Charlie Brown [sincere, w/o the BS, accusatory tone]: "So, I'm sorry I'm such a dumbass..."
Me: "Oh yeah? regarding????" [pause, with my eyebrow cocked expectantly] "You do know I am trying to drag more out of you, right?"
Charlie Brown: "This whole deal...all of it."
It's a start....
Physical making up ensued, capped off with a rational, adult conversation about "this whole deal."
Note to self: I should just skip straight to sex and chew him out afterwards whence I am mad - he's much more open and sensible then, having spent all of the maddening testosterone...plus, uhm, sex...he is good at that.
speaking truth. celebrating mistakes. spreading hope.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree
My girl is so SMART!
Yesterday, her ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) scores came in.
And she scored in the 99th percentile for ALL areas, compared to all other kindergartners in the nation!
When I told her how smart she was and how proud she should be, she said, "So that means I really can be a teacher when I grow up then, right?"
Honey, you can be whatever you want.
Yesterday, her ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) scores came in.
And she scored in the 99th percentile for ALL areas, compared to all other kindergartners in the nation!
When I told her how smart she was and how proud she should be, she said, "So that means I really can be a teacher when I grow up then, right?"
Honey, you can be whatever you want.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Waxing Heretical
I'm having a serious love affair with the uber worldly lyrics of Maroon 5, particularly this hip, 70's-esque song.
She Will Be Loved, however, evokes mysterious thoughts and contemplations from me that are a most unseemly linkage. The song's obviously about a prostitute, but these lyrics make me think of how Jesus must have felt when He befriended Mary Magdalene:
Sure, this song is about an impossible love affair with a fallen woman - and it implies a sexual relationship, so some of you are thinking, "Heretic! How dare you color my Jesus that way!"
I'm in the camp that subscribes to the "Well, the Bible doesn't actually say He wasn't married, and if He had been, it would have been perfect and pure," theory - but barring the sex stuff of this song, I hear loud and clear a message of acceptance, and an overwhelming desire to make an incredibly broken person feel loved.
That's how I color my Jesus - what about you?
In the meantime, here is the video in all its splendor:
She Will Be Loved, however, evokes mysterious thoughts and contemplations from me that are a most unseemly linkage. The song's obviously about a prostitute, but these lyrics make me think of how Jesus must have felt when He befriended Mary Magdalene:
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
Sure, this song is about an impossible love affair with a fallen woman - and it implies a sexual relationship, so some of you are thinking, "Heretic! How dare you color my Jesus that way!"
I'm in the camp that subscribes to the "Well, the Bible doesn't actually say He wasn't married, and if He had been, it would have been perfect and pure," theory - but barring the sex stuff of this song, I hear loud and clear a message of acceptance, and an overwhelming desire to make an incredibly broken person feel loved.
That's how I color my Jesus - what about you?
In the meantime, here is the video in all its splendor:
The kids these days
Tagging everyone...tsk, tsk.
Mama P - here goes nothin'
1. I don't have a lot of long term vis a vis friends. Part of this is attributable to living in a college town, making friends who then move away after they've ca$hed in on their school investment (read: got real jobs), and then me being a HORRIBLE correspondence bud. I do, however, have a slew of online gal-pals whom I've been ramblin' with for..............................................
Ready...........................
7 YEARS!
Yup, we all "met" on a pregnancy board while expecting babes in March, 2001 - Wait, 2001 - 2007 is only 6 years, Hammy. Uhm, yeah, but it took 9 months to get there, go back to 2000! Anyway, peeps can say all they want about the artificial, selective intimacy the web affords us, but I tell ya, these ladies are so much a part of my life they are SUPER friends.
2. I probably won't get braces. Ever. After a lifetime of loathing my chompers, in all their crookedness and overcrowding, I've embraced them. The imperfection of my teeth help me bridge deference and skepticism in the hearts of the poor people I have worked with. The story my teeth tell them is, "She's one of us." And I am. May I never forget that and always try to make things better for those less fortunate.
