The holidays....

The whirlwind that are the holidays have left us primarily intact. We spent Friday the 22nd driving through the only snow we saw (a mini-blizzard around Appleton, WI).

Maddy spent her 3rd birthday at her Nana Sue's @ Chez Wood in the midst of early-Xmas Eve celebrations and early Wood-Family Xmas gift-giving. She handled the chaos that are her cousins like a trouper. (I'm uploading pictures to my flickr site. To be cont.)

We arrived back in Green Bay on the 24th in time to change and head to Joe's grandparents house for Xmas eve dinner. We were able to sleep in a bit on Christmas morning and spent much of the day lounging, opening up presents. Joe's parents had all of the kids (Justin & Kris, Zac & Erin, Joe & Karen and Maddy) over for dinner on Christmas night. Then it was off to Boxing Day dinner at Joe's Grandma Betty's for "traditional tacos".

I had to work today (Wednesday); Joe both yesterday and today. Amazingly, we both have Thursday through next Monday off. :D We'll probably go to the cabin, perhaps the cottage, definitely down-sizing the contents of the house. I think we'll celebrate the event called Discardia. MUCH needed.

The Princess dilemma

What's wrong with Cinderella?

A NYT Magazine article for every feminst mom.

Santa!

Justin Timberlake on:

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Hilarious!

Ramblings...

• I've finished Eragon and am starting Lisey's Story (that I got for Joe for his birthday). I like Eragon and look forward to reading the next in the series. I am a rabid SK fan (thanks to Joe). My favorite SK book is Insomnia, but the Dark Tower series is close behind. I'm getting into the groove of Lisey's Story. Wasn't quite sure at the beginning, but it's pretty bool, I mean cool. :)
  

• We had two fun days of holiday celebrations at work. Tuesday was the college-wide holiday bruncheon and yesterday was our departments 2-hour party. FUN! Did I mention that I love my job? Did I mention that I love the fact that the President of the college allows, nay ENCOURAGE, members of the college to share their musical talents by performing in the faculty & staff band or chorus? Did I mention that I love the fact that despite not being able to finish music school (twice) because of severe chronic tendonitis and fibromyalgia, I am able to continue enjoying my love of music by becoming the band and the chorus conductor?
  

• Today is the last day I work this week, then the next few weeks are going to be wacky.
  
• 22nd: To Madison after Joe is done with work, staying with my folks at Chez Wood
  
• 23rd: In the morning, the Hicks, the Klanns, Paul and Julie are all coming to the house for a "traditional" holiday celebration. This was the best part every year while growing up. The five kids would bring instruments and with Jack on the piano, well it was magic. In the afternoon of the 23rd, we will celebrate MADDY'S 3RD BIRTHDAY. Oh my god, do the years fly! In between all of this chaos, my goal is to ENJOY and remain CALM. :)
  
• 24th: Back to GB - evening to Grandma the Great Parins' house to celebrate with 20+ of the Parins' family.
  
• 25th: MERRY CHRISTMAS at our beautiful house
• 26th: Boxing Day at Grandma Betty's with the Eckbergs
• 27th: Karen to work
  
• 28th til Jan 2nd: Karen off work! Joe has to work a few of those days, but it's going to be quite nice to not have to work! Maddy is looking forward to that too.
  

• Go Packers Go!
  

Holiday greetings to you all!

HA!

You know those things that show up in multiples in your life when you least expect them? They are that tap-on-the-shoulder, the universe's way of standing up and saying "HEY! This is important! Pay attention and NOTICE!" It took me a while to figure this out, but I've figured the latest thing out!

The past few days, this cosmic thing has been laughter.

This time of year has always been so frackin' stressful, this year no different. But then I heard this story on NPR, All Things Considered on my way home from work:

Laughter Yoga: Relaxing, If a Bit Kooky

That got me smiling, appreciative of those kooky southern Californians! And then my fellow cello (-ist) Wendy sent me the Pachelbel Rant. It got Joe and me chortling. It wasn't until my dear sister Amy sent me this video. I opened it at work. It took me only about 30 seconds until I was laughing to the point of crying. Of course I've sent it to my co-workers, and sure enough, soon everyone was laughing.

Hope these make YOUR day. :) Happy Holidays.

Pachelbel Rant

For all of you cellists out there - you know what Rob says is true. PACHELBEL CANON IN D STINKS! Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRYCE!

Bryce Michael Churchill is ONE!

Hope your day is fantastic!

A day in the life of the Eckbergs

I look at the calendar and I'm stunned to see that December 2006, this last month of 2006, the year of "The Elbow", is almost over. I haven't had time to blog much lately. The Eckberg family day-to-day life runs pretty much like this lately:

• 6:20am - Joe gets out of bed
• 6:30am - Karen hits snooze button 2 times
• 6:48am - K gets out of bed, heads downstairs for coffee, check of the weather, and the last ten minutes of Buffy.
• 7am to 8am - M wakes up, K,J, & M get ready and, depending on the day, either J or K takes M to Nana T's or the YWCA daycare
• 8:30am - 4:30pm - K gets to work where she does lots of research, typing (yeah, two hands!), runs rehearsals for the college's Staff & Faculty band & chorus (yeah, music training comes in handy), figures out the new sharepoint blog for the department
• 5pm - pick M up wherever she might be that day and head home
• 5:30pm - start dinner until J comes home and makes it yummier, daily dose of M's movie of the evening (usually a Disney princess movie, but she seems to really like the Wizard of Oz & even The Christmas Story!)
• 6pm - dinner
• 7pm - 8pm - evening activity (sometimes computer games / out for an "adventure" / book reading)
• 8pm - M bedtime
• 8:30pm - 10:30pm - K&J "free-time"

When I write this all down, it looks so boring! It certainly is full.

Our schedule will get a bit different come January. I'm going to start working 5 days a week, 6 hours a day. M will spend 3 days a week @ the YWCA, 2 days w/ her Nana T. I'll be able to have afternoons to run errands, clean house, WORK OUT! I'm very thrilled, actually. The plan is for me to get a pass at the YWCA and use their pools and fitness room. It'll be easier than making plans for the evening!

Scary 'Mary Poppins' Trailer

If you haven't checked out the phenomena called YouTube, there are TONS of videos, some quite amazing. There's a genre where they re-cut movies into a genre quite unlike the original. This particular one is simply creepy. Mary Poppins recut as horror. WOW!

What a difference 60 days makes

60 days ago was my surgery. I had a ton of pain in the elbow itself - weakness - tingling all through the arm - generally owie.

