A Series of Unfortunate Events

Things have not been going well. Saturday and Sunday on the Big Island were less than we had hoped and it put on 80 some miles more than the allotment on the rental car (of which we were unaware) and cost us even more money.
Monday was spent looking for a suitable place to lay our heads since the Kuhio Banyan Club was not acceptable. The picture is the view from the door of our room.

Tuesday at the Polynesian Cultural Center was not as great as everyone said it was.

Wednesday was the unfortunate Pearl Harbor Fiasco which ended in the worst fight of our marriage over a submarine, a pineapple drink and $20.

Thursday was the Dole Pineapple Plantation which is a complete tourist trap please do not waste your time there unless you a.) really, really have a thing for pineapples or b.) really love big mazes (which defeated us), and have lots of time. Otherwise, if you are still curious the signs around the place tell you everything the tour does and the gift shop is fully decked out in pineapple paraphernalia. Dole truly understands souvenirs.
Also Thursday we went to a surfing restaurant that ranked low on the good food scale and HIGH on the annoyance factor. Followed by a crushing (literally) defeat at boogie boarding on Oahu's North shore. Later Moose went to Lanikai Beach but it was cloudy, so, again he was thwarted. The two high points of the day were basking in the sun on the deserted North Shore and when I was at the salon getting my nails done the lady could not believe that the tips of my fingernails were naturally that white and strong. She held my hands up for all to see and then said, "Wacha washa wa cha wa ha hai, Oh, my gosh! Wash cha wa ch hi ha ho shi!" I was so proud.

Pele was Jealous

Apparently Pele was jealous of my beauty as we had rain, clouds, rain and clouds on our Volcanic excursions yesterday. Moose was unhappy with the rapid speed that our helicopter buzzed by the interesting spots, and he was stuck in the middle. I was awestruck by the majesty of it all. I still maintain that volcanology is "So fascinating." We drove to where you could allegedly see the lava flow but it was very late after a long day of exploring lava fields and they only let you get about 1/2 a mile away from the flow, and it started raining.

Above is a picture of the lava as it meets the ocean creating a plume of sulphur dioxide


Which you can see here as we saw it when we FLEW THROUGH IT!

And Nicki on some pāhoehoe lava.

After the disappointment at the lava viewing area we headed back for a supper at Uncle Billy's Restaurant in Hilo which is as interesting as it sounds. There was an adorable, yet hilarious 2 man (Stanford and Howard) ukulele and guitar band that had a wonderful way of introducing songs as if they were originally preformed by little known bands with even less well known tunes. "This is another song about Margaritas, (very long pause) written by Jimmy Bufett, (even longer pause) it's called 'Margaritaville.'" and "This is a song by a band called 'The Temptations'" as if no one in the room had been hearing Magaritaville non stop for the past week and had never heard of The Temptations. The band itself was... well the songs sounded like the songs they said they would, with a Hawaiian twist and very loose consonants.

Aloha from the Garden Island

Unfortunately Internet access isn't as accessible as I had hoped here on Kauai so my blog posts will have to come later. We are having a great time exploring. The bottom picture is a picture of me swimming in The Queen's Bath my new favorite spot on Earth.
Above is a fun picture of me at the Luau which was spectacular. Poi not withstanding.
Today we have a cruise along the Na' Pali coast at sunset, tomorrow Kayaking up the Wilua river!
Aloha!

Lobstergram!

I didn't want to do it, I really didn't want to do it. The weather made me do it. Then entire month of May there were only 4 sunny days so there wasn't much opportunity to acclimate my pale skin to the suns shining rays. So this week I caved to the advice of many, many others and I went to a tanning booth. The first time though of questionable a sanitary condition was uneventful. The second time felt more hygienic and was also uneventful. The third time turned my backside into a bright red lobster. I am so mad, I wanted to avoid a sunburn by doing the tanning sessions. I didn't want a self inflicted burn. It doesn't hurt too much.

Ding Ding?

So I was walking out of the Spokane Valley Mall yesterday when I was nearly run over by a car.
The car was sitting outside of the mall making no noise. I logically assumed is was parked and turned off. Then it started moving toward me.
The woman was looking at me like "Are you crazy lady, Walking in front of my car!?!?"
I looked at her thinking "How is your car moving without making any noise?"

It was a Prius. I agree with Kiera those things are unnerving. They should make some sort of sound - maybe tinkling fairy bells?

Snow, Snow, Snow

Yes, snow. That is the theme for our journey. As we were driving out of Portland, My mom informed me that is snowed in Kalispell and in Spokane. While in Spokane my mom told us that is had been snowing in Kalispell all day long. My Father-in-law called to tell us about the snow and to check the Montana DOT pass cameras before we leave. My dad called to inform us that there was supposed to be a huge snow storm in Plains until about noon (our travelling window.)

We are poorly dressed. I did not allow the kids to bring pants and long sleeved shirts. Summer will come, our wardrobe demands it!

I am so glad that we are going to Hawaii in 3 days.

Also, FYI the Down East Basics store in the Spokane Valley Mall is not a store but an easy to walk right past kiosk, at least for the next 2 weeks at which time there will allegedly be a store. I am thrilled my new French Blue Wonder Tee.

