Poo.
The Realtor came over yesterday. The house was perfect. Truly. Chris, Neesi, Betty, Grabo have done a fabulous wonderful job of cleaning, painting, and spifi-fying. Into my beautiful home, this woman comes carrying her market assessments and a very critical eye. --I really don't like this woman. But, she sells more houses in this area than all the other realtors combined.
We've been working on this home for 15 years. We've sunk well over $200K into the repairs and renovations. What was her assessment? Sink another $700 into repairing the basement and list it for $179K.
So, the question I'm asking on this absolutely gorgeous summer morning; as I listen to the cacophony of birds outside my window; as I watch the sun caress the leaves of the maple tree; as I breathe the moist air perfumed with pine needles... the question I ask is no longer how much is my house worth. But, how much am I willing to lose in order to sell it? I know what I gain by moving into Milwaukee. I get to be closer to all those things that I have missed ... grocery stores, pizza delivery, walking to a coffee shop. I gain access to museums and the lake front. I gain access to my favoritest little boys. I gain freedom from the snowy, blowy, decrepit country roads. I gain many things. But, how much am I willing to lose? Do I have the courage to swap what I have for the mystery house behind door number 3?
a sulky, blue-grey
anti-mom
17 June 2010
24 May 2010
Sunny with the high of 90!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's going to be really hot today! 90! yeah warm weather! Humid curly hair! even my hair is frizzy and curly!
Tippy
Tippy
15 May 2010
13 May 2010
apologies
A dear one emailed me today. And, it turns out, they are being asked to apologize for something that isn't their fault. In fact, it is completely due to the immaturity of the other party involved. But, the higher authority in the matter has requested an apology be given.
I had so much fun coming up with apologies, I thought I would share some ideas. Please help me add to the list. It's quite cathartic.
"I'm sorry that you are so easily intimidated"
"I regret that you felt the need to escalate a reasonable discussion to the point of a hissy fit."
"I'm sorry you misunderstood my obvious intention to be helpful."
"I'm sorry your communication skills resemble a turrets patient."
"It was thoughtless of me to assume you would be reasonable in this discussion."
"I should never had presumed that you would rationally discuss your presentation."
"You were perfectly correct in your outburst. I should have said the same."
"I regret the offense you've given."
I had so much fun coming up with apologies, I thought I would share some ideas. Please help me add to the list. It's quite cathartic.
"I'm sorry that you are so easily intimidated"
"I regret that you felt the need to escalate a reasonable discussion to the point of a hissy fit."
"I'm sorry you misunderstood my obvious intention to be helpful."
"I'm sorry your communication skills resemble a turrets patient."
"It was thoughtless of me to assume you would be reasonable in this discussion."
"I should never had presumed that you would rationally discuss your presentation."
"You were perfectly correct in your outburst. I should have said the same."
"I regret the offense you've given."
10 May 2010
Daniel
Daniel is Home from Amsterdam, Holland! All I can say is "Why didn't he take Shenandoah with him?" :(
06 May 2010
05 May 2010
Daniel <-- really wanted to be Danile :)
Daniel is in Amsterdam, Holland! All I can say is "Why didn't he take me?" :(
Today
I'm not going to die today. I feel a lot better with only a sore throat and splinting head ache left. :P
Tippy
Tippy
03 May 2010
Tiggy's sick
Dear Tiggy got up this morning feeling very very cold. The poor little dear had a sore throat and felt horribly warm to the touch. So, being a good mom, I gave her some liquid tylenol and looked diligently to find a thermometer. I finally found the 15 year old thermometer in the bathroom cabinet. After a thorough cleaning, I took her temp. 97.2. F
Well, that was wrong.
So I made her keep it in her mouth. Remember the days when I told you that it took 30 minutes for a thermometer to get an accurate reading? After 15 minutes or so, she was only registering 99F
Obviously, I needed a new tactic. But, what else could be used to get an accurate temperature reading in the 90-110 degree Fahrenheit range? We have a meat thermometer! But, where to stab it? Dear little Tiggy didn't like my suggestions, so we compromised and took her elbow pit temp. It was 100.3F
Now, I have a new problem. What is the conversion between elbow pit and body core temperatures? And, how to I tell the doctor that her temperature is below rare but above shellfish?
Well, that was wrong.
So I made her keep it in her mouth. Remember the days when I told you that it took 30 minutes for a thermometer to get an accurate reading? After 15 minutes or so, she was only registering 99F
Obviously, I needed a new tactic. But, what else could be used to get an accurate temperature reading in the 90-110 degree Fahrenheit range? We have a meat thermometer! But, where to stab it? Dear little Tiggy didn't like my suggestions, so we compromised and took her elbow pit temp. It was 100.3F
Now, I have a new problem. What is the conversion between elbow pit and body core temperatures? And, how to I tell the doctor that her temperature is below rare but above shellfish?
30 April 2010
Happy birthday Renee!
Happy birthday to you!
Your house is a zoo!
Your family are monkeys!
And Tabby's one to!
=D
Renee's Schooling
Poor Renee.
We've been working on setting up her school schedule next year. Because I have learned from experience, I wanted to be 100% certain that there are no missed requirements; no need for her to take Introduction to Widget Making, or a missed Health class. There have been half a dozen emails back and forth to her student advisor, Cassidy Bentendorf. Because, as you all know, school boards set their own requirements for graduation and they vary between districts.
I got an email today from Cassidy. He (yeah, poor guy) said that according the Grantsburg School District, ALL graduates MUST take Algebra I and English 9. Well, Renee finished Algebra I in 4th grade, and she finished English 9 in 6th grade. Therefore, she doesn't not have the requirements for graduation from Grantsburg.
