Oct. 9, 2006
Front Porch Update
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Well, my lovely front porch is not yet finished, but it now EXISTS! We are Tyvek-ed and sporting a new roof and well sealed up for the winter months. The porch still needs railings and stairs and pretty posts and a ceiling and lights, but its coming along! My husband has to get back to the PAYING work now, so I may try to talk him into teaching ME to put up the railings. Granted, it will take 10 times as long and not be as precise, but I will LEARN! And after all, we homeschoolers are all about the learnin' lifestyle. So, I just have to post an in progress photo! Here's my rather shabby looking classic milltown 1936 house this past July:  And now...with a new porch, new siding, new roof, some new windows (not pictured) and a TRASHED front yard   So now I need some great suggestions from all you folks out there who are highly skilled in landscaping! |
Oct. 4, 2006
Bathroom Scale: 0 -- Me: 1
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I have a fear of my bathroom scale. Probably not unlike most women. It took me years before I would even buy one, then I decided that such thinking was ridiculous and irrational. Why be afraid of a scientific hunk of plastic and metal? I'm not overweight, but like most other women, I grew up on television and however unrealistic it is, somewhere in my mind I still find it completely unfair that I'm not built like the female cast of "Friends". So I sneak by my scale on an almost daily basis trying to ignore it or occasionally casting furtive glances its way. My husband on the other hand will stand on it right in front of me and say, "Check it out! 201 pounds!" He is 6 foot 3 and seems to fluctuate between 190 and 210 pounds with no effort at all. And of course, my two young girls stand on it for fun and exclaim any increase in weight with great joy! Oh, to have THAT attitude! To make a long boring story short, I have a syndrome that makes me predisposed to gain weight if I'm not careful. How desirable is THAT on top of all my female angst over appearance and weight?! Like so many other things, it became obvious to me that such rantings and worryings should be given to God. Fear of my silly little bathroom scale seems ridiculous and quite self-indulgent in the face of so many greater issues. However, that doesn't excuse me from taking responsibility for myself. So I adopted a consistent exercise routine and after months of this I finally climbed on the scale and discovered that I have lost 8 pounds! And I have muscle in previously unmuscled areas! HOORAH! More energy and better health! Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with having an hour to oneself in the morning! (I exercise before the rest of my family gets up.) Now if only the Tillamook Mudslide ice cream would cease its siren call from the freezer! And if I can keep up this exercise routine in the face of the holiday season! I figure something about typing it in here for all the homeschooling world to see makes me somewhat more accountable. While I enjoy exercise and all the benefits thereof, I find "dieting" impossible and have a hard time finding truly healthy recipes that my whole family would enjoy. Anyone have any favorites that they don't mind sharing? I won't say that my illogical fear of the bathroom scale is completely gone, but this week when I walk past it, I know who won. |
Sep. 29, 2006
Plunger Wielding She-Ra - Mother of Power!
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I am not a girly girl. I have no fear of breaking a nail when I do the dishes, or of getting downright filthy when working outside. Although I don't care for spiders and certain bugs, I don't scream or jump on chairs when I'm liberating them from our house. Lately I've cleaned up some pretty horrific potty training accidents. I am, in fact, generally the one who mows the lawns and washes the cars. But I draw the line at certain activities. When it comes to gutting animals, identifying that strange clunking noise coming from the car, or doing anything to do with plumbing or electricity or crawling under houses, count me out. Clearly, that is a "boy job". However, today I added plumber to the list of capabilities in my repertoire. I mean, I'm not adding it to my resume or anything, nor do I believe that handling a plunger qualifies me for a license to plumb. But I've definitely developed a new skill. At the same time, I seem to have solved the case of the disappearing toilet paper. (I have a daughter who has recently become very interested in detective work, so forgive me if every activity in my life here lately takes on the flavor of a Nancy Drew novel.) My youngest daughter, in her zeal to now take care of her potty issues on her own, asks me to leave once she is seated on her little "throne". ("GET OUT MOM!" --my strong willed younger daughter does not mince words.) So I haven't really been monitoring toilet paper usage. As it turns out, half the roll, along with the tube itself was used and tossed in the toilet at wiping time. For the last few days my husband had been remarking about how fast we're going through toilet paper. I grew up in a house with 4 girls and 1 dad...I know about quickly disappearing toilet paper. Alternatively, my husband grew up in a house with 3 boys and 1 mom. He knows nothing of toilet paper requirements. Today, as I heard from the bathroom, "OH NO! YUCKY YUCKY YUCKY!" (never what you want to hear from the bathroom)...the issue became clear. I ran in to find my entire bathroom floor covered with toilet water. Mind you, had my husband been home, I would have immediately thrown my hands up in the air and ran out to the shop to find him ("Fix it! Fix it!") Instead, I tiptoed thru the mess to the closet for the plunger (What do I do with this thing?) Then, having no clue what to do with it, (pathetic, isn't it?) I took cues from any movie I've ever seen when a plunger has been used and stuck it in the toilet. With one foot on a step stool and one on the toilet seat, I wielded my weapon and within minutes the toilet was drained. I have to admit, I was truly grossed out as I used all of my old towels to mop up the floor. I guess I needed to scrub my bathroom from top to bottom anyway. Anyway, with a half naked and slightly damp two year old under one arm and an extra large plunger in the other, I truly feel I am segueing into the well rounded mother I hope one day to become. Maybe I'll learn to change the oil in my car next. |
Sep. 27, 2006
Our mini break...here and gone (but not forgotten!)
