Our Trip to Maine

First of all, I am happy to say I found the veggie chips that I loved (look at the comments section, actually) so much in the box lunch you get at Gesine's. I found it at the Hanover co-op, but you can, of course, get them online. They aren't oily, they are very crispy, and they are very flavorful. I wonder if they dehydrate them a bit first, then fry them? I don't know how they do it.

Last week, we drove to Portland, Maine to stay for a couple of nights. We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express which was okay, but a bit overpriced. It was one of the cheapest chain hotels I could find in that area, though. Perhaps it is so high because it is a popular time of year to go to Maine. I can't say I recommend it. The bed is comfy and the people are very nice and helpful, but the pool! The pool was really dirty. We didn't let the girls go in and they had been looking forward to some swimming time. We did the pool right before leaving, so it wasn't really something we could ask them to fix. Maybe I would have if Sophia hadn't had an accident right in the middle of the comfy bed (which I told them about and Doug left a note on the spot saying "here").

We didn't really spend our time in Portland except to eat at some chain restaurants like On The Border (which I found satisfying...especially the margarita) and Uno (which we've never been in before, just like On The Border, and it was okay...Doug's turn for a margarita, which was very good, but was also $8.99!). We were staying across from a mall, of all things, and we wandered in there and I found the only bra from Victoria's Secret that fits me, from the Intimissimi line from Italy. I had thought they only had it at big, major stores, and only a few in the US. I guess Maine is one of them? Who knew? Vermont is definitely not one of those stores. I can actually get a fun little bra in size ONE. I tried a two, and I can see now I am definitely a ONE. But it fits. Plus they were on sale, so I had to buy two. Everything else in that store can reduce me to tears of frustration.

The next day we had planned to go to a blueberry festival/fair in Union. After seeing that it was at least another hour north, as was the botanical garden and train museum, we decided to go south along the coast and go beach hopping and tide pool exploring.

We went to York Beach and Fort Foster. It was a fabulous choice. (Can you tell we put off researching this trip until the last minute?) We didn't even make it to York's Wild Kingdom Zoo, but maybe next time. Next time, I want to stay in that area instead of Portland. Portland is fine, but York was more of the sort of thing we were interested in for this trip.

We also found the Kittery outlet stores, purely by chance, which we would have totally ignored except Doug declared he saw a Hanna Andersson outlet. I just love Hanna Andersson, so I turned the car around (a bit to Doug's chagrin) and we braved the crowds. I wanted to find Fiona a coat, but they didn't have anything like that. I did end up getting each girl a new dress and leggings. I'm glad we actually had a chance to try things on instead of going by measurements and ordering online, because I saw they are in the next size up already. They are both between sizes right now (Fiona is 110/120 and Sophia 90/100). We escaped as soon as that was done.

On the way back, we had to stop at Len Libby candies, both for the homemade candies and the chocolate moose (there are also chocolate bear cubs).

I recommend the blueberry malt balls (I have a thing for malt balls). We haven't tried everything yet. Trying to pace ourselves. Oh, both the maple caramel corn and the blueberry caramel corn are divine. There are lots of samples to help you choose.

We returned to the Children's Museum of Portland, which is a really awesome place for the kids. They had a great time, although Sophia mostly wanted to press the buttons for the video of sea creatures.


It's good to be back home, but I can't wait to go back. One of these times, I'm getting a damn lobster roll.

That's a Great Toy!...For Me to Poop On.

Yesterday we went to the Champlain Valley Fair, which is always fun. Apparently a good day to go is Monday, early. It was very easy to get a front row seat for the Pig Racing. They loved this. The person calling out the names of the pigs and the winner picks a child, one out of each of four sections, to be the section's "cheerleader". If their pig wins, they get a prize, which, as far as I could see, was a pig on a key chain. This is the first time Fiona has either caught on to this or been interested and she wanted to be picked. She did get picked, but her pig didn't win. Being the total saps that we are, when it was announced you could buy a pig on a key chain for $2, we said okay.

Well. It's not just any pig on a key chain. It's a pooping pig on a key chain. And it's eyes pop out when you squeeze it. This is better than the egg coming out of the rubber chicken. At least we knew what we were getting with the chicken.

And get this. The poop? Is sticky. It's just all sorts of classy. It is the hot toy of the moment around here.

So, moving right along (ahem), we had a great time at the fair. Maple Creemies (yes, it's spelled that way) and mini doughnuts and fresh lemonade to be had.


