The wedding of the summer

WOW.

Maddy, Joe and I hopped in the car early Saturday morning for Schaumburg, Illinois. The car ride was actually quite ok. Maddy and I sat in the backseat, watched movies on the laptop, colored, read books, and generally kept ourselves entertained.



The reason for the trip was to witness our very good friend Larry get married.


I hadn't a clue that he was serious about anyone until a little while back. It's not every day, nor everyone, who can go to their friends' wedding when that friend used to be an former boyfriend! Larry and I met 16 years ago during the Oregon Straw Hat Players show "South Pacific". We dated for a year, and have always remained friends. The funniest part of the story happened after I started dating Joe, 11 years ago. I was on the phone, telling Larry about my new boyfriend and described what he had done at the University. Larry paused and asked what Joe's last name was. I told him and asked why. Larry laughed and immediately asked to speak with Joe. Soon, the two of them were on the phone, giggling like school girls. Finally, after they hung up, Joe told me that he and Larry knew each other in college and had hung out. The craziest thing was: This was before I knew Larry!

So we hiked down to Chicago and were treated to one heck of a party! The reception was at the Chicago Marriott in Schaumburg. Very nice. There was close to 49 tables - 9 people per table plus the head table, so about 500 people. The table we were at was already full when we arrived. It was wonderful of Larry and Carolyn to think of the details. Here was our companions for the night:

The Daniels family: I remember Jeff. Here are he, his wife Vicki, and their two children, Lukas & Holly.


Maddy and Holly had a fun time together coloring.



The other two at our table were Jace & Pat. I knew he would be there, but it took me a "hi, my name is..." for either of us to recognize each other. He went to school with my sister Amy - his sister was in my grade. Pat has been a part of the Oregon Straw Hat Players for many years. Larry, Pat, Jace and I were all a part of the South Pacific show.


So, it was a nice reunion of sorts! Then came the FOOD. Oh. My. Stars. As Pat said, one usually goes away hungry from a wedding. Not so for this wedding. First of all, the menu.


Yes, folks, you saw correctly. There were 4 courses. That's not including the cake. (note, that's a little blue-lit waterfall)



In fact, we never got a piece of the cake. We were too full! The meal was delicious. We didn't need to stop anywhere for any food. We were delightfully satiated. It was so good, we took pictures of all the food. Enjoy. (Make sure you clean up your drool ;) )

Appetizer:
Tri-Color Ravioli, served with a Basil Tomato Concasse / Saffron Cream Sauce.



Salad:
Tossed Romaine Garden Salad topped with Shredded Parmesan Cheese and Garlic Roasted Croutons and Tossed Tableside with our homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing.



Entree:
Filet Mignon topped with a Peppercorn Cognac Sauce coupled with Breast of Chicken Florentine, Dauphonoise Potato and Steamed Bundle of Asparagus.



Dessert:
Vanilla Mousse topped with mango chunk and shredded coconut and coffee.



The presentation of the food was so good, we took pictures of the bread and the butter too!




The children at the table were all served a different kid-friendly food!

Appetizer:
Chicken Noodle soup

Salad:
Fresh Fruit


Entree:
Chicken Fingers & Fries


Dessert:
Vanilla Ice Cream with topping of strawberries.



So, all in all, we danced, we laughed, and we had a fantastic time.

newsflash

I am not a patient person....

Poetry

My coworker Pam has reminded me that I am a GEEK. She was bemoaning her dislike of "Ode to Grecian Urn" and actually said she disliked poetry! The GEEK I am, I found myself on the mission of changing her mind about poetry and found the following three poems (by the wonderful Billy Collins). Enjoy.

• No Time

I can just imagine my grandmother telling my grandfather this.

• Questions about Angels

I truly can see that one female angel, eyes closed, entranced in the music.

• Today

Why I love springtime in Wisconsin.

Alive and well

Joe is back today, after being off of work for nearly 2 weeks. He's starting a new job at the same place as a manager. He will do well. :) The surgery went well, and his recuperation went smoothly. It helped having so many women telling him to STOP LIFTING: his mother, his grandmother, his daughter and his wife.

Maddy had the week off too, and the two of them spent 4 days up at the cottage. I had to work the 2nd & 3rd but went up in the evenings to say "howdy". They were ready to come home on the 4th. Maddy LOVED being able to stay up late for the fireworks one night, a concert in the park another, and a bonfire over the weekend. It's been a challenge getting her back on schedule but it's working out ok. Oy- is she ever cranky when she doesn't get good sleep!

