If so, this might be Eden's first...
For some reason the embedded video seems to be a bit off-center, so if you want the best viewing, just go here.
See you in the theaters July 2011!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What I Love About the Midwest (Part 2)
Apple picking!
I guess it doesn't hurt that the house we lived in the longest during my childhood (also by far my favorite house) had an apple orchard just beyond the backyard.
Just a week or so ago (see! I'm catching up again on posts! we've just jumped from Labor Day weekend to last week!) Pete and Eden and I headed up to Eckert's for a day o' family fun. Since it was a Friday, not all of the attractions were up and running (aka no pony rides), but it was also much less crowded and we didn't have to pay for anything. And it was even more fun than I expected! There was a kids' area with a big wooden play structure, tire swings, and lots of animals, a country store, and of course, apple orchards and a large pumpkin patch. Eden loved it all, especially the wagon ride (behind A TRACTOR) and the apple picking. I was surprised how much she liked picking the apples actually. She was very into deciding whether an apple was a "good one" or "yucky," and she loved putting them into our bag.
I think the pictures sum up the day best and there are quite a few of them, so enjoy!
Unsurprisingly, this is the first structure Eden wanted to climb in the play area.
Chickens! (Really, I promise they are there. Normal-sized, living chickens, mind you, not just big wooden ones.)
Goats!
Pigs!
The same pigs! (They warrant two pictures because they were adorable. Don't you judge me!)
And see! Here's a second picture of the goats as well. They were not as adorable. But they had this contraption in their pen that supposedly they climb up from time to time. I'm not sure why - perhaps so they can get a good look at their adorable neighbors. But I have to say, we did not witness any goat climbing while we were there. Makes me wonder if Eckert's is trying to pull a fast one.
Camel! Yeah, I'm confused on this one too.
Tortoise! Also a slightly confusing barnyard choice. But fortunate, as Eden is a big fan of tortoises.
She will tell you that they come from the "Glop-a-gose."
I love this kid.
This is practically the only picture where they are both looking at the camera. Punks.
Pun'kin.
Here comes the tractor and wagon to take us to the orchards.
Fun fact about Eden: often when she's really enjoying something she gets a very serious look on her face instead of smiling. She's done this every since she was a baby. I think it's because she's really focusing and concentrating? I don't know. But lots of experience makes me say with confidence that she is feeling much happier than she appears in the above photo.
Almost to the orchard!
And here is just a long sequence of Eden helping pick apples. I know I should have cut some of these pictures to make it shorter... but I couldn't.
Thank you, Eckert's! Eden still wants to know when we're going back to the farm.
I guess it doesn't hurt that the house we lived in the longest during my childhood (also by far my favorite house) had an apple orchard just beyond the backyard.Just a week or so ago (see! I'm catching up again on posts! we've just jumped from Labor Day weekend to last week!) Pete and Eden and I headed up to Eckert's for a day o' family fun. Since it was a Friday, not all of the attractions were up and running (aka no pony rides), but it was also much less crowded and we didn't have to pay for anything. And it was even more fun than I expected! There was a kids' area with a big wooden play structure, tire swings, and lots of animals, a country store, and of course, apple orchards and a large pumpkin patch. Eden loved it all, especially the wagon ride (behind A TRACTOR) and the apple picking. I was surprised how much she liked picking the apples actually. She was very into deciding whether an apple was a "good one" or "yucky," and she loved putting them into our bag.
I think the pictures sum up the day best and there are quite a few of them, so enjoy!
Unsurprisingly, this is the first structure Eden wanted to climb in the play area.
Chickens! (Really, I promise they are there. Normal-sized, living chickens, mind you, not just big wooden ones.)
Goats!
Pigs!
The same pigs! (They warrant two pictures because they were adorable. Don't you judge me!)
And see! Here's a second picture of the goats as well. They were not as adorable. But they had this contraption in their pen that supposedly they climb up from time to time. I'm not sure why - perhaps so they can get a good look at their adorable neighbors. But I have to say, we did not witness any goat climbing while we were there. Makes me wonder if Eckert's is trying to pull a fast one.
Camel! Yeah, I'm confused on this one too.
Tortoise! Also a slightly confusing barnyard choice. But fortunate, as Eden is a big fan of tortoises.
She will tell you that they come from the "Glop-a-gose."
I love this kid.
This is practically the only picture where they are both looking at the camera. Punks.
Pun'kin.
Here comes the tractor and wagon to take us to the orchards.
Fun fact about Eden: often when she's really enjoying something she gets a very serious look on her face instead of smiling. She's done this every since she was a baby. I think it's because she's really focusing and concentrating? I don't know. But lots of experience makes me say with confidence that she is feeling much happier than she appears in the above photo.
