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About this blog
Mar. 22nd, 2037 08:15 pmThis is a private journal. Mostly to protect the privacy of those I write about. Thank you.
Home Alone.
Jan. 24th, 2016 08:51 amI just waved the family off to a day in the snow. (recently discovered it's about an hour away to tubing) I'm staying at home. Why? Two reasons
1. I'm sick. It's sinus based and there's no way I'm going up in elevation.
2. I need the solitude.
So I am going to go enjoy it.
1. I'm sick. It's sinus based and there's no way I'm going up in elevation.
2. I need the solitude.
So I am going to go enjoy it.
I get to turn in 3 timecards for today. Kindergarten assistant, Handwork teacher, Aftercare teacher. Having that many jobs is a wonderful thing. Being able to help a colleague who has had surgery is also a good thing.
Big bonus? The kids were well behaved at aftercare today. Normally when I do that, my kids are nightmares. But they played well and not that many kids were there (helps that the faculty meeting was canceled. All the teachers took their kids and went home!)
Big bonus? The kids were well behaved at aftercare today. Normally when I do that, my kids are nightmares. But they played well and not that many kids were there (helps that the faculty meeting was canceled. All the teachers took their kids and went home!)
While driving with the children this afternoon we were discussing the topic of competence (in particular what constitutes competence in the workplace and the pay you receive because of it). And the following conversation occurred.
Ike: So how much does Auntie![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
allanh make?
Me: No clue. But not enough. He's extremely competent but underpaid.
Gwen (backseat): He makes enough to get all the cheese he wants!
This made me laugh because of the randomness. Further inquiry showed that she meant Unka Randy...who is, in fact, the cheese fiend.
School starts tomorrow! Yes!
Oh! I got a response on that resume I sent yesterday. It was just an acknowledgement, but that's a first for this school.
Ike: So how much does Auntie
allanh make?Me: No clue. But not enough. He's extremely competent but underpaid.
Gwen (backseat): He makes enough to get all the cheese he wants!
This made me laugh because of the randomness. Further inquiry showed that she meant Unka Randy...who is, in fact, the cheese fiend.
School starts tomorrow! Yes!
Oh! I got a response on that resume I sent yesterday. It was just an acknowledgement, but that's a first for this school.
Ice and slush
Jan. 4th, 2016 08:22 pmAchievement unlocked! I drove for the first time ever in ice and slush today. No skids. No crashes. Woot!
I also finished a book and started another. Shocking I'm sure.
I also finished a book and started another. Shocking I'm sure.
Funny Moments
Dec. 7th, 2014 02:37 pmJoe's talking to me in our bedroom.
Elli comes in brandishing a leek at Joe.
"Go put that leek away!"
Joe says an aside to me: "That is a leek right?"
Me: "Ha! She took a leek!"
Joe: "I'm appalled to the core of my being that I knew that was a leek."
Elli comes in brandishing a leek at Joe.
"Go put that leek away!"
Joe says an aside to me: "That is a leek right?"
Me: "Ha! She took a leek!"
Joe: "I'm appalled to the core of my being that I knew that was a leek."
Roses Ice Cream
Sep. 5th, 2014 07:19 pm
this week we traveled to the 42nd Ave neighborhood in the NE section of Portland to visit Roses Ice Cream. It's an old fashioned dinner that also serves burgers, fries, and normal greasy spoon food. Joe is currently en-route to San Jose, so he loses out.
Good thing to note about this neighborhood. lots of families out walking with their kids.
Gray: mint chip. Four spoons
Gwen: rainbow sherbet. Five spoons.
Ike: mint chip. Three spoons
Elli: black walnut (takes after her grandma...my mom loves that stuff) Five spoons.
Jen: Chocolate peanut butter Two spoons.
Overall, standard American ice cream. Nothing out of the ordinary. We got sundaes this week, the hot fudge and caramel sauce came out of number 10 cans and are overly sweet with no discernable flavor beyond sugar. Needless to say, the kids loved it...And I feel like my teeth are rotting out of my head. Bleh. too sweet. Closer to Fenton's than Cloud City, but the I've cream is better there than here.
