Cup

I am so very unprepared for the day.

Hearty craft

A long weekend home allowed for more than usual time to get some crafting done. The girls and I decided to make heart chains and garland.

I sorted through my stash of scrapbooking paper and spent a loooonnnggg time cutting out dozens of hearts. One does not realize how time consuming cutting shapes from paper. I do have a paper punch that makes these perfect little hearts except there's something I like better about my 'ol uneven and imperfect hearts I cut. They just seem to have more character. I used the irregular hearts for the chains and the punch outs for a few of the garland. (those are not shown) I think they turned out very nice and it brings a cheerful look to the living room. Now only if I can keep the cat from playing with them. She can't help herself when it comes to ribbon and paper.

Hands

Olivia said

"I want to hold your hand forever Daddy."

Snowflakes

So it snowed. Finally.

The girls are very pleased. Last night they did a little snow dance to help it come along. It involved putting on pajamas backwards spinning around several times while rubbing ice cubes all over the pajamas and finally tossing the ice cubes into the toilet.

It worked. How funny it was to see their excitement. The chanting of "We did it!" was perfect enough for me.

Fiesta scarf

So here's one of the gifts I was working on. It is such a fun scarf to create. I think I'll be making one for me too. This was made for Julie so that she can have a fiesta with her where ever she goes. I think it'll go well with that great green jacket (the one I borrowed) of hers. I made this one first. And then realized that its colors may not go so well with her jacket. As in it just might clash. And that is why I made this fiesta one.

Save me

I learned over the past weekend why selling your home is hell on earth.

1. They will come. Unannounced and with lots of people. And you will be elbow deep in housework and the kids will be half dressed and the husband will be gaming in the basement office.

2. They will criticize your home for stupid reasons such as: you have a fireplace in the living room and a finished basement.

3. You must put about 50% of your stuff in storage because everyone has way too much stuff and all that stuff makes a home look crowded and no one likes to buy stuff filled homes.

4. People will complain that there isn't enough stuff in the house to judge its size better.

5. You cannot actually live in your home. It has to be clean all the time because see #1. And you will HATE cleaning, with a passion.

6. You can't cook things you want to eat because the one time you happen to have curry, broccoli or fish for supper people will come by and your house will smell. See #5.

7. They will come. One after another all day on the weekends, and always on rainy gloomy ones when all you want to do is stay home read and bake pies. Or watch football.

8. People will offer $5.00 for your house when you actually paid way more than that when you bought it like 5 years ago.

9. They will make your cat go nuts. This process will force your cat to pull its hair out and be all crazy-worried that some stranger will come in and tramp through her territory.

10. This process will take too long for you to remain chipper and excited about moving.

11. By the time you sell your home the seasons will change and you'll have to get your warm clothes out of the back of the storage place. You know, under all that other stuff like the extra toys, because you'd actually need the toys more than clothes and besides you woulda moved by now.

Strike!

My Midwestern roots came to good use today. I beat my husband bowling today. 131 to 80. Not that my score is really any good but at least I broke 100.

Education and health

Where do (should) we draw the line between the realm of public education and home (parental) education? The past will always return and often with no new change. On the Intersection today I listened to the panelists discuss the fate of Montgomery County MD's sex-ed curriculum. The article Sex-Ed Plan could revive heated debate from 2005 by Daniel de Vise (Washington Post Friday, January 5, 2007; Page B04) is a good point of reference for those unfamiliar with the topic.

Why is there such a freak out over sex-ed? Parents that claim this topic is to be strictly bound to an at home education environment are misguided and being irresponsible. Are parents that absolutely out of touch with their children that they actually think their children have no idea about sex? The argument that if you mention S-E-X then kids will actually do it is ridiculous. Because like it or not humans (we are animals people) have sex, we're programmed to have sex, pro-create what ever. And come hormonal surge or high water teens are going to be interested in sex. I pretty much knew enough about sex by the time I was 11, thanks HBO. So with today's TV programming I'm sure most kids know too, and those who do not watch such programs at home, well, I'm sorry to point this out, but as I learned at 11, there will always be kids that will graphically fill in the details to anyone. So yes, I shockingly received my sex-ed from my peers and TV. Since sex-ed in my school system was not discussed until 8th grade, incredibly late, and my parents were not bringing it up, there were too many questions in my head. To prevent my complete confusion and further embarrassment I began my own research. I went to the library and read health books and learned the basics about STDs and other consequences of sex. But not all kids are that proactive. And most will never talk to their parents. Even more reason to cover sex-ed.

