All is not lost

So right now, our bedroom, bathroom and closet as well as the hallway are pretty much .... disheveled and torn apart. The hallway had the popcorn ceiling scraped off and is waiting for me to paint it. The bathroom is getting a new look with tile and is .... well .... waiting to be finished (don't get me started on that). The bedroom is going to be getting a new cork floor as soon as the person finishes the bathroom (again, sigh). The closet is being redone as well with a new storage by another person (who is not as bad as the bathroom/bedroom person). All the coats and shoes from the hallway are either laying on the table or sitting the foyer. Our clothes are half in the basement closet and half in the red room. We're camping out in the spare room until things are done. There is a fine layer of dust on most of the furniture, picture frames and anything else that is in the area. And I believe Thomas and I soon will be having separate nervous breakdowns for various reasons.

But ... one of our projects actually got finished ON TIME and looks great; the fire pit.

Two years (?) ago or maybe only one year - have NO idea since my short-term memory is completely shot - the big kids gave me for my birthday or Mother's Day (again, have no clue) a wonderful metal fire pit. I LOVE burning stuff and having bonfires. It can be so peaceful. Honestly, one of the best presents I've ever received.

However, the Northwest rain and hot hot fires can play havoc with a metal fire pit. This one has seen it's last days, I'm afraid.

Javier to the rescue! Thomas found this wonderful guy on craigslist who came out and created a lovely place for us to sit and have a fire. AND it was finished on time, with no excuses.

S'mores are calling to me!

And another one bites the dust ..........

At least this time, I know exactly who it is.

Living on a "farm" with about 82 or so animals, one cannot help that a few of those animals will pass on to their next life at least one a year, sometimes more.

So it is with "Lovely" a beautiful cream/red bar Birmingham Roller pigeon. This pigeon came with us from St. George, traveling in an open trailer in a large dog crate and lived in that trailer in Long Beach, Washington, for almost 9 months until after we moved here, and was finally moved into the now-standing pigeon/chicken coop. That ALONE should have killed this bird. It would have killed me, but these are stoic pigeons.

His leg band read 2004, which would put him at seven years old. Pigeons are typically not long living creatures, with a life span of about six to eight years. So he had a good life, a great "wife" (Crocodile who died four years ago), and lived out the rest of his days eating, drinking and pooping. What more can one ask for, eh?

He stayed in the barn freezer until Felix could come home to positively identify him and then get him ready for burial. We will bury him in the Zen garden with our other gone-to-animal heaven animals. (BTW; Owen, Ivy and I FINALLY got Elliott's headstone finished - just needs to cure a few more days then put into place - only three more to make)
I would like to say THANKS to Bob and Kathi (Ang's in-laws) for giving us that great freezer. Not only has it held all our salmon from fishing, but also Sam the Cat, Frenchy the Leghorn and now Lovely the Pigeon (all triple-bagged OF COURSE!!!) until I could find 30 minutes to dig a proper grave. I'm sure it's not what was supposed to be used for but you gotta do what you gotta do, eh?

My Neil Diamond Fix for the Spring.

This is not posted for anyone else but me and all those who love and adore Neil Diamond. He closed out the show with his wonderful humility and wit and talent.

He is untouchable.



Thank you Neil for being there when I was sad, happy, lost, giddy, confused, exuberant, or just needing a spiritual lift.

Have bike, will travel

Finally. A decent day. Not just a decent day ......... but a perfectly, lovely, sunny, warm, bright, heavenly day. Thanks be to Mother Nature and all that is holy.

I'm perfectly willing to live in a place which is dominated by rain; I RARELY complain in the fall or winter. I expect rain. I'd MUCH rather have that than snow or sub-freezing temps.

However, by the middle of May I am kind of ready for a little bit of sun. Throw me a bone, a sliver of sunlight. And Thursday was that day.

Thursday is also the day I watch Owen and Ivy and I was really looking forward to NOT sitting in the house again. I love being outside when it's nice.

Anyway, since Owen is finished with school by noon, I was definitely planning to walk to his school to pick him up. BUT I wasn't too thrilled about pushing a double-stroller with a almost two year old (actually, she weighs as much as a feather) and a five year old. Been there, done that, don't really want to do that again.

My brain was thinking all Wednesday - how to get around the whole double-stroller thing. Then, I got it: lash his bike onto my stroller, push Ivy and the bike to the school then HE can ride the bike back home.

This was a great idea for several reasons: first is the obvious - no massive stroller but second, Owen LOVES to ride his bike. He's so good at it at this age that it would be a crime to not let him ride a mile home (that's how far it is to the school). And of course third, I got my two mile walk in for the day.

