In Niger, a tax hike of nearly 20% on basic commodities has the population in an uproar. When people survive on less than $1/day, that sort of hike is crippling.
The toll from the Sumatra earthquake and aftershocks is still rising with about 600 confirmed dead at this time. The roads are destroyed, there is no power and aide is having an impossible time of getting to the damaged areas. The death toll will rise as people continue to suffer and those lost under the rubble will perish before help can reach them.
Terry Schiavo has died. Honestly, there's not much to say about that. I am relieved she finally has peace.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
A Blessed Easter to All
We spent the day with my parents and I found myself sealing today's emotions into my memory because it was such a significant day.
Easter, of course, is pivotal to the Catholic faith and while there is much to be considered spiritually from the past 40 days of Lent, the past 3 days of the Triduum and over the coming Easter Week, all of this does occur every year. While I battle through my own issues of religion and faith, the subject of family came into very clear focus. It's the first holiday we have spent together, the eight of us, since Christmas of 2002.
I adore my parents. This is nothing new. I didn't just realize this and they haven't done anything in particular to draw the statement out of me. It's a simple fact that along with my own nuclear family, my parents mean everything to me. From them I have been blessed with a love of music (and have always known I could never be as accomplished as they are), a love of languages (the same as above), a love of travel and a love of knowledge in general.
Music. My father learned to play the organ when he was a young boy. Since then, playing the organ in church has been integral to his life no matter what corner of the world he was in and for the past 15 years he has been organist and choir director at St. Michael's parish. It was a second full-time job to him with rehearsals, Masses and untold hours to meet his high standards. But playing the organ wasn't about "job" and "hours". It was about his passion for the instrument and his form of worship.
This Easter was a somber celebration for him as today was his last day as parish organist. For his own reasons he is taking a hiatus and I grieve for his loss just as he does. The organ is an extension of who he is and it will be an adjustment for him and for us as a family. The kids always look forward to going to St. Michael's. Nicholas conducts with grandpa from the balcony. Katherine just joined the choir, singing next to my mom with the altos. Rebecca was talking about how when she was 9 she would able to sing with the choir as well. Jonathon loves the pipes and going to the choir room where the water dispenser is. When we were in Manila, nothing was ever as good as "grandpa's church". Attending "grandpa's church" was a family gathering, a time to share, a way to connect.
We don't regularly say Grace, but when gathered together it's common to say a small prayer over our meal. At Easter dinner, Jonathon bashfully insisted on adding his own: "Thank You for us being at grandma and grandpa's house." No thanks for candy or chocolate bunnies or colorful eggs. Just simple joy for being with family.
As I kissed Nicholas tonight and tucked him in, I asked him if he'd had a fun Easter. He sleepily hugged his stuffed dog and settled his head into his pillow. His brother was snoring quietly next to him, too tired from a busy day celebrating, and in that quiet moment Nicholas told me "Yes, the most fun was being with grandma and grandpa."
I couldn't agree more and I'm so thankful to have children who treasure the blessings of family and togetherness. That's a gift no Easter bunny could every give.
Easter, of course, is pivotal to the Catholic faith and while there is much to be considered spiritually from the past 40 days of Lent, the past 3 days of the Triduum and over the coming Easter Week, all of this does occur every year. While I battle through my own issues of religion and faith, the subject of family came into very clear focus. It's the first holiday we have spent together, the eight of us, since Christmas of 2002.
I adore my parents. This is nothing new. I didn't just realize this and they haven't done anything in particular to draw the statement out of me. It's a simple fact that along with my own nuclear family, my parents mean everything to me. From them I have been blessed with a love of music (and have always known I could never be as accomplished as they are), a love of languages (the same as above), a love of travel and a love of knowledge in general.
Music. My father learned to play the organ when he was a young boy. Since then, playing the organ in church has been integral to his life no matter what corner of the world he was in and for the past 15 years he has been organist and choir director at St. Michael's parish. It was a second full-time job to him with rehearsals, Masses and untold hours to meet his high standards. But playing the organ wasn't about "job" and "hours". It was about his passion for the instrument and his form of worship.
This Easter was a somber celebration for him as today was his last day as parish organist. For his own reasons he is taking a hiatus and I grieve for his loss just as he does. The organ is an extension of who he is and it will be an adjustment for him and for us as a family. The kids always look forward to going to St. Michael's. Nicholas conducts with grandpa from the balcony. Katherine just joined the choir, singing next to my mom with the altos. Rebecca was talking about how when she was 9 she would able to sing with the choir as well. Jonathon loves the pipes and going to the choir room where the water dispenser is. When we were in Manila, nothing was ever as good as "grandpa's church". Attending "grandpa's church" was a family gathering, a time to share, a way to connect.
We don't regularly say Grace, but when gathered together it's common to say a small prayer over our meal. At Easter dinner, Jonathon bashfully insisted on adding his own: "Thank You for us being at grandma and grandpa's house." No thanks for candy or chocolate bunnies or colorful eggs. Just simple joy for being with family.
As I kissed Nicholas tonight and tucked him in, I asked him if he'd had a fun Easter. He sleepily hugged his stuffed dog and settled his head into his pillow. His brother was snoring quietly next to him, too tired from a busy day celebrating, and in that quiet moment Nicholas told me "Yes, the most fun was being with grandma and grandpa."
I couldn't agree more and I'm so thankful to have children who treasure the blessings of family and togetherness. That's a gift no Easter bunny could every give.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
CafePress Anyone?
I'd like to hear from people who've used CafePress to print a book. Did you use spiral or standard binding? What did you think of the quality? Etc Etc.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Pizza and French Fries
What a fun weekend. The kids are off for spring break this week, but I think we've used up all our "let's do something fun" tokens already.
