The Doings Report

I haven't done one of these in a long time, mostly because I've been focused on getting some Europe memories into the blog. That and recovering from jet lag, which it doesn't seem like I've quite managed even now. I'm still really tired, not sleeping well, irritable.

On the bright side, we're back in our routine, mostly caught up with the vacation backlog and kinda started on the holiday prep. The house is a disaster area, which gets to Frank and me but disturbs the girls not a bit. What we need is to invite some dinner guests over; that would motivate us to get things shipshape again.

MJ and Chloe have been computer-oriented since our return. MJ is reading and reading and reading, blogging again (yay!), and doing other writing but won't tell me what. Chloe is doing a little bit of a lot of things: writing for NaNoWriMo, watching anime, hanging out on MySpace, doing e-art (see her blog for a sample), reading, buying people, etc. Oh, and she's been putting in sessions cleaning her room.

Frank has also been blogging, keeping on top of the dishes (those that are not lost in the bowels of the house), and keeping us fed. He's put in some time getting materials ready for the Maier Family Cookbook that cousins Sonya and Becky are putting together, in anticipation of the big reunion next summer.

As for me, I've been working. A lot but not too much. In my off time, I hang out with the fambly and read and blog and wish there were more hours in the day and more gumption in my soul.

This past weekend, we went down to Corvallis for Non-Con and had a lovely time. We really missed the Traaseths and the Mayers (who were all there last year), but we had the Winklers and Buchholzes and more of the Hessels than last year to fill in the gaps. Fun people, fun times. The kids did lots of trick-or-treating on Friday, first in downtown Corvallis (the streets of which were packed with people) and then in Zenmomma's easy-to-hit-a-lot-of-houses-in-a-short-time neighborhood. MJ, Chloe, and Qacei were Spike the vampire (from "Buffy") and two of his babes. MJ pulled off the male look so well that some enlightened souls called her a fag when she was out walking later with Conor (who made a very convincing Hunter S. Thompson). If they had seen her in Qacei's lady-vampire outfit a little later, there would have been no way they'd make that mistake.

Saturday, we played music. Frank and Carolyn brought their guitars, and Bret, his bass, and they had a grand time fiddling out tunes with like-minded people. I accompanied them on Jon's drum, and it was good listening practice for me. I need practice.

My favorite song of the night was Hey Sarah Palin. "Oh, if you become VP, it's Canada for me." I hadn't heard it before and found it quite entertaining. (warning: just a bit of explicit language)

Sunday was our traditional closeout breakfast at Sunnyside Up. It was pretty hectic because it was homecoming weekend for the Beavers, but we cleared a few tables to help out and had a nice visit. We left Chloe behind for a few days' apprenticeship as a barrista, then made our way back home, listening to the Seahawks tank.

Now, I'm procrastinating a trip to work. I'd rather crawl back in bed and sleep for a few days.

Just in case

I have reason to hope Chiara might be reading my blog today to see the NCN photos, so here's a little message just for her in (probably mangled) Italian.

Chiara,
Siete mia ragazza speciale. Sono così felice che siete mia figlia! Ti amo molto e stiamo contandoci i giorni possiamo essere nello stesso posto. Ciao, bella!

My NCN writeup

Yes, it's done. It's long. There are many parts. There are many photos. Here's the Table of Contents.

PARTY! - belated Thursday 13
NCN Thursday
NCN Friday
NCN Saturday
NCN at the Party Palace
NCN trip to the piercing parlor
NCN Sunday
NCN Monday
Kaizen

I want to thank everybody for coming, for your amazing presence, for your most delicious culinary contributions, for helping with cleanup, and for financial assistance via the raffle. You All Rock.

PARTY!

At long last, with my work obligations met for the week, I am free to report on our rambunctious and delicious Non-Con North festivities. Do you think I can do this in a single post? No Way! But let's get started.

Here, because I missed my Thursday 13, I'll share...

13 Fascinating Things about Non-Con North

1. Our house was packed with people from Thursday night until Monday at about 3 in the afternoon. Some moments were more crowded than others (we could barely move during the Super Bowl), but our place was definitely Party Central. Those shopping and sightseeing trips I thought would happen? No. We all wanted to be together every minute.

2. We had people here from Oregon, California, British Columbia, Costa Rica (by way of Seee-dro Wooley), Snohomish, Marysville, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor, and probably another local city or two that I'm forgetting. I think the people from out-of-state (country) outnumbered the locals, though. Thanks for doing all that driving, guys!

3. The kids had FUN. They laughed (and laughed and laughed); they played; they romped; they laughed; they talked, built, cooperated, shared, sympathized, negotiated, chipped in, helped out, and danced. And did I mention that they laughed?

4. Unschoolers don't eat very much. Or Frank cooks enough for a full-blown conference. One of the two. Either way, we had enough food for the weekend for everybody except the vegetarians. (Sorry, Qacei!)

5. The water in Cajun boiled shrimp does not have tomatoes in it. It's red from the cayenne. This became more apparent when we all started coughing from the fumes and had to open windows and doors. But it was worth it!

