Wishing you a little Elfin Magic this Christmas! Go nuts!!!Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Being imperfect in a "perfect" society
Yes, I have strayed from some of my deeper posts lately...but let's chalk it up to the time factor, which leads me to this thought...
How does an imperfect person make their way in a "perfect" society?
Society is so focus on perfection. The perfect house, the perfect car, a put-together look and outward appearance, and most of all...perfect children.
We all want things to be perfect, I know I do...and I don't even put myself on the Perfectionist scale, at least for most things. Who wouldn't want their house to be spotless and beautifully decorated? A nice car that turns heads (and gets good gas mileage)...come on, don't deny it. A closet full of outfits that make you feel like a million bucks? All wonderful dreams, but they are just that...dreams. But children...we expect perfection out of our children. While I could go on and on about manners, attitudes and behaviors what I'm getting at is deeper.
What is it like to have an child that is seen as "imperfect" to the world?
Long ago, I was going to post a little more information about CiBaby, but hesitated. How would people, either not knowing her at all or just getting to know her react to her...or me? Some already know that CiBaby has been diagnosed with OAV (Oculo-auriculo-vertebral) Spectrum (and possibly Hemifacial Microsomia) which can involve the eyes, ears and spine (and sometimes internal organs). What does that mean for her? Well, she is completely deaf on the left side and missing that outer ear. And that's about it.* She is beautiful, very healthy, observant, basically has sonar in her right ear** and a wit beyond her years. Most people do not even notice that she's missing an ear. But what happens when they do? CiBaby already asks me "Mama, why do I only have one ear?" "Mama, why do you have two ears?" Aaaahhhhh that's a very good question, my darling. And she's only 3-years-old.***
Then today, I happened to catch Dr. Phil...while whipping something up in the kitchen...and the discussion was on girl-bullies. Oh boy. I'll just say it...Girls are mean! I really don't understand it. Is it that our gender is so insecure that we need to lash out at one another and make others feel bad (or worse!) about themselves just to make ourselves feel better. To somehow validate ourselves and our feelings by devaluing others? I will tell it to the world...I was bullied by an older girl when I was 13. Why? I'll never know the real reason. All I know is it scared the living daylights out of me. So much so that I didn't want to go to school in fear that I would get beaten by her. I faked being sick. I tried to never walk alone in the hallways. This is when I found out who my true friends were.
Why do I bring this up? I fear this for my own daughter, who is only 3! Girls are getting meaner and meaner at younger and younger ages! It's so crazy it boggles my mind and sends me in to small panic attacks just thinking about it. But I need to keep my whits about me. How do we shelter our children from the unnecessary slashings to the soul, those cuts that scar the personality...without suffocating them in the process? Letting them learn that this wonderful world does come with some undesirable, but teachable, sides? That everything and everyone has an "imperfection," some external and some internal. Hell, we're all human. Maybe I should have titled this "Being perfect in an imperfect society."
For now this mama bear is keeping watchful eyes and listening ears. Check back in a couple of years to see how we're all fairing.
*To date we need to get another x-ray of her spine, but I'm not terribly worried.
**When the first Audiologist said "I wished she had better hearing in her right ear" we thought..."Good Lord!!! We surely don't!"
***She even noticed the fact that she only had one year around the time she was 2-years-old. It's kind of a cute story, actually.
How does an imperfect person make their way in a "perfect" society?
Society is so focus on perfection. The perfect house, the perfect car, a put-together look and outward appearance, and most of all...perfect children.
We all want things to be perfect, I know I do...and I don't even put myself on the Perfectionist scale, at least for most things. Who wouldn't want their house to be spotless and beautifully decorated? A nice car that turns heads (and gets good gas mileage)...come on, don't deny it. A closet full of outfits that make you feel like a million bucks? All wonderful dreams, but they are just that...dreams. But children...we expect perfection out of our children. While I could go on and on about manners, attitudes and behaviors what I'm getting at is deeper.
What is it like to have an child that is seen as "imperfect" to the world?
