Quick Note

It's been a busy week, especially since I am busy procrastinating about rereading my interview questions for my master's. I printed them out and am taking them to little league practice today, so I can look at them.
So, I met with my work book club on Tuesday at Upper Crust where we discussed Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I am surprised how many changes we made in our lives after reading the book. My biggest changes are shopping at S&S, going to the farmer's market and hiding all of the prices of my pricey food from Dale. I don't think I am going to give up bananas, though, check with me in 6 months. Barbara Kingsolver refers to bananas as the "Hummer of fruits." I am also on the fence about Organic milk since it's twice the price. One of our members has starting drinking raw milk (!) One member ordered a cheese kit online to make her own mozzarella. There is a whole section in the book about canning tomatoes from the farmer's market (check with me in July).
But the biggest news is that I had a rockin' Stampin' Up party and am getting $95 in merchandise and 6 stamp sets. I can't wait!
We started our first little league practice for S* yesterday. There were a lot of boys from his school and they looked cute. Dale is going to be the assistant coach with another Dad from the team.
And I played doubles for 2.5 hours last night, and I won 1 set and lost 2 which was so much better than losing 3! I got a couple really good smashes in which is the fun part of doubles. So I am feeling some of my muscles today.
And to continue in my computer time as incentive saga... the kids have to completely get ready for bed by 8:20 p.m. with no reminders at all. For every minute that they have to get ready after 8:20 p.m., they are penalized 5 minutes of computer time. (This is a good way to teach ratios!) So Tuesday night, S* was still in the shower and Dale said, "I have to remind him, he doesn't realize how long he's been in the shower." I said, "Absolutely not, the penalty is supposed to work, so that he figures out how long he is supposed to shower without a parent nagging him." Dale got up from the couch, sat down, got up again, and just when he was about to remind Sean....Sean came out of the bathroom! Of course, Dale & I have to remember if they lose computer time which is another thing altogether. I am trying this because we had gotten into the habit of reminding the kids constantly of every step to get ready for bed. It really breaks up the whole evening when you are focusing on what they are supposed to be doing. Dale & I might actually be able to have a conversation!
Thanks for stopping by!

Bella

So, I've been "oogling" this stamp company for almost a year, but they require acrylic blocks.

This is a whole new system of stamps, so I've been warming up to the idea. This stamp is called "Tinkerbella" (You can see all the bella stamps on the bella website). They even have grumpybella! Anyway, I ordered 2 bellas in February and just got them a week ago, but I had a Stampin' Up party Friday night which inspired many things. Dale and I moved the futon out of the office and into the playroom. We added a 6 foot table to my craft area, but the best part is that if someone is on the computer, they won't bump into me while I'm craftin'! Also I was so inspired after the party I was dying to make a card!

We got our bed yesterday, and I can't stand the new mattress smell. In fact, I wake up with the taste of chemicals in my mouth. So I am sleeping on the futon tonight. I miss a few things about my waterbed, but I know I'll get used to it... stay tuned for the sleepnumber bed saga.

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Online Libraries Abound!

Hi! I just have gotten reacquainted with library thing. You can sign up to review books on their blog! I almost signed up, but, no, I am working on my thesis, so I don't need another item to distract me right now. But I was thinking of you, my faithful reader. Maybe you want to sign up to review books, sounds fun, huh? Anyway, you can catalog all of the books you've read on library thing. Then, you can enjoy surfing through other people's "online" libraries. If you click on "my library" to the right, you can see all of the books I catalogued so far.

I finally finished Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last night! Wow! That was such an amazing book. The ending of the book was so fitting when Barbara K. realized that her turkeys might procreate. Turkey procreation does not occur naturally among the majority of turkeys in our modern world. I learned, among other things, all of our butterball turkeys multiply by way of artificial insemination.

My creative brain has taken a vacation since I've been sick the past few days. So for family news: S* is on a farm little league team! Z* is doing a science project that is coming together...he did the mentos + diet coke experiment. I am about to embark on Pillars of the Earth as my next book.