Time to leave. I have my map (for the life of me, even though Jen has given me several maps and directions SEVERAL times, there is no possible way I can remember how to maneuver my way through the drunken sailor streets of Pioneer Trails), his helmet, extra water, sunglasses (yeah for the sun to wear my sunglasses!!!), my stroller, Ivy of course, and Owen's bike, bungee corded to the back. I was ready.

No stroller ride with a bike lashed to the back is complete without a purse.

It wasn't all rainbows and ponies - there was a couple of times things went awry: the map flew out of my hands, I let go of the stroller and it started to tip backwards and Ivy thought that was great! I caught in time and reminded myself it was going to be top-heavy. I ran into garbage cans on the sidewalk and knocked them into the street (what the h*** are garbage cans doing on a sidewalk anyway??). I tripped twice because I couldn't see the sidewalk between the tires of the bike, but all in all it was actually a nice walk. All I could think about was how excited Owen would be to see his bike.

Pulled up to Owen's school and ................. total defeat. Owen looked at his bike and said, "Kiki, I am WAY too tired to ride a bike home. You didn't bring your truck?"

Sad for me.

Then I said, "Well, why don't we walk part way across the busy street and then see how you feel once we get to the neighborhood? Sometimes when you're too tired to walk, it's easier to ride a bike."

He was willing to try what I suggested and off we went. Got across the busy street (and WHY is there NO crosswalk on that intersection?? Un-freaking-believable) and into the nice, calm neighborhood. Owen said he had to drink something first and then he got geared up for the ride.

Yeah! Sigh of relief. It worked. We all had a great walk, got our Vitamin D allotment and enjoyed a lovely day outside.

Talking Turkey with Thomas

I have about .... I don't know ... at least six copies of this picture. Not of this exact picture but of Thomas noshing on a GIANT smoked turkey leg.

We've been to countless fairs and festivals and none of them are complete without Thomas buying a smoked turkey leg.

However, no giant turkey leg eating episode is complete without him trying to pass that turkey leg on to someone else or at least telling everyone to taste it with him. There are many of us who obliged.

He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he helps me to be better than I thought I could be, he makes me frustrated, he makes me happy, he makes me proud the way he helps others, he makes me nervous with his crazy ideas. He makes my life very interesting. He.

My life as a sitcom

I saved a different blog for the weird, funny, and/or outrageous stories of this trip. How fun can a trip be without funny stories?

Arriving in LA, we drove to Anaheim to find our hotel which, according to the brochure, was located .25 miles from Disneyland. This was a benefit in two ways: first close to the hotel so we could get back and pick up Felix from the airport when she flew in Saturday night and second, not having to pay for parking since we were in walking distance.

Get up fairly early Saturday morning - as I mentioned, the park was closing at 5 for the premiere but to make up for that faux pas, it was to open at 7 am. That was a tad early for us, since we dragged in at 10:30 so we opted out of the early morning rides. We did get there around 9 and let me tell you, that was no .25 miles. We walk 2.5 miles every other morning and it was closer to 1.5 miles than .25 miles. They were blowing smoke up our butts.

After the park closed and people were running over to California Adventure (it was staying open an hour later to accommodate the early closing of Disneyland), we needed to head back to the hotel. Walking 1.5 miles after you've been walking all over the park all day is next to impossible. I could feel my hip sockets seizing up. Robee was barely lifting his feet. Thomas, however, was walking faster than I've ever seen him walk. He was on a mission to get back to the hotel and he was going to get there as fast as possible.

Robee opted to stay at the hotel rather than come with us to pick up Felix. I told him to lock the doors and not answer if anyone knocked or at least check the peephole and to keep his phone and close by. I'm just a tad paranoid leaving children in hotels ... alone ... in a new city. Even if it is Disneyland.

We pick up Felix (20 minute ride) and head back. Go up to the room and use the key card to open the door. Red light. Slide it in again. Red light. Again. Again, angry red light. Not working. So Thomas goes to the office, gets a new card. Back again. Slide the card. Red light. WHAT?? How can this be? Are we putting it in wrong? Check it. Slide again. Red light. I go this time since Thomas' have seized up now.

They've closed the office but there is a night person through a 3" thick window. I tell her that our card still isn't working. She makes sure I'm putting in the right way. Get a new one. Jog - painfully - back up ... by the way, on the third floor - to our room. Try the card. RED LIGHT. Arrrrrrgh. What the h***??? I jog BACK down to the office. She finally thinks we're complete idiots and comes to the room with me. SHE puts the card in. HA! "Red light for you too," I think.

