The room that this blog “forgot”

You may have noticed the conspicuous omission of The Child’s room here.  I guess there may have been (not so) veiled references to the Bermuda Triangle that was my daughter’s domicile, but I’m pretty sure I never horrified you with a visual of the carnage.

There was very good reason for the omission…  you will thank me later.

Her room in San Francisco started off with two major strikes against it:  it was impossibly small; and the only window did not look outside, but upon the kitchen (yeah, don’t ask – I have no idea why either).  I tried to be very creative in my space planning.  I got her a loft bed and put a desk underneath.  Her dresser was tucked in an awkward nook.  I made every possible attempt to preserve as much floor space as possible.

My efforts were in vain.

The third, and quite possibly largest, strike against her room in SF was that I really tried to let it be “her space”.  I didn’t want to nag about keeping it clean – hoping that she would also want to have as much space as possible by making efforts at tidiness.  No dice.  On at least 4 different occasions I took everything out of her room (overfilling the livingroom), and put it all back neat and orderly-like with “fool proof” organization systems. 

The day The Child started packing to move, THIS is what her hovel room looked like.  Yeah, I warned you…  Honestly, it’s so dark in there because the drifts of detritus eclipsed all light sources.  Honest.

So once all of our stuff landed in Sebastopol, one of my first priorities was to create a new and beautiful room that was exceedingly realistic for a 10 year old to keep clean.  I wanted lots of open space, a lot less crap, and the threat of great bodily harm whatever is out of place going in the garbage can if she goes to bed even once with a messy room.

This is the result…

She LOVES it.  It needs curtains and an area rug, but it’s darn close.  In fact, she’s been living in it for 2 weeks straight and I didn’t move a thing to take these pictures.  This is exactly how she left it.

I am officially one of those parents

Last week The Child’s school had their “Family Projects Fair” (aka school science fair).  I had weeks to prepare, but kept putting it off due to a number of flim-flam excuses. 

We searched on-line and found a fairly easy cool project where you took soil samples and extracted the little creatures that lived therein.  It was a good excuse for a trip to the hardware store where The Child was not kicking and screaming for once The directions were pretty straight forward and we had high hopes on producing something that made us look like one of those smart, involved families – yet was not just another baking soda volcano. 

The result?  Epic fail.  Apparently either our dirt is mite and nematode-free – or our scientific methods were seriously lacking.  (I’m putting my money on the latter.)  So as we’re waiting in line at Walgreen’s, contemplating our impending failure, I bemoan why we didn’t just do something “simple” like an illustration of the tidal zones….

EUREKA!  That was it!  All we had to do was get some construction paper, some pens, and – WOW! – lookie there!  Blo-pens are even on sale!  Ring it up!  This will be easy.

HA! 

Famous. 

Last. 

Words.

In an unprecedented cooperative effort, we got A LOT done in the 2.5 hours before Haley went to bed (yes, the night before it was due).  I tucked her in to bed thinking that I would just do the finishing touches and it would be done in another hour or two. 

I’m sure you can guess what happened next…  When I woke her up at 7a the following morning I had just started picking up some of the 10,000,000 little scraps of paper littering the entire living room.  Yes, I stayed up all night working on that bastard.  You would not believe how long it takes to cut out anemones, urchins, free-hand crabs and sea lettuce.  (Having a printer sure would have been a time-saver.  Ugh.)  I even channelled my inner UmberDove and painted (becuase cutting and glueing and measuring and drawing weren’t stressful enough… I needed to add paint to my perfectionist-A.R. insanity)!

I was pretty pleased with the result and sent Haley off to school with it.  Thankfully my life of leisure allowed me to crawl in to bed until it was time to go to the evening festivities.  Much to my surprise (and shock and dismay and – dare I say – delight) our project was the subject of much praise!  Haley’s 3rd grade teacher even asked if they could keep it to use during the upcoming Water Week at school!

