It's going to be a long night. I'm doing the wash so Zorak has all he needs for an upcoming trip... thought I'd post random thoughts as they come to me... the fresh pot of coffee is just about done.
I just read this tonight, and found it enjoyable and thought-provoking, told in a lighthearted way. I think I got it from Carmon. But it's late...
*Updated: yep, that's where I found it!*
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And I'm wondering, just how many inappropriately nasty comments does one have to make to a stranger in order to get the coveted NOW "Aggression Badge"? Just curious.
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Haven't been to the boards at all lately. I've been in a very homebody mood, not just in real life, but online, too. There's been too much activity, too much ignorant hostility in the world around us lately. It's too much fun to curl up on the couch with the boys and lose ourselves in a good book, or a rousing game of Uno. Do you suppose my dragon-slaying days are over, or this is just a lull? Whichever it is, it's nice.
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Oh- there's the dryer. Be right back.
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Mmmm, back. Fresh load going, fresh coffee in the cup- what other things are out there?
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We met a wonderful magician today! He is from Ecuador. He came to the US as an exchange student his Junior year in high school, and has returned for college. He's funny, and smart, and very witty. We thoroughly enjoyed standing on the sidewalk out front, visiting with him. He did some magic for the boys. While John bounced up and down, giggling with glee, James was busy turning the poor guys' hands over to see how he did that. A good magician is a humbling thing, you know that? Just when you starting thinking you're pretty observant, you find yourself drawn in and awestruck. Sometimes it's nice to view the world like that once again. I didn't want to know how he did it.
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The boys did math today during church. *shhhh* They don't know it was math. They just thought they were really fun pages to do, you know, for fun. Hee hee.
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We kept Jacob with us today for Sunday School. He'll not be going back to the nursery until something changes there. When we have left him in the nursery (three times- just for Sunday School), I've always left explicit instructions, both verbal and written (there is a "special instructions" section on the sign-in sheet), to come get us if he needs anything. If he needs a clean diaper, a drink, a snack, a hug. If he is anything less than deleriously happy to be there, come get us. Twice I have been taken with a need to go peek in on him, and both times it has been clear that our directions were not heeded. Once, he was asleep in someone's arms, and while I wasn't really convinced of her story (she claimed he just climbed into her lap and stared at her until he fell asleep- he doesn't fall asleep like that, not this kid), at least he was being held, and so I held my peace.
The second time, however, I poked my head in and there he was, red-faced and tear-stained, out cold in a swing with his head flat on the tray. I was so angry I could barely be civil. The lady running the nursery tried to actually talk me out of taking him from the swing by telling me, "He was crying and fussy, so I picked him up, but that didn't help, so I put him in there. He seems fine now." ARGH!!! And obviously he wasn't at some point before he passed out like this!
I explained, through clenched teeth, "I am his mother, and this is my job. I was under the impression that you understood when I said to come get me if he is less than 100% happy. Obviously I was mistaken." Her response? "Well, he seems ok now..."
AEIGH!!! What part of "COME GET ME" does not come out the same as it sounds in my head?!?!
The part that really galls me is this attitude that I am a "nervous first time mother who needs to learn the ropes". Um, no. I have been hearing things like "you need to let him cry" and other such nonsense for six years now. I have picked up and comforted three children, and while I've never once resented picking up a crying baby, I certainly resent someone telling me how to raise my child!
Anyhow, this is "that mentality" that I mentioned I was concerned about when we first considered coming to this church. Zorak agrees that it needs to be addressed (at the very least that they acknowledge that we aren't all Ezzo fans and that not every child is to be treated as an Ezzo-ite). He also, however, wants me to wait for the pastor to mention it. (Pastor seemed a bit confused at the presence of a baby in class today, but said nothing.) While I am normally more than ready to march to the top of that hill and duke it out, I'm wondering if perhaps my less-than-thick skin as of late has been a preparation to listen to Zorak's wisdom and wait for them to open a dialogue. I don't know, but my baby won't be left alone in that room again any time soon. Attitudes don't change overnight.
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How long does it take for a load of clothes to dry? Two cups of coffee, at least...
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OK, this was funny. True. And funny.
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Well, the last load is about to go into the dryer. It's almost one o'clock. Tomorrow's going to be a hectic day, to say the least.
If you don't mind the construction dust, come on in. The coffee's hot, the food's good, and the door is open...
Sunday, September 19
James' Surprise Party
Turned out not to be as much of a surprise as we thought it would be. He heard the little neighbor girl say something about "surprise" and then her Mom said, "SHHHHHHH!" So, he knew it was coming. BUT, he didn't know *when*, and I wish we had a digital version of the expression on his face when he walked in the door.
It was a blast for everyone!
The day started out great~ we had 24 snails cruising across the back patio, so the boys got to hang out and play with them for about an hour. Then it was waffles for breakfast, and some time to play. (They don't normally wait, but I am pretty sure John foraged and found some snacks Zorak had left out the night before.) I ran to the market, then to pick up his gifts and the party stuff (it is very quiet, and kind of lonely to go to the market alone- next time I'm takin' one or more of the boys with me). I got home and we started cooking supper for a family at church.
Erin (our Wonderful Neighbor) took James & John to the market w/ her and her girls (she says there is no way she wants four children- "They were all great, but there are just so MANY of them! They're everywhere!" The four children are aged 6, 5, 4, and 2- so yeah, that could be overwhelming. *grin*) We got the cake made and decorated, the house cleaned, fajitas and all the trimmings prepared, chips fried up and salsa made- then Zorak picked up James and took him on an errand, while Erin brought the kids to the house to wrap presents and finish decorating (spread confetti, fling streamers- the fun stuff).
Everyone was waiting when Zorak and James came back, and boy was he surprised! At first, all he could do was inhale. LOL. Then he realized there was a total stranger in the dining room (other neighbors had brought a friend of theirs who was in town for the day- that's part of our open door policy- friends of friends are welcome any time) so the first words out of his mouth were, "Wow! ~ Hey, wh- who are you?"
