Versatile (chaotic?) blogger

Shan gave me an award. Cool! You can read the meme rules and stuff on her blog. I am breaking all the rules except the fourth one, which requires me to tell you--my versatile (chaotic?) audience--seven random things about me.

1. I can't resist a blog meme.

2. I've been neglecting my blog and various other online spheres because my attitude is not the best since we lost Tom. It feels rude to jump into someone else's life and spew negativity.

3. I have not been neglecting Pinterest because, there, I can tuck all my negativity in one place and those who don't want to see it don't have to follow that pinboard.

4. About the time Frank got some relief from the pinched nerve that had been making his right arm alternately numb and painful, my right arm started wigging out. It aches, my fingers tingle, it makes me cranky. But ice helps, so I am so far resisting going to the doctor.

5. After a couple decades of settling for inadequate garments, I have found a style of bra that fits me, meets my strict requirements for comfort, and is reasonably attractive. I periodically buy a new one as older ones wear out, so I currently have this bra in four colors in varying states of repair. I don't care that each new one is $60. I would pay more than that. It is pure joy to know it will fit (without having to try it on, which I hate), feel as good as a bra can feel, and work under all my clothes. If Wacoal ever stops making this bra, I will cry bitter tears.

6. As of two weeks ago, I have no children. (Chloe turned 18!!!)

7. My favorite ice cream is rocky road, but I always, always dish it into a tall glass and pour milk over the top to make a quicky milkshake. The nuts left at the bottom of the shake are my favorite part!

Tool of the Oracle: Your True Nature

I don't know about my true nature, but this meme from Sarah has certainly revealed the true nature of post-Katrina New Orleans, which is appropriate since today is the 5th anniversary of the storm.

Instructions:

1. Delve into your blog archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

My 23rd post is pretty cool, but neither it nor my 24th post had five sentences, so here are 22 and 25.

22nd post: "The storm surge exceeded 10 feet there, so just about every building is trashed."

25th post: "Our little landmarks were hit hard: Captain Humble’s (the little po’ boy place I raved about); West Marine; the Winn Dixie where we bought our provisions; the ancient, creaky swing bridge at Bayou Liberty; and even the Shell station where we’d been buying our gas."

10 things you should know about us

A new meme inspired by this article on drmomma.org. If you play along, please reference the article, and please leave a comment on this post. The original is about what new neighbors should know, but you can expand on that if you want.

1. We tend to choose fun, messy, noisy, tasty, colorful, and/or not-rated-G stuff: books, movies, music, video games, art, art supplies, Japanese arms and armor, sugar-laden food, facepaint, hair dye, and so on. We share.
2. We tend to have long, involved, winding conversations. We have strong opinions and no subject is off limits.
3. We have not signed up to be the enforcers of your rules. We will support your kids in their efforts to honor your rules, but that's about it.
4. What happens at our house stays at our house, except...
5. Our interactions with your kids are subject to blogging. But we won't name names or post photos if you don't want us to.
6. Some of us are budding rockstars, and we practice.
7. We're not fussy about your noise (fair is fair, after all), but if the music you're blaring is either country or western ("Oh, we got both kinds"), we'll need to have a conversation about compromise.
8. Whatever you see our kids doing, they are probably doing it with our knowledge and usually with our active participation or at least cooperation. Even _____? Yes, that too.
   8a. We don't always agree with our kids (and vice versa), but you won't see us punishing our kids for their choices.
9. Our kids unschool. It's a fun life. Your kids might be envious. Defending schooling is going to be up to you 'cause we can't do it anymore.
10. Our yard... Yeah, we're sorry. We might do better someday.

(Meme)nto mori

Frank helped get this meme going around again. You're supposed to post the sixth photo from the sixth photo folder on your computer. Well, my computer doesn't have six folders of photos, but I grabbed the sixth photo in the last (third) folder. It's a good one!



This was taken at the first Maier family reunion in Manzanita, Oregon, summer of 2007.

Front row left to right: Aunt Loretta, Aunt Helen, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Grace
Back row left to right: Uncle Ed, Uncle Ferd, Uncle Pat, Aunt Jorene, Uncle Morrie

Ferd, Pat, Morrie, Loretta, and Grace are Marty's surviving siblings. Ed is Loretta's husband; Jorene and Ruth are Morrie's and Pat's wives, respectively; and Helen is Uncle Paul's widow.

All grown up

This is my 1004th published post on this blog. I meant to notice when I hit 1000, but I blew right on past it. I don't think these milestones mean much more than that I like the sound of my own voice, but we'll tie it in with this post by declaring that my blog is officially a grownup! I'm sure that will be as meaningful here as that label is anywhere else.

I wasn't going to do the meme for grownups that is going around, but as so often happens, Frank has inspired me. Here are my responses.

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids? Here's a list of questions for the people who are a little older. Copy and paste into your own note, then answer the questions. Finally, tag your friends (including me, please!). The usual thing, in other words.

If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Our credit card, which we use for convenience (especially for groceries and gas) and then pay off each month. I dislike paying this one for three reasons: it is our largest bill, it comes with the threat of significant late fees, and it is not automated. So far, these things haven't prompted me to switch to using the debit card, but that's always a possibility.

2. Do you miss being a child?
No.

3. Chore you hate the most?
Most chores are not as bad as I make them out to be when I'm avoiding them. However, I hate—HATE—cleaning pans in which bacon has been prepared. If Frank weren't willing to do this, we would only have bacon at IHOP.

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
I'll just steal Frank's answer here: Romio's Restaurant, nice local Italian-ish place. Last nicer romantic dinner was Ruth's Chris.

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
I would attachment parent and radically unschool from the beginning of my kids' lives.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?
I don't know. I don't remember her at all. First grade was the school year after my folks split up, and I understand divorce is a common cause of a little amnesia in kids. Also, I was only at that school for one year, so her name wasn't reinforced in my memory in later years.

7. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Figuring out how to cope with my big lottery win.

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Writer. I toyed with being a lawyer, and I actually took some classes toward a degree in computer science, but writing was always the real dream.

9. How many colleges did you attend?
Two so far, Washington State University and the University of Washington.

10.Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
I'm still in my nightshirt. It's pretty old, so it's really soft and loose, and it has long sleeves. Cozy!

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I don't expend much energy thinking about gas prices.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
I woke up before my alarm this morning, so my first thought had to do with the coffee I drank yesterday that probably contributed to my restless night and early morning.

Frank said, "I think I heard Ronnie's alarm. I dunno why she sets one." I know! I know! I set one because I need to check e-mail first thing in the morning in order to check for new job listings from the agency.

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
I wondered how long Frank was going to stay up.

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Jon Stewart. President Obama.

Those are both people whose political philosophies are very close to my own. I like to think I could nudge them a little closer.

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
I've dented my vehicle, and my vehicle has been crashed into. Oh, yeah, one time I did the crashing but it was still the other guy's fault. He pulled out in front of me and then stopped. At a green light. I actually discovered the one situation where you can rear-end someone and not get a ticket for it.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
Not so far, or rather, not any more than I do when I am working. Most of my efforts toward improving the world involve writing checks and spreading the word on the Interwebs. I devote a fair amount of time to promoting unschooling; I think it's one of the very best things I can do for humanity.

17. Get up early or sleep in?
Whatever. I am not fond of early wakeups, but my day has 24 hours in it no matter what.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?
I always liked the roadrunner.

