8 posts tagged “nablopomo”
Today is the final day of NaBloPoMo. I'd like to promise no more meaningless posts in the future, but I highly doubt that's going to happen. I know myself a bit too well.
Reflection time - So what did NaBloPoMo do for me? It forced me to come here every day and write, even if it was just an empty sentence or two. That was good- hopefully it helped build a good habit of trying to get words out on a more regular basis because even if it is rambling nonsense, those words often help clarify things that are floating around, in the same rambling way, in my head.
The bad? I actually pulled more away from reading and commenting on blogs. Maybe it was a bit of resentment that built up about having to blog every day. Some days, it was basically post, then get the heck out of blogosphere. I wonder if others found that too? I thought I'd get into it and discover a lot of new blogs and terrific writing. While I'm sure both are out there in mass quantities, I got a bit too stuck on focusing on churning out words of my own to step outside of my box to explore all of the bloggy goodness out there.
So those are my final thoughts. I'm glad I did it, proud that I did it.
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...
We got our school pictures back today. I'm never a fan of posed photography. I don't like the fake fall leaves backdrop or the awkwardness of posed photos usually. I was shocked to see that this photographer had actually coaxed a smile from the boy.
Sold!
The girl's solo picture was pretty bad but the one of them together was do-able, even if she wasn't smiling. It is better than my evil-looking kids in the snow pic from the weekend. I'll be buying that too just to be able to order some Christmas cards (I have no patience AT ALL.)
Hopefully over the weekend, we'll wander out with the kids in the fall leaves or set up our white backdrop and shoot some fun stuff to capture some candid, happy smiles for gift pictures. We love shooting pics in our house- hubby loves his DSLR, I have a little mommy cam (I'm not brave enough for the big camera a lot), and G even shoots with our old 3 MP camera. He loves it and really is careful with the camera. It's definitely a hobby we'd like to encourage. Unfortunately, there's no photography camp for 4 year olds. Soon, hopefully....
Meanwhile, I need to find my own photography camp so I'm not so scared of the big camera. Maybe a lesson at our local college? Heck, I work at one- I should be able to find out if we offer such a course. I'd love to learn to frame things and really understand the power of the camera. A little photoshop lesson or two would be helpful as well. I just get excited to push the Play button on an action - that's the extent of my abilities. I've always wanted to be able to do more- perhaps now it's finally time to pursue that interest.
I have not a lot to say today- here, twitter, in real life. It's Friday. The girl was well enough to go to school. I'm exhausted. That's it - my life in a nutshell.
I'm eating chocolate-filled Nips and contemplating leaving like right now. Friday afternoons drag on far too slowly and while I usually reserve them for busy work (filing, form completion, etc.), I'm just not feeling it today. So here I sit.
I'm stunned that Thanksgiving is already next week. Our families are all traveling. DH has to work (his project is picking up more and more speed daily) so we made no travel plans. And now we are alone. Lonesome. I don't think we've ever had a Thanksgiving alone. It will be odd.
Oh. Does this mean I need to buy a turkey? I never cooked a turkey on my own. To be honest, I don't like turkey. Well, crap. I'll just make sure I get one with a pop-up timer. I can't ruin it then, can I?
I don't like pumpkin pie either. Maybe I should just find us a nice restaurant open that day. But a restaurant with a hyperactive 4 year old and a nearly 2 year old who doesn't stop moving... well, I'm thinking that the only thanks being given in that restaurant would be by the other patrons when we left.
I will have to ponder this a bit more.
And my teeth are now stuck together from the Nips candy.
This has got to be one of the most useless NaBloPoMo posts EVER.
It's been a bad day. Seems like we have a lot of those lately. I swear that I'm not a whiny, unhappy individual. I just started to blog when I needed it most and this year has been a rough one.
Where did the day go wrong?
- It's a cool, rainy Monday. Strike 1.
- As soon as we walked into class, a but started saying unkind things to G about him following him around and being "annoying" Strike 2.
