Casual Thoughts
Weekends at home
Jan 15th
We are staying home for the 3rd weekend in a row. It’s been really nice. We get some laundry done, it’s generally not as expensive as going out of town (although New Year’s was a slight exception), and it is relaxing after a week of work. We go out of town a lot; when all of your family lives out of town you do a lot of traveling to see them. I think that probably, on average, we are gone at least once a month, and often 2 or 3 weekends. It gets to be a lot, but we don’t want to give up any of the visits, so we make it work.
So far this weekend, we’ve done a lot of laundry, and I went through my closet and drawers and filled a bag of stuff to give to Goodwill. We’ve been just hanging out, watching TV and playing with James. It’s probably good that we were home, because he had quite the day today. Weird nap schedules, and fussy off and on more than normal. He’s finally sleeping now, but he keeps crying out, although he didn’t actually wake up yet. Hopefully he sleeps well tonight and has a better day tomorrow. Ryan is going snowmobiling with a friend tomorrow afternoon, so it’ll just be me for a few hours. I forsee a giant mess by the time Ryan gets home. It seems like James can destroy a room in 5 minutes. I think he practices when I’m not around.
Bed time. I’m falling asleep in between sentences.
Low Hanging Fruit
Jan 14th
I like apples
While Becky and I were doing dishes and making dinner this evening James crawled into the kitchen and grabbed an apple out of a basket we have on a low shelf and promptly sank his teeth into it. Being proud of his wise “choice for an appetizer” I grabbed it to quickly rinse it off and remove the sticker. It kept him occupied just about the entire time we were busy in the kitchen.
Look what I can do with these teeth
Snow Days
Jan 12th
As we were on our way to work this morning, Ryan and I were talking about all the snow in Atlanta and the surrounding area.
“They don’t have any [snow removal] equipment, and the 2 front loaders they were using to do snow removal at the airport ran into each other because of the ice,” he tells me. I had been making dinner when he was watching the news last night. “There are people who flew into the airport, but haven’t been able to get anywhere else because of all the snow. There was a woman who grew up in Michigan and then moved there, and she was not amused.”
Our friend Nic just got back from a visit to North Carolina, and he said they were snowed in for 5 days because it snowed, and they don’t plow; they just wait for it to melt. A friend who lives near NYC told us that the garbage people double as snow removal people there. You either get snow removal or garbage pickup, but not both.
Neither of us can imagine what would happen here if that is how we operated. First of all, waiting for the snow to melt would mean you didn’t go anywhere between mid to late October and late March to early April, at the least. There are often piles of snow (and we continue to get storms) into May. The garbage situation would be awful. I don’t know what they would choose, but either way it would be bad; piles of garbage or unplowed streets.
I don’t fault those places for not having the equipment to deal with all the snow. It doesn’t make sense financially to maintain all that equipment if you aren’t going to use it often. Especially in Atlanta (I have less sympathy for New York). Ryan and I disagree on whether it should even be available. He thinks you should be able to get it somewhere. I think that that would mean someone stockpiling snow removal equipment for a “just in case” scenario that is rare. We can’t send them our snow equipment from up here. It’s not like when there’s a fire in California and other states send their fire fighters. We need the equipment that we have.
While talking about it, we expressed a little bitterness that we very very rarely get snow days from work (I think I’ve had one in the six years I’ve been working here, and it was when we got 2 feet of snow overnight). We live in a climate where it is expected that we will get very cold temperatures and a lot of snow. Four inches were predicted yesterday, and I didn’t hear anything about it until I asked someone how much we were supposed to get. It’s just not a big deal unless it’s a foot or more. And even then, unless it comes all at once on a weekday we don’t get to stay home. I told Ryan that one of the downsides (or benefits, depending on how you look at it) of living here is that we don’t get those weather related breaks. We have all 4 seasons; we are prepared for pretty much anything.
I guess I’ll just have to look forward to when James is in school, and I can say, “Sorry! I have to stay home with my son!” In the meantime, if you have a day or two off work please enjoy it on behalf of the rest of us!
Childhood flashbacks
Jan 8th
Marie Green was telling us about how her daughter broke her arm, and as I read the memories came flooding in…
I remember being chased around the wooden playground equipment. My friend Moriah and I were being chased by a boy named Zeb. We were in second grade. We ran around the equipment, and got to the top of the slide. I remember getting onto the slide, kind of looking back to see where Zeb was. The next thing I remember is laying on the ground, and then waiting in the nurse’s office for my mom. When I remember all of this I kind of see it like I was floating above myself, which is weird. I see my little second grade self laying on the ground, then it cuts to me sitting at a table in the nurse’s office; my arm resting on the table because it hurt to have it hanging. Apparently when she called my mom she said that Mom “might” want to take me in for an x-ray. When my mom got there, she says it was immediately apparent my arm was broken; there was a bend in the middle of my forearm where it should have been straight.
