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Sunday, November 30, 2003
My Son the Game Geek
Mike is evil. He has given in to Duncan's obsession with Soul Calibur 2 and just bought a Sega Dreamcast console and a bunch of games on Ebay. The bunch of games just happens to include the original Soul Calibur game. Nuts. Buying an outmoded game system to play one freaking game.
posted by Tamara - 4:23 PM  -- Link to this entry
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Thanksgiving With the Hodge Lodge
Geez, I haven't written about our Thanksgiving. I guess I can do it now. I've got nothing better to do since Cal has decided that I am to be his human mattress for a while.
It was a pretty standard Thanksgiving at my mom's, remarkable only for the fact that I did not end up getting irritated with my dad. Quite a shock for me, let me tell ya.
My day started kinda early because I still hadn't made my pies and therefore needed to do it Thanksgiving morning. I got up about 7:15 (everyone was still snoozing) and started on those pies.
Things were going extremely well until I discovered that I didn't have enough light corn syrup for the pecan pie I was making first. I have this mental block about going to the grocery store on Thanksgiving day so I called mom and asked if she had any. She did so I hopped in the car and drove across town to borrow hers. Silly, yes. There's a grocery store much closer to me but I did say it was a mental block. I have to humor those.
The first pie was almost done and everyone else in the house finally woke up. I completed the second one (grated apple in case you care) and after much hoopla and fuss we headed over to mom's arriving around noon.
Mom, of course, had been up as early if not earlier than me so she was cooking away. I put on my apron and started in to help. This is pretty much how we do it every year too.
True to form, my dad decided to add a little stress to my mom's day and thought that it would be a good time install some shelves in the living room. Well, he wasn't really installing them, just re-installing them by reinforcing them. They'd been up there just fine for fifteen years and hadn't moved an inch but he got a wild hair and decided they needed reinforcement so all those earthquakes Okahoma is prone to wouldn't dislodge them from the walls.
I was surprised that my mom was being so calm about the whole thing. I mean, he had the television set in the middle of the floor and was drilling holes and creating all sorts of mess but she was calmly dealing with cooking. I asked her about that later and she said "we had words" when he first started the project. She was really pissed off and let him know it. Of course, that didn't phase him and he went ahead with his plans but that's the way it always is. I'm just sorry I missed it. Not really.
So my time all day was spent in the kitchen either cooking, eating or cleaning up. Mike helped corral Calvin who was feeling out of sorts that day probably due to teething and sleeping fitfully the night before. Duncan played with his cousin Kelsey and Joel from across the street.
We had a full table that's for sure. The four of us, my mom, dad, brother, mike's two brothers, mike's grandmother, my uncle BJ and aunt Gayle, Kelsey and that's it. Mike's mom had to work so she showed up well after everyone was done eating.
All in all it was a surreal day for me but then Thanksgiving day almost always is. My whole day goes away but all I have to remember it by is a full belly and dishpan hands.
I ended up crashing early that night. Probably because I stayed up too late the night before, kept being awakened by Cal and then got up early to make pies. I was definitely thankful that Cal slept through the night and let me sleep.
posted by Tamara - 9:14 AM -- Link to this entry
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Saturday, November 29, 2003
The Cat in the Hat
Well, we went to see The Cat in the Hat this afternoon. Unfortunately I can't tell you much about how it was because I fell asleep.
We ended up taking Cal with us because Gayle (Mike's Mom) is working today and I hated to call Tracey last minute to see if she could watch Cal so we decided to give it a try. I thought he might be fascinated by all the colors and sound coming from the big screen. However, luck was with us and he zonked out right after the previews.
Then, I fell asleep some time after The Cat in the Hat made it into the kids' home. I woke up when Mike poked me saying I was snoring. So I got to see the heart-warming ending. And then we went home.
Mike will have to give his opinion on the movie since he stayed awake through the whole thing.
posted by Tamara - 2:04 PM -- Link to this entry
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Friday, November 28, 2003
A Mini Rant
We went to Hastings in Yukon today so Duncan could spend his gift certificate that my Aunt Gayle and Uncle BJ gave him for his birthday. Hastings has books, video games, music and a few related toys but doesn't do anything really well. The one in Yukon is actually better than a lot of Hastings I've been in though and they also sell used CDs.
Duncan picked out an X-Men Gamecube game that was $20 and I browsed to see if anything caught my fancy. I ended up buying a Me First and the Gimme Gimmes CD for Mike, the new Sarah McLachlan CD and a Maria McKee CD that was marked down to $4.99.
The rant part comes in when I was looking through the Country section of the CDs. I was looking for a particular CD to send to someone as a gift and wasn't finding it in the Country section even though it was most definitely a Country CD.
And then I notice right next to Country is an area labeled Americana. Lo and behold there's that CD and a whole bunch of CDs by artists I consider to be among the best and most talented in Country music. What the fuck? Americana??? They're Country for cryin' out loud! Kick Shania and Faith and Toby and all those twits out of there and move the Americana artists into their rightful places in the Country section.
