Juggling Life

Writing I Have Done Today . . .

Today I have written:

An essay on Comparative Morphology and Embryology for a Biology final.

A short answer on the similarities and differences between parallel and series electrical circuits and how I will teach this to the K-6 crowd, for a Physical Science final.

My name on the charge slip that purchased a new (and flirty) little black dress for my husband's work party Saturday night.

The minutes for a Water Polo Board Meeting

This post.

Peace out. I'll be back on Friday with something a little more substantial.

Obligatory Christmas Tree Photo

 

In all it's glory! We have about 300 ornaments, some dating back to my childhood. We have lots of great handmade ones because we have a tradition with another family where we exchange handmade ornaments for the kids--we definitely got the best part of that deal--they make creative and really fun ornaments out of Family Fun and Good Housekeeping, while we use kits from Michaels. We also have the ornaments we give the kids each year that they will eventually take for their own trees. Snow Babies for Grownup Girl and Social Butterfly, Santas for Danger Boy and Snowmen for MVP.

 

The ornament that started it all--1987. I believe it was the very first year bread dough ornaments were made. It was, after all, the 80's! Given to us by a dear friend, who may or may not read this blog--she never comments!

Reasons I Know I Made A Good Choice

Now that my husband works 5 minutes away from the house, he usually comes home for lunch. This past week, while I've been at school, he's done the following things, unbidden. I'm very lucky.

Empty the dishwasher

Fold towels

Clean the ceiling fans (this is HUGE)

Clean out the freezer (admittedly it annoys him more than it does me)

I must extend a great thanks to my MIL for teaching him how to do all this stuff, just as she taught her daughters.  MIL and I? Exact same wavelength on this one. "Mothers, teach your sons . . ."

Feeling Fit? Nope. Feeling Fat.

Magpie Musing got a Wii Fit for a giveaway, which is great and I hope I win it, but I'd love to give away a Wii Fit too. If anyone at NIntendo is reading this . .

If you clicked over you've probably quit reading because you're busy composing your own Wii Fit entry, so I'm probably writing this just for myself (and possibly a Wii Fit), but here goes. . .

So, a good story, a funny story or an embarrassing story? Hmmm. How about a sorta sad story?

About 6 years ago, my mother died of cancer. I immediately, in 2 months, gained 30 lbs. This was very bad because I'd need to lose 30 lbs. before I gained the 30 lbs. and hello? It sucked. At about this same time my sister had gastric bypass surgery and hello? That is some scary sh*t.

I had a couple of choices. Be miserable or make changes. I made changes. Healthy eating (not dieting), regular exercise (Pilates and walking and circuit training at the gym). In a year I lost 60 lbs. And life was good. And it stayed good for about 4 years.

Then, this year, in January I lost my sister, in April I lost a dear friend, and in October my husband lost his job. And you remember that I'm a full-time student and I sent my oldest son to college out-of-state? You did pick up on emotional eater earlier in the post, right? So hello 30 lbs. again.

However, all is not lost. For someone who needs to lose 30 lbs. I'm actually not in terrible shape--I've been walking throughout most of the year. Methinks though that this situation calls for a little something stronger than walking. The gym that helped me so much last time? Closed. What I do have though is a TV--so if I could find some way for the TV to help me get my fit on in a fun and totally non-boring way in the comfort of my own home as I rededicate myself to brown rice and roasted vegetables and grilled chicken--that would be perfect, right?

Something like a Wii Fit, perhaps? Pick me. Pick me.

Procrastination Central

 

Yeah, this has happened a time or two.

Overheard Around The Full and Not-So-Full House

We're driving to the beach on Saturday.

Me: Oh, I wanted to tell you that Philosopher-Mom (my family knows who I'm talking about) says that a dog could commit suicide by drowning.

Grownup Girl: Like 2 minutes after we had that conversation I started thinking of the ways dogs could kill themselves.

MusicMan (this is the first he's heard of any of this): A dog could jump off a bridge. A dog could jump in front of a car. There's lots of ways.

So, Kalynne, you were right. Our initial logic was seriously flawed!

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Still in the car. Discussing the fact that GuG and I both end up being leaders in group projects at school.

MM:  Well, they'll just have to learn to do it themselves, otherwise what are they going to do when they don't have anyone as neurotic as you around... not neurotic, I mean, "driven."

GuG: Nice move counselor, that will look much better on the transcripts of this conversation.

MM: Well, I know this is going to be blogged.

Me: It will now!

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I compulsively normally do laundry every 2 days. This last week I didn't do any laundry from Sunday through Thursday (huge, HUGE projects and presentations at school).

Me: Boy, that's a lot of laundry. It's amazing you have anything to wear.

Danger Boy: Yeah, you do kind of suck with the laundry lately.

Social Butterfly: Yeah, I noticed it too, but I didn't say anything because I could see you were busy studying.

(Yes, I know they are capable of doing it themselves, but in the interests of energy conservation, neuroses yada yada, I'd rather do it myself).

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Danger Boy is getting a haircut. He falls asleep in the chair (this happens every time he gets a haircut) and his head jerks forward. No damage done.