At school Friday, the boys and I went to see the 2nd and 3rd graders' performance. Katherine, being a 3rd grader, was up there playing the recorder and xylophone with all the other 8 and 9 year olds. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds, the kids did a great job and ended with Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Seriously. They were followed by the 2nd graders who had put together a musical (of sorts) about Matter. What can I say, it's a science school so even the music classes are science related. "I'm matter, you're matter, we're all matter..." "There are 4 forms of matter... solid, liquid, gas, plasma! solid, liquid, gas, plasma!" Music you can really tap your toes too. Jonathon found it so interesting he fell asleep on my lap. He's 3, plasma ditties are a little over his head.
The program was at the end of the day, so we went to the school playground for a while and once we arrived home and met Ian, we were off to the nearby theater to see Robots. A film I liked better than the Incredibles, but honestly it dragged in parts with a little too much angst mixed in. Robin Williams made the show.
Saturday was the morning for trout fishing. Bon Air park had an open fishing time solely for kids with newly stocked trout or that was the idea at least. Fifty kids were there by the time we left, and for the hour we spent a single person had caught a single fish. I have one pole from my own childhood that we used and rotated through the kids, but it seemed as though there were a half dozen fish available and those were not at all interested in being caught. One would attract 4 different poles, and while bait was flung at it, tossed on its head and one inventive fisherman tried to wrap his line around the immobile (no, not dead) fish.... it just floated. Oh sure, once the line had gone around a couple times it squirmed a bit and swam a foot to the side to take up a new position, but that's all it did. Kids were commenting on how they'd have better luck walking into the stream and just picking them up.
Oh well. We came home and stored the pole for some other hopeful fishing adventure and started a game of Life.
Afternoon and we hopped on the Metro to the Smithsonian. There is an exhibit at the Sackler gallery on Asian games, with an ImaginAsia program for kids and at 2 p.m. an expert on chess, go and backgammon. Again, this didn't turn out as I'd hoped. The exhibit was interesting, Katherine was able to hold her own against a 14 year old chess opponent and Jonathon didn't fall asleep through the chess guy's talk (though he desperately wanted to). But we'd really wanted to learn about Go. Which isn't until next week. And I hadn't looked into the ImaginAsia program enough to get the kids involved in it, which was a mistake. And there were three tables set up for people to play games... two chess and one, uh, some other game. The chess expert was drier than a desert and was confusing beyond that. The exhibit was interesting and geared for kids to a degree but wouldn't it have been great to have game tables set up throughout the rooms? Where there were a six hundred year old dominoes, why not have a dominoe game table? Made sense to me. So yeah, that was a bummer. We'd also had the goal of getting a Go set and thought it would be easy enough to get one at the museum shop. They had one, and it wasn't even nice.
We left the Sackler and went back to the apartment. The trip downtown wasn't a total loss though. The weather was amazing, we got in a great game of freeze tag on the Mall and the kids took loads of pictures. Jonathon is not at all shy about taking pictures of complete strangers. And, perhaps because he's 3, perfect strangers don't seem to have a problem with him taking those pictures. They think it's really really cute. Over the past 2 days he must have taken a half dozen photos of strangers and sometimes their dogs.
Jeff was with us at the Sackler and just as determined to score a Go set. We looked on-line... $70 for a nice wooden board and plastic pieces? Ian really wanted to try at either Pentagon City or Landmark. We ended up at PC where the guy at the Discovery Store said "What's that?"
We had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and left. Jonathon had fallen asleep in my lap, Rebecca hasn't eaten anything in a couple days and had barely touched her food, Katherine's meal had been forgotten and she ate half of it when it finally arrived. It was time to go home and just forget about the loser of a day we'd had. Jeff stayed for a while as we drowned our sorrows in Ben and Jerry's and MST3000. OK, the part about sorrows isn't true but the rest is.
So we come to today. Passion Palm Sunday, which means reading a really long Gospel while trying to keep the kids from poking each other with palm fronds. Jonathon has taking to ticking down the time in church by the number of songs that are left. He counts the ones that are on the board (four songs) but doesn't consider all the little pieces in-between like the Responsorial. We'd sing the Gospel Acclamation and he's whisper "Only three left?" and I'd have to truthfully say "No, lots more" and he's heave a huge sigh. They were all well-behaved though. A blessing to be sure.
My parents are both not feeling well, but mom still provided a yummy lunch before we hit the road to Ski Liberty. One our way up, it poured. It hasn't rained since we've arrived; snowed yes, rained no. But today of all days it was soaking outside and we plugged along because we have been talking up this ski trip since before Christmas. We weren't leaving unless the resort turned us away.
We pulled into the parking lot and sat. The rain stopped. The sun came out. It was gorgeous. Oh sure, parts of the slopes were pure slush and everything that's still white is machine made but it was so worth sticking to the plan to see Katherine, Rebecca and Nicholas don their snow clothes and hit the slopes. Since it's the second to last ski weekend at Ski Liberty (and in my opinion, it shouldn't really still be open!), each kid had his/her own instructor. By the end of the two hours, Nicholas was going down the green slopes sans poles as little kids do. He asked when we could go skiing again. Katherine was swooshing her way down and even Rebecca seemed to be having fun. She was skiing without falling or crying, so I'll call it a success. Jonathon and I hung out, took lots of photos, colored, played a game and munched on snacks. For an hour he was in the child care center to break up the time and had the whole room and two teens all to himself. Ian enjoyed himself too though he's questioning his ability to walk tomorrow.
So this week the girls are off school and we'll keep ourselves busy with Easter activities. Tomorrow is errand/clean-up/chore day which reminds me, I'd better make a shopping list.
At school Friday, the boys and I went to see the 2nd and 3rd graders' performance. Katherine, being a 3rd grader, was up there playing the recorder and xylophone with all the other 8 and 9 year olds. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds, the kids did a great job and ended with Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Seriously. They were followed by the 2nd graders who had put together a musical (of sorts) about Matter. What can I say, it's a science school so even the music classes are science related. "I'm matter, you're matter, we're all matter..." "There are 4 forms of matter... solid, liquid, gas, plasma! solid, liquid, gas, plasma!" Music you can really tap your toes too. Jonathon found it so interesting he fell asleep on my lap. He's 3, plasma ditties are a little over his head.
