Hi KTG! Thanks for the welcome back! I don't envy you. I don't like trying to make new friends. I find it really tough.
Vydalea - perhaps it wasn't so creepy that i wanted to photograph my empty closet!
We went out for a walk thru a local nature center and there was only one other person in the many many acres!. LOVELY!
Maia: it's nice that your principal was receptive to what you were saying and was candid with you. I agree with you - social/emotional learning is equally as important as academic learning. Hoping his discussion with his 2 lead teachers brings positive change....AND here's hoping for positive change with M! **love the french press, by the way** mmmmm.... I have a little 2 cup press and it's my joy all winter!!
I know. And thanks for the validation. I really am not at all worried about ds's academics at the moment. I think the behavioral stuff is WAY more important. You can get along in society if you behave right and are stupid, but if you are smart as the dickens and behave like an ass, life won't go very smoothly, kwim?
M has 3 days, today-- one big difference is he's going around telling key people in his life that he's seeking recovery and going to AA. Granted, he's only been to one meeting, but he wants to go to more (the times are not at ALL amenable to his work schedule...sigh) and is talking on the phone to a man who I go to a meeting with, here where I live. Yay!
I was in an accident on the 28th of October and while I feel almost back to normal, I am thinking I may have jarred my filling or something in my tooth when we got hit, because I am having some slight pain. I hate dental stuff.
Glad you are OK. I hate dental stuff, too! Can you stick a clove in there till you get it looked at?
Quote:
Maia, positive thoughts going M's way. I hope you are not getting sick but if you are I hope it passes quickly. I have a French Press and love it!I love mine, too, though I only use it for camping. I am spoiled by the drip coffee maker. It has a timer-thingy that you can set it to start in the morning before you're out of bed 
Oh and I'm reading up a storm too - Just finished the Art of Racing in the Rain - Loved it! Up next The Golden Compass as a friend recommended it awhile ago for me to read.
Any tea drinkers here? I need to find some teas for a gift and anyone have recommendations of some yummy ones?
I mostly read at night, anymore. I am reading the last of the Jean Auel series. I read the first Golden Compass and thought it was really weird (armored bears? really? 
) until I saw the movie. It made a lot more sense, then, believe it or not. Then I really liked it. But I thought her name should be pronounced to rhyme with Lyric, not Liar.
also, I love Republic of Tea's Blackberry Sage and Ginger Peach. I also had this amazing one at my mom's house: Organic India Tulsi Tea, Sweet Rose. It was so different at first, I didn't think I would enjoy it. It really tasted like a rose but it was delicious and soothing.
Oooh, rose tea, that sounds interesting!
I like the seasonal ones: Bigelow's Apple Cider and Pumpkin Spice, and the wintery ones, and I like Roastaroma by Celestial Seasonings, and their Zinger teas.
DS has this behavior chart that they fill out every day at school. He can get a possible 27 sections scored either 1 for worst, 2 for meets expectations, or 3 for best. The other day he got 19 1s!!!! Then 10...he hasn't gotten less than 10 1s in ages. His goal is 8 or less. Today he got NONE! No 1s at all! 
So, he CAN do it! Yay! At least, once in awhile. His doctor, M, and I all asked him today "What was different?" and he had no answer. Grrrr.
Hello all! Do you mind if I join your ranks?! I've considered myself a Pagan for years but only recently has it become a major force in my life. I would love to be able to chat with fellow Pagans! I live in a pretty conservative area and I've not really come out of the broomcloset, so to speak. DH knows and supports though he's more agnostic than anything. I've not *hid* it from my parents, but I've not actually said anything, either. In-laws....well....DH and I are already the black sheep of his family, I'm fairly certain if I came to Christmas dinner and pronounced that I was a practicing witch we'd be disowned!! Anyway, I've looked through WitchVox for Pagan circles in the area and no one has seemed interested enough to even email me back so I've been trying to go Solitary for awhile. Its not been overly smooth, though, and I'd love to have someplace with like minded individuals (who are also parents!!) to talk about the Gods, spells and rituals. 
So, Merry Meet and Blessed Be!
Hello all! Do you mind if I join your ranks?! I've considered myself a Pagan for years but only recently has it become a major force in my life. I would love to be able to chat with fellow Pagans! I live in a pretty conservative area and I've not really come out of the broomcloset, so to speak. DH knows and supports though he's more agnostic than anything. I've not *hid* it from my parents, but I've not actually said anything, either. In-laws....well....DH and I are already the black sheep of his family, I'm fairly certain if I came to Christmas dinner and pronounced that I was a practicing witch we'd be disowned!! Anyway, I've looked through WitchVox for Pagan circles in the area and no one has seemed interested enough to even email me back so I've been trying to go Solitary for awhile. Its not been overly smooth, though, and I'd love to have someplace with like minded individuals (who are also parents!!) to talk about the Gods, spells and rituals.