I should mention too that I can see Robee sound asleep in bed through a small opening in the curtains. Sound. Like a coma. We knock on the door. Nope. Knock louder. Louder. Pound. Knock on the window. Nothing. He doesn't stir. Finally the guy next door comes screaming out of his room to tell us to shut up and quit pounding on the door.

Back to the woman. She gets a red light too. Then she says, "Is the security lock on?" Oh dear. I do believe that was me who told him to lock and double lock the door. Apparently, when the security lock is locked from the inside, no card can open the door. Now that I think about this logic, it seems like this may be a bad idea. And why doesn't she have a special hotel manager card that no one else has in case of emergency?

But I wasn't thinking straight because we were locked out of our room, with a soundly sleeping kid in bed, in a hotel in Disneyland that was completely booked solid.

Our next attempt was to call the hotel room and try to wake him that way. Called and called and called. Over and over and over. He never heard it ring. I tried his cell phone. Nothing.

Thomas was tired and freaking out saying that we were going to have to sleep in the rental car and Felix was looking like she wished she had stayed in Washington. I told them we were not staying in the car while he was in there alone. I thought about the window. It was a long shot but ... I pulled off the screen and pushed on the window and BAM!! It slid open! Albeit only two feet open but enough I could put my head in and shout to Robee. Which I did. Repeatedly. And he never woke. Luckily, Felix is not built like me and she slithered through the window and got us in. I replaced the screen, good as new. I leaned over Robee, who was still slumbering, and told him we were home. He barely opened his eyes and said "okay" and went back to sleep.

Robee never knew what happened. He didn't remember a thing.

Some may say "Wow! That sounds super dangerous that that window was unlocked and can be opened like that." Yeah, probably. But I figured by the Grace of God it was unlocked so we were able to get back into our room, so I wasn't going to question the safety at that moment. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

More to come. The ride home.

Quickest Trip ever

We just (and I do mean just) got back from a whirlwind trip to Disneyland & SeaWorld.
The kids had testing (Mom's Against MSP's - I'm a member) and according to their schedule, couldn't go the six days that the other family could. I find out after we book air that Fridays and Mondays are free days, which is irritating, but what to do.

And then Felix had a tournament for her Robotics Team that same weekend and she didn't want to let her team down so opted to stay for Saturday then fly out that night and join us for SeaWorld on Sunday (we hit Disneyland on Saturday).

After much discussion, we decided to get her a ticket, make a quick early morning trip to Disneyland again so she could ride some rides with Robee and not miss the day too much. Then we high tailed it out to SeaWorld to meet up with the rest of the family.

It was a great time, albeit quick.






It looks like we brought our rain with us, although we were hoping for a little sun, since we haven't seen it for quite some time. There were some nice breaks in the clouds and sure enough, we got a little burned. Didn't see that one coming! That's not why Thomas has that poncho on; he's getting prepared to ride the Shipwreck Falls, a ride at SeaWorld and one can find themselves a little wet afterwards!





I live by them and I still love them. Orcas.

The Big O and I. We sat together during the Orca show. He shared his chillo (churro) with me.

Waiting for the Jungle Cruise to begin.

So here's the strangest part of this story (actually, there are SO many stories to tell about this trip): Disneyland closed early on Saturday because of the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" (which better be better than the third one; I tried to poke out my eyes during the movie just to save myself the torture of having to watch it) and they were having a big party and celebration there at 5 o'clock.

We kind of hung around there, waiting to see what was going to happen (I was actually filling out a lost and found report since my earring decided to fall out of my ear on Indiana Jones - ugh) and then people started arriving for this premiere. We were walking back from the office and then stopped to watch. I saw some famous kids from Disney and Martin Short walked by. I couldn't get my camera out fast enough for him.

Harry Hamblin and his wife Lisa Rinna (lips seem to be downsized) walked by.

Then the monkey from POC came with his/her handler. Pretty cute little animal.

And then finally the screaming crowds were graced with none other than Capt. Sparrow himself, Johnny Depp.

He's in the grey fedora. He looked totally sheepish and almost embarrassed by the crowd's reaction to him. Take a look at the twitterpatted chick next to him. She's near fainting. And that was as good a pic as I could get. People were crowding and pushing and jumping up and down. Madhouse. I never got to see Penelope Cruz or Geofforey Rush (who I was really wanting to see) because we decided to get out of the crush and get an ice cream since no one was in any stores.

So, not a bad trip all in all. Next blog will be the stories. I can't write anymore. Too pooped.

