Archive for blather
August 24, 2004 at 11:43 pm · Filed under blather
Dr. Ann called this evening with the results from my thyroid test. In a nutshell: too much. I’ll be cutting back starting tomorrow morning. Of course, now it seems obvious. I’m hot all the time (well, you already knew that about me, didn’t you?). My energy is lagging (which can be a hyperthyroid symptom as well as hypo). I’ve had a few dizzy spells. I think I’ve gained a few pounds (yep, hyper can stimulate the appetite, I found out).
Moon can cut back on hers, too. And her insulin level is normal, which is great news. We both get to go back for another test in 6-8 weeks. Bloodletting… yay!
August 19, 2004 at 10:36 pm · Filed under blather
The kids have been totally wrapped up in the Olympics this week. Peter likes the Romanians because they have a cool national anthem. Moon observed, “I like men’s swimming because it’s all about hot guys with their shirts off.”
But music and hotness couldn’t capture our attention like last night’s bid for the gold by awesome Wisconsin gymnast Paul Hamm. Pete knew the outcome before we did (he’d been on the internet) and he said something dramatic was going to happen. When Paul fell, we thought that was it. Then when the Korean fell, we thought, okay, that was it.
Paul’s comeback took us by surprise and made us believe in Olympic glory, even more than the men’s or women’s swimming relays. I’m always telling the kids that it’s never too late… there’s always a chance… don’t give up. It’s nice to have a role model to back up my words.
August 1, 2004 at 11:01 pm · Filed under blather
Just finished some uncontrollable spastic giggling while reading about Sarah’s recent scare. Reminds me of the time Pete got some extra protein in his salad, and expertly ate around it. When I caught sight of the tiny green worm at the side of his plate, I discreetly pointed it out to the waiter… and Pete got a free dessert.
July 10, 2004 at 10:43 am · Filed under blather
It’s Saturday, but it feels like Sunday. I slept late yesterday, and Pete had the day off. I didn’t accomplish much besides taking Moon to the dentist and going to Patti’s to help her with her up-and-coming web site.
Today Peteis at a Reiki II class until 4 p.m., so I’m hanging out with the kids. Peter and a friend are upstairs playing video games, and Moon is in bed reading. It’s gorgeous outside, so maybe I’ll do some yard work later (weeding and mushroom removal). But I guess I’d better change out of my pajamas first.
In other news, there’s a huge Winnebago parked right outside my window. It’s been there for three days, and I have no idea who it belongs to.
July 4, 2004 at 12:21 pm · Filed under blather
We’re heading over to our friends’ house tonight for our annual viewing of the Elver Park fireworks from their deck. Haven’t seen them for a while, so it should be fun catching up. We’re bringing a salad.
I love fireworks. In Madison, we have a gigantic fireworks show on the Saturday before the 4th, and it draws a huge number of people. Like, a hundred thousand. We’ve only attended once, because we’re usually busy that Saturday. Last night it was rained out… it’s rescheduled for Monday. Huh.
I once worked for a guy who was nuts about fireworks. He set up a fireworks stand every year, just for the fun of it. One year he gave me a bag of goodies and gushingly described the cool effects of each item. I was too paranoid at the time to actually light any of them on fire, but I came around the next year. Moon must have been about three or four. She and the neighbor boy (a year older) sat together on our lawn and oohed/ahhed as I put aside my fear of burned fingers and lit up our little cul-de-sac.
When all is said and done, we all have an adolescent boy living in our brains, and any holiday involving lighting stuff on fire is cool with him.
June 30, 2004 at 10:55 pm · Filed under blather
After I came back from Milwaukee, my co-workers surprised me by gathering the students, marching into my office with a cake and singing “Happy Birthday.” I was doing an interview with a potential student at the time. (They had told her what was going to happen.)
I was given a “tranquility” scented candle, a book on tranquility (do you sense a theme here?) and a card. Of course Brad had to write “Happy 50th Birthday!” which did not make me feel especially tranquil. Stinker.