Anyhow, we did things a little backwards, but it worked out great. We did presents first, then ate supper, then cake. That actually is a great way to do things (provided you aren't doing the "30 loud children hopped up on sugar in an enclosed space" parties- then, I wouldn't recommend it). For the low-key get togethers we have, though, it's wonderful, as all the kids enjoy playing together. James got the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, Sea Monkeys (yes, I am a dork), a new Etch-A-Sketch (the old one had developed a mortal wound in one of the moves and had to be put out of its misery), and a book of Optical Illusions. The neighbors gave him guest tickets to Busch Gardens and a Rubik's Cube (ARGH! It's ok, though, they have a child's b-day coming in March... that gives me time to plan. LOL!) It was a wonderful day of frolicking and playing, dancing and balloon-sword fighting, singing and squirrelling around as any young boy loves to do. He said at bedtime that his favorite part was having everyone there for dinner. I hope all three boys always remember that it's about celebrating life with those you love.
The tradition Ben & Claudia (our old Wonderful Neighbors from AZ) started of giving one sibling gift was continued today- we bought John his very own DVD of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He bounced around for five minutes, hugging it to himself and shouting "yay yay yay!" The first thing I heard this morning was, "Mom, can I watch..."
Six. It just feels so big. But he's still so small, just a little guy compared to when he'll be "Daddy-sized". I can't believe six years have gone by, and I can't find the words to express it. Perhaps another time, the words won't fail me, but right now all I can do is choke up and shake my head in wonder. Wow. It's just amazing, and James is such a great kid. I wonder if the next six are going to go by this quickly? After the boys were tucked in, Charles and I watched a few videos of years past. *sniff* I'm speechless. We are so blessed.
Enjoy those kiddos!
~Dy
It was a blast for everyone!
The day started out great~ we had 24 snails cruising across the back patio, so the boys got to hang out and play with them for about an hour. Then it was waffles for breakfast, and some time to play. (They don't normally wait, but I am pretty sure John foraged and found some snacks Zorak had left out the night before.) I ran to the market, then to pick up his gifts and the party stuff (it is very quiet, and kind of lonely to go to the market alone- next time I'm takin' one or more of the boys with me). I got home and we started cooking supper for a family at church.
Erin (our Wonderful Neighbor) took James & John to the market w/ her and her girls (she says there is no way she wants four children- "They were all great, but there are just so MANY of them! They're everywhere!" The four children are aged 6, 5, 4, and 2- so yeah, that could be overwhelming. *grin*) We got the cake made and decorated, the house cleaned, fajitas and all the trimmings prepared, chips fried up and salsa made- then Zorak picked up James and took him on an errand, while Erin brought the kids to the house to wrap presents and finish decorating (spread confetti, fling streamers- the fun stuff).
Everyone was waiting when Zorak and James came back, and boy was he surprised! At first, all he could do was inhale. LOL. Then he realized there was a total stranger in the dining room (other neighbors had brought a friend of theirs who was in town for the day- that's part of our open door policy- friends of friends are welcome any time) so the first words out of his mouth were, "Wow! ~ Hey, wh- who are you?"
Anyhow, we did things a little backwards, but it worked out great. We did presents first, then ate supper, then cake. That actually is a great way to do things (provided you aren't doing the "30 loud children hopped up on sugar in an enclosed space" parties- then, I wouldn't recommend it). For the low-key get togethers we have, though, it's wonderful, as all the kids enjoy playing together. James got the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, Sea Monkeys (yes, I am a dork), a new Etch-A-Sketch (the old one had developed a mortal wound in one of the moves and had to be put out of its misery), and a book of Optical Illusions. The neighbors gave him guest tickets to Busch Gardens and a Rubik's Cube (ARGH! It's ok, though, they have a child's b-day coming in March... that gives me time to plan. LOL!) It was a wonderful day of frolicking and playing, dancing and balloon-sword fighting, singing and squirrelling around as any young boy loves to do. He said at bedtime that his favorite part was having everyone there for dinner. I hope all three boys always remember that it's about celebrating life with those you love.
The tradition Ben & Claudia (our old Wonderful Neighbors from AZ) started of giving one sibling gift was continued today- we bought John his very own DVD of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He bounced around for five minutes, hugging it to himself and shouting "yay yay yay!" The first thing I heard this morning was, "Mom, can I watch..."
Six. It just feels so big. But he's still so small, just a little guy compared to when he'll be "Daddy-sized". I can't believe six years have gone by, and I can't find the words to express it. Perhaps another time, the words won't fail me, but right now all I can do is choke up and shake my head in wonder. Wow. It's just amazing, and James is such a great kid. I wonder if the next six are going to go by this quickly? After the boys were tucked in, Charles and I watched a few videos of years past. *sniff* I'm speechless. We are so blessed.
Enjoy those kiddos!
~Dy
Saturday, September 18
*shhhh* It's a Surprise!
Well, we are having a surprise party for James today. It's definitely going to be a surprise. He wrote up invitations for his actual birthday and distributed them about- "Monday at 2:34 PM"...
I love how kids need to have very specific, detailed things. Dates and places are of utmost importance to them. "How about the fourth Tuesday of 2005?" or "Can we go at ten twenty-one AM on every Monday?" I don't know where they get these things, but I suspect it's from their growing grasp of the detail of time, and the power to determine the when and how of their schedules. We try to accomodate, but sometimes it's hard. "Mom, can we get ice cream from the ice cream truck every six years on a Thursday?"
This bizarre weather seems to have thrown everyone a bit off. Not only did James sleep like the proverbial baby (the one I didn't have), but so did Jacob, who slept from two until six-thirty the other day and was back out at nine. All three boys were out cold last night and didn't get up until eight this morning. I hope it's the weather, at any rate! If it's not, I'm going to worry that they're up to something. Might be a good idea to scout the house for hidden "experiments" and the random apple core, just in case.
This morning we found 24 teeny tiny snails on the back patio. That's been today's excitement, and we've learned what they eat, how they reproduce, and just how badly it grosses Mom out when you show up at the back door with a snail crawling up your arm.
