But At Least I'm Eating Fresh Veggies!

I'm 95% packed. But I have to unpack the suitcase and re-pack it in a lighter weight suitcase. Wonderful.

I'm grabbing a quick blog moment while dinner is cooking. Well, sort of cooking. I'm trying to use up all of the fresh veggies and fruit in the fridge before we leave and decided to have fresh steamed veggies, pasta and garlic parm sauce for dinner. While cutting up the cauliflower, I cut a little bit more than I intended...I've slightly sliced the tip of my left thumb (thank heavens that's not my diaper wiping hand). It's like a HUGE paper cut but has stopped bleeding and throbbing. I definitely don't need to make a visit to Jewish Hospital (the world's number one hand hospital, where Jason went after his unfortunate lawn mower blade incident last September). I finished prepping the veggies and have them steaming at the moment. However, I don't feel like making pasta anymore so I sent Jason to McDonald's. (Jonas already ate yummy healthy chicken-vegetable pasta stars so I don't feel guilty concerning his diet.) I'm trying to convince myself that chicken mcnuggets aren't that bad if you're eating fresh veggies with them. Has anyone else heard that??

I just noticed that I'm typing just as quickly as normal, but my left pointer finger is doing the job of my left thumb. I don't even have to think about it. How fascinating!

To Do

Leaving for Vegas in a few days. I'm not feeling stressed, though. I have a to do list that's been carefully thought out and written on the calendar that I actually look at every morning. I have a packing list that I wrote out two days last week, and since then, I've been removing items from the list. (Don't think I'll need two pairs of long pants in the dessert in August.) I started waffling on the "no books, no ipod" rule, but Lara reminded me that yes, she actually owns books and cds. And get this, they have this thing called a free public library in Las Vegas that she said she'd take me to if I get desperate for reading material. Amazing.

The budget has been written and works so far. The house is slowly getting decluttered and organized. (Very slowly.) Knitting is being accomplished (two pairs of socks and most of a cardigan for Jonas).

I have the laptop set up on the dining room table in the far corner, out of the way. It's strategically placed so that 60% of the time the power cord makes enough contact to power it. To keep Jonas from running around the table and bopping his head on the corners or grabbing strategically placed power cords, we use the chairs, the table and the walls to create a Great Wall of Dining Room Furniture that keeps him out for now. Someday he'll remember crawling and figure out that he can crawl under our makeshift barrrier. I have a half thought out plan to move my desk out of the arts & crap room (which is also inconveniently blocked from easy access for the safety of the child) and put it in the kitchen where I can then house my laptop. We'll see. It does make sense to have my desk in there since I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. A LOT of time in the pepto bismol pink and spring green kitchen with the pink, gold and green floral wallpaper border. (Note to self- add white paint and wallpaper stripper to shopping list when finished blogging.)

Jonas turned 15 months old on August 2. He's 32 3/4 inches tall and 25 lbs 11 oz (90th and 70th percentiles respectively). He eats regular people food and sometimes he can get it into his mouth using his flatware. He loves tater tots, meatloaf, carrots, sweet potatoes, and green beans. I've had to scramble all over Etown looking for size 24 months summer clothes for him since he just moved up sizes and most of the stores have fall/winter clothes on display. I guess it is that time of year, even if it is still too hot to think about sweaters (says the woman who's been playing with wool all summer long).

Now it's back to cleaning. Jason probably won't clean while I'm gone, but at the same time, he won't make a lot of mess or clutter, either. So if I want to come home to a clean house (which is one of my favorite things) then I better get to it. It is on the to do list for today!

