Another installment in the 'how we met series'
(if you don't know what this is, go here)
Hubby was leader of the 11yo boy scouts in his area. One weekend he took them on a hike up the canyon--into National Forest area. I was working for the Park Service as a ranger, and I was the one in the little booth who took his entrance fee. Well, his check bounced, so he had to come back the next week to re-pay the fee, and he intentionally came to my booth so that he could ask me out...
Disclaimer: this approach would not really have worked in real life, because the entrance fee for that canyon is about $3. I don't think I would have agreed to go on a date with someone who bounced a check for $3!!!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Just Be Nice Already
This may turn into a series...things that bug me...
but life is just too short to be nasty to folks all the time.
I recently met someone whom my husband had discribed as 'crusty.' When I actually met this person, I realized that 'crusty' didn't even begin to discribe it. This person was rude, vulgar, and just plain mean--to everyone. Family members, utter strangers, it didn't matter--this person was terrible.
I typically try to be polite and civil to everyone, although I fall into curt with those who are rude. But with this person, I was about ready to start shouting...I don't think I've ever been so glad to see someone walk away.
Really now, I understand that everyone has days when they feel down, or something upsetting is going on in their life, or they're hurting... Sometimes events or other people are making life difficult. I appreciate that we all have moments or days when we're not the sweetest of company...but to be that way all the time? That's just pathetic.
Grow up! Realize that life is only 10% what happens to you, and is 90% what you do with it! Take responsiblity for your choices, behaviors, and mood. Being crusty and crabby all the time is immature and unacceptable. Furthermore, being cranky doesn't even bring any satisfaction to the crankpot--but being happy does.
So be happy! You might live longer...and even if you don't, you'll certainly live better!
but life is just too short to be nasty to folks all the time.
I recently met someone whom my husband had discribed as 'crusty.' When I actually met this person, I realized that 'crusty' didn't even begin to discribe it. This person was rude, vulgar, and just plain mean--to everyone. Family members, utter strangers, it didn't matter--this person was terrible.
I typically try to be polite and civil to everyone, although I fall into curt with those who are rude. But with this person, I was about ready to start shouting...I don't think I've ever been so glad to see someone walk away.
Really now, I understand that everyone has days when they feel down, or something upsetting is going on in their life, or they're hurting... Sometimes events or other people are making life difficult. I appreciate that we all have moments or days when we're not the sweetest of company...but to be that way all the time? That's just pathetic.
Grow up! Realize that life is only 10% what happens to you, and is 90% what you do with it! Take responsiblity for your choices, behaviors, and mood. Being crusty and crabby all the time is immature and unacceptable. Furthermore, being cranky doesn't even bring any satisfaction to the crankpot--but being happy does.
So be happy! You might live longer...and even if you don't, you'll certainly live better!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Don't You Wish Your Diapers Were Cute Like Mine?!
Another good reason to cloth diaper--cuteness!!!
Straightforward...standard colors...
What fun one can have with a patterned PUL!
I'm particularly proud of these two, as I custom created them. Let's hear it for SuperBum and NorgeBum!!!
(If you still need more reasons, check out THIS! The toxins in disposable diapers are now linked to causing asthma!!!)
Straightforward...standard colors...
What fun one can have with a patterned PUL!
I'm particularly proud of these two, as I custom created them. Let's hear it for SuperBum and NorgeBum!!!(If you still need more reasons, check out THIS! The toxins in disposable diapers are now linked to causing asthma!!!)
