Some News, Finally (and a Plea for Help)

It is official: I'm writing a book!

It's probably not the book you're expecting it to be. It's not the story of me and John and the twins (although that's under discussion, too). This first book is going to be a collection of free/very inexpensive stuff to do as a family, to be published by Hallmark. It will be organized to span a calendar year, with one activity per week. The activities are intended for preschool/grade-school aged kids and their grown-ups.

I'm very excited to be working on this, but also a little daunted, so here is where I shamelessly ask you all for help. Free/inexpensive entertainment seems to me to fall into the same category as quick, healthy meals. We all have our few favorites, and we seem to do the same ones over and over. My quick list of free/inexpensive activities gets me about 1/3 of the ideas I need. Who can help me out? Feel free to post ideas in comments or to e-mail them to me. If you're thinking, "Screw you, come up with your own ideas!", I hear you. I'm embarrassed to ask—I'm quite awful at asking for help. Given the book's production schedule, however, I need to use all the resources I have available to me, and you, my readers, are one of my best.

Thanks in advance. I'm going to be hunkered down writing for the next few weeks, but I'll try to come for air and post. It will be nice to be occupied for a while rather than just preoccupied. Being preoccupied takes up so much brain space.

Eleven Days

That is how long it's been since I've blogged. 

In that time:

• Work has been insane.
  
• My condo has not sold.
  
• Maddie and Riley have been sick.
  
• I've instituted a new plan to go running a few times a week before the kids get up.
  
• I've read the book Cloud Atlas.
  
• Riley has blossomed as a puzzle-doer.
  
• I've been slothful about cooking, cleaning, and most other basic life pursuits.

The truth is that my mind is totally preoccupied with Potentially Very Exciting and for Now Unbloggable situation that I mentioned a while ago, and because so much of my mental energy is expended on that, I find that I have little else to say. And since I have little time in which to say very little, I don't blog. And lo, eleven days pass and I wish I could think of something to say besides this drivel.

But for now, I can't.

What's been up with you? Hopefully something more interesting than what's been up with me. Dum dee dum dee dum . . .

Maddie's Question of the Day

At the circus, Maddie was enchanted by a performer who did a solo act on the trapeze. The woman was wearing  a sequined, glittery leotard.

"Oooh!" squealed Maddie. "Look, Mama! She swinging so high up there!"

Maddie paused. She thought. Her brow furrowed.

"Mama, why her no wearing any pants?"

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The circus was great. The kids made it all the way through the show. Highlights were the ENTIRE BUCKET OF POPCORN they ate before the show started, the aforementioned trapeze act and a performance by a group of doggies (rescued from shelters! that was made very clear!) A good time was had by all.

I was surprisingly (or not?) emotional throughout the weekend, weepy at the drop of a hat and just tired, tired, tired. And now I'm once again buried under work, starting off the weeks ten steps behind. 

More, and more exciting, news as time allows.

EDITED: Lest anyone get too excited about the "more exciting" news, I should make clear that I merely meant that any post would be more exiting than this one. I don't have any particular exciting news to share (condo hasn't sold, I haven't won the lottery, I'm not dating anyone, etc.), I'm afraid. But I do have a few (hopefully interesting) posts brewing . . .

Tomorrow is 11 April 2009

Tomorrow marks two years since John's death.

I feel like I should have something important to say, or that I should at least use this date to make note of the passage of time, take stock in how I feel, and think about how my life has changed since that day.

The truth is that I'm overwhelmed at work, stressed out about my condo, and anxious about a few things I'm waiting on that I can't talk about here. Alas, reflection will have to wait.

To honor John on the anniversary of his death, CV and I are taking the kids to the Big Apple Circus. A circus seems somehow appropriate, no? I have been so overwhelmed with work that I had neglected to mention the circus to Maddie and Riley until this morning. I don't think they really understand what a circus is, but they are very excited that we will be taking the T to get there. Ooh! A train! So fun. I predict that both kids will enjoy the animals and such, and that Riley will get a kick out of any of the physical comedy done by clowns and their cohorts. He is infinitely amused by people falling down on purpose, kicking things, etc. I am doubtful that we'll make it through the whole 2-hour show, but with enough popcorn, who knows?!

It goes without saying that I miss John. I don't miss him any more or any less on the anniversary of his death. How can you think about someone more than constantly and love someone more than infinitely?

Idol Top 8: My Take (It or Leave It)

Work is insane! Work is insane! I should totally be working! But I'm stealing five minutes to post about Idol's top 8.

Danny: I forsee a red-hot future in the contemporary Christian genre for you, my friend. Love your voice, love your glasses, probably won't love the album you are sure to make even if you don't win Idol.

