Dingoes Running in Search of Light and Warmth in December! - Page 9

[MelW]

We had 8-10" of snow last night. Wet, heavy snow. It took over an hour to shovel this morning. The good news is I got some exercise and the kids played outside happily the whole time. I can't find the crazy carpets, but they slid down the snowbanks on frisbees.

Now we're finished some geography study and soon leaving for grocery shopping and violin lesson. My little one has the beginning of a cold and has been wheezing all morning. Did I mention that she asked the mall Santa for a cure for allergies and asthma for Christmas?

Shanti, will the dog use paper? I know it seems ridiculous to put down paper for a three year old dog, but if it saves the lego...

sparkle, congrats on the A+. I'm glad your kids can see how awesome you are. In the realm of why do women do the housework, my youngest plans to be a "girl dad" when she grows up. In the girl dad version of motherhood you get to have kids, but are much more fun/funny than a mum and have a wife to help with the housework. It sounds like a pretty good plan to me.

[sparkletruck]

MelW - its my dog. It's the combo of "people food" and lack of skills, in this case, a half-dozen muffins LOADED w/ flax seeds. Not pretty

My SAHM friend's kids were playing house and the youngest girl said "I'm the mom!", and the older DD said "dont be the mom! They have to do EVERYTHING!" Funny 'cause it's true

[MelW]

My apologies, Shanti!!

I hope the dog stays away from the human food, sparkle.

[Runningmommy]

Hi ladies!! No running today as it was too busy.

RR: I did, however pick up my orthotics. I'm supposed to wear them one hour per day, increasing one hour each day until I can wear them 8 hours a day, and then I am allowed to run in them. I'm glad he told me that as I planned on running on them today. He also said that it takes 6 weeks to really get used to them. Interesting. My foot has really been hurting since my 10 miler Saturday.

NRR: planning kids school party, baking teacher cookes for teacher gifts, son's performance tomorrow night, busy week.

So sorry that i don't have time for personals rig now but will try for tomorrow.

Peace

[1jooj]

Sparkle, I am so pleased and proud for you! A+! You rock. I think Mel's paper idea is a good one. Might be the thing that leads to her being housetrained. I so hate pet poo. I can deal in a million ways with livestock manure, but dog doo makes me want to vomit. I don't know how all you dog moms do it. But again, A+! You are awesome!

MelW, good luck on the apps. I am really confident you'll be accepted, and I can't wait to start hearing about your educational journey, too. All this might just get me to kick my own ass in gear to go back. Only trouble is that my undergrad profs are...how do you say...dying off?

Shanti, it sounds like one positive day. I hope there are more between here and there. And that you get the snow that will lighten your heart.

lofty, the argument with ds about "winter break" just began. Ugh. I told him we will likely never, ever again take two weeks off school (exception = summer and even then I expect to see reading). Boy, that frustrated him.  What's funny is that he enjoys his studies, and is just a weird, moody pre-teen looking to pick a fight. Bah.

Plady, I am with lofty. Definitely the highlight, not the low point. You are a lovely and gracious sister anyway.

Gaye, FS seems to be champing at the bit, so we're going to take him to the beach club this afternoon. We might make him some swim trunks, but I will take pics, and I think what we'll do for now is send you (T) emails with photos attached. Then I will send FS back after the new year. He will be in my purse basically all the time, so he might return a little bent. 

Good luck with the orthotics, RM. I'm interested to hear how they work for you. 

I love the Mom talk! Dh and I were trying to get to sleep (ahem) the other night and I made a quip about how late it was getting, and he was all, I'm traveling tomorrow so who cares, I don't have to work early. I said, yeah, and me? And he was instantly groveling--he forgets I work all, all day, except when he sees it. The antidote, of course, is the maid. Many people sub her in for a mother, while the mother operates as an adolescent-brained baby-maker who is entertained with such things as beauty treatments, travel and shopping, and husband works an 80-hour week and the children learn Tagalog as their first language. But some moms seem to have it figured out. The maid helps keep the house in check--laundry, cleaning, meals, organization. Mom and kids still contribute to chore-doing, and maid comes along on family/homeschool outings when she wishes, but everything is a lot more relaxed with the extra set of hands and an extra brain to remember that they need to pick up milk or eggs.

Sigh. The thing is, those families are here indefinitely, while dh and I are here with an end game. So we're not going to  the extra to have a maid, plus housing that would fit an extra soul--plus added costs associated with bigger housing (utility bills, second car, etc.). We ask, buy a farm, or have a maid? Farm wins. Which leaves me instructing my growing children in such subjects as "I will never, ever clean your room again," and "this is how you load a dishwasher," and "the vacuum is in the hall corner; use it now." I just wish dh would not step away from the table without carrying a single item. It smacks of superiority and always makes me no matter how many days a week he cooks breakfast while I relax and enjoy my coffee or a walk outside. 

