I have been pretty distracted since having kids. I tend to tune things out entirely unless I am choosing to pay attention. For example, Scott and I always listen to the CBC in the car. He’ll make some comment about the program ie “Isn’t that crazy, honey?!” and most times my response is “Sorry, I wasn’t listening.” I recently botched yet another batch of jam. I was making our favourite plum-cherry mix and forgot to add the lemon juice. Not quite there. Not compost, but in definite need of re-processing. I just today sent a photoshopped set off to my photographer friend, not having double all of it- only to realize later that my actions tanked for the last whack of images and they were not correct. I forgot to buy toilet paper for most of last week and when there was absolutely NO toilet paper to be had and all remaining shreds of paper towel (which we seldom buy since we use rags) were gone I went into town to buy some and pick up a few groceries. Well didn’t I make it all the way to the North Line after getting groceries before I realized I had forgotten the TP yet again. (I turned around). The number of times I have turned around before getting to the 15th sideroad (if I drive past the 15th I just keep going, unless it’s particularly dire) are uncountable. My moderate negligence in returning voicemail is only surpassed by my nearly complete neglect in returning electronic mail. And it seems I only remember to shower when my husband wrinkles his nostrils in my direction. Etc, etc, etc.
It’s hard not to feel sometimes like I am getting through life by the skin of my teeth, whipping from one barely completed task to the next. I have to remember not to fight it, not to grind my teeth. To just give in and go with the flow. Smell the roses, pet the goats. Marvel at sleeping babies. You get it.
SO. I did not bring any animals home from the Teeswater show. The guy with the goats was a no-show and I have to give a big fat THUMBS DOWN to the Mini-Pony crowd. Everyone except for the very likely closeted chapper selling sequined pony outfits; he seemed friendly. Intense amounts of stink eye from the vendors, which is fine. (I gave my share of stink eye back to the woman who hit her bitty horse after it managed to knock over her Tim Hortons coffee from the end of it’s foot and a half long tether.) It was the continual sharing of unsolicited opinions as I walked from trailer to trailer that was a bit grating. I could tell by the glaring that they thought my tattoos were ugly, offensive, a waste of money and a cause for regret. The NEED to TELL me they felt that way… is it really that necessary? It was like they just couldn’t possibly have gotten a good night sleep if they didn’t tell me how hideous I’ll be when I’m 60…. in front of my children of course. (Horses were very cute though).
Crouton the Rooster is scheduled for the crockpot this weekend. He attacked Bob a couple nights ago. Got him right across the throat. Thus marking the end of Crouton’s reign as top cock on the block. Don’t need anything attacking my kids and I don’t want Bob getting scared off doing his chores either. He gathers eggs and feeds our layers and meat birds, all by himself. Counting down the days until he can mow the lawn…
Maggie’s Tuesday chest Xray results are in, and she is finally clear of pnuemonia! Hooray! Scott is coughing a lot less, but his cough still sounds pretty terrible. Maybe by fall he’ll be better.
Speaking of, I cannot believe we’re already doing fall prep around here. We haven’t even had SUMMER weather yet! After six long, hard months of winter I can’t believe this is what we’re getting. My tomatoes (while plentiful) are not even close to red yet. I hope they make it under the frost wire. I made pesto yesterday, Bob helped me pick the basil. I’m about to head over to the Amish run organic veg & fruit stand to see if they have any more blueberries for me to add to the bunch for winter. Getting ready to give my pressure cooker a good workout!
One of the things I miss most since having kids is meetings. Not because I feel like I am going to slip away to addiction, but because meetings made me a better person, and therefore a better parent too. All the stupid little sayings and phrases… they really work. Easy Does it. Fake it till you make it. One day at a time. Keep it simple. First things first. Let go and let God. This too shall pass. I can’t hear these things too many times, because I use them all the time. When I can be out past bedtime again, that’s my first stop.
PS. I’m working on uploading a couple of really cute little videos of kids (goat and human) but I am having a ridiculously hard time figuring out what size to export the things under as QuickTime movies. Frames per second, all that stuff…. it’s not my forte. I also can’t seem to embed them here in anything other than a text link. Gah.
I have the same memory problem. Not exactly memory, just focus I guess.
When I drive Cody usually has to tell me how to get somewhere even when I know where it is. I just forget or loose focus.
I usually use imovie to resize or edit and resize my movies. Click export and choose the largest setting without going over 100 mb (usually choose cd-rom or web-streaming). Which usually means that the videos have to be sort of short. Then I upload it to Vimeo.com. They are free and have the nicest layout and user friendly site.
Good luck! I cant wait to see them!
At least the trip to the grocery store wasn’t like my last trip. Drove 20 miles and did my shopping. Got to the register and realized I left my wallet at home.
My favorite thing is when people suggest: ” You should make a list”. I did. I forgot it at home.
There are days I’m lucky to remember why I walked into another room! Mommy brain is bizarre.
