So what you see there is a close up of a snow flake and ice crystals. If you were to somehow cut and paste that photo all over a map of my hometown, you'd have a pretty clear representation of what the hell is coming.

It rained HARD last night. Lightening, thunder, lots of rain. Somewhere in the wee hours of the morning, it turned to ice. I woke this morning to see icicles hanging off of everything. Everything. And it's just getting started. B spent 20 minutes scraping the ice off the truck only to have his door freeze open, yes, OPEN while getting ready for work.

It's supposed to continue to rain and freeze all day, ending in a few inches of solid, clear, slick ice. But when that's done, it's going to start snowing. And snowing. And snowing. We might have 14 inches of snow on top of all that ice (I've also heard that 14 inches is a "conservative estimate.")

It reminds me of January 1995 when 19 inches of snow fell here overnight. I was a freshmen in college and classes were cancelled for the first time since 1973. The city didn't really know what to do with all that snow downtown, so they piled it up in the middle of the street. You could drive down Broadway and not be able to see the cars going in the opposite direction because the snow was piled up between the lanes. It stayed there until the end of March. There were sledding hills in the mall parking lot - just snow piled up because there was nowhere for it to go.

Then in January of 1998, we got hit by an ice storm. It was so bizarre, nothing looked icy at all. AT ALL. But take one step out your front door and you fell on your ass because of the ice. Everything shut down then.

I'm so grateful that we have a warm house, a new roof, a house full of healthy warm foods, untold numbers of wool hats and scarves and mittens to keep us warm (and once again I'm grateful for my ability to knit.) Today will be tv, knitting, soup in the crock pot, home made cinnamon rolls, and fuzzy house slippers. Tomorrow will be snowmen and snow angels and sledding and hot chocolate. The only thing I don't have is some bourbon for hot toddies. Eh, well, there are much worse things.

Bring it on, Mother Nature. I'm ready to be snowed in for awhile.

Christmas came early ...

Oh yes, yes it did. 

Gotta love early presents.

Turkey

10 pounds, 6 and a half ounces. Some folks bought a turkey not too much bigger than that for their feast yesterday. Me? I helped a baby that size come into the world yesterday. We've all started calling that baby Tom or Turkey. He's a big boy!

Gobble Gobble! 

Send your good energy this way!

I'll be leaving in a few hours to go and help usher a new person into this world.  It is not the way my client had planned or hoped for, in fact, it's very close to the opposite of what she had worked so hard to do, but she will see her son soon and she is holding on to that.

 

Keep us all in your thoughts today, eh?

How cool is this?

They play checkers together all the time. It's sooooo cool! 

I've never posted a recipe here before, but it occurs to me that the holidays are coming and cookies and sweets and other things are going to be everywhere. If you're looking for something to add to the dessert table, try these cookies. We all need to cut the empty calories, the hydrogenated oils, the sugar, the junk, and start eating healthier -this is a great way to start! I make them to take to births - they have a lot of protein, some honey for energy, all natural ingredients. Works great for laboring mothers, doulas, they have also been known to bribe a nurse or two. They are so good and good for you that I have even treated Duck and Stealth to a "Cookie Breakfast" with these before.

Labor Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (nothing but smushed peanuts - read your lables)

1/2 cup honey

1 free range egg

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour, sifted

1/2 cup dry milk solids

1/2 cup rolled oats (not instant oatmeal, the old fashioned rolled oats)

1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C)

In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter and butter until smooth. Mix in the honey, egg, and vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, dry milk powder, rolled oats, and baking soda ; stir into peanut butter mixture. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes until edges begin to brown. Cool on wire rack.

California Sunshine

Today has been a rough day. Actually, the last week or so has been rough for me. I've been having some health issues, have been waiting (and still am waiting) for a client to labor and birth her child, my kids are getting antsy and B and I have been too damned tired to do anything in the bedroom but sleep. None of it is horrible, just exhausting and frustrating and, well, it has kept me in a bit of a funk for awhile. I was wondering what was going to snap me out of it. I had no idea that it would be something as wonderful as it actually was ...

Today I got a large envelope from a Jewish center in California. This perplexed me seeing as how I am not Jewish nor are any my direct ties to California. I would have thought that perhaps it was some sort of philanthropic group looking for donations, but it was hand addressed to me and it looked like there was a drawing inside. Anxiously I opened it up and burst into tears of love and joy and gratitude. If I had a working scanner, I'd scan it so you could see, but alas I do not.

Inside the envelope was a wonderful drawing of two people and flowers and a rainbow with my name and the name of one of the most amazing souls I've ever met in my whole life, Rafi. This little 5 year old from California and I became fast friends at Velma's wedding in October. She went to visit him and his family a few weeks ago and I asked that she say hello for me. And, in return, I got one of Rafi's gorgeous drawings. I couldn't be happier.

Life is fun!

I couldn't resist posting these photos. This is the kind of stuff that goes on in my house every second of every day. It's always a comedy club here - the only thing that varies is if I'm in the mood to receive it. 

There's a light ...

I've been singing a song from Rocky Horror Picture Show since I opened my eyes this morning.

