Ski season doesn't officially end until April 24th at most of the resorts, but I'm ready to move on to spring. I've compiled a video of our season highlights...
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sheltering the Kids
Bartee and I commonly have disagreements when it comes to the kids and "pop culture" for lack of a better term. I am usually a little more liberal with what they can get away with in terms of clothes to wear, books to read or TV shows to watch. That said, I feel most people would consider me a prude when it comes to these things. I do shelter them from most of network TV because I find it to be inappropriate. In the same sense, I enjoy watching TV as a family so there are a few shows that are not off limits in my opinion. Wipe Out, Undercover Boss, The Amazing Race, Biggest Loser and American Idol to name a few.
On Sunday night we again found ourselves among the company of stray dogs. Turns out, they belonged to a neighbor who was out of town for the evening. While they were out enjoying the basketball game, the dogs managed to find their way out of the backyard through a hole in the fence. One of our furry house guests was a pint-sized Lhasa, if I'm not mistaken. The kids were enamoured with him, primarily because they are used to our larger-than-life beast of a dog. So naturally they were fighting over who got to hold him and who held him longer and who held him on the couch vs. the dining room chair. Yes, there was a lot of love for this dog. So we decided to take turns on the couch for 10 minutes each while watching TV. I sent them over to turn on Idol while I finished cleaning up from dinner.
Bartee was flabbergasted that I would send them over to watch it alone because it's one of those shows that he finds borderline appropriate for the kids. I tried making a case... but inevitably ended up going to the couch to watch alongside them. It was the results show and so the kids lost interest somewhere in the middle. And it was about that time that I was hit with the Iggy Pop performance that sparked all the fleeting comments I had read on Facebook days before.
My goodness gracious, I see now why Bartee prefers to censor this show. Now, don't get me wrong... I love me some Iggy Pop (well, I did back in the 80s) but seriously this performance really doesn't belong on primetime TV. The fact that he's shirtless is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things that are wrong with this performance. To name a few of my favorites: The gesture with the microphone at the beginning, his awkward approach and singing to Jennifer, the constant out of breathsinging talking, and the odd positioning of himself on the edge of the stage to engage the crowd.
In case you missed it, you can find the whole thing right here. You can thank me later. :)
On Sunday night we again found ourselves among the company of stray dogs. Turns out, they belonged to a neighbor who was out of town for the evening. While they were out enjoying the basketball game, the dogs managed to find their way out of the backyard through a hole in the fence. One of our furry house guests was a pint-sized Lhasa, if I'm not mistaken. The kids were enamoured with him, primarily because they are used to our larger-than-life beast of a dog. So naturally they were fighting over who got to hold him and who held him longer and who held him on the couch vs. the dining room chair. Yes, there was a lot of love for this dog. So we decided to take turns on the couch for 10 minutes each while watching TV. I sent them over to turn on Idol while I finished cleaning up from dinner.
Bartee was flabbergasted that I would send them over to watch it alone because it's one of those shows that he finds borderline appropriate for the kids. I tried making a case... but inevitably ended up going to the couch to watch alongside them. It was the results show and so the kids lost interest somewhere in the middle. And it was about that time that I was hit with the Iggy Pop performance that sparked all the fleeting comments I had read on Facebook days before.
My goodness gracious, I see now why Bartee prefers to censor this show. Now, don't get me wrong... I love me some Iggy Pop (well, I did back in the 80s) but seriously this performance really doesn't belong on primetime TV. The fact that he's shirtless is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things that are wrong with this performance. To name a few of my favorites: The gesture with the microphone at the beginning, his awkward approach and singing to Jennifer, the constant out of breath
In case you missed it, you can find the whole thing right here. You can thank me later. :)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Soccer Season
Sanjay has been literally begging to play sports... anything really. It seems that no matter what I ask him, he's game. Do you want to do tennis? Sure. T-Ball? Yes. Golf lessons. Yeah. How about soccer? Of course Mom. Rohan and Tarun both play; I want to be on their team.
So, we did end up signing him up for soccer this spring. It was pretty late in the registration process so he ended up on the only team with an opening. It turns out none of his friends play with him on the "Lightning Bolts", but he is enjoying the season anyway. Sanjay is very social and can make friends anywhere. This past weekend was his second game and he's a natural. Here are some action shots of him:
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| Taking the free throw from the sidelines |
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| They all go after the ball! |
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| Kicking with his coach's support |
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| He's in the back getting effectively blocked by the opposing team. :( |
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| On "the bench" waiting to get subbed in. |
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| In center field, taking the kick off after the other team just finished scoring a goal. |
Monday, March 28, 2011
On The Meaning of Supervision
No one fights a shower like our little girl... for some reason she wants to argue and postpone and bargain when it's shower time. What should be an almost daily activity has become more of a bi-weekly event because it's such an ordeal and we don't make the time for it like we should. Some of you might be saying, why not just send her to the shower on her own? Why must you be involved? Problem is her hair is mighty long and terribly thick so she has a hard time getting it clean and washing all the conditioner out. So shower time around here involves either Mommy or Daddy.