Long ago, I was going to post a little more information about CiBaby, but hesitated. How would people, either not knowing her at all or just getting to know her react to her...or me? Some already know that CiBaby has been diagnosed with OAV (Oculo-auriculo-vertebral) Spectrum (and possibly Hemifacial Microsomia) which can involve the eyes, ears and spine (and sometimes internal organs). What does that mean for her? Well, she is completely deaf on the left side and missing that outer ear. And that's about it.* She is beautiful, very healthy, observant, basically has sonar in her right ear** and a wit beyond her years. Most people do not even notice that she's missing an ear. But what happens when they do? CiBaby already asks me "Mama, why do I only have one ear?" "Mama, why do you have two ears?" Aaaahhhhh that's a very good question, my darling. And she's only 3-years-old.***
Then today, I happened to catch Dr. Phil...while whipping something up in the kitchen...and the discussion was on girl-bullies. Oh boy. I'll just say it...Girls are mean! I really don't understand it. Is it that our gender is so insecure that we need to lash out at one another and make others feel bad (or worse!) about themselves just to make ourselves feel better. To somehow validate ourselves and our feelings by devaluing others? I will tell it to the world...I was bullied by an older girl when I was 13. Why? I'll never know the real reason. All I know is it scared the living daylights out of me. So much so that I didn't want to go to school in fear that I would get beaten by her. I faked being sick. I tried to never walk alone in the hallways. This is when I found out who my true friends were.
Why do I bring this up? I fear this for my own daughter, who is only 3! Girls are getting meaner and meaner at younger and younger ages! It's so crazy it boggles my mind and sends me in to small panic attacks just thinking about it. But I need to keep my whits about me. How do we shelter our children from the unnecessary slashings to the soul, those cuts that scar the personality...without suffocating them in the process? Letting them learn that this wonderful world does come with some undesirable, but teachable, sides? That everything and everyone has an "imperfection," some external and some internal. Hell, we're all human. Maybe I should have titled this "Being perfect in an imperfect society."
For now this mama bear is keeping watchful eyes and listening ears. Check back in a couple of years to see how we're all fairing.
*To date we need to get another x-ray of her spine, but I'm not terribly worried.
**When the first Audiologist said "I wished she had better hearing in her right ear" we thought..."Good Lord!!! We surely don't!"
***She even noticed the fact that she only had one year around the time she was 2-years-old. It's kind of a cute story, actually.
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Santa Experience
Today was the day...the day that CiBaby decided for herself that she wanted to talk directly to the Big Man himself.
The first year CiBaby was with us, we didn't even consider bringing her to see Santa...we could barely get her to sit on relatives' laps without crying! Last year there were a couple of times that she saw Santa from afar...but that was close enough for her.
But this year was different. This morning we were talking about Santa and all of a sudden she said that she wanted to talk to him. Well...okay! So I did what any good mother would do and found out where Santa was that day, of course! And I was still able to get an appointment, that day, with the man himself.
So we hustled, and we bustled and got ourselves ready to get out the door. Thankfully there was a small line to wait in before talking with Santa. This gave CiBaby some time to fully take in the situation. She studied him. She saw what the other kids were doing. She noticed that Santa had CANDY next to him!*
Not knowing exactly what to expect from her when her turn came I stayed fairly quiet. But once the little boys were done in front of her...you would have had to have had a barricade to stop her. She was on a mission to talk with Santa. She marched right up to the little stool that sat next to his chair and sat down. She was serious. They had a discussion about being good, did lots of givin' fives and even willingly, and with a real smile, got pictures taken.
After it was over, I didn't have to pull her away, she walked away confidently and told me that she had talked with Santa. We picked our picture** and bought a frame*** and headed out for lunch. As we were looking for the perfect location to have our tidbits to eat we saw Santa having lunch. You would have thought we saw a mega star. She was giddy and Santa was so sweet. He talked with her again, gave her a piece of candy, and I swear she swooned.
Later that afternoon, I framed that picture...which was quickly confiscated and now resides on CiBaby's dresser.
It was a great day in this life.
*There's very little this kid misses.
**Not shown here...must scan for that.
***It was too dang cute to pass up.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The budding artist
Art by CiBaby...
Our Family...from left to right...Big Sister, Big Bruffah (brother), T-Daddy on the roof) Kitcat in the window, CiBaby in the door yelling to our furry buddy "to come in, Bern!" And last...me. Yep, you can't miss me and my crazy hair.
CiBaby's self portrait.
There's no doubt about it...I'm impressed!!!
