Siouxsie's Musings

Look Who Came to Town!

2012-01-23T21:01:00.003-05:00

SORry about the glare on the photo. I'm a writer, not a photographer. Ha.This blog has gone through many permutations, but it started out as a decluttering blog. And it's kind of come around again to that theme. So, I've been tearing through cupboards and the basement (and would tear through closets if we had any LOL) paring down, sprucing up, shifting around, and moving out. One time, many moons

Just (don't) do it!

2012-01-10T19:26:00.005-05:00

Let us count the ways I am not like an NFL player:My shoulders are nice, but I wouldn't call them broad.My weight doesn't begin with a 2 or a 3.My height doesn't begin with "6 foot."No one is planning to give me a $28 million bonus. (Go, Payton!)Let us count the ways I am like an NFL player.I'm a decent football player, albeit retired now. (1968-1970 Kill the Man with the Ball, Steve Schaub's

Happy New Year! Let's Get Moving!

2012-01-05T21:15:00.004-05:00

This isn't my house, but isn't it pretty? I'm not sure I'd want to go the whole nine yards on minimalist decorating, but I do love the clean look. As I've considered lately what I want to create in our home, I've been imagining a home with a feeling of space in it, even in a 1500 sq. ft. home filled with 6 active people full-time, and a 7th who visits between semesters.For me, a feeling of space

Well, well, well. Siouxsie's back.

2011-12-31T14:59:00.008-05:00

SOMEthing got me to thinking this morning about reflecting on the past year. I remember mentioning awhile back that I'd be happy to see the end of 2011, and that I was looking forward to 2012. In 2011, I learned a lot about teenagers and all their messiness. At first, I resisted the lesson. It wasn't supposed to be like this, filled with jagged edges and rock faces to scale.. Looking back at my

Intentional? Intuitive? Whatever.

2011-10-26T20:18:00.004-04:00

Oh, the other day I posted about this cool new eating thing I had found that was very simple. Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re satisfied. Somehow the concept of Intuitive Eating transmogrified in my tiny brain into Intentional Eating. I went on my merry way touting the benefits of Intentional Eating for several days. Yesterday, I realized that it was actually Intuitive Eating. And then I

Dancin' on the Treadmill

2011-10-20T09:00:00.002-04:00

Usually, when I exercise, it's fraught with guilt. Same song, 17th verse. I'm not exercising enough. I shouldn't have eaten that (whatever). I'm not exercising right. Yada. Yada. Ya. Da. Intentional Eating addresses the area of exercise as well. But with a twist. Instead of exercising, you experiment with moving your body for the purposes of feeling good. Tonight I felt ready to try this so I

In Which Siouxsie Almost Throws a Hissy Fit at the Gas Station

2011-10-19T11:25:00.004-04:00

Oh, excuse me, the ”fuel center.”The problem with blogging about having a hissy fit is often said h.f. occurs a few hours before the blog can actually be created. In that time, a cooler head and a rational mind can often prevail. And/or, a cool quote from Seth Godin can show up in my inbox. From Seth’s post today, "We repeatedly underestimate how important a story is to help us make sense of the

What Kepler and I Made Today

2011-10-18T17:14:00.012-04:00

Remember my post the other day about cat blogs? Yes, I do want to have a blog that inspires the masses, or at least some portion thereof. But, I’m still mostly a cat blogger. So, yes, there are multiple blogs across the blogosphere that tell a similar story as this one, but there’s no other blog that tells THIS story. Kepler’s teacher sent home a blank book the other day and asked us to create a

Siouxsie’s reMembering, or The Little Red Hen, My Aunt Jeanie

2011-10-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

Do you remember this story? No one would help the Little Red Hen with any of the jobs that needed to be done, so she just up and did them herself. This was my Aunt Jeanie.Born the youngest of 4 children into the unending work of the life of farmers, Jeanie grew up and married a local boy. Wednesday of this week, her life ended after a short battle with cancer. Last night, I had the opportunity to

In Which Siouxsie’s All Like “Methinks Siouxsie’s Last Post was too Subtle and Obtuse"

2011-10-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

In honor of three of my family members attending CincyShakes’ MacBeth today, I used “methinks” in the title of this post.In response to a panicked comment by Anonymous: Bacon isn’t the problem in Intentional OVEReating. It’s just one of many. Stay tuned for more on Intentional EATING and I think you will be pleasantly and baconly surprised. Oh, and if you DO open a restaurant called “All Things

Siouxsies Munching! Or How to Conquer That Diet!

