This Year's Box

Everyone's doing the iPod valentine lately - here's our version. Used a cereal box. It was fun to do. Family Fun has a great version of the iLove valentine on their website.

It Wasn't Pretty

Sorry, no pictures of the bread. It was pretty much a complete disaster. Heavy as a brick and not really any pumpernickel properties at all. It was the wrong color and the whole wheat overpowered the molasses, cocoa, and caraway.

The little scheduling experiment is working pretty well, though. Haven't quite reached nirvana - but I've lost my resentment towards work really quickly - actually enjoying it again. Weird.

Hitting all kinds of child rearing milestones this week. One of which is our very last school party ever. It's making me a little sad to think we don't have any more valentine boxes, toilet paper mummy races, or winter holiday bingo games ahead of us. It's just not fair how it all slips through your fingers. My new philosophy on adolesence is that the rebellion isn't so much for the kid to want to test his wings as it is preparation for the parent to accept (or eagerly anticipate) the separation. Somewhat akin to the misery of the last few weeks of pregnancy.

So, I'm hoping for a quiet weekend, I have two netflix envelopes waiting for me, a zillion projects to work on, an out of control pantry that needs attention, and maybe even Coraline. We'll just have to see.

the best blog post EVER

I'm trying something new. Instead of letting each part of life "infringe" on the other I'm going to try a little scheduling discipline.

That's pretty vague, isn't it? Here's an example: my work life is out of control. So, instead of wasting my precious personal time trying (unsuccessfully) to catch up I'm going to keep work within its proscribed timeframe. My theory is that if I can do that then I'll be happy and content (due to the absolute Nirvana that my personal life has become) that I'll become absolutely unencumbered by any external worries and my mind will focus (like a laser beam) on my work.

What? It could TOTALLY work.

Shut up, it could so work.

The other part is I'm trying to focus more on keeping forward motion on each task rather than focusing on completion. Nothing is ever done, it's just depressing.

Moving on...

Something much more exciting is the big box from King Arthur Flour that was delivered yesterday. Oh, yeah, there's some homemade, whole grain Pumpernickel bread in my future. According to the experts (John) Pumpernickel is tricky and best made using a combination of a pre-levain AND day old bread. I have a fairly simple recipe to start with that doesn't employ either of these techniques, we'll just have to see how it works out. Baby steps for me...(although I have graduated to using a scale as opposed to those measuring cups the amateurs use). If it's pretty I'll post a picture.

Post-Holiday Funk

Hi all. Recovering from the first week back in reality. My two-week holiday break was really great. I think I could get used to being a lady-of-leisure. I have so many projects going on that still aren't finished...work is just getting in the way!

You probably didn't notice since I update my blog so infrequently, but I also took a break from the computer. Ignored email and the internet to the best of my ability. So, if you're waiting to hear from me, my apologies...working to catch up.

One of my goals for the year was (yeah, past tense...already) to pare down all the running around we do. That was pretty foolish of me. Dance competition season starts in 2 months...and the extra practices are in full swing. The girls are doing great - but they really do need the additional time. If anyone's interested in coming out, we'll be in St. Chas March 13 weekend. Let me know and I can get you more details. You should call my cell, because I'll be in the car.

Redecorating my "studio". Got a few new Ikea pieces and re-arranged a bunch of other furniture that we already had. I think it's going to work out. I bought paint today but it'll probably be next weekend before that happens.

Dang, this is a boring post. Sorry.

At This Pace...

I could be chiseling my blog posts on stone tablets. I know.

I've been wasting technology very consistently all week. Here are a number of charming, happy memories that I neglected to capture on camera:

Claire's first orchestra concert

Claire's second to last classroom party ever

Norman Rockwell worthy Christmas Pageant

Birthday dinner party for the December boys last night

Elsie's immediate infatuation with....karaoke. Guess it's genetic. Also, apparently, the mic is pretty tasty.

Just like last year, I am loving Twelve Days. Unlike last year, I have not been posting daily updates. Sorry. Here's a bit of a catchup. And, yes, my catchup shot is like...three days old already.

Check This Out...

Very, very sweet video from one of Claire's classmates. I wanted to post the video directly to the blog, but they disabled the embed code. I suppose I might have done that too if my kid was posted on You Tube. Anyway, made me tear up a little. Go check it out:

African Vision of Hope

Where the hell have I been? I don't know...just busy. Here's what I haven't blogged about since my last post (not necessarily in chronological order):

• Claire's birthday parties
• Dancing at Busch Stadium
• Pumpkin picking at Eckert's
• Trip to Disney
• Hurricane Ike
• Trip to Houston
• Girl Scout Cookie Caravan
• Trip to California
• The Sale of my Childhood Home
• The Great Panic of 2008
• Picnic and visit to New Salem
• OktoberFuest
• Bizarre Email Exchange with Group of Small Minded, Racist, Religious-right, Texan Stamping Ladies
• Football Season
• Strange Folk Art Fest
• Mary's Birthday partay
• Dad's Birthday partay
• Random Act of Starbuck's kindness
• Angela B's surprise birthday
• Visit from Paula (including scary Lemp Mansion and the delightful Emma)
• Twelve Days Preparation
• Big Picture Scrapbooking Class (Design Your Life with Cathy Z. LOVES IT)
• and a Whole Lot of Dancing

w h a ?

Tired. Stupid tired. Weepy tired. Bored and tired.

Half listening to Obama...and have to say: He's no Bill. I miss Bill, would vote for Bill again. Monica? whatever. How does that compare to Iraq, and the economy, and big oil, and...and..
Sorry, didn't mean to get emotional. Just that I miss Bill. Life was just all rosy when Bill was around. We had a surplus. And can someone say healthcare? Yeah...he tried and now he can say he told you so.

Speaking of Bill - there are a lot of Bills in my life these days. Do names cluster for other people? I have multiples of Scotts, Kims, Bills, and Richards in my life...more Kims than anything. Are these especially common names? Because I don't really think so. I thought Michael and Jennifer were the most common names.

Waiting around for bedtime, going home tomorrow. Looking forward to a long weekend...maybe even extended a bit depending on what Gustav decides to do. I think I may be wrapping my computer in plastic before I leave tomorrow. Isn't that just weird?

My head is completely full of work crap. Not too many fun thoughts sneaking thru, but one super bright spot is the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS kickoff note I got from Beth. I started working on my project quite a while ago but haven't finished yet. Can't wait to get back to it.

So, have you noticed that Joe Biden's teeth are freakishly white? It's just not right.

Sheesh, I'm kind of random tonight huh? No, I haven't been drinking. I told you , I'm stupid tired.


PS - my hair looks FABULOUS. and I'm in Houston. For those of you who can grasp that enormity, here's the key: Aveda Smooth Infusion. Now go into the world and do good hair.