Marathon girl/Ode to Madison

This was Olivia's morning on Saturday. First, my prima ballerina gave a stunning performance in her final dance class. I admit, I think I cried I was so proud. She actually listened intently. The last photo is actually a movie of part of the class, if it comes out, my ballerina is on the left. Then it was on to KG & the Ranger, a Roy Rodgers act that was part of a free kid's series that our arts center does. Olivia liked the rope tricks and the harmonica best. I have no photos of Olivia listening to the trombone at our Children's Museum's "Meet the Musician" series, but that was what's next. Olivia's assesment-it was loud!! Next picture is Olivia examining where the honey we buy at Farmer's Market comes from, finshing up the morning with Mac& Cheese pizza and a giant cookie shaped like a cow we bought a Farmer's Market.

Now I can say a lot of not so nice things about Madison, especially in the winter, but on Saturdays like this I can honestly say that if you have children, Madison is a great city. Olivia's ballet class is two minutes from our house and all the other events were withing walking distance to each other. Oh and parking is $1.25 and hour. Eat your heart out urban wastelanders!! We actually park in Chad's employee spot for free, even better. Lunch for three included 4 slices of the best pizza in town and drinks, less than $10. I went though Farmer's Market and I could have bought produce, meat, eggs, chesse, baked goods, homemade jellies and salsas you name it, from the largest Farmer's Market in the country all grown within 60 miles of my home. Thanks to the university, Olivia sat with her friends Ethan and Madison (who are first generation Chinese-Americans) at KG&Ranger and then said goodbye to Ethan because he is leaving for China next week to visit his family for a month. We sat on the steps to our state capitol building, ate our cookie and waved to runners completing a charity walk/run in one of the "most fit" cities in America. We then drove home past the lake where we saw sailboaters and fishermen out enjoying perfect 75 degree weather.

Madison, I know I am literally a fair-weather fan. Today I want to apologize about griping about the cold, the dirty hippies that play their horrible music and refuse to get a job, the lack of a Container Store. I am sorry that I mock the city council meetings and the endless dithering about the political correctness of our sister city, and that I curse at the college students and their drain on my tax dollars. Oh, and that no good Chinese food thing. I didn't meant it, Imperial Palace is fine. So, let's kiss and make up because I got to sit and the bank of the lake today and feed ducks. Then, as it swam so close we could touch it, I taught my daughter how a muskrat uses it's tail to swim. After that, she's forever yours.

Monday Blahs

I am suffering from a serious case of the Monday blahs. Every couple of months I do what I am sure every mother from the beginning of time has done, I think to myself, "I cannot unload that dishwasher, not even one more time." From there it spirals into my disdain for the inevitable monotony of life with a small child. Routine is so important for them, and usually me too. Some days though, you just want something to really change. Most days it is easy to strip down to undies and paint with our feet, or pull out everything in the pantry and smell it, but some days you just need to be blah.

Probably just coming down off the high of a great weekend, with great pictures that I will post during naptime.

Why reading is bad for you

I decided to do this post because it relates to both my brother-in-law's blog and Angie's blog today. As you may have noticed, I was reading a book called The Devil's Picnic last week and I regret it immensely now. The book was basically about foods and other substances that are banned in certain countries and why. However, because it is not the most well-written book ever it goes off on a lot of related tangents. One of these tangents was about all the hormones and additives that are placed in beef in the United States.

The night I finished the book, we had steak and I don't know if it was mental, or something in the meal was just too rich (like the homemade pound cake), but I was ill, ill, ill. I tried to break it gently to Chad the other day that I don't think that after reading about this, and other things that I could really stomach red meat anymore. He was not digging that at all. I also cut out caffeine and most of my refined sugars this week. The first few days were terrible, which was very surprising to me because I don't consume a huge amount of caffeine to begin with. I have never had a headache like that, though. Which convinced me I was doing the right thing, and my husband that he was never kicking the habit. So I am not saying that I won't have a cup of coffee ever again, but I will strive for decaf because right now I am feeling terrific.

SO keep with your running Sean!!! Angie, don't read Kitchen Confidential because it is one thing to give up red meat, but quite another to never eat in a restaurant again.

I'll tell you what's WACK

I typically don't post art history stuff because it is one of those obscure things that no body wants to talk about at a party. On the rare occasion that someone does ask me what my major in college was, and I tell them it is an immediate conversation halter. On occasion, I do get the snarky, "And what did you do with that?" comment. That's when the inner dialog comes in handy because the response in my head is always, "I a got a F@#$ing job just like you did, you moron." But see, the I in me moderates that comment. Handy.

