29 June 2006
GSM finale
Ricki Lake: "Cathy [Najimy], you are the first ever winner of Game Show Marathon!!!"
And last?
Postscript to last night's post: They will not eat mac & cheese or red sauce on pasta but they will eat kung pao chicken.
And last?
Postscript to last night's post: They will not eat mac & cheese or red sauce on pasta but they will eat kung pao chicken.
Bye bye, eye candy
Today was the last day for one of Katherine's tennis teachers. He kind of looks like this guy, Rodrigo Santoro. If I'd known this treat was in limited supply, I might have hung around to watch Katherine progress at her lessons a bit more often. Love ya, Mr. FizzyLizzy!
28 June 2006
Animals, mac & cheese, and party
This morning I saw a blue heron on my run (yes, I've upgraded). One of the benefits of living near the creek is the wildlife. The heron's not that unusual, but some of the more surprising sightings have been a deer, a fox, and a beaver. Tonight I went for a walk and saw a mother wood duck and her babies. I doubled up on the exercise having found out today that I need 60 minutes of activity daily to achieve weight loss. Bummer.
Mr. FizzyLizzy and I like homemade mac & cheese for dinner, but our children have eschewed any version save the blue box variety. I tried my fourth recipe of mac & cheese tonight, which was also rejected. I surrender. I will make the one Paul & I like the best--damn the children.
Whoo-hoo! We have received our Fourth of July invitation for this year! It should be a great time as always. I'm easy--as long as they have something along the lines of that adult slushy beverage they had last year.
Mr. FizzyLizzy and I like homemade mac & cheese for dinner, but our children have eschewed any version save the blue box variety. I tried my fourth recipe of mac & cheese tonight, which was also rejected. I surrender. I will make the one Paul & I like the best--damn the children.
Whoo-hoo! We have received our Fourth of July invitation for this year! It should be a great time as always. I'm easy--as long as they have something along the lines of that adult slushy beverage they had last year.
27 June 2006
On motherhood
When you are nine you might think you’re super cool, but your mom knows that you’re still just cute when she sees you propping up your new stuffed dog so he can watch Clifford’s Puppy Days on TV.
I am the mother of school-age children. At the park this morning while Katherine was at tennis, I was the only mother sitting on a bench engrossed in her book, only occasionally looking up to monitor the whereabouts of her son who had fallen in with a group of young boys. All the others had babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who required hovering and/or perpetual assistance. Sometimes I think I glimpse my next destination—a mother ten years my senior out solo, her children either otherwise occupied or too cool to hang out with Mom. I'm content with where I am now.
I do love watching five-year-old boys play together. At this age they seem to have just become capable of fully intentional group interaction. At the same time they are so unselfconscious and filled with boundless energy that fills me with joy to observe.
I am the mother of school-age children. At the park this morning while Katherine was at tennis, I was the only mother sitting on a bench engrossed in her book, only occasionally looking up to monitor the whereabouts of her son who had fallen in with a group of young boys. All the others had babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who required hovering and/or perpetual assistance. Sometimes I think I glimpse my next destination—a mother ten years my senior out solo, her children either otherwise occupied or too cool to hang out with Mom. I'm content with where I am now.
I do love watching five-year-old boys play together. At this age they seem to have just become capable of fully intentional group interaction. At the same time they are so unselfconscious and filled with boundless energy that fills me with joy to observe.
Music review: Corinne Bailey Rae
My pick for a great summer CD is Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled release. Smooth and refreshing, the music is perfect for warm-weather relaxation. A few tracks in particular--"Like a Star," "Enchantment," and "Trouble Sleeping"--have mesmerized me. Enjoy.
26 June 2006
Meet the Parents
This weekend the WASP's From Minneapolis hosted for the first time the Italians From Chicago—that is, who we all hope will be my bro’s future in-laws (no pressure, no pressure). We weren't good hosts though and let our ball club trounce theirs. Saturday evening they did as any good Catholic would and went to Mass, gorged themselves at Manny's, then hit Mystic Lake. I think I may be going to the wrong church. Last night my parents had everyone over for dinner. I brought homemade potato salad and Greek-style couscous salad. Then this morning at 5 a.m. I had to make an emergency bathroom visit, at which point I started panicking that I had given everyone food poisoning. And the Italians were spending seven hours driving back to Chicago today. Fortunately, my little digestive problem appears to have been unique to me.