3. Recently, I made the observation that while I am not an outwardly patient person, I've been really loyal and more than long-suffering in light of certain trends and behaviors from loved ones. That's not meant as a pat on the back so much as it was a change of awareness for me.
4. I think I have the emotional/spiritual equivalent of Sensory Integration Dysfunction, on the hypersensitive side of the spectrum. My feelings are intense, ya'll. I love deeply, but also hurt with the same cavernous depths. I fly when I'm happy, and flounder when despaired.
5. My anality (I hereby decree that a "real" word if it isn't already so) with grammar and spelling peaked in the 4th grade, when I went on a 3 year winning streak for the school spelling bees. Spelling bees were only thru grade 6, but my love for proper linguistic form paid off in school, and countless Scrabble games. Re: vocabulary, I take creative license at all times - language is too fun to be all rules!
6. My siblings are all halfsies, but you'd never know. My brothers and my sister are as much brothers and sister to me as my mama is my mama. Some people with half-sibs always point that out: "My half-sister and I..." WTH? She is your SISTER.
7. I am still fighting with my husband over the same issue we've been arguing over recently. He doesn't get that the underlying theme has been problematic since the inception of our relationship. He, instead, sees me as merely an obstacle to what he wants.
8. I secretly fantasize about going on American Idol someday.
Mama P - here goes nothin'
1. I don't have a lot of long term vis a vis friends. Part of this is attributable to living in a college town, making friends who then move away after they've ca$hed in on their school investment (read: got real jobs), and then me being a HORRIBLE correspondence bud. I do, however, have a slew of online gal-pals whom I've been ramblin' with for..............................................
Ready...........................
7 YEARS!
Yup, we all "met" on a pregnancy board while expecting babes in March, 2001 - Wait, 2001 - 2007 is only 6 years, Hammy. Uhm, yeah, but it took 9 months to get there, go back to 2000! Anyway, peeps can say all they want about the artificial, selective intimacy the web affords us, but I tell ya, these ladies are so much a part of my life they are SUPER friends.
2. I probably won't get braces. Ever. After a lifetime of loathing my chompers, in all their crookedness and overcrowding, I've embraced them. The imperfection of my teeth help me bridge deference and skepticism in the hearts of the poor people I have worked with. The story my teeth tell them is, "She's one of us." And I am. May I never forget that and always try to make things better for those less fortunate.
3. Recently, I made the observation that while I am not an outwardly patient person, I've been really loyal and more than long-suffering in light of certain trends and behaviors from loved ones. That's not meant as a pat on the back so much as it was a change of awareness for me.
4. I think I have the emotional/spiritual equivalent of Sensory Integration Dysfunction, on the hypersensitive side of the spectrum. My feelings are intense, ya'll. I love deeply, but also hurt with the same cavernous depths. I fly when I'm happy, and flounder when despaired.
5. My anality (I hereby decree that a "real" word if it isn't already so) with grammar and spelling peaked in the 4th grade, when I went on a 3 year winning streak for the school spelling bees. Spelling bees were only thru grade 6, but my love for proper linguistic form paid off in school, and countless Scrabble games. Re: vocabulary, I take creative license at all times - language is too fun to be all rules!
6. My siblings are all halfsies, but you'd never know. My brothers and my sister are as much brothers and sister to me as my mama is my mama. Some people with half-sibs always point that out: "My half-sister and I..." WTH? She is your SISTER.
7. I am still fighting with my husband over the same issue we've been arguing over recently. He doesn't get that the underlying theme has been problematic since the inception of our relationship. He, instead, sees me as merely an obstacle to what he wants.
8. I secretly fantasize about going on American Idol someday.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Heart to heart
Today in church, LMNOB initiated a deep pressure activity on her own.
This is exactly what BT the OT and I discussed (the self-initiating of activities, not necessarily this scenario about to be described) on Friday.
LMNOB climbed up into my lap (and yes, Mama P is right, my kids are huge - so this was quite a feat, and somewhat awkward having my 6 year old sprawled all over me) and straddled me so that she was hugging me heart to heart. I almost told her to get off of me, that big girls didn't sit all over their mamas - but I thought of her sensory needs, and also of this post about hugging. So I let her sit and hug away.
