Steady as She Goes

Still plowing through my To Do List.  It contains between 20-25 items.  As some come off, I add others.  Some adds are emerging things; some are things that I've put off long enough.

Maybe by summer I can get it down to a reasonable 10-item as-needed list.



Nah.

Recovery Day

I was lazy today.  In-between all of my busy-ness for the past 3 days and the weather front that came in, I found myself very sleepy.  So I slept almost all day.

How lazy?  I'm typing this on the 5th & back-posting.
(Hey, I mentally composed this on the 4th.)

Hello 2019

My To-Do list has  25 things on it. Had to make a list, otherwise I'd forget to do them. Like I have for the past few months while either stressing, depressing, or over extending with kid-related volunteer projects.

Mom-life. Oh, look. More stuff.

Falling Behind

So I've gone up on my unofficial, unannounced 2017 plan of writing (blogging) everyday.

Even trying to keep things simple, trying to avoid lengthy essays, I simply haven't essayed.

I'm only a week off, so catching up with two entries a day for a week shouldn't be hard?

Right????

Ugh.

I hate PMS.

Changed Plans

I am postponing tonight's planned blog topic to bring you this news:

We need to replace our 14yo water heater; which explains the power bill spike, running water sounds, and pathetically short shower times.

That is all. And good night.




"Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we call upon You for the continued well-being of our Parish. Help us in this our time of need. Make our parish a family of one heart and mind towards you. Grant that our common life and work may be an example to all about us. Guide our Bishop and his assistants in their discernment. Hear us now, in this our time of special need; send Your continued graces upon us and bring to a happy solution the situation that confronts us.  Dearest Mother Mary, we ask you to assist us and to be our advocate for the continued spiritual and physical growth and well-being of our Parish. We make our prayer in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.   Amen."

(Follow this prayer with 3 Hail Marys; 1 Our Father)

"Hail! Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen."

"Hail! Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen."

"Hail! Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen."

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen."

Sno' There

And snow there.

And there.

All over there, too.

But none here in Huntspatch.

Not that I'm complaining. It's looked rather nasty in all those "theres." Meanwhile, I've had a snug little day with my three kings: my husband Carl and our two kittens.

How High?

We are not supposed to be "helicopter parents."

But we are also supposed to be involved in our kids' learning.

So how high should I hover?

My daughter is preparing for First Reconciliation and First Communion. True, a family should worship together, and parents should be able to teach their children in the way they should go. But to make sure she is ready, her Sunday School teachers have also assigned work for the parents to do with the kids. I'm certain she won't "fail" if we parents don't help her do all the exercises. But, how will it reflect on all of us? I feel guilty that I have not made time to work with her on this. I also goggle over it; this was not a part of her brother's instruction five years ago.... it was not a part of mine four decades ago. Even without her Religious Education classes, she learns much about her growing relationship with God through our talks.

So how high should I hover?

My son has a science project due this 3rd 9-week period. It's either due in 3 weeks or 6 weeks, depending on the date of the "STEM Fair." (Not just your boing parents' Science Fair any more.) I find no date posted for the fair, anywhere on any school related site. His teacher has, on Edmodo (a curriculum-anchored social site for schools/classes,) only assigned to turn in project ideas for teacher approval; parents approval comes later. But when? There is the 3-page guide in the Science Folder. That's it. It is a comprehensive guide, but without due dates. It does have the caveat that research must access two books from the school library before referring to the Internet, yet when can my son go? Standardized tests and holiday breaks came up quickly; there is little free time in the school day. Also, my son is notorious for losing hand-outs and not paying attention to notes on the whiteboard. We are working to make him accountable, but we also rely on his IEP to make sure that the teachers are allowed to give him the time and flexibility that the standard of "teaching to the test" doesn't allow for.

So how high should I hover?

Because, I know myself well and I know I was never fan of my own homework.

One Molehill at a Time

I've let things pile up. Literally. All of the boxes from Christmas? In a pile in the den. Nested, neatly, but still a pile. All my kids' gifts? Piled (still neatly) in laundry baskets. Likewise, our clean clothes. The things I cleared out of our room in anticipation of a re-arrangement? Ok, those were just stuffed in boxes and bags, and were littering the den furniture.

My husband called me on it. Deserved it. Fixed the exposed piles.

If I can neatly pile it up, even get it close to where it should be, I can put it away. Right? Sure.

Gonna' be unearthing a bunch this month.

They Say How You Spend the Day...

Folks have FB posted that how you spent the first day of the new year will define the next 364 days.

I spent it doing nothing but sitting beside my Carl and petting the kittens.

It'll be a cozy year, but folks might have to bring groceries & cleaning staff.

Christmas Eve Eve

So, I offered up "50 Days of Christmas."

So, where are the other 15 days?

