My Foil Hat
Friday, November 20, 2009
Go!!! Go!!! Go!!! Amanda!
Latest update from Joy. (I think I posted that Amanda is now at St. Jude.)
Amanda Update! Little Miss Independent shines again --- she is now in an enclosure bed (zips like a tent) b/c she was climbing out of the regular bed on her own. Still not completely steady on her feet so that wasn't safe. AND the speech lady got her to purse her lips and then pull back to a semi-smile yesterday. It's the little things!
Progress! Yay! Please keep praying for more and more little things.
Latest update from Joy. (I think I posted that Amanda is now at St. Jude.)
Amanda Update! Little Miss Independent shines again --- she is now in an enclosure bed (zips like a tent) b/c she was climbing out of the regular bed on her own. Still not completely steady on her feet so that wasn't safe. AND the speech lady got her to purse her lips and then pull back to a semi-smile yesterday. It's the little things!
Progress! Yay! Please keep praying for more and more little things.
Labels: Amanda
¶ 2:04 AM 1 Comments
Can I ask a favor?
I know many of you think the whole Nano thing is a weird way to spend a month of your life. But, I really love it. For me, it's a chance to do something I love, even if I'm not that skilled, and when it's done, it's done and it's mine and it's not related to anything or anyone else. I think after so many years of homeschooling, it's time I reclaim some things just for me.
So, in addition to this being important to me personally, I've also learned a lot about myself over the past three Novembers. One, I cannot think clearly when my family is floating around the house. I just can't do it. Two, I will find whatever distraction I can to avoid sitting down to write, even when what I really want to do is sit down and write. It's crazy. The house has to be picked up, the dishes done (or at least out of sight), the laundry going . . . I think it's a form of mental illness, actually. A normal person can ignore a sink of dirty dishes every now and then, right? Three, my weirdness is dragging me down - I'm behind on my writing this week because of my insane need to get everything else done first. Dan and Ian are camping all weekend. I'm hoping with half of the kids gone, I can get a lot done this weekend - half the drama, half the noise, half the laundry and no need to find a vegetarian option for dinner - that's several hours right there. Which leads me to my question for you?
For those of you who have blogs, may I browse your comments and borrow from them? If you have a blog that you're hiding from me will you please share it with the group?
I won't use any comments word-for-word or even in context and I certainly won't use names, real or online - I think I'm incapable of doing that anyway, but here's my promise. My book involves a blog and I'm hoping to use the comment section of the blog part of the book to boost my word count. It feels wrong to go to the many blogs I read to scan them for inspiration from the comment sections without asking permission. And, this book is going nowhere, it's just something I want to do. If you have objections OR if it's okay with you, please let me know via email (all4mine@bellsouth.net) or in the comment section.
Working title for the book? Split-Life Crisis. (But that's just for today, it changes daily.)
I know many of you think the whole Nano thing is a weird way to spend a month of your life. But, I really love it. For me, it's a chance to do something I love, even if I'm not that skilled, and when it's done, it's done and it's mine and it's not related to anything or anyone else. I think after so many years of homeschooling, it's time I reclaim some things just for me.
So, in addition to this being important to me personally, I've also learned a lot about myself over the past three Novembers. One, I cannot think clearly when my family is floating around the house. I just can't do it. Two, I will find whatever distraction I can to avoid sitting down to write, even when what I really want to do is sit down and write. It's crazy. The house has to be picked up, the dishes done (or at least out of sight), the laundry going . . . I think it's a form of mental illness, actually. A normal person can ignore a sink of dirty dishes every now and then, right? Three, my weirdness is dragging me down - I'm behind on my writing this week because of my insane need to get everything else done first. Dan and Ian are camping all weekend. I'm hoping with half of the kids gone, I can get a lot done this weekend - half the drama, half the noise, half the laundry and no need to find a vegetarian option for dinner - that's several hours right there. Which leads me to my question for you?
For those of you who have blogs, may I browse your comments and borrow from them? If you have a blog that you're hiding from me will you please share it with the group?
I won't use any comments word-for-word or even in context and I certainly won't use names, real or online - I think I'm incapable of doing that anyway, but here's my promise. My book involves a blog and I'm hoping to use the comment section of the blog part of the book to boost my word count. It feels wrong to go to the many blogs I read to scan them for inspiration from the comment sections without asking permission. And, this book is going nowhere, it's just something I want to do. If you have objections OR if it's okay with you, please let me know via email (all4mine@bellsouth.net) or in the comment section.
Working title for the book? Split-Life Crisis. (But that's just for today, it changes daily.)