Getting Knitty with It
So I've been learning to knit. At this point I'm pretty good at keeping my stiches even, but I can't handle switching between knitting and purling stitches without referring back to the book (or having someone show me). My friend KnittingFisher is going to help me learn to strand (work in two colors, carrying strands of the secondary one on the inside). My original goal in learning to knit was to eventually work up to making Hubby a full blown norwegian sweater...I knew I would need to make a number of things so that I could learn each technique and work up to the sweater (After all, the professionally hand-knitted ones in Norway sell for $1000!) KF is helping me figure out a logical sequence of projects and techniques. Right now I'm making a plain, uncomplicated hat for S. Mostly to get me in the rhythm of knitting... My next project will be a stranded hat (KF has pictures of some of her recent ones here, but I don't think mine will be quite like that...I'm thinking pale blue and grey with a simple band of snowflakes...sortof scandinavian). Anyway, I will probably need to make a couple of stranded things to get the hang of it, so maybe I'll make a few more hats or something to sell or gift... At some point I will need to practice following written knitting patterns (which I have not done yet) so I may make a pair of socks too, as KF makes lots of them and they are so cute I want some! Then I will push into this: 
"Baby Norgi" (from knitty.com)a norwegian sweater of the simplest sort--and in a child's size. So I can work on technique in a smaller scale. Huzzah for the invention of washable yarns (even washable wools!). I would probably make a couple with different panel patterns across the yoke, and sell them...or maybe make them in the sizes of my various children so we could all match...and THEN finaly move into making Hubby's sweater.
While looking around at various patterns for norwegian sweaters, I also looked at some russian and icelandic and scottish sweaters...wow, these cold-climate dwellers know how to make a beautiful thing out of a practical need. I think I can safely say that I'm developing an addiction here. Thankfully I have an inclination towards useful addictions! LOL!
I LOVE sewing, but I am really enjoying knitting. The downside of sewing is that I need my machine...knitting is perfectly portable, and that is really nice! I can just keep my needles and a ball of yarn in the end pocket of my diaper bag, and whenever I get a chance I can do a few stitches...
"Baby Norgi" (from knitty.com)a norwegian sweater of the simplest sort--and in a child's size. So I can work on technique in a smaller scale. Huzzah for the invention of washable yarns (even washable wools!). I would probably make a couple with different panel patterns across the yoke, and sell them...or maybe make them in the sizes of my various children so we could all match...and THEN finaly move into making Hubby's sweater.
While looking around at various patterns for norwegian sweaters, I also looked at some russian and icelandic and scottish sweaters...wow, these cold-climate dwellers know how to make a beautiful thing out of a practical need. I think I can safely say that I'm developing an addiction here. Thankfully I have an inclination towards useful addictions! LOL!
I LOVE sewing, but I am really enjoying knitting. The downside of sewing is that I need my machine...knitting is perfectly portable, and that is really nice! I can just keep my needles and a ball of yarn in the end pocket of my diaper bag, and whenever I get a chance I can do a few stitches...
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Walking and Talking
To clarify...yes, S is walking like crazy. This surprised me, as I had heard that those who are verbal early (which he is) are usually later on the physical milestones, and visa versa. Well, by 6months S said 'mama' and clearly knew what he meant. He has since added 'nurn' 'dada' and 'dah' (dog) to his vocabulary. "Mama" includes asking for food (perhaps confused with 'mmmm' or 'more'?) and "nurn" includes cuddles and comfort as well as actual nursing. But yes, he talks. He also grunts, growls, clicks his tongue, and 'sings' when he's tired.
He hit all his other physical milestones on the later side...rolling over, sitting up, crawling...and then WHAM he decided to walk. I have no idea what got into him...perhaps it's our hard pergo floors--nobody wants to crawl on them, so might as well get up and walk! :-)
He hit all his other physical milestones on the later side...rolling over, sitting up, crawling...and then WHAM he decided to walk. I have no idea what got into him...perhaps it's our hard pergo floors--nobody wants to crawl on them, so might as well get up and walk! :-)
Monday, December 3, 2007
Baby Humor
Tonight Hubby and I were laying on the bed, wishing that Bear (11mo) would act a little more tired since we were ready for sleep. Bear, on the other hand, was walking around our room being anything but tired. Hubby looked at him and said "NURN" (which is Bear's word for 'nurse') and then pretended to nurse. Bear laughed so hard he lost his balance and had to sit down!
So Hubby made up some more baby jokes.
Two guys walk into a bar. In the bar they see a bear. NURN!
There was a priest, a rabbi, and NURN!
