-image-Doing the Running Girl

July 31, 2008 | blogger birthday bonanza!,Jojo,Me,The Nugget

Cuz it’s my birthday. No really, I didn’t do the Running Man, I did more of a two thumbs pointing at me while dorkin’ out my legs. When did I do this? Yesterday, when the UPS guy brought my second bouquet of flowers! Today, a third bouquet is arriving, courtesy of The Nugget (the first two were from Jojo and Mr. Squirrel).

They’re gorgeous, btw, but the real point? I danced in front of the UPS guy, and he loved it. AND WHO WOULDN’T?

So it’s my birthday. The Nugget has already gifted me several hours of sleeplessness, one outfit change for me, one outfit change for him and loads of adorable smiles and coos.

Jojo? Ohhh my dream boy. He awoke in a great mood after getting to bed very late after attending his first minor league baseball game with daddy.

We were in mid-dressing when he decided to grab his gift for me and head downstairs. My little naked Jojo sang to me (part of) the birthday song and gave me my new Monster Truck (the one I always get stuck playing with has a bent axle…very annoying, let me tell you) while traversing the steps to our first floor. And to prove that he is my child, he excitedly told me “I bought this for you at Target!” Ahhh my love.

Now I’m alone at home, as the boys are (still) transitioning to daycare. I have a load to do! More cleaning out of the closets (note: curses to JEN for suggesting I take some clothes to a consignment shop…now I’m re-organizing AGAIN…but kisses to you if I get some cash)! More trips to Target and Other Stores! More Laundry! But hey, I get to do it all without crying children.

Then, lunch with Mr. Squirrel, more errands and perhaps even a (cue the choir) NAP!!!!

I already miss my chitlins, so I may be picking their squeezable biscuits up early before Family Dinner and PRESENTS. Not that I’m excited. Except that I am and YES, Smitty, I heart the adorable flip-flops you sent me and am already wearing them and who wants to stake claim on the awesome little trifecta of pendants sent to me from an adorable Etsy shop? There was no note…my many thanks and oooohs and ahhhhs are up for grabs! Act now (and really, I love the pendants and am wearing the squirrel one!).

Ok, I love you all. Thanks for making the past couple of years extra awesome. I cannot frigggginnnnggg believe I’m THIRTY SIX. Yes, AlyndaBear, you may be MUCH younger than me, but at least I don’t have a crazy cat nipping at my toes. Seriously?

-image-Give me the strength

July 30, 2008 | Me,random randomness

Both boys are asleep (hallelujah), and I’m trying to get started on purging my closet.

I know the advice: throw out anything you haven’t worn in a year, but I don’t think that counts if you were pregnant during the past year, so let’s say 2 years… but then, how can I throw away anything of good quality — like (what I consider good quality may not be up to your standards, but you can bend over and bite me, natch) Banana and J. Crew.

My big ol’ mams haven’t fit inside most of my button downs in YEARS…do I wait for them to deflate post-breastfeeding in hopes that I eventually take to ironing them or do I toss them to charity? They’re beautiful and clean and hardly have been worn since I hate ironing and even I realize they look trashy all wrinkled. UGH. I need to just give them away, right?

Why is it sooo difficult for me? I have piles set aside for my mom and Isabel. Does Isabel want more of my clothes? Sending her clothes became a habit I don’t remember when…probably my last purge. She doesn’t need my clothes. Oh, I think it was because her summer clothes were stored in the apartment basement before they moved to the fancy house.

I’m just putting off the inevitable. I somehow think that if my mom or Isabel take my clothes, they’re still a part of me. For some reason one of the most difficult pieces to part with is a red and blue paisley GAP halter top. Oh yes, you read that correct. I’ve owned it for probably 4 years and have yet to wear it. But I swear, it’s adorable and would look great under a red or light blue cardigan…if I had one.

I need to say good-bye to it, don’t I? Help me.

-image-All to myself

July 29, 2008 | Jojo,random randomness,The Nugget,The Office

Today The Nugget and Jojo start daycare, which they will attend three days a week. I start back at work next week, which irks to me to no end only because we were suppose to be in the new building by now. We’re not, or I should say, they’re not, and now I have to help with the move.

Moving sucks. Who likes moving? People who own profitable moving companies, that’s who. No one else.

So what to do with myself for three full childfree days? I had plans. Great plans. I had a mental POA which went to shit right about the time I crawled back into bed after dropping the kids off at daycare. Then I woke up around 11:15 and realized I needed to pump, eat and inhale caffeine before this headache becomes a migraine. This headache…the one I still have.

Off to McDonald’s, cuz I’m classy like that.

I don’t know what else happened besides finding out who got eliminated on The Mole last night, but it’s 1:30 and sweet baby J, where does the time go? I need to paint the back porch. I’m going to head downstairs to get the paint supplies as soon as I start a new game (PathWords…care to play?) with my friend Stef, since Scrabulous was so rudely ripped from our worlds on Facebook.

