Carlsgood

Just back from a great weekend with my husband, my brothers and sisters with their spouses, and my parents.  We went to a beach house in Carlsbad, California.  The weather was chilly but perfect for wandering up and down the beach, and watching whales spout spray just offshore from the huge living room windows.

Here are a few of the places we visited:

All of these places were lots of fun, but the best part was being with my husband and the rest of my family.  We're hilarious.  Also, I feel like I learn a lot listening in on conversations between people who know a lot more than I do.

Bear for President!

The last time I went to the doctor, he said my test scores indicated that I had the same levels on certain things as a hibernating bear.  I guess that would explain why I never want to get out of bed and have overabundant love handles.

(FYI, this picture is from the movie "Ernest and Celestine".  It's one of the sweetest movies I've seen in a long, long time.  I recommend it to everyone, especially if you have children.  It also represents how I feel, except that I would probably have a book tucked under one arm.)

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On another topic, since we just celebrated President's Day, did you know that four American presidents have been assassinated in office?  We all know about JFK and Lincoln, because JFK left behind a lovely widow and was pretty much royalty, and Lincoln had the emancipation proclamation and "O Captain, My Captain", but did you know about McKinley and Garfield?  Both killed in office.  History is fascinating because in studying it, we realize that the people who have gone before us were people just like us.  They had their own loves, losses, deceits and joys and nothing was a simple as it seemed.  I enjoy having that connection.

Simple Pleasures

The last time it snowed at our house, (about 41 days ago, but who's counting?) my kids got together with the neighbors and shoveled and shoveled and shoveled until they built a snow hill.  At its peak the hill was about two and a half feet high.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it because it's all melted now.  

But it was so funny, and a little bit pathetic, to watch the kids slip their way to the top of their sledding hill and then zip down it.  Their joyful faces, pinked cheeks, and bright eyes made it hard not to enjoy their simple pleasures.

I think that's what motherhood is for me: a reminder of simple pleasures.

That, and laundry.

And dishes.

Zero Emissions

The heater on our Buick quit.  This time of year, that's not a great circumstance, so I took it to a mechanic.  He said a gasket was broken and needed replacing.  When he said gasket, I was thinking something easy, like fifty bucks.  Then he said, "That'll be eleven hundred dollars please."

I choked.

That's more than the car was worth three years ago when it was given to us.  So, we went to look at cars.  And...

This is the newest member of our family.

It's a Nissan Leaf.  100% electric.  Heated leather seats and steering wheel.  It feels like you're driving a space ship.  It sounds like you're driving a space ship.  As soon as my bum hit the seat, I knew it was love.  This isn't a car, it's a ghost cat we've named Major Tom.

Also, and this may be the biggest reason we splurged for electric, I love that when I go somewhere, I'm not contributing to the smog every person in the valley has to ingest as air (See above picture and notice the yuckiness behind Major Tom).  I feel like a good person.

And maybe, just maybe, a little smug.

Ho, Ho, Ho.

For Christmas this year, I made my youngest son a blanket.  I was thinking that homemade gifts are the best.  Right?  Don't cost a lot. And are an outward expression of love.  Right?

I also wanted the blanket to be something he could use the rest of his life.  Something he could use as a bedspread, if he wanted.  So he could take my love with him everywhere he went.  

Cheesy?  Yes. But still true.

So, I went to the store and bought as much yarn as I thought I'd need.  I bought a lot of it, and it wasn't the cheap stuff because, as I said, I wanted this blanket to last a long time and look good while doing it.  

Maybe I should have stayed with the cheap stuff.  

I had to go back to the store four times for more yarn.  And then, the store ran out of the colors I needed.  So did the craft store.  It was getting close to Christmas, and I hadn't finished the blanket because I couldn't find the right yarn!  Finally, I ordered some online, but it wouldn't get here until Christmas Eve.  There went any chance of having it done for Christmas.

I'm proud to announce, it's done now.  

And my inexpensive, homemade gift ended up costing more than any other gift.  In case you're interested, the finished result cost $160.

Consider my pre-conceived notions abolished.

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May all of you have a wonderful, prosperous, healthy new year.  

Word Crimes

I'm probably behind the times, but I just saw this Weird Al music video and have been applauding it ever since.

As someone who uses grammar rules, and flinches when those rules are broken, I'm happy to know I'm not alone in my suffering.

By the way, I love the music on this song, but the original lyrics are raunchy.  Weird Al made them much, much better.  My favorite is "I could care less".  My kids love "I literally couldn't get out of bed."

If you haven't seen this yet, relax, maybe get some popcorn, because if you're like me, you'll be watching this more than once.

A Barfer's Regret

I got a call from my daughter's school last week at about ten in the morning.

"Hi, Mom.  I just threw up."

Yes!  My favorite kind of calls.  Well, those and the kind that come from the emergency room.

"Okay," I said.  "Wait for me in the office.  I'll be right there."

"But I kind of want to go to art."

Wait, what?  She WANTED to go to class after she had a clear "get out of school free" card?  She must get that kind of nerdiness from her dad.  She made up for it by being out at the car before I'd even parked.

"So, how you feeling?"  I asked.

"A lot better.  Luckily, we'd packed away our instruments in band and were just waiting for the bell to ring, when suddenly, all this spit came into my mouth. I knew I was going to throw up.  So, I ran to the bathroom.  Some of it came out my nose.  It still kind of burns and every other breath smells like vomit." (Note: I left out some of the gorier details.  Thank me later.)

Being a good mom, I said, "Oh, honey.  I'm sorry.  That's not fun."  Then, "You might want to change the reed in your clarinet before you play it again."

Then a thought struck her that rivaled her time hovering over the toilet for worst part of the day.  "Oh no!  I just ruined my five year no-barfing streak!  I have to start all over again!"

Good thing she has her priorities straight.