Simplify

Not much going on. We're working on a new budget (definitely one of my least fave things to do). I knit the body of a new cardi for Jonas. It's cotton so it should be good for this Fall and hopefully for next Spring, too. I'm going through my books to see which ones I can part with. There are just so many, and I since I'd like to simplify my life as much as possible, I just can't keep them all. I've been going through my yarn stash over the last few months, too. Next up will be cds, dvds, and scrapbooking items (stickers and such). Over the years, we've both accumulated so much STUFF that we spend all of our time moving STUFF from one place to another looking for other STUFF that we don't have time to enjoy the STUFF. Argh! We'll see how this simplification process goes. I am thinking that by streamlining our STUFF, we'll end up with a happier budget. (Because we'll realize that we don't need to buy anything....it's all hiding in a pile of STUFF somewhere.)

But mostly I really,really want clean surfaces and neat closets.

Is There an App for That?

I am impatiently waiting for the latest version of iTunes to download so I can move some of my music to my phone. Even though I have a Palm Pixi and not an iPhone, once I have the updated iTunes, this should be painless. I hope, anyway. The instructions for my phone portrays it that way.

In light of the fact that I'll be flying 7 hours with a 15 1/2 month old all by myself three time zones away, I'm thinking of ways to make things easier on me. Why juggle an iPod and a smart phone if I don't have to? Going without my iPod will be a HUGE step for me. It hasn't left my side in over four years. I'm actually on my second iPod. The first one fried a few days before I went to California for Meli's wedding. I was at work and called Jason in tears. I was such a wreck, he practically begged me to go buy a new one after work. You don't come between me and food, and you don't come between me and my iPod. Not if you like your arms where they are.

I've downloaded a few book reader apps to my phone. One is better than the other, but I have both because there's only a few free books offered by each. I don't pay for eBooks, and I don't pay for apps. I've been toying with the idea of someday getting a Nook or Kindle, but I'm torn over the convenience of an eReader and my love of real books (the weight, the texture, the smell, the beauty of well-stocked bookcases). It's silly to think about, really, because another gadget isn't in the budget right now. Other than cost, the biggest drawback I see is reading in bed late at night. Think about it- staring at that bright rectangle of light is not going to help anyone's insomnia. Anyway, I've only brought up the eBooks so that I can tell you another thing not traveling with me to Vegas- a book.

No iPod. No books. No laptop, either. Just a phone and a young toddler (and clothes, diapers, enough food to get us there, toys, a play yard, a stroller, a car seat, etc). I'm now trying to decide what to do about yarn. Do I take a few balls with me? Do I just take my most commonly used needles? I'll be there for 20 days so you bettter believe I will be hitting the local yarn shops. Which probably means I should only take one ball of yarn with me (in case aliens come down and steal all the yarn in Nevada just before my plane lands), but what about the needles? I could always use more sock needles so if I want to buy more sock yarn out there, that would be great. At the same time, if I buy heavier weight yarn, I'll need bigger needles to knit it, but I am over run with 7's through 10's. Too bad there's not a (free) app to turn my phone into knitting needles.

In An Attempt to Post More Blogs...

I cried a lot 4th of July weekend because of Ringo, but I'm okay now. Really.

Jonas really took off walking on the 4th. We were at the Aldrich's house, and I think the carpet inspired him to stop dragging his knees on the floor! He went to a little pool party on Saturday at Alexander's house. Alexander is 22 months old, and the other little one at the party, Morgan, is 23 months old. Jonas walked and played with them a lot. But when they were ready to run around, he couldn't keep up and reverted to his crab crawl. I'm sure he'll be running himself in no time at all.

Which means I have to stop putting off joining the local gym! I've lost all of the baby weight finally, but I haven't lost the other weight I put on during pregnancy. You know, the 20 some odd pounds I can't blame on Jonas. I definitely went overboard on the ice cream, and I didn't exercise at all. I don't want to do that the second time around. (Yes, Baby #2 is on my mind, but nowhere near a reality at the moment, so don't get so excited.) I want to lose fat and gain muscle so I can be a healthy, happy mom and a good role model to my son. I want him to know that exercise is (sometimes) fun, and it should be an everyday part of his life even when he's an adult. I used to be very phyically fit until I went to college. It's been down hill since then, but I'm ready to change that.

