Clinkclinkclinkclink.
Pull out clean wet clothes. See something shiny. Fish a dime out of the bottom of the laundry tub.
Stick it in your pocket, go about your cleaning day business. Get incredibly dirty.
Take a long hot shower, after tossing your filthy cleaning clothes in the hamper.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat..........
11 October 2011
27 September 2011
Me, Myself, and I
This blog, and everything published on it, is mine. My thoughts, my words. I will occasionally quote things (briefly, with full attribution and a link to the original) or link to things for background material. But that will be clear and transparent. I'm not shilling for anyone.
Also, I don't speak for an organization. The opinions are my own, and don't necessarily represent any organization I may or may not be a part of. And if I'm doing it right, I may well piss off a number of organizations I may or may not be a part of.
Just so you know.
Also, I don't speak for an organization. The opinions are my own, and don't necessarily represent any organization I may or may not be a part of. And if I'm doing it right, I may well piss off a number of organizations I may or may not be a part of.
Just so you know.
01 August 2011
Thinking
The first thing I think is "Oh CRAP! What's the speed limit here? Am I under it? When did they take those trees down? He's totally hidden that cruiser in there."
The second thing I think is "I need to make sure I tell MilDad about that speed trap since he drives home this way."
The third thing I think is "Duh. Like he's really worried about speed traps when he's driving right now."
And then I try really, really, really hard not to think anymore.
The second thing I think is "I need to make sure I tell MilDad about that speed trap since he drives home this way."
The third thing I think is "Duh. Like he's really worried about speed traps when he's driving right now."
And then I try really, really, really hard not to think anymore.
30 July 2011
As my hand floats above the publish key....
When I started this blog, I saw it as a way to get some of the political and analytical stuff out of my brain and onto a page. There was some fun vignettes, but nothing much very personal. I find that is changing.
What I have been writing is, as they say, much closer to home. Some from the joy of the great family I have, some from the challenges of solo parenting and dealing, alone, with the sheer amount of crap that you have to deal with as a military spouse.
I am also no longer publishing a quasi-anonymous blog. I never worked hard to hide my identity, but I also never put this blog out there as me. Only a very small number of people knew this space as mine. Now I am linking here from places that have my identity.
So it is taking me a while to publish. Some because I am thinking hard about the benefit before I publish something with raw emotion. Some because there are organizations that I think need a good strong airing out and some direct sunlight, but providing that puts some of my volunteer work in danger. I need to make sure the needs I fulfill are covered before risking that.
So there will be a couple housekeeping posts. About how this space is me and my opinions and not anyone else's. And about what I will do with comments (spam deleted, pretty much anything else is a go unless it is seriously ugly). And the dates on things might be funky, as I dither about what to post and what to just save.
Bear with me. Thanks for reading. Talk to you soon.
What I have been writing is, as they say, much closer to home. Some from the joy of the great family I have, some from the challenges of solo parenting and dealing, alone, with the sheer amount of crap that you have to deal with as a military spouse.
I am also no longer publishing a quasi-anonymous blog. I never worked hard to hide my identity, but I also never put this blog out there as me. Only a very small number of people knew this space as mine. Now I am linking here from places that have my identity.
So it is taking me a while to publish. Some because I am thinking hard about the benefit before I publish something with raw emotion. Some because there are organizations that I think need a good strong airing out and some direct sunlight, but providing that puts some of my volunteer work in danger. I need to make sure the needs I fulfill are covered before risking that.
So there will be a couple housekeeping posts. About how this space is me and my opinions and not anyone else's. And about what I will do with comments (spam deleted, pretty much anything else is a go unless it is seriously ugly). And the dates on things might be funky, as I dither about what to post and what to just save.
Bear with me. Thanks for reading. Talk to you soon.
22 July 2011
Packing Day
The bags are out and open. Every clean, horizontal surface is covered. With clothes. With papers. With gear. With stuff.
There are lists. Fifteen of this, ten of that. What to put in which bag. What not to bring.
We ply the littles with movies and snacks. The baby with milk and toys. We are on edge.
You sip a beer, slowly. You won't have another for months.
I look at it all. There will be no boot blackened socks to bleach. No t-shirts to soak the sweat out of. I won't carefully transfer the patches to a clean uniform in order to wash the one you insist you can get one more day out of. How long before I stop bending over to scoop up the pajamas you leave, every morning, next to the hamper? How long before it is real? This empty place in my home, in my heart.
Tomorrow there will be lazy morning coffee. And good food. And wine with dinner. And the beach. And then the next, we will do this. You do this thing that you are called to do. I will be here. Brave. True. Strong.
But not today. Today is packing day.
Today I am undone.
There are lists. Fifteen of this, ten of that. What to put in which bag. What not to bring.
We ply the littles with movies and snacks. The baby with milk and toys. We are on edge.
You sip a beer, slowly. You won't have another for months.
