- the 100 year old guy who does landscaping for the village is actually still alive despite his corpse-like demeanor and recent disappearance
- The legal consultant down the street has hung a new "let your dog poop in front of your own door" sign since neighbors have obviously ignored previous warnings
- the health food store has somehow managed to run out of fish oil capsules. (???!!!)
- they've spread fresh mulch out in front of the retirement home next to the school; it looks and smells suspiciously like grape nuts
- Yet another french fry trailer has opened up on the only main road. This brings the total to 5 within a 3 km radius. Interestingly enough this also happens to be the number of strip bars within the same area. I am convinced there is a connection somewhere!
15 March, 2006
News bulletin
Earthshatteringly important occurrences today in rural Flanders:
EWWWWW!
Just picked the kids up from school. B came running out with a filthy Bob the Builder bandaid stuck to his lips.
it wasn't his...
it wasn't his...
14 March, 2006
Worrying about our little "global nomads"
AfricaKid posted today about a book she's just bought which describes the trials and tribulations of Third Culture Kids (TCK's). According to Wikipedia, TCK is a term for children who have lived a significant portion of their lives in a country that is not their passport country, usually because of parents' work obligations. A synonym for this is "global nomad."
I seem to be running across a lot of articles on TCKs lately, and they all stress the negative impact that mobility has on children. Effects cover a full range of problems including fear of commitment, restlessness, loneliness and burgeoning "unresolved grief". One of the authors in AfricaKid's book even refers to TCKs as the "privileged homeless". Although pros such as flexibility and tolerance are mentioned, they are usually overshadowed by the cons in the articles I've read.
I am very aware of the enormous implications this move has for our children. We returned to Belgium in 2004 with plans to set down some roots after 10+ years on the move. We bought a house and have done our best to integrate ourselves into Flemish society. S and B are still young enough that they have blended in seamlessly-- they are very flemish in some aspects. Of course they have already earned TCK status, but if we had been able to stay here they would at least have enjoyed some stability in their formative years.
This move worries me-- we will probably stay in Germany for 3 to 5 years, and it wouldn't surprise me if M gets another international assignment after that. S is only 6 and next year he will be attending his third school in a third country in a third language. At some point we are going to have to seriously work on building some consistency in schooling, etc.
At the moment I'm stressed and worrying, so it's easy to dwell on the negative aspects of these moves. Obviously there are positives as well: I love the fact that my kids are so keenly aware of different cultures; I'm amazed at how effortlessly they switch back and forth between English, Dutch and Flemish dialect. They are bright, interested and compassionate. And at this point they seem very happy and well-adjusted.
And as someone who spent the first 22 years of her life in the same state I'm remarkably restless. 4 international moves have really left their mark-- I find that I don't get attached to houses or neighborhoods like I used to. I love them while I'm there, but do not really miss them when we leave. I guess the moral of this part of the story is that even a stable upbringing in one spot does not guarantee that one will feel rooted to a single location in any way or will be able to relate closely to people from "home".
I'd be interested in hearing about experiences with moves and cultural assimilation! (both positive and negative!) Advice is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email!
I seem to be running across a lot of articles on TCKs lately, and they all stress the negative impact that mobility has on children. Effects cover a full range of problems including fear of commitment, restlessness, loneliness and burgeoning "unresolved grief". One of the authors in AfricaKid's book even refers to TCKs as the "privileged homeless". Although pros such as flexibility and tolerance are mentioned, they are usually overshadowed by the cons in the articles I've read.
I am very aware of the enormous implications this move has for our children. We returned to Belgium in 2004 with plans to set down some roots after 10+ years on the move. We bought a house and have done our best to integrate ourselves into Flemish society. S and B are still young enough that they have blended in seamlessly-- they are very flemish in some aspects. Of course they have already earned TCK status, but if we had been able to stay here they would at least have enjoyed some stability in their formative years.
