Sometimes Parenting is Awesome

...and sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's pretty dang crummy.

The first half of this evening was pretty awesome. Explaining Sorkin's quick banter on The West Wing -- pretty awesome.

Then the teacher called. And explained that one of my children did a Very Bad Thing today (no one got hurt and no laws were broken). And then my other child informed me of an overdue assignment's deadline extension ending tomorrow.

And that pretty much left awesome at the station as I boarded the train for Crummy Town.

--End--

Electronic Overlords

I am alone in the house right now ... which means I'm especially vulnerable to attack from our numerous electronic devices.

I'm currently typing this on my desktop PC, multitasking Firefox with a relatively (for me) paltry four tabs open, while syncing my phone on iTunes.

My phone is plugged in and charging, syncing, while I also text my husband, trying to determine the whereabouts of our DVI-VGA adapter -- the only thing preventing me from having our second desktop PC reestablished on the desk behind me.

I've just finished installing a system update on my Android-based Nexus 7 tablet, and am now searching the root directories for a stored wifi password.

Finally, my laptop is up and running nearby because I need to email some files I've only stored on there.

It's ridiculous. And awesome. But, if they manage to conspire against me, I'm just surrendering peacefully. The Cylon invasion/Skynet takeover can just take root right here and I'm making no attempt to stop it.

--End--

Free Time

This weekend, I have no plans. There is absolutely nothing on the calendar that obligates me to be anywhere anywhen.

This is a rare and blessed thing.

The trick, of course, is to balance relaxation and doing nothing much with some sort of activity that, come Monday, I can look back upon and smile, knowing I had a good weekend. Without, of course, scheduling so many FUN things that the relaxation aspect is lost.

Any ideas?

--End--

Back! Baby Steps...

Let's try to develop a new blogging habit. Let's just take it one day at a time.

I'm currently lying in my darkened bedroom, listening to Morning Edition on WHYY out of Philadelphia. On the other side of the wall, my Matthew is taking a much-too-long shower. The sound of the running water is simultaneously soothing in a white-noise sort of way, and distressing in a wasted-resources sort of way. Whatever our kids inherited from me, they've gotten their showering habits from Joe. Long, hot, steamy, long...

This is a brief shred of time I take every morning to Internet. On my phone, I check email, overnight Facebook updates, Pinterest, Instagram, headlines. Just me and the world in the dark before I get up and face the rest of the day. Soon, I'll rise, dress, throw a frozen lunch and blue chill-pack into my lunch bag, mix and drink a SlimFast shake, herd the kids through breakfast and school prep, and get out the door around 7:30.

Fortunately, the kids are old enough/independent enough to allow me this brief cocoon phase to start my day. I can hear them downstairs now, working on their own breakfasts.

Well, NPR informs me me time is up (Marketplace is wrapping up). Until next time.

--End--

So ... Pinterest ...

I've always been a crafty-ish/handy-ish person. I like to knit, always sew/manufacture my kids' Halloween costumes, have painted, wallpapered, spackled my entire house more than twice over. I even refinished all of my hideous 1970s kitchen cabinets.

Best costume I ever made. Blinking lights!

But nothing prepared me for the glut of crafty goodness and inspiration and wonder that is Pinterest.

I've found so many ideas for foods to make, gifts to create and give, and household improvements to implement. And most of them have turned out wonderfully! (not like these) I have a few more things in the works ... but here's a nice run-through of my recent accomplishments around the house.

SOOO much better than before.

This gives you some idea of the kitchen "before."

First of all ... the aforementioned kitchen. In October 2011 we had a minor kitchen fire (everyone's OK!) which resulted in an insurance claim and replacement of the countertops, wallsplash, range and flooring. We took this opportunity to also install pendant lighting over the island (LOVE!) and to replace the grimy and paint-peely range hood with one that vented outside the house. Since I knew paint drips on either the countertop or the floor wouldn't matter, I also took up the challenge of refinishing the cabinets. I used Rustoleum's Cabinet Transformations product in their "Frost" color. The DVD and printed instructions were easy to follow and I think the project turned out great! This was my first time attempting any sort of faux finishing or even painting wood, for that matter. I lucked out on some brushed nickel hardware in the clearance section at Lowe's and a coordinating light fixture in the sale section. I love the finished room! (Please ignore the counter and fridge clutter ...)