Now, after 4 weeks of therapy, stretching, strenghtening & pain meds, I am able to type properly, eat with my right arm again, wash my hair with my right arm again, and generally use my arm without too much pain. I'm not 100% healed yet. You have to remember this battle has been since February 25, 2006 when I broke my elbow in the first place.

Things I'm looking forward to being able to do by the summer 2007:

• Practice yoga
• Start playing "Quincy" (my cello)
• Get strong enough to be able to use the computer mouse in my right hand

I'm thrilled to say the least! Thanks for supporting me in this journey.....

:) Karen

World AIDS Day: December 1st

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVE

Today, my husband turns the same age as I am. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE!

You. Can. Only. Type. One. Word. No. Explanations.

You. Can. Only. Type. One. Word. No. Explanations.

1. Yourself: fun
2. Your spouse: smart
3. Your hair: mousy
4. Your mother: stressed
5. Your father: stressed
6. Your dream last night: none
7. Your favorite drink: vodka
8. Your dream car: hybrid
9. Your bedroom: boring
10. Your fear:
11. What you want to be in 10 years: Librarian
12. Who you hung out with last night: Maddy
13. What you’re not: boring
14. Muffins: blueberry
15. Time: late
16. The last thing you did: hugged
17. What you are wearing: comfy
18. Your favorite weather: cool
19. The last thing you ate: yogurt
20. Your life: lovely
21. Your mood: better
22. Your best friend: husband
23. What are you thinking about right now? bed
24. Your car: Odyssey
25. What are you doing at the moment? answering
26. Your summer: fun
27. Your relationship status: married
28. What is on your TV?: news
29. What is the weather like? dark
30. When is the last time you laughed? minutes

Maddy Musings

"Mommy? I'm sad."
"Why are you sad, Madeline?"
"Because nuks hurt my teeth."

It's been a week now! WooHoo! Obviously she's a bit sad, but we are so proud of her!

"Mommy? I want to be a dancer!"

We went to the Holiday Parade on Saturday morning. There were a LOT of dance studios represented in the parade. I have visions of her marching in the parade 5 years from now. Not sure if I'm prepared to be a "dance mom".

No, really, I feel your pain!

Poor Brett. What a horrible game yesterday, and #4 injuring his elbow to boot! I couldn't help but think: "I feel your pain!"

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone :)

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe T'day week/end.

7 years....(a letter to my sister)

It's been seven years since I witnessed you become a mother. You gave Mom and Dad their first grandchild - the first granddaughter. I was thrilled when you wanted me to be your labor coach. I will cherish that day - how I was able assist you, cheer you on, care for you, and finally, cut the umbilical cord.

You have had to deal with a number of stupid and awful cards. You've always struggled with knowing who you were and having the label of and the challenges motherhood brings didn't exactly help you.

It's been over a year since you left - since you left your children, a home, family. I don't know what you expect out of life - whether you think you are owed something by the universe. Life isn't fair. Get on with it. You had a bad day? Suck up and be nice.

I don't mean to sound so angry and bitter. I apologize for that. You are missed. Your family misses you. Your friends miss you.

I wish I could say the right words to make it all ok - to make whatever pain you are going through go away, but I'm not naive to believe that. Everyone makes his or her own reality. You need to make yours. 7 years ago, I witnessed your strength. I hope you can find that strength again.

love, Karen

Maddy- OCD or just a toddler?

Maddy and I had a low-key weekend. Very low-key. Near all-day pajama-day for Maddy and I on Friday, but we did get out of the house to go across the street to get her hair cut. Nearly 3 years-old, Maddy's a hoot. Her favorite thing to do when we are home is to take out the 15-20 DVDs and VHS tapes and spread them all over the floor like a train. It's hilarious, especially when she faces them ALL down. She groups them in rows, in columns. Maddy even talks about playing with her movies when we aren't home.

hmmm... I hope it's not OCD and that we aren't stimulating her enough ....

Keep her in good thoughts though...tonight was night 1 with no nuks. She's had a nuk (I blame it entirely on her Nana T who thought she should have one) since ~6 months I think. But tonight, we said bye to her three nuks, placed them in 3 envelopes for the 3 babies we know...Lilas, Charlie, and Joshua. She's been crying up a storm. Egads, we're awful. I feel awful. But I know we are doing the right thing.

I just checked in on her. Deci - the best cat for when one needs a cuddle, decided to sleep with her, so he is snuggling with her. She seems asleep (HURRAY), so hopefully this won't be so bad.
Ahhh...the things they don't tell you about in Lamaze!

I should be happy...

As a lifelong Democrat supporter, I should be ecstatic about the key wins for the party. I should be happy that our governor has been re-elected, the senate race was won by a Democrat, and other key races were won by Democrats. So why am I so sad? I suspect two reasons:

1. The two-party system seems to have melted into a choice for the better of two evils. I suspect Republicans feel the same way about their party's nominees. I have reservations about the Democrat winner, and I did consider voting Independent, but I didn't want it to be a "wasted-vote".
   
   
2. The referendum results astounded, shocked and dismayed me, not just here in NE Wi, but elsewhere. I'm thrilled that abortion rights were upheld, stem-cell research was legalized and that minimum wages were raised in a few states.
   
   
   YEAH!
   
   
   However, it saddened me that 7 out of 8 states banned same-sex marriage and referendi (I think that's the proper Latin plural) to legalize or allow medical marijuana were rejected.
   
   Wow.
   
   I'm astounded that people are so afraid of people different than themselves and so utterly ignorant of the real reasons why these bills should have been defeated.
   
   I blame it on the insurance and the drug industry and no doubt suspect much money was spent by these companies on making sure same-sex couples (as well as opposite-sex unmarried couples) did not receive benefits. And my take on marijuana is this: for many people who are able to or medically need to, ingesting marijuana in moderation shouldn't be a crime. It's been proven to alleviate pain and nausea. I'd rather do that than finding out the side-effects of pain-medication or anti-nausea medication.
   

Guy Fawkes Day

A day late. Thanks, Jenica, for reminding me.

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.

By god’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.

And what shall we do with him?
Burn him! (from http://www.bonefire.org/guy/remember.php)

My family and I lived in England in the late 1980's. We lived in the beautiful city of Skipton in North Yorkshire. We experienced Guy Fawkes Day as a wonderful community gathering day of bonfires and parties. Our landlord Basil Spensley was fond of "making friends" by inviting others to partake a "wee dram" of whiskey. The bonfires were too hot to roast marshmallows or other campfire fare, but I remember it as fun and festive.

More Halloween Pics...