Men!

Why can't men be more like women?

Joe's surgery went well - better than we had hoped. It was a minor one, but a long 7 hours in the hospital. grrrr..... Now for the recuperation. That's the hard part, especially for dear husband. He doesn't just sit - he has to be doing something. So when the doctor says, "No lifting anything heavier than a fork or spoon for 2 weeks", and Joe says this morning, "I feel fine - I'll do the dishes," I just want to SCREAM!

It will be good for him though, I think, in the long run. He has the Godfather trilogy on stand-by, it's a beautiful day, and he has many books to choose from the Eck library. Maybe he'll learn what it means to RELAX!

The chosen....

You Are Buffy the Vampire Slayer

"We saved the world. I say we have to party."

What Superheroine Are You?

The longest day

I've always loved the solstices (or is it solstici?) . Today, June 21, is the Summer Solstice. Here are some random links. I love the sunrise picture.

Great Lake Michigan Sunrise #2
Scientific
Pagan

blogging

I love blogging. Truth be told, I haven't always been sure that people READ it though. I don't have the PROOF. Every once in a while, friends or family will tell me they liked a particular post, or say they have caught up the news in the House of Eck. However, it made my DAY when a colleague here at the college actually called me up a few days ago to say she'd spent the past 20 minutes reading my blog! LOL I loved it! (Thanks, M!)

life

• Joe's in Anaheim at InfoComm.
• I'm on steroid inhalers to get rid of this stupid cough (which I still have!). ***(update) DUH! I have bronchitis! It all makes sense now. I met my new primary care physician and he mentioned that "my case of bronchitis" takes time to recover from. I must have had it when I was pregnant (similar issues) and over the years. Wow. ****
  

• Maddy woke up last night to go to the bathroom (omg - my baby is growing up!) and doesn't have to wear pull-ups for naptime!
  
• She has taken to sitting by her window and reading, especially in the morning before we leave for the day. This morning, however, I found her IN the window sill (like the cats do) talking to the neighbor! LOL
  

huh? how could it be?

Dear darling daughter is:

• Not afraid of heights
• Not afraid of being pulled behind a boat on the Wisconsin River with her cousins in a tube
• Not afraid of speaking her mind

And yet she was TERRIFIED of swimming in the bay today. It was hot this weekend, and all I wanted to do was float in the water. But she screamed holy terror at being in the same water as SEAWEED! I was completely surprised by this.

Joe reminded me of an event that happened this week that made me realize how smart this little girl really is. There were carp spawning earlier in the week near the shore and I guess were HUGE. She didn't see the carp today. We have always made a point to say that seaweed was good - it's what fishes eat. So she must have figured that since she didn't see the carp near the shore that they were eating the seaweed. She is a smart cookie.

goals

It's that time of year when my department goes off-campus for 2 days on retreat - trying to make sense of the leaderships' ideas of goals for the next fiscal year and trying to figure out what our goals are. It's a nice get-away, but for some reason, today, I wasn't there. I was the doodle-queen. I was listening, but I wasn't focused. By the end of the long day, I actually fell asleep on the couch! I never can do that, especially with dear chatty Maddy.

Thankfully - a half-day tomorrow.

Mental Health days

I didn't mean to. I just woke up this morning, feeling funkier than usual. I haven't been sleeping well (again ... still) and I just didn't feel well, physically or mentally. So I took a mental health day. And you know what? I'm glad and thankful I am able to do so! :) I slept in, read (reading "The Historian" right now!), ate some chicken and drank some coffee, watched the cats meowing at the cat outside watching the birds at the feeder, started to draw up my "map" of the "Hill", and read email. I needed this.

Gardens & the HILL

Lupine & Iris


Clematis


Sweet and sweeter


Preparations for the HILL - BEFORE (1)


BEFORE (2)
'

and...

AFTER (1)


AFTER (2)

The Veggie Garden 2007

25 feet by 12 feet.

We (Stacey, Jodi, Joe and I) planted:

• Squash (two kinds)
• Onions
• Beans (pole & bush)
• Cucumbers (two kinds)
• Lettuce (two kinds)
• Peas
• Carrots
• Herbs
• Peppers (3 kinds)
• Broccoli
• Spinach (2 kinds)
• Celery
• Tomatoes (3 kinds)
• Potatoes

Pics from Cousin Visit

At Lambeau Field:

























Can you tell they were a bit pooped?















Getting ready to go on the bike-ride (though S & M ended up in the bike-trailer)















The dress-up Princesses.

