Pleeeeease! I'm not tired!

Do your kids BEG to stay up at night? Do they PLEAD that they aren't tired? That they haven't got to do ANYTHING fun all day? That they HAVE to watch this certain movie tonight?

My kids do. And 9 times out of 10, this is how they end up well before the closing credits:

No Love For You!

Yesterday, Adana & I were rushing through the Safeway check-out line (buying my daily Metromint - see below). As I was paying for my drink, Adana yells up at me, "Mom! Can I have some love?"

I quickly give her a little squeeze while I count out my change.

Adana: No mom! I want some LOVE!

I kiss the top of her head and grab my drink, ready to rush to our next appointment.

She didn't follow. She was standing in the check-out aisle, hands on hips (oh yeah, she totally does that), and glaring at me.

Adana: I want some LOVE, mom.

Then I notice that she is standing next to a rack of Valentine candy hearts. Blech. I'm in a hurry, so I shout gently say, "No Adana, you can't have any love. Mommy doesn't have time."

Yep. I really said that. I look over and see the cashier staring at me with a look of shock & concern. I try to mumble something about LOVE really meaning candy and I am late for a meeting and it's too early for candy and besides that candy tastes like chalk . . .

But in the end, I just sound like a loser mom. So I buy Adana a box of LOVE and we are on our way.

Some days I seriously think I chose the wrong profession.

Metromint

Have you tried Metromint yet? When I decided to cut sugar out of my diet 5 months ago, one of the hardest parts of the whole ordeal was What To Drink?? I don't like artificial sweetners, so that cut out the whole diet juice/soda market. And there is just so much plain water that I can swallow before I start to gag.

But luckily, there is Metromint! It is non-sweetened, flavored water. My favorite is the yellow bottle (lemon mint), but unfortunately my local Safeway doesn't carry it. Still, I've been happily drinking the blue bottle (peppermint) every day.

Imagine my joy of joys when I discovered today that I can have a case of Metromint delivered to my door - FREE SHIPPING - for the same price that I can buy it in the store.

I'll never be thirsty again!

25 Random Things

My friend, Jenny, posted 25 Random Things about herself on her blog. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I already knew most of them.

So here is my list. You can see how many of them you did/didn't know about me:

1. I love sauted spinach. I have been known to eat an entire bag of spinach (sauted in butter with onions) all by myself.

2. I initially intended to study Chinese History in college (with an emphasis in chinese medicine). But when I transfered to UW, they didn't have a good selection of chinese history courses, so I switched to US History, with an emphasis in constitutional history.

3. I hated history in high school. I only studied it in college because I wanted to learn more about China. But now I like it.

4. I can't live happily without a cat in my home. (A dog, however, is totally expendable. Anyone out there want a great chocolate lab?)

5. I love to drive. I am happiest when I'm behind the wheel of a car, preferably going really fast.

6. I can't sew, play the piano, or the drums - even though I've had lessons in each.

7. I have a very hard time thinking of things to say (or write) about myself. I'm a much better listener.

8. I can't stand smelly wash rags. They make me gag. And if I accidentally touch a smelly rag, my hands stink for the rest of the day and I can't get rid of the smell.

9. I love sunny days, but I don't like heat. If forced to make a choice, I'd pick being cold over being hot.

10. I shower at night by candlelight. It relaxes me.

11. Taco Time is my favorite fast food. Too bad it's so expensive.

12. I have major noise issues. I can't stand background noise (TV, radio, lots of people talking at once).

13. I don't like to make phone calls.

14. I love grammar. I could spend hours reading grammar books. Grammar jokes make me laugh out loud.

15. Someday, I want to travel around the world by myself.

16. I despise having hair near my face. That gives me 2 choices - super short, or long enough for a ponytail.

17. I've ridden in a hot air balloon and the Goodyear blimp.

18. I believe in guardian angels.

19. I hate (Is there a stronger word than that? Despise? Abhor? Loathe?) being a house guest.

20. My dream car is a Jeep. Olive green.

21. I prefer to be barefoot, especially when I'm outside.

22. I'm terrified of drowning, but I love to swim.

23. I have worn a toe ring on my right middle toe since high school (20+ years).

24. I have 2 tattoos. (I think most everyone knows that, but I'm running out of things to write.)

25. I have sat naked with total strangers, and I've jumped into a hole cut into a frozen lake. Gotta love Finland!

Phew! That was hard! I'd love to read 25 Random Things about you. Are you up to the challenge?