The program was at the end of the day, so we went to the school playground for a while and once we arrived home and met Ian, we were off to the nearby theater to see Robots. A film I liked better than the Incredibles, but honestly it dragged in parts with a little too much angst mixed in. Robin Williams made the show.
Saturday was the morning for trout fishing. Bon Air park had an open fishing time solely for kids with newly stocked trout or that was the idea at least. Fifty kids were there by the time we left, and for the hour we spent a single person had caught a single fish. I have one pole from my own childhood that we used and rotated through the kids, but it seemed as though there were a half dozen fish available and those were not at all interested in being caught. One would attract 4 different poles, and while bait was flung at it, tossed on its head and one inventive fisherman tried to wrap his line around the immobile (no, not dead) fish.... it just floated. Oh sure, once the line had gone around a couple times it squirmed a bit and swam a foot to the side to take up a new position, but that's all it did. Kids were commenting on how they'd have better luck walking into the stream and just picking them up.
Oh well. We came home and stored the pole for some other hopeful fishing adventure and started a game of Life.
Afternoon and we hopped on the Metro to the Smithsonian. There is an exhibit at the Sackler gallery on Asian games, with an ImaginAsia program for kids and at 2 p.m. an expert on chess, go and backgammon. Again, this didn't turn out as I'd hoped. The exhibit was interesting, Katherine was able to hold her own against a 14 year old chess opponent and Jonathon didn't fall asleep through the chess guy's talk (though he desperately wanted to). But we'd really wanted to learn about Go. Which isn't until next week. And I hadn't looked into the ImaginAsia program enough to get the kids involved in it, which was a mistake. And there were three tables set up for people to play games... two chess and one, uh, some other game. The chess expert was drier than a desert and was confusing beyond that. The exhibit was interesting and geared for kids to a degree but wouldn't it have been great to have game tables set up throughout the rooms? Where there were a six hundred year old dominoes, why not have a dominoe game table? Made sense to me. So yeah, that was a bummer. We'd also had the goal of getting a Go set and thought it would be easy enough to get one at the museum shop. They had one, and it wasn't even nice.
We left the Sackler and went back to the apartment. The trip downtown wasn't a total loss though. The weather was amazing, we got in a great game of freeze tag on the Mall and the kids took loads of pictures. Jonathon is not at all shy about taking pictures of complete strangers. And, perhaps because he's 3, perfect strangers don't seem to have a problem with him taking those pictures. They think it's really really cute. Over the past 2 days he must have taken a half dozen photos of strangers and sometimes their dogs.
Jeff was with us at the Sackler and just as determined to score a Go set. We looked on-line... $70 for a nice wooden board and plastic pieces? Ian really wanted to try at either Pentagon City or Landmark. We ended up at PC where the guy at the Discovery Store said "What's that?"
We had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's and left. Jonathon had fallen asleep in my lap, Rebecca hasn't eaten anything in a couple days and had barely touched her food, Katherine's meal had been forgotten and she ate half of it when it finally arrived. It was time to go home and just forget about the loser of a day we'd had. Jeff stayed for a while as we drowned our sorrows in Ben and Jerry's and MST3000. OK, the part about sorrows isn't true but the rest is.
So we come to today. Passion Palm Sunday, which means reading a really long Gospel while trying to keep the kids from poking each other with palm fronds. Jonathon has taking to ticking down the time in church by the number of songs that are left. He counts the ones that are on the board (four songs) but doesn't consider all the little pieces in-between like the Responsorial. We'd sing the Gospel Acclamation and he's whisper "Only three left?" and I'd have to truthfully say "No, lots more" and he's heave a huge sigh. They were all well-behaved though. A blessing to be sure.
My parents are both not feeling well, but mom still provided a yummy lunch before we hit the road to Ski Liberty. One our way up, it poured. It hasn't rained since we've arrived; snowed yes, rained no. But today of all days it was soaking outside and we plugged along because we have been talking up this ski trip since before Christmas. We weren't leaving unless the resort turned us away.
We pulled into the parking lot and sat. The rain stopped. The sun came out. It was gorgeous. Oh sure, parts of the slopes were pure slush and everything that's still white is machine made but it was so worth sticking to the plan to see Katherine, Rebecca and Nicholas don their snow clothes and hit the slopes. Since it's the second to last ski weekend at Ski Liberty (and in my opinion, it shouldn't really still be open!), each kid had his/her own instructor. By the end of the two hours, Nicholas was going down the green slopes sans poles as little kids do. He asked when we could go skiing again. Katherine was swooshing her way down and even Rebecca seemed to be having fun. She was skiing without falling or crying, so I'll call it a success. Jonathon and I hung out, took lots of photos, colored, played a game and munched on snacks. For an hour he was in the child care center to break up the time and had the whole room and two teens all to himself. Ian enjoyed himself too though he's questioning his ability to walk tomorrow.
So this week the girls are off school and we'll keep ourselves busy with Easter activities. Tomorrow is errand/clean-up/chore day which reminds me, I'd better make a shopping list.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Walter's PhotoJournal
I was looking through Walter's photos from his latest escape from Iraq. He did a whirlwind trip into Thailand, China and India.
I want to go to India.
I want Vinay's house in New Delhi (Vinay was in Ian's A100).
And I want to stay in Neemrana.
Is that too much to ask?
I want to go to India.
I want Vinay's house in New Delhi (Vinay was in Ian's A100).
And I want to stay in Neemrana.
Is that too much to ask?
The perfect meal
Some of our kids don't eat brussel sprouts. Some don't eat lima beans. One doesn't even eat peas. Some eat corn but only on the cob, others eat it any which way. One doesn't like fish unless it's a fish stick. Some tolerate squash, one likes eggplant, sweet potato is hit and miss. Regular potatoes are welcome in french fry form but half won't eat it boiled or mashed. Carrots are accepted raw. The list goes on and on.
