Louie Armstrong was right.

"What a wonderful world!"

Thank you for the birthday wishes. It was a lovely day. The boys made cards and signs and wrapped things for me that we had laying around the house. We had pizza for lunch, which they both thought was a wonderful way to spend a birthday! ;-)
 

Nifty things I learned on my birthday:
* Motorcycles feel like they're going really, really fast when you're doing 45mph.
* The fear of burning your leg on the exhaust pipe will cause you to stay tense enough to actually feel tired when you finally get off the bike and relax.
* Dinner without children is oddly quiet and fast. I'm not entirely certain I like that feeling.
* There is never a point where you get tired of seeing your children's faces when they give you something they've made.
* Daddies can be sneaky, too.
* I really am truly, deeply, happily content with this point of my life. Death clock and all. ;-)
* I couldn't have seen any of my life at this point, but wow, what a great place to be!* I need more brain candy- my reading as of late has my elderly brain reeling.

I have to say that I am so incredibly in love with Zorak. He is the best. I received two wonderful gifts for my birthday, neither of which may sound like phenomenal gifts, but they were perfect! (A large barrel curling iron and a motorcycle helmet: one I asked for and the other is a show of Zorak's love and affection toward me- very cool.) I will say that having a husband who listens to you is one of the most romantic things a woman could dream of!

Our neighbors took the boys (all three of them!) for the evening, and Zorak and I hopped on the bike and rode off for a nice, quiet dinner. We had steak. I got to eat all my veggies (you have no idea how long it's been since I've eaten one full serving of vegetables at one setting... normally the boys eat theirs, the extras, and then mine, too!) It was lovely. Then the rest of the evening went something like this:

"What would you like to do next?" Asked Zorak.
Hmmmm. "Know what? I really want to go home and kiss my babies before they go to sleep. Can we do that? Then we'll put on a pot of coffee and hang out together?"

Oh my, where to begin???

First, I apologize for falling down on the blog. Zorak and I have spent our evening hours (well into the wee morning hours!) working on floor plans and building plans. When the boys are awake, we're too busy for the computer. That leaves us, well, it doesn't leave us any time at all to blog or email or do the blogrun. So, quickly, know that I'm not ignoring those of you whome I owe emails, and here's a brief update. I'll think of something fascinating tomorrow. Deal?
 
We think we will be able to get financing for the house.
We think we may have a piece of land.
We are very certain this land is useless and will need some voodoo to make it buildable.
We think we have the necessary voodoo.
We are somewhat panic-stricken over this whole process.
 
Anyway, right now it's a wait-n-see approach. Cannot do anything until Monday to firm up the financing or track down the EPA guru with the County. So what, you may ask, have we been doing that's keeping me from the blogosphere?
 
Drawing up house plans! Oh, this is neat stuff! I am, however, going to just create a separate blog for the housing project so that I don't bore to death those of you who couldn't care less about the planning and zoning and codes that go into homebuilding. ;-)
 
Boys are doing wonderfully and are enjoying their summer tremendously. The beaches on base this week closed to swimming for the summer, though, due to the annual arrival of the jellyfish. I wish we'd gone more often before they closed. Kind of depressing to be surrounded by water you can't swim in. Anyway, perhaps now we'll spend more time on indoor cultural endeavors and the pool!
 
White Fang is now letting go of things while standing. I am just not ready for that. He's growing too fast!
 
Dee, you've got mail. ;-)
 
Tomorrow is church and then lunch with a family from church. I better get to bed, though, or I'll be falling asleep. If I fall asleep, there is nobody to wake Zorak. If we're both asleep, the boys will slip off and cause unbelievable havoc. If we're both asleep, there is a very good chance that one, or both, of us will tip over. That would all be bad. So, g'nite!
 
Dy
 

Books, buildings and children

*mumble, mumble, concrete set, piers, mmmmm, wiring.... mumble*

Oh! Hi there! I didn't see you come in. This GIGANTIC pile of BOOKS has had us somewhat, erm, distracted, today. *cheezy grin* Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or herbal tea for my recently decaffeinated friends!) and have a visit.

Ellen shared this great quote with me, and it left me giggling, so I thought I would share it here ('cuz not everyone reads or leaves comments...)

"When I have money, I buy books. If any is left over, I buy food and clothing" -- Erasmus

Oh, so true, so true! It's a good thing we have little mouths to feed or we'd be hungry, nekkid, and living amidst a very poorly organized library!

Well, the Lord has taken pity on me. After surviving the last round of swim lessons, tomorrow James will be in the ten o'clock Level 2 class. WAHOO! We'll be poolside for two hours straight, but we won't be hauling a sleeping baby from bed at seven thirty in the morning, and I'm certain we will all be the happier for it! It's important to appreciate the small things, ya know. ;-)

Tulipgirl, oh, yes, we have looked at straw bale construction. We have plans for a straw house. We once thought we would always live in the wonderful, arid climate of Arizona or New Mexico... but those plans will have to remain tucked away for our "someday" house. The mold and moisture level here would flatten a straw house before you could get the sheething on it! Yikes! BTW, what part of AZ, if you don't mind me asking? I was born and raised in Prescott, and that's also where Zorak went to college. Also, as an aside, I am so embarrassed to admit that I JUST RECENTLY clued in to your username. Tulip... yeah, got it. I kept thinking you were in Holland, then thought, "Well, no, that's not right..." *sigh* Just think of me as the theological acronym flunkie! ;-)

Um, OK, so I just drew a total and complete blank... I haven't a clue what I was going to say. Sorry. Just *poof* gone!

I'm gonna go blogrun and will come back if I think of it. If not, well, have a lovely day and enjoy those precious little ones!

Dy

What to read next?

SO... we have over twenty titles on hold at the library. We are hoping they begin arriving shortly or we'll be forced to spend grocery money at Barnes & Noble! We want BOOKS!

