Uncommon Julia

Mish Mash Mush

My apologies, but my mind has dissolved into a cloud of ... hm? Wha?  I'm sorry, I've lost my train of thought.

I'm in one of those incapacitated states that comes with overload.  I've got too much going on, too many thoughts roaming free range, and not enough sleep or energy to deal with them properly.  So you're going to get yet another jumble of updates, instead of a nice, orderly, thematic post.

My bad.

Scorpions, and how I loathe them.
Seriously, seriously, seriously hate them.  The are anathema to my peace of mind.  Case in point: two nights ago, I went in to get Caroline at about 5:30 a.m. because she was fussing.  I bent over to pick her up and as I lifted her, I caught sight of a GIANT, VERY ACTIVE SCORPION on her wall ABOVE HER CRIB!  As in, ABOVE WHERE I LAY HER WEE FUZZY HEAD TO SLEEP EACH AND EVERY NIGHT!  I'm sorry, am I SCREAMING?!  GOOD, because DAMN! A SCORPION COULD HAVE EATEN MY BABY!

I dispatched Todd to kill the SOB, and kept Caroline in our bed for the rest of the morning.  Clearly, there was no other choice.

We had the house treated about a week ago, but those buggers are tenacious.  My friend, Em, who's company did the treating, said they have to actually come out and get all cozy with the poison before it can work.  And then, because of their exoskeleton, it takes a good long while to actually kill them.  We've seen four scorpions since that treatment.  It's summer, and it's freakin' surface-of-the-sun hot here, so it's not surprising.  Yet somehow, I derive no comfort from that.

Speaking of cribs
Caroline got so pissed off the other night when I insisted on putting her back in her crib to sleep, instead of the comfy crook of my arm during my extremely limited alone time (was watching Gran Tornino, by the way, which was great), that she CLIMBED OUT OF THE CRIB, OPENED THE DOOR, and OVER TO MY BED!

Am I yelling again?  Sorry.  But !!!  and also, ?!?!?!

She hasn't repeated this stunt, but I do think the clock is ticking on the cribs life expectancy.  I'm really not looking forward to a big girl bed for Caroline.  Here's why:

1. Cost
Even at the cheapest scenario I've worked out, we're looking at a new bed frame, mattress, and bedding.
2. Mobility
Clearly, Caroline has no qualms with exiting a bed - or a room, for that matter.  I have visions of her climbing into Hannah's bed to jump on her head, throw toys at her, or generally perturb her peaceful slumber.  See also, our peaceful slumber.
3. She's my baby
4. Did I mention she can't be old enough for this yet?

Designy
When I get all mushy-brained like this, I like to do visual creative stuff.  That's the technical term for photography or (unpaid) design.  Stuff that's just for fun and not under any sort of deadline.  I'm thinking of redesigning this blog.  In fact, I'm thinking of redesigning it on a semi-regular basis.  Without, you know, committing to anything.

I want to work up some invitations to Caroline's second birthday party (!!!), but she won't pause long enough for a decent photo!  I'll have to make a more concerted effort to chase her down this week.

Speaking of parties
I think we're either doing a plain-Jane birthday party at home or a party at the local pool for Caroline.  It's hot as Hades, so the pool sounds nice and comes with the added benefit of no home cleaning.  But it's also a bit of a pain to watch lots of kids at a pool, what with all the potential drowning, etc.  Good thing I've got so much time to decide!  Hey, wait... dammit!

"Surviving and Thriving"
I was interviewed by the local business journal last week for a story about strategies freelancers are using to "survive and thrive" in the recession.  At first, I had to laugh, because I wasn't sure I really had any "strategies".  But after I sat down and thought about it, there is a certain method to my madness.  The interview went well and the story should run in a couple of weeks.  It'll give me some nice exposure.

It was also good to step back and look at my career, outside the framework of our household financial situation.  My work is in full swing, and this year is really a banner year for me.  I only wish I could take that perspective more often.

