Monthly Archive for February, 2008

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I can’t help but wonder…

Published on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in TV Shows and TV: Lost - The Show. 1 Comment

Okay, Claire and I watched Confirmed Dead, the latest episode of Lost, again last night, and I just have to put this out there. I kinda thought about it the first time I watched the episode, but I didn’t think too much of it. But, it really hit me last night…maybe because of what Ben says at the end?

Anyway, when they are at the helicopter and Miles makes that call to the boat and Regina answers, she tells him that George can’t come to the phone. She sounds stressed. She then cuts the call short.

I wonder…what’s happening on that boat!? Is it related to “the man [Ben] has on the boat”?? Or, is it nothing?

As we know, nothing is rarely nothing on Lost…and I can’t help but wonder…

Until tomorrow!

Note: You can check out my other Lost ramblings and questions in the Lost: The Show Category or the Lost: Missing Pieces Category.

A Dollhouse Story

Published on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in Claire, Fun and Photos. 4 Comments

Every dollhouse tells a story. Claire got a dollhouse from one of her aunts for Christmas, and she loves playing with it. She rearranges things to suit her fancy. I couldn’t help but notice what was happening with the dollhouse yesterday.

Note about the pictures: You can click on each picture to enlarge it. Clicking a second time will show even more detail.

Here is a picture of the dollhouse.

Upon first glance, all appears to be somewhat normal. Claire has decided that the big bed needs to be on the upper level (in what is supposed to be the baby’s room?), but that actually makes more sense. It fits better up there. The wardrobe is out on the patio, but again, it fits better out there. The chairs are in the baby’s room and they are facing the window, because who doesn’t like to watch the squirrels playing in the trees in the backyard?

Upon further inspection…

You’ll see that Baby and Momma are in the bathroom. The chairs are in the tub. Hmmm…not quite sure why, but that’s okay. It’s not my house. Maybe they were dirty? Oddly enough, they fit perfectly.

Then we see something has gone awry in the kitchen…

Daddy has either tripped and fallen or has decided to take a nap. It’s hard to tell without more information. Either way, he still has a goofy grin on his face, so whatever it is can’t be all that bad.

Then we see the real reason…

(I’ve made some adjustments to show you what’s happened, in case you can’t tell from the other picture…)

Daddy has discovered that his computer chair has been replaced by a toilet. And, he’s fainted from pure joy.

And, who wouldn’t?

p.s. What? Claire comes by this assumption naturally… Ha! I love it!

Where, oh where…

Published on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in Claire, Conversations, It's a paycheck, Language, Milestones and Parenting 101. 3 Comments

…arrrrrrrrrrrrre you toniiiiiiiiiiight?
Why did you leeeeeeeeeeeeave me heeeeeeeeeeeere all alone?
I searched the world over and thought I found true love…
Yoooooooooooooou met another and pppppppppppt
you were gonnnnnnnnnnnnnne.

Yes, that’s a song from Hee-Haw. I loved the re-runs of that show when I was little. Anyway, that’s the song that popped into my head today when I realized that I really have no voice again! It’s left me.

I don’t get sick for almost three years, and now I’ve lost my voice again? It’s barely been a month since the last time!

Boo!

By my calculations, I have enough left to squeak through the five files I have on my desk. I’ve put a hold on the ones coming in for today so that I can rest. (Granted, I have A TON of files to type, but typing doesn’t require a voice. Okay, well, sometimes it does, but I can make an exception this time.)

I could feel my voice starting to pack its bags and empty its drawers yesterday, but I refused to acknowledge what was really happening. Spring Cleaning so early? Rearranging stuff to make more room? Leaving? Oh, no…don’t be silly. You’re not leaving…

Claire was really cute yesterday. I would tell her that she had to be good because I didn’t want to yell, and she’d say, “You don’t wanna yell, Momma? So, don’t yell, Momma!” Well, that’s a concept! In all honesty, I try not to do a lot of yelling at her anyway, because I realize that it loses its effectiveness after a while. I try to reserve the yelling for the really important times.

I have perfected The Look and Finger-Point. And all I have to say (in my quiet, calm, I-mean-business voice) is, “And this is your warning. Do you know what happens if you do that again?” That’s when she runs around screaming, “I don’t wanna go to time-out! I don’t wanna go to time-out! It’s NOT my warning! It’s NOT my warning! It’s NOT simple, Momma!” (Because she knows that what I say next is, “It’s very simple. Don’t do that, and you won’t go to time-out.”) Ha!

