Monday, June 04, 2007
Things I Never Thought I'd Have to Say
To Little Brother: "Do not dribble the basketball on your sister's head."
Age has nothing to do with it
So there I am, struggling through a Denise Austin workout show that I taped from TV a while ago. Of COURSE on the first day I am committing myself to exercise it would have to be an "abs" workout. I can do a grand total of 0 crunches.
Little Brother was watching me with interest and concern as I moaned and groaned and talked back to the cheery, smiling, toned and trim person on the TV. He kept up this continuing patter all through the video:
"Do you want to stop, Mom? Do you want to get your drink of water? Do you like this one? Is this a good one? Can you do that one? How come you can't do that one? SHE can do that. Is she older than you?"
Little Brother was watching me with interest and concern as I moaned and groaned and talked back to the cheery, smiling, toned and trim person on the TV. He kept up this continuing patter all through the video:
"Do you want to stop, Mom? Do you want to get your drink of water? Do you like this one? Is this a good one? Can you do that one? How come you can't do that one? SHE can do that. Is she older than you?"
Sunday, June 03, 2007
A pastry! No, a movie! No, .....
Big Brother is in the middle of some convoluted story about someone at school. He mentioned that the student in question has a "Napoleon complex." Then he offered to define that term for Middle Sister, who he correctly guessed would not know what that meant.
"...so, you know who Napoleon was, right?"
"Napoleon DYNAMITE! Yeah, I know who he is."
Obviously Middle Sister's grasp on popular culture is better than her grasp of world history.
"...so, you know who Napoleon was, right?"
"Napoleon DYNAMITE! Yeah, I know who he is."
Obviously Middle Sister's grasp on popular culture is better than her grasp of world history.
"New And Improved" 4X2 Meme
Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me for this meme.
Here are the rules: Share four things that were new to you in the past four years. Four things you learned or experienced or explored for the first time in the past four years. Then share four things you want to try new in the next four years.
4 NEW THINGS
--We changed parishes, and the kids all changed schools. We're STILL getting used to all of that and it's been a year.
--Nesco roasters. I own one of each size and they have completely changed the way I cook, not to mention the way I cook for parties! (And they were put to work yesterday in the Franciscan Kitchen!)
--Joining the world of blogging. 4 years ago I had never even heard of a blog, much less thought about writing one.
--This beautiful organ.
4 THINGS I HOPE TO TRY
--Making and sticking to a regular exercise routine (what's that, you say? Barb's going to exercise? Barb is voluntarily committing herself to some form of physical activity that does not involve cooking and hanging laundry on the line? Has Hell frozen over?)
--Paring down my wardrobe. I honestly do not need all the clothes I own. I could get by on much less. I'd just have to put aside that desire for variety.
--Actually reading all the books I already own--or get rid of what I never intend to read. (But if I've already read it, it's fine for keeping....)
--Learning to play that organ!
Tag--you're it!
The Kitchen Madonna
Jill of Jill's Write Stuff
Ellen "From Across the Net"
Denise, the "Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church"
Here are the rules: Share four things that were new to you in the past four years. Four things you learned or experienced or explored for the first time in the past four years. Then share four things you want to try new in the next four years.
4 NEW THINGS
--We changed parishes, and the kids all changed schools. We're STILL getting used to all of that and it's been a year.
--Nesco roasters. I own one of each size and they have completely changed the way I cook, not to mention the way I cook for parties! (And they were put to work yesterday in the Franciscan Kitchen!)
--Joining the world of blogging. 4 years ago I had never even heard of a blog, much less thought about writing one.
--This beautiful organ.
4 THINGS I HOPE TO TRY
--Making and sticking to a regular exercise routine (what's that, you say? Barb's going to exercise? Barb is voluntarily committing herself to some form of physical activity that does not involve cooking and hanging laundry on the line? Has Hell frozen over?)
--Paring down my wardrobe. I honestly do not need all the clothes I own. I could get by on much less. I'd just have to put aside that desire for variety.
--Actually reading all the books I already own--or get rid of what I never intend to read. (But if I've already read it, it's fine for keeping....)
--Learning to play that organ!
Tag--you're it!