We have a goal
Aug. 29th, 2014 07:48 pmI had an idea. We now live in a town we know nothing about. We need to explore while dragging four kids with us, and we need a way to keep them happy. I think I figured it out.
Ice cream.
We'll explore Portland by seeking out the best ice cream shop in town. So tonight's entry? Cloud City Ice Cream
Rating system 0-5 spoons with 5 being the best ice cream you've ever had...and 0 is stuff headed for the compost pileJoe: sea salted cookie dough. Think Ben & Jerry's, but with sea salt. Four spoons.
Jen: Nutella. starts with chocolate, ends with smooth hazelnut goodness. Four and a half spoons.
Ike: organic mint in a gluten free waffle cone. Clean mint flavor. Four spoons.Elli: Circus Friends. vanilla ice cream with sprinkles and Mother's frosted animal crackers. Four spoons.
Gwen: Bourbon vanilla. Two spoons.Gray: Organic Mint. Five spoons.
Our animals are dropping like flies.
Jun. 7th, 2014 11:04 amAt one point last year we had 16 pets in this house. (14 mice, 1 cat, 1 dog). The mice fairly quickly reduced in number and we held steady at 2 for awhile. Then we got down to 1. And that, I admit was nice. We had one of everything. About two weeks Magic Cat (who's paper name, I kid you not was Hoot Owl on a Magic Carpet) didn't seem to be herself. She wasn't climbing onto the bed to sleep with me at night. She was vomiting frequently (even water), and then quit eating. We watched her closely over the Memorial Day weekend and she seemed to get a bit better, as in she was able to keep fluids down, but still wasn't her normal lovey self. I took her into the vet on Tuesday, and we ran some blood work. Turns out she was in kidney failure and yes there was (expensive) treatment, but there was no guarantee it would work. Then we noticed that even though she was keeping fluids down, she lost control of her bodily functions, and really couldn't walk. So last Thursday we said good bye to Magic. The children did very well and there were tears all around. Best kitty ever.
Yesterday, while I was sitting at the table with Gwen working on sight word memorization, Elli comes over to us and puts Cookie (our last surviving mouse) on the table and says "He's dead." Since he was curled up in a ball and not moving, I conceded that her statement was correct....and a hasty funeral was put together quite quickly.
Charlie the dog is the last animal standing. Good dog!
I've put a moratorium on further animal acquisition until we figure out:
A. If we are moving
B. Where we are moving if we are, in fact, moving.
I have to admit. This is somewhat difficult for me. I want another cat. And I'm thinking a full size hamster or rat this time around in the rodent department. We have two cages, so we shall see.
Yesterday, while I was sitting at the table with Gwen working on sight word memorization, Elli comes over to us and puts Cookie (our last surviving mouse) on the table and says "He's dead." Since he was curled up in a ball and not moving, I conceded that her statement was correct....and a hasty funeral was put together quite quickly.
Charlie the dog is the last animal standing. Good dog!
I've put a moratorium on further animal acquisition until we figure out:
A. If we are moving
B. Where we are moving if we are, in fact, moving.
I have to admit. This is somewhat difficult for me. I want another cat. And I'm thinking a full size hamster or rat this time around in the rodent department. We have two cages, so we shall see.
Contrary to the icon...
Apr. 19th, 2014 11:09 pmIt really doesn't.
I thought since it's been a month since my Essure installation, I'd give an update.
The prep classes all stressed that the installation itself is relatively painless. Which is was. The aftermath?
Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick! Fuck me!
The cramps were awful. I was aware of my Fallopian tubes...its not normal. Let me tell you something. Fallopian tubes are NOT something you want to be aware of, it sucks. I was on Vicodin every 4 hours for the first 48 hours...then I switched to 800 mg advil....another 24 hours and I switched to 600mg and stayed there for a few days. Each day the cramping and pain got better. But I started every morning waking up super early with cramps and needing a pain killer for it for 2 weeks after the procedure. The rest of the day was fine...but those early morning cramps? Awful.