She always calms down and goes about her business. If she does whatever it was on purpose, again, it’s straight to time-out, and she knows I mean business. Said offense rarely happens again. And, for a toddler, she really is pretty well-behaved.

I hope my voice is just on a business trip and will be back soon. In the meantime, it’s going to be a lot quieter around here…from my end anyway.

Ronic

Published on Monday, February 11, 2008 in Claire, Conversations, Language and Parenting 101. 3 Comments

Setting the scene: Momma and Claire are eating breakfast. Claire is being a typical toddler. Momma is trying not to lose her cool.

Momma: “Stop being difficult.”

Claire: “I AM NOT BEING DIFFICULT!!!”

Momma: laughing uncontrollably “Why are you yelling? And? You are being difficult.”

Claire: “I AM NOT YELLING! I AM NOT BEING DIFFICULT!!! STOP LAUGHING. STOP LAUGHING, MOMMA!!!”

Momma: laughing at the irony

Momma tickles Claire to disarm her.

Claire: calmer now “Momma, why are you laughing?’

Momma: “I am laughing because you’re being ironic.”

Claire: I AM NOT RONIC! I’M CLAIRE! I AM NOT BEING DIFFICULT!

The “Only When It Blows Up” List

Published on Sunday, February 10, 2008 in Home Improvement. 0 Comments

As the owners of a 30-something year old house, we have a lot of To Do Lists.

The “We Must Do These Things” List is pretty small these days. (See the Home Improvement Category.)

The “Only if We Win the Lottery” List is not too long, but nice to dream about at times.

The “Only When It Blows Up” List actually got used this weekend.

You know that list. It’s the list of things that you’d like to replace or re-do, but you really can’t justify the expense, pain-and-suffering, and/or time needed…until it blows up.

Apparently the garbage disposal was tired of waiting. It promptly moved itself to the Number One spot on Saturday.

Now, in our defense, we’ve been really kind to the old garbage disposal. We’re pretty sure it’s original with the house, and there are just some things it can’t handle…like anything tougher than oatmeal or wilted lettuce. It’s never seen a celery stalk or pineapple core. We know better. But, even with its limitations, it’s been a pretty good garbage disposal. It runs when it’s supposed to. It’s loud, but that’s to be expected.

However, the new, added feature of blowing a hole in its side and spraying water across the entire kitchen from under the cabinet is not going to be tolerated. So, “Replace the Garbage Disposal” got moved to the top of the “Only When it Blows Up” List, and its time with us has ended.

So far, the removal of the old unit and installation of the new unit appears to be going smoothly. Of course, because he’s totally in his (de-)construction mode, my hubby has decided to work on the entire cabinet under the sink.

Nothing is ever simple. “Replace the Garbage Disposal” has turned into “Replace all the wood on the floor of the cabinet; paint the inside of the cabinet white, and this and this and that and that.” In the past, I’ve tried to stop such scope-creep and make him stick to the task at hand, but it’s futile. I’ve learned just to step back and let him go.

In the end, it will work perfectly, look awesome, and he’ll blame me for making him work all weekend on a simple project. If you ask me, dealing with a little misplaced blame is a small price to pay for checking off another item on the “Only When It Blows Up” List.

I just hope the furnace and kitchen stove don’t get any wild ideas…

Too much math for a Saturday

Published on Saturday, February 9, 2008 in Birthdays. 0 Comments

My dad was 25-yrs old when I was born, so he turned 29 the year I turned four. When I turned five, Dad was still 29. When I celebrated my sixth birthday, Dad was still 29. When Year Number Seven rolled around for me, Dad celebrated 29. Again.

Wait a second.

Something’s not quite right here. How come I’m getting older, but Dad is still 29?

And they say women are the ones who have issues with getting older.

Well, today is the 30th anniversary of my Dad’s 29th Birthday! (He’s now officially been 29 longer than when he actually turned 29.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

We’ll be calling later to let Claire talk to you. She’s been saying “Happy Birthday, Grandpa!” all morning. I hope you’ve had your nap; she’s really energetic today. I would make a joke about your age, but I know how grumpy old people get.

Lost Observations – “Confirmed Dead”

Published on Friday, February 8, 2008 in TV Shows and TV: Lost - The Show. 2 Comments

If you haven’t seen the latest Lost episode, Confirmed Dead, and you don’t like spoilers…Stop! Don’t look! Move along, there’s…uh…something to see here!

