Hiatus Excuses

I have a pet peeve about blog posts that begin with, "Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but..."

Unfortunately, I have four minutes at a library computer to make excuses before the library closes.

My poor, poor iMac has been suffering lately.  It slowed my post productions.  Then it died completely.  I took it to the Genius Bar at the Apple store.  I am pleased to say that my documents were recovered, but my Mac needs a new harddrive.  It may be a while.

I will try to get to the library again, earlier in the day.

VOTE!

Do it now.

Cancel your plans, if you had them.

Wake up the baby, if she's asleep.

Spend the next six hours looking for that absentee ballot if that's what it takes.

Do you ever wish you could do more for your children?  Then vote.

---

A few thoughts...

Imagine that you have moved your family out to a lone little cabin in the middle of nowhere.  Knowing that there are dangerous animals, thieves, and kidnappers in the world, you buy a rottweiler to protect your home and family.

You're not stupid.  You've seen these dogs before.  Necessary as they may be, they have an often violent history.  So you build a strong fence between your children and your dog, and you train him to follow commands and to respect your authority.  He knows that he only survives at your pleasure, and you teach him what is expected of him.

America is that lone family in the wilderness.  We have created a government (the dog) out of necessity.  Throughout world history, all but few governments have been corrupt, many to the point of violence against its people.  And so we have built a strong fence to protect what we hold most dear.  That fence is the constitution.  That document was written to protect our citizens from the tendencies of power.

In the hundreds of years since ratification, the dog has nipped at the fence.  We have left the dog unchecked.  The fence is now barely standing.  For neglecting the fence's upkeep so long, the family is now at the whim of the dog.  It is bigger and stronger than us.  The dog no longer depends on the family for its life, but now the members in the family must obey the dog to stay safe from its attacks.

The fence must be built back, restored.  Today the dog is sleeping for a few moments, and we have a chance to dig holes for fence posts.

Vote to restore the constitution.

Read the constitution.

Know when your elected servants act against the constitution, and then show them that they are only in office at your pleasure.  Vote them out.

A Man Now

Rigby is three.  And precious.

Look how much he has grown in the last year.  He was a baby last October!  Friday night, he reported to Nick that he does his part around here by staying home and taking care of Mommy while Bethelle is at school.  And he does.  What would I ever do without him?

This next picture is his actual birthday.  I never let on to him that he was three now.  We spent the day with the pediatrician getting shots.  Bethelle was more scared than I had ever seen her.  She lucked out with just a nasal mist.  Rigby had just one shot in the leg.  He didn't put weight on it for the next 36 hours.  C'mon, Rigby.  Really?  I had to carry him around all the next day.  Curie had three shots.  She screamed like death.  No, wait, that was Bethelle screaming just watching the shot go into Curie's leg.  Thanks for the help, Bethelle.  The prize goes to my mom for meeting me at the dr's and helping me through the torture session.

 I'm pretty proud of this one.

 We had Rigby's party at the children's museum.  It was nearly a last-minute decision, and I am so glad that we did it.  The stress was minimal and the party was memorable.

Which of these boys is the real Nolan?  It was honestly twins day at the museum.  The boy on the left is a twin, but not with our cousin on the right.  These two looked identical and it was pure coincidence that they wore the same outfit that day.  Rigby kept trying to play with the boy on the left and calling him "Nolan."  He did not understand that this was not his cousin.  I don't blame him.  They were even born in the same month.

 Here's the party.

 Rigby changed his mind at least 30 times regarding the theme of his party.  He only settled on Lightning McQueen because I bought paper plates and made a cake.  He would have liked to change it 20 times more.

 Look at these girls.  Cousin-love is the best.

Playing Outside

This is my journal, and I want to document some outdoor play.  We will only live on our island for about nine months before leaving for San Fran, so here are a few pictures taken while playing lately.  The sun has seemed to really hold out this season, and we've been taking advantage while we still can.  The leaves are changing, but the rain is holding back.  Nick keeps talking about how great the colorful trees are.  Over and over.  To the point of annoyance.  He told me I could write that.  Love ya, Nick.  I tend to prefer the green, living trees.  But that's just me.

This helmet came with Rigby's scooter.  Also included were knee and elbow pads.  Even though the scooter is the three-wheeled, preschool kind, the knee pads swallowed Rigby's legs.  I gave them to Bethelle and put the elbow pads on Rigby's little knees.  Perfect.

 What a face.

 I can't remember why I took this picture, but I need to include my first baby in this post...

 This one is for you, Grandpa Frank.  You'd love her.

 I'll introduce you someday.

 Don't I look tall?  That is a first for me.

Joee Visits

Living a bit farther from family than we are used to, and being confined to a school schedule, I now find it more important to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.  Bethelle had a few days off for parent/teacher conferences, so we invited our cousin, Joee, to spend a couple days with us.

I took the kids to our local children's museum.  I planned to get there as soon as they opened.  We could not have survived otherwise.  The place was a zoo of children because school was out.

 The upstairs of the museum is all kinematics.  This translates to golf balls and every kind of ramp a child can enjoy.  If you know us, you know that this room could be a representation of my marriage.

Here, Bethelle is learning how to make a ball roll up.  C'mon.  All you have to do to roll a ball up is to push it.  This is not rocket science.  Or is it...

Sirens Blaring

On our quest to become true citizens of our little island, we joined in on the local tradition of pancakes and fire truck rides at a firehouse fundraiser.

Prices were good, food was plentiful, and the ride was such a treat for the kids.

Bethelle rode in the front of the cattle-packed people on the top of the truck.  She froze and loved it.  Curie and I were smack in the less-desirable center.  Nick and Rigby cuddled in the back.

We were pleasantly surprised to run into our good friends, the H's.  I casually run into more people that I know here on the island than I have in other placed we have lived.  This is a strong community and we are enjoying its many benefits.

When They Parent You Back

I've been singing the blues lately.

About two months ago, I had an incredibly painful sore throat accompanied by a day and a half fever.  When all was well again, I found that I couldn't sing some of the notes that I used to.  OK, a lot of the notes that I used to.  I pride myself on being a high soprano and I love to sing, so as the months went on and the notes weren't back, it got a bit depressing.

I was asked recently to sing a solo for a meeting at church and I thought I could do it.  I pulled out a song I had done before and that would be perfect for the message of the meeting.  The other day as I was practicing, I was pretty frustrated.  I was on the verge of calling off the number completely.  I didn't like facing the fact that I could no longer perform a piece that I had loved so well.

I came out to our family room to look at the music again, and Bethelle approached me.

"Mom, can I tell you something?     ...      About Cat in the Hat?"

Well, I don't know.  I'm trying to figure out this song right now...

"Sure, Honey.  What is it?"

"The kids on Cat in the Hat were trying to sing a song and they just couldn't get in right.  The Cat in the Hat took them to the whale.  Do you know what they learned?  It's not how you sing that matters, it's what you're saying in the song."

Thank you, Bethelle.  She's so right.  And do you know what else?  It's not how wide your vocal range is that matters, it's how your kids grow and learn and face challenges.  And how they help others to do the same.