I bought some wine infused chocolates for a friend of mine today. We found the winery, the kids stayed in the car and I went in to the winery, and picked up the chocolates. The lady in front of me was buying about 10 cases of wine. By the way she was dressed and the way she talked about the wine, it was clearly for her. For her holiday gathering, to be specific.
As she was leaving she wished the lady behind the counter a good New Year. She said, "2009 was so horrible, I certianly hope that 2010 is better. It just has to be."
While I totally share that sentiment, it is so outside my world that I would purchase 10 cases of premium wine for a party that I can not imagine how her year was bad. Seriously, did she have to let her party planner go? Does she have to do all the work herself now?
That said, I am pretty sure other folks would look at my bad year and say, what, you had to let your cleaning lady go? You have to clean your own house now? You still have a house right??
It is all about perspective isn't it!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Guess what mom?
Today Imagination Movers, a show on Disney channel, was about Santa loosing his ho ho ho. The Movers helped him get it back. My kids watched it, mostly because nothing else was on. At the end, they sang a song, that said it is the Christmas season, and Hanukkah too. Sam came tearing into the room, and announced that Hanukkah was included.
My kids were very excited to watch Phineas and Pherb save Christmas because Isabella is Jewish and she says, "Well, I don't celebrate Christmas, but I got the coolest stuff for Hanukkah, 8 whole days of dreams come true!" The boys were so excited to see that episode, because one of the characters is like them. (Except for the fact that she is a girl.) They could wait to quote it at school the next day.
My sister-in-law, sends her kids to Jewish Day School. I am starting to see the wisdom in that decision. It is very hard to be the kid that is different. There are more mulsim families in our school than jewish ones. So, when I get upset about the over abundance of Christmas at school, parties, and other activities it is because, my kids while they enjoy the activity, still feel sort of left out.
Mac emailed Club Penguin to ask them to include Hanukkah stuff in their Christmas party. I am sure he did it because he has seen me fighting about it in our actual lives, but the fact remains that he noticed it and felt left out.
I realize I have harped on this subject for ever, and that you are probably tired of reading about it. I just some how feel that some folks still don't get it. They don't understand why it is so hard to be left out because your faith is different. I guess at the end of the day, I know who my friends are and I know what organizations support diversity. I like diversity.
I just hope that when folks say they understand, that means that they will change their behavior. Frankly, I haven't seen that happen.
My kids were very excited to watch Phineas and Pherb save Christmas because Isabella is Jewish and she says, "Well, I don't celebrate Christmas, but I got the coolest stuff for Hanukkah, 8 whole days of dreams come true!" The boys were so excited to see that episode, because one of the characters is like them. (Except for the fact that she is a girl.) They could wait to quote it at school the next day.
My sister-in-law, sends her kids to Jewish Day School. I am starting to see the wisdom in that decision. It is very hard to be the kid that is different. There are more mulsim families in our school than jewish ones. So, when I get upset about the over abundance of Christmas at school, parties, and other activities it is because, my kids while they enjoy the activity, still feel sort of left out.
Mac emailed Club Penguin to ask them to include Hanukkah stuff in their Christmas party. I am sure he did it because he has seen me fighting about it in our actual lives, but the fact remains that he noticed it and felt left out.
I realize I have harped on this subject for ever, and that you are probably tired of reading about it. I just some how feel that some folks still don't get it. They don't understand why it is so hard to be left out because your faith is different. I guess at the end of the day, I know who my friends are and I know what organizations support diversity. I like diversity.
I just hope that when folks say they understand, that means that they will change their behavior. Frankly, I haven't seen that happen.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Random Thoughts
1. Don't brag about the weather. The average high over the next week is 58, down from 69 - 75. That will teach me.
2. I hate it when the carbon monoxide detectors run out of battery in the middle of the night. Why does that always happen?
3. Is it because during the day we are so loud we don't hear it?
4. If so, why is it that it wakes you up at like 2 in the morning?
5. Is it wise to sell me pointy sticks?
6. We get to go to the craft store.
7. They sell good yarn.
8. I have a coupon.
9. I love all Cookies.
10. 1 down 1 to go
11. I forgot a lot of stuff... thank goodness for the usps and kmart.
12. Show of hands who thinks we should move here?
13. I don't want to live the parking lot either. That will teach me to be more specific.
14. Knitting makes everything better
2. I hate it when the carbon monoxide detectors run out of battery in the middle of the night. Why does that always happen?