Labels: Nano
¶ 1:39 AM 7 Comments
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Better?
I lived with it for a week and the last background was too busy. What do you all think about this one? I'm not normal and can't be trusted to decide because my opinion changes every five minutes ... for now, I kind of like this.
¶ 3:09 AM 3 Comments
Who is the person that is a step beyond the Dog Whisperer?
Please send that person to my house.
Scout is old. She's almost 12. But, she's an awesome, smart dog. Usually I only have to look at her or simply tell her what I want her to do and she does it. I'm a seriously spoiled dog-mom. I have taken her for granted since the day I house-trained her - yes, that's right, THE DAY. That's all it took. Honestly, no one has ever had a smarter, prettier dog - EVER.
But, she's turning into the pretty old lady rocking on the front porch. We built a new bigger cage for Jenny and Esme yesterday. They needed more room to run and be fat and whatever it is that they do. The bigger cage sits on the floor rather than on the old trunk I had them sitting on before.
The grid-thingies (sorry to get technical) surrounding the new cage are 18-24" high. The pigs are in (forgive me) hog heaven with their new space. Scout, however, is sorely confused. It's not like we have kept her from the pigs, but something about them being on the floor and hopping around freaked Scout out. She stood at the cage whining, tail wagging frantically and whining some more.
I can't read dog minds, but I think Scout thinks the pigs are puppies. We had a wild night here. Scout was pacing and frantic, the pigs were curled up fast-asleep in their little igloo. I finally got up this morning when Scout started barking in my ear - this is weird, Scout is NOT a barker. She led me to the pig cage. Ummm... yes, Scout, there are the pigs. She spent the morning pacing up and down.
Tim and Andy were up shortly after me. I went to take a shower and immediately heard Tim and Andy howling and screaming and laughing. I went back out to see what was going on. Scout had picked Jenny up (a la cat mom picking up a kitten) and taken her to a corner and had her in the corner, licking her and taking care of her. Weird, huh?
I tried the shower thing again. This time, as I stepped out of the shower, I heard all FOUR boys screaming and laughing! I rushed out to see what was going on and there was Scout, who apparently defied gravity and leapt into the new pig cage. She had settled into the cage and trapped the pigs in her paws and was grooming them.
And, so went the day. Scout is currently passed out cold with no signs of waking soon. I'm hoping she'll get used to this new set up. Funny, though, Tim and a friend came in this afternoon to tell me about a neighbor whose dog is about to have puppies in six weeks. I paused to consider it. I asked about the dog. English Mastiff. Ummmm . . . NOT happening here.
Cross your fingers that Scout settles down a bit tomorrow!
Please send that person to my house.
Scout is old. She's almost 12. But, she's an awesome, smart dog. Usually I only have to look at her or simply tell her what I want her to do and she does it. I'm a seriously spoiled dog-mom. I have taken her for granted since the day I house-trained her - yes, that's right, THE DAY. That's all it took. Honestly, no one has ever had a smarter, prettier dog - EVER.
But, she's turning into the pretty old lady rocking on the front porch. We built a new bigger cage for Jenny and Esme yesterday. They needed more room to run and be fat and whatever it is that they do. The bigger cage sits on the floor rather than on the old trunk I had them sitting on before.
The grid-thingies (sorry to get technical) surrounding the new cage are 18-24" high. The pigs are in (forgive me) hog heaven with their new space. Scout, however, is sorely confused. It's not like we have kept her from the pigs, but something about them being on the floor and hopping around freaked Scout out. She stood at the cage whining, tail wagging frantically and whining some more.
I can't read dog minds, but I think Scout thinks the pigs are puppies. We had a wild night here. Scout was pacing and frantic, the pigs were curled up fast-asleep in their little igloo. I finally got up this morning when Scout started barking in my ear - this is weird, Scout is NOT a barker. She led me to the pig cage. Ummm... yes, Scout, there are the pigs. She spent the morning pacing up and down.
Tim and Andy were up shortly after me. I went to take a shower and immediately heard Tim and Andy howling and screaming and laughing. I went back out to see what was going on. Scout had picked Jenny up (a la cat mom picking up a kitten) and taken her to a corner and had her in the corner, licking her and taking care of her. Weird, huh?
I tried the shower thing again. This time, as I stepped out of the shower, I heard all FOUR boys screaming and laughing! I rushed out to see what was going on and there was Scout, who apparently defied gravity and leapt into the new pig cage. She had settled into the cage and trapped the pigs in her paws and was grooming them.
