The Joneses

M has met a wonderful girl, also with similar developmental issues, and they see each other weekly in a social skills group. The two have just gravitated toward each other, and are now officially “best friends.” This is fantastic; we are thrilled to see this friendship!

When we take M, I usually sit and discuss parenting a child with special needs with the girl’s mother. The family is from an affluent suburb—pretty much the same area from which we moved. They have the McMansion (my term of endearment for the cookie-cutter tract house from which we moved—by no means a “mansion”, however), and the clothes, and the cars, and the other accoutrements of a well-manicured lifestyle. The Joneses, those folks with whom we spent much time trying to keep up, have nothing on this family.

So, when the girls wanted to get together at our house, I was a little nervous. I mean, what would they think? The woman already told me she was a self-proclaimed neat freak, and she is a stay-at-home mom, so she has the time to devote to keeping her house absent of the cobwebs and dust bunnies that free-range in my house. The little girl would likely not notice, but how could the mom come over without noticing? I did explain a little about how we came to live “so far out” from the metro, as she questioned. And I did tell her that I used to be a neat freak, until I landed my ass in therapy for my borderline OCD over neatness.

So it wasn’t like she wasn’t warned.

And all morning yesterday, as I am trying to look at things from a fresh perspective (That plug is dusty! There are spots on the bathroom mirror!), I asked my self repeatedly: WHY DO YOU CARE? WHY DO YOU SEEK APPROVAL? SO WHAT IF THEY THINK YOU’RE CRAZY/TRASHY/MESSY/(INSERT OTHER HUMILIATING ADJECTIVE HERE)? I kept wondering why? I mean, I have a lot of friends. A lot of supportive friends. I don’t have to defend my move or my animals or my cobwebs to them at all. I have a huge family that is likewise supportive of our decision. I don’t even have time for another friend, let alone a high-maintenance one!

I still have not answered the questions I asked myself, but I did make peace with the fact that maybe she would judge me and maybe she would think it was messy. I just welcomed them heartily and invited them in.

And you know what? She loved it. She LOVED it! She said that she really loved the house, and thought the walls were cool as-is (as other people have said, it looks like an Italian villa). We had a lovely conversation, and the girls played and had a great time. She even loved the animals, and fawned all over Cindi.

Maybe at some point, the Joneses will be trying to keep up with me. Good luck to ‘em, I think they would have trouble with the goats in the McMansions. Hell, even Paris Hilton is having trouble.

Santa is totally my hero

Today, I left at 5 (from my house) to meet B in West Des Moines at the mall to exchange my ring. He came from work. My ring needed to be resized, and then we talked and decided that the lovely one he picked was just that-- so lovely that I would also be sorry to mar it in any way by wearing it outside to work. So we decided to go with a simpler style, and a smaller ring. It had beading around both sides, and it was a comfort band (sort-of rounded on the inside so it doesn't cut into your finger). We opted for a 5mm plain gold comfort band. It is very tasteful and I really love it.

He took my SUV today to work, and left me with his cool car. He took my car in for an oil change. I met him at the mall, as I said, and then I went on an errand afterwards. I went to put the stuff I bought in the back of my car, and it was full! FULL OF TIRES.

He bought me new snow tires today and had them put on my car!! I slid the other day on the way to work, and I have had to drive slowly-- unreasonably slowly for someone who is driving a four-wheel-drive SUV. So he surprised me and had them put on my car for me.

Santa takes good care of me. : )

Santa is so the best

So I have been on this marathon cleaning binge for going on the 2nd day. My mom and brother are coming in January and I want this place to at least be clean, if not fabulously restored (which it will NOT be). I never have guests that have high expectations (lucky for me), but having guests gives me a deadline, a benchmark to which I can strive. No, they may not care if the curtains are clean (or even notice) but putting that on my to-do list before guests arrive gives me incentive to get that job done a couple of times a year. It's all psychological for me.

The tree is gone, and most of the decorations are put away. I'm going to vacuum the entire downstairs and dust, and just get everything generally back to normal. Oh, and do the 4 dozen loads of laundry that are calling my name.