Americana, what the fuck is that? Is anyone paying attention to that section or just being puzzled by it and ignoring all of the artists stuck there? What a load of complete and utter crap.
posted by Tamara - 7:54 PM -- Link to this entry
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Comics Friday
 The Thanksgiving holiday pushed my comics buying back a day. I could have gone in Wednesday to pick them up but I was busy doing other things and don't mind going on Friday. So without further ado, this week's batch of four-color fantasy: Teen Titans Go! #1 (for Duncan), Catwoman #25 (uh oh, Paul Gulacy is doing the art--impossible breasts alert), JLA #90, Superman #199, Buffy the Vampire Slayer #63, Queen & Country #21, Empire #5 (of 6), Green Lantern #171, The Flash #204, Fables TP #1 (gift for a friend), from the bargain box of graphic novels: Channel Zero: Jennie One and Subway Series, and winner of the most eye-catching cover of the week The Legion #27.
posted by Tamara - 3:51 PM -- Link to this entry
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The Friday Five
1. Do you like to shop? Why or why not?
I do but not for clothes for me. If it's buying clothes for the kids or Mike I'm fine. But if it's clothes shopping for me I get cranky. Although if I start the shopping trip without the intent of buying clothes for myself and see something interesting that I decide to try on, I maintain my good mood. Weird, huh?
Shopping for fun stuff like books, music, electronic gadgets is always fun.
2. What was the last thing you purchased?
I just got back from buying my weekly bunch o' comics so I guess that.
3. Do you prefer shopping online or at an actual store? Why?
Probably at a store because I like to browse and touch the items. When it comes to books that's especially fun.
4. Did you get an allowance as a child? How much was it?
Started out with a quarter a week allowance which I saved up to buy comics (cost a quarter as well). Then I think I graduated to $5 or $10 a week until I got a job. My parents were usually okay about buying me things I needed and Christmas and birthdays were for fun stuff that I really wanted.
5. What was the last thing you regret purchasing?
I can't think of anything I regret purchasing. However, I do wish Mike would use the freakin' treadmill he bought on Ebay so that I wouldn't regret *him* purchasing it.
posted by Tamara - 3:12 PM -- Link to this entry
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Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Happy Birthday, Duncan!
Today Duncan is officially 8 years old. Actually today at 3 pm (2 pm New Mexico time) on the dot.
What an experience that first kid is. I know pregnancy and giving birth sure got rid of all my modesty. There's something about having so many people showing an intense interest in your hoo-hoo that's bound to either scar you for life or get rid of all those nasty hang-ups about strangers touching you "down there." For me it was the latter.
By the time I was in hard labor with Duncan they could have rolled in a class of high school kids to witness the birth and I wouldn't have given a shit. Oh, you wanna see this huge cantaloupe come out of my vagina? Sure, pull up a chair and enjoy the show. I just want it out. Right now!
So, Duncan was born. I ended up being amazed at how pushing didn't hurt. It was all the horrible contractions before pushing that hurt like hell. I had a killer case of hemorroids and broken blood vessels in one eye that made me look like I'd been popped a good one. Yes, Duncan had a big head and pushing it out was hard. Really hard. And then I was gifted with this strange, floppy little thing that mostly wanted to sleep, pee and belly up to the titty bar.
Then came my first real experience with sleep deprivation. Not a pretty sight. It certainly cemented the fact in my mind that I am someone who needs eight uninterrupted hours of sleep or I turn into the cranky bitch from hell. Naps became my friend very quickly.
Now he's eight years old. Entering into his whiny, messy boy phase and most definitely growing up. It's been an interesting experience knowing him for these past eight years. Sometimes it's been frustrating but mostly it's been a blast. He's got a wacky sense of humor and a kind heart. I can honestly say I'm looking forward to many more years of seeing Duncan grow into his own person.
posted by Tamara - 7:35 PM -- Link to this entry
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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
More Terrifying Tales of Calvin
The following semi-rant came to life as a ramble for Beyond Uber, the site I update four days a week. Since I frequently post stuff from my blog as rambles there I figured I could return the favor and post a ramble in my blog.
I've got a dog. He's a Chihuahua/Beagle mix and his name is Max. Well, Max is really more of a puppy but he's definitely heading into full-fledged doghood. You see he's been doing this thing lately. You know, that thing that male dogs do.... You *know*. That...*thing*. Oh, for cryin' out loud, I'll just come right out and say it. He's humping everything in sight.
Now I know that's perfectly normal behavior. I don't punish him for it. But a problem arises because when he's not violating some unsuspecting pillow, stuffed animal or leg, he rather fancies Calvin. And since we've already established that I have a twisted sense of humor and am not above laughing at my children's expense I don't always rescue Cal as quickly as I should. There's nothing quite so funny as seeing your rambunctious child, flat on the floor after a rousing game of tackle and attempt to bite the dog, starring in a re-enactment of a scene from Oz.
Mike doesn't find the whole thing as amusing as I do so if Cal should ever show up and introduce Rex the Great Dane as his new boyfriend, I'm definitely gonna get the blame.
posted by Tamara - 3:40 PM -- Link to this entry
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Monday, November 24, 2003
Duncan’s Birthday Bash
 Well, I am finally getting around to writing about how Duncan's birthday party at Laser Quest went on Saturday evening. Surprisingly it went quite well. I never did have to take that ibuprofen. All of the kids showed although one came late because she chickened out at the last minute. She thought she was going to be the only girl at the party so she decided she wasn't going to attend. Mike called to see what was up and once her mother told her another girl was at the party she was ready to go.
