The Longest July

We've thought lots about posting things here. Really we have. We even started a couple of posts that never got finished. But if you're wondering about the dearth of blogging lately, here's what we've been up to in just the last three weeks (plus all the preparation, cooking, set up and clean up that comes with hosting an event):

Serving brunch for over 40 people.

Hosting a Game Night with over 60 residents. Pizza and dominoes are popular here.

Planning a Kids Club. Though only 2 came, they talked about Jesus. :)

An evening of coffee, homemade desserts, about 20 guests, and more dominoes.

Handing out breakfast-on-the-go to about 100 of our neighbors early one morning.

And the piece d'resistance or the straw that broke the camel's back (depending on your perspective):

We threw a pool party on Saturday for over 150 people. Thankfully, we didn't have to prepare the food or man the DJ station. We just handed out meal tickets and served ice cream. LOTS of ice cream. :)

We've realized that we probably overplanned this first month. (Ya think?!) Yesterday afternoon all three of us napped for FOUR hours. I think we all needed it. And then Jacob slept 11 hours straight last night! That's the most he's slept in one 24-hour period since he was about 6 months old.

By the way, Gaines also took a week-long graduate course on his "vacation time" the week before last, and he's finishing the final tonight. It has definitely been an extremely long month. (I know, I know, the pool party was technically in August. But it all sort of runs together, ya know?).

Thankfully, things are looking up! August, in case you hadn't heard, is National Ice Cream month. We will also celebrate our 6 year anniversary. Coincidence? I think not. I'm certainly looking forward to enjoying some yummy chocolate frozen goodness this weekend at the beach! Yay for a real vacation!

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Dutch: A Review

Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan by Edmund Morris


I was only 8 years old when Ronald Reagan left office, so I felt like I was rediscovering the famed era of my childhood while reading this book. RR was such an imposing figure upon my imagination, and I remember sadly watching as Alzheimer's slowly took his faculties and he dwindled away into a shadow of what he once was, while I grew into an adult. Through this biography, I learned much about the inner-workings of twentieth-century American history, and especially about Dutch himself. Though the author clearly displays Reagan's failings as well as his successes, I came away with a sense of awe and respect for this magnanimous man who denouced the "evil empire" and dreamed of a defense system in the stars.

The best part about this memoir is the author's ability to insert himself into the narrative (which was highly controversial, since Morris basically made himself a semi-fictional character in Reagan's story), but here, it works. This is a much more literary biography than I've read before, with beautiful, haunting descriptions and creative narrative touches throughout, including (appropriately enough for an actor-turned-President), a smattering of movie script-style sections.

The only drawback, in my opinion, is that I think the author expects the reader to be more familiar with the time period that is covered; there were many cultural and historical allusions or references that were unfamiliar to me. Perhaps, though, it just means I need to brush up on my 20th Century history!

All in all, I rate this as a fantastic book, and well worth the six months it took me to finally finish (of course, I had to read the footnotes, too-- they are almost as interesting as the bio itself!). Highly recommended to all, epseically during this Presidential election year. I think I began reading this the night after the Republican primary at the Reagan library. Hopefully, you will be able to finish it much sooner than I did, though it is a whopping 841 pages!

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Medieval Animal Imagery in Lewis' LWW

From the first chapter of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe:

"What's that noise?" said Lucy suddenly. It was a far larger house than she had ever been in before and the thought of all those long passages and doors leading into empty rooms was beginning to make her feel a little creepy.

"It's only a bird, silly," said Edmund.

"It's an owl," said Peter. "This is going to be a wonderful place for birds. ... I say, let's go and explore tomorrow. You might find anything in a place like this. Did you see those mountains as we came along? And the woods? There might be eagles. There might be stags. There'll be hawks."

"Badgers!" said Lucy.

"Foxes!" said Edmund.

"Rabbits!" said Susan.

But when next morning came there was a steady rain falling, so thick that when you looked out of the window you could see neither the mountains nor the woods nor even the stream in the garden.

This passage immediately precedes the part where the children begin exploring the house and Lucy finds the Narnian wardrobe for the first time. I think that Lewis uses this short passage to set up his characterization of the four Pevensie children from the very start.

Now that I'm a little more knowledgeable about the use of medieval symbolism (thanks mostly to J.K. Rowling, of all people, by way of John Granger), when I read this passage, something clicks. It may seem insignificant to you, but the animals that the children name give great insight into their characters and personalities as they are revealed throughout the series.

Lewis was a Classical scholar, and I think he has each child mention those particular animals purposefully. For example, Peter, who later becomes the High King of Narnia, mentions creatures that are often seen as noble and wise, and many that are also associated with Christ, like the stag, which is a symbol of the resurrection and the "Tree of Life." And this may be surprising to many, but the badger was considered a typical English symbol of bravery, courage and fierceness in defense, which I think we clearly see in Lucy as she ventures into the unknown with a stout heart and fiercely defends her Narnian experience despite others' doubts.

I won't go into more than that so as not to bore any of our non-literary readers, but I get very excited when I research the animals' symbolism and their respective association with different temperments. Perhaps one day I will actually have the time to write and research this, but for now, it will have to be something on my back burner. I can envision an entire paper just from this passage alone, but I also see possibilities in other Narnian books. I'm not sure if anyone in the academic world has picked up on Lewis' symbolism in this earlier passage, but for now, that research will have to wait. I hope at least someone out there finds this even the most tiny bit as interesting as I do! Thanks for indulging me. :)

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The Senior Thesis I Should've Written

In January 2001, during my junior year of college, I attempted to write my "Senior" thesis paper, because the next year I wanted to join the Service-Learning Interim trip, and didn't want to have to worry about writing a paper with so many other things looming before graduation, especially since I would have an Honors thesis due as well.

However, I was very naive and untrained in the ways of large-scale research papers, and it was a miserable failure. I procrastinated for months, even sacrificing most of my spring break to do research, and finally hurried up and edited my final drafts WHILE travelling in England that summer. (I was very thankful for e-mail.) I found out later that my professor didn't read it until November, and I could've continued working on it after I returned home! Ah, well. In hindsight, my advisor did warn me not to attempt writing a Senior Thesis before taking the Senior Seminar course, and I have to admit he was right. The folly of youth.

The only good thing that came out of that fateful January term was that I got to spend an entire month reading my favorite author! It was an entire course on C.S. Lewis' fiction-- we read the Narnia Chronicles and the Space Trilogy, and I got my first taste at "teaching" when the professor turned over one whole class to each of his "senior" students. I enjoyed it more than I liked to admit at the time.

Although my first attempt at a paper wasn't a smashing success, I managed to ramble on enough and quote enough proper sources to pull a B-. (The next year I discovered that a friend of mine had been in the exact same situation, even sharing the same advisor, and he gave her a B-, too, so I think he just took pity on us both!) Still, I've always longed to make up for that first sloppy attempt somehow, and I've kept the notes and articles in the hopes that I might one day find time to reconsider my thesis and possibly write a new paper. I definitely feel much more capable now.

