I am sitting here, with both laptops going, a few programs running on each, but took a break for a quick bite while waiting for something to transfer from one to the other, and checking my email on my Blackberry.
This is not quite like the time I was sitting at the desktop, with one laptop on my lap while the other laptop was next to the desktop, running anywhere from 2-5 programs on each. Or the time after we got a new desktop and I was going between that one, the old one, and both laptops, getting them all to network to each other, etc.
Today I am grabbing music from my big laptop to put into my little laptop so I can have it in the little one and upload it to my sansa player. I'm also downloading pics from my camera to the computer so I can print those out (and upload them online later). Plus I'm editing some videos so William's shows aren't cluttering up the DVR and he can have them in the car. And also converting them onto the VideoNow media disks so he can use the VideoNow player he got for his birthday.
And I wonder where my kids get it from. Okay, I do know.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Shop Therapy
There are times when I do feel a bit overwhelmed by things. I admit it. It comes at times when I get very little sleep and there's a lot going on. Like doing TONS of laundry to get rid of an itchy situation. The times when I have been feeling like the Energizer Bunny, but need a little 'me' time. Robert says that I need 'Shop' therapy vs 'Shock' therapy.
So when I needed to get out of the house after doing countless loads of laundry the other week, I decided to head out to the mall. The mall is a forty-five to fifty minute drive. We live in the boonies, you see. The nearest large grocery store is a good twenty-five minute drive. So I have to really need to get out of the house to want to shop at the mall vs shopping online.
I parked and went into Macy's and checked out the sale & clearance racks. I love a good bargain. I went over to the handbags, as I recently decided that I am rarely happy with one for long. I giggled to myself, since my Mom had a handbag fetish and I realized that maybe it is some hereditary thing~ after my Mom died and my Dad was going through things, he came upon dozens and dozens of handbags, purses, pocketbooks and shoulder bags (they are not all the same thing, you know). He went through each one, finding mementos in each; paystubs from work, letters, notes, bank statements, buttons, shopping lists or photos. When he had told me that, I smiled because I have always done the same thing. I didn't know Mom did too.
It takes little time for me to find the clearance tables. I sorted through bags, unzipped them, checked to see how many compartments within and without, and would consider how quickly would one bag drive me batty when I was looking for something. Then I'd toss it aside. Too many buckles on this one, too little space in that one. This one was too tiny, this one big enough to substitute for a diaper bag. Oooohhh... a leopard print one (I have worn leopard print items before they were in style and I plan to wear them long after they've gone out... so there), but the bag style... neh. Still, something to consider.
I then put my hand on a bag, to move it out of the way, when something strange happened. I could not let go of it. My fingers touched this buttery soft leather, and as I grasped it to move it, I found that my hand would not release it. Wow. So I examined it; unzipped it (zipper moved flawlessly), one large compartment inside, with a little zippered pocket and a couple open pockets. Hmmmm.... no outside compartments. I look at the tag. Originally $168, now $84. Ouch~ still more than I wanted to pay. I remembered I had $40+ left on my Macy's gift card, one of those credit card point rewards I had recently redeemed points for. I held onto the bag after seeing that there were no more of this exact bag on the table. I walked around the other clearance tables, looking at bags that might supplant this one. As I passed a mirror, I laughed. I looked like a sitcom sketch~ like Elaine on Seinfeld~ I had that bag so tightly against my body, as though afraid some other bargain hunter might try to pry it from me. I also found myself caressing the leather as I walked around. After a very brief 'should I or shouldn't I?' discussion (in my head), I walked to the register. It rang up, not at $84, but at $58.80. Further discount on the clearance. After tax, and my gift card, I paid $21 for it.
I, of course, relayed my tale to each family member later, as we all laughed together, picturing me looking at myself grasping this bag. Yet when I held it out for everyone to feel how soft it was, their response? "Oooooohhhhh, that's really soft!"
My shopping trip yielded some other things, crafty things for Sarah to make, but that will be another post in a few weeks.
In the meantime, here's my new Fossil bag~
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Just for fun
I got this from Blake's blog and I just had to share it! So, which one are you more like?
The Calvin and Hobbes Test
Your Score: A Bit Of Both
You are 50% Calvin and 50% Hobbes
Calvin & Hobbes, like a scruffy yin and yang, are in perfect balance within you. Like Calvin, you're weird, a bit insecure, and can be a trouble-maker. But like Hobbes, you're down to earth and sensitive. It's a risk to say it here, after just a ten question test, but I'll bet you're smarter than most. Both Calvin and Hobbes are crafty, clever characters, and any one made from equal parts of each is a force to be reckoned with.
| Link: The Calvin Or Hobbes Test written by gwendolynbooks |
This one will make you scratch your head...
Seriously. It will. I am not kidding... you won't be able to help yourself.
My friend Cathy told me I needed to update my blog, so here I go.