The string of callers adding their points began to sadden me. I was struck by the incredible negativity, rather hatred, of the homosexuality topic. I was baffled how this particular group of humans continue to be branded as terrible, inhuman, not right, unGodly, or whatever. Whoa, I mean, easy there killer. Put the pitchfork down. Do you really think that by discussing homosexuality in sex-ed that it will cause people to be that influenced to do it too? Really, is talking about homosexuality going to produce little lesbians and gays out of your children? Is that the big fear? I appreciated the comment from one caller/emailer who mentioned that Cheney has a lesbian daughter and doubts that she learned this behavior at school and really doubts from home. It happened. So cope, right?

My point is that we teach students about all sorts of things. I believe in history class warfare is a topic covered quite well and I just don't see little armies popping up to carry out the "educational influence” of conquering nations or in their case neighborhoods. Seriously, the basic knowledge of high school level chemistry or physics is so much more dangerous than any topic covered in sex ed classes. With basic understanding of physical and chemical reactions anyone with malicious intent can do very dangerous things. Yet we brush it off as education.

Pretending that you will be the one to educate your child on your family's values does not entitle you to the lack of information you will inevitably provide. Because I seriously doubt that the average "keep sex-ed at home" parent is going to take initiative and do research and provide factual un-selective information to their children. (You know, the kind that involves using a library, or a credible health database like something from the NIH.) Most likely it will be propaganda and preferences. That is not being a good educator and hey, when you become a parent you instantly become an educator. So don that cap and get ready because like it or not your curriculum will cover sex-ed. So I ask, will you be ready?

Metrophant

Olivia will climb on anything. Even an elephant with a Metro map on it dirty with gunk.

Library support staff debate

There should not be a separation between the staff based on the degree-ness of one's profession. Why is there a need for this stars upon thars mentality in libraries? Yeah yeah yeah we know that you worked hard and paid much for your lovely MLS title; However, there's no need to assume that with that degree you are entitled to treat your coworkers poorly or that you will do your job better. I find that if you would simply provide mentorship to those without that maybe you can contribute the team building within your organization. Or better yet inspire others to join in the profession. If all the stats are true those retiring from the profession will need to be replaced within the next 10 years. And how I see it our best bet is to encourage the support staff to consider the MLS as a career goal.

I have discovered that there are several people that really want to get their MLS but have other things going on in their personal lives that are delaying that option. I am certain that I will not feel entitled to insult my coworkers. Nor will I treat those without as unimportant or unqualified to work in a library. I am not a star belly Sneetch.

Meet Mr. Fluevog

Or my shoes. I do love my Mommy.

Not so easy

I finally broke out the Easy Bake Oven for the girls to play little baking homemakers with. They have been asking me every day since Christmas to open it up and begin making the treats. I thought it was going to be easy as in the name right? Nope. This does require adult involvement. Lots of it. So if you buy this for your daughters (or little girls you know) please know that you are enslaving yourself (or the parent) to the doom of having to play with this too. Sure this could be a great bonding moment between mother and daughters except that this cake-like thing it makes it the nastiest thing to eat. I'd much rather pull out the big girl toys and make some real hard core bitchin' desserts than this over-processed-disgusting-wishes-it-could-be-considered-a-food cakes. They had no interest in the mixing of the batter or icing or the putting of it in a pan. They liked the shoving the pans into the oven and pulling them out. Icing the cake had to be done by me. But the decorating. Oh the decorating it what they really wanted to do. Shoot. I'd rather buy a box mix make it together and let them decorate it. At least then they'd learn how to use a real kitchen.

Icy skate

We met up with these people at a local ice skating rink to celebrate the New Year. I think we all had a great time and the injury level was low. Leah skated around several time alone. I am so proud. Since when I think back to the ice skating lessons and remember all the crying and carrying on this was a relief. Olivia favored Eric and chose to skate with him. She likes speed and he could keep up with her energy. Olivia managed to take out Daddy 2 times and was labeled a menace on the ice. I was brave enough to take her for a few more spins. Olivia insists that she is ready to do the jumpy spins in the air like all those girls in the middle of the rink.