Especially since I think I've discovered a new topic.

Part 2, where I describe my insights, will be automatically posted later Monday morning. :) So stick around. I promise the blog is coming back to life!

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Noise Trade -- Free Derek Webb (and more!)

This is cool. NoiseTrade is an effort to connect musicians with fans, without having to deal with all the hassle of a middleman. With this site, music fans can download high-quality music for free (or at a reduced cost). Derek Webb is one of the co-founders of the site, and you can get his latest, The Ringing Bell, for free via the site.

But Derek is just the tip of the iceberg. Sandra McCracken and Matthew Perryman Jones also have albums available, and new artists are being added daily. Check it out!

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Win a Babywearing Collection!

I just have to give a little babywearing testimony here. After 9 months hit and Jacob became more mobile, I thought our babywearing days might be over. But on moving day last Saturday, once the movers got there and things got going, Jacob got a little crazy running around, and I really needed my hands free to help direct and pack stuff. So I found our Babyhawk mei tei (an Asian style baby carrier that uses straps--see photo from last summer) and tied him on my back! Jacob was having the best time peeking around my shoulder at everyone, and lasted about two hours riding around behind me while I carried (light) stuff up and down stairs and maneuvered throughout our tiny apartment. He loved the view, and it totally saved me from chasing around a toddler while trying to move.

So, if you'd like to win an Essential Babywearing stash with FIVE carriers, enter the contest below at Along for the Ride! They have a great selection, and I've had my eye on a Beco Butterfly for a few months now. The buckles are much easier and quicker to use with a wiggly "widdle waddler," or at least so I've heard. But all these carriers are fantastic for different stages, and I still use my Hotsling sometimes if I just need a hands-free short trip. If you do win, especially if you're new to babywearing, you could try them all and giveaway the ones you don't want to use! Just sharin' the babywearin' love!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

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N.T. Wright + Stephen Colbert = ???

Interesting. N.T. Wright is on the schedule for this Thursday's episode of The Colbert Report (scroll down to 6/19).

Interesting, indeed.

UPDATE: You can watch a video of this phenomenon here at Comedy Central.

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PCA Colloquium on the Sacraments

As part of the PCA's 2008 General Assembly, a colloquium was held to address the question, "What do the sacraments actually accomplish in their administration?"

Participants included Will Barker, Ligon Duncan, Jeff Meyers and Rob Rayburn. The papers presented can be found here, and Jeff Meyers has posted audio of each presentation on his blog.

Good stuff.

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Strawberry Shortcake 2.1

As part of a complete modernization, Strawberry Shortcake's losing her old look, and her faithful sidekick is getting the axe. Her furry, cuddly Custard the Cat is being replaced by a cell phone as Strawberry's favorite thing to interact with regularly. Now she's hip. With it.

Read the entire article detailing the reinvention of Strawberry Shortcake and other beloved cartoon characters.

When I was little, I had a complete set of Strawberry Shortcake dolls, and I loved the TV show. I remember the little pink plastic cat Custard had such a sweet smell, like whipped cream. I don't imagine the cell phone will smell like anything. And I don't remember Strawberry Shortcake and her friends having any affinity for candy, as mentioned in the article. Desserts, yes, but not candy. I thought that was the point: Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Tart, Apple Dumplin'... who doesn't love a good baked dessert?!

Hey you, faithful readers -- are you saddened by any of the changes that have been made to your favorite childhood characters? Perhaps this is one reason not to let your kids watch TV shows -- so they won't get attached to the characters and become upset when someone tries to update them 20 years later.

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VBS Madness

If you are wondering why I haven't posted anything this week, I was helping out with Vacation Bible School every afternoon at our church.

I was the designated "Craft Lady" and had a fantastic time! I tried to encourage individuality instead of cookie-cutter craft projects, and I think I succeeded on that front. I don't think any parent can be disappointed when you can definitely tell that your children made something all by themselves! Though it did offer some interesting artistic interpretations...

The first day was crazy as usual, but the insanity was compounded by the fact that Jacob was running a mysteriously high fever which lasted most of the week and then quietly went away. Thankfully, my mom came on Wednesday so he could take a nap in the comfort of home and familiar surroundings. On Thursday, he ate three full meals, took two long naps, and slept 8+ hours at night, so we knew he was finally back to normal.

Despite Jacob's infection-fighting trauma, the week was actually quite relaxing and enjoyable, especially the kids' wacky conversations, the copious amounts of glue, the last-minute scrambles, the shoot-from-the-hip explanations, the sugar rush at snack time, and the time chatting with the other adults. I remembered why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place, and am actually looking forward to running a Kids' Club again soon, though I do think a few hours a week is my limit on interactions with large groups of elementary children that are not my own.

I did find out about a disturbing recent VBS trend which makes me even more proud of our church: apparently, in all of the other churches in our community, they charge a fee for VBS! Our church is the only one that offers it free. That's right, elsewhere parents actually have to PAY to send their kids to a VBS program! (One large church in the ATL area even asks the volunteers to pay to help cover costs!) Perhaps, if you are charging for VBS, you are spending too much time on the outward appearance and not enough on the heart. Just sayin'.

VBS is first of all an outreach. Sure, some kids from the church will come, but I think it is mostly a way to get families in the community involved with a local church and hear Christ preached. In fact, at our VBS, over 80% of the kids were from outside the church and most of them probably don't attend anywhere regularly. So why would you ask someone to pay to hear the gospel? I just don't get it.

Well, at least some things never change:

1. The awesome ladies in the kitchen who make all the cool homemade snacks! Their creativity amazes me: the "Paralyzed Man" made out of a cupcake with pretzels for arms and legs, and the cups of pudding with a brownie boat and little Teddy Graham people to represent Jesus and the Disciples when he calms the storm. Oh my goodness how cute is that?

2. The cheesy kid songs. I know I still remember songs I learned in church and at VBS. I hope these kids will, too. And hey, they get to take home a CD with all the songs on it! Reinforcements or parental torture? You decide!

3. Stretching a bit to make the crafts/activities fit the Bible story or theme. Okay, so sometimes that seems kind of lame, but as an English teacher, I think of all those glue-laden, glittery art projects as symbols-- tangible created objects to represent grander themes about The Creator. Same with games and other activities. Hopefully these kids will remember the story behind the symbols when they admire their creations.

I thought I'd share a link I've been enjoying of all the funny VBS-themed posts over at Stuff Christians Like. A little levity for those of you who either just survived VBS week or still have it looming ahead of you.

Oh, and one final tip:

If, for some reason, you have to write someone's name on a craft project, make sure that you don't accidentally smear the still-wet glitter glue drawings when you flip it over. No matter how hard you try to fix your mistake, it won't be right. And you might make a little girl cry. And when asked "What is a sin?" the little girl may answer "A sin is when the teacher messes up your craft project." Fellow VBS volunteers, you have been warned!

