Memorial Day Carnation Drop

Re-posted from 5/28/09. I can't believe this was a year ago!

On Memorial Day we went to the carnation drop at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It was a thrilling experience. Carnations were dropped from a B-25 Mitchell bomber that thundered by not far overhead to honor our war veterans. Next time I'll bring a cooler. Ahh, hindsight is 20/20 where common sense fails to thrive.

Joe loves his big brother Dennie, and something about the way Dennie is tenderly holding Joe's hand in this photo just touches me to no end. Joe's other big brother Brian braved the center of the crowd to make sure we could pluck at least one carnation from the batch for our little one. And that is, in fact, what he did.

Thank you to all war veterans and to every man and woman who has served this great country of ours in any capacity, be it military service, as a peace officer, fire fighter or teacher. We owe you a debt that can never fully be re-payed.

Life returns to normal

[caption id="attachment_2542" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Our classy mirrored bar room, baby."][/caption]

Our new house came with a fairly extensive learning curve. It's an odd U shape and sports more windows and light switches than the viewing room at Good Morning America.

I'm not a fan of ridiculously bright rooms. I like a subtle, glowing atmosphere. Hence, nearly every time I walk by the living room I flick off the overhead lights. Only I'm not flicking off the overhead lights, I'm actually flicking the switch that my husband's computer and light are plugged into. It's not my fault they put the switches in the wrong place. I'll get used to it eventually. Ahh, the little things we do on a daily basis to compound our marital bliss.

Which makes me think of this morning. I cooked eggs for the kiddos in a little cast iron skillet that we found buried in the back yard of our old house in Placerville when I was a teenager, scrubbed to a black sheen by my determined Mother. She read somewhere that I can get iron in my kids' diets by cooking with a cast iron skillet. I don't know if it's true, but I figure it can't hurt. (Note to self: buy some SOS pads.)



After an unsuccessful battle with the stubborn egg funk coating the sides of the skillet aprés cook, I tucked my tail betwixt my legs and trudged over to the side of the fridge to add non-stick cooking spray to my running list. Shocked and pleased was I to discover that my husband had added something to the list for the very first time: AAA batteries! However, since he was in the area, he saw fit to install judgment on my denotation of intent to purchase self-tanner.



Listen up, Mr. Smug with the natural golden glow. I'm sick of being mistaken for the recent undead due to my ghastly white pallor. Not only that, I'm convinced that if I carefully apply self tanner to the ridges of the cellulite craters on my thighs I will render them invisible. Again, I have no proof to back this up but it's worth a try. You'll be thanking me later.

We all had fun last night after bath time. There is nary such a pleasing sight to thine eyes as my babies Joe and Lily scooting around in their jammies, freshly-scrubbed and sweet-smelling, high on new surroundings to claim and explore.



[caption id="attachment_2550" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="What's your order, Mom?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2549" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Joe was moving so fast I had to snap this picture two seconds before he ran into the kitchen to get the shot."][/caption]

Here are some random pictures of the past couple of weeks for interested family and friends to peruse. Some were taken at home, others at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. Have a wonderful Sunday, everybody. :)



[caption id="attachment_2539" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily and Brian camped out in our living room shortly before the move to Texas."][/caption]

Moms: Don't Get Sick!

Image by cutglassdecanter via Flickr

It finally happened - this thing I'd been dreading since becoming a mother. It didn't ask me first. There was no pleasant tea and biscuit-riddled discussion circle. It came and took me with the force of 1,000 body snatchers. It was more ghastly than watching John Basedow tongue-kiss Rosie O'Donnell at a People for the Ethical Treatment of Pond Scum meeting, more beastly and efficient than a rogue lop-eared Romulan with an axe to grind and a faltering emotional filter. It was, and ever-so-slightly-still-is, the stomach flu.

But at least it's over. Almost. For years now I've been heeding warnings from my friends with small children. Pasty-faced and earnest, boxes of Dayquil clutched to their breasts with trembling, near-licentious passion, they graciously offer sentiments like, "Dooon't geeet *cough* siiiick!"