2011-10-12T22:46:00.009-04:00

I am a practitioner, a devotee, an advocate, a student of Intentional Eating. Having followed this philosophy for some 24 hours now, I am a veteran with much wisdom to share. **See below for text of this food pyramid.Before I share that much wisdom, I should tell you about my previous practice, Intentional Overeating. Practiced by many, I was not even surprised to learn the following statistics

Siouxsie’s Moving! or How to Nail a Presentation

2011-10-12T10:47:00.005-04:00

Maybe not in the way you think. We’re not moving to a new house or state or anything. The movement is more of a mental shift. That title just flowed, so I went with it. Y’know. Art and creativity and all.I’ve been reading ALL KINDS OF completely cool stuff that has just been making my brain throw off sparks. Recently, I learned about three types of blogs, the first of which was called “cat blogs.

The Ocean's Response

2011-06-07T16:46:00.003-04:00

1. Ride the waves.2. Enjoy the ride.

Do Not Blog While Grumpy

2011-06-07T08:41:00.002-04:00

This is probably sound advice. I think I've been on Facebook too much lately.I'm realizing that I am not getting any more used to all the profanity, homosexual banter, and angry rantings. Rather, I am finding that I feel like I am taking a bath in very dirty water. Now, what to do with this dilemma. I actually care about the people I am friends with on Facebook. Want to be a warm and accepting

There's a Reason Why People Always ...

2011-06-04T23:00:00.003-04:00

write about the sea.Between Hemingway and Melville and lots of other people, plenty has been written about the ocean, so I hardly think I'm going to add anything particularly original here, but the ocean is just so rife with meaning and beauty and grace and experience. Man, I love the ocean. I love the expanse. I love the depth. I love the Mariana Trench. I love the waves and the tides and the

Got Momentum?

2011-05-20T07:04:00.006-04:00

That's a big 10-4, Good Buddy. After Eli and I attended Unleash the Power Within, I absorbed even more of Tony's teaching in his Time of Your Life time management course. I, too, had been to the time management courses that taught me how to prioritize my to-do list (A, B, C), and instructed me to be ruthless about doing the things on my list in the order proscribed. That particular ABC course was

I Can See Clearly Now!

2011-05-10T08:27:00.003-04:00

My cousin asked me to blog about my recent Lasik eye surgery, and I started a post the other day. I had to stop when I realized that my focus was on some of my past experiences with glasses and contacts, and that most of those experiences were painful in some way. Maybe those painful experiences will be a blog post sometime, but they weren't where I wanted to go.I've been thinking about getting

That's my Grocery Bagger!

2011-04-24T20:26:00.002-04:00

A buncha years ago, my groceries were sometimes bagged by Judy, a woman with short black hair, and the tell-tale features of Down syndrome on her face. I remember one day she was letting her mood direct her contact with my produce and bread, and it seemed to me they were getting short shrift. I remember feeling irritated with her, because MY produce and MY bread should only be treated with the

What Could it Mean?

2011-04-14T08:39:00.003-04:00

I have a friend and fellow blogger who recently wrote a post on the commodification of water. I read posts like that and realize that there are definitely different types of blogging. His post was intellectual and dealt with big picture, important issues. But I'm really not so much about big-picture type things, other than the piece of the big picture that I can contribute to. Hopefully, at the

New Stuff

2011-02-22T15:13:00.003-05:00

It was a dark and stormy night and we embarked on a long and winding road to get to the Newport on the Levee for the screening of the Adjustment Bureau. The pre-movie announcements scared me sufficiently to keep my phone off the whole entire time, because I really didn't want to get sent to the principal's office, and that's what was promised. So, I worried every so often that one of my children

A day in the Life

2011-02-17T23:24:00.003-05:00

About a year ago, a 17-year friendship ended by mutual decision, but her parting words to me were a prediction that I was going to have a lonely life due to my inability to be a good friend. We each had one child when we met and proceeded to have 9 more between us. I hung in there through difficult times for the sake of our kids, but finally it became apparent to both of us, in different ways and

Hey Y'all!

2011-02-13T23:13:00.004-05:00

Tonight you get blog post without clever illustration. Typing with one finger on my iPad plus it doesn't look like I can upload photos from my iPad to my blog. So, use your imagination.Have freed up other hand so now typing with two fingers.Anyway, it's been a quiet week in my hometown. The flu which was roaring through our home targeted me specifically on Tues evening, Wednesday all the lifelong

And Another Thing!

2011-01-22T12:58:00.002-05:00

Raise your mouse if you remember what this blog started out as. No one? Well, it has been awhile. I started this blog to share with the world my "exciting" and "effective" decluttering process. But so far, there's been more "clutter" than "de." However, I was working in the basement this morning and guess what I found. My copy of "Soonerette's Country Pride Cookbook." This used to belong to my

There's No Place Like Home, or: That's Why I Love Kansas

2011-01-21T21:41:00.005-05:00

Just LOOK at those nice straight streets. For this easily over-stimulated brain, those straight streets are a breath of fresh air. Did you know that I decided as a teenager that I would be marrying someone from the midwest? Especially Oklahoma or Kansas? The adolescent me felt a deep connection with the normal life and environment of the farmer, familiar with fields of wheat and other grains. So,

