The Tinsel, The Trappings

Whew! We made it through the whole christmas season. Our tree went back into the box whence it came this afternoon.

It was wonderful to spend time with our families over the long weekend. My brother and his family were here as well as Brett's brother from Chicago (either I have not yet created an "alias" for Brett, or I have decided that the whole privacy issue is moot) plus both sets of parents. It was truly a beautiful experience to have everyone together, eating my mom's good food (yep, she catered) and enjoying each other's company. Sadly, the Up North branch of our family tree was fevered and contagious. We are hoping to see them this weekend!

We have lots of cool new toys at our house. Some of Browniefoot's faves were his Robo-Raptor, which he has named King George the Third (hahaha) and a spy kit that issues a high-pitched alert when someone enters his room. BooBoo likes her Itty Bitty Baby by American Girl and some singing character toys that Santa brought her - Spiderman and Pizza Elmo.

Brett and I have a Wii! It is loads of fun but, most importantly, has helped me to realize some areas of personal growth I have overlooked, namely not being a big baby sore loser when I consistently do not win at tennis. Grrrrrr....

I also used some much-appreciated xmas cash to buy the December issue of Yoga Journal. Check out their website to subscribe to the (FREE!) daily newsletter of yoga and meditation tips.

Countdown to Xmas

I love this quote from a story about a christmas tree farm in Belvedere, New York:

“They’d tie a piece of baler twine across my lap so I wouldn’t slide off the tractor seat and tell me to steer for that tree across the field,” said John C. Wyckoff, 41, recalling his own time on rock duty as a young boy.

The little green apron store was HOPPIN' today. Reportedly, this is the busiest shopping day of the year and I was on my toes from start to finish. I arrived home to a houseful of extended family - hooray!!

Our holiday cards began appearing in the mailboxes of friends and families today. On average, American families receive and send approximately 28 cards at this time of year. We mailed 31 (which, unfortunately, was not everybody on my list but it was already December 21st). Ten cents from each card was donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital, a very worthy cause; our's features a drawing by seven-year-old Belle of a peace angel. I irreverently added a photo of Griffin sticking out his tongue and Bela squirming away from him. I hope it will give everyone a chuckle.

To the side of this post is an advertisement I helped write for a very cool new photographic studio in Old Town, the capital city's creative hub. The studio has an IKEA stainless steel kitchen that I am hoping to one day install here up in our crib. Luckily, I may be able to get some freelance work going with the studio to pay for this endeavor.

It's A Wonderful Life, my favorite holiday movie, was not on television tonight, sadly. I had hoped that it might be, despite the fact it aired last Friday. I am still hopeful that it might be on again tomorrow night, or even on Monday. We did, however, watch two great movies on DVD this week - Super Bad and Sicko by Michael Moore. Super Bad was over-the-top with the crude sex-humor but also hilariously reminiscent of high school (and, I thought it was ultimately not really advocating teen sex because nobody actually "goes all the way," even the nerdy kid who is destined for Dartmouth.) Sicko, an indictment primarily of the health insurance scam, I mean system, in the United States, was scary. Canada, England, and France have all made much better choices about how to treat their fellow man.

I'm off to eat some cookies before bed... just like Santa Claus!

Video from G's Party

Video from Griffin's fifth birthday party. Where did my baby go??? He is such a big kid now.

Little Einstein Exersaucer

I am selling Bela's Little Einstein Exersaucer. On those mornings when I have had to catch a shower after my wee petites have already woken up (as tomorrow will be if I don't go get some shut-eye) I have used the exersaucer to keep Bela in one place. No more. Here is a photo of Bela sitting on my lap(top).

She is able to climb out of the exersaucer and used a chair to climb up onto my desk. Quite the climber, my little monkey also used the container for the dog food and the garbage can to ascend the kitchen counter in order to clink together the martini glasses. My friend, Mary, the Scientist, thought this indicated superior intelligence. I just think AAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Anyway, the exersaucer is one year old, purchased for $80 from Amazon.com, offered here for $40 or best offer. Excellent condition.

Hasty Update

I have so so much I want to blog about but only a tiny amount of time. Since the posts have been rather scanty lately, I thought I would take a moment for a hasty update. By the way, I love those two adjectives and I am thrilled that I get to use them.

I am quickly boiling some pasta because I work at the little green apron store tonight, the second night in a row as we count down to Christmas. As we approach the holiday, the customers are becoming testier. I don't know if it is a lack of vitamin D in the shape of sunshine contributing to their bad mood, or just mall traffic, but I do know that I am psychologically much healthier today than I ever have been. Their complaints roll off my back because I have a strong sense of self. To the customer who asked "Are you knowledgeable about the products or are you just a door person?" I would have liked to have said "I am not just anything" but I did not and that's okay.