Why Micah should stick to studying zoology

Micah's botany assignment for today was to study about tree roots. As he was studying his assigned pages, I could hear him scoffing and grunting at what he was reading, obviously displeased about something. So I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when this was the paper that he turned in:

Selfish Little Brats

Trees are nice on the outside, but they are the devil inside. Tree roots will grow anywhere, just to get the right nutrients and water it needs. They will break through sidewalks and houses just to get to their food. They are able to lift a house. All trees think about are THEMSELVES.

Then he drew a picture of a mean tree yelling, "Give me all your water!" At the base of the tree, a little gardener is kneeling with his shovel and shouting, "Never!"

So it's not exactly the most academic of papers, but I like the feeling and emotion that he's put into it. I don't think I'll ever look at a tree the same again.

THIS is the next American Idol!

My friend, Outi, sent me this clip and I immediately fell in love with it. I still think Adana's Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star rendition was pretty darn good. But somehow, I don't think she'd get a "Yes" vote from Simon.

This girl, on the other hand, blows many of the actual American Idol auditions out of the water.

That gum was trouble from the start

Here's where it ended up:

Blast that lousy green-wrapped orange zebra gum!

At least she is pretending to be looks contrite.

TRAUMA!

I'd like to smack the person who thought it was alright to put an ORANGE strip of zebra gum inside a GREEN wrapper.

Don't they know that there are certain ultra-anal 3-year olds who can't handle the contradiction!?

That a certain control-freakish toddler spends a full 5 minutes painstakingly trying to decide which color zebra gum she wants to chew, and then FREAKS OUT if she opens the wrapper and finds the wrong color gum inside??

Don't they care that my fragile sanity can't take this!?

For the love of God, PLEASE make sure that whatever is inside matches the dang-blasted wrapper!

You know it's a drab, dreary day . . .

. . . when the light-sensor street lights are on at 1:20p.m.!

(Any comments regarding the sun exposure of St. George, Tucson, or any other obnoxiously lovely climate, or regarding daytime temperatures in said locations, will be deleted by the blog owner. And I may send you nasty emails.)

Just Me and my Girl and Desperaux

Emma & I went to see a matinee of The Tale of Desperaux this afternoon. Just the two of us, with the whole theater all to ourselves. (Apparently, Tuesday afternoon is not a popular time for movie-going.)

That was just fine with us. We picked our favorite seats and settled in with a big bag of popcorn to share. We recently read the book together, and we eagerly anticipated how they would portray various scenes, what certain characters would sound like, how scary the dungeon would be . . .

We were, unfortuntately, doubly disappointed.

Disappointment #1 - the movie was horrifically different than the book. OK, horrifically may be a bit strong. But we spent the first 30 minutes of the movie whispering to each other, "That's not where the rat comes from!" and "The chef was a woman, not a man!" and "The queen falls backwards and dies, not forward into her soup!" I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm a book purist. WHY why why why why WHY does Hollywood always have to change the story of a perfectly good book!? (And, btw, those were all comments that Emma whispered to me. Like mother, like daughter.) :-)

Disappointment #2 - about 45 minutes into the movie, the fire alarm went off and we had to clear the theater. (It was a false alarm - the chef in the Chinese restaurant next door pulled the alarm.) So we never did get to see how terribly they slaughtered the ending. When I told Emma that we can use our ticket stubs to come back and see it another time, she said, "Let's save them for another movie and just get this one on Netflix." Love her!

We're looking forward to this one:

What do you Google?

I saw this on a blog a while ago, and I thought it was an intriguing idea. Here's the skinny:

Click on your Google pull-down tab - the one that records your most recent Google searches - and report your last 10 searches.