Our Family...from left to right...Big Sister, Big Bruffah (brother), T-Daddy on the roof) Kitcat in the window, CiBaby in the door yelling to our furry buddy "to come in, Bern!" And last...me. Yep, you can't miss me and my crazy hair.
CiBaby's self portrait.There's no doubt about it...I'm impressed!!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A Dazzlin' Day
As tradition* would have it, the day after Thanksgiving we all go Downtown to watch the Holidazzle Parade. And every year G-Mama says, "I'd LOVE to be in the parade."
Well this year she and Bopa got their chance!
T-Daddy, CiBaby and I got all bundled up, drove to the light rail station and hopped on the train, which of course is an adventure in and of itself. G-Mama kept calling us to see where we were in transit.We made it just in time for the parade to start...at the other end from where we were!
T-Daddy, CiBaby and I got all bundled up, drove to the light rail station and hopped on the train, which of course is an adventure in and of itself. G-Mama kept calling us to see where we were in transit.We made it just in time for the parade to start...at the other end from where we were!
Finally the parade started, and couple of dashes inside to use the potty, we got our chance to see the dynamic duo!!!
While Bopa will tell you that he did it just for G-Mama, we all know he had a good time too.
*Okay, so it's only the second year with CiBaby, but you
*Okay, so it's only the second year with CiBaby, but you
Saturday, November 28, 2009
'Tis the season...I guess
This afternoon I wandered down into the office to quickly look something up on the computer. T-Daddy had been looking at the "news"* earlier and had left one of the screens open. This is what it said...
Black Friday crowds eager to spend
Many bargain-hungry shoppers skip Thanksgiving meal to queue up for Black Friday deals on toys, cashmere sweaters and laptops.**
Really? People actually forgo spending quality time with their loved ones to get a deal? Ditch people so you can give a bigger-badder next holiday? Seems kind of ironic to me. Don't get me wrong...I'm all about a good deal (if you need it). All about it. And I love gifts, giving and receiving.
But it's about so much more than a huge pile of expensive gifts (at rock bottom prices). It's about the thought, love and care of giving and receiving. A beautiful card with loving words, a handmade ornament, a warm smile and a hug. If someone puts their heart into a gift it will be the best gift anyone could receive.
What do I want this holiday season? A big, or little...size doesn't matter...box of love.
*Seriously, I can't stand the "news." I put it in quotes as I believe that the vast majority (not all, mind you) of the news is incredibly depressing...but they want it that way! They develop and twist reality so you want to follow and watch it like a car crash...so awful but you can't look away.
**you can read the story here if you really care to.
Black Friday crowds eager to spend
Many bargain-hungry shoppers skip Thanksgiving meal to queue up for Black Friday deals on toys, cashmere sweaters and laptops.**
Really? People actually forgo spending quality time with their loved ones to get a deal? Ditch people so you can give a bigger-badder next holiday? Seems kind of ironic to me. Don't get me wrong...I'm all about a good deal (if you need it). All about it. And I love gifts, giving and receiving.
But it's about so much more than a huge pile of expensive gifts (at rock bottom prices). It's about the thought, love and care of giving and receiving. A beautiful card with loving words, a handmade ornament, a warm smile and a hug. If someone puts their heart into a gift it will be the best gift anyone could receive.
What do I want this holiday season? A big, or little...size doesn't matter...box of love.
*Seriously, I can't stand the "news." I put it in quotes as I believe that the vast majority (not all, mind you) of the news is incredibly depressing...but they want it that way! They develop and twist reality so you want to follow and watch it like a car crash...so awful but you can't look away.
**you can read the story here if you really care to.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Shop Girl
Once again I took my annual pilgrimage out west to be a Shop Girl.* True to form we worked our tails off, but as you can see...totally worth it. The store looked beautiful, the company divine, the laughter intoxicating and the sleep much needed. I cannot tell you how much these trips mean to me. I feel rejuvenated...ready to be me again.*Which comes in handy as I'm now currently working as shop girl!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Happy Hallo-week!
What a great week. Our Hallo-week started with an Adults-Only party. T-Daddy and I were the Time Life couple...aka Kissing Sailor. The week continued with pumpkin carving with Auntie and Great-Gram, trick-or-treating at a nearby senior living apartments, multiple parties at school, a party with friends, quick crafting by Yours Truly and of course...trick-or-treating on All Hallows Eve.