I know I've been neglecting my blog, but I do have a good reason. Sarah received a most UN-welcome birthday present from one of her classmates. Head lice. (And at that, how many of you readers are just reactively scratching your head?)
I have lived in this town for 19 years, and all of my kids have attended the local elementary school. I have had at least one child in the school every year during that time. Often two, and occasionally three. Every year in the fall, there comes a notice home one week that a child in the school has head lice. This is the first time in all those years I ever remember the notice coming home every week for a few weeks. In 19 years, none of my kids have gotten them. Until 2 days after Sarah's birthday. The call came from the school nurse just after 10am. "Hi Kei, this is Deb (the school nurse). As you know, we've been dealing with head lice in school for a few weeks now, and there are a few classrooms that I've been checking daily. I just checked Sarah, and I found 2 on her scalp. You'll need to come get her. I'll check William's hair before you get here." Hmmm... okay, after I get over being mortified, I remembered that at some point during the night, William got up and crawled into bed with Sarah and spent the remainder of the night sleeping snugged up with her on her pillow.
I got to the school and the nurse came into the office to give me the CDC handout about lice. She said she checked William, and there are no signs of any on him. She had checked Sarah the day before and she had no signs of lice. Sarah's classroom is one that she has been checking daily. I brought Sarah home, she took a shower & shampooed her hair, then I checked through her hair as I blow-dried it. I found 2 live buggers. I had never seen one before in my life. IN MY LIFE!!! Ew ew ew. Afterwards I slathered her hair with olive oil... thoroughly, put it up in a little bun, then put a shower cap on her. I rounded up all the bed linens and pillows... hers, William's & ours. Sarah's stuffed animals went into a big plastic bag, sealed, and labeled 'quarantine'. The laundry was piling up.. I laughed as I walked into the laundry room ~ it was piled up to my chest... pillows, sheets, blankets, comforters, clothes, towels. I was very thankful for having the 'sanitize' setting on our washer. Then I vacuumed the carpets and sofas.
Sarah was a great sport during all this, and we set out to learn more together. Google 'truth and myths about head lice' for some great resources. She said a number of kids had been out of her class with head lice. Mostly the girls. After about 8 hours of the olive oil treatment, we shampooed her hair with tea tree oil shampoo, followed by tea tree conditioner. Afterwards I combed through her hair and found one dead lice. She went to bed that night on nice clean sheets~ but I was still only a third of the way through the laundry pile. I checked her hair early the next morning (I had checked William's head the night before & found no signs of little buggers), found no signs of lice. I checked William's hair again, found nothing and sent them both off to school.
When Sarah came home after school that day, she said she had gone directly into the nurses' office first thing in the morning, checked thoroughly and then off to her classroom. For the next week, I checked Sarah and William twice a day, morning and night. I also checked Robert & me. I had gotten a lice/egg comb, which did find some eggs in Sarah's hair. They were so much tinier and darker than I thought they'd be. I always put Sarah's hair in a ponytail in the morning before sending her off to school. After several days of no signs of lice, eggs or nits, I finally felt confident enough to check once a day. Meanwhile, Sarah still has a classmate who keeps getting sent home after the nurse checks. This is going on a month of dealing with this at school. The nurse keeps sending notices home, that with everyone's cooperation, we can get rid of these critters once and for all. It will just take committment from the parents to thoroughly check their own child's (children's) hair daily. Until those notices stop coming home, I know I'll be diligent checking my kids.
The time together during checks has been fun though. Sarah & I have had some pretty interesting discussions, from fun things like Webkinz to serious topics like how some people being biased against people with disabilities. I have to say~ Sarah is a pretty amazing open-minded person. She has such a pure heart.
So that's what's been keeping me busy. I did need a day of 'shop' therapy though, after doing all that cleaning and laundry.
My friend Cathy told me I needed to update my blog, so here I go.
I know I've been neglecting my blog, but I do have a good reason. Sarah received a most UN-welcome birthday present from one of her classmates. Head lice. (And at that, how many of you readers are just reactively scratching your head?)
I have lived in this town for 19 years, and all of my kids have attended the local elementary school. I have had at least one child in the school every year during that time. Often two, and occasionally three. Every year in the fall, there comes a notice home one week that a child in the school has head lice. This is the first time in all those years I ever remember the notice coming home every week for a few weeks. In 19 years, none of my kids have gotten them. Until 2 days after Sarah's birthday. The call came from the school nurse just after 10am. "Hi Kei, this is Deb (the school nurse). As you know, we've been dealing with head lice in school for a few weeks now, and there are a few classrooms that I've been checking daily. I just checked Sarah, and I found 2 on her scalp. You'll need to come get her. I'll check William's hair before you get here." Hmmm... okay, after I get over being mortified, I remembered that at some point during the night, William got up and crawled into bed with Sarah and spent the remainder of the night sleeping snugged up with her on her pillow.