Medieval helpdesk with English subtitles

"So, what's new in your world, Karen?"

• Had my nieces for the weekend. Oi. Not that they were awful - not at all. Maddy enjoyed having them visit, and Samantha and Alison were not exactly happy to be leaving Sunday afternoon. There were some really nice moments that I'll treasure. That said, S & A are not my children and, well, taught dear sweet M some things I'd rather not have her learn (Like saying "I don't like you" instead of "I'm frustrated!").
  
• I lost my voice - literally. Turns out coughing and sinus drainage isn't good for the vocal chords. Go figure. Of course, dear husband was "so sorry" to hear that I was to be on vocal rest for a bit. ha ha
• My 25' x 12' garden has been tilled and the potatoes have been planted. The rest (onions, squash, beans, broccoli, spinach, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, carrots, herbs, and peppers) the next few weeks.
• A new section has been tilled in the way back for the "native" garden.
• A new section has been tilled at the side for the "vertical" garden.

YEAH! I love springtime.

Life

I've always loved Thursdays. It's a time to look forward to the weekend and give thanks for all that has happened.

Trapeze artist:




We spent a wonderful Mother's Day weekend at the cottage (just inside Door County). I let my dear daughter become a next-generation tree-rat., thanks to her uncles. The highest she went up was probably 25 feet. OMG. I must have been crazy!

Going UP!


This is Maddy, doing "ROCK STAR" - probably at 15 feet. So calm - no fear.



Her uncles, tree arborists Justin & Zac, are the epitomy of tree-rat.



All in all, a beautiful weekend....


Thankfully we have the new(to us) car and a fully-functioning replaced sump-pump. We spent a VERY enjoyable evening seeing the LION KING in Appleton last evening. Wow. See it if you are able. I just spent 3 hours with the rest of the faculty and staff in recognition of the college's hard work this past academic year. Maddy and I are getting over the frakin' cough we both had from our spring allergy attacks. The plants are growing (like weeds) in the "greenhouse" and we're making strides finding someone to till the LARGE plot. (Thanks to my dear husband who suffered an injury removing the sod to make it larger.)

This weekend, we will be hosting dear niece Alison and dear niece Samantha. Maddy is so excited to see her cousins. They haven't been able to spend a lot of time together as they live in Lodi (home of Susie the Duck). Haven't a clue as to what we will do, but I don't think that's going to be a problem. Sunday is also Joe and my 7th wedding anniversary. :)

If you want to see more pictures, check out my flickr page!

Death by PowerPoint

Hilarious video!

Updates

It's a perfectly muggy beautiful spring day here in Northeast Wisconsin. The birds are singing, the grass is growing, flowers are flowering and my seasonal allergies are awful. As they say...Better Living Through Pharmaceuticals. So, after the eye drops, the nasal spray, and the decongestant, I'm ready to go out into the great green world.

Update #1: I still love my job! It's not really news or an update, but I do indeed love my job. I know I'm one of the few and I know I'm extremely lucky. My department is shifting a bit, but it'll be even better :D

Update #2: The Jetta died last week. We indeed ran it until it couldn't run no more (or in this case until the brakes died). It was the last straw in a long list of symptoms the Jetta exhibited over the past few years as it heralded its ultimate demise. Long live "the grape".

Update #3: We were able to find a really cute, nice, new-to-us, affordable Honda Accord to replace the Jetta that died. Leather interior - sun roof - low-for-its age mileage. NICE!

Update #4: A few months ago I mentioned that I wanted to go check out the GBUU. Well, we have been and we are still continuing to go!

Update #5: We've (Jodi, Stacey and myself) started the seedlings for the expanded garden (oy - that's a lot of garden!) and Joe (my darling amazing husband) was able to remove the sod for said expanded garden (even with the whining about biting ants). Soon we'll be able to do the planting!

Ok Ok....work is calling....darn work....:) But I do love it!

Rethinking How Title IX Is Applied

Morning Edition, May 2, 2007 · As more young women go to college funding for some men's sports will be reduced to comply with Title IX. That's the federal law requiring schools to offer athletic programs in proportion to gender population. Should the law be tweaked to address inconsistencies?

Listen to Frank Deford's take on Title IX. I was never an athlete, but I am a musician. As I was driving down to work, listening to his very thoughtful commentary, I found myself applauding his suggestions.

Of course it is!

The full moon, that is. Craziness seems to be running rampant in our household.