Almost to the orchard!And here is just a long sequence of Eden helping pick apples. I know I should have cut some of these pictures to make it shorter... but I couldn't.
Thank you, Eckert's! Eden still wants to know when we're going back to the farm.
Friday, October 22, 2010
What I Love About the Midwest (Part 1)
Festivals!!
Okay, I know all regions of the country have local festivals of one kind or another, but I really think the Midwest has the best.
Way back at the beginning of September we attended the Jersey County Victorian Festival at the historic 1866 Fulkerson Mansion. Since it was Eden's First Official Midwest Festival Experience we brought along the camera to document our time:
Eden really, really likes tractors. I think she must know that even though she was born in Southern California, rural Midwestern farms are in her blood.
I just had an image of microscopic cows and barns and tractors floating around in her bloodstream. You know, Innerspace-style.
Maybe this is a good time to mention that I recently took some pretty powerful cold medicine.
More old tractors!
The festival included a stagecoach hold-up by Jesse James and his gang. (Note: that is NOT Jesse James or his gang pictured in the foreground. Although that would have been awesome.)
I appreciated that this was followed by a gun safety demonstration.
Other activities included a Civil War reenactment (camp pictured above), tours of the mansion, a Victorian Civil War style show (narrated by Mrs. Lincoln, no less), a reading of the Gettysburg Address by President Lincoln, a duel of honor (we missed this - hope they paid attention during the gun safety demonstration), working crafts (blacksmithing, rope-making, etc.), and an antiques, arts, and crafts marketplace.
There were two other activities though that I know stood out to Eden as the highlight of her day:
Baby's first funnel cake!
And... possibly even more exciting to her...
Riding behind a real live tractor back to our car!
My brain is now so fuzzy that I can't think of any rational way to end this post. All I can think of are tractors.
Tractors. Tractors. Tractors. Tractzjklz. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Nigh-night, all.
Okay, I know all regions of the country have local festivals of one kind or another, but I really think the Midwest has the best.Way back at the beginning of September we attended the Jersey County Victorian Festival at the historic 1866 Fulkerson Mansion. Since it was Eden's First Official Midwest Festival Experience we brought along the camera to document our time:
Eden really, really likes tractors. I think she must know that even though she was born in Southern California, rural Midwestern farms are in her blood.I just had an image of microscopic cows and barns and tractors floating around in her bloodstream. You know, Innerspace-style.
Maybe this is a good time to mention that I recently took some pretty powerful cold medicine.
More old tractors!
The festival included a stagecoach hold-up by Jesse James and his gang. (Note: that is NOT Jesse James or his gang pictured in the foreground. Although that would have been awesome.)I appreciated that this was followed by a gun safety demonstration.
Other activities included a Civil War reenactment (camp pictured above), tours of the mansion, a Victorian Civil War style show (narrated by Mrs. Lincoln, no less), a reading of the Gettysburg Address by President Lincoln, a duel of honor (we missed this - hope they paid attention during the gun safety demonstration), working crafts (blacksmithing, rope-making, etc.), and an antiques, arts, and crafts marketplace.There were two other activities though that I know stood out to Eden as the highlight of her day:
Baby's first funnel cake! And... possibly even more exciting to her...
Riding behind a real live tractor back to our car!
My brain is now so fuzzy that I can't think of any rational way to end this post. All I can think of are tractors.
Tractors. Tractors. Tractors. Tractzjklz. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Nigh-night, all.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
For The Love
In all honesty, I have seriously considered abandoning this blog over the last month.
I just can't find the time to write anymore. And that's not a bad thing. It's just a natural result of my life being very full right now - much more so than it was just a few months ago. I'm working a lot harder, but it's good work, it's satisfying work. I wish I had more time to work, in fact. And it's interesting to me that while I'm working harder than ever (and enjoying it more than ever) I'm actually earning nothing. Well, zero dollars, anyway.
But do you know what I think it's called when you get up every morning still tired from the day before, but glad - so glad! - to have another opportunity to work, to pour all of your energy and everything you are and have into the tasks set before you, even if those tasks are, by all objective standards, mostly small and insignificant?
I think it's called Love.
So, so thankful for my life.
(Also. This blog is not over quite yet. Eden is: 1) stinkin' cute, but also, 2) not that interested in listening to my meandering and, frankly, rather self-absorbed thoughts on life. Thus that role must still fall to you, dear friends o' the Internet. I recommend skimming. At least until you get to the pictures of the stinkin' cute kid.)