Sophia's favorite, pony riding, also done. She didn't scream and cry this year when it was time to stop.

Sophia didn't get a pig and was distraught over this, so we decided to stop by this awesome toy store, Jamie Two-Coats' in Shelburne. We ended up getting Sophia this:

for her room, which is now underway. We're just waiting for the bed to get here...dum de dum de dum...
Both girls are crazy about this thing. I have a sheet clipped to it with big wooden clips

and it seems to be a place for Fiona's favorite books (about dragons and princesses), Dandra's lair, and also a place for unicorn play. In Sophia's room. I'm glad Sophia loves playing with Fiona!

Sunday Adventures

There it is. Or was. The tooth that is now a $5 garnet dragon gem.



There's our wounded Sophia. She looks a lot better actually. The swelling is all gone.

We went to the Shelburne Museum today and it was a sparkling day. We had a great time. But then we tried to do too much, I suppose, and went to the Flying Pig Bookstore, which looked awesome, but as Fiona had a major tantrum, we left immediately. We tried for a quick trip to Cheese Trader and Wine Sellers, but like many places in Vermont, they are closed on Sundays. It was not meant to be. She slept the whole way home, which is very unusual. On the way to Shelburne Museum, we ate lunch at Chef Leu's House, which is a Chinese restaurant nearby we have never tried before. It always looked rather empty. I have no idea why. The eggplant in garlic sauce special was excellent. We also had pork and green beans and chicken and broccoli. Both were great. Sophia ate rice and broccoli and Fiona had rice with pork and green beans. Everyone had tea. They both did very well there. I'm sure we'll go again. Next time I will order more adventurous dishes and/or more specials. I feel like I can even try the seafood here.

They both had a great time finding dragons in the restaurant. Fiona declared that the gold dragon (which was a miniature boat) at the front desk was an Asian Lung dragon.

Parenting Rule #756: Always Have Wet Wipes in the Car.

Thanks to EllenAim for inspiring me to put my Simpsonized picture here (I just realized we are wearing the same outfit, how embarrassing!) and also thank you for the:



If only I were worthy! I agree with your award most wholeheartedly. Your blog is extremely entertaining. I also agree that Triana is most deserving.

It has been a rough few days. I shlepped the kids and a picnic lunch to an unknown playground at a school and we weren't there 15 minutes when, worried I left the car lights on, I dashed off to check the car, leaving my friend Jen in charge with the kids. Sophia noticed after a few moments and dashed after me, tripping and sliding on her face and shoulder across the asphalt (not the grass or the playground mulch, the asphalt. Of course). She had a very big upper lip, a very scraped and bloody nose, scraped shoulder, hand, and cheek. She was a total mess. I felt horrible. I had no wipes or tissues (I had just used them up, okay?). I borrowed some. She didn't even want to stop for a popsicle or ice cream. We went straight home and I found a lone popsicle in the freezer. I gave her Tylenol (she said her lip hurt). She looks much better now and is totally herself. I am still recovering.

For some reason, our source for big organic blueberries is not doing so well this year, so I buy what I can at the farmer's market and hope that next week she can bring me a case of them. I did get some blackberries, too, which aren't as nice as the ones I got in Utah, but Sophia adores them and will eat them rapidly and with great concentration. It is also cold. I am not sure it's even in the 70s anymore. Time to buy all that lovely snow gear, I fear.

The End of the Summer

So we finally find out that Fiona is in the morning Kindergarten class--not the afternoon one like I thought. Her class starts at 7:45. AM. It will be pitch black at 7:45 AM for a few months, you know. I feel trepidation about this. Fiona just said to me, "I know when to get up when I look at the window and the sun is up". Oh yes, that sounds quite natural. We are actually early risers here, but in the winter, it is just really dark here. I mean, I know it's not Alaska or the Netherlands or what have you, but it's dark in the winter. Well, I'm sure she'll get used to it...although I haven't really in the years we've been here.

Her teacher also patiently explained to me that, morning or afternoon, Fiona would be in some sort of "literary circle" and her reading encouraged (what my main concern was, as they did ask my preference for which class we wanted--afternoon--and they said they planned to have a reading circle in the afternoon, so that would work out nicely...you can see why I had concerns, but I guess since that conversation was in May, it was too far in the past to actually have any more relevance? I know, I know, things change, and I really have no idea what happens at the school during the summer. Or what happens at the school at all behind the scenes. Yet?)

