2008 February | Kaiser Mommy

Archive for February, 2008

Feb 15

Haiku roadtrip

(clickin?��Ǩ�Ѣ the logo may take you to more haikus)

we miss our dad/scout

migraine, mess, snot, cough, snow, ice

alex cut THREE top teeth

long drive to nashville

alex slept ninety minutes

sleep is for losers

braden and alex

they played so well together

made the mommies proud

hotel receipt code

said A D C O C K

“add cock” hee! get it?

alex slept soundly in car

oh mah gott I had to pee

must let baby sleep

damn you cloth diapers

damn my dumb treehugging ways

luvs would hold my pee

hmm .. what have we here?

jumbo maxi pad … would work …

lotus said me SMART!

(photos by SarcasticMom)

41
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 14

Reinforcements

I found them.

They look like this:

and this …

and this!

(all photos nabbed from sarcasticmom.com because I’m a dumbass and left my USB cord at home – go tell her hi and ask her about the dinner that was broken hearted after we were done with it.)

(there’s another TDY in April … hoos’yer mommy road trip LC?)

22
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 13

Soloing It

Dudes.

I’ve been warned about what happens when husbands leave town for work … specifically TDY. Mary Alice gave the heads up on that months ago.

I knew how right she was when Scout went out of town last week overnight and I managed to get the RSV Plague of 2008 and storms tried to send us all off to Oz (not the prison).

This did not bode well for this week when Scout was leaving Sunday morning and returning so late on Friday that it will be Saturday.

So, I popped a Xan@x and got a decent night of sleep on Saturday, waking just as he was leaving on Sunday morning. Told him goodbye and lay there thinking … hm … something is wrong.

Oh. There it is. A tiny needle of pain over my left eye. This does not bode well. I gathered Alex and went downstairs, hitting the kitchen just in time for the needle of pain to explode through my sinuses. I gave Alex a toy, heated a lavender blanket and wrapped it around my head, and popped a sinus pill (standing in front of the pharmacopia of meds in the cabinet, it took me .000023 seconds to determine that it was worth whatever Alex would get in my milk, I *had* to do this. 20 minutes into “TDY” was way too early to call for help). I drank some coffee and knew I needed to lay (lie?) down. I gathered Alex and remembered the child needed to eat. I grabbed a box of Os and we went upstairs to his room (least likely to have something harmful in it.) I closed the door and lay on the floor, giving him a handful of Os.

He left me there for an HOUR, occasionally crawling over me, occasionally pulling my hair. He left me there long enough for the headache to recede.

I didn’t even care when I heard this sound:

(upset because I *sob* left the room *sob*)

(note clothes flung around in the background, also his doing. note the curve of Os farthest back – it’s like chalk outline of me – but in Os)

The method of survival this week is all about not sweating the little stuff and pacing. If Alex is happy pulling all the tupperware out of my cabinets, then so be it. I will also be leaving said tupperware on the floor because I will entertain him with it later when we fling it back in the cabinets.

If it’s unsafe, clearly I’ll stop him. If it’s really gross, like when he flung kitty litter, clearly, I’ll stop him.

This?

Not so much.

We’ve had a snow and ice storm, everything in the state cancelled, the heat isn’t working right downstairs, I’m out of bread, I’m out of butter …

It’s time to get some reinforcements … stay tuned …

… maybe grab a snack …

37
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 12

NaNoWriTuesday – 2:4

Beginning

Belle slowly moved a low padded stool over to where here mother sat. She carefully lowered herself to the stool, and lay her gray head on her mother?��Ǩ�Ѣs knee. At a time like this, no matter how old you were, you were always your mother?��Ǩ�Ѣs child. Ellen looked at the head resting on her. She thought of that hair when it was gray and faded, when it was brown and healthy and long, when it was finer and childlike and she had brushed it at night before bed, and neatened it into braids in the morning before the day truly began. She pictured that head covered with fair baby down, that tiny little body nested in the crook of her elbow. Ellen swallowed and blinked twice. This mother love that never faded, the mother memories that did. She breathed deep, hoping for a moment to catch a whiff of baby smell long gone. She let out her breath and said only, ?��Ǩ?�Well.?��Ǩ�� in a way that was final and ending of her story. There was nothing left to say today. Nothing more to share that wouldn?��Ǩ�Ѣt wait until a different day. another day when it seemed her turn to talk long and wear out the ears of her listeners.