I got to the school and the nurse came into the office to give me the CDC handout about lice. She said she checked William, and there are no signs of any on him. She had checked Sarah the day before and she had no signs of lice. Sarah's classroom is one that she has been checking daily. I brought Sarah home, she took a shower & shampooed her hair, then I checked through her hair as I blow-dried it. I found 2 live buggers. I had never seen one before in my life. IN MY LIFE!!! Ew ew ew. Afterwards I slathered her hair with olive oil... thoroughly, put it up in a little bun, then put a shower cap on her. I rounded up all the bed linens and pillows... hers, William's & ours. Sarah's stuffed animals went into a big plastic bag, sealed, and labeled 'quarantine'. The laundry was piling up.. I laughed as I walked into the laundry room ~ it was piled up to my chest... pillows, sheets, blankets, comforters, clothes, towels. I was very thankful for having the 'sanitize' setting on our washer. Then I vacuumed the carpets and sofas.
Sarah was a great sport during all this, and we set out to learn more together. Google 'truth and myths about head lice' for some great resources. She said a number of kids had been out of her class with head lice. Mostly the girls. After about 8 hours of the olive oil treatment, we shampooed her hair with tea tree oil shampoo, followed by tea tree conditioner. Afterwards I combed through her hair and found one dead lice. She went to bed that night on nice clean sheets~ but I was still only a third of the way through the laundry pile. I checked her hair early the next morning (I had checked William's head the night before & found no signs of little buggers), found no signs of lice. I checked William's hair again, found nothing and sent them both off to school.
When Sarah came home after school that day, she said she had gone directly into the nurses' office first thing in the morning, checked thoroughly and then off to her classroom. For the next week, I checked Sarah and William twice a day, morning and night. I also checked Robert & me. I had gotten a lice/egg comb, which did find some eggs in Sarah's hair. They were so much tinier and darker than I thought they'd be. I always put Sarah's hair in a ponytail in the morning before sending her off to school. After several days of no signs of lice, eggs or nits, I finally felt confident enough to check once a day. Meanwhile, Sarah still has a classmate who keeps getting sent home after the nurse checks. This is going on a month of dealing with this at school. The nurse keeps sending notices home, that with everyone's cooperation, we can get rid of these critters once and for all. It will just take committment from the parents to thoroughly check their own child's (children's) hair daily. Until those notices stop coming home, I know I'll be diligent checking my kids.
The time together during checks has been fun though. Sarah & I have had some pretty interesting discussions, from fun things like Webkinz to serious topics like how some people being biased against people with disabilities. I have to say~ Sarah is a pretty amazing open-minded person. She has such a pure heart.
So that's what's been keeping me busy. I did need a day of 'shop' therapy though, after doing all that cleaning and laundry.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Ten years ago...
Ten years ago, my day began like this:We had been to the OB the day before and since it was around my due date, the doctor looked at me and said, "How'd you like to deliver tomorrow?" Since I'd already begun having some contractions, was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced, I figured, "YES!!!"
The morning of November 5, Robert & I got up; he took this picture of me and off we went. First stop was his office to take care of a few things (he now says, "Why didn't you just tell me to forget work?") and then off to the hospital. The doctor checked me out, said I was 5cm dilated, broke my water at 8:25am, and the contractions started more frequently, but still very mild (to me at least). We walked the halls, talked and listened to music. Kenny Loggins' The Unimaginable Life CD... we kept it on repeat play. It was so soothing and calming~ it helped SO much!
Sarah arrived at 5:15pm, a head full of hair. She weighed 7 lbs, 10oz, and was 19½" long. My second biggest baby!
Her older siblings came to visit us at the hospital, and we got to go home the next day.
Sarah's first birthday~
2nd~
3rd Birthday... I used to have plenty of energy to make cakes like these!
For her 4th birthday, I made 2 cakes... the top of one explains why~
Fifth Birthday... and now as I find these old pictures I wonder why I stopped making these pretty cakes?!
My 6 year old! The first birthday celebrated in our new house!
For her 7th birthday, we invited lots of her friends over for a big Aloha Birthday party!
Birthday number 8, Sitting like a princess~
Last year, getting Birthday hugs from Mariko
And finally, this year!!! We celebrate one day early because her brothers were going to be busy tonight. I don't think she minded celebrating one day early....
Do you?
Happy 10th Birthday Sarah!!!!! You are very loved!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Happy Birthday to a Dear Friend!
Happy Birthday Annette! Click on over to her blog and leave some birthday wishes.
Annette has been a longtime online friend, but also one that I've had the privilege of meeting in real life on 2 occasions. She is one of the most caring, loving, upbeat people I've ever met.
Happy Birthday Annette~ We love you!!!!
Annette has been a longtime online friend, but also one that I've had the privilege of meeting in real life on 2 occasions. She is one of the most caring, loving, upbeat people I've ever met.
Happy Birthday Annette~ We love you!!!!
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