Coming Out of the Closet

The political closet that is. Anyone who knows me knows that I have very strong political views. It all goes back to this little thing written a couple hundred years ago called "The Constitution of the United States of America" and the ideals espoused by the authors; liberty, freedom and personal responsibility.
I have been a little reluctant to admit to most that I support Ron Paul for President because I don't like being laughed at.
I find it disturbing that most people just laugh at him. Friends of mine were at a Republican caucus late last year and people thought Paul was so ridiculous. As if espousing ideals that align with our constitution are something to mock.
The media's treatment has been outrageous. We know what happens to their darlings - Obama. The only mainstream media piece I saw about Paul was about how prostitutes in Nevada support him for President. Hardly fair reporting.
Ron Paul shares my views on economic policy, war on terror, immigration, education, Social Security, health care, states rights, the Federal Reserve and limited government to name a few. He will not compromise nor will I. That is why I support Ron Paul for President of the United States of America.

Sabbatical Man

Sabbatical man, Sabbatical man
Triangle man hates Sabbatical man
They have a fight, Sabbatical wins
Sabbatical Man

Moose officially started his sabbatical 3 hours ago.
The sabbatical makes up for the insanity of the T-Comp handbook.
8 weeks of no work!!!

A Dream Regarding Economics

After last night's discussion on Free to Choose by Milton Friedman, I had and interesting dream. I was having a one-on-one conversation with the governor, giving him a little lesson on fiscal policy. The best part of the dream was when I said "Look, everybody knows that you are bought and paid for by the teacher's union, but just listen for a minute." And he did.

The final straw

That's it. I can't take it anymore. I can't remember the last time I saw the sun...two weeks ago???
It is 65 degrees inside my house, I am wearing a wool turtleneck, knee-socks, jeans and wool slippers and I am still cold. It is June 5th for Pete's sake!
I went to the "internets" to see what the weather is like in Hawaii (I will be there in just 8 days) and it is raining there too. It is supposed to rain all week there. If I have a rainy 2 week vacation (for which I have waited 30 years) in paradise I might just lose my mind completely.
I will not die in vain though - I will make sure I take down the IRS when I go. The taxpayers will rejoice. (Yes, I realize the Homeland Security will now be tracking my blog; but hey, I need more readers)

There Will Be No Government Subsidies

"L gets $5 a week just for being a good kid." Commander C informed us. He was angling for a similar compensation. I cringed because if L gets $5 then Commander C deserves $15, $10 on his bad attitude weeks. He is really a good kid and according to him L doesn't even have ANY chores.

We didn't say anything just then but I feel a little economic lecture is in order all about how we aren't a socialist household and no one gets money just for being there. Dad doesn't get paid just for being a good dad, or citizen or whatever and Mom certainly doesn't. A talk about self reliance and the only way to get money is to earn money. There are things he is expected to do as a member of this family but if he is willing to do extra there is that Help Wanted board right there in the School Room and there are plenty of opportunities for him to earn money.

Maybe L's parents need a little lesson in economics too.

Coke Man

So yesterday Commander C and I rode up the elevator to the Dentist's office with the Coke delivery guy and a dolly full of soda pop.
"Are you going to the dentists' office with that?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yep." He replied
"Hmmm." I uttered in a disapproving manner.
"Well, it's diet, so its not bad for you." defending his trade.
"Still not good for your teeth." I retorted.
And thus we went on he trying to convince me that it was perfectly fine and I trying to convince him of the irony of the situation.
"What do you think?" I said to Commander C.
Then the elevator door opened and we followed one another into the dentists' office.

Summer Reading Quandry

I am choosing books to read for my trip to Hawaii. I think I have settled on Prague by Arthur Phillips though I must say that I feel a bit cheated by the title. I bought the book thinking it was about Prague, but really it is about Budapest. I'll take it because they are in relatively the same geographical area. I have no idea if it is any good but I am a sucker for anything that says Prague.

But I need a second book idea, you know in case I finish Prague or just can't get into it. I was planning on finally opening my friend's book Dead Reckoning but I don't think it is exactly what I am looking for in a vacation book. Too sci-fi (sorry Craig.)

I don't want to waste valuable reading time on fluff but I also don't think that The Federalist Papers are going to work well. I have toyed with the idea of rereading Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier but I also don't know if I want to waste precious uninterrupted by children reading time on a book I have read umpteen times. British pastoral novels are indeed my favorite comfort genre and I am aching to re-read Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell but English countryside and petticoats on the beach???

So...opinions??? Remember if it is questionable on the moral tone (like Rebecca) it had better be well written. Also if it is already in my library and I don't have to buy it that would be a huge plus. I am open to biographies but am looking for a little romance.

Self Control

It has become apparent that I have very little self control. We just discovered Netflix's new little feature where you say... " I want to watch such and such now." And you watch it on your computer right then and there.

We sat down to watch a movie the other night and saw that they had the entire second season of Heroes. So we watched 3 that night, 4 last night and have 3 more planned for tonight. My poor husband is really tired since he has to get up for work. I just kept saying "Just one more?" and he never said "No." So we just kept watching.

I think the major criteria in the casting of males for Heroes is "Are you over 50 or SMOKING HOT?" We aren't talking about your run of the mill handsome people that you generally see on TV. Every single one is pure eye candy. It isn't fair to have that much beauty on one show..."

