Did I Tell You About My Weekend? April 29, 2008

It included a DATE!

Two, in fact.  With my husband, of course.  My in-laws came and watched Anja on Friday night and part of Saturday so that Husband and I could get out and remember what it is like to hold hands (when one pair isn’t always pushing a stroller).  It was fantastic!

We went to America’s largest indoor water park on Friday night, where I laid waste to this thing that shoots water up (it’s supposed to resemble surfing).  All the little 10-year-olds in front of me made it look hard, but if you’ve ever been tubing (pulled behind a speedboat on an innertube across a lake), this was a cakewalk.  A cakewalk on water.

Saturday we had a nice brunch with the relatives, and then I took Husband on a date of surprises.  First surprise - a stop at the Mall of America where robots (which people built) were fighting.  We only got to see two fights before one robot exploded into flames and they had to take a break to clean up.  Sad.

Then I took him to three places for lunch.  Yes, three.  Place number one was the wrong place; they directed us to place #2, which was too expensive, so we went to P.F. Chang’s.  Husband had never been there before anyway, and he loved it.  We shared Mu Shu Pork and some kind of lamb–yummy!

Lastly, I took him to the iMax theater at the Minnesota Zoo and we saw a 3-D movie about the Okavango Delta (in the Kalahari desert).  My goodness has 3-D technology improved since I last saw one (circa 1995)!  I could almost feel the weeds brushing across my face and reach out and touch the cracks in the elephant’s tusk.  It was 45 minutes of African fantasy!  And I had coupons for everything but lunch.

Husband liked it all, so: SUCCESS!  And I had a good time, too.  We decided we need to “date” more often.

———–

How about you people?  What do you do for fun (cheap) dates?

No FS Today, Just more Q & A April 25, 2008

Can I just start by saying that I’m so excited to meet you new peoples who have been stopping by? Makes my day!

Now for round 2.

Happy Mommy asked, “Ok, last week you asked us to pray about daycare or babysitter for Anja, are you going to work?”

I’ve actually been working 2 10-hour days since November and doing my photography on the side. I’d love to be home, but unfortunately, the feasibility is nil, unless someone volunteers to give us an extra couple thousand bucks a month. J I enjoy my job, so it’s not as terrible as it all seems…I just hate missing out on bits of Anja’s life. An update: had an interview with a provider very near our home this morning and it went well. I’m going next week to get an in-person look at her daycare.

“How long did you know your husband before you got married?”

I met him briefly at the beginning of my Jr. year of college, so I “knew” him for about 2 years 9 months.

Both Happy Mommy and Miz Booshay asked:

“How many children would you like to have?”

Back in the day, I always said 3 or 4. Husband, after having the first, said he’s fine with two (apparently pregnancy and childbirth was even harder on him than on me!). Now, I don’t really have a set or planned number in mind.

“And how old are you?”

For shame! Isn’t that supposed to be some rule—never ask a woman her age? Well, since I don’t abide by all the rules, I’m 28.

Johanna asked, “What’s your favorite thing to do when you have a moment to yourself?”

Umm…do mommies have that? Just kidding. Currently, when Anja is taking naps, I blog, read blogs, or read about photography. So I guess reading and writing are right up there!

Miz Booshay asked, “What would Anja’s name have been if she was a boy?”

We only had it narrowed down to two names when we went to the hospital, but our favorite was Beckett (Beck for short). Since then, my cousin named her little boy Beckett, so we’ll have to come up with a new one for next time around.

Flat Stanley…Saturday? A Visit with Natalie! April 12, 2008

I am so sorry that this post is a day late (in fact, I might even post it again next week because it’s so stinking cute).  Natalie even made a VIDEO!  So head over here to read about Flat Stan’s visit with her and her family.

Second, as you may have guessed, the reason this post is a day late is that we made it up north on Friday!  Can’t say it was pleasant driving, but at least we didn’t have to turn back again.  So I’m going to be vegging out here, letting my mom cook for me, wait on me hand and foot, and entertain my baby while I veg doing very productive things. 