Why did the chicken cross the road? NURN!
Hey Bear, NURN!
Bear was in stitches.
And so were we.
So Hubby made up some more baby jokes.
Two guys walk into a bar. In the bar they see a bear. NURN!
There was a priest, a rabbi, and NURN!
Why did the chicken cross the road? NURN!
Hey Bear, NURN!
Bear was in stitches.
And so were we.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
November 28, 1989
Eighteen years ago today my baby sister died of SIDS. I mentioned her a while ago, but on the anniversary, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my memories of that day.
Thanksgiving fell on the 23th that year. We’d had a lot of family in town, and once they all went home, the weekend was quiet. We always liked to get into the Christmas spirit right away, and in that particular year we got our tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. After leaving it in a bucket to hydrate for a couple of days, we brought it in and decorated it on Monday the 27th. Amy loved looking at the decorations and touching the twinkling lights. That night she said her first (and only) word: “lii” (light).
Mom had a meeting Tuesday evening, so we five kids (myself, age 8, then my sister, two brothers, and of course Amy-9mo) were home with Dad. I don’t remember anything particular about the evening, so I’m sure it was quite routine. Amy was always a mommy’s girl, and she struggled to calm down for anyone else. That night, she finally fell asleep in Daddy’s arms. When Mom came home, Amy was not breathing. Dad began CPR, the ambulance arrived 4 minutes later. Shortly afterwards someone (I don’t even know who) arrived to stay with us older (sleeping) kids, and Mom and Dad went with Amy to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The official cause of death: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (which is the medical term for “we don’t have a clue why she died”).
Mercifully, the older four of us slept through everything—the ambulance sirens, the paramedics running past our bedroom doors, everything. In the quiet of morning, our parents came and gathered us all into their room. We all sat on their bed and Dad said “we have something we need to tell you.” I knew what it was before he told us. All my siblings have told me that they also knew before being told. Amy had died in the night. Children have perfect faith, and while we knew we would miss Amy, we also knew that she was in Heaven, with Jesus…so what’s to mourn?
I remember sitting in the rocking chair next to the wood stove. Neighbors and people from church came and went all day. Mom was weepy I guess, although I don’t concretely remember that. I do remember that it was raining (typical for November in western Washington), and the day was cold and grey. I had just begun reading a novel, so I continued (and finished) reading it that day…that novel (“Summer of the Swans”) is not very happy to begin with, and now that I associate it with that day, I will always consider it depressing.
Someone from church offered to make a burial gown for Amy. She made a long white dress trimmed in pink ribbon. There was a matching slip and bonnet. (Thanks to the bonnet, we were able to take locks of Amy’s hair for each sibling to keep.) Mom said she was relieved when Dixie called and said she would make the dress—Mom could not have handled doing it herself. There was some leftover fabric and ribbon, so Dixie made a little pillow for mom to have for remembrance.
Mom had been breastfeeding Amy of course, so there were physical pains to go with the emotional ones. Her body continued to make milk, and without a baby to feed, she became very engorged. (I have experienced some engorgement as my body adjusts to my baby’s varying feeding needs, and it is very uncomfortable.) Of course, my nursing baby relieved the pressure on a regular basis, and I could also pump away extra milk to ease the pressure. With no nursing baby, Mom needed her milk to dry up, so could not even pump. She has told me that she would stand in the shower, letting the milk drip with the warm water, as though her body were weeping too.
Amethyst, “Amy” was our family’s precious jewel. She lived 9 months and 3 days. She has now returned to the Father* who sent her to us. We miss her here, but know she has work to do on that side of the veil. In her baby blessing, she was told that she would be a missionary to millions. Mom originally thought that phrasing was born of Dad’s penchant for exaggeration, but we now realize that it was not. Her tombstone reads “The Crown Without the Conflict.”
*We believe that little children are pure at birth, and remain so for the first eight years of life. During this time they learn right and wrong, but are incapable of true sin. At 8 years old, they are baptized, and then become accountable for their choices. If a child dies before the age of accountability though, they are still perfect, and therefore return directly to Heavenly Father’s presence.