Not just any book, really, but books about building houses. We need to know about getting contractors and bids; buying the land before the horse and cart er, house plans; arranging finances, what to do if we can't perc the land until MARCH of next year! *argh* We need to bone up on NEC codes and plumbing options... we're chomping at the bit to dive into a meaty wiring diagram and, well, ok Zorak is the one who can't wait to dive into the wiring diagrams. As a matter of fact, he's probably the only one in the house who would describe one as being "meaty". Still, I'm an enthusiastic onlooker on that one. The rest, I'm also excited about reading and absorbing. *tick, tick, tick* goes the clock, as we wait and search the web until our eyes water.

James has now read all of the books we checked out at the library last week. Good thing we're going again tomorrow so we can restock. He gives a high-five to Stone Soup and The Little House: Her Story. For quick, fun reads, he said to tell y'all that The Aunt Eater Mysteries are a lot of fun!

Our little bookworm is also developing a "favorite author" (which gives me warm fuzzies from the tips of my toes all the way to my frizzy hair!) He is in love with Dick King-Smith's books. You may know him as the author of Mr. Potter's Pet and Babe: the Gallant Pig, but he's written many more, equally enchanting books, as well. I found a cute biography of him online, complete with a picture. (He just looks like he could keep children rapt with attention as he spins yarns and tells stories!) James is waiting oh-so-patiently for the next few King-Smith books to come available at the library.

We have new read alouds. The Hobbit (yes, the large print edition- it's actually great fun to read in large print! I am working equally hard at trying to create just the right voice for each character, and that has strained every last creative bone in my body, but James is enchanted. We talk a lot during the reading, too. Good thing it's not a movie. *wink* It does seem to keep him involved in the story, though. "Oh, dear, this does sound like it's shaping up to be an adventure, doesn't it?" or "Who do you think is at the door?") We are also starting The Magician's Nephew (C.S. Lewis- James insisted on starting with this one because it's now marked as book 1, and Mom doesn't know what she's talking about... starting with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe... pffttt. Silly, silly Mother!)

John fell asleep at the dinner table again. He is at that difficult stage where a nap will have him either up until midnight if we let him sleep it out, or grouchier than when he lay down if we wake him up. If he doesn't nap, he's done-for by supper time (and we eat around five thirty!) He's been a trooper, though, and tomorrow he will be pouncing on the bed at four thirty, bemoaning the fact that he's "starving to pieces"!

Jacob, aka White Fang of the North, is doing great, eating everything in site, having a grand time being a little guy. What more can I say?

Tomorrow we're going to the reptile exhibit at the library. We are taking one of the Wonderful Neighbor Girls with us, and the boys are so excited!

Tuesday the water torture, uh, swim lessons begin again. Two weeks and then we're done. We are going to the beach on Tuesday afternoon, as well, to meet with another family from church.

Church- oh yes, we visited the other church again today. Really, the boys are in love. I am in love with some aspects of it, as well. *sigh* It's hard to know what to do... a few of the bumps on the road, though, are potentially big ones for me. I am not quite sure how best to proceed. Anybody want to come mentor me for a while? Pretty please??

I'm going to go peruse the how-to books with Zorak (we have a gazillion of them on the shelves here at home, yes, I know, we're strange). Have a lovely Monday, all!

Dy

On Neighbors, Friends and Food

Cheryl (see sidebar- Konkadoo) asked how we end up with the relationships we do with our neighbors. It isn't something we think about- it's just something we "do". I don't think we've ever lived anywhere that we haven't befriended neighbors, strangers, friends of friends. She got me thinking, though, and you know, I think it's all about the food.

My Mother was a Southern woman in many ways- particularly when it came to her home, her kitchen, and the people in her world. She had a few rules for company in her home, which were clear and consistent:

1) You're only a guest once, after that, you're family.
2) There is always room at the table for "one more" (or ten more- it doesn't matter, there is always room at the table).
3) If you leave hungry, it's your own fault.

Is it all about the food? I am inclined to think so, or at least partially so. The early Christians gathered to break bread together, and Paul would preach. The food, the interaction and support and comaraderie of fellow believers was central. Am I making a huge theological statement that Religion is all about the food? No, not at all, but ya know, there's a reason the pot lucks and meals at churches are referred to as times of "fellowship".

Joining together at a table has been a sign of respect, familiarity, agreement in many cultures over the years. When you share a meal with another human being, you are sharing in traditions that predate ourselves and our histories. There is an intimacy in sharing nourishment. Some of that is lost by the high rate of dining in restaurants, where there is not so much of one's self put into preparing a meal, but still, sharing the table, sharing the conversation, and sharing your self is inherent in the food and, by default, in the relationships.

If someone breaks your trust by stealing or lying to you or running off with your daughter, it's somehow doubly offensive if that person has sat at your table and shared your meals. Why? There's an intimacy in food. There is an unspoken trust and boundary set by that universal act. Don't ask me how, I don't have the foggiest idea. Like I said, I only started thinking about it recently...

When there is a death in the family, food is a comforting gift. Yes, it helps alleviate the need for the bereaved to figure out what to fix for dinner, but on a deeper level, it says, "You are not alone, share our meals, know that we are here for you". That's what you're really saying. When there is a wedding, there is food. Graduation: food. Holiday: food. Food is integral to celebrations and observations in all cultures in all times. It's one of the things we do, and I really think that when you open your home, your kitchen, to others, you are opening a part of yourself to them, inviting them right into the core of your corner of the world and saying, "Come, get warm, be fed, share with us."

Now, I'm not suggesting that anyone go about using those exact words. And if you do, for Pete's sake, please don't blame me when you get slapped with a restraining order by the recently-freaked-out neighbors. But even if you have lived a year, five years, ten years in the same neighborhood and have never so much as said, "Howdy!" to your neighbors, I'm going to suggest that it's not too late to start. If you want to develop those kinds of relationships, somebody's gotta cook something up and offer to share it. It's just that simple.