A Two-and-A-Half-Hour Drive to Nowhere April 10, 2008

I rushed home from work today (Well, as much as one can rush in the pouring rain at “rush hour.” Isn’t it funny that it’s called that?), picked up Anja at the sitter’s, and started packing suitcases, food, baby gear, etc. as soon as we got home. I made a quick supper, fed the baby, and cleaned up poop (hers, not mine). When Husband arrived home, we ate, he finished packing some of his stuff and loaded the vehicle, we made a stop for gasoline, and we took off on I-94 (that’s “The 94″ for you south-westerners).

We had planned to leave on a trip to visit friends and family tomorrow morning, but with the forecasts (up to 2 feet of snow in central MN), we figured we’d best head out tonight if we were going to make it. We didn’t make it. After driving 1 1/2 hours, the rain, which had fallen all day over the Twin Cities, progressed to sleety-slush, to snow, and then…to an outright blizzard. Sigh…

Finally giving up, we got off on the nearest exit and turned around. I’m bummed. We haven’t been to my mom’s since Christmas, and we were also planning on meeting a friend’s new baby and visiting two couples who are expecting babies this summer/fall (one couple hasn’t met Anja yet, either). We may give it a go again tomorrow, but today was supposed to be the nicer of the two days.

One of my not-so-favorite things about Minnesota. You can’t plan on snow not intruding on your plans, even in April and May.

This reminds me of a story from high school (a quick one, I promise). I was on the golf team in grades 7-12 (and not half bad, in case you’re wondering). Our practices usually started up in late March to early April. We practiced in a large pole shed. Sometimes we would be chipping, putting and driving into a net for over a month. One year in particular I recall our “practice” for several days involved shoveling glaciers off of the golf course. In mid-May. Yessir, we left our clubs at homes and brought shovels to the golf course. Ah, Minnesota, how I love thee.

p.s. Be sure to tune in for FS Friday tomorrow–it involves VIDEO!!!

Bad Poetry Monday - 13 March 31, 2008

Minnesota: a haiku

Winter came today
Welcome back my snowy friend
Missed you yesterday*

—————

*not really

And Searching Some More… March 24, 2008

Back by popular demand (does my own thrill at what people type in to find my blog count as “demand”?), answers to those of you who found my blog by searching for the following:

winter nipples

actually,I thnk you’re looking for Scarlett’s blog…

naked climbing

man, Scarlett, are you sending your folks over here?

minnesota mom blogs

You, my friend, have come to the right place.

grace bakes a cakes for his mom games

Grace is a boy? Husband likes a cakes.

flat stanley’s mom

He has a mom? Invite her over, too! She can eat cakes.

i’m beautiful

Man, I must be conceited.

values and policies of smacking

Values: a tasty lunch
Policies: only when substance is sticky

is donna fargo a tomboy or a girly girl?

That’s a toss-up. With a name like Donna, I’d guess girly, but with a last name like Fargo, I’d go for tomboy…

photos of me

Yes, there are some on my blog

sugar pink cupcakes

WANT!

things in minnesota that start with y

Yarn
Yams
Yankton Lake

what is there to do in winona Minnesota

I have only been there once that I can remember, and the three things I recollect are these:
1. We drove to the top of a tall rock that had a look-out point.
2. We ate at KFC (yuck).
3. My friend’s sister had some sort of honors orchestra thing there.

does anyone know how to gleak

Heck yes I do!

to grandmother’s house we go leisure art

Say what?

47! March 13, 2008

It got up to 47 degrees here today in the Twin Cities.  People are out for walks, coatless.  I see car windows down as folks drive by.  Guys at work have switched to short-sleeve shirts.  It’s great!

Oddly enough, there is one thing for which that the harsh Minnesota winters are good…making 47 degrees seem like a balmy paradise.

7 Things February 20, 2008

Approximately 7 topics were whirling around in my head today, attempting to become worthwhile blog posts.  None of them made it, so here’s the mish-mash I’ve got:

1. I was talking with my chiropractor today about a message he’d heard at his church last weekend.  Wish I’d been there.  The speaker did a one-man presentation on the great judgment of God’s people (at the end of time).  The gist of it seemed to be: When everyone is bowing before the Lord, casting their crowns at His feet, will I have anything to cast?  In other words, how am I spending the time He gives me on earth?  Am I doing things that are of eternal worth, or slogging about in the mundane and meaningless?