So, Merry Meet and Blessed Be!
Hi and welcome:)
Morning all. Another beautiful day out there. It's going to be in the 60's but the sun is out and there are zero clouds in the sky. Today is the last day of school for the week here and my kids all have plans so it is going to be pretty quiet this weekend. That's all good because next weekend is their birthday and I am sure it is going to be non-stop. Anyone have any plans? Hope everyone has a great day.
tea- you know... they make french press gizmos for tea too! LOL And there are always those funky tea flowers where the tea "unfolds" into a flower shape as it steeps. We used to have a tea shop near us and while those never ended up tasting all that great, they sure were fun to watch. Kind of an upscale adult version of those little pellets kids stick in water to "grow" a dinosaur? Love & Tea is wonderful... and an MDC mama shop! (she was in my first ddc/mamas of 4/05 group here and is really, really, nice)
funky feeling- anything wonky going on, oh you more tuned in astro folk? I know there's the moon tomorrow, but I've had such funky feelings the last day or two, and today I'm practically shaking. With no good reason. I feel like things are sort of hanging in the balance... that there is something coming that will tip the scale one way or the other. But I don't know /what/... what is in the balance? what is coming? which is the good or the bad or the neutral? It's like the sky is blue and sunny but the barometric pressure is dropping so my inner ear is ringing the storm warning. Anyone have a similar feel or idea about "why"?
Clay - Read up on Tracy's Blog particularily the articles Virgo Magic, Chiron & Neptune, Taurus Full Moon & Neptune Turns Direct. Lots of action happening in the stars right now, lots! There is a balancing act happening and a push/pull which I think in the end will mean growth for folks. Just in what form it will come in or how far it will push an individual is ... well up to them.
I'm getting curious to see how the world is once Neptune enters Pisces (2012) and where we end up at the end of that ride in 2026.
Welcome 3Mama! Glad to have you here! I am back myself after a long absence. There is no place better in my opinion for good pagan conversation!
There is a lot of energy building up... I feel it too and I'm consciously working on grounding myself, anchoring myself to Earth.
Friday is 11/11/11... a big day in many people's mind. Very in line with your feeling of the tip of the scale, Clay. ;-) There's a link going on on FB about a documentary that will be available for streaming ($5) on Friday called Thrive...
interesting... I'll go check Tracy's blog after I get the kiddos to their waldorf program. And I got an offer (out of the blue) from my SIL... she wants to design a website for me! So I think that must be part of this whole sense of change and impending motion. LOL... the "sitting at the top of the roller coaster ascent" sort of feeling. I just hope Tracy's blog helps me figure out how I got on that roller coaster, where it's going, and what I should be focusing on! :)
Our toilet is totally jammed (thank you, nameless 2yo and your roll of TP and then still nameless 6yo who added some serious nastiness to the bowl)... and we are currently without a plunger. I can get a plunger at walmart, and I will, after I drop the two girls off this afternoon. But 4yo wont use the toilet because it's "gross" so she is changing pants as needed. Screaming and hollering the whole time. And honestly /I/ need the facilities too but don't want to add to what I know will be an extremely un-fun plunger experience. Actually, budget or no budget I'm thinking I might get TWO plungers. The contents of the bowl are... well.... ick. Double ick. Maybe even trebel ick if you get right down to it.
Another 45 minutes or so before I can take the kiddos in... then another 20 or so to walmart. Sigh.
LOL
I'm fairly certain if I came to Christmas dinner and pronounced that I was a practicing witch we'd be disowned!!MM and welcome, 3x! Is the 3x for how many kids you have?
Your quote reminds me of the Dar Williams song 
That's all good because next weekend is their birthday and I am sure it is going to be non-stop. Anyone have any plans? Hope everyone has a great day.When's their birthday? Mine's next week, too 
Mine is the 17th, Thursday. I'm so annoyed because ds has off school that day-- for teacher conferences. Like I really want to have a conference on my birthday. As if I don't have enough conferences concerning ds, aside from these ones which are "regular" ones. As if I want to be with ds all.dang.day. on my birthday. I'm such a loner. I want some alone time for a birthday present. I have a Groupon for a massage and I wanted to do that, dang it! Oh well. Practice acceptance.