Den of Iniquity

I was just on the phone with Kiera and I said "We'll, I'll let you go. I am about to descend in to the..." "Den of iniquity?" she supplied. "Yes." I replied with apprehension as I looked down the stairs.

I think I need to regain control. While is isn't exactly hedonism, it is a little bit Lord of the Flies around here. There has been a palpable feeling of "the children have taken over." in the air.

As I type Commander C is holding his weapon "gansta" style and I just cocked a 10 round Nerf dart gun for my tiny, snarled haired 2 year old girl. The yelps have reached a dangerous decibel level.

Time for the Primary Children's Songbook CD.

Dutch What?

There are a number of names for this delightful dish: german pancake, dutch baby, and dutch puff. Around here we call it dutch puff. No matter what you call it, it is tasty. The recipe is simple:

Dutch Puff
1 egg to 1/4 flour to 1/4 milk
multiply that ratio to the number of servings you would like.
Mix well in a bowl - I use a whisk
Put a few tablespoons of butter in a glass baking dish
put dish in the oven and heat oven to 400 degres
when the oven is heated and the butter is melted and bubbly pour batter in the center of pan
cook for 20-22 minutes
(let the kids watch it puff up in the oven)
Cut into squares and serve hot topped with syrup, powdered sugar and lemon juice, or fruit.

Our Land

One of my favorite movies is Hero, it ranks right up there with The 39 Steps and Notorious. It is visually stunning. I love the color themes - they make this designer's heart happy. I am a sucker for anything Asian and I don't mind a little of the Kung Fu. It does have subtitles but usually I count that as a good thing, the DVD does have an English track but I find it annoying and prefer the subtitles. I find the Flying Snow and Broken Sword love story so compelling. I want to cry everytime I think about them. I saw this in the theatre and the fight between Flying Snow and Moon was gorgeous.

Deflating

I always find it disappointing that one recipe of banana bread only yields one precious loaf.

Also FYI if you want to get someone's attention in my house just say they words "banana bread."

Economizing?

When it cost $50 to fill up his little Honda, Moose threw up his hands and said "Enough." He did a great deal of research on how to bike to work without looking like a hard core biker. I told him I would support biking to work but I would not support those silly little biking outfits. Then he went out and stimulated the economy by buying a bike on Cragislist and now he is biking to work. I have already stopped driving almost every where. I drive to church, cello lessons and grocery shopping. If you have a family big enough for a mini van you don't have many options, the bus is NOT an option with 3 kids. Now we can put less money into the economy by economizing on our gas consumption. It all seems so very...Portland.

It is actually a good thing. Moose has been contemplating how to incorporate exercise into his life of late and this will save us a gym membership. It is only 7 miles round trip, but 7 miles of biking is more exercise than 7 miles of sweating it out in you unconditioned car. A great victory was won by me as I convinced him that he HAD to eat breakfast or I will not let him ride to work, the body can't do all that work on no fuel. In the past 2 days he has eaten more breakfast than he has our entire married life.

His bike looks enormous, it's not that is is big, the wheels are bigger than the bikes I am used to. It seems a little bit odd as we are small people , yet it seems to fit him. I will henceforth refer to it as the "Aluminum Horse" and I will tell people that Moose rode his horse to work which is laden with irony considering our origins.

Pet Peeves

Have have 2 pet peeves, oddly they both have to do with with words.
One is cutesy spelling or clever misspelling, call it what you will. "Kids Korner"drives me up the wall. Now I realize that I am being a bit hypocritical since my business is called "Cuddlebugg" but the cuddlebug domain name was already taken and that little girl was not giving it up. Also I think as far as spelling errors go, a double g is a minor sin. Some spell "Greg", "Gregg."

But far and away what really annoys me is when people say "samwich." What are these people thinking? "OK, here is a word, there is an 'n' and a 'd' which I am going to replace with an 'm'?" It is not as if "sandwich"is much harder to say than "samwich" you just need to be able to master the slightest bit of diction.

And what annoys me even further is when people who make the sandwich their business make the same mistake. Just listen the next time you hear a Subway commercial. Is proper pronunciation too much to ask of your paid professional voice actors????

My mother's Day card

This is the actual contents of my mother's day card from Commander C. It was a printed out card with fill in the blanks. The bold red words are his answers. I'll take them!

This is my mother. Her name is (my name without the last letter). She is about 29 years old. She has brown eyes and brown hair. She weighs about 111 pounds. Her favorite food is hashbrown. She's smart, she knows all about cooking. She spends most of her time reading in bed. Best of all mother likes to me. My mother takes care of me by helping me. I think my mother is the best in the world because she nice. I could wish for anything in the world for my mother, it would be anything.

Mother's Day

Many women dislike Mother's Day. They say it makes them feel guilty, that they aren't good enough. I love Mother's Day. It makes me feel happy, grateful and inspires me to be better and to enjoy those sweet little faces more.
So far, my day has included a tasty breakfast in bed with freshly cut lilacs (my other favorite flower) made by my husband. I have snuggled my sweet kids and fixed my little girl's hair. The only black mark on the day may be the weather. If the forecasts are correct our annual Mother's Day picnic may have to be cancelled.