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Our Friends the Butchers

Our friends the Butchers finally have a blog! Yay for cute kid updates! They are far away in the icy north and we miss them very much. Today, though, several things happened that reminded us of the leader of clan Butcher, the good Doctor himself:

This morning on NPR I heard part of a radio interview with the author of a new book called Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, which is cool enough in itself since Jono was part of an a capella group in college. But they also discussed a capella singing specifically at the Butchers' alma mater: the University of Virginia.

Now, until I met Jono I was completely ignorant of a capella groups except for perhaps Rockapella from Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? and a few run-ins with the Christian group GLAD. And honestly, up until then, I thought it was all pretty lame. Apparently though, the world of collegiate a capella is captivating and competitive and actually pretty amazing -- the author stated that one group made $300,000 in one year just touring college campuses. Wowsers!

I had no idea how many students actually audition for these things! How do you find out about stuff like that? Do people choose a college just because they have a famous a capella group? The NPR interview played some clips of one famous group called the Hullabaloos, and I have to say that their imitation of the synthesizers (at the end of the segment) on "Come Sail Away" was pretty stinkin' cool.

Finally, to cap off my day of things that remind us of Jon Butcher, we heard not one but THREE Journey songs in the span of 30 minutes on three different radio stations -- two in the car and one in a restaurant. If we had heard a Petra song, too, we would've known something freaky was going on and he was mind-controlling the Atlanta radio stations or something.

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Movin' On Up...

"...to the Eastside, to that de-luxe apartment in the skyyyyy!"

I'm not sure why there's been such a dearth of blogging here lately. Perhaps our minds have been occupied with other things, namely the fact that we are officially moving in three weeks! I still look around me and wonder how in the world we are going to pack all this stuff up in the next 20 days...

In case you missed our earlier announcement, we are moving to a new apartment complex to be a CARES Team again! We are so encouraged by the thought of being in ministry again, and doubly so by the fact that our good friend Kitti will be our Area Director with Apartment Life.

We finally confirmed our new address and are looking forward to the extra space a 3 bedroom will provide. Jacob will finally have his own room and won't have to share sleeping quarters with a computer. I am looking forward to having space to organize and store crafts and office supplies -- the third bedroom actually has TWO closets! Heaven! Not to mention the sidewalk outside our door that goes directly down to a paved jogging trail that circles a lake! With real, live ducks! (There is a small body of water behind our current apartment, but is more swamp-like than pond-like and has become a stagnant dumping ground for trash and runoff debris.) Ah, suburban nature! How I've missed you!

All this talk of moving has made me a bit nostalgic, actually. Last night we bid farewell to some friends who are going to be living in Charlotte for the summer by feasting at the best little Chinese place in Atlanta. And though that couple will be coming back in the fall, some of our other longtime friends are moving to Knoxville. They have a daughter only a few months older than Jacob, and I suppose I'm just sad because we won't get to see her grow up like we have been all year, especially since the ironic part is that we are actually moving to a place very close to where they live now! But, we know they are sure to come visit, at least for a Georgia Tech football game or two, perhaps.

Due to the move, I am frantically trying to get rid of all the items we don't need anymore, and that includes a large box of CD's. So, seriously, check out our eBay auction over the course of the next week. I promise you won't be disappointed.

The only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself.

Recorded Wednesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 22, 2008.
Music: "Can't Go Back Now" by The Weepies (my new favorite band).
Edited today during naptime. :)

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Today's Google Logo

The winner of the 2008 Doodle 4 Google contest has been announced and her creation appears on the Google homepage today. I think her work is stunning, especially for a 6th grader! I love her use of color variation. But what I found most compelling is Grace's description of her work:

My doodle, "Up in the Clouds," expresses a world in the sky. This new world is clean and fresh, and people are social and enlightened. Every person here is treated as family no matter who they are. The bright sun heats this ideal place with warmth, love, and brightens everyone's day.

Though I don't believe that heaven is really a place up in the clouds, I think her description of her imaginary world comes fairly close to something like what heaven is supposed to be. Especially since there is no mention of angels and harps. Although I'm not sure what she means by being "social and enlightened," I recognize in her words a longing for God's justice, when He comes to set the world to rights. In her description I see a reflection of the New Heavens and the New Earth where everything will be re-created and the only light we will need will be that of our Lord's bright Son. From the mouths of babes...

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Challies.com May Giveaway

Challies.com is giving away up to $200 in gift certificates to Monergism Books. That's not bad. Not bad at all!

Click here to get more details and/or enter. (And please use our referral ID!)

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Sippy Cup Solution

In order for Jacob to continue gaining weight (per doctor's orders), Jacob is supposed to be drinking only whole milk all the time. No juice, no water.

That's okay in my book; juice has too much sugar, and he likes water whenever he's tried it, so I don't think he'll be refusing it later on (although he might when he reaches that picky toddler stage!)

However, my only problem is in transporting the sippy cup of milk safely from place to place while keeping the milk cold. My solution?

A coffee cup with a lid!



The insulation keeps the milk cold for a few hours...



The sippy cup fits perfectly inside...



And yet still has just enough wiggle room for me to get the cup out!



On longer trips, when we will be out for more than a few hours, I keep milk in an taller, insulated aluminum coffee thermos.

This is what works for me! What works for you? Do you have any creative uses for everyday things?

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Mr. Messy

All morning I've been packing and getting ready for a short trip to see family and friends in Alabama this week. However, I'm off to an even later start that I originally planned, since I had to give Jacob a SECOND bath today before we could leave. Here's why:



Apparently, he decided that instead of using his spoon, he wanted to pick up his bowl and use it like a cup, dumping his lunch all over his face and down his shirt and on his hands and all over the highchair (but thankfully not the floor!). Though he was too quick for me to prevent it, at least I was able to contain it--we went straight to the bathroom. Jacob is now newly bathed, clean, and laying down in his crib, about to take another nap, while I'm left trying to clean up the evidence. The washer is running, the dryer is drying, and I'm trying to figure out how to get everything in the car and get out of here in the next hour!

I'm glad I stuck around and checked my e-mail, though, because I was delighted to read this news: our friends' dad is getting a new heart today! Praise God!

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It's funny, because it's true.

I am white, and I appreciate correct grammar.

“Hey Jill, I’m sorry to do this, but I have a business degree and I’m a terrible writer. Can you look this over for me?” This deft maneuver will allow the white person to feel as though their liberal arts degree has a purpose...

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Fun with Video

I am definitely enjoying motherhood, especially since Jacob does something incredibly cute at least a dozen times a day. I usually don't have the camera handy, but this week I was more fortunate to catch a few (very short) clips. (If only I'd had my camera with me at P.F. Chang's today during lunch. He was totally rocking out to the music and bopping along in the high chair! The boy's got rhythym!) Though his attempts at walking are too brief to even try to record, he's pretty easy to tape if he's sitting down...

The following video presentation may only be appreciated by me and possibly one or two other close relatives. You have been warned. It's VERY short. I threw together these three little moments just because I wanted to try out a bit of video editing. (This could be dangerous. One day I might even get crazy and add music to photo montages!) For now, listen in for Jacob's adorable attempts at communication, especially in the third segment, as well as our (brief) commentary. Enjoy! I call this: Swing + Eat + Shop?