19. Favorite thing to do at night?
Read. It's probably my favorite thing to do during the day, too. :-)

20. When did you first start feeling old?
I don't feel old.

21. Favorite lunch meat?
I loved Frank's oyster answer. My favorite sandwich at Subway is the Subway Club.

22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
A headache! Ba-doom.

I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in years. Change that to "the grocery store" and my answer is "milk." Change it to "Target" and my answer is "something more than was on my list."

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
I don't think it's necessary—commitment to a partner is not dependent on (or guaranteed by) marriage—but I certainly don't think it's outdated.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
If I actually had one of these, I would refuse to answer this question, but I'll play along.

I have a soft spot for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees. Pure, glorious, spangled cheese!

I discovered recently that some people actually hate "Weekend at Bernie's." This is inconceivable to me. I love that movie. Terry Kiser should have had an Oscar for his performance as Bernie. Oh! And I should have included Bernie's frozen smirk in my list of memorable movie smiles.

25. What's your favorite drink?
Varies by situation. For breakfast, orange juice. For thirst, water. For a pick-me-up, a caramel macchiato. For taking the edge off, a Mike's Hard Lemonade or a strawberry margarita.

26. Who from high school would you like to run into?
I'd like to know what Colleen Campbell is doing. Paging Dr. Campbell!

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
I don't often get to control the radio. When I do, it goes to KZOK for some classic rock. When the commercials come on, I drift until I find a song I like.

28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Neither. I don't like soap operas any more.

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Frank knows.

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?
N/A.

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
No.

32. Last book you finished reading?
I think it was "Black Hills" by Nora Roberts. It was pretty good, not her best.

33. Do you have a teddy bear?
I suppose technically my teddy bear belongs to MJ now. But I do have three little lions and a cuddly bat. They are very popular with my younger visitors.

34. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
On a boat!

35. Do you go to church?
For weddings and funerals.

36. How old are you?
44.

Put 'em all in a blender

I've been meaning to do this one for months. If you want more, here are Steph's and Frank's.

First, select ten fictional characters (from any medium) by whichever method you like best.

1. Rocky Raccoon (gun-toting betrayed lover from the Beatles song)

2. Lt. Eve Dallas, New York Police and Security Department (kickass mystery-solving cop from J.D. Robb's In Death series)

3. Professor McGonagall (no-nonsense transfiguration teacher from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series)

4. Badger (shifty and ruthless "businessman" of Irish descent, from Firefly)

5. Mystique (sexy, militant, shapeshifting blue mutant, from X-Men)

6. Colin, God of Love (guy who's just on the wrong continent in Love Actually)

7. Agador Spartcus (Guatemalan houseboy who has a problem with shoes, from The Birdcage)

8. Elle Driver, aka California Mountain Snake (one-eyed assassin from Kill Bill)

9. Odd Thomas (he sees dead people, from the books by Dean Koontz)

10. Titania, Queen of Fairies (from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream)


Divide the list up by even and odd.

Odds: Rocky, Professor McGonagall, Mystique, Agador, and (appropriately enough) Odd.

Evens: Eve Dallas, Badger, God Colin, Elle Driver, and Titania.

Which group of five would make a better Five-Man Band (like a Power Rangers team)?
The Evens. Colin, despite his charm, is their weak link, but the Odds have two such in Rocky and Agador.

Who would you slot in each position: Leader, Lancer (second-in-command), Big Guy, Smart Guy, The Chick?

For the odds:
* Leader: Minerva, of course. She's smart, decisive, resourceful, and suffers no fools.
* Lancer: This one was tough, but I have to go with Mystique. She has experience in the role, and she's intelligent enough to take the lead as needed.
* Big Guy: Rocky. He's best suited to a muscle position, and he doesn't lack courage.
* Smart Guy: Odd, although his smarts run toward intuition rather than pure intellect.
* The Chick: Agador. He's not especially pretty, but he's the only one I can see being able to pull off the damsel in distress gambit.

For the evens:
* Leader: Titania wants the job, but Eve is more qualified to run a team.
* Lancer: Colin. He'll follow orders, and his naivete will balance Eve's cynicism.
* Big Guy: Elle. There's nothing she likes better than doing the dirty work.
* Smart Guy: Badger. Eve will have to watch her back, but Badger will always be able to point out all the angles, especially if a profit is involved.
* The Chick: Titania. She's beautiful, devious, and tempestuous.

If you think the teams would be improved by swapping one character between the even and odd groups, which ones would you switch?

Hmm. Nope, the teams stand as-is.

Gender-swap 2 (Eve), 8 (Elle) and 10 (Titania). Which character would have the most change in their story arc? Which the least? Would any of these characters have to have a complete personality change to be believable as the opposite sex?

I think Titania, as the most girly of our females, changes most. Elle would perhaps be less psychotic as a male...? Eve would be virtually the same person.

Compare the matchups of 1 (Rocky) and 8 (Elle) and 5 (Mystique) and 9 (Odd). (Ignore canon sexual preferences for the moment.) Which couple would be more compatible?

Ooh, a romance between Mystique and Odd would be very interesting. The mutant and the psychic. They would bond over being different but Odd's sensitive nature would ultimately irritate Mystique while her militant nature would wear on him. Odd goes for sweet—not the first word that comes to mind when I think of Mystique.

Rocky and Elle strike me as a complete mismatch. She'd kill him within a week.

Your team is 3 (McGonagall), 4 (Badger), and 9 (Odd). The mission consists of a social challenge, a mental challenge, and a physical challenge. Which team member do you assign to each challenge?

Social: Odd Thomas. People like Odd.
Mental: McGonagall. She's sharp as a tack.
Physical: Badger, but mostly because he'd be bad at the other two.

7 (Agador) becomes 1's (Rocky's) boss for a week in some plausible fashion. How's their working relationship?

Horrible. Rocky would walk all over Agador.

2 (Eve) finds herself inserted into 6's (Colin's) continuity. As far as anyone other than 2 or 6 is concerned, they've always been there. What role would 2 be presumed to have had in 6's story, and could they fit in without going wonky?

Eve would be seen as a big-sister type to Colin. She'd be able to hang out in Colin's life briefly, but then she'd be dragging him along (or leaving him behind) as she returned to her catching-the-bad-guys calling.

3 (McGonagall) and 5 (Mystique) get three wishes. The catch is that they have to agree on all three wishes before they get the benefits of any of them. What three wishes would they make?

This is tough, because their priorities change over the course of their stories. It also depends on what one considers canon for Mystique. However, at a very basic level, Mystique wants revenge, while McGonagall wants justice. Assuming each could compromise her principles a bit, I think they would wish for:

1. Humans/muggles to suddenly put people with different abilities on a pedestal.
2. Lots of money (although they would spend their shares in very different ways).
3. Lasting protection for mutants and wizards.

1 (Rocky) and 2 (Eve) are brainwashed by a one-time artifact that works even on people immune to mind control to attack and kill 4 (Badger). They keep their normal personalities, skills, and competence levels, except any code against killing has been turned off. Can 4 survive?

Definitely not. Against Rocky alone, Badger would stand a chance. With Eve in the mix, he's a goner.

6 (Colin), 7 (Agador), 9 (Odd), and 10 (Titania) must help an orphanage full of small and depressed children have a merry Christmas. Who does what, knowing that at the very least the kids will be expecting a visit from Santa?