We ate at Feces Pizza which was incredibly Feces Pizza-like. Then we headed over to Laser Quest well before our scheduled 7:40 check in time. The kids ran around and looked at the incredibly pricey video games. I gave them each a buck in change but they all blew their quarters on some rubber balls. I know, I didn't understand it either. Perfectly good driving and shooting games and they put their quarters into some rip off baseball thing and get a rubber ball. I sure wasn't going to give them any more quarters after they did that.
The one missing kid didn't arrive by the time the first game started at 8 pm so I ended up playing. It was really a lot of fun. You put on this harness that's got tag areas on the shoulders, chest and back. Your laser gun is attached to the harness and it's also got target spots on it.
Then you go into the room and start shooting. There are plenty of places to hide and there are two levels so you can go up high and shoot down on unsuspecting players. The lighting is, of course, dimmed so you can see the lasers and a little smoke is pumped in to make things even more fun.
When you're hit your gun shuts down for five seconds. I ended up getting hit quite a lot but that probably had more to do with the small children following me and giggling whenever they scored a hit than anything. Not that I didn't shoot them right back. I ended up coming in twelfth out of twenty-one players. Duncan came in third and Mike came in fifth. Yeah, they did a lot better than me. But they had played the game before so I didn't feel so bad.
The missing kid showed up by the second game so I sat that one out and read. After that game was over we went into one of the rooms Laser Quest makes available for birthday parties and did the cake and ice cream and opening presents thing. Duncan had a blast and I do believe all of the kids did too.
We ended up getting home well after 10 pm and Cal was still awake of course and running his nana Gayle ragged. All in all, a darn fine eighth birthday party for Duncan.
posted by Tamara - 8:14 PM -- Link to this entry
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Sunday, November 23, 2003
More Crankiness
I'm at home yesterday morning and Mike and Duncan are at the Boy Scout pine car derby. I need to ask Mike a question about the Boy Scout popcorn order because the money is due by pine car derby day. He's got a cell phone but never leaves it on so I page him. No answer. I call the cell phone even though I know it won't be on. It rings several times and goes to voice mail. I don't leave a message, it's pointless after all, and as I'm about to page him again my phone rings. "Great!" I think, "He's calling back."
But it's not Mike. I must have misdialed when I called his cell phone because the woman on the other line perkily asks if I just called and did I need anything. What the fuck?!? Did I *need* anything? Yes, I need not to misdial so some nut can look at her caller ID and then call me back! That's what I fucking need!!
I'm sorry. Perhaps I'm odd. I know I'm introverted and anti-social so that probably explains why I never feel the need to return the calls of PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW!!!
For example, after we got our second cell phone I ended up with the new one (it has a louder ring) and the voice mail never got personalized. As a result I kept getting these voice mail messages from one fellow for Jerry. I can only hope Jerry got back to him because I never phoned the man back to let him know he was dialing the wrong number. I did eventually add my name to the voice mail so I am no longer privy to the mysterious Jerry's messages.
I was polite to the woman who called. Sort of. I told her I had obviously misdialed and if I had wanted someone to call me back I would leave a message. So stop calling people back when they don't do that! No, I didn't say that last bit to her but I so wanted to.
I guess I'm just not curious enough because I don't have this overwhelming urge to make sure those people dialing the wrong number really don't need anything.
posted by Tamara - 7:16 PM -- Link to this entry
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Saturday, November 22, 2003
Feces Pizza and Violent Fun
We're off to Duncan's birthday party. It's going to be loud. I think I'll snag some ibuprofen for both of us. Luckily Mike's mom is watching Cal so I'll be able to read while the kids are shooting at each other at Laser Quest. Yay!
Wish me sanity.
posted by Tamara - 3:54 PM -- Link to this entry
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Pull Your Head Out!
Am I just a naturally cranky person or does this strike you as intensely stupid too? Here's the skinny....
The science fiction club I belong to, STAR OKC, has been storing money for a member's convention (Conderosa) that never got off the ground in their checking account. I think the con managed to raise about $800 which is a darn fine start for seed money for a con but the former con chair has had real life bite him in the butt and he can't run the con. Nobody else wants to run it either so the money has just been sitting in STAR's checking account for some time now.
Another convention, Pandamonium, is gearing up for 2004 out of Norman, and since the con chair of Pandamonium is friends with the former con chair of Conderosa it was suggested that the money be handed over to Pandamonium. Great idea, right? Well, it is but when you're dealing with people you're dealing with egos so it had to be handled just so. Don't want anyone to get pissed off and hurt after all. Fans have looooong memories.
We had a brief discussion about this at our last meeting and since four out of the five Conderosa board members were at the meeting they all agreed that it was a great idea. The former Conderosa con chair was not at the meeting, however, and it was brought up that his approval had to be gotten first. We were told that he had okayed the transfer but our Treasurer wanted to be sure and needed to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. So I said call him and ask, then send the check off to Pandamonium and everyone will be happy.
I can only assume that call wasn't made because it was brought up again in the STAR OKC discussion group yesterday. Our VP said we could cut the check at the next meeting but then our Treasurer said he needed to hear it from the former Conderosa chair or he wouldn't do it. Jesus Christ!!! Just write the damn check and give it to the guy. Let him give the money to Pandamonium or buy himself a new computer. I don't care! Just get it out of our account so we don't have to talk about it any more!
