Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
It's truly the end of an era..and the start of a new one
Jeremy has started his new job as a Correctional Counselor for the state of Iowa and so far he LOVES it. While I am so proud of him and happy for him as well, I am also a bit sad. I am used to talking to Jer several times a day while we both worked at Bridgeway. We would either talk by phone, IM, or text throughout the day, and ALWAYS had lunch together. Today I drove around town at lunchtime, then headed back early because it was rainy and cold outside. Jeremy and I met and fell in love at Bridgeway and for that reason it will always be dear to my heart.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Do you want to know what really gets on my flipping nerves?
Well, since you asked or didn't..
Here is what drives me insane in my membrane:
I am really bothered by people who walk around with obvious black or whiteheads on their face. Pick it. Please.
I get really annoyed when people overly touch their food. My sister not only takes apart her sandwich, but touches everything a ton and I have even seen some people smear catsup with their finger.
I don't like the overuse of apostrophes.. especially in store signs! The "excessive use of quotation marks" is also annoying!
Littering really irks me. I feel like it's just laziness in many cases.
Another pet peeve is the sound of styrofoam rubbing against anything. It makes me cringe!
I get so annoyed when people don't tip. Really people, do you know what it's like to make $3.50 an hour? Do you really know what it's like to serve a random stranger's every whim for ranch dressing, more mr. pib and then more ranch dressing?
I hate when I hear "she didn't have enough money to go to school". She can take out a loan.
Why oh why oh why oh does it ever make sense to drive in the fast lane when you are clearly a slow lane kinda guy or gal?
Socks + sex never make sense.
Egg sandwiches. Possibly because they are often served with catsup or catchup or ketchup.
Why do old people think it's ok to say anything on their mind even when it's insanely offensive? That is so annoying.
I can't take it when someone doesn't follow the basic laws of the land in regards to taking turns in the line at McDonald's. I believe in karma, and you will be peeling off your own toenails in hell.
Here is what drives me insane in my membrane:
I am really bothered by people who walk around with obvious black or whiteheads on their face. Pick it. Please.
I get really annoyed when people overly touch their food. My sister not only takes apart her sandwich, but touches everything a ton and I have even seen some people smear catsup with their finger.
I don't like the overuse of apostrophes.. especially in store signs! The "excessive use of quotation marks" is also annoying!
Littering really irks me. I feel like it's just laziness in many cases.
Another pet peeve is the sound of styrofoam rubbing against anything. It makes me cringe!
I get so annoyed when people don't tip. Really people, do you know what it's like to make $3.50 an hour? Do you really know what it's like to serve a random stranger's every whim for ranch dressing, more mr. pib and then more ranch dressing?
I hate when I hear "she didn't have enough money to go to school". She can take out a loan.
Why oh why oh why oh does it ever make sense to drive in the fast lane when you are clearly a slow lane kinda guy or gal?
Socks + sex never make sense.
Egg sandwiches. Possibly because they are often served with catsup or catchup or ketchup.
Why do old people think it's ok to say anything on their mind even when it's insanely offensive? That is so annoying.
I can't take it when someone doesn't follow the basic laws of the land in regards to taking turns in the line at McDonald's. I believe in karma, and you will be peeling off your own toenails in hell.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
He's eating big boy food..and I betcha he never looks back!
Yummo! This rice-y concoction sure beats my milky concoction!
Another Trip to the Unkin Thatch!
Today we traveled to Woodland View Farm. Ava rode a mini pony and even went hands free! She got her first bee sting today (on her hand) but only cried for a few minutes. She also had a great time dancing with the Indians. A horse and carriage ride topped off the special day.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Where Oh Where Did Naptime Go!?!
Naptime around this place is sought after. It's A-W-E-S-O-M-E, awesome! awesome! TOE-TA-LEE!
Naptime is time to switch over the laundry, catch up on what's going on with the presidential election, bond with Alex, read a new fiction book, mess around on Babycenter, pay the bills.. Lately naptime is dwindling. It takes longer to initiate naptime, longer for the thumping upstairs to subside, yet shorter and shorter in duration. And when naptime does happen, it has certainly taken on a new form. Where oh where did naptime go?
Naptime is time to switch over the laundry, catch up on what's going on with the presidential election, bond with Alex, read a new fiction book, mess around on Babycenter, pay the bills.. Lately naptime is dwindling. It takes longer to initiate naptime, longer for the thumping upstairs to subside, yet shorter and shorter in duration. And when naptime does happen, it has certainly taken on a new form. Where oh where did naptime go?
A Perfect Autumn Day
We took a trip to Tanner's Orchard today and had a splendid time.
It was so special to have all of the kids together and let them have the run of the place.
Even having a pumpkin throw up all over my pants pants and shoes didn't damper our mood.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Crown, by William Carlos Williams
The whole process is a lie,
unless,
crowned by excess,
It break forcefully,
one way or another,
from its confinement—
or find a deeper well.
Antony and Cleopatra
were right;
they have shown
the way. I love you
or I do not live
at all.
Daffodil time
is past. This is
summer, summer!
the heart says,
and not even the full of it.
No doubts
are permitted—
though they will come
and may
before our time
overwhelm us.
We are only mortal
but being mortal
can defy our fate.
We may
by an outside chance
even win! We do not
look to see
jonquils and violets
come again
but there are,
still,
the roses!
Romance has no part in it.
The business of love is
cruelty which,
by our wills,
we transform
to live together.
It has its seasons,
for and against,
whatever the heart
fumbles in the dark
to assert
toward the end of May.