That's not to say that I don't make these foods. I make it, which ever child is forced (yes, forced) to eat a bite of the offending food and we go on our merry way after the discussion about Change of Food Tastes Over Time.
But what will they all eat?
Spinach. I thank Popeye for Nicholas's affinity for it but the rest... I can't explain. They just all like it.
Thank goodness for small miracles.
Pot Pie Dinner:
2 Pillsbury pie crusts
1 - 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup cooked couscous
1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed "dry"
1 cup shredded cheese
Set oven to 400
Put 1 pie crust in pie pan
Mix all other ingredients except cheese
Dump into pie pan
Top with cheese
Lay other pie crust over top, fold edges, flute, vent top
Bake for 15 minutes
Cover edges with aluminum foil
Bake for 30 minutes
Let it rest for 5 minutes
Eat
That's not to say that I don't make these foods. I make it, which ever child is forced (yes, forced) to eat a bite of the offending food and we go on our merry way after the discussion about Change of Food Tastes Over Time.
But what will they all eat?
Spinach. I thank Popeye for Nicholas's affinity for it but the rest... I can't explain. They just all like it.
Thank goodness for small miracles.
Pot Pie Dinner:
2 Pillsbury pie crusts
1 - 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup cooked couscous
1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed "dry"
1 cup shredded cheese
Set oven to 400
Put 1 pie crust in pie pan
Mix all other ingredients except cheese
Dump into pie pan
Top with cheese
Lay other pie crust over top, fold edges, flute, vent top
Bake for 15 minutes
Cover edges with aluminum foil
Bake for 30 minutes
Let it rest for 5 minutes
Eat
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Firefox Friendly
Our site is now Firefox friendly, if anyone cares. There was some wackiness with our stylesheets. After a pretty aimless process of deleting things until it fixed itself, I located the problem.
So now you can use Firefox to see the site. Try it at www.mozilla.org.
So now you can use Firefox to see the site. Try it at www.mozilla.org.
Some days are better than others
And some days aren't. Today was not a good day personally. I should have just stayed in bed.
The plan was to be at the National Cathedral at 10 a.m. Three kids were fed and ready to go at 9:30, Katherine was still laying in bed. By 9:45 we were all finally out the door.
I proceeded to get on Route 50. Going the wrong way. We turned around in a nearby neighborhood.
I got off 50 onto the GW parkway. Going the wrong way. We turned around at the airport (after I asked Ian if he didn't want to just scrap DC and go to Mount Vernon because we were going that direction anyway).
GW Parkway to 495, into Maryland. It's past 10:30 *sigh*. The activity we were going to (the Gargoyle's Den: http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/family.shtml#Crafts) is listed from 10-2 and I had no idea if it was for 4 hours or was a 4 hour block for drop-in. Next time, I write an e-mail and ask. It's also listed for ages 6-12 but I hoped they'd allow the boys to hang around anyway.
Parking in DC, what a hassle but on the side roads there are places to park so we made finally it. It was 11 a.m.
Entering the side door, we found the first staircase down into the depths. The program was in the Crypt Classroom but we saw chapel after chapel and no crypt. A helpful guide brought us to the other side where we were welcomed by the volunteers and the Gargoyle Den is indeed a drop-in activity. They were a little on edge with the boys, but since the boys were just as excited to do the projects as the girls, the ladies warmed up quick and helped them along, just like the big kids.
From one table to the next they made "stained glass" bookmarks, rubbings, paper mosaics, and imaginative air-dry clay gargoyles. Then they donned protective goggles and aprons to pound on blocks of limestone, then we all gathered on the rug to build a miniature arch using a wooden support and flying buttresses. It was a fun time. On the tables were papers with Cathedral Connections like specific windows to look at in the nave and gargoyles to spot outside.
The last time I was at the Cathedral was when I graduated high school. I didn't pay attention to anything about the building then, but it is an amazing creation filled with universal hopes and prayers. Stained glass depict scenes from our history, one is a vision of space, another a scene of peace. It's truly a place for every man. The boys would need to be bit older to take on the guided tour, but I think it would be well worth it.
I have to send huge thanks to Jennifer back in Manila for clueing me in to the National Cathedral as a family outing. There's a different program coming up in April and if the kids are up to it, I'll schedule it in. We'll have to bring binoculars to find Darth Vader too.
It was 1:40 by the time we left and everyone was hungry. Since we'd come through Bethesda, we figured we'd go back through and stop at a place to eat there, say, the Cheesecake Factory. I parked too far away and yelled at Ian because I hate parallel parking our monster of a car, so Ruby Tuesdays it was. Crappy service and the food was OK. Another strike against my day.
Finally we arrived home with a sleeping Jonathon. Arg. A phone message said that the audio book I'd returned yesterday was missing a tape. Rebecca found it then she and I went over the library, only I missed the turn and had to go into another building lot and turn around. What is going on with me? It was 4:50 and the library closes at 5. Becca found the next audio book she wanted and the line was so so so long. Arg. But we got it and went home.
Since we'd had such a late lunch no one thought about dinner until it was nearly 7. We decided we'd walk over to the Cheesecake Factory and have a small dinner with really big desserts.
The walk went fine, thank goodness, but the Cheesecake Factory was -packed-. We were told an hour and given a buzzer. We went shopping. Of course we ended up at the bookstore where Ian bought some DVDs. The boys were getting annoying with it being so late so I went outside with them. Ian decided to buy some books and I yelled at him. He put them back. We went back to the restaurant and were told another 20 minutes. We left. Well, I left and the rest of the family followed. Ian was irritated with me, the kids were hungry, I was cold. I sent them all off to Wendy's while I continued home to pout about my crappy day, then realized that I was really acting like a baby and headed back out into the night to meet them at Wendy's.
They were on their way home with a Papa John's pizza.
Now I'm going to bed. Because tomorrow just has to be better.
The plan was to be at the National Cathedral at 10 a.m. Three kids were fed and ready to go at 9:30, Katherine was still laying in bed. By 9:45 we were all finally out the door.