Try it. Just walk right up to someone's home and introduce yourself. Say, "Hey, we're going to be roasting the flesh of a dead herbivore on Friday. Want to join in the consumption?" Or, you know, make it up as you go... it gets easier with practice. Particularly when you have one or two who have said yes, and you can then hit up neighbor number three and say, "Several of us on the block thought it would be nice to have dinner together this Saturday. Why don't you join us?" See how EASY that is? Suddenly, you're making friends. Voila!

From time to time, out of sheer odds, we have hit upon the occasional sociopath who we determine that we will never again allow on our property, it's true. Those instance are so phenomenally low, though, and generally those people don't enjoy our company, either, so they're easy to eradicate.

This approach may not be for everyone. It works for us because we love to have a home where everyone feels welcome and at home. We love the loud, chaotic energy of people buzzing about comfortably, interacting and chatting, cooking and singing. We like the activity, and think that life is much better when not experienced in solitude. (Obviously, we would make lousy monks!) We have amassed an amazingly eclectic group of friends and acquaintances, some of whom have nothing in common with each other than that they know us. Yet, they have come together for Holiday feasts, just-because BBQ's, moving parties, graduation parties. They have developed their own intertwined friendships. Our lives have been much richer, and the overall tapestry of our journey together is more vibrant because of the colorful, wonderful, interesting people who have come to our table... and stayed for a while.

That's about it. And Cheryl, if you're ever in our neck of the woods, the door is open- come on in and we'll feed ya! ;-)

Dy

Three Days' Worth of Blogging

We have been absolutely BUSHED! Our wonderful Saturday get together was followed by a day of historical and political discussions with the boys and a picnic on the beach Sunday to enjoy the lightning bugs and watch the fireworks over the water. Monday all the neighbors gathered again for another BBQ on the Green... we got up early, ran hard all day, and went to bed far too late. It was a fun weekend, but terribly exhausting for all of us.

Today was errand day: mailed the paperwork to have my death rescinded, paid some bills, organized some files, had lessons, hit the library, tried some CPR on the kitchen (after all it went through this weekend, it was lookin' rather haggard today!)

Just to touch on the highlights:

*Library Trip*

I took with me to the library a list with 45 titles to look for, as well as eight specific authors. Not a one of them is in the tri-county system. At one point, the librarian asked me, "Are these graduate level books you're looking for?" Um, no. They are popular sellers, actually. Others are classics. *sigh* She was, however, wonderfully kind, and went out of her way to find me one wayward copy of The Hobbit- large print, but it'll work.

James signed up for the summer reading program at the library. He's excited about it. It's designed to be four "quests", and each child has up to one week to fulfill each quest. The lady at the desk was concerned that we're beginning a week behind the others- she didn't think he would be able to get caught up. (?) Here is Quest 1:

1) Visit the library and pick up Summer Reading Materials.
2) I read for _____ minutes today. (date/initial)
3) I read a magazine or newspaper. (date/initial)
4) I read a favorite fairy tale. (date/initial)
5) I read with a friend or pet today. (pet??? ok...) (date/initial)
6) I asked a librarian to help me. (date/initial)

Each task need only be done once. I'm actually really glad this program exists, because if these are the things that are on the goals list, then that indicates children just aren't doing them regularly. That makes me so sad. Other items include (each one is not listed in each quest, and none are required to be done regularly or at a minimum): tell a friend about a good book, read a story and draw a picture about it, read before bed, read with family, read a nonfiction book, learn an interesting fact, read outdoors.

It's a good start. I just hope parents will keep the ball rolling once the kitschy incentives are all gone...

James is done with Quest 1, except for reading to a friend or pet. He couldn't get the neighbor's 2yo to sit still long enough for a story, and I couldn't convince him to read to the quadruplegic spider that lives in our bathroom. :-D

*Schooling*

Plugging along and having a wonderful time reading, walking, singing, and learning. I just can't imagine doing things any other way for us. What a great life.

*Maryland*

MaryJo- thank you for your note. We really do like it here! Honest. I realize that with my blog, my strongest posts tend to be the ones that I type out from atop my soapbox in irate indignation over the latest B.S. from Big Brother MD. However, yes, Maryland is a lovely, lovely place. It's a beautiful state (if a bit swampy down south, but no terrain is perfect!). The people are incredibly friendly. The activities, the history, the museums and aquariums, the community... there is much about Maryland that is wonderful. (I can't quite do the crabs, but the boys LOVE them!) We are very thankful that we are here and could think of quite a few places where we'd be worse off. My only (and biggest, by default, I guess) gripe with Maryland is the incredible level of government intrusion that this state has. It's unbelievable! Perhaps it does not feel that way to someone who has lived here for years and has seen the changes come gradually, with time, but for one who comes in from other, more Freedom-oriented, states, it's quite a shock to the nervous system. If the crime was lower, or the schools better, or even the pollution less due to all this extra money (taxation) and regulation and intervention than it is in the other states, perhaps that would help. But it's not. So, yes, the government rule here in Maryland has been a pretty large lump for me to chew, and believe me, I certainly have been made to feel the anarchist freak in more than one situation thus far. But that's what voting and talking and recruiting and letter writing... in a phrase, "grassroots efforts" are for, right? ;-)

It's not the place we want to live forever, but that doesn't mean it's not a pretty nice place to live. Just as some people wouldn't want to live in Chicago in the winter, or in the Southwest during 118 degree summers, it's not a reflection on the people or the culture or the place, it's just a preference of the heart, and our hearts are in the Rockies. Anyhow, please don't feel that I don't like it here, or that we are blind to the good that MD has to offer. We are very much enjoying our time here, and I promise to blog more about that in the future. Thanks for your note, and for dropping by! :-)

And on that note, I am off to read my latest stash from the library: Anastasia, the Lost Princess, and The Hobbit in large print! :-) Have a wonderful night, all!

Dy

What makes a place "home"?