So I decided to include this one only because I thought it might be interest to those in the blogosphere. It is the web site of LA MOCA's new exhibit, but when you get there all it is, is a blog. Wow, that was awkward to type. Here is my question, why does no one recognize that the blog is not an appropriate forum for everything? I just want to know who is in the damn exhibit. Some link to news articles reviewing the exhibit maybe? Not Jill Schmill's (it's a feminist art exhibit there are no men) opinion on the forum they held last week. You want to create a dialog, that's fine, you're a feminist you are nothing but the dialog, but do it as a link to the freaking exhibit site. Let the rest of us who don't buy into your insipid diatribe, yet are forced to acknowledge your important place in the canon, be.

If you force people into the dialog, all you are going to get is the unchecked I and it is not pretty.

A nod to my Sex and the City girls

Now, I am no fashion icon, if it can't be washed 500 times it does not belong in my wardrobe. However, I am a fashion addict, read Vogue, Project Runway is in my top 3. So, this site made me chuckle, simple because he refers to himself as "the Manolo" and speaks about himself in the third person. It is one of my getTrio treasures.

getTrio is another insidious marketing ploy by the people of Bravo that I fall prey to. When will I learn? Probably around the time women stop wanting to be a six and praying to win the lottery so they can buy a $5,000 bag, that's when.

Confessions of a car rocker

I will admit right here and now to being that person that you see singing and dancing to themselves in their car. Sometimes I use the kid as cover, but most times, it's just me. I used to be really self-conscious about it, but these days I am embracing my inner extrovert. Has anyone else ever taken those Myers-Briggs tests? Well I am exactly in the middle of introvert and extrovert. I always thought that was so weird, but I guess it is the inner dialog that keeps me there. I can't bring myself to say all the nasty things I think in my head.

Anyways, since my kid is 100% extrovert I have decided to support it by leading with extroverted example, rocking in the car, singing along in music class (I was shocked at how many parents don't) and actually doing the poses in mom and tot yoga. I looked around and I was the only one really going for it, and that made me really sad. So I am here to tell you to go for it. Do all the things that you once thought ridiculous and embarrassing, it is pretty fun. If you need a small child for cover you may borrow mine, because the look of pure excitement on her face when she sees someone else out there with her makes it all worth it.

Spring Fever

Since we couldn't take Olivia too many places this weekend we tried to find some fun things in the yard. I have a certified black thumb, but I do an excellent job of pulling weeds, and since that's all my entire wasteland of a yard is, I need a helper. So here we are pulling weeds, and mostly looking for worms. This is a perfect montage of Olivia's reaction to most things creepy crawly. Shock and fear, overwhelming curiosity and finally undying love. Since these photos were taken we have had conversations with ants, flies, Asian beetles and many, many worms.

The weather was so beautiful on Sunday that I froze my ass off in capris on Monday because I refused to admit that the warm weather was gone.

Back Into the Swing

of some things. We are still a little off from the weekend, but today has been our first day where we feel like Olivia is back to her old self. Thanks well wishers!

Doctor Duty

Olivia has strep throat. It is the first really serious illness that she has ever had (except for our five crazy days in the ER the summer after she was born) and it is a true test of how well Chad and I do in scary situations. For instance, I panic. When Olivia wandered into my room at 1 AM and I realized her temp was 104 (she topped out at 105.5), my first reaction was ER. Chad, thank goodness, recognized my need to panic and very calmly and reasonably talked me out of the crazy tree. So now my normally boisterous baby is staring glassy-eyed at the tv.

Now that I know what is wrong with her I am doing much better. I am methodical about administering medicines, keeping track of how much fluid is going in and out coming up with creative ways to keep her entertained in bed, etc. I am a good nurse. Chad, on the other hand is a great decision-maker, yes or no to more Advil, yes or no to solids, yes or no to going outside. It's the same when we cook, I am always the sous-chef. A little unexpected given Chad and I's personalities, but true.

I've actually gotten her to sleep for a stretch so I am going to go shower so that I won't small like vomit anymore. I might get to see my husband tonight for the first time in five days so I am very excited!!!

Love Story

Today while I was folding laundry Amelie came on. I don't like to watch movies or read books twice, but I will make the occasional exception for the story of two oddballs in love. It reminds that my eighth anniversary is in just a few weeks. My Prince Charming parked his car in the wrong spot in the parking garage today and immediately panicked and thought someone had stolen his brand new car.

Ahh, baby. Love story- you and me, it even has a happy ending.

Fanatic

A few weeks ago my friend Angie had a post about her weird obsessions and I, of course, said reading. I also said Penzey's (Vietnamese cinnamon, how I love thee) but that is a post for another day. Now I don't think that reading is weird, however, I must say that I take it to the extreme. I knew Chad was the one for me when we were sitting at a meal together and realized that we were both subtly trying to read the back of the ketchup bottle while we were talking.