So that all starts September 5th. We're squeezing in all the playdates we can, going to the circus this afternoon (feeling a little nervous about pulling that one off, I can tell you), going somewhere for a couple of days in the two weeks Doug is taking off after this week, going to the fair, and possibly going apple picking, but that may happen after school starts. I believe the swimming pools close this week. In fact, I think our town's pool closes...today. And we haven't been there all summer (we've been to other swimming pools and the river, but not that one!). The one time we tried to go, it thundered as soon as we got out of the car. That happened last year, too. Fiona has told me she wants to go to the beach (the lake) to use her inflatable boat and oars and vest before summer is over.

Things feel a bit frantic over here. At least we made it to the farmer's market to get the best, biggest blueberries I've ever seen anywhere! They are even "organic".

The above picture was taken by Sobo at River Run, a great place where we used to eat with our friends Annie, Eric, and Andrea before kids and while Annie, Andrea and I were at NECI. They used to just have breakfast and lunch, but now it's all three meals and I enjoyed my catfish and hushpuppy dinner with some local beer. The breakfasts were always just awesome. I'm so glad they have dinner now, too (not to mention a larger seating area!). It is also very child friendly (thank goodness as Sophia and Julia both had A Moment). They still only accept cash, but there is an ATM there near the bathroom. It wasn't working when we went.

How to Dodge a Question

Fiona came up to me again (I swear I just sat down) and asked me if I remember that time we went to Sears at the mall and then saw Santa Claus and she asked him for a unicorn?

I said, yes, I remember that.

She said that was fun. I agreed.

Then she said, "This year I have some questions for him, though. I want to ask him if he really flies with the reindeer. What do you think, Mom? Do you think that's true? Do you think reindeers really fly?"

I said, "Well, what do you think?"

She said, "I don't really know. I'll ask him."

I said it's a very good question.

The Amuse Bouche of the Morning

So I'm sitting here suffering through cramps and drinking tea thinking it will do something and Fiona and Sophia come over and announce they want breakfast (who do they think I am?). I mention I (finally!) got some Seven in the Morning cereal (Kashi seven whole grain nugget cereal now...or something like that) and we have blueberries; would they like that? Fiona says yes and then says: "But first can I have...what is that word?...oh yes, can I have a kiss for an appetizer?"

Never Laugh at Live Dragons

Dragons. Brought to you by Dragonology (and the handbook), although the love of dragons was already there (her dragon friend Dandra sleeps by her head at night, a gift from Triana). Did I mention that earlier? Fiona is sleeping in her own room rather regularly now.

So that is where the tooth fairy came last night, because--ta da!--Fiona lost (well, pushed or took out as it was very loose--I didn't look because surprisingly, I can not stomach watching her move a loose tooth around in her mouth) her first tooth last night after tooth brushing. We put the astonishingly small tooth in the pillow and put it by hers (thank goodness it didn't have to be underneath). Instead of coins, Fiona got a garnet gem (value $5). Dragons love gems, you know. She has been trying to catch one for a few weeks now and apparently you can do this if you leave gems outside of their cave. Once he comes out, you sprinkle dragon dust on a mirror and show it to him. I believe there is a spell that goes with this.

Dragons are also not make-believe according to Fiona. She likes to go to the library and leave "gems" (these little gem-looking like things you can glue on to things if you want to be crafty) outside in places where it looks like a dragon lives. Once, she must have dropped one somewhere else mistakenly or something because it was gone when she walked back to look for it. She is sure the dragon took it. She did say she wouldn't use her garnet gem for the dragons, however.

She has just arrived and informed me that obviously the tooth fairy must be real, too, and I was wrong to say that fairies are make believe. Even mommies make mistakes.

Gesine

I have wanted to visit Gesine in ages. I either managed to go by when they were closed or I just didn't make it quite that far into Montpelier. Reading back through my blog, I see that I have wanted to visit since August 22, 2005. I can't believe it takes me 2 years to visit a bakery in the next town...a town I visit every single day (well, nearly). I guess I should mention here that I don't usually buy pastries and coffee and such. I can make it all myself (theoretically) and it's just so indulgent.