This move worries me-- we will probably stay in Germany for 3 to 5 years, and it wouldn't surprise me if M gets another international assignment after that. S is only 6 and next year he will be attending his third school in a third country in a third language. At some point we are going to have to seriously work on building some consistency in schooling, etc.
At the moment I'm stressed and worrying, so it's easy to dwell on the negative aspects of these moves. Obviously there are positives as well: I love the fact that my kids are so keenly aware of different cultures; I'm amazed at how effortlessly they switch back and forth between English, Dutch and Flemish dialect. They are bright, interested and compassionate. And at this point they seem very happy and well-adjusted.
And as someone who spent the first 22 years of her life in the same state I'm remarkably restless. 4 international moves have really left their mark-- I find that I don't get attached to houses or neighborhoods like I used to. I love them while I'm there, but do not really miss them when we leave. I guess the moral of this part of the story is that even a stable upbringing in one spot does not guarantee that one will feel rooted to a single location in any way or will be able to relate closely to people from "home".
I'd be interested in hearing about experiences with moves and cultural assimilation! (both positive and negative!) Advice is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email!
12 March, 2006
Martha Stewart would have had a coronary...
I love going on these trips for work because my colleague and I have a knack for ending up in surreal situations, and this trip was no exception.
We arrived in Amsterdam on tuesday evening- dumped our bags at the hotel and, not wanting to stay out too late, went out searching for a local pub. The neighborhood wasn't exactly hopping, so we picked the first place that was open and which wasn't filled with Mickey Rourke types.
We walked in and our jaws dropped-- despite being smack-dab in the middle of a Protestant neighborhood this place was still decorated for carnaval. And I use the term loosely because it looked like it had been done by rogue style consultants for an elementary school lunchroom.
Orange plastic garbage bags had been flattened out and pasted on the walls; tinfoil on the ceiling; and a strange assortment of stuffed animals were suspended by wires: Teletubbies, gorrillas, mangy looking bears that looked like carnival rejects. A tattered old poster of Frank Sinatra hung at a dubious angle next to one of the prince with the queen's hair superimposed on his head.
The whole atmosphere was so overwhelming it was only possible to take it in in small increments.
The bartender was friendly and chatty, but along with the beer and nuts she also dispensed stories about her evil, dead ex-husband. She was pushing 60 but sported pink cotton candy hair and I was impressed by her savvy in handling a couple of the customers who had had a few beers too many.
At one point I was chatting with my colleague and happened to look up-- and there it was. Suspended and swinging slightly above his head hung a three foot long inflatable penis.
We arrived in Amsterdam on tuesday evening- dumped our bags at the hotel and, not wanting to stay out too late, went out searching for a local pub. The neighborhood wasn't exactly hopping, so we picked the first place that was open and which wasn't filled with Mickey Rourke types.
We walked in and our jaws dropped-- despite being smack-dab in the middle of a Protestant neighborhood this place was still decorated for carnaval. And I use the term loosely because it looked like it had been done by rogue style consultants for an elementary school lunchroom.
Orange plastic garbage bags had been flattened out and pasted on the walls; tinfoil on the ceiling; and a strange assortment of stuffed animals were suspended by wires: Teletubbies, gorrillas, mangy looking bears that looked like carnival rejects. A tattered old poster of Frank Sinatra hung at a dubious angle next to one of the prince with the queen's hair superimposed on his head.
The whole atmosphere was so overwhelming it was only possible to take it in in small increments.
The bartender was friendly and chatty, but along with the beer and nuts she also dispensed stories about her evil, dead ex-husband. She was pushing 60 but sported pink cotton candy hair and I was impressed by her savvy in handling a couple of the customers who had had a few beers too many.
At one point I was chatting with my colleague and happened to look up-- and there it was. Suspended and swinging slightly above his head hung a three foot long inflatable penis.
11 March, 2006
I'm back!