Two-Income Family
Todd has his first closing of the year tomorrow, and I'm so, so, so glad.  I'll yell if that's what it takes to prove it.  He's also seeing a teeny bit of an upswing in the amount of work - putting in offers, taking clients around, hearing promises of "have to" moves.  But we'll all breathe a big sigh of relief when all that activity actually turns into MONEY.  He's still looking on all fronts, though, for those of you wondering.

Photography
Have you been looking at the flickr account from my client portfolio?  It's over there on the left.  There's some cute new pictures from recent sessions.  Just in case you're interested.

BlogHer '09 preparations
Do I need cards for my blog?  Hm.  Something else to design.

No church just yet.
I didn't make it to the Episcopal church on Sunday.  Todd was out late (won some money playing poker) and the girls slept in, and, well, so did I.  But I do have a nice little game plan in place and a list 'o churches to check off.

What's for dinner?
No, really.  What are you making?  And when will you get here?

Watch Out, Stacy and Clinton

Hannah emerged from her room fully dressed and ready for preschool today.  She was wearing an adorable shorts set in super-comfy peacock-blue cotton with a floral top - very appropriate since I'd admonished her to dress coolly because of the 106 degree heat (so not kidding - that's not even heat INDEX!).

Then I glanced at her feet, which were decked out in chocolate brown mary janes with pink flowers on them. 

"I don't think those shoes quite match, babe."

She looked down and then furrowed her brow, "Yes the do! They're a neutral color - brown - so they match everything!"

Touche, Hannah, touche.  The student has become the master.

Apropos of Nothing

... Except, perhaps, want of a cohesive theme.

Vacation Hangover (hers, but somehow still mine)
My mom used to tell me that when I came back from visiting my grandparents, there was a bit of a "recovery" time, wherein I had to relearn the rules of being a civilized child who followed rules and was generally a peaceable member of society.  The word "spoiled" may have come up.

[enter sigh] She was right.  Hannah has been mostly good since her return, but there are clear signs of vacation hangover: a general grumpiness and refusal to listen, replacing it instead with whines and pouts.

I think it has less to do with anyone [grandma] spoiling anyone [Banana], and more to do with the harsh reality of coming back to the real world.  And honestly, I think we all do this - four or forty.

Yesterday was pretty harsh.  Primarily because Caroline had a super-rough night and I was operating on very little sleep.  Little sleep + cranky kids + neglected work = mom with cartoony squiggles and swear words over her head.

But by the end of the evening it seemed that Hannah received the message: You home now, all the old rules apply.  I think we're back on track.  [clearly, knocking wood]

Wedded Bliss
Yesterday marked eight years since Todd and I were married.  In a fit of celebration, he worked all day while I (grumpily) watched the kids.  The girls and I ate spaghetti and got ready for bed, and when he came home he at microwaved leftovers.  Then he and I watched Deadliest Catch (together), and then a baseball game and reality TV (separately).  Later, we crashed with some mutual "love 'ya"s and pats on the back.

I know.  Steamy, right?

But it was perfect, for us.  I think romance is highly overrated.  Comfort and deep love is much, much better.  Plus, we're going out to a fancy restaurant on Friday night while friends watch the girls.  We'll try and do it up right then.

Severed Lifeline
My church closed.  Yep, closed.  Completely out of the blue, I received an email from the church conference saying they church was closed and that the day before was our last service.  Come get any belongings, thankyouverymuch.

I'm really upset about this.  The church had been a big source of support this year, including financial gifts and donations that were really helping keep us afloat.  Not to mention the massive help of prayers and knowing that there's a larger family out there that will hold you up when you need it.

I feel like there must be something else going on.  The church was only 1.5 years old.  I know the Methodist Church usually allots five years for new churches before the expect them to have their act together.  I thought the pastor was great, the congregation supportive, and in a tiny community like ours, they really played an important role in our lives.

Starting Sunday, I'll have to start my search anew.  Any suggestions for a relatively progressive denomination?

Summer Television
One thing I love about the largely abyssmal summer TV lineup is this: the excuse to watch crap!  Trashy TV is quickly becoming my favorite guilty pleasure.