So, now I’m officially one of those parents that stays up all night doing science projects.  *sigh*

Snow Job

This last weekend we went on the annual Christ Church Lutheran ski trip.  It’s one of many reasons our church rules.  You’d be hard pressed to find a better bunch of folks – and you’d be hard pressed to find better snow conditions than we had this weekend!

We rented an amazing house in Tahoe City (thanks for finding it, Lois Anne!) where the kids played, we ate like kings, and the grown-ups killed many bottles of fine wine

We went to Squaw Valley on Saturday.  Haley took a lesson in the morning while I had some time on my own with Elizabeth and Annie (my current favorite teenager).  At various times we spent time on the hill with everyone in our party – quite a feat!

It was soooo much fun, but now I am equally sore

Miss me?

If you did… awwwww *hugs*.  If you didn’t, humor me for I am piteously unemployed

I have been alternating between doing nothing, and doing LOTS AND LOTS of stuff.  Through it all the computer has not been my friend, hence my absence.  Whilst not entertaining you, Dear Reader, I have had some adventures!

True to my previously stated intentions I have been spending a lot – a lot- of time at The Child’s school.  I have been on a field trip (who knew HIV/AIDS age-appropriate education could be so entertaining when set to music?) and worked in her classroom 4 days.  And I didn’t just “help” by making copies and organizing the art supplies.  Noooo…  I led “Centers” where I (me!) was in charge of getting a bunch of bright but unruly 9 and 10 year olds to get work done.  Now, if you are privy to our adventures in homework completion on a daily basis you will be suitably shocked by this.  The reward for hours of gritting my teeth and stifling untold amounts of profanity?  Learning that there are children who make Haley look like Princess Focus, heir to the kingdom of Productivity.

My trip to Colorado and Utah was the perfect antidote to Big City dramz.  We hiked a lot.  I got to breathe fresh air, share serene silence with a good friend and no one else (the benefit of visiting national parks in the off-season), and contemplate my navel.  Actually, I contemplated all kinds of heavy shit, but I haven’t yet sorted it all out in my head so I’ll spare you. 

I was also reminded how much I like to have adult conversations.  Work-life isn’t to conducive to deep thoughts, and this last month I’ve been socializing almost exclusively with 4th and 5th graders.  Yes indeed, it was lovely to engage in some intellectual calisthenics.

I flew in to Grand Junction, Colorado, where my friend Tim lives.  We went straight from the airport to Moab, UT.  God clearly was in full support of this trip because the weather was gorgeous – bright sun and chilly with a bit of clouds bearing snow flurries.  Pristine patches of blinding white against the richly colored landscape was almost too good to be true.

We started – and ended – with Arches National Park.  Go there!  As soon as you can!  Go back if you’ve already been   It’s that amazing.

Due to a total idiot maneuver on my part I had to buy a new camera there – and it has this kick-ass panorama function!

We also went to Canyonlands National Park.  It’s like the Grand Canyon, but on steroids and a whole landscape of it!  It is more geological magic courtesy of the Colorado River.  Next summer I plan on taking Haley there to go on a rafting trip. 

I’ve also been poking around the house, doing some projects and making some messes.  I’m cleaning up more messes than I am making so it all works out!  I will work on getting over my aversion to the computer and hope to not be such a slacker-blogger.

xoxo

Hold please

I am tidying up loose ends at work today… my last day will be a very brief one…  tomorrow!  After lunch with the office ladies I will be running home just in time to meet Rae Rae, pick up The Child, and go to Willits. 

*contented sigh*

I’ll be back next week, though, so dont’t you worry your pretty little heads.  Have a superduperfanfreakingtastic weekend!

Are introductions in order?

Gee… I wonder… just what is the protocol for announcing new additions to my venerable link collection that hangs out over there in the right column?

Anybody?  Anybody?

