Current Mood:
Jammin’
Clare by Campfire light.
For more Wordless Wednesdays check out WW or 5 Minutes for Mom.
Monthly Archive for October, 2007
Current Mood:
Mischievous
First, some housekeeping… It looks like our server woes are resolved. There were DNS issues that were making Wordpress freak out. Please let us know if you continue to see issues. If you bounced e-mail to us last night, please retry.
It’s been a while since I last posted. Things have been quite busy around these parts and getting away from computing tasks at night have been one of my top priorities.
As for what’s been going on, we got the chimney leak all fixed up (and have reduced the volume of water in the basement to near nothing when it rains), but when I went to get a bearing on the drywall situation, I found a significant infestation of ants in the wall. Now the “getting a contractor out” starts all over again; this time with an exterminator.
Hopefully we survive tonight without getting our door busted in. We’re going to our friends’ place tonight for drinks and T&T, so with luck, the retards will stay away.
Current Mood:
Cool
I have been tagged for the Crazy Eights Meme by my pal Jill over at The Diaper Diaries. Who can pass up a good meme? Not I…and this one is harder than it looks, so here it goes:
8 Things I’m Passionate About
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My Hubby
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Clare
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My dog Moonshadow
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Far too much television
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Movies
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Music
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Food & Fine Dining
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Martini’s & Wine
8 Things I say Often
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Stop harassing Moonshadow
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Can Mommy just have a few minutes of quiet and relaxation
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What do you need to say? (please, thank you, ect.)
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Give me just a minute
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Hang on!
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Please go find something to go do or play with
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What should we have for dinner?
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I need another drink
8 Books I’ve Recently Read
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The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
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Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
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Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
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The Secrets of a Fire King by Kim Edwards
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Running with Scissors by Augustin Burroughs
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Little Children by Tom Perotta
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The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
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Weird Michigan by Godfrey - Norman - Sceurman
8 Songs or Albums I could listen to over & over
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The entire Ingrid Michaelson - Girls & boys Album (one of her songs is now in an Old Navy Comercial for sweaters - I found her on MySpace & fell in love with her stuff)
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The entire Beck - Guero Album
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Pretty much any Sarah McLachlan
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Depeche Mode’s Violater Album
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Any & ALL Hello Dave songs - they are out of Chicago, and we go see them when they come to MI…look them up at www.hellodave.com to listen to them - they are a soulful country-fried rock & roll band
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All I got by Amel Larrieux
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Spoon’s entire album - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
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Scissor Sisters by Scissor Sisters (I love me some disco-esc music)
8 Things That Attract Me to My Friends
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The need to have fun & a good laugh
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Loyalty
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Honesty
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Enjoying good food with good drinks
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The desire to watch Dirty Dancing on a Friday night (or any night)
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Somewhat intelligent
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A common link in life - such as kids, music, food, drinking, people
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The desire to go dancing once in a while
8 Things I’ve Learned This Past Year
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Me time is extremely important - especially when it comes to my blog reading/writing time
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Date night/afternoon is almost as important as Me time
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Our old house is a pain in the butt to get fixed & in the shape we want it in
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Kindergarten is LOTS of fun
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Getting back into going to the gym is a pain
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Having nieces to spoil is better than having a second child right now
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Suprise get aways are LOTS of fun & very romantic
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I miss our road trip out to CO to visit our friends Beeko & Jackie
8 People I think should do Crazy Eights (I don’t know if I know 8 people that Jill didn’t already tag)
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Anyone else that reads this and feels up to the challenge (just link back so I can come read your answers)
Current Mood:
Confused
Okay, so it all started earlier this summer when Clare went to my in-laws for a few days. They took her to Curious Kids in St. Joe for an afternoon of fun. While there she picked out this squishy hedgehog type plastic toy….the best way I can describe it is that it had the long soft spikeys like the pic on the right, but had a face like those in the pic on the left, and kinda looked like a little brown hedgehog. It became her favorite toy for a while, and when it wasn’t played with…it stayed close to her bed at night in her rocking chair so it wasn’t quite forgotten. It was one of those silly toys that you wonder why it’s a favorite, because you know it’s only made of plastic (hopefully it doesn’t fall into the lead category of recalls - sheesh that’d be just my luck). The only reasoning I can see behind it is that she LOVES squishy things - and we have them all - balls, frogs, dolphines, fish, sharks, ect.