I just can't find the time to write anymore. And that's not a bad thing. It's just a natural result of my life being very full right now - much more so than it was just a few months ago. I'm working a lot harder, but it's good work, it's satisfying work. I wish I had more time to work, in fact. And it's interesting to me that while I'm working harder than ever (and enjoying it more than ever) I'm actually earning nothing. Well, zero dollars, anyway.
But do you know what I think it's called when you get up every morning still tired from the day before, but glad - so glad! - to have another opportunity to work, to pour all of your energy and everything you are and have into the tasks set before you, even if those tasks are, by all objective standards, mostly small and insignificant?
I think it's called Love.
So, so thankful for my life.(Also. This blog is not over quite yet. Eden is: 1) stinkin' cute, but also, 2) not that interested in listening to my meandering and, frankly, rather self-absorbed thoughts on life. Thus that role must still fall to you, dear friends o' the Internet. I recommend skimming. At least until you get to the pictures of the stinkin' cute kid.)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Step Aside, Susie Homemaker
**This post was written back at the beginning of September before the previously referenced insanity was really in full swing. Thus, it's a little out of date. With any luck I'll get everything caught up to the present soon. (And by soon I mean before another month passes, just to be clear. Not as in, you know, tomorrow. Because, mercy!)
First of all, despite my initial, um - concerns, the coupon thing has been working out okay. I actually saved a total of $30.18 in August just by using coupons (not counting a free shake from Jack in the Box!), which I think is quite good for my first month. And that's without spending very much time on it each week. (I gave up on all that extended work almost immediately.) Still have a lot to learn, but I'm slowly getting a routine down - and frankly, even if I never do better than $30 a month in savings, that's still quite a lot of money! Or, at least it seems like a lot of money to me now.
Secondly, I think I have mentioned before that I am not the best cook. I've been wanting to change that for awhile - not that I want to become some sort of gourmet (gourmand? See! I don't even know the lingo!) by any means, but it would be nice to be capable of quickly and confidently preparing nutritious and reasonably tasty meals for my family. It would be especially nice to be able to gather enough meals that fall under the above description to fill out a monthly meal plan without us all getting extremely tired of eating the same thing day in and day out.
So, with that in mind, I purchased a copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks with some birthday money and am preparing to embark on the adventure of cooking my way through it. I've actually already embarked on that adventure, but before I get into that, let me state a few ground rules that I've set for myself:
1. This is not Julie and Julia. I've read neither that book nor the blog, but I have seen the movie - which, I must say, I found delightful. However, in the movie at least, the Julie character seems to get slightly obsessed at times. Also slightly crazy. In fact, I believe I recall at least one scene where she is lying on the kitchen floor crying. I am not going there. At least, you know, over cooking. Over the dearth of coffee shops and bookstores in Alton, possibly.
2. I am not setting a deadline. Why? See reference to not wanting to go crazy, above.
3. I may not cook every single recipe in the book. Why oh why? Because, the Pioneer Woman, in addition to being lovely and wonderful in every way, is also, I suspect, a tad bit more well off than we find ourselves at this present moment. She also owns a working ranch. Thus, ready availability of high quality meat is not a problem for her. I find many of the ingredients in her recipes (especially the meat) to be a bit pricey. She also occasionally uses kitchen gadgets and/or various pots and pans that we don't own.
Aside from the above restrictions, I do in all sincerity hope to cook as many recipes from this book as I can over the next few months. My goal is at least one recipe a week although I will probably aim for two in my meal planning.
And, in fact, I have already prepared 3** recipes with varying degrees of success! Slightly boring and/or stress-filled posts to follow, I assure you.
Doesn't that make you want to stay tuned?
But before we get into all that, I think we should start with a moment of calm before the storm. Here is the scene of the crime - I mean, cooking - as it once existed before I took on this hare-brained scheme:
May it rest in peace.
First of all, despite my initial, um - concerns, the coupon thing has been working out okay. I actually saved a total of $30.18 in August just by using coupons (not counting a free shake from Jack in the Box!), which I think is quite good for my first month. And that's without spending very much time on it each week. (I gave up on all that extended work almost immediately.) Still have a lot to learn, but I'm slowly getting a routine down - and frankly, even if I never do better than $30 a month in savings, that's still quite a lot of money! Or, at least it seems like a lot of money to me now.
Secondly, I think I have mentioned before that I am not the best cook. I've been wanting to change that for awhile - not that I want to become some sort of gourmet (gourmand? See! I don't even know the lingo!) by any means, but it would be nice to be capable of quickly and confidently preparing nutritious and reasonably tasty meals for my family. It would be especially nice to be able to gather enough meals that fall under the above description to fill out a monthly meal plan without us all getting extremely tired of eating the same thing day in and day out.