Kicking against the goads

2011-01-08T10:24:00.003-05:00

Have you noticed how many times you are asked to verify your "information" these days? When call the doctor to make an appointment, I am asked to verify address and telephone. I am asked again at check-in. I am asked whenever I call to ask a question. Multiply this by the pediatrician, ENT specialist, eye doctor, allergist, primary care physician, insurance company, Verizon customer service (i

The Christmas Tree that Kept on Giving

2011-01-06T21:02:00.002-05:00

OK, personally I find insects kind of revolting. I talk a good story about being kind to spiders for they are our friends (yes, I know they are not insects, but they are surely buglike). For the most part, I can let bugs live outside, and can even tolerate such things as crane flies inside. But some bugs are just simply not welcome in the Taylor casa. Mi casa ain't the bug's casa.Our Christmas

Seven Lines of Text

2011-01-04T17:57:00.003-05:00

The other night, we were doing our traditional family New Years Eve activity where we record memories from 2010 and hopes/goals for2011 on a big piece of posterboard. I went to look back through my blog to be reminded of all the events of 2010. Oops. Only 12 posts.I love sharing my thoughts with my readers and so enjoy the responses from people. To experience that satisfaction, looks like I'm

Mindful driving and Brain space

2010-11-17T18:35:00.003-05:00

I've been all worried for awhile because it seems my brain ain't as good as it used to be. I've also been describing my to-do list by likening it to me standing under Niagara Falls and trying to deal with every drop of water. When you're under the falls, sometimes it's a little hard to see the forest for the trees, not to mix metaphors or anything.So I have been on a quest of sorts, with a

The Problem of Susan

2010-10-26T16:57:00.004-04:00

Not long ago, someone I love declared him/herself an atheist, after presumably having been a Christian from the get-go. This got me to thinking about the problems this person has with organized religion, which I've noticed is often interchangeable with all forms of Christianity, and is generally held in very low esteem.This person's declaration brought back to mind doubts I have had over the long

Partying with 4-year-olds

2010-09-27T11:11:00.004-04:00

Yesterday the Crossroads band started the service with that great Black-Eyed Peas song, I Gotta Feeling. Although quite tired from having Kepler sleep with us all night, I perked right up when those chords started. "I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night." (FUN song, but with the double fun of remembering the BEP singing it in Norman last year to open for U2.)I had this idea a few

Wax On, Wax Off

2010-09-23T11:36:00.006-04:00

When Karate Kid came out in 1984, the thing that grabbed my attention more than the karate was the bonsai collection that Mr. Miyagi lovingly tended in his little apartment. I believe I must have been a little ahead of my time, because I was unable to find bonsai plants anywhere for sale at that time. I considered creating my own bonsai plant, but never did get around to it. Of course, now you

Defriending Facebook?

2010-09-22T11:28:00.006-04:00

Virtual Friendship and the New NarcissismA good friend of mine recently mentioned an article he had read about such topics as facebook, narcissism, and co-dependency. I love to Google things, so I tried to find the article. Although I did not find the article he mentioned, I did find the one I've linked to. This quote interested me: "Does this technology, with its constant demands to collect (

Twelve Things on My Mind

2010-07-11T14:41:00.004-04:00

Hello (every)one -- Why have I not posted, you ask? Ah, who knows. Different reasons, different days. Let's just focus on the present, shall we.1. I worked hard on a friendship for a very long time and just recently this friendship ended permanently. I didn't realize how much energy was being drained from me on a daily basis, being in relationship with this person. There have been many days since

I Love me Some Greg

2010-04-22T15:00:00.006-04:00

Long, long ago, and oh so far away -- 28 years ago in Wheaton, Illinois, I met Greg. At first glance, he was not as dynamic! and exciting! and showy! as some of the other guys at the college, but at second glance, I knew he was a good, good guy.We went to a homeschool meeting several years ago when the topic was marriage and parenting. We were given several handouts that night, but the one I have

Missed Me, Missed Me, Now Ya Gotta Kiss Me

2010-04-11T21:41:00.002-04:00

Sometimes it matters. Sometimes it doesn't. Tonight it did.Last year we spent six weeks with three lovely couples, all of whom live in a higher economic level than we do. That wasn't an issue at all last year. This year we spent six weeks with these three lovely couples, plus one more lovely couple. Tonight was the sixth meeting. Greg and I were really uncomfortable, because most of the

Things must be looking UP!