The carpet removal was successful (thanks to Jodi, Gavin, Teresa, Jason, Terri, and Julie!). The result - something that looks like a brand new house! Getting all of our house back in some semblance of order is the tricky part. But I'm pleased it looks as good as it does.

Of course, however, the Jetta has decided to caput. SOOO...off to the used car lots with the little $ we have to find a replacement.

Maddy has decided that she wants to see the moon while she goes to bed. The moon, however, has not been cooperating, ending in tears and frustration for all.

*sigh* Life is crazy, but I wouldn't know what do with myself if it were any other way!

Happy May Day everyone!

Мстисла́в Леопо́льдович Ростропо́вич

Birth name	Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich
Born	March 27, 1927 Baku, Azerbaijan, USSR
Died	April 27, 2007 Moscow, Russia

Rest in Peace. Thank you for your talents. I'll be playing Quincy today in honor of you.

Quinn goes bowling

This is episode two. Check out episode one too!

April's snow storm

Details for Wednesday (Green Bay)

Periods of snow and windy. High 37F. Winds ENE at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Wednesday night: Periods of snow and windy. Low 32F. Winds NE at 25 to 35 mph. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.
Details for Thursday
Snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 70%. A slushy accumulation of less than one inch.Thursday night: Becoming mostly clear later with any flurries or snow showers ending by midnight. Low 29F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.

It's blowing very hard and has started to snow. I'm not thrilled about this "silly spring" so far, but it IS April in Wisconsin. It's not as bad as what Madison or Milwaukee are expected to get. Positive thinking, everyone!

No Impact Man

Here's another video for your enjoyment (and amusement). I've been reading the "No Impact Man"'s blog for a few months now. Very educational and thought-provoking. Now, the brilliant Stephen Colbert has interviewed him. LOL

Babble-ing

I've been checking out Babble a lot lately. FUNNY blogs and bits about and for "The New Urban Parent". This video is so cute. Check it out!

Easter

The Easter Hare (I like this version best) is bringing a present for Maddy for the first time this Sunday. Not adhering to traditional views of religious teachings, I've been wondering how to explain to her what Easter means. I found some links that might help us.

• Easter Symbols, Icons,Legend, Lore and Customs
• Rabbit on the Moon - A Short History of Easter
• How Easter Works
• Marshmallow Peeps (cuz it's cute!)

Pictures - cabin in early spring

of weather, naps, and UUs...

As promised, spring time isn't quite ready to stay. We have flurries and a high of only 30 today. It is Wisconsin, you know. 7 years ago, it was freezing cold at the end of May. I was nervous that the ground would still be frozen for our outside wedding. T.S. Eliot was right. April is the cruelest month, teasing us with the possibilities of full-blown spring.

Despite Ma Nature's joke, Stacey, Jodi & I have planned the vegetable garden. Last year's was indeed a learning experience.

I've been in a very tired state the past month. A lot of this has to do with the new med I'm on to treat a mild anxiety disorder I've recently been diagnosed with. It's very mild but the worrying and the anxiety I've felt over the littlest things was driving me (and my family) nuts. My doctor prescribed meds and possibly a therapist to hopefully relieve some of this damn "working mommy guilt" I've been feeling. Unfortunately, I haven't been to the fitness center a whole lot the past month. I've been taking that time for napping. I know I need to get back into the routine, but it's been a bit hard. *sigh*

The best news is that we did indeed get to the GB Unitarian Universalist fellowship as I said we would! Last weekend, Joe, Maddy, myself and Jodi checked it out. It's a new fellowship (comparatively anyway) and has about 60 adult members. I loved it. I think what I miss most of all in a church is the community fellowship. We're planning on going again this Sunday.

Be well. :)

springtime ... in Wisconsin

Yesterday, March 25th, Green Bay set a record high of 73 degrees. Only 4 days into the spring season! Today, the forecast is for 75! Holy moly.

We took advantage of the beautiful, fantastic spring weekend with plenty out outside time. We went up to the woods yesterday morning. We went for walks and Maddy LOVES the Red Ryder tricycle that was handed down from Haddy & William.

Of course, it's springtime in Wisconsin. This weekend is only supposed to be in the 40s. Oh well.

Maddy musings

We're at Stacey's salon, getting Maddy's hair cut. Stacey's co-worker asks if Stacey had remembered to do something. Stacey replies, "Sorry! I forgot to do that. I'm not the sharpest girl on the block sometimes".

Madeline pipes up, "I am though!"

That's my girl!