Griffin turned five (more on that later). John Edwards, my candidate for President, is featured on the cover of Newsweek as the potential surprise winner (oh, I can only dream). I finished reading Screamfree Parenting - the first parenting book I have ever read cover to cover. Britney Spears' mother was slated to write a parenting book ... but now that her 16-year-old sister is pregnant that has been put on hold (I might have read that book just for the "this is what you should not do" aspect). I have begun my freelance career gig. Bela is up from her nap now so I must go. Adieu.

End of Babyhood

Griffin celebrated his fifth birthday today. It sounds like a cliche but where did the time GO???

His party was crazy and fun. I have loads of pictures and video to upload ... and a very messy house.

Thank goodness for Grandma Beth's skills in the kitchen. She made the awesome cupcakes in a cone and then had the genius idea to put the Scooperman ice cream inside the sili-cups (silicone muffin cups).

Ruff Yoga

There is a story on PBS right now about pampered pooches. To quote the narrator, some of the practitioners of so-called ruff yoga "see human-like traits in their pooches..." and treat them accordingly.

I have read about yoga for dogs in the past. In theory, it seemed like a great idea. Rodan's sun salutation is awe-inspiring. I have actually watched her as she progresses from downward to upward facing dog. So, believing the integrity of the DOG was forefront, I always thought yoga for dogs would be a great, fun idea.

Nope. From the video I just saw it is human's manipulating the paws of their pups to make it look like they are doing yoga.

Brett joined me for yoga on Friday night. It was his first class and I think he liked it. If nothing else, now he understands my "workout."

I have found two yoga teachers that I really like at the MAC. Shelley and Steve are great - far more fitness-focused than I am accustomed to from my earlier Kripalu training but overall they lead with a gentle touch. And, I don't find myself hating them in the middle of a postural flow. That's a yoga "good thing."

One more book to read

Co-authored by an MSU professor. Today's must-read.

Bloody Hell

Has been my refrain at my little green apron shop. Pronounced with a Scottish brogue so it comes out more like "Bloody Ell, Mate."

Last night I thought I was getting a visit from Santa Claus himself. An interesting old character walked in the door, just before close. He had a jolly old belly, a great big fur hat on his white head, and a diamond pinky ring. Linda directed him to me when he asked for a coffee expert, and knowing full well that it is poor customer service to pass him on again to someone truly knowledgable, I faked it. Me!

Anyway, we quickly bypassed the $2,000 Jura machine to look at the more appropriately priced Breville for $300. Visions of working as a barista 13 summers ago danced through my head as I expertly pulled on the frother hose and jabbed at the expresso holder thingy. He settled at last upon a Krups Combi, a fine choice, if I do say so myself, and pulled out a list that I thought for sure would have my name at the top. Turns out he was not Santa Claus but a dad whose firm is well-known with politicos around here (just before his order got royally screwed at the end I almost said are you ___?) Anyway, I thought it was great fun advising him because he used "bloody" as an adjective.

And, get this, the New Joisey town where my customer's daughter lives happens to have the same name as the street upon which I live. Get outta town! That just doesn't happen.

But, I have a dilemma. It is the one that everyone who has ever worked faces at one time or another. Scheduling. The sons of bitches scheduled me to work next Saturday. Now for The Jolly Mama loyalists, you know that I cannot work next Saturday because it is the day of the party that will be bigger than jesus. Yes, Browniefoot turns five next Saturday. And I have pledged to him that I will not labor again on December 15.

To call in sick or to take it like an adult.... That is the question. There is an unethical part of me that says "F it. I told them I was unavailable on that date. They only pay me $8.00 per hour. I'm not budging." (Sidenote: I don't know why everything is alway F this and F that. It's just part of my vernacular.) If I do that, I strategize, I must complete all of my xmas shopping there this weekend because I will lose my almight discount if I am summarily discharged from their employ for failure to report. But really, I am not going to work next weekend.

A Blog is a Blog

Subtitle: A Blog By Any Other Name

Names, obviously, are very important to me. I love the interplay of words. The way two or more sounds juxtapose to create a new idea.