And, so went the day. Scout is currently passed out cold with no signs of waking soon. I'm hoping she'll get used to this new set up. Funny, though, Tim and a friend came in this afternoon to tell me about a neighbor whose dog is about to have puppies in six weeks. I paused to consider it. I asked about the dog. English Mastiff. Ummmm . . . NOT happening here.
Cross your fingers that Scout settles down a bit tomorrow!
Labels: guinea pigs, scouts
¶ 2:24 AM 3 Comments
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
An oldie but a goodie . . .
I am actually writing! In the meantime, think about your Wednesday and your recycling.
Labels: business time
¶ 2:03 AM 2 Comments
Amanda update . . .
Just got this from Joy on Facebook. Please keep praying.
Amanda update: Joy Hall The BIG MOVE --we are officially at St. Jude. Praying that this transition goes smoothly. She vomited tonight after her first feeding w/o the slow-drip; it's more of a bolus/syringe now. However, Maggie and Sean got to see her (Ian was asleep)--- Amanda IMMEDIATELY went from standing with me to reaching for hugs from them. It was super sweet.
Just got this from Joy on Facebook. Please keep praying. Amanda update: Joy Hall The BIG MOVE --we are officially at St. Jude. Praying that this transition goes smoothly. She vomited tonight after her first feeding w/o the slow-drip; it's more of a bolus/syringe now. However, Maggie and Sean got to see her (Ian was asleep)--- Amanda IMMEDIATELY went from standing with me to reaching for hugs from them. It was super sweet.
Labels: Amanda
¶ 1:56 AM 0 Comments
Monday, November 16, 2009
My great husband, writing, computers and other random observations
Mike is the best husband. Having three older teens in the house and trying to keep track of them and keep them on track is wearing me far thinner than I would have thought possible . . . Mike, while he's not here a lot, is not stoopid. He knows, I don't think he understands, how much I love November and the whole NanoWriMo thing. Sure, it's not for everyone, but it's something that I've grown to love.
As I was typing last night, I thought about how much faster I type on a keyboard than I did back in 8th and 9th grade when I was learning to type on a manual typewriter. It's a wonder books got written at all ... I have consigned myself to a sub-par class of wimps who would rather eat their own livers than write out a book long-hand or on a manual typewriter. As I was thinking about the manual typewriters, I was also thinking about how much time I can and do waste on the internet. I enjoy this time and maybe I come away marginally more informed, but dang, it's a lot of time just gone.
Mike stepped in this weekend to handle the cooking and basic laundry essentials while I wrote. I managed 5000+ words yesterday and, while they may not be the content of the next great American novel, I had a lot of fun. Today, Mike took the boys to Downtown Disney for a Lego thing. Dan refused to go, but apparently Mike left him with instructions not to bother me either.
I confess, I didn't write much. I moved things around and cleaned things that have been making me crazy for at least a year. I cleaned the bathrooms. I considered mopping, that counts, right? BUT, as I did these things, unencumbered by family, I was able to think things through and kind of make sense of them. Emphasis on "kind of."
We'll see, I'm off to type for an hour or so. I think it will make sense when all is said and done, but no promises.
Mike is the best husband. Having three older teens in the house and trying to keep track of them and keep them on track is wearing me far thinner than I would have thought possible . . . Mike, while he's not here a lot, is not stoopid. He knows, I don't think he understands, how much I love November and the whole NanoWriMo thing. Sure, it's not for everyone, but it's something that I've grown to love.
As I was typing last night, I thought about how much faster I type on a keyboard than I did back in 8th and 9th grade when I was learning to type on a manual typewriter. It's a wonder books got written at all ... I have consigned myself to a sub-par class of wimps who would rather eat their own livers than write out a book long-hand or on a manual typewriter. As I was thinking about the manual typewriters, I was also thinking about how much time I can and do waste on the internet. I enjoy this time and maybe I come away marginally more informed, but dang, it's a lot of time just gone.
Mike stepped in this weekend to handle the cooking and basic laundry essentials while I wrote. I managed 5000+ words yesterday and, while they may not be the content of the next great American novel, I had a lot of fun. Today, Mike took the boys to Downtown Disney for a Lego thing. Dan refused to go, but apparently Mike left him with instructions not to bother me either.
I confess, I didn't write much. I moved things around and cleaned things that have been making me crazy for at least a year. I cleaned the bathrooms. I considered mopping, that counts, right? BUT, as I did these things, unencumbered by family, I was able to think things through and kind of make sense of them. Emphasis on "kind of."
We'll see, I'm off to type for an hour or so. I think it will make sense when all is said and done, but no promises.
Labels: Mike, Nano, wasting time
¶ 1:36 AM 2 Comments
