Author Archives: Jen

About Jen

Jen isn't quite sure when she lost her mind, but it is probably documented here on Meditatio. She blogs because the world needs her snark at all hours of the night... and she probably can't sleep anyway.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: October 3, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY October 3, 2011

Outside my window… kind of grey. We’re supposed to get some rain which is making me quite happy.

I am thinking… about plans for next week when Jon is out of town.

I am thankful… for the zoo trip with Mom and Dad on Friday and then the dinner afterwards with my parents, Jon, Daniel, and my evil twin brother Sean. Also thankful for Sean and his fiancée Jeanette giving us their old TV when ours died yesterday. (It was 28 years old — it was time.)

From the learning rooms… Daniel was a pill for his Child Development person this morning. He refused to use his sign language or talk to her. Gotta love two year olds! (His Child Development person made him work nevertheless.)

In the kitchen… baked potatoes made with Yukon Gold potatoes.

I am wearing… green v-neck shirt and Jon’s Left Behind shorts.

I am creating… this entry and some super-secret family crocheting.

I am going… out as soon as Daniel has a nap and the Fed Ex people get here.

I am wondering… when Fed Ex will show up.

I am reading… two murder mysteries from the library. My copy of Scones and Bones by Laura Childs arrived (I was on the waiting list for it) and I saw a copy of the newest Leslie Meier book, The English Tea Murder, when I walked in. I think the library staff are still laughing over the sight of me clutching it to my chest while saying, “Mine! Mine!”

I am hoping… Daniel participates well in his therapies for the rest of the week.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing… “Winnie the Pooh” on DVD and Daniel ripping apart a diaper box with his teeth.

Around the house… laundry really needs to be sorted and folded.

I am pondering… a lot of things that I can’t put words to. I function internally so I usually have a bunch of things ruminating in my mind.

One of my favorite things… the pizza with pesto, mozarella cheese, feta, and olives that I ended up making for myself on Friday night.

A few plans for the rest of the week… speech and physical therapy for Daniel tomorrow, Ladies’ Night out on Wednesday, and my massage on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Daniel and the Sumatran tiger at the Sacramento Zoo. I should add that the tiger has an amazing exhibit with lots of enrichment opportunities and places to nap… and it preferred to hang out in the window of its exhibit and people-watch.

Daniel and the Sumatran tiger at the Sacramento Zoo

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes — Whine and Maybe Some Cheese

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7 Quick Takes

Hopefully, I’m at the Sacramento Zoo as most of you are reading this and we haven’t had to cancel again due to weather. The Sacramento Zoo trip is on!

–1–

I got my flu shot on Wednesday. (I also keep being tempted to add an “e” to flu.) It was my annual exam and they were already doing unpleasant things to me so I figured that one more wasn’t going to make the occasion any less wonderful. At least mine is out of the way now and I can focus on making sure that Jon and Daniel (especially Mr. No-Immune-System-To-Speak-Of) get theirs.

–2–

I probably could have avoided going in for my annual exam. One of the FNP’s at the practice (which is huge — 12 providers) had called in a year of refills on my birth control pills. (We’ve been through this.) The only reason I’m so good about going in for my annual exam is so that said doctor will refill my birth control. After all, I believe that I should be monitored by a doctor if I’m going to be on a medication like that. It was so tempting though to cancel the appointment because the refills were called in anyway… (Can you tell how much I hate my annual exam?)

–3–

I hate Lion Brand Homespun yarn. If the super-secret project(s) I’m working on didn’t call for it, it would still be in its bin at Michael’s. The only benefit is that it crochets up relatively fast. (I’d post pictures except that people close to the recipients read my blog and I don’t want the secret to get out.) My doctor did also criticize my mad crocheting skillz.

–4–

Crocheting with fibromyalgia is an adventure. I have a prayer team dedicated to praying for my joints as I work on these projects. So far, I’ve been amazingly lucky and the arthritis in my right thumb isn’t messing with things too much. I have to be aware of what I’m doing as far as my wrists, fingers, and elbows but my thumb has behaved.

–5–

I still haven’t caught an episode of The Biggest Loser this season. Tuesday has become NCIS night for me and I’m too addicted to switch. I’ve been meaning to catch The Biggest Loser online but haven’t yet. Uff da!

–6–

I have a strange craving for Brie on crackers. (I needed some cheese with my whine, right?) Seriously, I do crave Brie right now. I could theoretically pick some up at Trader Joe’s (along with some crackers) but I haven’t because I don’t usually think of it while I’m there. There’s also the lactose-intolerance issue and the fact that it would probably cause some major IBS issues.

–7–

I’m craving stinky cheese in general. If I had my druthers and could eat anything in the world without gaining a pound or adding to my liver damage, I’d be noshing on some Pub Cheese and vegetable chips from Trader Joe’s. *sighs*

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Downsides of Political Involvement for Me

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If you know me, you know that I am patently anti-Tea Party (silly hobbits), would rather chew ground glass than vote for any of the GOP candidates in the field, wish that the GOP would at least *try* to put up someone that’s 180 degrees from Sarah Palin (why the heck did they put her on the ticket in 2008 — she screwed any chances of McCain being elected), and have to turn off the TV when Senator Mitch McConnell comes on because I have severe temptation to throw heavy objects at it whenever the [insert words not printable on this blog] opens his mouth. This means that I am, like, totally stumping for Obama, right? And I’m totally going to put one of his 2012 bumper stickers on my car? And I’m going to bring Daniel down to the local campaign headquarters to answer phones and do whatever needs to be done?