Argh! Pirates!

Are you a good witch or a bad witch?














Of pirates, clowns, vampires, and witches














Crazy clown...














Gotta watch out for those vampires!

More Halloween Pics

We're having a Halloween Party Saturday, so we'll have yet MORE pics...but until then....

Self-esteem fund

Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty is awesome. Check out their website. I particularly liked the Evolution film. "No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted." No shit.

Halloween2006

Our little witchy-girl...

2 articles that caught my eye...

UW-Madison joins massive Google Book project

Gambian bumsters clean up their act

What I'm doing on my time off

• emailed family, friends about surgery & how I'm doing
• nap every afternoon
• eat if hungry (tummy still not 100% from anesthesia)
• watch movies
  
1. Chronicles of Narnia
2. X-men - Final Stand
3. V for Vendetta
4. Constant Gardener
5. Akeelah & the Bee
6. The Notorious Betty Page
7. Elizebeth I (love Helen Mirren)
8. Mrs. Henderson Presents (love Dame Judi!)
9. Art School Confidential
10. Brokeback Mountain
    
• making sure neighbor's dog is being cared for (story to come)
• Fighting fever today
• start sorting Maddy's wardrobe for fall/winter
  

by the #s

4 - # hours slept night before surgery
2 - # hours knocked out
1/8 - # inches thick scar tissue removed
8 - # hours in hosp. total
4 - # times threw up cuz side effect from anesthesia (bleh)
1 - # arms/hand useful now
3 - # times D'Argo kitty wanted to sleep on "owie" arm during night
3 - # times renegotiated with D'Argo kitty where he was allowed to sleep

all's well. typing well w/ 1 hand. now... on the road to healing.

5:30 am

5:30am. WAY too early to be anywhere, but at least I don't have to dress up! Everything going to plan, I'll be home mid-day tomorrow. Maddy is staying the night tonight at Nana Terri's house since it's going to be so FRELLING early!

DONE:

• Find out where I need to be when next Thursday.
• Print out list of movies I would like to get from the video store for after the surgery.
• Vacuum
• Sweep downstairs
• Did all reporting
• Train co-worker on project
• Had performance review

NEED TO DO:

• Finish memo
• Do last work project
• Clean room Mom will be sleeping in
• Clean bathroom
• Watch / tape LOST
• Try not to stress about everything. I'm stressing about everything and the acne on my face shows it.
• Take care of me! (thanks Heather :) )

Wish me luck and send healing thoughts my way, please. Thanks everyone who has sent me nice messages. :) It does help.

Now on with the next step to being able to play Quincy (my cello) again....

FUN FUN FUN!

I'm glad I didn't remember that we would be away from Maddy for 2 nights in a row until we got to Milwaukee. I would have probably made a big deal about it. As it was, Maddy had a good weekend, and Joe and I had a good weekend.

The wedding was VERY fun!

Some Pictures:
Jess and Chris - at the Milwaukee Brewing Company - where they met.

On the Milwaukee River:

Joe and I:

Weekend craziness!

Maddy is all packed. I'm all packed. At work trying to work on reports) then off to Milwaukee for Joe's best friend's wedding. Should be fun! (Maybe it'll be as fun as Jenica' and Drew's looked!)

My sis Amy sent this forward. So apropos. YES YES YES. Must work on this "being calm" business! Anyone want to join me?

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace. Dr Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished."

So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a bottle of Kahlua, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how freaking good I feel. Please pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.

ToDos

The list of things to do before next Thursday- surgery day- continues to grow.

DONE:

• Paperwork to be able to have time off from work and not have to take vacation time for recuperation.
• Did laundry for packing for this weekend's wedding in Milwaukee.
• Figured out how to use the borrowed keyboard midi to aid in transposing music for the 2 gigs just after Thanksgiving.
• Haircut appointment made for Wednesday.
• Made arrangements for my Mom to come up Thursday-Friday to help out post-surgery.

NEED TO DO:

• Pack Maddy for two nights this weekend at G'ma Terri's house.
• Pack Karen and Joe for two nights in Milwaukee for Jess's wedding affair.
• Get list of work duties done before next Wednesday: do all reporting, let co-worker know where everything, train co-worker on necessary steps to close out a project, prepare for work review.
• Clean house (ok- at least vacuum, clean room Mom will be sleeping in, sweep floors, and clean bathroom).
• Find out where I need to be when next Thursday.
• Try not to stress about everything. I'm stressing about everything and the acne on my face shows it.
• Print out list of movies I would like to get from the video store for after the surgery.

(to be added to)....

Banned Book Week: September 23-30, 2006

Go here to learn more about Banned Books Week, why it's important, and the incredible challenges librarians and intellectual freedom activists deal with to protect the right to READ.

How many of Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000 have you read?

I've only read 32. Not too many. I need to read more!

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. he Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Doing the right thing....

This town has been abuzz about the recent arrests and charges against three local teens allegedly planning on committing a Columbine-like attack at Green Bay East High School.

William Cornell, Shawn Sturtz and Bradley Netwal, all of Green Bay, were charged in Brown County court with conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit damage to property by use of explosive.

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

What's remarkable is how they were arrested. 17 year old Matt Atkinson, a friend of two of the arrested boys, came forward about what he knew and what he suspected. And today, he's been chosen as ABC's Person of the Week:

Atkinson named ABC's person of week for tip about East plot. A crew from ABC News is expected to be in Green Bay today working on a piece about Matt Atkinson, the 17-year-old Green Bay East High School student who told school officials last week about an alleged plot to attack the school.

Atkinson is expected to be featured as Person of the Week on ABC World News, though ABC told WBAY, Channel 2, that he will not be doing an interview for the piece.

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

Congratulations, Matt. Green Bay is proud of you!

ME TIME

Are you a woman? A wife? A mother? We all think about this, but we very rarely take the time to do something about this. What am I talking about? ME TIME! Check this out:

The Families and Work Institute (FWI) found that working mothers spend both more time at the job and more time with their kids than their counterparts did 25 years ago.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/09/15/me.time.health/index.html

I'm not saying no to time at work or no to time with kids - I enjoy my job and I love my kid. I've noticed, however, that it takes so much effort to actually spend time for myself, and when I'm gone, I feel that monster creeping up to strangle me - GUILT!

When I went to Girl Scout Summer Camp many many years ago, everyday after lunch, we had "ME TIME". We could nap, write home, swim, read, play outside games, whatever we wished. I didn't feel guilty then.

