Category Archives: Media/TV

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.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 19, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 19, 2011

Outside my window… sunny and in the 90’s. I’m seriously jonesing for four distinct seasons here — 97 F in September is unacceptable.

I am thinking… that I hope “the Buffet plan” passes and the millionaires and billionaires start paying their fair share.

I am thankful… for our “Winnie the Pooh” DVD. It kept Daniel quiet last week and it’s allowing me to get some web work done.

In the kitchen… nothing exceptional. Lunch for me was a baked Yukon gold potato. (I prefer them because they’re smaller and they have a better flavor than the russet ones.)

I am wearing… black Arabic shirt and black shorts (my “around the house” clothes).

I am creating… details for my NaNo piece.

I am going… to Walgreens today if my doctor’s office calls in my prescriptions.

I am wondering… where my regular cookbooks are and when I’m actually going to feel like cooking from scratch again.

I am reading… Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser. The A.J. Jacobs book isn’t keeping my attention and I have the Lumby books until October so I’m re-reading them now that I’ve read the first one.

I am hoping… that I’m over Daniel’s bug though I haven’t had the issues that he has — in my case, it’s just a fever.

I am looking forward to… the fall season priemieres on CBS this week.

I am hearing… the refrigerator humming and “Winnie the Pooh” on the DVD player.

Around the house… echoing Dawn on this: don’t ask.

I am pondering… how people can call themselves Christians and yet support Tea Party politics. I’m not trying to start a fight here — the Tea Party rhetoric goes against EVERYTHING in the Bible about taking care of each other in both the Old and New Testaments. They truthfully disgust me.

One of my favorite things… the quiet time I get after Daniel goes to bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week… Daniel’s various therapies on Tuesday and Thursday and the Sacramento Zoo on Friday with my parents.

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7 Quick Takes — First World Problems, Sick Kids, Cats, and NaNo Prep

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7 Quick Takes

–1–

grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble Rachel the red-headed she-devil won Big Brother grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble. I’m sure she’s a nice person in her own right and she won it because she played her butt off but she was still obnoxious and catty.

–2–

I have a TV dilemma on Tuesdays. I just got addicted to NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. The problem: it’s the same slot as The Biggest Loser and I don’t have the benefit of TIVO. I’m thinking that my Biggest Loser watching will have to be done online or something — I’m chomping at the bit for the season premiere of NCIS: Los Angeles to see what happens to Callen and Hetty. Yeah, I know… first world problems!

–3–

We had our one-month appointment with the pediatric hematologist on Monday. They discovered the clot was gone a month ago and the peds hematologist wanted to see him one month after. Daniel is fine and clot-free so the doctor told us that he was releasing us from his clinic — something that he doesn’t get to tell many of his patients because he gets the kids with leukemia and blood disorders. Still, it’s one less doctor.

–4–

The nurse practitioner who examined Daniel before the peds hematologist saw him confirmed that he did indeed have a stomach virus. He had a temperature of 37.9C (99.9F), was throwing up, and had diarrhea. It took him twice as long to trash the exam room as it normally does (and trash it he did — the doctor and his nurses were suitably impressed).

–5–

We have a gray tabby teenaged cat that seems to think our yard is their private clubhouse. I have no problem with this and leave water out for them as well as any other feline visitors that stop by. I don’t know whether this particular felix is a boy or girl so I call it “Tobias”. (If it would turn out to be a girl, I’d re-brand it “Tabitha”.) I’m sure there are some who would frown at us taking care of feral/neighborhood cats but it seems like something Jesus would have us do.

–6–

Speaking of which, the neighborhood cats (or at least those from across the street) seem to congregate on the wheelchair ramp of the church in the mornings. I need to get a picture of the “kitty coffee klatch” one of these days — it’s quite cute. My monsters haven’t learned this yet — there would be intense sentry duty happening if they had!