When the facts were strung together like that, it seemed a bald and harsh life. It left out the stories of the farm, of the quilting, of the boys bringing her flowers for the table, of having enough, of games and popcorn and church socials. Of the smell of rain and walks along horses. Of having family close by – of sometimes longing to get away from them all. It had been a long good life and she was glad it was hers. There would be other days for story telling like this. In the blink of an eye and also years away, the next would join them at the table and the old stories would be new to someone again. Another would be welcomed and comforted and shown the way of the watching. But not yet, not today.

The women collectively rearranged themselves. Mothers looked at their daughters. Leta looked out the window at the house where her daughter was. Wondering what she was saying or doing to help or … not help… her granddaughter. It was hard to tell what words would feel right to say and what words might make all the difference. Leta half expected to see the girl slamming defiantly out of the house, angry gestures and spinning gravel. Sometimes it was hard to have things in common with the heart of the person who was aching in such a way. LaVerne might get it all wrong, there was just no way to tell until it passed. However it passed would only show in time. it was a curiosity how love worked. Perhaps the girl was right and this was the one for her. Perhaps she would also learn that could be more than one right in this world. HOpefully whatever happened would work out in the end. Aggravating as it was, only time would tell. The women knew many things, but telling of the future was not something they knew. It was both a bane and boon that they did not know what was coming. But then, if they knew everything, then life … or afterlife… would be quite tedious for sure. They had just a little to keep them entertained, so it really was better to just watch it unfold and see when they were supposed to step in at all. not that stepping in was easy. Well, the act of stepping in was easy enough, but they all had to agree to do it, and getting that table full of women to unanimously agree to anything required an act of God. Leta laughed to herself as she thought that. No kidding.

Leta?��Ǩ�Ѣs thoughts were broken by Kesiah speaking up. ?��Ǩ?�I was widowed almost longer than I was married. If you add in that I got married late, I spent most of my life without a husband. A rarity in my day.?��Ǩ�� The women nodded. It was true. She had spent 25 years without a husband, after hers had died. This was unheard of in a time when men and women would marry out of convenience and merely hope for the best when it came to compatibility. Kesiah stayed independent after her husband died. The women could only wonder if this was by choice or by circumstance.

9
comments

Posted in NaNoWriMonday

Feb 11

Project Support Beauty in Nature

See Lotus’ original post here.

Oh y’all. I had plans. We were going to go to the park, we were going to have fun, we were going to pick up a bit.

We were NOT going to get RSV, it was NOT going to rain and tornado, Scout was NOT going to get sick, I was NOT going to feel like I was dying …

Yeah.

Then I thought, you know, I don’t really see that much trash around here, it’s probably pretty clean.

When we went to the store yesterday, I decided to count the pieces of trash I saw between our house, up the street to the park.?Ǭ� It wasn’t much. I could keep track …

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 ….. OMWTF trash scattered EVERYWHERE in a bush …

and we were 4 houses from home.

Oh.

So, as part of my Lent a Day, I *will* get out and take care of some of this trash. At least now I’ve actually opened my eyes and SEEN it, admitting you have a problem is the first step, right?

***

and for fun, here is a reprint of my post from Blog Action Day:

Top Ten Ways Reducing Trash Will Get Me More Sex

10. Less fast food = less trash = weight loss = sex

9. Less Starbucks = less trash = more money for lingerie (that I?��Ǩ�Ѣll look good in b/c of #10.) = sex

8. Less time shopping for things we don?��Ǩ�Ѣt really need = less trash = more free time = sex

7. Cloth diapers = no rotting disposables sitting around the house = nice smelling house = makes candles work better for setting mood = sex

6. Fresh fruit = no trash = more energy = sex

5. Less trash = more freedom for Kaiser to play in the other room = sex

4. Less trash to landfills = less landfills = more outdoors = more places to have sex

3. Less packaged food = less trash = better health = longer life = more time for?��Ǩ�� sex

2. Less trash in car = clean car = less time spent cleaning car = more time for sex

1. Less trash Scout has to take out = happy Scout = sex

26
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 10

Filler

I had all kinds of plans for today – none of ‘em are going to happen, so I will leave you with this baby advice:

(I got this in an email so I don’t have a credit for it.)

17
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 09

Showin off on Saturday

Remember the challenge?

Click here and go look (listen).

Now go do your own Top Five, post it with bling of your choice and leave a link in the comments (or just make sure the trackback shows up). I’ll wait till Monday morning to pull a winner.

Loves ya, now go have fun

10
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 08

haiku help (A Lent a Day – 2)

(clickin?��Ǩ�Ѣ the logo may take you to more haikus)

today i emailed

a woman helping teen girls

and their new babies

i asked if i could

share my things with mom and babe

and make a diff’rence

20
comments

Posted in Lent

Feb 07

A Lent a Day – 1

Yesterday, one of MPs suggestions was “Listen to someone that you disagree with” – so I did.