Well, I was blog browsing (I'm sure there is a more hip term for that), and I ran across a link for a tutorial to make girl skirts on How About Orange. (There was a list of other things you could make with fabric.) So I clicked on the link, and it had very clear, easy to read, step-by-step instructions. So, I just had to share! Especially since a) I can't sew worth a bean; b) I don't have a girl. Just seeing it, though, made me want to make one. Maybe you too? Just click on skirt tutorial and voila! You're there! It's part of the Grand Revival blog. Let me know if you make one, so I can drool.

Anyway, I am posting during work hours because I have this real yukky body ache/congestion thing. I am OK when I lie down or sit, but not stand, so I decided to stay home. I only had to make 20 calls to make this happen (I'm not kidding.) I am going back to bed after my post. Last night I was in bed after I nearly killed my family for not understanding that mommy was NOT feeling well. I finished "It Takes a Worried Man" last night. It was a very honest, sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek, funny and touching memoir. I thought the funniest parts were when the author would talk about certain musicians and what he thought of their music. I would highly recommend it. I am definitely in a memoir phase of reading. (Maybe I should write one?)

Blogging Update

Hi! My good friend's (Ellen) husband just started a blog, Mr. Dad, hop on by to take a peek! This is the 3rd blogger I know personally! Welcome to the club!

Ahh! A surface clean

Well, I did a little cleaning this weekend. I cleaned the upstairs bathroom, and the boys "cleaned" the downstairs bathroom (*wish I had a picture*). I have written extensive instructions which S*, of course, reads and follows. My favorite part today was cleaning of a little piece of counter that has had clutter on it since it has been installed. (I won't mention where the clutter has found a home!) It brought me joy to see a clean surface if only for minutes. In one of more maniacal moments, I've thought of posting pictures of how surfaces should look around the house.

This morning:
1. Trying to go grocery shopping before picking up Z* at 10:00 a.m....... stressful
2. Going to Safeway instead of Winco to save time.................$25.00 more
3. Seeing one of my graduate committee member at Safeway...............meant to be

Grad progress:
I need to get permission from my district, but I am not sure from whom. I am starting my first pilot interview tomorrow, even though I have been nervous about it all day.

I started 3 books simultaneously this weekend:

• (1) It Takes a Worried Man, which is a diary/memior of a husband whose wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - I like it, but I don't know if I'll make it through the intense medical stuff;
• (2)Tuesdays for Morrie which is a sports writer detailing his visits with one of his professors who is dying - A little condescending, but motivational and easy to start/stop;
• (3)Queen of Dreams by Chitra Divakaruni is a story about an 2nd generation Indian woman in Northern California - So good so far.

My book club is meeting next week to discuss AVM, we've spent 2 months on it.

Sunshine, sunshine

Well, the sun was out for the past few days and it has been marvelous. I've been in housecleaning mode especially since I can't find my graduate plan. I am trying out a new system where the boys can play on the computer if the playroom and their room is clean. So, I have NEVER seen the playroom cleaned up so quickly! I'm ambivalent about all of that computer time, but I am experimenting with it until I find the perfect solution. (or, good enough?) So, I was thinking I could also add various chores... folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, etc.

So, today we were at S & S buying lunch meat when S* saw the shrimp and announced that he wanted to buy some shrimp. So he picked out the shrimp that was intended for salad. I did ask where the shrimp came from, but the butcher said, "Good question." So we made shrimp salad for dinner, but the recipe we picked was a little to heavy on the dressing, so we made up for it by having carmel popcorn for dessert. And, I found out from 2 moms this week that they cried when S* sang, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" during his share time. Apparently he was conducting the class so they could only sing with him during the chorus.

Z* started minor league practice on Thursday, and they worked him hard. He seemed tired out, but he didn't have any sore muscles the next day. Friday was a hard day for me becuase Thursday night (after practice), I mixed some cosmos wrong, so they were VERY strong. Hope you are all having a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!