What happened to the last 2 weeks???

Um, life, kids and hormones?

Yeah.

(But I have the goods, they're just not committed.)

For Posterity

Scanning, I thought the prompt said "For Posterior."

Which would have been much more apt for today, since I managed to finally convince myself that my keister wasn't half as big as I dreaded it was. I bought a NEW pair of jeans (first in ages) that actually fit like jeans and not like clown pants.

18W "Average," Lee Rider, Straight-leg-- for the historical record.

Fact:

I am sick.

And tired.

The DL Roster

Being Dr. Mom can be the hardest job in the world.

Well, seems like it anyway.

I currently have Carl with a horrid cold.  He takes his breathing seriously-- I mean a professional level of serious-- so there are few medicines he feels comfortable taking.  Therefore, the poor fellow is struggling along, and is miserable.

The kids' dad also has had a head-crud, so he needs plenty of post-choral concert rest.  I'm keeping the kids with me as much as I can, and lend him a hand with the kids's stuff around the house.

Both kids, at different times last week, had "stomach bugs" which required staying home from school for 24 hours, poor babies.

Me? I had stomach symptoms on Monday and got to stay in bed (thanks family!!!) so I could be up and in charge today.

Sigh, I think it's my turn with the head cold.  Pbbbttthhh!

Blogging Can Be Hard

This whole daily content thing?  Finding time to write well, including photos and links that are commonplace now?  All this around kids, chores, commutes, cooking, crafting, family time, shopping, not shopping, the daily Internet time-suck, other forms of communication, an occasional book to read, eating, sleeping, bathing, sh....

Wait.

Didn't I begin NaBloPoMo13 complaining?

Didn't I complain about this last year? (And fail to provide posts for the 20th-23 and the 30th?)

Didn't I complain the year before that, both frequently and humorously?

Didn't I attempt, even, to task myself?

Didn't I make NaBloPoMo2010 a recurring whining theme, with short posts and great gaps to a total fail by week 3?

Didn't I give up on a community self-history project?

That's right, this is my first blog post....

I guess I should accept that writing is is a love/loath life.

Nothing at All

I'm letting my mind wander here. Might not publish any of these remarks. I don't know what I want to say.

I want to say something. I think of a thing, a remark, but put it aside, worried it might offend. God forbid anyone offend anyone in this age.

Maybe a recap of the months I didn't blog would be safe, to shake the thoughts loose from my mind, making room for other memories..

Perhaps a tale of the last play I performed on stage after a two-year break.. which was preceded by a five-year break and another two years before that.

If I had the picture disk, reminiscences about the last play I worked (only two weeks ago, but feeling so much longer than that! I do believe I miss it.)

Could talk about the things my kids have done these past months, but no. One of them has royally cheesed me off today. I'm afraid I might be preachy if I were to write about that.

I just want to say SOMETHING. To reach out to someone else. To have significant discourse. Or light chitter-chat. I want to be heard or, more fortunately, to be understood. I feel alone. For some reason I feel this, but it has no definition. None of the usual nagglings has beset me. I've gone through that list in my head, but nothing flags my attention. A new distraction, I think, but just on the edge of my wonderings. If I keep writing, keep talking with my fingers, the answer might come to me.

God help me with my ramblings, but I'll post this anyways.

It's a Phone App. Yay.

Long time, no post.

So what else is new.

This app.

Maybe I can blog over breakfast or at swim lessons.

Yay.

LEAP!

Just because.

Motherhood, the Second Oldest Profession

I wanted to catch up on my blog today.

But I had to catch up on the adults' laundry or we'd be cold and naked. (Or worse, rumpled and smelly.)

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I wanted to finally work on my son's curtain.

But we were finally out of my son's ADHD medicine, so I found coupons for other things on sale at Publix to make my trip more worthwhile besides just for the milk we were out of, too.


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I wanted to clear out leftovers from the fridge to put in the freezer.

But my daughter decided to clear out the contents of her stomach, so I had to put all sorts of yurped things into the trash or the laundry.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, there's always tomorrow, because after all...

I'm not going to Faith Sharing only to leave a sick daughter to share with the other kids in the nursery.

Fiddle-dee-pthuuut!

I Tried It, I Can Knock It

I pampered myself last month. I would adore weekly spa days, but we don't have a money tree. So in usual mother fashion, I put myself last.

I only do what I have to do. In the first case, I was beyond needing a hair cut because I was now beyond 6 months since my last one.

I will also will do what I am encouraged to do. I have some of the dearest friends and family, who love me and do their best to pamper me with gift cards. In the second case, my husband got me a Groupon gift for a spa mani/pedi.