6. Kapla blocks are the greatest. Gillian and Craig are the greatest for having them shipped to my house in time for the party (even if they were so cruel as to take them away when they left). And Harper gets the NCN Kapla Greatness Award for his amazing creations and for being tall enough to reach the ceiling.

7. We played Football Cliché Bingo.

At first I was worried it was a mistake, because we all quit talking so we could listen to the announcers. But that didn't last long. And the moments when one of the camera shots or beer ads came up (things that appeared on every card), the room erupted with excitement. "Cheerleaders!"

8. What does an unschooling mom do when she has 30 people coming over for a Super Bowl party? She drops everything and takes her kid to get a new hole in her head. I might have been just a wee bit less than gracious about it, but I did it. And so did she.

9. We forgot Matteo.

In the mad rush to transfer the party Saturday night, we all grabbed our own kids and left the house. We got to the Party Palace and I noticed he was missing. "Hayden, where's Matteo?" "Oh, I think he stayed home." gasp choke "Do you mean at MY house?!" I called home, and sure enough, Matteo answered. Fortunately, he's 12 and not 2, and fortunately, we were only ten minutes away. And running back to get him gave me a chance to grab the less vital things we had forgotten.

10. The Found Items Raffle was really, really cool. People supplied—and won—a ton of cool stuff.

11. Viola and Ali don't wear thongs. But having them tossed into their laps still distracted them from their disappointment when they didn't win the ponies. And Mary and Diana found it pretty hilarious, too.

12. It wasn't a perfect non-con, because the Traaseths weren't there. We really missed you guys!

13. Doing the Time Warp was probably my favorite moment. Of course it was fun to do the dance (badly in my case), but the coolest part was looking out at all of MY people smiling at us from the audience. Of course, what else could they do but smile?

NCN Thursday

After taking a look around at everything I had left to do, I called Mary. "Where are you?" I chirped cheerfully, prepared to be unperturbed if the answer was "20 minutes away." Nope, they were still in Corvallis (just getting up, as I found out later). Relief and disappointment. But mostly relief. And when they arrived some hours later, we were mostly ready.

Gillian and Craig arrived that day, too. We pulled up out front at the same time they did after one last run to medicate my mom's dog. I was so excited to see them, I burbled all my greetings with the window still rolled up, so the first words they actually heard me say seemed to be an accusation: "You're early!"

But no, the party was in full swing by then. I don't actually have photo proof of that, but this one from Friday will give you the idea.


Through the horseshoe from the left: Shonna, Randi, Diana, Gillian, Mary, Madelyn, Ducky, Frank, Sharon (mostly hidden), Dick, Logan, Jon, Craig

G&C unpacked their boxes, and then we all spent the evening chatting and building with Kaplas. This evening is well photo-documented here.


We wound down at about 2 a.m., and then Frank and I ran the kids back out to the beach for their last night of dogsitting.

NCN Friday

The Friday morning fire drill (drop off dead TV, talk to kids, get doughnuts for kids, pick up kids, pick up Megan, no never mind Megan is covered, harangue kids into cleaning the evidence of Angelo's bath out of Grandma's tub) gave way to a day of grocery shopping, cooking, and finally some more partying. And Kapla time. And singing. And "How many teenagers can we fit on Ronnie and Frank's bed?"


From left: Logan, Maya with Qacei behind, Chloe, MJ, Harper, Conor, Matteo


Effie and Viola visit the teens from time to time, with mixed results.


Gemma and Michelle give an impromptu recital, with iPod accompaniment.


Gioia builds


Viola builds, Gillian and Craig bond, Mary grins

NCN Saturday

Randi takes a turn
(with Siobhan in the foreground)


Then gets some help
(Niall and Behan on left, Matteo helping, Siobhan and Hayden watching, Chloe doing her own thing)


Peek-a-boo?
Randi, Matteo, Logan, with Scotty and Hayden in the background


Ronnie came through with a few toys for Siobhan and Mairen
"The flash hurts my eyes!"


Siobhan loves Fritos.

NCN at the Party Palace

Let's get it started in here


Pimp Daddy and the Daiquiri King (also known as "my savior")


New red boots won in the raffle


And Cleopatra (otherwise known as Robin) won a cashmere robe!


Candy canes for Mardi Gras!


An earnest discussion. Or maybe MJ's music was too loud.
Mary 2, Michelle, Jordan (whose fabulous spats didn't make it into any of the photos), Dick, and Sharon


The kids had a great time with Frank's samurai helmet. This is Niall.


And this is Erich.


One of our most surreal moments: the teenagers and Diana headed for the men's room.


Michelle is blue. I missed getting a photo when she was still wearing her pink hair.


"Let me outta this crazy place!"
Fergus


Our tamest group photo

NCN trip to the piercing parlor

Sunday before the big game, we headed over to Painless Steel to get some piercings. Unfortunately, only MJ had her ID with her, so everybody else...


just watched


while Harper (instead of Daddy!) held her hand.


She made faces


but she didn't make a sound, not even when she did this


while I got flustered and Harper got just a little green.


And then it was done.


"That wasn't too bad," said Frankie Fingers, the piercing artist. "It would have been worse if you'd been drinking last night." Indeed.

NCN Sunday

"Let's go!"