Well this weekend she expressed interest in really wanting to do it all by herself. She knows that she's getting older and more responsible and therefore has been begging for more independence in a lot of things lately. As is her nature, she also worries and hesitates because there are so many things that she still has to learn. She is particularly afraid of learning to drive. She has wondered "How will I know which streets to turn on?", "How do I turn on the headlights?", "What is that symbol on the dashboard with the triangle?" and "Really, you drive with only one foot?".
Back to showering... she was pleading her case to me while getting dressed on Saturday. About how we really should let her be responsible for taking a shower on her own and so I said that would be fine, but she needed supervision when it came to her hair. As she kept arguing with me that she could DO IT ALL BY HERSELF, I said with a somewhat strong tone, "Do you know what supervision means?". Sanjay being within earshot and also being a bit of a know-it-all said "I know what it means. It means great eyesight." I guess he has a point. Priya and I both started cracking up. That little guy always knows how to lighten the mood even when it's unintentional.
Well this weekend she expressed interest in really wanting to do it all by herself. She knows that she's getting older and more responsible and therefore has been begging for more independence in a lot of things lately. As is her nature, she also worries and hesitates because there are so many things that she still has to learn. She is particularly afraid of learning to drive. She has wondered "How will I know which streets to turn on?", "How do I turn on the headlights?", "What is that symbol on the dashboard with the triangle?" and "Really, you drive with only one foot?".
Back to showering... she was pleading her case to me while getting dressed on Saturday. About how we really should let her be responsible for taking a shower on her own and so I said that would be fine, but she needed supervision when it came to her hair. As she kept arguing with me that she could DO IT ALL BY HERSELF, I said with a somewhat strong tone, "Do you know what supervision means?". Sanjay being within earshot and also being a bit of a know-it-all said "I know what it means. It means great eyesight." I guess he has a point. Priya and I both started cracking up. That little guy always knows how to lighten the mood even when it's unintentional.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Spring Break Skiing
I took the kids up over spring break for one last day on the slopes this season. The weather was perfect and we had a blast. One of our highlights was riding the lift with a guy straight out of the 80s. Actually, he was much too young to have thoroughly lived through and enjoyed the 80s, but he was in costume and carrying around a classic "boom box" belting out 80s tunes like "99 Luftballoons" and "Take My Breath Away". He admitted that the 80s wasn't really his decade, but he plays the 80s playlist because everyone knows the lyrics and it makes people smile. He and his friends were really getting a kick out of all the ski instructors shaking their hips and the many random waves from strangers.
They were from Nebraska and had season passes to all the Vail resorts in Colorado. I think he said they skied about 50 days this year and it takes them more than 6 hours to get over here. Now, that's dedication. It was funny on the lift when his friend was flipping through the playlist, the guy told him "Find something by Journey... that'll really get everyone going". His friend decided to stop on something else, "Come On Eileen" and the guy says, "hmm... I don't know that one". Cracked me up... even my kids knew that one. Of course, they also know the lyrics to "Electric Avenue" and are a little stuck in the 80s themselves, thanks to their Momma. :)
They were from Nebraska and had season passes to all the Vail resorts in Colorado. I think he said they skied about 50 days this year and it takes them more than 6 hours to get over here. Now, that's dedication. It was funny on the lift when his friend was flipping through the playlist, the guy told him "Find something by Journey... that'll really get everyone going". His friend decided to stop on something else, "Come On Eileen" and the guy says, "hmm... I don't know that one". Cracked me up... even my kids knew that one. Of course, they also know the lyrics to "Electric Avenue" and are a little stuck in the 80s themselves, thanks to their Momma. :)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Future
Were you beginning to think that I needed to be in a beautiful place with scenic pictures to share in order to update the blog? Yeah, me too. :)
Since the little guy started Kindergarten back in August, I've been contemplating what to do with all the free time I theoretically now have on my hands. Of course, I have found lots of ways to keep myself busy. Specifically, the house has been quite a bit cleaner... I have been spending lots of volunteer hours at the elementary school... the laundry doesn't pile up nearly as much as it used to... I've been keeping the pile of mail down to a month's worth, and I get all the errands done without kids in tow. But still I feel that I have time on my hands that can be better spent earning an actual salary and contributing monetarily to this household.