3. Is it because during the day we are so loud we don't hear it?
4. If so, why is it that it wakes you up at like 2 in the morning?
5. Is it wise to sell me pointy sticks?
6. We get to go to the craft store.
7. They sell good yarn.
8. I have a coupon.
9. I love all Cookies.
10. 1 down 1 to go
11. I forgot a lot of stuff... thank goodness for the usps and kmart.
12. Show of hands who thinks we should move here?
13. I don't want to live the parking lot either. That will teach me to be more specific.
14. Knitting makes everything better
Friday, December 18, 2009
Harry Potter
I will start by letting you know, this post is being written with a loaded stapler aimed at my head. Yes, that is right, I am being held at stapler point. Mac would like me to get off the computer so he can play Club Penguin. He is going to help me write this post. We will see how this goes.
Today's topic will be Harry Potter. We will now analyze Mac's theory that someone, Snape or Dumbeldore, had to die in book 6.
If Snape had not made the unbreakable vow with Beatrix, Voledmort would have killed Snape, because he would have know Snape was not trustworthy. So, in the big climax scene where the bad guys, Draco, Beatrix are on the tower with Dumbledore and Snape, someone had to go. If Draco killed Dumbledore, like he was supposed to, Dumbledore is dead. If Snape kills Dumbledore, again D is dead. If Snape doesn't kill him, TWO unbreakable vows will kill him. If Dumbledore manages to escape all these bad guys the potion that he drank in the cave, was going to kill him anyway. So, no matter how you look at it, Dumbledore was a gonner.
This concludes Mac's guest post. Hope you enjoyed it. I am still being held at stapler point, but think once this is posted, and he is on the computer, I will be ok.
Check back tomorrow to see.
Today's topic will be Harry Potter. We will now analyze Mac's theory that someone, Snape or Dumbeldore, had to die in book 6.
If Snape had not made the unbreakable vow with Beatrix, Voledmort would have killed Snape, because he would have know Snape was not trustworthy. So, in the big climax scene where the bad guys, Draco, Beatrix are on the tower with Dumbledore and Snape, someone had to go. If Draco killed Dumbledore, like he was supposed to, Dumbledore is dead. If Snape kills Dumbledore, again D is dead. If Snape doesn't kill him, TWO unbreakable vows will kill him. If Dumbledore manages to escape all these bad guys the potion that he drank in the cave, was going to kill him anyway. So, no matter how you look at it, Dumbledore was a gonner.
This concludes Mac's guest post. Hope you enjoyed it. I am still being held at stapler point, but think once this is posted, and he is on the computer, I will be ok.
Check back tomorrow to see.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The real story
So, we arrived. The real story:
7:30, no limo.
7:45, call to limo company conjures up limo and a white stretch limo pulls into my driveway, while I am on the phone with the car service. Why does that always happen? I would like to note that the driver is not hideous, but also not someone I would even consider violating my marriage vows with. Here is the good thing, the male I would consider doing that with would never consider doing it with me. I love how that works out.
8:45 we arrive at the airport, stand in line for about a month, check our luggage, and make our way through security. All without event. Even the cat that was in the carrier ahead of us did nothing interesting, like leap out of its owners arms and run through the airport.
10:45 we board the plane and we are told that our crew is on another plane. That they will be there shortly. Apparently, shortly means about 45 minutes in airline speak.
11:30 we are finally in the air. Everyone is coloring, looking at books and everything seems to be moving along alright. Snacks are being eaten, drinks drunk, kids generally hunkered down for the 4 hour flight.
12:30 "Mommy, can I watch a dvd?" I get the dvd player out. Which I charged prior to leaving on the trip. Or at least I THOUGHT I had charged it. Anyway, dig the player and the dvds only to realize that the player didn't work. There was a brief moment of panic. I stayed cool on the outside, explained the situation to the 4 year old. Waited for the response. She looks at me and says, "Oh, that is too bad, to you think it is broken or it just didn't charge?" Me: "Not sure honey, will look into it when we get to Grandma's." 4 yr old: "I guess I will color instead." Me: "Good idea." Inside, I am thinking, what just happened here? Anyway, thanks for the prayers, it seemed to work.