Oh. And did I mention that my period started 4 days post procedure??? Which they didn't warn me about because it showed up super early and was caused by those lovely hormones that played havoc on my guts? I've never been a bad menstrual cramp person. I'd have twinges now and then, but never really needed anything for it. This time? Oh yea! The cramping continued to my back. Never had that outside of labor before. Ut.
After two weeks, no more pain. I'm still aware of my Fallopian tubes on occasion, like when I'm suffering from lower abdominal distress and Montezuma's got me good. Not pleasant, but not bad either.
For awhile there I thought I made a HUGE mistake and wondered how I was going to convince my OBGYN to rip those fuckers out. But after the daily pain subsided. It's fine. I'm interested in seeing how it affects my cycle. Might make it more regular...might change the flow (GYN warned me about that AFTER I emailed her asking what was up and why did I have my period again so soon???)
All in all, if by the end of three months I'm sterile? I'm happy.
I thought since it's been a month since my Essure installation, I'd give an update.
The prep classes all stressed that the installation itself is relatively painless. Which is was. The aftermath?
Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick! Fuck me!
The cramps were awful. I was aware of my Fallopian tubes...its not normal. Let me tell you something. Fallopian tubes are NOT something you want to be aware of, it sucks. I was on Vicodin every 4 hours for the first 48 hours...then I switched to 800 mg advil....another 24 hours and I switched to 600mg and stayed there for a few days. Each day the cramping and pain got better. But I started every morning waking up super early with cramps and needing a pain killer for it for 2 weeks after the procedure. The rest of the day was fine...but those early morning cramps? Awful.
Oh. And did I mention that my period started 4 days post procedure??? Which they didn't warn me about because it showed up super early and was caused by those lovely hormones that played havoc on my guts? I've never been a bad menstrual cramp person. I'd have twinges now and then, but never really needed anything for it. This time? Oh yea! The cramping continued to my back. Never had that outside of labor before. Ut.
After two weeks, no more pain. I'm still aware of my Fallopian tubes on occasion, like when I'm suffering from lower abdominal distress and Montezuma's got me good. Not pleasant, but not bad either.
For awhile there I thought I made a HUGE mistake and wondered how I was going to convince my OBGYN to rip those fuckers out. But after the daily pain subsided. It's fine. I'm interested in seeing how it affects my cycle. Might make it more regular...might change the flow (GYN warned me about that AFTER I emailed her asking what was up and why did I have my period again so soon???)
All in all, if by the end of three months I'm sterile? I'm happy.
Training pays off
Feb. 17th, 2014 07:51 pmThere's this hill between Rudolf Steiner College and Sacramento Waldorf School. And it's a bitch to walk. Many of my classes are "down the hill" at the school. Last summer when I tried to walk up the hill between the two, I ended up panting like a dog, with my heart pounding in my chest like it was going to be a baby alien, and me reaching for my inhaler. And that was after I stopped a couple of times to catch my breath.
I decided I wasn't going to let that hill get me down this year. See, after that experience, I drove back and forth between the two for the rest of the summer. I decided, this year, I was going to walk like a normal human being. At the beginning of the year I changed my workout at the gym. I crank up that treadmill to the highest angle it will do and I walk. Slowly, but I walk steadily up that damn thing.
Currently, I'm attending a Teaching Conference at the College. As usual, we are using some of the space at the School down the hill. I figured out that after lunch, everything I was scheduled to do was at the College. I parked my car at the College this morning and walked down the hill. Go me. I went through the morning and then joined the exodus of people walking up the hill to lunch. I didn't try to keep up with people, but I steadily and slowly walked up that damn hill, the whole way, without stopping to catch my breath. I got all the way back up to the College...and I was only slightly out of breath Two or three deep breaths put me in the right.
Go me!
I decided I wasn't going to let that hill get me down this year. See, after that experience, I drove back and forth between the two for the rest of the summer. I decided, this year, I was going to walk like a normal human being. At the beginning of the year I changed my workout at the gym. I crank up that treadmill to the highest angle it will do and I walk. Slowly, but I walk steadily up that damn thing.