Within my reading obsession is my distinct, passionate and unrivaled love for magazines. You could put anything in a magazine format and I will read it. Unless you made it really big like W, that's just unwieldy, or really small, like Reader's Digest. Then I'm just downright suspicious. So, today while picking up my book club selection at the library (yeah, yeah I'm reading it) I couldn't resist picking up Bitch magazine. I had heard an interview with the ed in chief on NPR forever ago, but never got around to picking it up. Well, I laughed and laughed in the two minutes I had to look it over. Then I went to their web site and saw a link to Book Slut. Love IT!!! It makes me sad that I don't do more web surfing.

My favorite article in Bitch- reviews of new "women's" magazines and Bitch's cut to the chase about how insipid and condescending they are. Will it stop me from reading In Touch at Spa Week? No, it will not.

Brain Dump

So when I am really stressed out, or just feeling generally frazzled I do what I call a brain dump. This is a term I am sure I picked up from reading one of those manage you time effectively, get more organized books that I read. It consists of just making a list of everything that is out there bugging me, nagging in the back corner of mind, or simply needs to be done right now. They are usually huge lists. I then break them down and add the things to my on-going to-do lists (I have three) and then pick one thing to do right now. It always makes me feel more in control of my life.

It never occurred to me that this was a thing to be mocked until my friend Stephanie e-mailed last night because she was watching some show about the mother of sextuplets who, obviously, needs to be very organized. Apparently, because this woman makes shopping lists and keeps an inventory of her freezer (how else do you know what's in there? I have two for God's sake) she is like me, and that was very funny to Stephanie.

I would like to say that my child has stolen my short term memory, please do not laugh at my lists, they are what keep me from wandering around and muttering to myself "Oil change, oil change, wash ballet tights, sour cream." They would put me away in the looney bin and then I would be the only one laughing, albeit maniacally.

Taking out the trash

Isn't this what the news media types call all the stories that people release at, like, 4 PM on Friday? Anyway, Chad bought a new car that is already broken. It is silver and seemingly much larger, though how much of that is in our minds remains to be seen. I got food poisoning over the weekend and that sucked. We celebrated last weekend's holiness at the IKEA and bought a new table that finally folds down small enough to stay in the family room permanently. No chairs to sit at it with, c'est la vie. We bought a lot of cute stuff to hang in Olivia's play room, but I have given up ever putting the last coat of paint on there, so there you have it. Oh, and Chad worked a lot. Oh, and I have an ear infection. SO this is where blogger block comes from, too much traveling, work, the aggravation of buying and selling a car and trying to get in and out of the IKEA without killing yourself or others.

What's new with everyone else?

Oh the humanity!

I am trying not to curse about the fact that I live in a place where fresh avocados are never grown. I, however, am cursing about the fact that I do not have a vendor that would ever hand pick anything for me. Thank God Farmer's Market starts in a week. Expect photos.

Frickin delicious

We were in the car this weekend and that insipid Fergie song "Fergielicious" came on and Chad turns to Olivia and says, "Baby, tell Mama that SHE's Fergilicious." Olivia, with a huge grin looks at me and says, "Mama, you're frickin delicious. You smell good for dinner."

It's not Fergielicious, but I guess it'll have to do.

Snowed In

Typically, six inches of snow in April would be enought to throw me into a hysterical frenzy about how much I hate the Midwest. However, last week was so crazy that it was great to have an excuse to just stay inside, drink big mugs of cocoa and do what my girl and I love to do most. The picture does not show the huge stacks of books on the floor. It was incredibly beautiful and then it was gone. Goodbye winter, living with Olivia has helped me remember the joys of snow and snowed in.

Blogger block

Sorry, everyone. It has been a hectic week here with Chad's work, selling the car, weather and all sorts of various miscellany. I do have a ton to report, including the spoils of my IKEA trip, but it all includes pictures so I will have to do like six posts at once later this evening. I was having a hard time getting motivated to post this week, but the life has become uncorked (literally we are busting out the champagne tonight) and I will catch you all up. Thanks for your patience.

Saying Grace

Yesterday I took Olivia to the hospital for what turned out to be her final appointment to the urologist. After three years Olivia has two kidneys that are the exact same size. It is one of those things that you never thought could be that big of a deal, but the minute that it is your baby, well you worry. A lot. I remember the day the doctor told us that Olivia had two different sized kidneys. I called my mother and cried, for an hour. They are so tiny and so helpless, it doesn't matter if it isn't your fault and there was nothing that you could have done to prevent it. You never stop blaming yourself when it is your baby.

Yesterday, we got to hug our wonderful nurses and our physician's assistant who has seen Olivia since the week she was born. Tricia called it graduation day. We laughed and waved goodbye, we did not stop at the desk to make a follow up appointment. Then Olivia went to say goodbye to all her friends in the waiting room. So many kids waiting for their day to come, so many parents suffering through things that we can only imagine. My heart and thoughts will always be with them, and I will never forget how lucky I am to have a healthy, happy child.