In the velvet darkness of the blackest night
Burning bright, there's a guiding star
No matter what or who you are.

There's a light over at the Frankenstein Place
There's a light burning in the fireplace
There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life.

I can see the flag fly, I can see the rain
Just the same, there has got to be
Something better here for you and me.

There's a light over at the Frankenstein Place
There's a light burning in the fireplace
There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life.

The darkness must go down the river of nights dreaming
Flow morphia slow, let the sun and light come streaming
Into my life, into my life.

There's a light over at the Frankenstein Place
There's a light burning in the fireplace
There's a light, light in the darkness of everybody's life.

Bizarre song to wake up with in your head, especially if it's sung in Susan Sarandon's voice, but I got to thinking that there has to be a reason. Indeed, as the day has played out, I've started to see that yeah, man, there is a light.

My client, who was due 2 weeks ago, is finally showing some signs of labor after all sorts of natural methods to bring it on. She's napping now and I hope like heck she gives me a call in the next 5 hours or so. She's already well on her way -her previous measures have made her cervix nice and friendly for birth and baby's head is sitting right on it, so that also lessens the chances that this will be a marathon. Man, that's a pretty light! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Today I've also started to breathe again for the first time in several weeks. Sometimes life gets a little crazy and we lose sight of what we need to do to care for ourselves. I have been neglecting my self care for a few weeks now and it was getting out of hand. Well, to be honest, I thought I was taking care of myself, but in honesty I was not. I had slowly started to let caffeine back into my system as well as more than a little bourbon and white sugars and processed food. BAD BAD BAD. But this morning, I woke up and it was clear as can be - all I have to do is take care of myself. . And, as a reward for getting on top of things early and getting back on track, I treated myself to some yummy tofu salad and detox tea for lunch. Ahhhhhhhhh, that light is so freaking bright! I love it!

Stealth finally has reached the age where he can click himself in and out of his booster seat. He's 4.5 years old, but his car booster seat is tall and he is short, so it was rough for him to reach the seat belt completely over himself and make it click, so I've had to click him in and click him out. Today he mastered it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have reached the stage where all I have to say is, "Get in the car" and I'm done. Sweet Sassy Molassy, that's a nice shiny light there! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I finally found an amazing coat that I love. Well, make that a second amazing coat that I love - I already had a black one, but needed a brown one. It's long and brown and fuzzy and very 1976 and it looks like suede and shearling, but it's all fake (oh, sorry, I mean faux) and get this - ... wait for it ... it's MACHINE WASHABLE!! Sounds horrid, I know, but believe me, they can do amazing things with fibers these days and I am a total asshole about fibers, so if it's good enough for me, it's freaking amazing, folks. Wow, that light's so bright, I gotta wear shades! Everybody now ... Ahhhhhhhhhhhh

B & I are doing so amazingly well. Of course we have our little freak out moments, but who doesn't? It's such a wonderful thing to never doubt his feelings for me nor doubt my own feelings for him. I never question my ability to trust him and he knows he can trust me. There's openness and honesty and hysterical laughter and it has been going on consistently for many years now. This will be our 8th Christmas together and I still haven't figured out how that is possible. I still want him under my tree as much as I did that first year. What a beautiful, glowing, warming light. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I've come to see that drinking a cup of tea and reading a book while curled up under a nice chenille blanket IS doing something productive. Ahhhhhhhhhh

I read chapter books aloud to the kids during lunch every day. I remember my Dad reading to us as a family in the evenings after dinner and have taken that tradition into my home. For the first time, I'm reading a book to them that I haven't read previously and I have to say, it's a wonderful gift to us all to discover the magic of Quidditch and Hogwarts together. And my kids will sit there and eat their lunch and listen to every word. That's some wicked light right there, I tell you. Ahhhhhhhhhh

My girl, DDFF, and I have plans to get together soon and talk some MP3 trash. I'm teaching her the ins and outs of downloading music and iPod adoration and she's gonna hook me up with some yummy tea or coffee and muffins in exchange. It's a sad and pitiful state of affairs that we have let ourselves go so long without seeing each other. We used to get together at least once a week and now we can go a month. It's atrocious - but the end is near. I have found 2 perfect holiday gifts for her - now I just have to pick which to give her and which to keep for myself! I know you're reading this - I miss you, Mama. You shine bright as the sun. Ahhhhhhhhhh

JM Bill put in her notice at work! Wahooo! No more top secret African plans. Watch out, Botswana, my girl's gonna rock your world --- again! Check out that smokin' Shiz-light and the Sunshine Shinin'! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Boyeeeeeeeee!

Duck is growing up into a very cool cool cat. He drives me nuts, but he's his own little man and I've never wanted anything else for my kids. He's gonna shine on the whole world. Ahhhhhhhh

And let us not forget that the whole country is a BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL right now! 12 years of insanity is over. Shine, Dems, shine! Ahhhhhhhhh

It seems only appropriate that I end this with some more lyrics (I know, lyrics on a blog is totally passe and just nearly unforgivable - I'm sure I'll pay for it eventually.)