Wipeout
You really have to watch this - it's hands-down the best stress-relief out there.  Last season, once I forced myself to stop feeling sorry for the contestants (they VOLUNTEER!  and they have a shot a $50K!), I loved every second of the exploitative falls, slips, and periously dangerous head-shots.  This year, the courses are much improved, and the comedic comentary is hilarious.  Even my kids like watching it (with a preceding explanation that it's only okay to laugh at people who fall if a. they're on a game show, or b. you checked to make sure they're okay and stop before you hurt their feelings).

The Bachelorette
I wholeheartedly blame my friend Em for making me watch this.  She also hooked me on I Hate Greenbeans (a recap blog) which is written by a real-life friend of hers.  I generally disagree with the premise of the show and I think the intentionally pick at least a half-crop of losers and drama kings, but man, there's no denying that the show is hilarious!  I laugh out loud every time and usually try to explain to Todd what was so funny, except it never fully translates and I end up sounding like an idiot.  But who cares.  Funny is funny.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey
You can't make this sh*t up.  Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!  Completely inappropriate in every single way, and yet, 100% addictive.  The "characters" are so over the top that I literally sit there with my mouth hanging open.  And yet, each one of them has deeply redemptive moments that make me tear up!  (I know! How humiliating to cry over crazy people!)  Once you get over the wrongness of it, it's so very, very right.

In the realm of less trashy, I'm also watching Burn Notice (Magnum PI for the new millennium), Saving Grace, Royal Pains, Deadliest Catch ("The crab show" as Hannah calls it), Ice Road Truckers (actually scary this year), True Blood, In Plain Sight, Bizarre Foods (he's actually endearing), and Man vs. Food.

Am I missing any Must-Sees?

What Hannah Did on her Summer Vacation

Transcribed by Nana (who rocks). Pictures pending the correction of a technological error.

Saturday, June 13

Mommy and I left home this morning and drove all the way to a town called Sonora. We stopped at a Dairy Queen, and Nana met us there. We had a little lunch and visited a few minutes before I waved goodbye to Mommy and went on to Fort Davis with Nana. On the way, I liked looking out the window and watching the clouds. There was some lightening and some rain showers.

Nana forgot to tell Zeus that I was coming, so he was surprised to see me. He’s such a good boy. When we got to Fort Davis, Nana helped Grandpa load a table he made into his truck to take to a nice lady. While he did that, Nana and I sat on the front porch. I learned that I could climb the apricot tree by myself by standing on the little rock wall on the porch. I’m such a big girl!

When Grandpa came home, he brought us a big pizza from Murphy’s Café. I drew some really good pictures on the porch with my new chalk. Late tonight I had a small bad dream, but Grandpa rocked me back to sleep.

Sunday, June 14

This morning I woke up early and helped Nana make waffles for the guests who were staying overnight. I made one for myself, too, and we put pecans in them. Yum. Nana had to play the piano at church, so I went and sat on the front row with Grandpa. I was very quiet and good, and I had a coloring book to play with.

After lunch, we drove on a really bumpy road at Rocky’s ranch house to go look at owls. The first box had just 3 babies in it, and I got to pet them. The mommy and daddy birds were not there, so the babies were just ready to fly. The next box had a mommy bird and 3 more babies. I got to see the mommy bird on that one. The third box had a mommy bird and 3 eggs, but no babies. I went up a tall ladder to see the birds.

I helped Nana cook beans and weenies for dinner, and we started to put together my princess puzzle. I had another big bad dream tonight, but finally I slept well.

Monday, June 15

Today I started Critter Camp. On the way to camp, we passed a whole herd of sheep, including some big rams with big, curled horns. We go on a bumpy road to camp with lots of little dips and hills that Nana calls “belly coolers.” Nana dropped me off and I made my own name tag. I colored a pretty butterfly. And we went on a hike where we got pretty flowers, and we pressed them in wax paper.