And no, I didn't type that in the discussion group although I wanted to. I was good and kept it to suggesting they just give him back the money and he can dispense it as he so desires. So, am I being cranky or is this whole thing really kind of pointless and stupid? Probably a little of both. I'm quite frequently cranky but the whole question of what to do with this money isn't our concern and I wish someone would figure that out. Sheesh.
posted by Tamara - 1:44 PM -- Link to this entry
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Pine Car Derby
Well, Duncan now knows the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Last year he took first place overall with his car. This year, he probably came in dead last.
The car looked great this year. It was completed a full two days before the derby. Last year we were working on the damn thing the night before and the car was ugly as all get out. But this year's car did not have its wheels adjusted properly because every time it would go down the track one of the wheels evidently wasn't on straight and the car pulled just enough to one side to slow it down considerably.
This was quite a disapointment to Mike because he even purchased a special tool to help with the wheel alignment. I think he needs to reassess using that freakin' tool because last year the car ran perfectly. Ah well, it was probably just a fluke.
Better luck next year I guess.
posted by Tamara - 1:06 PM -- Link to this entry
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Busy Saturday
Whew. Today is going to be a long one. First up at 10 am is the Boy Scout Pine Car Derby. That should last until well after lunch. Then I guess we'll rest a bit. Cal will have to take his nap. I've got puttering I can do around the house. I also need to finish Duncan's Soul Calibur 2 birthday cake.
Then we're scheduled to head to Feces Pizza and Laser Quest for Duncan's birthday party with his pals. That should last until after 9:30 pm since they'll play two games, lasting twenty minutes each with a break in between each. Then we'll do the cake thing and everyone will go home utterly exhausted. Well, I'll go home utterly exhausted.
posted by Tamara - 7:54 AM -- Link to this entry
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Friday, November 21, 2003
Tales of Tae Kwan Do
Duncan tested for his yellow belt in Tae Kwan Do today. We went at regular class time, 4:30 pm, and didn't get out of there until 7:30 pm. Three hours! Yeesh! I do believe he passed but we won't know for sure until class next week.
I'm pretty sure he was successful. He did his forms well. He was a little weak on the sparring but he hasn't been to sparring class ever. And it did take him a while to break the board with his foot. But there again, first time for that too.
It was entertaining but loooong. Well, we'll have at least 3-6 more months until it's time to test again.
posted by Tamara - 9:00 PM -- Link to this entry
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The Friday Five
1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.
Yikes. By the end of *this* year? Not much left of that so all of these are unrealistic expectations for this year, but hopefully by next year they'll be completed (but probably not). 1) Go through the stuff we haven't unpacked in the garage and find places for all of it. 2) Get pictures hung on the walls in the house. 3) Finish organizing and cataloging my comics. 4) Finish sorting through Duncan's old clothes so I can be prepared for when Cal will need to wear them. *sigh* 5) Get into a sketching routine so I can practice my drawing again.
2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.
Christian Barrett, Martha Inman, Susan Plant, Wayne Bertsch, and Rilly Rilly Tad! aka Ken...Davis I think.
3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do.
1) Sculpt, I've always wanted to do that but not modern art sculptures—realistic sculpture. 2) Sing in a band. Yeah, weird. I'm super shy but I've always wished I had the guts to try this. Maybe when Duncan and Cal are old enough we'll start the Hodge Lodge band. 3) Lift weights—the serious ones not the hand weights I use now. 4) Painting because I've always sucked at it. 5) Photography.
4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).
1) Pay off my credit cards and house. 2) Put that wooden fence around the back yard. 3) Purchase new windows for the house. 4) Buy a new car and fix the air conditioning in Mike's truck. 5) Purchase everything on my Amazon.com wish list.
5. List five things you do that help you relax.
Read, take a bubble bath, listen to music, go to a movie, ummm...I'm at a loss for a fifth. I'll probably think of one tomorrow.
posted by Tamara - 12:59 PM -- Link to this entry
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Thursday, November 20, 2003
The Vagina Sign
I've been meaning to post a picture of this sign in my blog for the longest time. It is absolutely, hands down, my favorite sign in all of Oklahoma City. It was erected when a strip club called Fancy's II opened. Fancy's II didn't stick around but then no bar has ever lasted long at that location. The few that have opened and closed since Fancy's II have never taken the sign down. Since this particular stretch of 10th Street is known for its titty bars the sign fits right in.
I must admit to being really surprised that no one has ever decided to picket the place because of this sign. I can only assume that anyone who might be offended doesn't have a clue what a vagina looks like so they don't notice anything unusual. I'm hoping they never wise up because this sign makes me grin every time I see it.
posted by Tamara - 2:47 PM -- Link to this entry
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Comics Thursday
 This week's comics: JLA Liberty and Justice oversized softcover, The Legion Secret Files 3003, Daredevil #54, Bone #53, B.P.R.D. There's Something Under My Bed One-shot, Birds of Prey #61, Batgirl #46, Cinnamon El Ciclo #4 (of 5), Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine #10, The Legion Companion (woo!), from the bargain box Wounded Man #1–3 (muscular men and boobs galore from Ikegami & Koike!), and the most eye-catching cover of the week Lucifer #44. And I also picked up the baby Nyarlathotep that I'm gonna put in Cal's stocking.
posted by Tamara - 12:06 PM -- Link to this entry
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Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Mouthgasms
Lordy that Boy Scout caramel corn with almonds and pecans is sinfully good. I wish I'd ordered two tins of it. No, 'cause then I might be tempted to eat two tins. In one sitting. As it is I have to limit myself to a couple of handfuls a day. So unfair.
posted by Tamara - 11:47 AM -- Link to this entry
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Update on the Sick Kid
I'm hoping Cal is on the road to recovery. It seems like there's a point when a kid's sick that it gets really bad and then after that they bounce back fairly quick. And we seem to have hit that really bad time last night.