Gamers


Fergus and one of his weekend heroes, Ducky
with Hayden, Michelle, and Effie


Football Cliché Bingo


Oh, yeah, and football. How about that fourth quarter, huh?


Dallas and Effie, cracking each other up


Wise women
Madelyn, Gillian, Diana

NCN Monday

A subdued breakfast at IHOP.
(Yes, this is our version of subdued.)


And just like that, they were gone.

Kaizen

"Kaizen" is Japanese for continuous improvement. It's a workplace term typically.

But there's a lot of Kaizen in the unschooling community. We see it in action with our kids, who are always reaching up and out, and we see it in action with unschooling parents, who are always striving to improve their parenting and their connections to their kids.

Kaizen moments abounded at Non-Con North, but my favorite was the Sunday night group-chat in our livingroom. Our "panel" was made up of five parents and three teens, with some younger kids playing within earshot nearby. The teens were consulted as the experts they are, and a wealth of ideas was shared by all.

This is one of the reasons we love getting together with unschoolers SO MUCH. The joy of talking things over with people who understand our parenting goals is immeasurable.

Friday fill-in

1. Once I was not much of a joiner, and then I went to LIFE is Good.

2. Popsicles and staying home from work are the only good things about being sick.

3. Today at work I was mysteriously absent.

4. What's all that happy unschooler noise all about? Non-Con North, of course!

5. If I make a mistake I feel like crap for an excessively long time.

6. When I woke up this morning, I thought — simultaneously — "Oh, I can't wait for everyone to get here" and "Ohmigosh, I hope nobody arrives before five."

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending a second evening laughing and talking myself hoarse with some of the best people in the world, tomorrow my plans include a fabulous Mardi Gras celebration at the Party Palace, and Sunday, I want to hang with my peeps!

Thursday 13

Thirteen Cool People Who Will Be At My House Today

(not including my three favorite people)

(in no particular order)

(okay, there's a pattern of sorts, but no preference order)

1. Effie
2. Fergus
3. Qacei
4. Conor
5. Logan
6. Hunter
7. Kyla
8. Gillian
9. Craig
10. Mary
11. Jon
12. Michelle
13. Jordan (maybe) or Randi (maybe)

and a bonus 14: our special guest, Harper!!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow

WE'RE SO EXCITED!!!!

And tomorrow's arrivals are only the beginning of the fun!!!!

NCN latest

Thursday
- Is anybody arriving this day besides Harper and the Mayers?

Friday
- When you get into town, come on over to our house! No need to call first. If you need directions, send me e-mail. (My e-mail address is at the bottom of this blog.)
- Dinner: We decided to do a sandwich/salad bar at our house rather than going out. This will make the fun easy to find.

Saturday
- Daytime will possibly find us wandering the town in packs. (Trader Joe's, anyone? Or the nice little wine shop in downtown Everett?) Send e-mail if you need cell phone numbers to assist you in locating the group.
- At the party: In case you (Craig) had any doubt, there WILL be jambalaya. And King Cake. And costumes. And an eclectic playlist by MJ.
- Have you heard about the Found Items Raffle? Check out the details and bring something(s) fun!

Sunday
- Football Cliché Bingo is ON. There will be prizes!
- Cheapskate Gambling is also on - a betting pool you can join without breaking the bank (and also without needing a financial advisor to help with your winnings).

¡MUY IMPORTANTE!
I continue to delude myself that I know who is showing up for this extravaganza. If you haven't yet informed me of your plans to attend, please send e-mail! Thanks!

NCN Hotel

News for those interested in Non-Con North, our early February gathering of unschoolers:

I have arranged a discounted rate of $85/night at the Best Western Cascadia Inn on Pacific Ave. in Everett. It is about a mile and a half from our place, is adjacent to a Chinese restaurant and a Denny's, and offers a not-just-muffins continental breakfast each morning.

When you make your reservation, tell them you're with Non-Con North in Veronica Maier's party.

Reservation lines:
Hotel direct: 1-425-258-4141
Toll free: 1-800-822-5876

Click here to see more info about Non-Con North

Borrowed photos

I've just been cruising around MySpace and discovered that some of the Non-Con kids have put some of *my* photos into their profiles and Non-Con albums. How cool is that?

Okay, so I'm easily flattered. :-)

February whispers

Could there be a Non-Con North coming our way for Mardi Gras?

Remember, dear readers, you heard it here first, off the record, on the Q.T., and very hush-hush.

Non-Con revisited

I can't stop looking at Non-Con photos and videos. Want to see some more?

Zenmomma's Garden (Mary)
Our Joyful Life (Kelli)
The Wonderful Happens (Gillian and Craig)
Bodhicitta (Diana)

Want more unschooling blogs? Here are some other of my faves:

Normal is SO last week (Qacei)
Learning in Freedom (Ren)
Another Roadside Attraction (Rue)
- author of the amazing Parenting a Free Child
This Is How We Shine (Anne)
Warts and All (Schuyler)
Sandra Dodd (family-life blog)

Oh, there are too many good ones. Many of those have Live and Learn, LIFE is Good, or Unschooling blog ring links that you can click to see even more.