While I’m awaiting my blog protocol briefing I’ll just say that I have been sneaking away little happy daydreams courtesy of the pics on Willits Daily Photo.  She keeps turning out snapshots of warm fuzzy places from my childhood:  riding horses in town, Frontier Days, the peely bark on a madrone tree.  *sigh*

I am so excited that Rae, Haley and I will be venturing north this weekend for a heavy dose of Sandi-branded Willits chill time

My petition to ban two words from the English language

There are two words that raise the hackles on my neck every time I hear them, and I would be exceedingly happy if they were just stricken from our language.  Every time I hear them I either throw up in my mouth a little, or want to punch someone in the face.  Often both.  Simultaneously. 

Our 15 minutes of fame

Part 1

Part 2

Thank you Rae for the interim cell phone recording!  I WILL be ordering a copy from the news station

The dawning of a new (yester)day

Sorry this post is a day late and a dollar short cashing in on the Inaugural hoopla, but like I said, I was only firing on two cylinders maybe.

We arrived at Civic Center Plaza before 7a to watch the simulcast.  I thought it was important to be part of “something” for the occasion since Haley was involved in the campaign.  Even if she didn’t have fun there when her children were reading about January 20th, 2009, she could say she was there, she was part of it all.

There weren’t many people when we got there but Haley immediately noticed the news crew to our left.  Within no time the news lady from KRON Channel 4 approached us and asked if she could ask us some questions.  Of course, once she found out Haley had made Get Out The Vote calls she asked if she could ask us the same questions on a live segment.  Ten minutes later we were on the news!  I thought Haley was going to explode she was so excited!  As soon as it was over my cell started ringing – Rae Rae saw us!  There she was – all innocent, getting ready for work – when BLAM!  there we are on TV!  Apparently they replayed the clip on the 5 o’clock news because Haley’s friend, Mary, called all screaming and freaking out

 

Someone made this really cool origami image of Obama and handed out Sharpie markers for people to leave their thoughts.  Of course Haley had to jump right in and leave her mark!

The crowd soon swelled to the thousands and we all cheered together.  Haley was swamped by all the tall people surrounding her but the spirit of Hope and Change prevailed:  some kindly strangers pushed her up to the front so she could see.  We were separated for the swearings-in of Biden and Obama but my super-sweet baby girl immediately squirmed her way back to me to listen to Obama’s speech.  We stood there in a crowd of people who were truly “all the colors of the rainbow”, embracing, cheering together, and many sharing a tear together – full of pride, hope and enthusiasm for the hard work this country has yet to do.

So after listening to Obama’s speech tell me what is it that you plan to do for your country?

(I promise to get some snippet of the newscast!! Please hold!)

Dain Bread

Yes!  We were right in the middle of Inaugural festivities bright and early this morning!  Yes!  We have great pictures!  Yes!  Something awesome happened (hint:  HALEY WAS ON TV!!)

But…

My sleep has been non-existent and my brain is like swiss cheese.  So bear with me until tomorrow and I promise to have something worthwhile to waste your time reading

Uncharacteristically Chill

My last day at my job is January 30th.  I planned a much needed (and even more anticipated) trip to Colorado & Utah long before I knew I’d be losing my job – but it’s still a nice thing to look forward to

So – am I stressing?  Freaking?  Wigging out?  Actually – no.  I feel like I should be, but I’m not.  Odd opportunities are popping up and  I’d be interested in any number of them.  I’m not attached to any particular outcome, so I feel like I should just wait until one comes to me.  I’m very good at living like a pauper so I can survive for quite a while – until my destiny manifests itself.

You’re facing a large decision and should try to make sure that you’ve got the information you need to deal with it. You might have to put off the call for another day at the very least.   … my Yahoo horoscope today

In the interim I plan on giving The Child a LOT of attention.  She’s been getting screwed on the parental attention front – especially when it comes to school involvement.  I plan on RIDING again (hence the new header).  I will be helping out at church a lot, too.  Budget tightening has meant letting go of the church administrator, and – gee – I think I know someone totally qualified to help!  My house also needs some attention and I am totally ready for a rest from the grind.

