Friendship

When I was a kid we moved around a lot. I attended 8 different schools between kindergarten (moved after two weeks to a district without kindergarten) and graduating high school. That doesn't leave a lot of childhood friends with whom I have kept in touch. In fact, it doesn't leave any.

My longest friendship with an individual to date started in college. I've got a good buddy in Arkansas whom I haven't seen as often as I like over the years, but with whom I still share phone conversations, cards, and letters (e-mails more recently). We used to vacation together about once a year, attending Star Trek conventions or spending New Year's together.

I have several great friends from my years in East-Central IL. One tells everyone I was a college roommate, when in reality she was in college and I was launched into my second career when we met. But she is godmother to my child and I am godmother to her girls. My daughter's other godmother is still in C-U, but I wonder for how much longer. She and her husband are talking retirement, but I don't think they have a specific date in mind. I'm betting they plan to move closer to their kids and grandkids when that happens.

My daughter's two godfathers are also among my best friends. One moved to the east coast and the other is still in IL. I miss all of these people quite a bit.

However, I have realized that a person I expected to like before moving here is quickly becoming my best Louisiana buddy. And based on popular lore and stereotypical jokes, one wouldn't have expected it. However, I figured out this morning that the person outside of my household with whom I spend the most time, with whom I do the most fun things, and with whom I speak via telephone most often, is my mother-in-law! So--thanks, Lit, for the fantastic welcome to the family. I really appreciate all you have done.

Taking a break to say, "Happy Birthday!"

Goo, you will have to imagine--but I am betting you are skilled in that arena, based on your writing. So, imagine a beautiful child soprano voice, worthy of a professional Royal School of Church Music-trained choir, offering in pure tones:

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday Aunt Goo
Happy birthday to you

And, at your request, a summary of what is happening in our lives:

Oyster got into the Gateway program at school and hopefully will soon be happily immersed in all the wonderful extra learning that will entail.

Chill is working as hard as ever and then spending some time most evenings after work moving more stuff to the new abode or doing tasks to put the new abode into fantastic shape for everyday living.

And I am going crazy at work, fighting with Dell about their error in billing us for the new printer, praising the technical support folk for the great job they have done in helping me to replace the faulty imaging drum, and cursing the machine for messing up just as we were finishing the newsletter print job. This Sunday is the annual meeting, so there is additional work putting the annual report together--amazing how many people do not turn their parts in on time. And we are printing the new parish directory this week to pass out at the annual meeting. And we are having the end-of-year contribution statements available to all parishioners at the annual meeting.

Did I mention the priest gave me the holidays off (Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Day--and tried to give me New Year's Eve, but I just couldn't get the work done in time to take that off). No one at the church seems to realize that giving me days off (without pay) during a week when there is extra work that needs to be done means making me work even harder for less pay. (But I did receive my very first Christmas bonus)!

However, despite the current headaches, I really love the job and recognize it is absolutely perfect for me at this time. The hours are great. The work really is easy and my boss is fantastic. And I get to write. How could it get better than that?

After work I spend time moving things from house to house and trying to figure out where to put everything that is staying and weeding out what is not. Chill advises that anything not out of the house by Jan 31 is not ours, anymore. Could be a blessing in disguise.

So--time to stop this lollygagging around and get back to work!

Moving on up...

Well, I am not sure if it is moving up, but it is definitely moving. We found a house and are set to begin moving. We've decided to make it a process. Today was step one--okay, the beginning of step one. Oyster and I went through all her clothes, making room for her new Christmas gifts and clearing out everything she has outgrown. Old clothes are now in a neatly marked plastic bin labeled, "Garage Sale, size 6." Next I guess comes my stuff. Garage Sale, size none of your business.

The house is advertised as four bedroom, two bath. However, that is partly because the site where it advertised doesn't allow for halves. It really only has one full and one half bath. And the fourth bedroom is a converted carport, which makes a pretty good-sized room. The closet, though, has the washer and dryer and room for a freezer, along with one hanging rod. I don't consider that a bedroom closet. We plan to use that room for storage and little girl play area.

I'm hoping the king-sized bed fits into one of the other bedrooms with plenty of room for the dressers and space to walk. We shall see. If we must, I guess we can put the dressers in the third bedroom. With two double closets in each of the bedrooms, though, we may not be in such great need of the dressers. However it ends up, the move is on.

Wish us luck.

My child is a star!

The second and third graders had their annual winter presentation for their parents about a week before school let out for winter break. I had heard a bit about the program for several weeks before the great production. Mostly I had ridden herd on the violin practicing. Actually, that consisted of telling the child that I don't believe in fighting about extracurricular activities, so if she chooses to practice she gets to keep the violin. If she chooses to not practice she is welcome to go with me to return the violin. She practiced daily prior to the program. I can't say her technique or tone has increased in relation to the amount of practice, but she did memorize all the music she was required and some she was not.

But that didn't make her a star. That just made her a little more confident than some of the other violin students.