One of those days

See my little girl? Although I have to admit, she's not so little anymore. She's only about 1/2 inch from the top of my head (5'8") and still tries to sit in my lap even though my legs lose circulation in 5.3 seconds; she's like holding a giant, she's so tall.

She looks lovely in this photo from one of her Keynotes concerts. I think this is when she sang a solo from Queen, "We Will Rock U" and did a wonderful job of course.

She looks poised, regal almost. Like a dancer or young princess. Except that she's fooling you. I truly believe she will kill me before she's 18.

I volunteered to be a chaperon for a band concert/field trip to Puyallup (pronounced pew-all-up) last weekend. First they went to a middle school and to learn and play with several different band teachers. While she's playing at the middle school, I finally arrive to hear the last of the songs from the guest teacher.

She sees me and when they're excused, she comes running up to me to hug me (which is lovely still that she will hug her mum) .... and smacks her alto clarinet into my mouth, chipping off the front of my tooth.

Really. Luckily, it was a small chip, just enough to keep rubbing it with my tongue and thankfully not needing any Bondo to hide a gaping hole.

Now, off to Northwest Trek, which is a wildlife/nature preserve. The land (all 700+ acres) was donated by a pediatrician and his wife back in the 70's or 80's and they have several species of animal herds (bison, elk, mountain goat, etc.) free ranging as well as some predators in separate contained areas (bobcat, wolf, bear, etc.). There is a walking path as well as a tram that will take you around the whole area to see the animals. It's an amazing place and I hope to go back when it's a tad warmer (April in Northwest Washington - Brrrrrr!) and with less kids; two to be exact! They're easier to keep track of - two kids, two eyes and my kids listen to me whereas the others were sort of "Meh, we don't see you."

AND with better shoes.

So Felix, in her rush to get out of the house before leaving for the field trip bus, dons a pair of hemp-ish, beaded, slides that she recently bought at a thrift store and no jacket whatsoever. In my haste to get her to the school, get me back to feed and then drive two hours to Puyallup, didn't even think what she was wearing nor myself. I wear my usual comfy, motherly slip ons and a thin jacket.

that's her foot, my shoe by the way

Truth be told, neither of us knew WHAT Northwest Trek was or did or anything. Ignorance on our part left us unprepared.

So it's a little cloudy and some sprinkles on and off (typical) and cool. Felix is freezing and I (somewhat reluctantly) offer my jacket but thankfully another parent who drove happens to have a bright green hoodie in her car. Yeah! And we're off ....................

Wait. Felix's feet are freezing now. So I again offer something else from my body, my nice comfy shoes for trade so my little girl can enjoy her field trip (I've ALWAYS said children are like parasites, feeding off their parents from day one .... in a loving, nice way of course).

After all, I'm just a mother; what does a mother need with comfort or warmth? I'm sounding a little Jewish now. Oy vey.

So we trade. Not more than 15 steps walking to the front gate, Felix STEPS on the back of my/HER shoes and rips the side almost off. Only a small stitch is keeping the slide on my foot.

So now, not only is my foot freezing, but I'm also hobbling in a broken shoe.

Notice how happy her foot looks next to my sad one. Not to mention, my sad foot really needs a pedicure. Yikes. Maybe that's why it's sad ..... nah.

Sigh.

Finally, the last little stitch, struggling to hang on with all it's might, cannot do it anymore with the shuffling steps of an slightly pudgy, pigeon-toed woman and snaps off. Now, not only am I NOT in my own comfy shoes (did I mention my shoes are REALLY comfy??), but I'm walking with one summery slide and one barefoot. On asphalt. In April. In a rain forest. Humph. What to do?

Suddenly, Keith's voice comes to me in a revelation .... from Hill Field, Utah ... "All you ever need is Crazy Glue and Duct Tape."

O Wonderful Father of Mine! You're right!

I run to the main office ... okay maybe not running since I've got one shoe on and one shoe off, but I was pretending to run ... to ask for duct tape. They must have something like that, working with animals or equipment or men.

I burst through the door, run to the counter. A really young girl/child is holding down the fort. Has no idea what duct tape is but .... well .... this is what she had:

Cellophane packing tape. Young girls. Honestly. AND the girl/child wanted to only give one full wrap-around! What?? I've got to hoof it all over the place with this thing. I need at least two if not three good wraps.

It lasted through the trek, the walk back to the car, to the park to eat pizza and then it broke again. I promptly found a store and bought myself a new pair of shoes. Ah! Peace of mind finally.

And now Felix is wearing them to school today.

Uh ... I have to confess something

Sigh.

So much for me being the great "Chicken Whisperer." Yeah. That went out the window on Sunday when Felix was out feeding the animals.

"Mom?"