Scott: Dude, that was just bad. Bad song, bad guitar, bad singing. Bad. Bottom three.

Lil: I'm glad to know the backstory on your name, but sharing that information did not help your performance. You can sing, but you need to pull yourself together. Bottom three this week for you.

Anoop: I need to learn that if I think you're going to be awful, you're great and if I think you're going to be great, you're awful. When I heard you were doing "True Colors," my first thought was, "This cannot go well." Ha! How wrong I was! I loved it, although I found your sweater way distracting.

Allison: You are amazing. I could not agree more with the judges, though, that you need to find a way to connect with the voters in order to continue on in this competition. Contestants like you make me wish America voted against people rather than for them. I don't think people would vote to get you off the show, but not enough people pick up the phone to keep you on. My fingers are crossed that you make it through to the end.

Kris: What did you sing? Was it good? I can't even remember, I find you so boring.

Matt: What did you sing? Was it good? I can't even remember, I find you so boring.

Adam: Your performance gave me chills. It was beautiful and haunting and an absolutely perfect song for you.

So I predict Lil, Scott, and . . . um, someone else for the bottom three. Don't I have an awesome crystal ball?

Kids

Riley has taken to saying, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" in response to almost anything I say.

"Ri-Man, can you go pick up that book over there?" 

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" 

"Ri-Man, we're going to have mac'n'cheese for dinner!"

 "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" 

Sometimes I am kidding him. Sometimes not. It's always hilarious when he says it, though.

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Maddie, Riley, and N are all at the age where they think if they close their eyes, you can't see them.

We went out for dinner and ice cream at a local soda fountain on Saturday evening. When we were getting ready to leave, I was busy putting Riley's coat on, with my back turned to Maddie. CV reported to me that Maddie reached out her hand to eat some leftover rainbow sprinkles straight from the bowl that the waiter had brought us, something I'd admonished her a couple of times not to do while we enjoyed dessert. Evidently, she reached her hand out, thought about it, then pulled it back. Then she closed her eyes, you know, so no one would see her, reached out, and took a handful of sprinkles.

Smarty-pants.

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We took all three kids to the grocery store on Saturday evening. I had Maddie and Riley with me as we headed down the yogurt aisle. I often buy the kids these DanActive yogurts; they are expensive, but a good serving size and M&R love drinking out of the little bottles. "Blueberry or pomegranate?" I offered as we stood in front of the display. "I WANT POMEGRANATE," thundered Riley, who is not really capable of speaking in a voice below a shout. "POMEGRANATE! THAT'S A POMEGRANATE YOGURT? I DON'T SEE THE POMEGRANATE! IT IN THE BOTTLE? I LOVE POMEGRANATE!" I really shouldn't complain about my kids' eating habits if they are so well-versed in the joys of pomegranate.

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When I got to daycare one day last week, Maddie and Riley were playing outside. Ruth, M&R's daycare provider, reported that Riley had spent the whole afternoon running to the top of the hill in the backyard, then rolling down to the bottom. His hair was full of leaf bits and cut grass, and he had the world's biggest grin on his face. I love spring and summer.

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Over the weekend, Maddie, Riley, and N built a "crocodile" out of some Lego-like toys we have at the house. They put it in the hallway, then went back to the playroom to get gussied up and ready to go "tease the crocodile." All three kids packed expedition bags full of toy tools, play food, and other sundry items, and they all wore various crocodile adventure outfits. Maddie's outfit? Pink corduroy pants, a striped shirt, her Ariel swimsuit (complete with tutu) over the top of her clothes, princess mules with feathers, and a colonial Williamsburg bonnet. She was a sight to behold.

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We had a lovely weekend filled with walks, Play-Doh, a trip to a children's museum, dinner out, cooking, Sesame Street, the park, stickers, and stories. It was just the kind of weekend I'd been craving. We were busy, but in a take-it-as-it-comes kind of way, not an overly-scheduled, preplanned way. I did have to do a bunch of work (blargh), but only when kids were sleeping. I can't say that I feel well rested, but I feel content. Now I'm just hoping for good news from my realtor. Any day now . . . I did agree to drop the price by $10K. Any minute now, the phone could ring . . .

Yawn.

Something happened to me over the past few weeks. I feel like all the interesting just got sucked right out of me. I'm not sure why. I'm not unhappy. I've done many fun things and enjoyed them. Maddie and Riley have been great—hilarious and generally well behaved. Sure, work is a drag, the condo hasn't sold, and I'm all kinds of behind on all kinds of projects, but all that's the norm.