Today the UPS man came with my Lush present! Yay! I have been cleaning, and sweating, and I am confident that the Lush will be just what the Santa ordered to rid me of my stank.

Thankfully I will be done today! Just in time to go back to work tomorrow...

At least I will get to enjoy it this weekend. A 3-day weekend.

Santa Scored!

Wow, I must have been good this year.

My Santas really treated me well. I got the wedding band I had asked for, and it was much nicer than I ever dreamed. : ) Santa shouldn't have!

Santa also bought me a great bottle of muscat champagne. I can't wait for New Year's Eve when I will drink it! My young Santas bought me some Yankee Candles and neat-o holders.

My momma Santa bought me all the stuff I need to have to can vegetables. I'm excited! She's going to come next month and hopefully teach me how to use it. Yumm, for next fall! (Now I REALLY have to get that garden going in the spring!)

My inlaw Santas gave me a great sweater, which I will wear to work tomorrow. I have a meeting I'm not looking forward to holding, so in those situations, I try and wear something that makes me feel good. It's like wearing a hug. : )

The one thing I did not get this year that was on my list was a horse. But I think it has probably been 35 years that a horse has topped my Christmas list (and birthday, and every other holiday) so I am used to not getting that one. Maybe I have to be even better for next Christmas! I loved on Major and Don Pecos, and that was good enough. Major gave me kisses as trade for candy canes.

Today I am spending the day cleaning. I am a huge fan of FreeCycle, and I am just tossing things into the FreeCycle basket right and left. I can't wait for a clean house!

MK is coming this weekend to celebrate New Years, and I have to clean out the guest room so he and P have a place to stay.

I'd better stop now, I don't know how long this motivated mood will last!

Who's Your Santa?

Quite a few years ago, when L was about 4, he decided that there was no Santa. We were driving in the car, and he noticed a couple of Santas at different stores, and we had just seen one at the mall. He came right out and said, ‘Santa is make-believe, right?” What could we say?

Well, we don’t believe that there is a man at the North Pole making toys, but we do believe that Santa is alive and well. We tell the kids that we are all Santas for each other. I am Santa for a lot of people, and B is my Santa, and the kids are Santas for us. It’s cool to be a Santa. And this year, L asked me for something, and I said, “I’ll tell Santa that you want that.” So he may or may not get it, and who knows which Santa might get it for him? Santa’s still a mystery…

My Santa didn’t have a very large list this year. I told him I wanted a wedding band. Mind you, I already have a very lovely wedding ring, complete with sparkleys, but working outside so much I am afraid that I will lose the diamond in my engagement ring. I told Santa I just wanted a plain gold band. I did think that it must be strange to hear that—most women want larger diamonds after being married for 15 years. He reminded me that I “was not like most women.” Not sure how to take that…

My second item on the wish list is Karma. I adore Karma, as do the people who get close enough to smell me…

But, my first wish is what has been at the very top of my list every year, a horse.

It’s peaceful here. It’s 10:00 pm. We came back from church a few hours ago, with songs in our hearts and uplifted spirits. It’s dark and quiet outside, and the only sounds on the inside are the snoring of my kids and the padding around of the kitties. I’m baking bread for tomorrow’s feast, and the house smells yummy. It’s warm and cozy and the tree lights are magical.

Here’s hoping your Christmas is the best. Wish your Santa a Merry Christmas from me too.

i am always a day late and a bean short...

Clearly I am missing out on what could be my big business break. Click here to see my new business venture for 2006. You think this woman would mind if I stole her idea? Sheesh, there are enough beans to go around...

certifiable

Okay, as if you don't already have enough proof that I'm insane, here are some photos that will seal the deal.

B heard that tonight Saturn was supposed to be glorious. But not until around 10 pm. You know, during the heat of the day...

So, at 10:20 pm, I find myself outside, shivering, wearing barn boots and earmuffs, looking at magnificient, glorious Saturn! Of course, my amateur photos don't do it justice, I just hold my camera up to the lens, and I move, the telescope moves, I can't quite focus, and on and on. But I think the photos will show you that it is very, very amazing. It is clear as a bell-- tiny, but clear as a bell. And I haven't seen a ring so beautiful since I got the one on my left hand...