2010-02-09T12:18:00.005-05:00

It's only fair since Eeyore got a voice yesterday, we should allow Tigger to have his say today.Isn't the snow beautiful! There's something so peaceful about the big flakes falling outside my window. I used to sit in my bedroom at home at night, and watch the snowflakes fall through the light of the back porch spotlight. I loved that sight. Today, the cupboard is almost bare, as is the till, but

Back to the Drawing Board

2010-02-08T21:52:00.002-05:00

Today I organized the toys. Most are toys that have 20-1,000,000 pieces. Therefore, they have been taking up space in about 25 different places in the house. A veritable olio of missing pieces, passing time, waiting to be reunited. Greg was off today, and he took Anna-Jessie and Kepler out for the morning. What a gift that was -- as much as I love having the kids here all the time, having some

Had to Get Tough Today; OR Further Adventures in Homeschooling

2010-01-12T20:30:00.006-05:00

I do not like AP Spanish. I do not like AP Spanish. I do not like AP Spanish. Without identifying it by name, I would like to mention that one particular school taught me a hard lesson today.NEVER MIND that this school's platform does not work on a Mac and they didn't tell me that. NEVER MIND that they did not assign my student classes until after the entire first, important week of school had

2009 Meme

2010-01-01T11:09:00.006-05:00

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? MET BONO. 2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Haven't made these for many years -- they just don't seem to be useful to me. However, I do think it would be excellent to start something at the beginning of the year and continue to do it through the end of the year (like maybe exercise on a daily

We Had Ourselves a Merry LITTLE Christmas

2009-12-26T19:39:00.005-05:00

Kepler was delighted with his festive noisemakers, just like I thought he would be!This Christmas was a little different than some Christmases past. Our two main sources of Christmas money had either dried up completely or dried out significantly. Indeed, the only source still producing didn't show up until December 19. Until that point, I had no idea how we were going to do Christmas this year.

GET. THIS.

2009-12-17T10:57:00.002-05:00

Just to clarify, this post has nothing to do with the value and/or benefits of public school, or really anything about the pros and cons. I met with a local high school guidance counselor this morning just to explore what it would take for Joel to take a class or classes at the high school during second semester. She gave me great information and I came home armed with everything I need to be

Just Thinking about Christmas

2009-12-13T19:47:00.004-05:00

I've heard quite a few sermons and messages about Christmas over the years. This morning at Crossroads, Brian talked about the value that each of us have based on what someone was willing to pay for us -- we are so valuable to God. Christmas is about him sending Jesus to us to demonstrate his care. At the end of the service we sang O, Holy Night. Verse 3 follows. Truly He taught us to love one

This Week in the Life of Siouxsie

2009-12-05T11:38:00.002-05:00

Charlie Brown Christmas is playing in the background and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here. All we need is some snow. In the meantime, the kids put the Christmas tree up last night and there was only one bitter fight when three kids asked one kid for the Christmas lights that one kid had used to decorate his/her own space. Father Christmas came to the rescue once again, sending

A Christmas Memory

2009-11-29T13:29:00.002-05:00

When we moved here in 1999, I knew that several of my neighbors were parents of kids I had gone to school with here in town. We were not close friends, but there was a connection for me. I later found out that one of the residents of my street was actually in my class, although we had not been anything more than acquaintances. Imagining this connection between myself and my new neighbors, I

Where, O Where Has Siouxsie Gone?

2009-11-09T20:52:00.002-05:00

I'm off on a 50,000 word journey for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, to its afficianados -- oo, did I spell that right?). 12,150 words into the process of writing a novel in one month. I'm traveling along with old and new friends, some of whom have participated in NaNo before, so are able to provide good advice to the novices among us. I started with a loose plot, and started that story,

What Happens When Your Daughter "Steals" Your Phone Charger

2009-10-29T14:44:00.003-04:00

Ever read "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" Remember, every little thing the boy does for the mouse leads to some other task to do for the mouse? Well, if your daughter steals your phone charger, and you are expecting an important call, you will have to find some other way to charge your phone. The only other way to charge your phone is in the car, so when you go to the car to charge your phone,

The Contents of my Head**

2009-10-22T13:58:00.003-04:00

Between thoughts and memories of recent U2 concert experiences, there are a few other ideas rolling around in my head.Going to these concerts has taught me in a big way how marvelous it is to get refreshed. Hanging in there every single day is something that most of us do. Homeschooling multiple kids, having questions come at me from every direction, and remaining calm in the face of such

It Was a Beautiful Day

2009-10-08T08:17:00.014-04:00

Dateline: Raleigh, NC October 3, 2009Correspondent: Bono FanOur goal: Meet Bono. Our technique: Whatever it takes.0100 hours. Stephanie finally arrives after her Duluth-Minneapolis flight is cancelled and she has to drive like a bat out of hell to catch her Minneapolis-Raleigh flight.0200 hours. Stephanie and Susan finally go to sleep, exhausted on the one hand, and filled with anticipation on

Eating as Recreation

2009-10-07T13:21:00.002-04:00

Me and food, we're close. Real close. I have wonderful memories of me and food that go way, way back to my early days. But, as sometimes happens with good friends, we grew apart. But I couldn't live without food, so I began to use her. I would read, and eat, but wouldn't pay any attention to her. No longer cared about the details of what I was eating, as long as it tasted good. Yes, I suppose the