Agador decorates, Colin does the Santa bit, Titania whips up some gifts, and Odd leads the caroling.

3 (McGonagall) and 8 (Elle) are challenged to circumnavigate the Earth in eighty days or less, using only forms of transportation invented before 1900. Can they do it, or will they be fatally distracted by side quests or their own personality conflicts?

McGonagall can take them 'round in a jiffy without being distracted, and Elle would pose no threat to her. Elle is a wildcard, but I think she would have enough patience for the trip.

Where I'm From

I am from Saltines and piles of warm laundry and Red Ropes at the Skate Inn. I am from the house on the corner, from sea breezes and salty Army blankets, from air travel as an unaccompanied minor.

I am from the inconvenient and prickly evergreen shrubs outside my window, from the apricot tree on the estuary, from the moss and frogs in the Rucker summer fountain. I am from shouting and the ubiquitous after-work cocktail, from William and Mary, from steps and halves.

I am from control and making it special, from mind your manners and don't quit. I am from Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, from E.S.T. and Illusions and Herman Hesse.

I'm from Coventry Court and 47th Drive, from VW bugs and BART and a black-over-yellow Mercury Capri. I'm from Swedish meatballs and too-old-to-cut-the-mustard and salt-shaker figurines.

I'm from elopement, and abuse, and the ashes of Mt. St. Helens. I am from angel hair on the mantel and report cards on the refrigerator, from wind in the sails and poodles eating peanut butter.

I am from messy, glorious life.

(I've deviated from the template a bit, but you can find it here.)

x/69

I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm depressed. I'm supposed to be packed/ing to leave in the a.m. to go up to party with friends in Canada, but I don't have the energy. I'm worried I might have to disappoint said friends and my daughters by bowing out of the fun.

But all of that is too icky to think about, so I'm answering the questions I feel like answering from this meme that Frank did.

1. PICK ONE OF YOUR SCARS OUT. NOW HOW DID YOU GET IT?

I'm feeling rebellious, so I'm doing three scars:

- Forehead just left of my right eyebrow: chicken pox.

- Inner thigh just above my left knee: a normally very (very!) sweet neighbor dog bit me after being crushed by a car.

- Center knuckle of the index finger on my right hand: I failed to let go of a line I really should have let go of while sailing in the Virgins.

5. WHAT WAS YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE?

Two come to mind:

- MJ (who in the dream was also my little sister, Lynn) was in our basement, in terrible danger, and I couldn't get to her.

- My former stepfather (known around here as "The Asshole") and I were on opposite sides of a very tall chain-link fence. There was a rope tossed over the top of the fence, and he and I each had hold of it. In the dream it was very clear that it was My Rope, but he kept wheedling with me, trying to get me to share "just some of it" with him, and I didn't want to, but he wouldn't stop asking. Very stressful, and very symbolic.

13. DO YOU REMEMBER BIRTHDAYS?

If asked, I can recall the birthdates of most of the people (parents, siblings, spouses, children, nieces and nephews) in my immediate family and Frank's. But I am very hit and miss about acknowledging said birthdates in a timely fashion.

Ahem. Happy belated birthday, Daddy!

14. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?

Early afternoon.

15. DO YOU HAVE A BIRTHMARK? WHERE?

I used to have one on my right thigh, but there's barely a trace of it now.

17. WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE?

Define weird. Much of my life is considered weird by someone or other.

18. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU STARTED FILLING THIS IN?

Feeling miserable and sorry for myself.

27. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ON SOMEONE (OPPOSITE SEX)?

Face and hair.

31. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?

Small spaces bother me if someone or something is blocking the exit therefrom. Frank and the girls hear me say "Let me out" with some regularity.

32. COULD YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF MOVING FROM WHERE YOU ARE?

Yep. I have a love/hate relationship with our house. It's a great house and we've raised our babies here, but it represents so much responsibility and work. Everywhere I look I see chores.

33. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE OF ALL TIME?

Beauty and the Beast. Nice to see the guy be the one to get rescued for a change.

34. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME?

"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC has long been a favorite. But there are others.

39. WHO WAS YOUR FIRST CRUSH WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

Not positive he was first, but Jeff Wenzel gave me my first kiss. We were seven.

42. WHO OUT OF YOUR CURRENT FRIENDS (SAME SEX) HAVE YOU KNOWN THE LONGEST?

A couple of kids from elementary school are my friends on Facebook (Janie Hansen being the one I've known longest), but from my friends-in-real-life it's a tie between Erin and Denise, I think, with Steph a close third.

43. NOW THE OPPOSITE SEX?

The Facebook/elementary school entry for this one is probably Brian Roberts. In real life, it's Chris, then Frank.

49. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES?

Asked and answered here.

53. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU (OF THE OPPOSITE SEX)?

Aaron, my boyfriend in middle school, gave me a heart necklace. I might still have that somewhere.

56. WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

Romances. I used to be embarrassed to admit that but not anymore. Character development is key in those, and that is always my favorite thing to read about or see in a movie.

Plus, the writing in books that are more socially accepted is so bad sometimes. Or horribly depressing. Oprah's Book Club? Gah! Shooting myself in the head would be more cheerful than some of those.

Don't get me started.

57. DO YOU LIKE POETRY?

Some of it. I tend to like stuff that rhymes (Yes! It's a poem!), but I appreciate a lovely turn of phrase wherever I find it.

Here's a favorite. I also love this one.

Chloe and I were just discussing this one today. Is the reference to "nunnery" a jab? Is the protagonist full of shit? Interesting questions like that.

58. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR COFFEE?

Three ways:

- At home: fresh ground, about 1/3 milk, two or three spoonfuls of sugar
- At Starbucks: caramel machiatto
- At other coffee joints: caramel latte

59. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PHRASE TO USE?

"Anyway..."

60. DRAGONS OR DINOSAURS?

Dragons in books, dinosaurs in movies.

67. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?

Most often: left-lane hogs.
Most intensely: things not being done my way. I suppose the left lane thing is a member of this group.

69. ANY LAST THOUGHTS?

Too many to list.

Unschooling meme

I imagine my answers will be somewhat similar to Frank's, but that's okay, since his answers are what inspired me to do this one anyway.

Unschooling versions provided by Linda Wyatt.

1. Original question: What time do you get up?
Unschooling version: What sleep schedules do people in your house have? Do you all have fairly similar schedules, or not? Are you the kind of people who wish things were open 24/7?

I am usually the first one awake. When I'm working, I get up about 8. When I'm not working, I wake up about that same time but might not actually get out of bed for a good while after that. Frank and MJ aren't far behind me. Chloe usually surfaces about noon or one but might be awake in her room for a while before that; she loves hanging out in her room.

I like the convenience of open-all-night businesses, but our hours tend to be more conventional than that. Except I tend to do our banking at about 10 p.m. Not sure why.

2. Original question: What do your children wear to school?
Unschooling version: Do you know any good sources for great stuff to wear? Some examples: vests with lots of pockets, good boots, lightweight jackets with a sleeve pocket for pens, comfortable cotton tees with interesting designs. Anything you have that you love that other people might not know about?

