Category Archives: Silicon Valley Girl

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: May 8, 2016

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For Today… May 8, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was cloudy for most of the day and Lick Observatory was quite socked in with fog when we went up there in the afternoon. It got sunny in the late afternoon though.

I am thinking… about grade inflation in the homeschool world and misreporting of class values in portfolios for college. Long story, trust me.

I am thankful… for the chance to see the big telescope at Lick Observatory and for the volunteer who let us walk around on the platform while he was talking. Keith, you rock!

One of my favorite things… a quiet evening after a busy day.

I am wearing… jammies. (It’s 8:45 p.m.) Church clothes were a black decorative top, black pants, black flats, and my burgundy choir robe. After-church clothes were a charcoal fitted tee from Old Navy and black capris from Kohl’s with my running shoes.

I am creating my temperature afghan. I’m about two months behind but I might be able to get a little caught up this week, depending on how long a couple tasks take me and if I can get them done at the beginning of the week.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I might be able to finish this week if I read during lunch instead of being on my laptop.

I am hoping… to get a lot of my errands done in the first part of the week.

I am learning… to ask for help and not act like everything in the next month is completely for me to do.

In my kitchen… Dad made the usual Sunday fare for us for Mother’s Day — steak, tater tots, and caesar salad. It was what Mom and I both chose as it was our day.

In the school room… I’m working on fine motor tasks with Daniel to strengthen his hands and help him maintain his tripod grip while writing without special grips on the pencil.

Post Script… This is an interesting piece on missions and why you shouldn’t build a house on your next mission trip.

Shared Quote…

This week's quote found on Facebook.

A moment from my day… A picture from my first Mother’s Day in 2009.

Hard to believe this kid is now only a foot shorter than I am!

Closing Notes: May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Learn more here.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Day Book: May 2, 2016

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**NOTE** I did one yesterday and then found that the prompts had changed a bit when I went to link up. I’ve got some spare time this morning so I’m redoing it for today. Also, for anyone that needs the new prompts and wants some code for them to insert into an entry, click here and copy/paste into a text editor so that you can create a text file (*.txt file) with them for use every week.

For Today… May 2, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and clear. I think it is supposed to be in the 80’s.

I am thinking… about the things that are supposed to be happening this week. I apologize for vague-blogging but I can’t talk about the upheaval in my life until things are more set in stone. (It’s nothing bad — just a lot of uncertainty.)

I am thankful… for the day trips with my parents and Daniel this weekend. We went to Henry Cowell Redwoods on Saturday and the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Sunday.

One of my favorite things… café vanilla frappucinos at Starbucks. I’m also a fan of functional Internet and functional plumbing but that’s another story for another day!

I am wearing… charcoal fitted shirt from Old Navy and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am creating my temperature afghan. I’m 2 months behind now but I will eventually get caught up.

I am listening to… the Reply All podcast which was recommended to me by a couple friends. This episode involves an email malfunction that tangents into stories of survival in a Chinese concentration camp during World War II. The story that the woman tells is told in a very cheerful and matter of fact way that seems to be somewhat common among survivors of concentration camps in Europe and Indonesia that I’ve met. (If you have a sizeable Jewish population, you probably have someone of that generation who survived and emigrated from Europe afterwards, so I remember hearing probably 5-10 of them speaking to us in middle school and high school. The one I know who was in the Indonesian one was one of my seminary professors.)

I am hoping… my fibromyalgia medication snafu gets resolved soon. (My PA is being a jerk about refilling my meds and is referring me to a rheumatologist. After he mansplained fibromyalgia to me on Thursday, I may or may not have ripped his head off and got a ONE TIME LAST REFILL because I managed to make logical sense. Of course, he cut my dose in half but half a dose is better than no dose.)

I am learning… to just shake things off. It helped me when I came out of the house this morning and found a flat tire. I rolled my eyes, went back in the house to drop my stuff off, and got ready to change it on my own. My mom saw this and replied, “Just call AAA. It’s why we have them.” OK. They had someone out to change it in 15 minutes and while I missed my meeting this morning, it wasn’t an essential one and we were able to just check in by phone.