See, I'm insane.

confession...

I'll admit it. It's been bugging me all morning. You know, a girl has to make her own way in this world, and it really hurts when someone else takes credit.

I mean, Paris Hilton now has a goat. And it is just so hurtful!! It cuts me deep.

First, Paris is such a superstar. She has the money to circulate those videos and with the hotel thing and all... Of course, if *I* get a goat, nobody knows about it unless they stumble upon my blog, or they get my Christmas letter. But for PARIS, I mean, come on! The girl tries to take her goat on an airplane and it's picked up by every major news network. Even though I was the first one of us girls to get goats, she will get all of the credit because there are not paparazzi keeping vigil on my back 20. I just don't have that kind of cash or those kinds of connections- or those kinds of videos. But do you think she will give me the credit for being the first goat girl? Hell no. That's how she is.

Also, I fear for the goat's well-being. Goats aren't partial to traveling. I know that first-hand. We had to use the extra-large pet porter airline kennels to haul them around. The article says that Paris hauled her goat back to LA in her "rental car." While I know that it doesn't specifically say that she didn't rent an SUV or a pickup truck with a livestock trailer, I am really picturing her showing up at the rental counter (all pissed off after being kicked off the airline) with her goat on a leash with her rhinestone-studded pink collar and lead, and the guy behind the counter handing her the keys to the subcompact because "that's all we have left, Ma'am." So I see Paris and her monkey (have I previously mentioned my hatred for monkeys?), her dressed up dog, her ferret and her goat all crammed into the Ford Focus for six hours to LA. I just don't envision Paris stopping at the rest area to take the animals out on the doggy trails. Besides, goats have HORRIBLE bathroom habits. They just go when the spirit (or the bowel) moves them. So that had to be one rank Ford Focus by the time they got to LA. And I've been to the zoo, monkeys stink as well.

Thirdly, Paris has a history of casting aside her unwanted pets. Quoting from ABC News here (on why she's been voted worst Celebrity pet owner):

"First she loses Tinkerbell, then she ditches her for a cuter dog, then replaces that dog with a ferret, then a kinkajou monkey and then, I gather, a goat," Padgett said in a statement. "Recently Tinkerbell was spotted back in Paris' arms. But how long will she be in favor this time?"

I heard she abandoned Tinkerbell and left the dog with her mother. I'm sure her mother will want a cast-off goat. In the penthouse of the Waldorf-Astoria.

This can't be emotionally healthy for the goat. And what, does she think that her little menagerie will suffice for a herd for her goat? Goats need OTHER goats! Goat's don't consider monkeys part of the herd. Or ferrets. And they eat grain and alfalfa and minerals. I can't see her having a bale stashed in her Gucci bag (though they do make some tidy alfalfa cubes, which could be marketed to fashion plates). I can see her breaking out her extra-large-sized pill box and handing her goat-ie some cubes 6-8 times a day...

I'm really sick about this.

And if Paris Hilton gets a llama, I am totally going off the deep end.

Goats are all the rage this season

Can you believe this? Who would have thought I would be such a trendsetter with my choice of livestock. I'm so ahead of the game here...

If you are into the latest trends, be sure to rush out and get the boots I'm wearing, as well as the hats.

a conversation with my brother who lives in Arizona

(he's planning to visit me in Jan)

me: so, is there anything you want to do while you're here?

br: nah.

me: we can hang out with the animals, or go sledding, or play monopoly, or even go into des moines, you can ride, whatever.

br: whatever

me: i will be throwing snowballs at your head

br: i'll be throwing them right back. how many animals you got?

me: well, we have 11 cats...

br: (expletive) are they ALL inside???

me: no. we have 3 inside, plus the rehab-kitty, and then 7 outside. we have the 2 dogs, 3 goats, 2 horses and the llama.

br: what's the llama's name?

me: joe llama

br: you got a hamster?

me: no. that's one thing we don't have

br: you should get one. and name him MC Hamster.