However, after tasting their chocolate (cocoa?) cookies and their flaky, voluptuously scented apples pies (they sell them every Friday) from a friend, I finally made it down there (and besides, Fiona's summer camp was on the way). While their macaroons (their signature item: maple, mocha, and lemon) are quite good (not coconut; they are the French style almond ones), what I fell in love with are the little things around the store. They have these delightful sunflower seeds that are coated with chocolate and a candy coating. The candy coating is done in these really vibrant appealing colors. They are just way too cute for words. They are just like these. The colors seem a bit different, but you get the idea.

Then, they have the requisite "French soda" (with cream if you like), but in flavors I have never seen before. Jasmine. Apricot. Pomegranate. Lavender. And my favorite, Violet. They seem to encourage you to experiment freely with all these syrup flavors (there are many more) and one of their suggestions is a Sweet Lavender Latte. I ordered one for Doug and I now have a new favorite. I have to say, I am all about floral flavors, although they can be overdone. I realize they aren't for everyone, but there are plenty of other flavors to try.

The staff is also really friendly and helpful (and because of this I bought way more than I intended to on my first trip...I came out with a bag o' pastries and a soda instead of "just a coffee"). I plan to go on a regular basis, as our finances allow, of course.


When Doug and I went to our wine dinner, we had some time to kill at the bookstore, where I finally bought The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. This is something else I have been meaning to do for ages. I only hope I can finish it before the last Harry Potter book comes out.

If only I could read it and spend the day at Gesine's.

Found

Just a couple of notes here. I finally found that elusive Ben and Jerry's Americone Dream that has Stephen Colbert on the front, about 3-4 weeks ago. I really just wanted it because I couldn't have it. Now that I have eaten it, I have to say, it's fantastically good.


Another good find was coming upon the Gruet from the wine dinner. I found it at the Hunger Mountain Co-op. They also had the Mirabelle, the Rose, but it was a bit more expensive, so I left it there.

Eat Them Up, Yum

This, by the way, is the grill I got Doug for Father's Day. I think I did well. No, it's not charcoal, it's gas, but it's fast and it works just fine.

Saturday is the fabulous Montpelier Farmer's Market. We walked in today, right at 9 AM for a change, and there, at Highland Gardens farm, I saw they had brook trout from their pond. I can't tell you how excited I was. I got some other wonderful bounty, of course, from other farms (wonderful cucumber and tomatoes from Cate Farm and enormous red leaf lettuce and sugar snap peas from LaPage Farm). I almost always go to Pete's Greens, too, but I ran out of money before I got there! They are one of my favorite farms. They have a year-round CSA (community sponsored agriculture) that I would love to participate in someday. I haven't picked any strawberries this year, and frankly, I don't know if we will (so no jam), but I have been buying them every chance I get at Dog River Farm...who are not at the Capitol Farmer's Market, but are on my way home from Montpelier. Best organic strawberries and best price as well.



I just seasoned the trout with salt and pepper and stuffed the cavity with lemon slices and rosemary. I grilled them and served them with a simple salad made with cucumbers, red leaf lettuce, and homemade thyme croutons. I also made risotto cakes with an almond/whole wheat breading. The risotto was a bacon/spinach one Doug had made the other day.



It was a most satisfying meal. The girls ate none of it. They liked the croutons. Fiona did have one bite of fish. She had yogurt and homemade granola instead. Sophia is more interested in running around than eating. Hopefully, she'll have something in the next few minutes before bathtime and bed.

Who are these Wines?

Triana and Ellen Aim like to give personality to their wines by matching them up with people, so I will try that here, using the wines from our wine dinner, although my knowledge of Who People Are is rather limited. Thanks to Ellen Aim for help with this! I had a hard time finding the right match and some of them are not really perfect matches, but I think you would get an idea of the personality of the wine.

Gruet, Blanc de Noirs NV:
Rich and toasty. Plenty of immediate charm.
Ralph Fiennes

I was originally thinking Cary Grant, but after thinking about it some more...I think Ralph is a better fit.

Sokol Blosser Evolution #9 NV:
Appears simple, but is really quite complex.
Leonardo DiCaprio

I admit this is based on What's Eating Gilbert Grape? I didn't take Leo seriously at all until this movie. Doug said, "Who knew Leonardo DiCaprio could act?"

Mer Soleil Chardonnay 2004
Layered. Big (I don't mean large, I mean expolosive). Unapologetic. Tropical fruits, butterscotch, zesty citrus.
Robin Willams


This is a pretty good fit. I feel like there is an even better fit out there, and it's on the tip of my tongue, but for now, it's eluding me.