- N's teacher called early afternoon just to let me know she had a very mild fever and very pink cheeks but seemed happy. Just a warning call but still... Strike 3.
- A new boss that was hired based on a terrific interview has turned into an overwhelming micro-manager. Not a good fit for an office of entrepreneurial free spirits in higher ed. Only 1 month in with this person and people who have been there 10+ years (and me, the other newbie) are thinking of escape. Several of his actions today resulted in Strikes 4 through 6 (or so).
- I haven't gotten a return call to schedule G's in-school observation. I also never found a minute to schedule his medical tests. Strikes 7-8.
- Headed to the grocery store; used in-store play area for G (don't judge-it's an awesome, amazing service.) He was there 20 mins. When I picked him up, the counselor noted that they got him to play but had to draw him out of his own world and into theirs as some of the little girls wanted to play with him. Great. I live with the kid for 4+ years and this guy sees him for 20 minutes and sees something that I didn't for so long. Strike 9.
- I grabbed Chinese for us, got it home and it was terrible. Overcooked and greasy slop. I feel sick now. Strike 10.
I logged on today with the intention of talking a bit about the shopping I did last night for Christmas when a post on the "What's New on Vox" caught my eye:
Very good stuff, people. I love to read things like this. I think many in my family tend to go overboard at Christmas. Maybe not some in my immediate family, thank goodness, but those around us and I worry about its effect on my kids as they get older.
Each year, I develop a budget and stick pretty closely to it. I don't like clutter so I try to be cautious about the amount of things that find their way into our home. Add in the whole Chinese-made toys mess, and it makes it pretty easy to be even more careful this year.
I did a huge chunk of shopping online last night. I carefully picked out a few books for each kid, then a couple of toys that I truly hope are safe- a big lego set for the boy and a Little People house for the girl. I've already had personalized superhero capes made by an etsy seller. I think they'll be a big hit. My daughter loves dress up, so I have a tutu and matching ribbon halo on order by another work-at-home Mom.
Still to consider: a doll (I wanted a cabbage patch, but need to research their origins) and a doll stroller (likely to be the ugly Little Tikes ones that's made in the USA) and something else for the boy? We do have an advanced Doctor's Kit set aside for him, complete with a personalized bag and a light up torso model (purchased before the China concerns unfortunately.) Maybe a family game to top it all off?
Sound reasonable? Crazy? What's your method of controlling the craziness or don't you bother?
It was a late, late night and I was exhausted driving home so I stared at license plates. Along the way, I saw this one:
B4UDKCLME
I swear that was it. Can license plates have that many letters? And if they can, what exactly should I call the Acura driver about before I do it?
Before you DK(???), call me.
What is DK?
dance kooky?
drive kindly?
delay kisses?
deliver kittens?
damage keys?
deceive kids?
decorate kennels?
describe kicking?
destroy knives?
develop knowledge
discover kites?
dry kettles?
I'm still befuddled.
Yesterday, I got an Oriental Trading Catalog in the mail. For those not familiar with it, it's a place that sells a lot of stuff fairly cheaply- party favors, decor, little toys, etc. It's a good source for party favors and over-the-top decorating needs.
I became familiar with them during my college years. I was in a sorority (shut up! I liked the service projects!) and during our Big/Little week, we got to decorate our Little Sister's room. I've always loved travel so I chose an Around the World theme - Day 1 was Europe, Day 2 Asia and Day 3 Hawaii. I always go over the top so that poor girl got an insane amount of cheap, tacky decor packed into every corner of her room. But, it was fun as hell and she loved it.
I really don't think I'm all that tacky anymore. I prefer more tradiontal, comfortable decor (think Pottery Barn- like most other 30-something women on this planet.) But- with a touch of quirk thrown in. Really not so bad.
So then why do I want this for my front yard?
I also stumbled across these which aren't quite as tacky. They're probably made in China and full of lead (I'm completely paranoid) so I won't buy them, but wouldn't they make the best stocking stuffers?
I've been looking for a nativity set for my home as well. I love nesting dolls so I paused when I saw this.