We shop at the thrift store when there's something in particular we're looking for. "Something in particular" ranges from jeans to cosplay supplies to just something new. Lately, MJ loves Wet Seal. I like finding things on the clearance rack at Target: cheap, comfortable, nothing I'm going to be too sad to find stained or worn out.

Significant portions of our wardrobes bear unschooling conference logos.

3. Original question: What curriculum have you tried and hated? What have you tried and loved?
Unschooling version: Any good references to suggest? Websites, catalogs, whatever? Any that you have found that tend to be suggested by folks, that you really didn't find useful? Favorite books?

I love Wikipedia. Everything is in there, and while it is generally pretty well researched, it inspires critical reading. The "Needs citation" notes are brilliant for that.

IMDB.com is really fun. (Did you know Kevin Pollack is one of the brownies in Willow? I've seen that movie dozens of times and didn't notice til Frank and the girls pointed it out the other night. Still disbelieving, I went straight to IMDB to confirm. Conversation and research all took place while the movie was rolling.)

Speaking of that, having a laptop is a FABULOUS resource. Portable information, entertainment, communication, networking, computing.

We go to the library about once a week, Half Price Books about once a month, other book stores and Amazon.com as needed.

Any video entertainment your kids want to watch is another fabulous resource. And I do mean Any. Video. Entertainment. I can't begin to list all the learning that has been inspired and/or reinforced by TV shows, movies, and video games. It's astonishing to me that the educational establishment is so completely missing the boat on this.

4. Original question: Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model?
Unschooling version: How did you decide to unschool? Do you have any good sources of info to share? Anyone in particular who helped you make this choice?

The collected minds on unschooling.com were my primary inspiration. Actually, my first reaction was, "These people are really out there!" But as I read a lot (LOT) of information about homeschooling, those unschooling voices kept calling me. The seeds were planted, and I began to see in our lives—even while our kids were in school—what the people "out there" were talking about. By the time we officially pulled our kids out of school, I was 80% an unschooler. One math lesson after that, it was closer to 90%.

5. Original question: Abeka, Charlotte Mason, unschooling, or Classical?
Unschooling version: What kinds of ways do your family members learn about stuff these days?

Books and videos and the Internet. Personal interaction with other people.

But the biggie? Conversation. Conversation is what ties it all together.

6. Original question: Favorite response to “What about socialization?”
Unschooling version: How do you talk to people who ask clueless questions about unschooling? Any favorite stories? Suggestions for dealing with family members who are fearful or critical?

The main thing we get is that unschooling works for us because our kids are so bright. Countering that is tough, because, well, of course I think my kids are the most amazing people on the planet!

And it is true that our unschooling is tailored to their strengths. Our unschooling tends to be somewhat cerebral. We do a lot of things that are pleasing to the academically inclined: lots of words, lots of writing, lots of reading. And my kids actually enjoy their state-mandated standardized testing. They test well, producing lovely, academically reassuring annual test scores.

But I try to explain that unschooling works because all kids, regardless of their so-called intelligence quotients, thrive when they get to pursue what matters to them. I know a lot of unschoolers, and they are all bright and amazing. Most of the time, I have no idea—literally NONE—where those kids would rank in a classroom setting or how they would score on a standardized test. Who cares?

WHO CARES?

What matters is that they are bright, happy, interesting, accomplished, engaged and engaging. Unschooling doesn't only work for kids of "above-average intelligence," or kids whose parents are teachers, or kids who can recite the alphabet while twirling a baton, or any other limiting factor.

Unschooling works because the unschooled individual has the time and support to follow the interesting byways that lead to real learning.

7. Original question: Favorite subject?
Unschooling version: What are you guys up to these days? What are you doing that is so terrific that you think others should hear about it?

Hmm. Lots of music around here since about January. Actually, for MJ, music is a driving force and has been for years. But we're all playing with musical instruments lately. I can play "Sympathy for the Devil" on the guitar! And my love for African drumming continues.

I learned to hula hoop at LIFE is Good. I've never been able to do it before. My (adult) friend Dana said three words and *poof*, I could hula hoop. (The three words were "make smaller motions.")

I've been exploring the effects of shame on kids and am formulating a new unschooling presentation.

I have put out some feelers and am probably returning to work in July.

We're doing lots (LOTS) of socializing. Movies tomorrow. Gathering of unschoolers on Thursday. Maia is staying over Thursday night. And there's something this weekend, but I'm drawing a blank. Where'd I put my calendar?

Qacei and Chloe want to get together. Mental note: Find calendar. Find blank space on calendar.

8. Original question: Favorite field trip ever?
Unschooling version: Been anywhere cool? Where? Have any stories to share about adventures you've had? I'd be especially interested in hearing about adventures to places that few people know about. Pictures, too.

Frank got into some of our travels, so I'm going to think smaller (but no less precious).

When the Waynforths were here in May, we toured the Boeing facility here in Everett. Despite living no more than 15 minutes from this facility for most of my life, I had never been before. We got to see the first ever 787. We got to sit in the cockpit of a jet and flip all the switches we wanted to. Simon and Linnaea flew a simulator, and MJ blew up a bit of (simulated) desert with a (simulated) missile.

The next day, we stuck chewing gum on a very colorful wall in Post Alley near the Pike Place Market. And we visited the Seattle Aquarium, where MJ and Chloe looked at every creature in the place and played and laughed just like their younger counterparts.

Later, we ate Thai food, and then we visited the Fremont Troll and his pet VW bug, a gigantic but whimsical art installation under Highway 99. The kids took turns sitting on the troll's head.

For some quiet time, we watched "Firefly" and played a card game the name of which is escaping me right now. Munchkins? Is that it?

This is IT, folks. Exploring. Playing together. Talking about it all. Pretending to pull boogers out of a troll's nose. The good stuff!

9. Original question: Best thing about homeschooling?
Unschooling version: we can pretty much leave this one as-is. What have you found to be the most rewarding about how your family lives?

Being together. Knowing my kids. Opening up my own world by being open to theirs. Experiences.

Before LIFE is Good, I painted one window on our van with these words:

LIVE LOVE LAUGH LEARN

(See photo here)

That's the best thing about unschooling, having all of those L-words bundled up into one lovely lifestyle.

10. Original question: Sports, music, or art?
Unschooling version: I still don't know where to go with this question. Care to share any interesting things you've done or are doing in any of these fields? Anything you've had time to delve into that you might not have if you were busy doing schoolwork?

MJ played volleyball for a while, sometimes with Frank. Chloe hates competitive sports. Frank and I are moderately avid football and baseball fans, and we've had some lovely family outings to Safeco Field, a cathedral to baseball. Chloe and I walk together occasionally. Frank has his sword arts.

Frank goes into some detail about our music. I'll just mention that I've learned guitar chords from all three of them, which I absolutely love. Building my guitar skills is a family project! :-)

Both girls draw, especially Chloe with her manga. She recently drew a whole set of Norse gods and goddesses in manga style, very detailed and clever drawings that reveal the depth of her knowledge of Norse mythology. MJ is a beautiful photographer (and she takes pretty pictures, too! ba-doom). I crochet scarves every now and then. We all take occasional advantage of our shelf of art supplies.

I don't know if school would have kept us from any of that, but there would have been a lot less of all of it.

11. Original question: Beautiful script handwriting, or lightning fast accurate typing?
Unschooling version: Don't know where to go with this question, either, since I don't really understand why it was even asked. Make something up.