I may even love words more than I like writing. In fact, I know I do because I have compared the process of writing to bloodletting, in some of my more dramatic moments. Of course, I like the vision this evokes, blood spilling onto a page, transforming the texture of the paper. Not that I like blood. It is yucky, but I hope you, dear reader, get my point anyway. As an evocative image, bloodletting is more palatable than say, words being burped or puked onto a page, a revolting metaphor, to say the least. Bloodletting puts one more in the mind of romantic vampires than frat boys who've had too much beer.

But, I digress. The reason for this post is that Griffin has re-named himself. It happened this summer in the sandbox. A split-second decision on his part has transformed him forever into "Browniefoot." A name that makes me smile and shake my head in pride for its own evocativeness and sheer brilliance.

Bela Simone has become to myself, and, lately, the rest of the family, simply BooBoo. I have loved the little girl character in Monsters Inc. since we watched that movie for the first time with Griffin years ago and always imagined that one day we would have our very own dark-haired, dark-eyed Boo. Bela is more red-head than her cine-predecessor, but whatever!

I am known online as Ooo Lala, a name I irreverently chose one day when I registered for some website and then thought was a hilarious choice as I began receiving mail addressed "Dear Ooo" or "Attention Mrs. Lala."

Terri Gross interviewed the screenwriter from the new film Juno yesterday afternoon, a woman named Diablo Cody. The really interesting thing about her (besides her crazy name and the fact that she may just have created a girl character that will become as iconic as Ferris Bueller) is that she got her break as a writer doing a blog about the sex industry. Most, of course, were more pornographic in nature than Ms. Cody's blog, which was very literary (with a few titillating videos and pictures).

All of this to say, I am considering changing some of the identifable information on the blog for privacy reasons. Not that anyone's reading it. But, I suppose, there is always the possibility. Treehuggermama had a visitor from Poland recently. Yours truly has stumbled, unawares, into the blogs and family websites of people I will never likely meet.

As for the details of this momentous change, pictures and videos will remain but our aliases will have to suffice in the descriptions and stories. Our location will have to go underground. And, this message will, of course, self-destruct.

Dear reader, please leave a comment about these proposed changes. And, for heaven's sake, if you are from Poland, introduce yourself, please!

In Retrospect...

Okay, so after my post about "squeeze free" parenting, some calls and emails have come in from people who know me, who know my kids, and know my parenting style, and the consensus is that I am being far too hard on myself.

Hmmmm....

I will concede the following: ruthless perfectionism is my operating style; everything is always about me, even when it is not about me; and I would do anything for those I love, especially my ultravulnerable little children.

Okay, so now I will acknowledge that maybe those three "facts" are not grounded in logic; maybe they are values that do not adhere to any sound principles; and perhaps I need to relax.

In the inimitable words of one of my high school buddies:

"Sometimes you just gotta say F it. And then F it."

A statement that was made to me half my life ago but probably no truer words were ever spoken. Of course he didn't say F. That's an adaptation I have made since being a MOM.

Anyway, I am off to eat some peppermint stick ice cream - my second helping today because 'tis the season!

Baboon Metaphysics

The authors of Baboon Metaphysics were interviewed on Fresh Air this afternoon. I want to read this book -- and I want to rid my life of the huge stack of books that meanders around my home, chastising me for not getting around to reading any of them yet.

The GOOD Book

Hip, hip hooray!!! My library recently added Screamfree Parenting by Hal Runkel to its collection. Trying to get the book with Griffin and Bela in tow was a challenge worthy of the book.

While I am not much of a screamer, I am a squeezer, as in a squeeze of the wrist, arm, or nape of the neck, in order to get my point across to Griffin (as of yet, Bela has not *needed* such intervention). And, whereas I would NEVER EVER spank my children, I have been known to yank them.

These actions were so troublesome to me that earlier this summer I *confessed* them to my mom, a child protective services supervisor for the state. She said that what I was doing was not considered abuse. She even laughed at me a little bit because a lot of parents do these things all the time.

But it still bothers me... a lot. I did a lot of squeezing yesterday as my two little demons ran through the adult section of the library. Why? Because they were squealing with joy and laughing at each other. I couldn't find my book where it was supposed to be on the shelf. And I became consumed with worry about what the other patrons would think -- of me, as a mom, for letting my kids run amok.

Generally, my mantra is "I care far more how my family feels and far less what other people think." Yesterday in the library, however, was a different story.

In the car on the way home, I asked Griffin how it had made him feel when I was rough. Unsurprisingly, it did not make him feel good about himself. It made him scared. Together, he and I thought of other ways I could *show* him that I love him. He got over it much more quickly than I did, as I sit here today, embarassed and ashamed about an incident that rarely occurs.