–7–

I’m starting my prep for my NaNoWriMo story this year. I don’t think it’s going to be a murder mystery this year because I’m not mortally pissed with anyone at the moment. (NaNoWriMo is a great therapy when parishioners are irritating me.) I’ve been reading a lot of chick lit/fiction stuff like Jan Karon and Gail Fraser lately so I’m probably going to go with that. I haven’t decided whether or not I want to set it in Montana or northern California yet — northern California would make some plotlines easier but it would make eventually publishing it harder because people would know the town on which I would supposedly be basing it. I have six weeks to decide before NaNoWriMo starts so I guess I have some time to figure this out.

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

7 Quick Takes — Things to Do Instead of Watching Endless Hours of TV on 9/11

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7 Quick Takes

Sunday is the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and that fact hasn’t escaped me. I’m sure there will be televised memorials and lots of footage of the towers falling. Thing is… we know it happened. I have memories of that day and of the prayer meeting that happened when the entire seminary crowded into Schenk Chapel at noon as well as the prayer meetings in the coming days. I also memories of sheer terror when it came to board a plane to fly home at Christmas and having to take some Xanax to even make it through security. I’m not going to deny that all of us were changed by it in some way; but I have a problem with those in the media and elsewhere who want us to stay mad about it instead moving on with our collective lives.

My Quick Takes this week are all about things to do instead of dwelling on what happened ten years ago.

–1–

Go to church. The Gospel lesson that day according to the Revised Common Lectionary is Matthew 18:21-35 which is about forgiveness. The alternate Old Testament lesson? Joseph forgiving his brothers. I think that the message here is that we’re preaching forgiveness and moving on this Sunday.

–2–

Do a service project. This is actually what President Obama has called for us to do. Why not re-author the meaning of the day by making it a day of service to others? Collect food for a food pantry. (They’re getting more clients and getting desperate.) Clear some nature trails. Hold a blood drive. Plant a tree. Put together care packages for soldiers. Do SOMETHING to help someone else.

–3–

Go to the movies. I’m the last person in the world to know what’s playing this weekend but there’s probably something good? I went on Yahoo Movies and it looks like The Help is kicking butt and taking names. (I couldn’t get into the book but I’ve heard good things about the movie.) On the coming soon page, it says that Contagion and Warrior are coming out. If you’re into thrillers and mixed martial arts, go see those.

–4–

Have a picnic. Even if you live in a concrete jungle, there has to be someplace you can go and picnic. Trader Joe’s has some good recipes. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, check out Whole Foods. If you don’t have either one, go to your local grocery store deli and get sandwiches or something.

–5–

Go to IKEA. This sounds cheesy but it’s kind of a fun experience. They have great food and if nothing else, you can walk through a bunch of showrooms and explore.

–6–

Read a book. I’m almost all the way through the Lumby books. I also recommend anything by Jan Karon, Charlene Ann Baumbich, Phillip Gulley, or Joan Medlicott. All of them write about small town USA and the ideals that a lot of people have about what the heart of America is.

–7–

Go to the zoo. If you have a zoo nearby, go on Sunday. If you happen to go to the Bronx Zoo, M.I.A. the Bronx Zoo’s escaping cobra is claiming that you can get in half price if you bring a glass cutter.

Again, I’m not advocating the idea of forgetting what happened. I just feel that it’s more productive to do things other than giving into our sensationalized media.

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

7 Quick Takes — On the Road Again

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7 Quick Takes

–1–

This is our first serious “travel” time since my sister-in-law’s wedding in April. We had a church thing in Lebec and my father-in-law’s 60th birthday celebration is this Saturday. This means… ROAD TRIP!

–2–

We had an uneventful drive down to Lebec. It’s south of Bakersfield on I-5 and about 5 hours from where we live in northern California. I got two books read: All the Pretty Little Hearses by Mary Daheim and Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser. I find that having reading material (if I’m not driving) makes the trip go faster (a good thing because I hate road trips).