We were lucky enough to have a buddy to collect candy with us this year...of course there were times where we thought we were watching Preschooler Smackdown as they ran to see who could ring the doorbell first.
All-in-all, it was a great week...full of fun and sugar!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Eating locally on a budget...the dollars and sense
With all this talk about eating locally, I thought I should touch on the dollars and sense of it all.
The other day, while at the gym working out on the elliptical machine, I caught the last half of an Oprah re-run. It was about kids and obesity.* One thing a mom of one of the kids said really got me thinking. She said they were on food stamps and that it was not always easy to pick the healthier option when on a tight budget. Really? While I can see how that is for some things, I am having a hard time believe that as a blanket statement.**
So I've started to do a little research on the subject of eating healthfully on a budget AND eating locally. I hit the grocery stores, co-ops and the farmers' markets. I won't bore you with all of the prices, but I will sum it up with you will, on average, spend less on locally produced food when comparing like foods (organic to organic and conventional to conventional).
First, if you have anywhere to plant anything edible...do it! Be it a few large pots on your patio, whatever, it's a start. It's as local as you can get...and quite inexpensive. The same day I saw the Oprah show I went to my monthly Master Gardener meeting and it was on Superabundant Small Gardens. In 2005 the presenter decided to really see how much her organic garden produced, not only in pounds but how much it would have cost her to buy it all at the time it was harvested.***
Her garden's expenses included: manure, other fertilizers, seeds and plants, potting soil, electricity and water, pots and supports and her community garden plot rental fee. It totalled up to be around $253.50. Her crop was valued at $1,408.65, minuses expenses...for a total value of $1,155.15. WOW! Now she follows a few simple rules that I personally abide by for my own garden...When you have a small space to garden, produce what you love and costs the most to buy. Of those things look at what takes up the least amount of space, grow up verses out. Love beans but you don't have a lot of room for a large crop? Plant pole beans! Have a fence and love cucumbers? Plant the vining variety and have them climb up your fence. Find compact varieties. Interplant your edible plants into your flower gardens. Eggplant are not only beautiful, but their purple flowers are gorgeous too. Peppers, especially the hot variety add a splash of color (habanero for fall, what could be better???)
Second, if you have access to a Farmers' Market...GO! Not everyone has the room or the time for a garden (or in my case I cannot grow as much as I use) but everyone can visit a farmers' market. Not only do you get the freshest fruits and vegetables picked at their peak, you also get contact with the people who grow your food and support your local community at rockin' prices! I did overhear one woman say, "If I wanted to pay this much for X, I could just go to the grocery store." I think she's missing the big picture, don't you?
Some of my purchases at the Farmers' Market included:
Red bell peppers - 16 lbs for $12 ($.75/lb)
Green bell peppers - 8 lbs for $4 ($.50/lb)
Eggplant - 21 lbs for $5 ($.24/lb)
Tomatoes - 60 lbs for $18 ($.30/lb)
Fresh onions - 5.5 lbs for $4 ($.73/lb)
Beets (red & golden) - 8 lbs for $4 ($.50/lb)
What did CiBaby and I make with all of this (and from our garden) food, you ask?
You don't have to be a foodie, like me, to see why this works. It just makes [dollars and] sense.
*Ironic???
**Long ago I was a check-out girl at a grocery store and saw the "food" come through on food stamps...let's just say that a good majority of it was not what I would consider good choices.
***I forgot to ask her if it was just at the co-op/grocery store and didn't factor in the farmers' markets' prices.
The other day, while at the gym working out on the elliptical machine, I caught the last half of an Oprah re-run. It was about kids and obesity.* One thing a mom of one of the kids said really got me thinking. She said they were on food stamps and that it was not always easy to pick the healthier option when on a tight budget. Really? While I can see how that is for some things, I am having a hard time believe that as a blanket statement.**
So I've started to do a little research on the subject of eating healthfully on a budget AND eating locally. I hit the grocery stores, co-ops and the farmers' markets. I won't bore you with all of the prices, but I will sum it up with you will, on average, spend less on locally produced food when comparing like foods (organic to organic and conventional to conventional).