MJ has the prettiest handwriting of all of us. She can write in italics. It's nifty!

Chloe and Frank write like typical Maiers. But both can do pretty when it matters. Chloe's captions on her art, for instance, are very flowing and artsy.

I touch type, except I look at the keyboard whenever I want to. Frank hunts and misses. The girls have developed their own keyboarding methods and are really fast.

12. Original question: Best one stop shopping for school books?
Unschooling version: Best place to get books? Or other things, too, like some of those fabulous websites that have all sorts of really cool toys and equipment. Where do you find cool stuff?

Our favorite stores to visit lately are those that sell musical instruments. And I love Fair Trade stores.

13. Original question: One subject you didn’t get to this week:
Unschooling version: What do you wish you had time for this week that you didn't fit in?

The important stuff always gets squeezed in. Time is usually not the problem: I often wish I had more willpower. Chloe (who loves burrowing into her room with books and her sketchpad and piles of dirty dishes) periodically laments the lack of long stretches of time without fun social stuff to do.

14. Original question: What will you do when you run out of kids to teach?
Unschooling version: What ways have you found to continue your own learning? What kinds of things have you gotten interested in since having kids? Do you have any particular plans once fewer people live in your house, whenever that may be?

I'm more open to my own learning than I was before unschooling. I've learned (ha!) to recognize all the learning I do.

New interests since unschooling: African drumming, guitar, blogging, public speaking, sexy backup singing, growing things until I get bored and everything dies, reading historical romance novels (I now know so much more about world history than I learned in school!), birdwatching, Tai Chi... Probably more.

Frank and I want to travel more. Maybe the girls will take over the nest and we'll go be fledglings.

15. Original question: Ever give school books as holiday or Birthday gifts?
Unschooling version: What's the best book gift you have ever given? Gotten?

We give books all the time. Chloe loves getting a box full of manga. I love getting gift certificates to book stores. Possibilities!

16. Original question: Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?)
Unschooling version: (1) Are there some things you find you prefer a class structure for? (2) What alternatives have you found for learning things most people think can only happen in a class? (3) Do different members of your family have different learning styles, and if so, can you tell me a little about that and how it has affected how you do things?

First, the original question: Start early to strew wonderful things in your children's lives. Delay formal instruction until the kid asks for it (if he ever does).

(1) No.

(2) Fiction. Stories are amazing teachers. Videos, books, comic books, video games, funny pages, and whatever comes out of the imagination. They all lead to more, more, more.

Also, learning by snippets. Most people think you have to sit down for 50 minutes every day for three months and study subject X. Actually, humans are quite capable of connecting and sorting out snippets learned years apart in vastly different venues.

(3) I wrote about this here.

MPHS '83

Mine won't be as interesting as Frank's, but I'm doing it anyway. Joining Facebook has put me in touch with some former classmates, so I've had high school memories percolating up anyway.

Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more the fun the answers will be!! REPOST with name of high school and graduating year in the title box. Tag all your friends.

The questions:

1. Did you date someone from your school?
In senior year, no. But in my junior year I went with a slightly bad boy, at least until his family moved back to Long Island.

2.Did you marry someone from your high school?
No.

3. Did you carpool to school?
I probably carpooled with my sister in senior year. My friends didn't live between my house and the school.

4. What kind of car did you have?
'72 Mercury Capri, black over yellow.

5. What kind of car do you have now?
2000 Honda Odyssey—our touring vehicle—and a dinged up but still fast 1989 Toyota MR2.

6. It's a Friday night....where are you now?
Home usually. Or maybe an unschooling gathering.

7. It's Friday night...where were you then?
At a game probably, at least during football season. My boyfriend and my best friend's boyfriend played ironman for South Whidbey High. We used to drive all over going to their games.

8. What kind of job did you have in high school?
I put in a couple of months at the local McDonalds, not an experience I'd care to repeat.

9. What kind of job do you have now?
None! Well, technically I'm employed as a tech writer for another couple of weeks. Then we'll see.

10. Were you a party animal?
Short answer: No. If one expands the definition of "party animal" to one who socializes a lot and enjoys it, then yes.

11. Were you considered a flirt?
Probably.

12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
No.

13. Were you a nerd?
I like Frank's answer: Define nerd.

Was I one of the "smart kids"? Yes. Did I wear a pocket protector? No.

14. Did you get suspended or expelled?
God no. I was too fearful of getting in trouble to do anything that would put me at risk of that. I think I only skipped class once, and even then, the friend I skipped with got her mom to write us a note. :-)

15. Can you sing the fight song?
Hmm. I don't remember that we even had a fight song. We must have, but I guess nobody used it.

16. Who was/were your favorite teachers?
Miss Westerling. She was my Aerobics teacher (hey, it was the 80s). Her whole deal was building us up, emotionally and physically. She was the most supportive teacher I'd ever had. I don't think she's teaching anymore, which is a real shame.

Mr. Niemi. He was one of the toughest teachers in the school, but he was a straight shooter. I had him for psychology and a history class. The psych class was really tightknit, so we all pitched in to get him a t-shirt at the end of term. He was a behavioralist, so we had the shirt printed up to say "I'm a Freudian Slip."

Mr. Stokes. He was never my teacher (he taught special ed), but he was a total fox. He played Santa one year, and all the girls lined up to sit on his knee.

17. Where did you sit during lunch?
With Linda or Colleen or Lynn. I don't remember who had the same lunch as me during senior year.

18. What was your school's full name?
Marysville Pilchuck High School.

19. When did you graduate?
1983.

20. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
Not even. Best times of my life, my ass.

21. Did you have fun at Prom?
Yeah, I suppose. I mostly remember being tense.

22. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with?
Nah.

23. Are you planning on going to your next reunion?
Planning, no. I leave these things to the last minute. I went to my 10th and didn't enjoy it much. I wasn't planning to go to my 20th, but Linda decided at the last minute to come into town for it (she's in Phoenix), so I went with her. I skipped my 25th last summer.

24. Do you still talk to people from school?
Before Facebook, I'd hear from somebody once in a blue moon. I'd like to find Colleen. (Does anybody know a surgeon who used to be Colleen Campbell?)

25. What were your school's colors?
Red and white.

26. What was your school mascot?
We were the Tomahawks, aka "Tommies."

27. What celebrities came from your high school?
None that I know of. I knew Timm Rosenbach very slightly, but maybe he went to Arlington, now that I stop and think about it.

28. Did you play a sport?
No. I went out for track one year and actually managed to clear the (very low) high bar once. Needless to say, I did not letter.

29. What was your favorite club?
I think I was only in the Spanish Club, so the Spanish Club. I was never much of a joiner.

30. What class or teacher did you fear?
Hmm. I don't think I feared any of them exactly. But they all had a lot of power over me, and I was always very conscious of that.

25 albums

Linda tagged me for this on Facebook a while back. I resisted at first, because even thinking about it made me tense. But now Frank's done his list, and it was fun to read, and I'm ready to dive into the past. Briefly.

Think of 25 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world.

In very rough life-chronological order:

1. Peter Frampton "Frampton Comes Alive" - This entry should not be interpreted as a sign that I am a Frampton fan. I like him okay. But this album - or rather, 8-track tape! - was significant because it came with my first stereo, handed down to me by my ol' dad. Thus began my speedy departure from the country music that was played in my house.