The 19th is our annual Holiday Parade. It's long...but I love to go. For the past 2 years, we've left early because ds didn't want to stay. I want to stay this year and see Santa at the end. And we also have my annual Birthday Thing; there is a national gingerbread house competition that is held at the Grove Park Inn, and it runs from right around my birthday, through January. We go every year. They are really cool and some are so elaborate! http://www.groveparkinn.com/Leisure/Happenings/Fall_2/National_Gingerbread_House_Competition__Display_9/ or here are some links for photos of past ones:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4139234857_05ca0f10be_z.jpg
and this one is really cool; it has 28 photos of houses:
The Grove Park Inn is amazing. Lots of famous people have stayed there, including actors and presidents and such. It's said to be haunted. Last year I had a HUGE bad-mommy-moment when I told my son to go stand in the human-sized giant fireplace---and it was live! It looked cold; I swear it did, but he was like "Mom, it's really warm in here"-- OMG 
I am still mortified about that, a year later...what could have happened. Holy shite.
And there were all these people around, and nobody even noticed! Yikes. Bad me.
Well yeah, there's a stray asteroid roaming around the skies at 96,000mph and it very nearly could have hit us last night. M was tracking it. It missed
Actually, budget or no budget I'm thinking I might get TWO plungers. The contents of the bowl are... well.... ick. Double ick. Maybe even trebel ick if you get right down to it.
Oh, ew....hey Clay, don't you have enough property that you could conceivable go outdoors if you needed to? One time, when I lived under my landlord on the OBX, the property got flooded from a storm. Well, that happened a lot, living on the beach, but this one particular time, 3 sides of the house were underwater, and my toilet was non-working. You couldn't flush. So I was going in a grocery-bag-lined Dutch oven for poo, and disposing of the contents...I forgot where, I think in the big town trash bins, but I forgot. But in your case you could just bury it? Plus, don't you have potty-learning kiddos? If so, might you have a padded potty ring that fits on the big toidy? Those fit nice and snugly on a 2-1/2gallon bucket, or a 5-gallon one. Makes a great camp potty, or emergency one. Might be worth going to Sam's Club just to get the dishwasher powder that comes in that 2-1/2gallon bucket, kwim?
Welcome, 3xMama! 
Maia: Wonderful news about DS's day of "NONE" - it must feel so good to know that it can happen. And I hope that M can continue down the path he has chosen...thinking of all of you and keeping my fingers crossed!!!
Clay: One reason I love this board is that I was also feeling and continue to feel SO OFF this week and knew there would be others who would wonder what the HECK was going on in the cosmos! I told my DH that I am making LOTS of lemonade this week. (you know, when life hands you lemons...) We have bathtubs full this week! And it's only Wednesday!
ktg: I did check out Tracy's blog and felt better knowing that it is a little hectic out there this week and *deep breath* that on the other side is much potential for clarity. I thought of you yesterday when I received some tea samples I had requested in the mail from Twinings. Had the Jamine Green Tea which is a special favorite of mine. Oddly, I had wanted to pick up a bottle of Jasmine Iced Tea at the grocery store but didn't feel like spending money on a frivolous treat for myself - then got home and found it in my mailbox. What a special treat from the universe!!
redveg: What are you doing for the birthday celebration?
This morning Z and I wandered around a local park with our friends. It was gorgeous out. We sat by the river and played in the leaves. pure bliss in a week of oddities.
Hey Gals,
My poor dog Xander got his paw caught in a coyote trap on Monday. He is fine, though I got bit by him. I got antibiotics and a tetanus shot. He felt awful after it happened, he thought I was mad at him. You know what is entirely odd, our new neighbor had just installed them on Sunday and we took an alternate path on Monday. Honestly, I felt beyond scary-almost unreal. Like, why did we go that way?
I felt off since then, and the changes could explain it. I wrote in my journal yesterday morning, "waiting for the other shoe to fall." At the doc, I saw someone new and she was odd to say the least. She told me to wait and would be right back, and she never returned. She kept asking me about how my anxiety meds were working. So, odd. The whole thing felt off. Thank goodness for Tracy's article, cause I was feeling rather not me.
Clay-clogged toilets are the worst, hope you were able to use the facilities and it wasn't super gross.
Maia- I have been following your stuff with DS and M and it sounds like things may be looking up.
Maia- I have been following your stuff with DS and M and it sounds like things may be looking up.
Gawd, I so hope you're right; now if the house would sell!!!