Now really, I’m just going to show you some more of my cuties, then I really really I’m not lying this time need to go splash some paint on the back porch before Mr. Squirrel whacks me over the head with my Great Big Awesome Ideas and tells me “I told you not to start painting the back porch when you have a 1 week old and we are already redoing the basement.”

Oh and turtle poop! I know you can’t wait to see this (perhaps they are tortoises? I don’t want to misname the Great Pooper…):

Did I lie? That’s some serious excrement.

I’m in love with this kid and his ball-carrying prowess.

Oh I think I just lactated.

Please, if you’d do me the great favor of either leaving me alone to paint or hightailing it over here to help me paint, because I’m really not that focused or good at staying within the lines. I could use some help. Come on! I’ll let you borrow a smock (note to self: head to Target NOW and buy smocks.). Do you think they have smocks at Target?

I really don’t want to paint. Can anyone tell? I’ll photodocumentit (it’s a verb now) for you.

-image-Hi! I suck.

July 28, 2008 | Jojo,The Nugget,vacation

I haven’t felt like blogging or cleaning or … well, that’s about it, so my house is a mess and I haven’t told you things like the Nugget weighs as much as the typical 6 month old, Jojo wants popsicles for breakfast because he “wants to want them because I like them,” and we drove tens of thousands of hours to Michigan to visit family. BUT we’re back.

Woulda been nice to warn you, eh? I mean, I didn’t bring my laptop.

Oh wait, I did. My parents don’t have internet access, then, right?

Oh well, not exactly.

To prevent ugly queueing fights at the computer, during our last visit, my husband bought and installed one of those wireless thingys, so we can all read up on the Mets blog together. Except that only my husband does that (like all damn day, people. What can there be to say when they’re taking a couple days between games? Oh, just ask Mr. Squirrel.).

I just didn’t feeeel like blogging (in Jojo’s words “I not want to because I not waaaant toooo.”). I was too busy snapping pictures and downloading them to my laptop. Pictures like THIS:

Jojo and the Attack of the Pygmy Goats

The Nugget, Living Large

We’re not sure what he was doing during his nap to get that hair…

The Nugget Pinning Down Poppa

I would post more…stories of trips to two zoos, the beach, museums and friends, but I can hear a certain toddler toddling about upstairs wellll after bedtime. Must go and corral the youngin. Also? Tomorrow the boys start daycare, so I have 4,142 things to remember to bring with them.

What will mommy do during daycare tomorrow? Not start work — that’s next week. I plan on painting the back porch, cleaning up the yard and eating doughnuts. I may even post a picture of turtle poop. You think I kid.

-image-I’ve Been Tagged

July 8, 2008 | Me

Thankfully I don’t have to wear a tracking collar…just finish this simple book meme passed along by Julie at Abbily Ever After!

Here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the next three sentences
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you

Here is what you’ll find on page 123 in the book that is closest to my lounging position on the couch…hold on…I have to stretch to reach the shelf:

“Same way I brought the cow in.”
“Ah, but you didn’t have to get the cow past me and these people.”
Gwenda’s heart leaped with hope.

These lines come from Ken Follett’s World Without End, which he wrote 18 years after (and as a sequel to) one of my favorite books, Pillars of the Earth.

If you haven’t read Pillars of the Earth, I heartily suggest you do. I still remember where I was when I read the book 17 years ago. More importantly, I remember how I felt, and how I passed the book on (and still do). It’s one of those few books that I buy when I see a copy in a used bookstore, because I know I will read it again (all 976 amazing pages) or give it to the next person I hear hasn’t read it yet. The sequel itself, having been eagerly awaited for almost 2 decades, didn’t elicit the same awe as Pillars, but I still enjoyed it. Not that I intended this post to be a book review, but hey, I always like to find new authors or books, so maybe one of you will, too!

I’m going to pull a Jojo and break the rules… If you want to play, please consider yourself tagged!

-image-Oh I Whipped It Real Good

July 7, 2008 | Whip It Up Challenge

So I signed up for the Whip It Up Challenge! Those of you who have been to my neglected, messy house or know about my habitual inability to finish a project must be scratching your heads…whyever would Stacy sign up to do anything requiring any amount of … um, follow through?

But hey, maybe you’re just being a tad too hard on poor Stacy. I think you owe her an apology. And maybe a burrito.

Yeah, you do. Because you know what, bitches? I (yes, I’m going back to the first person) already kicked this week’s pasta challenge’s ass!

Instead of scouring the internet, I turned to one of my many neglected cookbooks (well, in this case a magazine): Everyday Food, a Martha Stewart Living publication. You’ve probably seen them in the checkout aisle at the grocery store and gotten sucked into their appealing covers…or is that just me?