I'm not really talking about wall sconces and photos in the hallway. What I want to know is what makes the town, city, county where you live feel like "home" to you?

For us, it's the community- not the random, government-funded "community" that gets printed up in Chamber of Commerce brochures, but having and loving your own "community". We are building our community, our adopted family far from home, and it feels so nice. So for us, "home" is...

...knowing your neighbors
...having their children at your place, and yours at theirs
... being able just to knock as you walk in
... and your neighbors knowing (at least at our house, but we're OK w/ it and encourage it) they can just come on in and holler.
... being able to send the boys outside to leave handwritten invitations on the neighbor's doors to join us for a BBQ that afternoon
... having people pop in and out the rest of the morning asking what they should bring
... being able to leave your cooler on the front porch, filled with juice for the kids, and knowing it won't be stolen in the night
... telling your neighbor that the baby just threw up, has a high fever that you can't break, and having her interrupt you to offer to watch the other children while you arrange to take the baby to the doctor
... knowing when your husband goes next door to help the neighbor, he'll be there for a while, and have had a nice time
... emailing photos back and forth of the wonderful afternoon everyone just spent together

We had such a wonderful community in Prescott. It was lovely. Granted, it was chaotic and loud and we fed a lot of people (some of whom we did not know until they walked in the door), but that's what life is about. Dinners taste better when shared with friends and family. Days are merrier when there is laughter and comaraderie. Life is richer when you enjoy the people in it, and they can enjoy you. There is something wonderful about surrounding your home with people who treat your children well and enjoy them.

Jess used to laugh at me because she and I would be on the phone at ten o'clock at night, or at noon, or even ten in the morning, and inevitably, someone would show up. Then several someones. Suddenly we'd be cooking and chatting and the house got very loud. She thinks we're nuts. We are. We loved it.

Now we are developing that here. Our community. Our home. We have simply wonderful neighbors, good friends. Today we spent the afternoon celebrating the Fourth of July early (since everyone is going out of town tomorrow)- we BBQ'd on the front patio, spread blankets on the commons area, and spent a wonderful few hours having a pot luck dinner. What a great way to spend the afternoon! This is what we mean when we talk about those roots that feel so good to put down into the rich, fertile soil of life. I am very thankful.

Tell me about your "home"- what makes it home to you?

Dy

Lazy Summer Days At Last!

*Ahhhhh* That is the sound of knowing we don't have to be anywhere by eight in the morning for one full week! The boys both completed their first session of the summer, and here are the fruits of their labors:





James tested successfully out of Level 1, and was given this card:



He wants us to laminate it and put it on a cord, like the Base Access ID's are, so that he can wear it to his Level 2 lessons. He is so proud.

John mastered all of the skills required to enter Level 1, but because he is still just a little guy, his instructors said they would be more than happy to work on Level 1 skills with him in the same class. So, I will be in the water for two more weeks. Zorak and I feel good about that decision. It's difficult sometimes, as parents, to know when we need to let go and when we need to be there. I appreciated having the instructors' input as to whether they felt he would do better with me in or out of the water. He also asked if I would be with him, and beamed when I said yes, so that settled that.

What will we do with all our new found "free time"? We will get back on track with lessons. We will frequent the beach. We will enjoy lazy mornings and more read alouds and trips to the library. We will sign up for the library's summer reading program and enjoy all the fun of lightning bugs and fresh ice cream.

Tonight, however, I am going to enjoy Time Bandits and a little brainless entertainment before bed. Talk to you soon!

Dy

One more morning...

Just one more morning and this stint of swim lessons will be over and done with. It's been somewhat harrowing, as far as the cleanliness of the house and my overall stamina goes, but the changes and growth in the boys have been worth every sleep deprived moment.

To answer your questions~ No, the pool isn't heated. Yes, it's cold at eight o'clock in the morning. (No, it isn't any warmer at eleven when I have to get IN with John's class.) Yes, we're exhausted. Yes, we're doing it again in two weeks.

Today John's class donned the life jackets. The child whose mantra all week has been, "Let's go to the wall. I want the wall. THE WALL!" Suddenly spent the entire class period shoving off from the wall with his feet, backward, floating into the abyss; jumping, leaping and bouncing; shouting, "I CAN do it! I am so PROUD of me!" Well, that was worth far more than a mere $25 and two weeks without my morning coffee!

James' class has spent the majority of this week reviewing the objectives checklist. I think the instructor is bored. Or angry. Not sure which, but she hasn't gone into the water, just sits atop the wall, giving orders. It's dampened his excitement for going, but has not affected his enthusiasm to make it to Level II. Again, the changes! Wow. Two weeks ago, he was ready with a litany of grievances against anyone who would suggest he do anything as dangerous as put his FACE *gasp* IN the water. Now, he plunges and bobs, floats and flits, giggles and beams. Again, more than worth it, much more.

Jacob is going to join me under the bed for the caffeine-induced meltdown. He normally sleeps until 8:30, and being dragged from bed at some unholy hour only to sit in the bright sunshine and get splashed with cold water just isn't sitting well with him. He did, however, finally cut two bottom teeth. He's raging pissed about that. Oh, and he's cruising along the furniture now. I think he's trying to escape...

Plans are in motion for some fun science trips at the base, geared specifically for 5-7 year olds. I am quite excited about that.

We are also looking at starting a homeschool-oriented Cloverbuds club in the county. There are two great 4-H groups, but all their Clovers have moved up and there were none to replace them, so it died out on the younger end. That has the potential to be a great experience for kids and parents alike.

Tomorrow Zorak has the day off work. He'll join us for James' class, and James is on cloud nine for that! (Zorak has been taking his lunch break during John's class to come and sit with the baby since I have to be in the pool, and James has been somewhat sad that Daddy hasn't come to see him swim. So this will be good.) Then it's the same old stuff- groceries, cleaning, and enjoying another day through the eyes of the boys.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Dy

Never Mind

Janet, I realize now where the dead comment came in. I hadn't blogged about it b/c I don't know who reads my blog, and I'd forgotten about leaving a comment elsewhere.