I don’t remember the ride to the hospital; the next memory I have is laying on a table, with my mom on my right and a nurse on my left. They brought this big hanging thing over, and explained that it was like a Chinese finger trap
Torture devices for young children?
The one they used looked more like these (but hung from a metal arm):
It would grab all of my fingers and the nurses would pull on my arm, and the bone would go back into place. It sounded simple enough that even I could understand it, but let me tell you; that was the most painful and frightening experience of my entire life. They didn’t give me any drugs; they just put my hand in that machine and started pulling. I remember shrieking. My mom, I think, was traumatized from having to listen to the whole thing, because they would pause and then do it again, and I kept begging her to make them stop.
I don’t remember what happened after that. I know I had a cast for a long time. I think I had 3 casts over the course of the healing process. I know I had a Snoopy sling, and that everyone signed my cast and I felt special. But that memory, of someone yanking on my broken arm while it was stuck in those finger traps, is still enough to make me shudder.
I broke my leg when I was in 6th grade, going down our deck stairs with ice skates on (yes, I know this was a bad idea). It didn’t hurt too badly, but I was crying and terrified that they would do the same thing they had done when I broke my arm. My mom promised that she wouldn’t let them, and it turned out that my leg wasn’t broken in the same way (it was a spiral fracture and didn’t require setting at all), so it didn’t matter.
I generally have a terrible memory; especially when it comes to my childhood. I remember snippets of things, but nothing substantial. But that day, when I broke my arm, is locked in there. I doubt that it will ever leave, and I only hope that I can remain calm if/when James ever breaks a bone.
What I got for Christmas
Jan 7th
Everyone is doing these great posts about their favorite Christmas gifts, and asking what everyone else got. I thought I would join in the fun! This was a really great year for me; everything I got is something I can use/wanted. And there was a funny story about one of my gifts that I’ll get to later.
First, Ryan and I got a Wii Fit.
It hasn’t been taken out of the box yet because we need to take down our tree first, and that hasn’t happened. This weekend, I think.
We also got a PS3 Move controller and game. It is mega-fun. You can play volleyball! Without killing your knees!
Also, I got a rice cooker/steamer. No photo of that one. We made rice with stir-fried veggies and baked fish tonight for dinner. It was delicious (and healthy!!).
I also got this game:
I don’t think I have laughed so hard in a long time. We played with Ryan’s family when they were up here the weekend before Christmas (I got it from his sister). It’s like a cross between the game Telephone and Pictionary. Its even more fun if you can’t draw. You should try it out. Seriously. Also, added bonus; you don’t have to keep score, and it’s still tons of fun!
Ryan got me a cookie scoop
And an SD card for my phone (which it then turned out already had an SD card, so the new one went to the camcorder).
I also got the newest Stephen King book
A cover for my Nook
And a warm fleece blanket that I’m using right now. But it also works to cuddle up and read.
I think there was some other stuff I got; some pieces of jewelry (a necklace and a bracelet), and a gift card to Maurices (my dad gets my sisters & I one of those every year, and then we go shopping together. I love it). Oh, and some gloves. I had asked for some of these,
and my mom thought she found them on Amazon. She ordered a pair, but when they came there were a dozen pairs of gloves, and they were more like these.
Not exactly what she expected, I don’t think. Needless to say, everyone ended up with a pair of work gloves, instead of me ending up with gloves to use with my phone. Oh well! It makes a good story, anyway.
So, like I said; I got some terrific gifts this year. All things that I will put to good use, for sure. What did you get for Christmas?
Photo credits: all except Nook cover and Dots Gloves are from Amazon. Nook cover photo from Barnes & Noble, and Dots Gloves photo from their website.
Just a reminder
Jan 4th
Please, please carry some sort of contact information with you that is valid and would reach someone other than yourself in case of an emergency. I just got a call (at work) from a hospital trying to locate the family of one of their patients who is in critical condition. They found our business card in his wallet, and have been trying to call anyone whose card he has. What a frightening position to be in; sick, in the hospital, unable to communicate, and with no family around because the hospital doesn’t know who to contact.
It’s the most insane time of the year
Dec 14th
Things have been busy around here. James and I are both pretty much healthy again, and lucky Ryan didn’t get the cold (thankfully!). We got our Christmas tree and have been slowly adding presents to the bottom of it. I’m so excited for James to open his gifts. He loves to pull/tear paper, so it should be a good time.
I spent most of Sunday afternoon & evening making Christmas treats. Horseballs (aka graham cracker balls), no-bake cookies made with Nutella, peanut butter and chocolate fudge, and mint brownies. The chocolate fudge didn’t boil long enough, so it didn’t turn out, but it will make great ice cream topping. I need to make another batch of everything other than the horseballs, but it’s all pretty simple, so that’s ok. I’m enjoying having stuff to give to friends as part of their gifts.
