Sometimes it has to be said. He is currently sharing his 2007 spoken word/musical Christmas album online at his blog real love. real muscles. Since none of them are traditional Christmas songs or stories you can listen to them now without being sickened. I recommend "The Time I Fell Into the Toilet on Christmas Eve." He is "in the studio" working on a 2010 Christmas album; I'm sure it will be a fantastic soundtrack for this year.
Oh beware that the song "Its Christmas" can remain stuck in your head for months. You may want to wait on that one.
31 October 2010
28 October 2010
It's just the way I -role
That may be the dumbest pun ever.
I have recently volunteered to be in charge of organizing a bunch of women (now that I think about it I'm not sure why we can't invite men too--I'll get on that) to prepare hot meals for a homeless/unemployed/what-have-you services center once a month. It's really not a big deal and I really dig being at least somewhat involved in the community. I was much better at it when I was single and childless. Especially when I was underemployed and pennies away from becoming homeless myself. So I'm trying to get back to that part of myself. Meanwhile, I am learning a whole new genre of cooking known as the casserole.
People cringe at the word and I'm pretty sure it's considered all kinds of lame and 1950's housewife, but there is a time and a place for everything. And lest ye be confused I am at best an "adequate" housewife, so I don't think LCD is going to stop cooking West African, Indian, Thai, etc. anytime soon. I had made maybe two casseroles in my life before this new development, though I'm headed for number four in about a week. The thing is it's actually kind of awesome how stinkin' easy these things are. Gourmet they are not (generally). Nor are they interesting and ethnic. But I find myself actually getting excited to try a good macaroni and cheese recipe. Yes, this is what I am becoming. Pretty cool, huh?
This month we are making one of the longest-lived American casserole recipes in existence: The Tuna Noodle Casserole. My friends, we are talking about pasta, canned tuna, and peas as the main ingredients. You better believe I am making one for the homeless people and one for us. Peas are by far my baby's favorite vegetable and here is a chance to really make them sing.
A year from now I may or may not be the Casserole Queen. I'm leaning towards "may not" buy I'm leaving "may" out there as a possibility. These days anything is possible.
I have recently volunteered to be in charge of organizing a bunch of women (now that I think about it I'm not sure why we can't invite men too--I'll get on that) to prepare hot meals for a homeless/unemployed/what-have-you services center once a month. It's really not a big deal and I really dig being at least somewhat involved in the community. I was much better at it when I was single and childless. Especially when I was underemployed and pennies away from becoming homeless myself. So I'm trying to get back to that part of myself. Meanwhile, I am learning a whole new genre of cooking known as the casserole.
People cringe at the word and I'm pretty sure it's considered all kinds of lame and 1950's housewife, but there is a time and a place for everything. And lest ye be confused I am at best an "adequate" housewife, so I don't think LCD is going to stop cooking West African, Indian, Thai, etc. anytime soon. I had made maybe two casseroles in my life before this new development, though I'm headed for number four in about a week. The thing is it's actually kind of awesome how stinkin' easy these things are. Gourmet they are not (generally). Nor are they interesting and ethnic. But I find myself actually getting excited to try a good macaroni and cheese recipe. Yes, this is what I am becoming. Pretty cool, huh?
This month we are making one of the longest-lived American casserole recipes in existence: The Tuna Noodle Casserole. My friends, we are talking about pasta, canned tuna, and peas as the main ingredients. You better believe I am making one for the homeless people and one for us. Peas are by far my baby's favorite vegetable and here is a chance to really make them sing.
A year from now I may or may not be the Casserole Queen. I'm leaning towards "may not" buy I'm leaving "may" out there as a possibility. These days anything is possible.
into the spirit
Kinda spooky, eh?
Here it is on the porch.
This is what we do while the child sleeps. I also cut myself with gigantic knives, that's how good I am (don't worry--not serious).
21 October 2010
communication
I know this is mostly a mom-blog now, but I don't really care. Babies are far more fascinating than most jobs, politics, tv shows, craft projects (ha ha--like I do craft projects), etc. forever. We did make the most delicious butternut squash soup last night, though, so we are appropriately fall festive in case you were wondering. Oh man, it was good. Stole the recipe from this woman at church.
