What's disgusting?

Union Busting!

I posted this idea on facebook, and the more I think about it, the more right it feels.

Going down to the protests are akin to what I guess folks who seek out those tent revivals in the south are doing.  It's like going to church.  I feel so full of hope when I'm there.  I see folks who share basically my belief system.  I don't agree with everything I see or hear, but generally, we all seem to be coming from the same place, working toward the same goal.  My spirit is lifted.  I have a renewal in faith of the human spirit.  I run into friends and family members, and there is such joy in hugging, chanting, singing together.  

I've never felt this spiritually in touch when in a church, but I get it here.  And it's good.  I feel the spirit in ways my friends/family who attend church regularly must.  

So, we plan to head back down there today. 

Last night, we had 3 of our favorite little friends spend the night.  We take the winter sleepover, and their parents take the summer sleepover.  This tradition just sort of started, what, 2 or 3 years ago?  I forget how or when exactly, but it's something we all look forward to.  The six kids don't see each other so much anymore now that they are school-aged (they live in a nearby town but different school district), but they all seem to enjoy each others' company.  It's a nice blend of ages and genders.

Bob and I are sorting through how we are going to accomplish today.  We are a bit worried about the 2 littlest, as the are little and a bit sick.  There's talk about dividing and concurring -- having one of us take the 2 little ones to the children's museum while the other marches up State Street with the big kids and the throngs.  I expect a bit of resistance from the kids to this plan.  Although they enjoy it when they are there, I won't lie.  There is some grumbling about going.  I am fully prepared to bribe. 

In other news (other news?  what's that?), I have a job interview with my old department next week.  You may remember I had a phone interview for a job a couple of weeks ago.  Turns out that job offered much lower pay than what I'm currently receiving, as well as no benefits.  Did I already tell you that?  No thanks, I said.  Now I have this interview lined up.  Unfortunately, it looks like it's only for a full time job, which is not what I want.  I'm hoping this will parlay somehow into a permanent gig at my current place.

Uh oh, the grumbling has started...

show me what democracy looks like

This is what democracy looks like!

Actually, this is an artsy little shot of the reflection of our beautiful state capitol.  

It is stunning, especially at night.

This is what democracy looks like!

Just got back a bit ago from a nighttime trip to the capitol with One.

He said, "I've never been to the capitol at night before."

I realized I hadn't either.

We not-so-seriously toyed around with the idea of sleeping there.

We found friends and hugged and laughed.

We listened to the Assembly debate.

This is what democracy looks like!

We found lots of great signs.

My favorite is above.

We listened to a choral group sing in one of the entry hallways.

It was music for angels.  

Simply glorious.

This is what democracy looks like!

We observed the folks meditating.

We found ourselves navigating around better and better.

We enjoyed the scene and felt hopeful.

We will return tomorrow.

briefly, or not, as it turns out...

Hi.

Great weekend up north with the girlfriends.  One of my all-time favorite people in the world is a part of the group, and the rest of them are quite fine also.  As predicted, there were lots of laughs, some euchre/dirty clubs playing, and even some fairly innocent shananigans in a bar or two.  We sat for hours, or so it seemed, in the outdoor hot tub Saturday morning.  We kept abreast of the unfolding events in Madison, as best we could.  We even had a good old fashioned snowstorm to drive through on the way home.  Perfect weekend.

I am reading Raising Happiness and the first section talks about the importance of filling your own gas tank first before you can fill your child's tank.  Is that the analogy?  Or maybe it's putting on your own oxygen mask first.  Either way, you gotta make yourself happy before you can make someone else happy.  Good stuff to think about.  I kind of lost sight of that in my early years of parenting, but I feel like I have a better balance of it all now.

Speaking of balance, I continue to be obsessed with the events at the state capitol in Madison.  (get my irony?  nothing balanced at all about my obsession.)  We went again yesterday afternoon to protest.  Wish I would have taken pictures of the piles of blankets and pillows neatly tucked away in corners of the capitol building, or pictures of the thousands of signs all over, showing support from Detroit, from San Francisco, from Baltimore.  (Baltimore, Mark!!!)