Next is a serious of smaller projects. Some took a weekend, some a few hours, some several days ... I'm proud of the way they turned out, or I wouldn't be sharing them here, obviously.  I don't have before-and-after pictures of step-by-step pictures, but if you ask for more info or tips, I'll gladly fill you in.

OK, so I didn't make this. I bought it on Etsy ... but still a great Pinterest idea.

Antique printer's tray purchased on eBay ...

Converted to jewelry storage/display

Using wasted space for measuring spoons and cups.

More are on the door of the neighboring cabinet.

Tie-dye Mickey Mouse shirt!

Remove pictures from frames and spray-paint them all black

Frame out an old builder's cheapie mirror without having to take it down from the wall

Next project due to be finished ... Mod-Podging a world map to multiple Michael's-bought canvases and hanging as a grouping. Pics soon!

--End--

My Public Apology to Everyone

Dear everybody who reads this blog,

I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I haven't been holding up my end of the blog relationship, by you know -- actually blogging.

Life has been complicated for the last year or so. Truly, even longer than that.

I'm not one of those people who complains a lot about being busy. In fact, those people generally irritate me -- not busy people, but rather people who parade around their busy-ness like it's some sort of prize. "Oh, I couldn't possibly ... I'm just SOOO busy."

And I certainly know that most of my problems could be categorized into the first-world variety. No one has a terminal illness. Bills are generally being paid.

But I guess I've been rather overwhelmed of late. And, I have the physical proof that I was maxed out -- on top of everything that was evidently stressing me out, I landed an excruciatingly painful case of the shingles. The doctor's advice, "Try to reduce your load and your stress. It's a major contributor." Um, yeah, ok. I'll get right on that.

I won't go into a litany of the various activities and stressors in my life right now. Those of you who know, know. And those of you who don't know, well, just imagine a bunch of irons in the fire with a side of mild depression and you've got it about right.

In any case, blogging has slipped significantly on the priority list. And, I'm honestly sorry for that. I love reading other people's blogs and get mildly irritated/disappointed with erratic updates. But here I am posting once maybe every three weeks, if that. I am my own blogging nightmare.

I'm sorry.

I really enjoy writing. And I enjoy comments. And especially the give and take of ideas. I understand that all of that starts with me. So I'll try to be better about writing. And, hopefully, if my mood and generally outlook allows, I'll get back to the insight and humor that create the sorts of posts I'd want to read if I were you.

Apologetically,
Heidi

--End--

Happy Birthday, My Son

So .... now you're 11.

You're an amazing boy and growing into an equally amazing young man. We can see the bones changing under your skin, your face growing angles that weren't there a year ago. Before long we'll really be able to see the handsome man inside you.

But more than that, you're smart. Your brain makes connections I don't see coming.

You're musically talented. Piano, baritone horn ... and your voice ... it makes people tear up with its sweet purity.

You're empathic. You truly feel for others and wish them well. I cannot count the times you've turned to one of us with a comforting gesture just when we needed it most.

You're funny. Oh my ... you've brought us to tears laughing at your antics, your clever turns of phrase.Ever since you were only a couple of years old ("I'm sorry, but Nini forgot his legs."), you've had us at the mercy of your wit. And your nutball antics? Fugghedaboudit.

You're a ham. Anytime, anywhere you can take center stage with perfect ease and comfort. You may not see it yet, but this is a gift.

You're you.

You're so special to us and we welcome seeing you grow and mature even while we want to cram you back into yourself and fit you on our laps again.

Happiest of birthdays, Matthew!

--End--

Past Matthews ......


Baby Matthew


One Year Old


Two Years Old


Three Years Old


Four Years Old


Five Years Old


Six Years Old


Seven Years Old


Eight Years Old


Nine Years Old


Ten Years Old