24 June 2006
Book review: Mayflower
I've finished the first volume of my summer reading "program," Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower. I'd give it a six on a scale of one to ten. I didn't really read what it was about before buying it, but I think I was hoping it'd be a somewhat anthropological/historical view of the voyage and life of the Pilgrims. Instead, it is quite a bit of political and military history of Massachusetts--in particular Plymouth colony--from about 1620 to 1676. It was well researched and fairly well written, but probably a bit dry for summer reading. I must be a glutton for punishment, having read 1776 last summer--also not really a light summer read. Or just interested in early New England history.I didn't really know what to read next, so I've started The Great Gatsby. I've read it before, but thought I'd refresh myself before seeing the stage adaptation in August. If anyone has any other suggestions for summer reads, I'd love to hear them.
23 June 2006
The pot telling on the kettle
"Mo-o-o-om, Katherine's tattletaling!"
22 June 2006
Lengthy recap
Saturday
- Drove in blinding rain for about 80 miles—really, you couldn’t see 20 feet in front of you
- Amazement at the amount and variety of wildflowers blooming—never been to the North Shore in June
- Arrived at our Sea Villa, which had an awesome loft for the kids
- Taco dinner with Grandma and Grandpa
- FizzyLizzy and William team won at Apples to Apples Jr.
Sunday
- Early wake-up call as described earlier
- Fathers’ Day brunch at the Lodge
- Hiking at Cascade River State Park
- Swimming at the pool
- Arrival of Uncle Dave and Michele
- Phil Mickelson loss
- Tuscan steak and bread salad dinner
- More swimming
Monday
- Trail ride for Katherine and FizzyLizzy followed by “I want a horse can I get a horse I want a horse I want a horse can I get a horse?” Bonus points if you guess which one of us that was--warning, it may be a trick question.
- My mom drank a Hard Cranberry Lemonade for lunch—with the knowledge that it was alcoholic
- FizzyLizzy family golf outing at the resort’s par-3 weed patch, also under construction with a septic field. Actually just right for the golfing skills of our family. (Dave, Michele, & my dad played nine at Superior National.)
- Hike at Temperance River S.P.
- Treats at Holiday—including the world’s biggest freeze pop
- Swimming at pool
- BBQ chicken dinner
- Campfire and S’mores
Tuesday
- Papa’s blueberry pancakes
- Hiking at Judge Magney S.P.
- Lunch at Naniboujou
- Ben Franklin, Superior Trading Post, and custard treats in Grand Marais, where I discovered Katherine is not my daughter. When offered the opportunity to own a My First Swiss Army Knife, she declined.
- Yet more swimming at the pool
- Overpriced dinner at the Lodge
- Spotted classmate of Katherine
- Purchase of souvenir sweatshirt and t-shirt for William and activity book for Katherine at Lodge gift shop
Wednesday
- To compensate for Sunday, William slept to an unheard-of 9 a.m.
- Packing up
- Tantrum over whether sweatshirt and t-shirt are actually souvenirs because sister got a “toy-like” souvenir
- Stop at gift shop to purchase souvenir deck of cards
- Drive home, narrowly escaping severe thunderstorm with golf-ball size hail—I hope Mr. & Mrs. Bickerson are o.k.
21 June 2006
We're back
Whew! Everything's unpacked and put away. Yay!
20 June 2006
Lunch
19 June 2006
Midsummer campfire
18 June 2006
Sunday Morning
There is a framed map here that I covet. It's a 1924 map of Superior National Forest with archaeological find spots penciled in. For those of you that know me well, you can understand how it is taking all my willpower not to stuff it in my luggage.
I probably shouldn't tease anybody about games seeing as I packed enough to play even if it rains the whole time we're here.
This morning I was awakened at 5:30 by my children's voices. I got up to tell them to go back to sleep only to find them in bed with Grandma and Grandpa. If that's what it's like to be grandparents, I can wait.