After camp and after lunch, I went with Nana and Grandpa and another lady to clean Hope's Ranch. That didn’t take too long, so I watched cartoons this afternoon while Nana did laundry. At dinner, I made the salad for Nana. After we ate, Nana took me for a big, strawberry ice cream cone at the Caboose. This is just a train car, and I called it the “bacoose.”

There is a little store next to the Caboose, and we went in to look around, but most of the stuff is fancy and breakable, so we didn’t stay too long. When we got home, we finished the Princess jigsaw puzzle (except for 1 lost piece.) Tonight I slept all night long.

Tuesday, June 16

This morning I got up early and helped Nana make baked eggs for her guest. Then at Critter Camp I made my name tag again. This time I started writing on the right side and moved to the left side. Luckily, my name is the same either way, so it didn’t matter. Today we made an owl puppet and a poster about what owls eat. I had already petted an owl this week, so I knew a lot already. I told Nana that Critter Camp is “Not really like camp, but like school.”

After lunch went to grocery store and took clean laundry back to ranch. Then this afternoon Nana and I played in the water tub on the porch, but I thought it was too cold. But it still felt good because today was pretty hot. I got a splinter in my foot that Grandpa took out. I thought it would hurt real bad, but it wasn’t bad at all.

Tonight Grandpa went to band practice, so Nana and I ate Mexican food at Cueva de Leon. We sat outside on the patio, but the flies really bothered us! I ate a lot: grilled cheese and large milk. After my shower, Nana and I started making sourdough bread. We mixed it all up, but we have to wait until tomorrow to finish it!

Wednesday, June 17

The first thing this morning, Nana and I kneaded bread that puffed up “big as a house” overnight. We had to put it into 2 other pans and cover it up again until later today… it sure takes a long time to make bread! At Critter Camp painted rocks with agave paint brushes, and made braided bracelet from yucca plant. We went on a hike and the boys all sang, “Hut, two, three, four.” That was fun.

After lunch we finally baked the bread. We have to let it cool before we eat it. Today was the big trip to Balmorhea to swim in the big pool. The water was cold and the bottom was slippery. But we found a round “life saver” that I could use to paddle around in. While we were there a big rain cloud came over and there was lightning and thunder. So everyone had to get out of the pool. So we didn’t stay as long as we wanted, but that was OK, because I was pretty cold.

On the way home, I asked Nana, “Why can’t we see God?” That’s a really hard question to answer.

It didn’t rain in Fort Davis, so when we got home, I painted with chalk on the porches again, and I climbed trees. I have named the trees the really old tree (Mexican elder), the skinny tree (madrone), and the apricot.

Tonight we had hot dogs, and then I helped Grandpa make a birthday cake for Nana, even though it’s a little early. Grandpa is a pretty good cook! I put sprinkles on it.

Thursday, June 18

Today at critter camp we took a long hike, and it was really warm. Then we made cactus from play-doh and toothpicks. I don’t know how I’ll get that back home. When I got home, there was a business man there who took all of us to lunch at Mary Lou’s café, but we were late getting there and most of the food was already gone. So we only got to have fried chicken.

On the way back home, Grandpa picked up his Jeep from the car shop. Nana and Grandpa had a meeting with Mr. B, so I played quietly until they were through. It got very rainy this afternoon, so I had to play inside all afternoon. Nana and I made a Father’s Day Card for Daddy. I took the toothpicks out of my play-doh from yesterday, and played with that some. It was a pretty quiet afternoon.

Mr. B and Whit came back over and we had dinner at Murphy’s Café. I had a huge hamburger, but couldn’t eat it all. Mr. B stayed at the B&B tonight, so I just watched TV while the grownups talked.

Friday, June 19

This is the last day of critter camp. Today we did a lot more hiking, and they gave us our own cameras to take pictures. But I’m not sure what my pictures look like, because we have to take the camera to the store and get the pictures that way.