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Free Stuff for Moms

Happy Mother's Day!

TCBY is giving away free yogurt to moms today.

Sign up for free dessert at Boston Market all month long!

Today ONLY use the code "HIMOM" at Snapfish to get one free 8x10, but it cannot be combined with any other offer, so you'll have to pay shipping.

And for all you mamas who like to wear your baby, click here for a chance to win a free Ergo Baby Carrier from Along for the Ride! It's a great carrier for toddlers...I've tried one out before and it was really comfortable.

For anyone:
Here are instructions for ordering a free 8x10 AND 5x7 from CVS through May 17th. I did this yesterday and picked them up same day--it really works!

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I ♥ the Beach

I miss this:



This photo is from two summers ago on a day trip with my mom to Destin, Florida. We stopped at one of our favorite beachside restaurants for some seafood after a long day of outlet shopping. It was just long enough to stick our toes in the sand and snap a few pictures of the aquamarine view.

My hometown is an hour's drive from the gulf beaches along Florida's Panhandle, and during the summers we would often make short trips to Blue Mountain or Panama City or Sandestin. Seaside was a popular destination, too. I bought my very first paperback, The Island of the Blue Dolphins, at a Seaside bookstore. Sometimes we would stay a week or more in a condo or rental house on one of South Walton's finest, drinking in the smell of the Gulf and the warmth of the sun's rays reflected off those perfect white dunes. To me, it's not a beach unless it has white sand. (I'm sorry, California and all Atlantic coastal states...you just don't make the cut in my book.)

I was born in June, appropriately, and one of my favorite birthday memories is the time my parents took three childhood friends and me water skiing at Philip's Inlet when I was 10. You can take the Pass to the Gulf by boat and enjoy skimming across the deep or drop anchor in the shallow waters and play on the stretch of sand between inlet and ocean. I always like the latter option because you could almost always dig a pit deep enough to reach saltwater. And we would drop sand-mud from our fingers to make drip castles along the edges as the surf evaporated in the sun.

Though I love the beach in the fall and winter, too, (that's the perfect time for long walks or curling up with a good book while listening to the waves), there is just something about summertime that makes me long for ocean waves and white sand and the smell of Coppertone.

We made a brief visit to Pensacola Beach last August, but it wasn't the same. For one thing, the weather was too hot, even at 9am, and Jacob was too little to enjoy the experience. I would love to spend a few days in a beachfront rental house, but I just don't think that will work with our budget or our schedule this summer. Oh, well...there's always next year.

For now, I've found a few things to ease my heartache, including beach-scented perfume, the perfect temporary antidote for beachlessness!

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CVS + Coupons = Free Money!

I've known about Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) at CVS for years, but never really took advantage of them. I've been dilly-dallying about coupon clipping and CVS shopping for a few months now, but my efforts have finally paid off and I think I'm hooked!

On Saturday, I made some purchases at CVS and actually got more Extra Care Bucks back than I spent in cash by combining coupons. It was a small victory, since I was suprised that one of the deals from last month was still working, or I wouldn't have been so lucky. Today, though, I actually made $.93 and got two toothbrushes for free in less than 5 minutes! Here's how:

CVS this month has a deal this month that if you buy one Colgate 360 toothbrush at $3.99, you get $3.99 in ECB's back. That's like getting a toothbrush for free!

I bought 2 Colgate 360 Toothbrushes at $3.99 each.
I used a coupon for $1 off two Colgate 360 toothbrushes (from the paper).
I then spent $3.99 ECB's and $2.99 ECB's I already had.
The total rang up as $.07, so I handed over some change.
Then, I got $7.98 back in ECB's to use on a future purchase!
So, if you're keeping track...
$7.98 ECB - $6.98 ECB = $1.00 ECB - $.07 out of pocket = $.93 ECB.

I probably could've done even better, but I want to start small. This was just to build my confidence at this little game, but I can tell it may lead to bigger things in the future. Some people just keep rolling over $20 or more of ECB's every time they go to CVS. In fact, I still have an additional $5.98 in ECB's from a prior purchase, plus I have a $3 off $15 coupon. If you sign up for the CVS e-mail, they will automatically send you a $4/$20 coupon!

My only caveat is that I only clip coupons and/or buy things I know we will use. And if for some reason we don't use them, I will donate these new items to a good cause, like a local cooperative ministry.

If you're new to the whole CVS game, here's some instructions on how to get started saving ECB's.

And go check out Money Saving Mom for updated deals at grocery stores, Target, Walgreens, and of course, CVS!

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Photographic Evidence #1327

As seen this morning:




Those are some mad balancing skills, little dude. I'm so proud!

Now that you've mastered squats, it's on to push-ups! Drop and give me twenty! :)

Seriously, next time, maybe take a step or two? Really, it's not that hard. You've done it while holding on to your parents, now all you have to do is let go...
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Breakfast of Champions

Lately, about once a week, I've been enjoying a comfort breakfast of whole-grain toast and an egg over-easy. My mom and grandmother used to serve this, though I never really appreciated it until recently. It was always something about the runny yolks. Thankfully, I'm not so picky anymore.

It's quite simple, though not quite so healthy. Just put some butter in a frying pan, cut out the center of a piece of bread using a cookie cutter (the only one I had that was the right size was the star shape), plop the egg in the middle and cook until desired doneness. Flip once. I love using the butter-soaked toast to sop up the egg yolk.

This is very good with a glass of OJ, though I've been enjoying it with a side of some fresh mandarin oranges I got at Trader Joe's (5 lb box for $8!). Enjoy!

This post was party inspired by this artist's collection of breakfast photos.

HT to Mollie Greene for the breakfast photo link.

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Pre-Order Ben Shive's New Album

This just in: Ben Shive is finishing up his first solo album, The Ill-Tempered Klavier, and you can help him out by pre-ordering a digital copy here.

We've been waiting for this news for a long time, periodically checking his semi-defunct website for updates. Ben is an amazing musician and songwriter who has been touring and writing with Andrew Peterson, another of our favorite musicians.

When I found out, I actually did a little dance. Seriously. The best part is that the digital release will take place on June 17th, the day before my birthday. What a great gift!

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Roy G. Biv

Can you make out the faint second rainbow? Saturday a week ago we saw not one but two rainbows, a double reminder of the promise, on the drive back from a delicious Greek Lamb Roast at the Kotronis' house. We were able to glimpse the majesty all the way through Smyrna and along I-285 until we reached Dunwoody, and even were able to see the entire arc at one point, though we weren't able to get a good photo of that. It was funny to see people in cars beside us going "Look!" and pointing. The whole experience was surreal. We kept wondering if the double rainbows meant there were two pots of gold, and how one small segment of society gets to adopt such an amazing phenomenon as their personal symbol?