"It's not worth it," one said.

"An impossibility," countered another, shaking her head a little too fast for a little too long.

"Don't let it happen," croaked a third, clutching my shirt and breathing the words into my face, spattling germ-ridden particles into my nose and mouth before loosening her grip to hug herself, rocking slightly as her eyes glazed over like those of a dead shark.

I had been living in fear for far too long. Alas, no longer! The barbarian came and attacked; it hit me over the head with a club of agony and pain and rendered me virtually incapable of caring for my children for a small time, one of my worst fears, forcing the issue and making it necessary for me to ask for... oh God I can't even say it, okay I'll say it, to ask for help.

Firstly, please know that I realize how lucky I am to only have contracted this sickness when so many more horrific and impossible ones exist, and that I have people to turn to for help. So many single and military moms out there don't have any recourse, and must suffer through the completely debilitating initial phase of the stomach flu in the fetal position while their children cry next to them, somehow mustering the strength to creep finger-over-finger into the kitchen and get their little ones the oral nourishment they require.

I have my own mother, who is suffering from a lingering sickness herself, renewed this morning, forcing her to call me for jello and ice chips, and most likely meaning that we will have to put off our move, which frustrates me to no end as I'm desperate to get this show on the road and it seems beyond reason that the universe is trying to pin us here indefinitely. (No, I don't blame you, Mom. No, I don't blame you, Mom. No, I don't blame you, Mom. I am not an awful person who would blame her Mom for something she can not help. I'm not. I'm not.) Still, she was able to come over at just the right time and do what she could for part of the day, make the jello and pudding we would all feast upon, and put the kids to sleep at bedtime. Thank you, Mom. It made all the difference in the world.

I have my husband Dennis, who was unable to leave work early in the morning due to a responsibility that could not be covered by another. I detected the strain in his voice when I asked, as he knew it was unobtainable, but so wanted to be here to help me. Bless him, he managed to leave at 11:30 and pick up some medicine for my mom and myself, along with organic lemon-lime soda. Then, upon being home for a mere couple of hours, he was promptly taken ill and proceeded to vomit like a mad cow well into the evening.

I have my stepson Brian, who may or may not be the culprit who brought the foul brute of a sickness into our home on Christmas, but suffers the guilt as though he's sure of it, who was more than willing to assist, but had to work. He did come over yesterday, bless his big fat heart, to help with the kids while his father and I did our best to recover.

And, of course, there are my babies - Joe and Lily. Lily has been sick for days now, the poor thing, vomiting and uncomfy. It is so hard to watch such a small, beautiful thing in so much discomfort, and not be able to make it better for her. We tried baths, snuggling, and extended bouts of nursing. To be fair, I did the nursing, Dennis did the bathing. Just when it appeared as though she might be feeling better, my sweet angel would upchuck in her crib. This is a nasty, barbarous illness. If Lily is not fully herself today I am going to fashion a goat out of her pain and kick it in the ding ding. Then slap it.

So far, and I'm afraid to even talk about it lest I should awaken fate, Joe has remained his healthy, vigorously perky self.

Now I am in a position to pass the baton of warning to other new moms. Face it: You can't get sick! Long gone are the days when you could convalesce in the comfort of your bed after being stricken by a bug, snoozing at will, watching "What's Happening!" reruns, and perhaps even catching up on your reading. Not only will you not be allowed the sanctity of your recovery time, you will most likely be called to duty. Others in your family will probably be taken ill, if they are not ill already, and they will need you to muster whatever strength you can find to tend to them. And you will do it, no matter how ill, because love, my friends, is the most powerful force in the universe.

Time, love and ice chips will make it all better. Just don't let it happen again! :wink:

Dallas by Happy Hour!

