I made this

Graeme is in Wakefield this week. He had the flu last week and was in bed most of the time. That was my chance at recuperation gone. I’m going in to see Alex’s teacher this afternoon at my request. She was sent out of her class again last Friday. I’d like to get a better idea of what’s happening. I’m also concerned that she’ll be stigmatised by being separated from her peers. I know that she needs to stop her behaviour, but I believe there has to be a better alternative.

In any case, I’ve been feeling a bit run down for a week now and I think it’s finally starting to turn into a real full blown cold. Yuck. And the kids are sick, too. I’m trying to potty train Betty with reasonable success.  We were at a family event at the church on Sunday. My mother and father in law attended as well. Betty spent most of the time running around on stage during the event, playing the odd bit of piano. Jackson was too scared to go in (very loud music to start it off) and so spent the whole time  just outside the doors in the cafe area playing. Alex was very well behaved and looked after Betty.

That’s all that’s happening over here. Sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. It’s just very busy. Hey, my Katy shawl is almost finished! Hopefully I’ll be able to post a picture of that by next week.

So I was on the way to a Mother & Toddler group this morning when my mind started wandering, as it does. And I started thinking about body shapes. You know, there’s pear shaped, hour-glass, etc. But there’s no apple shaped body type, which is how I would describe mine at the minute. Then I thought, hang on a minute. My fat sits around my middle but my arms, neck, legs and ankles look ok. I must be corndog on a stick. Or even a shish-kabob of some sort. That makes more sense.

To be fair, I was taking a medicine that made me hungry ALL THE TIME. And I do mean all the time. I’ve since stopped taking it and have lost about 7 lbs. But I’ve also stopped eating so much junk. So I suppose my shape will be changing a lot. I hope so, anyway.

I took my knitting into the group and sat for a couple of hours knitting away. I’ve got about 16 more rows (of 500= stitches each) to do before I start on the border. It’s coming along just fine. There’s a lady there who I would describe as less than genuine. She’ll chat away happily as long as there isn’t anyone else more popular or politically advantageous around. But, now that I’m attending church regularly, I’m finding that, while I notice these feelings, they don’t seem to affect me as much as they used to. I seem to be more confident and comfortable with myself. Certainly having a good week with the kids last week was a help.

You probably didn’t know this, but I suffer from depression (in varying degrees) and a good helping of insecurity to boot. So that’s what the medicine is for. It also helped me sleep. So now when I wake up in the night I find it difficult to fall asleep again. But I’d rather be tired than obese.

There’s a real history of depression in my family, my mom and sister suffering the most. But mine comes and goes. I’m not sure why I’m sharing that with you, but it’s a part of me. I suppose that’s sometimes why I find it difficult to handle the kids, when I’m not feeling my best. Anyway, I’d better go for now. I’ve got to take Jack to nursery and buy some muffin cups. I’m making corn muffins to take to my class tomorrow.

See you soon!

Thanks, Hazel, for sending this. It really made me smile. Especially since it’s already been such a crazy week! Graeme left for the week yesterday morning. Since then I’ve been to A&E (the ER), been called aside for a chat by Alex’s teacher to discuss her disruptive behaviour in class (She was taken out of her class and laughed at the teacher when she was told off, then told off again by the other teacher!) and vomited on first thing this morning, that wonderful smell of bile being the fist thing I smell.

So, that’s what’s going on over here so far. Can’t wait to see the rest of the week! At least I’ve had a chance to clean the house a bit. I need to do loads more, though. I might actually be able to find the time with Graeme out of the house!

Hope everyone else’s week is better than mine so far! : )

4 Jobs I’ve Had

Hickory Farms sales assistant (1st job)

Bartender in a Gay Nightclub (I waited tables in a cafe which turned into a gay nightclub. I didn’t last long as I’m not gay.)