And boy did she squeeze.
I followed her lead, and began applying deep pressure to her back, shoulder joints, knees, and tailbone.
She moaned, almost inaudibly, that sound of pleasure when something just feels sooooooooooo good.
And I just knew.
Knew that some day she would remember all the things that her Mama did, with love pouring out to her, heart to heart, to keep her the happiest, healthiest little love-bug she could be.
Little Miss - I do love you. So. Much. I love the way you're telling me to roll the newly-purchased 8lb. medicine ball over "my feet, and...on...my B-U-T-T," :giggle:
How is it that you are old enough to spell things out to me? How are you smart enough to know that your B-U-T-T is different from B-U-T? When did you get old enough to know that your B-U-T-T is something rather intimate, hence the cutesy, pseudo-embarrrassed laghter after you say it?
It's coming up on the 7th anniversary of me finding out about your beginnings in my womb. God, but I was young - hell, I still am young! What was God thinking in giving you to me? Little Miss, you are so precious to me and I hope you know that, particularly when I am not showing it (often - bad Mama!). You are never far from my thoughts, and forever connected to me - heart to heart.
Love,
Mama
This is exactly what BT the OT and I discussed (the self-initiating of activities, not necessarily this scenario about to be described) on Friday.
LMNOB climbed up into my lap (and yes, Mama P is right, my kids are huge - so this was quite a feat, and somewhat awkward having my 6 year old sprawled all over me) and straddled me so that she was hugging me heart to heart. I almost told her to get off of me, that big girls didn't sit all over their mamas - but I thought of her sensory needs, and also of this post about hugging. So I let her sit and hug away.
And boy did she squeeze.
I followed her lead, and began applying deep pressure to her back, shoulder joints, knees, and tailbone.
She moaned, almost inaudibly, that sound of pleasure when something just feels sooooooooooo good.
And I just knew.
Knew that some day she would remember all the things that her Mama did, with love pouring out to her, heart to heart, to keep her the happiest, healthiest little love-bug she could be.
Little Miss - I do love you. So. Much. I love the way you're telling me to roll the newly-purchased 8lb. medicine ball over "my feet, and...on...my B-U-T-T," :giggle:
How is it that you are old enough to spell things out to me? How are you smart enough to know that your B-U-T-T is different from B-U-T? When did you get old enough to know that your B-U-T-T is something rather intimate, hence the cutesy, pseudo-embarrrassed laghter after you say it?
It's coming up on the 7th anniversary of me finding out about your beginnings in my womb. God, but I was young - hell, I still am young! What was God thinking in giving you to me? Little Miss, you are so precious to me and I hope you know that, particularly when I am not showing it (often - bad Mama!). You are never far from my thoughts, and forever connected to me - heart to heart.
Love,
Mama
Pics
I thought these were nice summer pics that embodied the sweetness of the season:
1: LMNOB and Daddy shucking corn
2: Punkinhead, incredulous that there is indeed mustard all over his face
3: Little boys and mamas are special
4&5: Doin' what they know best - making a mess!
1: LMNOB and Daddy shucking corn
2: Punkinhead, incredulous that there is indeed mustard all over his face
3: Little boys and mamas are special
4&5: Doin' what they know best - making a mess!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Hammy, the "Rockstar" Mama
So peeps, check this out...these people I know, they are smoking crack.
Today, I got called a "rockstar," (yeah, I know, what were they thinking?) by two different people for two different things.
The first was from an online mama I've known since we had our first babes in 2001, and it was in reference to the new 'do.
The second one cracked me up. LMNOB and I were with BT the OT for our session, and BT the OT was piling up the potential activities we could add to LMNOB's sensory diet, when she chuckled, saying, "Not like you don't have anything else to do." I told her that I knew, adding that I'm frequently overheard, though by whom I am not quite sure, to be saying, "You are more than welcome to help me out any time." I added, "That is more directed to the hubs than to the daughter, but ya know..." and BT the OT cracked up, telling me, "You are such a rockstar like that - I love it!"