In my kitchen… no clue on dinner tonight. Dad did the normal Sunday fare of steak, tater tots, and Caesar salad last night and all the adults ate outside by lantern light. Fun fun fun.

In the school room… I have an IEP amendment meeting for Daniel on Thursday afternoon to go over occupational therapy goals.

Post Script… for all who read the selfish essay on “meternity leave” from the NY Post, there are some good rebuttals and satires here, here (tw: language), and here (tw: mention of body parts). I think the last one is the best one of all.

Shared Quote… I think I’ll share my Facebook commentary on the above foolishness!

“Is of the opinion that she can have a “meternity” leave for self-discovery and growth if she is willing to gain 50+ lbs over a 7-month period, have emergency surgery requiring at least a 8 week recovery (from which she returns 2.5 weeks early for financial reasons), deal with scar tissue adhesions on her abdomen every time she moves, and then give up regular sleep for a year following it.”

Because, you know, it’s not like that all happened to me or anything…

A moment from my day… Here’s a picture of my very silly and ticklish boy and me at the Monterey Bay Aquarium yesterday.

My silly boy and me at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Closing Notes: Someone shared this story on the winners of the Biggest Loser and their weight gain battles in one of my Facebook groups and it makes SO. MUCH. SENSE.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXIII)

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#5Faves

One

Coptic Holy Week music. Laura, the amazing tasoni and blogger at Coptic Dad and Mom, has put together a YouTube channel of Coptic Holy Week music so that the Coptic readers of her blog can teach their kids (and themselves in some cases) the songs that they’ll be singing in church next week which is their Holy Week. The tonality is different from what many of us are used to in the West but it is beautiful.

Two

This video from Spode. Spode is a British pottery and housewares company and one of their designs, Blue Italian, turns 200 years old this year. They company produced this video which shows the making of each piece.

Kind of a cool story: my great-great-aunt had a set of pink Spode that got passed down to a couple of the women in my mom’s generation. The set was actually the second set she had ordered (and it was service for 24!) because the first set was on a ship sailing from England to America that was sunk by a German u-boat during World War II.

Three

Naps. I have a small child who is not sleeping well so I had to take one today. It was glorious.

Four

Prescription sunglasses. I’m on my second pair. Given how migraine-prone I am, it’s money well-spent.

Five

Air-conditioning. It’s been in the 80’s here. If it’s this hot now, I’m dreading this summer. #climatechangeisreal

Go love up Ashley and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 17, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 17, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was 90F today. So *NOT* a fan!

I am thinking… about what the week of April 24-30 holds for us.

I am thankful… that Jon’s visit last week went so well.

In the kitchen… steak, fries, and caesar salad. Yum.

I am wearing… jammies (my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capri sweats) but I wore a dress from Kohl’s for church today and then a fitted tee from Old Navy and running shorts from Target afterwards.

I am going… to have to drive Daniel to school all this week. Mother-son bonding time!

I am wondering… what the next couple months hold for me. (Yes, I’m vague-blogging. Once I’m allowed to talk about the details, I’ll make all of this clear.)

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I have a bunch of books from the library as well.

I am hearing… Long Lost Family, a show on TLC. I may or not be getting really teary.

A Daniel story for today… Kiddo was so adorable when meeting people at church today when Mom met me there with him.

A favorite quote for today…

I didn't know I was drowning...

One of my favorite things… Chunky Monkey almond milk ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s.

A few plans for the rest of the week: collateral services meeting with Clementine, psych appointment for Daniel on Thursday, morning prayer and Bible study on Thursday morning after the psych appointment, and whatever else comes up.

Post Script…

My college classmate Ian passed away this morning from acute myeloid leukemia.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant, Ian. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

Please pray for his widow Christy and their daughters Asha and Fiona as they adjust to the new normal in their life without Ian.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXII)

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#5Faves

One

Caramel frappucinos. It’s been a bit of a crazy week and this was breakfast for me this morning as I fought traffic on my way to my psychiatrist appointment. It made a hectic morning a bit better.

Two

The $tarbux mobile app. It lets me put my order in at the nearest $tarbux and pay on my phone so that all I have to do is walk in and pick it up without having to wait in the drive-thru or stand in any line. This is a godsend when I am in a hurry as I have been the last few mornings.

