my haiku undone,
but books discussed, books logged in ...
literary day
haiku unwritten,
sharp sting of vodka intaken,
buffalo wings downed.
haiku is undone,
eyelids work to stay open
when I remember
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday Night Cocktail Haiku
my haiku undone,
but books discussed, books logged in ...
literary day
haiku unwritten,
sharp sting of vodka intaken,
buffalo wings downed.
haiku is undone,
eyelids work to stay open
when I remember
Friday, January 22, 2010
Haiku for Haiti
Thousands wander, lost,
without food, water, shelter ;
far-flung fam'lies pray.
What little they had
now entombed in piles of rock,
yet miracles live.
Life fights to go on
breath after breath 'spite the odds...
prayers hold up Haiti.
without food, water, shelter ;
far-flung fam'lies pray.
What little they had
now entombed in piles of rock,
yet miracles live.
Life fights to go on
breath after breath 'spite the odds...
prayers hold up Haiti.
Would you like to haiku today? To participate in Haiku Friday, just follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. It or they can be part or all of your post, but your post must include a haiku. What's a haiku, you ask? Hint: 3 lines, and count syllables, 5-7-5. The best haiku evoke a feeling of place or emotion. (Unlike mine which are often factual.) More info: Click here. Or here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). Don't sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.
3. Please leave a comment after linking, thanks! (Eventually the Mr Linky links go away, I think, so they only way we'll find you in the future is via your comment.)
4. If you'd like, pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top of this post.
REMEMBER: Please do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week. You are welcome to leave a comment, though!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Weight Loss Update
On Friday I posted about Husband and I are trying to lose weight by making different food choices, in a way that's sustainable to eat going forward.
We have done Weight Watchers and Atkins and even The Zone in the past, all with some success, but the problem has been that, like so many others, the weight bounces right back. So this time, after conversations with Gregory Anne Cox and getting her free 7-day ecourse, I'm trying to do it right and change the way we eat in a sustainable way. Finding out that she loves food and doesn’t believe in depriving ourselves to lose weight really helped.
I'm learning to turn off that judgmental voice in my head that says, "Good food, bad food" and allow myself to use my intelligence to make a good choice.
Husband and I are really enjoying what we eat and, surprising to us, not missing what we’re not eating, which is lots and lots of carbs. We’ve done Atkins in the past so we knew we could live without the carbs, but this is different because we’re not trying to follow some strict regime for a period of time (or amount of weight ) -- we’re just choosing different foods for the plate. And choosing what sounds good, rather than whatever will get us through to the “next pound down.”
A few M-and-Ms don't hurt me. A piece of spinach pie, yes even with the flaky crust, won't blow it (like it would on Atkins). But you know what? I don't feel as good this morning after eating that flaky crust. Next time I may just go with the Greek salad.
If you told me I'd go to a late-night diner with my friends and NOT get a cheeseburger, or anything with fries, I'd have laughed. But I truly enjoyed the choice I made, knowing that the burger-and-fries would make me feel not-good today.
This morning I’m down a total of 7 pounds, and Husband is down 10. And the main thing we’re doing is picking different foods … it's nothing short of a miracle.
I do notice we need more sleep, though. No joke. Gregory Anne mentions sleep in her email course, and I thought, "yeah, yeah, we all need more sleep." But this is like, "I MUST GO BACK TO BED," my body is Not.Taking.No.For.An.Answer type of need for more sleep. If I don't get 8 hours I can't function. 8 and a half is better.
Seems worth the trade-off: Body feels better when I'm up; clothes fit better; little more energy (I'm still out of shape but I'm willing to run with DuckyBoy now, every time he asks, at least until I'm out of breath); in exchange I need to sleep more? Ok.
We have done Weight Watchers and Atkins and even The Zone in the past, all with some success, but the problem has been that, like so many others, the weight bounces right back. So this time, after conversations with Gregory Anne Cox and getting her free 7-day ecourse, I'm trying to do it right and change the way we eat in a sustainable way. Finding out that she loves food and doesn’t believe in depriving ourselves to lose weight really helped.
I'm learning to turn off that judgmental voice in my head that says, "Good food, bad food" and allow myself to use my intelligence to make a good choice.
Husband and I are really enjoying what we eat and, surprising to us, not missing what we’re not eating, which is lots and lots of carbs. We’ve done Atkins in the past so we knew we could live without the carbs, but this is different because we’re not trying to follow some strict regime for a period of time (or amount of weight ) -- we’re just choosing different foods for the plate. And choosing what sounds good, rather than whatever will get us through to the “next pound down.”
A few M-and-Ms don't hurt me. A piece of spinach pie, yes even with the flaky crust, won't blow it (like it would on Atkins). But you know what? I don't feel as good this morning after eating that flaky crust. Next time I may just go with the Greek salad.