Ummm… no.

While I can’t fathom how any of my parishioners can call themselves Christian and vote Republican, they are entitled to the right to do so and they do pay Jon’s salary. They are the people who I can’t afford to piss off right now so there’s a lot of smiling and nodding and removing myself from political conversations that takes place. Not attending worship (combination of two year old plus fibromyalgia plus no cry room) makes that somewhat easy in that I only deal with the women once a month and there hasn’t been a political conversation thus far at those gatherings.

So why am I not more forthright in my support of Obama? Again, we have some die-hard Republicans who think Fixed News FOX News is the Gospel and I’d prefer not to piss them off. Otherwise, I’d totally be rocking a hash-tag t-shirt and have Obama’s 2012 bumper stickers pasted all over my car.

Oh yes… I thought this was interesting.

Oh… are the comments disabled? Oops!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 26, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 26, 2011

Outside my window… dark. I blanked on doing this until 11:45 p.m.

I am thinking… that I hate Lion Brand Homespun. Just sayin’.

I am thankful… that Daniel decided not to scream until 11 tonight.

From the learning rooms… Daniel is working on walking, fine motor skills, and some signing.

In the kitchen… kitchen? What kitchen? Oh yes, I got my copy of the book of breakfast food from Peggy and there are some recipes I’m dying to make from it.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt and boxers.

I am creating… this entry and some emergency crocheting.

I am going… to shut down the TV once Pauley Perette is done on Leno.

I am wondering… if there was a baby yarn that would have worked better for what I’m doing than Lion Brand Homespun.

I am reading… the Lumby books. What can I say? I’m not feeling A.J. Jacobs at the moment.

I am hoping… my joints hold up until my crocheting project(s) are done.

I am looking forward to… the zoo trip that got rescheduled to Friday.

I am hearing… Leno and the cats being nocturnal.

Around the house… next question.

One of my favorite things… mango-pineapple smoothies from McDonalds. (Hello breakfast for tomorrow!)

A few plans for the rest of the week… the insane Tuesday gamut of speech and physical therapy, occupational therapy on Thursday, and assorted errands.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

7 Quick Takes — Seven Finds via Quick Takes

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7 Quick Takes

I was supposed to be at the Sacramento Zoo on Friday with the family but it’s supposed to be 98F here tomorrow and heatstroke isn’t on my list of things I love. Anyway, I decided to do my Quick Takes this week about people and blogs I’ve discovered from doing them. Enjoy!

–1–

Kathleen @ so much to say, so little time: She actually found me and we’ve bonded over discussing Easter Seals and my love of snark. I read her because she talks about disability issues and just life with little kids. She’s also a FASCINATING person.

–2–

Angie @ The Jammie Girl: Angie is hysterically funny. I recommend her post on the top ten things not to do in the carpool line. She is one of the few blogs where I can laugh to the point of tears at her writing.

–3–

Katie @ Blessed with Full Hands: I’m living life vicariously through Katie because she’s an amazing runner and I wish I could run. She’s also training for a marathon and not whining about doing it like Heather of Dooce.Com is. (Heather, you’re getting to run said marathon with Christy Turlington Burns and it’s for charity. Stop whining.) Katie also homeschools her kids and I love reading about what they do.

–4–

Dwija @ House Unseen: Dwija and her husband bought a house sight unseen and moved their kids from southern California to Michigan. Can we say “has serious faith and guts”? Things are tough for them at the moment because her husband is having problems finding a job so please pray for them in that direction. Having said that, I love seeing the various things they’re doing to remodel.

–5–

Ed @ Catechesis, the Clown, and the Circus: Ed is a DRE (Director of Religious Education — note: this does not equal “youth minister”) at a Catholic church in Minnesota and he seems to have a sense of humor similar to mine. We’ve had some conversations across our respective blogs about life as church workers. He makes some excellent points and I recommend reading his blog for the perspective.

–6–

Jamie @ A Year in Skirts: Jamie embarked on an experiment starting in August in which she will wear a skirt or dress every day for a year. (You can read about the reasons on her blog.) I love finding her entries in my feed reader and seeing what she happens to be wearing that day.

–7–

George @ Convert Journal: George and I met over his blog — or rather he met my snarking pseudonym first and I introduced myself when he responded back gracefully. Truthfully, we’re on opposite sides of the spectrum politically and he has a convert’s zeal about the Roman Catholic Church. He does, however, keep me honest.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

Music Wars

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I was in the drive-through line at McDonald’s a few days ago and the truck in front of me was blasting some kind of R&B song that involved expletives and the words “pimp” and “ho”. It was a bit distasteful for my ears so I did something I always wanted to do: TURN MY MUSIC UP AND DROWN IT OUT!!! I was going to use whatever I had on at the time and it turned out to be “The Way” by Jeremy Camp. (I was listening to KLOVE at the time.) It hit right during the chorus:

Shine, bright
Let Your glory fill this land
Lift high, the King of Kings and great I am
Jesus, You are the way

The other truck turned his music off and laid a patch of rubber once he got his food.

I regret absolutely nothing.

Words to Ponder

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I’ve had pieces of this in my head today.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:1-13 NASB (via The Unbound Bible)

I frequently quote the bolded part (v.12) to people because I believe that we’re all in this together and we’re all trying to serve and glorify God as we journey through life. I know that there are things that did not make sense to me 10 years ago that I understand now and things that will probably make sense to me in another 10 years.

(Why yes, I was having a late night theological conversation on Facebook. How can you tell?)