Hate - a deadly sin?

I couldn't find hate as a deadly sin (Mormons think all sins are pretty much bad) by my parochially educated husband informs me that hate is included in wrath.
I don't think that we should Hate, we should certainly not hate people. I think that there is too much hate in this world and we should all start loving more and hating less.
That said, I have a very short list of things that I hate. My husband and children have the list memorized.
The three things I hate are:
1. Being Late
2. Wasting
3. Styrofoam
I am sure these are all self explanatory, if you can't figure out why I hate Styrofoam , let me know and I will mail you a package, you let the kids play in it, and then you can count how many years it takes to get every peice out of your house.
There has however recently been a new addition. Actually I have hated it for at least 5 years now but only recently did I decide to add it to the list...
4. Intel's T-comp Handbook
If there is ever a problem or question about your benefits at Intel, there is not a single person at Intel to help you out. There is only the all knowing and completely inept T-Comp Handbook. May it burn forever. In fact that is a good Idea, I think I have one, a little purging bonfire may be in order.

April Reading List

April Reading List

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - By Howard Pyle
As I lifelong admirer of Robin Hood I have never before read of Robin's demise. I mean I knew he died, because I have been to Sherwood Forest and he isn't there. I don't know how I feel about it yet, but I was pushing back tears as I read. Criticism: no Maid Marian at all. Her name was mentioned only once and in passing. I ask you, what is Robin Hood without Maid Marian?

I, Robot - By Isaac Asimov
Very thought provoking. Logical. Humorous.

Free to Choose - By Milton and Rose Friedman
This will be a cram before next weekend. I HAVE to read it because it was my idea. So far I know a little about pencils.

Up Next:

Dead Reckoning - By my friend Craig Cheney and his brothers Jeffery and Jared

Leadership Education, The Phases of Learning - By Oliver deMille

On Hold:

Teach the Children - by Neal Flinders

My bucket list

A "Bucket List" is a phrase made popular by the movie "The Bucket List" which I have not seen and which I may or may not see sometime in the future. The idea, I believe, is a bit older. A bucket list is a list of things you would like to do before you kick the bucket. Here is most of mine. (be sure to click the links they'll give you a chuckle)

• go to Prague

• see Petra

• write and publish a book

• learn a foreign language

• Have a Library of at least 1,000 volumes

• be a skilled archer

• learn to play an instrument proficiently

• visit England again

• read all of Shakespeare

• go kayaking

• write a free lance article

• sing with a band

• learn about rock stacking

• make a fabulous dress (for me)

• see a flowing volcano

• become a good chess player

• create a masterpiece

• keep a tidy house

• become Liber

• be an artist

• be a scriptorian

• be a cozy grandmother

• learn to tatt
  

• have a fruitful garden

• Learn to spin fibers

Kindred Spirits pt 2

To my friend Juliann,

Who rearranges her furniture more often than anyone I have ever met. Who paints her walls almost as frequently. Who is an artist,a painter, a romantic, a seamstress, a mother, a wife, a friend.

One day we were shopping in Target and she, then a mother of 4 was approached by a modeling scout. She is tall, graceful, and lovely.
She is so generous and helpful, always serving. She makes friends wherever she goes.

Who is lovely and likes lovely things. Who broke my heart when she moved away. To Juliann, who I hope now has better luck with cars, my creative buddy, I miss you.

Hawaii is good for the economy

Not only do you spend oodles of money getting to, staying in, and partaking of tourist delights in Paradise, but you get to spend tons of money preparing to go to Hawaii. Our modest list includes a new digital camera, swimming suits, underwear, luggage and clothing. We are also spending our money from China, I mean the government stimulus package on this trip, any other year we would have wisely saved it for when the Chinese want their money back.

I don't have a whole lot of time to shop for clothes or rather I avoid shopping for clothes with 3 munchkins in tow at all costs. So, I have been shopping online, a dangerous proposition for someone who rarely finds clothes that fit on the rack. My swimming suit has been purchased in pieces. The top has not arrived yet but the bottoms came last week... That mass of coral you see above that is my swim bottoms. That tiny hand that is my hand, see how you are looking down my long arm, that is how far I had to hold the camera to get the entire piece in the frame. I couldn't believe that much fabric was needed for my suit, I was right they could have used less. I also learned something else, swim skirts aren't just nice, they are now a necessity for me. There are parts of my body that will never be seen in public again. This *ahem* little number will be sent back to Land's End post haste. It is a really cute style but not on me and that color simply will not do.

I was buying other items of clothing online just yesterday. I found a dress and a few tops and purchased them and I had to pay shipping. Then today the same place unveils their swim line, and they have just the right swim skirt for me. Alas my order has already shipped so I will have to pay shipping again. Yuck. That is a lot of shipping for one suit, which is also good for the economy.

Aloha, Pele

Well, the helicopter tour tickets have been purchased. It is hard to swallow that expense but as everyone says: "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity." We will be flying over a flowing volcano. I think that is so cool. I just hope Pele isn't jealous of my beauty. We decided to go with Blue Hawaiian Tours, if you have had experience with them let me know.

