Changing Gears...

It's very obvious that I am not doing a good job of keeping up with blogging! A dear (online and IRL) friend does a list, each day, of at least three things that made her happy. I'm stealing it flat-out from Michelle, and thinking/hoping it'll revive my posting here.

Stay tuned...

p.s. Me again. I realized I may yet, someday, want to return to this blog or to post recipes, or I might start knitting again... At any rate, I decided to instead set up another blog just for my list of three. Here's the link:

3simplethings

I hope you'll join me there.

Ten Things I Love That Begin With The Letter...

Ten Things I Love That Begin With the Letter M.

Mo gave it to me. Comment here and I'll give you a letter, too.

In alphabetical order:

Magazines
I love to read, but don't often feel that I can give up as much time as it takes to read a book (unless it's for book club or something). I'm not someone who can pick up a book and read a chapter and then put it down, so it's a day-long endeavor for me! Magazines, on the other hand, are full of little self-standing stories and articles and even if I *do* read the whole thing, it's a lot shorter than a book anyway. :)

Magenta
Long before Blues Clues made it famous, magenta was my favorite color (thanks, Crayola!). It's not really my favorite now, but I do still love it--and I like saying it! (ditto for vermilion, but that's not an M word...)

Mall
I love to shop and now that our local mall has become a "town center", I enjoy shopping there even more! I do still love regular malls, too. I remember being 14 years old and visiting my first mall ever. I thought I was in heaven!

Marriage
Well, specifically my marriage. :) I didn't know how else to get G. into the list! But I really, truly do love being married and my marriage in general. Color me happy.

Massage
When G. and I were in college (where we met), we were both pre-Physical Therapy majors. (Neither of us got into the program--their loss!) Part of our pre-PT training included learning how to give massages. Needless to say, it totally rocks to have a husband who not only gives massages, but gives professional massages!

Maternity
I was pregnant three times and (despite any complaints at the time) I loved all three of my pregnancies. I loved eating for two; I loved wearing maternity clothes; I loved feeling the baby moving inside of me. I loved being pregnant!

Math
Although I'm a certified Science teacher, I've been tutoring HS Math and Science and I've found that I really, really love the math part! I wish I'd stuck with it and done Calculus, and I'd love to go back (although I fear that my brain wouldn't wrap around Calculus at this point...).

Meerkat
Meerkat is the nickname we have for M. After years of hemming and hawing over whether we wanted a third child or not, we're pretty darn happy that we had one. :)

Microbiology
My major in college was Secondary Broadfield Science and my minors were Biology and Chemistry. The last class I took for my Biology minor was Microbiology, because I didn't think it sounded very interesting. It turned out to be my favorite Biology class ever and if I had taken it any earlier, I'd probably have changed my major!

Mom
Specifically, my mom! She's been my inspiration for parenting and she still is the first one I call when I have something good (or bad) to share.


That was fun! I almost thought about making a list of 10 Things I Hate That Begin With the Letter M, but that can wait... Leave a comment and I'll give you a letter!

I'm all caught up!

First the explanation...

The holidays are chaotic for EVERYone, so I barely got time to post in December.

After that, G. was home and I was subbing or volunteering, or socializing ;)

And then I got SICK!

I'm still not really WELL, but I am feeling better. I just spent the morning catching up on blog posts. I have a few December ones to add pictures or details to, but the ones I updated today (should you want to go back and read the pathetic details) are:

G's Birthday

Curried Winter Vegetable Soup

Lazy Vacation Days

My Baby is Five Years Old

M's Birthday Party

Schwa eats a worm

Knitting and Un-knitting

The subbing report

Happy Birthday To Me!

Wow! Not bad! No wonder I'm so tired...

Catching up...

I'm way behind on posts, but hope to get some caught up this week/weekend. I'll post them with the original dates (that is, Dec. of 07 dates) so they'll be listed out of order--just FYI if anyone cares :)

I got my first blog award ;)

AlexYearOne just gave me this:

My bloglines roll has expanded to 98 feeds (blogs I subscribe to), and I have no clue how I first found most of those. Her blog is an example. Many blogs I add and then quickly delete when I realize it's not worth my time to read all the fluff. But I have really been enjoying this blog! I was talking with some friends at Kindergarten drop-off yesterday about the decision to have a third baby. While I *thought* I was done after T. was born, I never fully committed ;) However, I knew immediately after M. was born that our family was complete. I am still very comfortable with that decision (good thing, since there's no going back for dear G.), and most of the time I am so happy (when I watch the other moms chasing wild toddlers, or hear them complaining about sore nipples or potty training or no sleep at night) that I'm done with that part of my life.