Have a lovely day!
Dy
I love how kids need to have very specific, detailed things. Dates and places are of utmost importance to them. "How about the fourth Tuesday of 2005?" or "Can we go at ten twenty-one AM on every Monday?" I don't know where they get these things, but I suspect it's from their growing grasp of the detail of time, and the power to determine the when and how of their schedules. We try to accomodate, but sometimes it's hard. "Mom, can we get ice cream from the ice cream truck every six years on a Thursday?"
This bizarre weather seems to have thrown everyone a bit off. Not only did James sleep like the proverbial baby (the one I didn't have), but so did Jacob, who slept from two until six-thirty the other day and was back out at nine. All three boys were out cold last night and didn't get up until eight this morning. I hope it's the weather, at any rate! If it's not, I'm going to worry that they're up to something. Might be a good idea to scout the house for hidden "experiments" and the random apple core, just in case.
This morning we found 24 teeny tiny snails on the back patio. That's been today's excitement, and we've learned what they eat, how they reproduce, and just how badly it grosses Mom out when you show up at the back door with a snail crawling up your arm.
Have a lovely day!
Dy
Thursday, September 16
The more mundane
Today was, overall, one of the less eventful days. It certainly wasn't one of the better days, either.
We had Spanish lessons at ten. Everyone slept until nine. Argh. Short, hurried breakfast, then off we went. It went well, for the most part. Our local homeschool group held a curriculum share today that I've been looking forward to for a long while. We did not make it. The boys were just too "off" from the wonky morning. I couldn't put my finger on it, but my Spider Sense was tingling, so I took heed and we stayed in. (I'm glad for that.)
We lunched, then trekked upstairs to the newly decorated "family room", where we read, played Uno, and enjoyed each other tremendously. Then the phone rang. I have no idea what transpired in the time it took me to run downstairs, grab the phone and head back up, but James was raging mad as I topped the stairs. The best I can figure is that Jacob touched, bent... perhaps drooled on... one of the Uno cards... to which, for whatever reason known only in the dark recesses of a frustrated almost-six-year-old's brain, the obvious response was to damage many more Uno cards himself while growling and screeching like a trapped, rabid wolf. Um, yeah, you can go to bed until you calm down a bit. En route, he took the time to stop and smack a guitar that hung from his bed. Note the past tense~ hung. Said guitar has been entered in the Witness Protection Program. I did stay calm, which surprised even me. James was hysterical and belligerant and downright nasty. It is impossible to convey anything to a belligerant, nasty, vengeful almost-six-year-old who has flown with wings spread wide into the Depths of Hysteria. So, I took a deep breath, let him know that while he may see this fit as necessary, the rest of us are under no obligation to listen to it and he can either stop. Now. OR, I can close the door. Either way, we aren't captive to his fits. He stopped. Then he got suspiciously quiet. He was out cold in less than two minutes. That was shortly after lunch. He slept until I woke him at six this evening. Well, that certainly explained a lot.
Jacob went down after drooling on many more Uno cards while John and I played a few rounds. We hadn't played since John learned all the numbers, so this was pretty fun and new for all of us. We had a great time. John watched a movie while I laid down with Jacob andread Lord of the Rings erm, ok, passed out along with the baby. He woke me up when his movie ended and we spent a while reading more about dinosaurs than you'd ever want to know, building with blocks, and just enjoying a little one on one time.
Friends from Arizona will be on the East Coast next week!! We are hoping to coordinate our schedules to get together. They are just the neatest people, and they've got a wonderful little girl we all adore. We really miss them. They left Arizona shorly after we did, and it just feels like it's been forever since we've seen them.
Have not heard from a friend in the Pensacola area. He's a police officer, and I don't imagine things are looking very good right now. We're sure praying he is safe and sound, just busy helping others.
Tomorrow is Friday already! You know, I thought I had a grasp of time at one point. No longer do I suffer from that delusion. Anyhow, Zorak got word that he'll have to work extra on James' birthday, so we now have to plan a party on the spur of the moment for this weekend rather than Monday. (Not like that's anything different than how we normally do things, it's just strange to have a head's up.) We are going to talk to the Wonderful Neighbors and see about doing a "surprise party" for him. I think he's to the point where he'd "get it" and enjoy it. We'll see.
Have a wonderful Friday, and enjoy the world through your children's eyes!
~Dy
We had Spanish lessons at ten. Everyone slept until nine. Argh. Short, hurried breakfast, then off we went. It went well, for the most part. Our local homeschool group held a curriculum share today that I've been looking forward to for a long while. We did not make it. The boys were just too "off" from the wonky morning. I couldn't put my finger on it, but my Spider Sense was tingling, so I took heed and we stayed in. (I'm glad for that.)
We lunched, then trekked upstairs to the newly decorated "family room", where we read, played Uno, and enjoyed each other tremendously. Then the phone rang. I have no idea what transpired in the time it took me to run downstairs, grab the phone and head back up, but James was raging mad as I topped the stairs. The best I can figure is that Jacob touched, bent... perhaps drooled on... one of the Uno cards... to which, for whatever reason known only in the dark recesses of a frustrated almost-six-year-old's brain, the obvious response was to damage many more Uno cards himself while growling and screeching like a trapped, rabid wolf. Um, yeah, you can go to bed until you calm down a bit. En route, he took the time to stop and smack a guitar that hung from his bed. Note the past tense~ hung. Said guitar has been entered in the Witness Protection Program. I did stay calm, which surprised even me. James was hysterical and belligerant and downright nasty. It is impossible to convey anything to a belligerant, nasty, vengeful almost-six-year-old who has flown with wings spread wide into the Depths of Hysteria. So, I took a deep breath, let him know that while he may see this fit as necessary, the rest of us are under no obligation to listen to it and he can either stop. Now. OR, I can close the door. Either way, we aren't captive to his fits. He stopped. Then he got suspiciously quiet. He was out cold in less than two minutes. That was shortly after lunch. He slept until I woke him at six this evening. Well, that certainly explained a lot.