Thanksgiving fell on the 23th that year. We’d had a lot of family in town, and once they all went home, the weekend was quiet. We always liked to get into the Christmas spirit right away, and in that particular year we got our tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. After leaving it in a bucket to hydrate for a couple of days, we brought it in and decorated it on Monday the 27th. Amy loved looking at the decorations and touching the twinkling lights. That night she said her first (and only) word: “lii” (light).
Mom had a meeting Tuesday evening, so we five kids (myself, age 8, then my sister, two brothers, and of course Amy-9mo) were home with Dad. I don’t remember anything particular about the evening, so I’m sure it was quite routine. Amy was always a mommy’s girl, and she struggled to calm down for anyone else. That night, she finally fell asleep in Daddy’s arms. When Mom came home, Amy was not breathing. Dad began CPR, the ambulance arrived 4 minutes later. Shortly afterwards someone (I don’t even know who) arrived to stay with us older (sleeping) kids, and Mom and Dad went with Amy to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The official cause of death: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (which is the medical term for “we don’t have a clue why she died”).
Mercifully, the older four of us slept through everything—the ambulance sirens, the paramedics running past our bedroom doors, everything. In the quiet of morning, our parents came and gathered us all into their room. We all sat on their bed and Dad said “we have something we need to tell you.” I knew what it was before he told us. All my siblings have told me that they also knew before being told. Amy had died in the night. Children have perfect faith, and while we knew we would miss Amy, we also knew that she was in Heaven, with Jesus…so what’s to mourn?
I remember sitting in the rocking chair next to the wood stove. Neighbors and people from church came and went all day. Mom was weepy I guess, although I don’t concretely remember that. I do remember that it was raining (typical for November in western Washington), and the day was cold and grey. I had just begun reading a novel, so I continued (and finished) reading it that day…that novel (“Summer of the Swans”) is not very happy to begin with, and now that I associate it with that day, I will always consider it depressing.
Someone from church offered to make a burial gown for Amy. She made a long white dress trimmed in pink ribbon. There was a matching slip and bonnet. (Thanks to the bonnet, we were able to take locks of Amy’s hair for each sibling to keep.) Mom said she was relieved when Dixie called and said she would make the dress—Mom could not have handled doing it herself. There was some leftover fabric and ribbon, so Dixie made a little pillow for mom to have for remembrance.
Mom had been breastfeeding Amy of course, so there were physical pains to go with the emotional ones. Her body continued to make milk, and without a baby to feed, she became very engorged. (I have experienced some engorgement as my body adjusts to my baby’s varying feeding needs, and it is very uncomfortable.) Of course, my nursing baby relieved the pressure on a regular basis, and I could also pump away extra milk to ease the pressure. With no nursing baby, Mom needed her milk to dry up, so could not even pump. She has told me that she would stand in the shower, letting the milk drip with the warm water, as though her body were weeping too.
Amethyst, “Amy” was our family’s precious jewel. She lived 9 months and 3 days. She has now returned to the Father* who sent her to us. We miss her here, but know she has work to do on that side of the veil. In her baby blessing, she was told that she would be a missionary to millions. Mom originally thought that phrasing was born of Dad’s penchant for exaggeration, but we now realize that it was not. Her tombstone reads “The Crown Without the Conflict.”
*We believe that little children are pure at birth, and remain so for the first eight years of life. During this time they learn right and wrong, but are incapable of true sin. At 8 years old, they are baptized, and then become accountable for their choices. If a child dies before the age of accountability though, they are still perfect, and therefore return directly to Heavenly Father’s presence.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
I Want to Believe…
If you’ve ever seen the X-Files, you’ve probably seen Mulder’s poster. It’s a classic. In fact, Hubby even got a copy of it for his classroom. 
Well, I want to believe. Not in aliens (I think the whole alien thing is goofy); but I believe in other things.