Ah, I am now laughing at myself hard enough to make my cheeks hurt.

Zorak says that he still loves me even though I messed up our credit by having a death. I did get the required proof that I am, in fact, still alive. It's going in the mail tomorrow. Gotta get that cleared up because banks aren't terribly anxious to give home loans to dead folks...

Anyhow, didn't want you to think I have completely lost my mind. LOL.

Dy

What day is it?

June 30th! Holy... wow.

Well, we blew our collective time online last night helping this drunk guy home... check it out. Directions are in German, but you just use your mouse to help stabilize him. Turn the volume up- he's funny, especially if you've ever helped get an inebriated buddy from point A to point B.

The past two days have been incredibly less frenzied than last week's days were. I'm amazed. We get to swim on time, run errands between lessons, get back to swim on time, and then enjoy a leisurely afternoon together. I do believe we can cancel the previously discussed nervous breakdown! WooHoo!

We took the time to dawdle and meander yesterday at the Environmental Education building on base. Sometimes it is so good to dawdle. We got to witness the incredibly voilent beheading of a fish by a Blue Crab (it was already dead, and was fascinating, but we certainly didn't see it coming!) We were invited to bring a mouse in to feed to their king snake. We got to watch a black widow spider in action. (ewww!) We counted rings on tree specimen, and read all the latin names of the many insects on display in the hallway. It took us an hour and a half, and all we'd really gone in for was to find out what was going on with the homeschool science field trips we'd been trying to organize. How's that for a great day! And people wonder how children learn when they aren't in the g-schools...

Not much else, but I wanted to touch base. Tomorrow comes early.

Edited to add:
Jordan- you are a DOLL! Thank you for the wf link! YUM!
Janet- Was there some concern? *wink*
Amy- WOOHOO! You're back! Fortunately, the leader of this house is just as much for chaos as I am. We are leaning quite heavily in that direction. See you back at your blog!
Jess- think of it as "practice" for building the commune!

Have a great week!
Dy

The Little Blog That Could

This is my fourth attempt at blogging since my last entry. I was tempted to draw Stephen King parallels, but opted to go with the whole, "I think I can! I think I can!" approach... yes, much better. So, this post may see the light of day! Whoopie!

It's been a busy few days here. Wonderful, full, beautiful days. Today the boys and I played hangman, read stories, wrestled our way through math, rode bikes with the neighbors, picked dandelions (when do these things stop blooming, anyway?) and had, in general, a great day.

Yesterday we went to the beach. James discovered that he can, in fact, swim! John worked tirelessly in the shallow water, practicing his back float. He was very serious about the whole procedure, and quite tickled with himself when he did manage to float! There were over 300 families there- very family-oriented people, and even though the beach was absolutely jam-packed, it had a great atmosphere.

For the record, Point Lookout State Park is officially off my "recommend-to-visit" list. Argh. The park is decent, and the beach is great (though by no means do the phrases "pretty" or "clear water" come to mind). It's not the park, it's the newly instituted fees for entering the park! Five dollars per person! Not per vehicle, not per axle, not per day- per person, per day. Children are no-charge only if they are still in car seats. If you leave the park without making an extra stop at a "hand-stamping station", you must pay to re-enter the park on the same day (even if you have your receipt). There are extra fees, in addition, to fish, to see the prisoner of war camp, to use the boat ramp, etc. Bah. That's just ridiculous. Even the Grand Canyon National Park only charges $20 per non-commercial vehicle- and that's good for seven days! Crimminy, what a rip-off.

Sunday... oh, yeah, I have blocked Sunday from my mind. With a little more caffeine and a lot more effort, I think I can completely wash it away. Let's just say that when I heard a woman telling her approximately 8-10 year old son, "Fight for it! You gotta earn it!" as the children gathered candy from a pinata (at a four year-old's birthday party, no less), that pretty much explained a lot of the behavior we'd dealt with that day. *sigh* I would really love to know just who out there read Lord of the Flies and thought, "Yessiree! Now, THAT'S the way to raise kids!"

Tomorrow begins our swimming lessons, Week Two. We will be careening along at breakneck speed for the next four days, lamenting the fact that I can't find a Nutri-Grain Bar substitute in a wheat-free version (those things are just so handy for snacking on the go!) The boys are anxious, and I'm hoping (can't believe I'm saying this-) for hot weather so the pool will warm up! Please, be warmer this week!

Zorak and I are crunching the numbers on the Goal Grande for 2004- buying a house. We don't know if we'll be better off buying or building, or sticking our heads in the sand and pretending none of this is real. (The more of the fees we unearth, the more appealing the ostrich-housing approach becomes!) It is, though, rather exciting. Zorak's reading list the past few weeks has consisted of building codes, wiring diagrams, cross-sections of frame designs, and all you never wanted to know about percolation tests! Fun stuff!

Have a wonderful week!

Dy

Capillary action and candle light...

Today started off about half a step off the beat. We made it to swim right on the cusp of being late. We went to the library at nine (it's normally open at eight), only to find that on Fridays it does not open until eleven. So we went to Chick-Fil-A for some ice cream and play time... to find that their ice cream machine wasn't on yet (after all, they were still serving breakfast!) Had to pick up Zorak before John's swim class (b/c the Mistress is a persnickety thing that requires a battery we couldn't locate locally) and couldn't find him! John closed his eyes to nap as we pulled back into the pool parking lot. ARGH! No! Please, everyone take a deep breath!

We never did catch up, but it's ok because we did take a few deep breaths and plodded along in spite of our poor timing today.

The boys wanted supper by candle light, and why not? It's such a fun way to eat (provided there are actually enough candles to cast ample light onto the table so Mom doesn't accidentally scoop up a yummy spoonfull of mashed fruit to go with her bell peppers!) Talk led to the "how" and "why" and "what if" of candles and flames and, of course, a wonderful experiment on capillary action and vapor. Good stuff.