2. Billy Joel "The Stranger" - The first album I bought for myself. It is still one of my all time favorites. I bought it for the desperately romantic (to a teenage girl) "She's Always a Woman," but my lasting faves are "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "Only the Good Die Young."

3. John Williams "Star Wars" soundtrack - This was one of the first things I listened to on a Walkman. A perfect choice! The electronic notes seemed to move right through the middle of my head.

4. Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Abbey Road" - Full disclosure: What I listened to first was the soundtrack to the mega-campy BeeGees movie. But it started my continuing love affair with the Beatles.

5. Pat Benatar "Crimes of Passion" - Girl power. We sang "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" on the spirit bus to away games.

6. AC/DC "Back in Black" - When I was in high school, there was this teen disco place in Everett, Studio 59. My visits to the disco were not complete until they played "You Shook Me All Night Long." When AC/DC came to town for their "For Those About to Rock" tour, I was there, and wearing that particular concert t-shirt to school the next day helped me step out of the "nerdy smart girl" niche I had been thrust into.

Years later, I saw a documentary about the making of this album, how Brian Johnson was brought in to nearly single-handedly compose the whole thing, working every minute under the shadow of Bon Scott's death. It made me appreciate the achievement this album represents, above and beyond the pounding, unapologetic ROCK that is its heart.

7. B-52s "The B-52s" - "Rock Lobster" was another of my favorites at the disco. Frenetic and fun. We didn't dance to it so much as jump up and down. And we'd all collapse on the floor during the "down, down, down" bit. Pure abandon.

8. Cheap Trick "Budokan" - Pure energy. This album made me realize how cool live music can be.

9. Eagles "The Long Run" - I just liked it, and it's definitely one where I played the whole album again and again. "Heartache Tonight" was and is my favorite cut.

10. Michael Jackson "Thriller" - I know he's a punchline now, but we weren't laughing at him back then. The entire album is great, but the title cut and it's accompanying music video rocked our world.

11. Phil Collins "Face Value" - This one is on here mostly for "In the Air Tonight." Oh. My. God. What a great song! And they used it in one of the first Miami Vice episodes, which blew us away, so it represents a whole neon era.

12. Various artists "Big Chill" soundtrack - The start of my love affair with R&B.

13. Prince "Purple Rain" - This one dominated my music world for about two years. You couldn't walk across the UW campus without hearing this music. We went to the movie a dozen times even though it was available on video. We went to the concert and felt like we were living the movie. It was a purple-gilded time.

14. Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" - I caught the tail of the wave of this phenomenon. Really wish I could have gone to this concert. "Well, how did I get here?" Slogan for a generation.

15. Tom Petty "Full Moon Fever" - Tom Petty is a god. This is the album that convinced me of that.

16. Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 - Pure fun. Musicians playing music for the sheer joy of it. And some damn fine songs.

17. Randy Newman "Good Old Boys" - A Frank-inspired rare departure from rock. "Marie" is hauntingly lovely. "Rednecks" is a powerful indictment of racism across the country. "A Wedding in Cherokee County" is just a crackup.

18. Neville Brothers "Fiyo on the Bayou" - My happy introduction to New Orleans sound.

19. Bob Marley "Legend" - Greatest reggae album ever. Nobody does it like Bob did it.

I'm also fond of "20 Reggae Classics," a compilation CD that provides a terrific sampler of reggae artists, including Simaryp's highly entertaining "Skinhead Moonstomp."

20. Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill" - With the advent of rap, I checked out of the popular music scene, tuning my radio to the classic rock station and leaving it there. And then one day, driving home, I somehow stumbled across "You Oughta Know." I was blown away by her sheer nerve and went directly to the music store to purchase my first new-music CD in about a decade.

21. Various artists "Gross Pointe Blank" soundtrack - This one let me catch up on some of what I missed when I was avoiding rap.

22. Everlast "Whitey Ford Sings the Blues" - I really only listen to "What It's Like," but this album deserves inclusion because Whitey showed me that rap can be melodic and powerful and worth listening to.

23. Smash Mouth "Fush Yu Mung" - An energetic additional lure back into popular music. "Astro Lounge" is even better.

24. Various artists "Cool Yule" - A collection of very fun holiday songs by several R&B bright lights. Christmas isn't Christmas around here without "Christmas in the Jungle" and "Run, Run, Rudolph."

25. KT Tunstall "Eye to the Telescope" - I bought it for "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," of course, but the whole album is solid. She's a one-woman show.

Phew! Made it.

It only takes one

I borrowed this from Kelly.

1. Where is your cell phone? sofa
2. Your significant other? surfing
3. Your hair? unpredictable
4. Your mother? roadtripping
5. Your father? unique
6. Your favorite thing? loves
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? handy
9. Your dream/goal? now
10. What room you are in? nook
11. Your hobby? change
12. Your fear? loss
13. Regrets? old
14. Where were you last night? dreaming
15. 15? missing
16. Muffins? sure
17. Wish list item? secret
18. Where you grew up? nearby
19. Last thing you did? blog
20. What are you wearing? layers
21. Your TV? busy
22. Your pets? deceased
23. Friends? priceless
24. Your life? amazing
25. Your mood? buoyant
26. Missing someone? periodically
27. Car? fast
28. Something you're not wearing? cufflinks
29. Your favorite store? affordable
30. Your favorite color? bright
33. When is the last time you laughed? earlier
34. Last time you cried? Oscars
35. Who will resend this? unnecessary
36. One place that I go to over and over? Mom's
37. One person who emails me regularly? Steph
38. My favorite place to eat? Romio's
39. Why you participated in this survey? intrigue
40. What are you doing tonight? stalling

Happily hooked

Ginger and Alex both tagged me for this one. Thanks, guys!

Here are six things that add to my joy and happiness.


1. Let's just get the biggest and most obvious ones out of the way: my family, my friends, unschooling. There.

2. The woods. Beaches, mountains, plains, and deserts are all well and good, but for me, it's the woods. There's nowhere I feel more at ease.

3. Words. Whether written, spoken, or sung, words have more power to move me than any other medium. And writing my own words gives me purpose and peace.

4. Children's laughter. Sometimes it seems like I took a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Wasn't it my destiny to be surrounded daily by the laughter of children rather than the hum of computers? Maybe it still is...

5. Sunshine on my shoulders. Or on any other part of me for that matter. The world is both literally and figuratively brighter when the sun shines.

6. Carbohydrates. MJ nailed this one. Pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, cereal. Yum! Meals and life are just a little better with carbs.

I hereby pass this award, without obligation, to each of the bloggers listed in my sidebar. You wouldn't be there if I weren't hooked on your blog!

I'm a mom and this is a meme

Answers by MJ, 16

1. What is something your mom always says to you? "I love you"

2. What makes your mom happy? "books and clean houses"

3. What makes your mom sad? "messy houses"

4. How does your mom make you laugh? "she's funny - playing around"

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child? "go to her grandma's"

6. How old is your mom? "43...? Yes, 43."

7. How tall is your mom? "5'6""

8. What is her favorite thing to do? "be with me"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "gets on the Internet and reads"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "writing"

11. What is your mom really good at? "lots of stuff"

12. What is your mom not very good at? "lots of stuff" (and then she chortles)

13. What does your mom do for her job? "she writes Help files for cash registers -- 'cause cash registers need help, too, dammit"

14. What is your mom's favorite food? "carbohydrates"

15. What makes you proud of your mom? "She's like a kingpin in the unschooling community." (and then Chloe says, "Kingpin?!" "It's a good word, okay?")