Cristom Sommers reserve Pinot Noir 2004
Youthful tannins with grip that will surely soften in the short term.
Keanu Reeves

From Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure on to movies like the Matrix.

Bridlewood Estate Syrah 2003
Tight upon uncorking, but left decanted, one is left with a rich velvety jammy wine with hints of spice and oak.
Kevin Spacey

Hm. Or maybe:
Nathan Fillion, from Firefly.


Schramsberg "Mirabelle" NV
Fresh and lively. Citrus leaps out of the glass. Refreshing.
Alicia Silverstone


Feel free to leave your ideas (especially if you have had the wine, but that's not a requirement) in my comments.

Red, White, and Bubbly. The Dinner.

Doug and I went out to Chef's Table last night for the wine dinner. I wore a black sheer slinky something. The kind of something where you hope your areolas aren't showing through the fabric. (I was assured they were not, and no, I did not take a picture). It was one of those dresses that I bought before children and has therefore shown me that it is not my imagination that my hips are now quite a bit wider. Oof.

We were one of the first people there (Of course. It is our curse to be on time and early to everything). From 6 to 6:30 PM there was "Pre-Dinner". We were served passed hors d’œuvres of Beef Tartare Quenelles on Rye Chips with Chili Oil, Figs with Gore Dawn Zola Blue Cheese and Marsala Caramel, and Scallop Cake barded with Prosciutto. All that was most awesome (I kept going back for more, especially the figs, even though it seemed like I was the only person doing this). What was most surprising was the wine. It was a Gruet, Blanc de Noirs, NV from...New Mexico. This worked really well with the food and it definitely had what they call "aggressive mousse" (nice foam). If you can get your hands on this, it is fabulous and the history of the winery is interesting as are their methods. I have a feeling anything you got from this winery would be the bomb.

We then had an Amuse Bouche of Pacific Oyster with Gruet Rose Sparkling Gelee. Doug and I sat there staring at the oysters because we weren't exactly sure what to do. We were a little intimidated. I have a sort of handicap with seafood because I really haven't cooked a huge variety of seafood, nor eaten it. This is something I really need to immerse myself in, but later. Of course, we did slurp them down (and chewed a bit) and it was marvelous and briny (alas, Doug did not like it, but he does not like most seafood). Oh, and that white stuff underneath the shell? That is salt (it looked pureed, like a mousse, but it was still salt) holding your oyster on the plate. I know that is really obvious. I know you won't dream of taking a bite of this. I just mention this in passing. No, Doug did not take a bite of it. I will say no more of this.

Then, on to the micro greens salad with grapefruit chips and rose petal vinaigrette. I had read about micro greens in Gourmet, so it was neat to eat some. This went perfectly with the Sokol Blosser Evolution #9, NV from Oregon. Doug tasted the muscat grape first, but I got a strong grapefruit flavor (even before the salad). Later on in the meal, the wine seemed more and more like a dessert wine. (I'm sure this was also because the wines were getting bigger and bigger as the meal went on). The wine was complex, but light. This is something else I would buy on a regular basis. It went really well with food, of course, but I think it would also be nice on its own. But perhaps on its own you would miss some of those complex layers.

For the second course, we had Duo of Quail, Vanilla-poached Endive (the star of the plate), and an Apple Pear and Golden Raisin Chutney. This really brought out the vanilla in the Mer Soleil Chardonnay, 2004 from California. I am not usually a big fan of "Monster Chardonnays" that are malolactic fermentation butterballs, but this. This was so tropical and rich and full of butterscotch that I was really blown away. They kept referring to this wine as "unapologetic" and it was an apt description. Another great pairing.

The Intermezzo was a pineapple lychee sorbet, which was the size of a melon ball. It was cute. It tasted like fresh pineapple, with an undertone of lychee. Doug thought it tasted like fish. So that was interesting.

The third course was Sockeye Salmon with a Mushroom Duxelle Stuffed Pasta Roulade and a Cherry Pinot Noir Beurre Rouge. This was served with Cristom Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir, 2004, from Oregon. Salmon and pinot noir you say? It was an excellent match and unexpected (unlike, say, duck). This pinot noir had lots of cherry in it and you could tell it was rather higher in alcohol as well. Quite tannic and a bit tight. I think this is a bit young, but still enjoyable. As good as the salmon was (and even Doug ate it), we both swooned over the mushrooms. I love when wines are paired so well with foods from the region in which it's grown. It feels very satisfactory.