This year has been rough for me physically. After breaking my elbow in February, I didn't take any time off. In hindsight, I was NUTS. Joe and his mom drove me around town. I henpecked the keyboard at work. I wore a head-set so I could be on the phone and work on the computer if needed. It worked out ok. But I was also on vicodin and was in a lot of pain. I don't remember much of the month of March.

I'm learning to try to bring some of ME TIME in my time now, before the surgery as well as after. Tonight I've invited women from all aspects of my life for a Girl's Night Out, and at least 9 of us are having dinner together at a wonderful restaurant in town. I'm learning not to feel so guilty about doing things I enjoy. I'm also going to take off as much time as I need after the surgery for recovery! I'm not going to do it like in February, struggling to stay awake whilst on yummy drugs, aching in pain and hoping to find time for sleep.

Yeah for ME TIME!

FRAK PARTY!

Battlestar Gallactica starts again October 6th! OH MY! That's 16 days! For all those who aren't aware, SCIFI Channel's new series ROCKS! For those who already know this, there is great excitement in the air! Host your own Frak Party, and watch the show!


(now....to get cable back in time....)

Who's on First - Dubya style

George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?

Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.

George: Great. Lay it on me.

Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.

George: That's what I want to know.

Condi: That's what I'm telling you.

George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes.

George: I mean the fellow's name.

Condi: Hu.

George: The guy in China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The new leader of China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The main man in China!

Condi: Hu is leading China.

George: Now whaddya' asking me for?

Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.

George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?

Condi: That's the man's name.

George: That's who's name?

Condi: Yes.

George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.

Condi: That's correct.

George: Then who is in China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir is in China?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Then who is?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.

Condi: Kofi?

George: No, thanks.

Condi: You want Kofi?

George: No.

Condi: You don't want Kofi.

George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi?

George: Milk! Will you please make the call?

Condi: And call who?

George: Who is the guy at the U.N?

Condi: Hu is the guy in China

George: Will you stay out of China?!

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi.

George: All right! With cream and two sugars.

Something you don't see everyday....

Northeast Wisconsin doesn't have much in the way of violent assaults. Murders are (fairly and thankfully) rare. It's not 100% free of violence, but it's a small enough town that violence isn't prevalent.

Last night, however, there was an armed robbery - with a knife. No one was hurt. The suspect was still at large when I drove to work.

As I was driving to work, I noticed two police cars in from of a motel - one marked, the other un-marked - blocking entrance to the motel. It struck me as odd, so I kept looking, and it was then I noticed police surrounding the outside perimeter of the motel with weapons drawn. One of those weapons was a rifle. EEP! Not something you see everyday!!! It turned out to be a false alarm, but oh man, it got my attention!

I remember, and yet....

Everytime I think about 9/11/2001 and where I was and what has happened since that day, my heart grows heavy. Of course I remember where I was, what I was doing, and how I felt. I wonder how many years must pass for all of us to be able to talk about a normal September 11 without somehow remembering that black day.

Even with that horror, I fear my country's government has played us all for fools. I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired with "them" using fear as their primary tactic to gain access to personal, PRIVATE information, to defend their baseless war against the people of Iraq, and to create a society which is less secure than it was before that Tuesday long ago.
I'm hoping to change my attitude and quell my fear by voting in this month's primaries tomorrow for at least one person, Jamie Wall, whose values and beliefs mirror my own. Will you join me in "being the change you want to see in the world" (taught Gandhi).

Namaste

Not so itsy bitsy

Eek. (In response to Erica's post at the Librarian Avengers blog)

I thought I was doing so well! Not wanting my 2 year old daughter to be afraid of such an amazing creature, I encourage curiousity about spiders. There's a beautiful big one who has built a web near the garage this weekend. (This site is really cool - it's how spiders construct their webs!) We make sure to try to spot her whilst she hides out in the flowers. I'm not afraid of spiders. But I had a dream where the house was over run by spiders, and now I'm freaked out! I woke up, terrified that they've invaded! I can just say I'm thrilled to not be in the southwest!

My first "very interesting" SLIS prof! *wink*

It's Professor Wayne! Thanks, Heather, for posting his webcast! Professor Wayne's SLIS 450 at UW-Madison was most everyone's first impressions about what librarianship was all about. And now, he is here, talking about Dewey. I'm listening to this webcast, remembering him talking about information systems, librarianship, the history of reading, the history of the book, all that cool stuff, in a very warm lecture hall in Science Hall in Madison.

(And she screams...I wanna get back there!)

Babies!

There's been new arrivals in the lives of some friends and family.

Kayla Nicole

6 pounds 7 ounces, 20 inches, 7:26 pm, Friday, August 25, 2006

Born to my cousin Rebecca and her boyfriend Dwight in Cleveland, Ohio

Charlie Leonard

August 22, 2006 at 9:57 AM, 6 lbs. 14 oz., 19 1/2 inches

Born to my good friend and co-worker Pam, her husband Art, and big brother Howie!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Alas, poor Pluto....

or... And then there were 8 (planets, that is)

My first impression was the use of mnemonics to remember the previous 9:

• Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Nocturnal Purpose
• My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas
• My Very Easy Method-Just Set Up Nine Planets
• Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights Praying
• Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights, Period.
• My Very Energetic Mother Just Sat Upon (the) North Pole
• My Very Elegant Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines
• My very educated mother just sent us nine pickles.
• My very educated mother just served us nine peas.
• My very excellent memory just served up nine planets.
• Man very early made jars stand up nearly perpendicular.

(thanks, to Amanda for this list!)

Poor kids, missing out on that pizza! Can't wait to see what the new mnemonics will be!

Wednesday, already?

We've been so busy lately! Work is incredibly hectic as usual, and it feels like we're about 5 steps away from utter chaos. But it's nice to be appreciated and it's nice to keep busy.

We're helping Jodi with a rummage sale this weekend (go away, rain!), but we haven't yet begun hauling our items to the garage yet! Thankfully it's going to be held at Jodi's house. (whew!)

Joe's busy with work, finishing up a few projects, and planning the "Bachelor Party of the Year". Egads. I'm opting for the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. I really don't think I will want to know what's going to happen during the 3 day festival!

Maddy is busy growing up quickly. She's definitely behaving as a 2-going-on-3 year old, and vacillates between "I can do it" and "Mommy/Daddy, you do it!". Parenthood is NOT for the weak of heart/stomach/head/patience!

just breath....

Surgery has been scheduled. October 5th. 48 days. The waiting begins.

The decision

The date hasn't been set yet, but we are going through with the surgery to transpose the ulna nerve being compressed by the scar tissue. It's probably going to be early October so hopefully I've healed a bit healed by the holidays. I feel pretty, well, ok. As well as I can be, I suppose.

