oh my

is what DD3 said when watching the Wizard of Oz for the first time & the flying monkey scene came on. "Oh my!!!" It's also what I said when I realized I haven't posted in so long. It's not that I don't want to. You see, I've had this problem with getting sucked into the internet abyss when I log on. I've been avoiding the computer & voila! a huge improvement in production in the rest of my life. That being said, I now realize why it is that I relish my time lost in the void: With no escape, my day is neverending from the time I get up until I drop in the wee hours. I'm talking non-stop house & kid type work. It's menial. It's maddening. It's Exhausting. I NEED the escape that the computer/internet provides. I'd surely go 'round the bend w/o it. Not to say that I wasn't already there to begin w/. But you see what I mean. I can't get AWAY literally. So I have to get away while still being present enough to prevent catasrophes in my home. And it's as close as I get to adult "conversation" for many days. Sad but true. I mean, other than conversations w/ G which center mostly around kids, sports, t.v. & occasional politics (when we don't discuss party matters). The internet provides at the least SOME kind of stimulation for the gray matter.

Speaking of catastrophes here comes a crying DD3 after screams emmanate from the t.v. room. She tries to explain what's wrong between sobs while I hold her. BUT in her peripheral vision she spies something out of the ordinary on the table. Tears are instantly stopped as she cranes her head around as far as is humanly possible to see what that could be.... Down she slides & runs asap to to climb in the chair & play w/ COOKIE CUTTERS! It's the simple things in life. And see, here I was on the computer, present yet distracted & still able to prevent a melt down.

Now if I could only find a happy medium b/t time spent online & time to get everything else done. I've never been good @ that. It's all or nothing. I can become completely absorbed by a book & do nothing else until it's finished. Lately it's been xmas preparations. Next month G's parents are visiting from RI. Maybe I'll be consumed by a cleaning frenzy. Or not.

And now the kids have all realized that I am on the computer. My "secret" hiding spot is not so secret anymore. I like to pretend like DD4 does that when I can't see them, they can't see me. Well, I've been seen (not hard to miss in the middle of the reading room) & now they are clamboring for my attention. I think the computer is like the telephone in that respect. Or even like cooking. Or like anything that occupies my time that is not attention paid directly at the kids. The can't leave me alone for 2 minutes. They must climb in my lap hang on my leg ask a kazillion questions pull my arm mommy mommy mommy mommy. Fine. Xmas prep is calling from the next room too. FINE. I guess it was time to say adieu anyway. Ah, that happy medium b/t time spent online & time spent in reality.

let the countdown continue

the George Dubya countdown clock is back...thank you thank you thank you ;)

sadness...

my Bush countdown clock isn't working @ the bottom of the page :( I'll have to suffice w/ an occasional joke instead:

Taking Up a Collection for the President
A lobbyist, on his way home from work in Washington, D.C., came to a dead halt in traffic and thought to himself, "Wow, this seems worse than usual."

He noticed a police officer walking between the lines of stopped cars, so he rolled down his window and asked, "Officer, what's the hold-up?"

The officer replied, "The President is depressed, so he stopped his motorcade and is threatening to douse himself with gasoline and set himself on fire. He says no one believes his stories about why we went to war in Iraq, or the connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda, or that his tax cuts will help anyone except his wealthy friends; the press called him on the lie about Iraq trying to buy uranium from Niger, and now Campbell Brown is threatening to sue him for a sexual innuendo he made at a recent press conference. So we're taking up a collection for him."

The lobbyist asks, "How much have you got so far?"

The officer replies, "About 14 gallons, but a lot of folks are still siphoning."

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Day

Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your apparitions on Mount Tepeyac you promised to show pity and compassion to all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and protection.Accordingly, listen now to our supplications and grant us consolation and relief. We are full of hope that, relying on your help, nothing can trouble or affect us. As you have remained with us through your admirable image, so now obtain for us the graces we need. Amen.

the more things change...

December 1995: DD1 is 7 years old: "Joy to the world, Barney's dead. We barbequed his head. Don't worry 'bout the body, we flushed it down the potty. Round & round it goes, round & round it goes, round & round & round it goes"

Fastforward 10 years: DD2 is 7 years old: "Joy to the world, Barney's dead...."

And yes, kids are STILL singing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg...." Amazing how this stuff passes down through generations.

DD3's very first real cephalopod

Little kids' drawings are so spontaneous. So real. So honest. It's a work of art w/o even trying. When exactly does convention set in? Do you know what I mean? At what age does societal pressure to conform make kids question their own authenticity and abilities to create ART? Why can't we all draw like that -like before society took hold of our self perceptions -like it's just a natural occurance, a natural outpouring of self on the page. Nine simple strokes of marker on printer paper. ART

joke I got from my mom today (funnier if you're from PA)

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six days.
Eventually, Michael the Archangel found him, resting on the seventh day.

He inquired of God. "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
"Balance?" Inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but cold and harsh, while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny and pleasant. "I have made some lands abundant in water and other lands parched deserts.
This one will be extremely hot and while this one will be very cold and covered in ice."
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass and said "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's Pennsylvania -- the most glorious place on earth.
There are beautiful mountains, streams, hills, and forests.
The people from Pennsylvania are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What about balance, God? You said there would be balance!"
God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in Harrisburg.

help me! I've fallen & I can't get up!

I saw DD4 face down on the floor. At first I thought she had fallen down & couldn't get up ala "A Christmas Story". Or was she super tired? Then I realized she was trying to pick up her penny off the floor w/ her mouth b/c the mittens were in the way of her hands. Too funny!

things I miss about Pittsburgh

a comprehensive list which may be appended as neccesary

• friends -(Chris, Denise, Angela, Joe & Kim, Sean)(forgive me if I'm forgetting anyone)
• friends' families
• the Steelers
• the Pirates
• the Pens
• Primanti's
• Mineo's pizza
• O cheese fries
• King's hot roast beef sandwich & fries w/ gravy
• Eat 'n Park smiley face cookies
• Chi Chi's fried ice cream
• Moio's (I can't find a decent Italian bakery out here for the life of me)
• that unique PGH accent and all the peculiar, particular idioms
• the occasional smell of bacon on the North Side emanating from Heinz
• the Strip -Wholey's & Sunseri's in particular
• Chief's for people watching
• Dee's for people watching
• ice skating @ Schenley Park
• the Point in summer
• Carnegie Science Center (best kids' museum I've been to)
• South Side
• Mt Washington
• Gus and Yiayia's Ice Balls
• Walnut Street
• Candy Rama
• shopping downtown during xmas season
• the Gateway Clipper
• riding the Duquesne incline
• the Allegheny River (yeah I have a favorite)
• puff pastry from the Verona Giant Eagle
• how Denise's parents' house always smells like yummy cake goodness & her mom's delicious cakes!!
• University of PGH...go Pitt!

random blog happiness/homesickness reminder

http://benroethlisberger.typepad.com/roethlisberger/ I just happened across this blog. Yay!