So… if any one will be in San Francisco – or wants to come to San Francisco (hint hint) – I’ll be having some time on my hands!  YAY!!

Newsflash! I do not spontaniously combust if I get out of bed at 6:00 am

I was pretty convinced that I would – so all these years I stayed safely in bed until 7:00 am.  I was just thinking of the The Child, you know.  We can’t have her growing up without her mother, right?

Actually, this morning I was dressed, out the door and to the end of my block at 5:56 am!  Even more shocking is that it was 6:48 am by the time I returned AND I was sweaty!!  And if that is not shocking enough The Child and I walked for more than 30 minutes last night after dinner!  We have instituted our daily constitutional.  Be forewarned… if you have dinner with us you will have to walk afterwards.

Now I need to get one of those exercise bike contraptions where you have to pedal in order to watch TV…  

p.s.  This post is brought to you by Ambien CR.  Thank Jeebus for nights with good sleep!  Hopefully this “exercise” thing will alleviate my need for it soon.

So, it’s 2009

Yeah, yeah…  I know.  I’ve been a total slacker.  It’s not without reason, though!

Christmas was lovely, and New Years Eve started off the year in typical insane SF style.  First a “respectable” NYE party…  It was held in a furniture showroom (c’mon!  how perfect!!) that had been cleared out for the occasion.  Of course the kitchen installations along the walls remained so Rae and I were compelled to play Vanna White and demonstrate their bad-ass-itude.

 

After a disco nap and much trying on of Steve B’s Burning Man attire… then it was out to “Breakfast of Champions” – at 5:00am!  (Yes, 5 in the morning).  It was a SF Freak Fest of the highest order and I was Queen for a Day!  At least it felt like it.  Steve B and I held court in our matching tutu’s (yes, we planned that)

 

Ahhh… I love my crazy friends!

It was a tough adjustment going back to work:  I was off since before Christmas.  Even though I had been living the life of leisure I was having a ridiculous time sleeping.  Of course people who don’t sleep well also have a propensity for being overweight and I’ve also been packing on the pounds On NYE one of my dear friends – who shall remain nameless because they meant no offense – said I was a “beautiful, thick woman”  WHAAAA???  OMG – what happened to the days when people suspected me of binging and purging because I was sooooo skinny?  People used to say I was “tiny” – now I’m “thick”?  SHOOT ME.  NOW.

So…  I finally manned-up and went to the Doctor about not sleeping and I got the third degree about why a new patient would be seeing a doctor to get sleeping pills (shocking, huh?)  He was pretty intimidating and I don’t really blame him.  I’m sure I’m not the first semi-normal looking yahoo that’s waltzed in to his office looking for a scrip.  Whilst being interrogated about why I was looking for sleeping pills it totally slipped my mind to bring up the fact that my stomach has been killing me since my birthday.  Not surprisingly the day after I see a doctor about my insomnia I end up at the Acute Care Center at UCSF doubled over in agonizing pain.  (FYI – UCSF rules!  Go there if you’re sick and in SF!)  After 2 weeks off work I ended up taking almost another 2 days off last week while I was high as a kite on Percocet

The good news is that the meds they gave me for my stomach are working finally.  And just as good is that I lost 7 pounds last week!  HAHA  Well, if you can’t find the silver lining what’s the point, right?  Yesterday Haley and I did Tai Chi AND walked, and this morning I got my well-rested ass out of bed at 6am (yes SIX!) and walked again – though much more vigorously without The Child.  We now have a pact that we must walk after dinner every night in order to earn our 40 calorie frozen juice bar.  I’m also obsessively measuring and counting everything.  I am challenging myself to see how much I can drop before my trip to Colorado next month.  I *am* eating right and exercising so STFU if you feel the urge to get all up in my business about that

Seemingly 2009 was off to a relatively decent start – time off, addressed health issues, addressed the horrifying numbers on my scale… except for one thing.

