Chimp Chat

Trying to read Austen

I picked up Mansfield Park at the bookstore. I have to read it so slowly in order to understand what's going on that after 2 days, I've only read 40 pages. These old novels are a challenge. I'm hoping it will help my brain stay strong. But she uses words that totally don't exist anymore, like "shew" and "gooseberry tart."
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Query

Why is the table of contents so hard to locate in Vanity Fair? I swear pages are missing from this month's issue.

Stories you may be interested in...

Here is what cnn.com thought I might want to see based on my browsing patterns: Man shot in genitals saving mom

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PRX Radio

I just discovered this cool public radio remix station on my XM radio during my long haul to East Jesus yesterday morning. PRX transforms public radio into kind of "Alive From Off Center" meets "This American Life" style snippets. So while you are listening, you'll hear pieces from Moment of Science, StoryCorps, Fresh Air, BackStory and tons more. I'm still discovering what the heck it is. More info and their online stream is here. Chekkit!

Ok, gotta go earn a living. Sigh!

New Job: Day 1

Fish fry, magazines, Toastmasters, cheep salad bar, Guitar Hero contest, retail wonderland, nice folks, low to no drama... Now if I could just teleport the 35 miles I have to drive to get here. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Starting life version 15.6a

So I am starting a new full time job tomorrow. Granted, it is only a short-term contract, but my nervousness comes because I really can count on one hand the number of weeks I've worked 40 hours in the past 6 years. Plus it involves a heinous commute.

But on the positive side, the people and the building are nice. The vibe is totally light.

I am giving myself permission to quit if I just hate it after a couple weeks. But I am also assuming that it is going to be really good for me (discipline), my marriage (asking for help), and our home life (schedule, routine, all that).

Anyway, I am using this transition as a reason to start up blogging again. As much as I love Facebook, I find I don't really "write" anything and that's what I need to be doing. I equate FB to picking up the phone to call someone just because -- not because you really want to relate to that person.

Plus, the job is pretty dry, so I need an outlet. Oh, but this has helped a bit.

all aboard the potty train

Day 1 of serious potty training. E put on 6 pairs of his new big boy pants and then did a numero dos. Elapsed time: maybe an hour tops.

Emmett makes cute sounds

I love that he says yes like a put-upon deli employee. Or kind of like Droopy Dog, the elevator operator.

Me: Do you want some ranch dressing to lick off your veggies?
Him: Ye-ess (trailing off)

He also says:
wo-orm
steam train
complex carbohydrates

And another thing: He calls crayons "papers". He's my little bureaucrat.

Things I kick myself over every day

Not being interesting enough on my blog to land a book deal. C'mon, spend a little time and make it spicy or something.

Wasting all that time before I had a kid... I mean, how much relaxing did I need to do?! I should have been producing, moving, shaking.

Not having a career plan... being a schlub to the "plans" that life laid on me!

Forgetting to wear my retainer (welcome back feature from my youth: buck teeth!)

Not composting.

Reading those dumb teaser articles when I open my web mail.

Parent Hacks

I love Parent Hacks -- it is so addictive. Yesterday I read all the painter's tape ideas and ran home to tell B about how we can make roads for the Matchbox cars he just got from his mom's attic. He was non-plussed. In the comments, someone showed this idea for murals, and I wigged out. Who knew it could look so cool.

And my other obsession is to make a bunch of papier mache masks and/or animal heads to use to decorate the homestead. Like Georgia O'Keefe doing rogue taxidermy,funky and primitive. Probably more like this. I mean, my idea is, if  you want it, make it out of papier mache and you've got it. Trays, a small step stool, containers... whatever.

Anyway, I think the last time I actually made a bunch of something was...uh... never. So realistically, I should aim to create just one or two.

(image from straydogdesigns.com)