If you told me I'd go to a late-night diner with my friends and NOT get a cheeseburger, or anything with fries, I'd have laughed. But I truly enjoyed the choice I made, knowing that the burger-and-fries would make me feel not-good today.
This morning I’m down a total of 7 pounds, and Husband is down 10. And the main thing we’re doing is picking different foods … it's nothing short of a miracle.
I do notice we need more sleep, though. No joke. Gregory Anne mentions sleep in her email course, and I thought, "yeah, yeah, we all need more sleep." But this is like, "I MUST GO BACK TO BED," my body is Not.Taking.No.For.An.Answer type of need for more sleep. If I don't get 8 hours I can't function. 8 and a half is better.
Seems worth the trade-off: Body feels better when I'm up; clothes fit better; little more energy (I'm still out of shape but I'm willing to run with DuckyBoy now, every time he asks, at least until I'm out of breath); in exchange I need to sleep more? Ok.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
If It's Spring, It Must Be Bossy
Top 10 Reasons Bossy Should Include Me on Her Spring 2010 No-Book Tour:
10. I’ve written a book and can advise Bossy of the pros and cons. (OK, it’s an ebook, but last year I advertised it on Bossy’s blog and I think that’s where my customer came from).
9. Something about Bossy reminds me of a long-time boss of mine, only … Bossy is more approachable. With better hair.
8. Bossy can watch any John Cusack movie she’d like on our 65-inch TV.
7. My husband makes awesome margaritas. And cosmo's. And we have pretty martini glasses.
6. We like to eat appetizers for dinner.
5. We also know of awesome Chinese buffet places.
4. I'm not afraid to get naked to help Bossy experience a Korean spa.
3. We have a car and I love to drive, so Bossy doesn’t have to drive around NYC.
2. We have a lovely pull-out couch, or the lovely Kew Motor Inn is less than 2 miles away. (It’s been compared to the Plaza! Really! (I believe the exact quote was, “This place is about as far from the Plaza as you can get.”) Then there’s the Pan American Hotel which just cracks me up, and seriously, there are nice national chains near LaGuardia, too.
And, the Number One reason Bossy should include me on her (No) Book Tour is:
1. I can chronicle Bossy's trip in haiku form.
10. I’ve written a book and can advise Bossy of the pros and cons. (OK, it’s an ebook, but last year I advertised it on Bossy’s blog and I think that’s where my customer came from).
9. Something about Bossy reminds me of a long-time boss of mine, only … Bossy is more approachable. With better hair.
8. Bossy can watch any John Cusack movie she’d like on our 65-inch TV.
7. My husband makes awesome margaritas. And cosmo's. And we have pretty martini glasses.
6. We like to eat appetizers for dinner.
5. We also know of awesome Chinese buffet places.
4. I'm not afraid to get naked to help Bossy experience a Korean spa.
3. We have a car and I love to drive, so Bossy doesn’t have to drive around NYC.
2. We have a lovely pull-out couch, or the lovely Kew Motor Inn is less than 2 miles away. (It’s been compared to the Plaza! Really! (I believe the exact quote was, “This place is about as far from the Plaza as you can get.”) Then there’s the Pan American Hotel which just cracks me up, and seriously, there are nice national chains near LaGuardia, too.
And, the Number One reason Bossy should include me on her (No) Book Tour is:
1. I can chronicle Bossy's trip in haiku form.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Why I Don't Want My Son To Say "OMG"
I've never liked to hear people say, "Oh my God," which usually comes out "Omigod."I don't even remember when I first noticed it, but I've always felt like a bit of prude for feeling this way.
Unlike most things for which I have felt like a prude for, though, I've stuck with this one. I'll say"Oh my gosh," and I'm sure there are purists who say even that is bad, but they're not my concern.
My concern is that now the second graders say it. In fact I'm sure I heard it last year from DuckyBoy's classmates, which means 6-year-olds are in the habit of it. They have no idea why, it's just something they hear all the time. It's "just" part of speech nowadays, like "wow" or "oh" or "huh."
It's not exactly taking the Lord's name in vain, because you're not cursing anyone out, or angrily saying "Jesus Christ!" like sometimes people will do. But it just makes God's name ... meaningless. To me that's even worse. The name of the Creator of all life is reduced to ... a throwaway phrase? An empty fill-in? Sad. (Some of these kids go to Christian churches, too.)
Now there's OMG. The phrase is so pervasive that it's got a text shorthand version. The kids just say "OMG" sometimes.
And I'm not sure how I feel about that. Because I know the origin is not people who didn't want to type out "oh my gosh."
I can say "G for gosh" to myself when I see or hear OMG, so it's a little better, but not much.