I couldn't do this during the holidays because a few of my searches related to Christmas gifts that I was sending out (not that anyone would have caught on, but I was in super-secret mode and didn't want to risk it).

So here's mine:

1. bainbridge cinemas (trying to figure out when Tale of Desperaux is playing)
2. bi parks and rec (signing up for swimming lessons)
3. pinch me (??? I'm guessing that was one of the kids)
4. one week (I think that's the name of a song Jared likes)
5. rugby (definitely Micah)
6. doug fox seatac parking coupons (for Nathan's trip to Alaska)
7. salmon coloring page (Emma's science assignment)
8. online game kindergarten killer (again ??? It's a good thing I'm doing this. I may need to talk with the boys about our online game rules)
9. beef stroganoff recipes (looking for something new to try last week)
10. Ben Barnes (I had to re-Google this to figure out who the heck it was. Some Hollywood hottie. Not sure which kid looked him up.)

All in all, an interesting and enlightening exercise. And all this time, I thought I knew exactly what was happening on my computer. I mean, it's sitting right smack dab in the middle of my kitchen. But I guess I don't pay close enough attention. I will now, though.

Delurker Day

And don't forget . . .

. . . today is Delurker Day. So if you're reading this blog, post a comment and "reveal" yourself.

(Sorry, I only have last year's image.)

"Happiness is not the absence of sadness"

My friend, Cigdem, recently sent me this link to a great article on Happiness. Do yourself a favor - take 5 minutes and read it. I thought it was very enlightening. Not necessarily anything new, but a good reminder nonetheless.

Wouldn't it be neat to attend a Happiness & Its Causes Conference? I can just imagine their vender and exhibition hall - full of massage therapists giving free demonstrations, yummy comfort food samples, aromatherapy scenting the air, soft music . . . (Sure sounds better than the dental conference exhibition halls, with all their full-color posters of nasty dental diseases, and handouts of dental floss and toothpaste).

I think that in a previous life, I must have been a Buddhist. Their precepts have always appealed to me. I love how they can so easily be integrated into a Christian religion - live simply, love, be peaceful.

Facebook - the time has come

No, I'm not thinking of joining Facebook. But I have recently received many requests from others to "become friends" on Facebook (which really confuses me, because I always thought I was friends with these people). So I figured it's about time that I explain why I will probably never have a Facebook account:

#1 - I am a decidedly private person. Having a blog was a HUGE stretch for me. But the one saving grace of blogging is that I - and I alone - control every bit of content that appears on this blog. (Well, except for the Comments section.)

#2 - I already struggle with the constant pull of the computer. Take right now, for instance. I really should be cleaning my kitchen. It is at the top of my To Do list. But instead, I am sitting at this blasted computer, typing about how I don't want to become addicted to the internet. From what I've seen of Facebook users, the addiction can get even worse. I just don't want to go there.

#3 - I have a strange (and fairly inconsistant) aversion to anything "trendy." Yes, I'm aware that blogs are trendy, particularly among mormon women. And so is Guitar Hero (which I enjoy). And wearing cute scarves (although mine is handknit, so it's not quite "trendy"). But for the most part, if EVERYONE is doing it, then I probably won't. I don't own a pair of crocs. I don't say "uber." And I'm not on Facebook.

#4 - My final reason may sound a bit snooty, but I really don't mean it to. It goes back to my shyness and privacy. I just don't think I really want to be "found" by random people that I may have known years and years ago, or by complete strangers who know someone that I know, but whom I don't know myself. Nathan (who has a Facebook account) loves this aspect of Facebook. He is always finding people or having people find him, and renewing old acquaintances. It works for some, but I'd rather just stay a hermit with my small little group of friends/family/blog readers.

Don't get me wrong. I know that there are a few readers of this blog whom I don't know. I think that's cool. Read on. Leave a comment if you want, and a link to your own blog. Eventually, maybe we'll "get to know" each other. That's how I like it to happen . . . slowly and gradually. Not with a "poke" or someone "writing on my wall."

So, no, I have no plans to join Facebook. But I'd still like to be your friend. C'mon over to my blog, send me an email, or stop by for a cuppa tea anytime you want.