The Kitchen Madonna
Jill of Jill's Write Stuff
Ellen "From Across the Net"
Denise, the "Catholic Matriarch in My Domestic Church"
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Hospitality Time!
Every year our Secular Franciscan fraternity has several traditional events.
First, we have our Extraction of Saints during the Christmas season. Each person is given the name of a patron saint for the year, a Franciscan quote to meditate on, another Fraternity member's name to keep in special prayer, and a virtue to work on developing throughout the year.
Later in the year we hold our Day of Recollection. This will be the fourth time our Fraternity has hosted this event. Our speaker is the National Spiritual Director of the Secular Franciscan Order--how do we get such a famous Franciscan, you ask? Here's our secret: his mom's a member of our fraternity! (Too bad Ellen can't come, but her son graduated from high school last night, so I'll let her take a pass this year. Next year, I hope to see her there!) The topic this year is "Francis' Canticle of the Creatures."
As usual I will be running the Franciscan Kitchen for this event. It's only right. This year the virtue I am to work on is "hospitality."
I feel like I am scraping the bottom of the hospitality barrel at the moment. But last night after I came in, I read at Summa Mammas that there is grace in just doing the work. I'll repeat the quote here:
So, after I am fortified with more coffee and a good breakfast, I will take myself and my freshly-ironed Generalissimama apron with the St. Benedict medal (wasn't his motto "Ora et labora"--prayer and work) and my extra Sharpies, and I will do my very best to be an instrument of grace and hospitality in the Franciscan Kitchen today.
First, we have our Extraction of Saints during the Christmas season. Each person is given the name of a patron saint for the year, a Franciscan quote to meditate on, another Fraternity member's name to keep in special prayer, and a virtue to work on developing throughout the year.
Later in the year we hold our Day of Recollection. This will be the fourth time our Fraternity has hosted this event. Our speaker is the National Spiritual Director of the Secular Franciscan Order--how do we get such a famous Franciscan, you ask? Here's our secret: his mom's a member of our fraternity! (Too bad Ellen can't come, but her son graduated from high school last night, so I'll let her take a pass this year. Next year, I hope to see her there!) The topic this year is "Francis' Canticle of the Creatures."
As usual I will be running the Franciscan Kitchen for this event. It's only right. This year the virtue I am to work on is "hospitality."
I feel like I am scraping the bottom of the hospitality barrel at the moment. But last night after I came in, I read at Summa Mammas that there is grace in just doing the work. I'll repeat the quote here:
The obedience of faith requires that we do our work. We must go on day after day, simply and humbly, not waiting for chills and thrills. Grace, not revelation, is our daily bread. Grace is enough. Receiving that, in the portion given according to the lovingkindness of our God, we must act responsibly in the situation in which He puts us, as the disciples had to do when left behind at Christ's ascension. No doubt they felt bewildered and abandoned and would like to have risen with Him through the clouds. When the angels suddenly stood beside them and asked why they were gazing into the sky, they "came down to earth," as it were, went back to Jerusalem to the lodging where they belonged and carried on with their prayers.
-----------Elisabeth Elliot
So, after I am fortified with more coffee and a good breakfast, I will take myself and my freshly-ironed Generalissimama apron with the St. Benedict medal (wasn't his motto "Ora et labora"--prayer and work) and my extra Sharpies, and I will do my very best to be an instrument of grace and hospitality in the Franciscan Kitchen today.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Please Pray
I just got a call from the mom of Middle Sister's "BFF." BFF's grandmother "Nonna" had a stroke a couple of years ago, and apparently she has had another one today. I was asked to pick up BFF after school and keep her at my home until one of her parents can come get her.
It's an easy enough thing to do to help a friend.
Another easy thing to do is pray. And you don't even have to know this family to pray for them: for Nonna, for BFF's mom who is accompanying Nonna in the ambulance right now, for BFF and the rest of the family, and for the medical team who will be helping Nonna in the coming days.
Please join your prayers to mine. May God's will be done.
UPDATE: I just received word that Nonna passed away about 3:00 this afternoon. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace, and may her family who grieves her be comforted.
It's an easy enough thing to do to help a friend.
Another easy thing to do is pray. And you don't even have to know this family to pray for them: for Nonna, for BFF's mom who is accompanying Nonna in the ambulance right now, for BFF and the rest of the family, and for the medical team who will be helping Nonna in the coming days.