So, with that in mind, I purchased a copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks with some birthday money and am preparing to embark on the adventure of cooking my way through it. I've actually already embarked on that adventure, but before I get into that, let me state a few ground rules that I've set for myself:
1. This is not Julie and Julia. I've read neither that book nor the blog, but I have seen the movie - which, I must say, I found delightful. However, in the movie at least, the Julie character seems to get slightly obsessed at times. Also slightly crazy. In fact, I believe I recall at least one scene where she is lying on the kitchen floor crying. I am not going there. At least, you know, over cooking. Over the dearth of coffee shops and bookstores in Alton, possibly.
2. I am not setting a deadline. Why? See reference to not wanting to go crazy, above.
3. I may not cook every single recipe in the book. Why oh why? Because, the Pioneer Woman, in addition to being lovely and wonderful in every way, is also, I suspect, a tad bit more well off than we find ourselves at this present moment. She also owns a working ranch. Thus, ready availability of high quality meat is not a problem for her. I find many of the ingredients in her recipes (especially the meat) to be a bit pricey. She also occasionally uses kitchen gadgets and/or various pots and pans that we don't own.
Aside from the above restrictions, I do in all sincerity hope to cook as many recipes from this book as I can over the next few months. My goal is at least one recipe a week although I will probably aim for two in my meal planning.
And, in fact, I have already prepared 3** recipes with varying degrees of success! Slightly boring and/or stress-filled posts to follow, I assure you.
Doesn't that make you want to stay tuned?
But before we get into all that, I think we should start with a moment of calm before the storm. Here is the scene of the crime - I mean, cooking - as it once existed before I took on this hare-brained scheme:
May it rest in peace.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Umm....
Can someone stop this merry-go-round, please? I would like to get off now.
If I ever had hopes of being a regular blogger, the universe's latest bit of make-your-head-spin ridiculousness that occasionally is my life would set me straight for a long time. I won't get into all the details. Let's just say that it involves fleas, hemorrhaging air conditioners, and a 102 degree fever.
And then let's gloss over the rest of what's happened since I posted four weeks ago and move on to bigger, brighter, and slightly less insane things. Please.
Universe? Are you listening?
If I ever had hopes of being a regular blogger, the universe's latest bit of make-your-head-spin ridiculousness that occasionally is my life would set me straight for a long time. I won't get into all the details. Let's just say that it involves fleas, hemorrhaging air conditioners, and a 102 degree fever.
And then let's gloss over the rest of what's happened since I posted four weeks ago and move on to bigger, brighter, and slightly less insane things. Please.
Universe? Are you listening?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
25 Things (I Don't Want You To Know) About Me
I have been feeling so very imperfect lately.
No matter how hard I try, no matter how sincere and well-meaning my desires and actions are, not matter how determinedly I push myself, what I accomplish seems only mediocre at best. The out-and-out failures I try not to think about. Worse, it seems to be happening everywhere - in my relationships, in my day-to-day work, in my role as mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, pastor's wife, Christian.
It has been an unsettling and discouraging time, especially for someone who is so task-oriented, so prone to measuring her value based on the shininess of her accomplishments. Regardless of my efforts and my intentions, mediocre does not feel good enough.
In the bleakness of this mental landscape, I find hope and encouragement and reassurance in the realness of others. In fact, it seems that the older I get the greater and greater value I place on sincerity, openness, and authenticity. I see so many women who encourage and inspire me - in the world at large and in the smaller world of my own life and community - and without exception a hallmark of these beautiful souls is their willingness to be real. To be imperfect. To even dare to laugh about their imperfections.
One of my current favorite blogs is Inspired to Action. I love this blog, I love what it's about, and I love how it does, in fact, inspire me to action. (And people, as you know, I am basically Eeyore in human form. Have you ever seen Eeyore inspired to do anything? Exactly. Thus, what this blog does is awesome and you should all add it to your feeders right now.)
One of my favorite posts from this blog was entitled, Real Motherhood: The Things I Don't Want You To Know About Me. I love reading blogs, and especially at this time in my life, I love reading blogs written by other moms. But as Kat (the author of Inspired to Action) states,
It’s easy, when reading about other people, to think, "Wow. They eat all organic foods, have a family fun night EVERY night, homeschool, take European vacations, wear the latest fashions, go on family mission trips, run marathons together, make their own all-natural cleaning supplies and have never forgotten their kid at school. I’m such a loser."