While I was on the phone to the Help Nurse who suggested my trip to UCSF about my stomach, my boss tapped me on the shoulder and told me to meet him in one of the conference rooms when I got off the phone.  I work for an investment bank – I’m sure you can see the handwriting on the wall, can’t you?  He was waiting there for me with the personnel lady.  We had the talk that countless numbers have had lately.  Economic downturn… blah blah… reduction in workforce… blah blah…  your hours are going to be cut in half… blah… WHAT?  Yeah…  I’m getting put on half-time as of Feb. 1st.  Maybe…  I also have the option of cutting my hours to zero.

2009 blew in on a technicolor whirlwind, but now I’m left to ponder just what I am going to do.  Every crazy thought imaginable has crossed my mind and I can’t deny that most of them revolve around me being sick and tired of being sick and tired doing office work.  It sucks to be a victim of your own skills.  I am very employable in an office and I make decent money doing it – but I’m not happy.  It’s nice to be able to travel and buy a new sofa, but on a daily basis I feel like I’m just frittering my life away.

I’ve got lots to think about…  I’ll try to be better at posting but it’s likely to be my ruminations on my future, and unless you enjoy being a voyeur to someone’s not-too-interesting life, it probably won’t be too thrilling.  Hopefully the wit and charm you’ve grown to expect on this here blog – SHHH! – will return sooner rather than later!

On thin ice

 Today I got all the other kids in our office “family” to come in to work.  It turned in to an unofficial holiday outing – we had a blast!  Between me and two guys in my office we have 5 kids aged 8 to 11 and they all get along famously.

After skating my boss gave me a nice little gift…  “working from home” for the rest of the year (Of course there’s nothing I can do from home!)

Edumacation FAIL

My alma matter is named here…  Now you’ll understand the quality education I received

Christmas in Overdrive

Well, we’ve certainly had a few days of CHRISTMAS!! festivities around these parts.  They have largely sucked the life force from me worn me out so I’m going to rely on pictures rather than my usual witty narrative

Thursday – Haley’s Christmas program…  Her class did a “news story” where she played her 2nd Grade teacher, and the Easter Bunny who lamented how Santa got all the good publicity…

Saturday – yesterday – we went up to Willits to see Sandi and Sal.  They had snow on Tuesday and some still stuck around.  Haley had fun being a country girl, playing in the last bits left in the yard.

Today Tim & Robin and Rachel came to see Miss Haley in the Christmas pageant at church. 

We were all a bit surprised her halo didn’t burst in to flames

Tomorrow will be another big advenure day – all the kids in my office are going ice skating.  Pray for me.  I’ll take pictures!

Hopefully a short-lived addition to our Christmas Eve traditions

In the Czech Republic, single women go out on Christmas Eve day and toss shoes. With their backs to the door, they throw one of their shoes over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel facing the door, she’ll find herself single for another year. If the shoe lands with the toe facing the door, it means she should start making wedding plans.

Rae – you game?  Do we do MY front door or the real front door?

I dare you to stay grumpy…

… after listening to Christmas carols played on a banjo!  There was a guy in Embarcadero Station picking away furiously, fabulously and I’m still smiling.  I got all the way to the other end of the station, turned around and walked back. 

 That man totally deserved the five-spot I put in his banjo case.  You just can’t put a price on a smile that lasts over 2 hours.  But then again, maybe that’s from the champagne that started flowing the minute I got to my desk

This is not the guy that was playing, but you get the point

Audacity of Hope?

…  Hope is seeming much less audacious these days.  It feels like a promise, a birthright is being renewed.  Last night I saw it, I didn’t just feel it. 

(Warning:  an attempt at a post of substance:  written by me, from my narrow perspective, an admission of my own imperfect view of the world, but intended in a wholly positive light.)

Gingerbread Houses from talented people

Gingerbread a’la Eichler.  Mid-Century Modern Awesome!

Someone needs to put this engineering talent to work for the Peace Corps!  A firehouse!

Oh, to have this much time on my hands!