Jacob went down after drooling on many more Uno cards while John and I played a few rounds. We hadn't played since John learned all the numbers, so this was pretty fun and new for all of us. We had a great time. John watched a movie while I laid down with Jacob and
Friends from Arizona will be on the East Coast next week!! We are hoping to coordinate our schedules to get together. They are just the neatest people, and they've got a wonderful little girl we all adore. We really miss them. They left Arizona shorly after we did, and it just feels like it's been forever since we've seen them.
Have not heard from a friend in the Pensacola area. He's a police officer, and I don't imagine things are looking very good right now. We're sure praying he is safe and sound, just busy helping others.
Tomorrow is Friday already! You know, I thought I had a grasp of time at one point. No longer do I suffer from that delusion. Anyhow, Zorak got word that he'll have to work extra on James' birthday, so we now have to plan a party on the spur of the moment for this weekend rather than Monday. (Not like that's anything different than how we normally do things, it's just strange to have a head's up.) We are going to talk to the Wonderful Neighbors and see about doing a "surprise party" for him. I think he's to the point where he'd "get it" and enjoy it. We'll see.
Have a wonderful Friday, and enjoy the world through your children's eyes!
~Dy
Wednesday, September 15
Birthday Pictures
Jacob is our surprise baby. We thought we were done with two children. We thought we knew what was best for our family. We had strong feelings about limiting the number of children in our family for many, many reasons. Those thoughts vanished when we learned about Jacob's pending arrival. It's just not possible to look God in the eye and say, "No, *we* know better than You do." Well, at least I just couldn't go about things like that, at any rate.
The transition from one child to two children was, for me, really rough. John was 2.5, and I had just become almost comfortable in raising two children without the constant fear that I was going to forget one of them somewhere or that the incessant sibling "things" would drive me to chew my own hair out (I was raised as an only child due to the age gap between my siblings and myself- sibling relationships are entirely foreign to me at this stage). So, when we learned that Jacob was coming, I cried. For three days straight. I laid awake at night, terrified that I could never be the kind of Mother James had, or John deserved, let alone manage with another child in the mix. I cried so hard I threw up. It wasn't the baby that was the problem, it was me. If I am to be perfectly truthful, I'm still amazed on a near-daily basis that I didn't get myself killed before I turned 25! To be entrusted with not one, not two, but three precious babies who would rely on me and need me to "have it together" was... pfft. Terrifying doesn't come close.
We were also in Zorak's third year at Riddle. My mother had passed away the previous Spring. My best friend had died that summer. Our church had become a battle ground of incredible proportions and we were now homechurching. Saying that I was exhausted is like saying Marry Poppins was cheerful.
Still, a baby! Another wonderful little one in our home, our hearts! Our hearts had grown and filled with more love than we'd been capable of finding the words to express when we had James. We thought we'd reached the pinnacle of joy and had literally peered into the heart of God when we held him.
And then came John! Who can explain the ability of the human heart to double in size to accomodate more love? It's like the flight of bees- seemingly impossible, yet there ya go. Our love for John soared and shone as brilliantly and as deeply as our love for James.
The same was true for Jacob/Emily (we didn't know which, and really thought we'd used all our luck in having two boys thus far). Only with the boys already running about and aware of the idea of a new baby, it was all even more exciting. Jacob was a gift, right from the beginning. Imagine a spiritual and emotional Christmas where you get everything you have always wanted and just couldn't imagine anything left to wish for... and then finding just one more present tucked behind the tree... and it's perfect! Absolutely perfect! That's us, and how we felt about Jacob for the remaining eight and a half months of his preparations.
Not a day has gone by that we haven't enjoyed him, enjoyed the boys all together, enjoyed the new dynamic of our lives. Not once have I gone to bed without sighing a thank you from the depths of my heart for all that I have, and our family seems complete now. ('Course, we thought that before, too, so we've stuck with the less stubborn "seems", "feels", "pretty much" syntax this time around.)
And now he's one! My goodness. What would this past year have been like without the three boys? I wouldn't even want to guess. Jacob has taught me to slow down, take a deep breath, yell less and nap more. In just one short year, he has reminded us all that it's the little things that count the most, so your little things (a hug in the morning, a laugh over supper, a surprise nonsense game in the middle of the afternoon) should be many and varied, and enjoyed by all.
The transition from one child to two children was, for me, really rough. John was 2.5, and I had just become almost comfortable in raising two children without the constant fear that I was going to forget one of them somewhere or that the incessant sibling "things" would drive me to chew my own hair out (I was raised as an only child due to the age gap between my siblings and myself- sibling relationships are entirely foreign to me at this stage). So, when we learned that Jacob was coming, I cried. For three days straight. I laid awake at night, terrified that I could never be the kind of Mother James had, or John deserved, let alone manage with another child in the mix. I cried so hard I threw up. It wasn't the baby that was the problem, it was me. If I am to be perfectly truthful, I'm still amazed on a near-daily basis that I didn't get myself killed before I turned 25! To be entrusted with not one, not two, but three precious babies who would rely on me and need me to "have it together" was... pfft. Terrifying doesn't come close.
We were also in Zorak's third year at Riddle. My mother had passed away the previous Spring. My best friend had died that summer. Our church had become a battle ground of incredible proportions and we were now homechurching. Saying that I was exhausted is like saying Marry Poppins was cheerful.
Still, a baby! Another wonderful little one in our home, our hearts! Our hearts had grown and filled with more love than we'd been capable of finding the words to express when we had James. We thought we'd reached the pinnacle of joy and had literally peered into the heart of God when we held him.
And then came John! Who can explain the ability of the human heart to double in size to accomodate more love? It's like the flight of bees- seemingly impossible, yet there ya go. Our love for John soared and shone as brilliantly and as deeply as our love for James.

The same was true for Jacob/Emily (we didn't know which, and really thought we'd used all our luck in having two boys thus far). Only with the boys already running about and aware of the idea of a new baby, it was all even more exciting. Jacob was a gift, right from the beginning. Imagine a spiritual and emotional Christmas where you get everything you have always wanted and just couldn't imagine anything left to wish for... and then finding just one more present tucked behind the tree... and it's perfect! Absolutely perfect! That's us, and how we felt about Jacob for the remaining eight and a half months of his preparations.