As it turns out, when I gathered myself together to check out, the librarian told me that the book was in the front of the library with the other new books. DUH! Thankfully, she seemed to understand that if I'm looking for this book, then I might need a little extra help, and went to get the book for me.

So, now it's off to read the book because I NEVER want to be so out of control that I use my hands, even to just get someone's attention. While squeezing may not be abuse, it is absolutely not how I want to parent.

Gorilla Buttons and the Ha Ha Ha

Earlier this summer, I grabbed a parenting book from the library that introduced me to the concept of "gorilla buttons." These are the things that our children do that annoy us more than anything else and cause us to react in negative ways. The book listed several examples, all of which were things that make me see red (yikes!). Thus, The Jolly Mama, and a renewed awareness of calm, was born.

Tonight our little family went to the mall. Brett and I had both had a long day already. There were crowds. Stress levels were high. After feeling a little cranky, sighing more than an adult really should, I remembered a super important meditation. I call it the "Ha ha ha" breath - to do it simply say "Ha ha ha" until you are laughing. It works like a charm!

Batman is ... DEAD!!!

The Dark Knight was killed today. He succumbed to the vicious lips of our newest housemate, (S)Moochy.

After the dogs muddied up the floors, I sent them to the basement playroom to chill while Bela napped. I heard them barking and ramming the door so I took them a bowl of water and it was then that I saw a horrific sight. Stuffing everywhere; Bruce Wayne's alter ego laying limp upon the floor. I gasped for a full minute. "What did you do?" I implored. There was no question in my mind, or that of my canine companions, who had done this deed. (S)Moochy hung his head in shame, almost as if he were awaiting a smack on the nose. I spared him, saying only "I need to blog about this!" as I ascended the stair.

His body will be laid to rest quickly and without fanfare. I shall use one of the trash bags our own young hero likes to fashion into capes.

Woo-hoo!! Mary Jane Heppner-Gamble, a locally renowned creative movement teacher has agreed to come to Griffin's 5th birthday party to teach the youngsters how to move like superheroes. I am so excited because the kid tends to get the shaft as his birthday is only ten days before you-know-who's birthday. Griffin's party will rock!!! Take that, Jesus! (kidding, of course).

Tree

Here is a photo of G-man in Tree Pose, which he learned from Ms. Sybil, the yoga teacher at his nursery school. Notice the cool Harry Potter tie and the tough guy facial expression. Pure Griffin!

Quote of the Day

Today's quote is from Life Coach Hal Runkel, the creator of Screamfree Parenting. I hope to someday write a little about why I like this system and how I learned about it, but for now, here it is....

"While your children certainly need your guidance, they don’t need you to need them. This ironically increases the amount of stress that your child faces. Think about it: Placing your own sense of significance on the shoulders of your children is not a loving thing to do at all."

Toddler Bela is tearing apart the house, I'm trying to write a menu and grocery list, and we all need some breakfast. So, for now, adieu.

Mr. Monocles

About a year ago, Griffin created a character named "Mr. Monocles." Sometimes he is a good guy and sometimes he is not. Lately, perhaps in the last week or so, Griff has started wearing monocles, squeezing tiny, round toys into the bones of his eye socket. I remember doing this when I was a kid, too. For him, a big part of it has to do with Batman's foe, the Penguin. A long time ago, I read that it is normal for young children to pretend to be the bad guy because it makes something very scary less so, and gives them a sense of control.

Turns out, by the way, the thing I needed to finally recover from the cold from hell was ... SLEEP! I got some this weekend, taking naps in the afternoon both days, and sleeping in on Sunday morning. Yay! Unfortunately, Bela was awake a big part of last night. I'm not sure what was up with that. Teeth? Stomach upset? Hunger?

In the neverending saga of my phone troubles, I am out of minutes for the month of November. The new minutes start next Tuesday. I will have to increase my plan. Grrrr...

Green Apron Announcement

I have taken a seasonal position at Williams-Sonoma, the place for cooks. So far this gig is pretty tight. I went in to "work" on Sunday night and got to enjoy a delicious potluck and some adult company. Last night, I watched videos on ladder safety and giftwrapping. And, I got a sweet green apron and a name tag ... with MY name on it!

An Ode to My Cold

Marcy Playground wrote a song about having a cold. In general I am not a big fan of their's (their one big, breakout hit was "Sex and Candy" which just grossed me out, for some reason). So for the past ten years I have wondered about the title of this other, cooler song. I've even done a few google searches, yielding nothing, until today, when I am so utterly sick of being sick.