The fourth course was Vermont Aged NY Strip Steak, with Red Wine steeped Napa Cabbage (which I liked, but Doug thought it tasted like cheap pickled cabbage...), Chateaux Potatoes (Crisp, golden outside, creamy center. Like french fries for a goddess.), and Mole Sauce. This was served with Bridlewood Estate Syrah, 2003, California. Wow. This wine screamed blackberry jam (they decanted it 2 hours earlier). This was yet another fantastic pairing with the food.

Dessert was a delightful Citrus Baba With Strawberry Compote and Champagne Sabayon. This was paired with Schramsberg "Mirabelle" NV from California, which really brought out the citrus flavors.

After that, we had coffee (decaf for me). You may wonder we could walk after all of that, but we didn't actually finish all of that wine (probably most of it, however). It went on for quite some time as well and all of that food must have helped. It was all in small portions and I had absolutely no trouble finishing every last valuable morsel of food.

It is true and everyone was much chattier and jollier after the meal (we even ended up talking to the couple next to us).

If you see any of these wines in your store, I do recommend them all. Maybe the Pinor Noir should be aged a bit, but I think I would have to try it again to be sure of that.

Why Can't You Be Evil Like I Taught You?

So Sobo (my Mom) is here and has been for several weeks (She leaves on July 10, alas. I have to get used to not having help during the day again!). Tonight she is watching Fiona and Sophia while Doug and I go to Chef's Table (which I just read is closing in the autumn, so now I am thankful we are going one more time at least) for a wine tasting dinner, of which the theme is "Red, White and Bubbly". Not blue, thankfully.

I have to get "show" for the kids to make this easier. I'll probably have to get at least one disc of My Little Pony. In a moment of weakness, we let Sophia pick out her own movie at the video store one day. Now whenever we are there, she finds this same movie every single time. It's a new My Little Pony movie, so it's also full price rental--not the nice $1 rental kids movies usually are. I have sat down and watched it with them and while it seems pretty harmless, it makes me cringe. First of all, the ponies have very human like faces. If that isn't creepy enough, they all sound really vacuous. This one pony says "dahling" this and "dahling" that all the time.

They love it, though, and it is really a once in a while thing.

Another Tag, Finally

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.


1) What Greg Likes
2) A Blog of a Good Time
3) Wine When Drunk From a Mug
4) Triana
5) Veloute

Select five people to tag:

Um. If you read this, please consider yourself tagged.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

1997, eh? Okay. I think that is the year we lived in Charlotte, NC. I was working at The Peaceful Dragon (oh, it's still there!) when they used to have a vegetarian cafe/tea shop there (it looks like they no longer do). I cooked and baked. Doug and I took all the classes they offered. It was great.

What were you doing 1 year ago?

It's sort of a blur. Fiona was 4 and Sophia was 20 months. We took a couple of fun car trips over the summer. It was a rainy summer.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1) scallion pancakes
2) cookies and tea
3) popcorn
4) chips and dip
5) cheese and crackers or pretzels

Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:
1) You are My Sunshine
2) Iowa - Dar Williams
3) Human Touch - Rick Springfield
4) On the Turning Away - Pink Floyd
5) All My Loving - the Beatles

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1) Invest/Save
2) Buy a winter home someplace warm and sunny. Oh. Maybe Bermuda so I can be near Triana.
3) Update our house.
4) Travel.
5) Lend or give to those who need it (I'm thinking family and friends here mostly, but I would consider other cases, too. Just a general philantropic choice here.)


Five bad habits:
1) Being totally disorganized.
2) Not writing thank you notes consistently.
3) Spending money frivolously.
4) Not backing up pictures and music on the computer.
5) Being too short and grumpy with the kids.

Five things you like doing:
1) Cooking and baking
2) Reading
3) Talking to friends without interruption
4) Eating out with Doug
5) Traveling

Five things you would never wear again:
1) Large earrings
2) Blue eyeshadow/mascara/eyeliner (well, except on Hallowe'en)
3) Aqua Net (again...)
4) High hells (appropriate typo)
5) That colorguard pep rally/it's Friday! outfit. That, and that black polyester concert band dress.

Five favorite toys:
1) ahem
2) iPod
3) camera
4) Doug's grill
5) Kitchen Aid mixer

My Day Yesterday

Today is better. I'm pretty certain, though, that I have actual PMS.

The sun is also out and it actually feels like June, so that helps.