Not a day has gone by that we haven't enjoyed him, enjoyed the boys all together, enjoyed the new dynamic of our lives. Not once have I gone to bed without sighing a thank you from the depths of my heart for all that I have, and our family seems complete now. ('Course, we thought that before, too, so we've stuck with the less stubborn "seems", "feels", "pretty much" syntax this time around.)

And now he's one! My goodness. What would this past year have been like without the three boys? I wouldn't even want to guess. Jacob has taught me to slow down, take a deep breath, yell less and nap more. In just one short year, he has reminded us all that it's the little things that count the most, so your little things (a hug in the morning, a laugh over supper, a surprise nonsense game in the middle of the afternoon) should be many and varied, and enjoyed by all.


Tuesday, September 14
OK, here's my issue with the OSCE (ok, issue*s*)
I'm having trouble writing this post because I have SO many arguments against this very bad, bad idea that I don't know where to begin. Here's a quick synopsis of what I'm trying to say, and then I'll flesh it out.
This organization is useless for its purported purposes, and is subject to corruption the likes of which the United States, with its ever-depressing pool of politicians on the scene, has never seen face to face.
This organization had elected to the Presidency of it's elections unit an individual who has a very specific agenda, and questionable ethics. He is one of very few US Federal judges to have ever been impeached and removed from office. (He was caught taking bribes to let racketeering criminals walk.) Yet he's the head of their commission to ensure "fair and democratic" elections. Oookkkkaayyy...
Our Constitution delineates the process by which our elections are run, and the states, the ones mentioned in the United States, are the ones responsible for the election of National offices. This is a states issue, and the power and authority to handle the debacle of the 2000 elections needs to be on the states themselves. (AND many states, particularly those in question after 2000, have taken steps to truly ensure fair AND democratic elections!) This simply isn't the place for foreign interests who are not beholden to, nor desiring to conform to OUR Constitution. But it's OUR Constitution, and these are OUR elections.
You can get a vague, undetailed primer on the organization at the organization's website here. This is a monitoring organization, of which we (the U.S.) are a part, although I'm betting most of the Citizens of the US aren't aware this organization even exists, let alone that we are a part of it, funding it ~we're paying a little over 9% of its operating budget~, and are now considered "obligated" to permit foreign interests into our country to "monitor" our elections.
You can get more information at CNN (which is tickled pink by this), the EUobserver (again, thinks its neat), and from the American Policy.org website (which states some of my biggest concerns with this issue, although not as unbiased as I would like to see- this isn't a partisan issue, this is a national sovereignty issue, but that's just my .02).
My concerns with having a European Security group overseeing our elections are many, starting with the fact that it is the states themselves, not the State Department that runs our Federal elections. Power, in America, is supposed to flow UP- FROM the people TO the States THEN on to the President. We've got it all wrong to think that the power needs to be meted out in doses that we common folk can kin.
Jeff, thank you for your comments -is this Steph's Jeff? Hi!- but I will have to disagree that it's all ok based on the ideas they're just watching and they've been here before. If anything, the fact that they've been brought in before makes me feel worse, although that was at least on a state level and the state (CA) had a say (though probably not via a referendum, I'm guessing!). The idea that they're "just watching", however, while exactly what the PR face is all about, is mostly not true. Please allow me to elaborate:
They come prepared with their own Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. We, as "member states", are bound by that membership and the organization's own by-laws state that this agreement is "based on a legally-binding statute in the form of a treaty". Their CCA is to be considered an OSCE-related entity, outside the PR realm of the OSCE itself, yet fully compliant with the OSCE. So the actual OSCE does the watching, but by our mere involvement with this organization and its monitoring, we bring ourselves under the jurisdiction of the OSCA-related CCA. Our power as States has been yanked completely out of our hands and placed in an international forum whose decisions are binding. Our Presidential elections could potentially be hung in the balance of Alcee Hastings' crew and a committee in Geneva. Furthermore, we would be "legally bound" by their decision, regardless of the "will of the people".
There are other reasons we simply do not need to have monitoring in our elections: the states, as is appropriate, made changes after the 2000 election to ensure that another situation such as that did not happen again. That's their job. They did it. But that's not good enough? Why? Let's take a look at who will be "just watching" and see if it makes any of us feel any more certain that this group can somehow "ensure" a "fair and democratic" election for us (with thanks to Ron Paul-R, Tx):
*In Bosnia, the State Department observed intimidation of prospective voters and incomplete voter registers. 107% of the possible voting-age population turned out for that election, and the OSCE gave its nod.
*In Tajikistan, President Emomali Rakhmonov and cohorts continue gaining power in elections the State Department dubbed as "neither free nor fair." In Turkmenistan, President Saparmurat Niyazov, a former Communist Party leader, has held office since 1990 and in 1999 was appointed president for life.
*In 1998, the OSCE observer team that was to monitor the cease-fire between the Serbs and Albanians was caught sending targeting information back to the US and European Union in advance of the U.S.-led attack on Serbia.
*This year, the OSCE approved the election of Mikheil Saakashvili in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia with a Saddam Hussein-like 97 percent of the vote!
Since the Florida aberrations in 2000, a nationwide election came — and went — in which a third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives was chosen in undisputedly free and fair elections.
In October 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft unveiled the Voting Access and Integrity Initiative, pledging the Justice Department would prosecute any election fraud more vigorously than ever.
Voting machines have been replaced, ballots re-written. I cannot think of a single country that has bent over backwards the way the US has to remedy a situation as quickly, nor as clearly.
This is also about a step in general that we have no business making in many ways. It's about more than just watching. This is about finally getting the US to kneel before the UN and start "learning its place" in the International Community. If y'all honestly think it's about "fair and democratic elections," then... I don't know what to say.