Props to cameraman Gaines for taking pictures while I was driving. Jacob, I think, slept through most of the excitement. It was still raining--the 6th Saturday in a row of thunderstorms--so we had to take photos between wiper blade swipes. I thought they turned out pretty good, though.

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." --Genesis 9:12-16

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The Superficial Update

Our blogging here on Team Redd has been sporadic as of late. I apologize, since I've had a million things I've wanted to blog about, and have even started about 5 posts, but somehow I just haven't gotten around to it in all the busyness. I'll get to those, soon, I hope. In the meantime, here is a roundup of what's going on with us...

We're going to be a CARES Team again beginning July 1st! We're excited about being more intentionally involved in an apartment community again, we have a dear friend as our Area Director, and we'll still be within 5 miles of our church, although that does mean...

We'll actually be moving! It'll be the first time we've moved in 6 years and the first time we've moved together since we've been married. We've got a lot to do! Even though we'll be moving up to a 3 bedroom (yay! An actual office that isn't in the same room as Jacob's crib!), I'm working on clearing out all the stuff we've accumulated, but that's easier said than done. (Do you have to have an actual yard to have a yard sale? Could I have a "parking lot" sale?) Oh, well. I'll probably just donate/give away most things and take the baby stuff to a consignment shop. Anyone want a broken laminate bookshelf that's been sitting on our porch for 6 months? The freecyclers didn't want it either. Sigh.

Yesterday, Jacob actually stood up on his own, without holding on to anything! If I can ever capture this with photographic evidence, I will share, I promise. Who knows when he will actually walk, but this is a great first sign!

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo by going on a lunch date yesterday. Thanks to Gaines' efforts at work his company had given him a gift card so we enjoyed a free meal at On the Border (Ole!) plus some cheap-as-free book browsing at Barnes and Noble. We never usually make such a big deal out of Mexican Independance day, but we figured, hey, Gaines was home from work due to some office remodeling, and a friend owed us some babysitting time, so we might as well jump at the chance to go...it was fun to have some us time. I continued the theme by enjoying ice cream with cinnamon and chocolate sauce for dessert last night while Gaines was in class. Mmmmm.

In recent movie viewing, we watched Cloverfield last weekend. Our waiter yesterday randomly struck up a conversation with us about it. Seriously. He just walked up to us while we were enjoying our chips and salsa and said "Have you guys seen Cloverfield?" Just like that. He was from NY, and said it reminded him of 9/11, and I guess he just wanted to talk about it. Anyway, Gaines thought it was a good thing we watched the movie at home instead of the theater, because the shaky cam could be distracting. I, however, really got into the story that way and felt it was a cool method of connecting with the characters. Of course, that other shaky cam movie about being lost in the woods didn't bother me, either. We both really appreciated JJ Abrams' storytelling and perspective, but thought the execution could have been a bit better. I mean, was that monster really supposed to be as iconic for Americans as Godzilla? What were those creature guys thinking?! A giant lizard, a giant gorilla...the one thing those two have in common is that they are large versions of creatures we already know and love! Giant insects, overgrown dinosaurs...those are scary! But some weird amorphous CGI alien-like being from the depths? Not so much.

On Saturday evening, we finally watched Juno. I loved it, Gaines thought it was okay. The story, the characters, the soundtrack--all quirky and delightful. I cried when Jennifer Garner's character held her child for the first time. Sometimes, though, I was so into the music I wasn't paying as much attention to the film, so in that way the soundtrack was a bit distracting. I think it deserves multiple viewings, so I would love to own a copy (hint, hint).

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Please Pray

A friend of ours from church has a brother, James. James' girlfriend, Mandy Annis, (who was soon going to be his fiancee), was struck and killed while cycling home from work on Wednesday in Chicago. There are articles about the tragedy in the Tribune and the Sun-Times, and they reveal a portrait of a beautiful young woman who honored Christ with her life

Please pray for her family (her parents have just flown back from Romania where they were missionaries), for James and his family, for her students (she was a 5th grade teacher at a Christian school), and for the driver of the car. I am just saddened and grieved by this news and my heart goes out to all who knew her. May we mourn with them awhile.

And yet, may we as Christians find hope in the resurrection: that Christ the Lord was raised from the dead, the firstborn of the life to come, and we who know Christ will be raised to new life one day, along with Mandy and all those who have passed on. Praise be to God!

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GT Alums Make Cool Knitted Stuff for Kids

BlaBla is a store created by two Georgia Tech grads (Go Jackets!) that began after the owners took a trip to Peru where they were inspired by local knitters. They use locally grown materials and Peruvian artisans, are committed to fair trade, and their products include everything from sweaters and hats and adorable backpacks to finger puppets, pillows, and mobiles (my favorite!) and almost everything in between. The designs are bright and colorful and fun, and they are based right here in Atlanta! You can read more of their story here.



Best of all, you can win one of their cute Dalmatian hats over at Seven Dogs and a Baby! I'd never heard of these folks before I saw the contest, but now that I have I'm hooked! Their products are bright and fun and modern and yet also handmade! I may just have to make a trip to their store in the Highlands to check them out in person! Has anyone else heard of or seen these cute designs before?

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No More TLC

This post is not about my lack of attention. This is about the cable channel. Although, I suppose the two could be related.

We have the most basic cable available. I think we pay something like $13/month just so we don't have to use bunny ears to watch the networks. We also receive at least three local religious stations, two home shopping channels, a couple of Spanish networks, C-Span 1 and 2, and Fox Business, of all things. Not that great.

Well, at the beginning of last month, we noticed we were getting a few extra channels on our new HD television. The magical cable fairy from the land of the addictive glowing screen had bestowed not one, but at least three new premium channels into our box: AMC, ABC Family, and my personal favorite TLC. Somehow, these had slipped passed the almighty television Nazis and were coming through to us, the lowly basic cable subsribers. Gaines knows how it works; I'm still fuzzy on all of that. I wanted to blog about our unexpected gift earlier, but thought that some cable person might see it and decide to take away my TLC because of my hubris.

It doesn't matter anymore because I discovered yesterday that they are gone! (Well, we still have ABC Family but who really watches that?) My TLC channel is now "encrypted," and if I want to keep up with new episodes of Jon & Kate + 8 or watch Clinton and Stacy dole out fashion advice, I'll have to wait until we visit my parents' lake place to get my binge. And I never even took advantage of my chance to see Paige's return on Trading Spaces!

It's true that you never realize how much you'll miss something until it's gone. However, in this case, it may just be a blessing. Too much TLC, in this form, is bad for me. Which is why I'm attacking the laundry monster that has accumulated over the last several weeks...

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Win Personalized Note Cards

I've been neglectful in mentioning that I have a little giveaway going on at my other blog. It's been such a busy week I (almost) forgot to let you all know about it.

Since I've been recently encouraged to consider calligraphy as a professional side endeavor, I'm giving away a set of personalized blank note cards. I figure that real mail is in keeping with the celebratory purpose of a party-planning blog. I know I always did a little dance when I got real mail at camp or college (though I'm trying to be better about sending it!). Anyway, the giveaway ends tomorrow morning at 8am, so I'd love for you all to have a chance to win!