A Question of Meals

Laurie got offended that I used the word "puke." But to me, that's what her dinner tasted like.

~Jack Handy

My mom has always been a great cook. She served us well-rounded, homemade, sit-down meals every night my entire life. A typical meal consisted of some variation of the following: a meat dish, a side dish, a green vegetable, a fruit, and bread. Milk to drink. On special occasions (i.e. when guests were over) there was a dessert.

When I got married and started having kids, I followed her example. I've tried to lay a full, appetizing table each night. Sometimes I'll combine the meat dish with the side dish (i.e. cook the chicken & rice together), sometimes we won't have the fruit, and often I don't add the bread course . . . but generally, I've tried to offer my family a pleasant, satisfying dining experience.

But lately, I just don't have the time nor inclination to do it all. Lately (much to Nathan's noted chagrin), we are lucky to get a single home cooked dish on the table. One night he may come home to a pot of split pea soup. No bread, no fruit. Just soup (I might throw some crackers on the table, if we have some in the pantry). Another night, it might be grilled chicken. Just a platter of grilled chicken. Possibly some baby carrots in a bowl.

I understand basic nutrition guidelines and I do try to feed my family wholesome, well-balanced meals (thank heaven for pre-washed salad mixes!!!). But I just don't have it in me to prepare multiple courses every night. Do you?

So here are some questions for you:

#1 - Do you serve bread with each meal? I think this habit must date back to our European ancestry. Living in both Finland and Turkey, I was amazed at how much bread they eat. Every meal - breakfast, lunch & dinner. That's a lot of carbs!

#2 - Do you feel guilty if you don't have a green vegetable on the table each night? Do dried herbs count as a green veggie? How about pickles?

#3 - How often is too often to serve tomato soup w/ grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner?

Holding the Hand of a Jew

One of my favorite themes in movies or literature is the idea of regular people doing amazing things. It's a very popular theme, but I'm always left a bit disappointed about how it is handled. Take these current movies (yes, I only watch kids' movies, so they are the only examples I have to work with):

Tinkerbell: a small tinker fairy, one of the most "unflashy" of all fairy assignments, ends up saving spring by inventing a whole slew of amazing tools and machines.

KungFu Panda: a fat and flabby panda, who dreams of being a kungfu master, gets the chance to train and become the Dragon Warrior, but fails miserably. But when the ultimate crisis arises, he is able to defeat his much more powerful opponent by simply believing in himself (and pulling off the awesome Wuxi Finger Hold).

Narnia: the four average Pevensie children find themselves fighting an epic battle against terrible beasts and the evil White Witch. They win, thanks in large part to the amazing sword skill of Peter Pevensie.

So here is what always bugs me about these sorts of movies . . . the message is supposed to be "everyone is valuable, even the most average individual can accomplish amazing things, you just have to believe in yourself and anything can happen . . ."

But honestly, no matter how much I believe in myself, I could never invent the miraculous tools needed to save spring, or fight off Tai Lung, or wield a sword against a cyclops. The "average" people that they use in these stories to prove their point may seem average on the surface. But the truth is, they have amazing underlying skills.

I, on the other hand, am really and truly just average. Can't there be a story about a legitimately AVERAGE person - no special skill, no rare hidden talent - who accomplishes something amazing? I've laid in bed many a night, writing just such a story in my head. But in addition to not having awesome kungfu skills, I also don't have remarkable writing skills. So the stories have never developed beyond my nighttime musings.

Then (at long last, we get to the real purpose of this post), I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Finally, the story that I have been waiting for, longing for. Here is a real average girl who does one of the most AMAZING things I have ever read about. And it didn't require super skills or extraordinary abilities. It was something that even I, average me, could have done. (I think. I hope.)

So Thank You Erin for recommending this book. I can't wait to read it again and again. And if you decide to read it, tell me what you think of the chapter entitled "Way of the Words." It's towards the end of the book. It's what makes this book perfect. It's what finally satiated my longing.

2009 New Years Resolution

I've come to the conclusion that New Year's Day is my favorite day of the year. Well, maybe the First Day of School is my favorite day, but New Year's Day is a close second.