There are probably more typos in this entry than I'd care to admit. It's ok, I'm going to call it good. There is so much more to say, but I could fill an entire Civics class with the history and information needed to get it all out there and at some point I think Blogger would seize up on me and refuse to allow more entries. So, I am going to go read a bit of the Lord of the Rings, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, then go kiss my babies and get some rest.
Be good to your little ones.
~Dy
This organization is useless for its purported purposes, and is subject to corruption the likes of which the United States, with its ever-depressing pool of politicians on the scene, has never seen face to face.
This organization had elected to the Presidency of it's elections unit an individual who has a very specific agenda, and questionable ethics. He is one of very few US Federal judges to have ever been impeached and removed from office. (He was caught taking bribes to let racketeering criminals walk.) Yet he's the head of their commission to ensure "fair and democratic" elections. Oookkkkaayyy...
Our Constitution delineates the process by which our elections are run, and the states, the ones mentioned in the United States, are the ones responsible for the election of National offices. This is a states issue, and the power and authority to handle the debacle of the 2000 elections needs to be on the states themselves. (AND many states, particularly those in question after 2000, have taken steps to truly ensure fair AND democratic elections!) This simply isn't the place for foreign interests who are not beholden to, nor desiring to conform to OUR Constitution. But it's OUR Constitution, and these are OUR elections.
You can get a vague, undetailed primer on the organization at the organization's website here. This is a monitoring organization, of which we (the U.S.) are a part, although I'm betting most of the Citizens of the US aren't aware this organization even exists, let alone that we are a part of it, funding it ~we're paying a little over 9% of its operating budget~, and are now considered "obligated" to permit foreign interests into our country to "monitor" our elections.
You can get more information at CNN (which is tickled pink by this), the EUobserver (again, thinks its neat), and from the American Policy.org website (which states some of my biggest concerns with this issue, although not as unbiased as I would like to see- this isn't a partisan issue, this is a national sovereignty issue, but that's just my .02).
My concerns with having a European Security group overseeing our elections are many, starting with the fact that it is the states themselves, not the State Department that runs our Federal elections. Power, in America, is supposed to flow UP- FROM the people TO the States THEN on to the President. We've got it all wrong to think that the power needs to be meted out in doses that we common folk can kin.
Jeff, thank you for your comments -is this Steph's Jeff? Hi!- but I will have to disagree that it's all ok based on the ideas they're just watching and they've been here before. If anything, the fact that they've been brought in before makes me feel worse, although that was at least on a state level and the state (CA) had a say (though probably not via a referendum, I'm guessing!). The idea that they're "just watching", however, while exactly what the PR face is all about, is mostly not true. Please allow me to elaborate:
They come prepared with their own Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. We, as "member states", are bound by that membership and the organization's own by-laws state that this agreement is "based on a legally-binding statute in the form of a treaty". Their CCA is to be considered an OSCE-related entity, outside the PR realm of the OSCE itself, yet fully compliant with the OSCE. So the actual OSCE does the watching, but by our mere involvement with this organization and its monitoring, we bring ourselves under the jurisdiction of the OSCA-related CCA. Our power as States has been yanked completely out of our hands and placed in an international forum whose decisions are binding. Our Presidential elections could potentially be hung in the balance of Alcee Hastings' crew and a committee in Geneva. Furthermore, we would be "legally bound" by their decision, regardless of the "will of the people".
There are other reasons we simply do not need to have monitoring in our elections: the states, as is appropriate, made changes after the 2000 election to ensure that another situation such as that did not happen again. That's their job. They did it. But that's not good enough? Why? Let's take a look at who will be "just watching" and see if it makes any of us feel any more certain that this group can somehow "ensure" a "fair and democratic" election for us (with thanks to Ron Paul-R, Tx):
*In Bosnia, the State Department observed intimidation of prospective voters and incomplete voter registers. 107% of the possible voting-age population turned out for that election, and the OSCE gave its nod.
*In Tajikistan, President Emomali Rakhmonov and cohorts continue gaining power in elections the State Department dubbed as "neither free nor fair." In Turkmenistan, President Saparmurat Niyazov, a former Communist Party leader, has held office since 1990 and in 1999 was appointed president for life.
*In 1998, the OSCE observer team that was to monitor the cease-fire between the Serbs and Albanians was caught sending targeting information back to the US and European Union in advance of the U.S.-led attack on Serbia.
*This year, the OSCE approved the election of Mikheil Saakashvili in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia with a Saddam Hussein-like 97 percent of the vote!
Since the Florida aberrations in 2000, a nationwide election came — and went — in which a third of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives was chosen in undisputedly free and fair elections.
In October 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft unveiled the Voting Access and Integrity Initiative, pledging the Justice Department would prosecute any election fraud more vigorously than ever.
Voting machines have been replaced, ballots re-written. I cannot think of a single country that has bent over backwards the way the US has to remedy a situation as quickly, nor as clearly.
This is also about a step in general that we have no business making in many ways. It's about more than just watching. This is about finally getting the US to kneel before the UN and start "learning its place" in the International Community. If y'all honestly think it's about "fair and democratic elections," then... I don't know what to say.
There are probably more typos in this entry than I'd care to admit. It's ok, I'm going to call it good. There is so much more to say, but I could fill an entire Civics class with the history and information needed to get it all out there and at some point I think Blogger would seize up on me and refuse to allow more entries. So, I am going to go read a bit of the Lord of the Rings, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, then go kiss my babies and get some rest.
Be good to your little ones.
~Dy
You guys are funny!
Yes, Jess, I was pretty sure Dee's concoction might kill me. It sounded too much like stuff my Grandma used to pawn off on us, and she didn't really like us all that much. *grin* (I'm kidding, Dee- well, not about Grandma, but I know you're not ready to have me offed just yet!)