Here is a link to the video for "It's Saturday" on YouTube -- to hear the song without the annoying stuff at the beginning of the video, click in by about 40 seconds. The line "I've got some kind of disease," has practically been my hypochondriac mantra!

I also like MIA's "Paper Planes". The song has a sweet, floaty girl voice that hip hops weird lyrics mixed with fun sound effects.

One more YouTube video, that actually relates to being a mom, from my college roommate Sara, who is also now a mom. To my mom, if you watch any of these videos, watch this ONE!! Funny, funny stuff....

Green Goo

I have had a cold forever. For so long, in fact, that I'm no longer counting days, but weeks. It is sort of in my head. It is sort of in my chest. Mostly, it is right in between the two hemispheres of my body, right in my throat chakra.

This morning I had had enough of the whining and tattle-telling that characterize Griffin's current relationship with his baby sister. He ripped a toy from her hands, lost control of it, and it landed on my head, which in retrospect is kind of amusing. When I sent him to a timeout, my voice was so deep it scared me, all because of the gooey stuff stuck in my throat.

Griffin likely has the same cold, or a variant, as I do. Poor little kid! He has been very sensitive the past few days. I am quite certain that the cold has been a contributive factor to his crankiness towards his sissy. He has also been very sensitive with his friends at school, and cried twice yesterday when they were chasing him in the yard. He did a great job of telling his teachers what was happening and asking them for help. Their response was equally great - they told the children that their rough games were not making Griffin feel safe. "Safe" is a term that 4- and 5-year olds really GET.

I tell the children to rest, but here I am, not napping with my one and only chance.

Ooh, but there is a story about green pest control on Day to Day right now. Hmmm.. I wonder if Orkin would consider some of these tactics for ridding my home of its ant population? The integrative pest management companies they are profiling on NPR do cool stuff like bug birth control, bug vacuums, and a bug-sniffing dog.

Cloth Diapers for Sale (Not Rent!)

Cloth Diapers for Sale, Not Rent, As in the classic song, "King of the Road"

I have the following cloth diaper package for sale, please e-mail me if you are interested in purchasing it.

30 prefolds (the cloth part)
8 bummis (including 1 polar/fleece bummi, 4 patterned bummis)
1 bumkin all-in-one
3 pro raps
1 iplay swim diaper
2 laundry bags
All packed inside a Diaper Champ by Baby Trend!

The diapers are recommended for babies 0-6 months. Bela was able to wear them a little bit longer because she is small. They are in fairly good condition. None of the prefolds are terribly stained, and everything has been washed, re-washed, and washed again. :)

I am asking $40 (just the dipes/covers cost me about $200 from Earth Baby last August) so this is a good value. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping make the earth a better place for your child. Remember: it may take up to 500 years for ONE disposable diaper to decompose.

All Quiet on the Blogging Front

So the posts have been rather slow to appear lately. Why, I ask myself. Have I begun to already lose interest in blogging? Am I really that much busier, and if that is the case, what, pray tell, have I been doing?? No, I think the main problem is that I don't know who the audience is for this thing -- if I even want there to be one. Very few people know The Jolly Mama exists.

At the outset I had two, competing thoughts about this issue of audience. First, I wanted to use it to show potential employers that I was comfortable with writing on the Web. One freelance gig said it was "favorable" for candidates to write their own blog. All well and good. Here is The Jolly Mama, the carefully edited day-after-day-in-the-life of a mom and her two kids, told through the framework of the mom's interests -- yoga, kids' television, etc.

I also thought it would be a good way to keep friends and family, both near and far, abreast of our antics and adventures. What a great way to post photos -- something I am notoriously bad at sharing with everyone! The blog has been a good memory keeper for me, as well. A benefit that I hadn't fully considered beforehand.

But, in the end, it has been consistency -- the boogeyman of effective mothering -- that has tripped me up. Just jotting something -- anything -- down everyday. Devoting just 15 minutes to a single task. Not caring if it is not perfect. Arrrggghhh! Well, carry on, I say. Carry on.

Am I a Martyr or a Mother?

Today has been a walking meditation. Bela woke me up at 5:00 a.m. and, unable to get her successfully back to bed by 6:00 a.m. when Griffin woke up -- also WAY too early -- I gave up. I was not content, however, to simply greet my two little sunshines with a smile and bowls of cereal. I bitched. I threatened. And, inwardly, I felt very, very sorry for poor little ol' me who didn't get enough sleep ... and guilty that I was being so very, very undisciplined. Until I began to incorporate a few of the habits I've learned from meditation. As each negative thought would bubble to the surface, I would label it and then let it go. That "poor little ol' me" bit? Martyrdom. Goodbye, martyr!