–3–

Our hotel room in Lebec was awesome. We were staying at the Holiday Inn Express and had a beautiful and spacious room with a decently-sized bathroom. Considering that Daniel and I spent most of our time in there, this was definitely a good thing. Daniel loved all the drawers and having a mini-fridge to play with. He also had long corridors where he could crawl or practice walking.

–4–

Three hours of NCIS on Tuesday night = a happy Jen. Finding a marathon of NCIS on USA yesterday = ecstasy. It’s probably good that we don’t have cable at home — I think I’d be permanently attached to the recliner.

–5–

Daniel will soon have an REI wishlist for climbing things. We found out that he could climb out of his crib twice last night — once onto the desk where he was trying to have a conversation with the front desk (or ordering room service on the phone) and then onto the TV table where he was blocking the TV. His crib got moved in such a way that there was no surfaces for 5 feet in any direction.

–6–

We had an easy time driving down to Claremont. It’s strange coming back down here after living down here for a year and then moving. it’s surreal. Thankfully, we avoided rush hour getting there. I made it through most of a book and am wondering how it ends.

–7–

I’m hoping for a good party on Sunday. I’ve offered my services to my mother-in-law to take her to Trader Joe’s. My father-in-law was doing OK when we got there today and got to hang with Daniel. It should be a great gathering on Saturday though it’s going to be a long drive back that night. I need to invest in a flashlight or something so I can read on the way back.

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

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 22, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… sunny and I think in the high 80’s.

I am thinking… about the phone calls I need to make once my “boys” wake up from their naps.

I am thankful… that I got Daniel to sleep by rubbing his legs and tummy. (There are times when little bears just need a tummy rub from Mommy.)

In the kitchen… cookies on Wednesday.

I am wearing… black Arabic t-shirt and black shorts.

I am creating… this entry and plotting a few others.

I am going… nowhere any time today if I can help it.

I am wondering… who will win the POV on Wednesday on Big Brother and if I’ll get to watch it.

I am reading… A Blue and Grey Christmas by Joan Medlicott.

I am hoping… I get some naptime as well.

I am looking forward to… sleeping in and my massage on Friday.

I am hearing… Edda mewing at me because she wants my lap.

Around the house… laundry today.

One of my favorite things… a quiet house.

A few plans for the rest of the week… speech tomorrow, PT and cookies on Wednesday, Daniel’s opthamology appointment and farmer’s market on Thursday, massage on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… The sign by our door.

The sign by our door.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 15, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 15, 2011

Outside my window… clear and in the low 90’s.

I am thinking… that time cannot pass quickly enough until I see my massage therapist to work on the crud in my right leg.

I am thankful… that Dani is HOH this week on Big Brother though I wish it was Rachel and Brendon up on the block this week. Rachel needs to go… NOW!!!!!

From the learning rooms… no Arabic for me. Daniel is still working on walking and doing speech stuff.

In the kitchen… no clue.

I am wearing… my “We Will Not Be Silent” shirt and black shorts.

I am creating… just this entry.

I am going… to see my massage therapist in 45 minutes. After that, grocery shopping.

I am wondering… what exactly I did to cause the pain in my right leg.

I am reading… the latest Joan Medlicott books. Just finished Promises of Change and will start the Civil War one next.

I am hoping… Daniel goes to sleep this time. (It’s the third try at getting him for a nap. He fell asleep in my lap earlier and we had to cancel his Child Development appointment as a result. When I put him in his crib, he woke up again.)

I am looking forward to… the quiet time I get after Daniel goes to bed.

I am hearing… Jon listening to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.

Around the house… *shudders*

One of my favorite things… black cat cuddles in the mornings.

A few plans for the rest of the week… speech on Tuesday, physical therapy on Wednesday, Jon’s birthday on Thursday, Jon being in L.A. on Friday, and hopefully me getting to sleep in on Saturday.

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