I'm glad I can do something about the discomfort, the pain, the lack of full recovery from the original injury. I'm freaked out about the prospect of surgery. I only have been "under" twice that I remember: once in the dentist's chair getting stubborn teeth out and once only a few years ago when I had my tonsils taken out. I'm frustrated that I feel like I'm going back to square one as I recuperate from the surgery (no lifting for 6-8 weeks). Therapy won't be fun, but I've been there before in April, so I kind of know what to expect.

I'm ok. I know it's temporary and I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Worries - part 3

My friend Jodi has introduced me to Reiki. I'm not a novice to trying alternative medicine. I've studied yoga in the past and hope to in the future after my arm heals. I've had acupuncture done, which was amazing. I believe in the power of the mind and the power of meditation (though I've never seriously practiced meditation).

I've heard of Reiki, but figured it hokie. . No one could give me proof that Reiki worked. But when one is not feeling 100%, you tend to try almost anything to feel better. So I invited Jodi to show me what she knows. Last week, she practiced on me.

I'm not sure I can describe the pure bliss I enjoyed when she practiced on me. I'm not sure what happened, but whatever it was, I've been contemplating upon it since then. In my research of Reiki and Reiki practice, I have decided to attempt to live by this famous quote by Dr. Mikao Usui, the originator of Reiki as it is today. Many of you might now it.

Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything.

                   Dr. Mikao Usui

Maybe it will help me stop becoming such a chronic worrier. Couldn't hurt!

Worries - part 2

Maddy isn't feeling well. For the first time in a very long time, she has a pretty nasty productive cough. She's clingy, which she rarely is, and she's just feeling punky. *sigh* All I would like to do today is crawl into bed with her and comfort her. But alas, she doesn't have a fever, she's in a fairly decent mood despite it, and I have to save up my personal days at work for if/when I have surgery. They never taught me how to handle these feelings in parenting school.

Worries - part 1

Everytime I hear about some sort of airplane disaster, my very first thought is "Where is Dad?!". No different this morning. Especially this morning.

As my sisters and I were growing up, my father traveled internationally for business. I got used to figuring out the planet Earth by following my father's travels around the globe. When the PanAm flight was bombed in Lockerbie , Scotland, we were living in Skipton. My father flew often between England and the US.

I keep forgetting that though my father travels, he doesn't travel internationally much anymore. But I'll always worry.

Diagnosis

In regards to my elbow...I have nerve compression/entrapment of the ulna nerve at the elbow. It's probably scar tissue from the fracture in February.

Option 1: Wait and see if it gets better.
Option 2: Surgically decompress the nerve and possibly move the nerve to another place. (link is really a good link to UCLA's Neurosurgery Center).

Neither sounds fun. I've been pretty good about limiting the activities. I use the mouse at my computer with my left hand again. I conduct the band with my left hand (that was weird). I rinse dishes, weed, drive, hold the phone to my ear, etc. with my left hand. I still do all the fun nerve glides. I'm not overdoing it, but I'm definitely not exercising it. But rest alone MIGHT help.

But surgery might work. It would release it from the scar tissue, and the re-routing of the nerve to inside the forearm would decrease the tension. It would mean possible time off. It would mean trying to figure out a good time for surgery. It would mean going back to square one. But it also MIGHT help.

So there you have it. I asked my ortho-surgeon what he would do. He said he didn't know. Great. Joe and I meet with him on the 14th to discuss details, options, etc.

Bottomline, I just want to be feel healthy again. I want to play cello again. I want to be able to not wince when Maddy wants me to hold her. I want to be able to not have to gauge my activities, hoping that I have enough strength to make it through the day.

9/11 : The NORAD tapes

With yet another anniversary of 9/11 around the corner, I continue to be astounded by the horror of that day. We were way out of harms way, in Ashland WI, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, and yet I watched CNN with terror that WWIII were starting. I couldn't read all of this feature in Vanity Fair. com without feeling the horror or crying a bit for innocence lost, but I link this because it is well written and thought-provoking. I wonder if we are any wiser, any smarter, any more ready to deal with such a threat today. Somehow, I doubt it.

Our HOT Weekend

The three pirates! ARGHHH

Feeding the ducks!

The Tall Ships came to Green Bay!

Phew

I'm exhausted! Bullets of possible reasons why:

• It's 86 outside.
• It FEELS like 96 outside already.
  
• It's already 78 in my office, where I'm currently housing the printer, and there is NO ventilation cuz they are fixing the air ducts. (reminder to self....find a fan!)
  
• I'm still recuperating from the whirlwind that was our weekend with Haddy and William who came up to Green Bay to visit whilst Mom and Dad had a weekend in Chicago.
• I slept like crap cuz my "sweet little kitty" D'Argo decided that I needed to wake up to watch the birds with him. GRRRR

Thankfully we installed a new furnace and AC in March, so the house is a wonderful relief; the Jetta's AC was fixed, so Joe doesn't melt on his way to work; and we have not only our neighborhood pool to cool off in after work, but we have our little cute pool to cool off in!

Another reason to love Wisconsin....

Or maybe it's just that we are just "average"...

CNN's story "The most 'representative' state: Wisconsin" is another reason why Wisconsin shouldn't be considered solely a "fly-over land".

Looking for a state that is a microcosm of the whole country? You won't find it in Iowa or New Hampshire -- there are 25 states that come closer to average statewide measures on important characteristics such as race and income. ..... The Badger State comes closer than any other to state-by-state averages on 12 key measures, according to a new analysis by CNN Polling Director Keating Holland that takes a fresh look at U.S. Census data.

Freaking out

I've freaked out before. Like when I was in labor with Maddy, 36 hours cumulatively (thank you very much) with back labor and a fever, and was pushing for 2 hours. I freaked out. I was so sure there was never going to be an end.

Yesterday was different.

It wasn't like I hadn't had an MRI before. I don't remember whyI needed to have one, but it was right after Maddy was born. I did have meds to help me relax, and I was on my back - eyes closed, headphones on, listening to music. It wasn't horrible.

Yesterday was different.

I didn't have any time to really mentally prepare. I didn't have any meds to help me relax. I didn't think I needed them to have a scan of my elbow! And I wasn't on my back. I was as Superman - on my belly, right arm in a coil tube in front of me, head on a pillow to the left. Ok, it doesn't sound that bad, except my right arm doesn't easily extend out in front of me, the space inside the MRI machine was TINY TINY TINY and it was all I could do to find fresh air that was pumped inside the chamber. AND I couldn't have headphones on cuz they didn't fit inside the tube. So I had earplugs in, slightly dampening the noise of the monster machine.