Please join your prayers to mine. May God's will be done.
UPDATE: I just received word that Nonna passed away about 3:00 this afternoon. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace, and may her family who grieves her be comforted.
Philosophical Question
YES, I know it's too early in the morning for those. But a few minutes ago I finished making Little Brother's oatmeal, put the bowl on the table and called him to come eat it.
He was up early this morning and almost immediately dived into the Legos to work on a fairly large-scale creation.
I called him again and said, "Your oatmeal's on the table! Why didn't you come eat it when I called you?"
"You didn't call me," he answered.
"Yes, I did," I told him.
"But I didn't hear you! So you didn't call me...."
So there it is: the philosophical question of the day. If Mom calls, and the boy doesn't hear her, did Mom actually call the boy?
He was up early this morning and almost immediately dived into the Legos to work on a fairly large-scale creation.
I called him again and said, "Your oatmeal's on the table! Why didn't you come eat it when I called you?"
"You didn't call me," he answered.
"Yes, I did," I told him.
"But I didn't hear you! So you didn't call me...."
So there it is: the philosophical question of the day. If Mom calls, and the boy doesn't hear her, did Mom actually call the boy?
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Tonight for his "bed night story" Little Brother chose his favorite library book, about a robot who builds a dog out of shapes.
He told me that this was his almost favorite book, and that he can't find his favorite one--The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I looked on his bookshelf and found it for him. I left his lamp on so he could look at the book before going to sleep.
He decided to "read" it to himself. He did pretty well up until the end, where "the caterpillar made a raccoon for his self and turned into a butterfly!"
Pretty soon he will be a schoolboy learning all about what caterpillars do and how they turn into butterflies, and that raccoons have nothing to do with it. Today, I'm going to let it go.
TheDad finds the big "rites of childhood passage" hard to take: first days of school, graduations, things like that. For me, it's the smaller things, like the day when Middle Sister stopped saying "wotel" instead of "motel" or the day Big Brother learned to correctly pronounce "ambulance." I enjoy the big days and am proud of my children's accomplishments. It's the little moments where they show how grown-up they're getting--those are the ones that get me.
He told me that this was his almost favorite book, and that he can't find his favorite one--The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I looked on his bookshelf and found it for him. I left his lamp on so he could look at the book before going to sleep.
He decided to "read" it to himself. He did pretty well up until the end, where "the caterpillar made a raccoon for his self and turned into a butterfly!"
Pretty soon he will be a schoolboy learning all about what caterpillars do and how they turn into butterflies, and that raccoons have nothing to do with it. Today, I'm going to let it go.
TheDad finds the big "rites of childhood passage" hard to take: first days of school, graduations, things like that. For me, it's the smaller things, like the day when Middle Sister stopped saying "wotel" instead of "motel" or the day Big Brother learned to correctly pronounce "ambulance." I enjoy the big days and am proud of my children's accomplishments. It's the little moments where they show how grown-up they're getting--those are the ones that get me.
How to Give SFO Mom a Heart Attack
I walked into the house about half an hour ago. I no sooner had sorted through the mail than the phone rang. Caller ID said it was my great-aunt.
"Hello?"
My mother yells at me, through the phone, in a very raspy voice, "Why didn't you call me back?"
"I didn't know you called."
"Yes! I called! I left you TWO messages on your answering machine. Why didn't you call me back?"
"I just walked in the door."
"But I left you TWO messages!"
"I haven't had time to check the voice mail yet, Mom. I just came in."
"OH, you just came in."
Meanwhile I am thinking that my great-aunt, who had a stroke 18 months ago, is in the hospital or worse, since my mother sounds like she has been crying all morning and now is going all hyper on me....
"So what's the matter with Great-Aunt?"
"Nothing. She wants to know how you can sell furniture on eBay."
(She's moving to an apartment in a retirement community and needs to downsize the furniture from her 3-bedroom house.)
I get extra points for remaining calm and not screaming at my mother for scaring me into thinking that Great-Aunt is having some sort of health crisis, but only wants to get rid of a late-1950s chair and a vintage stereo.
"Call an antique shop, Mom...."
"Hello?"