Video Stars

Two little videos coming - one of Bela from a couple weeks ago and one that Griffin made yesterday (note the "special" effect!)

Happy Halloween!

The photo at left is from Truck-or-Treat, an event that was held earlier this month. Griffin is Venom and Bela is SpiderGirl. The only other kid dressed as Venom happened to be Griffin's best friend, Quinn, from nursery school.

Griffin told me yesterday that he would prefer to be Dracula for Halloween this year. Perhaps this is the downfall of allowing him to wear the costume for a month. Ah well, we've already been out to trick-or-treat twice.

To celebrate our seventh anniversary over the weekend, Brett and I went to see the vampire film 30 Days of Night.

The premise of the film is that vampires descend upon the town of Barrow, Alaska during the town's month-long darkness. The sheriff and a small crew of survivors hole up in different places, trying to outlast the truly creepy looking vampires.

Thankfully the actor who plays Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies was one of the survivors. During the scary parts I was calmed by repeating "Rubeus Hagrid" over and over again.

The importance of family seems to be a theme in vampire films. It was reiterated throughout 30 Days of Night and is again seen in the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake. Another film I was only able to watch because of the involvement of a well-known actor, Mekhi Pheiffer, whose poor zombie baby ruined his desired chance for redemption.

Round Up

Some new family traditions have begun this fall and I have been intending to write about them for awhile now. So, with no further adieu, here is my tops list:
1.) the MSU Homecoming Parade was great this year! Highlights included Griffin shouting "Obama, Obama" as the College Democrats passed and the giant bookworm float.
2) the Great Pumpkin Walk, trick-or-treating on Thursday night before Halloween at downtown East Lansing businesses. Afterwards, the four of us went out to dinner at Dublin Square, an Irish themed restaurant in the former Evergreen Grill.
3) a massage from Molly who has been my friend for 20 years. She has created an amazing space at the Universal Healing Center in our hometown. I am so proud of her!
4) CHARM! Griffin laying it on at Grandma Beth's retirement party. He stuck with her through most of the party, enchanting her colleagues and friends. Both kids were at their best after the Great Pumpkin Walk, leading one fellow diner at Dublin Square to comment that they were "the best behaved kids" she had ever encountered, including her own. I'm certainly not bragging as I give all the credit to them... and I realize that next time we are out in public the review may not be so favorable.

Out of the mouths of bebes

Be scared to be amazed

Glowing up underpants and glowing up pajamas

Mines

Wery, wery cool

These are just a few of my favorite Griffin-isms.

Bela cuddled against my legs today, said I love you, looked up at me and called me mama. Yay!

It's Saturday!

There have been a ton of things happening lately that I have thought "I've got to add that to my blog!" In fact, as I ruminate on things since I started The Jolly Mama, I find myself giving the thoughts titles. For the life of me, I cannot think of any of them right now. This is the first quiet chance I have had to update my blog and unfortunately, my mind is a blank. Ah well.

Soon to post are a picture of Griffin standing in tree pose under a tree at Impression 5 Science Center. We went to the MSU Homecoming Parade last night (without the camera, zut alors!) -- aha, this is something I want to post more about but, for now, I think I'll take a nap. The kiddos are sleeping and so should I.

Another Kid Show/Another Parenting Lesson

I learn a lot by watching Emily Elizabeth care for her big red dog on the PBS kid show, Clifford. She treats him with a lot of respect and it is always evident how much she loves him. In turn, Clifford generally makes good decisions.



I also learn a lot about what NOT to do by watching Jetta. How did this girl get to be such a little stinker? I often wonder what her mother does, or does not do, that is teaching Jetta to value all the wrong things. The show seems to be very careful not to show Jetta's parents' interactions with her which is probably good. I would rather focus on the positive parenting lessons I get from watching ee and her big red dog.

The Kripalu Catalog

The Kripalu Catalog came today. No, actually it arrived in yesterday's mail but I only now looked through it.

I was feeling down -- the sort of down, Down, DOWN that just gains momentum if you don't figure out some way to start smiling again. The analytical part of my brain knows that, surely, this is hormonal, seasonal, and a symptom of exhaustion. I was awoken more times than I can remember last night by crying bebes (Bela is cutting some serious molars; Griffin got up, was disoriented, and knocked over his fan - he was very frightened!).