Cal was really whiny last night. He didn't eat any dinner and just tottered around looking miserable and wanting either me or Mike to hold him. We made sure and got him to drink lots of water and formula so he wouldn't dehydrate.
I ended up making a pallet of blankets in the living room so Cal and I could sleep there. It's easier for me to keep an eye on a really sick kid if I'm with them and when I bring Cal into bed with us it's too crowded and Mike's sleep gets disrupted too.
Anyway Last night Cal was feeling a lot worse. He was as warm as a little charcoal briquet and he just couldn't get comfortable. I checked his temp and it was 102.7. Yep, I think I'd feel pretty damn crappy too with a temp that high.
He and I had a really fun time with Cal alternately dozing and then waking up and crying. He felt so bad he didn't know what he wanted to do so when he wouldn't take any water I'd just hold him and try and get him to calm down. Let me tell you. I wish I had a tape recorder going because being exhausted and half asleep is not conducive to singing to your small child. I sang "This Old Man" to him but several times I'd catch myself thinking, "What the heck did I just say? *That's* not how the song goes." It was a surreal experience and I wish I had it on tape so I could see if I really was singing nonsense.
He slept fitfully until around 3:30 when his fever finally broke. I hollered for Mike to bring the drugs (time for another dose of ibuprofen and cold medicine) and a bottle. I put his jammie top back on him and was so happy and ready to sleep uninterrupted for a few hours. And *then* around 6 am the automated sub finder for the school system called the house. Arrggghh!!! It woke both of us up but I managed to get him back to sleep.
Mike stayed late so he could take Duncan to school. I wanted Cal to get plenty of sleep. Then that stupid sub finder called again. I really need to find my card that has my sub code on it so I can key in "not available". It'll stop calling after I do that. *sigh*
Cal seems to be on the mend. He's actually playing with toys today and doesn't want to be held all the time. My mom came over (Mike called her) to see if I needed help or wanted to take a nap and her expert opinion after feeling his gums is that he's cutting some molars. He is very tired though. Keep your fingers crossed.
posted by Tamara - 10:30 AM -- Link to this entry
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Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Pooped
I'm pooped. Two nights of interrupted sleep sucks it out of me because I'm one of those lazy people who likes her eight hours by golly.
I subbed for Tracey today. Only a half day. She was home sick with a cold and another gal subbed in the morning. The afternoon is a breeze so that was fine by me. I was supposed to sub a couple of days this week while Tracey went in for surgery but that's been postponed so it looks like maybe sometime in January.
The day went well. We went to Art and the kids actually did a project that kept their interest—they colored turkey feathers and a turkey. How wonderful that I wasn't subjected to tearing and gluing of scraps of construction paper again. The Art teacher is a nice gal but clueless when it comes to teaching special ed. kids.
Cal is still running a temp although it seems to spike in the early evening and continue through the night. He did well during the day but hasn't eaten much. I've been giving him sraight formula to make up for that. Hopefully tomorrow he'll feel better. I need to sleep through the night!
posted by Tamara - 6:54 PM -- Link to this entry
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Finally!
He finally crashed. He's still feverish (cold or teething? dunno) so it looks like probably no errand running today. Ah well, I've got plenty to keep me busy here. Just hope cranky baby lets me do them.
Yep, definitely fuzzy today. To bed!
posted by Tamara - 1:44 AM -- Link to this entry
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*yawn*
Cal's up again. Wonder what it is about 2 am that makes it such an attractive time to be awake? Could it be because his drugs wore off?
Looks like I'm doomed to feel fuzzy all day today as well. Yuck.
posted by Tamara - 1:12 AM -- Link to this entry
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Monday, November 17, 2003
Rainy Monday
It has rained all day today. And not only that it's poured rain at times. We've also been treated to some spectacular lightning and thunder.
I didn't get much done today because Cal is either sick or teething or both. He's running a temp and has been cranky since lunchtime. He hasn't been eating well so I've just been making sure he drinks plenty of liquids. Don't want a dehydrated baby.
He got Mike and I up last night at 2 am and just wouldn't go back to sleep. So around 3 am, Mike got up and dosed him with ibuprofen and some cold medicine (Cal's got a cold right now) and I got up to feed him some milk and wait for him to fall asleep. He crashed around 3:30 am and I headed to bed but that little disruption has left me feeling fuzzy all day. Flashback to the breast-feeding days except that hour and a half break in the middle of the night usually happened twice. Ick.
I might make a pallet in the living room tonight so if he wakes up he and I can crash there and not bother Mike.
posted by Tamara - 6:08 PM -- Link to this entry
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Saturday, November 15, 2003
True Life Tales of Calvin!