Jacob said, "Dada" today and clapped for all he was worth when Zorak heard it and looked up. Yes, Jordan, eye contact really is an incredible thing. He's also trying fervently to say, "more" and "yes". He's got the head nod down, but starts giggling before he can actually say anything.

It is Friday. We have two glorious days together and I am so very thankful. Cinnamon roll Saturday coming up! A neighbor girl's birthday party tomorrow afternoon (she is also turning four), some swim time, church, and at some point I simply must shampoo the carpets! (Don't know when yet.)

As for tonight, the boys are in the tub and will be out cold in about twenty minutes. The supper dishes are cleared. Zorak and I are going to watch The Mothman Prophecies and then clear our adled brains with a few episodes from The Family Guy. I'm hoping to get a foot rub out of it, too. We'll see how that goes. ;-)

Have a wonderful Friday night, all!

Dy

Snippets and Such

It's not "Johnathon"... John's legal name is "John". It's a family name. It's a short name. I would have thought is is an easy name. Evidently not. There is one instructor in John's swim class who insists on calling him "Johnathon". I've told her, repeatedly, "It's just John, not Johnathon," but she evidently doesn't believe me. The thing is, she gets frustrated with him because he doesn't answer. Well, no, of course not! She might as well call him "Bob" for all the good it's going to do! Sheesh.

James swam the length of the pool today with a lifevest on. He wore himself out because he was dog paddling, but the look of sheer and absolute joy on his face when he made it was worth every ounce of sweat and determination he put into it. He was so proud that he not only went to "the deep end" (5 ft.) but he floated while he was there and he did it all on his own! John stood poolside and cheered him on. It was very cool.

Jacob had a well-child visit with our pediatrician today. We don't normally do them, for various reasons, namely that we have yet to find a doctor who actually does anything at a well-child visit to make it worth our time. However, with a new doctor, I think a baseline visit is important, so in we went. He's a little over 27" long, doing well and a very well-developed little guy (shocker, huh?) The one thing we didn't expect, though, is that he weighs a mere 15 pounds! Wow, how'd that happen? We've never had a child who hadn't tripled his birth weight by nine months! Even the doctor was surprised, and we re-weighed Jacob just to be sure. He doesn't look skinny, doesn't show any signs of a problem. He has the two chins and roly-poly arms that are typical of our babies... all his other developmental milestones are good-to-go. Anyhow, Doc and I agreed that since everything else is fine, it's not an issue. We did go ahead and schedule a follow-up for him for September, though, to keep an eye on things.

That's about it here. We are enjoying the boys thoroughly, and the weather has been downright heavenly. This swim schedule is going to be the death of me. I am serious about hiding when it's over. I'm sure the boys will keep me stocked with cookies and Zorak wouldn't mind putting the coffee pot by the nightstand...

A few quickies before I head out (Zorak needs to track down a new battery for the Mistress):

Krista- your blog is once again refusing to load on my server. I'm going to call my ISP b/c I really, really miss reading your blog!

Kolbi- ok, your Nation is gone, your blog is dormant, and you aren't emailing anyone. Shall we call the Search & Rescue team? You ok? Tap once for yes...

Donna, I love the deet-filled memories!

Jess, we keep missing each other. I love and miss you- kiss those kiddos for me!

Check out the blogs in the sidebar- there are some great posts there today!

Talk to y'all tomorrow!
Dy

Mommy Blogging: birthdays, government, education, and coffee

Well, it's been a whirlwind week. Still no jacket. Tonight's the first real online time I've had this week, and I'm going to blow it checking email and reading my favorite blogs. :-) So this will be quick:

John Baby is four now! His birthday was Sunday, and he had a lovely day. He awoke early, we had leftover pizza and junk-food cereal for breakfast, then read and played until James got up. The kids and I played while Zorak slept in (Happy Father's Day!), then we went shopping (had to get the peripherals for John's new bicycle!) John picked out a chocolate brownie cheesecake for his birthday cake. WOO HOO! Good taste, Sweetie. All the neighbor kids were out of town this weekend, but he didn't seem to mind not having a party. Several neighbors came over while he opened his presents and then we all migrated out front to play catch and ride bikes for the rest of the evening. That's a great day when you're four.

Today the boys began swim lessons. We got up, fed, dressed and out the door before seven thirty, for lessons at eight (yes, AM!). James did stunningly well in his class. (Or, at least, I was stunned.) I think he's hit a real milestone in his atttiude toward bodies of water, and this is going to be a great summer for him. John's class was a few hours later, so we ran errands and grabbed a bite to eat. He screamed bloody murder getting into the pool. I have to admit, I wanted to scream, too. It was COLD! Once he got submerged and warmed up a bit, though, he had a splendid time and did well. This routine will continue four days a week for four weeks. After which, I can be reached via cell phone only, as I will be hiding under the bed, whimpering and sipping coffee at an accelerated rate.

OK, *swig o' coffee* education, and the role of government.

Basically, as I see it, it is the role of the government to protect rights and it is our responsibility as a free nation to provide opportunities. America is not the land of equal achievement, regardless of how many people would love to see it as such. That is simply not feasible. Not going to happen. Not worth attempting, because in the attempt, many people will be brought down so that the playing field is "level" and there will STILL be those who just refuse to achieve or are incapable of achieving.

Education is a wonderful thing, one which every child in America has the opportunity to attain. It is a priviledge and a responsibility, but it is not a right. If education were a right, then it would be bestowed upon everyone upon either birth or reaching the age of majority. *poof* There ya go, you can now vote, own real estate, and oh, yes, here's your education. It doesn't happen that way. Education, the act of attaining an education, is something that a person is responsible for doing (at whatever age, learning is not confined to the years from 6 to 18), and the parents of a minor child are responsible for guiding and facilitating that endeavor. Notice how the government doesn't factor in here? I wholeheartedly support educational opportunity, and support (to some extent) our public school systems. For many children, public education is the only education they will receive in their primary years. I'm glad it's there. What I do not support is the idea that we are beholden to look to the government as some staunch paragon of standards by which we must all prove ourselves or else be deemed "unfit". NO. Again, I say, NO!