"Yes honey."

"Did you say you thought Puzzle died?"

"Yeah it was Puzzle, the White Rhodie. Why?"

"Well, no. It wasn't Puzzle. She's standing right here. It was Frenchy, the Leghorn."

"WHAT??!! Are you sure?"

As I walked up to the coop, sure enough, there was Puzzle, scratching and pecking like a good hen. I was missing a Leghorn. Good thing I didn't have to have a burial for her and create a headstone (I'm behind three already) with the wrong name. Crikey.

So much for me knowing all my hens. Ugh.

Electric v manual???

I'm talking about toothbrushes.
My kids recently had their bi yearly dentist exam. For them, the dentist is not a horrible trip since they've had no cavities, just cleanings (and I certainly hope to keep it that way!). I have never been afraid of going to the dentist and have tried to instill in them the same. Perhaps it's because I've had really good visits too; one or two cavities in my adult years and no real problems. AND a good dentist is essential. Dr. Paul .... I miss YOU!!

Anyway, I have found a really good children's dentist in Everett. She has been their dentist for past four years (it took me some time to find one I liked when we first moved) and they do like her. There are some things they do hate at the dentist: they both hate the taste of the prophylaxis treatments and Robee hates the dental x-rays because he says doing the bite wings hurts his mouth. So to accommodate him, they're using the smaller bite wings. See? Wonderful dentist!

I was wondering to their dentist the difference between electric toothbrushes and manual ones (since they always get that little goodie bag with a toothbrush and floss). Is one better than the other?

She said that when kids are little and their manual dexterity is limited, electric brushes are very good in that they (the brushes) get to places their own hands cannot. Especially the ones that are a rotation type of brush. Another great thing about an electric brush is that it helps kids stay on the task of brushing; they won't get bored or just stop after 30 seconds. Many electric toothbrushes have timers on them now, timing each brushing for two minutes (recommended time for complete cleaning).

Some kids' brushes have songs on them that play for two minutes, entertaining the kids at the same time!

Let me just say this - no possible way on heaven or earth would I EVER get one of these.

I would rather jab a hot poker in my eye.

Therein lies the problem with electric brushes: they have to be powered by battery or charged on a charger.

Chargers are nice except if you are traveling for an extended period of time with no way to plug in the charger (sometimes it's hard in other parts of the world to find the same types of outlets).

Then there is the battery option but what happens to the batteries after they're done? Into the waste and there goes more into our landfills. I do believe some places have a place for battery recycling.

If you're going batteries and trying to efficient, you could also use rechargeable batteries.

However, there is still need for the use of electricity and if you're trying to keep your carbon footprint tiny, then what???

What is an environmentalist to do? It's a tough world for us, to be sure.

So what have I decided?

First of all, I believe what my dentist says that little kids have a harder time reaching those far back places. I know Mom was kind of psycho about things BUT I totally believe that one of the reasons us kids had almost no cavities as children when the rest of my friends at school were having holes filled, is because she brushed our teeth for us until we were probably six or seven or at a time when we could actually get to those places where cavities are usually found. I've told other people this and they mock her but when I tell dental friends (usually at the DHP at Weber) this story, they all nod their heads and say more parents should do this as well until the child can effectively do it themselves. The most important thing my dental friends told me is to get the plaque off the teeth; one doesn't even need toothpaste. Just brush the crap off.

And so, ingoring a page from "I'm Going To Be Different From My Mom" book, I also brushed the kids' teeth until they were about six. I let them brush too, so they could learn how do it but then I would finish.

Second, I had a REAL problem with electric toothbrushes. I felt that they were a silly purchase.Thomas was all for buying one but I resisted since I had never had one growing up or as adult. After many MANY heated debates (really?? over a toothbrush??), he finally convinced me and now I really love mine. I was so convinced I bought Felix and Robee one as well. I had a bit of a struggle talking the kids into using an electric brush, but once they tried one, they loved it. Getting them to brush twice a day is the issue! Running off to the bus, so tired at night ... they sort of let it slack off.

Third, to make up for the charging of electric toothbrushes and my guilty conscience, I do this: if I'm not charging the brush, I unplug the charger. At least then, I'm not using ghost power when it's not needed (this also applies to ANY electric device that's not being used, i.e.: blow dryers, toasters, phone chargers - I would my microwave but the plug is so out of the way to reach each time).

So, electric or manual?? In a pinch, the manual is a forever thing (the first toothbrush recorded in history was made in 3000 BC, a twig with a frayed end called a chewstick), but for daily brushing, I've been baptised and converted to electric toothbrushes.

As always, IMHO.