Category Archives: Gold Country Life

A Complete Lack of Parenting

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Next door to Metanoia, there are a bunch of housing units and the kids of the families use the church parking lot as a playground. It’s not an issue… except that there are some 9-11 year olds who have decided to use the church walkways as their own personal skate parks. I happened to be at church a few of the times they were doing it and I called them on it… which resulted in one of the boys using some really foul language toward me. I got my revenge when they were having a party and I followed the boy home and dared him to tell his parents the things he had said to me. Needless to say, he was not too happy.

Well… our next door neighbor came over today and asked if something was going on at the church. We replied that there wasn’t and she dropped the bombshell that there were several kids on the roof. Yes… THE ROOF. Jon went over there and lectured them because none of them would admit to it. Holy insurance nightmare, Batman! All we need is one of the punks to fall off and we’ll have a lawsuit on our hands even though we didn’t tell the boys to be on the roof and they weren’t supposed to be there in the first place.

I’m sure the parents are working multiple jobs to get by and all that but I’m wondering if Metanoia shouldn’t send a letter to them telling them the boys’ behavior and telling the parents that they need to discipline their kids. Daniel would NEVER be allowed to get away with the stuff that these kids do but I have a feeling that the parents don’t really care. They’re probably so burned out by trying to make a living that they tell the kids to go play and don’t pay attention to them.

I’d love it if the police happened to be driving by and cited the kids with trespassing/loitering/whatever. I think it would get the message across a lot better.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 12, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 12, 2011

Outside my window… temperate. Maybe low 80’s.

I am thinking… that I hope I avoid Daniel’s bug.

I am thankful… that I was able to swerve and avoid the elderly woman who decided to cut in front of me and stop to re-apply her lipstick on I-680 on Saturday. (I kid you not. It scared the living daylights out of me. I was just lucky that I had an empty lane next to me.) Also thankful that Daniel never has to see his pediatric hematologist again EVER!

In the kitchen… probably ramen for me tonight. Jon has Men’s Night Out and Daniel has his stomach bug and fever.

I am wearing… grey shirt and navy running shorts.

I am creating… characters/plot/setting for my NaNoWriMo piece.

I am going… nowhere tomorrow morning — I cancelled Daniel’s therapies until his fever breaks and his stomach bug passes.

I am reading… The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs as I’ve already finished all the Lumby books and I have nothing else ready for me at the library. And seriously… what is up with Amazon.Com‘s new design?!?!?!?!?

I am hoping… laundry is done soon.

I am looking forward to… my massage on Friday.

I am hearing… Daniel babbling and “Winnie the Pooh” playing on the DVD player.

Around the house… clean thanks to Jon this weekend.

One of my favorite things… ranch chicken sandwiches from McDonalds (with the chicken GRILLED).

A few plans for the rest of the week… possibly OT on Thursday if Daniel is better and my massage on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…Daniel while playing pattycake with my mom.

Daniel while playing pattycake with my mom.

Hosted by The Simple Woman’s Daybook

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.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 5, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 5, 2011

Outside my window… warm and in the upper 80’s.

I am thinking…that this quiet is really nice. (Daniel is asleep on the floor by the couch.)

I am thankful… that I got to sleep in this morning.

In the kitchen… no idea for food for dinner tonight though Jon is BBQing up a storm for himself.

I am wearing… blue maternity shirt (so comfy) and khaki shorts

I am going… Sacramento tomorrow for speech therapy and Daniel’s neuro appointment and San Jose on Thursday.

I am reading… the Lumby books by Gail Fraser.

I am hoping… Daniel naps a little longer.

I am looking forward to… being with my parents this weekend. Also looking forward to Ladies’ Night Out.

I am hearing… Jon typing in the kitchen.

Around the house… clean thanks to us deep-cleaning it before we left last week.

One of my favorite things… being home after a week away.

A few plans for the rest of the week… Daniel’s therapies this week, his neuro appointment tomorrow, Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, and being with my family in San Jose from Thursday to Saturday.

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The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 8, 2011

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 8, 2011

Outside my window… dark of night. It was an OK day though in terms of heat.

I am thinking… that it’s going to be hard to get up tomorrow for Daniel’s speech therapy. (It’s at 8:45 and it’s a 40 minute drive away.)

I am thankful… for the snuggle nap I got with Daniel today.

From the learning rooms… nothing new, I’m afraid.

In the kitchen… butter thawing in the fridge for cookies. (It had been in the church freezer.)

I am wearing… black t-shirt, black sweat capris, and a black scrunchie in my hair. Edda (my house panther) approves.

I am creating… entries for Michelle.

I am going… to Sacramento tomorrow with a probable stop at WinCo on the way home.

I am wondering… if we’re going to use up all the cookies from Wednesday at the farmer’s market on Thursday.

I am reading… the Dearest Dorothy books by Charlene Ann Baumbich, a long-ago friend of this blog.

I am hoping… Daniel’s clot is gone. The ultrasound tech didn’t see it on the Doppler this afternoon so I’m cautiously optimistic.

I am looking forward to… baking with two of my favorite people on Wednesday.

I am hearing… Jon reading to Daniel and He Man and the Masters of the Universe on TV.

