Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Answers to her Questions

TXPoppet's questions, that is.

This whole interview business was started by Immoral Matriarch. And it marches on here.

THE QUESTIONS:

1. Four boys begs the obvious question, do you keep enough seltzer on hand for daily burping contests? Also, how many members of your household can burp the alphabet and are you one of them?

I keep quite a bit of seltzer on hand since that's all I drink besides coffee and wine. Fortunately, the boys all hate it. Because of that they don't burp nearly as often as I do. I think the fact I am a champion burper and can out burp them at every turn has dissuaded them from attempting anything like the alphabet. The farting on the other hand is out of control.

2. What do the boys do that makes you laugh nearly every day?

The littles, as I call the younger two, are quite silly and like to shake their booties with abandon. That makes me laugh. The older two are 12 and 14 so there isn't much going on in the make mom laugh area right now. It is more of the eye rolling, sighing, "parents are so dumb" type stuff. I will say that when the littles taunt the older two and make them insane with rage - that's pretty funny. Lately, that type of thing is a daily occurrence.

3. In an alternate reality, what would your double be doing right now?

My double is right now sitting on a beach in Bimini with a good book, frosty drink and a hot cabana boy fanning me with a palm frond. Oh, and she looks fabulous in a bathing suit.

4. In your Jan. 21st meme you mentioned that you are teaching.  What are you teaching at night?

It is hysterical that you asked this. I had to go back read what you were talking about and then look at a calendar because for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. Now I see that my youngest had a cub scout meeting and myself and another mom were teaching them a little sign language.

Now that I've said that, I will say that THANK GOD I do not have to do that again any time soon. There were six 8 year old boys, one 10 year old (mine), and one 5 year old girl (friend's). The meeting was held at my home and at one point Zach, my youngest, was literally climbing on my head. The other boys were fabulous. I think Zach was a wee bit excited over the meeting being at our house and having mom instead of dad working with them. To say he was bouncing off the walls would be an understatement.

Even with the insanity of an eight year old they all managed to learn the alphabet and how to say, "My name is [their name]. What is your name?" in American Sign Language. After taking an intense 3 week ASL course this summer I am saddened to say I don't remember much more than that.

5. If you could hug any person you've never actually met, who would it be and why?

Oh, this is a hard one. I would have to say Sharon. Or Cursingmama. Or Kinnicchick. Or ecined. Yes, they're all blogging friends. But they are most definitely friends. I'm hoping one of these days to meet all these lovely ladies and give them that hug. They have all supported me during some less than fun times and I'd love to be able to show them how much their friendship has meant to me.

Whew! That was tough. Hopefully it will tell you all a little more about me. If anyone else has a question, feel free to ask away. If you'd like for ME to ask YOU some questions...

Want to be part of it? Follow these instructions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone
else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them
five questions.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Hope

It seems as if the very air is filled with hope this morning. As the morning progresses and people start their days it seems to increase. It is only 7:42 in the morning and I've been up for 2 hours. As I made my way into work this morning there was a perfect snow falling. It's like a giant snow-globe with drifting snow. No cars in snowbanks. No wind whipping the flakes into your face. Just beautiful. It's still pretty dark out and I'm the only one in the office so far but I'm still bursting with positive feelings.

I realized this morning that being filled with hope effects behavior. That may be its greatest strength. A President can't change the world him (or her) self but if they infuse the world with hope, the human race can make the change. It is a huge burden to put on one person. It is also a huge accomplishment to achieve. The giving of the gift of hope.

The thing is, it's not just this country who is filled with hope. The world is hoping right along with us. And if we're all hoping and believing how can we not change? How can the world not change?

Yesterday my eight year old told me today was a big day. He was very excited because something great was happening today. Then he asked if I knew what great thing was going to happen. Honestly, at that moment I thought he might be confused and think today was ski club. But no. He was talking about "Obama is becoming our president." He feels the hope in the air. He is excited. I can not honestly remember ever being the slightest bit interested in the President until High School. It was just a very vague thing that was discussed in class right before the election and then not spoken about for four more years. It amazes me what strong beliefs my children have. It amazes me they have such interest. It amazes me that it does not seem so momentous that we are hours away from having a black president. That in fact they can't comprehend why the grown ups keep making a big deal about it. "Why wouldn't we have a black president? What does that have to do with being president?" It actually brings tears to my eyes that they feel this way. It makes me feel like I succeeded at at least one thing in raising them. Even if I can't really take credit because it is the entire country's success. I am thankful the country has helped me in this aspect of raising my children right.

So thank you. And enjoy today. Keep the hope in your hearts and together we can make things better. We've made a great start already.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Jumbled Monday

Ah, Monday. I love Mondays. Okay, sometimes I love Mondays. This particular Monday is not a horrible occurrence but not a relief either. It should be noted, I am tired.

The husband left town for work until tomorrow night and I didn't get the grocery shopping done this weekend so I'm starting the week off behind on life. I did do 5 loads of laundry yesterday. Yes, 5, even with the front loader. I'm thinking the skiing thing is causing much more laundry than usual. Oh, almost forgot about basketball practice - hee, yes, one of the Shetland boys is playing basketball this year - and soccer practice and lacrosse practice all started last week. God, I'm tired just writing all that.