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Off I went to Beleza. It's not far up the street and was introduced to me years ago by my friend Tara. Who lives one state away and used the Internet to find a nearby spa so I could have a gift of indulgence. I chose a pedicure back then. Loved it! Went back for a hair cut & style. Loved it more! They are an Aveda salon, so I get to enjoy their wonderful Comfort Tea. The place is full of swell smells, I get a de-stressing head rub before my shampoo and often a hand massage during the shampoo. There are no kids there, just women of all ages & beauty and really hip staff. It is my happy place. I just neglect myself.... I've also had three different stylist. Not mad, not at all! The first took a job at another Aveda salon in the next county so she didn't have to drive so far to work & to have her mom look after her son-- totally cool choice. The next one decided to be a SAHM after the birth of her son-- again, totally cool. If I would get my hair cut every 6 to 8 weeks, I wouldn't be surprised by these changes, but.... I like my new stylist. When I said I wanted to lose some length, she believed me. Finally, someone who cut my hair short when I asked (yes, it was long, but it wouldn't get much longer than that, besides it was driving me nuts and I never wore it down any more. It'll grow back when I feel like it.) She cut my hair the way I asked, and the floor looked like she'd shaved Persian Cat.

Another thing I've been wanting to do is put a blue streak in my hair. Not permanent, but like I used to in the '80s when you could buy all sorts of out-there mascara colors. I'd like a color wand for my hair. I've looked for colored mascaras at the retails, but that's not back in fashion. (I have not looked at Sally Beauty Supply, at Ulta or at Enchanted Masquerade-- see above comment about "mother fashion.") I notice my stylist had some bright pink streaks in her hair. Not color-- feathers. That's in fashion: fancy-rooster feathers that can be washed & styled like hair. Now I've been "uh-huh" about this fashion, and not interested in trying it myself. However, this was the month of October and they were pink; Beleza had sponsored a team for the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run to support local research for breast cancer cure/treatment and to support local groups who help individuals and families cope with the disease. This month only, for a $10 donation to the cause, I could get a free pink feather. Sounded win-win to me; I would not be buying it, but I would be trying it though the support of a worthy local cause. I couldn't decided between the plain feather or the black-striped feather. I donated $20 and got them both.

They were cute. They were fun. Then the novelty passed and they just hung there. Maybe I should have styled them. I don't really style my hair. Naturally curly is all about the air dry. They were crimped by a bead to a few strands of my hair. No big deal to cut five hairs.

The feathers might be "the thing" for someone else, but not for me. I'm keeping them in case DLG wants to wear them, but I'll put them on a clip for her. (Must try to find a hair wand for self...)

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A week later, I used my Groupon certificate. I had to. I'd had it since my birthday in July and it expired November first! I have very little child-free daytime hours, and I must first use them for things like health care, home care & education support. But by October, things were finally routine with the new school year.

Maybe the other reason I was in no hurry to use it was that it was NOT for Beleza. It was for a spa way out in Madison. My husband really wanted to get me a good birthday present, and it was a really good present, but I was in no rush to drive that far. But it was a really good present, and sassy me with her short hair and feathers was ready for some more pampering.

The salon was nice. Empty, but nice. I'm hoping that it was empty because the naked toes of summer were taking a back-to-school fall break before the fancy feet of the holidays. There was a lot of money invested in this start-up business. That day I was the only customer.

I tried to relax and enjoy the pedicure, but I couldn't because the throne had a "relaxing" massage chair. I hope that it's not typical of massage chairs. The back kneading would thrust me forward. The head rubbing bounced my skull. The chair was also designed to massage the thighs and fanny; I almost felt violated. THAT massage chair was not my "cup of tea."

I liked the pedicure (minus the chair.) The technician suggested a French Pedicure. I'm still liking my toe color. I liked my nail color, too, but that is now gone. The technician suggested a gel for my nails. I was impressed by how study her nail color was, and I knew my mom was very happy with her acrylic nails. What I didn't know was that gel acrylics are cured with UV light. That, in addition to not knowing that acrylics must be manually, not chemically, removed. (So that's why it's a big deal if a salon touts "No drills.") As pretty as my pink nails looked, I was now sporting new freckles on a few fingers. I also developed a painful spot on the outside of my pinkie that looked like what happens if you get a deep burn blister. The color grow-out was obvious, and I was able to peel the acrylic off in the shower after about three weeks. Along with the top layer of my nails.

No more acrylics for me-- gel or otherwise. They are a nice thing, don't get me wrong. They are wonderful for anyone who needs a durable color, like a nail technician. They are wonderful for someone with weak nails, like my mom. I have strong nails and pale skin. I do not need high-maintenance nails.

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To recap:
new stylist= good;  hair feathers = not so good for me;
French Pedicure = good; gel acrylic nail = not so good for me;
whatever brand of massage chair = an abomination to relaxation