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By the way, I never mentioned it after our mini break 2 weekends ago, but we had an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend away. We spent our hours reading, playing games, visiting, sitting around the campfire, fishing, watching the kids splash in the water, napping and watching the river and its myriad creatures go by. No one wanted to come home. So for those in proximity to the Pacific Northwest and willing to spend a bit of $...I highly recommend the Kalama River Ranch. Lovely cabins, spectacular setting. Here's a photo of the fam with the river as a lovely backdrop:  What was DIFFICULT was coming back and diving headlong into school again, along with following up on the potty training, getting the outside of our torn up house back in order and weather-proofed, continuing to can the bountiful harvest (pears and green beans now) and watching my lovely 6 month old niece. REALITY...sigh. However, school is going well so far. We are using Beautiful Feet for American history, Apologia and misc for Science, Sonlight for Language Arts (loosely), Math U See, and I'm trying out "How Great Thou Art" for art classes, and an inductive Bible Study book that I found on www.cbd.com. My daughter has also suddenly become interested in newswriting, so she is making her own little newspaper which opens a door for all kinds of language arts and computer instruction. Off and on lately I feel frustrated with not accomplishing all that I want to. Never once do a doubt that I'm doing the right thing with homeschooling. It's just that sometimes I doubt that I'm doing it the right way or well enough or something... (Could I be under attack?) Perhaps being under attack (hello doubt, frustration, impatience and irritation!) is a sign that our homeschool IS going the right direction? Must pray... Anyway...its evening and I'm tired. Lately I've been feeling like climbing into bed at about 8 p.m. and curling up with a selection from the stacks of books awaiting my attention on the nightstand. So...on that note...I will leave you with one more lovely picture of my youngest and I from our weekend away...(my aunt takes lovely photos!)  |
Sep. 25, 2006
A Happy Update
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I haven't checked in in awhile, other than to read other people's blogs and thought I would share the few "major" announcements I have. Caribootude is the best. Her potty training advice is unbeatable. I refer all bloggers to her when potty training is the issue! HHH. My 2 year old has....(drum roll).....pooped on the potty. Yes, I know its graphic, but I can't waste time with delicacy. After 2 weeks of effort and struggle, cajoling and bribing, pleading and whining, and cleaning up unspeakably awful messes, we are DIAPER free. I think its a miracle. You would have thought my whole family just won a free cruise to Disneyland via the Chocolate Factory. We all celebrated and danced around the porcelain throne with my tiny little curly haired princess and then escorted her to the kitchen for a bowl of ice cream topped with M&M's and sprinkles. Later, as a family we took her out for a special dinner (she requested nachos) and to buy a movie of her choice (well, sorta of her choice...we vetoed a few and settled on "Fraggle Rock"). As my husband said yesterday while we were installing siding on the house together and after my young one's major success..."It's a GOOD day." On another happy note...we got our permits, we passed inspection, we hired a roofer and the front porch is going to be taking shape THIS WEEK! I know I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I have fall decorations and Halloween lights just WAITING for that front porch. Heck, I'm already planning how to decorate it for Christmas! Before and after pictures will be forthcoming after there is an after worth viewing. I'm telling you. God is good and we are feeling blessed! In this past year, God has done some spiritual "pruning" in our lives, but on the other side of it, I can truly rejoice and know that my heart and my life are better for it. It is such an affirmation to the fact that He is listening to my prayers and working in my life in ways that I could never have dreamt up. I just pray now that our family really begins to bear some good fruit in the coming year. As