Honestly I have mixed feelings about this transition. We know that there will be added sacrifices and stress that we may or may not be prepared to handle. There may be times when Bartee will have to get the kids to and from their activities or he may even have to plan and cook some meals... that'll be an adjustment for both of us. I may end up missing a soccer game or a dance performance or a music recital. This makes me really, really sad. But at the same time I am happy about having to do things on a schedule again. Happy about people counting on me to be at a certain place at a certain time. Happy about having to juggle my time so that the grocery shopping gets done and I put in a full day in at work.
So, now the question becomes "What exactly should I do with my incredibly robust skill set?" This thought, and the fact that my skill set may not be as robust as I imagine, has been running through my head for a while and I shall now bring you the results of my six-month-long brainstorm:
Software Engineer
Web Designer
Property Management
Realtor
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Massage Therapist
Photographer
Substitute Teacher
Some things were considered briefly then almost immediately crossed off the list. My days of software engineering are over as far as I'm concerned. I've been out of the field so long that things have drastically changed. Besides that, it really is a "career" and I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for this time around. My focus is really on Bartee and the kids so I want a job that's less demanding and devoid of deadlines. Which is why "Web Designer" also becomes less than ideal in my mind. Since my early retirement from programming, I have done a couple of web pages for folks but I find that I'm not passionate about it. I want to love my job. The more I love it, the less chance it'll add stress to the household.
I am passionate about Photography, however I'm not all that good at it. It just wouldn't fly as a career for me, I'm guessing. Besides, photo shoots happen mostly on weeknights and weekends... cutting seriously into family time. :( Hmm... am I being too picky? Call it picky, call it over-analytic, call it procrastination. Probably a little of each.
Anyway, moving on... Realtor? Again, lots of nights and weekends, and in this area a lot of competition. But perhaps good money and certainly a benefit to have if and when we sell this house and move on to something else. If not a realtor, then perhaps a Property Manager? I already manage our condo in the mountains and have picked up a couple of friend's places, too. I enjoy doing it and I love the fact that it's 100% work from home. However, in order for it to be worthwhile as a career I need to expand and that means formalizing the arrangement, marketing and generally becoming all business-like. Not sure that's what I want.
Massage Therapist? I considered this one long and hard. Who doesn't love a good massage? And it would be therapeutic for a certain family member, whose name I won't mention but he has a back that's aging faster than the rest of him. However, massage therapy means going back to school and it is also very taxing on your hands from what I understand. I have a friend who's in the field and whom I should probably talk with more before ruling this one completely out.
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor? For me this is a somewhat dream job. I love swimming and I think it would be inspiring to do this in a fitness center or some place where I'm surrounded by people who are working out. My first career was built around pools. Whether guarding, managing, coaching a summer team, teaching private lessons or just monitoring the levels of chlorine, I have very fond memories of spending summers outdoors on the pool deck. Granted, lifeguarding as a profession would not bring in loads of money, but that's not what I'm seeking this time around.
Substitute Teacher? It seems that our district has an overwhelming amount of substitute teachers. So many, in fact, that they have restricted the hiring. As of right now, they are only accepting those who have a teaching certificate or degree. Which I do not. So, I will wait and see if that changes for next year. Although not my ideal image of a job, it would be perfectly suited to being a Mom. I'd have the same schedule as the kids and I'd be able to turn down a job if the kids were sick or if I had other plans for the day. I suppose that's why the field is so overcrowded. For now, this one is on the back burner.
Although it never made the list, just today I feel like I may have a calling. Not in the spiritual sense, but when something happens to you over and over again, you start to wonder if it's some sort of sign. Ask my neighbors; it's true... I seem to be some sort of stray dog magnet. :) Here are the two I found yesterday afternoon.
They ended up staying with us overnight and I was secretly hoping it would take at least a week to find the rightful owners. This little boy and girl were so sweet that I could have easily been talked into keeping them. As is usually the case, Priya and Sanjay went ahead and named them (Patch and Buddy) and claimed one of them as their own. Alas, Sadie and Oliver's mom came today to pick them up and take them home. Sadie was ready to go and jumped right in the car, but Oliver ran back to my front door. I carried him to the car and grudgingly put him inside. If he sneaks out again, I hope he finds his way back here.
So, do you think I should add "Dog Whisperer" to the list? I have support from one friend to pursue the web design path... what are your thoughts? What is missing from my list based on the incredible talents you know me to possess? :)
... more to come ...