I'm back, and boy do I ever love Amsterdam! Most of the cities I have visited for this job have been exciting for their mystery and strangeness. Amsterdam was the equivalent of a fleece sweater and a big pair of fuzzy slippers!
I can't say I know the city well, but have probably been a few dozen times over the last decade. Many street corners held such nice memories: concerts, festivals, sumptuous meals. I love the architecture and the cobblestone streets! And I just love the Dutch! They are so straightforward and I really recognize a lot of myself mirrored back at me--it's a culture that really speaks to me!
Arrived home and the kids were full of enthusiasm and anecdotes. S was brandishing a black eye sustained in some sort of stunt and I swear B grew 5 centimeters just in the week I was gone!
This evening B broke a rule and punishment was swift and merciless: no dessert. When we finished dinner S got three pieces of candy, one of which he immediately passed to B! M and I smiled at each other and I actually got tears in my eyes!
We try so hard to instill a sense of compassion in our boys and every now and then we catch a small glimpse of it, like the silver flash of a fish as it flits past in sun dappled waters.
I can't say I know the city well, but have probably been a few dozen times over the last decade. Many street corners held such nice memories: concerts, festivals, sumptuous meals. I love the architecture and the cobblestone streets! And I just love the Dutch! They are so straightforward and I really recognize a lot of myself mirrored back at me--it's a culture that really speaks to me!
Arrived home and the kids were full of enthusiasm and anecdotes. S was brandishing a black eye sustained in some sort of stunt and I swear B grew 5 centimeters just in the week I was gone!
This evening B broke a rule and punishment was swift and merciless: no dessert. When we finished dinner S got three pieces of candy, one of which he immediately passed to B! M and I smiled at each other and I actually got tears in my eyes!
We try so hard to instill a sense of compassion in our boys and every now and then we catch a small glimpse of it, like the silver flash of a fish as it flits past in sun dappled waters.
07 March, 2006
Top speed
Overheard the boys boasting to each other about different things that can go very fast and B trumped them all when he held up his pinky and shouted: This finger can go 6,000 km / hour!
Am off to Amsterdam for a conference through the end of the week so I probably won't get a chance to post again until this weekend. See you then!
Am off to Amsterdam for a conference through the end of the week so I probably won't get a chance to post again until this weekend. See you then!
06 March, 2006
Brand new theory of evolution
S is fascinated with numbers lately. He is nonstop busy adding, subtracting, multiplying and even figuring out square roots. This afternoon he brought me the calculator and asked me to help him figure out how many seconds his great grandmother has been alive. (2,995,920,000!)
Then he said that St. Nikolaas is 298 years old and asked me how many seconds he's lived. (9,397,728,000)
He was genuinely impressed and then informed me that the good Saint started off life as a monkey. ???
Why? Because he's so old, and don't I remember what I'd said about people being descendants of apes?
Somewhere Darwin is rolling over in his grave to beat his head against the inside of the coffin...
Then he said that St. Nikolaas is 298 years old and asked me how many seconds he's lived. (9,397,728,000)
He was genuinely impressed and then informed me that the good Saint started off life as a monkey. ???
Why? Because he's so old, and don't I remember what I'd said about people being descendants of apes?
Somewhere Darwin is rolling over in his grave to beat his head against the inside of the coffin...
05 March, 2006
Forgetting the big picture...
Long and strange weekend. We are all in the advanced stages of cabin fever-- every now and then you'd look out the window and it was snowing buckets. Huge, surreal snowflakes coming down thick and fast. And then the next time you looked the sun would be shining. Would drop everything, pull on my coat and grab D's leash, but would be greeted by blizzard-like conditions as soon as we stepped out the door.
M threw his back out this weekend. He was playing with the kids and made a wrong move and felt something shift. It's really hurting him-- and he's no wimp, so if he actually admits that it hurts it must be pretty bad.
Yesterday he couldn't even get off the couch normally; he had to roll off and stay on his hands an knees and then climb his way up me to even stand up! It's a bit better today, but is still worrying-- and of course the timing stinks since he's supposed to drive to Stuttgart on tuesday.