What I realized as I skimmed through the new catalog, seeing all the peaceful faces, the radiant souls illuminated, is that my "fitness level 2" yoga classes at the MAC are seriously ruining my enjoyment of yoga. I am really not doing yoga to do endless downward facing dogs or to have a tight booty. My soul wears a thong.

So I'm going to fake a smile, and try to catch a nap. Upward momentum, OMmmmm!

Sheriff Kalanquin in the News!

One of my favorite sheriffs made the news! Sheriff Ron Kalanquin is featured in news all over the world this week because he has offered to marry a Bonnie & Clyde who robbed the Lapeer County Bank & Trust, then bought wedding rings with some of the loot.

[From Aug 2004 to Aug 2006, I was the illustrious Agent "M" of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, go-to-woman for ensuring there was plenty of hot coffee at conferences and ghost writing the director's update.]

Liberal La La Land of the Mind

This morning was challenging. The dog, aptly named Rodan after the monster who terrorizes Japan in Godzilla movies, escaped the yard when my neighbor's poor dad tried to give her a playdate with his pup. We took chase, after bundling Bela into her jogging stroller and Griffin, shoes. After a fab walk through the neighborhood (something that makes Griffin usually complain bitterly), another neighbor was able to lure Rodan to her.

Since Bela was well-past the time for a morning nap, I decided to make it a library day. We gathered up our borrowed books and hit the road. I saw a "green" acquaintance walking with her young'uns, perhaps to the library, as I pulled onto Burcham Drive in my SUV. But, really, the library is way too far to make Griffin walk. I have considered putting him on Brett's skateboard and then bungee-cording him to the jogger.

Anyway, there were no parking spots at the lib because today was Cirque de Soleil/Saltimbanco. How could I have missed this?!? I am sure it was not in the library's newsletter. Just checked and I am gratified to say it was not listed (gratified because I could almost imagine overlooking it, thinking it would be "lame") but why? It was, however, posted on the new sign. I guess I'll have to start driving down Abbot Road a bit more. Yes, that is spelled correctly. The city dropped the second "t" this week.

So, we hit the open road for Video-to-Go. I really wanted to get the George Clooney Batman movie. And we were able to get the silent, original version of Nosferatu on DVD! Plus a Batman Beyond animated movie for Griffin (he promises to cover his eyes during scary parts), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Tsotsi. There is one more ... I'll have to go look in my big bag. Griffin, god love him, never stopped talking this morning and Bela was crawling off, pulling videos off the shelf and squealing, so I was a bit distracted. Hell, the fifth movie could be Debbie Does Dallas, for all I know (hahaha).

The Jolly Mama "test" came as we left Frandor to come home for lunch. As I turned my car through the parking lot, a young woman on a cell phone driving a red, late model Chevy, pulled out right in front of me. No big deal. But she took forever trying to get her car straight because she refused to hang up the phone. Okay, no big deal. Now, I *should* have realized that this young woman was already making poor decisions and, responsibly, just kept my big trap shut ... but I didn't. As I pulled around her car, I said, very calmly, "You pulled out in front of me." Without putting down the phone, she says "I'm sorry (slightly hysterically)." Great, this is the part Griffin hears. Then, as I am already past her, I alone hear the unutterable, unrepeatable curse on me. Mouth WIDE open! Two words, both bad, and certainly not to be repeated in front of my kids.

I was quite perturbed and the pre-Jolly Mama part of me imagined scenes of vengeance. Of tracking her car down somewhere in the lot and ramming it. Not good. As I mentioned, I was in the SUV (would I have done it in the Jeep?). Or chasing her and sticking my car keys right in ... well, anyway, these are not in line with what my inner mother knows to be right action.

Over lunch I explained to Griffin why I was upset, even though "that lady said she was sorry." I told Griffin that she called me a very bad name and that is not acceptable to me. And, I told him that she was making bad decisions. On the way to school, when we were still talking about the Woman in the Parking Lot, Griffin said "I wish she would make good decisions today." Which then gave me the opportunity to teach a valuable lesson - I suggested we think about her and send her good energy so that she will feel good inside today and start making better decisions. Is this wisdom? Or more of my liberal la la?

The Sound of Ahhhh

Bela fell asleep on the way home from dropping Griffin at nursery school. There are two hours until I have to leave. Two hours of doing anything I want. There are the filthy floors and beds whose sheets need to be changed. But there is also Michigan radio playing through my laptop, feet up the wall yoga, and a book of TS Eliot poems. Ahhhhhhh.