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "CoCo from Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends"

17. What do you and your mom do together? "we drive and go shopping and read and travel"

18. How are you and your mom the same? "we're both stubborn"

19. How are you and your mom different? "I'm cooler"

20. How do you know your mom loves you? "''cause she laughs when I say I'm cooler, and she doesn't beat me"

21. What does your mom like most about your dad? "he's a goofy goober"

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? "traveling places, unschooling conferences"

More happy belly times

...because Ginger told me to. :-)

1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Wellll, we were planning another baby. Just maybe not right that minute. MJ was only nine months old!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes. Wouldn't have cared if I weren't.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Shock. Concern. Then pure joy.

4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
28.

5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I was at the doctor for some other reason. As an afterthought, I said, "I've also been feeling a little queasy, kind of like I felt when I was pregnant." Hmmm.

6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Frank. We got into the shower together to contemplate our new circumstances.

7. DUE DATE?
March 6th, I think. But I just knew she was going to arrive in February.

You remember how sure I was that MJ was a boy? Right.

8. ACTUAL DATE BABY WAS BORN?
March 11th.

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Every damn day for more than two months. Then I felt like Superwoman.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Hmm. Sleep mostly.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Working.

12. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX?
Girl.

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Not even a little bit.

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
I have no idea. Not so much that it was a problem, not so little that it didn't show.

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Gawd, I don't even remember. That whole time is a sleep-deprived blur.

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
n/a

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Not a one.

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Group Health Hospital, Redmond, Washington

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
From the first twinges to the happy moment, 10 hours.

Favorite memory: Feeling those first contractions as I was tucking MJ into bed. Also, Frank's lack of concern when I told him I was having said contractions. He was quite sure we were at least 24 hours from actual delivery and went off to bed.

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Frank. "No, really, Frank, it's time to get up now."

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Frank and Cherie, the midwife, and a platoon of medical people I was pretty much oblivious to.

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Yes, an injection of some narcotic that did little to ease the pain but a lot to interfere with my ability to cope with the pain. If anybody had told me how little time was actually left, I wouldn't have had it.

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
Ummm. A little under 7 lbs., I think.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
7:00 a.m. straight up

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Chloe Barbara Pierce Maier

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR SECOND BORN TODAY?
Almost 15

Happy belly times

I stole this from Ginger's Facebook, not sure where she got it.

I love, love, LOVE talking about my pregnancies. I think a lot of women are like that. Hey, Mary, can I run a "Birth Stories" funshop at LIFE is Good?

As if I need more to do that weekend...

Anyway, here's the meme:

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Yes, but it was still a total surprise. I had been on the pill for a long time, went off in prep for pregnancy, then didn't think I was ovulating. Wrong!

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Yes. Wouldn't have cared if I weren't.

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Disbelief. I did like Juno and drank gallons so I could take another pregnancy test. Then pure joy.

4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
26

5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
Ha. Funny story. I had been feeling totally crappy, to the point where it was affecting my work. My (female) manager eyeballed me and said, "Could you be pregnant?" "No," I said, laughing. Then I'm pretty sure my face froze. "Oh, wait..."

6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
A woman at work. I don't even remember her name now, or why she ended up knowing I was in the bathroom stall peeing on a stick. But she was technically first. Then I went home and told Frank.

7. DUE DATE?
September 10th. I didn't find out until after MJ was born, fortunately, that September 10th was the day the first Marjorie died.

8. ACTUAL DATE BABY WAS BORN?
September 15th.

9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Every damn day for more than two months. Then I felt like Superwoman.

10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Hot and sour soup. Banana splits. Bananas. And later in the pregnancy, hamburgers. Jerry would buzz down to Ray's Drive-in for me almost every afternoon.

11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Chicken. I still occasionally have trouble with the smell of cooking chicken. Later, not sleeping irritated me the most.

12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Despite my complete certainty that it was a boy and the baby's pregnancy nickname of "Wolfgang," we had a girl.

Stephanie and me in unison in the birthing suite, crooning: "It's a giiiirrrrrlllll." We were all thrilled.

I still kind of miss the boy she wasn't, though. He was very real to me.

13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Not even a little bit.

14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
I have no idea. Not so much that it was a problem, not so little that it didn't show.

15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
Three of them: work, my side, Frank's side. Best quote, from Deb Maier's card to us after MJ was born: "For that rare flower in the Maier garden, a girl!"

16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
I knew about all 3 in advance.

17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Tiny bit of early spotting, spent one day in bed being terrified. The cord was double-wrapped around her neck when she was born, but the midwife dealt with that so matter-of-factly that I was never worried.

18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Group Health Hospital, Redmond, Washington

19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
From the first twinges to the happy moment, 36 hours.

Favorite memory: Frank and Jerry in our living room, timing my contractions with dueling G-Shock watches.

20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
Frank.

21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Frank, Mom, Steph, the midwife Linda, and a platoon of medical people I was pretty much oblivious to.

22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.

23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
No.

24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
Ummm. Hmm, haven't had to pull that number from memory for a while. It was about 7 lbs., but I'd have to go look it up to get the exact weight.

25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN?
11:36 a.m. I can still picture the clock that was across from my bed.

26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Marjorie Caitlin Pierce Maier

27. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
16

La La La La

I volunteered to be tagged by my new e-friend, Hay, a funny and talented photographer mom in New Zealand. She assigned me the letter "L," because Laura brought us together. (Hay had "H," here.)

The meme:
A combination of the letter meme and the in-your-own-handwriting meme.

The instructions:
You leave a comment on this post, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on.

The handwriting:

The writing:

1. Licorice. My earliest memory of licorice is the nibs I had at Auntie Pam's house on Mission Beach. My sister and I would go out there with some regularity to spend the night. She also introduced us to Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese. She had a trick with the mac'n'cheese that I've never been able to replicate, some way of stirring it so all the macaroni lined up in one direction and I could stab a bunch onto my fork at once. And Uncle Duane would make us Singapore Slings, which, as I recall, were grenadine slushies. Good times.

Anyway, licorice. Back in those days, Red Vines and Red Ropes were "licorice," too, and I loved to get Red Vines at the movies and a Red Rope at the skating rink. Red-dyed rituals.

When I was about nine, Cherie introduced me to fennel. Still love to crunch those little guys.

It seems that licorice equals childhood. Interesting.

2. Lions. Big kitties. Or maybe not.


3. Lanterns. I like Asian decor in general, and a string of lanterns strikes me as especially festive.

4. Lollipops. Tootsie-pops in particular, always one of my favorite Halloween treats. The chocolate ones are my favorite.

Remember that owl? "Thrrree."


But Dum-Dums are dum-dum-dum. A waste of sugar.

5. Laughs. There are laughs I will carry with me always. Giggles with Lynn, Linda, and Colleen. The laughs of any two-year-old anywhere. Frank, late at night. Clara burbling at BPC. Chloe in her highchair, cracking up when Marjie snuck up on her. MJ yesterday.

6. Little kids. When I look back over my life, I see a series of relationships with wee ones. I was probably destined to be a Kindergarten teacher. How I ended up working with computers instead is something of a mystery, although I certainly prefer corporate paychecks, and I'm ever so glad I didn't become part of the educational establishment.