Three

My psychiatrist. She found a justification for prescribing me my migraine preventative. It’s actually a psychiatric medication used off-label for migraines so she’s claiming it as something to help with my depression. Given that I’ve been on it for 6.5 years without a problem with it interacting with my normal anti-depressant, I’ll take it.

Four

World’s Largest Virtual Hallelujah Chorus. Michelle of Scenes from the Wild shared this and I am so jealous of everyone who got to participate! My mom and I used to do the You-Sing-It Messiah sponsored by the San Jose Symphonic Choir when I was in high school and college. Since then, I’ve performed the Christmas section a few times or have been a rent-a-soprano or rent-an-alto when choir directors I know have done choruses from Handel’s Messiah.

Five

Simcha’s article on daily prayer. The only thing I would add to Simcha’s article on daily prayer is saying Compline while putting your kiddos to bed.

Go love up Ashley and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 10, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 10, 2016

Outside my window… dark. It was grey with intermittent rain showers today. Despite being out of my migraine preventative (and having a doctor who refuses to prescribe it), I’m loving the weather.

I am thinking… about this week and the chaos it will bring.

I am thankful… that Daniel was in a cuddly mood today and decided to take a nap so I could have one as well.

In the kitchen… leftovers tomorrow.

I am wearing… my Run for the Little Flowers shirt and black capri sweats.

I am going… to pray for a somewhat quiet week for Daniel’s Spring Break even though I know I’m totally out of luck on that one!

I am wondering… how Tuesday will go.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. I also have a ton of books checked out of the library as well.

I am hoping… for calmness in my day tomorrow… even though I know that it’s NOT going to happen.

I am looking forward to… all the home repairs and improvements being done!

I am hearing… “Annua Gaudia” by The Rose Ensemble.

A Daniel story for today… he kept asking for “shower” and we kept telling him that it was too early for his shower. When he took his nap this afternoon, Mom and I finally figured out why he was asking — his shower always comes before he goes to sleep at night so he thought he ought to have one before his nap!

Around the house… repairs/renovations/ordered chaos.

A favorite quote for today… “I need a God who is bigger and more nimble and mysterious than what I could understand and contrive. Otherwise it can feel like I am worshipping nothing more than my own ability to understand the divine.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber in Pastorix

One of my favorite things… music. It enriches my life.

A few plans for the rest of the week: collateral services meeting with Clementine tomorrow, blood work for the kid on Tuesday morning (it has to be fasting blood work too which will be a new level of hell for all of us), psych appointment on Wednesday, Jon visiting from Wednesday to Friday, morning prayer/Bible study on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… This song seems to describe my mindset at the moment.

Post Script… If y’all can pray for a special intention for me this month, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: April 4, 2016

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY April 4, 2016

Outside my window… sunny. It was in the 70’s today and apparently is supposed to hit 90F on Wednesday.

I am thinking… about all I have to get done tomorrow housework-wise.

I am thankful… my friend Liz who entered the Carmelites today.

In the kitchen… I’m smelling my mom’s salmon and broccoli.

I am wearing… charcoal shirt from Old Navy and jeans from Kohl’s.

I am going… down to Gilroy tomorrow for a doctor’s appointment. I’m hoping my bloodwork isn’t too bad…

I am wondering… how the my parents’ meeting on Wednesday will go.

I am reading… Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber if I remember to put my e-reader back in my purse.

I am hoping… some of the books I requested come into the library soon…

I am looking forward to… Morning Prayer and Bible study starting back up this week.

I am hearing… a fan. It’s kind of hot in here. We’re trying to figure out how to break it to Daniel that “warm spot” is not an option tonight.

A Daniel story for today… little boy was having lower G-I issues yesterday so we kept him home today. When the alarm went off for us to get up to go to my meeting this morning, kiddo was fast asleep and was very drowsy until we left! He was so adorable.

Around the house… oiling the wood on the doors and cleaning before the meeting on Wednesday. Fun fun fun.

One of my favorite things… air-conditioning. I’m wishing we had it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: cleaning, my doctor’s appointment tomorrow, knitting/crocheting group tomorrow, Morning Prayer/Bible study/choir on Thursday, and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… flowers in the garden.

Flowers from my mother's garden.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.