Anyway, I love reading Dawn's blog and her re-telling of Alex's birth and stories from his first year are so honest, and yet so sweet...

(And I'm still VERY convinced that three is the perfect amount of kids for us!)

The Pay-It-Forward Meme update

If you read my post on the Pay-It-Forward meme, you know that I've been working on some knitting.

Nikki chose this reusable grocery bag:
Delana wanted some felted bowls, which I completed:
And MamaFitz's socks are about 15% done:
This has been really fun!

I did want to let anyone know (who wanted to do this, but missed being one of the first three) that both Delana (who is a wonderfully gifted knitter) and Nikki (who has Passions stuff up for grabs, as well as coffee and tea!) have space (currently) in their memes if you want to get in! In addition, another friend is participating and SHE has space, too. Check out RawMilkStar's pay-it-forward meme here.

p.s. I did receive my PIF gift from Mo, but it's a surprise for someone else, so I won't post pics yet!

The Craft Meme

Snagged from Grumperina, originally from BellaKnitting, I guess.

Four choices--list crafts that you are familiar with, in the categories you'd choose:

1. Love it! This is my thing.

knitting, cooking

2. I do or have dabbled in it.

embroidery, cross-stitch, macramé, quilting, sewing, dyeing, felting, gardening, origami, rug hooking, scrap-booking, baking, cake decorating, balloon animal making, pottery painting, calligraphy, collage, photography, stenciling, acting, music (flute)

3. I'll give it a try.

card making, spinning (some day!), crochet, wood carving, pattern-writing, graphic design, music (guitar)

4. I've got absolutely no interest.

weaving, flower arranging, doll house making/decorating, etching, glass blowing, glass bead making, lace-making, mosaics, pottery throwing, soap making, basket weaving, book binding, candle-making, stamping, needlepoint, jewelry making, papier-mâché, paper-making, painting, drawing, cartooning, doll/toy making, film-making

I tag MamaFitz, RawMilkStar, PancakeGoddess, Suzee, and any others who want to play!

Which Sister Wife Are You?

I just took a quiz at hbo.com to find out which sister wife (from Big Love) I'm most like.

Not surprisingly, I'm a Barb.

"Sensible and loving to a fault, you sometimes don't realize that your high expectations can feel like judgment to some people. But you're willing to handle any situation, you're sensitive to other people's feelings and your decisions are respected."

Pay It Forward Meme

This is a really cool one, I think!

I got this from Mo.

Pay It Forward meme

I will send a handmade gift* to the first three people who leave a comment requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what that gift will be yet, but you will receive it within 365 days. The only thing you have to do in return is "pay it forward" by making a similar agreement on your journal.

(my "handmade" specialties are knitting, cooking [for locals], and limited sewing--mostly taggie blankets, actually! I do have some tie-dyed kid stuff, too. )

*The "gift" you send doesn't have to be handmade--choose your specs when you post it on your blog.

8 Things About Me

Well, newmama tagged me, so I'll give it a whirl.

I did do a "Five Things About Me" meme back in February, so it might be a stretch to come up with 8 more, but I'll try!

1. I birthed all three of my children to the CD "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" by Sarah McLachlan. So many of the songs on that album are so fitting. When I was in labor with my third, and nearing pushing, I asked for the CD and my husband asked whether to start at the beginning or just skip to track 9 ("Hold On", which begins with the lyrics, "Hold on. Hold on to yourself. For this is gonna hurt like hell.")

2. I met my husband in college. We shared the same major, although neither of us actually were accepted into the program (he made the grade cut-off, but didn't pass the interview; I missed the grade cutoff by 0.01 grade point!).

3. I was unbelievably innocent, naive, and a goody-goody in high school. I didn't realize just how much, though, until I went to my 20 year class reunion and all my classmates were reminiscing about all their wild times in high school and I wasn't part of ANY of them. No drinking, no drugs, no sex... completely dull! ;)

4. I am not a big TV watcher, but I am TOTALLY in love with "Big Love" on HBO. Yes, it is important to note that it's on HBO, because I am such a cheapskate that the fact that I'm paying extra for HBO for one show is alarming. But it is sooooo soooo soooo good! :)

5. I love to shop. I don't even need to spend money--I just love LOOKING at, touching, dreaming about new things. This is in direct conflict with my desire to decrease my impact on the planet. (well, maybe not since I never have money to buy much of anything, but...)

6. I hate to travel. I stress and obsess for weeks before a trip, and even when I have fun (as I inevitably do), I cannot wait to get home.

(I'm stealing ideas for these last ones direct from newmama!)
7. If I'd have been a boy, I'd have been named Matthew.

8. I was never a Girl Scout, but was a Girl Scout Leader for 2 years!

I tag anyone who is reading and is interested in revealing more about themselves...