I was told it was going to be about 40 minutes for the MRI to take the requisite scans. Ok. I told myself to start breathing slowly as I was inched into the space. I've studied yoga, practiced meditation, did lamaze, so I knew it was all mind over matter. I knew I could do it.

The machine started up the series of scans. Dear Barbara, the radiologist, let me know when each series started and for how long they were going to be. It was easy at first - one minute, 3 minutes, 2 1/2 minutes. Ok, I thought, not easy, in a bit of pain from the upper back to my finger tips, my head is not comfortable, and I'm face down into a pillow, trying to find a space to breath, but I'm ok. I was actually starting to enjoy myself, listening to the hums, the clicks, the whistles of the machine, finding the rhythm, enjoying the harmonics as they ascended and descended strange machine-made scales.

And then I freaked out. It happened during the longest of the series, a mere 6 minute scan. The wonderful rhythms and clicks changed drastically into a blanket of sound. I knew I was starting to lose it. I started to breath slowly, thinking to myself that it everything was alright, this set was about to end. Except it didn't end and I slowly found myself go crazy. I started crying silently, hoping for some miracle. And then it ended. Barbara asked if I was ok, and this time I said no. She and the nurse Dawn pulled me out for a breather. I was so amazed that I freaked out so, but Barbara and Dawn calmed me down, gave me some water and tissue or 3.

Dawn stayed in the room with me, at my side, touching my leg lightly. The power of touch grounded me and I finished with the next four scans.

So I freaked out. As I was laying in bed, trying to go to sleep, I had to push away that awful feeling in my head. It haunted me. I never want to do that again.

Now is the waiting game to hear from my doc to see about next steps. *sigh* I really don't want to go back to square one, but this pain is horrible. If they can do something about it now when I'm (relatively) young, then do it.

ZAP

The kind Dr. W*** made me feel as comfortable as I could with electrodes and needles zapping my forearm and hand. I felt like Dr. Frankenstein's monster as my arm jumped wildly after a jolt, though I willed it to stay still. Haven't talked with the ortho doc yet, but I am bracing myself for the possibility of going back to square one. There does seem to be something blocking the ulna nerve at the elbow, where I broke it in February. Have my MRI tonight to see what the ligament looks like.

Feeling kind of...

....apprehensive. Getting the nerve conduction test done tomorrow to see if I still have a healthy ulna nerve. MRI on Tuesday to see if I still have a healthy ligament. Wish me luck please!

What a week....

Although my high school grades say otherwise, I appreciate science, math, and get engrossed by television shows about quantum physics and quantum mechanics. I don't understand any of it, but I appreciate it.

"W" has had a busy week ... groping Chancellor Merkel, encouraging the escalation of events in Israel and Lebanon, and now, using his veto power for the first time.

Annie, Katie and Ann at inkycircus.com (life in a girl nerd world) is a great science blog for women. Their recent blog about "W" says it well:

But the thing is that scientists do think. They are not evil geniuses, they are smart, curious, well-trained people trying to give you and me a better life. Cutting off their funding at source doesn't help them to see the error of their ways. It limits their power to change things, and to find cures and solutions and treatments. And it makes people like me a little pissed off. more....

Indeed it does...

some garden pictures!

(For more pictures, check my flickr account!)

Daisies! I love daisies!













Do you see the spaghetti squash?

















The monstrosity that is our vegetable garden in July!

The ocean's depths

Anytime a tv show airs about the ocean's depths, I can't help but watch. I love watching humans witnessing the discovery of yet another species. The best part of our honeymoon in Negril, Jamaica, was participating in the scuba dive to 30'.

I just stumbled upon this link for the Scientific and Environmental ROV Partnership using Existing iNdustrial Technology" (SERPENT) project. There appears to be an Underwater Image Competition 2006. These pictures on the shortlist for 5 categories are absolutely beautiful! At first, I thought this particular image was fake.

Enjoy!

Summer reading

So far this summer, I've read:

• Anita Shreve's "The Pilot's Wife" (Well written - great story - reminded me of Desperate Housewives and Lost (he had a double life?!))
  
• Ann-Marie Macdonald's "Fall on Your Knees" (As beautifully written as it was disturbing)
  
• Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series (again) (My yearly fix of this amazing graphic novel. One of a few books I continually re-read over. So many layers, themes, characters!)
  

Currently, I just started Lisa Gardner's "The Other Daughter" and I get to go pick up from ILL tonight a long awaited "Y: The Last Man".

PHEW

• After two days in Madison and two days at the cottage, I'm POOPED! Maddy got a cold which thankfully lasted only 2 days with the ucky green nose goo, but is none-the-less chipper as usual!
• I'm back at work, busy trying to figure out what I was on my list of things to do a week ago, when I was last in the office! EEK! :)
• Heard about the asteroid that just missed Earth! Oh my! That was a bit close, huh?
  
• I'm anxiously patiently waiting next Friday when I can talk with the ortho surgeon about what next for the arm.
  

Rain, Rain! GO AWAY!

So I was in Subway today, ordering my favorite Sweet Onion Teriyaki sandwich, watching the MSNBC news channel because the guy in front of me had a big order, and there on the news, "Flood waters in Norwalk, Ohio!", which is odd, cuz there really isn't a huge river near by. So I called my dad, who said, "A what?", cuz he was as surprised as I was. I went online and found some news stories. 5 - 9 inches were dumped in NW Ohio and SE Michigan! Wow.

We're thinking of you, Judy, Harris family, and Krichbaum family!

List of things to do...

On my list of places to visit before I die....

• Go somewhere warm or warmer while we celebrate Christmas
• Go to Stonehenge to welcome the Summer Solstice
• Ring in the new year in New York City
• Take the train through Canada, visiting Vancouver, on the way to Alaska
• Travel through Africa, seeing where Haddy's and William's ancestors are from
  
• Get lost in Hong Kong
• Introduce Maddy and Joe to all that I did (the places, the church, the castle, the school) when my family lived in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England for two years MANY years ago.
  

Whew!

What a weekend. Joe worked all weekend, but Maddy and I found time to surprise him at the fair he was working at on Saturday, and then for a bit of family time on Sunday morning before he had to return to the fair.