My mother yells at me, through the phone, in a very raspy voice, "Why didn't you call me back?"
"I didn't know you called."
"Yes! I called! I left you TWO messages on your answering machine. Why didn't you call me back?"
"I just walked in the door."
"But I left you TWO messages!"
"I haven't had time to check the voice mail yet, Mom. I just came in."
"OH, you just came in."
Meanwhile I am thinking that my great-aunt, who had a stroke 18 months ago, is in the hospital or worse, since my mother sounds like she has been crying all morning and now is going all hyper on me....
"So what's the matter with Great-Aunt?"
"Nothing. She wants to know how you can sell furniture on eBay."
(She's moving to an apartment in a retirement community and needs to downsize the furniture from her 3-bedroom house.)
I get extra points for remaining calm and not screaming at my mother for scaring me into thinking that Great-Aunt is having some sort of health crisis, but only wants to get rid of a late-1950s chair and a vintage stereo.
"Call an antique shop, Mom...."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Melded Books Meme
Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me for this one. I love books AND word games, so this was a lot of fun.
Here are the rules: Blend two book titles together by using the last word of one title and the first word of the second title. If you want, you can blend the authors' names too. (I am assuming that I don’t have to actually OWN the books listed.)
Cold Sassy Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Olive Ann Smith
Notes from a Small Island of the Blue Dolphins by Bill O’Dell
When Crickets Cry the Beloved Country by Charles Patton
Their Eyes Were Watching God on a Harley by Zora Neale Brady
How Green Was My Valley of the Dolls by Richard Susann
North of Hope for the Flowers by Jon Paulus
The Coalwood Way of the Wolf by Homer Bell
A Time to Kill a Mockingbird by John Lee
Peace Like a River Runs Through It by Leif Maclean
and my personal favorite:
The Habit of Being and Nothingness by Flannery Sartre
Here are the rules: Blend two book titles together by using the last word of one title and the first word of the second title. If you want, you can blend the authors' names too. (I am assuming that I don’t have to actually OWN the books listed.)
Cold Sassy Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Olive Ann Smith
Notes from a Small Island of the Blue Dolphins by Bill O’Dell
When Crickets Cry the Beloved Country by Charles Patton
Their Eyes Were Watching God on a Harley by Zora Neale Brady
How Green Was My Valley of the Dolls by Richard Susann
North of Hope for the Flowers by Jon Paulus
The Coalwood Way of the Wolf by Homer Bell
A Time to Kill a Mockingbird by John Lee
Peace Like a River Runs Through It by Leif Maclean
and my personal favorite:
The Habit of Being and Nothingness by Flannery Sartre
That's what HE thinks
Little Brother and Adventure Boy just stomped through the front door after clocking off their regular Worm Maintenance shift.
Little Brother headed to the bathroom to wash his filthy hands, announcing loudly, "We're not doing any hard work any more."
Little Brother headed to the bathroom to wash his filthy hands, announcing loudly, "We're not doing any hard work any more."
Thinking Ahead to Summer
One of the things I want to do this summer vacation is really get the Big Kids involved in cooking and meal planning. Sort of "Mom's Home Ec Class" without the sewing. I want them to learn how to cook simple and healthy meals so that when they are grown and on their own, they can feed themselves!
Middle Sister is very excited about this idea. She already has made a list of 7 "dinner" and 7 "dessert" things she wants to learn to cook:
Chicken pot pie
Pork roast
Pepperoni bread
Homemade pizza
Steak
Spaghetti
Stuffed peppers
Parfait
Apple pie
Lemonade pie
Cake
Ice cream cake
Cupcakes
Homemade onion dip (she classified this as a dessert. That's my girl!)
Middle Sister is very excited about this idea. She already has made a list of 7 "dinner" and 7 "dessert" things she wants to learn to cook:
Chicken pot pie
Pork roast
Pepperoni bread
Homemade pizza
Steak
Spaghetti
Stuffed peppers
Parfait
Apple pie
Lemonade pie
Cake
Ice cream cake
Cupcakes
Homemade onion dip (she classified this as a dessert. That's my girl!)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Memorial Day
Visit the group blog, G.I. June (Cleaver) for some thoughts on this observation. I hate to call it a "holiday" because that connotes picnics, not color guards.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Tagged Again!
