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February 28, 2005

It's A Crazy World

We interrupt this post to bring you the following:

In a startling turn of events, Cinderella, of glass slipper fame, has married Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spiderman, in a grand ceremony conducted by our resident four year old, Czarina. Spiderman, in full uniform, was fashionably late because he was busy saving an unidentified person from a monster. Reports indicate "a little blood, but not too much, because that's scary."

The groom was sizably larger than the bride (who was stunning in a white designer gown by Disney), but fortunately, his bendy knees allowed him to crouch for the proceedings, amid giggles from the officiator. In attendance were Polly Pocket, Arthur, and two cast iron dinosaurs.

Mary Jane and Prince Charming could not be reached for comment at this time, but insiders say that the ceremony may be a breach of the "happily ever after" clause. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of this breaking news.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Posted by WonderGirl at 7:01 PM | Comments (3)

February 27, 2005

Ramblings

After a week of aloneness, I am now reunited with the kids and King Pen. A school trip took King Pen into the craggy mountains of North Carolina for seven days, and the kids stayed with my helpful in-laws for the majority of the week, so I wouldn't have to sell plasma to pay the babysitters. (Oh, and they also spent one night at my parents house, then my mom brought them back to me--- thank you Mom!) By Saturday night, everyone was back, and the world seemed right again. I did manage to sleep an extra few hours while they were gone, which was nice, but hey, sleep is sleep. I'd rather have the crew around. *yawn*

I've heard it said that women need thirteen meaningful touches throughout the day to feel loved. I calculate that I was at least sixty-five low. (!) However, I have snuggled thoroughly, and am happy to report that warm and fuzzy feelings have returned to their normal operating levels.

King Pen had a fantastic time, which I am so glad for. He camped out, utilizing an assortment of gear he has collected since infancy (ah, the life of the country boy). He hiked and explored and sketched and designed and laughed and made a thousand funny memories with his friends. I imagine it was the highlight of his LSU experience, and he deserved it. He's worked harder than any man I know, balancing school and work and family. Honestly, it's stressful. It's hard. We're sick of it. But we're almost through, and I'm glad he had this fun little blip along the way.

So, another week begins, normal in the way that life always seems un-normal for us. Comfortable chaos, I'm beginning to see-- the routine of the unexpected. One day, I think and I fantasize that life will be cookie cutter predictible for us... but maybe not. Maybe we're destined for newness and differentness because that's what life is for us. I don't know. And at the moment, I don't mind. I'm just glad to go home tonight to a house with lights in the windows.

Life is good.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:00 PM | Comments (1)

February 26, 2005

Trivia X 50

Bored, so I yanked this from Jessie and entertained myself for a while.