Maddy is very much a 2 1/2 year old, but she is in great health. She had her ear doctor appointment on Friday morning, and she's doing great a year after her ear tubes were put in. She had had chronic ear infections, and for her, the tubes were a miracle. One of them is on its way out, and the other is already out, so they've done their duty well. :)

I had another appointment with my orthopedic surgeon re: my elbow. The residual pain is due to the ulna nerve still not 100% repaired, and there is some concern about how much damage it sustained in "the fall". Fingers still pretty tingly. I wear this fun brace to bed, making it harder for the nerve to get pinched in the night. He suggested a nerve conduction test. Ugh. Had one done years ago and it was NOT FUN. Ouch.

But I've postponed that test for a few months. I'm not ready to start from square one trying to recuperate from the break. *sigh*

choices

When did you last stop and wonder how you got to this particular point in your life? I've been doing it a lot lately. (See this entry)

I got my library degree 5 years ago for (what I thought) would be a good job in academia. I AM in academia, but not in a library doing what I thought I'd be doing. And I guess I'm itching to get back to a career in libraries. I was good at what I did, and there are so many aspects of a library career I would love to explore / investigate /do again:

• I would love to be a young adult library. You should see my YA collection - not very large, but big enough to be a collection.
  
• I would like to spend my career teaching.... anything! I love teaching. I'm doing a bit of it right now, but I want more.
  
• I would like to continue learning about website design and management. I did a bit in the past, and really enjoy learning what makes a GOOD website, what makes it usable, not just well designed.
• I'd like to own a bookstore.
• I'd like to work in a bookstore.
• I'd like to devote my energies to finding and compiling a library of titles that support and celebrate diversity of all types.

There....

all better! :)

test

hmmm.. the blog seems to be having issues....

The only constant thing is ...

Yes, I know the old adage but I tell you, it can be a bit tiring having so many things change at once. I'd like plain old boring for at least a LITTLE while please.

Since January, just 6 short months, it's been such a whirlwind with a growing child, broken bones, damaged nerves, the challenge of job changes, keeping our marriage intact despite my craziness and our stress, and other sundry family upheavals. I'd like this crazy roller-coaster to just pause for, say, maybe a week. I'd re-charge my batteries and remember how it feesl like when I could tackle the stresses of these days.

Until then, I'll take what I can, do my yoga when I am able (YEAH!), take the time to visit with friends and family, remember to breath, and remind myself that people less-equipped emotionally / financially can do what we need to do in order to move on.

So cool!

Check this blog out! It makes me yearn for my "lost" career in librarianship. When I was in library school, I loved many aspects of librarianship (teaching, cataloging, reference materials). But I particularly loved my classes on the history of the book and archives. I love old books! I actually purchased a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels because I enjoyed it so much! I'm such a geek!

What a weekend!

It was a whirlwind, and quite successful! Zac and his bride, Erin, were married Saturday at the Weidner Center. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! (finding pictures to post)...

My 2 cents

I found this quote so ironic:

As this debate goes forward, every American deserves to be treated with tolerance and respect and dignity. On an issue of this great significance, opinions are strong and emotions run deep. And all of us have a duty to conduct this discussion with civility and decency toward one another. All people deserve to have their voices heard and a constitutional amendment will ensure that they are heard.

Do you recognize it? It's Pres W Bush on his stance on what he calls "the Marriage Protection Amendment".

Are you kidding me? What part of "tolerance and respect and dignity" does W and right-wing supporters show towards homosexual committed couples who want the same financial, political, social responsibilities and benefits as heterosexual committed couples? I don't know about you, but I was taught that denying obligations/responsibilities/benefits based on certain aspects of a person's life is wrong.

What's the deal people? People don't CHOOSE who they love. It is without a doubt easier in today's world to love someone of a different gender than you. Why would anyone want to forever fight in their workplace for insurance benefits? Endlessly having to "tone it down" when going out. Trying to constantly remember who in the family "approves"? It's not easy! It's not simple! And no one tries to go out and fall in love with someone of their same gender.

As Joann Elder puts it, "This amendment is divisive … This amendment is unnecessary … This amendment is un-American..." I'd also add Russ Feingold's words. This is MEAN-SPIRITED. Leaders and decision-makers who base their work on hate and mistrust and obvious intolerance should be voted out of office. Where in the world are the leaders who work for the GOOD of the nation? What happened to people wanting to do good for each other?

• Wisconsin's US Senator Russ Feingold has a pretty detailed statement against this amendment.
• The Fair Wisconsin's No On the Amendment Blog has a LOT of resources and documentation.
• Love is Love is Love. com is Margaret Cho's Marriage Equality Resource Site. Good links!

So you think you know how to play Rock, Paper, Scissors?

HA! There's more to it than the old RPS. How about SPONGE, or MONKEY, or even ALIEN? LOL How does it work?

Check it out!

Our world....

It's been crazy around our house lately.

• Maddy's been sleeping in the BIG GIRL BED now, and to our surprise and delight, it's working! Ok, naps are still a bit of an issue, but the plan is to continually wear the little girl out.
• Haven't quite figured out how / when she'll be able to give up her nuks. We've weaned her down to only at naptime and bedtime. A HUGE accomplishment. But now I'm not so sure she's ready. I kept on saying "by he UnBirthday June 23", but I don't think it's going to be that soon. Any suggestions?
  
• Joe's been working at finding a job. There are some good leads. (Cross fingers)
  
• Haddy Bell, William and my folks came to visit last Sunday. It was HOT. It was nuts. It was a delight however to see HB, W and M enjoying each other's company. HB and W are becoming such country kids! The sight of them going up and down the sidewalks with their little scooters was a hoot. It reminded me of my sisters and me, going to Edendale to visit Nana. She lived on a dead-end street, with sidewalks. Such a different sky than in the boonies where we grew up.
  
• We're having yet another "Hasta-la-bye-bye Weidner Party" at our house Friday night. Invited the neighbors so they wouldn't be TOO upset with the weirdos coming to the house. It's going to be a crazy night.
  
• Had my last therapy appointment for my elbow this morning. After 7 weeks (!), I have gained a lot of motion, some strength, but that damn ulna nerve is still causing me problems. I'm a bit troubled by the fact that it takes days to recover from "over-doing it" (like gardening, picking up Maddy, vaccuming). But I was reassured that it will get better over time. I just have to be patient. Looking at taking a yoga class somewhere this summer to really be able to work at strengthening.
  
• Started more therapy this week. This is focused on my back. When I fell, I really did a number on my elbow, but I also pulled muscles in my back. They haven't been quite the same since. So I'm seeing "Sven" to help me loosen up. Ugh. After the first day, I had a headache for 2 days. Wish me luck!

Cheers!