Currently, I'm attending a Teaching Conference at the College. As usual, we are using some of the space at the School down the hill. I figured out that after lunch, everything I was scheduled to do was at the College. I parked my car at the College this morning and walked down the hill. Go me. I went through the morning and then joined the exodus of people walking up the hill to lunch. I didn't try to keep up with people, but I steadily and slowly walked up that damn hill, the whole way, without stopping to catch my breath. I got all the way back up to the College...and I was only slightly out of breath Two or three deep breaths put me in the right.
Go me!
Reaching Friends I don't know yet
Jan. 31st, 2014 09:39 pmThe Universe works in strange ways bringing people you need into your life. Sometimes you are the person who is needing...sometimes you are the person who is needed. Sometimes you meet through friends, sometimes online, sometimes the person next to you in line at Starbucks. But always, the Universe works to bring two people who need to meet together. Steiner tells us that this is Karma. We either want to continue to work together, or we are wanting to make amends for things that happened before. What happens afterwards is where Freedom comes in.
I don't exactly believe everything that Steiner said 100%. Some things are just so damned out there I just go. "Okay dude. Whatever. Maybe I'll figure it out next time around (His Cosmology is falling under this category, let me tell you.) But his description of Karma rings true for me. I think it explains why when you meet some people there's an instant click of friendship or that brief flicker of "About damn time...I've been waiting for you!" On the other hand it may also explain why some people, even though they seem perfectly nice, just give you the heebie geebies and you don't want to be spending any time with them (this might explain some people's reactions with their in-laws =)).
I have been blessed several times with that instant snap of close friendship and more recently with that "Where the hell have you been? I've been waiting!"...but never have I found a friend and kindred soul...by a letter.
I found an envelope in the mail today addressed to "The Crunchy Mom". The return is from a nearby street in the neighborhood. I thought this was a bit weird. I didn't recognize the name...do I have a stalker? How would some random person know I'm a crunchy mom? I open it up. It's from a woman in the neighborhood. She's moved to the area recently and is looking for new friends. On a walk she spies my van which has a bumper sticker on it that reads something like ('cause I'm too damn lazy to go outside and look it up right now) "Crunchy, hippie, liberal, leftist, homeschooling mom" Which makes her go "I need to meet this mom!" But she doesn't want to knock on the door 'cause that's weird. So she wrote a letter.
This is pretty cool. I love the way the Universe works. I'll call her later when we aren't quite so toxic. Although, now that I think about it...she may appreciate an invitation to someone's house who is dealing with chicken pox. =) I know I would!
I don't exactly believe everything that Steiner said 100%. Some things are just so damned out there I just go. "Okay dude. Whatever. Maybe I'll figure it out next time around (His Cosmology is falling under this category, let me tell you.) But his description of Karma rings true for me. I think it explains why when you meet some people there's an instant click of friendship or that brief flicker of "About damn time...I've been waiting for you!" On the other hand it may also explain why some people, even though they seem perfectly nice, just give you the heebie geebies and you don't want to be spending any time with them (this might explain some people's reactions with their in-laws =)).
I have been blessed several times with that instant snap of close friendship and more recently with that "Where the hell have you been? I've been waiting!"...but never have I found a friend and kindred soul...by a letter.
I found an envelope in the mail today addressed to "The Crunchy Mom". The return is from a nearby street in the neighborhood. I thought this was a bit weird. I didn't recognize the name...do I have a stalker? How would some random person know I'm a crunchy mom? I open it up. It's from a woman in the neighborhood. She's moved to the area recently and is looking for new friends. On a walk she spies my van which has a bumper sticker on it that reads something like ('cause I'm too damn lazy to go outside and look it up right now) "Crunchy, hippie, liberal, leftist, homeschooling mom" Which makes her go "I need to meet this mom!" But she doesn't want to knock on the door 'cause that's weird. So she wrote a letter.
This is pretty cool. I love the way the Universe works. I'll call her later when we aren't quite so toxic. Although, now that I think about it...she may appreciate an invitation to someone's house who is dealing with chicken pox. =) I know I would!
Today's Baking project.
Jan. 27th, 2014 10:33 amWhich I now realize I should have taken a picture of, even if it's not pretty.