So I was sitting here worrying about M, stressing about a trip I'm making for work next week and feeling just generally tense, and a piece came on the news about all the people who are starving to death due to droughts in Kenya and surrounding countries. Kind of puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?
M threw his back out this weekend. He was playing with the kids and made a wrong move and felt something shift. It's really hurting him-- and he's no wimp, so if he actually admits that it hurts it must be pretty bad.
Yesterday he couldn't even get off the couch normally; he had to roll off and stay on his hands an knees and then climb his way up me to even stand up! It's a bit better today, but is still worrying-- and of course the timing stinks since he's supposed to drive to Stuttgart on tuesday.
So I was sitting here worrying about M, stressing about a trip I'm making for work next week and feeling just generally tense, and a piece came on the news about all the people who are starving to death due to droughts in Kenya and surrounding countries. Kind of puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?
03 March, 2006
Living life on the edge
Synapses aren't all firing together this morning-- CH and I went out to the movies last night and I got to bed well past my normal 10pm curfew. It's pretty pathetic that I'm feeling this tired-- I am not aging gracefully, people!
Had fun last night, though. M is out of town and the kids are visiting their grandparents so I actually had an evening to myself! An evening in which I eschewed laundry, strength training, dishes and pointless surfing to actually go out for a night on the town! (Or at least dinner and a movie, anyway.)
We saw Brokeback Mountain, and I can't stop thinking about it, which is ironic since I initially dismissed it as an enjoyable but unsubstantial movie. I actually lay awake for about an hour after going to bed last night. My mind was restless and I just couldn't shake the overwhelming sadness of their situation; thinking about how hopeless Ennis' existence had become-- "if ya don't got nothin' ya don't need nothin'". It really got to me.
So I'm wiped out today and I've just dragged my red-headed cartoon version of myself into the office. And judging by the frightened expressions on my colleagues faces I've come to the conclusion that this is not a good look for me. Depending on how motivated I am feeling later I might go back and ask that the colorist add an auburn rinse or something to make my hair look more hair-like...
Had fun last night, though. M is out of town and the kids are visiting their grandparents so I actually had an evening to myself! An evening in which I eschewed laundry, strength training, dishes and pointless surfing to actually go out for a night on the town! (Or at least dinner and a movie, anyway.)
We saw Brokeback Mountain, and I can't stop thinking about it, which is ironic since I initially dismissed it as an enjoyable but unsubstantial movie. I actually lay awake for about an hour after going to bed last night. My mind was restless and I just couldn't shake the overwhelming sadness of their situation; thinking about how hopeless Ennis' existence had become-- "if ya don't got nothin' ya don't need nothin'". It really got to me.
So I'm wiped out today and I've just dragged my red-headed cartoon version of myself into the office. And judging by the frightened expressions on my colleagues faces I've come to the conclusion that this is not a good look for me. Depending on how motivated I am feeling later I might go back and ask that the colorist add an auburn rinse or something to make my hair look more hair-like...
02 March, 2006
Sunshine and other unnatural phenomena
The sun is out! No, no, really, I'm not joking, the sun really is shining! According to a prominent Belgian newspaper February was officially the gloomiest month in the history of recorded weather in Belgium. (And that's really saying something!)Median amount of hours of sunshine experienced during a typical February in Belgium: 72. How many did we get last month? 29! If this continues we will probably evolve into moles with sightless eyes and develop bat-like radar in order to help us get around...
So they've apparently found a replacement for me for when I leave my job. She has no webmastering background and is not even a native-English speaker. And for some reason I've suddenly started feeling proprietary about one of my projects. I doubt she'll even be able to start before I leave but I'm feeling evil about the whole thing anyway.
Isn't there a golden rule about not doing anything extreme with your hair during times of upheaval?! Why oh why haven't I heeded common sense?