The showing-- the people weren't interested in pursuing further 
It wasn't the house; it was the location. I'm on a thru-street and they wanted more of a neighborhood feel. But the Homebuyer Ed guy is going to bring another class (of 12!) through at some point soon! I am offering $500 towards closing costs, now. I'm leaving room for more, if I want to increase it, which is why only $500 for now. AND conveying every-dang-thing, the washer/dryer, the deep freezer, microwave, of course the stove and fridge, even some furniture if they want it. Ye Gods, people, it's only $136,900, and a stone's throw from the Biltmore Estate-- someone has got to want to live here!
2 weeks till I see M 
The countdown begins! Can y'all tell I'm excited?
Oh, I so want to ask my mom if she'll keep ds for the week between Christmas and New Year's again...so I can go back and see M...but I don't think I dare. She hasn't offered, and won't. I'd have to ask, for the 3rd year in a row, and I doubt she'll want to. Which means I'll have to wait till like February. Or March
MM and welcome, 3x! Is the 3x for how many kids you have?
Your quote reminds me of the Dar Williams song
Well yeah, there's a stray asteroid roaming around the skies at 96,000mph and it very nearly could have hit us last night. M was tracking it. It missed
Thank you all for the welcomes! Yup, the 3x is for how many kids I have. Its supposed to be like "3 times a mama" though I'm not sure that translates so well. I wanted to change it eventually but then the website changed and I'm stuck with it. Anyway, I have a 5.5 yr old DD, DS1 who will be 2 on the 18th, and DS2 who is 9.5 months. My babies! 
And the asteroid comment made me 
! I'm glad it missed!! I do have to join everyone else in saying things have felt off. It seems like its been one small thing after another lately, though I'm glad its just small.
Aeress-I'm so sorry about your dog! Was he injured at all or just scared? Glad that you are ok, too!
Clay-I hope that your toilet issues have been resolved. Very few things are worse to deal with than clogged toilets--ick indeed!
Other than that - I'm taking steps to make a friend here (finally in WI). It is so hard, almost like dating except I think worse. Anyhoo we have a "date" to go to the farmer's market on Saturday, so here's hoping! Next up I have to reconnect with an old friend of mine to rekindle our friendship again so much like dating except with more to lose emotionally. gah...
I hate trying to make friends, especially Mom friends. Good luck!
I mostly read at night, anymore. I am reading the last of the Jean Auel series. I read the first Golden Compass and thought it was really weird (armored bears? really? ) until I saw the movie. It made a lot more sense, then, believe it or not. Then I really liked it. But I thought her name should be pronounced to rhyme with Lyric, not Liar.
Yay for DS! I loved the Golden Compass and its sequels. (Well, the books. I don't know if they made the sequels into movies.) I read it when I was a tween and just loved it. I'm waiting for DD to be old enough to like it as a read-aloud.
Hello all! Do you mind if I join your ranks?! I've considered myself a Pagan for years but only recently has it become a major force in my life. I would love to be able to chat with fellow Pagans! I live in a pretty conservative area and I've not really come out of the broomcloset, so to speak. DH knows and supports though he's more agnostic than anything. I've not *hid* it from my parents, but I've not actually said anything, either. In-laws....well....DH and I are already the black sheep of his family, I'm fairly certain if I came to Christmas dinner and pronounced that I was a practicing witch we'd be disowned!! Anyway, I've looked through WitchVox for Pagan circles in the area and no one has seemed interested enough to even email me back so I've been trying to go Solitary for awhile. Its not been overly smooth, though, and I'd love to have someplace with like minded individuals (who are also parents!!) to talk about the Gods, spells and rituals.
So, Merry Meet and Blessed Be!
Welcome! I don't know how old your kids are, but I do think it's really hard to get involved in Pagan circles with little kids. I live in a big city, so there are quite a few options, but not any that are a good fit.
Man, it got cold fast. Allegedly people were seeing snow yesterday afternoon, but I refuse to believe it. At least, I didn't see any snow.
Hello all! Do you mind if I join your ranks?! >snipped by DaughterOfKali<
So, Merry Meet and Blessed Be!
Welcome! I've never had luck on witchvox. Do you have a Unitarian Universalist church near you? There are often members who are pagan at UU churches. It's a good place to look for others of like-mind.
Welcome to everyone I've missed this week... so many new voices! :)
And thanks for the toilet sympathy. LOL The plunger didn't work... we had to wait for DH to get home and run the snake through the line and hit the exterior baffle. /shudder/ Ah well, it happens! And with several small kiddos in the house it happens more often than I'd like.
toilet seat- actually, we finally got a toilet seat that has a toddler seat "built in" to the lid. It's pretty spiffy. Basically there is the regular lid of the toilet, but that lid is in two pieces... lift the "first" lid and it's a smaller toddler friendly opening. But lift the whole lid at once and it's a regular sized seat. The only problem is that the double seat is thicker than a normal lid so our toilet lock doesn't fit. Which contributes to the toilet jamming. DD1 and dd2 never really bothered with the toilet, but ds is aaaaaaaallllll about dropping things in the toilet and flushing them away. Sigh.