The Kitchen Madonna has tagged me for the 8 Random Facts meme. So I will have to think of 8 MORE Random Facts. Bear with me here. I am now going for entertainment value.
1. My favorite color is blue (no surprise there, right?) When I was in college, all the Sisters wore blue. Any student who spent more than an hour a week in church and wore anything blue was immediately targeted by what we used to call the "Sisters' Committee on Recruitment." So I stopped wearing blue for 4 years, except for jeans. Now, I go overboard in the other direction. It's a pretty rare day that I'm not wearing something blue.
2. I am currently "ripping" the tracks from this CD to add to my MP3 player: Millennium Soul Party. Found it at the library. This CD has 20 great tunes!
3. I'm usually cold, so I hate to turn on the air conditioning in the house. I'd rather have all the windows open. However, I am married to my "south polar opposite" so I have to give in on this one. So, I turn on the air, and put on my sweats (blue ones, of course!)
4. On my first date with TheDad, I beat him playing Trivial Pursuit. My friends told me it was a very bad idea to beat a guy at a game. But he married me anyway, 1 year later.
5. I hate to swim. I hate to put on a swimsuit, and not being a good swimmer, I don't feel confident in the water. This summer Little Brother is going to want to swim in the big pool at our community pool, and I'm dreading it.
6. Even though I hate shower doors, I did not break mine on purpose. We no longer have shower doors.
7. I had one year of Home Economics in grade school. I did very badly in that class--even the cooking part, and I love to cook! But I am more of an instinctive cook, and the teacher didn't want to work that way. We'd have gotten along a lot better if it were a baking class, since I do follow directions when I bake. And the sewing was a total failure. My sewing ability is limited to attaching merit badges to Boy Scout clothing.
8. I have more recipes and cookbooks than I can use in a lifetime and yet I cannot stop collecting them. Every so often I go through my stack of torn-out recipes and wonder, "Why did I save this one?"
1. My favorite color is blue (no surprise there, right?) When I was in college, all the Sisters wore blue. Any student who spent more than an hour a week in church and wore anything blue was immediately targeted by what we used to call the "Sisters' Committee on Recruitment." So I stopped wearing blue for 4 years, except for jeans. Now, I go overboard in the other direction. It's a pretty rare day that I'm not wearing something blue.
2. I am currently "ripping" the tracks from this CD to add to my MP3 player: Millennium Soul Party. Found it at the library. This CD has 20 great tunes!
3. I'm usually cold, so I hate to turn on the air conditioning in the house. I'd rather have all the windows open. However, I am married to my "south polar opposite" so I have to give in on this one. So, I turn on the air, and put on my sweats (blue ones, of course!)
4. On my first date with TheDad, I beat him playing Trivial Pursuit. My friends told me it was a very bad idea to beat a guy at a game. But he married me anyway, 1 year later.
5. I hate to swim. I hate to put on a swimsuit, and not being a good swimmer, I don't feel confident in the water. This summer Little Brother is going to want to swim in the big pool at our community pool, and I'm dreading it.
6. Even though I hate shower doors, I did not break mine on purpose. We no longer have shower doors.
7. I had one year of Home Economics in grade school. I did very badly in that class--even the cooking part, and I love to cook! But I am more of an instinctive cook, and the teacher didn't want to work that way. We'd have gotten along a lot better if it were a baking class, since I do follow directions when I bake. And the sewing was a total failure. My sewing ability is limited to attaching merit badges to Boy Scout clothing.
8. I have more recipes and cookbooks than I can use in a lifetime and yet I cannot stop collecting them. Every so often I go through my stack of torn-out recipes and wonder, "Why did I save this one?"
Friday, May 25, 2007
Adventures in Housecleaning: an IM conversation between me and TheDad
[10:57] I think I just broke the shower doors off their track and can't figure out how to get them back on...That's what I get for cleaning the bathtub....
[10:57] We'll figure it out
[10:58] they are a little fussy. I knocked them off the track once
[10:58] so unless the rollers are broken, we should be OK.
[10:58] It's off on the bottom, not the top
[10:59] Is this the part where you say "Don't clean ANYTHING ELSE till I get home"
[10:59] are both doors off or just one?