I proceeded to get on Route 50. Going the wrong way. We turned around in a nearby neighborhood.
I got off 50 onto the GW parkway. Going the wrong way. We turned around at the airport (after I asked Ian if he didn't want to just scrap DC and go to Mount Vernon because we were going that direction anyway).
GW Parkway to 495, into Maryland. It's past 10:30 *sigh*. The activity we were going to (the Gargoyle's Den: http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/family.shtml#Crafts) is listed from 10-2 and I had no idea if it was for 4 hours or was a 4 hour block for drop-in. Next time, I write an e-mail and ask. It's also listed for ages 6-12 but I hoped they'd allow the boys to hang around anyway.
Parking in DC, what a hassle but on the side roads there are places to park so we made finally it. It was 11 a.m.
Entering the side door, we found the first staircase down into the depths. The program was in the Crypt Classroom but we saw chapel after chapel and no crypt. A helpful guide brought us to the other side where we were welcomed by the volunteers and the Gargoyle Den is indeed a drop-in activity. They were a little on edge with the boys, but since the boys were just as excited to do the projects as the girls, the ladies warmed up quick and helped them along, just like the big kids.
From one table to the next they made "stained glass" bookmarks, rubbings, paper mosaics, and imaginative air-dry clay gargoyles. Then they donned protective goggles and aprons to pound on blocks of limestone, then we all gathered on the rug to build a miniature arch using a wooden support and flying buttresses. It was a fun time. On the tables were papers with Cathedral Connections like specific windows to look at in the nave and gargoyles to spot outside.
The last time I was at the Cathedral was when I graduated high school. I didn't pay attention to anything about the building then, but it is an amazing creation filled with universal hopes and prayers. Stained glass depict scenes from our history, one is a vision of space, another a scene of peace. It's truly a place for every man. The boys would need to be bit older to take on the guided tour, but I think it would be well worth it.
I have to send huge thanks to Jennifer back in Manila for clueing me in to the National Cathedral as a family outing. There's a different program coming up in April and if the kids are up to it, I'll schedule it in. We'll have to bring binoculars to find Darth Vader too.
It was 1:40 by the time we left and everyone was hungry. Since we'd come through Bethesda, we figured we'd go back through and stop at a place to eat there, say, the Cheesecake Factory. I parked too far away and yelled at Ian because I hate parallel parking our monster of a car, so Ruby Tuesdays it was. Crappy service and the food was OK. Another strike against my day.
Finally we arrived home with a sleeping Jonathon. Arg. A phone message said that the audio book I'd returned yesterday was missing a tape. Rebecca found it then she and I went over the library, only I missed the turn and had to go into another building lot and turn around. What is going on with me? It was 4:50 and the library closes at 5. Becca found the next audio book she wanted and the line was so so so long. Arg. But we got it and went home.
Since we'd had such a late lunch no one thought about dinner until it was nearly 7. We decided we'd walk over to the Cheesecake Factory and have a small dinner with really big desserts.
The walk went fine, thank goodness, but the Cheesecake Factory was -packed-. We were told an hour and given a buzzer. We went shopping. Of course we ended up at the bookstore where Ian bought some DVDs. The boys were getting annoying with it being so late so I went outside with them. Ian decided to buy some books and I yelled at him. He put them back. We went back to the restaurant and were told another 20 minutes. We left. Well, I left and the rest of the family followed. Ian was irritated with me, the kids were hungry, I was cold. I sent them all off to Wendy's while I continued home to pout about my crappy day, then realized that I was really acting like a baby and headed back out into the night to meet them at Wendy's.
They were on their way home with a Papa John's pizza.
Now I'm going to bed. Because tomorrow just has to be better.
Monday, March 7, 2005
Saturday was just right.
On a whim we went to the Udvar-Hazy Center.
To normal people, it's the satellite Smithsonian Air & Space Museum out near Dulles airport. The hangar is huge and along with the standard air and space stuff (you know... Apollo 11, a Huey, space satellites, personal jetpacks), the infamous Enola Gay and the entire Space Shuttle Enterprise are waiting to be seen.
We toured around and talked about hang gliding, oversized Depends undergarments for astronauts and how the Blackbird seemingly disappears in the sky. There's definitely plenty to see but it is a lot of looking and reading, and not a whole lot of doing. Our kids are patient where ever we drag them but after a while one glider looks a whole lot like the next. We'd promised that if they did well (upon entering they were sternly told by a guard No Running and another guard later told them not to hang on the barriers) we would go on a simulator. They succeeded and so we took a 3D trip to the moon. I was entirely nauseous afterwards but the kids enjoyed it. Adjoining the simulator zone is a souvenir kiosk. Kids being kids they wanted one of everything but we settled on what cannot be passed up. Astronaut ice cream.
We forgot to go up to the observation tour, did squeeze through the crowds in the official souvenir shop and successfully avoided purchasing any kid-sized flight suits, finger kites, or $7 key chains (though I was -really- -really- tempted on the finger kites) and skipped the IMAX. At the car we broke into the ice cream, literally as anyone who has tasted some knows it's a little crunchy, a lot chewy and totally gross. Jonathon was the only one who gave it a thumbs up. I knew the kid was weird.
Lunch was at Chik-Fil-A. First time in over two years and once again I couldn't finish a fast food meal. The Taco Bell burrito thing was huge, the Wendy's burger had several bites left over and then at CFA there was no way I could finish the sandwich and barely touched the waffle fries. Yummy, yes. Just couldn't eat them all. The kids had the same problem with the fries and soda. Plain too much. But they were satiated and getting to play at the indoor playground was a bonus.
A quick stop at the apartment and the grocery store, then we were off to Jerry and Julie's home. They bought a townhome last year so we had the tour, a great dinner and the kids watched too much TV but stayed happy chasing the cats and somersaulting around the basement. It was great to see them and catch up on all the big news. All four kids conked out on the drive home after the day they'd had and all the behaving they did.
It was a good day all around.