I'm in the kitchen this evening getting the dinner all set up for everyone to eat. Mike is helping me and chatting. Duncan and his friend Ryan are playing Gamecube in the family/computer room. Cal is toodling around doing baby stuff.
Mike walks back into the family room and I hear him yell "Holy fucking moley!" It turns out Cal had crawled up on a chair, the better to get at Mike's laptop, and proceeded to screw with said laptop. I then hear Mike say, "What's in your mouth? Give it to me." I yell, "What's in his mouth?" Mike replies, "The letter M."
Yes, Calvin was chewing on the letter M from Mike's laptop keyboard. I will tell you that Mike wasn't sounding very happy during this entire exchange. Probably because Cal had also crashed his computer. I was in the kitchen, trying to keep in the laughter that so wanted to escape.
Then I hear Duncan asking how Calvin got the letter off the keyboard. Mike in a disgusted voice replied, "I assume he chewed it off. See, the keyboard is all drooly." At that point I couldn't keep it in any longer and I had to laugh. Very loudly.
posted by Tamara - 7:59 PM -- Link to this entry
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Tales of Parenthood
Thursday evening I was in a bitchy mood and when I'm in a bitchy mood I pretty much take it out on everyone. Yes, high maintenance that's me.
Duncan was getting really whiny about Cal climbing on him and after about thirty minutes of whining and yelling between the two of them I snapped and let Duncan have it. Being my son, he has a bit of a mouth on him and he smart-mouthed back at me. I did the mom thing and sent him to his room. Power!
He comes back out approximately thirty minutes later with an envelope and a chinese lantern type thing he made in school. He hands them to me and leaves. Oh, he's looking really contrite and sad while he does it too.
On the outside of the envelope is written:To: Mom
From: Duncan
I'm Sorry I open the envelope and find a note and a dollar. Here's the note:Dear Mom, I'm sorry that I miss talked to you Mother. I should not have done that. and to apoligise I giv one doller. my chineys wind sock and I'm sory I'm sory I'm sory I'm sory I'm sory Breaks your heart, doesn't it? All was well after that and I apologized too for being so bitchy. He even said, "Why are you apologizing? I was the one who talked back?" I explained that I was not in a good mood and shouldn't have taken it out on him. I gave him back his doller and chineys wind sock too telling him they weren't necessary for the apology that the letter and a hug were enough. Yep, power.
posted by Tamara - 8:06 AM -- Link to this entry
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Friday, November 14, 2003
Another Comics Friday
 I made it to the comic store today. Hooray! Duncan and I dropped by on the way to Tae Kwan Do so it was more of a hit and run rather than my usual brief, chatty visit. But the objective was completed and that's the important thing.
So, here they are: JSA #54, Nyx #2, Gotham Central #13 (buy this comic!), Fables #19 (just keeps getting better and better), Queen & Country (still being illustrated by Carla Speed McNeil—cool!), Shades of Blue #4, The Legion #26, The Adventures of Superman #622, Nightwing #87, and winner of this week's most eye-catching cover, Green Arrow #32.
This cover to JSA #54 is receiving an Honorable Mention because it caught my eye and it's probably catching your eye for exactly the same reason it did mine—Power Girls' huge ass knockers. But, Power Girl has always been blessed in the boobs department so what's the big deal? I just find it incredibly amusing that she is the one holding the turkey, leaning over for maximum cleavage. It brings whole new meaning to the request, "I'd like some breast meat, please."
posted by Tamara - 6:25 PM -- Link to this entry
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Mike Posted in His Blog!
And it's really kinda funny. Go look at it.
Back already? Is it any wonder we've stayed married for as long as we have? If we just met today, it's the snide humor he displayed in that blog entry that would win my heart all over again.
posted by Tamara - 1:33 PM -- Link to this entry
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The Friday Five
1. Using one adjective, describe your current living space.
Spacious
2. Using two adjectives, describe your current employer.
Demanding, Loveable
3. Using three adjectives, describe your favorite hobby/pasttime.
Expensive, Colorful, Addictive
4. Using four adjectives, describe your typical day.
Busy, Frustrating, Fun, Tiring
5. Using five adjectives, describe your ideal life.
Happy, Healthy, Loving, Interesting, Long
posted by Tamara - 4:29 AM -- Link to this entry
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Thursday, November 13, 2003
Comics Thursday (Not!)
Well, I do believe I am not going to make it to the comic shop today. It's really wet and cold out and Cal has this snotty nose thing going on and I just don't feel like getting out. Hmm...there's the dog. Scratching at the French doors to be let in. Eventually he'll learn that when it's raining he must scratch at the garage door. I've got more than enough red Oklahoma mud stains on my carpet thank you very much.
I was moderately productive today. I finished the kitchen. It looks quite nice. I predict that it will be back to its normal state in a week though. And tonight at dinner one or both of my sons will annoint my newly cleaned floor with food.
I have not been able to do as much with the laundry as I'd hoped. Calvin was going a little stir-crazy inside today so every time I'd go into the garage he'd make a break for it through the doggie door. That would have been fine if it hadn't been raining and cold and if he hadn't been shoeless and jacketless and sporting a spiffy snotty nose. Today I could only take so much kicking and screaming little boy who seriously did not want to be trapped back inside the nasty old house.