It can only mean one thing - I am a smoking hot babe with a kicka$$ sense of humor. I knew it all along.
Today, I got called a "rockstar," (yeah, I know, what were they thinking?) by two different people for two different things.
The first was from an online mama I've known since we had our first babes in 2001, and it was in reference to the new 'do.
The second one cracked me up. LMNOB and I were with BT the OT for our session, and BT the OT was piling up the potential activities we could add to LMNOB's sensory diet, when she chuckled, saying, "Not like you don't have anything else to do." I told her that I knew, adding that I'm frequently overheard, though by whom I am not quite sure, to be saying, "You are more than welcome to help me out any time." I added, "That is more directed to the hubs than to the daughter, but ya know..." and BT the OT cracked up, telling me, "You are such a rockstar like that - I love it!"
It can only mean one thing - I am a smoking hot babe with a kicka$$ sense of humor. I knew it all along.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Step-by-Step Instructions for Concept Application in a Time Crunch
I was so pressed last week - with E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. that the following regimen - AKA - How to Successfully B.S. Your Way through a Graduate Program - is what I ended up doing to solve my academic dilemma:
Participate in an online classroom, which operates like a message board where people post answers to questions asked by the instructor.
Do not read the material. Or, rather, start reading the material a bazillion different times and finally realize that the Shakespearean prose in which it is written, covering complex political theory, is not likely to be comprehended by yourself whilst there are kids running in every 5 seconds, intermittently proclaiming, "Mom we're cold," after having run thru the sprinkler a meager two times, and then begging, "Mom, it's SO hot, will you please turn the sprinkler back on?" Comprehension of said material proves to be even more elusive when your practical response of, "Absolutely not," is met with tantrums rivaling the fury of hell.
Freak out on Thursday night, because discussion posts analyzing the material, are to be up by midnight on Friday - and said material is still not read, let alone scrutinized.
Vaguely recall a professor's sage advice that book reviews are a quick and easy way to get the gist of materials in a pinch.
Browse the posts written by the other classmates, and treat as informal "book reviews." Get the gist of what the author of the not-read materialswas saying. Also, realize that this was hellacious reading - worse than the GRE! Send God a quick thank-you-note on your knees that you didn't spend time reading it!
Use the basic principles conveyed in the posts, and ask self, "Do I agree or disagree, and why/why not?" to develop your own original thoughts; add a further dimension of apparent intelligence by drawing upon the previous materials - with which you make some brilliant comparisons/contrasts and metaphors, thereby demonstrating not only comprehension but application of said principles in the not-read materials.
Post your thoughts, duly and apologetically noting that due to a lack of time your answers will not be as elaborate as you would normally prefer, along with some commentary about online classrooms and observations about the sheer volume of posts.
Hope for a B, at most.
Get the following, stunning, feedback from the professor:
Participate in an online classroom, which operates like a message board where people post answers to questions asked by the instructor.
Do not read the material. Or, rather, start reading the material a bazillion different times and finally realize that the Shakespearean prose in which it is written, covering complex political theory, is not likely to be comprehended by yourself whilst there are kids running in every 5 seconds, intermittently proclaiming, "Mom we're cold," after having run thru the sprinkler a meager two times, and then begging, "Mom, it's SO hot, will you please turn the sprinkler back on?" Comprehension of said material proves to be even more elusive when your practical response of, "Absolutely not," is met with tantrums rivaling the fury of hell.
Freak out on Thursday night, because discussion posts analyzing the material, are to be up by midnight on Friday - and said material is still not read, let alone scrutinized.
Vaguely recall a professor's sage advice that book reviews are a quick and easy way to get the gist of materials in a pinch.
Browse the posts written by the other classmates, and treat as informal "book reviews." Get the gist of what the author of the not-read materialswas saying. Also, realize that this was hellacious reading - worse than the GRE! Send God a quick thank-you-note on your knees that you didn't spend time reading it!