To normal people, it's the satellite Smithsonian Air & Space Museum out near Dulles airport. The hangar is huge and along with the standard air and space stuff (you know... Apollo 11, a Huey, space satellites, personal jetpacks), the infamous Enola Gay and the entire Space Shuttle Enterprise are waiting to be seen.
We toured around and talked about hang gliding, oversized Depends undergarments for astronauts and how the Blackbird seemingly disappears in the sky. There's definitely plenty to see but it is a lot of looking and reading, and not a whole lot of doing. Our kids are patient where ever we drag them but after a while one glider looks a whole lot like the next. We'd promised that if they did well (upon entering they were sternly told by a guard No Running and another guard later told them not to hang on the barriers) we would go on a simulator. They succeeded and so we took a 3D trip to the moon. I was entirely nauseous afterwards but the kids enjoyed it. Adjoining the simulator zone is a souvenir kiosk. Kids being kids they wanted one of everything but we settled on what cannot be passed up. Astronaut ice cream.
We forgot to go up to the observation tour, did squeeze through the crowds in the official souvenir shop and successfully avoided purchasing any kid-sized flight suits, finger kites, or $7 key chains (though I was -really- -really- tempted on the finger kites) and skipped the IMAX. At the car we broke into the ice cream, literally as anyone who has tasted some knows it's a little crunchy, a lot chewy and totally gross. Jonathon was the only one who gave it a thumbs up. I knew the kid was weird.
Lunch was at Chik-Fil-A. First time in over two years and once again I couldn't finish a fast food meal. The Taco Bell burrito thing was huge, the Wendy's burger had several bites left over and then at CFA there was no way I could finish the sandwich and barely touched the waffle fries. Yummy, yes. Just couldn't eat them all. The kids had the same problem with the fries and soda. Plain too much. But they were satiated and getting to play at the indoor playground was a bonus.
A quick stop at the apartment and the grocery store, then we were off to Jerry and Julie's home. They bought a townhome last year so we had the tour, a great dinner and the kids watched too much TV but stayed happy chasing the cats and somersaulting around the basement. It was great to see them and catch up on all the big news. All four kids conked out on the drive home after the day they'd had and all the behaving they did.
It was a good day all around.
Saturday, March 5, 2005
Togo Elections are Set for April 24
Election date is set, but ECOWAS says April 24 is too soon and doesn't leave enough time to prepare for "free and fair voting." And it's not just a matter of time for campaigning or revising electoral lists.
From allafrica.com:
"The opposition, which boycotted several earlier elections under Eyadema, has announced that it will contest the presidential vote.
But a coaliton of six opposition parties is still mulling whether to present a united front against Gnassingbe, who has already been chosen as the candidate of the ruling Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party.
Gilchrist Olympio, the exiled leader of the main opposition party, the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), was prevented from standing against Eyadema in the 2003 presidential election. But Olympio said on Thursday that he intended to take on the dead leader's son.
"I am the candidate of my party," Olympio told IRIN by telephone from Paris where he has been living for several years.
"Of course the government we have and the constitutional court we have might not... let me stand," he said. "If they bar me, then... up to 74 percent of the Togolese electorate will be barred too."
BBC news has some other tidbits that explain a bit more:
"But under the constitution, candidates need to have lived in Togo for 12 months to stand as a presidential candidate, which bars Mr Olympio from standing.
Since a 1992 assassination attempt, Mr Olympio has lived in exile in Paris and was barred from taking part in the 2003 presidential elections because he did not live in Togo.
Leopold Messan Gnininvi, the spokesman for the six-party opposition alliance, described as regrettable the disqualification of Mr Olympio.
"We, his colleagues in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Togo, will continue to show solidarity with Mr Olympio until we find a way of removing that prohibitive clause from the statute books," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Olympio told the BBC he would give his support to whoever his party nominated.
"My 40-year struggle for the restoration of democracy in Togo is not a personal one.
"I will give my support to a candidate to be nominated by the party," he told BBC Afrique."
From allafrica.com:
"The opposition, which boycotted several earlier elections under Eyadema, has announced that it will contest the presidential vote.
But a coaliton of six opposition parties is still mulling whether to present a united front against Gnassingbe, who has already been chosen as the candidate of the ruling Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party.
Gilchrist Olympio, the exiled leader of the main opposition party, the Union of Forces for Change (UFC), was prevented from standing against Eyadema in the 2003 presidential election. But Olympio said on Thursday that he intended to take on the dead leader's son.
"I am the candidate of my party," Olympio told IRIN by telephone from Paris where he has been living for several years.
"Of course the government we have and the constitutional court we have might not... let me stand," he said. "If they bar me, then... up to 74 percent of the Togolese electorate will be barred too."
BBC news has some other tidbits that explain a bit more:
"But under the constitution, candidates need to have lived in Togo for 12 months to stand as a presidential candidate, which bars Mr Olympio from standing.
Since a 1992 assassination attempt, Mr Olympio has lived in exile in Paris and was barred from taking part in the 2003 presidential elections because he did not live in Togo.
Leopold Messan Gnininvi, the spokesman for the six-party opposition alliance, described as regrettable the disqualification of Mr Olympio.
"We, his colleagues in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Togo, will continue to show solidarity with Mr Olympio until we find a way of removing that prohibitive clause from the statute books," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Olympio told the BBC he would give his support to whoever his party nominated.
"My 40-year struggle for the restoration of democracy in Togo is not a personal one.
"I will give my support to a candidate to be nominated by the party," he told BBC Afrique."
We are up and running. Yay!
Ian has his laptop, I have my desktop PC, all is well with the world :)
Nothing runs as smoothly as it says on the box, but after spending a good chunk of yesterday evening putting it all together, at least the new computer was running. But enough components were new that the Microsoft software didn't recognize the computer and insisted on being reinitiated or some other such thing. Ian hadn't brought all our master CDs, posing quite the problem. A call here, a call there, plenty of "You'll have to buy it all new" and "We can't help you" later, he gave up for the evening.