Untitled

2009-10-04T21:58:00.002-04:00

Alone, in a strange city far from home, I am hungry. I have no car. I suspect public transportation doesn't come to where I am. I have no idea how to summon a cab, nor what such an extravagance would cost. I suppose I could ask for help, but I do not want to appear unknowledgeable or feel vulnerable. The only choice I see for eating is to set out walking and find a place. There are no sidewalks,

O Blog, Thou Art Not Facebook

2009-09-25T14:18:00.003-04:00

Dear Blog, I've missed you. That poseur, Facebook, has been demanding my attention and dangling nonsense in front of my eyes many times a day. But Facebook offers momentary scintillation, or boredom, as the case may be, and yet it feels like some type of connection to the outside world during days that are filled with the minutiae of attending to the needs and wants of at least five people and

Guess Who We Saw This Weekend?

2009-09-14T16:24:00.013-04:00

Well, Mike and Stephanie, of course, since we met up in Chicago. Fellow HoneyROCKERS. They drove down from Minnesota, and we drove up from Cincinnati so we could share this concert together.But, also, we saw Bono. And Larry. And Edge. And Adam. And they were RIGHT THERE. And they sang and played like the (letting the thesaurus help me here) matchless, superb, transcendent band that they are.So,

Review of "Adam"

2009-09-06T17:19:00.003-04:00

Way too many loose ends. Questions the movie creates but fails to answer. Adam’s father has died and now he is alone. He eats the same breakfast, All-Bran cereal, and the same dinner, macaroni and cheese with broccoli and chicken on the side, every day, presumably microwaved. Here’s the well-stocked freezer, with the mac n cheese on the top shelf,

Check out This Post

2009-08-28T20:58:00.003-04:00

Anna-Jessie has a blog on which she posts on about a quarterly basis.Check out this post. I especially like her "ad" at the top of her post.Such fun it is to have these kids around!

The Girl Who Cried "We're Moving!"

2009-08-28T09:38:00.003-04:00

Just about 10 years ago to the day, we moved back to Ohio and into this house. It's a small house with a big yard, and isn't the type of house that most of our friends live in. Most of the kids' friends live in two-story houses that have great rooms, and large open kitchens, and high ceilings, and extra rooms here and there, and even sometimes two staircases. We chose this house when the kids

I am so proud of this boy

2009-08-27T21:48:00.003-04:00

Eli and his friend, John, went to CVS to jump the steps today. I have been most comfortable with him skating at skate parks, but I get that every ledge and stairset is a potential skate spot. We've talked numerous times about how he should handle himself when he is skating in places where he may get asked to leave, and I am proud of how he has responded in those situations.John is the first

Where'd She Go?

2009-08-27T08:26:00.002-04:00

For one thing, she has been spending ENTIRELY too much time lurking on Facebook. And for her meager postings, she was rewarded with a cheeky teen the other day mentioning how he gets a big kick out of the things that parents post. I guess he thinks we should stick to esoteric song lyrics as our status.Besides that, have been homeschooling mightily. Last night, at the Last Wednesday service at

We xoxoxo Cincinnati

2009-08-01T13:44:00.010-04:00

Sweet morning with Greg and Kepler. We headed up to Mt. Adams to meet with other people from Crossroads to pray for our city. This is not my usual thing to do on a Saturday morning, but I have learned by now, don't miss anything that Crossroads does, cause I will miss a lot.The overlook shows the beautiful Ohio River and our lovely city. We spent about 30 minutes praying for specific things about

Realty? or Reality?

2009-07-30T12:00:00.005-04:00

Two evenings this week we spent hours at our dining room table with capable real estate agents who came for a preliminary meeting about the possibility of listing our home for sale. Realtor #1 was extremely professional, way prepared, gave us reams of paper and tons of information, and even homework.Realtor #2 was extremely laidback, prepared enough, and gave us some very good info but no

Dog Lovers, Be Kind.

2009-07-17T11:49:00.003-04:00

As Donna Fargo used to sing, Shine on me sunshineWalk with me worldIt’s a skippidity do da dayI’m the happiest girl, in the whole U.S.A.Like 8 months ago I was journaling about how it can be overwhelming to have five children and keep on top of things. And then I lost my mind completely and we got a puppy. She lived with us for five months, and she went to a new adoptive home last night with a

Move Along, Grumpy

2009-07-16T13:32:00.004-04:00

OK I promise I'm not going to have a Seven Dwarfs theme forever.I just wanted to get Grumpy off of center stage. But it took awhile, because that wasn't my only grumpy day. Why, you ask? Well, thanks for asking.Can you say puppy?Can you say clutter?Can you say daughter's incessant coughing?Can you say computer?Well, of course you can. I haven't posted about the dog because I don't think I ever