If you have seen it and/or you like spoilers, by all means…welcome! Or should I say Namaste?

I must say, I liked this episode of Lost, but I kept wanting to learn even more. I know I said I always watch them twice, and I do. But I felt the urge to write own my observations before the second viewing and before reading any recaps.

That being said, I was glad to see a couple of things cleared up in this episode: They explained John’s being shot and his miraculous recovery, and the fact that Naomi used a code phrase to alert her people about the dangers on the island!

Yea! But, I think they were just placating us momentarily…

Of course, we have old questions still hanging out there unanswered, and some new ones to join them.

WHO IS IN THE COFFIN!? Just kidding. I wouldn’t be surprised if they keep that one from us until the bitter end.

So, in no particular order, here are some other questions and comments I have:

Why did Naomi go without her crew to the island? Why was she on a re-con mission alone when her chopper went down and she bailed? Still doesn’t explain how/why she had a picture of Desmond and Penny. How is that related to finding Ben?

Speaking of Ben, I’ve always wondered if he knew about Desmond in the hatch?

And the African American dude that hassles Hurley at Santa Rosa (albeit in the future) is back. His mission must not go well or as planned. Bummer.

This episode makes you wonder why a physicist, a psychic, an archaeologist/anthropologist, and a pilot are sent there. (Not to mention their mission leader, Naomi…) Is Ben their true ‘main’ objective? When was that picture taken, and who is the inside man Ben has on their boat? Did Michael and Walt make it past the freighter? Technically, Ben let them “leave the island,” as promised, but how far did they get?

None of these “rescuers” believed that the people from Oceanic 815 were on the bottom of the ocean. Why? We know that Frank was to be the pilot of Oceanic 815, but what connection do the others have, or is it purely DHARMA related? Charlotte has some interest in/connection to DHARMA, but does she have a connection to the plane? What about Miles and Dan?

Speaking of Charlotte, it makes you wonder a) why is there a DHARMA polar bear in the desert, and b) why is she not only not surprised, but also seems to be expecting it? (And, is it just me, or did that whole scene remind you of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark? [Oh! Spooky! The word Lost is in that title, too!] Speaking of favorite movies from my past, the scene with Miles was very Ghost Busters! Are there any other 1980s movie references I missed??) Note to self: watch it again, soon!

Moving on…

Also, the gas masks and bio-bags were very reminiscent of Ben’s orchestrated “Purge,” but is that something to throw us off?

Speaking of that, where is Richard Alpert? Where are the other Others? Why isn’t Jack or Locke worried about them?

And both John and Ben were wondering where/why Hurley saw creepy Jacob’s cabin, but he realized something wasn’t right and lied. Hurley has become less trusting…maybe because of Charlie’s death? Maybe some other reason?

And, speaking of Hurley just recently losing his best friend on the island, have Desmond’s visions stopped?

And we are no closer to knowing who the rest of the Oceanic Six are, though the previews for next week made a promise to give us one more…maybe.

Be sure to check out Tubular for a recap, and Dark UFO’s screencaps and Easter Eggs. (Both links are in my blogroll.)

*sigh* I’m so glad Lost is back…

Edited to add: In one of the scenes, you can see a number on the screen to call for more information. If you have a chance, call 888-548-0034 for an update on the Oceanic Flight 815 situation. I wonder how many calls they’ll be getting today?

Say my name

Published on Thursday, February 7, 2008 in Claire, Language, Milestones and Parenting 101. 6 Comments

I’ve been trying to figure out how to relay this story without revealing too much of our private lives. My hubby said he would support my blog-writing if I could do it without using our real names and specific locations, etc. He agreed that using Claire’s first name and photo was fine…for now. When she’s old enough to decide whether or not she wants to run for Congress, we’ll revisit the ‘is it okay to post pictures of yourself online’ question.

That being said, I have a real name. Yes, I go by Momma on this site and all the other sites where I comment and post, but I have a real name. Some of my real friends and family frequent this blog, so they know I have a real name. I don’t go by Momma because I’ve lost all sense of self after having become a mother. My motherhood has not replaced who I am as an individual. It’s just easier to post using the name I’m called all day, every day. Even my hubby calls me Momma. I love it, actually.