To enter the contest, click here.

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Race and Christianity

Recordings are now available from the Together For the Gospel 2008 conference. Worthy of special mention is Thabiti Anyabwile's presentation on "Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church." I will shamelessly steal Michael Spencer's summary posted at the Boar's Head Tavern:

Anyabwile’s thesis is that the biological discussion of race is anti-Biblical and a complete distraction from what will cause us to see ourselves and others as descendants of Adam (biologically and spiritually) and in the “one new man/race” reality that actually enables us to build communities that witness to Christ and the Gospel.

This is a very good discussion of "race" from a Christian viewpoint. Listen to it.

(H/T to the BHT)

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Weekend Travels

Over the weekend we took a short trip to Alabama.

We stopped at Lake Martin on Friday night to see my parents and celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary! Go Mom and Dad! And we had the best steaks ever at a little out-of-the way place called Poplar Dawg. Jacob enjoyed the smashed potatoes, though wasn't too keen on bits of steak. He will learn in time. Mmmmmm.

It was supposed to be a restful getaway, but Jacob woke up at 2:30 local time and didn't want to go back to sleep until about 8:00 that morning. Thankfully, my mom took over for a bit so I could nap. My Aunt Bertha arrived and we ate a delicious lunch at Oskar's, and hopped back in the car. Jacob finally slept. It was a beautiful drive in the Alabama countryside, with rolling green farms and forests on either side of the highway. Good times.

That afternoon, we traveled up to Sylacauga to see Gaines' grandparents. Really, one of the main reasons we came was to see them (or, more accurately, for them to see Jacob). As a bonus, Gaines volunteered to stay with Jacob at their house while I went with my family to attend my second cousin's wedding. We spent summers together at camp when we were small and ended up attending the same college, so I was excited to see her and her family again.

The wedding took place at Foxhall Farm, owned by a friend of the bride's family, and was unlike any farm I have ever seen. Imagine a tree-covered hillside with green lawns and gardens nestled between two large houses overlooking a lake (though they called one a bunkhouse, it was a far cry from any bunkhouse I've stayed in. Definitely not summer camp!). The atmosphere was quite casual and my family and I arrived early, so we had plenty of time to sip some beverages and mingle before the ceremony began.

The wedding took place in the evening, on a small circular patio overlooking the dock and the lake. My dad noticed some ducks flying off as the bride walked down the path to her groom. A beautiful ceremony, but I have to say I think that's the first time I've ever attended a wedding wearing flowered pink flip flops. (The flip flops were a brilliant idea--they provided a basketfull for all of us ladies in heels to wear because we kept getting stuck in the pine straw!) All of the guests stood around on the hillside to watch the procession. My cousin Elizabeth looked gorgeous, and her sisters and bridesmaids were all beautiful in their soft green gowns.

This wedding was quite the interesting affair. Someone commented at dinner that it was the first time he could recall saying the Lord's prayer while holding a beer. (I opted for champagne. Still, a first for me, too.) The groom's side were all from New York and I'm sure they received a large dose of Southern hospitality over the weekend! The groom is a personal trainer and we spotted a few semi-famous faces in the crowd (think reality TV + models). The buffet reception included delicious Southern specialties like fried green tomatoes, potato salad, and red velvet cake. It felt a bit like a dressed-up Sunday potluck, but I didn't mind at all!

I enjoyed myself immensely, yet I felt quite strange without Gaines by my side. I think this was my first "solo" wedding post-marriage, though technically I was tagging along with my parents. I did get to chat with some folks I knew from Birmingham-Southern and catch up with the many extended cousins and family that I rarely get to see, some I hadn't seen in over 15 years. I vaguely remembered some of the more distant relatives from family reunions and Christmas card photos and kept having to rack my brain for the connections. I really needed a large flow chart or at least this diagram. It was great seeing everyone nonetheless.

On the drive home, every car was stopped at a police checkpoint on the road leading back to the main highway. I think the small-town officers needed to meet a quota or just didn't have anything better to do on a Saturday night--there were at least 5 police cars parked along the road.

Thankfully, I was dropped off at the grandparents' safely after bidding adieu to my parents and aunts. I found that Jacob had enjoyed large servings of mashed potatoes at dinner and was soundly asleep. He actually slept eight hours straight, which is a good night for him. One day we will enjoy those ten-hour uninterrupted nights again, but it is not to be right now.

Sunday we enjoyed a lazy morning and drove home around midday, stopping a few times to give Jacob a break from the hot car and to soothe his sore gums. We could see the Atlanta skyline when he finally broke down, but I think it was due to overtiredness, because he promptly fell asleep once we got to the Perimeter. All in all, in was a great weekend spent with family and now we are home and back to the weekly routine.

Hopefully, these teeth that are giving Jacob trouble will emerge soon. We all could use a little more rest.

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Everything is Better with Ice Cream

Every year, Edy's Ice Cream sponsors their Slow-Churned Neighborhood Salute! We have always been big fans of community-building here at Team Redd, and what better way to get to know someone that over a big bowl of Edy's Ice Cream? All you have to do is write a 350 word essay (or less) on why you think your neighborhood should win! They give the grand prize to 1,500 winners, so if you are creative and original in your essay, you have a good chance to win! The contest runs now through May 30th and the winners are revealed in July.

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Weekend Links

If you read my lengthy post on plastics (good for you!), then you might be surprised to learn that due to all the negative publicity, Nalgene has announced a new website to promote their new BPA-free plastic containers. Um, good for them, I think. They're catching on!

I just discovered the The Typo Eradication Advancement League. I want to join! Can I make my own little correction kit? If I'd known about this when they were in Atlanta, I would've sent them to Birmingham instead of Montgomery next. Poor, sad deserted Montgomery malls. Or I could've at least sent them toward some friendly relatives! They could've had a hey-day in my hometown. Or the Florida Panhandle. I guess Mobile is close enough. (HT to Rocks in My Dryer).

Barb linked to this neat rescue center in Georgia called Noah's Ark that houses children as well as animals, and uses each to help rehabilitate the other. Apparently, they are rehabilitating a Zebra and were featured on the local news last week.

Finally, I turned on the news this morning to see my grad school Shakespeare professor, Dr. Paul Voss, interviewed because he and his family (5 children!) are off to see the Pope. It'll be his third time meeting the man, and the story of his chutzpah on a school trip to the Vatican is priceless.

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Concert Review: Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken - 4/11/08

Who: Derek Webb / Sandra McCracken
When: 4/11/08
Where: Eddie's Attic (Decatur, GA)

Live music has always been a Team Redd staple. We've eased back on our concert-going lately, since we get plenty of free entertainment from Jacob. But when we saw that Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken (two of our favorite artists) were coming back to Eddie's Attic (one of our favorite concert venues), we couldn't pass it up. Since we've lauded Eddie's in numerous previous posts, I'll simply note that the venue is one of the best places ever to hear singer/songwriters. They always book great acts, the listening room is cozy, and the audiences are super-attentive. Allison and I braved the brewing April storms and trekked down to Decatur, met up with some friends, and braced ourselves for some fantastic music.