The crowd was down from days earlier, but still there were thousands of people there.  We sang "This land is your land" together.  We chanted "This is what democracy looks like" when a (small) group of Students for Walker came to talk.  The crowd began to boo, and then we chanted to give them a chance to talk.  Because?  That's what we're talking about.  Letting both sides get a chance to speak.  So, we respectfully listened to their side, and then went back to protesting.  It was a powerful moment and one I was proud to share with my sons.

Ian's Pizza, a nearby great, local pizza joint, is so busy delivering pizzas to the capitol that they have shut down, so I've heard, for normal business.  When we were at the capitol yesterday, a man offered pizza to my kids.  They gladly took a piece, and he said, "this one is from Arizona."  People from all over the world are phoning in, offering to pay for pizzas to keep the protesters fed.  There are bags of fruit and bottles of water around, free for the grabbing.  We found a box of earplugs taped to the wall.  (It is very loud inside.)  There is a sign-up sheet for the sleepover.  We saw a sign asking protesters to please sleep on the ground, first and second floors only, please.

Police officers are abundant and look rather bored.  8 days now of protest and only 4 arrests.  The vibe is peaceful, yet spirited.  Lots of drumming, shaking of musical instruments, even a horn or two that we first learned of at that soccer tournament in S. Africa, was it?  People look weary, but determined.  Settled in.  Not going anywhere.  Organized and orderly.

I ran into several friends/acquaintances from my many walks of life.  Lots of hugs, "power to the peoples", even a "si, se puede".  We visited the office of one of the Wisconsin 14 where a friend of ours works.  She looked exhausted but still had her silly sense of humor.  She chatted briefly between phone calls - at least one of which was with "our guy on the lam".

At our bi-monthly (is that right?  does that mean twice a month of every 2 months?  I mean twice a month) staff mtg this morning, we went around the room to do a "check in".  Most people give a little update about what is going on in their lives - health issues, or vacation plans - and I've normally stayed pretty quiet.  Couldn't today though.  I started talking about the protests and encouraged people to go up to the capitol and check it out.  It's history in the making.  I've never seen anything like it, nor do I expect to again.  If you think you may have a kernel of interest in what's going on, I tell you, once you set foot in that building, your interest will ignite.  It's contageous, the spirit that's going on there.  If you aren't able to go, please watch this video.  It captures the essence so beautifully.

I could go on and on.  I did go on and on.  It was a bummer, figuring out childcare plans for my kids while the schools shut down for 4 days, but, as a wise friend of mine said, justice sometimes takes sacrifice.  When my second grader returned to school today, the entire staff of teachers were outside, welcoming the kids at the curb, and waving to the parents dropping off.  That is what is so moving.  We are all in this together.  We support each other.  Together, we will figure this out.

energized

I had weird, anxious energy yesterday morning at work.

I was worried about the protests going on downtown.

I worried that it wasn't enough to make a change,

that it would just end up pissing off (more) conservatives,

that it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

And then I heard that the democratic senators left the capitol

Left The State

to avoid being bullied into voting over this bill.

I also heard that the YMCA is offering free childcare for folks (like me) who need it while school is out.

My anxiety started to settle.

And then, late afternoon, I took the boys up to the capitol.

If they are missing (three, now) days of school for this, I wanted them to see what was happening.

(instead of spending all day in the basement playing the wii - sigh)

It was amazing.

Energizing.

Thrilling.

20,000+ people, chanting, shouting, banging on drums, yelling

all united for one cause.

Kill The Bill.

I was proud to be a part of it.

I was proud to be an American.  

A Wisconsinite.  

A Madisonian.

I was proud to hug our teachers.

I was proud to stop by our (absent, on the lam) senator's office and give moral support.

I was proud to see One get energized by it.

I head out today for my girls weekend.

Bob plans to take the boys back for more protests.

Power to the people!

protests and budgets and boxing

Second day of no school.
Teachers (and most of Madison) are mad at our new Governor.
They are calling in sick to protest.  Not enough teachers = no school.
I feel like I'm missing out.

If I were working still at the County (where I was for the bulk of my career), I'd be down at the capitol, chanting and marching and sign-holding with the rest of my union brethren.

If I were at home full time with my kids, I'd be taking them up to the capitol for a real-life civics lesson, showing them democracy at work.