Hairdresser: Whoa! You fell asleep.

DB (dryly): Yeah, she (looks at me) started talking.

Hairdresser (looks at me, shocked): ??!

Me: Ouch! Serious burn.

Laughter all around. What can I say? When you use the snark on them they end up using the snark on you.

High School: The More Things Change . . .

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Flashback Friday to bring you this exciting book review!

Plaid kilt? Check. Kilt pin? Check. Crisp,white blouse with Peter Pan collar? Check. Knee socks? Check. Bass Weejuns? Check. Alice band in the hair? Check. I was feeling fiiiine. Laugh if you want, but it was 1980 and The Official Preppy Handbook was on the bestseller list. I couldn't do anything about not having been named "Muffy," but I could dress the part.

Aaah, high school--the best of times, the worst of times. Elisha Cooper, author of ridiculous/hilarious/terrible/cool: a year in an american high school, "spent a year at Walter Payton High, in Chicago, talking to these eight kids and documenting the drama of their high school experiences. And by telling their stories--of crushes, classes, family and the uncertainty of an all-too-rapidly approaching future--he opens a window into what's like to be a high school student today."

This slim, readable book, with its stories told in sketch-like fashion and peppered with whimsical and compelling artwork does a fine job of offering a peek into what high school is like in the mid 2000's (how awkward does that sound? It sure doesn't have the ring of "the early 80's," does it?).

In most ways high school is much as we remember it. Agony and ecstasy. Peaks and valleys. High highs and low lows. However, there's something different in high schools today--as a parent of four kids, ages 14 to 23, I know a little something about today's high schools. That difference? Pressure, and lots of it.

Back in the day you could screw around until your Junior year or maybe even your Senior year, decide to kick into high gear and still get into a halfway-decent college. Today? Not so much. The competition is stiffer and the stakes are higher. The prospect of anyone trying to make a middle-class living without a college degree is not very bright. We know it and our kids know it and the kids at Walter Payton high know it.

 

The students in this book come from a variety of places and are going a variety of places. There are early bloomers and late bloomers and are-they-every-going-to-bloom bloomers.

The senior year of high school is a precipice--will you jump off and fly or jump off and crash? Were the last four years really "the best years of your life" or are the best years still to come? How is it possible that you and your friends--the friends you've experienced those intense highs and lows with--will be going your separate ways? You can't wait and you can't believe it is finally here, and . . .

"Part documentary, part soap opera, part sketchbook, this is a fascinating and fun account for anyone who's looking forward to high school, for anyone in high school, and for anyone brave enough to look back."

I put off doing this review, because I was waiting to share the book with one of my teens. However, what with reading The Art of War and doing algebra and playing water polo and reading The Odyssey and doing geometry and cheerleading, there just wasn't the time. Maybe over break. Even if they don't get around to reading it right now, it will be a fun snapshot of the culture of their day to look back upon. Sort of like The Official Preppy Handbook, only not quite as lame in retrospect!

 

Spouting Off

In several places lately (on and off the web) I've heard it opined that as long as teenagers aren't doing drugs, having sex, and are passing their classes with C's you should be happy and get off their cases.

Umm, I'm thinking that's a pretty damn low bar you're setting there. Really? Just no drugs? Mouthing off and not contributing to the family via chores is okay with you? Barely scraping by in school lets them keep their MySpace and cell phone privileges?

Can I just say, "Hell, NO!" I think a lot more of my kids than that and would never do them the disservice of being such a lazy parent that I let them get away with that crap.

It's not as lengthy as my usual rants, but I feel better having said it.

Brotherly Love

                    It never stops. Really--it never, ever stops.

Some Things I Never Expected . . .

When I started this blog there were some things I didn't really expect. The first one was readers. Thanks to Mrs. G and her Slow Cook Thursdays I actually got readers pretty darn quickly. I've actually been known to say, "My claim to fame as a blogger is that I was Mrs. G's first Slow Cook Thursday." In fact I said it to Laural just the other night at BitchHarvest. I really thought I would be writing for myself. As you all know, it's wonderful that other people want to read what I write. And comment on it. Oh yeah, I totally never expected the whole comment addiction part.

I surely never expected to make amazing friends. See BitchHarvest above. And Bossy's Road Trip. And meeting Kalynne and JCK in Anaheim. So cool.

Swag. Free stuff. Who knew? Books to review, giveaways, contests. I've won more stuff this year than ever before in my life (not that I was ever trying before, but still). Which brings me to this adorable bag made of 100% recycled cotton sent to me by Susan at No Mommy's Perfect. She found my blog and thought my juggling theme and her juggling theme were symbiotic. So she sent me a bag.

Pretty darn cute, isn't it? Roomy, too. If you're like me and you've finally trained yourself to always use canvas bags (I made myself park my cart and go back to the car for them no matter what), this would be a great addition to your collection. So check out the wares at http://www.nomommysperfect.com/. And if anyone else wants to give me something--maybe a free trip to Disney World like my friend Mel got--please, feel free.