I probably shouldn't tease anybody about games seeing as I packed enough to play even if it rains the whole time we're here.
This morning I was awakened at 5:30 by my children's voices. I got up to tell them to go back to sleep only to find them in bed with Grandma and Grandpa. If that's what it's like to be grandparents, I can wait.
17 June 2006
Dinner @ j4
We're off
We leave for the North Shore today. I've printed out about 25 websudoku puzzles. Even though there are "billions" of puzzles, do you ever get number 27? This morning Paul had thought hell had frozen over when I told him my mom had given us an online tip: you can hold your mail through the Post Office website. I'm going to try posting from my phone while we're gone (the "William's maiden voyage" post was a test). However, be warned that my phone company tacks all this promo junk at the end of the messages that I won't be able to edit out until I get back. Have fun everyone!
16 June 2006
At least I know who loves me
15 June 2006
GSM
I almost forgot--did anyone catch tonight's Game Show Marathon? I missed it because of my damn--oops, darn church committee meeting. I think they were going to play Card Sharks, which I know nothing about. I think someone tried to teach us the home version of that game on New Year's Eve once. I really don't remember what happened, but I think it was a fiasco...a bottle of champagne might have tipped over...which usually seems to be the case when this person tries to corral his wife and the FizzyLizzies into trying some new game.
100 Years, 100 ?
Did anyone watch the American Film Institute's "100 Years, 100 Cheers" last night? Not me, I'm waiting for "100 Years, 100 1930's Mickey Rooney Musicals." While I'm sure that the AFI is a fine organization, do we really need another film-clip retrospective narrated by actors who have an "upcoming" project? At least the "stars" they get to sign on probably would really qualify as "stars." Have I used enough "quotes"? Well, that's what you get from crabby today. Don't the most wonderful things always happen just before you go on vacation--if you know what I mean?
14 June 2006
All day
We found out this morning that William got into all day kindergarten. Out of the five sections at our school, only one is all day so I thought our chances were pretty slim. You might wonder why, if I'm worried about my little boy growing up too fast, I would want to send him away all day. It is exactly for that reason. We feel that with the more relaxed pace of all day kindergarten, he'll have more time to just be a kid at school. But, wow, I think I'm a little shocked. Mentally, I'd already prepared myself for half day. I've read the letter about five times just to be sure.
Rise and Shine
Since I don’t have to get up at 6:30 to make someone breakfast and pack her lunch, I have no excuse not to get up at 6:30 to exercise. I haven’t run since I fractured my toe last July so I started off with a brisk walk.
I’ve known Mrs. Bickerson for a few years but only recently have we discovered our many similarities. Dedication to exercise is not one of those similarities. She runs marathons. Even though I should be concerned with my health, the only thing that can really motivate me to get out there is the vanity of wanting to “be fit” (codeword for “look how I did 20 years ago”).
Katherine will have her reading goals to meet, William will complete his kindergarten readiness checklist, I think I should step up to the plate this summer and set some goals for myself. Maybe I can get a dinner at Manny’s out of it!
I’ve known Mrs. Bickerson for a few years but only recently have we discovered our many similarities. Dedication to exercise is not one of those similarities. She runs marathons. Even though I should be concerned with my health, the only thing that can really motivate me to get out there is the vanity of wanting to “be fit” (codeword for “look how I did 20 years ago”).
Katherine will have her reading goals to meet, William will complete his kindergarten readiness checklist, I think I should step up to the plate this summer and set some goals for myself. Maybe I can get a dinner at Manny’s out of it!
13 June 2006
School's Out For Summer
I caught a few moments of summer break fever this afternoon when I picked Katherine up from her classroom. All down the third grade hall the classrooms were simultaneously chanting "10-9-8..." Then at zero the bell rang and the discordant screams and cheers of nine-year-old boys and girls filled the school. Briefly I remembered exactly how I felt on my last day of high school. In the end it was anticlimactic. Last year I cried because I loved her teacher dearly. This year that emotion's not there. Katherine celebrated by spending four hours at the pool with her friend this afternoon. She came home to 'za from the hut as promised.