I'm also going to take the kids out for ice cream now because...well, I guess because Fiona's last day of preschool is tomorrow and she'll be going to the (gasp!) Public School next year. She's not really "graduating" from the Montessori school because we aren't doing the (ahem, 6 thousand dollars) final year, which is all day, every day. She is still going to be 5 1/2 next August (actually, she starts in September) and she is still going to be in Kindergarten, and even though it's half day Kindy in our small town, to me it still feels like a Big Deal.

Well, honestly, we don't need a special reason for ice cream.

I Palindrome I

Ellen Aim has tagged me once again. We'll be going back...back...back to the year 1991. Whoa, I'm feeling just a little like I should have some grey hairs.

1. Go to http://www.popculturemadness.com/

2. Pick the year you turned 18

3. Get yourself nostalgic over the songs of the year

4. Write something about how the song affected you

5. Pass it on to 5 more friends

----------

1. Unforgettable - Nat and Natalie Cole

Really? Well, okay, cool. It sure wasn't on any radio station I listened to, though...

2. Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince
3. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
4. Gonna Make You Sweat - C + C Music Factory
5. More Than Words - Extreme
6. O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature
7. True Companion - Marc Cohn
8. Good Vibrations - Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch
9. Strike It Up - Black Box
10. Power of Love/Love Power - Luthor Vandross

I don't know most of these songs, but I sort of like #3 in a "Oh my gosh, did I just admit that to the world?" kind of way. Actually, that is the ONLY song I recognize.

11. Its So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday - Boys II Men
12. Enter Sandman - Metallica
13. Motownphilly - Boys II Men
14. Crazy - Seal
15. God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood
16. Unbelievable - EMF
17. Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) - Crystal Waters
18. Lets Talk About Sex - Salt N Pepa

Wow, 1991 sort of sucked, didn't it? At least Metallica is on there. I had to listen to that song on iTunes because I haven't listened to Metallica in ages. I actually like Metallica when I am in the right mood, but I've already confessed to that earlier, I believe. Ah, Flying Tomato, you shall be missed!

19. Black Or White - Michael Jackson
20. It Ain't Over Till It's Over - Lenny Kravitz
21. When A Man Loves A Woman - Michael Bolton
22. Here We Go - C+C Music Factory
23. P.A.S.S.I.O.N. - Rythm Syndicate
24. Star Spangled Banner - Whitney Houston
25. Coming Out Of The Dark - Gloria Estefan
26. Wind Of Change - Scorpions
27. Things That Make You Go Hmmmm... - C+C Music Factory
28. Emotions - Mariah Carey
29. I've Been Thinking About You - Londonbeat

There's just nothing here. I guess I just didn't have the radio on. Thank goodness.

46. I Touch Myself - Divinyls

I. Hate. That. Divinyls. Song.

51. Justify My Love - Madonna

Okay, I actually like Madonna. So sue me.

56. I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd

Dark days, the early 90s.

61. Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

Finally! An awesome song. I feel better now.

66. Kiss Them For Me - Siouxsie & The Banshees

And again. Big sigh of relief. I don't feel totally lost anymore.

71. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak is only #71? What. Ever.

73. Do The Bartman - The Simpsons
74. Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

Okay, so we'll end on a positive note!

I tag Triana and Lone Star Ma. If you would like to participate, please do!

Milestones and Playgrounds

Doug built this. It is so awesome. We will be outside all summer in our backyard. It is just so cool and the girls are so happy.

On a totally unrelated note--and I am just whispering this, now, so she doesn't hear me--Sophia is on day four of using the potty. All the time. Not at night. There are accidents here and there. It seems like the Real Thing, though. I'm not attached! I am NOT attached! Regression is possible and not unusual!

I have to admit after 5 years of cloth diapering, I am still pretty excited by this.

8 Facts Meme

The rules of this meme, which Lone Star Ma tagged me for, are supposed to be that you list the rules, then eight facts/habits about yourself. Then, at the end, you tag eight people to do it, then go to their comments section and tell them they are tagged. I don't know eight people to tag, so I will tag whom I can!

8 Facts About Me:

1.) I am completely dependent on having a cup of Earl Grey tea every morning, with milk. Actually, there is a little room for variation here. Sometimes I can substitute another black tea, but Earl Grey is the dearest to my heart.