Maddy gets her hair cut

Before picture of Maddy's LONG hair:

























After Haircut:

A question of faith

How should faith or religion be involved in how to raise our delightful 3-year old daughter?

Joe's family is Catholic, though many are not devout, though there is an ex-nun in the family.... Joe spent all 12 years in Catholic private education. I was raised Presbyterian and spent all American (and British) schooling in public education. We've come to an agreement that neither of us fully believe in the tenants of any particular religious doctrine.

Many years ago, I attended the new-member class at the First Unitarian Society in Madison many years ago. I love the principles of Unitarianism. I've always thought any children I'd have would be raised with the strong affirmation of the inherent dignity of all.

We moved to Green Bay in 2001. A completely different community from Madison. It has been difficult to find my place in this community - a democrat, liberal, pro-feminist, pro-choice mother and wife in a republican, conservative and Catholic environment. I've figured out a path - slowly finding souls I can relate to. For some reason, though, I've never attended the GBUU. I've had lots of excuses - "Packer Sunday!" - "the weather is lousy" - "it's not a beautiful building like Appleton's or Madison's". ENOUGH excuses!

So, this is my goal - to attend the GBUU within the month.

Still alive....

Yes, Lana, I'm still alive, though I haven't spent much time blogging as of late. Some reasons:

• Joe went to Las Vegas (or as Maddy calls it "Lost" Vegas) last week.
• Maddy has had a long (6-month) bout with bed-time issues. We've tried EVERYTHING we could think of or read about. Websites were consulted - books were read - issues were discussed with family and other moms ad nauseum. It seems that it was "just a phase". (Knock on wood.) Of the past week, she's been a "very very good girl" getting to bed 4 nights out of 7! Woo Hoo! Exhausting.
• I've recently started an antioxidant nutritional supplement that KICKED MY BUTT. OPC-3 (as it's called) helps rid the body of free radicals, and let me tell you, it's tiring! But, a week later, I do feel better.
  

Those are my excuses, and I'm sticking to them!

What happens when you no longer have a funny bone?

So I found out what happens when you hit your funny bone when you've lost it (or at least when you've had it surgically moved). It still hurts. Owie! It's now bruised and sore. Now you know!

the brisk whirl-wind weekend

We spent 6 hours in the car this weekend driving to and from this FUN place in Tomah. It was the second installment of birthday celebrations - this time for Maddy (Dec 23), Alison (Jan 9), William (Jan21), and myself (Jan 24).

It was nasty cold outside, and got colder as the weekend went on. This morning, it was 13 below in Green Bay - schools were closed - wind chills to be about 25 below. Yikes.

33 Reasons ...

33 Reasons Why Libraries and Librarians are Still Extremely Important

by: Will Sherman

Are Librarians Totally Obsolete?

BlogMoms

I've added a new section (to left) re: cool blogging moms. I heard Melissa Summers was to be on the Today Show to talk to Meredith Viera about moms who, at occassional play dates, imbibe in a cocktail. Read any and all of these sources with the warning that you may have less respect for Meredith than ever.

Kitchen diaries

Tremendously funny.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!

I love birthdays. Always have!

When I was a young child living in Michigan, my folks would take me and friends to the circus, which was always in town in Janaury. We moved from Grand Rapids to Fitchburg, Wisconsin, a week after my ninth birthday. My 3rd grade teacher (Mrs. Scripsema), who happened to have also been my 1st grade teacher, was the best teacher to have as a kid.

My most treasured kid-birthday gift was a huge homemade construction card/book with cards my classmates made for me. I still have both of these cards. They are priceless. (I won't go into detail about my least-treasured birthday, but it had to do with seeing an ex-boyfriend and his "Italian hussy".)

So for this birthday, besides going out last Saturday, I'm celebrating it by yoga practice today, swimming this afternoon, watching Maddy enjoy herself at dance class (that ballerina!), and having dinner delivered by good friends of ours tonight. Tomorrow, we're all going to a former SLISter's house (thanks, Michelle!) to introduce our families to each other. Friday, probably with Joe's mom. Saturday, out dancing with a girls-night-out! :)

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

LIfe

I feel energized! As I mentioned as the new year began a few short weeks ago, I'm consciously making the effort to do my body (and mind) good. In week 2:

• I've been able to rearrange my work schedule so that I work 8-2, Monday through Friday. I now have a few hours 2 days of a week to take a breath - do errands if needed - take a quick nap before I need to pick up Maddy at her Nana's. I now have 3 hours the other 3 days of the week to be able to WORK OUT at the YWCA - cardio, strength & swimming!
  