Montana Girl

I sent most of my youth wanting to get out of Montana. As far as I was concerned my parents kidnapped me when we moved there. I really thought that if I cried hard enough they would let me (4 years old) stay with Grandma and Aunt Janie. Aunt Janie tells me she thought if she cried hard enough they would let me stay.
Some time in the last years of high school I realized I was a Montana girl. I wanted to go see the world but going to see the world was no longer driven by getting away from Montana, it was more about telling the world how Montana was better.
I grew up with the above picture just a few minutes drive north and the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi just to the south. I grew up hiking the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Jewel Basin and taking for granted that if you wanted a swim there is ALWAYS a body of water close by. I can tell you seeing picturesque England was marred by the dirty rivers that cut through the villages. I just couldn't comprehend dirty rivers.

I am not a cowgirl, I can ride a horse but just well enough that I don't fall off. I am not a skier, farmer or wilderness junkie. I like living in the Pacific Northwest but I am a Montana girl.

The sky really is bigger in Montana.

Kindred Spirits pt.1

To my friend Jenny,

I think of you nearly everyday as I pull my homemade bread out of the oven. I knew that you made your own bread, but that isn't what motivated me to make mine. Someone told me after you moved your plastic bag trick and after that I started making bread. You are so kind hearted and happy. You taught me piano lessons. You gave me my Kitchen Aid mixer. I think you are crazy for running when nothing is chasing you. Your kids are amazing. I miss you a lot.

Unsettled

I have a huge knot in the pit of my stomach. I find it disturbing that the Texas CPS can take more than 400 children from their mothers based on the allegations of one girl - who may in fact not be real. She was complaining of abuse to herself not all the children on the ranch. There is no evidence so the children have been separated from their mothers so the state can get some evidence. We are told in this country that there has to be evidence before you are proven guilty but apparently that doesn't matter when it comes to stealing your kids.

What if the DHS decidedes that it doesn't like my religion, or my clothes, or decides I don't get my kids out enough? Will they take mine away? What if an angry neighbor "annonymously" calls DHS and claims I am abusing my kids? Then it is up to me to spend months if not years and a small fourtune to get my kids back, not to mention the trauma my children will suffer.

If this doesn't disturb you it should. Just because these people dress differently, belive differntly and talk so sweetly doesn't mean it can't happen to you. We should be outraged and the state of Texas should be hiding its actions out of shame.

Mother torture anyone?

I really hate swimming lessons. I love swimming, the kinder love swimming too but I think swimming lessons were designed as torture for moms. Swimming lessons in the summer I can only assume, would be sheer insanity. Imagine every single child crammed into the swimming pool with their parents on the bleachers.
One of the blessings of homeschool is the ability to enroll my kids in lessons in April well before the little ones are let out of kiddy prison and unleashed upon the unsuspecting swim-team graduates.
Still I find lessons relentless torture. They are always scheduled a wee bit earlier than we are used to being out of the house, we get there barely on time. I manoeuvre my slow children through the crowded dressing room to the pool and I get situated and Nutmeg starts playing. I try to maintain a balance friendly mom to chat with other moms, but each time I chat I can't pay attention to my kids. As soon as look up they are just finishing their turn. Before I know it the 25 min lessons are finished. Then I take a waddling, shivering 4 year old into the women's dressing room with all of the other mothers, their boys AND girls and their strollers, in addition to the half a dozen old ladies who have dropped by for a swim.
Then Mom has to go into the shower to turn it on for said 4 year old, getting wet in the process while the 2 year old is doing who knows what elsewhere. Then it is time to get a slow, wet 4 year old dressed. You know how underwear, pants and socks do not want to go on damp skin. Yeah, that is how I send my mornings now. Then we rush home just in time for the kids to simultaneously beg for food the moment I drag all of the wet clothes out of the van and into the house. I ask, if my patience is all used up by 11am, what are we left with? Answer: me snapping all day long and lying about the house in a martyr's pose begging the kids to please stop whining.

Mercifully lessons last only 4 weeks. I don't think I am going to make it.

The Law of 3

I made a batch of Turkish Delight last night. It didn't set so I made another, it also did not set. this could have been because I was cooking on the Sabbath or just a failing on my part. Tonight I made rhubarb crisp - also a failure. I would blame my appliance but the Turkish Delight was a stovetop project while the crisp was an oven affair.

The question is, if these things usually happen in threes; am I safe? Does each failed batch of Turkish Delight count or are they one collective failure. How will Commander C's birthday cake turn out tomorrow? Is it free from the curse?

And how will I ever satisfy my craving for a rose flavored confection?

Things I love (totally stole this topic form Kiera)

1. Newborn babies
2. Freshly folded cloth diapers
3. Devil's Food Cake
4. Needlework
5. My Champlin hoodie
6. Swimming in Loon Lake
7. England
8. Freedom
9. Vintage Mustangs
10. Benihana's seared tuna
11. Ridiculously full skirts

The Elusive Cello Suite pt 2

Cello has been purchased. Smiles all around. Lessons about to begin.

Cranford!

