The Darndest Things Happen at 2 am

Like posing for a picture with no make up on between these two hotties... We officially inaugurated the menfolk into Wegman's club when they stayed up to an unkind hour with us. Look for purple undereye circles in the next set of pix...

Fear and (Self-)Loathing in Dallas Texas

Not that I ever saw the Fear and Loathing movie, but the title always stuck with me...and for good reason after watching my scale climb. More on that later.

While I contemplated a lovely Christmas letter, I realized that it would only capture the highlights that I've already posted this year. So: Merry Christmas. And then there's the loathing post title overshadowing all that's merry right now...

While I have been (way over-) indulging in the spirit (read: carbs and fat) of the season, I've watched the scale go up and up and up. I have worked way too hard for this to just 'happen' (such the victim, right?). I contemplated where exactly my self-control may have been misplaced...perhaps somewhere between my fondness for my homemade artichoke dip or my weakness for any chocolatey candy that comes in a wrapper. Not very bougie; I'm a cheap date. Not even a steady stream of visits to the gym has compensated for the massive increase in junk or newly discoverd love of Elke's http://elkesmarkecafe.com. So, I'm feeling a bit like Adam Sandler's character when he discovers his 'tongue'.

I'm Straight (and so is My Hair)

I FINALLY DID SOMETHING WITH MY HAIR! Granted, I didn't cut it off or anything creative (see former blog with hairstyle poll), but I got it STRAIGHTENED! It's a step in the right direction! Here's the proof! Notice the lack of CURL (and the super cute orange zebra stripe cardi that should be under the Christmas tree marked "Merry Christmas to me")!

ANYWAY...

Guess who is coming to town? The Hendricks and the VanDerWerkens! There will be a convergence of former Virginians at our house over New Year's! Jodie and Steve are coming down for the Air Force game, and I think that Angela is responding to the invitation I sent her last week for my pity party. Any other takers?!

Also, based on poll results, some were wondering what 'Smart Discipline' is all about. I'm no expert, but from what I've read, the author encourages boundaries/rules, privileges, revocation of priveleges, and the healthy nurturing of children's self-esteem. Sounds like a lot of other parenting books? I wouldn't know because I rarely finish any: they usually bore me to death or make me feel so guilty about what I'm doing wrong that I don't want to read anymore. Not so with this book. I read it over a couple of days (and laughed as I did so) and am currently implementing with Lucy and Mackey. Calvin has the funny misfortune of standing in the corner for his 'offenses': standing on the counter, barstool, table, or other object over 3 feet tall and hitting. I should get a picture of that...it's hilarious. The corner, not the hitting. I've really liked that the author supplies some 'dialogue', behavioral lists, sample privelege lists, and valuable self-esteem building formulas to help get started. Implementation really is 'turn key'. So far, with Lucy and Mackey, I've seen improved response time to requests, chores getting done without reminding (after initial daily decree), increased unsolicited help (Mackey), and less complaining (Lucy). They also catch themselves more often before they start fighting. Downsides: I foolishly picked a couple of rules that were a little too much to start with, and I'm having a hard time prioritizing priveleges. I've hated seeing them suffer over the consequences of their negative decisions, but hopefully they'll learn to make better choices over time. Rightly so, the author is huge into not giving second chances or letting kids 'earn back' lost priveleges. Anyway, I give it a thumbs up - I've learned a lot.

Hitting Stuff in Style

Do you ever just have a bad...driving day? I, who pride myself on being far more attentive at the wheel than my husband, had a bad driving day today. And for clarification purposes, the reason I drive everywhere is this: Jon was driving my mom and I somewhere in DC Beltway traffic when I was like 9 months pregnant. I'm yappin' with my mom when I turn to face front and get an eyeful of bumper coming at us pretty quickly. I "rouse Jon from his slumber" in time for him to hit the brakes. So, I'm a bit of a control freak in a car. Or we might just say he's narcoleptic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcolepsy, but then Jon said he'd use that line in church.

I can actually say that I hit stuff (yes, in the plural) today with my car. And not in my "I want a Hummer with concrete bumpers so I can hit stuff" or 'towanda' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101921/quotes kind of way. More in an "oooops! Was that a boulder?" and "huh, I didn't think that the car had the turning radius to hit the fence" kind of way. (And, off the record, and I can write this cuz my husband never reads this blog, I drove over two curbs to boot! Today!) Seriously. And this is how I know my husband loves me (or still can tolerate me): he just laughed, asked the kids if mommy's license should be revoked, and apologized to the car for the abuse she was suffering at my hands. To the tune of a scratch and dent and possible damage to transmission and muffler. I haven't had the time to check out these minor details yet...

Just to complete my moronification? I couldn't even drive the stupid cart in Lowe's today. We took down a small display of tile. Who does that? It was okay, though, cuz the guy who helped clear a...wider path?...for us had told me minutes before that he "liked my style". It's the hats; I don't leave home without one.