Just as the nature of briars
is to tear flesh,
I have proceeded
through them.
Keep
the briars out,
they say.
You cannot live
and keep free of
briars.
Children pick flowers.
Let them.
Though having them
in hand
they have no further use for them
but leave them crumpled
at the curb's edge.
At our age the imagination
across the sorry facts
lifts us
to make roses
stand before thorns.
Sure
love is cruel
and selfish
and totally obtuse—
at least, blinded by the light,
young love is.
But we are older,
I to love
and you to be loved,
we have,
no matter how,
by our wills survived
to keep
the jeweled prize
always
at our finger tips.
We will it so
and so it is
past all accident.
unless,
crowned by excess,
It break forcefully,
one way or another,
from its confinement—
or find a deeper well.
Antony and Cleopatra
were right;
they have shown
the way. I love you
or I do not live
at all.
Daffodil time
is past. This is
summer, summer!
the heart says,
and not even the full of it.
No doubts
are permitted—
though they will come
and may
before our time
overwhelm us.
We are only mortal
but being mortal
can defy our fate.
We may
by an outside chance
even win! We do not
look to see
jonquils and violets
come again
but there are,
still,
the roses!
Romance has no part in it.
The business of love is
cruelty which,
by our wills,
we transform
to live together.
It has its seasons,
for and against,
whatever the heart
fumbles in the dark
to assert
toward the end of May.
Just as the nature of briars
is to tear flesh,
I have proceeded
through them.
Keep
the briars out,
they say.
You cannot live
and keep free of
briars.
Children pick flowers.
Let them.
Though having them
in hand
they have no further use for them
but leave them crumpled
at the curb's edge.
At our age the imagination
across the sorry facts
lifts us
to make roses
stand before thorns.
Sure
love is cruel
and selfish
and totally obtuse—
at least, blinded by the light,
young love is.
But we are older,
I to love
and you to be loved,
we have,
no matter how,
by our wills survived
to keep
the jeweled prize
always
at our finger tips.
We will it so
and so it is
past all accident.
One man's trash is...still trash.
Yes, my friends..it's that time of the year again...it's "big trash" day. It's that special occasion that only happens three times in the year: when Galesburgers can put their large trash items out on the curb and have them taken away by Waste Management, free of charge. Sounds benign, but what ensues is both fascinating and highly annoying. As soon as "big trash day" begins, you see cars, late model vans, and lots of trucks slowly driving and parking along both sides of the street. These rubbish robbers are perusing other people's trash piles for hidden treasures. Sometimes these vultures are there to take something from someone before they it's even placed in the trash pile! It is not uncommon to see two treasure hunters (I call them trash diggers) fighting over a special find like a wagon missing two of the four wheels. It's awe-inspiring to see these people in action. Part of me wants to know what they are going to do with their find. Part of me already knows:
Either way I am left wondering.. is this a regional thing? an issue of social norms? social class? is it primarily for fun or for profit? Just like the answer to "how big is the solar system?" I am left feeling resigned that I will never know.
Either way I am left wondering.. is this a regional thing? an issue of social norms? social class? is it primarily for fun or for profit? Just like the answer to "how big is the solar system?" I am left feeling resigned that I will never know.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Cubs Win NL Central!
The Cubs are in the play-offs for the second year in a row. Don't look for these Cubs to lose in the first round this year. These Cubs are for real. THIS IS THE YEAR! And this one's for my old friend KM! -Jeremy
My Everything Plus Everything Extra
Have I told you about my Xander? My sweet, lovey dovey, handsome boy Alex? I now know what they mean when they say "A Mother is a Son's First Love". You see, I am Xander's first love. He smiles when I enter the room. He turns his head to follow me with his eyes around the room. Even when he is sitting behind me, I feel his little gaze on me. It's almost like he's worshipping me. It warms me in a way I have never felt before. From the start, Ava and I had a more tenuous and tentative relationship. I cherish the time to rock her at night when she is sleepy or sick because I don't take her affection for granted. It's different with Alex, and I think that maybe it will always be. -Mindi
Sunday, September 14, 2008
This guy's confused.. and so am I
I received this e-mail forward to day and feel elated that it's considered "viral". The writer articulates my beliefs so much better than I ever could.
Let me see if I have this straight… (I hope I’m not offending anyone)
If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic, different.”
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.
If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well grounded.
If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.
If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.
If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.
If you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now. --Mindi
Let me see if I have this straight… (I hope I’m not offending anyone)
If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re “exotic, different.”
Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.
If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick.
Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well grounded.
If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.
If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive.
If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.
If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.
If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.
If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.
If you’re husband is nicknamed “First Dude”, with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
OK, much clearer now. --Mindi
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Happy Birthday, Ava!
My baby is 2! How can it be?!?! Where did the last two years go?
Ava's party was a true success. The day was breezy and just a little cool. Ava developed an uncanny ability to bust each and every balloon by poking them with her sharp little nail. She was truly the belle of the ball, a social butterfly, and as busy as a bee. The highlight of the day was the pinata, a fine princess in the likeness of Dear Ava. Mom painstakingly crafted the pinata princess's hair to look like Ava's slightly shaggy bob. It truly looked like we were celebrating a hanging when poor Princess Ava was strung up on a tree and beat beyond recognition by small children. After blowing out the candles on her cake, Ava bent down and took a large bite out of the side of her birdie. She opened presents feverishly and scored tons of princess and dress up wardrobe items. She chanted "2, mama!" all the way home. Where did the last two years go? --Mindi
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