I think I got gypped. Not only did I not get any girls, all my boys run around and make music which in turn causes me to have to run them around to countless practices and attend games and concerts galore. Why do I not have a little girl I could buy cute stripped tights for who would sit quietly and read in a comfy chair in the corner? (Which is what I would rather be doing right now.) I understand you might find the request of a tight wearing girl odd but there is something you probably don't know about my house...

Socks. They can be found in every single room in my home. No matter how many times I (or less often, the children - when ordered) pick them up and put them in the wash, they find their way into rooms such as the dining room, bathroom, playroom, kitchen. EVERY. SINGLE. ROOM. They only have 2 feet each. We have 11 rooms in our house. I may not be a math whiz but that just does not add up. 4 children x 2 feet = 8 socks. 11 rooms. Does not compute.

No, honestly, I'm not sad to not have a girl. I kid. I would much rather have my 4 loud, obsessed with bodily functions and sports children who beat the crap out of each other on a regular basis than a bunch of girls. I always did find it easier to get along with boys. Besides, boys are impressed with loud belches rather than repulsed.  Also, I have the sense of humor of a twelve year old boy - still. The hardest part is not laughing at the inappropriate jokes.

In truth, inappropriate jokes might not really be the hardest part of raising the boys - that falls more to the trying to raise good men with all their limbs. Trying to keep them in one piece while simultaneously not killing them for ignoring me when I tell them to do something around the house because they are too busy playing video games - that is what is killing me.

I have no idea where this post went. This is what happens when you start a post, do some work, come back to work on the post, do more work. You get a jumbled mess that you have no time to fix because you have actual work to do that you avoided last week. May your day be less jumbled than this post. It can't be too hard.

Friday, January 9, 2009

In the (lack of) News

I've got nothing.

I've tried and tried today but... nothing. I've also done nothing today.

Okay, okay, not nothing but not as much as I should be getting done. I've done everything but the one big project that is just drudgery.

Also? People are dumb.

And annoying.

And no, I'm not in a bad mood.

Someone in my life seems to have been in a bad mood for the last... oh, I don't know... eleventy-million months. I'm not naming any names here but... it is a real downer. The worst part is I'm not allowed to ask about it or the person ends up in an even worse mood. There is no winning here.

Mind. can. not. focus.

This is another reason large project of drudgery is not getting done. Requires focus. Wait! Do I see something shiny?

Quick, look over there!

Now to figure out how to complete pre-Bar Mitzvah child's Torah project TONIGHT as it is due TOMORROW at some crazy hour like 9am. This whole weekend's schedule is insane. Speaking of which, must remember to print out calendar pages for weekend or will forget one or ten items on the schedule. Why did we have so many children and why must they be so involved?

In positive news, I updated to WordPress 2.7. I like it. It is good. That is all.

This may be the worst blog post ever.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Back at work & your regularly scheduled life

It feels as if I spent the past eleven days on a bit of vacation from life. It was definitely a vacation from work and without a schedule to follow I sort of floundered as I am wont to do. I did have grand ideas of things I could get done with so much time off work but without any actual plans I got nothing done. The only thing I swore I would do - bake - didn't even get done. Yes, a holiday season without baking. A travesty if there ever was one!

I did however take the children skiing more than once. I rented skis for the season, I suited them up and spent a day reading in the lodge with breaks to hand out money, food and hot chocolate. I also bought a snowboard for one of them and last night... Last night I skied for the first time in five years. My planning skills really need work. Not only do I have to adjust to being back at work, I had to figure out how to get to my second floor office without going up the stairs. Also, the screams every time I rise from my chair are upsetting my office mates. I don't think they appreciate it on this first day back to work.

As for holidays and new years and resolutions...

The holidays were good. Much Rock Band 2 was played on the Wii. During said play it was discovered my 12 y/o's voice is changing and now I have to pay him to not sing. A nasty head cold made the rounds but overall it was a healthy holiday. The new year was celebrated by bowling. And we were witness to another holiday miracle...

My 14 y/o was invited to a New Year's party and did not even ASK if he could go. He told his friend he would be bowling with his family. Yes, a 14 y/o boy willingly spent time with his family over the break. He played games with us, bowled, and did not sulk. I'm trying to soak up and enjoy each and every moment before the wind changes direction. I know this will not last but for now I even have photographic PROOF of this miracle. Of course I can't post it because it would require me to actually take the photos off my camera. That has not happened. I'm thinking I need to put more photos on Flickr so maybe I'll start with these.

As for resolutions, I'm not a fan. Some years I make them, most years I don't. I think this is a don't year. They just make me feel bad when I don't accomplish them. 2009 seems to be the year of let's see what happens. Of course, I just realized I mentioned I must work on my planning skills. That without plans I get nothing done... hmmm. Still, right now feels like a take life where it leads you time.

Things I learned over the break:
  1. I can not drink 10 cups of coffee in one day unless I want to be up until 3am.

  2. I need a plan or I will get nothing done but watch Gilmore Girls.

  3. I think I'm in love with Gilmore Girls. I'm on season 6. I don't want it to end.

  4. Your arms can be sore from skiing. No, I don't know how that happens. It just does.

  5. It is possible for teenage boys to play Rock Band for 7 hours straight with only one break for food.

  6. If not playing video games they eat approximately every 23 minutes. (Okay, I already knew this.)

  7. Sometimes your kids will want to play a board game with you.

  8. A cool uncle present will up the time your teen will want to spend in your company.

  9. If you need to laugh until you cry, hang out with a sibling.

  10. Mondays are harder than you remember when you have to go back to work after a vacation.