That's about it. I'm feeling a trifle blah today. I'm probably starting my PMS mild depression cycle. I may end up shutting myself in my room tonight and wallow in some delicious self-pity. Gotta have an evening of that to really shake it off and move on. It's that or spend the evening screaming at Duncan and Cal and Mike.
Jesus Christ, Cal is screaming about *something* again. So, how many more minutes until Mike gets home?
posted by Tamara - 2:18 PM -- Link to this entry
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AquaCrap
Let me say this first. I am a fan of the character Aquaman. I own just about every series he's ever been in so it should come as no surprise that I've been picking up the current Aquaman comic. I almost didn't because after Peter David left the previous run of Aquaman I ended up dropping that title from my pull list. It just got too boring and humorless. And I seem to recall the art blowing big, wet chunks.
Anyway, I guess DC, being a glutton for punishment, decided to give the web-footed wonder a new series and they restarted the title at number one about a year go. [No, he doesn't really have web feet I was being alliterative.] I, of course, being woefully behind on my comic reading am just now getting around to reading the year's worth of Aquaman.
I'm on issue #8 right now and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll make it to #11. Rick Veitch is the writer on the revamped Aquaman title and, while I wouldn't call myself a fan of his work I've never gone out of my way to avoid it. He's written some entertaining comics (Maximortal, Bratpack, the Greyshirt tales in Alan Moore's Tomorrow Stories) but Aquaman is not one of them. Okay, I take that back. It's entertaining because I can read some of the more horrible lines of dialogue out loud to Mike and make him laugh. Want a few examples? Well, tough I'm putting them here anyway.From issue #7:
Speaking of this really lame villain, Thirst, who's stalking all of the world's "fresh water spirits" and draining them dry.
Aquaman: He's out there, Garth. Parched and rasping...waiting to drain each of us.
Garth/Tempest: I feel him too, Arthur. It's times like these that make me think of loved ones...and home. [*sniff* Kinda gets you right here, don't it?]
But wait, it gets better....The scene switches to the really, ugly evil guys who have taken over Atlantis and deposed Aquaman. They're talking about whacking Tempest's wife, Dolphin and their young son. Why? Well, because they're the bad guys. Duh.
Hagen: Of course we will take the usual precautions to avoid any suspicions being directed towards the imperial court. Can we count on the conjugal sorcery of Tubold and Skuld to provide us with the necessary means?
Tubold, the husband: To my wife and me, sorcery is the ultimate aphrodisiac, wise Hagen.
Skuld, the wife: Our alchemy of ecstasy will produce a diabolical instrument worthy of your will. Okay, "conjugal sorcery"? And, "alchemy of ecstasy"?!? What the frick was Veitch smoking when he wrote that?
Here's still more...Tubold: The great smoker bubbles and boils, fair Skuld! [They're referring to a volcanic opening in the ocean's floor. That's evidently where they do the nasty and create these freaky, Lovecraftian monsters to terrorize Atlantis and eat Aquaman.]
Skuld: How it mirrors my own desire, dearest husband. The ritual spells have been spoken, the victims duly sacrificed. All that is left...
Tubold: ...is volcanic ecstasy! Oh, puh-leese. Jackie Collins eat your heart out.
And from issue #4 which gets the award for the most egregious overuse of fish/sea metaphors ever committed in a comic book. Okay, any comic from the '60s featuring Aquaman probably did it more but...well, just read for yourself.Aquaman (Arthur) and Tempest are arguing about Aquaman going back and retaking his throne.
Aquaman: Did it ever occur to you I might just be moving on? It's hard to explain, but the fresh water has put me in touch with something new. Something...mystical.
Tempest: Oh, so that's it. The great man's got bigger fish to fry! He thinks he's a sorceror now! I'm not buyin', Arthur! And you know what? You may have been skipper in the old days, but I'm not going to let you tread water here! You're talking to someone who studied under Atlan himself! Okay, I could go on and on with more cheesy dialogue samples but I'll save your eyes and my typing fingers and stop. Just be assured that my eyeballs get a really good work out when I read an issue. You know, eyeballs. Rolling. Eye rolling. Good. Glad you're understanding that now.
So, the above samples are just one reason why I don't like this comic. Actually they're probably the biggest reason. I guess Veitch's basic premise—Aquaman gets a new mystical hand from the Lady of the Lake that allows him to do all sorts of magic and telepathy and travel into weird other realms—is different. It's at least giving Aquaman something to do since he's been banished from the world's oceans by Hagen and his horny husband and wife sorceror team. But he can't use that hand in violence. It's to be used for healing only. Oooooh. Of course, Aquaman doesn't know this and screws up by whacking somebody with his hand pretty early on which sets into motion this whole silly Thirst storyline.
You'd think the Lady of the Lake would have given old Aquaman an owner's manual or at least shown him how the damn hand worked. What? It was too hard to tell him, "Oh, ummm...I know you're a super-hero and all and you usually like kicking a lot of ass but whatever you do, don't hit anyone with the new appendage. Bad shit will happen if you do, dude." heh I should be writing the dialogue. That reads better than anything Veitch has put in the comic so far.
I don't have much hope that the remaining issues in my possession will get any better. And you can bet I'll be giving that issue #12 some intense scrutiny at the comic shop this week.
posted by Tamara - 1:00 PM -- Link to this entry
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Today’s Plans
I'm going to be super productive today. First Cal and I will get his bath out of the way. He's had that first poop o' the day so it's definitely time. Pee-ew. Then we're going to finish what I started in the kitchen yesterday, namely cleaning off the counter tops. Then it's to the dirty laundry and straightening up the living room while the clothes wash.