Went back to get my hair cut this afternoon-- the cut is less extreme but the stylist convinced me that I should add a dash of color. And I was fine with it-- we agreed upon a color that was pretty close to the one I had last time. Which was, shall we say, unconventional, but wouldn't have stopped people in the streets or made small children cry. This one renders people speechless.
I don't know if he was just bored or if he has a secret grudge against me, but I'm now left wondering which I resemble more closely: Ronald McDonald or a red-headed Superhero.
It's certainly not mousy. OK, we could call this striking. (if we're hedging about calling it a big-ass mistake) We could call it bold. And at least it looks "done" since it's shiny. but, um, I'm starting to run out of positive aspects here. And I guess I'm just punchy because all I can do is laugh about it-- it's that bad.
Have not hit the embarrassment phase yet, but that's sure to come..... Maybe the lack of sunshine really has affected my brain. At this moment I might actually be grateful if I and everyone around me really did developed sightless mole eyes. At least until I can get back to looking like a mortal again...
28 February, 2006
Too bad this isn't an audio blog!
I was just thinking about my day and realized that the golden thread that ties everything together is the fact that each image is characterized in my thoughts by very distinct sounds.
The airport has apparently used that particular reservoir as a dumping ground for toxic waste for many years. Cancer rates within a 2km radius are exponentially high, and experts have advised people not to even touch the soil in the area due to high levels of cadmium and other heavy metals.
And as I watched the program I realized that I was slouched down on the couch with my feet up on the coffee table. peering out over my shoes. which were still covered in mud. from the hot zone behind my house...
How ironic-- here I am buying organic fruits and vegetables and even then peeling and washing them. Avoiding most meat and pre-packaged foods; Limiting any chemical products that we use around the house; And living within 1 km of a toxic waste dump.
Which leads me to the final sound for this posting: one long, bewildered sigh...
- Like the sound B's head made when it hit the tiled floor as he flipped off of the couch in the living room.
- Or the frenetic tapping sound made by hailstones as they danced across our windshield.
- The wild, joyful shrieks of dozens of children enjoying their spring break at the indoor playground we hung out at this afternoon.
- The triumphant "HA!" that S made as he finished his fourth English-language reader this evening.
- And the giggles and thuds currently emanating from my "sleeping" children upstairs...
The airport has apparently used that particular reservoir as a dumping ground for toxic waste for many years. Cancer rates within a 2km radius are exponentially high, and experts have advised people not to even touch the soil in the area due to high levels of cadmium and other heavy metals.
And as I watched the program I realized that I was slouched down on the couch with my feet up on the coffee table. peering out over my shoes. which were still covered in mud. from the hot zone behind my house...
How ironic-- here I am buying organic fruits and vegetables and even then peeling and washing them. Avoiding most meat and pre-packaged foods; Limiting any chemical products that we use around the house; And living within 1 km of a toxic waste dump.
Which leads me to the final sound for this posting: one long, bewildered sigh...
Dance fever!
I took this short film of S goofing off yesterday at the science museum. I think I've watched it six or seven times now and it's cracked me up every time! (It's 2.7 Mb, so it might take a second to get the downloading started...)
Happy multimedia day!
OK, I'm really on a roll! So far I've blogged about sounds and have uploaded a short video clip. will round it all out with a couple of pictures before I shut down for the evening...
 | "Gator" by S. (one of a series of about 700 drawings) Further proof that boys are unique creatures... |
 | Our nephew Stijn came to visit this weekend! :-) |
 | And he's as car-crazy as all the other males in this family! |
27 February, 2006
Welcome to my Blog Ness Monster!
Allow me to introduce you to my rapidly growing blogging habit: my very own Blog Ness Monster. Like the stuff of other legends she started out small, little more than a tadpole, really. But over the last few months she's developed a life of her own.
Oh she's elusive, all right. Many's the hour that I forget her existence, but then something funny will happen and I'll sense her long neck craning over my shoulder to get a better view. My kids love her! (But then again, what kid doesn't love a good allegory?!)