Today Katherine asked him to set up "her" laptop. He popped open the CD drive and... the Microsoft Office CD was inside. Why? No one knows. But there it was and 5 minutes later the PC was flying along.
The newest issue is that his laptop can't seem to find the wireless network. He'll figure it out. I told him yesterday that he'd missed his calling. He's really good at this technology computer stuff.
All this means that I've downloaded the pictures off the camera and can finally feel comfortable catching up on everything that's been slacking the past three weeks. Yay.
Nothing runs as smoothly as it says on the box, but after spending a good chunk of yesterday evening putting it all together, at least the new computer was running. But enough components were new that the Microsoft software didn't recognize the computer and insisted on being reinitiated or some other such thing. Ian hadn't brought all our master CDs, posing quite the problem. A call here, a call there, plenty of "You'll have to buy it all new" and "We can't help you" later, he gave up for the evening.
Today Katherine asked him to set up "her" laptop. He popped open the CD drive and... the Microsoft Office CD was inside. Why? No one knows. But there it was and 5 minutes later the PC was flying along.
The newest issue is that his laptop can't seem to find the wireless network. He'll figure it out. I told him yesterday that he'd missed his calling. He's really good at this technology computer stuff.
All this means that I've downloaded the pictures off the camera and can finally feel comfortable catching up on everything that's been slacking the past three weeks. Yay.
Thursday, March 3, 2005
School, reading, Rebecca
Today was parent-teacher conferences. Not that too much can be said after the girls have spent all of a single full day in school (the other days have been 2 late starts and 2 early releases, along with 2 snow days and 2 holidays)
Her old teacher did nothing but rave about Rebecca's classwork, but suffice to say I'm not convinced. In math she's fine, she enjoys science and I don't believe she'll have any difficulties with history and social studies. But Becca still has huge troubles with reading and I do nothing but get frustrated with her which brings us both to tears. Yesterday was a bad day as she and I fought for over an hour for her to read and understand a homework assignment. It was not my shining moment (later daddy came to the rescue and the homework was done without further tears. From either of us). She needs outside help and has needed it for a while, but as a parent there's always a hope that she'll just "get it". At today's conference almost immediately Ms. Riverson brought up a reading program at the school. I jumped on it and she was thrilled that I was interested in getting Becca involved. She'd only done a quick assessment but saw right away that Becca struggles. Becca -can- read. It's hard for her and she gets frustrated easily but I honestly believe that it's a matter of her brain clicking or perhaps being provided a new approach to reading. She sees the world very differently than I do, including the written word.
Today we went to the public library and there's an entire wall of audiobooks. I think we've struck a goldmine for her. She loves stories and being read to. If nothing else her vocabulary and comprehension will grow (she has an amazing memory and ability to pull out information from context) even while her reading abilities play catch-up.
On her homework notebook, it's written that children are expected to do their homework and parents are to check it over. I told Ms. Riverson about yesterday's fiasco and she clearly stated that she didn't want homework to become a battlefield. Until Rebecca's reading catches up, I can help her freely with the directions.
Now to separate out my own issues with her reading. If I can act like an adult during homework time, life for both of us will go a lot smoother. I really do hope she gets into the school program. She'll be so much more confident and thrive.
Her old teacher did nothing but rave about Rebecca's classwork, but suffice to say I'm not convinced. In math she's fine, she enjoys science and I don't believe she'll have any difficulties with history and social studies. But Becca still has huge troubles with reading and I do nothing but get frustrated with her which brings us both to tears. Yesterday was a bad day as she and I fought for over an hour for her to read and understand a homework assignment. It was not my shining moment (later daddy came to the rescue and the homework was done without further tears. From either of us). She needs outside help and has needed it for a while, but as a parent there's always a hope that she'll just "get it". At today's conference almost immediately Ms. Riverson brought up a reading program at the school. I jumped on it and she was thrilled that I was interested in getting Becca involved. She'd only done a quick assessment but saw right away that Becca struggles. Becca -can- read. It's hard for her and she gets frustrated easily but I honestly believe that it's a matter of her brain clicking or perhaps being provided a new approach to reading. She sees the world very differently than I do, including the written word.
Today we went to the public library and there's an entire wall of audiobooks. I think we've struck a goldmine for her. She loves stories and being read to. If nothing else her vocabulary and comprehension will grow (she has an amazing memory and ability to pull out information from context) even while her reading abilities play catch-up.
On her homework notebook, it's written that children are expected to do their homework and parents are to check it over. I told Ms. Riverson about yesterday's fiasco and she clearly stated that she didn't want homework to become a battlefield. Until Rebecca's reading catches up, I can help her freely with the directions.
Now to separate out my own issues with her reading. If I can act like an adult during homework time, life for both of us will go a lot smoother. I really do hope she gets into the school program. She'll be so much more confident and thrive.
Our computer is kaput.
We're getting a new, bare bones computer system. Something in the shipping process killed our computer. It's not too surprising, the UAB boxes had holes knocked into them (each box weighs 11 pounds empty), the wrapping was filthy, and the moisture absorbing packets inside were squishy (you know how they're supposed to feel like the insides of a beanie baby?). They were in transit for 3 weeks and exposed to high heats in Manila, rough handling at the airport and cold and wet temperatures here in VA. Computers like to sit alone in cool dry dust-proof room, they aren't good travelers.
Once the system arrives, new photos. Promise.
Once the system arrives, new photos. Promise.
Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Amazing Race
Anyone want to do the next Amazing Race with us?
We're actually stateside (have to have a U.S. address) and will be here long enough since it's taping over June. But wouldn't you know, they mix it up and now it's four related people or sorta kinda related.
What's sad is that we have no one, not even a single other person (forget finding two people) who could do this with us. My mother has no desire to sleep on airport floors. While my father would jump on the chance, medical reasons could preclude him. And... that's it. We'd take Jeff in an instant but I'd have to become a bigamist or something equally odd. That still leaves spot #4 and... not a clue. We know enough couples we'd love to do the Race with. Oh look, there's the annoying "family" rule again.