I am recovering nicely from a psychotic case of "Mastodonitis", as Zorak dubbed it. I'll let y'all figure that one out, but let's just say that thanks to enough water intake to make the EPA eye me suspiciously for the drought in the Southwest, my handy-dandy grapefruit seed extract, and the incredible blessings of hot water, the Mastodon is dead and I am on the mend. I just love my voodoo bag. I will never need a "National Healthcare System", which, by the way, have y'all noticed that suddenly we seem to have one (or so I keep hearing on the radio) and it evidently needs to be reformed? Silly me, I know about Medicare, but I simply don't remember the US instituting a "National Healthcare System". Hmmm, odd. Well, my projection: they're getting us accustomed to hearing the term and with our feeble memories we'll soon forget that it doesn't really exist, but we'll- or some will, I should say- be quite gung-ho to get it reformed! Oh, huh? What's that, you say? Yeah, I know. Scary how accurate I can be, isn't it?
I left the computer unguarded while I was curled on the couch, begging for morphine (or death, but the caffeine just wasn't working anymore) and Zorak discovered Scrappleface... I've felt better for a day or two, but couldn't outlast him for computer time. We need another computer or my blogging may be limited to the random monthly entry.
For the past two days, however, I've been reeling from the recent news that we're no longer a sovereign nation and the power of the States has been rescinded and handed over to the UN. It's all good. What were we thinking with this whole democratic republic concept, anyway? What the hell, why stop there? Like the politicians have been telling us for years: we're too stupid to take care of ourselves, anyway. This is for our own good. Soon we will no longer be Citizens, but residents, perhaps subjects. I hope the same people who believe that dear old Alcee will somehow provide a fair and objective monitoring of our elections wake up soon. Perhaps he can bring about a 107% turn out in our elections, too! Wouldn't that be grand? We've been wanting higher voter turn-out for a long time, and the OSCE sure seems to do a bang-up job of making sure elections are fair and just... and, of course, Alcee doesn't have an agenda of his own at all... nope. Extortion and racketeering aren't relevant reasons to deem someone incapable of fairness or impartiality! Pft- silly, silly Freedom Lovers. It's just time to admit defeat and quit dreaming that America has any ingenuity or survival skills left in her at all.
And this is SUCH good news, that I'm sure your Congressmen and Congresswomen came running home from D.C. to let y'all know about these events, is that right? No? But what about "the will of the people"? Ohhh, not OUR people, some OTHER country's people! Now I get it.
I'm still too stunned and particularly disillusioned with all that I have held dear these many years to really blog in detail about this whole treasonous fiasco, but I will do so shortly. Once my bitterness and disgust either rein in a bit, or gel up for a good old-fashioned tongue lashing (which Colin Powell, the traitorous coward, deserves.) That, however, will have to wait. It's one o'clock, and I'm not back up to full steam just yet. I just wanted to pop in and say that I miss reading your blogs and the boards- have I missed anything out 'n about?
I'll be back blogging again soon. The whole morning-blog thing fizzled horribly, didn't it? I'm just not up to par in the AM, and entries fell short of any real depth or zest, even for the random navel gazing. Nobody's navel is mildly interesting before ten AM. Isn't it the truth?
Anyhow, be good to your babies, and get out there and do something good for your neighbors tomorrow!
~Dy
I am recovering nicely from a psychotic case of "Mastodonitis", as Zorak dubbed it. I'll let y'all figure that one out, but let's just say that thanks to enough water intake to make the EPA eye me suspiciously for the drought in the Southwest, my handy-dandy grapefruit seed extract, and the incredible blessings of hot water, the Mastodon is dead and I am on the mend. I just love my voodoo bag. I will never need a "National Healthcare System", which, by the way, have y'all noticed that suddenly we seem to have one (or so I keep hearing on the radio) and it evidently needs to be reformed? Silly me, I know about Medicare, but I simply don't remember the US instituting a "National Healthcare System". Hmmm, odd. Well, my projection: they're getting us accustomed to hearing the term and with our feeble memories we'll soon forget that it doesn't really exist, but we'll- or some will, I should say- be quite gung-ho to get it reformed! Oh, huh? What's that, you say? Yeah, I know. Scary how accurate I can be, isn't it?
I left the computer unguarded while I was curled on the couch, begging for morphine (or death, but the caffeine just wasn't working anymore) and Zorak discovered Scrappleface... I've felt better for a day or two, but couldn't outlast him for computer time. We need another computer or my blogging may be limited to the random monthly entry.
For the past two days, however, I've been reeling from the recent news that we're no longer a sovereign nation and the power of the States has been rescinded and handed over to the UN. It's all good. What were we thinking with this whole democratic republic concept, anyway? What the hell, why stop there? Like the politicians have been telling us for years: we're too stupid to take care of ourselves, anyway. This is for our own good. Soon we will no longer be Citizens, but residents, perhaps subjects. I hope the same people who believe that dear old Alcee will somehow provide a fair and objective monitoring of our elections wake up soon. Perhaps he can bring about a 107% turn out in our elections, too! Wouldn't that be grand? We've been wanting higher voter turn-out for a long time, and the OSCE sure seems to do a bang-up job of making sure elections are fair and just... and, of course, Alcee doesn't have an agenda of his own at all... nope. Extortion and racketeering aren't relevant reasons to deem someone incapable of fairness or impartiality! Pft- silly, silly Freedom Lovers. It's just time to admit defeat and quit dreaming that America has any ingenuity or survival skills left in her at all.
And this is SUCH good news, that I'm sure your Congressmen and Congresswomen came running home from D.C. to let y'all know about these events, is that right? No? But what about "the will of the people"? Ohhh, not OUR people, some OTHER country's people! Now I get it.
I'm still too stunned and particularly disillusioned with all that I have held dear these many years to really blog in detail about this whole treasonous fiasco, but I will do so shortly. Once my bitterness and disgust either rein in a bit, or gel up for a good old-fashioned tongue lashing (which Colin Powell, the traitorous coward, deserves.) That, however, will have to wait. It's one o'clock, and I'm not back up to full steam just yet. I just wanted to pop in and say that I miss reading your blogs and the boards- have I missed anything out 'n about?
I'll be back blogging again soon. The whole morning-blog thing fizzled horribly, didn't it? I'm just not up to par in the AM, and entries fell short of any real depth or zest, even for the random navel gazing. Nobody's navel is mildly interesting before ten AM. Isn't it the truth?