[10:59] Just one; the other one will not move at all
[11:00] wow...impressive
[11:00] they were looking really clean too
[11:00] is the one off completely?
[11:00] It's hanging on at the top, and the bottom is definitely out on the one end. Can't tell on the other end.
[11:00] how did you do that?
[11:01] Windex
[11:01] just rubbing it?
[11:01] Well, there's a lot of back and forth when cleaning those doors; first I did the inside and then the outside. Fortunately I was on the outside when this happened.
[11:02] reminds me of when you almost fell through the attic in our old house
[11:02] Are you saying that I should not clean unattended?
[11:02] just stay out of the attic!
[10:57] We'll figure it out
[10:58] they are a little fussy. I knocked them off the track once
[10:58] so unless the rollers are broken, we should be OK.
[10:58] It's off on the bottom, not the top
[10:59] Is this the part where you say "Don't clean ANYTHING ELSE till I get home"
[10:59] are both doors off or just one?
[10:59] Just one; the other one will not move at all
[11:00] wow...impressive
[11:00] they were looking really clean too
[11:00] is the one off completely?
[11:00] It's hanging on at the top, and the bottom is definitely out on the one end. Can't tell on the other end.
[11:00] how did you do that?
[11:01] Windex
[11:01] just rubbing it?
[11:01] Well, there's a lot of back and forth when cleaning those doors; first I did the inside and then the outside. Fortunately I was on the outside when this happened.
[11:02] reminds me of when you almost fell through the attic in our old house
[11:02] Are you saying that I should not clean unattended?
[11:02] just stay out of the attic!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Night Work, and Why I'm Not Cut Out for It
I've always been a "morning person." It's a bad idea for me to hit that snooze button too many times because my best time of day is the morning. Today I made very sure to be up and at 'em at 5:15 because the neighbor kids were coming over at 7, so I needed to jump-start my day a little. (TheDad is supposed to get up at 5 so the alarm was set no earlier than usual--but I had to be inflexible about that snooze button.)
It was a busy day today. I babysat until 10:00 while tidying the dining room and washing the windows, and working up two practice worksheets on the subjunctive mood in Spanish for the student I am tutoring. Then I packed Little Brother's lunch and we headed to Middle Sister's school for our lunchroom duty, where I spent two hours tossing slices of pizza onto paper plates, hauling crates of chocolate milk out of the cooler, and wiping tables. I had a little down time after that, until it was time to pick up Middle Sister, take her to the nursing home for her class's visit with the residents, shop at Walmart with Little Brother until she was done, and bring her back home in time to make and serve dinner and deliver her to her softball game. 15 minutes later I left for my tutoring job.
At that point there wasn't enough caffeine in the known universe to keep me really alert. It was 6:30 PM and I'd been going, going, going all day. Big mistake. HUGE--as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman.
I meet my student at the public library. He's a senior in high school. Every day that I have tutored him, he's had curly hair and worn a baseball cap.
I walked into the library, looked around at the crowd and did not see my student. I sat down at the only empty table, behind a young man with very short hair. His back was to me. I picked up the books on reserve for me, started a crossword puzzle, and waited for him to show up. I waited 15 minutes. Just as I was about to get my cell phone out to walk outside and call his home, the young man at the next table turned a little bit--it was my student, with no hat and a very short haircut.
It's going to take a long time to live this one down. Lucky for me, he graduates in 3 weeks so I will only see him twice more.
Boy, do I wish they'd allow us to bring coffee into the library. Either that, or I wish my student would meet me at 6:30 AM when I'm all kinds of awake and alert.
It was a busy day today. I babysat until 10:00 while tidying the dining room and washing the windows, and working up two practice worksheets on the subjunctive mood in Spanish for the student I am tutoring. Then I packed Little Brother's lunch and we headed to Middle Sister's school for our lunchroom duty, where I spent two hours tossing slices of pizza onto paper plates, hauling crates of chocolate milk out of the cooler, and wiping tables. I had a little down time after that, until it was time to pick up Middle Sister, take her to the nursing home for her class's visit with the residents, shop at Walmart with Little Brother until she was done, and bring her back home in time to make and serve dinner and deliver her to her softball game. 15 minutes later I left for my tutoring job.
