Category Archives: Daniel

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 1, 2017

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For Today… January 1, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. I don’t think it’s snowing right now — it’s just down in the low 20’s.

I am thinking… about how to get all of my school errands done on Tuesday in addition to everything else on my plate. I have to buy books and get another parking pass.

I am thankful… that Daniel goes back to school on Tuesday morning. Kiddo has cabin fever.

One of my favorite things… quiet time in a dark room. Daniel just woke up so my chances of that for the rest of the night are shot.

I am wearing… jammies. Clothes today for church and the rest of the time were a charcoal grey/white speckled shirt, jeans, and my black boots. I usually dress up for church but we had enough new snow and the prospect of crappy roads so I decided to keep it simple.

I am creating… socks for my mom.

I am reading… The Abbey by James Martin, S.J.

I am hoping… using my phone as an e-reader ends up being helpful for me. (My NOOK died tonight.)

I am learning… how to drive in snow again.

In my kitchen… mom made pork chops, risotto, and salad for dinner tonight. Dessert was a Grand Marnier bundt cake.

In the school room… Daniel goes back to school on Tuesday and I start back on Wednesday.

Shared Quote… “Books are like mirrors: if a fool looks in, you cannot expect a genius to look out.” — J.K. Rowling

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Highlights of 2016

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It has admittedly been a tough year for me in my personal life and in the life of our country but I thought I’d end this year with my highlights.

[+] The Warriors had the best record in the NBA and made it to the NBA Championships AGAIN!!!

[+] CLEVELAND LOST THE WORLD SERIES!!! (For those who aren’t aware, hating on Ohio sports teams is one of my core values after living in central Ohio for 2 1/2 years and dealing with Ohio sports fans hating on my teams.) My Warriors have been avenged!!!

[+] The Cubs had one of the biggest gatherings in human history for their victory parade. Not to mention, the Cubs winning the Series is so much of a BETTER ending than it would be if Cleveland had won because the Cubs have had the longer drought and were a much better team.

[+] I achieved one of my dreams of living in Washington when I moved up here in June 2016.

[+] Hillary Clinton was the first female to win the nomination of a major political party and won the popular vote.

[+] I was able to go back to school this fall, discovered a deep love of Accounting, and had a 4.0 for my first quarter!

[+] My Huskies made it to the semi-final game against Alabama!

[+] My Giants made it to the play-offs.

[+] THE DODGERS SUCKED IN THE NLCS!!!!

[+] MY NINERS HAVE A BETTER RECORD THAN THE CLEVELAND BROWNS! (Granted, they have the second worst record in the NFL but at least they’re better than the Browns.)

[+] I rocked the Write 31 Days challenge!

[+] I got a Fitbit (finally!!!!) and won a few challenges.

[+] I got to introduce my little beach boy to snow!

[+] I discovered that my school district here in Washington had a YUGE team ready to work with Daniel when we arrived. TWELVE PEOPLE were at the IEP meeting SPECIFICALLY for Daniel. His PT and OT were at his parent-teacher conference and are positively smitten with my little monster. 🙂

[+] I joined a FABULOUS parish up here. I’m seriously still being sustained by the joy from the Christ Mass on Christmas Eve night.

[+] Daniel WILLINGLY takes his ADHD meds without us having to restrain him. He just asked for peanut butter and meds. 🙂 (Granted, he asked for M&M’s two seconds after getting his meds but I’ll allow that.)

I’m looking forward to a FABULOUS 2017!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 25, 2016

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For Today… December 25, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. We still have some of the snow we got on Friday.

I am thinking… about the coming week and what we’ll be doing with Daniel at home.

I am thankful… for an amazing Christmas Eve Eucharist last night. I definitely arrived home filled with joy at the birth of Christ.

One of my favorite things… NCIS reruns.

I am wearing… jammies. Clothes for today were a long-sleeved black shirt from Lands’ End and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am creating… some socks for my mom.

I am watching… an NCIS rerun where Gibbs returns to his hometown for the first time since he left to join the Marines. I heart Gibbs and Abby.

I am hoping… the pharmacy is open tomorrow so I can get my Effexor refilled.

I am learning… that Patons Kroy Socks Yarn is a pain to unravel.

In my kitchen… shrimp pasta, salad, garlic bread, a homemade gingerbread stout cake, and maple ice cream.

In the school room… Daniel is off until the 3rd.

Post Script… this piece on defeating terrorists with religious extremism is amazing.

Shared Quote… “The movement in our relationship to God is always from God to us. Always. We can’t, through our piety or goodness, move closer to God. God is always coming near to us. Most especially in the Eucharist and in the stranger.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber in Pastorix

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 18, 2016

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For Today… December 18, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. The wind is howling and it’s in the 30’s. We’ve still got some snow on the ground and we’re hoping that the rain doesn’t freeze and turn to ice as that would make driving even more treacherous.

I am thinking… one of my church kids from Montana who is in a position of having to wait to have her baby because of ITP and platelet issues. I may or may not be in overprotective big sister mode.

I am thankful… for my church choir. Our director/organist couldn’t make it this morning due to the roads being bad so we ended up leading the service and singing everything (including our anthem) acapella. Every member of the choir could be the main soloist in a regular church choir and to have ten such people in the same choir means that we can do some pretty amazing things.

One of my favorite things… episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a burgundy shirt, black slacks, and my black boots because of the snow. After church, I switched out the black slacks with jeans.

I am creating… nothing at the moment.