For the uninitiated, Derek Webb is a former member of the band Caedmon's Call, and he has released a string of terrific albums since striking out on his own. Sandra McCracken is Derek's wife and a phenomenal singer/songwriter in her own right. Each has released an impressive discography as a solo artist. But the real magic happens when they collaborate together, especially in a live setting. There's just something about their performances together that isn't always apparent on the albums (as great as they are). We went to the first of two shows they played last night. Unfortunately, a late start meant a shorter show, since they had to clear us out in time for the second show. Nevertheless, fun was had by all.

They opened the show with Sandra's "Last Goodbye." The first set consisted mostly of Sandra's songs with a few of the duets from their new Ampersand EP. On all but one ("Springtime, Indiana"), Derek provided guitar and vocal backup. Unfortunately, Derek was recovering from being sick, so he was having some issues with the high notes. But it still sounded good. (Digression - I think the last time we saw them perform, Sandra was sick. Maybe next time we'll get both of them healthy!)

Sandra played a good sampling from her albums, with the notable exception of The Builder and the Architect (probably due to time constraints). They played three songs from Ampersand, including a version of Dylan's "If Not For You." She also played a couple of new songs. I thought it was funny that whenever Derek talks about his "new" songs, he's referring to songs from his latest album. For Sandra, however, "new" songs are those she hasn't yet recorded. She said she had written about nine songs for a new album, which is very cool news. I'm amazed at how prolific a writer she is, even moreso since she writes such quality songs. The two new ones were great, with an especially poignant one called "Tie That Binds," which beautifully juxtaposed lyrics about a dying child with references to Jesus and the empty tomb.

Derek played his set solo, starting with "Lover" and winding through selections from all his solo albums (with the absence of I See Things Upside Down). He also threw in "Faith My Eyes" (from Caedmon's 40 Acres album) as a crowd request. As someone who has seen Derek many times, I found the most interesting performances were songs from his latest album ("Name" and "I Wanna Marry You All Over Again" from The Ringing Bell). On the album, these tracks are full-band rockers, but last night they were stripped-down and bluesier -- a completely different feel, but it worked. Derek closed the night with "This Too Will Be Made Right," a hopeful note that was even more appropriate given the menacing storm that was rolling into the area by the end of the show.

In between songs, Derek exhibited his typical banter. He noted that just a few days prior, he was terribly sick and motionless on his couch, unsure whether he would even be playing at Eddie's. But then Sandra put on the DVD of Back to the Future, which restored him. (At one point between songs, Derek had a brief coughing fit, and Sandra jokingly asked if she should put the DVD on the in-house video monitor for him.) After a brief disagreement on the setlist, Derek explained that he and Sandra try to have all their arguments on-stage, noting that "it's cheaper than going to a marriage counselor, and the audience gets a little extra entertainment." He bemusedly described how the biggest "hit" he's had since going solo is a song that got used on Grey's Anatomy -- "over a montage of fornicating doctors." And finally, as usual, Derek implored the audience to show their love to the good folks behind the bar. "Remember, their love language is beer sales." Quips like these help flesh out Derek as a weird, funny little guy, which makes him all the more endearing.

All in all, Derek and Sandra put on another great show, as expected. They are definitely two of best singer/songwriters around these days, and all the more so when they join each other on the stage. If they are playing anywhere in your vicinity, don't miss them.

Setlist (semi-complete and somewhat in order)

Sandra (with Derek)
Last Goodbye
Long Way Home
Trade My Love
Valentine
When the Summer's Gone
If Not For You
Springtime Indiana (solo)
new song
Tie That Binds
No More Tears


Derek
Lover
Nobody Loves Me
A New Law
King and a Kingdom
Faith My Eyes
Name
I Wanna Marry You All Over Again
Wedding Dress
This Too Shall Be Made Right

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Plastic, Plastic, Everywhere...

and nary a safe kind to drink from!

Other title possibility: "Thank you, Science Olympiad!"

When I was a senior in high school, our Science Olympiad team won the state championship and we got to fly to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the National Competition.

I was in multiple events; we were a small town high school with a small team. (We were also WAY out of our league. Thank you, South Carolina for coming in dead last, just below us!) Some of my favorite events from my years on the team, stretching all the way back to junior high, were Rocks, Minerals and Fossils, Name that Organism, Write It/Do It, and the one I excelled in: Designer Genes. (I still have nightmares about getting lost in the woods on some nature idetification event that tested your orienteering skills. I have probably blocked that event name from my memory.) But perhaps the most useful, though I wouldn't have thought it to be at the time, was a new event that year called Polymer Detectives.

Basically, I got to be the guinea pig for this new event that was all about plastics. When I was a participant, they gave you little pieces of plastics to test to try to identify their properties. You could see if they floated, bend them, and touch them, though I don't remember being able to burn them, though we probably did. I burned lots of things in high school.

For the event, my partner and I had to memorize the properties of all 7 types of plastics and be able to identify them from tiny samples. One example -- if you could tell that the piece was from a plastic milk bottle, you knew it was Type 2, HDPE, and could go on to answer questions about its properties. (Not that I was any good at the event, really--most of the time I think it felt like we were just guessing.)

But I am thankful for some of that Plastic Detective knowledge now, because today it helped me identify some harmful plastics in my own home!

There have been many studies released recently about dangerous chemicals in some polycarbonate plastics, called BPA's, that can leach out into whatever you put in them, possibly due to heat. That's why you should never microwave plastic containers, and some are still not safe to clean in the dishwasher. They have found levels of these BPA chemicals in the urine of pregnant and nursing moms and kids. I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I want some crazy chemicals leaching into my body. This morning, they highlighted unsafe drinking bottles and cups on the Today show (Click here to see a video segement.)

The most surprising thing I learned from the Today Show segment (and confirmed on the Z Report) was that Nalgene bottles, those staples of my college years, are actually high in BPA's!

So, look at the labels before you buy! This morning on the Today Show, they boiled it down to a pretty simple formula:

NEVER use Type 3, 6, or 7 plastics for drinking or eating.

Type 1 plastics: Only use once, then take to a recycling center. Do not re-use, because washing and cleaning with harsh chemicals can release BPA's into what your drink.

The rest should be okay, especially if they are labeled BPA free, like Born Free bottles.

Better yet, use glass or metal! Glass baby bottles are making a comeback. And so are aluminum sippy cups.

But, if you have lots of plastic kids' cups and can't find a plastic label or are unsure about the BPA content, then this site is a great resource for finding out if your children's products are harmful:

The Z Report on BPA in Children's Feeding Products

The above report even has a mobile number you can call to find out information about plastic products when you are out shopping. I would recommend at least checking it out to see if any of the products you have are made by the companies listed as "Fair" or "Poor."