2.) I have really thick, wavy/curly hair. I hated it for a long time. It can be really frizzy. Now I love it (most of the time). I used to hate my small boobs, too, but now I love them. I remember really wanting a boob job in high school (I am pretty sure I never told this to anyone). I am so glad that never happened, because now the thought utterly revolts me. They also did/are doing such a good job of feeding my babies! I know, I know, I shouldn't brag, but I can't help it.

3.) I don't have broadcast TV here (or cable, or a dish, or anything like that), just a VCR and DVD player (oh, and the computer, of course). I really miss it for things like House and Battlestar Galactica and LOST (Oh, and the Cooking Network, of course! I would love to see Alton Brown or Rick Bayless or Anthony Bourdain), but then I see TV at someone's house or a hotel or someplace and I see the putrid commercials. Then I do not miss TV at all. I can't see ever getting it again.

4.) I've been to a slaughterhouse and I've seen animals get killed for their meat.

5.) Right now I think we have 4 dozen eggs (before I made chocolate lava cakes) in the house. 1 dozen are duck eggs, another dozen are hard cooked already.

6.) I have an intense dislike for working in anything resembling an office environment.

7.) The first time I saw my husband Doug was on the cover of the University of Texas student newspaper. He was looking hot in a cape and I was immediately interested.

8.) I love country fairs. But, really, all I want to do is eat all the food.

Okay, I tag:

Triana and
Ellen Aim

You scored as Scientific Atheist, These guys rule. I'm not one of them myself, although I play one online. They know the rules of debate, the Laws of Thermodynamics, and can explain evolution in fifty words or less. More concerned with how things ARE than how they should be, these are the people who will bring us into the future. Scientific Atheist 83% Apathetic Atheist 67% Spiritual Atheist 67% Agnostic 42% Militant Atheist 17% Theist 17% Angry Atheist 8% What kind of atheist are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Shelburne Museum

What can I say? We love the Shelburne Museum. It opened up for the season yesterday, and yesterday was Lilac Sunday. We spent more time around the apple trees than lilacs this year. They were at the peak of bloom, with the wind blowing the little pink and white petals to the ground. There were so many petals all over the grass, it was almost like the "s" word. You know, that stuff we got so much of in April that I can't bring myself to talk about yet.

What am I Reading These Days?

I've been tagged by Lone Star Ma, so here is what I am reading right now.


The manga Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. I'm on Book 8. It's now wildly different from the TV series. This is the first manga I've actually bought.

And


Eldest by Christopher Paolini. Actually, I just finished this. I made the mistake of seeing the movie Eragon (after I read the book) and it just pissed me off. I really liked the book a lot, and I didn't think the movie did it justice at all.

I'm also re-reading all of the Harry Potter books! I was tempted to buy Mugglenet.com's book on Barnes and Noble yesterday. I resisted. We will all know soon enough.

Why Baby's Bottom is So Smooth

Added to my list of foods that make for a Most Interesting Diaper is the poppy seed bagel (no, no, NOT "poopy seed", my fatigued brain). I was changing Sophia this afternoon and I couldn't figure out why I felt like I was exfoliating her bottom.

Then I remembered the bagel of yesterday that was encrusted with poppy seeds. They are very good bagels. Sophia eats off the poppy seeds and hands me the rest of the bagel.

They are real bagels--chewy. Not those huge bready dry ones. So, not like the one in the picture and with way more poppy seeds.

Funk

Yesterday started out great, actually. Then I got a parking ticket. I filled up the meter with quarters (.25 per 20 minutes, 2 hour limit). The problem is, I am at a volunteer meeting and sometimes I am there *just* over 2 hours because I set up and clean up. I have Sophia with me. I can see the meter woman doing the ticket and I cry out "Wait!" She said that she would have let me off but she had already entered it into her little machine. She said she could see I had my hands full (one with Sophia, one with papers, folder, books). Being a meter maid must really suck or it must be really satisfying. It probably depends on your temperment.

The best part of this, before you feel sorry for little me, is that a parking ticket in Montpelier is a whopping 6 bucks.

It's just the principle of the matter.

I was in a Funk. All. Day. Long. I got annoyed with myself for being in a Funk, which only made the Funk deeper. My daughters were total angels that day, which made me feel even sillier for being in a Funk. I just could not snap out of it. Maybe this is PMS.

I called Doug, who was nothing but sympathetic and sweet. After work, I was sent to the bath to listen to The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (which I've read, but the audio version is very good). He made fried chicken with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and biscuits.

All is now right with the world.