1:30 We land, after 3 trips to the potty, numerous coloring pages sent to the pilot and crew, magazines being cut up and decopaged to the windows, books read and games played. But, no one fought. Sure there were a few moments where I had to threaten punishments, but nothing was doled out. All and all, a first class flight.
2:30 we are on the road.
3:30 we stop at the park to let the kids run around a bit.
4:15 we load back up and continue to Santa Barbara. We worried about traffic, that really never materalized. The kids were mostly good. A bit ansty towards the end, but I think everyone was.
5:30, 12 hours after we started, we arrive at my Mom's. All and all a good trip. Guess my trade on the looks of the driver worked out.
Sorry this isn't a more dramatic post on the harrows of flying with children. Today it just didn't happen. Is it wrong of me to hope that the return is just as good? I fixed the dvd player, so we will have that next time.
7:30, no limo.
7:45, call to limo company conjures up limo and a white stretch limo pulls into my driveway, while I am on the phone with the car service. Why does that always happen? I would like to note that the driver is not hideous, but also not someone I would even consider violating my marriage vows with. Here is the good thing, the male I would consider doing that with would never consider doing it with me. I love how that works out.
8:45 we arrive at the airport, stand in line for about a month, check our luggage, and make our way through security. All without event. Even the cat that was in the carrier ahead of us did nothing interesting, like leap out of its owners arms and run through the airport.
10:45 we board the plane and we are told that our crew is on another plane. That they will be there shortly. Apparently, shortly means about 45 minutes in airline speak.
11:30 we are finally in the air. Everyone is coloring, looking at books and everything seems to be moving along alright. Snacks are being eaten, drinks drunk, kids generally hunkered down for the 4 hour flight.
12:30 "Mommy, can I watch a dvd?" I get the dvd player out. Which I charged prior to leaving on the trip. Or at least I THOUGHT I had charged it. Anyway, dig the player and the dvds only to realize that the player didn't work. There was a brief moment of panic. I stayed cool on the outside, explained the situation to the 4 year old. Waited for the response. She looks at me and says, "Oh, that is too bad, to you think it is broken or it just didn't charge?" Me: "Not sure honey, will look into it when we get to Grandma's." 4 yr old: "I guess I will color instead." Me: "Good idea." Inside, I am thinking, what just happened here? Anyway, thanks for the prayers, it seemed to work.
1:30 We land, after 3 trips to the potty, numerous coloring pages sent to the pilot and crew, magazines being cut up and decopaged to the windows, books read and games played. But, no one fought. Sure there were a few moments where I had to threaten punishments, but nothing was doled out. All and all, a first class flight.
2:30 we are on the road.
3:30 we stop at the park to let the kids run around a bit.
4:15 we load back up and continue to Santa Barbara. We worried about traffic, that really never materalized. The kids were mostly good. A bit ansty towards the end, but I think everyone was.
5:30, 12 hours after we started, we arrive at my Mom's. All and all a good trip. Guess my trade on the looks of the driver worked out.
Sorry this isn't a more dramatic post on the harrows of flying with children. Today it just didn't happen. Is it wrong of me to hope that the return is just as good? I fixed the dvd player, so we will have that next time.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The trip to California
This post is being written in advance of the events actually happening. I will post the actual events on Thursday, but this is how I will imagine my day.
7:30, a lovely black limo will pull into my driveway, and the drop dead handsome driver will put my luggage into the tunk and escort me and my lovely children to the car.
8:45, we will arrive at midway, and said driver will unload our luggage. I will tip him generously.
9:30, we will have cleared security, and be scoping out a place to get a light snack.
10:45 we will be taxiing down the runway and have a relaxing journey to California. There will be no fighting. The kids will be quiet and enjoyable on the airplane. I will be able to knit and read while we cross the country.
1:30 we will land, and we will meet my mom at the baggage claim. The kids will be helpful and carry the luggage to the car.
2:30, we will be peacefully traveling along US 1 to Santa Barbara. There will be no fighting, no traffic and everyone will enjoy the seeing the ocean.