But the topic for today is communicating with babies. Ignorant me, I thought I would definitely know when little a said her first word. Did you see the episode of Modern Family where Lily keeps saying "mama" and her gay dads have a meltdown and then it turns out she is just repeating what a doll says? Yeah, and she just crawls around silent the rest of the time saying nothing.
That is not what happens.
Little a talks constantly, so it's hard to know when she is really saying a word. If she says "babababa" all the time, then she picks up a ball and says "ba," did she just say ball? If she says "mamamamamama" all the time and when I say "Do you want to come with mama?" she repeats "mama," did she really just say mama to mean me? And if she says it when she's tired and cranky but she doesn't actually look at me, does it mean she wants me or does it just mean "Hi, I am tired and cranky?" It's all about the context clues, I guess. She definitely says something close to "bye bye" (though really it's somewhere midway between "ba ba" and "bye bye") and she often waves her hand when she says it, but does she really get that she is saying "goodbye" or "I'll see you later?" I guess if I have to pick her first word it probably is "bye bye" and if I have to make the call I do think she really is saying "ball," but the jury is still out on both "mama" and "dada," both of which she says often enough and sometimes at appropriate moments, but it is unclear whether it is on purpose.
The cool thing, though, is no matter what she actually says I am getting better and better and telling what she means. Often she'll point or just look longingly at something and when I get it for her she gets a big grin on her face. Success! We have basic cave man communication. It's different than just reading her signs. It feels much closer to talking. Sometimes I can even get HER to do stuff, which is the truly amazing part. I can say "give that to mommy" the oft-loved "no, don't touch" or "get the bear" (pointing) and it actually happens. I think she is happier because of all this, because we sometimes get each other.
Feel free to share anything on babies and communication, if you want.
But the topic for today is communicating with babies. Ignorant me, I thought I would definitely know when little a said her first word. Did you see the episode of Modern Family where Lily keeps saying "mama" and her gay dads have a meltdown and then it turns out she is just repeating what a doll says? Yeah, and she just crawls around silent the rest of the time saying nothing.
That is not what happens.
Little a talks constantly, so it's hard to know when she is really saying a word. If she says "babababa" all the time, then she picks up a ball and says "ba," did she just say ball? If she says "mamamamamama" all the time and when I say "Do you want to come with mama?" she repeats "mama," did she really just say mama to mean me? And if she says it when she's tired and cranky but she doesn't actually look at me, does it mean she wants me or does it just mean "Hi, I am tired and cranky?" It's all about the context clues, I guess. She definitely says something close to "bye bye" (though really it's somewhere midway between "ba ba" and "bye bye") and she often waves her hand when she says it, but does she really get that she is saying "goodbye" or "I'll see you later?" I guess if I have to pick her first word it probably is "bye bye" and if I have to make the call I do think she really is saying "ball," but the jury is still out on both "mama" and "dada," both of which she says often enough and sometimes at appropriate moments, but it is unclear whether it is on purpose.
The cool thing, though, is no matter what she actually says I am getting better and better and telling what she means. Often she'll point or just look longingly at something and when I get it for her she gets a big grin on her face. Success! We have basic cave man communication. It's different than just reading her signs. It feels much closer to talking. Sometimes I can even get HER to do stuff, which is the truly amazing part. I can say "give that to mommy" the oft-loved "no, don't touch" or "get the bear" (pointing) and it actually happens. I think she is happier because of all this, because we sometimes get each other.
Feel free to share anything on babies and communication, if you want.
19 October 2010
all of THE sudden
Almost five years into our relationship and I still get made fun of by LCD for saying it "all of the sudden" instead of "all of a sudden." I will never change and I am not sure whether the giggles and/or ridicule will ever stop. Note to LCD: If you think you're ever going to shame me just because I say a phrase the way I learned it at age 4, you can kiss my butt. I will also continue to say kiss my butt.
This is the stuff awesome marriages are made of.
This is the stuff awesome marriages are made of.