Use the basic principles conveyed in the posts, and ask self, "Do I agree or disagree, and why/why not?" to develop your own original thoughts; add a further dimension of apparent intelligence by drawing upon the previous materials - with which you make some brilliant comparisons/contrasts and metaphors, thereby demonstrating not only comprehension but application of said principles in the not-read materials.
Post your thoughts, duly and apologetically noting that due to a lack of time your answers will not be as elaborate as you would normally prefer, along with some commentary about online classrooms and observations about the sheer volume of posts.
Hope for a B, at most.
Get the following, stunning, feedback from the professor:
Numeric grade: 38/40 pts. Letter Grade: ARealize how pissed you would be if you were one of the students who read the material, and make a mental note to Keep.your.mouth.SHUT around them.
Comments:Hi, Heather. Thanks for your feedback about the course. Yes, I'm new at online education and considered dividing students into discussion groups. When I looked into doing that, however, it seemed I would have to essentially run a separate class for each group. Still, your feedback is valuable and the next time I teach on line I will learn more about that option. If you are having trouble coming up with original ideas, maybe you could post your own response before reading the responses of others; that way, you will have to articulate your ideas in your own words. You do seem to be working your way through this material very well. Your answer to Q. #2 is especially thoughtful. Agreed . . . you seemed rushed on Q. #3.
Planning
So, a couple of years ago, Charlie Brown got his ASE certification (think PhD for an Auto Mech), and with his Subaru specific certifications, the combination made him a bona fide "Senior Subaru Master Tech." The only one in our area.
He recently got invited, by Subaru, to participate in theirbiannual not so frequent (the Subaru America competition is actually in its first year as a US-Nationals competition - the international has been around awhile) skills competition. Only 43 people in the nation were invited to participate!
Requirements include the Sr. Master tech certification, and that techs must be recommended by the Subaru service reps that travel their Subaru dealers, providing tech assist to mechanics that are stumped. Charlie Brown's rep covers all of NE CO and Denver, and often calls CB saying he's stumped too, asking, WWCBD (what would Charlie Brown do)?
Charlie Brown will start out by doing an online test, then a phone interview - top performers for each region will go, all expenses paid, with spending allowances for family and all that, to Lafayette, Indiana and compete against each other to fix a mechanical mystery in the fastest amount of time - note the emphasis on actual FIXING in the fastest time. Charlie Brown is top notch in both diagnostics and performance time.
The national winner will go on to the international competition in JAPAN - same deal, all expenses paid, yada yada yada.
In addition to winners getting great travel packages, perks like free leases on new Subarus and the like abound.
Now - as blockhead/average Joe as Chuck can be about domestic disputes at casa del Meyer, he is a freaking GENIUS about his work...So I'm just left wondering where I can find a kimono in colors that suit my red hair and white skin and a size that fits my (disclaimer: "GENERALLY" speaking) so-not-trim-sleek-and-Asian figure?
He recently got invited, by Subaru, to participate in their
Requirements include the Sr. Master tech certification, and that techs must be recommended by the Subaru service reps that travel their Subaru dealers, providing tech assist to mechanics that are stumped. Charlie Brown's rep covers all of NE CO and Denver, and often calls CB saying he's stumped too, asking, WWCBD (what would Charlie Brown do)?
Charlie Brown will start out by doing an online test, then a phone interview - top performers for each region will go, all expenses paid, with spending allowances for family and all that, to Lafayette, Indiana and compete against each other to fix a mechanical mystery in the fastest amount of time - note the emphasis on actual FIXING in the fastest time. Charlie Brown is top notch in both diagnostics and performance time.
The national winner will go on to the international competition in JAPAN - same deal, all expenses paid, yada yada yada.
In addition to winners getting great travel packages, perks like free leases on new Subarus and the like abound.
Now - as blockhead/average Joe as Chuck can be about domestic disputes at casa del Meyer, he is a freaking GENIUS about his work...So I'm just left wondering where I can find a kimono in colors that suit my red hair and white skin and a size that fits my (disclaimer: "GENERALLY" speaking) so-not-trim-sleek-and-Asian figure?
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