We're getting geared up for a busy second half of the year. We've got a wedding this weekend and a short visit to my Aunt Peggy's. In August, we'll be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary, and Jonas and I will be flying to Vegas to visit Lara. Jason will join us at the end of the trip. In October, the first weekend is Lincoln Days, and the second weekend is the Stone Mountain Games (Scottish festival) down in Georgia. Mom, Jeanne, Jonas and I will be going down for that, and I'm hoping to meet up with some of my aunts and cousins and Lara's parents. Of course, the end of October is Halloween, and I'm sure I'll be busy sewing (or pasting & stapling) a costume for Jonas. (I think I'll have him be a lamb this year since it's probably my last chance to dress him in something cutesy.) The first part of November Jonas and I are going on our Mystery Trip, and then we'll finish up the month with Thanksgiving. I have a feeling I don't even need to explain how HECTIC December will be....AND I'm still trying to figure out how to squeeze in a trip to Fayetteville, NC and one to Catawba, VA because I OWE quality time to lots of people. (I really do. I've been promising visits to people for years.)

All the while I've got to get my house truly whipped into shape for a possible dinner party in August, I have to knit up a storm to a.)get rid of my yarn stash and b.)fullfill knitting promises (which seem to multiply faster than the visiting promises), and I'm sure there are going to be a lot of little or big surprises along the way. And I still have to juggle my regular, everyday life.

Bring. It. On.

That Damn Cat

Somewhere in this house, I have a video tape of my Great-Uncle Cy petting Ringo, when Ringo was young. For no reason at all, other than being a cat, Ringo leaped up and chomped down on Uncle Cy's hand. And Uncle Cy said, "That damn cat just bit me!"


Oh, Ringo.

I miss you. I'll probably always miss you. I remember the first time I saw you. My next door neighbor Jean called me over to see a kitten she'd found abandoned. I opened the door to the screened-in porch, and there you were with her son-in-law Scott. You looked impossibly tiny next to all 6 feet 10 inches of him. I had to have you. I didn't care what Mom and Dad would say; I took you home anyway. You fit in the palm of my hand, as you were only 3 inches long and 3 and a half weeks old. I named you Yoko. Until five days later when Dr Berry informed me that you were a boy.

Fourteen years. A lot of memories. A lot of hairballs and fur and bites and scratches and growling and purring and cuddling and laughter. You were a trouper for all the moves you made with me- my parents' house to Atlanta to my parents' house to Acworth to townhouse #1 to townhouse #2 to my parents' house after the flood then back to townhouse #2 to our current house and finally back to my parents' house, to be buried with the dogs you grew up with.

We had a heatwave all June, and no matter how much I combed you, you kept shedding. While we were in Aiken, I suppose you injested too much fur. You upchucked all over the house after we returned. You also sneezed and wheezed. You lost weight. You stopped begging for food. When I saw the cut on your nose last Sunday, I wasn't too worried. But yesterday, it looked worse, and your cloudy eyes were runny. It really seemed like you were looking at me and begging to be put out of your misery. Or just begging for some antibiotics. Jason and I weren't sure. When I took you to see Dr Berry today, I was prepared to have to say goodbye. The diagnosis wasn't good. You definitely had cataracts in your eyes. You probably had a herpes infection causing the sneezing. The cut on your nose? Most likely cancer. I thought about bringing you home and trying to make you comfortable for awhile, but I remembered the way you'd been looking at me so I decided it was time.

I took pictures of you, which you look dreadful in. I kissed you and petted you. Mom and Jonas petted you. I looked in your eyes, and I swear I saw understanding and acceptance in them. I think you were ready to go. And can you believe that even though you were heavily sedated when Dr Berry stuck the needle in your arm, you managed one last growl for him? You were ready to go, but not ready to go quietly! Just like Uncle Cy said, That Damn Cat!