Today's Self-Portrait

2009-07-07T11:36:00.001-04:00

Thoughts on My Sister's Keeper

2009-07-03T19:37:00.003-04:00

I had the distinct privilege of being asked by my daughter to go to a movie with her. I had seen a review of the movie and knew it didn't get a great review. But I did not want to miss this opportunity to spend time with Valerie. Shortly into the movie, I could tell Val was disgusted with the screen adaptation. Although I had read the book, I did not remember the story in the detail that Valerie

Take Me Out of the Ballpark

2009-07-02T20:17:00.003-04:00

See this? I spent my ENTIRE day selling people ice cream sundaes in these little hats for a mere $4.75, toppings are free!So, we had the opportunity to sign up for this "fundraising" deal whereby we work our butts off at the Reds game for a small amount of money which will offset our tuition this year. This was my first time today. I. Am. Exhausted.First thing this morning, I drove downtown with

Don't Try This at Home

2009-06-29T20:18:00.005-04:00

1. I know a three-year-old who loves to shred documents.2. I know a mother who lets her three-year-old shred documents. This is an attentive, careful mother who never even leaves the shredder plugged in when not using it, let alone on.3. I know why there is a warning on the machine to keep fingers out of it.1. I am thankful I have lightning-fast reflexes, so that2. These little fingers did not

Woman Gives Birth to Giant Rodent

2009-06-22T21:15:00.003-04:00

but doesn't realize it for 10 1/2 years. When she walks into her daughter's room one night, she discovers it is inhabited by a genuine packrat. The floor is covered; under the bed is filled up; the tabletops are missing; under the top layer on the floor is tiny piece after tiny piece of thread, either from sewing or perhaps to line her nest with.And money? You'd think there was one of those birds

How it All Wove Together

2009-06-15T10:58:00.006-04:00

Via Facebook, I heard about my 30th high school class reunion. I was enthusiastic about helping organize it, but as these things sometimes go, life got in the way of my plans and I moved on to other tasks. I planned to go to the reunion, although I wasn't nearly as enthusiastic when the time came to make the reservations. I caved in when my sister demanded that I attend as she wanted to make sure

Look What I Found in the Storage Room

2009-06-12T22:04:00.003-04:00

One of my children, who shall remain nameless, wrote this list when she was age 7. She prepared this list the night before we were to attend a concert at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. This list is a perfect example of how she has always been an organized person from early on. The rows say the following:To wear///Black Velvet Dress///White Sparkling Shoes///White Coloerd TightsTo take///A box

A Thought About Prayer

2009-06-11T15:40:00.003-04:00

A few days ago I checked in with a friend who has been contemplating changing jobs. While we were talking she mentioned that she is cleaning our her basement and wanting to get rid of a bunch of stuff. Since I am in the midst of the same thing, I broached the subject of having a joint yard sale, but I told her I wanted to pray about it first. This is not because I am super-spiritual. I have just

Well, At Least She's Consistent

2009-06-10T10:54:00.002-04:00

I'm on a roll. The storage room is being cleared out even as we speak. How many boxes have I found so far that are filled to the brim with miscellaneous pieces of this and that? More than a few but less than a million.I am encouraged though because it is helpful that I have done the same method of pre-sorting for all these years. At least if it is in the house, it is in one of these boxes and has

What I Saw on the Side of the Road

2009-06-07T19:45:00.002-04:00

The reason this is significant is because I was driving home from Crossroads today and I came upon a tableau where there was a man out of his car trying to discern what was wrong with this lady on the side of the road who was crying and heaving and looked like she was throwing up or something. At first, I thought she was ill, because she was so clearly distraught. I stopped too and got out. Found

Let's Look at it as Half-Empty, Shall We?

2009-05-26T21:06:00.004-04:00

Usually, I try to be a half-full kind of blogger. But today, I got my storage room to half-empty status and I am in the zone. My grandma had this china cabinet in her dining room and I loved that thing. To my great surprise, when she was breaking up her house to move into an assisted-living place, I received that china cabinet from her. Most of my cousins lived closer to her than I, and I figured

Don't Worry, Residents of Tuscarora, It Wasn't an Earthquake!