BlogHer had two excellent posts this week, first came the posting of Why I’m Pro-Life by Shannon who just sponsored the Rocks in my Dryer bloggy giveaway carnival and then came the Why I’m Pro-Choice by Maria Niles. (I gotta tell you, I did post a comment and then part of that comment was pulled out and given an AMEN by Lisa Stone who signs my BlogHer checks. DUDE!)

Generally speaking, the dialogue that took place on both threads was productive. (In my opinion, the comments in the early part of the pro-life thread took an ugly turn – but that’s my opinion, and I only share it because if you go to read the thread (and I really do encourage you to – I learned some things) I just want you to be aware that it’s not all a cake walk) There are many, many valuable stories in these threads. Women tell of first hand experience of being pro-life and then faced with the the reality that they would die if they carried their children to term. Women who have had abortions tell why they are or are not pro-life/pro-choice at this time. Women who have placed their children up for adoption tell of how that ain’t all a bed of happily ever after roses either. From both sides, again and again I read messages of how *these women are REAL and these women need our help*.

I learned. It wasn’t always an easy read, but I did it, and it was good for me.

21
comments

Posted in Domestic Goddess, Lent

Feb 06

Lent

Last night I was missing my grandpa.

At first I thought it was because my mom had mentioned today that he’d been such a beanpole build that it was no surprise that those genes combined with Scout’s genes would make such a tall and skinny boy.

Then I realized that we are entering the Easter season and the last day I saw him was Easter Sunday. In all these years, I haven’t quite been able to move past the Good Friday aspect of the season and into the resurrection celebration.

So it is no wonder that I am missing him. It is my season of missing him, as I have done for half my life now.

…

Last year I was “great with child” and had no desire to observe Lent. This year I feel a pull to do something … I don’t know what feels right to me. I don’t think I have the will for a sacrifice. At this time I feel like I want to give. I feel … I feel blessed enough to share.

(Which isn’t to say that I am without fear and worry, my dad is back in the hospital for the 3rd time since the beginning of December – and as I typed the above paragraph, that hit me hard and I, like the girl in Zoolander (ed Cricket totally called me out – it’s Dodgeball not Zoolander – which the best part is I *looked it up* to make sure I didn’t screw up the reference – and I *still* did), almost threw up in my mouth a little bit.)

Mrs. Flinger’s “A Diet A Day” approach has worked for her – Perhaps Dawn’s “A Lent A Day” will work for me.

For those of you of the Christian persuasion – do you do anything for Lent?

25
comments

Posted in Daddy, Domestic Goddess, Lent

Feb 05

Constant Comment

Previously, we had a fantastic conversation about blogrolls and how we decide who goes on them. I can honestly say that weeks later, I am still swooning over the conversation that took place in the comments and I’m so excited over how much I learned.

So, today I’m curious about how you look at commenting as a reader – do you comment on every post you read? do you mostly lurk and only comment when really moved to say something?

For me, this is kinda wrapped up in a web of how I pick blogs to read, and how I organize my blog reading – but I’m going to try to tease these things apart into smaller topics and just focus on the commenting today, as best I can.

When I read a blog, I figure if I don’t leave a comment, then the blogger won’t know I was there – I’ll remain a nameless stat on the sitemeter. The author won’t know that I gave a rats ass about their blog – and they might not give a rats ass about mine in return.

I admit it, I’ll say it, commenting is a form of blog marketing. I’m talking friendly ‘hi, I exist’ kind of marketing. Kellan talked about this exact thing a couple of weeks ago, and said it well.

(I’m not even going into spammy comments left on posts that say something along the lines of “I’m blah blah from gnatdesigns.frogknot.com I’m hosting a template contest …” when that has NOTHING to do with the post.)

So, 1st there’s the decision of whether or not to say anything, and then … what to say. If I see that someone already has 70 comments, I know I’m not going to read all the comments, and I doubt that I have anything all that inspiring to add to the conversation. If it’s someone familiar such as Ree or Flutter or Kyla then I know a simple “dude” will do in just about every situation. When I don’t know the blogger as well then how do I go about saying something – or do I just let it go and try again the next time I make it over to read?

I put the commenters over in the sidebar for a couple of reasons – I was curious how many times some people had commented and this was way easier than counting (I’m all about the easy), it might give g00gle juice (I’m honestly not sure) – and I’m thinking about using it in place of my reader for a while. Back in the blogroll discussion there were some who said they use their blogroll in place of a reader and I’m thinking that idea isn’t a bad one at all – we’ll see. I’m thinking on it as an experiment.