we slog into our 3rd week of homeschooling this year, I am so sure and so thankful to know that I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Speaking of homeschooling...anyone out there used KONOS? What did you think? Any words of wisdom? Thoughts? I came across a Volume 1 set of KONOS and it looks awfully intriguing. What else....OH! The canning is almost done. As I type this my house is smelling like one big Mexican Fiesta! I have about 10 gallons of salsa in my kitchen sitting on the counter allowing flavors to blend before I can it for the family to enjoy all year. I also like to package up my canned goods in baskets with raffia and festive fabric and other little goodies and use for Christmas gifts. This year I have preserved applesauce, apple pie filling, pears, peaches, green beans, strawberry jam, apricot preserves, peach preserves, salsa, dill pickles, peas and pickled beets. The only things left on my list are tuna (if we can get it fresh oceanside), corn (for blanching and freezing) and apple cider (we have a great cider press that is a wonderful way for using up all the extra apples around here). Nothing beats home-frozen corn and slushy homemade apple cider on Thanksgiving! My biggest problem today? No tortilla chips with which to test this lovely salsa. Oh, to never have a bigger problem than this! |
Sep. 19, 2006
Tag! I'm IT! I feel so SPECIAL!
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When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up? I remember wanting to be Crystal Gayle. Or Daisy Duke. I also wanted to be a teacher (sometimes I'm so cool it hurts) I used to make my younger sister spend hours doing worksheets I made for her when she was 4 years old. She has probably never forgiven me, but I DID teach her to read and add and subtract before kindergarten! (and no, I haven't tortured my own children that way...that special brand of torture is for younger sisters only.)
What do you want to do when your kids grow up? OH man...right now I could write a book on the things I want to do when my kids are grown, but I'm sure when I get there, I'll just miss having my BABIES. Let's see...I wanna do things with my man...fishing, he wants me to join him in bow-hunting (shooting a bow has a romantic Errol-Flynn kind of image associated with it, and I like to eat wild game meat, but I don't think I could shoot bambi), a bit of travel, would LOVE to take swing dancing lessons with him. I want to write more, and work on all my little projects, quilting, scrapbooking, knitting. Maybe pick up a few new hobbies. I've always been interested in trying wierd crafts like pysanky (Ukrainian egg decorating). I also want to be one of those "iron man" type grannies. I'm one of those sickos who actually ENJOYS exercise...lots of different forms...if I didn't LOVE food so much and dedicated more time to exercise, I'd be in a lot better shape now. Plus, I want to be in good shape to wrestle with all the grandkids I hope to one day have!
Who did you look up to when you were a child/teen? My dad. And Indiana Jones.
How about now? My dad. And Indiana Jones.
List your 3 favorite childhood foods. Jello cheesecake with cherry pie filling on topHot dogs with mashed potatoes and cheese cinnamon toast mom's homemade fudge grandma's homemade divinity (You didn't think I could list just 3 did you?)
Now what are they? this is too hard. I LOVE FOOD.Ummmm...fettucine alfredo with homemade french bread and white wine Bucona Dolce (a heavenly meringue, whipped cream, berry and chocolate dessert my pastry chef sister makes) salmon dinner at the Ark Restaurant in Long Beach And I still like all those other things too.
Name your top 3 music favorites as a teen? This is impossible too... Let's see...I have to list a handful...Jethro Tull, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Simon & Garfunkel, Sting, David Bowie, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith
Top 3 now? again...impossible...I love the Randy Travis gospel CD right now...and the Jack Johnson soundtrack to Curious George. I'm kinda out of the loop for new music....I still like Jethro Tull, Bruce Springsteen from "Tunnel of Love" forward, Sting, Simon & Garfunkel, the Chieftains, the old crooners like Dean Martin and Keely Smith, CSNY, Lyle Lovett, Norah JonesThough, mostly right now, I just like SILENCE.