As Mr. Ritchie once said:

On that rock-n-roll pain train
I had to slow things down
I live out in the woods now
It helps me keep my feet on
The ground
Life's been good to me so far
Hope its been kind to you
Stand strong in the storms of life
The sun will always shine on you

RIGHT FU**ING ON!!

My girl, SS, is coming back from NZ next Summer for a few weeks!!!!  HOLY CRAP!!!!!  I've don't remember the last time I was this excited!!!

 

SS, my doll, drinks at W's, on me, spills included!!!

 

RIGHT, F'in' on!!!

 

Alright, I'll admit it -there is a very definate part of my neck that is red. I denied it for ages, but it comes out every now and then and won't let up. So, needless to say, when I put listened to this cd today, that part of my neck erupted in flames! This is quite possibly the finest album of any genre I've heard in a long long long time. It's raw and bare and very much in tune with Hank Sr.'s work (Daddy would be proud of Bocephus.) There's tons of old guitar blues, some typical Hank Jr. sound, and well, let me just say, Erzulie will be playing the hell out of this for some time.

If you get a chance, give it a shot. Even (maybe especially) if you think you don't like country music, if you swore on your can of Aquanet that you'd never listen to Hank Williams Jr., just try it. Brilliant, I say. Brilliant. 

Foreplay in my house:

"Hey B, whatcha doing up early today?"

 

"Well, I don't know how late I'll be tonight, so I've got to get to the polls and vote before I go to work."

 

 

Sweet sassy molassy!!!  Does it each and every time.....

 

 

GO VOTE!

 

To Grizz69, whoever you are

I love you.  In fact, I may be in love with you.  I don't know your real name, I don't even know what country you call home.  What I do know is that you had Grit Sandwiches and Polyfuze and you are smart enough to put them both into shared files and I just happened to find you amongst the thousands of folks from all over the world and wow, Grizz69, dude, I love you.  I really really love you.

 

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm aware that it's still early on in the day and that things could change in a heartbeat, but can I just say that today has been amazing.  Simply amazing.

I awoke to Duck quietly reading a book in the living room.  Yes, it was 5:45 in the morning (yeah, that was painful,) but he was quietly reading and I just got up and ended up watching him do his thing.  Stealth wandered out around 6:25 or so and they played together quietly while I made pumpkin muffins from scratch (YUMMMM!)

 

Went to the library and met up with my sister.  I made a haul from the cd department - that Greg sure knows what he's doing!  Lots of Dylan, some Clash, another live Little Feat (J.M. Bill, I know I know I know, you're the mecca for this stuff,) and tons of other goodies.

 

Then we all went to get bagels and I have to say, while they are not the most figure friendly thing in the world, Chai lattes are just divine!

 

Managed to make it in and out of Target with only 2 purchases - a much sought after computer game for the boys and a nice $3 t-shirt for myself.  Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen, I made it through Target without selling my soul.  Brava to me!

 

Had a little time to kill, so after dropping my sister off, I took the boys to a lovely little bookstore downtown and let them play with trains while I browsed knitting books.  Love that.  I did find a book that I might actually consider buying, but of course, I have since forgotten the name.  What can I say - I'm consistent.

 

Duck did an amazing amazing amazing job at yoga -completely appropriate and enjoyable.  He, again, demonstrated his self-invented asana - "The Statue of Liberty Pose."  Where this kid gets his patriotism is beyond me.

While he was in yoga class, Stealth and I wandered downtown and managed to get a lovely take out lunch from Main Squeeze.  The tofu salad is beyond words - and this is coming from a gal who doesn't like tofu!!!  I could eat buckets of the stuff.

 

Picked up Duck from class and went to visit B, letting the kids go hog wild under the disco lights on the dance floor.  It's such a blissful experience watching kids do their own thing without rhyme or reason.  Makes me know the purpose of life - have fun!!  If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right.

 

Got home to find that two lovely cookbooks had arrived for me in the mail.  DDFF, tell Garoo that I'm with her all the way - it was a Rachael Ray cookbook and a Paula Deen cookbook.  Tell her to get her fanny over here and we'll cook up a bash!

 

Sat down to write this entry and my dear friend from Chicago called.  I've known this guy (and I do mean known in every form of the word at one time or another) since I was 18 years old.  We chatted for over an hour.  How wonderful to have maintained such a long lasting relationship with a great guy!  It's evolved into many different forms over the years, but we still recognize each other's voices on the phone, we still wish each other the very best, and we still laugh at each other loud and long enough to wet our pants.  I love that he is such a huge supporter of my marriage and my family.  He loves that I always root him on to take big risks and make huge changes.  It was lovely, just lovely to spend some time with him today.

 

While I was on the phone with him, B came home with a beer and a smile for me.  I love that about him.  He doesn't drink, but knows that sometimes Mama could use a beer.  One beer.  After all, I am on call.

 

It's not yet 5pm.  It's gonna be a great night.

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

YAY!

My SIL is having a boy!!!!  Not surprising - there hasn't been a girl born into the family in over 90 years, but time for celebration none the less.

 

Congratulations, B & D!  Sons are amazing things.

My Spooktacular Skeletons!

This was by far the best Trick or Treating experience of my entire life - SUPER FUN!!! We had a blast!