But instead, I'm in this weird limbo spot.  Working (part-time, not permanent, one foot in/one foot out).  Worrying about who will take care of my kids so I can get in, complete my duties, and earn my money.  Missing out on the demonstrations and protests and excitement going on a mere couple of miles away.

I've been calling my old-work friends, looking for their stories.

I've been looking at everyone's pictures on facebook.

I've been reading the editorials in the paper, listening to the smart people on NPR, trying to understand how all of this budget stuff works and what it means.

(You know how they talk of budgets - at least the federal budget - as being in the trillions?  I have no idea how to conceptualize what a trillion dollars means.  Until this.  I recently heard that 1 trillion dollars is to 1 million dollars as 1 million dollars is to (ready for this? you'll be shocked) 1 dollar.  Think about that.  Crazy.)

******************

In other news, I've been working out in the mornings before work.  I've been doing Billy Blanks videos on you tube.  This morning, I thought, as I was punching and jabbing away, "hey, I think I missed my calling as a boxer!" and then a couple of minutes later I caught sight of myself in the reflection of the window and realized, "wow!  I TOTALY hit like a girl!"

My sweat has now dried and I'm cold.  Off to the showers.

easy like Sunday morning

Quiet Sunday morning around here.
It's nice.
The sun is shining.
The roof is dripping.
The! snow! is! melting!
(It's 38 degrees!  ~~ heat wave~~)

I finished reading a book this morning.
I made all purpose household soap/laundry detergent yesterday.
We also went to the kids' school carnival.

I gave the kids a typewriter I bought for $5 at a garage sale a couple of years ago.
I was waiting for the right time to give it.
I think I made a good choice.
One is tap-tap-taping right now.
There have been some silly stories written
(and some WWE-related stats, but I'm ignoring those).

One and Two took about 30 minutes yesterday to learn some basics on the piano.
This was done in an effort to earn back the video games that had previously been taken away due to bad brother behavior.
But still.
I don't care if it was under duress.
I loved watching them work together and separately.
And later, Two asked if he could play the piano anytime he wanted.
He also asked if it would ever been taken away (as punishment).
I said, "as long as you don't use it like a weapon, you will not lose the piano."
I realize I laid down the gauntlet.
It is only a matter of time before he will find a way to use it like a weapon.

I got the valentine hearts Stephanie made me buy.
I am awaiting inspiration to use them.

I also just downloaded skype, so I'm all ready for across the ocean conversation.

Hope your Sunday morning is nice and easy too.

valentines fun

oh.  I just got an email regarding a 1/2 time social work job I applied for a few weeks ago.  I had kind of written it off, but now they are looking to do a phone interview (really?  I can't meet you in person?).  This has sort of rattled me.  I would love to stay where I am, but so far, it's still a provisional position (= no benefits, which totally and completely sucks, if I can be frank).  So, I suppose I'll do the phone interview and see what happens.

I'm nervous now.

But, I originally stopped by here to record a funny little conversation with Three and me earlier today.  We've been slugging through the homemade valentines for his class and 8 billion teachers (truly, only 6, but really?  6 teachers?  Isn't that a bit much that he is to give valentines to the 2 main teachers, the 1 student teacher, and the 3 afterschool teachers he sees a grand total of 5 minutes/day?). 

I keep getting distracted from my point.  So, here goes...

Three -- "mom, when I first saw A (a girl), I thought she was hot.  But then I met M (a new girl) and I didn't think A was hot anymore.  M is hot!"

Me -- stunned look.  after a pause, "What do you mean by hot?", asked in a slightly frightened way.

Three -- "Mom.  When a boy says a girl is HOT it means she's CUTE.  OK?"

I told him to stop talking and just get to work on his valentines. 

I blame the Catholic church and all of this excessive valentine business on my son's newfound sexuality.

(just kidding)

drei men

I'm in the mood to blog but I don't really have an agenda.

Does that ever happen to you?

I am happy today.

With my new schedule, Tuesdays are now my long day at work (9 1/2 hours today, thankyouverymuch).

I like it there, and I think they like me.

I was in a staff meeting today and added some good comments and made people laugh a little too.

It's so nice to be a professional again in the world.

Sorry, are you tired of hearing me go on and on about this?  

It's also so nice to come home and be a MOM.

I got lots of hugs and "I love you mom"s and even had a battle or two with an unruly youngster tonight.