3 interesting things about you then. I smoked pot a couple times in college. I decided that anything that made you eat that much Ben & Jerry's MUST be bad. I used to have a mullet when I was in grade school. I once dressed like Indiana Jones for Halloween. It was hideous. 3 interesting things about you now. My great-grandmother was Martha of Cheaper by the Dozen. My great-aunt and great-uncle wrote the book. Part of a royalty check that my mom got from the recent Steve Martin movie adaptation paid for my new Gucci glasses.I sang karaoke at my sister's wedding reception. The song was "Kiss" by Prince. I can't sing. Also, I had the stomach flu at the time. I really want to learn to swing dance and I mean REALLY swing dance...the kind of dancing you see in the movie "Swing Kids".
List your favorite 3 books as a child/teen. The Secret GardenHeidi Anything by Roald Dahl
What are they now? The Bible and J. Vernon McGee's Bible commentariesThe Secret Garden anything by Roald Dahl and about a million others
List your 3 favorite childhood/teen places. We never went much of anywhere...I would have gone CRAZY over Disneyland sooo...probably... Long Beach and Cannon Beach South Bend to my great aunt's house camping on the Olympic Peninsula
Now where do you most enjoy going (top 3). Disneyland (living out my unfulfilled childhood) Coeur D'Alene Lake, IDAHO the beach
What were your favorite 3 movies? this is impossible... A Room with a View Labyrinth
Now your 3 favorite movies are? again...totally impossiblePride & Prejudice (the BBC version) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy about a million others
How about TV shows back then? (3) Little House on the PrairieThe Muppet Show 21 Jump Street (a totally DUMB show, I know, but Johnny Depp was in it!)
TV now? (3) Little House on the Prairie The Muppet Show That 70s Show(We haven't had TV for 6 years...so I'm not exactly up on the programming. A friend just lent me "Lost" - the first season- and I'm looking forward to diving into this highly recommended show) How many kids did you think you would have? Four
How many DO you have? Two (but it ain't over till its over!)
List 3 things you thought you would do when you grew up? Did you do them? Write a book - NOPE ....not yetBe a stay at home mom ...HECK YEAH!  Marry Johnny Depp....NOPE...I finally had to tell him to quit calling me. It was getting embarassing the way he threw himself at me.
List 3 things you NEVER thought you would do... that you did. Work after I had kids. I didn't want to, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.Tell my kids to turn the radio down. (I'm officially getting old) Take great pleasure in going to bed at night.
List 3 friends you are going to tag! I'm new to this blogging thing so I don't have a whole lot of friends in blog-land. Two of them have already been tagged. So probably I will tag Grace4Gayle and a couple other anonymous lucky folks out there! |
Sep. 14, 2006
Sneezing my way to a mini break
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Well, I'm not at my shining best this evening, but since I have delegated the responsibility of planning, cooking and cleaning up after dinner to my 7-year-old, and since I really don't have the energy to do much else, I thought I would share the contents of my snarky mind. I say snarky because since yesterday I have been battling a bit of a sneeze fest...at first I thought it was brought on by all the wicked remodelling dust around here. But now I am thinking it may be something more. Why do these things always come on with the changing of the seasons? Does anyone know? By the way, we are not eating hot dog buns, applesauce and ice cream for dinner as one might expect from a 7-year-old. She has planned a dinner of homemade split pea soup and store-bought garlic bread. We have decided that Thursday night is her night for doing dinner. I think it may soon become my favorite night of the week. On another note, and for those that might still be interested...we are still in potty training mode. My little princess still won't initiate the trip in there, and she still has some hang up with doing a #2 on the porcelain throne, but I think things are improving. Today, we actually HAD to go shopping, and I just couldn't handle the idea of cleaning up a mess in the middle of the store, so I resorted to a pull up. But other than that, she's been DRY ALL DAY!!! HOORAY! (I could just kiss you today caribootude). We will be going on our one and only extra short summer vacation this weekend, so we'll see what challenges that presents to our efforts. Normally we vacate for about 2 weeks every year to a house on the shores of Lake Coeur D'Alene. But with all this remodelling to the outside of our house this year, there simply wasn't the time or the money to be indulging to that measure. Dinnertime approaches, so I will cut this blog short. My 7-year-old has decked out our table with lace tablecloth and candlelight. Whatever keeps her interested! Hopefully, I will return next week with tales of fun, relaxation and blessing! |
Sep. 12, 2006
Of Aunts and Insects