I thought I was the love of his life
William was making a little "card" this morning and asked me to write "I love you" on it. I assumed it was a Fathers' Day card, so when I saw him carrying it around outside I asked if it was for Dad or the neighbor boy he plays with. Neither. It's for the 12-year-old neighbor girl. Yikes!
12 June 2006
Su-Do-Ku!!
That's what you're supposed to shout when you finish a puzzle! My friend, Mrs. Bickerson, noticed that I put a link to Websudoku off to the right here. If you are as addicted to Sudoku puzzles as I am, you will find this link to free puzzles invaluable. When it's Wednesday night, I'm tired, and just want to veg in front of Law and Order--and I'm out of newspaper puzzles--Websudoku hooks me up. I usually print several of them out--but you can do them online too. The thing I like about the printouts is that the squares (especially the large version) are big enough to scribble plenty of notes in.
Herbicidal tendencies
11 June 2006
Not much
We visited the new Guthrie Theater last evening. It's not terrible. I think if you like the new Walker addition, you'll like the new Guthrie. Afterward, dinner at Corner Table. It was our first time there and we thought it was very good. Good company as well.
10 June 2006
Minne-gawker
"Celebrity" sighting: KARE-11 personality, Julie Nelson, at 44th & France Bruegger's this A.M. Oh, and the guy who needed everyone to know he was with her. Sorry, I guess that's a bit harsh.
09 June 2006
Swiss Army Post
Here's a friday five:
1. What is (or would be) your dream vacation?
The next one on my list is to visit my bro in Warsaw.
2. What's one thing no vacation can do without?
Comfy shoes and a meal at McDonald’s
3. What has been the best trip of your life so far?
Ten day driving trip around Switzerland
4. Who was with you on that trip and what is the role of that person in your life?
Mr. FizzyLizzy, who surprised me with his awesome European driving skills.
5. What's the worst thing that can happen during a vacation?
It’s a super hot day and you are rushing back to your hotel on foot to make your dinner reservation on time; you are pouring with sweat and can’t get your room unlocked because your hands are so slippery. (We can laugh now, right Mr. FL?)
OR
Taking the back road into Liechtenstein and being stopped by Swiss military personnel. If you’re the driver you might be pretty calm, but your wife may be peeing her pants and yelling, “Turn around! Turn around!” as you are approaching them.
08 June 2006
Guidance counselor
Ever look at your child and think of what their perfect job would be as an adult? William's would be Temperamental Chef. The temperamental part he's got down pat. And the chef part definitely has potential. Last night we encouraged him to finish his broccoli by dipping it into the pool of barbecue sauce that was served with the chicken. Fine. When we brought out the strawberries for dessert--you can see where this is going--he proceeded to dip all of them into the barbecue sauce as well. Even his sister "the picky eater" tried and liked it. I get the sweet and sour thing but strawberries+barbecue never would have dawned on me. I love his adventurous palate. Maybe a five-year-old who likes cheese, mayo, mustard, and pickles on his salami sandwich isn't all that unusual. But it is compared to Katherine, for whom a salami sandwich is bread and salami. Rock on Chef William.
07 June 2006
94 years
05 June 2006
Deception
This little boy (shown here with his Lego fireplace/pizza oven) is not aware that he has been drinking 100% cow milk for the past two weeks. Even while he adamantly asserts that he doesn't like cow milk, his evil parents have been gradually diluting his soymilk more and more over the last six months. Until now, when he has finally been weaned from the soymilk. We've been pouring straight cow milk into his special container so he is none the wiser. We told him we won't be bringing his soymilk on vacation with us in a couple of weeks: "O.K., Mom." I can't really blame him for preferring the soymilk; it tastes like a vanilla shake. But we have our reasons for making the switch. Other than this, the transition to a dairy-inclusive diet has gone quite smoothly. The only item he refuses is grilled cheese sandwiches. Oh, and he says he doesn't like Parmesan cheese. You mean except on your chicken Parmesan, spaghetti alla carbonara, and pizza, right?