They are all teeth-brushed and tucked-in now and most likely snoozing away.

I got a great email from my bro.

I love him and I love his perspective.

I'd love to share at least part of the email to spread the good word.  

(Do I have your permission, Mlark?)

(I've called him Mlark for a long time.  can't remember when or why, but I like it.)

(by the way, Mlark, you now show up on my stats as "Palestinian Territories".  Makes me so happy.)

I am looking forward to the weekend. 

Bob is up north with a bunch of guys from work. 

We plan to ignore the rules while he's gone.

which is kind of funny, because I probably lay down more laws than he does.

I'm not sure what we'll do, but I anticipate having 3 boys in my bed* each night.

Plus the dog.

Then?  Next weekend?

I go up north with a bunch of girlfriends for a girls' ski weekend.

I do not plan to ski.

I plan to knit or crochet. 

I plan to sleep in.

I plan to read my books.

I plan to stay up too late, laugh too hard, maybe drink a wee bit too much.

I cannot wait.

*Have you ever heard of the music group Trio?  They are this odd little German group from the 80's.  They are best known for the VW commercial a few years back that went "da da da".  If you were here, I'd sing it for you and you'd remember.  Anyhow, they have a song called Drei Man in Doublebed (or something like that - it's German for Three Men in a doublebed).  I think of that whenever I have my drei men in bed with me, but luckily, it's not a doublebed.  uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.

moments from our life

1. Yesterday, One and I were skittishly hopping around the house while we heard a "squeak, squeak" of a baby animal in the house.  He and I heard it, and finally Bob heard it too.  We had to rush out the door to get to the UW men's bball game, so we left poor, still sick Bob to figure out the source of the "squeak".  ***

2. 1 hour later, One and I were sitting passively during the basketball game.  I turned and asked him if he was thinking about the squeak.  "yup," he said.  "Are you thinking about the Packers too?"  "yup," he replied again, seriously looking into my eyes.  The basketball game served as a good diversion from our two main worries of the day.

3.  Three slept on my lap while One and I silently cheered and fretted and cheered and fretted and FINALLY cheered our beloved Packers onto victory!  Two was watching Drake and Josh on Netflix.  Nice team spirit, Two.

4.  Today, after grocery shopping, I stopped into Macy's to look for a post-Christmas mark-down on a sweater for me.  I found some great Tommy Hilfiger sweaters marked at least 50% off.  Score.  I accidentally stumbled upon a bunch of kids' winter coats waaaaaay marked down.  I bought new coats for next year for all three kids - each for $15 - and they are cuuuuute.  So, if you have a Macy's near you and you'd like to stock up for next year, now's your time.

5.  Kids are outside playing in the snow as I type.  I'm glad they still seem to have enthusiasm for this long winter.  I'm over it.  When I saw the snow falling again today (and yesterday), I just sighed.  Sigh.

Off to manage the troops.

Enjoy your Monday!

*** Turns out the squeak, squeak was not from a baby animal trapped in our house, as we both feared, but from One's boots.  We had a great laugh over there.  All except for poor, still sick Bob, who I hope went in to the doctor again today.  He is not well.  Although the antibiotics treated the strep, he now seems to have a sinus infection or something.  Cough, cough, cough into the night he goes.  And my eyes pop open with every cough.  Yawn...

Day off

I need to stop the madness.  I am obsessed about these statistics.  I can see Israel here and there and I think, "hey!  It's Mark!"  (and thanks for your smoke signal!!!!!  Also, I talked with Aisha last night.)  I think I should go cold turkey, though.  It's getting to the point of being ridiculous, and I although I am many thing, ridiculous is not one of them.  hahahahaha.

Today was my day off.  I thought the kids didn't have school today - whoops - so I scheduled myself to work on Monday instead of today.  Not that big of a mistake, other than the worry that I would totally forget to go to work on Monday.  Which I didn't.  Forget, that is.