Favorite Song Meme

Snagged this from Pancake Goddess because it brought back so many memories!

Favorite Song From Childhood: Cinderella by Firefall (I made up a dance to it and everything) or Greenback Dollar by the Kingston Trio (my brother and I used to sing it at the top of our lungs, skipping the word "damn")

Favorite High School Dance Song: Any of those stupid Chicago ones... Hard to Say I'm Sorry was a biggie

Senior Class Song: Never Say Goodbye by Bon Jovi

Song That Makes You Think of College: the whole Top Gun Soundtrack; the first Violent Femmes album

Favorite Rock & Roll Song: yikes... what a broad category! maybe Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison?

Favorite Disco Song: Most Donna Summer songs, although Funky Town is quite a winner, too

Favorite Country Western Song: The Dance by Garth Brooks

Favorite Pop Song: Oh, Mickey by Toni Basil

Favorite All Time Love Song: I Melt With You by Modern English

Favorite Break Up Song: The Breakup Song by Greg Kihn band

Song That Always Makes You Cry: Sand and Water by Beth Nielson Chapman and The One Who Knows by Dar Williams (both make me think of my dad)

Song About Your Kid/s: Your Children Are Not Your Children by Sweet Honey In The Rock;

Song That Reminds You Of Your Husband: I Melt With You ("our song"); Supernatural by Everything

Favorite Christmas Song: Little Drummer Boy (though DH hates this song!)

Favorite Gospel/Praise Song: I don't know that I know any!

Favorite Ringtone on Cellphone: Werewolves of London

Another (Different) Five Things Meme

I have been working on this meme for almost three weeks now, after Mamafitz tagged me. I either lead an extraordinarily boring life, or I've posted way too much about myself on my blog, but here goes....

Here's the deal:
1. tell 5 things about yourself that you haven't mentioned on your blog.
2. tag 5 people you'd like to know more about.


1. I was born in California, where I lived for my first 2 years, until moving to Wisconsin. I've been in Wisconsin ever since (although all over Wisconsin...)
2. I was a La Leche League leader for almost five years, and nursed my children for a total of 10 years, 7 months. I was quite a "lactivist" for awhile, and I still boycott Ne$tle$.
3. I taught High School science for 5 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I now tutor High School science and math courses in the evenings when G. is home with the kids. It's allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom for quite awhile, and I'm not sure yet if I'll keep it up or have to find a "real" job when M. goes to school.
4. Though I have tried NUMEROUS times, I cannot learn to crochet. It's like a giant mental block and it's very frustrating.
5. I despise the colors orange and yellow--absolutely despise them.

I tag Abby, PancakeGoddess, Stefaneener, RawMilkStar, and my daughter.

Major Catch-up Posting Alert

OK, things have been crazy-busy around here and I just realized that I've barely posted all January. So I'll do my best to catch up on everything today. Let's hope Blogger cooperates ;)

I hate Blogger

That's all.

I have FOUR posts that are missing important photos and Blogger has let me upload ONE post's worth of photos in the last week.

I thought Beta was going to fix all this!

:(

Bloglines dropped me...

Of course, if you're subbed with bloglines, you won't get this feed, but....

It appears that bloglines just caught up with the fact I went to Beta Blogger and it dropped the old feed. So if you were reading my blog w/ bloglines, you'll need to subscribe to the new feed.

Thanks!

Switch to Beta

I have been wanting to switch to Beta since it was introduced, but it wasn't offered to me. I finally realized that it's because I belonged to a blog that was HUGE and it wasn't switched to Beta. (The Mason-Dixon Knit-A-Long) So I've dropped the MDKAL and I'm hoping this will work.

I hope all of you who have me bloglined will be able to follow me...

UPDATE:
Apologies to bloglines users...
It appears that, as I go back and update categories on my ancient posts, they all show up as new posts! yikes...

What Accent do you have?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
North Central
The West
The Inland North
Boston
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

In Honor of "Talk Like a Pirate Day"

Found this on MamaFitz's blog:

My pirate name is:

Dirty Mary Bonney

You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

And if you haven't already read it, please check out the Pirates vs. Temperature connection at the Flying Spaghetti Monster website.

What kind of flower are you?

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

How Crunchy Are You?

Moms: How Crunchy Are You?

Granola w/ Milk!You got crunch, but there's some softness to ya that makes it easy for you to relate to mommies of all kinds. But they can tell there is just something about you that's different. Some of them are envious of your unique ability to interact with your child or your enthusiasm for not littering. But you won't hesitate to tell a friend how proud you were for breastfeeding or non-circing, even if you know she didn't do the same. The difference is, you respect her decision and assume that she respects yours.
Take this quiz!