As I sit here writing this, alternately laughing at some memory (John & the hairclip!) or sobbing because you aren't wrapped around my feet, I am worried about Ruthie, The Cat Who Wouldn't Die. She was upset when we came home because she's not used to being alone. She's usually the one going to the vet, not you. She, with the squinty eye, with the mysterious scar on her throat, with the pupils that are different sizes, with only one kidney, with that abcess back in April I had to inject antibiotics into (which was one of the grossest experiences of my life), who has never been without you....will she grieve terribly? Will she forget you?

I won't forget you. I'll miss so many things about you, but since I firmly believe that every living thing goes to heaven except for truly evil people, I'll see you again some day. Thank you so much for all of the love and trust. You weren't just a damn cat to me; you were a friend and one of the great loves of my life.

love always,
Your Human




P.S. Ringo isn't dead in that second picture. He's just sedated at that point. I wanted to point that out. No post mortem photos on my blog. Ew.

Almost July? Already??

Holy crap, I didn't realize I've been neglecting my blog for a whole four months! I thought it had only been three.

A lot has happened, of course. Jonas turned one. He walks sometimes. He has eight beautifully white teeth. I quit my self-imposed monthly knitting challenge because I realized it wasn't very much fun. We've traveled down to Aiken twice, and both times I meant to blog from the world's most awesome Mac but was thwarted by motherhood, knitting, and a newly minted teen (Tarra). I bought a new dishwasher and some plane tickets to Vegas and a Secret Destination, instead of buying myself an awesome Mac laptop to replace this Thing I Suspect Will Catch On Fire Soon. (Because of the the broken thingy where the battery thingy plugs in....I told ya'll about that, didn't I?) We went to Emery's first birthday party. I had a birthday. Jonas was baptised. I rejoined the Methodist church I grew up in. We went to a family reunion WHERE NOBODY CRIED (clearly that was Jason's family and not mine).

I'm sure other stuff happened. Maybe I'll recall it. Maybe I'll go more in-depth on some of the things mentioned above. Or maybe not. I may post pictures. Or not.

I spent a lot of the last four months debating on whether or not to continue blogging. It can be such a Chore and Not Fun. It can be a security hazard. (It's so not fun to not be able to blog in the moment when we're on the road.) And nearly everyone who reads this blog is a friend of mine on facebook so you sometimes (rarely) get updates there. But when it came down to it, I'm just not ready to let go of this outlet for my voice. If I get around to it, I may start another blog, using a nom de plume (which I would let you faithful readers know about, of course) so I can blog anything and everything from wherever and not have to worry about the safety of my house. Oh the things that run through my mind at 3 am when I can't sleep!

Meli and Other Jason "surprised" me with a visit last night. It was supposed to be a surprise, but when I caught my husband CLEANING the house, I knew something was up. My crafty mind figured out what was going on last Friday, and I then spent all weekend teasing Meli, not letting her know I knew until she was a half hour away. I texted her that I was on my way home from swimming (!) and that I might or might not get to the house before her. She was like "WHAT?!?!?! HE TOLD YOU????" And I said, "You have to get up pretty early to pull one over on me." (That's all paraphrased because I'm too lazy to go get my phone and review the actual texts.) They were just here for the night, but I'm happy even with the short visit. We ate dinner at Red Lobster and breakfast at Paula's Hot Biscuit.

Unfortunately for Other Jason, his Kentucky trips continue to be cursed. The last time he was here, he had to replace his drive shaft. This time is was the alternator and battery. And he gave the Bronco a thorough tune up before hitting the road! I told him it was a sign from the universe that it was time to by a hybrid sedan. He may have been more receptive to the suggestion had he not been folded up in the front seat of the Rabbit at the time. (I did point out that a Rabbit is NOT a sedan!)

Off to take care of my son and knit something.

P.S. Frankenthong is hitting the road with Meli and will reach M in time for her 39th birthday! I have requested pictures of her face when she opens Frankenthong and also a picture of her wearing Frankenthong (over her pants, of course) to be posted on the blog later. Because I know you'll want to experience that.....