We ordered our Christmas cards from Shutterfly, but I realized after I placed the order that I didn’t order enough. We’ll have to look into supplementing with a few from Walgreens or something. Meh. I’m taking a very laid-back attitude toward things this Christmas. If it gets done it gets done, and if not, oh well. Our tree sat for 2 or 3 days before Ryan decided it needed lights. I did put the ornaments on it a couple nights later, so it’s totally decorated now, which is good I guess. It would be a shame to pay for a tree and then not do anything with it.
Ryan’s parents and sister are coming here this weekend and we will be doing their family Christmas then. I’m excited; this is our first time hosting a major holiday. We even bought a table cloth. You can’t even see the table underneath all the stuff on it right now, but that’s beside the point. Their traditional Christmas meal is Swedish meatballs, so we’ll be having those along with the Pioneer Woman’s mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and fresh veggies. Yum. And pie, of course. Mmmm…pie.
Along with all the baking and mentally preparing to have company, we had Ryan’s company Christmas party last weekend, and mine is this coming Friday. Both involve babysitters for James. Good thing he loves people. Last Saturday night he stayed with my coworker and her husband and daughter, and this weekend Ryan’s parents and sister will watch him on Friday evening for us. My coworker says they miss James; that they’ve been talking about how much fun he was every evening since he left. I told her I’m sending him back regularly – he seems to be sleeping a little better. We’ve cut out one of the wake-up times, which is great. Only 2 to go!
I’m going to finish watching this episode of L&O: SVU and then go to bed. The yawning has gotten a little ridiculous.
Am sick
Nov 26th
Send…um nothing, I guess. My throat hurts too much for that. I don’t know if I strained my tongue coughing, or of this is a side effect of the cold, but it sucks. I was coughing enough to give myself a headache, and it was hard to swallow dinner. And now i’m exhausted. Ryan’s dad is putting James down (he didn’t nap well today, and fell asleep at about 6 or so until 9). I went to the local drugstore today & talked to the pharmacist. He recommended a cough suppresant. It seems to be helpful.
Ryan & his parents & sister made lefse. I’m dozing in the recliner.
We are having breakfast with friends tomorrow, which should be fun. Hopefully I’ll be feeling better!
Pep band; matchmaker
Nov 15th
It’s no secret that Ryan & I were in pepband together. We met in band, and were friends throughout our college carriers. What is funny to me (and is a running joke with our friends) is how many other people who met in band have paired up. Out of the people that were in band while Ryan & I were, there are 8 couples (that I can think of) that are either married or in serious relationships now. That’s out of a group of about 45. There are at least 3 or 4 other couples who are married who met in a hand of some sorts (just not our pepband). That’s 35% of the group. It’s a little ridiculous, hence the running joke. “The band that sleeps together stays together!” (It’s a joke, Mom!)
When I tell people about this, I usually explain that it’s because we spent so much time together. My freshman year in college we played 70 games between the beginning of football season & the end of hockey. That’s only 7 months, and we didn’t really play over the semester break, and only 1 or 2 games during the week, which meant that almost every weekend we had at least one game; sometimes 3. We also spent a lot of our free time together; lunch at the Kirby cafe 3 days a week (after concert band), weekend parties, meeting randomly between classes. It’s a lot of time with the same people, is what i’m saying. You’d think we’d get sick of each other, but we are still friends with a majority of the people we knew then, and we’ve been out of college for 6/7 years. I love our group of friends. I feel lucky that we share so much group history. Of course, it also makes me feel badly for the non-band spouses (there are a few). Good thing they are pretty cool, so we’ve taken them in as our own. ;)
Do you have any groups that have spawned more relationships than seems normal? Were they musical in nature (the groups, not the relationships)? ;)
Posted from my Droid.<\I>
What the what?
Nov 11th
Someone I know (possibly several people I know) says this, and I always laugh. What a weird statement.
This week at work has flown by, and instead of being productive last night, after we put the baby to bed and made a list of what we need to pack (and did an attempt to get all our liquids into 2 quart-sized bags ((that didn’t work so well…we’ll be checking a bag))), Ryan and I vegged out last night. He played a video game and I got caught up on Gossip Girl. It was lovely, but I think we will be paying for it tonight.
My desk at work is moderately cleaner than it was at the beginning of this week, but I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be before I leave tomorrow. There will be some working from home tonight (after I finish everything else).
I’m paranoid that we are forgetting something important on our packing list. Although, theoretically, we should be able to either pick up whatever we forgot in Florida when we get there, or on the boat. And all the baby needs are diapers, wipes, food and milk. Oh, and clothes. I mean, there are obviously other things we’ll be bringing down for him, but as long as he has that stuff they could get by. And it’s not like my in-laws don’t live near a store. So I don’t know why I’m worried. Meh.
The end. How’s that for a closing?