She might end up taking ALGEBRA next year!
--ok, so the chance of that is a billion to one. Cassidy is going to go to the school board next week and formally apply for a written variance to the policy. Josh Watt is on the school board and there's no way that he would ever agree to letting Renee take Algebra I. But.... it's still really funny to think about. She could take Algebra from a teacher who has less math training than she. :-)
We've been working on setting up her school schedule next year. Because I have learned from experience, I wanted to be 100% certain that there are no missed requirements; no need for her to take Introduction to Widget Making, or a missed Health class. There have been half a dozen emails back and forth to her student advisor, Cassidy Bentendorf. Because, as you all know, school boards set their own requirements for graduation and they vary between districts.
I got an email today from Cassidy. He (yeah, poor guy) said that according the Grantsburg School District, ALL graduates MUST take Algebra I and English 9. Well, Renee finished Algebra I in 4th grade, and she finished English 9 in 6th grade. Therefore, she doesn't not have the requirements for graduation from Grantsburg.
She might end up taking ALGEBRA next year!
--ok, so the chance of that is a billion to one. Cassidy is going to go to the school board next week and formally apply for a written variance to the policy. Josh Watt is on the school board and there's no way that he would ever agree to letting Renee take Algebra I. But.... it's still really funny to think about. She could take Algebra from a teacher who has less math training than she. :-)
28 April 2010
Bethany touched a SNAKE!
Joseph caught a grass snake and Bethany voluntarily TOUCHED the snake - FOUR TIMES!
27 April 2010
an idea
Recent studies have shown that placebos are equally effective as most medications. (and in some bizarre cases, they are more effective) They have the added advantage that there are very few side effects to placebos. It's very difficult to be truly addicted to the pain reliever in a sugar pill, or so I would think.
Anyway, because of this, I've decided that the best way for me to find a cure for the swelling in my back is to start taking a placebo. But, I know that there is also a group think component of placebo efficacy. If the people in my immediate social network don't believe that it will work, I will somehow pick up on that disbelief and the percentages of success begin to drop. So, I want all of you to believe that if I drink a glass of grape juice every day for three days, my back pain will miraculously disappear. Why did I pick grape juice? Well, it's cheap. But, it also has antioxidant properties and it is a mild laxative, so it will flush all the icky stuff out of my spinal column that is causing the swelling. I will also have to stretch several times a day to increase the circulation in my spine.
So, (lifting a glass of grape juice) here's to my health.
Anyway, because of this, I've decided that the best way for me to find a cure for the swelling in my back is to start taking a placebo. But, I know that there is also a group think component of placebo efficacy. If the people in my immediate social network don't believe that it will work, I will somehow pick up on that disbelief and the percentages of success begin to drop. So, I want all of you to believe that if I drink a glass of grape juice every day for three days, my back pain will miraculously disappear. Why did I pick grape juice? Well, it's cheap. But, it also has antioxidant properties and it is a mild laxative, so it will flush all the icky stuff out of my spinal column that is causing the swelling. I will also have to stretch several times a day to increase the circulation in my spine.
So, (lifting a glass of grape juice) here's to my health.
21 April 2010
Mom health
Hello everyone-
Just wanted to keep everyone in the loop. So, first the background info. I went to the hospital on Monday with severe pain and at that point, was unable to move either leg. I could stand, but not walk or even roll over in bed. They did an MRI and determined that it wasn't a herniated disk, and I did not need surgery. They sent me home with vicadin and some anti-inflamatory (maybe it was just a placebo?)
I went to see Dr. Gatto today. He did some more blood work and has switched me to Percocet and prednisone. (next level up for pain killer and anti-inflammatory) He is going to be running some blood tests to see if it is either "polymyalgia rhuematica" or "hypothyroidism" I guess if it's either of those two, I should be feeling better by mid-day tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll have to go back and have more tests run.
I am currently living on the sofa. But, other than a really horrible taste in my mouth (and extreme pain) I'm doing fine. Neither of the two possible diagnoses are life threatening or untreatable, so the plan to be up and kicking Jos' butt on Dance Dance Revolution is still on.
Just wanted to keep everyone in the loop. So, first the background info. I went to the hospital on Monday with severe pain and at that point, was unable to move either leg. I could stand, but not walk or even roll over in bed. They did an MRI and determined that it wasn't a herniated disk, and I did not need surgery. They sent me home with vicadin and some anti-inflamatory (maybe it was just a placebo?)
I went to see Dr. Gatto today. He did some more blood work and has switched me to Percocet and prednisone. (next level up for pain killer and anti-inflammatory) He is going to be running some blood tests to see if it is either "polymyalgia rhuematica" or "hypothyroidism" I guess if it's either of those two, I should be feeling better by mid-day tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll have to go back and have more tests run.
I am currently living on the sofa. But, other than a really horrible taste in my mouth (and extreme pain) I'm doing fine. Neither of the two possible diagnoses are life threatening or untreatable, so the plan to be up and kicking Jos' butt on Dance Dance Revolution is still on.
16 April 2010
When will the world end?
When will the world end? :/ When humans can fly? Already done. When mankind steps on the moon? Already done (though I don't think it should count because he wasn't barefoot). When pigs fly? Ahh, maybe I mean that hasn't been done right. =) I have decided to prove people who say "when pigs fly!" wrong I am going to catapult a pig across a long field proving that pigs can fly. Sounds like fun, aay? Anyone want to help? =}
Enthusiastic, Ambitious, Tiggy
Enthusiastic, Ambitious, Tiggy
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