I believe in Sasquatch. No, I’ve never seen him, but I think that with millions of acres of wilderness, even a moderately intelligent creature could avoid ‘discovery’ indefinitely. I also read Rawitz’ book “The Long Walk” and his description of his sighting of a Yeti (the Himalayan Bigfoot) left me with little doubt as to the likelihood of such a creature.
I believe in Nessy. This one isn’t so much a realistic belief, I guess it’s more of a ‘want to believe’ belief, but I just love the idea of the Loch Ness Monster. And, after all, they found a coelacanth, so why not a plesiosaur?!
I believe in ghosts and angels and conspiracy theories.
I don’t believe in leprechauns, gnomes, trolls, minehooni, fairies, or other little people (although I pretend to!)
But Bigfoot, yeah, I definitely believe in Bigfoot. Go ahead, make fun of me. Hubby does. But I still believe, because I want to believe.
Well, I want to believe. Not in aliens (I think the whole alien thing is goofy); but I believe in other things.
I believe in Sasquatch. No, I’ve never seen him, but I think that with millions of acres of wilderness, even a moderately intelligent creature could avoid ‘discovery’ indefinitely. I also read Rawitz’ book “The Long Walk” and his description of his sighting of a Yeti (the Himalayan Bigfoot) left me with little doubt as to the likelihood of such a creature.
I believe in Nessy. This one isn’t so much a realistic belief, I guess it’s more of a ‘want to believe’ belief, but I just love the idea of the Loch Ness Monster. And, after all, they found a coelacanth, so why not a plesiosaur?!
I believe in ghosts and angels and conspiracy theories.
I don’t believe in leprechauns, gnomes, trolls, minehooni, fairies, or other little people (although I pretend to!)
But Bigfoot, yeah, I definitely believe in Bigfoot. Go ahead, make fun of me. Hubby does. But I still believe, because I want to believe.
Dr Weil’s “Shot in the Dark”
From Dr Andrew Weil’s column at www.aarpmagazine.org/health
I wanted to post this here because I respect Dr Weil as “a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine.” I don’t agree with him 100%, but I think he is widely respected, and thus his opinions carry some weight even in mainstream culture…
Italics are mine.
Q: Some say that vaccines—or the chemicals used to preserve them—can be risky. Should I avoid them?
A: My opinion is simple: the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. And yes, there are risks, mostly of immediate adverse reactions. But these are much lower than the risks of the diseases that the vaccines prevent. If we still lived with diphtheria, polio, and tetanus, no one would question the wisdom of preventing these diseases.
Immunization facilitates a natural process by simulating encounters between the body’s immune system and killed or weakened viruses and bacteria (or pieces and products of them). In early life, such encounters can enable the immune system to defend us against these pathogens. I understand some people’s resistance to the idea of injecting toxins and germs into children (or themselves) but I think they have not considered immunization’s very favorable ratio of benefits to risks. The risk varies from vaccine to vaccine, but it always a miniscule fraction of one percent. And I take very strong exception to those who believe that febrile illnesses of childhood are necessary for optimal lifelong health. That is nonsense.
That doesn’t mean I’m in favor of every vaccine though. I’m not sure universal vaccination against Hepatitis B is a good idea. The people are risk are in well-known subgroups, so the shots (and the small risk) should be limited to them. Nor am I sure we should vaccinate all children against chickenpox. For most people, getting chickenpox confers lifelong immunity, but the vaccine does not. And catching the disease as an adult is more dangerous than getting it overwith in childhood.
I’m glad that mercury preservative has been nearly phased out of vaccines, though I have not seen credible evidence that it causes autism, as some claim. I hope that genetic engineering will bring us better (and even safer) vaccines.
Finally, for the record, I keep current on my own immunizations—I had the pneumonia vaccine along with my flu shot—and my 15-year-old daughter has had all of hers.
Of course, he neglects to mention a couple of things:
1--vaccines have imperfect efficacy, meaning that they may or may not provide the promised protection, and that outbreaks actually frequently happen among fully vaccinated populations.