Anyhow, I found this fabulously easy recipe tucked away in the section on zesters. Yes, I own a zester. I like to zest. I find it relaxing. Zesting…it’s the new yoga.

I was searching for a quick, easy and light pasta recipe for the hot summer nights we’ve been experiencing and this one looked to fit my requirements:

Spaghettini with lemon zest and chives

I don’t have a fancy camera with fancy lighting, so here’s what it will really look like when not enhanced with fancy schmancy I hate you and your fancy cameras bitter much, Stacy?:

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients
1 pound spaghettini, or thin spaghetti
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 stick butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup ricotta salata cheese, or Parmesan, coarsely grated (we used ricotta)
2 tablespoons fresh chives, or scallion greens, thinly chopped (chives for us)
Salt and pepper

Directions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook 1 pound of spaghettini, or thin spaghetti, until al dente according to package instructions.
- Grate the zest of 1 lemon into a large pasta bowl. Juice the lemon, and add juice to the bowl. Stir in 1 stick butter, cut into small pieces, and 1 cup coarsely grated ricotta salata cheese or Parmesan.
- Add drained pasta to lemon sauce, and sprinkle in 2 tablespoons thinly chopped fresh chives or scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper. Toss well, and serve.

This was one of the easiest recipes I found — no unusual ingredients or wacky kitchen utensils needed! Everyone, even Jojo (2.5 years old), loved the dish! We served it with marinated chicken, broccolini (I think…now I can’t remember), and crusty french bread. I’m not sure it could stand on its own as a main course, especially for carnivores, but it was delicious, light and definitely summery! We plan on making this dish throughout the summer…or as long as the chives last.

Special oven-mitted high five to my friend Alison for picking the chives and taking a risk on my cooking:

See ya’ll back next week for the special CHEESE recipe…this one could be tough, as a certain husband of mine doesn’t like cold cheese (only melted cheese)…and it’s so bloody hot. But I’m up for the challenge!

-image-And Friday is Garbage Day.

bitterness,the homestead

Note to husband and self: always, without fail, double, NAY, TRIPLE bag dead animals that are thrown away in the garbage can.

-image-Where Squirrels Come to Die

July 6, 2008 | the homestead

Ok seriously. What’s with the squirrel carcasses in our yard as of late? This evening, I looked out the front window and told my husband (I may, considering the high mortality rate of squirrels on our property, stop refering to him as Mr. Squirrel) that something dead lay on our rock wall. Once again, the swarming flies alerted me to its…deadness. Deadidity. You know.

I thought it was a rabbit at first, but then again, I didn’t venture near, as my husband is the self-proclaimed Carcass Hunter.

From my safe haven behind maggot & stench resistant brick & mortar, I did see a rather rigid tail. I couldn’t take any more, so I waited for the full carcass report from my husband. Oh yes, definitely a squirrel…a squirrel with no outward signs of injury.

Maybe it died of old age. Maybe it’s the season they die. Maybe it fell out of our tree.

All possible scenarios, dear husband… hmmm…but two in six days? Really? I think something more sinister is afoot. Is one of our seemingly benign neighbors poisoning squirrels? Could it be the start of a pandemic squirrel flu?

I don’t know. It’s a mystery. Let’s hope it’s just a fluke and squirrels aren’t coming here to die. No offense, squirrels. But one of these days, Jojo’s going to find you before I do and there’s not enough handsoap in the world.

-image-Settle something for us.

Uncategorized

Are these more of a dinner or breakfast food item? Thank you.

-image-Happy 4th!

July 4, 2008 | a girl's gotta shop,holidays

It is a perfect day here in Upstate New York…for the time being. I’m sure by the time we’re set to meet our friends at the park and then burger joint for dinner, the dark clouds will roll in, the wind will pick up and hail will rain down on my newly cleaned loser cruiser.

Why is it, then, that all I want to do (before we’re due to grill) is drive an hour away to the outlet mall? Here’s some reasoning pinging around in my noggin:

1. it’s set in the picturesque Berkshires
2. so really, it’s a nature drive
3. so Mr. Squirrel and Jojo could play on the grassy areas while mommy tries on clothes!
4. Mr. Squirrel would hatehatehate that
4. valuable savings for the holiday! celebrate America! help support the economy!
5. I’m going back to work in less than a month…need new work clothes.
6. Do I really? Or do I just need to exercise a bit to fit into my old work clothes? Hmm that’s no fun.
6. The Nugget needs to see Massachussets!
7. Gas. Oh shit. I forgot about the gas prices.

FINE. I guess we’ll stick around the homestead and spray each other with the hose.

**UPDATE** We compromised and hit the big mall, scoring some sweet deals on GAP apparel for the chitlins (in next years sizes) and… a brand spankin’ new REFRIGERATOR! GOOD BYE STINKBOX…YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED!!