Waitress in Germany (excellent)

Marketing Manager (lots of fun and allowed for creativity)

4 Movies I Watch Over and Over
Steel Magnolias (Love absolutely everything about it)

Out on A Limb (Love all that spiritual stuff)

My Man Godfrey (Excellent b@w film. Great humour)

Parenthood (I totally relate to Steve Martin’s character) 

4 Places I Have Been
Edinburgh, Scotland

Cancun, Mexico

Belgium

Aspen, CO

4 Places I Have Lived
Wilmington, NC

Charleston, SC

Trier, Germany

Darlington, England

4 TV Shows I Watch
Trading Spouses

Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares

Coronation Street

Relocation, Relocation

4 People Who E-mail Me Regularly
Dad

Hazel

My Book Club

Ebay

4 Favorite Foods
chickpeas (baked in the oven with a bit of salt)

mint chocolate chip ice cream (preferably Baskin & Robbins)

pizza (homemade)

sautéed mushrooms

*I love grits but haven’t been able to find them over here so far

4 Places I Would Rather Be
On my farm (I don’t have one yet)

Crafting in my crafting/sewing/art studio (I don’t have one of those yet either)

Asleep on the beach

Enjoying a massage/facial etc at a women’s only spa somewhere (no, I’m still not gay)

4 People to tag
Kristin

Kristina

Laura

Stephanie

Check this out.

if you like this, try this one

I’ve finally started a proper pattern. By that I mean something other than a rectangle or scarf. I’ve only ever knitted the cozy previously. Now I’m trying the Katy. I was searching the internet for free patterns and hit paydirt. It’s perfect and beautiful, to me anyway. I love that it harkens back to Little House on the Prairie. Very nice. It knits up easily as well. I think that’s why I haven’t started anything like this previously. The patterns seemed very complicated. But that’s what I thought about knitting lace before I realised how easy it is. But then everything’s easy once you know how!

I retrospect, I should have used a nicer yarn. I’m using a worsted weight wool mix. I found it at the thrift shop. Three HUGE skeins for £1. I’ve been waiting for a chance to use it. A nice DK or finger weight would have been nicer. Even cotton DK would have been better. But it’s just for myself so I’m not too fussy. And I know the pictures are HORRIBLE.

Now, an incident has occurred since my last post that has really annoyed me. Jackson was on the playground playing with another little boy. They were chasing each other. Jackson was about to tag the other little boy, who had taken up residence by his Mom. Jackson did this turn and his hand hit the other little boy. I saw the whole thing, mind you. And I really don’t think Jackson meant to hit the other boy. But he did. Not hard, but on the side of his head. The boy was startled and started to cry. Now if this had happened to Jackson, having seen what happened, I would have said they were playing rough, calm down and would hope for an apology from the boy.

I immediately took Jackson’s hand and told him No Hitting. Even though it wasn’t intentional it’s still important to reinforce no hitting at any time. He apologised to the other little boy. I reiterated that he should be very careful when playing and kept him by my side from then on.

Now, as I was taking care of it, the other Mom also felt it necessary to say VERY LOUDLY that her son wants to play with Jackson, but not to play fight. She repeated this twice VERY LOUDLY. Now, as this was happening I suddenly heard Betty crying. I didn’t see what happened, but another mom’s son, who was standing with my other mom talking before all this happened, apparantly crashed into Betty. Or Betty crashed into him. Or they crashed into each other, I don’t know. I didn’t FREAK OUT ABOUT IT. I did make sure she was all right and cuddled her until we collected Alex.

Now, once home I realised that Jackson’s arm had marks where the other mom had held his arm WHILE TALKING TO HIM. I was livid. Furious. Why hadn’t I noticed it? I saw her, because she was literally right in front of me. Why hadn’t I told her to let go of my son, I’ve handled this already, thank you very much! Why didn’t I suggest that she police her own son, who on several occasions has been less than friendly toward Betty?

I wondered whether I should say anything to her the following day but decided that the moment had passed.

I don’t know what upsets me more. That she left marks on his arm or that I didn’t stand up for Jackson better.

It won’t happen again.

**I am more than willing to accept that my children are not angels and may sometimes, ok, often fall short of the mark. But they are NOT agressive children who wilfully hurt others.

98%ALCOHOLIC

I guess university paid off afterall!

OK, bartending and cocktail waitressing in college didn’t hurt any either.