Ike wanted to make GF Cinnamon Buns. Okay. Took too long. And the pan I used was too big. But...they aren't bad. A bit heavy. Not sure I'd ever make 'em again (I'm not a huge fan)...but I think he might!
We used ATK's Quick Cinnamon Bun recipe with the leveaners at 1.5 times the amount listed and Gluten Free Mama's Almond Flour Blend and 2 tsp's of xantham gum. It worked. He's happy. That's fine with me.
Ike wanted to make GF Cinnamon Buns. Okay. Took too long. And the pan I used was too big. But...they aren't bad. A bit heavy. Not sure I'd ever make 'em again (I'm not a huge fan)...but I think he might!
We used ATK's Quick Cinnamon Bun recipe with the leveaners at 1.5 times the amount listed and Gluten Free Mama's Almond Flour Blend and 2 tsp's of xantham gum. It worked. He's happy. That's fine with me.
Well crap.
Jan. 18th, 2014 07:22 pmThis is definitely a case of good news/bad news.
The good news is...the kids FINALLY managed to catch Chicken Pox. After multiple exposures over the last few years, Elli has spontaneously developed it. Ike is already feeling crappy and itching...so I suspect it will whip through here like wildfire. Joe and I have had it as kids. I had such a light case as a child that when Ike was a baby, I got myself checked for antibodies, which eventually came back positive...so I have the immunity. Though I am likely to be prone to a small flare.
The bad news.
I'm supposed to start my student teaching internship on Tuesday. I've called my mentor and asked about the School's policy regarding my attending and she's going to get back to me. Dang it. It's never a good time for children to get sick, but something as serious as this?? Right before I start something seriously important? Oh well. Life is what happens while we make plans. It'll be alright.
The good news is...the kids FINALLY managed to catch Chicken Pox. After multiple exposures over the last few years, Elli has spontaneously developed it. Ike is already feeling crappy and itching...so I suspect it will whip through here like wildfire. Joe and I have had it as kids. I had such a light case as a child that when Ike was a baby, I got myself checked for antibodies, which eventually came back positive...so I have the immunity. Though I am likely to be prone to a small flare.
The bad news.
I'm supposed to start my student teaching internship on Tuesday. I've called my mentor and asked about the School's policy regarding my attending and she's going to get back to me. Dang it. It's never a good time for children to get sick, but something as serious as this?? Right before I start something seriously important? Oh well. Life is what happens while we make plans. It'll be alright.
Letting go
Jan. 14th, 2014 10:10 amSo. It's January. I look around...my house is a mess (shocking I know) and I see so much....STUFF. I'm really beginning to feel the weight of stuff in my life. I'm tired of taking care of it.
But there's the sentimental attachment to stuff. It's hard to let go of that.
Then I realized I could capture the stuff with a picture. So. This morning. I decided to let go of two items that have huge sentimental value...but are in essence. Dust Collectors.
First up. This...thing.
I made this in wood shop (remember when public schools still *had* wood shop??) in (wait for it) 6th grade. I was so proud of it....and it wasn't until I saw the other side
That I noticed that this thing has been doing nothing but collecting dust in some house of mine or my mothers...for over 30 years. Yea. Time to go.
Then went this.
I took a ceramics class my Senior year of high school...this is a mask of my own face. Gwen is modeling it for me. Yea. What in the hell do I do with it? I checked the date. March 29, 1990. Right. Done nothing but collect dust for nearly 24 years.
With a sigh. Both are now gone. And it's okay.
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Icon Meme!
Jan. 14th, 2014 07:30 am1. Reply to this post and I will pick five of your icons.
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon glee.
5. I can't promise to pick in a timely manner, but I will do my best.
What ghost_light picked for me:
I found this one while pregnant with Elli and Gwen and loved it for pregnancy posts. It just shows a pregnant body in a really cool way.
So one day I realized that Chez Geek cards make damn perfect icons. So I scanned a bunch. I choose this one for those time when you really need to pig out....or I'm talking about food.
Meme Icon. I am a sheep sometimes.
This is a new one, I just uploaded it. Zombie pic. I could of totally used this for a post I made last Saturday after having a grand total of 2 hours of sleep. Sometimes you just feel like you are shuffling around.