As soon as I watched the report this morning, I checked my son's sippy cups. I had just bought a set of 5 cups and 2 bowls with lids on sale for only $10, thinking that surely those would be unsafe. (They are made in China, but that's a different story.) They were Type 5, and labeled dishwasher and microwave safe. Ok.

But, I picked up my son's Gerber Fun Grips Soft Starter Spill Proof Cup (the one with the two handles) to examine it. There was no plastic type insignia. No label at all. And here is where my former glory as a Science Olympian came in handy...it looked a bit like type 3 plastic to me. I couldn't be sure without damaging the cup, so I checked the Z Report. Sure enough, although many of the Gerber cups ARE safe, the Fun Grips Cup with the double handles is not BPA-free.

Bye, bye, Gerber cup, and good riddance! We never liked you anyway because your two handles make it too easy to sling around milk everywhere. I'm hoping to replace it soon with either a SIGG kid's bottle, Kleen Kanteen or Foogoo by Thermos Sippy Cup. Or maybe all three!

I hope this has been an entertaining and informative public service announcement. Parents, go check out your kids' cups!

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I Have a Shelf Full of School Notebooks

I keep them because they remind me of who I think I am, the person I would like to develop into, but who I might possibly never be. I can’t let go of them, though, because they represent something in me I can’t quite name. I’ve never wanted to embrace the fact that I remain in the “potential” stage, but the folders and files prove to me that I am still firmly quite there. And that drives me crazy.

The above is from an article about "Kept Objects" at Catapult mag. I most appreciated this last one by Megan, since it resonated with me. I have folders filled with things I wrote from middle school up through college and graduate school and I just can't part with them.

You may think it's just silly, especially all you professional organizers, but I know they are there and sometimes I take them out and read through them to remember who I was before, who I am becoming, as well as who I want to be. I am always in transition, and though I may never be a professional writer or an ESOL teacher or an artist, those dreams still linger, and they remain part of who I am today. Thanks for the reminder, Megan.

Now, about some other stuff I do need to get rid of...

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Brewer. Patriot. Poisoner?

Watch out! That bottle of Sam Adams may be full of killer glass shards!

Okay, not really. But the brewery has just issued a "voluntary product recall" due to recently-discovered bottling defects. I read this in the news last night and went to the fridge to discover ... yep, those Cream Stouts were included in the recall. The website has instructions for getting a refund for the recalled goods and all that, but the question remains: do I really want to toss those unopened bottles?

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Further Proof That I Was a Geek In Jr. High

As if you didn't know that already.

So, I'm perusing the Eddie's Attic website in order to buy our tickets for the Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken show this Friday night, (Yay! A date!) and who do I happen to notice on the upcoming shows for tonight?

None other than Tony Lucca. He's a singer/songwriter from LA who you may have seen in People magazine once when he dated Keri Russell, of Felicity fame.

Here I reveal my ultimate dorkiness in that I know this guy best from his time as a Mouseketeer on the Disney Channel's updated 1990's version of the Mickey Mouse Club called MMC. I think I watched every episode of every season. Twice.

MMC starred, among others, Keri Russell, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and JC Chavez from N'Sync. But Tony Lucca was always my favorite.

Somehow you knew, even though he was singing cheesy covers of popular tunes like "Runaway Train" and "She Moves in Mysterious Ways" and playing corny roles in soap-opera-esque shorts that he would one day write his own songs and make it big. Because, well, he played guitar. It was the ultimate sign of coolness.

I may have to give his music a listen. Although, truth be told, the one sample song I heard on the website, though bluesy and kinda rockin', just didn't sound that good to me.

Excuse me, I must now go burn my homemade MMC fan club membership card for such heresy.

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My New Favorite Lunch

Yesterday, I had everything on hand to make this tuna cranberry salad recipe courtesy of Mommy, Esquire.

Then, I rolled it up in one of these surprisingly not-too-thin and delicious Cedar's Whole Wheat Wraps I found at our local warehouse store, which I had bought with something like this in mind. Or homemade mini rectangular pizzas.

I enjoyed my rolled sandwich with Triscuits and cheese and fruit, with Crystal Light Peach Tea. Almost as good as going to Roly-Poly. Almost.

Healthy and delicious and simple. Who knew? And normally I'm not a big tuna person (which is why I've had two cans in my pantry for who knows how long). I usually just add crushed pineapple to my tuna, but this is much better.

One tip: let it sit for a while so the cranberries can soak up the juice and mayo.

It's so good, I'm having it again today.

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Our Not-So Chunky Monkey?

I've alluded to this in previous posts, but Jacob weighed in at 17 lbs 7 oz at his yearly well-check last month. He was diagnosed as "failure-to-thrive" and we had to have blood work and tests and the doctor gave advice that put me, the primary caretaker and nutritionist, in a bit of a panic. Seeing that diagnosis written out in black and white just did not make me feel like a good mom, even though I knew I'd been doing everything right. Everyone (especially Gaines) has been very reassuring, since of course Jacob looks and acts healthy! And he's so active!

I've been hearing more stories from relatives about how my dad and my cousins all were skinny little as children, like I was. One cousin was apparently only 12 lbs at a year! I was a preemie, and I'm not sure I was even that much at a year, but I always thought I was an exception. Apparently, all of my dad's side of the family were nothing but sticks and bones as little kids.

We arrived at the doctor's office for his follow-up appointment a good fifteen minutes early this morning, probably due to my excitement. I had forgotten my checkbook, but it didn't matter anyway because I didn't have to pay.

Why not? Well, apparently, my appointment was for NEXT Monday. But how could I be so confused, you ask? It is a case of Mommy Brain/Momnesia? Nope! The receptionist had written down the wrong date! I did have second thoughts over the weekend because they usually call a day ahead to remind me, but once before they DIDN'T call and I missed the appointment (apparently she'd written that date down incorrectly on the card then, too!). Normally I would've just waited for the doctor to see us, but today is Monday. There were already 5 people in the waiting room and the office had just opened. It could've been hours!

Thankfully, the wonderful nurse let me weigh him anyway, since we were already there and I pleaded my case. I wanted to know how much he weiged on their scale! (Over the weekend, I got him to sit on our bathroom scale, and it said he'd gained a pound but you know you can never trust your home scale.) So, we put him on the scale and he made this cute awkward pouty face at being cold and naked in front of onlookers. But I was beaming!

Jacob weighs a grand total of 19 pounds! Woo-hoo!

Our little guy has gained 25 ounces in 4 weeks! Yay! That's still below the 5th percentile, but at least he's gaining weight! I'm hoping for a couple more ounces next week. At least he has a great appetite.

I confirmed next week's appointment, but the next time I schedule a visit I am going to call a couple of days beforehand just to make sure of the correct day! Especially since I missed the 21 minute free parking today by about, oh, 5 minutes. But that $4 parking for a weigh-in was WELL worth my peace of mind.

We came home in time for Jacob to catch a mid-morning nap. I couldn't resist a photo. Isn't he just adorable?! He looks so quiet and calm and peaceful when he's sleeping...and look at those cheeks! Not quite his 6-month chubby face, but at least it's something!



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