2—he makes the common mistake of referring to vaccinations as ‘immunizations’ which, of course, they are not. The actual shot is a vaccination. Immunization may result from vaccination, but immunization can also come from natural infection, and with some things (such as tetanus) actual immunity is not possible (although the vaccination seems to bring some degree of protection).
I find that he is very pro-vaccine BUT even he feels that some vaccines are not appropriate for everyone (or even anyone). The two he mentions (Hep B and Varicella/chickenpox) are both on the ‘required’ list for most schools, and yet he points out that mass administration of those particular vaccinations is pointless and even harmful. (For what it’s worth, those were the first two vaccines that I knew I didn’t want either.)
I wanted to post this here because I respect Dr Weil as “a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine.” I don’t agree with him 100%, but I think he is widely respected, and thus his opinions carry some weight even in mainstream culture…
Italics are mine.
Q: Some say that vaccines—or the chemicals used to preserve them—can be risky. Should I avoid them?
A: My opinion is simple: the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. And yes, there are risks, mostly of immediate adverse reactions. But these are much lower than the risks of the diseases that the vaccines prevent. If we still lived with diphtheria, polio, and tetanus, no one would question the wisdom of preventing these diseases.
Immunization facilitates a natural process by simulating encounters between the body’s immune system and killed or weakened viruses and bacteria (or pieces and products of them). In early life, such encounters can enable the immune system to defend us against these pathogens. I understand some people’s resistance to the idea of injecting toxins and germs into children (or themselves) but I think they have not considered immunization’s very favorable ratio of benefits to risks. The risk varies from vaccine to vaccine, but it always a miniscule fraction of one percent. And I take very strong exception to those who believe that febrile illnesses of childhood are necessary for optimal lifelong health. That is nonsense.
That doesn’t mean I’m in favor of every vaccine though. I’m not sure universal vaccination against Hepatitis B is a good idea. The people are risk are in well-known subgroups, so the shots (and the small risk) should be limited to them. Nor am I sure we should vaccinate all children against chickenpox. For most people, getting chickenpox confers lifelong immunity, but the vaccine does not. And catching the disease as an adult is more dangerous than getting it overwith in childhood.
I’m glad that mercury preservative has been nearly phased out of vaccines, though I have not seen credible evidence that it causes autism, as some claim. I hope that genetic engineering will bring us better (and even safer) vaccines.
Finally, for the record, I keep current on my own immunizations—I had the pneumonia vaccine along with my flu shot—and my 15-year-old daughter has had all of hers.
Of course, he neglects to mention a couple of things:
1--vaccines have imperfect efficacy, meaning that they may or may not provide the promised protection, and that outbreaks actually frequently happen among fully vaccinated populations.
2—he makes the common mistake of referring to vaccinations as ‘immunizations’ which, of course, they are not. The actual shot is a vaccination. Immunization may result from vaccination, but immunization can also come from natural infection, and with some things (such as tetanus) actual immunity is not possible (although the vaccination seems to bring some degree of protection).
I find that he is very pro-vaccine BUT even he feels that some vaccines are not appropriate for everyone (or even anyone). The two he mentions (Hep B and Varicella/chickenpox) are both on the ‘required’ list for most schools, and yet he points out that mass administration of those particular vaccinations is pointless and even harmful. (For what it’s worth, those were the first two vaccines that I knew I didn’t want either.)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sweet!!!
I just ordered one of these:
A babywearing poncho! It has a little flap that lets out a hood on the front OR the back (perhaps I should say AND the back!) so I can hang a kid on either side (or both!) and have a hood for each of us on the rainiest of days!
Oh I'm so excited. This was the one thing that was missing for a nice winter here in the rainforest...I walk everywhere, so good raingear is essential!
A babywearing poncho! It has a little flap that lets out a hood on the front OR the back (perhaps I should say AND the back!) so I can hang a kid on either side (or both!) and have a hood for each of us on the rainiest of days!
Oh I'm so excited. This was the one thing that was missing for a nice winter here in the rainforest...I walk everywhere, so good raingear is essential!
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