March 25 - Grandparent's Day

When everything in my life started to crumble, and I had to scramble to find child care, an angel showed up to help save the day. Now it has been almost a year since Geneva started loving and teaching my kids. She plays and reads and does projects and is so much better at organization than me! Today she spent a little time in Naomi's classroom with other "grandparents".

My family is so blessed to have her in our life! We love you Grams!!!

March 23 - It's Maple Syrup Time!

Yesterday, the kids and I enjoyed Sugar Camp Days at Bendix Woods County Park. I value nature and developing an understanding of where our resources come from, so this kind of stuff is always fun for me. I plan to take field trips like a 1st grader for the rest of my life.

The kids weren't too sure at first. However, once we were stuffed with pancakes and fresh maple syrup they perked up.

We learned about multiple syrup-making methods over the years. Boil and boil and boil and boil it all day long! Did you know it takes 40 gallons of sugar maple sap to make one gallon of syrup?

We also hiked around the park, took a wagon ride behind 2 ton (literally!) horses, and sampled crafts and maple goodies.

What a beautiful way to spend Sunday morning!

March 18 - What do they REALLY think?

Following the example of my friend and the Facebook craze, this was a fun, somewhat disturbing exercise with the kids. First answers only, no leading questions.

The Interview:

What is something mom always says to you?

N: Do the work

Seth: Clean up

Skyler: Let the dog out

What makes mom happy?

N: Cleaning my room... & that makes Daddy happy

Seth: a hug

Skyler: when I give you a card

What makes mom sad?

N: Somebody hurts her feelings

Seth: my dad

Skyler: when I mess up other people’s stuff

How does your mom make you laugh?

N: Hm… tricky… tickling me.

Seth: tickling me

Skyler: tickles me

What was your mom like as a child?

N: I don’t know… she did everything her mom said.

Seth: I have no idea

Skyler: I don’t know

How old is your mom?

N: I think it’s 46

Seth: 32

Skyler: 34

How tall is your mom?

N: 18 pounds… or 19

Seth: 5’2

Skyler: 50 inches

(I'm 34 years old, 5'6)

What is her favorite thing to do?

N: Work

Seth: A whole bunch of things – exercising

Skyler: scrapbooking

What does your mom do when you’re not around?

N: Something else

Seth: Play with friends

Skyler: cleans the house

If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

N: I don’t know

Seth: singing

Skyler: because you know everyone in the world

What is your mom really good at?

N: Doing homework with the kids

Seth: Rock Band

Skyler: cooking

What is your mom not very good at?

N: Picking apples off trees

Seth: Picking a house

Skyler: stepping over my toys

What does your mom do for her job?

N: Make money

Seth: Physical therapist

Skyler: Physical therapist

What’s your mom’s favorite food?

N: Fruit

Seth: coffee

Skyler: pizza

What makes you proud of your mom?

N: I'm not

Seth: You’re a really good mom

Skyler: She makes me food

If your mom was a cartoon character, who would she be?

N: Elasti-Girl (Ok, I totally coached that one.)

Seth: Cinderella

Skyler: Elizabeth from Pirates of the Carribean

What do you and your mom do together?

N: paperwork

Seth: swim at the Y

Skyler: exercise

How are you and your mom the same?

N: we're on the girls' team
Seth: our last name is Johnson

Skyler: we’re in the same family

How are you and your mom different?

N: she's a grown-up

Seth: you have brown hair, I have blond

Skyler: she’s bigger

Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
N: the grocery store
Seth: Bar Louie
Skyler: church

How do you know your mom loves you?

N: Because she does!

Seth: you provide food for me

Skyler: she says it every night and kisses me every day

March 13 - Friday's Farewell

Today has been a very, very sad day. Nina, our 15 year-old long-haired chihuahua, took her last trip to the vet, and took her last breath there this morning. She had been struggling with congestive heart failure and related difficulties for a while, and we didn't think she would handle a moving away very well.

I remember when Scott brought her home "as a wedding present" in the spring 15 years ago. (Funny how the pet lasted longer than the marriage.) She was a springy girl from the beginning.

She has given us lots of love, meeting us at the door, curling up around our legs to snuggle, and gently licking fingers to encourage petting. She had to be portable, as she has made trips from California to Portugal with us. She was a sprinter, who liked peanut butter, chocolate, and anything mint she could dig out of your pockets or backpack.

I will miss her wagging tail, but maybe not her stinky breath. We were lucky to have her in our lives, happy and mostly healthy for so long. Goodbye Nina.

Audio Book Review - Fight Club

Chuch Palahniuk's debut novel is a dark satire exploring what makes life "real", especially for men in their early midlife (20s to 40s). Full of graphic action and painful self-analysis, the characters are anything but typical. Reviews are full of words like strange dimension, underground, and quasi-religious cult. Smart but scary.

I haven't seen the movie, in which Brad Pitt and Edward Norton portray the main characters. I can't imagine how one would translate the schizophrenic nature of the nameless narrator to the screen, but I'm intrigued and will add it to my Netflix queue. This would make an interesting book club discussion, except everybody cool did that years ago. That's what happens when I refuse to participate in current events!

March 8 - Implants (an update)

I haven't mentioned any of this for a while, and everything is really fine, but I thought it was worth processing a few thoughts:

- they ripple randomly, especially along the breast bone.

- they're under the pectoral muscles, so I can almost flatten them with a good bench press.

- when I'm chilly or nervous, the muscles get really jumpy and I'm convinced everyone around me can tell.

- they don't bounce, or really move much at all. Seems like this would be convenient, but I feel self-conscious.


- they're still numb!

Last week I found a small lump on the left (cancer) side. I'm trying not to be paranoid. It's probably an asymmetrical rib, right? I'm still considering whether it's worth calling the doctor.