RR: Biked to the club yesterday, then 35min on the elliptical (strength and fitness slowly returning), then 20 minutes yoga in the yoga studio finishing with headstand (love it), followed by steam room. Then 20 min bike to the park, and another short bike ride back to the apartment. I love it when we get all this movement in our days!

[sparkletruck]

This has been an ongoing issue w/ us; dh will do mostly whatever I tell him, but I have to tell him, like a 4th child (I always say, if I wanted 4, I would have had 4). I too feel that rage you describe Jo, re: not even picking up a dish, and have told him that it makes me feel disrespected. He says that he utterly does not think less of me for being a SAHM, and asks "have I ever said anything that made you feel that I think this", and I said "every time you leave a dish on the table". So his answer is a maid, which is ridiculous b/c a maid is not going to follow him around picking up his shit (my friend jokes that she needs a maid for 30 minutes 2x a day, after breakfast and after dinner). In any case, this semester has been a big transition for everyone. Dad is learning how to do a lot

Although it can be pretty funny to listen to the kids talk about how "dad sleeps all day..." (he works nights) "... and then he gets up and sits on the couch, and then maybe he drinks a beer and plays some guitar" I actually have to defend him; "who takes you for bike rides? Not mom!"

[1jooj]

I hope this doesnt end up gigantic. Flat Stanley hit the pool with us today.

[JenLove]

Jo ~ The pool! We are gearing up for a big snowfall here, and I'm hoping that it sticks this time.  I'd like a white Christmas afterall. :)

Shanti ~ Dog poo is the worst!  I have gagged over the top of it before because DH can't do it.  If he tried cleaning, I would be cleaning up vomit and poop.  Unfortunately our dog always seems to hit the carpet.  Yyyyyyuck!

Speaking of dogs, our 3 legged dog ran away and hasn't been back for 2 nights.  I fear the worst with this, but we have had people out walking the woods with tracking dogs and have come on nothing.  Both of the dogs left around 7pm and James thinks they were chasing out of pack of coyotes.  Lizzy returned at 11:45pm but no Tripod. :(  We are pretty heart broken about it and I just feel guilty if he died a painful death then I failed.  We rescued him to care for him and protect him because he was "handicap."  I just don't have the words....

[JayGee]

Jooj - I want to come with FS next time! I like "poolside" much better than what we've got here!

Sparkle - I was just talking with a friend about getting a pup and she told me that it is way easier to housebreak them before 16 weeks. I hope your doggie figures it out. Congratulations on your A+!!!!

MelW - all that snow sounds terrific to me! We haven't gotten any since winter 2011!

RR - run/walk 3 miles yesterday. Same on the docket today.

NRR - I am mystified (and angry) that some of my FB friends can still support the "right" to own assault weapons and large ammo clips after last Friday. I've never unfriended, but my finger is ready. The tax levy meeting last night was a disappointment. I absolutely hate the smarmy manner and "smarter than you" attitude of our superintendent. If he came canvassing at my house, I'd be tempted to slam the door, even if I agreed with him! I do realize the tax levy needs to pass to save our district, but I am worried that having him as a spokesperson will drive voters away from voting "yes". DH is looking at jobs across the river in St. Louis now, as am I.

[JenLove]

JG ~ Would you move into STL?  I know there is at least one charter school (I went to visit it actually when I was student teaching) and I was really impressed with it.  I don't know why, but felt like I needed to share that tid bit. :)

[Geofizz]

Jaygee, I have unsubscribed from a few people on FB. They can still see what I post, and I can still see their wall, but I don't have to have my feed filled by their comments.

A few weeks ago I unfriended several people I have no connection with and I get get nothing from the relationship. It was rather unsettled to receive friend requests from 2 of them again within 24 hours or so. I thought when you unfriended, you just kinda disappeared without mention?

I've been doing the recumbant bike for 30 minutes daily. My big toe has been really stiff and my knee's been bothering me. I guess the bike is better than nothing

A+ Sparkle! Awesome.

Love the pic, jooj.

Wishing snow to all that think that's a good thing.

[Plady]

Jennie - I hope Tripod turns up, but if he did go down against a pack of coyotes he died a fighter and I'm sure, in his mind, a hero.  I think in a situation like that when he started out in pursuit, adrenaline pumps their little brains full of superhero thoughts and maybe it was a dog's ideal way to go.  But I know you'd rather find him safe and sound curled up in front of someone else's woodstove and I hope that's what happens.

Geo - Now that you mention it I think I've been unfriended too.  I wouldn't have noticed except that I started getting these people popping up on my 'suggested friends' list and I was all, 'Huh, I could have sworn we were already connected'.