As for the the cry that we need these measures (oversight, review, mandatory testing, etc) for the poor homeschooled children who need this government protection because their parents are not advocates for the children... um, this is basically what I call "feel good" legislation that makes people feel warm and fuzzy about what's being done "for the children" while in effect, it does nothing for anyone but the overloaded, overpaid, and overconvoluted Government.

First of all, the vast, overwhelming, amazingly large majority of families who opt to homeschool ARE advocates for their children. I don't care if their goals are college track, developing an entrepreneurial outlook, vocational training, or a lifetime on the Amish farm... homeschooling families tailor their educational philosophy and goals to fit the needs of the student. We have college firmly entrenched in our plans for the boys. We have friends who do not. So who is to determine the "standards" by which we should plan? Which one of us is WRONG? Anyone? Anyone? (Bueller? Bueller?)*

If every person who is convinced that the children whose parents are not "there" need some help would get off their collective butts and DO something about it (teach a child to read, take a child to the ballet, take a child for hikes and get him out-of-doors... DO something rather than demand that "They" do something), we would see much greater results with much fewer invasion into our own homes. We would not only have greater freedoms and a greater society, but we would have a greater investment in our Future Generations. Anything worth having is worth investing our own time and effort into, isn't it? Let me ask you this: is the reviewer asking me inane questions about whether little Johnny is "capable of sensitively handling multi-cultural identifications in stories" truly concerned about little Johnny? Perhaps. Let's quit paying Mr. Reviewer and see how long he's willing to tow the invasion line.

I have seen personal involvement in action, and can attest to the fact that a little goes a long way. Children are our greatest resource. Government is known far and wide for bungling things, raising the cost and lowering the output. So why does everybody seem to think it's such a great idea to trust our greatest resource to those who have proven themselves least competent to nurture and develop those resources wisely? That strikes me as lazy or weird, probably both.

*The correct answer to that one is, "neither"- we are all doing what we see is best for our children to fulfill their roles in society. Hallelujah!*

Anyhow, that's my take on the big hype of "for the children". We do a lot for the children, and would do more if the government would get out of the way and let us. But as long as the rest of you are willing to kick back and demand that the gov't do it instead, not much is going to happen. We'll be too busy trying to keep from drowning in ridiculous regulations and useless feel good legislation to be able to help many other children.

And so, another day begins tomorrow. Fight the good fight. Do it for the children. Anyone up for a tea party?

Dy

Still no jacket...

So still no blog time. But he's narrowed it down!

Anyway, quick update:

We got our Eagle's Nest Homes catalog in today. Zorak and I spent a few hours going over floor plans and financing options. This might be the way for us to go about doing this... still scary, though.

The boys are great. We did light lessons today, met Zorak for lunch on base, and then spent a few hours at the beach.

Then, believe it or not, since it was too late to wax eloquent, I uploaded pics! So, here's tonight's blog:








Enjoy your precious children!

Dy

Ack!

Well, it seems that the Mistress, and the ongoing search for a "really cool jacket" (unanimous definition of "cool" still pending...) took up a large chunk of Zorak's evening, seeing as it's nearly one A.M., and I have just now snuggled into the still-warm computer chair... So any picking of the brain tonight would be, admittedly, slim.

Hence, I will spare you the attempt to finish the gov't spiel this evening, but will instead work on getting it written out so that, in the event that "the jacket" still hasn't materialized by tomorrow, and I am once again not on until tomorrow has ended, maybe I can cut 'n paste and still turn out something semi-worthwhile.

In the meantime, keep talkin', and have a wonderful night!

Dy

Government Intrusion Part 1

Alright, I think this is going to have to do. Now we are all inundated w/ a green goo. I have a deep and abiding appreciation for the mongo warehouse size boxes of tissue!

Briefly, let me say that if I ever wondered how Maryland became the Police State it is (and it is, believe me), my questions have been answered in the past weeks. It's the Sheeple. It is the individuals who are actually convinced that the State-mandated invasion processes are somehow benevolent and that we need them to be looking out for our "best interest". Well, I guess when you're too inept to run your own life, perhaps that makes sense, but I truly do not believe that people are too inept to run their own lives. They may not want to, and hey, who is going to do a job that someone else will do first? But most people are capable when called upon, or permitted, to answer the call. Therefore, this philosophy of the Benign Big Brother is pretty well null and void. Today I'm just going to stick with my homeschooling tirade, because the whole thing is too big for one post.

So, here is Government Intrusion Part I:

You cannot homeschool freely in MD. You must inform Them (in this case, the County) of your intent to homeschool, "15 days prior" to getting started. (Or what? Nobody seems to know, but they quake and quail and make certain to meet that useless requirement. And why? Again, nobody seems to have a clear reason "why" this is a necessity.) Then you must re-inform Them yearly because, well, we just can't have people somehow being left in peace, can we?

You have three options: use a State-approved correspondence school, use a "religious" umbrella school, or submit to the County's review up to three times per year. You must cover the classes that they teach, period. Many people have opted for the umbrella school because they don't want to deal with the County. I don't blame them. I do think it's cowardly, but when the government holds your own children over your head, it's hard to be noble. The State knows that. The people have forgotten that. That's why we're running into tyranny.

The county reviews are a joke and are nothing more than an outlet for the educational powers-that-be to strut their prowess like little old Banty Roosters, and a means of keeping a ready-to-go roster of homeschoolers when They need to crack down on this dangerous subculture of homeschoolers. But just in case you get uppity and stop thanking the reviewer profusely for his/her suggestions and feedback (a custom which is highly recommended here- be sure to thank them for their input, whether you asked for it or not!), They can request to "observe instruction". This doesn't seem to bother anyone! Or, not enough to say anything about it. Well, I am NOT letting the State into my home! No way, no how! Oy!