After lunch, Nana went to have her back fixed, so I helped Grandpa make a bird house to take back home with me. Then Grandpa took me on a jeep ride. We met some people at the Chuck Wagon this afternoon to have an ice cream cake to celebrate Nana’s birthday. It was yummy. Grandpa was going to share a piece of cake with me, but I ate almost all of it by myself.

At dinner, I helped Nana make a chicken stir fry. She cut the food, and I put it in the pan. I poured the sauce on all by myself. We tried to take another jeep ride, but the jeep was broken again, so we couldn’t do that. Nana and I took a walk around town, down to the courthouse and down main street. Since it rained again today, the streets were a bit damp.

Back in our yard, I walked along the stone fence and climbed trees again. When it got dark, it was bedtime again.

Saturday, June 20

No critter camp today, so I slept late (until 9:00.) I had to wake up Nana and Grandpa. We had a good breakfast with a smoothie I made. We put bananas, strawberries, apricots, yogurt, honey, egg and orange juice in a blending machine, and mashed it all up. I liked that a lot. Then I got to scramble some eggs.

Nana drove me to a ranch to see a baby cow, but the people were not at home, so we couldn’t find the little cow. We played at the park play ground when we came back to town. Grandpa rode his bike again this morning, but we all had lunch together.

After lunch we painted my toe nails and fingernails…all different colors. Then we went to see some kids put on a play called “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Maybe someday I will want to do that, too. We visited Javelinas and Hollyhocks store and I got a little gift for Caroline for when I see her tomorrow. I hope she likes it.

Later I made a “fort” in Nana’s kitchen with open doors and stools and pillows. Grandpa and Nana mowed the yard this afternoon, so it was fun to play in after dinner. I was the travel agent who took Nana to lots of different towns in an airplane. She says I have a wonderful imagination.

Tomorrow is Zeus’s birthday, and he will be 12 years old. He’s such a good boy, but his ears don’t work very well any more. I hope I sleep a lot tonight, because I’m excited to get home tomorrow to see Mommy, Daddy and Caroline.

Woo Hoo! Video!

Hey, remember how I was whining a while back about not being able to upload video.  Well, I've now proven (twice!) that whining pays off!  Thanks to a certain kick-ass kids television channel, I can now bring you video posts!

Now, being as thoughtful as I am, I decided not to overwhelm you right off the bat with my fantastic video prowess, mad editing skillz, and thought-provoking subjects.  Instead, I bring you a relatively mundane video of Caroline, in all her nose-picking glory. :)  But hey, she does say "love you" at the end, so there's that!

Today was my mom's birthday, so I was trying to get her to say happy birthday and give a little shout-out to Hannah, too.  All the Kleenex action is just an interlude.  (I love that it takes approximately 15 iterations of the word "nose" for me to catch on.  And Todd's watching baseball, which provide lovely background music.)  Enjoy!

Caroline says hi to Sister and happy birthday to Nana from Uncommon Julia on Vimeo.

I'm not sure why I can't get the thumbnail to change to, oh, say an actual picture from the video, but I can't.  I'll sleuth that out another day.

Perhaps future videos will include actual discussions or my pontifications about various in-depth subjects.  Certainly there'll be video from BlogHer!  Or maybe your love of booger-pickin' kid videos parallels my own.  Who knows.

Also, big thanks to those of you who sent questions in to my dad.  He'll certainly stay busy for the next little while!

My Fuzzy Owl

Hannah's having a great time out in West Texas at Critter Camp.  We had a bit of a rough start the first night when my mom called at 1:00 to tell me that Hannah was in the middle of a sleep terror that had been going on for an hour... and counting.  She finally recovered, and so did I.  By 2:30.  But who's counting.

She did pronounce Critter Camp more akin to school than camping.  And judging by her reports of the crafts-intensive atmosphere, she's right.  But still, a fun experience.  And she has her Grandpa to expose her to critters they aren't seeing at camp.

Case in point: Hannah and the baby owl hatchlings.  Who's fuzzier?  Hard to tell with that 1% humidity giving Hannah a bad case of the fly-aways.