Anyway, the reason I’m blogging about this is because Clare is very dramatic (imagine that) and so sensative when it comes to things she LOVES! There was a conversation on Friday about said toy. I picked it up off the ground and noted out loud about how gross it was - it had dog hair on it, human hair on it, particles of things that can be found on a floor when children live & play in the house, and it had started falling apart. I told Clare it was probably about time to throw it in the trash because of it’s state. She immediatly began balling her eyes out, telling me how much she loved this toy, and how it was her favorite toy in the entire world. This went on for about 15 minutes back and forth between her and I. Finally I agreed to let her have 1 more day with the toy…she tried pleading for 2 more days, and I tried to hide my laughter over the begging and pleading she was trying to throw my way in her attempt to keep this disgusting toy. How said is it that I even promised to take a picture of her with said toy in an attempt to get her to stop balling that morning?
The weekend went by, and I forgot about the 1 day with the toy. The picture was never taken, as again I had forgotten about it. We had a full day yesterday with our MOMS Club Costume party in the AM and school in the PM. After school in an attempt to let her unwind I let her watch tv in our bedroom, while I attempted to catch up on my DVRed Oprah. Suddenly I hear cries and mumbling, and pleading coming from upstairs. I tell Clare to come down as I can’t understand her uncontrollable crying & mumbling. She brings down the gross toy - this time it’s flat. She squished it one too many times…and it’s now definitely ready for the trash! We mourn over the flattened toy, me trying not to laugh, and her sobbing her little eyes out. She tries to plead with me again to not throw it away. I explain that it’s time, and it can no longer be played with. We walk to the kitchen, her sobbing & telling me how much she LOVED this toy, she gave it a kiss, and then threw it in the trash. It was like we were burying our favorite gold fish or hamster or some silly small pet that doesn’t last long. We then went back to the couch where she continued to mourn the loss of her squishy ball, red faced and teary eyed. Continually professing her love for the flattened, gross, squishy toy.
Current Mood: Mischievous
Holy Smacks, where has the time flown this past week? I really don’t know, all that I do know is that it’s the end of the week and I didn’t get everything done that I needed to! Last weekend Clare enjoyed her yearly adventure with Brad’s parents to the pumpkin patch. Brad’s cousin’s kid’s joined in the fun, and it looked like they had a ton of fun! They took their pumpkins back to my in-laws to carve them, and here are the happy Pumpkin Patch goers in the picture - from L - R: Clare, Kayla, Jayce, Hannah, & Logan.
While the children were playing so were we. We went out to Breakfast on Saturday morning….after being able to sleep in without being jumped on. Then we went to a home show that was at Woodland Mall. It was okay, a whole lot of window places though. Mostly it was just something to do to get out of the house. Afterwards Brad wanted to go to Guitar Center to plunk around on some guitars. I decided to head on over to World Market to peruse around their worldly goods. Lunch time came around, and we decided to try to head to Jenison to find a Thai place I had read about somewhere. I didn’t think we’d find it, to our suprise though we did! The food was delish, and I have a feeling we’ll head back again. Brad wanted me to take the long way home, so we ended up downtown and a request to go to Founders Brewery. We had a few beers there, and decided to take a growler home to enjoy on the porch in the sun. It was just what the dr. ordered for relaxation! Then we headed down to the Wealthy Theater to go see Super Happy Funtime Burlesque’s Halloween show. While the show is a little risque, it was absolutely hilarious! The show apparently sold out, so I’m glad that we went. The Weathly Street Theater is absolutely beautiful inside for a small theater, and I have a feeling we’ll be going back to see some of the other things that they have going on there.
Sunday was spent going down to the in-laws for some dinner, followed by some absolutely wonderful home made pumpkin pie. Brad’s mom & Clare used real pumpkins, to make the pies, and they were entirely made from scratch. I don’t know that I’ve ever had pumpkin pie from scratch, but I have to tell you that this was GOOD! I know that it took a lot of effort on their part to make the pies, but I really enjoyed it. I’m still enjoying it….as she sent a pie home with us!
This week has flown by in a blink of an eye. We’ve successly made it to the YMCA 1 night this week, and hopefully we’ll make it there more this weekend and next week. It’s our goal to get back into going and to get back into shape. On Tuesday Clare’s class had a field trip to the fire dept., and it was the best tour I’ve EVER been on. The fire fighters did an awesome job with the kids, and they put their gear on for them to see what they look like when they suit up for a fire. The one guy crawled around on the floor with his mask on and hooked up to the air calling out “Fire Dept., is anybody there?”, so that the kids could hear what it might sound like if there might happen to be a fire. There will be pictures up in the gallery soon - aka as soon as I get Brad to get them up there. Wednesday was laundry day…I actually had all the laundry done in the house before bedtime, a first in a long time! Today I helped out in Clare’s classroom, doing centers. I do it every Thursday, and it’s something I really enjoy. The kids in her classroom are lots of fun, and from the sidelines of when I help out, it looks like her teacher really has a good group of kids to teach this year.
