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!