Category Archives: family life

>How many candles?

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>Silicon Valley Moms Blog celebrates its one year birthday today! So — how many candles? 365 for the days? 1 for one year? 1269 for the number of posts? 3325 for the number of comments they’ve generated? They’ve even attracted the mainstream press to their Blogging world! How many candles does that warrant?

The team members of Silicon Valley Moms live a life quite different from mine. They deal with overpriced housing and wealth; I deal with a neighborhood that my boss calls a “slum” (it isn’t). They deal with earthquakes; I deal with blizzards. They deal with an ever-changing economy based on a technological world; I live in a somewhat blue collar, yet scholarly, area. They chose between cheering for the Raiders, the 49ers, and the other West Coast teams; for me, well, Cheesehead says it all.

But when I read their posts, I realize we speak the same language. Much like moms with strollers will smile at one another anywhere, parents in the blogosphere understand each other. Happy one year anniversary, Moms of Silicon Valley! I lift my coffee cup to you.

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>If you don’t like Wisconsin weather, wait…

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One month ago, our neighborhood looked like this. —>

<-----Two weeks ago, we saw this.
Now? Well, yesterday I drove to the lovely town of Winneconne in dense fog, so dense that I almost got lost on the way home because I didn’t see any landmarks. Wait — I couldn’t see any landmarks on the way in! That’s why!
Today, I braved the remaining mud in our yard and raked old leaves away from the sprouting tulips and daffodils so that they can bloom and be beautiful. I looked in on a winter’s worth of compost, too. Ooo — it’s beautiful, too. I have one more week of school before I get a spring break and the kids can start complaining that “Mom’s playing in the dirt again!” It’s okay; they say it with a smile. They know if makes me happy — and makes them food.

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>Shoulds are bogus — again

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>The “should”, the reality, and the end result

I had a half day of school today, so I should have gotten some housework done.
The reality: I came home, turned the self-cleaning oven to “Clean”, and took a nap. A long nap.
The end result: My oven is clean, and I feel well-rested. Not bad, really.

I should have cooked a decent supper.
The reality: I napped much of the afternoon and my oven was in its “Clean” cycle.
The end result: Amigo and I met Husband at a diner halfway between his workplace and home. Mmm…Friday night fish fry.

I should be gathering some professional reading for our upcoming grant meeting.
The reality: I surfed Amazon for gardening materials and family-oriented books.
The end result: I ordered Unstrange Minds by Roy Richard Grinker, an autism parent and anthropologist, and Let it Rot, a composting guide in its third edition. Hey, spring is coming! I can smell it!

I should have started laundry tonight, since I’ll be gone all day tomorrow judging another music festival.
The reality: I didn’t start laundry. I napped and then took Amigo to meet Husband for supper.
The end result: I’ll do it Saturday night or Sunday. If I’m really lucky, the family might start it tomorrow while I’m gone. Don’t laugh so hard; sometimes they do!

I should go to bed early, since I have to get up early tomorrow and drive to my festival. I have to be there by 7:30.
The reality: I napped most of the afternoon.
The end result: I’m hanging out online, having fun reading blogs and updating my own. I’ll be plenty relaxed when I do go to bed. I’ll sleep well.

All in all, “Shoulds” are bogus, but all in all, it was a good day.

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>Priorities. It’s all about priorities.

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>I picked Amigo up at school today for an appointment, and as we walked out to the minivan, I managed to tangle myself up in his white cane and fall to my knees on the sidewalk. I have two skinned knees and a little bruising/swelling, but it’s nothing a little ice and ibuprofen won’t cure. But as I went down so gracefully (not), I didn’t fear breaking a bone. I didn’t fear spraining an ankle or a wrist. I feared — ripping a hole in my jeans.
Jeans are hard to find for many women. For me, 5’4″ and rather heavy, they’re darn near impossible. I’ve been wearing jeans much too often because Mort has forced me into flat walking shoes for a while, and I just don’t have enough decent, casual pants that work with my Avias.
If my knees didn’t hurt so much, I’d go shopping.
Good thing I’m not training for a long walk!

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>She can walk the walk, and I’m not "lion"

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>Sara has reached her fundraising goal! If you are interested and have not yet made a donation, please direct a few dollars to her walking partner, Ellen Austreng. Here is the procedure.

If you have a few minutes, please check out her web-page at www.avonwalk.org.
To get there:
1. Click on DONATE
2. Click on DONATE TO A PARTICIPANT
3. Click on CHICAGO 2007.
4. Click SEARCH FOR A PARTICIPANT
5. Type in her name (Ellen Austreng)
6. Her name will come up under Find a walker/crew member. Click on it and you’re in!

They walk for their daughters. Let’s hope that our daughters no longer see breast cancer as a “mane” threat. Let’s “roar” in support of these walkers and their cause.

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>Where’s the bunny?

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Where’s Waldo? No, where’s Tiny? This little bunny moved into Amigo’s room from his outdoor hutch when winter hit. Husband has been working in Amigo’s room, remodeling and repainting, and the small rabbit has found new places to hide and hang out and do rabbit things, like bathe and nap. Can you find him?
Okay, I give in. Here he is. He has taken this shelf, temporarily stashed in the middle of the room and currently empty of Braille books, as his own.

Cute, huh?

(Don’t forget the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. )

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The mane attraction

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Yesterday I mentioned my good friend Sara and her fundraising goal. To further inspire you, dear readers, here is one example of her creativity and caring. She worked with another artist friend to decorate this fiberglass lion, part of the Lions of the Valley project leading up to the arrival of a traveling Broadway production of The Lion King at our local Performing Arts Center. The lion’s title? “Breast Cancer Survivors: Not an Endangered Species.”

For more lion pictures, click on the lion. To sponsor Sara on the Avon Walk, go here and follow the steps. I promise, I fixed the link so it works correctly.

Did I mention that I know four of the women pictured on the lion? Eat your heart out, Jeff Probst — these women are the real survivors.

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>Love Thursday means these boots were made for walking.

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>My dear friend Sara was diagnosed with breast cancer a little less than two years ago. She had a mastectomy, reconstruction, followed by a summer of chemotherapy and then radiation. The radiation destroyed the reconstruction, so she had to re-do it and reconstruct her existing (healthy) breast to match it in size.
Amazing woman that she is, she took all of this as a sign to take control of her health and her lifestyle. She took up walking. I mean a lot of walking. She walked her first marathon last September. In June, she will walk more than just a marathon. She will walk the Avon Walk in Chicago, a pedometer-busting 39.3 miles in two days.
Sara is looking for people to donate to the Avon Walk in her name. If you are interested, follow these directions. You can read more about Sara and her journey.

If you have a few minutes, please check out her web-page at www.avonwalk.org. update: I double checked the link, and it works now.
To get there:
1. Click on DONATE
2. Click on DONATE TO A PARTICIPANT
3. Click on CHICAGO 2007. Click SEARCH FOR A PARTICIPANT
5. Type in her name (Sara Wilda)
6. Her name will come up under Find a walker/crew member. Click on it and you’re in!

Sara has posted a picture that’s worth a thousand words: a photo of her with daughter. She plans to walk not for herself, but so that her daughter and other daughters will not have to suffer from breast cancer in the future.
Yes, Mom, I had a mammogram. Now the rest of you, please consider sponsoring Sara. Remember, we’re doing it for our daughters.

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