Or maybe he meant my parenting style? Ok, ok, catch your breath; I was only kidding. But we are 'T minus 2" and counting on trying out the Smart Discipline approach http://smartdiscipline.com/. Wish us the best.

Happy (or Sappy) Christmas

I will occasionally wax philosophic or political...depending on how often I get to the gym to watch the news. On this occasion of occasions, I would LOVE to share a letter that my brother wrote (for the congregation at church) for Christmas. Being the punk sister that I am, I would love to take credit for the insight and genius, but then I'd have to own all those grammatical errors, too. I just don't think the A/R - OCD part of me could do it...

The Sacrament of His Birth:
As the season of Christmas draws nearer we cannot help having it enter into our lives. Too often it makes its first appearance in the stores right next to the Halloween displays. I recall standing in Wal-Mart a month or so ago staring at a Jack-O-Lantern display collapsed against a display of Santa, and a heaviness seemed to rest upon me as I looked and could not find the Christ child.
Several weeks later as I settled into my car to drive to work the radio began to play my favorite Christmas Hymn, “Oh Holy Night,” and tears filled my eyes as the sweet spirit of the Christmas season seemed to rush in. On that short drive to work I reflected upon the power and impact music and song has upon each of us, especially during the Christmas season.
Profiteers and the politically correct can do all that they may to corrupt or take away every righteous tradition surrounding the concept and celebration of Christ’s birth. However, I believe it is music and song that does and will endure, lingering, remaining the constant, finding its way through an increasingly twisted society to rehearse and play it’s familiar melodies in our minds and in our hearts bringing us home and to our knees filling our hearts with gratitude.
What is it about music and song that fills our hearts so full of emotion? Is it the sound of the piano or other instruments with their cadence and beat; or could it be the words and meaning found in song; the voices in harmony? I don’t know the answer to these questions. But my heart tells me that we have all sung such songs with great passion and a full heart in a distant place prior to birth. So cherished are these veiled memories of celebration and praise that our hearts are quick to remember them; the familiar feelings of our heavenly home.
Which of us sang with the multitude of heavenly angels at our Saviors birth? Who of us witnessed that great and holy day? Perhaps we all did. Yes, I would like to think so. I would like to believe we were all there as witnesses and partakers of that holy event. It seems to be music and song that plays a critical part in holding dear in our hearts our Saviors birth and what it represents; “a thrill of hope,” a “law of love,” a “time foretold.” “And in His name all oppression shall cease,” and it was and is “light and life to all He brings.” For a “wondrous gift is given,” the “Son of God, love’s pure light,” “now in flesh appearing.” Echoing forward from that day is “a new and glorious morn,” “with the dawn of redeeming grace.” And to all He becomes joy; yes, “joy to [and for] the world.”
Our Savior was born, as all babies are, pure and innocent. But as a grown man He was laid upon the cross as a babe in the manger, pure and as innocent as He came, a sacrifice, a lamb, an offering for our sins. With no more clothing then when he entered this world he left. Do we not celebrate his birth for the life, teachings, sufferings and sacrifices that were His to offer?
Does not the spirit whisper to each of us the year through, bidding us to remember and to renew each week? As we rally around the sacrament table in music, song and prayer, that moment becomes more than a time of recommitting and affirming ones allegiance but a celebration; not only of His conquest over death and sin but of His birth as well. Just as a child so easily finds a way into our hearts, so may our hearts and minds be more opened to the Christ Child through what He represents; not only during this time of the year but always, as we are found weekly to be partakers of His life and His offering. We are all indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ for His willingness to come and take upon Himself flesh and be as man, almost. He is the Christ child; He is and can be found in our hearts though the Sacrament of His birth, keeping the spirit of Christmas with us throughout the year; if we will only embrace Him each week as the Christ Child as well as the Redeemer of Men. In His most sacred name, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Antonio Antonelli - November 2007

"Mom, My Bathroom Doesn't Smell Like a Urinal Anymore"

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh...what mother wouldn't long to hear the words: "Mom! My bathroom doesn't smell like a urinal anymore!" Which is actually a better statement than what I THOUGHT he said at first: "Mom! My bathroom doesn't smell like your 'a' anymore!" And if that was the case, the daddy, obviously, was going to have a 'talking-to'. Saturday is a major cleaning day (if you're under 5 feet tall) in our house. If you're over 5 feet tall, that'd be Everyday...but that's neither here nor there. And Mackey is 'responsible' for 'cleaning' his bathroom. I try to limit my ventures in there, and when I have to go in, I try to keep my mouth shut about the smell. But on Friday...I usually can't help 'remark' on the 'condition' and caustic odor...with perhaps a comparison to public toilets or outhouses or Chernobyl. Ergo, his comment.