Archive | January, 2011

survived.

9 Jan
I spent my weekend – 48 hours – in charge of a five year old and I live to tell the tale.
To those of you who are mothers, this is no large feat.  But I’m new to this 24/7 care of a child and the child is not mine or a family member’s.  Things are different when it’s someone else’s kid … and you’re not mom or dad.  
M. is by no means a stranger to me nor I to her; I first babysat for her when she was just a few months old.  But this was the first overnight.  And it was TWO nights.  M. never hesitated to tell me that she missed Mom and Dad and she wished they were there.  Me being different threw off her routine, the normalcy, and I’m sure it was tough for her.  (Plus, I’m just different, apparently.  In the mornings, after she would wake me up at 7-0-0, she would tell me, “You don’t look like Lindsay” as my glasses were on and hair in no proper condition.  After I showered/dressed/contacts in, she would say, “Now you look like Lindsay.”)
Once I looked like myself and we had the treat of special cereal for breakfast, we had fun.  I played the part of a sports nanny, toting M. off to both swimming and ice skating lessons.  I was asked if I was her mother a few times.  (I used to be offended or even question how people could even think that!  But then I realize I am 27 years old and it’s completely possible to have a 5 year old without scandal involved …)  We went out for lunch at M.’s favorite Indian buffet, where the waiter knew her by name and gave her a free mango smoothie.  I brought crafting supplies and my Barbies (the ones that have collected dust in the basement of my home of origin for many, many years) along to play so we kept busy when we were at home too.
Today, after skating, we stopped for ice cream.  Her parents were now home and just waiting for us to return from the lesson and our snack.  M. contemplatively ate her swirl cone (which was not as giant as she had requested) and said, “I’m glad Mom and Dad are home but it also makes me sad that you’re leaving.”  
For cute.  We did have a lot of fun.  She’s one polite and hilarious girl.
L: Would you like some water?
M: Yes, please.  That would make me very happy.
L: Happy as a clam?
M: No.  Happy as a bicycle.
I’m sure it won’t be too terribly long until M. and I have another chance to play.  Crafts, paper chains, turkey curry (her favorite), Barbies, and all sorts of fun will come again.

new look?

8 Jan
Please allow for further fidgeting but I thought it was time to make the blog a bit more user/print-friendly and simply time for an update in general.  Bring on bigger photos, new title font, and a few more changes to suit the rest.

Likey?

cupcakes.

7 Jan
Check this out.

Seriously.

Go there now.

And drool.

If you ever need a fancy cupcake while hosting friends or to take to a fancy occasion, look no further.

I’m going to refrain from baking them.  Tony Horton – with whom I spend at least an hour of each evening – would disagree with their beauty.  (That’s right.  Week four of P90X.  Bring it.  I got lazy about walking to the gym.  So now I get my butt kicked in my living room.  literally.  butt.  kicked.)
But if I had to pick one?  24.  or 23.  or 19.

kevin.

7 Jan
I have a friend at school.  (Actually, I have a few.)  We’ll call this one Kevin.  That’s not his actual name, but that’s what I call him.  And he calls me Penelope on occasion (my ‘fake’ name since college).  He’s in my morning January class this year – modern church history.  We give each other air fist bumps.
Kevin is crazy.  In such a wonderful way.  We’ve been friends since our first year when we were in a discipleship group together.  We had to tell our faith story in this group and Kevin – a white man in his early thirties with glasses – rapped his.  From that point on, I was intrigued.
And continue to be.  I can’t figure this guy out.  For example – yesterday –
(My roommate and I made fortune cookies; we brought them to class.)
Penelope: Want a fortune cookie?
Kevin: YES.  (starts to eat) These are good.
Penelope: They have almond extract in them that gives them a lot of flavor.
Kevin: You know, I’m allergic to almonds.  (takes another bite)

Later in the day –

Penelope: Hey Kevin, what are you thinking about?
Kevin:  How to build a climbing wall in Northwestern.
(NW is a building of offices and classrooms on campus.)
Penelope: Do you like to rock climb?
Kevin: No.
Or today.
Our professor mentioned this polar air front that’s supposed coming our way in a couple weeks.  Kevin turns around.  “Where’s Katy Perry when you need her?”  What.  “You know, she’s always singing about California.”
I do wonder what Kevin’s wife thinks.
I can only imagine she laughs a lot.

no-buy January.

3 Jan
Hey!  Happy New Year!

…     …    (awkward side glance)   …   …   (other side)   …   …

Moving on …

I spent a lot of money over Christmas break.  Over my life.  Lots of money on essentially unnecessary things.  There needs to be a no-buy January.

No new cardigans.  
No new wire baskets.
No new nothing.
No-buy January.
The exceptions to the purchasing power of my debit card will be groceries/shampoo-ish items.  (And, if I may, add a Joann Fabrics clause?  I plan on quilting this January and will be doing my best to use what I have but new thread or a yard or two may be needed.  And a long-underwear clause.  I need some when I walk to campus on this chilly days.  Beyond that – no-buy January.)  In addition, I’m starting a box to gather 100 things I can remove from my life.  A move to simplify.  One hundred things to give away or donate by the end of the month.  I was reminded again as I packed the car to come back to St.Paul yesterday: I just have too much stuff.
Moderate expense on social activities/maintenance is permitted.  (Birthday gifts/postage expense/etc.)  But no more than $20/week.
Starting tomorrow.
Because tonight I went to the Minnesota Wild hockey game and that ticket was $35.  It was a last-minute game as my roomie stumbled upon a few tickets from a friend of hers.  I had never been to a Wild game and all I know about hockey I learned from The Mighty Ducks, but it was a blast – they won in overtime.  And I am in awe of anyone who can skate – RUN – on ice.  My favorite part?  The sound the players made when they pushed others with their complete weight and effort into the wall.  I giggled every time.  And the fight.  For fun.

new blog.

2 Jan

My friend, Cassie, has a blog.

Here’s Cassie.

She’s a senior at seminary.  Like me.  We bonded while on safari and shopping the markets in Tanzania two years ago.  We shared a ‘luxury tent.’ (No joke.  The best accommodations I’ve ever had and they were on the plains of Africa.  In a tent.  With a rather large lizard-thing and scorpion in the shower.  But let’s not talk about that.)

Did I mention she has a blog?  Did I mention that she mentioned me?!

You should visit.

Newer Entries →