Around the house… chaos — trying not to think about this.

I am pondering… various and assorted things.

One of my favorite things…Trader Joe’s Iced Tea Lemonade.

A few plans for the rest of the week… speech therapy tomorrow, physical therapy tomorrow or Wednesday, farmer’s market on Thursday, and possibly the Train Museum on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Daniel with his “laptop”. He’s addicted to ours so my mom got him his own.

Daniel and his

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7 Quick Takes — House Panther Edition

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7 Quick Takes

I’m actually getting on my Quick Takes early this week — it’s only 9:45. 🙂 I also have a house panther at my feet. (She is a love.)

–1–

I am so happy that Brendon went home on Big Brother. I only wish it had been Rachel. I’m sure both of them are lovely in real life but Rachel comes off as a she-witch on the show and Brendon comes off as incredibly arrogant. Rachel was just nasty during the HOH competition and I’m hoping Kalia (who won the HOH competition) puts her up on the chopping block next week.

–2–

I was in the ugliest doctor’s office on the planet today. Daniel had a weird result on one of his thyroid hormones so his neurologist sent us to a pediatric endocrinologist. A lot of pediatric offices have themes and this one was basically a flower garden… except with pastel pink 70’s IKEA chairs, horrendous fluorescent lighting, three ugly flowers with over-sized stalks on one wall, and hot pink formica cabinets in the receptionists’ area. I should have taken pictures because words just cannot communicate how ugly this was. The exam room was somewhat better and the nurse told Daniel to go wild. I almost hugged her. The doctor was lovely and agrees that the result was probably a fluke. He did, however, order the tests drawn again because it had been 3 months. If the tests come back OK, we’ll just assume it was a fluke. If they come back weird again, we’ll go from there.

–3–

I apparently live in a cartoon world. I heard on the news last night that a cake with a shank was found in a Sacramento jail. Seriously… a cake with a file? I knew my life was Looney Tunes but something like this takes the cake! (No pun intended.)

–4–

I’m still trying to get the podcast going. I don’t have a lot of spare time except for the time after Daniel goes to sleep. I need to come up with some show notes and plans for at least 10 episodes.

–5–

I have a massage scheduled tomorrow afternoon. I’m seriously looking forward to this. It’s helping with the fibromyalgia and also lowering my stress level a bit. My masseuse is a former church member (before my time) and she’s an amazing believer.

–6–

I love my Trader Joe’s because they love up Daniel. Trader Joe’s is a great store to begin with and a company that I could totally work for (and have applied in the past to do so). The Trader Joe’s in Elk Grove, however, is just special. I’m in the store at least once or twice a week so staff knows us and they will go out of their way to talk to Daniel and interact with him. The guy helping us out to the car today was making car noises as he pushed Daniel in the shopping cart. it was so cute. Other ones will stop on their way to the back room and have conversations with Daniel. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t respond back — they do it anyway. It warms my heart that they treat him like a person of worth because not everybody does.

–7–

Ladies’ Night Out was awesome this week. Metanoia Lutheran Church does Men’s Night Out and Ladies’ Night Out during the first week of the month and it’s been an amazing gathering. The women usually have twice the number of participants that the men do and we all go out to a restaurant in the community. Last night, we went to a pizzeria and had great food and great conversation. One person “hosts” by picking out the place and doing the devotion. The host for this month asked me to do the devotion so I did this one. It’s an opportunity to have bonding time with my ladies and it’s an evening where I’m not responsible for Daniel. (It means that Jon gets some bonding time with him.) I’m not a WELCA/Ladies’ Aid kind of girl so this lets me be involved in things without a lot of pressure. Our conversations can be educational — I’ve taught them some things and they’ve been great about helping me problem-solve things with Daniel.

For more Quick Takes, head on over to ConversionDiary.Com.

7 Quick Takes — More Late Night Randomness

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7 Quick Takes

It’s 11:30 and I’m online again on a Thursday night. Not a good thing for sleep, I guess. Here are my seven random thoughts.

01.) Rachel on Big Brother needs to be eliminated… NOW. With Dani as HOH, it might conceivably happen?

02.) What is up with drivers cutting across 3 lanes of traffic without signalling? Seriously… somebody is going to get hurt one of these days… especially at the 580/680 interchange when there’s a line backed up and it’s impossible to get in or out.

03.) I’m down in San Jose with my parents. It was supposed to be in the triple digits this weekend up in Sac (which they’ve now amended to 95F) and it’s at least 10-15 degrees cooler down here.

04.) I’m hoping Daniel sleeps in tomorrow. It would cause much joy in my life. I’d also be a nicer person.

05.) I’m trying to find time to record the first episode of my podcast. It’s going to be about faith, life, and raising a child with developmental delays. Details will come later.

06.) I forgot my sister-in-law’s birthday. Bad Jen! No cookie! Actually, one of them had a birthday last weekend and one has a birthday on Monday.

07.) I’m re-reading the Dearest Dorothy books. If you haven’t read them and are looking for Christian chick lit, I *HIGHLY* recommend them. The author, Charlene Ann Baumbich, also has stopped by my blog and left comments so she seriously rocks.

(For more quick takes, go see Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.)