Image by Ginas Pics via Flickr

Dennis, Lilypooh and I will be flying to Dallas today in search of a home, and will be returning to Southern California on Sunday evening. We're not actually making the move until January 5th or so of 2010, but we recently realized that in order to accomplish the relocation we must first procure a place to live. My Mom and Stepson Brian will be entertaining, hugging and keeping an eye on Joe Joe while we are gone. We would have loved to have taken him with us, but couldn't justify forking out the bread for an extra ticket seeing as how we're going to be returning for good in a month. This bums me out immensely because he would really have enjoyed the plane ride, among other things.

Boy, will  I miss my boo boo bottom. He dragged his suitcase into the family room about an hour ago and it nearly broke my heart. I'm being honest with him as he responds well to logic, but still... we've never been apart this long. Even when I spent two nights in the hospital after Lily as born he came to visit the next day.

I just went searching for a photo of Joe's visit to the hospital and found this...



It seems as though Joe's fascination with maxi pads was not recently born!

Here it is... this picture haunts me. I think of it on a near-daily basis. Joe looks so sad and unsure of himself. The poor thing was only 18 months old when Lily was born, one month older than Lily is now! His world changed so much that day. Sure, he gained much more than he lost but still...



Why am I doing this to myself? Where did this come from! Deep breath. Moving on...

The two hour time difference is going to be a bit of a nasty witch in the morning, as we will be meeting a realtor at nine, but we're used to getting up early a'la Joe Joe's penchance for turning on all of the lights in the house at 5:20 am. Lily's always up for an adventure these days, so I'm expecting good things from her. I'm hoping to hide her underneath my hooter hider on the plane and that she'll fall asleep after a quick nip since the flight takes off right at her regular naptime of noon. I packed little bags of snacks and toys to divert her attention (thanks for the plane tip, Gina!) should she start winding up to a meltdown. Dang, I should have done the same for Dennis.

I'll miss you all. Have a fun weekend!

Wow I've Been Busy by Joe Joe

Hello again! Lots of things have happened since my last post! :woot:

[caption id="attachment_1919" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="Last week I saw a hot air balloon come towards our house from a far away mountain!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1920" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="It flew right over our house and the people inside waved hello to me!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1921" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="It headed around the corner - where is it going?!?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1922" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="It landed in a future park site just down the road. I told Grandma I wanted to go and get my butterfly net to catch it!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1923" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily got all muddy in the back yard that day and Mommy tried to get all fancy and make the picture black and white."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1924" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="Daddy was watching a program about The Beatles and Lily fell in love with Paul McCartney. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1925" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="My Godmother Gina and Godsister Rachel sent a Thanksgiving treat to Lily and me, pudding cups and mixes galore, and creature paper plates! Thank you Gina and Rachel! We love you!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1927" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily had fun stacking the pudding cups she ripped out of my hand."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1928" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Lily is proud of her accomplishment!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1929" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="The tiger plate was one of my favorites. That and the beaver plate!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1930" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Daddy pretended he was a tiger. I think he fooled Lily. Brian thought it was funny."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1931" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="I just wanted to put another picture of me in here with my fancy necklace."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1932" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Lily thought it was fun to crawl into Godmother Gina's UPS box."][/caption]

Then the other day I woke up really early and found Mom's camera again. I can't believe she keeps forgetting to put it away at night.

[caption id="attachment_1933" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I like this chest."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1934" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I like the way my foot looks on the rug."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1935" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I like the way my foot looks on the inexcusably dirty tile floor in the kitchen."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1936" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I like my Elmo chair and my huge, messy stack of toys that Mom's always organizing only to discover that I've messed up her piles yet again."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1937" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="I like my leg, too."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1938" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="This picture scares Mom. She thinks it looks like a butt."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1939" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="I am first and foremost an artist. I kind of like this one."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1940" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My big brother Dennis turned 18 on Saturday!!! We took him to Red Robin and I crawled on his and everybody else's heads for an entire hour!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1941" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Dad, Brian, Dennie and me at Red Robin. Mom put down her huge glass of beer long enough to take the photo."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1943" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Then she picked it back up again."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1944" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My big brother Brian held me while I looked for dropped food under the table."][/caption]

That's it for now. :D