2009-05-22T09:50:00.002-04:00

It was just me, jogging!I haven't exercised by jogging in, ahem, quite some time. Since I, uh, took a break from my weightlifting sesssions a couple months ago, I haven't really been exercising all that much, except, as you know, for the muscles involved in chewing up chips.But today, I jogged. Pretty dern slow, I'll admit, but I was out there. And I stuck with it. My previous exercise du jour

I Ate One Potato Chip Today

2009-05-18T21:30:00.002-04:00

Now, if we're talking about yesterday, I would have to admit to more like 57 chips. But, see, here's the thing. I lost a BUNCH of weight five years ago. I was so hot. Only a size 4, which is smaller than I ever was even in high school. I never bought a size 4 in my life until my super-duper weightlifting weight loss. As SOME people tend to do, I did gain it all back plus a few ounces. Give me a

OK This is Amazing

2009-05-17T15:11:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I got to be part of an AMAZING event called Go Cincinnati. 6500 people from Crossroads and 20 other churches spread out all over Cincinnati and did over 350 service projects for community organizations. My family worked at the City Gospel Mission.True confessions.The City Gospel Mission has been in Cincinnati for like 90 years or something. I have been around for roughly half that long

Hacking the Fridge

2009-05-09T19:42:00.002-04:00

This is not our refrigerator. Ours, a mere three years young, sports some spiffy rust around the water dispenser, thanks to a sucko design by the Maytaggers.So, I've once before taken part of the water dispenser apart, and sanded the rust off and painted it. But things are a little beyond that now. However, I noticed the other day while I was on the floor at Kepler's level looking up that the

Dear Bono,

2009-05-07T13:47:00.000-04:00

As you probably know, Greg and I are meeting Stephanie and Mike at the 1st Chicago concert, although we are sitting in completely different parts of the stadium, mostly because Stephanie was pretty sure Mike would have a fit from which he would not recover if she spent as much as I did on the tickets.Just want to let you know that it is true that I didn't really like U2 when your first song came

Funny Vocabulary Sentences

2009-05-06T14:18:00.002-04:00

My son has vocabulary words to define each week for his composition class. Somehow he came up with the idea of linking together the sentences to create a (very, very funny) story. Today I am posting his latest assignment. Enjoy:UNCOUTH adj: lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. The uncouth slime mold never seemed to care about his personal appearance in public.SUBPOENA n: a writ ordering a

Sheesh! A Week Later!

2009-04-15T10:22:00.003-04:00

And it's not like I haven't had anything to post about! For instance, the beautiful cornucopia pictured here could have easily been put together on our trip to Jungle Jim's, which is a wonderful store not far from us. While we were up there, we got serious about looking for another car to replace our beloved Previa, so we stopped by Performance Toyota to check out a couple of cars.Thursday, I

Recurring Dreams

2009-04-08T10:56:00.003-04:00

Do you have these? I have several that recur on a regular basis.One of my recurring dreams is about school. Lately, the main aspect of them has been the fact that I cannot find my classroom, indeed, I do not even have the information I need. Many of these dreams take place on my college campus, in the main building, and in the dream, there are several flights of stairs that only lead to certain

Lunch with My Teenager

2009-04-07T16:22:00.002-04:00

Back when our older kids were gradeschoolers, also known as the time when I knew everything there was to know about parenting, I remember thinking that I had full confidence I wasn't going to have the typical experience with MY teenagers. We would still talk, my teens would still be willing to be seen in public with me, and our tastes would not be diametrically opposed, a la Jeremy and his

Things'll Look Brighter in the Morning

2009-04-04T11:18:00.003-04:00

That's the title of a song by Bill, Bill, Bill somebody. It'll come to me. Anyway, things do look brighter this morning. The dog is getting trained. I am still not organized enough to home school perfectly, but I am organized enough to homeschool imperfectly, which is likely the only way I will ever homeschool.Even in the midst of a hard day, which yesterday was, I did find the energy and

The Balance Between Those Who Have Gone Before and Figuring out My Own Road

2009-04-04T10:22:00.000-04:00

If only I had a dollar for every time I've heard this: "You HOME SCHOOL? And you have FIVE KIDS? I could NEVER do that. I don't know HOW you do it." And then there's "No matter what the kids say about taking care of a pet, it's always Mom that ends up taking care of it."And finally, "I could never be organized enough to homeschool. I admire you."Well, bwahahahahaha.First off. I don't know I do it

Crossroads

2009-04-02T15:00:00.002-04:00

This is the pastor of the place where we gather with other Christ followers, aka where we go to church.Back in November, my then-trainer, Mark, told me that he would be appearing via video as one of the two totally built angels in the Christmas program. That piqued my interest and I reserved tickets for my family. Due to a tragedy at the first performance, all the rest of the shows were cancelled

Let's See If I Remember How To Do This

2009-04-01T17:44:00.002-04:00

So, an entire month of history has passed by while I've been doing what? Homeschooling, of course. Now and then.Going to my fabbo new church, Crossroads Church. More about that later.Getting a puppy. More about that later.Buying U2 tickets. More about that.And, last but not least, working my butt off at my personal training sessions and losing a grand total of, drum roll please, about 2 ounces.So

Great Great Month

2009-02-28T10:54:00.003-05:00

So February tends to be a pretty dark month here in Ohio, what with cloudy skies, and periodic snowfalls that really mess up traffic and schedules. But, on this last day of the month, I would just say, this has been a great month. I got back on track with homeschooling, which feels really good. I read a book about organizing that has given me some incredibly helpful information (I will try to

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2009-02-10T16:39:00.002-05:00

Third Day's song Tunnel has a very repetitive chorus, which seems to linger after I've heard the song. I really have only heard it maybe once before I looked for it on YouTube today. Pretty good song, actually.I've been in a tunnel. A long, dark, smelly, narrow tunnel. And that tunnel's name is "trying to homeschool."I agree with the scores of people who have said to me, "I could never homeschool

Laundry, et al.