Since the little guy started Kindergarten back in August, I've been contemplating what to do with all the free time I theoretically now have on my hands. Of course, I have found lots of ways to keep myself busy. Specifically, the house has been quite a bit cleaner... I have been spending lots of volunteer hours at the elementary school... the laundry doesn't pile up nearly as much as it used to... I've been keeping the pile of mail down to a month's worth, and I get all the errands done without kids in tow. But still I feel that I have time on my hands that can be better spent earning an actual salary and contributing monetarily to this household.
Honestly I have mixed feelings about this transition. We know that there will be added sacrifices and stress that we may or may not be prepared to handle. There may be times when Bartee will have to get the kids to and from their activities or he may even have to plan and cook some meals... that'll be an adjustment for both of us. I may end up missing a soccer game or a dance performance or a music recital. This makes me really, really sad. But at the same time I am happy about having to do things on a schedule again. Happy about people counting on me to be at a certain place at a certain time. Happy about having to juggle my time so that the grocery shopping gets done and I put in a full day in at work.
So, now the question becomes "What exactly should I do with my incredibly robust skill set?" This thought, and the fact that my skill set may not be as robust as I imagine, has been running through my head for a while and I shall now bring you the results of my six-month-long brainstorm:
Software Engineer
Web Designer
Property Management
Realtor
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor
Massage Therapist
Photographer
Substitute Teacher
Some things were considered briefly then almost immediately crossed off the list. My days of software engineering are over as far as I'm concerned. I've been out of the field so long that things have drastically changed. Besides that, it really is a "career" and I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for this time around. My focus is really on Bartee and the kids so I want a job that's less demanding and devoid of deadlines. Which is why "Web Designer" also becomes less than ideal in my mind. Since my early retirement from programming, I have done a couple of web pages for folks but I find that I'm not passionate about it. I want to love my job. The more I love it, the less chance it'll add stress to the household.
I am passionate about Photography, however I'm not all that good at it. It just wouldn't fly as a career for me, I'm guessing. Besides, photo shoots happen mostly on weeknights and weekends... cutting seriously into family time. :( Hmm... am I being too picky? Call it picky, call it over-analytic, call it procrastination. Probably a little of each.
Anyway, moving on... Realtor? Again, lots of nights and weekends, and in this area a lot of competition. But perhaps good money and certainly a benefit to have if and when we sell this house and move on to something else. If not a realtor, then perhaps a Property Manager? I already manage our condo in the mountains and have picked up a couple of friend's places, too. I enjoy doing it and I love the fact that it's 100% work from home. However, in order for it to be worthwhile as a career I need to expand and that means formalizing the arrangement, marketing and generally becoming all business-like. Not sure that's what I want.
Massage Therapist? I considered this one long and hard. Who doesn't love a good massage? And it would be therapeutic for a certain family member, whose name I won't mention but he has a back that's aging faster than the rest of him. However, massage therapy means going back to school and it is also very taxing on your hands from what I understand. I have a friend who's in the field and whom I should probably talk with more before ruling this one completely out.
Lifeguard/Swim Instructor? For me this is a somewhat dream job. I love swimming and I think it would be inspiring to do this in a fitness center or some place where I'm surrounded by people who are working out. My first career was built around pools. Whether guarding, managing, coaching a summer team, teaching private lessons or just monitoring the levels of chlorine, I have very fond memories of spending summers outdoors on the pool deck. Granted, lifeguarding as a profession would not bring in loads of money, but that's not what I'm seeking this time around.
Substitute Teacher? It seems that our district has an overwhelming amount of substitute teachers. So many, in fact, that they have restricted the hiring. As of right now, they are only accepting those who have a teaching certificate or degree. Which I do not. So, I will wait and see if that changes for next year. Although not my ideal image of a job, it would be perfectly suited to being a Mom. I'd have the same schedule as the kids and I'd be able to turn down a job if the kids were sick or if I had other plans for the day. I suppose that's why the field is so overcrowded. For now, this one is on the back burner.
Although it never made the list, just today I feel like I may have a calling. Not in the spiritual sense, but when something happens to you over and over again, you start to wonder if it's some sort of sign. Ask my neighbors; it's true... I seem to be some sort of stray dog magnet. :) Here are the two I found yesterday afternoon.
 |
| Oliver, Sadie and Caboose waiting patiently to come inside |
So, do you think I should add "Dog Whisperer" to the list? I have support from one friend to pursue the web design path... what are your thoughts? What is missing from my list based on the incredible talents you know me to possess? :)
... more to come ...
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