I finished watching Sense and Sensibility on Masterpiece last night (yes, it was very good.) In the previews for the next round of Masterpiece they had Cranford. Cranford! So, right now you are thinking what is Cranford? Cranford is a delightful pastoral novel by Mrs. Gaskell. I discovered Gaskell when reading all the biographies I could find on Charlotte Bronte. Mrs. Gaskell actually met and interviewed Charlotte before her death. I enjoyed the biography and read many of Gaskell's other works. My favorite is Cranford followed by North and South (no, not that North and South.) Take the time to read this book it is very short and so charming. Then watch it on Masterpiece, you won't be disappointed (I hope) Judi Dench is in it!
My favorite part is when a friend sends the women a "cage" and they can't figure out what it is for.

March Reading list

Finished:
God's Politics - by Jim Wallis
This was a very thought provoking book. It really made me examine issues that I thought I held to moral high ground on. As a book group we really felt the need to do more for the poor but disagree with Wallis that the government should do something about it. I feel it is everyone's personal responsibility, not one we should delegate.

Currently Reading:
The Merry Adventures of Robing Hood - By Howard Pyle
We are still pressing forward, it is a long book and difficult reading. Some nights the boys aren't listening so I don't read very long. We are enjoying it.

Free To Choose - by Milton and Rose Friedman
This is for our TJEd book goup. I have only just started. I am very excited because Friedman was so smart.

I, Robot - by Isaac Asimov
A little out of my usual reading material. Reading this for the other book group. This is an easy read, has interesting ideas and some parts are hilarious 60 years after it was written (not intentional.)

The Book of Mormon -
Still doing this is fits and starts but better than usual.

Teach the Children - by Neal Flinders
Haven't picked this up in about a month. Looking forward to getting back to it.

Up Next:

Dead Reckoning - By my friend Craig Cheney and his brothers Jeffery and Jared

Leadership Education, The Phases of Learning - By Oliver deMille

The Elusive Cello Suite

Boba Fett wants to play the cello. Cellos as you may know are very expensive. Quality used cellos at what I would consider an affordable price are hard to come by. Compund that with the fact that Boba Fett is a very little guy so we are looking for an 1/8 sized cello. This is nigh impossible. I have spent the last 7 days obsessing over finding a cello including a very stressful afternoon on e-bay where I lost the auction. I have not given up but I am no longer hopeful.

Library Thing

I like books. Nay, I LOVE books. You could say that I am a Bibliophile. It is my goal to have a small library and SHELVES. I found this site and I am having a great deal of fun with it. The limit of books for the free account is 200 and I know that I have about 800 so I am going to have to upgrade to a paid account.

FYI, there will be a party when I near 1,000 books. Friends and family will be invited to my party and will be asked to bring me a gift of a book. If the book is a duplicate of a book I already own, it doesn't count. The person who brings the 1,000th book will get a prize and will be honored as the donor of the 1,000th book.

How many fingers do you see?

I need glasses. The nice eye doctor says I can use them for reading, sewing and driving. I don't have to wear them all the time. Take that eye doctor I saw 6 years ago. I pulled out my old glasses a while ago and noticed that they are terribly dated. 6 years ago they were the cusp of eye wear fashion, now they are lame. We will be picking out new frames tonight, they of course will be trendy and dated in a few years. C'est la vie!

He is Risen!

We are singing two songs in Sacrament meeting this morning one of peace and one of JOY! I love them. Even though it is cloudy and grey what a wonderful day. I am including the lyrics because they describe my heart this morning.






O Morn of Beauty - Jean Sibelius

O morn of beauty, morn of gladness!
Awak'ning joy, dispelling shades of night,
Gone is the gloom, the sorrow and the sadness,
Now breaks the day of peace and light.
Sing and Rejoice with joyful alleluias,
Sing alleluia, alleluia!

The days are past when souls were wrapt in mourning,
The earth awakes with vict'ry as her strain,
Lift up your hearts and greet the glad day dawning,
For Christ the Lord is ris'n again!
Sing and rejoice with joyful alleluias,
Sing alleluia, alleluia!


Let the Trumpet Sound - Natalie Sleeth

Let the trumpet sound, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let the earth resound, Hallelujah Amen!
Let the people sing, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let the heavens ring Hallelujah, Amen!
Now and ever blessed are we
Christ has won the victory!
Let the world rejoice, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let the chorus voice, Hallelujah, Amen!

Christ the Lord, is risen on this Easter Day.
From his mortal prison where three days he lay.
Love has come down to roll the stone away;
Gone is now the sorrow, Dawns the joyful day.

Let the trumpet sound, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let the earth resound, Hallelujah Amen!
Let the people sing, Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let the heavens ring Hallelujah, Amen!
Now and ever blessed are we
Christ has won the victory!

Let the night be gone, Let the daylight dawn,Hallelujah, Amen!
Let the world rejoice, Let the chorus voice: Hallelujah, Amen!
Christ is risen! Christ is risen! Hallelujah, Amen!

The Business of Being Born

I just watched The Business of Being Born . It was so wonderful. I thought I would be angry but I am more thoughtful. Thank you to my two earthly angels; to Cindy who was my doula at my hospital birth and to Betty my midwife for my two homebirths. Thank you for helping me find myself. Thank you to my 3 children who are the reason I am who I am. Amen.

A picture of Nutmeg just after birth at home on my crazy zebra sheets with her born at home bracelet.