I appologize for the length of this. We’ve been so busy of late, so I figured I’d give those that read this an update. I’m curious about who reads our site….as our numbers are always all over the place (yes I check to see how many people look at our site). I hope everyone’s having a fab week, and enjoying the sunny Fall weather!
Current Mood:
Surprised & 
Alarmed
So, it’s begun…Clare already has a “boyfriend” - well actually according to her she has several. Yesterday though we had a conversation that struck me as being rather funny (and yet kind of disturbing) and I have to share. I just have to say though…if it’s like this in Kindergarten, what will she do in Jr. High or High School?
It went a little something like this….
Me - sitting on the couch trying to have a peaceful morning watching some tv, haveing conversations with Clare upstairs rambling as usual about this and that. I hear this…
Clare - J in my class is allergic to animals with fur & feathers.
Me - Uh huh, nodding head and rolling eyes
Clare - So he can’t come over to our house because of Moonshadow (our beloved pup we’ve had for 2 years now). When she gets old and sick though, and we have to bury her in the back yard because she dies…then he can come over!
Me - WHAT? Can you repeat that please! I then pause the dvr to make sure I heard her correctly.
Clare - Ya know, when Moonshadow gets sick and dies and we bury her in the back yard…then he can come over.
Me - Well, ya know…Moonshadow will be around for a long time because she’s only 2.
Clare - Well, when it happens he can come over.
Great, my kid is already plotting to kill my dog and bury her in the back yard for a boy! What will come next, the actual digging of the hole - which is what the other mom’s at school said laughingly as I told them my story yesterday. If she’s willing to kill her dog for a boy now….what will she do when she’s older! It’s going to be a LONG 12 years until graduation and she leaves home to be on her own in college - I can feel it already….the pain that is.
Current Mood:
Bored
So….what have I been doing since my last serious post on Oct. 1st…….far too many things! For about a week or so I was under the weather fighting my wonderful 5 year old’s germ fest. I still have a slight cough I can’t seem to shake, and if I can’t shake it still in a week I’ll probably be to the doctor as earlier this spring I was told I have bronchial asthma. It seems whenever I get sick my lungs don’t heal as fast as the rest of me, and they seem to stay inflamed causing me to cough. At least my current cough isn’t causing me to feel like I can’t breath!
Let’s see….what else. We had a date afternoon earlier in the month. It was super exciting….we went grocery shopping! Actually as retarted as it sounds it was kinda nice. Brad loves to go to the newly renovated Meijer up in Cascade Twp…..however with a 5 year old in tote with us, the trips are anything but pleasurable. So, he perused the newer items we can’t seem to find under one roof anywhere else in town, while I filled our cart with good eats.
Then on last Monday I pulled Clare a little early from school, and we traveled down to Buchanan for Brad’s Great Aunt Caroline’s funeral showing. It REALLY wasn’t a sad occasion, she was the grumpy old woman (around 91) that in her younger days would chase children from her yard beating them with sticks. My hubby was one of those children back in the day, and she even threatened to get her stick last Thanksgiving. She was asked to stop teaching Sunday School because she was a firm believer in beating the children. Not to sound crude, but we’re sure that most people came to see if she was in fact dead. She will be missed though at different occasions, as she always seemed to give us something to talk about. It made for a late evening, and thankfully Clare slept in the car, and also slept in the next morning & the next to catch up on her rest.
On Thursday last week my mom came into town for Grandparent’s day. My mom had plans to take Clare on Friday for the weekend, but it worked out to my benefit that Grandparent’s day was announced for Thursday afternoon….so I weasled my way into an extra night of her being gone. We dropped Clare off to school, and waited to go into her room. They sang the pledge, their school song (it’s not quite a school song, it’s more like their motto of how the students will work diligently (yes that’s what they say) with staff & parents), then they sang their Moral Focus song for the month - this month it’s Respect, and then they played a dice game with their special guests. Afterwards we watched them do show & tell for language arts, which was quite funny. Then they were off to recess, so I took my mom out to lunch at Schuler’s Chapbook Cafe. My mom was a little confused by walking into the bookstore, but I assured her that they have probably one of the better Cafe’s in town. We go there quite often for brunch on the weekends, or sometimes I go there for lunch by myself while Clare’s in school. After school was out Clare & Grandma headed out for their Halloween Campout. They’ve done it every year for the past 3 years, and it’s one of the highlights of Clare’s Fall.
After Clare was gone Brad came home, and we headed for for a yummy dinner at Marie Catrib’s. After dinner we went downtown to The Intersection to see The Samples. It was a fun show, and I danced the night away up in the front row of course after a few drinks. On Friday I cleaned house, and prepared for a Girls Night out at my house. Brad went out with his brother & some of the guys to play video games. It was a nice night, and lots of fun. Plus I got to cuddle with my niece Danielle. Saturday & Sunday passed the time by relaxing and chillin’ around the house. It was just night not to do anything. My brain needed it.