The grand experiment

We got the seeds in the garden! It's official - the start of Stacey and Karen's vegetable garden 2006! Stacey's yard isn't that big, but Joe and I have a HUGE area that gets lots of sun, so we've opted to experiment with a communal garden. We wanted a much larger size plot, but only got half of it tilled last fall (about 13 x 11). Let's see...we planted:

• broccoli
• corn
• carrots
• onions
• tomatoes
• beans
• peas
• squash
• peppers
• cucumbers

I think that's it. Grow, seeds, grow!

Our wonderful weekend!

Friday (we BOTH had the day off!)

• Bought one of these at a rummage sale! We've already dusted off our respective bikes and have been on 2 bike jaunts already!
  
• Did some more work around the yard. So very wet still from the recent deluge, but the flowers and plants are loving it!
• Had a dear friend and his 11-year daughter over for dinner, then fire in the driveway. Did I mention I love my house?

Saturday

• Joe and I (and Maddy) celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary by spending it up in Fish Creek at another wedding. It was a beautiful day with a beautiful couple.
  
• Maddy was as cute as ever, although she really doesn't understand that the object of mini-golf is to putt the ball into the hole. In the Maddy-verse, the object of mini-golf is to run around, chase after Mommy's ball and throw it in the river and (maybe) in the hole.
  
• Maddy decided that a poor young not-even-two-year-old boy needed to dance with her on the dance floor. She went up to poor said boy and strongly encouraged him dance with her. I don't think he knew how to say "no thanks", so after the first time, he kept running away from her! Pictures to come!
  

Sunday

• Cool, but sunny.
  
• Maddy let us sleep in all weekend! WooHoo! (We slept until 9am on Sunday! She/we was/were so pooped from Saturday.)
  
• Went for a long bike ride on the Fox River bike trail! Saw a beautiful pelican, a hawk, many geese and ducks.
  
• Started outlining the plots for the vegetable garden. Glad we (Stacey and I) haven't planted the veggies yet. Frost was expected for much of the NE of WI.
  

Websites and blogs I've recently discovered...

Owen & Mzee's Web Log

Remember the baby Hippo who, after being orphaned in the Tsunami on Dec 26,2004, was given shelter at Haller Park in Kenya? Baby hippo Owen was quickly adopted by Mzee, the park's 130 year-old tortoise. Their friendship is captured in new books, as well as a documentary recently shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in April.

Daddy Types

The Weblog for New Dads! Well done blog, not only of items to make parenthood better and more stylish, but also thought-provoking parenthood commentary (though I don't think necessarily agree with his Eric Carle as Communist theory).

InkyCircus

"Life in the Girl Nerd World". Need I say more?

And because I am a devote LOSTie....

• The Hanso Foundation (it takes a long while to load)
• Let your compass guide (it takes a long while to load)

Enjoy!

ALA wishlist

If I were to go to ALA National Conference in New Orleans in June:


I would LOVE to see Madeleine Albright.

I would LOVE to see Neil Gaiman accepting an award!

Eavesdropping

I don't really understand the surprise some have felt over the recent reports that the GWB administration eavesdrops on domestic calls.

(Fear not, I'm not going to step on my soap-box and publicize (again) my personal political philosophies.)

What I WILL do is express my own surprise that it was addressed by, of all possible media, USA Today, the Readers' Digest equivalent of newspapers!

Oh, and I noticed something a bit odd today....

I use yahoo's MyYahoo feature - where you can have headlines from various news sources on one page. Strange that this is what CNN.com's headlines first said (until very quickly correctly): (click on it to see it full-size)










and this is the CNN.com's "correct headline".

Family Pictures

All Smiles! Isn't Maddy just adorable?













Maddy took this picture! Well, I pointed the camera and she pushed the button.








I like this picture a lot.

Family picture

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

I had recently posted the "Dear Mr. President" song... Now, here's something for his wife.

Jasmina Tesanovic: Letter to Laura Bush on Mother's Day

Powerful. via. BoingBoing

Please stand by as we assess this blog....

Does anyone read this? Has anyone tried commenting but have had troubles? Let me know if you've had a problem!

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

It's rained since Thursday. I'm tired of it! 2.47" so far. More in sight.

Our friends Tracy and Chris are getting married on Saturday. Happens to be OUR 6th wedding anniversary! Two days before the date, it hailed and thundered as the tent was being set up. With any luck, May 20, 2006 will be like May 20, 2000 - absolutely beautiful sunshiny and WARM. Someone ought to do the sun-shine dance!

OMG! He's been an undergrad for 12 years!

12-year Undergrad! He beats my record! I just went to school, let's see...from 1989 to 1993 @ UW-Eau Claire (4 years)...1996-1999 (3 years). So "only" 7 years for my Bachelors, then "only" 2 more years for my Masters! HA! See Mom. I'm not a record-breaker!

How to get a professional librarian's undies in a bundle....

There are many occupations that have been historically filled by women: teachers nurses, librarians for example. I received my Masters in Library Science (MLS) in 2001. I knew that job placement was risky. There aren't many library positions available, especially in the place we ended up (NE WI). I've worked professionally as a librarian in two jobs. One job was frustrating because of lack of funds and working conditions (MOLD in the stacks!). It was a good job, and I liked what I did, but Joe and I needed to find a place where we both could find employment. So we moved to NE WI. 9 months after searching for a library job (a very very long 9 months), I was hired at my second professional job. From the very beginning, I knew it was going to be a challenge. My boss was horrible. She couldn't supervise worth #$#$#&. Shortly after I became (happily) pregnant with Maddy, I was let go/fired/excused from that job. It actually was a blessing. It was majorly stressful trying to keep up in such a taxing work environment, let alone trying to "play the game" while pregnant.

There aren't many professional jobs available for those who have their MLS, so imagine the surprise when staff at the Madison Public Library find out that not one, but TWO job applicants were hired even though they didn't have an MLS. It was written into the qualification section! No wonder they are irate!

What a beautiful woman!

Had the opportunity to see Marlee Matlin last night at the Weidner Center. I took Michelle - a former fellow SLISter, who I just happened upon at the grocery store 4 months ago! We had a fantastic time! What an inspiring, down-to-earth, REAL woman! Ms. Matlin was asked a number of strange questions: "Did you want to have deaf children?" for one! How absolutely bizarre that anyone would want to have a deaf child! What answer did they want to hear?

Kudos to the beautiful 6th grade girl with aspirations of her own. It was sweet to imagine Mr. Winkler saying those same words to Ms. Matlin so many years ago.