So, the table got cleaned off, and the boxes got emptied... and today, the grappler came and hauled away the detritus. (and the boxes, and the bags of leaves that we raked, too). We ate Christmas dinner at the table. I put my new lap-top there to plug in and get the updates, etc. It's been useful, and put to use. The in-laws have flown home, now, though.
What to do, now? Well, a jigsaw puzzle, obviously. I bought one and opened the box. Carl came and helped put the edges together, and now he's working on the sky while I work on the mountains. It's been years since I've worked on a jigsaw puzzle, and I enjoy them.
Hooray for kitchen tables!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
new year's resolutions
Are you thinking about them? Are you? The new year is less than a week away, now. I have been thinking of mine. It is nothing new, believe me. Be healthier. That's mine. Simple. Important. I'm sure it sounds familiar, even.
Here are some of the things that I'm going to do to be healthier:
Swim. The new city pool (I think I mentioned taking Raine there) does have a couple of lap lanes, and they are open in the evening. I'll get a 30 punch card, and get there 2-3 times a week, and it should last me about 10 weeks, which will put us near spring. If I go now, while the pool isn't too crowded, it will already be a familiar thing when it is more crowded. At least that is my theory. Raine's enthusiasm for going will also help out some.
Food diary/blood sugar diary. I know, I know, I should already. be. doing. this. It's accountability, which I resist. I also know I need to be serious about it, so I must bite the bullet, and get real with myself and just. do. it.
Here's the part that really makes it more real to me. I'm not waiting until New Year's to start. tomorrow. Yep. The house is returning to more of a normal state, instead of a festive one. I think its a good time to do it, whether it be New Year or not. Here's to health.
Here are some of the things that I'm going to do to be healthier:
Swim. The new city pool (I think I mentioned taking Raine there) does have a couple of lap lanes, and they are open in the evening. I'll get a 30 punch card, and get there 2-3 times a week, and it should last me about 10 weeks, which will put us near spring. If I go now, while the pool isn't too crowded, it will already be a familiar thing when it is more crowded. At least that is my theory. Raine's enthusiasm for going will also help out some.
Food diary/blood sugar diary. I know, I know, I should already. be. doing. this. It's accountability, which I resist. I also know I need to be serious about it, so I must bite the bullet, and get real with myself and just. do. it.
Here's the part that really makes it more real to me. I'm not waiting until New Year's to start. tomorrow. Yep. The house is returning to more of a normal state, instead of a festive one. I think its a good time to do it, whether it be New Year or not. Here's to health.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
true grit
We went and saw the new True Grit this weekend. Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn worked surprisingly well, for me. He's no John Wayne, but still, he is very good at creating characters, and this one is no exception. It is weird. If I hadn't seen the original, I would be very satisfied with this version. Over all, I'm sure the acting is better. The Coen (is that right for them?) brothers did a great job. I'm much more appreciative of modern acting styles, than the 60's style. All that being said, there is still something that draws me to the first film. I'm not sure its even a rational something. I guess I need to watch it again to make a better comparison. I'll probably be disappointed in the original.
I was distracted by the stilted dialogue a little. The... formal use of language (for lack of a better description) by the band of outlaws talking to each other didn't seem natural. Yes, I'm sure it was intentional, and dialectic, but the actors and their characters seemed to struggle with it. Also, even though it is rated PG-13, I don't think it is as action/adventure-y as most kids will enjoy.
Still, overall, I recommend it!
I was distracted by the stilted dialogue a little. The... formal use of language (for lack of a better description) by the band of outlaws talking to each other didn't seem natural. Yes, I'm sure it was intentional, and dialectic, but the actors and their characters seemed to struggle with it. Also, even though it is rated PG-13, I don't think it is as action/adventure-y as most kids will enjoy.