In any case, my lack of interesting is the reason for my lack of posts. The Lack of Interesting Phenomenon (LOIP) began right around the time that Jillian Michaels started trying to kill me. Perhaps there is a correlation there. I have to say, over the past couple of weeks, I've done the 30-Day Shred most nights, and I even tried Level 2 (of 3) for the first time yesterday. I give the workout two thumbs up, although I was so sore the first two nights I did it that I had trouble sleeping because my aching muscles were keeping me awake. (By night three, it occurred to me that I could take Tylenol before bed, but by then, I was on the mend.) Anyway, this in and of itself is not interesting, but it's what I've been doing with my time.

In other News of the Not Interesting, my moms of twins club had its semi-annual tag sale this past weekend. I love this sale. This was the fourth or fifth sale that I've worked. It's a big commitment to price and tag all of the stuff you want to sell, lug it to the sale location, help set up the ngiht before, then work the whole day of the sale. It's worth it, though, on so many levels. For one, it's a great social outlet. On setup night and the day of the sale, I got to see lots of friends from the club who I otherwise rarely get to see in person. I also get to enjoy social time while working the day of the sale since my usual job is cashier. I love to see what people buy and have the inside line on how much (or little) of my stuff is selling. Best of all, though, is that sellers get to shop before the general public. Not only do we get first pick of the stuff, but we don't have to deal with the huge crowds; more than 700 people attended this past weekend's event. I had scoped out two little Maddie and Riley sized bikes with training wheels during setup and figured they'd be great birthday gifts. Unfortunately, I was aced out and someone beat me to them. Ah, well. C'est la vie, and I found plenty of other good stuff: floor puzzles, a few items of clothing, and a couple of Pack'n'Plays for Maddie and Riley's daycare, and bike helmets which the kids like so much I almost don't think we need the bikes to go with them.

All of this is leading up to something that is sure to bring more Interesting back to my life: asking the good people of the Internet for advice. Getting advice from the Internet is always Interesting, right? Maddie and Riley will be three in June. They have tricycles, which they are able to ride with varying degrees of skill; Maddie is pretty proficient, and Riley is proficient if proficient is defined by "very good at going in reverse, but totally unable to go forward." I heard from a few moms at the yard sale that bicycles are acutally easier for some kids than tricycles because of the position of the pedals, and between that and the fact that Maddie and Riley are OBSESSED wtih bikes, I think I (and by I, I mean their grandparents) would like to get them two-wheelers for their birthday. (We're finally almost to the questions.) Here's what I want to know (and yes, I know a bike shop could tell me all this , but that would not be nearly as Interesting as asking my good readers):

1. I've seen Dora-branded toddler bikes at Target and I know I could get a "real" bike at a bike shop. What are people's opinions on the quality/price break? I don't want to spend a million dollars since they will likely not use these bikes for more than a season or two before needing bigger ones, but I (a) want them to be safe and (b) don't want something that's just going to be a pile of loose screws and missing parts in a week. Brand recommendations? Price points?

2. What about balance bikes like the Skuut? Anyone have experience with those? The concept seems great and they are billed as being good for ages 2–5, so in theory Maddie and Riley could get two years of good use out of them and then be ready for a "real" bike. But are the balance bikes everything they claim to be?

Input appreciated! Make my life Interesting again!

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I have been watching Idol this season and have been meaning to do weekly updates as I did last season, but social obligations have kept me from being a super-regular watcher and work obligations and LOIP have kept me from being a super-regular blogger. For what it's worth, though, here are my thoughts on the Top 9:

Megan Joy: I'M SO GLAD YOU GOT VOTED OFF. Your crazy dancing was driving me nuts, and I think you might be insane. Beautiful, but insane.

Danny: I love you, Danny Gokey. That is all.

Adam: You, sir, can sing. That is all.

Lil Rounds: You have not hit your stride. I'm not sure if it's poor song choice or nerves or what, but I really hope you break out of whatever shell it is that's surrounding you and blow us all away one of these weeks soon or I fear we'll be saying goodbye to you.

Kris and Matt: You are both boring to me. That is all.

Allison: Sixteen? Really? Um, wow. I don't think you have the fan base to win, but you are amazing and I hope this experience ramps up your self-confidence, which is the only thing I think you lack.

Anoop: I don't think you're the best singer, but I love me a geeky guy, ergo, I love you. That is all.

Scott: You remind me of That Guy Everyone Knew in College, the one who could sit down at the piano in the dorm lounge and play old Billy Joel with great skill and charm and about whom everyone felt fondly. You're talented, and I think you're one of the smartest contestants Idol has ever seen. But I'm not convinced you're one of the best.

Who are the rest of you loving this season? Hating? Who do you think is going to go all the way?