We continued the celebration at home by going to Stone Cold Creamery. Moon and I had “Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some,” Pete had the Founder’s Favorite (brownies, chocolate, caramel and pecans), and Peter had Candy Land (Kit Kats, M&Ms and Snickers). Good thing we worked out first, eh?
June 27, 2004 at 4:12 pm · Filed under blather
I wrote a bit more about my funnel cloud sighting. Coincidentally, it looks like another storm is on the way…
June 23, 2004 at 11:25 pm · Filed under blather
I saw the tornado warning on TV when Moon and I were working out at the Princeton Club, but I didn’t think much of it. I figured we’d be finished and at home before the storm reached our part of the county.
The rain was just beginning when we went out the door. All of a sudden, the wind picked up and I felt the sting of sand and gravel against my bare legs. Loose bits of paper flew by. “Run!” I yelled. “Get to the car, NOW!” As Moon and I dove into the car seats and slammed the doors, I had second thoughts. Maybe we should head back into the building and wait the storm out.
Nah. Home was only a half mile away, and other people were getting into their cars. I turned the key in the ignition and scanned the darkening sky nervously. We were off.
I tried to keep my eyes on the road, but my attention kept wandering to the clouds. They were moving so quickly. Across the sky… and down…
“Oh my god, that’s a funnel cloud,” I concluded, with a mix of horror and fascination. “Keep an eye on it,” I told Moon. The mom in me was compelled to explain, “It’s not a tornado unless it touches down. That’s just a funnel cloud, it’s not touching anything on the ground.”
It was less than two miles away. And it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Despite all my dreams about tornadoes, I’d never seen a funnel cloud except in pictures.
I gazed at it as we pulled into the driveway. Now I understand why people sometimes feel compelled to chase after the darned things. I reluctantly went inside when the downpour started. The kids were already in the basement, and Peter was walking in circles with his blanket, saying, “I’m freaking out a little bit. You might not be scared, but I’m only 10.”
That was two hours ago. I wish I’d had the camera in the car, but I suppose it’s all for the best. Driving and photography don’t mix well.
June 14, 2004 at 10:25 am · Filed under blather
The kids are home, and my fondest hope is that Peter will find other things to do than play video games. We had a family talk this weekend about Expectations. Kids can do laundry! Pick up the house before parents come home! Even make dinner now and then!
Pete was wonderful about cleaning after my apathy whine. To the kids’ credit, they went through their stuff and filled several bags with things for our upcoming garage sale. (Yes, that’s one of our Fun Summer Projects this year.)
I mowed the front lawn after dinner last night with our swanky new mower. (It’s exactly like the one I ran over last year. I gave up on finding parts for now…I figure someday we’ll have twin mowers.) The clouds thanked me by sending more rain.
June 12, 2004 at 2:57 pm · Filed under blather
Okay, I’m not really apathetic. I care, deeply. I’m just having a hard time getting motivated. There are a zillion little tasks that need doing, and it’s taking all my willpower to begin any of them. After the dishwasher was loaded, there were dishes in the sink. And crud on the counter. Piles of books everywhere. Dog hair.
Let’s not even talk about the bathroom.
I’m going to work in a half hour or so to meet a potential student. So instead of taking on any of the aforementioned tasks, I’m whining about my lack of motivation.
Moon, bless her, is doing her own laundry. She took Peter’s clean stuff into his room, but I’d bet money he hasn’t folded anything. That’s okay, though… he’s reading and listening to music. He and F pretended to be secret agents all morning, spying on the rest of us.
I just wish I was in the mood to clean.
June 5, 2004 at 11:24 pm · Filed under blather
I just found out that Ronald Reagan has died. It’s a sad thing, what he and his family went through. It’s a shock to hear of his death.
I remember when he won the election. I had voted for the first time – for John Anderson, independent. I had done some volunteering for the Anderson campaign, mostly stuffing envelopes. Although the student body at my college was somewhat conservative, there were still signs of a small backlash. In particular, a banner lamenting the election of “Ray-Gun.”
That’s what came to mind when I read the news. Politics aside, I respect the way he handled his Alzheimer’s. My heart goes out to Nancy.