JayGee - We have some friends in St. L who love love love it.  One of these days I'll get back there to visit MIL with the kids since she's in a nursing home there.

Thanks for the nice thoughts re: me calling.  However I think that I was right (oh heck, probably not) in not calling.  I haven't had any kind of update directly from my brother but my mom tells me last night that apparently SIL "almost died" post-surgery.  I don't know more than that but I guess she's okay now.  I'll send another hopeful and congratulatory email and then leave it at that.  At least he hasn't unfriended me yet.
 

[Geofizz]

I was wondering if it was the "people you may know" feature. Anyone know how to avoid that? I'd like to do more cleanup -- I never should have accepted 90% of the fb requests from middle school people -- but I don't want to dangle it in their faces, you? Even if they did torment me in 7th grade.

DS in sick for the 4th day in a row. Thursday, only 13 kids came to school in his class. He got it Saturday. His fever is finally gone now. Then his teacher sent out an email a few minutes ago to PLEASE keep them home a full 24 hours after the fever's gone because it comes back on day 5. Evidently she just sent two kids to the nurse's office.

I guess I need to head back to the library to get more videos.

[mommajb]

The illness is making its way through our family. So far the older two are relatively unaffected and in the middle of finals week. If we make it through the week what are the chances they will be sick when my parents and brother show up on Friday? My dad already refers to them as little petri dishes as even when the little ones do not fall ill my parents almost always leave us with a bug. Clearly no running or other workout other than placing new kleenex boxes around the house for about a week now. I really ned a oe time cleaning service to come in on Thursday but have no idea where to start to find one. If they could magically appear with a nanny so I could START shopping that would be great. We had ideas that are falling apart. (The big one is that we were getting tickets to a 'friendly' soccer game for ds1. We expected the game to be announced for LA and this week we discovered it was announced for Houston. Not happening.)

Geo, I unfriended about half the people I was friends with on facebook and my news feed instantly became more interesting. Part of me wishes I had just unsubscribed but another part of me wishes to use fb as a tool and not as a substitute for actual communication. I haven't added many people since moving and it causes me to live in the past.

Jo and Lofty, It is good for me to read some homeschool reports that are not all bad nor too glowing.

JenLove, I hope you find your doggie.

Plady, I don't know/remember the ins-and-outs of your relationship with your brother but it sounds so close to the one I have had with my sister it brings tears to my eyes. I hope you can one day have the relationship you want.

JayGee, I don't have recent data or research but I thought the school system in StL was in a situation where most people that could chose a non-public option. It could be 1. most of my family attends the local-est catholic school/church, 2. much of what I hear is fear based, and 3. comes from across the river in IL.

Sparkle, the kids pov is amusing isn't it? I like how they leave out the part about going to work while they sleep.

[MelW]

Funny recent conversation at our house: H: "could you please tie the blind cords with the same knot that I use so that I don't get them knotted up when I try to untie them? I'd fix something that really annoys you as a trade. I could put my dishes in the dishwasher if you would learn my knot."  He clears his plate after eating to the counter, instead of the dishwasher. His mother worked on this issue for years, and now it's my turn. His logic is that opening the dishwasher and loading it is a big task, and should be done once or twice a day, instead of after every meal/snack. My logic is that clutter on the kitchen counter looks bad (especially in an open plan house where it's seen from living and dining room) and leads to mental clutter. I keep quiet about the mental clutter part because he doesn't feel it, but try to make my arguments about aesthetics because as an artist it makes more sense to him. Likely I will learn to tie a new knot and get him to start putting dishes in the dishwasher...

JenLove, thinking of you and of Tripod.

mommajb and Geo, sending you healthy kid vibes. I have my littlest home sick today too- snotty nose and cough, but she also threw up all over both of our feet after dinner last night. It's a full week from my older daughter's day of throwing up which seems like a looooong incubation period. I am dosing myself liberally with probiotics. When there is that many kids out sick does public health get involved, Geo? When I worked in public health more than a certain percentage of a class or school absent triggered a public health inquiry where we would have to call home and check to see if there was an outbreak that needed to be addressed.

mommajb, I've used Molly Maid before. I think their quality varies from place to place, but the convenience of them being almost everywhere is nice.

Geo, if you really want them gone you could unfriend and block. I know that you truly won't show up as a person you may know in that case. I block from my newsfeed and in a couple of cases limit access to what I post to avoid annoying comments. I've never unfriended, but since blocking a few key annoying "friends" I find my facebook experience much more satisfactory.

jo, the pool looks glorious!

Plady, even though it sucks I admire your restraint with your brother. I hope your SIL is doing okay.

NRR- I tried to have my IUD replaced today, but the family doc couldn't get the old one out. I knew it was a possibility because the strings were so short, but still a disappointment. Now I wait another month for a gyn consult and hopes that the gyn can get it out in the office and avoid the operating room (which would be another several months wait, I expect).