4:30, we will arrive in Santa Barbara, and pick up yummy salads for dinner and the kids will enjoy a pizza.
Once we arrive, everyone will be happy, rested and peaceful. I will have a glass of wine with my mom, and the kids will play happily in the backyard. Bed time will come and everyone will go to bed happily. The weather will be lovely.
Ok, Thursday, I will give you the real story. But, if we could all say a little prayer that it isn't much different than what I imagined, that would be great. I am willing to concede the hot driver, if it means no fighting on the trip.
Peace out!
7:30, a lovely black limo will pull into my driveway, and the drop dead handsome driver will put my luggage into the tunk and escort me and my lovely children to the car.
8:45, we will arrive at midway, and said driver will unload our luggage. I will tip him generously.
9:30, we will have cleared security, and be scoping out a place to get a light snack.
10:45 we will be taxiing down the runway and have a relaxing journey to California. There will be no fighting. The kids will be quiet and enjoyable on the airplane. I will be able to knit and read while we cross the country.
1:30 we will land, and we will meet my mom at the baggage claim. The kids will be helpful and carry the luggage to the car.
2:30, we will be peacefully traveling along US 1 to Santa Barbara. There will be no fighting, no traffic and everyone will enjoy the seeing the ocean.
4:30, we will arrive in Santa Barbara, and pick up yummy salads for dinner and the kids will enjoy a pizza.
Once we arrive, everyone will be happy, rested and peaceful. I will have a glass of wine with my mom, and the kids will play happily in the backyard. Bed time will come and everyone will go to bed happily. The weather will be lovely.
Ok, Thursday, I will give you the real story. But, if we could all say a little prayer that it isn't much different than what I imagined, that would be great. I am willing to concede the hot driver, if it means no fighting on the trip.
Peace out!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A rock in the pond
Today I walked the kids to school. I know, earth shattering, I never do this. But, while we were walking Mac and I were discussing the books for the Battle of the Books competition he is in. One of the books is The Boy in the Red Coat, by Barbara Park. He was telling me how he remembered the authors name.
I asked what the book was about, and he told me it is about a boy who moves and is the new kid. I look over at Mac, in his red coat and say, you are the new kid and you are a wearing a red coat. He told me that he wasn't the new kid anymore. That after a year you are one of the regular kids.
This was in interesting observation. Mac is now one of the regular kids. He stopped and looked at me, impressed by his observation too. He told me that it was nice to be one of the regular kids and not the new kid anymore. I agree!
I told him, that moving the way we did is like throwing a big rock into a pond. When the rock hits the water, it disrupts the pond, it makes a splash and there are ripples on the water. When the rock hits the ground, the dirt moves around, the other rocks have to shift their position, and the entire environment is disrupted. But, after a while, everything settles back down and the rock becomes part of the eco-system in the pond.
I think the dirt is starting to settle and that we are starting to be part of the eco-system.
On a separate topic, my toasty warm boots came and the zipper broken while I tried them on! I was so excited to have warm feet and the zipper broke. Sigh. I guess I will have warm feet in a few days, because I will be in California. I am taking flip flops.
I asked what the book was about, and he told me it is about a boy who moves and is the new kid. I look over at Mac, in his red coat and say, you are the new kid and you are a wearing a red coat. He told me that he wasn't the new kid anymore. That after a year you are one of the regular kids.
This was in interesting observation. Mac is now one of the regular kids. He stopped and looked at me, impressed by his observation too. He told me that it was nice to be one of the regular kids and not the new kid anymore. I agree!
I told him, that moving the way we did is like throwing a big rock into a pond. When the rock hits the water, it disrupts the pond, it makes a splash and there are ripples on the water. When the rock hits the ground, the dirt moves around, the other rocks have to shift their position, and the entire environment is disrupted. But, after a while, everything settles back down and the rock becomes part of the eco-system in the pond.
I think the dirt is starting to settle and that we are starting to be part of the eco-system.
On a separate topic, my toasty warm boots came and the zipper broken while I tried them on! I was so excited to have warm feet and the zipper broke. Sigh. I guess I will have warm feet in a few days, because I will be in California. I am taking flip flops.
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