At that point there wasn't enough caffeine in the known universe to keep me really alert. It was 6:30 PM and I'd been going, going, going all day. Big mistake. HUGE--as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman.
I meet my student at the public library. He's a senior in high school. Every day that I have tutored him, he's had curly hair and worn a baseball cap.
I walked into the library, looked around at the crowd and did not see my student. I sat down at the only empty table, behind a young man with very short hair. His back was to me. I picked up the books on reserve for me, started a crossword puzzle, and waited for him to show up. I waited 15 minutes. Just as I was about to get my cell phone out to walk outside and call his home, the young man at the next table turned a little bit--it was my student, with no hat and a very short haircut.
It's going to take a long time to live this one down. Lucky for me, he graduates in 3 weeks so I will only see him twice more.
Boy, do I wish they'd allow us to bring coffee into the library. Either that, or I wish my student would meet me at 6:30 AM when I'm all kinds of awake and alert.
Adventures in Babysitting
This morning I am watching Cutie Pie for a few hours while her mom attends a funeral and her dad's at work.
Mary Poppins Not has a post just today about 3-year-old girls, and it fits Cutie Pie perfectly:
Cutie Pie has a lot to say, and she invariably has her audience chuckling the whole time. She's as verbal as your average 5-year-old, giving a play-by-play of her day as she goes through it. She also insists that her sandals are much more comfortable when worn on the wrong feet. (Not worth the battle, I figured.)
Oh yeah, she's humble too! She put on one of Little Brother's hats earlier and was striking a pose. I played along. "Cutie Pie, you look FABULOUS in that hat!"
Posing again, and flirting a bit with her long eyelashes, she answered me, completely seriously: "Yes! I do!"
Mary Poppins Not has a post just today about 3-year-old girls, and it fits Cutie Pie perfectly:
Three year old girls are a unique creation. It's like they go from 2 to 12 over night. Strong willed, independent, argumentative, and bossy. But the big difference is at three, they are still oh so cute and chubby. And they are still small enough to be physically picked up and put in bed, or in the corner, or in a chair.
Three year old girls also change clothes a million times a day, and have very strong opinions about what they want to wear, what shoes go with the outfit, and what sort of clip ought to go in her hair.
Three year old girls hardly eat anything in one sitting. And they don't like food they used to love. And they have a terrific pout.
...
Also in my experience, three year old girls with clear and enforced boundaries are sweet, cheerful and very energizing. When expectations for their behavior are clearly stated, they strive to please. When given a new task, they devour it with relish, and want more. They notice so many new things about their world, and they are very generous with sharing their insights. Bugs, birds and flowers are the new thrill around here, and it gets me excited all over again about the world I live in.
Cutie Pie has a lot to say, and she invariably has her audience chuckling the whole time. She's as verbal as your average 5-year-old, giving a play-by-play of her day as she goes through it. She also insists that her sandals are much more comfortable when worn on the wrong feet. (Not worth the battle, I figured.)
Oh yeah, she's humble too! She put on one of Little Brother's hats earlier and was striking a pose. I played along. "Cutie Pie, you look FABULOUS in that hat!"
Posing again, and flirting a bit with her long eyelashes, she answered me, completely seriously: "Yes! I do!"
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Missing: Tools of My Trade
Consider this an APB for two things that I just can't do without:
--my Swiss Army knife
--my Franciscan Crown Rosary
--my Swiss Army knife
--my Franciscan Crown Rosary
Monday, May 21, 2007
Passing on the Wisdom
The following was posted in Father Jay Toborowsky's blog, Young Fogeys.
Mother’s Day (taken from Judy Grubaugh)
I recently attended a bridal shower that would have fulfilled the dreams of any young woman. The home was beautiful and the conversation among friends who had watched the bride-to-be grow up was warm and welcoming. Then the hostess asked me to share a few words about marriage. As the room quieted, I shared with this young bride-to-be five things I wish I’d known before I walked down the aisle, hoping she’d learn them quicker than I did.
One: I wish I’d known my husband is human, just like me. From the time we’re little girls, we dream of the day when a knight in shining armor will whisk us away to a life of happiness ever after; but even a prince will have days when nothing goes right and he’s just plain weary. At times like these, you will be a wise wife if you rise to the occasion and encourage your husband. Ask God to give you a tongue that has words to sustain him.