I think the insanity is genetic...

do they?

Have you ever read the book Animal Farm or watched the movie Babe? I wonder if my animals talk about me when I am not around. I wonder what they say?

I wonder if they really like me?

I really, really, really hope it's not just about the food...

feeling special... or maybe not.

I just got a Christmas card from the Governor. I was feeling pretty special around here. Come on, how many people get a Christmas card from the governor of their state?

Well, apparently not only do LOTS of people get cards from him, but even people that don't exist, even organizations with made up names get cards! We had about 9 delivered to our office today.

He didn't even sign his name for real. It was a computer signature.

I think I will go home to my animals where I am really, really important.

Brrrrrrr!!

It’s damn cold here.

Currently, it’s a toasty 6.6 degrees. It’s supposed to climb up to a steep 16 tomorrow, slide up to 9 on Tuesday, and 11 on Wednesday. We are expecting a heat wave on Friday as it spikes up to 29. Every night this week the low is forecast to be 0.

Yes, I know that Iowa is cold in the winter. It’s not a new thing. But I have endured a week of cold, and I’m already ready for spring! Our neighbor happens to be gone this week and has asked me to feed his horses. Ugh, I don’t mind helping a neighbor, but he had to pick the coldest week!

His barn and paddocks have no electricity, so I have to be sure and feed while it’s light outside. He has 5 horses, and they all get different grain, too, so it takes forever. He’s a feed salesman, so nobody gets “a scoop of that.” Instead, you have to mix several scoops from about 6 different bags into one bag and a bucket. It’s like a recipe! And then this horse gets 6 scoops from the bucket, that horse gets 8 scoops from the bag. I am just kvetching here, his horses are healthy and his care is paying off. I do take issue with his watering system, however. He does not have any electric, as I said, so with it being so frigid, the stock tank freezes. I have to take a metal fence post and smash all of the ice up in the tank, and then pick out the big “icebergs” (as I fondly call them) with my hands. You know what I hate most? When my wet gloves stick to the gates as I try to open/close them and latch them closed. I am always exhausted and freezing when I come back. Thankfully I only have to feed through Tuesday.

In my own barn, I have to change out water twice a day, simply because if I don’t, it will freeze solid. The buckets are always frozen, and the trick is to break the ice, empty the water, and then also break the ice that is on the sides and bottom of the bucket. If you smack the bucket too hard, it will break, so beating the crap out of the bucket is not an option. (Though I have gone that route.) You don’t want to slosh water on yourself, however, because that has serious ramifications.

Okay, I’m just rambling about the miserable cold. I know, I asked to be here, I asked for the animals; I pretty much made my bed (in my unheated bedroom). But have a little sympathy for me, okay?

A word about Flickr & my photos

Some of you, who shall remain nameless, have complained that I do not have my photos organized well. I have since remedied that situation by adding tags.

Photos on Flickr can be organized in "sets." That is, a group of photos on any given theme. I organize my sets by date-- "monday in the barn" or "horse and buggy days." The barn photos may be of all the animals, and the horse and buggy photos may contain horses and people. If I create a slideshow and link to it on my blog, I have to leave that set intact, or the link will be invalid.

I have rectified this situation by assigning a tag to each photo. For example , the "monday in the barn" set may contain photos of horses, goats, the llama, and people. They would get uploaded in the set, and remain in that set, but have a tag that is unique to their subject. So, in a month, you can go back and search for "goats" or "ernie" or raven" and you will get a list of photos with the relevant subject matter.

Here is a link to the page with my tag list. If you think of a better tag for any of them, let me know.

Bert! Caught on film!

Bert always does this crazy thing-- it's so hard to explain. He puts his feet up on the fence/side of the pen and then he puts his head all the way back. I used to do this as a kid, it kind of made me feel dizzy, or tickled my stomach to look at the sky, etc. I never thought goats got a rush from it, though.

But look, I swear to you, the animal loves it.

Rocky - So Wrong

Can you tell it's cold in our house these days? Rocky has curled up like a fetus to keep worm. He's not Fido, he's Fe-to.