1. Your name spelled backwards. Lrigrednow
2. Where were your parents from? The Mississippi delta
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? Pictures.
4. What's your favorite restaurant? Bad question for a pregnant woman. They are all our favorite!
5. Last time you swam in a pool? At Tara's house last summer, I think.
6. Have you ever been in a school play? A card carrying member of the thespian club, my friend. (which makes me a class 4 Geek, if you're wondering.)
7. How many kids do you want? Well, three for sure. After that, your guess is as good as mine.
8. Type of music you dislike most? Heavy metal
9. Are you registered to vote? Yea.
10. Do you have cable? Oh sure, we're living the high life over here. (that's a no, by the way.)
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped? No, but I think it would be fabulous, and englishy.
12. Ever prank call anybody? Not recently. But you've given me something to think about.
13. Ever get a parking ticket? Yes, thank you, Community College.
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? Wow. Yes. It might take a while to work up my nerve, but I'm there.
15. Farthest place you ever traveled. Illinois, Iowa-- shoot, I don't know.
16. Do you have a garden? Not yet. But I will in a few months. And it will be ALL tomato plants.
17. What's your favorite comic strip? I can't bring myself to answer that question. Have you read the funnies lately? There's not much "funny" to them.
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? No. I am so fired as an American, aren't I?
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night? Bath, mid morning. For like, an hour.
20. Best movie you've seen in the past month? The Notebook got a good cry out of me this week. The Chronicles of Riddick was also entertaining. I wish my answers were better for this question, but I don't have a lot of movie time.
21. Favorite pizza topping? Pepperoni. Extra sauce, too.
22. Chips or popcorn? Chips.
23. What color lipstick do you usually wear? Apricot something or another.
24. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? No. What's the deal with that?
25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? No.
26. Orange Juice or apple? OJ, pulp free but sort of foamy at the top. Yummy.
27. Who was the last person you went out to dinner with and where did you dine? King Pen took me to Copeland's and I ate the biggest, hugest steak they had. Divine.
28. Favorite type chocolate bar? I like York Peppermint Patties, but I'll also go for Peanut M&M's, too.
29. When was the last time you voted at the polls? Presidential election.
30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Way too long. Last summer I guess.
31. Have you ever won a trophy? For "World's Greatest Mom". Does that count? No, I'm kidding. I've won a few legitimate awards, but not uh, recently I guess. Way to make me feel like a loser, Mr. Interviewer.
32. Are you a good cook? Yes. I don't get to much since I work 3p-11p at the moment.
33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? Why, yes. Little ole me with such delicate hands--- I'm so proud of mahself.
34. Ever order an article from an infomercial? No. Although, I'll admit, I really really wanted the Rotato (which peeled all sorts of veggies like magic!!)
35. Sprite or 7-up? Coke. Coke.
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work? Ruby Tuesdays, had to wear a tie. Hid.E.Ous.
37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy? Pedialyte.
38. Ever throw up in public? Do we have to go there? Yes. The answer is yes, and horribly.
39. Would you prefer being a millionaire or find true love? Duh. Love. It would be nice if the love happened to be a millionaire, but whatever.
40. Do you believe in love at first sight? Not full blown "love".
41. Ever call a 1-900 number? I think I have for computer help.
42. Can ex's be friends? Probably not a good idea.
43. Who was the last person you visited in a hospital/nursing home? Christina, when she had her bebe.
44. Did you have a lot of hair when you were a baby? Not at first. Then I had gobs of curls.
45. What message is on your answering machine? "Hi, you're reached the Family. Leave us a message." I know, it's fascinating, isn't it?
46. What's your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character? I dunno. I don't feel like thinking too hard on that one.
47. What was the name of your first pet? Frodo, my dog when I was 5, who was shot by our neighbor for walking on their fake grass. Jerks.
48. What is in your purse? Gum. It's all gum.
49. Favorite thing to do before bedtime? I like snuggling into cold sheets. Maybe it's the hormones.
50. What is one thing you are grateful for today? That nothing needed to be done today except relax and enjoy the company of my family.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:59 PM | Comments (2)

February 24, 2005

Don't Ask Me Why

When I was little, I believed there were secret passages in our ceiling, and if I could only find the opening, then I could sneak up in them after bedtime and see what my parents were watching on t.v. (which was far better than anything I was allowed to watch, I was positive).

I also believed that my cousin and I were aliens sent from another planet to live with a human family to "study their ways". We would be retrieved after sufficient data had been collected through our eyeballs (which were obviously cameras).

Still waiting on the last one.

But, while I wait, I have been vastly entertained by I Used To believe, a website where we adults can confess all those silly childhood beliefs.

I love the internet.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:01 PM

February 22, 2005

When the Truth Hurts,

I can't seem to not write about it.

This is for you, Trey, because it could happen.

Continue reading "When the Truth Hurts,"

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:06 PM | Comments (3)

February 15, 2005

A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby

Czarina and I are reading "The Waterbabies" , one of my favourites as a child. In my copy, there are only a few simple pen and ink illustrations that accompany this old story, and I love that. The absence of a defined image compels her to stretch her imagination to "see" Tom, the dirtiest chimney sweep in London, and the Irishwoman, who is really the Queen Fairy, and Ellie, the little girl in the clean, white nightgown. And I can't wait to get to Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid.

I love to look at her face as she listens to the story. She's not necessarily watching me, but she's there, in that imagined world of caddises and trouts and dragonflies and waterlilies. Layer upon layer, the words build the world, and her only map is the sound of my voice.

I love that the story isn't over, there's no "the end" to settle her imagination. She is free to consider what Tom may do next, what strange creatures he might
meet, what fun may be had in the nights of reading to come. Later, as she drifts to sleep, I know she's thinking about what if she was Tom, and one day she turned into a waterbaby.

Strange, that over twenty years ago, I was dreaming the same things as this curly haired little girl that I call my own.

I put the book away,with promises for another chapter tomorrow. I bend down, and kiss the soft, smooth skin of her forehead, and pat down those unruly locks, and smell that unique little girl bouquet of soap and sweetness-- and I know, sometimes imagination doesn't even come close. No words could capture that moment, no book could hold the reality.