So. True.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I've thought almost each of these things and felt discouraged about myself and my life as a result. And that's when I need to remember, AGAIN, that the people who inspire me most aren't, in fact, the people who seem to be accomplishing all of the above. Nope, the ones who inspire me the most, the ones who make me actually want to be a better person, are the people who aren't afraid to be fully real in every situation. Not that they are constantly sharing their every thought or feeling, but that they aren't faking who they are and what their life is really about, for better or for worse. I think I am inspired because they are unafraid. Or, if they're afraid, they have the courage to be real anyway. And that gives me the courage to do the same.
Besides, as Meg Ryan's character, Kathleen Kelly, states in one of my all-time favorite movies, You've Got Mail,
"What's so wrong with being personal anyway? Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal."
This is exactly the sentiment I'm trying to express when I talk about being real. Whatever we do or say in this life, what value does it have if it doesn't begin with being real?
I'm getting long-winded, as I always do.
But, in honor of all the people in my life who have inspired and encouraged me, not by being perfect, but by being real, here are 25 Things (I Don't Want You To Know) About Me:
1. I only clean my house when it is visibly dirty. I have grand aspirations of setting up some kind of cleaning schedule where everything gets cleaned on a regular basis despite it's appearance, but yeah... so far, those have just remained aspirations.
2. I am an extreme introvert. That means that no matter how much I like you, no matter how much fun we have together, no matter how great of a person I truly think you are, at the end of the day, I'm always happy to go home. I worry that this makes me a bad friend.
3. I frequently catch myself being very jealous of extroverts.
4. I haven't been to the dentist in 5 years.
5. I'm usually suspicious of people with strong political opinions. But because I don't have strong political opinions of my own, I end up not being a very actively engaged citizen.
6. As a senior in high school I was supposed to go to some sort of fancy lunch for being a good student. My parents didn't think the outfit I picked out was formal enough so they put something together for me to wear out of my mom's closet. I couldn't bear the thought of being seen in front of my peers in the clothes they had selected, so I stopped on the way to school and changed into a different outfit in a grocery store bathroom. Then, after school, I scrunched up the outfit they chose so it would look like I had worn it and threw it into the hamper. This is probably the single most rebellious thing I ever did as a child. (I know, right?) I didn't feel guilty about it.
7. I once accidentally killed a duck when I was in grade school. That, I still feel terrible about.
8. The first time I took the test to get a driver's license, I failed. Why? Because I went straight through an intersection from a left-turn-only lane.
9. There are many days, more than I would like to count, where I find myself looking at Eden and thinking, I have no idea how to be a good mom to you.
10. I absolutely, positively hate to be the center of attention.
11. When I get nervous, my throat tightens up, so when I talk it sounds like I'm going to cry. Combine #10 and #11 and you get a lot of meetings where I sound like I am much more emotionally involved in what I'm saying than I actually am. This embarrasses me to no end.
12. I've never learned how to parallel park.
13. Sometimes I pull up Cookie Monster's Monsterpiece Theater videos on YouTube to entertain Eden. I like them more than she does.
14. I have never, ever been able to figure out hair and makeup.
15. Lilo and Stitch makes me cry.
16. I don't really like classical music. I feel like I'm supposed to, but I just... can't.
17. I also don't like to watch professional basketball because I think the players have freakish bodies, and it weirds me out.
18. On the other hand, I have really ugly feet.
19. I am strongly lacking when it comes to coordination or a sense of rhythm. Clapping and singing at the same time can be hard for me.
20. And, while we're at it, I can't sing - I'm probably just a step or two above tone deaf. I console myself with the thought that at least I know I can't sing, so I won't ever end up on the gag reel of American Idol.
21. #10+#11+#19+#20 = Karaoke is my living nightmare.
22. I have a very strong sense of responsibility, so when it comes to big decisions I feel compelled to carefully research and consider every option. At the end of this process, I usually am so overwhelmed by mental pro/con lists that I just end up hoping that someone else will make the decision for me. My friend calls this Paralysis by Analysis.
23. I mostly grew up out in the country with two older brothers and no female neighbors anywhere close to my age. We also changed schools a lot. Thus, to this day I have a very hard time figuring out how to develop close friendships with other women.
24. I wasn't able to figure out what "Y2K" stood for until January 1st, 2000.
25. I excel at being thorough but am absolutely terrible at anything that requires efficiency. Thus, most other people can accomplish 2 or 3 times what I can accomplish in the same amount of time. Of all the imperfections I've listed, this is probably the one that bothers me the most.
And you know what?
This list could have been a lot longer.
But I'm learning to be okay with that.
P.S. Sorry about the whole outfit-switcheroo, mom!