Before I had Claire the thought of not being called by my real name was daunting. Did I see my self as Mom? To me, Mom will always be my mom. There is just something about Mommy that just doesn’t sit right with my personality. Momma has a nice ring to it. Anyway, I like my real name, and it isn’t a name you hear every day. But, I’ll let you in on a little secret…all of my siblings are named with names starting with the same letter, and actually our names sound very similar. There were neighbors (and friends and relatives and…you get the picture) of ours growing up that could never keep the four of us straight. Except my baby brother. His name was pretty obvious. So, because of their confusion, I answer to pretty much anything that sounds remotely like my name. Or starts with the same letter. Or if the person says it while looking directly at me.

But, I digress. Momma is so completely different from my real name, and I love being called it too.

One day, a couple months ago, I was getting ready in the master bathroom. Claire was playing out in the living room. I could hear her, and I’d peek in on her every few minutes just to be sure she was doing okay. My hubby was outside shoveling.

All of a sudden, I heard my name being yelled. My real name. Not Momma but my other name. Only, this wasn’t being yelled by my husband, it was being yelled in a tiny toddler voice. “Hey, Real-Naaame!” Two distinct syllables. “Hey Real-Naaaame!” There it was again. Claire had to be relaying a message she’d heard…because there is no way she could come up with that phrasing on her own. I mean, she’s heard me use my name countless times on the phone for work, but never in this context.

I threw on my robe and ran out to the living room. “Hey Real-Naaaame!” she said with a smile. “Daddy is yelling at you, Real-Naaaame!”

So, I ran down to the garage, and sure enough, he’d popped his head in the garage door and yelled a couple to times for me. It wasn’t that important, so he’d shut the door and gone about his business. I had not heard him call my name, but Claire had. And, it stuck.

Now, months later, if she can’t get my attention by yelling Momma, she pulls out the big guns and uses Real-Name. This tickles my husband to no end, and he thinks it’s hysterical. I have to admit, it’s hilarious…and disconcerting. But, come to think of it, doesn’t “hilarious and disconcerting” pretty much describe most of toddlerhood in general? I think so, too.

Ready, Set, Jump!

Published on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 in Claire, Milestones and Photos. 2 Comments

On Saturday, Claire was having so much fun showing Daddy all the things she’d been doing the week he was gone (actually, he was gone for the majority of two weeks). After a while, she was pulling out the stops and just putting on a show for him that included all of her tricks.

One of the things she’s been doing for a while is jumping. She loves to jump. She’ll jump over here. She’ll jump over there. She’ll jump all day, depending on her mood. The tallest thing she’ll actually jump off of is the step stool (a.k.a. Finger Slicer Extraordinaire*), and for that I’m very thankful.

Because she was running around like a crazy person, and because it’s so dry here, her hair started to stand on end with the static electricity.

These pictures were originally to capture her hair standing on end, but I think Daddy did a good job of getting a shot of the action, too.

A note about the pictures:
You can click on each picture to enlarge it.
Clicking a second time will make it even bigger.

Ready…

Set…

Jump!

*The Finger Slicer Extraordinaire comes in the form of an Elmo Step Stool. Results may vary. Use at your own risk.

An Independent’s View

Published on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 in Random Thoughts and Vote. 5 Comments

I’m hesitant to talk about potentially divisive topics on my blog, but how can I not talk about Super Tuesday? I just hope we can set aside our differences and talk about this like rational people.

That being said, I am a die-hard Registered Independent.

It fits me and my style.
I like it.

My hubby is also a Registered Independent, so I don’t feel so alone.

I’m adamant about voting for the person you most agree with, regardless of party-line. The important thing is that you get out there and VOTE!

Independents like me are usually bombarded by information from both sides. We are courted like our votes actually matter.

But, around the time of the Primaries we’re treated like second-class citizens. We’re reminded over and over that voting in a Primary as an Independent is a felony. Yes, a felony! Fine. I can play by those rules. At least our phones are silent, and the junk mail is non-existent.

At first I was upset by the harshness of it all until I realized that as an Independent I don’t really have a horse in this race yet. When it comes right down to it, I don’t care who gets the Republican Nomination. I don’t care who gets the Democratic Nomination. I’ll let all of you Party People fight amongst yourselves to decide that one.

I haven’t pledged my loyalty to one party or the other, so why does it matter to me?

There are good arguments on all sides, and Registered Party People have a tough job today.

So, those of you who have pledged your faith to one party or the other, VOTE in your Primaries. I can’t wait to see where this leads us, and I can’t wait for the race to begin.