Oh, a whole new set-up.

OK, well, I didn't realize I'd lose everything by changing the format- including my Haloscan commenting feature. SO- comments via blogger now. But I did fix it so y'all can comment w/o having to register or sign up. The sidebar is going to have to wait until I can figure out where it goes in this new template. I have no idea.

Jacob broke through three teeth yesterday. Consequently, he was miserable last night and up until after eleven. It's now 9:21AM and he is still asleep. I packed a breakfast for him to eat at the pool and will be able to just wake him up and go.

Today the children get to go down the slide at the pool. It's the big treat for the kids at the end of the session- they don life jackets, and trek up the stairs to the very tippy top (which, when you are five and four, must seem enormous!) The water isn't turned up full force, so they don't really achieve a high throttle speed going down, but it is exhilerating nonetheless. One of the lifeguards catches them at the bottom and helps them to the side, where they are met by their teacher who gives them a small candy and a certificate of completion. It's very sweet. James cannot wait to go. John refuses to go.

I can't believe it's Friday. Another full week gone. I've been grouchy as heck this week- not fit for public interaction, really. Hopefully that's overwith now. We are all looking forward to a wonderful weekend together. I hope yours is wonderful, too!

Dy

WOOHOO! And Ow.

Well, it's official. James can swim! Not far, and not fast, but he can swim. He swims under water, even! I cannot believe it! We're so proud of him, and he is so proud of himself. It's just amazing to see the difference in this child- from the fear of even putting his nose in the water, to totally submerging himself and swimming- in only four weeks of lessons! Go Red Cross!

That said, "OW!" I have managed to use body parts while swimming that don't get used at any other time in one's life- not hiking, not biking, not even birthing! The closest description I can give to how I feel is that all-over, throbbing ache that comes on about three days after a no-holds-barred fist fight (win or lose, doesn't matter, it hurts a few days later). For those who've never had the joy of experiencing a fight like that, um, it's like having the brunt of the flu three days after you fell head over teakettle down two flights of stairs. I am SO glad tomorrow is the last day for swim class! Ohhh... ouch. Pass me the Ben-Gay!

We hit the library for "Quest 2" on the Summer Reader's program. James took his reading list from the previous two weeks and showed it to the librarian, then asked for suggestions based on his reading list. She had many suggestions, and most of them were crap. We went ahead and checked out a few because after a while I think she started to feel offended that we weren't taking the bait on anything. (Well, and she started bringing them TO US when we showed no interest in going to get them ourselves... *shrug*) The two we gave in and picked up are... um, well, not great. There is a series of picture books (that was all she would recommend until he told her he read The Boxcar Children on his own) about a lab named Suzy. Or Sue. Something like that. We got, "The Black Dog Gets Taken to the Vet by its Ignorant Owners", which is one in the series. The dog falls and bonks its head while chasing her friend cat. The owners swoop the dog up and take her to the vet, who takes a full body x-ray, gives her a shot (?!? for what, it doesn't say) and then sends her home with medicine to take. This vet would probably neuter a dog that's in for a deworming. The boys caught on to the discrepancies, too, and they talked my ear off about it. The flow is too choppy, the dialogue is forced. The cat is cute. That's about it.

The other book, well, ok, the title is fair warning: "Walter the Farting Dog". The bodily function humor is actually written rather sweetly, as far as that can go. It's certainly not the dog's fault he's flatulent. It's the illustrations and the father's behavior that completely creep me out. First of all, the kids look like zombies. The father looks like "Pat" from Saturday Night Live. Then he goes and sells the family dog for ten bucks while the kids are off getting ice cream and LIES about it when they come back (oh, he also eats the dog's ice cream). The father is a creep. He's an androgynous creep, at that. Never does he apologize, not even in the end, when Walter is a hero. Nope, not good old "Sell-Out" Dad. He hogs the glory, praises the dog profusely in public, and never fesses up. I hope Walter farts in his after shave bottle.

Still no word from Blogger as to what has infected my poor blog. I am tempted to just redo the entire look. *cringe* Oh, I hate to do that! But this is just silly, all the text wrapped wonky around to the sidebar. Pffttt. For those who are hanging in there and still reading: bless you!

Alrighty, the baby is sound asleep. I'm going to lay him down and go hunt for some kind of pain soothing balm I can marinate in for the night! See y'all tomorrow!

Dy

Glitch

It appears there is something very wrong w/ the formatting of my blog. I apologize- am aware of it, but don't have a clue what happened and it's too late to fix it. I am sorry for the inconvenience.
Dy

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