This week it’s been back to the grind, and routine of school. I know I said before I’d have all this free time, however I don’t have much with all the driving to and from school I do. By the time I get home from taking Clare to school it’s time to make dinner, and then depending on the nights activities it’s soon afterward time for Clare to get ready for bed. One of the many blessings school has brought us, is the early bed time. She is in bed and asleep by 8pm, so we start the bedtime routine about 7:15ish, which is nice for Brad & I.
I think that catches us up with the lifestyles of the Eastowners & Not So Famous. :) Hopefully in the upcoming week I’ll get back into my regular blog postings for those of you missing them. Who knows, maybe something interesting will happen this weekend…as Clare is gone again. This time it’s down to the In-Laws for a weekend of Pumpkin Patch Festivities with her second cousins! So much Fall Fun….I’m suprised she’s not more over tired. Shhhh, I shouldn’t jinx myself!
Jools Holland again on this installment of Adventures in DVR. This time around, Athlete, Robert Plant, The Go Team, The Fall, Mose Alison, and Lhasa.
Athlete is a British Eels. They aren’t terrible if you like electric, rambling pop music. I’d definitely listen to them. The second track is a little too Coldplay and I find myself fast forwarding. Their third outing is pretty groovy. I like it. Again with the Eels feel progressing into a more straight-ahead poppy thing. Like the second track, there’s strings, but they add some depth to the tune, rather than carry it like the second tune.
Robert Plant is seriously impressive and groovin’. He could actually be considered “not washed up”, unlike many of his contemporaries. I might actually consider purchasing his latest. The interview with him is pretty cool… he basically says that his stuff before wasn’t as good because he felt he didn’t have anything to say until this record. Has some young blood in his band and the dude that looks like the drummer from Blue Oyster Cult. Second track is Delta Blues Rock-n-Roll ala good old fashioned Zep. He’s not gone all Vegas-slow-down. The band’s name is Strange Sensation and they are at the top of their game.
The Go Team : Any song that starts out with yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah needs a little work. They are a cheap funk/pop rip-off that is trying to hard to re-create that Salt-n-Pepa 70’s groove rip-off feeling; except without the “deep lyrics”. They take themselves far too seriously considering the music is basically throw-away junk with almost no soul; a cheap plastic knock-off. The chick needs vocal lessons, badly. I say skip this one. Their second outing does not change my mind. It makes me sad to think that these people are getting exposure when I’ve literally heard hundreds of better bands in college towns playing small clubs in the middle of the week.
The Fall : not sure what’s going on here. Drunk on the mic is my guess. Two chords. If it’s supposed to be beat poetry, I’d like to know so I know how to listen to it. There’s some talent here, you can tell, but what they are getting at needs a little cohesion (and maybe they need to ditch the drunk on the mic). From a little more research, apparently these guys are/were big with the crowd of folks who believe that if you don’t like obtuse outsider music, you just aren’t a true music fan. It’s kind of a joke, really, but I guess people without an ounce of talent need to make money too. Kudos to them!
Mose Allison : dude kind of needs to hang it up, but that’s always kind of been true. Folky playing the torch/jazz anti-war blues anthem is a little jarring. Everything seems a little out of place, but the guy -can- play piano. He needs the long hippy beard and floppy felt hat. He just doesn’t look crazy enough… 
Lhasa : some pseudo-french gypsy music sung in Spanish. There are lots better examples of this style of music from Europe. Check out Vaya Con Dios for the real deal. This is ok, but lacks a certain heart and edge. I’ll bet these folks have played more art gallery openings than real gigs (not that I’ve ever done that…).
I love Jools for the opportunity to see a lot of great live music. Occasionally I see something new that I really really like. Tonight was no exception. If someone would have told me I’d dig Robert Plant, I’d have called them crazy, but there it is. He was good; very good.
Current Mood:
Ill
I detest being forced into admitting that, like most of the humans, I too am completely flattened by a simple little rhinovirus. Yes, ladies and gents, the common cold has struck the eastowners adobe with a vengeance.
So, there hasn’t much in the way of blogging around here, mostly because of the lowered immune systems.
For those of you who may be paying attention to our little Ol Domicile Saga, we still don’t have anything new. The contractor hasn’t shown yet. I left a message with them this afternoon. Hopefully I hear back.
Look for Adventures in DVR tomorrow.
Current Mood:
Sickly
Bouquet of Flowers
While shopping at our favortie Greenhouse Grocery Horrocks a few weeks ago I let Clare pick out some flowers to bring home. This was her creation to brighten up the kitchen. For more Wordless Wednesday’s check out 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.