Lantern walk- we have a lantern walk at dd1/dd2's waldrof school tonight. Should be good weather for it too. Mid to upper 40s. We probably wont see that sort of "warm night" for much longer... looks like we may be back to snow on the weekend. Which is kind of ok with me. I'm really enjoying the wood smoke and dry leaf scents of late autumn, it's one of my favorite times of year, but between the snows and storms and whatnot the scenery is kind of, well, ugh-tastic. Lots of dead leaves and bare bones in the woods, just asking for a little snow to jazz them up! So while part of me wants to keep the smells and sounds and warmth of the season, part of me wants to have the visual pretty of the snow. Of course, after a week of snow I'll be begging for the fall again!
random- has anyone every shaved a cat? Our cat has medium long fur and she has this amazing ability to develop dreds. Which look horrible and lead to eventual hairballs of horror. We do our best with brushing but she was a stray and really doesn't /like/ being brushed (or even petted, we've tried those "glove" style combs to no avail) so it's tough. I'm half joking here, but really... I feel like keeping her fur short would solve everyone's problems! LOL But our local grooming service wont even bath cats, let alone give them a trim. And I've helped friends bath cats... not a game for the faint hearted.
Clay - I used to trim my client's cat because of the dreads. I had fast hads and sharp scissors. Not anything i would do again!! Best of luck!!
Lantern walk - I am hosting one at my home tomorrow night for a bunch of kids. Should be fun!! Little Acorn posted this 'Glimmer Lantern Glimmer' story that is nice, secular, and filled with fun! I hope it goes well tomorrow!
It is a beautiful day here. Nice, crisp, sunny, clean air type of day. Cold too, but I expect that too.
Clay - I have that problem with my cats and we take the clippers (the same DH uses for his beards) and shave out the mats/dreads when they get that bad. We used to just do it with scissors and that was super scary for me and I love using the clipper more for the spot areas.
Otherwise we use a curry-like comb which does an amazing job of brushing out the undercoat and hair from our 4 kitties. None of ours likes anything to do with grooming (including clipping the nails) and it's a 2-person job to tackle them, hold them (with a towel), shave the spots, brush (if we can at that point) and then clip nails.
Can you bribe her with treats and then comb a bit or does she take off for the nearest couch (to hide under) if the brush/comb comes out?
It's snowing here and I'm in a bit of shock! Luckily it is the big fluffy type of flakes which make it quite pretty to look at and less painful to accept that winter is coming...
Yup, the 3x is for how many kids I have. Its supposed to be like "3 times a mama" though I'm not sure that translates so well.
I wasn't sure if it was that, or that 3x is your...um...body size, but I didn't want to ask
I read it when I was a tween and just loved it. I'm waiting for DD to be old enough to like it as a read-aloud.Ye Gods, you make me feel old. A tween, srsly? I haven't been a tween in like 40 years 
Originally Posted by wombatclay toilet seat- actually, we finally got a toilet seat that has a toddler seat "built in" to the lid. It's pretty spiffy.
random- has anyone every shaved a cat? We do our best with brushing but she was a stray and really doesn't /like/ being brushed
I have seen those seats, and they are cool, but while Tor is that young and impetuous, you might consider investing in an "emergency potty" a'la what I said, for the meanwhile. And lock the bathroom door from the outside, just for the older folks. I know it's a pain, but lots less of a pain than snaking the toilet every couple days. Or hours. You can often find those padded potty rings on Freecycle, or at Goodwill. And the buckets, too.
Brushing-- this is THE VERY BEST thing I have ever, ever found for getting out tangles. Granted it is for ds's hair, and was brilliant when he had ass-length hair, but I bet it'd work for a cat, too: http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-5679-rainbow-research-detangler-for-kids-8-oz and that's not a bad price for it, either. Unless you don't want to pay shipping; I bet they have it at your HFS.
M is trying so bloody hard to stay sober. He sounds different. He sounds determined. But it's so hard for him. He just.can.not. make meetings in the week. He tried last night, but got about 3 blocks before he realized he was weaving and would either have an accident or get pulled for drunk driving, because of his meds. Poor guy. He actually said (two different times!) "I need a meeting". My local guy is going to call M and try to set up some sort of conference call for a phone meeting How sweet is that?
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