June 3, 2004 at 10:32 pm · Filed under blather
1. We’re seeing the Harry Potter movie tomorrow night. Woo!
2. I’m getting up early to unlock the Campus for a special class. Peter wants me to drive him to school, even though the magic cello hasn’t been home for ages, and it’s not like he has much to carry. But what the heck, there’s only a week left of school.
3. Missed my workout last night, but I followed through tonight. Yay, me.
4. I admit it, I’ve been playing with my nose ring.
5. I’m joining my ex-co-worker Patti and friends for the Race for the Cure on Saturday. Maybe getting up early will become a habit, ya think?
May 31, 2004 at 11:18 pm · Filed under blather
Today the weather couldn’t decide what it was doing. Rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun. Pete and I both slept in until 9:30 (unheard of for him), lulled into laziness by the pitterpatter of raindrops. During one of the sunny periods, he headed out for his run – and I went to the gym. By the time we had both showered, a good part of our Monday holiday was already gone.
I wanted to see Shrek 2, so the kids and I piled into the car and made it in time for the 3:10 showing. Peter brought his friend along, and the two of them sat together and shared overpriced candy. Moon and I sat right behind them. We all laughed heartily during the movie, and agreed that Puss in Boots was our favorite character.
After we returned home, I concentrated on getting my nose stud back into its hole. I had taken it out yesterday at the in-laws’ to show to my friend, and I couldn’t get it back in. Kind of embarrassing. Weird, too, because I’ve had it in and out many times. The hole started bleeding from all my messing with it, which totally grossed out my husband. Not good.
I called Steve’s Tattoo, crossing my fingers that someone would be there. The nice young man on the phone told me to come on in and he’d fix the problem for me. Apparently this isn’t all that unusual. I’ve been guilty of absently twirling the nose stud (it’s a spiral wire), and the inside of the hole had swollen. The nice young man (who had a labret, septum ring, multiple tattoos and stretched earlobes) delicately inserted a thin metal bar into the hole and opened it back up. I need to leave it alone for two weeks, and then I’ll be able to remove the stud as needed.
I have promised my family that I will keep my hands off my nose. In other news, I saw a rainbow on the way home.
May 29, 2004 at 10:00 pm · Filed under blather
All the makeovers on TLC got to me, I guess. Happily, my stylist had an opening at 2:30 this afternoon, so I was able to do something about it. I didn’t want a huge change, but it was time to get my streak touched up, and my hair felt heavy.
After the foil came out and I toweled my hair off, I peeked in the mirror and was startled by the shock of platinum. My streak grew, and now my bangs are involved! Awesome. With an inch and a half off the bottom, and a bit of layering, I feel absolutely lightweight.
Well, at least my head does.
May 28, 2004 at 10:54 am · Filed under blather
Kind of embarrassing that I slept through the morning aerobics classes at the gym, and I’ll have to go do my regular workout. And I won’t be showering before lunchtime. What a slob!
I had all kinds of bizarre dreams on the sofa this morning, but the most realistic one had to do with our dog, Foxxi. Apparently, we had her cloned, and both dogs were running loose in the Target parking lot. I had to catch them, and Foxxi growled at her clone as I carried the two of them to the car.
The clone was amazingly cute. What corgi pup isn’t, right? I didn’t have a name for her, so I called both dogs “Foxxi.” The clone peed underneath the kitchen table.
That is all. Time to pump iron.
May 27, 2004 at 11:29 pm · Filed under blather
Sometimes I think I’m a sick person because there’s nothing that delights me more than change. It’s amazing what a little jolt to the routine can do.
We had a meeting in Milwaukee today to discuss procedures, and the cool thing is that we found several fairly large holes in the system. We’ve fixed them, and I got to put the new procedures into practice immediately. I couldn’t believe how jazzed up I felt. It didn’t take much to energize me.
I just wish I was a bit more of a morning person. The drive into Milwaukee is always somewhat hazardous, because just keeping my eyes open takes a tremendous effort. I usually end up closing one eye for a few minutes, then the other. Yes, I alternate eyes. Is that dangerous?
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