Tapes and questionnaires have to be in by March 11th and we've been thinking about potential racemates for over a week and have come up with absolutely nothing. Wow. That is pathetic! At least there's no age limit for the game, but will it still exist in 2 years when we're back?? Will it?? I think we'd have a great angle once we had permission from State, it's sad to see the opportunity pass us by. Maybe some of our Foreign Service friends will jump on the Race bandwagon. We'd be green with envy.
We're actually stateside (have to have a U.S. address) and will be here long enough since it's taping over June. But wouldn't you know, they mix it up and now it's four related people or sorta kinda related.
What's sad is that we have no one, not even a single other person (forget finding two people) who could do this with us. My mother has no desire to sleep on airport floors. While my father would jump on the chance, medical reasons could preclude him. And... that's it. We'd take Jeff in an instant but I'd have to become a bigamist or something equally odd. That still leaves spot #4 and... not a clue. We know enough couples we'd love to do the Race with. Oh look, there's the annoying "family" rule again.
Tapes and questionnaires have to be in by March 11th and we've been thinking about potential racemates for over a week and have come up with absolutely nothing. Wow. That is pathetic! At least there's no age limit for the game, but will it still exist in 2 years when we're back?? Will it?? I think we'd have a great angle once we had permission from State, it's sad to see the opportunity pass us by. Maybe some of our Foreign Service friends will jump on the Race bandwagon. We'd be green with envy.
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Congratulations!
Lisa back in Manila (ouramericanfamily) birthed her baby, Atticus Richard, in their home and unassisted (but for Matt). Congrats to the whole family and welcome Atticus! I'm sure big sister and big brothers are as thrilled as mom and dad.
I also had someone e-mail me asking how Walter is doing. Honestly, I don't know. His image site is still up at http://www.braunohler.net/walter/album/index.html but hasn't been updated since his return to Baghdad after Christmas. We pray that all is well and he's just been really busy with the election and all.
I also had someone e-mail me asking how Walter is doing. Honestly, I don't know. His image site is still up at http://www.braunohler.net/walter/album/index.html but hasn't been updated since his return to Baghdad after Christmas. We pray that all is well and he's just been really busy with the election and all.
UAB is HERE!
Another snow day today. The kids were all stuck in the apartment, Katherine isn't feeling well with a persistent headache and a low fever, housekeeping came through (one of the perks living in a fully furnished place), Ian had his first day for language classes and our air shipment arrived.
Of course we now have four twin quilts and no twin beds to use them on. The kids are all sharing beds which doesn't seem to be bothering them much at all. But really, what three bedroom place is stocked with two king beds and a double?
Having the kids home today worked out well for unpacking. Nicholas stuck with me to the end and earned himself a Twinkie for unpacking the very last items out of the very last box. The computer we put aside for Ian to deal with. As it happens, the computer is kaput. Honestly, Ian cannot get it to run. It seems to be a hardware issue, but he can't get it to turn on properly. I guess this will push our hand now to figure out what we really want to do. Get a second laptop and ditch the PC altogether? Get a new more compact computer? Ian will research and we'll talk and figure out what to do. Until I have something to do photos on there won't be anything new up. I know it's been a while and I apologize. Of course, we're also having troubles with our camera. The card is bad and periodically images are deemed corrupt.
Sometimes I really hate technology. It's not that it's inherently bad, but the dependency we have on it really makes life difficult when it breaks.
I'm glad I've taken up scrapbooking. Aside from the need to type up journals and print them (requiring in-house technology) and having photos (requiring in-house technology to take the photos and either to burn CDs or print the photos directly), it can all be done with scissors, ink and glue. OK, OK. I guess that's why I'm here and not on the floor with my books, at least until we get the camera and computers straightened out. Yesterday my mom, the girls and I went to A.C. Moore's scrapbook fest. The girls each got 6x6 books for their time in the States. They got to pick out letter stickers, some die cuts and paper and they chose plenty of patriotic items. Now all they need are photos to get started. I was looking for coluzzle templates to make letters but couldn't get over the $15 price tags for a single font.
You know what. Forget all that. Just wish me luck that I finish the New Zealand book before the one year anniversary of the trip, OK?
Of course we now have four twin quilts and no twin beds to use them on. The kids are all sharing beds which doesn't seem to be bothering them much at all. But really, what three bedroom place is stocked with two king beds and a double?
Having the kids home today worked out well for unpacking. Nicholas stuck with me to the end and earned himself a Twinkie for unpacking the very last items out of the very last box. The computer we put aside for Ian to deal with. As it happens, the computer is kaput. Honestly, Ian cannot get it to run. It seems to be a hardware issue, but he can't get it to turn on properly. I guess this will push our hand now to figure out what we really want to do. Get a second laptop and ditch the PC altogether? Get a new more compact computer? Ian will research and we'll talk and figure out what to do. Until I have something to do photos on there won't be anything new up. I know it's been a while and I apologize. Of course, we're also having troubles with our camera. The card is bad and periodically images are deemed corrupt.
Sometimes I really hate technology. It's not that it's inherently bad, but the dependency we have on it really makes life difficult when it breaks.
I'm glad I've taken up scrapbooking. Aside from the need to type up journals and print them (requiring in-house technology) and having photos (requiring in-house technology to take the photos and either to burn CDs or print the photos directly), it can all be done with scissors, ink and glue. OK, OK. I guess that's why I'm here and not on the floor with my books, at least until we get the camera and computers straightened out. Yesterday my mom, the girls and I went to A.C. Moore's scrapbook fest. The girls each got 6x6 books for their time in the States. They got to pick out letter stickers, some die cuts and paper and they chose plenty of patriotic items. Now all they need are photos to get started. I was looking for coluzzle templates to make letters but couldn't get over the $15 price tags for a single font.
You know what. Forget all that. Just wish me luck that I finish the New Zealand book before the one year anniversary of the trip, OK?
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