First, if you have anywhere to plant anything edible...do it! Be it a few large pots on your patio, whatever, it's a start. It's as local as you can get...and quite inexpensive. The same day I saw the Oprah show I went to my monthly Master Gardener meeting and it was on Superabundant Small Gardens. In 2005 the presenter decided to really see how much her organic garden produced, not only in pounds but how much it would have cost her to buy it all at the time it was harvested.***
Her garden's expenses included: manure, other fertilizers, seeds and plants, potting soil, electricity and water, pots and supports and her community garden plot rental fee. It totalled up to be around $253.50. Her crop was valued at $1,408.65, minuses expenses...for a total value of $1,155.15. WOW! Now she follows a few simple rules that I personally abide by for my own garden...When you have a small space to garden, produce what you love and costs the most to buy. Of those things look at what takes up the least amount of space, grow up verses out. Love beans but you don't have a lot of room for a large crop? Plant pole beans! Have a fence and love cucumbers? Plant the vining variety and have them climb up your fence. Find compact varieties. Interplant your edible plants into your flower gardens. Eggplant are not only beautiful, but their purple flowers are gorgeous too. Peppers, especially the hot variety add a splash of color (habanero for fall, what could be better???)
Second, if you have access to a Farmers' Market...GO! Not everyone has the room or the time for a garden (or in my case I cannot grow as much as I use) but everyone can visit a farmers' market. Not only do you get the freshest fruits and vegetables picked at their peak, you also get contact with the people who grow your food and support your local community at rockin' prices! I did overhear one woman say, "If I wanted to pay this much for X, I could just go to the grocery store." I think she's missing the big picture, don't you?
Some of my purchases at the Farmers' Market included:
Red bell peppers - 16 lbs for $12 ($.75/lb)
Green bell peppers - 8 lbs for $4 ($.50/lb)
Eggplant - 21 lbs for $5 ($.24/lb)
Tomatoes - 60 lbs for $18 ($.30/lb)
Fresh onions - 5.5 lbs for $4 ($.73/lb)
Beets (red & golden) - 8 lbs for $4 ($.50/lb)
What did CiBaby and I make with all of this (and from our garden) food, you ask?
You don't have to be a foodie, like me, to see why this works. It just makes [dollars and] sense.
*Ironic???
**Long ago I was a check-out girl at a grocery store and saw the "food" come through on food stamps...let's just say that a good majority of it was not what I would consider good choices.
***I forgot to ask her if it was just at the co-op/grocery store and didn't factor in the farmers' markets' prices.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Art of Cooking
As many of you who know me well*...I love to cook. Not only do I love to cook, I love food, I love ingredients, I love cookbooks, I love techniques and I love to experiment. LOVE IT! Nothing gives me more joy, with the exception of my family, to try out new concoctions on friends and family and get their feedback. I consider it art.
As I stand here and sort out green tomatoes I think...what will I do with all of these? Sure sure, I can make "fried green tomatoes," or "green tomato relish"...while good...I can only eat so much of it. So now what? I search cooking websites and cookbooks for inspiration.**
While what ended up being wasn't fancy, we have many jars of green salsa from my own "recipe." My first attempt at it with unripened tomatoes. Smoked in our fireplace, no less. Darn tasty in my opinion...and friends' too!
*Recently a friend who knows these facts came to me with a potential proposition...which has gotten my wheels-a-turning on a potential business opportunity! Stay tuned!!!
**Also, those who know me know that I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks but actually rarely make an actual recipe from them. Why you ask? I use them as a basis for my own recipes. Flavor combinations. And then I wing it...with the exception of baking. I suck at wing-baking.
As I stand here and sort out green tomatoes I think...what will I do with all of these? Sure sure, I can make "fried green tomatoes," or "green tomato relish"...while good...I can only eat so much of it. So now what? I search cooking websites and cookbooks for inspiration.**
While what ended up being wasn't fancy, we have many jars of green salsa from my own "recipe." My first attempt at it with unripened tomatoes. Smoked in our fireplace, no less. Darn tasty in my opinion...and friends' too!
*Recently a friend who knows these facts came to me with a potential proposition...which has gotten my wheels-a-turning on a potential business opportunity! Stay tuned!!!
**Also, those who know me know that I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks but actually rarely make an actual recipe from them. Why you ask? I use them as a basis for my own recipes. Flavor combinations. And then I wing it...with the exception of baking. I suck at wing-baking.
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