case. The external hard drive still works fine (it is currently connected to the very laptop on which I am typing), so everything I backed up on it is also there. The last couple of things that were not backed up that I wanted (like fonts, which I only back up every 3-6 months) are burning to a CD right now (from Safe Mode).
Guess I know what DH and I are getting each other for Christmas. The thing that really sucks is that it is DH who is going to be hurt by this. He bought my Christmas present back in October! I haven't bought a single thing for him, and with a new desktop in our future, I won't be spending nearly as much as I planned. Guess it is good that it happened before we spent our entire Christmas budget rather than after, but please!
We've had one major something happen, financially speaking, basically every month since August. August, I found out I couldn't start a new contract for 90 days, which killed our budget for the rest of the year, including having to accept financial help so Luke can stay in daycare (otherwise it would wipe out a not-insignificant portion of our savings account, which those helping felt it was more important to keep on hand in case of true emergency). September was a new washer and dryer, which we felt confident getting because there were no other large expenses planned for the rest of the year (haha, the joke's on us). October was mattresses and new bedding for Luke. November was a nice chunk of change for car repairs. And now, (apparently) December is both Christmas *and* a new computer. Can we please just get a break?
Guess it is a good thing my paperwork came in from the contracting company today. Then again, I got papers (and computer equipment!) last time around with this, and still didn't get the job. My start date is December 17. Either the third time is the charm, or it is three strikes and I'm out. Keep your fingers crossed, please!
Currently feeling:
and the money kept rolling out....
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Quickest Way to Target
I'm not sure if this story will translate well to the written word. I'm sure someone could do it better, but I'll give it a shot. I hope it comes across as funny as it was at the time.
So, the three of us are in the car, heading from daycare to dinner. We debate briefly, then decide to eat at Piccadilly. Cue the child: "Don't wanna eat Piccadiddy (sic). Want tato cakes." Luke, we had potato cakes (that would be Arby's) yesterday; we're going to Piccadilly today. So we make the turn that goes behind the mall, the same way we always go to Piccadilly.
Luke seems to have inherited MY sense of direction (thank goodness; DH's is non-existent), so he realizes what we will be passing to *get* to Piccadilly as soon as the turn is made, well before he can see the store. "Wanna go Target!" he says excitedly. (He loves Target for some reason; I'm sure it is unrelated to the fact that he gets a new set of Galactic Heroes Star Wars figures about 70% of the time.) Well, if you can behave at dinner, we'll think about it. "Nooooo," in his best whiny voice, "wanna go Target!!" Luke, we have to eat dinner first. Then, when *all* of us are finished eating (not just he who eats three bites and says finished), we might go to Target.
A brief moment of quiet. You can almost hear the wheels turning in the back seat. Then, in a voice just as pleased as it can be, we hear:
"All finished!"
I thought DH was going to have to pull over, we were both laughing so hard! It was only a couple more blocks to Piccadilly (which is directly behind the Target) from where we were, so we did make it safely, but we were still chuckling about it as we walked to the restaurant. Boy, that was the longest and hardest I have laughed in a long time!
And yes, we did take him to Target. How could we not after such an incredibly cute moment? (Besides, I needed the last part of two baby gifts that need to go out in the next week.)
Currently feeling:
hurting from laughing
So, the three of us are in the car, heading from daycare to dinner. We debate briefly, then decide to eat at Piccadilly. Cue the child: "Don't wanna eat Piccadiddy (sic). Want tato cakes." Luke, we had potato cakes (that would be Arby's) yesterday; we're going to Piccadilly today. So we make the turn that goes behind the mall, the same way we always go to Piccadilly.
Luke seems to have inherited MY sense of direction (thank goodness; DH's is non-existent), so he realizes what we will be passing to *get* to Piccadilly as soon as the turn is made, well before he can see the store. "Wanna go Target!" he says excitedly. (He loves Target for some reason; I'm sure it is unrelated to the fact that he gets a new set of Galactic Heroes Star Wars figures about 70% of the time.) Well, if you can behave at dinner, we'll think about it. "Nooooo," in his best whiny voice, "wanna go Target!!" Luke, we have to eat dinner first. Then, when *all* of us are finished eating (not just he who eats three bites and says finished), we might go to Target.
A brief moment of quiet. You can almost hear the wheels turning in the back seat. Then, in a voice just as pleased as it can be, we hear:
"All finished!"
I thought DH was going to have to pull over, we were both laughing so hard! It was only a couple more blocks to Piccadilly (which is directly behind the Target) from where we were, so we did make it safely, but we were still chuckling about it as we walked to the restaurant. Boy, that was the longest and hardest I have laughed in a long time!
And yes, we did take him to Target. How could we not after such an incredibly cute moment? (Besides, I needed the last part of two baby gifts that need to go out in the next week.)
Currently feeling:
hurting from laughing
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Home again, home again, jiggity-jig
Good heavens, what a week! We're home, we survived. We had lots of good times and (way way too much) good food. Things were also unbelievably busy and chaotic. We even came home a day early (late Sunday, which we swore we would never do) because Luke was just in total meltdown mode. Spent all day yesterday recovering. I'll give more details later. Just happy to be home now.
Oh yeah, and I think I may *actually* be officially employed now. Or available to be so. No papers yet, but supposedly, the ball is rolling.
Currently feeling:
home sweet home!
Oh yeah, and I think I may *actually* be officially employed now. Or available to be so. No papers yet, but supposedly, the ball is rolling.
Currently feeling:
home sweet home!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Three generations, same shirt
In case anyone did not read the story in my October round-up, I am restating it here now that I have scanned the other photos of my father and brother so you can see.
See the shirt in the photos below? My grandmother made that shirt. She actually made matching ones and had photos taken of my father and his brother when my father was around age 3. As my brother neared age 3, Granny gave the shirt to my mother, so he was photographed in the same shirt. Luke is the third generation of Warren to wear this now 50-year-old shirt (I'm sure my father appreciates me pointing that out), and I fully intend to save it for his children. I'm just sorry Granny didn't get to see her only great-grandson wearing the shirt she made and kept for all those years.
My father, circa 1954:
My brother, circa 1983:
My son, October 2007:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Currently feeling:
thankful for my grandmother, and missing her mightily on Thanksgiving, her 85th birthday
See the shirt in the photos below? My grandmother made that shirt. She actually made matching ones and had photos taken of my father and his brother when my father was around age 3. As my brother neared age 3, Granny gave the shirt to my mother, so he was photographed in the same shirt. Luke is the third generation of Warren to wear this now 50-year-old shirt (I'm sure my father appreciates me pointing that out), and I fully intend to save it for his children. I'm just sorry Granny didn't get to see her only great-grandson wearing the shirt she made and kept for all those years.
My father, circa 1954:
My brother, circa 1983:
My son, October 2007:
Happy Thanksgiving!
Currently feeling:
thankful for my grandmother, and missing her mightily on Thanksgiving, her 85th birthday
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