2. My blog has its name for a reason, and I think I’ve gotten much sidetracked in purpose.  I am from Minnesota, and I like my state.  I’m a mom.  I rarely post about either of those things.  I don’t intend to never, ever stray from those topics, but I would like to have at least a weekly post about mothering and a weekly post about something cool (or uncool, if I can find something) about Minnesota, such as a restaurant, a neat park, or the fantastic weather.

3. I am quickly approaching my 100th post, and want to do that bloggy tradition “100 things.”  I only have 48.  For any of you who have done it, please let me know what kind of stuff to include!

4. My husband sent me this great quote today:

If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our callings and our creeds, as the people of England are, our people, like them, must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, and give the earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; And the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live, as they do now, on oatmeal and potatoes, have no time to think, no means of calling the mismanagers to account; but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains around the necks of our fellow sufferers; And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second, that second for a third, and so on ’til the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering … And the forehorse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.          - Thomas Jefferson

5. I am sad that the government is going to phase out incandescent lighting.  I despise fluorescent lights, and they give my husband migraines.  And they’re dangerous in other ways…

6. I hope Ron Paul still runs on as a Libertarian.  I will vote for him.  McCain is a bit of a rhino.

7. I have been spending a lot of time taking photos and neglecting my blog.  I’m sorry.  I’ll try to do better.  But I still want your feedback on my daily photos, friends!

Still Searching… February 12, 2008

 

Back by popular demand (does my own thrill at what people type in to find my blog count as “demand”?), answers to those of you who found my blog by searching for the following:

 

Depraved mom

Yes, yes I am.

when apple computers were made

I do not know. But many early MECC games were made in Minnesota!

substitute mother issues

Again with the substitute mother. Perhaps the fact that she’s a substitute is contributing to your “issues”?

rad apple

From a gnarly tree.

Stirrup pants soccer

If this is a new sport, please don’t sign me up. I have had enough of stirrup pants, and I never want to see them again.

Girbaud taped jeans

Now that was a fad that never made it to MN – taped jeans.

I WONDER HOW COME WE ARE FRIENDS

ME TOO, BECAUSE ALL YOU DO IS SHOUT AT ME!

pressure on holidays and moms

More on moms than on the holidays themselves…

myspace graphics that say sweet pea

I do not, I will not belong to myspace. But I have a sweet pea. Her name is Anja.

“naked” joshua tree

Why would you want to see them naked? They belong to the plant kingdom.

daddy why will you not spend time with u

Here could be a reason…

 

My husband, the (ahem) delegate February 5, 2008

Now doesn’t that sound sooooo official?  I’m trying to think of ways I can exploit having a husband who’s a delegate*.

We went to our precinct caucus tonight.  Let’s just say that Minnesotans ROCKED the caucuses, to put it mildly.  The gymnasium at the school was so overflowing that hundreds (maybe thousands) of people couldn’t even get in.  Standing room only.  I could have made it but gallant Husband had dropped Anja** and me off at the door, and by the time he parked and was able to beat his way through the swarm, we couldn’t get in.

We went and hung out with our precinct folks instead.  Twenty-eight people showed up in our group.  Romney’s people spoke up first.  Then McCain’s.  I kept eyeing Husband like, “Aren’t you going to SAY something?” (He’s not shy.)  Finally, he spoke.  And the people listened.  Most of them had heard nothing about RP but his quirks.  Some of them hadn’t even heard of him at all (thank you, liberal media, for your outright exclusion).  But Husband, he got nothing but respect even from those who were totally against Ron Paul.  The voting happened.  Romney won with 10, McCain came in 2nd with 9, and Ron Paul tied with Mike Huckabee for 3rd–4 votes each.  But here’s the cool part.  Husband must have made such a good impression that he still was elected as a delegate.  Out of 7 nominees, they respected what he had to say enough that even though he told them straight up “I will vote for Ron Paul if elected as a delegate,” they still elected him.  I was so proud.

So one of our 4 precinct votes will be cast for Ron Paul.  There’s a reason that he came to Minnesota last night.  Just you watch—-we’ve got people up here who are ready for some change!

*Since my mom reads this blog, I will post that being a delegate in no way indicates any form of monetary compensation.  In fact, he has to pay to submit his little application thingy.

**She, my friends, was a CHAMP through this evening.  She hardly fussed at all, cooed at the other nice Republicans (except one of the McCain supporters…he tried to get her to smile, but she would not give one up.  I wouldn’t have either.  He was creepy…), and even took a little nap.