No matter how hard I try, no matter how sincere and well-meaning my desires and actions are, not matter how determinedly I push myself, what I accomplish seems only mediocre at best. The out-and-out failures I try not to think about. Worse, it seems to be happening everywhere - in my relationships, in my day-to-day work, in my role as mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, pastor's wife, Christian.
It has been an unsettling and discouraging time, especially for someone who is so task-oriented, so prone to measuring her value based on the shininess of her accomplishments. Regardless of my efforts and my intentions, mediocre does not feel good enough.
In the bleakness of this mental landscape, I find hope and encouragement and reassurance in the realness of others. In fact, it seems that the older I get the greater and greater value I place on sincerity, openness, and authenticity. I see so many women who encourage and inspire me - in the world at large and in the smaller world of my own life and community - and without exception a hallmark of these beautiful souls is their willingness to be real. To be imperfect. To even dare to laugh about their imperfections.
One of my current favorite blogs is Inspired to Action. I love this blog, I love what it's about, and I love how it does, in fact, inspire me to action. (And people, as you know, I am basically Eeyore in human form. Have you ever seen Eeyore inspired to do anything? Exactly. Thus, what this blog does is awesome and you should all add it to your feeders right now.)
One of my favorite posts from this blog was entitled, Real Motherhood: The Things I Don't Want You To Know About Me. I love reading blogs, and especially at this time in my life, I love reading blogs written by other moms. But as Kat (the author of Inspired to Action) states,
It’s easy, when reading about other people, to think, "Wow. They eat all organic foods, have a family fun night EVERY night, homeschool, take European vacations, wear the latest fashions, go on family mission trips, run marathons together, make their own all-natural cleaning supplies and have never forgotten their kid at school. I’m such a loser."
So. True.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I've thought almost each of these things and felt discouraged about myself and my life as a result. And that's when I need to remember, AGAIN, that the people who inspire me most aren't, in fact, the people who seem to be accomplishing all of the above. Nope, the ones who inspire me the most, the ones who make me actually want to be a better person, are the people who aren't afraid to be fully real in every situation. Not that they are constantly sharing their every thought or feeling, but that they aren't faking who they are and what their life is really about, for better or for worse. I think I am inspired because they are unafraid. Or, if they're afraid, they have the courage to be real anyway. And that gives me the courage to do the same.
Besides, as Meg Ryan's character, Kathleen Kelly, states in one of my all-time favorite movies, You've Got Mail,
"What's so wrong with being personal anyway? Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal."
This is exactly the sentiment I'm trying to express when I talk about being real. Whatever we do or say in this life, what value does it have if it doesn't begin with being real?
I'm getting long-winded, as I always do.
But, in honor of all the people in my life who have inspired and encouraged me, not by being perfect, but by being real, here are 25 Things (I Don't Want You To Know) About Me:
1. I only clean my house when it is visibly dirty. I have grand aspirations of setting up some kind of cleaning schedule where everything gets cleaned on a regular basis despite it's appearance, but yeah... so far, those have just remained aspirations.
2. I am an extreme introvert. That means that no matter how much I like you, no matter how much fun we have together, no matter how great of a person I truly think you are, at the end of the day, I'm always happy to go home. I worry that this makes me a bad friend.
3. I frequently catch myself being very jealous of extroverts.
4. I haven't been to the dentist in 5 years.
5. I'm usually suspicious of people with strong political opinions. But because I don't have strong political opinions of my own, I end up not being a very actively engaged citizen.
6. As a senior in high school I was supposed to go to some sort of fancy lunch for being a good student. My parents didn't think the outfit I picked out was formal enough so they put something together for me to wear out of my mom's closet. I couldn't bear the thought of being seen in front of my peers in the clothes they had selected, so I stopped on the way to school and changed into a different outfit in a grocery store bathroom. Then, after school, I scrunched up the outfit they chose so it would look like I had worn it and threw it into the hamper. This is probably the single most rebellious thing I ever did as a child. (I know, right?) I didn't feel guilty about it.
7. I once accidentally killed a duck when I was in grade school. That, I still feel terrible about.
8. The first time I took the test to get a driver's license, I failed. Why? Because I went straight through an intersection from a left-turn-only lane.
9. There are many days, more than I would like to count, where I find myself looking at Eden and thinking, I have no idea how to be a good mom to you.
10. I absolutely, positively hate to be the center of attention.
11. When I get nervous, my throat tightens up, so when I talk it sounds like I'm going to cry. Combine #10 and #11 and you get a lot of meetings where I sound like I am much more emotionally involved in what I'm saying than I actually am. This embarrasses me to no end.
12. I've never learned how to parallel park.
13. Sometimes I pull up Cookie Monster's Monsterpiece Theater videos on YouTube to entertain Eden. I like them more than she does.