• I've signed up for 2 days of yoga Mondays and Wednesdays at work! They are offering it for free. Did I mention, though not working in a library right now, that I love my job and my place of employment? :D

• I am in a FIT CLUB at work - a team of 4. We're "The Leaner of the Pack". LOL We count points daily for things like doing 15 minutes of stress management, 7 hours of sleep the night before, 5 servings of fruits & vegetables, 50 oz. of water, etc.
  

• Organize an evening AWAY on Saturday for Joe and I. My folks are giving us a night at a nice posh hotel in Appleton for the evening as a belated anniversary present (Thanks, Mom & Dad), and Joe's folks are taking care of Madeline for the afternoon & evening (Thanks, Mom & Dad!). It's partially a birthday party for me and our friend Tom - our B'day is celebrated Wednesday (the 24th).
  

I am hopeful this weight can be shed.
I am hopeful my cholesterol will be lower when I get it checked in May.
I am hopeful the higher levels dopamine & serotonin will increase my mood.

Life is good!

Four

(taken from Erica @ Librarian Avengers)

FOUR JOBS YOU’VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE
Grants Specialist
Certified Nursing Assistant
Assistant Girl Scout Summer Camp Director
Web-Resources Research Librarian

FOUR MOVIES YOU WATCH OVER AND OVER
The Princess Bride
Star Wars (Episodes IV - VI)
Finding Nemo (kind of have to with Maddy)
Serenity

FOUR CITIES YOU’VE LIVED IN
Madison, WI
Ashland, WI
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Green Bay, WI

FOUR TV-SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH
Lost
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Brothers & Sisters

FOUR PLACES YOU’VE BEEN ON VACATION
Negril, Jamaica
Paris, France
Miami, Florida
Denver, Colorado

FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT OFTEN
BoingBoing
Treehugger
Librarian Avengers
Isthmus: The Daily Page

FOUR OF YOUR FAVOURITE FOODS
Wine
Broccoli
Grilled Chicken
Chocolate Chip Cookies

FOUR PLACES YOU’D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW
On the couch, with the cats, reading a good book.
On a beach somewhere warm, flag up to get another rum-drink
Scuba diving
Walking through the woods with Maddy & Joe

On being 3....

Maddy's accomplishments thus far in the first month since she turned 3:

• Started dance / movement class for toddlers. Of course her mom was much more worried about the whole affair than she was. She's having a blast!
  

• Been able to wear "BIG GIRL UNDERWEAR" during the day! (Whoppee!)

• Her ability at imaginative and associative play is amazing! ("Here is baby monster!" when we look for monsters at the Cabin & "Now I look like Dorothy!" when I put her hair in braids at the back of her head, patting the imaginary Toto in her pocket).

• She's accomplished the dubious accomplishment of having gotten her parents wrapped around her finger when it comes to bedtime. It's a war-zone when it gets to 8pm. Oh my. No matter what her poor parents do or try. Tonight we're trying music and hypnotize her to sleep. *cross fingers*

What's up with the snow?

Or lack of. In the 5-some years we've spent at the Cottage in Door County bringing in the New Year, this is the first that there is still open water on the Bay. No snow! How very rude!

oh yeah...

Did I happen to mention that I played my cello today? The first time since the fall in February. I didn't cry during - there was minimal pain, only stiffness from the lack of use. WOO HOO!

a new year

The Year of the Elbow is over. Long live the New Year.

Joe and I spent the evening with great friends, and brought in the new year the best way possible - via hot tub. :D Of course, it would have been better if it wasn't rainy or windy, but it was a lot of fun and very relaxing.

On the list of things I'd like to accomplish this year:

• For the first time in my life, I'm going to put fitness as a priority.
  

My cholesterol is way too high. I'd like to lose weight. I want Maddy to know how important fitness is and to set a good example. I'm going to join the YWCA, attend yoga classes, swim at least once a week. My elbow is doing well, and it feels fantastic being able to swim!

• Eat and help plan the family meals more efficiently / effectively.

We've been so amazingly busy trying to live day to day and by the end of the day, we usually stare into the refrigerator or the freezer or the cupboard, waiting for the dinner fairy to delight us with healthy, yummy cuisine. For some reason, that's not working.

• Work towards being able to plan a real vacation for sometime this year.

We haven't had a real, go-anywhere vacation in a long time and Maddy's never had a vacation. I don't count last February in Ohio to visit family - any trip when you end up in the emergency room does NOT count!

:) Happy New Years to you and yours! What's on your list?