Sorry about ppl giving you the stink eye about the tattoos. What I’ve found is that most people who are so sadly judgemental are that way because they are rather unhappy with themselves. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to give one serious beatdown to someone trying to humiliate me in front of my children. Because we both know I would want to
My tomatoes are just starting to turn red, it’s strange how cool it’s been. But my carrots and potatoes have done wonderfully this year!
We’ve had about 2 days of sun in the last month, rubbish! Our toms are finally on the turn although still fairly anemic looking.
Glad to hear Maggie is getting better.
I love it when people tell me my tattoos are permanent, don’tcha know. “What?! But the man at the fair promised they’d come off!”
This summer has been brutal. This was our first week with no lettuce in our CSA – I was getting incredibly sick of salad!
YES! My list is a book. A running list. And frequently forgotten. 20 miles to turn around… That musta chapped your ass. I feel ya.
Will take another look at iMovie – I’ve been using that, but it’s a new version I am not used to and wants me to ‘decide more’ on my own. (I used to just be able to click “web size” save or something easier….)
Meagan – I know! Me too!
I wanted to know you who you use for printing your photos. I have been using WhiteHouse whcc.com and I they do a wonderful job–but I am not making a profit at all.
Stefi – I use Adorama.
Horse people are a special kind of people… or so I’ve noticed. Poop to them and their tattoo fearing ways! Also mini horses tend to have really bad tempraments so make sure that if you get one its one of the (rare) friendly ones!
Shame about the weather. Its already turning to spring down here. I can’t believe I have tomato seedlings popping up and its August! That would be as bizzare as if you had your spring crop coming up in Feb! *shakes head* August is typically the coldest month in Australia and although it doesn’t snow, it gets bitter cold. Not this winter though.
Maybe if you get a youtube account you can upload the vids there (disable comments if you like) and then embed it here? Its pretty easy to embed youtube vids on wordpress blogs. I managed it and I have computer skills like a 45year old. Haha.
Jessica – I clicked the VIDEO button, and then the URL thing to stick my YouTube video into my blog, but the only thing that comes up is the name of the link! I don’t know what on earth I am doing wrong!
Here! http://support.wordpress.com/videos/youtube/
It just looks like a link when you’re typing the blog… but when you press ‘publish’ it works!
Just make sure you’re doing it in the “HTML” view and not the “visual” view.
It comes up like this: [*youtube=*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWayqR9RRys*] (but without the *s obviously) and it doesn’t look like its going to work, but then when you hit ‘publish’ and go back to check, it works!
thanks! its 20cents cheaper with them
p.s. I
I’m sure you see my email when you get comments, it says if i refer you, we both get 10 4×6′s for free! If you’d like to do get them, email me your member number or the email you use for Adorama. cheers!
I feel the same way, and I don’t have kids. I go to get my very first tattoo tomorrow, and I do with all knowledge that, yes, it is indeed permanent. Boo on them.
I get glares everytime I take my kids to the beach. It always takes me a second to realize ‘oh yeah, the probably hate my tattoos and the fact that I have children’. But hey, they can screw off. Yeah, my head is always in the clouds and by that i mean focusing on the NEXT task at hand. eeeek. Bottom line, I know where you’re coming from though my list is not quite as extensive as yours, it’s still a long one…keep up the good work.
i live in mississippi and am pretty heavily tattooed. i know about the comments in front of the kids. especially at the pool. i asked my 10-year old daughter if it embarrassed her for people to see me. we’d never talked about my tattoos before. they’d just always been there. she said she was glad i didn’t look like other mothers and that she loved them. i hope maybe i’ve taught her that it’s just skin. women seem to be so scared of what will happen to their skin. that you can have fun with your body and not just judge it and punish it.
and if i look like shit when i’m old, i don’t think it’ll be the tattoos, so much as the gravity, that is the cause.
none of my peppers and very few of my tomatoes have turned out. we had a terrible drout for 36 days, and temps. were reaching 107*F. the rosemary’s the only one whose gotten exited and shown out. watermelons and cantelopes are caput. mint is dead. eggplants have one puny nub. have harvested three peas. suckcity.
Hayley – oh yeah. The change room at a pool always reminds me how tattooed I am. Most moms are used to it, but some go crazy with the “DONT LOOK!” as if by simply looking at me, my tattoos may mystically embed themselves onto their children….
KC – that IS suckcity. I highly doubt I’ll get a single melon this year, though my plants are doing fine. They just won’t get enough time!
So sad to hear that the rooster attacked Bob.
Is there any way you could put him up for adoption or give him to a petting zoo instead of killing him?
Diane, we brought him home with the intention of eating him upon his arrival. He’s had a good go and will be a delicious meal, having had a very happy tail end of life boffing my hens and eating my garden. (Definitely not fit for a petting zoo!!)
Wow, I am shocked that people actually were rude enough to speak to you about your tattoos. I seldom get any negative response to my mods these days- every once in awhile I get the classic “Did that hurt?” but usually people stop me to compliment them. Ten years ago it was a different story, but I almost never get rude comments anymore. I just cannot imagine anyone thinking that is mannerly.
thats sick that horse looks dead !!! :@
Pretty sure it’s sleeping. Babies, animals and humans alike, do it a LOT.
hcvfxf