Still, overall, I recommend it!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
holiday cheer
We had a really nice Christmas. Raine opened the most presents, and had a great time playing with her gifts. She got an aquarium, and is VERY excited about going to pick out a couple of beta fish to go in it. It has the divider, so they won't fight. She was also excited about new goggles, to wear to the indoor pool when we go again, probably next week.
We had a lovely dinner of turduckhen. If you haven't had one of those, it is a boned chicken stuffed inside a boned duck, stuffed inside a mostly boned turkey. The turkey has drum sticks and wings, to help it have the look of a turkey. We get ours from a cajun place online, and the stuffing they put in is a cajun rice stuffing, and is pretty tasty. We also had mashed potatoes, squash with cream cheese and green chili, salad, and croissants. MMMmmmmm
One of the best things was that we got to see John and Shelbi. It was a brief visit, but friendly, and we got to share some gifts and some hugs with them. Its been a few months since we've gotten to see them, so it was nice for that as well.
Hope you all had as nice of a Christmas as we did.
We had a lovely dinner of turduckhen. If you haven't had one of those, it is a boned chicken stuffed inside a boned duck, stuffed inside a mostly boned turkey. The turkey has drum sticks and wings, to help it have the look of a turkey. We get ours from a cajun place online, and the stuffing they put in is a cajun rice stuffing, and is pretty tasty. We also had mashed potatoes, squash with cream cheese and green chili, salad, and croissants. MMMmmmmm
One of the best things was that we got to see John and Shelbi. It was a brief visit, but friendly, and we got to share some gifts and some hugs with them. Its been a few months since we've gotten to see them, so it was nice for that as well.
Hope you all had as nice of a Christmas as we did.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
the stockings
Well, the grandparents arrived today, and there was much silliness from a young girl (can't really say small any more, she's approaching my height...ack). I talked them out of a visit to Walmart. Thank goodness. On the day before Christmas Eve?!?!? and _I_ was going to go with them?!?!?
Tomorrow we dig out the stockings and the stocking stuffers. We plant the Santa gifts and then wait for the big morning of festivities and opening of the gifts and all the rest.
Carl's gift won't be under the tree. No, I didn't make a shirt for him that I didn't finish, but that is a good guess. I took him today and made him pick out the shelves he wanted. I made him drive his truck even, so we could haul them home. Now, finally, about 7 years later, he can unpack some of his books, and shelve them. Its all part of my nefarious get rid of boxes plan. (LA LA LA I can't hear you say that something will happen to make us pack them up as soon as they are all taken care of, LA LA LA)
Anyway, I hope everyone has a festive Christmas Eve, celebrated in your manner of choosing, creating or continuing your family or personal traditions and wishes for health, happiness, peace and love.
Tomorrow we dig out the stockings and the stocking stuffers. We plant the Santa gifts and then wait for the big morning of festivities and opening of the gifts and all the rest.
Carl's gift won't be under the tree. No, I didn't make a shirt for him that I didn't finish, but that is a good guess. I took him today and made him pick out the shelves he wanted. I made him drive his truck even, so we could haul them home. Now, finally, about 7 years later, he can unpack some of his books, and shelve them. Its all part of my nefarious get rid of boxes plan. (LA LA LA I can't hear you say that something will happen to make us pack them up as soon as they are all taken care of, LA LA LA)
Anyway, I hope everyone has a festive Christmas Eve, celebrated in your manner of choosing, creating or continuing your family or personal traditions and wishes for health, happiness, peace and love.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
..and even cleaner
The boxes are taken care of! Woot! We found Carl's espresso maker, and a coffee maker, so we cleaned them up and tried them out. Can you say too much caffeine? um yeah.
Now there are still pictures to hang on the wall, and some cleaning to do, but I'm pretty happy with getting that accomplished. I LIKE having the table available... for putting things on. No, really, I like to be able to sit there for a meal, even if others don't care one way or another. I like that I can use it to cut something out. Or to work a jigsaw puzzle, or play a game at. I hate when it is just storage.