Hugged and kissed, she goes to sleep, dreaming of those fanciful things. Hugged and kissed, I go to sleep, knowing those fanciful things.

Posted by WonderGirl at 9:31 PM | Comments (6)

February 8, 2005

Revelations

Those black circles under my eyes? Attractive, aren't they? I picked up these matching beauties in the hospital, where I spent a few days with my two year old. Like all good big sisters, Czarina shared a particularly ugly stomach virus with her sibling, and he just wasn't big enough to whoop it on his own. We're fine now, but it was a rough weekend, which followed a long week with both of them being sick. Good news is, King Pen and I seem to have escaped it, which just goes to show that a diet of dr. pepper and crescent rolls isn't such a bad thing after all. (My latest cravings).

Anyway, I feel like I dropped off into a black hole this week, but I'm inching back out again. I'm worn out, but recovering. I've watched more children's shows in the last week and half than in my entire childhood, and my brain hurts a little from that, but otherwise, I'm good. And I have a renewed dislike of Caillou. If ever a kid needed a spankin'...

In extended news, the family is going through a rough bit with my brother. It's difficult to watch someone who is on a collision course, and be unable to stop them. You know impact is coming, but you're never entirely prepared for it. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers and support you've guys sent us-- and I'm asking that you double the effort right now. I don't want to be dramatic, but it's about as bad as it can get. Trey will now be facing the consequences for his actions, and my parents need wisdom and peace to face the approaching months (years?).

Let me say though, that something really good has come from this. Aah. Stop and reread, please. Something good, which is quite an extraordinary thing, if you ask me. A strengthened relationship with my sisters. I didn't realize just how underdeveloped that bond has been until a few months ago. I picked up the phone to call my sister, and realized why. It was to check on news about my brother. Not to find out how she'd been, what she'd been doing lately, or to plan the next visit to see her. I couldn't remember the last time I'd called/written either one of my sisters that didn't have to do with him. All this time, I've been wanting a deep, meaningful relationship with them and I've been waiting for life to be normal to have that. What a waste. You can't wait for that sort of thing. So now, we're still talking about our brother, because that's such an immediate concern in our life, but there is a change. There's a depth that wasn't there, the promise of a friendship that is developing. The assurance that there IS a reason to pick up the phone and call, that has nothing to do with anyone else but us. What a balm that has been in the last few weeks! When something good glimmers out of the darkness- you appreciate it even more. In the midst of all this mess, I have found something to be incredibly happy about and grateful for. Thank God for my sisters.

And while I'm counting blessings, I want to say something about King Pen. We have a date this coming Saturday, and I am looking forward to it like it was our first. I can't wait to spend time with him, just enjoy his company. This is a man who gives all of himself to his family, and to me. I admire him. I respect him. Do you know how much those two simple statements contain? I know the best of him, and the worst of him, and I can still honestly say that he is deserving of respect and admiration. No, he's not perfect, and he would think I was giving him too much credit... but that's not the case. I know him. I knew all those years ago, when he asked me to marry him, what kind of man he was and would be, and I said yes without hesitation. It was the best decision I ever made, and I've never regretted it. The last few months have been a testament to just how blessed I am to have him in my life. I am still in love with my husband, and after 8 years, I realize just how unique and special that is.

So.

Hard times can yield good things. I'm feeling some of that old optimism creeping back, peeking out at me, enticing me back to brighter days. I am feeling... different. This old skin, it's been itching for a while. Something else lies beneath, some sparkle of color beneath the dullness. Funny how I didn't notice it before.

"How does one become a butterfly?" she asked.
"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."

Who knew that could be so hard?

But exciting.

Posted by WonderGirl at 10:07 PM | Comments (4)

February 4, 2005

As A Taxpaying Citizen,

I demand to know just what happened to Circus of the Stars. I mean, come on, it's not like the cast of Saved By The Bell is doing much else these days.

I'm not kidding. I really loved that show.

Posted by WonderGirl at 5:23 PM | Comments (3)

February 3, 2005

Wind Beneath My Wings

Oh no. Who let the Bette Midler song into my head? Getitout-getitout-getitout!!

Posted by WonderGirl at 3:17 PM | Comments (2)

February 2, 2005

Compliments

"Mom, your hair is sooo pretty!"
"Aw, thanks sweetie."
"It's the color of brown bananas!"

She does have a way with words, I admit. Must've gotten that from me.

Posted by WonderGirl at 7:43 PM | Comments (1)