Joe's license plate. For those times when I want to bitch about his car. Probably not the best icon to have as it helps track us down/privacy thing...but WTF. Oh. And it's not Pounds per Square Inch....its the roman alphabet equivalent for the greek letter Psi (pronounced PeCee) and the Psi*Psi is some physics equation that is a constant (I think)
2. Make a post (including the meme info) and talk about the icons I chose.
3. Other people can then comment to you and make their own posts.
4. This will create a never-ending cycle of icon glee.
5. I can't promise to pick in a timely manner, but I will do my best.
What ghost_light picked for me:
I found this one while pregnant with Elli and Gwen and loved it for pregnancy posts. It just shows a pregnant body in a really cool way.
So one day I realized that Chez Geek cards make damn perfect icons. So I scanned a bunch. I choose this one for those time when you really need to pig out....or I'm talking about food.
Meme Icon. I am a sheep sometimes.
This is a new one, I just uploaded it. Zombie pic. I could of totally used this for a post I made last Saturday after having a grand total of 2 hours of sleep. Sometimes you just feel like you are shuffling around.
Joe's license plate. For those times when I want to bitch about his car. Probably not the best icon to have as it helps track us down/privacy thing...but WTF. Oh. And it's not Pounds per Square Inch....its the roman alphabet equivalent for the greek letter Psi (pronounced PeCee) and the Psi*Psi is some physics equation that is a constant (I think)
Ann Mann's Mexican Christmas Cookies
Dec. 21st, 2013 10:36 amMy copy of Cookies for Christmas is falling apart, this is our favorite recipe for these cookies and I don't want to lose it.
1 cup sweet butter (2 sticks, room temp)
1 cup margarine (2 sticks, room temp)
1/2 cup sugar
1 T vanilla
4 cups AP flour
2 cups finely chopped pecans (8 oz or 240g)
Powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, margarine, sugar, and vanilla
Add about 3/4 of the flour and blend. Add nuts, blend. Add rest of flour, blend.
Form into 1-1 1/2 inch balls. Go ahead and pack them on the sheet...these do not spread.
Bake 15-20 minutes
Roll in powdered sugar immediately and place on cooling rack.
Notes:
To make these gluten free, add another 4 T of butter. Change AP flour to a GF AP Flour (Better Batter, Tom Sawyer, and Gluten Free Mama blends all work well)
If you use a #70 scoop you should get 100-110 cookies
1 cup sweet butter (2 sticks, room temp)
1 cup margarine (2 sticks, room temp)
1/2 cup sugar
1 T vanilla
4 cups AP flour
2 cups finely chopped pecans (8 oz or 240g)
Powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, margarine, sugar, and vanilla
Add about 3/4 of the flour and blend. Add nuts, blend. Add rest of flour, blend.
Form into 1-1 1/2 inch balls. Go ahead and pack them on the sheet...these do not spread.
Bake 15-20 minutes
Roll in powdered sugar immediately and place on cooling rack.
Notes:
To make these gluten free, add another 4 T of butter. Change AP flour to a GF AP Flour (Better Batter, Tom Sawyer, and Gluten Free Mama blends all work well)
If you use a #70 scoop you should get 100-110 cookies
That child, I swear, whipsaws me from one emotion to another. Check this out.
First of all one day this week, he sets up my sewing machine and says he wants to sew christmas presents for his sibilings. He learned to use a machine in school last year and can handle straight line sewing. So I let him at my fabric stash, set him up and let him sew. He made little bags for his sibs and did a pretty good job.
A couple of days earlier I caught him outside and the play structure looked like this. Do you see a problem? Let's look at a closer picture of that cross beam.
Yea. He sawed right through it and I caught him as he was part way through the other side. Tells me he decided to saw off those sections because he was tired of hitting his head on it. He didn't realize that that crossbeam helps keep the structure true. Now the pressure from the rest of the structure has broken the half sawed cross beam. Grrrr....it's replaceable...but still! I give him high marks for seeing a problem and attempting to solve it. I just wish he'd find solutions that didn't include destruction. He cooled his heels in his room for quite awhile, while I calmed down.