My husband is less charmed-- after all, Nessie is growing steadily and she does demand a lot of attention. But then again, so do the kids, so I'm thinking that if she can be reined in a bit that she'll ultimately win him over.
When I'm not indulging in the care and feeding of Nessie I'm tending to my other pet projects: my two sons, my husband and my dog. We're most frequently spotted around Brussels, although rumor has it that we will soon be exchanging this habitat for the rolling hills of southern Germany.
So that's Nessie in a nutshell. Elusive. Enigmatic. I just hope she's not dangerous! (And that she's not planning on breeding anytime soon!)
Oh she's elusive, all right. Many's the hour that I forget her existence, but then something funny will happen and I'll sense her long neck craning over my shoulder to get a better view. My kids love her! (But then again, what kid doesn't love a good allegory?!)
My husband is less charmed-- after all, Nessie is growing steadily and she does demand a lot of attention. But then again, so do the kids, so I'm thinking that if she can be reined in a bit that she'll ultimately win him over.
When I'm not indulging in the care and feeding of Nessie I'm tending to my other pet projects: my two sons, my husband and my dog. We're most frequently spotted around Brussels, although rumor has it that we will soon be exchanging this habitat for the rolling hills of southern Germany.
So that's Nessie in a nutshell. Elusive. Enigmatic. I just hope she's not dangerous! (And that she's not planning on breeding anytime soon!)
26 February, 2006
7:30 am Sunday morning...
What a difference an hour makes! B "slept in" until 7:30 this morning. Unlike his brother he still hasn't been seduced by the siren song of violent Japanese cartoons and came in for his morning cuddle.
I was feeling more rested this morning and really enjoyed the interaction-- especially once I got him chatting to divert him from his mission to keep me warm.
At one point he said something funny and I grabbed him in a big bear hug and said:
B, promise me that you'll always cuddle with me like this, even after you've grown up!
A rumble arose from M's side of the bed: Do you think he's really going to want to be in bed with us like this when he's 35?!
To which the answer was obvious: Why not?! I'm 35 and I'm looooooooooving it!
I was feeling more rested this morning and really enjoyed the interaction-- especially once I got him chatting to divert him from his mission to keep me warm.
At one point he said something funny and I grabbed him in a big bear hug and said:
B, promise me that you'll always cuddle with me like this, even after you've grown up!
A rumble arose from M's side of the bed: Do you think he's really going to want to be in bed with us like this when he's 35?!
To which the answer was obvious: Why not?! I'm 35 and I'm looooooooooving it!
25 February, 2006
6:30 am Saturday morning...
It's weekend and I was hoping to be able to get in an extra half-hour sleep this morning. It wasn't in the cards, though, because B was up, bright and early and wanted to "snuggle" under the covers. I use the term loosely because half the time that means that he wants to squeeze me in a python-like choke hold, and the rest of the time he just wants to wriggle aimlessly around under the covers.
As you know we've had our fair share of heating woes lately. Some nights our bedroom temperatures hover just above arctic tundra levels. So being the responsible father that he is, M has taught his offspring an interesting survival technique: if your bed is cold you can burrow down deeper under the blankets and warm it up with your breath.
Which is fine if you're doing this in your own bed on your lonesome. It's a different matter entirely when you do this at 6:30 am. as an act of love. to warm up your mother. who would have been content to survive the wee hours unassisted.
On top of it all B has a really sticky, gloppy cold at the moment. So that even if I could have ignored the rain-forest effect that was steadily growing under the sheets there's no way I could ignore the coughing and sneezing that was accompanying his efforts. In that closed off area he was creating his own hot zone that any terrorist would have given his right eye to bottle up and use to achieve world domination!
The cogs in his head were obviously producing more than just phlegm, though, because when he finally did pop out he made the following two observations:
1. No one has ever made a sweater that is so big that it reaches up to the clouds
2. Have you ever noticed that you can't see your own head?
I don't think I have anything to add to those two profound thoughts so I'm going to leave you with that and go drink another cup of coffee...