Christmas related- My husband gets home from his trip today, so we'll decorate the tree. Maybe some baking. With all of the allergies I'm less than enthused about baking this year. I'd rather eat chocolate and corn-free candy canes and call it good.

[loftmama]

Oh Mel, surgery to remove the IUD? Hope it doesn't come to that.

Jo, jealous of FS! Love the pic!

Shanti, 1 day at a time... I'd say more but I'm ticked at dh right now and I'm afraid I'd come off too negative.

MommaJB, be well

Love the "tie my knot" request! I'm on my phone and it messed up when I go back. Sorry was it Mel? That would be a hard request to resist.

We don't have a dishwasher so absolutely everyone, minimally, clears their dish, composts leftovers, and leaves it ready to be washed. If I need to go write, I simply tell everyone they have to wash their own dishes. If I'm going to be a while, I tell them to wash them all. Here's the thing: they moan and complain but I can hear them laughing singing and talking - and then I wonder why it's never so much fun when I'm in charge. Grrr.

Jo, your ds's attitude sounds like mine. I took my son complains bc he thinks he's supposed to complain.

Chores: One thing that works for me I tell them to "wash their age" which is my shortcut for wash the number of dishes that equals your age. We have gaps on responsibility but I have succeeded this year in not cleaning my kids' rooms anymore. It's been 2 steps/1 step and took me literally standing in the doorway not cleaning and pointing to what they didn't "see." It's not perfect but we have 15 min before playtime where I tell them: clean surfaces (clean dust nightstand dresser table in bedroom) or clean under or clothes on floor and bottom of closets. 15 min 2x day works but we still have a long way to go - like laundry...

RR: awesome fun run last night prob slow but not timed. Saw everyone on my long dirt road. Weights this morning.

Today ds2 is 9. Plady do you remember how cold that Christmas was? I always think of the unusual cold weather 9yo in SMA.

Eta: Tripod, come home.

[1jooj]

Oh, I hope Tripod comes home. 

And MelW, there is always that nagging thought in my mind about the IUD migrating or embedding. Hope not. And I hope it is the most simple thing possible when you do get in to see the doc. Yikes.

So, last night I was cooking what promised to be a wonderful dinner, after our afternoon at the pool, and it all just sort of crapped out. The plan was roasted eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms, meatballs in tomato and veg sauce, and some pasta for the kids. So I got the veggies roasting and dd and I made the meatballs...when they started cooking and I realized the ground I'd pulled from the freezer was lamb and not beef. Fine, not my favorite, and I said nothing so the kids wouldn't make a thing of it. Then, dd put the water on to cook pasta, and bam. The whole range just died. Long story short, dh had the plug rewired when he moved in, and it had been wired backward. So I sent ds to the shop downstairs, and we wired a new plug end on ourselves and got everything working. Dinner was about 45 minutes late, but whatever. And dh is mad that he paid some guy to do the job wrong.

In other news, dh is scheduled to be home Friday but it sounds like he might not make that.

Also, tomorrow is dd's 9th, Lofty, and I remember we had unseasonably warm weather in the days to follow her birth. I also remember it was during some of the hardest days of my marriage and my heart broke in a million ways when I brought her home. So for me, it is an occasion to really, really be thankful for how life can change. She's so excited to be turning 9. Today is girlfriend day. Should be fun. We bought cake and ice cream last night, and I am opting NOT to clean the apartment.

And soon the days will grow longer again! I know, 24th parallel, I should not complain, but I still feel it. We don't change clocks and the sun sets at 5:30 and rises at 7, and still I teeter on the verge of melancholia. I am ruined for a return to WI.

[sparkletruck]

Jo and JG - You should both come here

[loftmama]

Happy Birthday, Jo's dd. So much can change... Hope you have a great day and HOW SMART to not clean before a 9yo birthday party!

[Nickarolaberry]

Happy Birthday, Jo's dd! 

Interesting how your experience and mine, Jo, following our 9 y.o. dds' births, was so similar. Dd was born in high August the day before the huge blackout that put the entire mid-Atlantic region in the dark, during a heat wave. Her birth was amazing (in the sense I was able to give birth naturally with no meds) but really challenging (her deceased twin passed right after her placenta). And my marriage was on the rocks following a cross-country move to a tiny apartment in a place I didn't really want to live. She is, however, a joy and light and my serene child who is totally steadfast in her love and has a subversive but very clever sense of humor. Can we join your virtual birthday party?

Sparkle, maybe I could move there too? I would love to come visit. I love desert climates...at least warmer climates. I am still really having a hard time with the cold and dark. And now I have the cold that settles into my chest, aggravates my asthma, and prevents me from running when I most need it. Boo, boo, pity party.

Must go teach.