14. I have never, ever been able to figure out hair and makeup.
15. Lilo and Stitch makes me cry.
16. I don't really like classical music. I feel like I'm supposed to, but I just... can't.
17. I also don't like to watch professional basketball because I think the players have freakish bodies, and it weirds me out.
18. On the other hand, I have really ugly feet.
19. I am strongly lacking when it comes to coordination or a sense of rhythm. Clapping and singing at the same time can be hard for me.
20. And, while we're at it, I can't sing - I'm probably just a step or two above tone deaf. I console myself with the thought that at least I know I can't sing, so I won't ever end up on the gag reel of American Idol.
21. #10+#11+#19+#20 = Karaoke is my living nightmare.
22. I have a very strong sense of responsibility, so when it comes to big decisions I feel compelled to carefully research and consider every option. At the end of this process, I usually am so overwhelmed by mental pro/con lists that I just end up hoping that someone else will make the decision for me. My friend calls this Paralysis by Analysis.
23. I mostly grew up out in the country with two older brothers and no female neighbors anywhere close to my age. We also changed schools a lot. Thus, to this day I have a very hard time figuring out how to develop close friendships with other women.
24. I wasn't able to figure out what "Y2K" stood for until January 1st, 2000.
25. I excel at being thorough but am absolutely terrible at anything that requires efficiency. Thus, most other people can accomplish 2 or 3 times what I can accomplish in the same amount of time. Of all the imperfections I've listed, this is probably the one that bothers me the most.
And you know what?
This list could have been a lot longer.
But I'm learning to be okay with that.
P.S. Sorry about the whole outfit-switcheroo, mom!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Birthday Blitz: In Which We Attempt To Determine Just How Many Photos Blogger Will Allow You To Upload In A Single Post
I'm not feeling very wordy today.
So, I'm just going to give a brief recap of the birthday bonanza that's been going on around here lately and then bombard you with a bajillion photos.
And yes, I could have thrown a few more "b" words into the above sentence. Brilliantly, I might add.
Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yes!
Birthday Numero Uno: August 1st. Eden's actual birthday. We woke her up by bringing her a blueberry muffin with a two-shaped candle and singing Happy Birthday (as opposed to, I don't know, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, says Captain Obvious). After Peter blew out the candle - she wasn't getting anywhere near that flame, which I was perfectly okay with - we took her to church where she was serenaded with happy birthday songs at least two more times and received her first present (an adorable musical tea set). We took her home, fed her lunch, and let her open a few more presents from us as well as one present from my mom, before putting her down for a nap. While she was sleeping I made her a dirt cake complete with gummy worms. It looked awesome. Then we went to a church get-together out at a beautiful house in the country where she made a bunch of new little friends and was introduced to lightning bugs and fishing. It was after 10 pm before she went to bed, but all in all I'd say she had a great day.
Birthday Numero Dos: August 14th. Joint birthday party for Eden and her cousin, Cedric, who is basically turning three as we speak. This would be the party I referenced in my last post - the one that contributed to a series of ridiculous stress-induced nightmares. I'm happy to say that due to the hard work and creativity of many of my family members (particularly, Laura, Cedric's mom, who posted about the day here) the party went off beautifully and was a smashing success. (Also, Eden successfully blew out her candle at this party without any hesitation or help. I was proud as punch.) While the kids were napping I unwrapped presents from my family for my own birthday, which was...
Birthday Numero Tres: August 16th. My thirty-first birthday. (Ugh. Not feeling nearly as chipper about the aging process this time around as I was last year.) A surprisingly fun-filled day as we hadn't really made any big plans. Peter let me sleep in and then cooked me breakfast, and my aforementioned sister-in-law, Laura, brought Cedric up for a surprise visit. We went to a park and let Cedric ride his new bicycle around the paved path while I pushed Eden beside him on his old tricycle. After lunch and naps, Laura and Cedric headed home and Pete, Eden, and I headed out to dinner. Once Eden was in bed Pete got me a Peanut Buster Parfait from DQ and we discussed the Hunger Games t-shirt that he is going to make for me. My other birthday present from Pete is the third and final book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, which is released on August 24th. It is being overnighted to our house, and Pete has promised to provide me with lots of uninterrupted reading time when it arrives. I am ridiculously excited about both of these presents.
Okay, this post is actually already a lot longer than I anticipated. Perhaps my boasts of brevity were bogus. Ha! Yeah, now I'm actually just annoying myself.
Photos! Here!
Birthday Number 1:
I had a last minute genius idea to buy Eden some Sesame Street shirts when I saw them on sale in a store the night before. She loves them! Probably her favorite present from us.