As you know we've had our fair share of heating woes lately. Some nights our bedroom temperatures hover just above arctic tundra levels. So being the responsible father that he is, M has taught his offspring an interesting survival technique: if your bed is cold you can burrow down deeper under the blankets and warm it up with your breath.
Which is fine if you're doing this in your own bed on your lonesome. It's a different matter entirely when you do this at 6:30 am. as an act of love. to warm up your mother. who would have been content to survive the wee hours unassisted.
On top of it all B has a really sticky, gloppy cold at the moment. So that even if I could have ignored the rain-forest effect that was steadily growing under the sheets there's no way I could ignore the coughing and sneezing that was accompanying his efforts. In that closed off area he was creating his own hot zone that any terrorist would have given his right eye to bottle up and use to achieve world domination!
The cogs in his head were obviously producing more than just phlegm, though, because when he finally did pop out he made the following two observations:
1. No one has ever made a sweater that is so big that it reaches up to the clouds
2. Have you ever noticed that you can't see your own head?
I don't think I have anything to add to those two profound thoughts so I'm going to leave you with that and go drink another cup of coffee...
24 February, 2006
Showdown at the OK corral
Am in the office and the big boss just came in. (The one who likes to steal surreptitious glances at my breasts when he thinks I'm not looking.) We're the only ones here and I've made a pot of coffee and he's such a despot-- I know he's expecting me to bring him a cup as well when I get mine.
and I'll be damned if I'm going to grant his nasty misogynist wishes!
I suppose I could just go pour myself a cup; but there's a big chance he'll ask me to bring him one too and then I'd have to seriously hurt him and would probably end up being arrested and sharing a roach-infested cell with a psychotic inmate before being paroled 6 years later, just a skitterish version of my current righteous self.
I'm thinking the passive-aggressive route is probably the best one to take this morning.
So here we both sit, smelling coffee and I'll bet he's drooling as much as I am. It's down to a battle of wills and I'm determined to win even if it means falling off my chair and lapsing into a caffeine-withdrawal coma...
and I'll be damned if I'm going to grant his nasty misogynist wishes!
I suppose I could just go pour myself a cup; but there's a big chance he'll ask me to bring him one too and then I'd have to seriously hurt him and would probably end up being arrested and sharing a roach-infested cell with a psychotic inmate before being paroled 6 years later, just a skitterish version of my current righteous self.
I'm thinking the passive-aggressive route is probably the best one to take this morning.
So here we both sit, smelling coffee and I'll bet he's drooling as much as I am. It's down to a battle of wills and I'm determined to win even if it means falling off my chair and lapsing into a caffeine-withdrawal coma...
23 February, 2006
Necessity is the mother of invention
B has hit an age in which he's discovered the power of words and his creativity is soaring. Which is a wonderful thing-- can't tell you how often I've stepped back into the shadows to eavesdrop on a mission to outer space or a doctor's appointment with a sick stuffed animal.
But basically, since his imagination is moving nonstop, so is his mouth. That kid can talk. (and talk and talk and talk and talk.) And it's not just the kind of talk that you can tune out into the background-- he peppers it with questions which he expects you to answer. correctly. with no pauses or backpedalling.
Today I received a CD from a friend and really wanted to listen to it when we got home. Put it in but couldn't hear a single refrain from the lyrics because of a never ending stream of ideas erupting from B's mouth. And he was so earnest and so sweet-- you'll be happy to know I forced myself to put back the duct tape and rolled-up socks that had somehow magically appeared at my fingertips...
And just as I was about to lose my marbles-- EUREKA! it came to me! I turned the music up as loud as it would go and started running laps from the kitchen through the livingroom into the hall and back. The boys looked a little startled for a moment but then kicked off their socks and followed suit. And then the dog followed them! So I ended up playing a half-deranged pied piper with a band of giddy followers in a single-file line. It's too bad I don't have video footage to include here!