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I am one of those lucky homeschooling moms who has a plethora of supportive and interested relatives when it comes to the education of my children. I feel very blessed by this and never hesitate to take on an opportunity to accept help and find learning in the daily flow of our lives. This time it turned out that my aunt and uncle found a BEAUTIFUL green bug resting comfortably on their barbeque in the backyard. A hazardous locale for such a lovely insect, they "rescued" it in the name of education. My uncle fashioned a little home for it (since it is an incredibly good jumper and likely to try liberating itself) out of a blank CD case with holes poked in it, and my wonderful aunt, being the overachiever that she is, did a very admirable amount of research on the small creature and drove to our house with a stack of printouts, a bevy of information and the lovely critter itself (named "Katy" by my aunt and "Korinna" by my 7 year old daughter). Behold our new pet/science lesson:  According to my aunt's research it is a Fork Tailed Bush Katydid. Does it take a village to raise a child? Well, I don't buy that, but it sure helps having an interested aunt and uncle or two! |
Sep. 12, 2006
The Princess on her Porcelain Throne
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I could smell fall in the air this morning. That sharp, crisp tang in the air, reminiscent of rain, dry leaves, cold air, and warm breath. On the days that I get out of the house before my husband, I walk out to the street to get our newspaper, nice and slow to soak in the morning air. Even when its raining, I don't hurry. I'm a Washingtonian after all. I laugh in the face of rain! Its far less to do with actually reading our sad excuse for a newspaper, and far more about fulfilling a morning ritual. It also gives me a chance to stand outside and look back at my little house. We've been in the process of remodelling our 1936 Longbell-style salt box since we moved in nearly 8 years ago, and only now can you really start to see the changes from the outside. New siding is going up, to replace the ancient and withering rake shake. New dark bottle green trim and storyboards, new roof, new windows, new doors and most importantly to me, a new full-length front porch. There is something in me, especially as fall approaches, that CRAVES a front porch. It has a romantic feel to it, reminiscent of the idea of gathering fresh maple syrup or knitting wool socks by a stone fireplace. Its not that our house had one when I was growing up, I grew up in a non-descript ranch style home. One might say I've been raised with a front-porch sized hole in my life. A front porch is a place to sit and watch the world go by, to read a book with your feet up and a blanket wrapped around you, to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your sweetie, to play checkers with your kids, to snap green beans and solve the world's problems. It's a place that begs for corn stalks and pumpkins in the fall, evergreen swags and twinkling lights at Christmas, hanging baskets overflowing with spring flowers as the weather warms. I'm not sure my husband understands my front porch NEEDS. He sees it as a way to improve our curb appeal for the day when we get ready to sell. And also, I'm sure, as a way to appease his longsuffering wife...ha ha. As a carpenter and a self-employed contractor, he knows he's the only man for the job. And after 6 years of begging and cajoling he seems nearly as eager as I am to get the job done (go figure!). Is it just me, or does anyone else find it ever so appealing to watch their "man at work"? I'm not talking about the overweight plumber climbing under the sink with jeans that just won't stay up in the back. (Though maybe that works for some ladies?) But a well-built husband working outside in 501's? That's the good stuff. On another note, in the midst of potty training my precocious 2 year old, remodelling our house and a mad frenzy of harvesting and canning, we HAVE started school. Is anyone else having this much trouble getting their kids out of their pajamas at 9 in the morning? Getting themselves out of pajamas at 9 a.m.? I'm telling you, my still sun-warm deck, coffee cup and reading is CALLING me at that time of the morning. My wonderful husband just came home with a rhinestone crown and clip on earrings for my 2 year old to wear ONLY while using the potty. And I can't TELL you how MUCH she wants to wear them! He's a genius! |
Sep. 11, 2006
Looking for the bright side