2009-02-09T19:44:00.003-05:00

This is a not a picture of me doing my laundry, but it is definitely someone doing laundry the hard way. Which brings me to my point.Everyone should have a resident laundry helper man, like I do. Not only does he help with laundry, he actually irons. So, I get major big brownie points when I manage to iron a few things. Really, I do most of the laundry in this place, but this past weekend, he

Joel's New Blog

2009-02-09T18:36:00.002-05:00

For a boy who hates to do homework, he sure does love to write. Check out his new blog here. You'll be glad you did!

Me Daughter Got Her License (use Irish Accent when reading title)

2009-01-30T18:02:00.002-05:00

SHE got her license. She GOT her license. She got HER license. She got her LICENSE. AND I'm so happy.And I'M so happy.And I'm SO happy.And I'm so HAPPY.

What Happens to My Brain??

2009-01-29T08:14:00.002-05:00

The snow weighs down the branches outside my window. The ice makes each branch heavy so that it cannot hold itself up against the weight. The snow is beautiful but has put our little world into a tizzy, with this being the third day schools are closed.Sometimes my brain is like one of those branches. Gets weighed down with the ice of shame. Just when I think I've dealt with it once and for all,

Check out my Second Blog!

2009-01-21T09:18:00.002-05:00

Recently, I began a second blog to chronicle the sometimes exciting, sometimes mundane events in my quest to become stronger and more fit. I would like to cordially invite you to visit Feelin' Stronger Every Day.I plan to include tips on how to stick with an exercise program, how to use nutrition to your best benefit, my own experiences with successes and failures, and my steadily lowering weight

Hang On!

2009-01-19T17:08:00.002-05:00

I promise I will be back soon!

Recently Heard in my Car

2009-01-11T15:00:00.003-05:00

Joel has a friend who lives quite a ways from us so sometimes we meet at the McDonalds halfway between the two of us. Last week, we pulled into the parking lot, and as soon as Joel spied the garbage truck parked in front of the dumpster, he quipped: "Oh, look, the McDonald's food truck has arrived."

Well, I Had Quite an Adventure Today!

2009-01-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

I hit the ground running this morning, hopping around in a tepid shower thanks to my teenage son who thinks "shower" means "forever," driving Val and Joel to PEP at 7:30 and coming back to start homeschooling with Eli and Anna-Jessie. After a few hours of that, it was time to take Eli to do his paper route, then dash back for Anna-Jessie to do hers, then run up to PEP to pick up V & J, then back

Greg's Brain.

2009-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, Greg visited South Dakota on business. When he returned, he had this long-sleeved shirt for me. Here is a picture of the design on the front of it. "Wacipi" means something about dancing. I love the shirt. That's about as far as I went with the details of the design.Fast forward a mere 10 years later. Greg checks a book out of the library because he likes the art on the cover.

The Guitar is a Big Hit!

2009-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have known for a few months that I wanted to get Kepler a guitar. He had played with his cousin's guitar and clearly enjoyed himself. He has always been a huge fan of music and he loves to dance.I planned to get one for Christmas, but my mom wanted to get it for his birthday, so I waited. Between one thing and another, she ended up getting something else, so off I went to the store to find one

Slip Slidin' Away on our New Satin Sheets

2009-01-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

Oooo, just the words "satin sheets" sound elegant and luxurious. So I brilliantly ordered GOLD satin sheets for Greg for his birthday (not his only gift, rest assured) and quickly put them on the bed that night for a new sleeping experience.Yes, they are elegant. And quite luxurious. But how do you keep from slipping off the bed????? Greg and I have always had a little joke about me being a "

Better Late Than Never to the Facebook Craze

2009-01-04T12:14:00.004-05:00

My smart daughter has been spending hours on Facebook for several months now. I got an account last summer and picked up a couple of friends, but left it dormant until just the other day. So far, I have resumed friendships with people from high school and college, and found out that one of Greg's cousins has been serving in the military in Kuwait but will be coming home this year. Everyone who is

Saying Hello to My New Personal Trainer.

2009-01-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello . . . Jason.I had my first workout with Jason on Saturday morning. He worked me hard, which I wanted, and I did some exercises that I never did with Mark. That's because every trainer does things a little differently. And that's the benefit of switching around every so often. The best part is that I told him I haven't been losing weight and he jumped right on that, assuring me we would look