Caillou, Oh Caillou

Caillou is on, and even though there are no kids around right now, I am watching it. The show has turned into must-see tv for me. It started out as an indulgence for Griffin who, like Caillou, is 4 years old and has a little sister.

I **thought** the show would be instructive for Griffin because he could see how a boy his age relates to a little sister. Caillou gets frustrated with Rosie but also helps take care of her and likes to play games with her.

Allowing Griff to watch the show was a big deal for me because I had always thought that I detested Caillou. I thought he was a whiny brat (gasp!) and that his parents were simps. And, of course, I thought his mom was frumpy.

Since we've been watching Caillou over the past few weeks, however, I feel like I have become a better mom. The show has been very educational for me because Caillou is allowed to act in an age-appropriate way. The narrator does a wonderful job of labeling Caillou's feelings "Caillou was frustrated" and yet has such a soothing, nonjudgmental voice. The show gives me the words I need when I'm just too tired to be imaginative.

And, in a recent episode, I saw Caillou's mom in a new light. She is just right ... just like the show.

My Beautiful Babies

I'm the Sugar Mama!

I won tonight at Candyland. YES!!! I beat my almost five-year-old and my sweet husband. I am the sugar mama!

When I told the boys that I would be posting my victory on my blog, we joked that this is so... so... what year???

2001 was the first year that I heard of blogging. A co-worker's teen daughter was a major blogger. I remember thinking "What the hell is blogging?"

I quickly became one of those people who is embarassed to admit that they don't yet have a blog ... until today.

More on Sugar...
A great book that I cannot wait to read is The Omnivore's Dilemma, about the nationalization of high fructose corn syrup. Blecch!!

And, I just saw a CrAzY story on Wired:Science about the commonality between the ingredients in Cool Whip and other household items like detergent, antifreeze, and suntan lotion. Double, triple, quadruple blecch!!! I think I will be making my own from now on with cream and the secret ingredient -- air!

Do Unto Others

I bought a bottle of wine today for my sweet husband's Admin. The story pretty much begins and ends here ... but with loads of little details right in the middle.

Cassie filled out the reimbursement request for the week husband was in Dublin, Ohio, for him. This is above and beyond the call of duty for her; and picking up the "thank you" bottle of wine is an errand I've run before.

But, as I drove to the store, the events of the week I single-handedly parented the two little Picketts flashed thru my mind. Topping the list of best memories would be Itty Bitty Baby's fall from her crib on the last night of him being away and me having to take two scared, little children out into the night to have her examined at the Pediatric Afterhours Clinic. (Sidenote: she was FINE and has agreed NEVER, EVER to climb out of her crib again.)

Surely, this warrants some hazard pay for yours truly I began to think as I drove along. And, as today is Wednesday, I thought I might just run over to the Farmer's Market to get some of those gorgeous mums the flower man was selling on Saturday for $6 a pot, or $15 for three!!

First, though, I went to get the wine, a very specific brand that was unavailable in anything but super duper gallon size. Okay, that's fine, more $$ than I planned to spend but he'll get back loads from the trip, thanks to her.

Next I head over to the field where the Farmer's Market is held. As I pull the car into a parking space, I suddenly remember Flower Man telling me that he is not there on Wednesdays. Okay, that's fine, the Farmer's Market is my favorite place in the world and it is a radiantly beautiful autumn day so I'll just walk around.

The last booth I walk past is our favorite vendor, a nice man who sells delicious Middle Eastern deli items. And there I bought for my sweet husband an amazing cream cheese, sun-dried tomato sandwich in phyllo dough. Yum! His favorite.

So, a great big bottle of wine for Cassie. A yummy sandwich for sweet husband. It DOES feel better to give than to receive.

How to Fight with your Mate

An article on NYTimes.com today shows that how couples fight has as powerful an effect on the health of women as smoking or high cholesterol AND that women who silence themselves, even in a marriage that is generally happy, are risking their health.

I was struck by this paragraph from the article:

"For women, whether a husband’s arguing style was warm or hostile had the biggest effect on her heart health. Dr. Smith notes that in a fight about money, for instance, one man said, “Did you pass elementary school math?” But another said, “Bless you, you are not so good with the checkbook, but you’re good at other things.” In both exchanges, the husband was criticizing his wife’s money management skills, but the second comment was infused with a level of warmth. In the study, a warm style of arguing by either spouse lowered the wife’s risk of heart disease."

And because laughter is good medicine, my belly laugh for today came when I went to get the laundry from the dryer this a.m. Griffin had stuffed in the shirt that I had told him to put in the laundry last night. Now I know what he was doing forever last night before bed!!