Here's the latest from my mom this morning:

Last night she gently called out “Nana” in the night and I went to see her.  I asked if she needed to go to the bathroom, but she said, “No, I just needed to see your face because it makes me feel safer.”

I wonder if she's adjusted her portion of the will accordingly.  :)

Speaking of grandparents, do me a favor: Go visit my dad's blog and ask him a question or two.  He's the king of random, loosely-scientific information and for Christmas I created a Q&A blog for him.  He hasn't posted in forever because "no one's asked me any questions lately."  I'd love to give him fodder for the next few months.

Noses, Grindstones, Hay, and Sunshine

Good lord, I've been slacking.  But hey, I'm in good company.  I finally found enough time to glance at my reader last night and found no less than four bloggers talking about how they're too busy to post right now.  Maybe it's summer?  Maybe it's this crap economy.  Or summer colds.  Or kids with heinous injuries (not mine. yet.).

In my case, it's the simple fact that I've got a ton of work.  Which is awesome.  And only one of me.  Which is not.  (Or maybe it is - I've never had another me.  I imagine there might be some drawbacks.  But who knows if they would outweigh the second set of hands.)

And, since we still have no other source of income, and since we're still very much on the precipice, as it were, I am working.  A lot.  Quite ceaselessly, in fact.

Thus: the blog suffers.

I have thoughts to share, but not the time to elaborate on them.  I have some funny stories, but ditto.  I'll come again when the gettin' is less tough.  Or when I just need to vent.  Or need a break from all this row-hoein'.

What's keepin' you busier than a one-armed paper hanger?

Critter Camp

Saturday I'm taking Hannah to my parents for a week of vacation.  Well, more accurately, I'm taking her half-way there.  Half-way is still a four-hour trip, one way.  So it's still quite the trek.

While there, Hannah will attend "Critter Camp" at one of the local national parks.  It's a few hours every day, and I think she'll have a blast hiking and exploring.  I also think she'll have a blast cooking, reading, and generally being entertained as the center-of-the-universe that she is.

Caroline will be staying here with her boring parents. This is my only source of concern about the whole deal.  Caroline and Hannah have really become best buds.  They are so vastly different in temperament, but that difference makes for some wonderful play and they genuinely love being around each other.

Caroline has even begun trying to stay awake (read, crying and generally throwing a fit) until Hannah comes to bed.  She loves Hah-Hah to bits and pieces.  And I'm not sure she's going to love the idea of her being gone for more than a week.

I'm equally unsure of my ability to not freak out in the face of her potential sadness.  Her recent language burst (cute first-words toddler talk being my kryptonite) has rendered me powerless in the face of her requests ("Sure, you can have a pah-ickle, baby!").  So I have this vision of her figuring out how dreadfully un-entertaining we are ("Dude, you suck!") and asking for her Hah-hah back.  At which point I will quite literally entertain the idea of undertaking an 8 hour drive just to reunite the two.  I won't do it, of course, because there are bills to pay.  But I will think about it.

Maybe I'll rope my mom into guest blogging a bit of Hannah's adventures.  Or at least sharing a picture or two.

Wish us luck.

The Rest of the Conversation

The remainder of my GhettoGEEKS interview is up.  I know you've been waiting on pins and needles.

And now for the big, super-important question: Do I sound at all like you imagined?

I Know Sexy

Last night, as I was drifting off, Todd came a callin'.  Which was great.  Except for one small thing: I happened to have a church hymn stuck in my head.  In terms of un-sexy, this is probably second only to random Freudian images of your dad in swim trunks popping into your head unbidden.  Okay, maybe there are a few other items that qualify as equally un-sexy, but still: Church hymn is right up there.

After a few attempts to dispell the song by saying "no-church-songs, no-church-songs!" over and over in my head (truly, not an effective method, in case you're wondering), I decided to give up.  Fortunately for me, I didn't really know the words so it was mostly just music floating around up there.  I went for the "look away" approach instead and focused, um, elsewhere.

This approach was much more effective.  You know, just in case you ever need to know what to do in similar circumstances. 

Who's got your back?!  ME!