Plumbing

Why the image of a commonly eaten junk food that is often passed off as real food? Why because that is what was clogging my kitchen sink. For which I had to endure 18 hours of Draino fumes and pay $69 to the plumber. FYI if there is a lot of mac n' cheese in your disposal, when you turn it on it doesn't dispose, it just sucks it all into the drain where it sits in your u-bend and clogs up your sink.

The good news is I know a plumber so I knew who to call and I think $69 is a reasonable fee. Also, there is only one person in the house who eats "smack" and it isn't me.

Hug your babies...

A little lost boy was found outside of my house today. He rode his trike about 3 blocks around the corner and up the hill and on to the MAJOR road near my house. He was probably 2 certainly not yet 3. The people who found him knocked on my door since the kids were playing outside to see if he belonged to me. He was IN the road. Luckily his mom came just after the police arrived. Unfortunately I did not know where he came from. I was afraid that he lived in the mega condo-plex behind our house. We might never have found his mom.

So pick up your babies and hug them tight, and please tell them not to ride in the middle of the road.

Ok, so I like SOME poetry

Mi amiga takes exception to my feeling for flowery rhymes I seek to vindicate myself.
I really appreciate carefully crafted prose. If you want to say something just say already quit pussyfooting around it like a wimpy old lady. I am aware that this is a shocking revelation in my personality, it shocks me too. A girl who likes period dramas and embroidery would seemingly be a fool for poetry. I, however; skip whole sections of books where a poem or song is retold. I do like some poetry like the kind that don't use sentences but just string words or phrases together.

Here is poetry I can handle

So much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.
-William Carlos Williams

Edna St. Vincent Millay
Haiku ( I really love haiku)
The Highwayman - Noyes
and I can indeed enjoy a rhymed couplet (they aren't long enough to make me glaze over)

Chicken boarding school??

I love fresh eggs. Moose used to work with a guy who kept chickens and for a couple of years we were treated to free farm eggs. Eventually he stopped keeping chickens and I was left to buy my own eggs, there was a farm nearby that sold them, but they stopped.

My neighbor says that then they bought their house there was a paper that said "no chickens" on it, but I never saw such a rule. I don't know if our yard is big enough anyway. I think I will call the county and ask. Not that Moose would EVER let me have chickens on our tiny lot.

I have 2 friends that keep chickens and I am envious. Our babysitter (daughter of one of the friends) suggested that it wouldn't be anymore work to take care of 6-8 chickens than it is to take care of 4 and hinted that maybe my chickens could board at their house. I told her maybe she should check with her mom before she offered that, also It didn't sound fair that they do all the work and I get the spoils, though of course I would pay for feed.

Then I got to thinking, wouldn't it be cute to get chicks in Easter baskets? Then I looked on Craigslist and found chicks for sale.

So I am just wondering, anyone out there who wants to board some chickens for me? I would like to get Araucanas for the pretty eggs but if that won't jive with your flock I could change my mind.

The first bloom

Violets are my favorite flower, followed by lilacs, lily of the valley and tea roses. Very old fashioned, I know. This is a blurry picture of the firt violet in my violet patch. The first bloom of spring!

COD4

We have a wonderful new droid in our home. Its number is COD4 and he washes my dishes. He does it very, very well. Moose sacrificed from his computer cache to buy this for me. Turns our that the old dishwasher that never cleaned was just a bad model. So I am not crazy and I DO know how to load a dishwasher.

February Reading List

I have started reading again as knitting season is in the Pro-bowl state.

Read this month:
Ivanhoe - By Sir Walter Scott - For TJEd discussion group. Liked it, really liked it, but thought that is was too long. Why is this book called "Ivanhoe"? It should be called "Rebecca" or "Superbad knights from Merry Old England, Their Cohorts and Their Ladies"

Instead of Education - by John Holt for a different discussion Group. Good stuff. Down with S-chools, hooray for homeschools, s-chools unite!

Persepolis - By Marjane Satropi
A touch of misguided communism in appealing comic book form. Interesting look and the Iran of the late 70's early 80's. I don't know much about the topic so I was unable to compare it with anything else. Iranians are people too - their leaders are a little bit ...off. Recommended reading takes 2 hours tops.

Currenty reading:

Teach the Children - by Neal Flinders
Good, but I find it frustrating to read books that want to advocate homeschooling but can't because they were written before homeschooling became acceptable so they focus on fixing the broken and unfix-able public school machine. (Also my only criticism of Instead of Education - just tell us to Homeschool!)

The Merry Adventures of Robing Hood - By Howard Pyle
I inherited this bedtime story book because Moose does not like reading Pyle. I now know why
"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue." is nothing to the prose of Pyle. Luckily I have a background in Shakespeare and I can barrel through fancy language with some ease. I am probably reading it too fast, I always read aloud very quickly.
Question: Is Robin Hood a good role model? He is a criminal, how do I work this into a leadership education? Commander C is lapping it up and thus so I continue.

The Book of Mormon:
Totally doing this in fits and starts, like 15 chapters on Sunday, 3 on Wednesday and guilt the other 5 days of the week. I am highlighting in green with my new fancy scripture marker all the verses that are examples on how and what to teach one's Children.