Then, and I hope I can pull this off, I'm going to mop the kitchen today while Cal naps. I'll either do it then or wait until Mike gets home from lunch so he can keep Cal occupied. Otherwise I'd have Cal following me around the kitchen, slipping and sliding in the areas I've already mopped, and sticking his hands in the mop water. Somehow that just sounds frustrating to me.
And then, to reward myself I may just write a comic review. And I need to start on the new Hodge Lodge Quarterly Update for my 'zine in the Phoenix APA. And I still haven't written my mailing comments. I'd better get busy....
posted by Tamara - 7:22 AM -- Link to this entry
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Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Remind Me Why I Wanted My Computer in the Family Room
Calvin likes to mess with my computer. I've mentioned before in my blog that he's crashed it before—actually several times. So Mike password protects my screensaver to help protect the computer when Cal decides to come up and bang on the keyboard or click the mouse. I'm still using WinME and it doesn't have keyboard lock or so Mike tells me.
Anyway, that solution was working just fine. But I forgot about this other little habit he has. He likes to press the big, conveniently placed right up in frickin' front power button on the computer box. Shit! What I really need is a forcefield I can turn on when I leave my computer. That way all he could do was bang his chubby fists uselessly against the air.
posted by Tamara - 8:43 AM -- Link to this entry
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Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Trashy Musings
I'm walking Duncan to school today and I notice it's trash day. Well, it's really going to be trash day tomorrow because today is Veteran's Day and therefore a holiday for sanitation workers and other city and state workers. But I'm walking along and most everyone has forgotten about the holiday because their trash is out (including ours) and I'm looking at their recyclables.
Now it's no great surprise that you can tell a lot about a person by going through their trash. It's no surprise especially to me because I majored in anthropology in college and thought at one time I might like to be an archaeologist. And I've actually been gainfully employed sifting through prehistoric trash so I know whereof I speak.
Anyway, I'm noticing the recyclables in front of some of the houses. I'm kind of looking to see what they've got without actually pawing through the contents of said blue bins. For example: when you see a lot of two liter soda pop bottles in someone's bin you know they *really* like soda pop. They must drink a lot of it because there are a bunch of bottles in that bin *and* you've got to love your soda pop to get those 2 liter bottles drunk before the pop goes flat.
Newspapers show up in a lot of them of course. Those folks like to be informed. People who insist on putting cardboard boxes in their bins are obviously rebels because the city doesn't recycle those. You'll find them left in your bin by the sanitation worker as if to say "follow the rules, schmuck". I don't notice too many remains of canned goods in bins but like I said before I didn't actually move things around.
I tend to think most people realize that you can find out a lot about them by looking in their recycle bin so they edit what goes in them. I know when we first moved back to Oklahoma we lived with my mother-in-law for a while until we found our own place. At that time her boyfriend was knocking back quite a few bottles of Crown Royal in the course of a month. I'm the recycling nazi so I'd dig 'em out of the trash and put them in the recycle bucket. She didn't like that very much because it soon became evident that he was drinking a *lot* of Crown Royal. I didn't like her boyfriend very much so it was no skin off my nose that the sanitation workers and early morning joggers knew someone in the household drank like a fish. Can you say passive-aggressive? That's me.
So, what would you learn about me from the recycle bin? Well, I like diet Pepsi but I don't drink a lot of it because you'll only find cans. There are plenty of milk cartons. Mike is Mr. Breakfast Cereal and Cal has been moved over to whole milk so we now do double duty on milk (2% and whole). You'll find the odd soup can, some with the label removed so the school can take advantage of those Campbell's Soup Labels for Education. The remains of canned green beans, peas, spinach, hominy, stewed tomatoes, etc. make frequent appearances. No canned corn though. Can't stand the stuff. Only eat it frozen (well, I heat it up before I eat it). I do a lot of laundry so huge laundry detergent containers often make their way into the bin. And then there's the random cleaning product container or shampoo bottle.
I guess the true test of my honesty will come when it's time to check the bottom of that empty lube bottle. If it's a 1 or a 2, will I put it in my bucket for all to see? Or will I chicken out and dump it in the 'bound for the landfill' trash can? Ummm...I'm thinkin' I'll go for it. Gotta liven up that sanitation worker's day after all.
posted by Tamara - 7:00 PM -- Link to this entry
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Barbie is Getting Scary
I went with my mom to Wal-Mart today and we're wandering the toy aisles when what should I spot but possibly the scariest Barbie collection I've ever seen: Birthstone Barbie. Go ahead. Click on the link. Browse a bit. You've got to look at them to appreciate this. I only wish the pictures would zoom out even bigger so you could get the full effect.
What is up with this doll? Is it just me or do the Birthstone Barbies all look a little slutty? They may not come across that way on the web site but believe me in real life they do. They've got these freaky bedroom eyes complete with lots of eyeliner and eye shadow. I can't decide if they look slutty or like drag queens.
Now that's the Barbie line I want to see--Drag Queen Barbie. Or, better yet, Drag King Barbie....
posted by Tamara - 11:37 AM -- Link to this entry
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