7. Liftoff! It's the ultimate vicarious thrill. I remember watching launches in our house in San Francisco and at my grandmother's house on Lake Stevens. Those who remember those houses will know just how little I was and understand just how much impact the TV coverage had on me.

But launches are less fun to watch since Challenger. That TV coverage had a big impact on me, too.

8. Leaving home. Oh, the thrill of departure! I love heading off on a new adventure and leaving the familiar behind. We often start talking about our next vacation while we're on the current one.

But coming home and being home are nice, too.

9. Learning. Well, duh.

10. Lisa Kleypas books. Interesting characters, interesting relationships, magnificently executed melodrama. Can't wait for the next one!

Hubby mine

I found this meme over on Julie's blog.

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen? The best available choice from the scroller, but often talking heads, football, or an action, sci-fi, or horror flick.

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad? He might get the soup instead, but if he gets a salad, bleu cheese.

3. What is one food he doesn’t like? Cold cereal.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? Where we go is the Mexican restaurant, so it's usually a strawberry margarita. But he likes the (very) occasional whiskey sour.

5. Where did he go to high school? Jesuit High School, New Orleans, LA

6. What size shoe does he wear? Umm... 6?

7. If he were to collect anything, what would it be? Swords, and he does.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Oyster po'boy

9. What would the Husband eat every day if he could? Candy, and he can and does.

10. What is his favorite cereal? See #3. But he enjoys a bowl of oatmeal now and then.

11. What would he never wear? Umm... I'm thinking... There must be something! Inauthentic Japanese armor, maybe. Anything with an Abercrombie label on it, maybe.

12. What is his favorite sports team? The Seattle Seahawks.

13. Who is his best friend? Well, I am, but also his college friend Bob, with whom he has shared many an adventure.

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do? I ask him to explain his decisions about home-improvement projects.

15. How many states has he lived in? LA, WA, FL - I think that's it, so 3.

16. What is his heritage? Irish and German, two quarters of each.

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind? I bake? (snort) Something out of a box then. But what he'd really like is lemon anything or a Boston creme cake, purchased from a bakery.

18. Did he play sports in high school? Yes, in addition to forays into football and wrestling, he was a gymnast.

19. What could he spend hours doing? Reading, watching TV, improving the house, having sex, sitting in a sailboat cockpit somewhere tropical.

That's probably not the order in which he would list those.

Getting in the spirit... or trying to

Tom pointed out tonight that our annual Christmas Eve celebration at the beach is but nine days away. Holy crap! I guess I'd better find some holiday spirit. I'll start by finally doing the Christmas meme from Frank's blog.

1. Real tree or artificial? Real. Sheared Douglas Fir, always. But we had an artificial one in Florida the winter we spent there, and it's one of my favorites in memory. We didn't have our decorations with us, so we decked it with paper chains and kid art and just whatever we had around the condo. It was quirky and fun, very personal.

2. When do you put up the tree? Often, the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year, we still don't have one. It keeps getting put off for one reason or another. I'm trying to talk the girls into an alternative tree -- maybe we could just decorate Max and make him Guardian of the Gifts -- but they aren't going for it.

3. When do you take down the tree? The last couple of years, we've done it on January 1 or 2. I like that. (Fredian slip note: I typed "July" instead of "January" there at first. lol)

4.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper. Gift bags are for wimps! Just kidding; I might be resorting to a few gift bags myself this busy year.

5. When do you start Christmas shopping? I at least start thinking about it in October, although I often don't get going until November. This year, I did one burst of shopping in November, one last Saturday, and the rest is still to come. I'm so late!

6. Who is the hardest person to buy for? It varies. Chloe often doesn't have much of a wishlist. Frank can be tough 'cause he tends to want expensive things. (Does anybody have a Subzero fridge they want to donate?) My mom. Nephew Brian, 'cause I don't have much practice buying for teen boys.

7. Easiest person to buy for? Myself. MJ (who often has a well developed wishlist).

8. Angel on top of the tree, or star? Angel. Mom and the girls picked it out when the girls were toddlers.

9. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever got? I can't think of one. People are always really good to me.

10. What is the best gift you received as a child? Hmm. My big brother gave me a doll-baby once; she was precious. And more generically, Mom always made my Christmas dreams come true, whatever they were.

11. What is your favorite food to eat at Christmas time? Pam's divinity.

12. What do you want for Christmas this year? I put together a little wishlist, but I don't have any one thing I'm longing for (much to Frank's chagrin).

20 questions

Self-tagged from Frank.

The rules:
A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs & replace any question that they dislike with a new question.

B) Tag 8 people to answer the questions. MJ, Chloe, and six volunteers.

1. How many songs are on your iPod?
It is a sign of my comfort level with my iPod that I thought I was going to have to call MJ to find out how to find out. But it's right there in plain sight! I have 310 songs on my iPod. That I only have 310 songs on my iPod is a sign of my inability/unwillingness to devote any time to loading songs on my iPod.

2. What music would you want played at your funeral?
Umm... "Exactly" by Amy Steinberg. Oh wait....

How about "Satisfaction"? :-)

Seriously, I don't really want a funeral. If my family wants to have one, I want them to play whatever will make them remember the good times.

Update: "Hells Bells" just came on my iPod. That one might be fun.

3. What magazines do you have subscriptions to?
I think "Gourmet" is the only one we're getting right now. I get massively hungry once a month.

4. What are your favorite scents?
Bread baking. Lilacs on the tree. Spring rain. Baby.

5. If you had a million dollars that you could only spend on yourself, what would you do with it?
Quit my job and hang out with my family, at home or on the road. I fantasize about time, not stuff.

But I'd definitely get my very own computer. And maybe an office to keep it in.

6. What is your theme song?
It takes a playlist:
- "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks
- "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders
- "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
- "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissette
- "I Fall to Pieces" by Pasty Cline
- "I Try" by Macy Gray
- "It's Money That I Love" by Randy Newman
- "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" by Aretha and Annie
- "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall
- "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones
- "Tell It Like It Is" by Aaron Neville
- "(I Used to Care But) Things Have Changed" by Bob Dylan
- "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves
- "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC

7. Do you trust easily?
People? Yes. People in positions of authority? No.

8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
Yes. No. Yes. I think so. Sometimes. Maybe.

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
What Frank said.

10. Do you have a good body-image?
Mostly. I still see potential, anyway. :-)

12. How do you spend your social networking (Facebook, etc.) time?
Blogging and e-mail.

13. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Blogging. Reading. Carbs. And I'm a coffee drinker now, although it takes about a quarter cup to wire me up for the whole day.

14.
Original: What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
If we stretch it a bit and say that Frank tagged me, well, I think he's one of the best people I know.

Frank's: Why do people still believe in the supernatural?
Fear and comfort, not necessarily at the same time.

15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?
I have had "Preacher Man" and "Pilot of the Airwaves" stuck in my head for YEARS. They're always right there.

16. What’s your favorite item of clothing?
My "Serenity" t-shirt.

17. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
With enough sugar, yep.

18. What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?
I'd spend it on books.

19. What items could you not go without during the day?
Items? My inhaler. Something comfortable to sit on. That might be it.

Being without books for very long would hurt.

20. What should you be doing right now?
Either working or driving home.