And yet, I cannot so much as request that people STOP giving the State more than it is already requesting or they break into the "Don't Oppress Me" skit from The Life of Brian! PUHLEEZE! Y'all are handing over your rights and responsibilities as fast as you can, but when I ask that you please not set dangerous precedents that could lead to further legislation affecting the rest of us, I'm the Oppressor. Shyah, ok.

Oh, and in case anyone is thinking that perhaps Maryland's public education system is so well-run that it can afford these extra expenditures to keep the homeschoolers under their thumbs, think again. Regularly in our local paper (and our crime rate here is far lower than in the northern counties) we read of assaults, poisonings, poor academics, aggression from faculty, arrests on school grounds. The schools are failing on every front. They cannot tend to their own, but by golly, they'll make sure WE don't make any missteps. All Hail Big Brother!

And the people actually do not mind! I'm just floored! I have been continually floored by the mentality that we need to "play nice" with the government and not anger it. In an attempt to try to circumvent a big brewhaha that's bubbling up here in our County, one group has suggested a tea for the educational heads, to show off our curricula, our kids, our portfolios. You know, show them that we're really A-OK. What?!? My jaw hit the floor when I read that. Why would I do this? I have nothing to prove, nor am I clamoring for the "approval" of this giant, control-freak father figure.

You know, I am just not accustomed to living in a culture that is afraid of its own shadow, and I'm alternately enraged and disheartened by this attitude. It's naive to think that if we can just be good little subjects, the King will leave us be. Hello? We threw off that mantle a long time ago! Why are we now donning it for tea parties? What in the WORLD is wrong with people today? My vote goes toward a mass rebellion tea party... you know, the kind of tea party that WORKS. Let's invite them to tea and let's put their forms through a shredder and pour them over the tables. Let's refuse these abuses and invasions en masse. Then let them try to arrest every single homeschooling family that is willing to stand up and say, "You do not represent me!" Ah, but that would not work out here, because so very, very few are willing to do so. So very few think there is a problem.

Yeah, so I cannot protect my family. I cannot bear my children in an environment that my husband and I deem best. (I'll cover these two tomorrow.) I cannot educate my children in peace. I'm paying huge taxes for services I don't want and won't receive (talk about taxation without representation!) And people wonder why I giggle cynically when I read that Maryland is "The Free Line State". That is just rich. What's really scary is that Maryland isn't the worst state out there!

So, tomorrow I'll finish up with Education: Right or Responsibility? Probably not worth the four-day wait, I know, but hopefully some of my readers (more articulate and well-versed than I!)will join in the discussion.

I am going to find a new box of tissues...

Dy

Stinkin' liars

OK, Jacob is still in high-need tree frog mode, so we're still holding off on the gov't intrusion post (but it IS in there!) Tonight, I'd like to share with you how people like Sarah Brady and Katie Couric will flat out LIE TO YOU in order to get you to believe what they want you to believe. They, and others like them, want what they want, and to hell with the truth. Read on:

Exploiting tragedy for political gain is nothing new for the media and the Brady Campaign, but this morning's appearance on NBC's Today Show reached a new low. Katie Couric and Sarah Brady used the tragic occasion of President Reagan's passing to shamelessly forward the gun-ban agenda with deliberate misinformation. Led by carefully crafted questions from Couric, Sarah Brady claimed that President Reagan wasn't actually an NRA member, and that he "worked hard" for passage of the so-called "assault weapons" ban.

In fact, President Reagan, the owner of an AR-15, was a strong and consistent supporter of the Second Amendment and the NRA. He was a long time member who actively courted the NRA's endorsement in both of his presidential campaigns, and was the first presidential candidate in history to receive that endorsement. He appeared on the cover of NRA magazines four times. In 1983 he was offered, and accepted, an NRA Honorary Life Membership, the highest honor bestowed by the NRA.

He was the first, and to date, only, sitting president to speak at our Annual Meetings, saying, in part, "The NRA believes America's laws were made to be obeyed and that our constitutional liberties are just as important today as 200 years ago. And by the way, the Constitution does not say Government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution says 'the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'" In 1986, President Reagan signed the landmark Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA), and he never blamed law-abiding gun owners for the actions of criminals.

Don't allow these offensive lies to go unchallenged! Please immediately contact Tom Touchet, Executive Producer of the "Today Show," to express your outrage and demand that equal time be given for a rebuttal. Mr. Touchet can be reached by phone at (212) 664-3222, or by e-mail at tom.touchet@NBC.com.

*sigh* I guess to some it doesn't matter what is true as long as the end goal is what they want. But if you care one bit about truth, please seek it out. Don't let others tell you what to believe.

'Nite-
Dy

ACK- no great blog, sick baby

Of course. I forgot that children only become ill on weekends. At the earliest, Friday after five, right?

So, it's been a giant, sleep-inducing (for me, not him) nurse-a-thon for the past umpteen hours. I have a hot, miserable 20-pound lump of tree frog-like snuggle baby plastered to me right now and haven't been able to shower, let alone put together the gov't intrusion post- it is waiting in a skeletal form in my drafts, though, so if I forget where I put it, you can flick me in the head, hand me some coffee, and remind me where it is, ok?

In the meantime, we are off for a lavendar bath and... well, more snuggles. I will leave you with my butchering, er, rendition of The Snuggles Song, with apologies to Tigger:

The wonderful thing about snuggles
Is snuggles are wonderful things
A touch can be so healing
Incredible comfort it brings!

They're soothing, calming, healing, balming,
Neat, neat neat neat NEAT!
The most wonderful things about snuggles IS...

Snuggles can't be beat.

Hoo hoo hoo hooooo!

Dy