Anyhow, be good to your babies, and get out there and do something good for your neighbors tomorrow!
~Dy
Friday, September 10
Friday Math
What do you get when you mix a six-hour visit at IKEA with a few hours drive time, a sick mommy, and a lost "favorite CD"?
You get a short, grumpy blog.
Sorry, guys, just don't have it in me tonight. Zorak is coming in with pizza, I'm sucking down water and antibiotics, bundled up like an Arctic Explorer and still shivering. The boys are in dreamland, waiting for the sun to come up so they can play with their new train tracks (it was time to add to the collection). I'm going to curl up and feel puny for a bit.
The trip was great, the boys are troopers and have a lovely time! It was a good visit, although the ONE item that started the whole trek wasn't available anywhere at any time and they can't tell us when it will be- all the alternatives are sold out, too. *snort* That's funny!
Anyhow, will talk to you later on. Kiss those babies.
Dy
You get a short, grumpy blog.
Sorry, guys, just don't have it in me tonight. Zorak is coming in with pizza, I'm sucking down water and antibiotics, bundled up like an Arctic Explorer and still shivering. The boys are in dreamland, waiting for the sun to come up so they can play with their new train tracks (it was time to add to the collection). I'm going to curl up and feel puny for a bit.
The trip was great, the boys are troopers and have a lovely time! It was a good visit, although the ONE item that started the whole trek wasn't available anywhere at any time and they can't tell us when it will be- all the alternatives are sold out, too. *snort* That's funny!
Anyhow, will talk to you later on. Kiss those babies.
Dy
Thursday, September 9
Birthdays, Trips, Products 'n Stuff
Amy, wickles? Really? You're liking those things, aren't ya? I'm going to have to try them, I really am!
WHY can I not find a commenting utility that will email me when someone comments AND let me know which entry the comment is under? That would make my inbox make a lot more sense. :-)
Today is Jacob's birthday. He's one. 1. Wow. I'm completely unprepared for this milestone, but it's been a good day anyhow. His party will be Saturday, just a Mexican Food Cookout with friends. Jacob doesn't mind (care), but the boys are a little put out by the fact that we aren't observing his actual birthday in a properl manner. I'll get pictures up over the weekend. I was going to post a link to his birth story, but it's no longer on Upsaid's servers, so I'll have to dig through my backed up files to see if it's there.
We took the boys to Spanish with the Wonderful Neighbors, then went to the library. Zorak and the boys are picking up Chinese food for supper. When they get back we'll do "dinner and a movie"~ not traditional Cleaver-style supper, but it sure is fun once in a while.
The nifty new product I mentioned the other day is W Ketchup. Now, this item has created an incredibly violent knee-jerk response that I truly don't understand. We have a free economy, we have the beauty and strength of enterprise and invention that have made the good things in America what they are. We also have the right to support or not support a company based on what it does with its revenues. Yes, the owners have the right to do with their proceeds as they see fit- that's money they've earned. We, as consumers, also have the right not to spend the money we've earned in a manner that is inconsistent with what we believe. Why some people think the road should only go one way is absolutely beyond me. Anyhow, we're ordering a case of this stuff, if for no other reason than that we're absolutely thrilled to see that there are those out there who aren't so cowed by the "you can't make a difference" mentality as to just roll over and whine themselves to death. These guys are putting their necks out there in a very cool way. So, whether you like Heinz ketchup or are boycotting it, or just prefer Hunt's, or whatever your reasons are for doing what you do, check out W Ketchup in the spirit of Free Enterprise and remember that it's absolutely OK to disagree and to do something constructive and productive about it!
Zelie, I don't know which IKEA we're going to... would probably help if we figured that out before tomorrow, eh? Probably college something or other- does that sound familiar?
Anyhow, the guys are back so I'm going to go enjoy a fine supper among wonderful company! Will talk to y'all later!
~Dy
WHY can I not find a commenting utility that will email me when someone comments AND let me know which entry the comment is under? That would make my inbox make a lot more sense. :-)
Today is Jacob's birthday. He's one. 1. Wow. I'm completely unprepared for this milestone, but it's been a good day anyhow. His party will be Saturday, just a Mexican Food Cookout with friends. Jacob doesn't mind (care), but the boys are a little put out by the fact that we aren't observing his actual birthday in a properl manner. I'll get pictures up over the weekend. I was going to post a link to his birth story, but it's no longer on Upsaid's servers, so I'll have to dig through my backed up files to see if it's there.
We took the boys to Spanish with the Wonderful Neighbors, then went to the library. Zorak and the boys are picking up Chinese food for supper. When they get back we'll do "dinner and a movie"~ not traditional Cleaver-style supper, but it sure is fun once in a while.
The nifty new product I mentioned the other day is W Ketchup. Now, this item has created an incredibly violent knee-jerk response that I truly don't understand. We have a free economy, we have the beauty and strength of enterprise and invention that have made the good things in America what they are. We also have the right to support or not support a company based on what it does with its revenues. Yes, the owners have the right to do with their proceeds as they see fit- that's money they've earned. We, as consumers, also have the right not to spend the money we've earned in a manner that is inconsistent with what we believe. Why some people think the road should only go one way is absolutely beyond me. Anyhow, we're ordering a case of this stuff, if for no other reason than that we're absolutely thrilled to see that there are those out there who aren't so cowed by the "you can't make a difference" mentality as to just roll over and whine themselves to death. These guys are putting their necks out there in a very cool way. So, whether you like Heinz ketchup or are boycotting it, or just prefer Hunt's, or whatever your reasons are for doing what you do, check out W Ketchup in the spirit of Free Enterprise and remember that it's absolutely OK to disagree and to do something constructive and productive about it!
Zelie, I don't know which IKEA we're going to... would probably help if we figured that out before tomorrow, eh? Probably college something or other- does that sound familiar?
Anyhow, the guys are back so I'm going to go enjoy a fine supper among wonderful company! Will talk to y'all later!
~Dy
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