What made her a star was her refusal to accept one of the starring roles in the production. She was the only second grader offered the part as one of the three narrators. She declined because she didn't want to do more than any of her classmates. (I think that translates to she doesn't want to be different. Chill says maybe she is trying hard to get to go to the same school two consecutive years--something she has not accomplished during her three years in school).

Anyway, those not assigned a major speaking part were put into two categories: Clouds and Stars. She really, really, really wanted to be a cloud. However, she, like a majority of the kids, became a star. Parents were given no directions regarding how to make a costume other than anything goes and it can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. No two were supposed to be identical (guess stars are like snowflakes in that respect). I saw one kid with a very elaborate costume that included glittery face paint. Most kids wore t-shirts with stars attached--either by safety pins or painted on. A few wore shirts with pre-printed stars. Only a handful were in something that would pass for a Halloween costume (my hope for next year).

But what surprised me the most was the complete and total lack of separation of church and state in the content of the play. While the Christmas program at the catholic school last year did not mention Jesus at all, this one was about stars competing to be the star that led the wise men to the Christ child. Once God had chosen the star who displayed humility and who understood that Jesus was the true star of the show, kids wearing traditional Sunday School nativity costumes wandered onto the stage and the show ended with a Christmas carol.

I really am living in a different culture than what I have experienced most of my life. I wonder how many non-Christian children were involved in this production. Seems to me that I want my church to teach religion to my child and the school to teach her academics. I would think all parents would feel that way--but then I guess some parents want their own particular brand of religion taught to their children and their neighbor's children, and what the neighbors want for their own children is not important?

Sometimes you just don't want to know

I firmly believe parents should be aware of what their children are doing, who they hang out with, and what sites they visit on the internet. Chill agrees. That's why we keep pretty good tabs on Oyster's internet use. She was banned from a program that really wasn't a bad web site once because she had signed up without permission. Oops.

But tonight I had a twinge of regret for my vigilance. She was on the Girls Go Games web site where there are lots of inane games and the occasional marginally educational game, but nothing so far that is inappropriate for her age. I walked into the laundry room as she was exclaiming in pleasure that the Christmas games had arrived.

I returned just in time to hear, "Oh good. Santa Farty Pants is here." You wouldn't believe the joy and wonder in her voice. I really tried not to believe it. I thought the kids were supposed to actually reach the age appropriate for 5th grade humor before 5th grade humor reared its ugly head. Guess she really is advanced for her age.

And she didn't even eat any of the beans.

Red Beans and Rice--yum yum!

I made some pretty darn good red beans and rice tonight (that Chill is praising very highly). Thought I had better write this one down:

Soak 1/2 lb red beans overnight, then cook as directed on the package. I brought them to a boil, then put them in the crock pot on high for 3 hours with a chopped onion and a little salt. Worked just fine. You could use a can of red beans for this, I guess.

Make a roux using about 1/3 cup canola oil and 1/3 cup flour. Stir over medium heat until caramel colored--takes about 20 minutes. Chop small onion, small red bell pepper, and small yellow bell pepper. Slice about 1 lb smoked sausage. Add to roux and cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh ground pepper and Mrs. Dash Spicy. Stir. Add one 14-15 oz can chicken broth. Stir well. Bring to boil. Cook on low heat about 20-30 minutes. Add beans, draining off most of the liquid. Simmer on stove for another hour. Serve over rice with cornbread.

(I actually cooked 1 lb red beans, but only used half. I stuck the rest in the fridge and will add a chopped carrot, onion, potato, bay leaves, and bacon to it and boil for another meal--served with more cornbread).

Pooch walks and bedtime--a comparison

I recently realized that walking the dogs is a lot like sending the child to bed. As we walk along in the chill my objective is to get done as quickly as possible so we can do something I like, such as be warm. The dogs, however--just like the child, have a different agenda. They find ways to dawdle. Every bush must be sniffed. Every puddle tasted. Every yard watered. Any excuse to prolong the experience must be savored and extended to the maximum time possible.

The child goes to bed the same way. I guess it makes sense that if the child was not hungry and didn't eat much at supper time that she would be hungry at bedtime. But no matter how much sense it makes, it is also annoying. And she must have a drink of water (but not out of a puddle) since once she has used her rinse she can't munch or slurp till the next morning.

Tooth brushing could take two hours if allowed. The amount of time spent just getting the toothpaste onto the brush can be counted in portions of an hour that are usually equal to that spent driving her to school--through three reduced speed zones--each morning. Flossing takes extra time, especially if you punctuate each tooth with a paragraph of no particular design. It would be fun to sing while swishing fluoride rinse, but she hasn't figured out how to accomplish that feat, yet. Give her time.

Incentives help. The dogs look forward to biscuits after a successful walk. The child looks forward to reading aloud when she finishes her evening routine in a timely manner.

Oh, and the man? He gives her a proper tickle with his beard as he kisses her good night, putting her down until the next day. After all, isn't that what "the man" is supposed to do?