Am happy to say that this little party trick kept them happy and occupied for a full half hour! During which time I actually got to enjoy my CD, even if I could only hear about half the lyrics due to the doppler effect...
But basically, since his imagination is moving nonstop, so is his mouth. That kid can talk. (and talk and talk and talk and talk.) And it's not just the kind of talk that you can tune out into the background-- he peppers it with questions which he expects you to answer. correctly. with no pauses or backpedalling.
Today I received a CD from a friend and really wanted to listen to it when we got home. Put it in but couldn't hear a single refrain from the lyrics because of a never ending stream of ideas erupting from B's mouth. And he was so earnest and so sweet-- you'll be happy to know I forced myself to put back the duct tape and rolled-up socks that had somehow magically appeared at my fingertips...
And just as I was about to lose my marbles-- EUREKA! it came to me! I turned the music up as loud as it would go and started running laps from the kitchen through the livingroom into the hall and back. The boys looked a little startled for a moment but then kicked off their socks and followed suit. And then the dog followed them! So I ended up playing a half-deranged pied piper with a band of giddy followers in a single-file line. It's too bad I don't have video footage to include here!
Am happy to say that this little party trick kept them happy and occupied for a full half hour! During which time I actually got to enjoy my CD, even if I could only hear about half the lyrics due to the doppler effect...
22 February, 2006
Carnaval at the nursery school
I had such a fun morning! The nursery school celebrated Carnaval today and I helped serve crepes and lemonade to 100 fairies, tigers, super heroes and mustachioed swashbucklers!And let me tell you, these kids could put it away! You would never suspect that a tiny, fragile-looking princess with a gem-studded tiara could polish off four crepes in under 5 minutes! It was astounding!
At one point I was clearing plates from two sated lions and a jester when one started giggling and whispered to the other that I am an angel. And since I happened to be standing next to a minute golden cherub I assumed that they were referring to my beatific smile and upstanding character."So you think I'm an angel?" I laughed back.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NO! I said you're English!" chortled the lion. Whoops-- engel / engels. Coulda happened to anyone!
Then B's class filed in. And I went around dutifully with a new batch of crepes and brown sugar. Was chatting with the kids-- there are only a couple I don't know so I asked their names.When I got to B I asked him what his name is. He looked a little confused but then smiled and told me. Which caused all kinds of consternation at the table:
"Don't you recognize B?! BUT YOU'RE HIS MAMA!" Teacher! TEACHER! SHE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE HER OWN SON!"
I'm not sure about the teacher, but I found it highly amusing...
20 February, 2006
The true nature of this blog revealed!
Three of the most recent search phrases that visitors to my blog have used are:
And the search term that people have used most often to enrich their lives through my ubiquitous blogging personality?
"Schnitzel recipies"!!??
I have also noted that any post in which I mention either Dooce or Suburban Bliss gets a *lot* of traffic. Do you remember Mr. Subliminal, that SNL character from the later 80's? This almost makes me want to do Mr. Subliminal experiments and write things like:
Yesterday I climbed into my (Dooce) minivan and (Suburban Bliss) drove my children to (Dooce) soccer practice... (Nudie bars Brussels!)
Just to see what happens...
- sexy German ladies photos
- nude bars Brussels
- Brussels nightlife naked
And the search term that people have used most often to enrich their lives through my ubiquitous blogging personality?
"Schnitzel recipies"!!??
I have also noted that any post in which I mention either Dooce or Suburban Bliss gets a *lot* of traffic. Do you remember Mr. Subliminal, that SNL character from the later 80's? This almost makes me want to do Mr. Subliminal experiments and write things like:
Yesterday I climbed into my (Dooce) minivan and (Suburban Bliss) drove my children to (Dooce) soccer practice... (Nudie bars Brussels!)
Just to see what happens...
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