16 October 2010
Please vote in the songwriting challenge
But not for me. Unless you really think my song is THAT awesome. See, I'm a little worried that there may have been a biased vote or two in the current songwriting challenge and I want to be sure that the winner (maybe me) actually deserves it. So we need more voters that are not going to just go straight for the pity/friend vote. You guys won't coddle me, right? Yes, I'm talking to the three of you.
Anyway, check out the music over at songwriting challenge
And I'll be honest: the entries are not really as good as usual. But they're not too bad either. And there are only five of them!
Thanks, kiddos.
Anyway, check out the music over at songwriting challenge
And I'll be honest: the entries are not really as good as usual. But they're not too bad either. And there are only five of them!
Thanks, kiddos.
12 October 2010
Life with 10 month-old...
rocks. Seriously, all the newborn colicky crap was worth this time hangin' with my sweet, fun, social butterfly. Last night we went to this delicious Afghan restaurant down the street and she made friends with absolutely everyone there. She even got one of the waitresses she had been eyeing to come pick her up by holding her arms out toward her. She freakin' loves almost everyone. (If she does not love you, I'm sorry. Either you are evil or the whole thing is completely random.)
She has all kinds of fun new tricks to entertain: clapping, hugs, waving bye-bye, (sometimes even at the right time and ba ba is morphing into an understandable "bye-bye"), high-fives (okay, a little coaching needed), and she laughs all the time. I haven't hung out with babies a whole lot in my lifetime, but she is definitely the most energetic and social one I have seen in a while or maybe ever. And yes this means a LOT of chasing her around. A LOT. Seriously, she almost never stops and plays in one place. But I will take the chasing, gladly, over the hours of crying from yestermonth. If only I could permanently fix her pain-in-the-butt (literally) digestive system, it would be pretty much constant joy. Oh well, opposition is necessary in life. Oh, and I think we might just have our drummer. She loves hitting things with other things, especially with sticks and stick-shaped objects. When we head to the basement she always wanders over to our drum set and starts banging on the bass drum.
Columbus Day photos...
We went to Homestead Farm
to go apple picking
and find the perfect pumpkin.
The baby hung out in the pumpkins for a while, examining the choices, playing with ladybugs
and watching daddy take pictures.
When we got home we decided to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We also made a pie that was pretty tasty.
And if those pictures weren't cute enough for you. Look at my sweet laughing baby:
Can you see her two tiny teeth? They aren't quite all the way up yet but they are enough to sort-of kind-of bite into an apple.
Yes, I was going to stop blogging, but it is too good a way to chronicle things. Instead, as a start, I am disallowing myself from reading blogs of people I have never met.
She has all kinds of fun new tricks to entertain: clapping, hugs, waving bye-bye, (sometimes even at the right time and ba ba is morphing into an understandable "bye-bye"), high-fives (okay, a little coaching needed), and she laughs all the time. I haven't hung out with babies a whole lot in my lifetime, but she is definitely the most energetic and social one I have seen in a while or maybe ever. And yes this means a LOT of chasing her around. A LOT. Seriously, she almost never stops and plays in one place. But I will take the chasing, gladly, over the hours of crying from yestermonth. If only I could permanently fix her pain-in-the-butt (literally) digestive system, it would be pretty much constant joy. Oh well, opposition is necessary in life. Oh, and I think we might just have our drummer. She loves hitting things with other things, especially with sticks and stick-shaped objects. When we head to the basement she always wanders over to our drum set and starts banging on the bass drum.
Columbus Day photos...
We went to Homestead Farm
to go apple picking
and find the perfect pumpkin.
The baby hung out in the pumpkins for a while, examining the choices, playing with ladybugs 
and watching daddy take pictures.
When we got home we decided to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We also made a pie that was pretty tasty.And if those pictures weren't cute enough for you. Look at my sweet laughing baby:
Can you see her two tiny teeth? They aren't quite all the way up yet but they are enough to sort-of kind-of bite into an apple.Yes, I was going to stop blogging, but it is too good a way to chronicle things. Instead, as a start, I am disallowing myself from reading blogs of people I have never met.
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