Also – if you leave a comment which do you like better – the blogger shooting you an email reply or the blogger visiting your site? I used to do both and then I realized I was making myself crazy and we’re all about the blog guilt free here.

Some of you have mentioned that your name links to an outdated site – some of you may be listed over there under a couple of names – tell me below and I’ll fix it for ya. (I cut off the list at the people who have commented 1 time because of the bloggy giveaways comments taking up so much room)

(If you are interested in the widget (wordpress), it’s the My Top Commentators Widget and you can tweak it to show however many people you want for a set time frame.)

So here we go – I’m curious – what are your thoughts on commenting?

(ed – Sandy (momisodes) has a discussion on this very topic today too!)

54
comments

Posted in Kaiser Mommy

Feb 04

NaNoWriMonday – 2:3

Beginning

It was Ellen who gently spoke. She had no point to make, she only wanted to change the feel of the room, so she began to tell her story. ?��Ǩ?�I lived eighty years,?��Ǩ�� the women looked at her when she spoke. She lived the longest of them all. She settled herself into her chair more comfortably, the women saw she intended to storytell, so they picked up their work and sat themselves to listening.

?��Ǩ?�I was born in Warren County, Kentucky on May 14, 1830. My father was Felix Grundy Wright, named for a Republican congressman. My mother was Ellen Wheeler, I was named for her. I had an elder sister Margaret, and younger sisters Mary, Martha, Louisa, Letitia and Sarah, and younger brothers Thomas and Nathaniel. My mother died and my father took another wife and had a girl Georgeanna, who was younger than my own children. That wife died and he took another wife and had another child Florence who was clearly also younger than my own children.?��Ǩ�� She spoke in a matter of fact tone about this. She had had years to acclimate to this, and there was only a trace of annoyance to her voice which told that she believed a man could take care of himself if only he wanted to.

?��Ǩ?�I married Woodson in 1845 when I was 15 years of age and he was 20 years of age. We moved to Pettis County, Missouri with parts of our families, and I had our first daughter Mary when I was 16. I was a wife, and was responsible for keeping a house and a family when I was younger than our girl out there. I was responsible for all manner of … wifely activities at that age. Now today the conservatives are all a twitter over what the young people are doing. It?��Ǩ�Ѣs funny to me because they are doing the same things we were doing, only we were married and had less of an education. I?��Ǩ�Ѣm not sure I can decide which way is better to tell the truth.?��Ǩ�� Several of the women gasped inwardly at this idea. The mere mention of ?��Ǩ?�wifely activities?��Ǩ�� was more than their Puritan hearts could handle thinking of, but to intuit from what Ellen said that perhaps it was okay for the young people to have ?��Ǩ?�wifely activities?��Ǩ�� when they were not at all wives was just too much. Only none of the affronted would say a word, however, a least one thread was broken and stitches were pulled out at this part of the comentary in the story.

?��Ǩ?�Mary was followed by Felix when I was 18, I lost a pregnancy at 20, had George when I was 22, and James at 24?��Ǩ�� She nodded at Belle, ?��Ǩ?�That girl came to be when I was 26, then I lost another pregnancy, then another. Woodson joined the Union Cavalry and left for the war, I didn?��Ǩ�Ѣt know I was pregnant when he left, Anna was born one week after he mustered out. I was 31, Thomas at 34. George died just before I had Sheridan at age 36, and he died before his first birthday. The winter was cold and he was tiny and ….?��Ǩ�� She stopped here. Waited for the lump in her throat to pass as she thought of her two boys, then gasped, ?��Ǩ?�Then Mary died just 1 week before Samuel was born when I was 39. I was so upset over her dying that he wasn?��Ǩ�Ѣt named until after the 1870 census. If you look at that record he was listed only as ?��Ǩ?�No Name?��Ǩ�� and the poor boy was already a year old by that time. I had nine children over a span of 23 years. I lost three of them in a span of three years. While still birthing children, while still trying to be a mother and a wife.?��Ǩ�� She sat quietly. ?��Ǩ?�I buried my husband. We were married 63 years. Imagine! 63 years with the same person. I was happy with him. Even when he insisted on wearing his war garb years and years after the war was long over. Even when his mustache was long and tickly. I loved the man, all those years. It was a good long life. I lived it well. It was not easy, and I won?��Ǩ�Ѣt say that I wouldn?��Ǩ�Ѣt have changed a thing, because it is clear that if I could have kept my children with me always, then I would have. Those are my only real regrets. The ones that still linger with me today. Never quite forgotten. No matter how I?��Ǩ�Ѣve ended up here in this place, I wish I would have had all of my children all of those years.?��Ǩ��

6
comments

Posted in NaNoWriMonday

Feb 03