1:17 p.m. Is everyone ENDLESSLY interested in this process yet?  We just had 2 more successes. After the last one, Joey climbed down off the potty and said, "That's alotta peein'!" That's my girl!On another note, I am looking for the bright spots in this very strange day. Its the first time in a long time that I haven't let all my other daily household obligations plague me. The laundry sits undone. The washer is open only for our potty training failures today. Dishes are undone. Everything circulates around our "mission" today. We DID start school today, but somehow it seems easier to keep everyone on task when I've already made it clear that this one room is our DOMAIN today. (Though, it is 81 degrees outside today...we may need to move outdoors at some point.) On what other day when I have time to sit and blog? On how many other days do I have time to lean back, put my feet up and read a few pages of a book just for my own interest? And as I think about it and all the busy days of our summer, when was the last time I spent this many hours alone in a room with my precious, wonderful, imaginative little girls? How I've been craving this time with them! This is such a big part of why I love to homeschool! Truly, God has given me these girls for a reason, and today's challenges are just another piece of the puzzle. It also occurs to me that I may have changed my last diaper! Who knows if I'll be blessed with any more children. Don't get me wrong, I have no love for the parenting glory of diaper changing time. But it marks a huge step in my child's independence and a huge step away from the baby years that alternate between unspeakable joy and unfathomable weariness. I find myself feeling a bit torn, a bit triumphant, and a bit sad. Most of all, I am grateful for these two little livewire, soft-haired, pink cheeked gifts from God. |
Sep. 11, 2006
Boot Camp Potty Training Day1
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6:10 a.m. This is a lot sooner than I wanted to hear my 2 year old awake. My great plans for potty training today included at least an hour to myself in the morning to exercise and take a shower. So much for that. I rub the sleep out of my eyes, retrieve my daughter from her bed where I notice her diaper is already wet. Maybe she's not ready to stay dry all night yet? 8:30 a.m. We are confined to the computer room with the easy clean Pergo floor. Joey (my 2 year old daughter) has been notified that there are no longer diapers in the house. (It's just a small lie.) And has 10 new pairs of "big girl panties" to choose from. A whole day locked in a 12' x 12' room with a 2 year old and a 7 year old? Can this plan possibly be sane? 10:30 a.m. We have a timer and are making trips to the bathroom every 15 minutes. Success! 3 consecutive trips making NUMBER 1!!! Joey looks around herself wondering what we can possibly be cheering about. Did Elmo just walk into the room or something? 12:00 p.m. Then again.... Oh well...thank goodness for pergo floors and disinfectant wipes. I'm not above the idea of bribery... 12:50 p.m. Three pairs of "big girl panties" later and lacking some small shred of my sanity we forge onward. What am I doing wrong?!!! |
Sep. 10, 2006
Potty Training Hell?
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Tomorrow is the big day. I have committed myself to a full week (if necessary) of uninterrupted (yeah right!) intense boot-camp style potty training. Me and my two year old (who...by the way, CAN use the potty but doesn't WANT to) locked head to head in a battle of the wits (I'm in BIG trouble) over whether or not she's going to continue needing diapers. I can almost see her looking at me like Baby Stewie from "Family Guy" (yes, I know its a horribly offensive and irreverent show) and saying, "You will continue to sanitize my crevasse and be DAMNED GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!" My older daughter, now 7 and ever-compliant (for the most part) breezed thru potty training...a bit late I suppose at 3...but without much complaint. My younger daughter, at 2, is far more strong-willed and inventive in her responses to my requests. Not knowing what to do, I turned to my "friend" who has potty-trained 4 children. I put "friend" in quotes, because I don't know how I will really feel about her at the end of this week of following her advice. Either she will be the smartest and most wonderful person I have ever met who saved me from another year of the expense and disgust of diapers, or she will be a cruel harpy who will never hear the end from me! (And I say that with love, friend. You know who you are!) Sooo...more on this subject SOON. |
Sep. 10, 2006
Reaching out in (web)Space
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Well...this is my first go at writing a blog. After debating with myself for awhile why I would even WANT to blog (as opposed to just keeping a journal), I came to the conclusion that any word that makes its way into Webster's Dictionary due to its widespread use and popularity at least deserves a second look. It seems to me to be a good place to share and glean homeschooling and parenting knowledge, to air my grievances, to be a bit creative and to exercise the writing muscle that has been atrophying since I graduated from college. I thought to myself, with some amusement this morning, that my motives for writing aren't that different from young Anne Frank's: boredom, angst, a bit of fear, and a desire to make myself heard in a world full of voices. Perhaps that's not the best comparison. If nothing else, its a place to take a mental break, (or do a mental dump) after cleaning peanut butter finger smears off my windows, pulling cheerios out of my 2 year old's nostril, or listening to my kids singing the theme song to The Rescuers for the 500th time. Thank God for technology! |