Took Raine to swim in our new indoor pool today, too. She had a blast. It has an interesting design, and to me, there really isn't much "pool" there. Still, I suppose the playing in the water is more important to more of their customers than actual swimming is. It's pretty convenient to my house, and although $5 a pop for me seems a bit pricey, I am considering a 30 punch pass (Wooo $10 discount) and trying to get some laps in a couple times a week. They also have some exercise classes that are a little less, and maybe if I through one of those in, too... well I sure need to put more effort into my exercise and be healthy routine. Like on a DAILY basis instead of a few times a week. And, while I don't love how I look in a bathing suit, I do enjoy swimming as exercise.
Now there are still pictures to hang on the wall, and some cleaning to do, but I'm pretty happy with getting that accomplished. I LIKE having the table available... for putting things on. No, really, I like to be able to sit there for a meal, even if others don't care one way or another. I like that I can use it to cut something out. Or to work a jigsaw puzzle, or play a game at. I hate when it is just storage.
Took Raine to swim in our new indoor pool today, too. She had a blast. It has an interesting design, and to me, there really isn't much "pool" there. Still, I suppose the playing in the water is more important to more of their customers than actual swimming is. It's pretty convenient to my house, and although $5 a pop for me seems a bit pricey, I am considering a 30 punch pass (Wooo $10 discount) and trying to get some laps in a couple times a week. They also have some exercise classes that are a little less, and maybe if I through one of those in, too... well I sure need to put more effort into my exercise and be healthy routine. Like on a DAILY basis instead of a few times a week. And, while I don't love how I look in a bathing suit, I do enjoy swimming as exercise.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
tabler cleaner
Remember last month and I was cleaning off the kitchen table? I made progress then, and today I made more. I unpacked 3 boxes that held my mom's crystal and moved things around in the cabinets to make room for the pieces. Opening the boxes and unwrapping the stemware and glasses felt rather like Christmas. I had forgotten how pretty her crystal is.
Of course it was bittersweet, though, which is one of the reasons to boxes sat unopened for so long. I thought about my mom, and what we did at the holidays. I missed her some, of course, as I thought about her, and how she bought all of that crystal, and her good china, and a silver tea and coffee set all before she got married. She had a good job, and few responsibilities at the time. She didn't wait until she got married, like a lot of women did/do. That was a basic trait of my mom. She worked for what she wanted, and chose it, and got it for herself. She didn't let anyone tell her she couldn't or shouldn't. She didn't necessarily argue with them, or anything, she just went and did it. She would tell them, "I told you so," though. I miss my mom, but I'm glad I've had her strength and stubbornness to see me through, and to see in my daughter and know it will also serve her well (once it quits driving me up a wall...)
There are still a couple of boxes stacked in the corner, and I have decided which pictures to hang, and those things need to get done, but I suspect most of what's left will either have a place waiting for it, or will be heading for the trash. It will feel good to have the table ready to be used for Christmas dinner.
Of course it was bittersweet, though, which is one of the reasons to boxes sat unopened for so long. I thought about my mom, and what we did at the holidays. I missed her some, of course, as I thought about her, and how she bought all of that crystal, and her good china, and a silver tea and coffee set all before she got married. She had a good job, and few responsibilities at the time. She didn't wait until she got married, like a lot of women did/do. That was a basic trait of my mom. She worked for what she wanted, and chose it, and got it for herself. She didn't let anyone tell her she couldn't or shouldn't. She didn't necessarily argue with them, or anything, she just went and did it. She would tell them, "I told you so," though. I miss my mom, but I'm glad I've had her strength and stubbornness to see me through, and to see in my daughter and know it will also serve her well (once it quits driving me up a wall...)
There are still a couple of boxes stacked in the corner, and I have decided which pictures to hang, and those things need to get done, but I suspect most of what's left will either have a place waiting for it, or will be heading for the trash. It will feel good to have the table ready to be used for Christmas dinner.
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