To be read:
Mary Barton - Elisabeth Gaskell (for fun)
The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster (for Commonwealth)
God's Politics - By Jim Wallis (for TJEd discussion group) this will prove thought provoking, thus far I am not agreeing with the author.

63 reasons to love Luke!

1. He is cute.
2. He says "G'day"
3. He writes "I love Janessa Moss" in the sand.
4. His fingers never smell like smoke.
5. Dad likes him.
6. He LOVES the USA!
7. He is LDS.
8. He is not chubby.
9. He likes our family.
10. The family likes him.
11. He wanted to give his DS to Eddy.
12. Eddy loves him.
13. He has brown eyes.
14. He has brown hair.
15. He is so nice.
16. Mom like him.
17. He will take a girl to the temple.
18. His mom likes Janessa.
19. He bought Taylor a boomerang.
20. He is tall but not too tall.
21. He wears hoodies at the cinema.
22. Sara likes him.
23. He knows how to throw anotha shrimp on the barbie.
24. He is generous.
25. He puts up with Janessa and still loves her.
26. We like the way he talks.
27. He'll treat you right.
28. Brian likes him.
29. He spent Christmas in a foreign land.
30. He would be a good father.
31. Regan likes him.
32. He likes mint oreos.
33. He likes to go shopping.
34. He is not gay.
35. His initials spell LAW
36. Jessica likes him.
37. HE showed Danny how to pull his thumb off.
38. His breath never smells like beer.
39. He likes Montana.
40. He doesn't leave the toilet seat up.
41.Cameron likes him.
42. He is Australian.
43.He'll move across the world to be near you.
44.He is good with kids.
45.He is handy.
46.Margaret likes him
47. He can lay tile.
48. He is not a bum.
49. He likes Disneyland
50.He conserves water.
51. Kylene likes him.
52. He does a good gay impression.
53. You don't deserve him.
54. Danny likes him.
55. Jason likes him.
56. Jeremy likes him.
57.He has a job.
58.Audrey likes him.
59. Janie likes him.
60. Shawnel likes him.
61. Really you love him.
62. He is the best thing that could ever happen to you.
63. He is forgiving.

Here's a little something for you!

SO, I don't take pills. When I am pregnant I try to choke down a few because I am generally anemic and tired during pregnancy. I also do not remember to give my children pills. Yet I have an entire cupboard shelf for vitamins, herbs and supplements. My homeopathics DO get used but the rest of this stuff...not so much.

I was organizing my cupboard today and took all of these things out. Nearly half are things I puchased because I wanted to. The Vitamin C, B-12, Folic Acid, Dandelion Root, Papaya Root (pregnancy heartburn be gone), Cran-actin, Cramp-ease, Nettle and Garlic Oil.

The Other half are things that my practicioners convinced me to buy. The trouble with those are ... they aren't cheap. We are talking about $30+ a bottle here folks. Most of them are things that it would behoove me to take or give to my children, but I forget. There are a few exceptions there is the big bottle with a shiny label, that is from the MLM my parents were into before the current one. Why do Mormons Like MLM's so much? I don't know, I did not inherit that gene. I don't know what it does and as I opened it this afternoon I learned, the seal hasn't even been broken.
Then there is the Opti-Gyn. Opti-Gyn is some sort of super vitamin for women with reprodictive issues. I acquired a this bottle during a last ditch effort to avoid surgery. It was a late rainy winter evening, I got a last minute appointment at the Naturopathic College of Medicine downtown. My best friend saved me by watching my son for me while I went in. While I was there I learned 1) My insurance would not cover this visit and the person who recommended it to me had a different idea of affordable than I did. 2) It was hot in that building, and I was in emotional distress. 3) I was starving and dangerously close to passing out from hunger.
After waiting quite some time I finally was ushered into a room with a real doctor and 3 students. I cried out my story to them and told them how much I wanted to avoid surgery and that it was scheduled in 3 weeks.
They grilled me, asked every single question under the sun, 3 times. They then left the room for quite some time to confer and then came back, told me to eat a better diet and showed me out the door. Where I was met with a bill of $80 and told to buy this bottle of pills. Cost $40 - sure I could have declined to do so but all 4 of the doctors were hovering watching me write out my check and as I mentioned the 3 points I was in no state to argue. As soon as I left the building I cried, and cried and cried. I picked up my son, crying out the whole story and then arrived home where my husband had to make me soup and put me to bed.

The next morning I called the office and told them I would like to return my bottle of pills. I was told that all pharmacy purchases were non refundable. I was so mad, I stopped payment on my check. Where I learned 1) banks charge $25 dollars to stop payment on checks. 2) even if you are pissed off about the treatment you recieved at the doctors office you still have to pay.

So I was stuck with the $80 visit, $40 pills, and $25 check cancellation fee, and a $10 late payment fee at the office. Nice, emotional abuse and highway robbery. And I still had to have the surgery.

I can't get rid of these pills because I am so frugal - I can't thow out money. I am not going to take them because I will not remember, I can't get rid of them because Freecycle won't let you freecycle "supplements" even though they won't define supplements.

So I just look at these pills as a tip. I give the practicioners ;who are all excellent (save the Opti-Gyn pushers) a little tip. They do a good job and I smile and buy their pills so they can make a little more money than my insurance company will pay them.