04 June 2006
It's the apocalypse
Our big elm...
has been infested with these:
They are the larvae of the Nymphalis antiopa or Mourning Cloak butterfly. There are probably 50 of them in this bucket, all collected within a half-hour period. (No caterpillars were harmed--the neighbor kid released them down by the creek.) I think this is a bad omen for our tree. This spring I have had a gut feeling that this would be the year our tree gets painted with the Ring of Death. The tree is probably 70 years old and survived the Dutch Elm infestation of the 1970's, a direct lightning strike four years ago, and so far the current Dutch Elm infestation. But something tells me that it's number is up. We can only hope I'm wrong.
has been infested with these:
They are the larvae of the Nymphalis antiopa or Mourning Cloak butterfly. There are probably 50 of them in this bucket, all collected within a half-hour period. (No caterpillars were harmed--the neighbor kid released them down by the creek.) I think this is a bad omen for our tree. This spring I have had a gut feeling that this would be the year our tree gets painted with the Ring of Death. The tree is probably 70 years old and survived the Dutch Elm infestation of the 1970's, a direct lightning strike four years ago, and so far the current Dutch Elm infestation. But something tells me that it's number is up. We can only hope I'm wrong.
03 June 2006
Hedonism
During the walk we took today, Katherine said, "I'm dying from hedonism."
While we were having fun, I'm not sure how she came to believe that hedonism is something akin to heat stroke. I can, however, provide some background on how that word entered our family's vocabulary. Please bear with me. There is or was an all-inclusive island resort in the Caribbean called Hedonism. As you might guess from the name, this is a resort for singles. Some friends once told us about someone they knew who went there after being dumped by his girlfriend. One particularly memorable story was of this guy signing up for a clothing-optional boat excursion and the only other people who showed up were all guys. Fast forward several years. As parents striving to find the right balance between fun and discipline, we often refer to our household as the Island of Hedonism when discipline is somewhat lacking or the treats and privileges are flowing freely. Thank you for your patience...I hope it was worth it.
I am going to miss William's old scooter.
He was hilarious riding it.
While we were having fun, I'm not sure how she came to believe that hedonism is something akin to heat stroke. I can, however, provide some background on how that word entered our family's vocabulary. Please bear with me. There is or was an all-inclusive island resort in the Caribbean called Hedonism. As you might guess from the name, this is a resort for singles. Some friends once told us about someone they knew who went there after being dumped by his girlfriend. One particularly memorable story was of this guy signing up for a clothing-optional boat excursion and the only other people who showed up were all guys. Fast forward several years. As parents striving to find the right balance between fun and discipline, we often refer to our household as the Island of Hedonism when discipline is somewhat lacking or the treats and privileges are flowing freely. Thank you for your patience...I hope it was worth it.
I am going to miss William's old scooter.
He was hilarious riding it.
The maiden voyage
Bombay-born dancer Juliet
You would be amazed, well maybe not amazed but at least very surprised, at how many hits this site has gotten from people searching the term Bombay-born dancer Juliet. And from as far away as Columbia...South America. Yes, it's Juliet PROWSE. You're very welcome.
02 June 2006
Puffins and Celebrities!
Look what we saw at the grocery store yesterday. Puffins cereal.
I am entirely too fascinated with the Game Show Marathon. Last night I made myself late to a party because I just had to see the first half of Let's Make a Deal. It was painful to watch. The "stars" could barely contain their excitement and enthusiasm at having to dress up in awful costumes and pretend to care about the outcome of the game. Lance Bass looked like he was going to choke to death in his banana costume. The brains behind the GSM have failed to understand the basic premise of game show entertainment. No one wants to watch fake celebrities win Lincoln Navigators for charity. People watch game shows to see real-life super-hyper contestants flip out when they see the Ford Festiva behind the curtain.
I am entirely too fascinated with the Game Show Marathon. Last night I made myself late to a party because I just had to see the first half of Let's Make a Deal. It was painful to watch. The "stars" could barely contain their excitement and enthusiasm at having to dress up in awful costumes and pretend to care about the outcome of the game. Lance Bass looked like he was going to choke to death in his banana costume. The brains behind the GSM have failed to understand the basic premise of game show entertainment. No one wants to watch fake celebrities win Lincoln Navigators for charity. People watch game shows to see real-life super-hyper contestants flip out when they see the Ford Festiva behind the curtain.