I look at it all. There will be no boot blackened socks to bleach. No t-shirts to soak the sweat out of. I won't carefully transfer the patches to a clean uniform in order to wash the one you insist you can get one more day out of. How long before I stop bending over to scoop up the pajamas you leave, every morning, next to the hamper? How long before it is real? This empty place in my home, in my heart.
Tomorrow there will be lazy morning coffee. And good food. And wine with dinner. And the beach. And then the next, we will do this. You do this thing that you are called to do. I will be here. Brave. True. Strong.
But not today. Today is packing day.
Today I am undone.
09 April 2011
Starting over
It's been so long. We've been busy here at the home of the Homebody. Bought a fixer upper. Procreated (welcome T-baby, October of 2010). Schooled and unschooled and moved and renovated and prepared to be Home Alone while MilDad is deployed. So much, so fast. It left my words whirling in my head in circles that defied expression. Nothing would come out in coherent form.
But lately, the world has shifted. Not just magnetic north, wandering with the powerful and often tragic shifts in the Earth's crust. But our politics, our communication, our idea of what it means to be a country in the world. And I found that instead of whirling, I was processing. I still am. There are a great many things I want to write about. And I feel the words wanting to come out, instead of whirling away from my fingertips.
How long will it last? I don't know. But I hope to let the words out to play, once again.
But lately, the world has shifted. Not just magnetic north, wandering with the powerful and often tragic shifts in the Earth's crust. But our politics, our communication, our idea of what it means to be a country in the world. And I found that instead of whirling, I was processing. I still am. There are a great many things I want to write about. And I feel the words wanting to come out, instead of whirling away from my fingertips.
How long will it last? I don't know. But I hope to let the words out to play, once again.
07 December 2009
Waxing Philosophical
Recently, on one of my favorite internet groups, a member asked about food philosophies. Below, I share my reply.
My number one, iron clad, absolute belief about food is that there is NOT a number one, iron clad, absolute truth about food. :)
Seriously, we are all different sizes and shapes, do different things, and come from different backgrounds. Culture, philosophy, and faith have a role in what we consume. What works for one person can make another terribly ill. There is no one food (animal products, tofu, wheat, cow dairy, baby vegetables braised in morning dew ambrosia by forest fairies, etc) that is essential for humans to consume. Even breast milk, which *is* essential for most babies to consume, is something a very small fraction of babies with very rare conditions cannot have.
This is my truth:
Mostly fruits and veggies and some good quality animal protein are the basis of a healthy diet. Grains are something that need to be a small portion of a healthy diet. Wheat gluten is poison. The brown food group (coffee, tea, and chocolate) are part of what makes food worth eating and will not be banned without cause. All things in moderation, especially alcohol. Messing up is part of life, learn from your mistakes. Giving in to temptation once in a blue moon is part of life, forgive yourself. Dairy is not essential to life, is not great for any of us, and is poison to the small boy. No matter how much I like cheese. Potato chips should not cross the threshold, and this does NOT mean the whole bag should be consumed in the car. Breastfeeding should continue until the child and/or the Mama is totally done with it. Avoid, as much as possible, eating anything with manufactured chemicals on or in it.
Find your own truth. Enjoy the journey. Don't allow Perfect to prevent and destroy Good. Celebrate the victories. Cook with your friends and your kids. Make a mess in the kitchen.
And now, if you will excuse me, there are some brownies and a Riesling-pear sorbet calling my name...
Recently, on one of my favorite internet groups, a member asked about food philosophies. Below, I share my reply.
My number one, iron clad, absolute belief about food is that there is NOT a number one, iron clad, absolute truth about food. :)
Seriously, we are all different sizes and shapes, do different things, and come from different backgrounds. Culture, philosophy, and faith have a role in what we consume. What works for one person can make another terribly ill. There is no one food (animal products, tofu, wheat, cow dairy, baby vegetables braised in morning dew ambrosia by forest fairies, etc) that is essential for humans to consume. Even breast milk, which *is* essential for most babies to consume, is something a very small fraction of babies with very rare conditions cannot have.
This is my truth:
Mostly fruits and veggies and some good quality animal protein are the basis of a healthy diet. Grains are something that need to be a small portion of a healthy diet. Wheat gluten is poison. The brown food group (coffee, tea, and chocolate) are part of what makes food worth eating and will not be banned without cause. All things in moderation, especially alcohol. Messing up is part of life, learn from your mistakes. Giving in to temptation once in a blue moon is part of life, forgive yourself. Dairy is not essential to life, is not great for any of us, and is poison to the small boy. No matter how much I like cheese. Potato chips should not cross the threshold, and this does NOT mean the whole bag should be consumed in the car. Breastfeeding should continue until the child and/or the Mama is totally done with it. Avoid, as much as possible, eating anything with manufactured chemicals on or in it.
Find your own truth. Enjoy the journey. Don't allow Perfect to prevent and destroy Good. Celebrate the victories. Cook with your friends and your kids. Make a mess in the kitchen.
And now, if you will excuse me, there are some brownies and a Riesling-pear sorbet calling my name...
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