I did think about how long it's been since I worked (for pay) on a Monday. ( Haven't since November 20, 2000 - which is a day I didn't work very hard because I sort of suspected I was in labor with my number one son.  My favorite part of that day was a very long and leisurely lunch I had with my darling grandma.  I fondly recall that day every year and make my number one son sit through my re-telling.  He now rolls his eyes when I recount how hard it was for me to walk and how my grandma predicted I was going to have that baby soon.  She was right!  He was born the next day at noon.)  Anyhow, I kind of wanted to share that little tidbit at work, but I thought my hard-working colleagues wouldn't find it so funny and cute, my absence of working (for pay) Mondays in the past 10+ years.

ANYWAY, on this day off, let me tell you what I did:
Got up and breakfasted the three kiddos.
Prepared the delicious smelling beef stew for the crock pot.
Got One on the bus.
Went for a brisk walk around the block with a neighbor.
Drove Two to school and watch him scamper onto the playground to play.
Drove Three to school and walked him into his classroom.
Drove home.  Balanced check book.  Wrote bills.  Saw the fruits of my labor in the checkbook.
(It's nice to have that extra paycheck, I must say!)
Quickly tidied the kitchen.
Threw laundry in.
Drove to One's school to pick him up to take him to annual well child check at pediatrician whom I have a slight crush on (story for another day).
Took One to Subway for a 5 dollar footlong (any sub!  entire month of February!).
Returned One to school.
Drove to Three's school to attend St. J's visitor day luncheon.
Ate lunch with my cute and fairly rambunctious 4 year old.
Enjoyed watching him interact with his classmates.
Was proud to hear him correct one of his classmates to not pretend to use a gun at school.
Cringed when Three started talking about his "balls".  Reminded him that's inappropriate.
Wondered how many times he can reference his balls before getting the boot from Catholic School.
Returned home to briefly relax.
Changed laundry.
Started focaccia bread for tonight's dinner, in case the beef stew is a bomb.
Drove to Two's school to help out in the classroom.  Stuffed folders.
Brought Two home.
Made him a snack to address his monster-like behavior.
Hauled laundry upstairs.
Received One off the the bus.
Ran to Three's school (for the THIRD time today) to pick him up.
Went to the scholastic book fair at St. J's and bought a couple of books from my ball-lovin' 4 year old.
Returned home.
Got mail.  US weekly!  Hooray!
Worked a bit more on the focaccia.
Listened to One complain on and on about being HUNGRY, THERE'S NOTHING TO EAT HERE!
Eventually sent him to room for 10 minute time out.
Sat down here.  Remembered that I'm still feeling kind of punky and I really would like to go and neglect any further parenting responsibilities.

So there you have it.  Doesn't feel much like a day off.  That said, I was pleased to get individual time with all three kids throughout the day.  I suggested to One that we could view the dr's appt as a mini date.  He was unimpressed with that idea.

This weekend has the potential to be sucky, but I will try to make it good.  Bob has to work at one of those (stupid) home products shows all day Saturday.  I really hate all day Saturdays with the 3 kids all by myself.  I was looking for Badger State Game fun or UW athletic fun nearby, but there's not really much (badmitten, figure skating and women's tennis).  We have 3 tix to the men's UW b'ball game at noon on Sunday.  Of course, we'll be watching the SUPERBOWL on Sunday.

Alright, time to make the finishing touches on my focaccia.

To Russia, With Love

Dudes.

These stats are soooo interesting.
Check it out.

All time views.....

United States 2,257 Russia 60 Netherlands 29 South Korea 28 France 24 Poland 20 Finland 13 Philippines 13 Turkey 13 Brazil 10

Really?  60 views from Russia?  Who knew I had such a following.

On another list, I also saw that Israel was represented as looking at my blog today, so Mark... I hope that's you...  Wanna send me a smoke signal or something to tell me you're ok?

Snow day for all of us tomorrow.  It's blustery outside.  I'm digging it.  I just checked to see if my employer is closed for tomorrow.  Website said closed, except for essential personnel.  I called my boss to see if I was "essential personnel".  Not like elevating my own sense of worth or anything.  Turns out I'm not essential.  Figures.  Truth hurts.

(not really - I'm looking forward to a day snuggling inside with lots of air hockey and a fire in the fire place and soap making and knitting and maybe even some baking too.  I some books and magazines piled up.  I will be busy.  Hope the kids can amuse themselves.

So, to my faraway readers, I hope your weather is equally exciting, or not so, if you'd rather for it to be tame.  For my Wisconsin peeps, stay inside!