The thing I love about New Year's Day is the opportunity - the justification - the compulsion to make some dramatic life changes. I'm a complete Type-A personality. Therefore, I crave order and lists and structure. I can't just randomly decide to make major life changes willy-nilly, say . . . on a Thursday, in the middle of April. There has to be a set time to begin, a "marker" for the momentous event. Or else it's doomed to failure from the get-go.

That's just how my mind works. And in my mind, there is no better time, no greater "marker" for change than the first day of a new year. So I put a great deal of thought and planning into my New Years resolutions, because I won't have such an optimal time to make a personal life change for another year.

Which is all just a long-winded lead-up to this year's resolution. Yes, just one. Usually, I make a different resolution for pretty much every phase of my life (physical, spiritual, intellectual . . .). But this year, I've decided to focus on one and only one change which I would like to make.

I've decided that this year, I want to become a more active parent. I used to be an active parent - the kind of mom who actually plays with her kids, takes them to the park and runs around with them (rather than just sitting on a park bench reading a book and ordering the older kids to supervise the younger ones), reads them lots of books, plays games with them, etc.

But over the past few years, I've noticed myself drifting into a passive parenting role. I feed them, make sure they are safe and clothed and driven to their various destinations; I give them hugs in the morning and kisses before bed. But it is a fairly rare occassion that finds me actively playing with them. And that's what I want to get back into.

So this year I resolve to be an Active Parent. (Maybe I should have waited a year before giving up caffeine and sugar. I may need the energy.)

Crap. Not again.

Just when the December snows had finally all melted away, we get this. If they even think of calling a Snow Day tomorrow, I'm afraid that there may be rioting in the streets of Bainbridge Island.

Parents, unite! If they cancel school tomorrow, I say we all drop our kids off at the Superintendent's house and let her entertain them for the day. 'Cuz I'm soooo done.

(Yeah, I'm really doing great on that New Year's resolution, huh!?) :-)

Slippers. Bah Humbug!

This morning, I went out in search of a pair of slippers. I am most definitely NOT a shopper (in fact, I tend to avoid it like the plague), but I was in need of a pair of slippers and it did provide an excuse to spend a few hours sans kids. So off I went.

Two hours later, I returned home, cursing anything and everything retail and swearing to never again enter the horrid depths of a shopping mall. If I can't find it on-line, I probably don't really need it.

Here's what I found during my two grueling hours of slipper shopping. Apparently, retailers have determined that people are only interested in a few distinct categories of slippers:

The "Stupid Character on Your Feet" slipper. These can be absolutely anything, from Elmo, to large, yellow chickens. As I was standing before a rack of some sort of morphed pig/elephant slippers, a couple teenagers flounced up, declaring, "These are soooooo cute! I could wear them every day to school!" And people say homeschooled kids look socially inept?

Next is the "Chia Pet" slipper. These bad boys have more shag than my grandma's carpet. I'm pretty sure that you have to bathe and brush them daily. Maybe even feed them. They pretty much creep me out.

No slipper rack would be complete without a wide assortment of the "Eternally Easter" pastel slippers. I think these are geared toward those desperate housewives who are trying to find some peace and tranquility in their lives via the happy baby bunny colors on their feet. Personally, if I had to scuff around the house all day with my feet looking like they were covered in bunny barf, I think I'd go insane.

Then there is the small display of "Old Man" slippers. Basically, these all pretty much look the same. Various shades of brown. Usually some plaid mixed in. Nearly always a rubber sole (so they don't get soggy when the old men sneak out back for a smoke).

And finally, the "Dead Sheep and Leather" slippers. Granted, these do look cozy (if you don't mind your feet heating up to 500 degrees and sloshing around in sweat). Maybe I could pull it off if I had a leather loin cloth and arrow quiver to go with them.

So, given these few categories (and their various hybrids - pastel sheep anyone?), I left my slipper shopping expedition feeling defeated and depressed.

And I can guarentee that when it comes time to buy a new swimming suit in a few months, I'll only be shopping on-line!