Two: I wish I’d known the value of respecting my husband: In Ephesians 5:33 God’s Word says men need respect. Surveys affirm that the most important thing needed by men is the respect of their wives, even though radical feminists discredit the idea. You can show respect in a million ways, but most important is to remind him often that you believe in him. If you do, you will walk hand in hand even when you don’t see eye to eye.
Three: I wish I’d known to make God my refuge, not my husband. Your husband should be your confidant, but God alone is your refuge. Your husband was not created to understand all your emotional needs; trying to force him to do so will cause turmoil in your relationship. God wants to be your refuge. If you go to Him first with your needs and concerns, your marriage will be richer.
Four: I wish I’d known fulfillment in life comes from God, not from my husband. Expecting to find complete fulfillment from your husband is a mistake. God tells us ultimate fulfillment comes through knowledge of Him. The better you get to know God, the more fulfilled you will be. If we put Him first, He will give us everything else we need. And it is important to develop and cultivate friendships with other women - especially those who can help you grow in the faith, provide wisdom for your marriage, and act as God’s hands in your life. As God meets you through your friends, you have more to offer your marriage and family. The support of other women is invaluable.
Five: I wish I’d known that the best gift I could give my husband is to pray for him. Ask God to pour favor upon this man you love, and ask God to give him an undivided heart - a heart that hungers to know God. The more devoted your husband is to God, the more devotion he will show you. God wants you to excel as a wife. If you know and understand these five things, you will be a contented wife, and your husband will be a better man for having married you.
...
Thanks, Father Jay, for posting this wonderful essay. I have been married to TheDad for 16+ years and there is plenty of room for me to improve. I appreciate the inspiration that this essay provides.
Mother’s Day (taken from Judy Grubaugh)
I recently attended a bridal shower that would have fulfilled the dreams of any young woman. The home was beautiful and the conversation among friends who had watched the bride-to-be grow up was warm and welcoming. Then the hostess asked me to share a few words about marriage. As the room quieted, I shared with this young bride-to-be five things I wish I’d known before I walked down the aisle, hoping she’d learn them quicker than I did.
One: I wish I’d known my husband is human, just like me. From the time we’re little girls, we dream of the day when a knight in shining armor will whisk us away to a life of happiness ever after; but even a prince will have days when nothing goes right and he’s just plain weary. At times like these, you will be a wise wife if you rise to the occasion and encourage your husband. Ask God to give you a tongue that has words to sustain him.
Two: I wish I’d known the value of respecting my husband: In Ephesians 5:33 God’s Word says men need respect. Surveys affirm that the most important thing needed by men is the respect of their wives, even though radical feminists discredit the idea. You can show respect in a million ways, but most important is to remind him often that you believe in him. If you do, you will walk hand in hand even when you don’t see eye to eye.
Three: I wish I’d known to make God my refuge, not my husband. Your husband should be your confidant, but God alone is your refuge. Your husband was not created to understand all your emotional needs; trying to force him to do so will cause turmoil in your relationship. God wants to be your refuge. If you go to Him first with your needs and concerns, your marriage will be richer.
Four: I wish I’d known fulfillment in life comes from God, not from my husband. Expecting to find complete fulfillment from your husband is a mistake. God tells us ultimate fulfillment comes through knowledge of Him. The better you get to know God, the more fulfilled you will be. If we put Him first, He will give us everything else we need. And it is important to develop and cultivate friendships with other women - especially those who can help you grow in the faith, provide wisdom for your marriage, and act as God’s hands in your life. As God meets you through your friends, you have more to offer your marriage and family. The support of other women is invaluable.
Five: I wish I’d known that the best gift I could give my husband is to pray for him. Ask God to pour favor upon this man you love, and ask God to give him an undivided heart - a heart that hungers to know God. The more devoted your husband is to God, the more devotion he will show you. God wants you to excel as a wife. If you know and understand these five things, you will be a contented wife, and your husband will be a better man for having married you.
...
Thanks, Father Jay, for posting this wonderful essay. I have been married to TheDad for 16+ years and there is plenty of room for me to improve. I appreciate the inspiration that this essay provides.
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