I am listening to… the rain on the windows and the wind outside.

I am hoping… the roads are better tomorrow. I have errands to do and I’d prefer to not be slipping and sliding on the road.

I am learning… my limits.

In my kitchen… scavenging for dinner. We had a gathering for my cousin Sarah on Friday so we decided to just do our own thing for dinner tonight. In my case, it was mac n’ cheese.

Me with Sarah.

In the school room… my kiddo is on break for two weeks.

Post Script… apparently, there is a problem with moose licking salt off of cars in Alberta’s parks.

Shared Quote… “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.” — C.S. Lewis

A moment from my day…

My beach boy frolicking in the snow.
FIguring out mittens.
Parka selfie!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 12, 2016

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For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… snowing. I’m loving it after 6 years of living in a place without four distinct seasons.

I am thinking… about my appointment tomorrow to get an estimate on my car bumper.

I am thankful… for my boots arriving from L.L. Bean on Friday during the first snowfall that stuck.

One of my favorite things… oatmeal cookies from $tarbux warmed up.

I am wearing… a long-sleeved black shirt, jeans, white Christmas cat socks, and my black boots.

I am creating… nothing right now except this blog post.

I am watching… TBBT re-runs.

I am hoping… they can fix my bumper without me being carless over the weekend.

In my kitchen… Mom made a pot roast last night for Sunday dinner.

In the school room… we just got a progress report on Daniel and he is doing well.

Post Script… my tasoni sister Laura wrote this beautiful piece regarding the bombing at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. For those who don’t understand how big of a deal this is, imagine someone lobbing a bomb into the Vatican during Mass.

Shared Quote… “Forgiveness ensures our hearts are not entangled in a web of angry resentment or corrupted by hateful revenge; it liberates and empowers.” — Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church

A moment from my day… I love my “inferior Anglican Christmas hymns”.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 11, 2016

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For Today… December 11, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. Weather.Com is saying that it’s 29F here and that snow might be starting soon. I’m kind of excited but wishing that my boots would arrive from L.L. Bean because all I have are my running shoes.

I am thinking… about my Access assessment that I finished last night. After I’m done with this, I’ll proof it and then submit it.

I am thankful… for my shopping trip to Old Navy today. I got some new long-sleeved shirts that should help keep me warm and are in seasonal colors.

One of my favorite things… the Sanctimommy Said What group on Facebook.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were the blue-green fitted tee from Old Navy/black slacks from Kohl’s/black cardi from Kohl’s that I recycled from last night’s Messiah singalong with the Skagit Symphony Chorus.

I am creating… a prayer shawl and some socks for my mommy.

I am listening to… the Classical Holiday channel from DISH Network.

I am hoping… to get a perfect score on my Practical Accounting final tomorrow.  I’ve gotten 98’s on the last three tests and it’s killing me not to get a perfect score yet.  (Why yes… I *AM* Hermione!  How ever did you guess?)

I am learning… random Access things.

In my kitchen… pork fried rice from Haggen that seems to be missing the pork.  So NOT amused.

In the school room… Daniel has a new phrase: “dress for school”.

Post Script… a list of good Christmas carols, even if the versions she picks are occasionally sub-par.

Shared Quote… “Don’t make the same mistakes that everyone else makes. Make wonderful mistakes. Make the kind of mistakes that make people so shocked that they have no other choice but to be a little impressed.” — Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy

A moment from my day… a Wordle of our recessional hymn today.

Wordle of

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7 Quick Takes: Advent Is Here Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Advent Playlist. I put together an Advent playlist for those who are interested. Secular Christmas music makes me stabby so this is a nice change from all the tripe that’s playing in the malls right now. Props go to Bonnie of A Knotted Life and to my friend Thomas as I borrowed some of their ideas for mine.

— 2 —

Free Advent Reflection Book. My BFF Rebecca put this Advent reflection book together.

— 3 —

Advent game of sorts. On Sunday, our senior warden (translation: president of the “vestry” or congregation council) was handing out white mailing envelopes with a blue piece of paper attached signifying that it was “The Advent Game”. The instruction was to take a slip of paper out each day and read it with our families before doing the action indicated. (If it wasn’t something we particularly wanted to do, there were “extras” in the envelope so we could draw another one.) Each slip of paper has been something fun or thought-provoking. I’ve been asked to do things like write in a journal, go outside after dark and listen to the sounds of the night, say a prayer for a pregnant person if I see one, or ponder some interesting reflection questions.

— 4 —

An “interesting” arrangement of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. We’re working on this for next weekend in my church choir. It’s good to be able to listen to it on the JW Pepper website because it can sound kind of like music from a haunted house if not heard with all the parts together.

— 5 —

Christmas cards. I was hoping to get my Christmas cards out on the day after Thanksgiving but that obviously didn’t happen so I’m aiming to have a workday on Tuesday to get them ready to take to the post office. My plan: curl up at $tarbux after I get Daniel to school and watch YouTube videos while I try and get it all done.

— 6 —

Messiah Sing-a-Long on Saturday! Provided that Daniel isn’t being the pill he has been a few nights this week, I’ll be singing Handel’s Messiah with the Skagit Symphony Chorus. I used to sing it with the San Jose Symphonic Choir when I was in high school and college so I’m pretty excited!

— 7 —

End of the Quarter. I just have to submit my Access assessment and take my in-class test for Practical Accounting on Tuesday before I’ll be officially done with the quarter. It has been interesting thus far and I’m looking forward to continuing with accounting next quarter.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.