The sentiment is not lost on me that this is Easter weekend. This is the weekend where I was raised to believe that second chances happen, miracles are real and God's grace will come to all who earn it. I hope it comes for those kids, fast

This proves my theory

That they are, in fact, putting crack in my Starbucks. Chad wants to know who the poor sucker is that is getting 30 mg, because we think Madison has the 200mg version.

Pillow Talk-A Scene In One Act

Chad: Complaining about the order in which ESPN is showing baseball highlights Who cares about the Oriels?

Liz: Watching Mastercard commercial Forget that. Why does the elephant buy the soup first? The soup should be last so it stays hot. To self-Why an elephant? A monkey could make the trip much faster.

Chad:What are you talking about?

Liz: I should make a blog post about the things we talk about after we turn off the light, we're funny.

Chad: I hope the post isn't as long as your talking after the light goes out.

PS

I realized that I was just throwing around the whole rocket scientist cliche, but I actually get to say that I know a rocket scientist now. One our friends is an honest-to-God rocket scientist. He doesn't put in on his business card though. I totally would. So, I'm going on Friendster now to find me a brain surgeon friend. Sorry, Brit oncology is nice and all, but now that we have a rocket scientist that kind of raises the bar. We'll still keep you for that whole Fulbright Scholarship thing though, and you did marry a guy who builds robots.

ANTM-The Mommy Cycle

So for all you reality tv show people out there if you are not watching America's Next Top Model, you should be. It is the best of the worst. They take random teenage girls out of a shopping mall and unleash Tyra Banks' crazy ass on them. They do challenges, and photo shoots and runway walks and make modeling seem like rocket science. While I am willing to admit it is not as easy as just standing there and looking pretty, I can't take it this seriously.

So I have decided to develop my own pilot. America's Next Top Mommy. It will be for all the late twenties/early thirties mothers out there who can still remember when they were thin and willing to sit in a freezing cold pool in a bikini, but want to be reassured that what they are doing now is just as hard. Frankly, motherhood is a lot like modeling. You can make it look like it takes a rocket scientist, but really as most MTV shows prove, any jackass you pick up in a mall can do it.

We'll have challenges like throwing you into a playgroup and you have to remember the kids' AND the moms' names. Or- It's your kids birthday, you are bringing the treat to school, but wait! One of the kids is a allergic to nuts and eggs, but your kid is still insisting on cupcakes!!!! I could host the final challenge where you have your period, you were up all night completing the perfect no-sew Halloween costume and now your kid is whining that they want to be something different, plus the hamster is loose. America's Next Top Mommy cannot lose her temper. If you do the host, me, starts screaming at you, "What, your kid is whining? I have chaperoned pre-school field trips where all twelve children whined. Twelve! Maybe you just aren't cut out for this business." Okay, maybe that's only funny if you have seen the show. Tyra's always had it worse.

Oxygen, Lifetime, call me I think I have a winner. I could reduce more grown women to tears than Supernanny.

I love NOLA

Liv and I were listening to our NOLA Playground cd which is like zydeco for kids and I was thinking about how much I miss NO. I have been twice now and I can't wait to get back. I love the decay, the art, the food, and even the booze. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am NOT a drinker, but in NO I am. It brings out the romantic in me, a whole city whose life's ambition is to do nothing.

In this moment I could almost sacrifice my birthday snowboarding trip. Almost.

Opening day

Go A's, Cards, Cubbies, Red Sox, Giants and any other team Chad tries to claim as his own if it means he gets to watch one more game. I love Opening Day as long as I don't think about all the subsequent days that I will be watching pitch, hit, catch and repeat. I love you baby, I hope you and your girl had a great time!

You can't return to Neverland

I have been excited about the re-release of Peter Pan, not only because I remember it fondly, but because Olivia loves anything pirate! This ensemble includes a hook and sword and is usually worn with her adorable skull and crossbones dress that I scored from H&M. So last night we rent it and I am shocked. Does anyone else remember Peter Pan being horribly racist and portraying all the women in the movies as completely shallow, two dimensional characters that exist to serve Peter Pan? There is actually a line about the "red-man" being cunning, but not intelligent. Granted the "red-man" wins in the end, but only with the help of Peter Pan.

Angie-do not even say it! I am not trying to be a PC freak, I know this was done in another time. I love Barbie as much as the next girl, and consider the stuff about her distorting my body image as complete bunk. Yet, by the end of Peter Pan I was furious. How do I reconcile watching a movie about a misogynist narcissist as entertaining? Yet, where does it end? Every Disney princess movie ever made is about a girl who wants nothing in this world other than to find herself a man to rescue her from her woes. Why are princesses always motherless? I don't want to be a killjoy, but how much of this stuff can a little girl take before it undermines all the women in her life that are doctors, lawyers, principals and professionals?

Note the irony of her being photographed in front of her princess castle!