The below blurriness is caused by a dance of pure happiness.
And here Eden takes the term birthday bash to a whole new level...
Birthday Number 2: There was an Elmo/Super Grover/Curious George theme in case you can't tell. Many decorations were handmade by the ever-awesome Laura.
The haul! In all honesty, in all the birthday planning it never really crossed my mind that we would be bringing home a ton of presents. I don't know, I was somehow thinking she would get five or six things, max? You know, one item per attending family?
And! AANNNNDDD!! She got more stuff! From people at church and from California friends:
We're considering selling a few on eBay and retiring early.
I jest!
We're considering selling them all and retiring period.
Really, why do you read this blog?
Anyway, I think that's about it for the birthday recap. You should have enough photos to last you until Eden's next birthday when we are hoping she will receive a Ferrari and/or a house.
My baby! How can she possibly already be two-years-old???
Love to you all!
The birthday girls -- 8/18/2010
So, I'm just going to give a brief recap of the birthday bonanza that's been going on around here lately and then bombard you with a bajillion photos.
And yes, I could have thrown a few more "b" words into the above sentence. Brilliantly, I might add.
Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yes!
Birthday Numero Uno: August 1st. Eden's actual birthday. We woke her up by bringing her a blueberry muffin with a two-shaped candle and singing Happy Birthday (as opposed to, I don't know, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, says Captain Obvious). After Peter blew out the candle - she wasn't getting anywhere near that flame, which I was perfectly okay with - we took her to church where she was serenaded with happy birthday songs at least two more times and received her first present (an adorable musical tea set). We took her home, fed her lunch, and let her open a few more presents from us as well as one present from my mom, before putting her down for a nap. While she was sleeping I made her a dirt cake complete with gummy worms. It looked awesome. Then we went to a church get-together out at a beautiful house in the country where she made a bunch of new little friends and was introduced to lightning bugs and fishing. It was after 10 pm before she went to bed, but all in all I'd say she had a great day.
Birthday Numero Dos: August 14th. Joint birthday party for Eden and her cousin, Cedric, who is basically turning three as we speak. This would be the party I referenced in my last post - the one that contributed to a series of ridiculous stress-induced nightmares. I'm happy to say that due to the hard work and creativity of many of my family members (particularly, Laura, Cedric's mom, who posted about the day here) the party went off beautifully and was a smashing success. (Also, Eden successfully blew out her candle at this party without any hesitation or help. I was proud as punch.) While the kids were napping I unwrapped presents from my family for my own birthday, which was...
Birthday Numero Tres: August 16th. My thirty-first birthday. (Ugh. Not feeling nearly as chipper about the aging process this time around as I was last year.) A surprisingly fun-filled day as we hadn't really made any big plans. Peter let me sleep in and then cooked me breakfast, and my aforementioned sister-in-law, Laura, brought Cedric up for a surprise visit. We went to a park and let Cedric ride his new bicycle around the paved path while I pushed Eden beside him on his old tricycle. After lunch and naps, Laura and Cedric headed home and Pete, Eden, and I headed out to dinner. Once Eden was in bed Pete got me a Peanut Buster Parfait from DQ and we discussed the Hunger Games t-shirt that he is going to make for me. My other birthday present from Pete is the third and final book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, which is released on August 24th. It is being overnighted to our house, and Pete has promised to provide me with lots of uninterrupted reading time when it arrives. I am ridiculously excited about both of these presents.
Okay, this post is actually already a lot longer than I anticipated. Perhaps my boasts of brevity were bogus. Ha! Yeah, now I'm actually just annoying myself.
Photos! Here!
Birthday Number 1:
I had a last minute genius idea to buy Eden some Sesame Street shirts when I saw them on sale in a store the night before. She loves them! Probably her favorite present from us.
The below blurriness is caused by a dance of pure happiness.
And here Eden takes the term birthday bash to a whole new level...
Birthday Number 2: There was an Elmo/Super Grover/Curious George theme in case you can't tell. Many decorations were handmade by the ever-awesome Laura.
The haul! In all honesty, in all the birthday planning it never really crossed my mind that we would be bringing home a ton of presents. I don't know, I was somehow thinking she would get five or six things, max? You know, one item per attending family?
And! AANNNNDDD!! She got more stuff! From people at church and from California friends:
We're considering selling a few on eBay and retiring early.I jest!
We're considering selling them all and retiring period.
Really, why do you read this blog?
Anyway, I think that's about it for the birthday recap. You should have enough photos to last you until Eden's next birthday when we are hoping she will receive a Ferrari and/or a house.
My baby! How can she possibly already be two-years-old???Love to you all!
The birthday girls -- 8/18/2010
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