I have asked DuckyBoy not to say "Oh my God," and he's been really good about respecting me on that (even though I know he hears it all the time). But what do I do about OMG? It's kind of its own thing at this point, an exclamation with no background meaning. I'd rather he say that than "Oh my God."
But I'd really rather he not say OMG, either.
Husband just told me this morning that he read someone who believes CS Lewis is evil because he used the phrase "Gee whiz" in his books, which apparently was originally shorthand for "Jesus's whiskers."
Is OMG really that different?
I'll see how often DB comes out with OMG. If it becomes a habit, I'll ask him to stop. I'm sure he'll think I'm the worst mother in the world sooner or later anyway, so I might as well stand up for what I believe in. Right?
Unlike most things for which I have felt like a prude for, though, I've stuck with this one. I'll say"Oh my gosh," and I'm sure there are purists who say even that is bad, but they're not my concern.
My concern is that now the second graders say it. In fact I'm sure I heard it last year from DuckyBoy's classmates, which means 6-year-olds are in the habit of it. They have no idea why, it's just something they hear all the time. It's "just" part of speech nowadays, like "wow" or "oh" or "huh."
It's not exactly taking the Lord's name in vain, because you're not cursing anyone out, or angrily saying "Jesus Christ!" like sometimes people will do. But it just makes God's name ... meaningless. To me that's even worse. The name of the Creator of all life is reduced to ... a throwaway phrase? An empty fill-in? Sad. (Some of these kids go to Christian churches, too.)
Now there's OMG. The phrase is so pervasive that it's got a text shorthand version. The kids just say "OMG" sometimes.
And I'm not sure how I feel about that. Because I know the origin is not people who didn't want to type out "oh my gosh."
I can say "G for gosh" to myself when I see or hear OMG, so it's a little better, but not much.
I have asked DuckyBoy not to say "Oh my God," and he's been really good about respecting me on that (even though I know he hears it all the time). But what do I do about OMG? It's kind of its own thing at this point, an exclamation with no background meaning. I'd rather he say that than "Oh my God."
But I'd really rather he not say OMG, either.
Husband just told me this morning that he read someone who believes CS Lewis is evil because he used the phrase "Gee whiz" in his books, which apparently was originally shorthand for "Jesus's whiskers."
Is OMG really that different?
I'll see how often DB comes out with OMG. If it becomes a habit, I'll ask him to stop. I'm sure he'll think I'm the worst mother in the world sooner or later anyway, so I might as well stand up for what I believe in. Right?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiku Friday, Pound by Pound
Haiku time again,
but a slimmer me writes it ...
we're eating better
I record each bite
on the fitday dot com site
picked it 'cause it's free ...
scale's needle moves to
the left ever so slightly
inching its way down
I feel the diff'rence
when I sit to drive the car...
there's less tummy there.
but a slimmer me writes it ...
we're eating better
I record each bite
on the fitday dot com site
picked it 'cause it's free ...
scale's needle moves to
the left ever so slightly
inching its way down
I feel the diff'rence
when I sit to drive the car...
there's less tummy there.
No big diet we're following, just trying to eat fewer carbs, plenty of fat, and enough protein and veggies to keep from being starving. It's been a week, and so far I'm down 3 and a half pounds, first week is always a big drop then my body adjusts, but, I'll take it!
A big part is having done some reading and talking with one of our website clients, Gregory Anne Cox, a really cool lady (and I don't use "lady" for just any woman) who knows and loves food and also knows how to help women past their, um, 30s lose weight.
She talks about the different kinds of carbs, and about fat, and the importance of enjoying what you eat and making it a lifestyle, rather than a quick weight-loss and then revert to my old ways (which is what happened a few years ago when Husband and I did the Zone diet, with 3 meals delivered to our door each day. We lost weight, but hadn't relearned how to eat right).
It's eye-opening to input everything -- especially the 2 spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee each morning. Now, when I'm onto the 3rd cup, I've got a decision to make -- are those carbs going to be worth it?? I get to make the choice, though -- I'm not tied to a number of points or boxes -- so I choose to drink a third cup black (on those days when I need a 3rd cup).
I enjoy adding up what I've eaten, but I'm doing it to get the trend, not to nitpick. So far, so good.
Would you like to haiku today? To participate in Haiku Friday, just follow these steps:A big part is having done some reading and talking with one of our website clients, Gregory Anne Cox, a really cool lady (and I don't use "lady" for just any woman) who knows and loves food and also knows how to help women past their, um, 30s lose weight.
She talks about the different kinds of carbs, and about fat, and the importance of enjoying what you eat and making it a lifestyle, rather than a quick weight-loss and then revert to my old ways (which is what happened a few years ago when Husband and I did the Zone diet, with 3 meals delivered to our door each day. We lost weight, but hadn't relearned how to eat right).
It's eye-opening to input everything -- especially the 2 spoonfuls of sugar in my coffee each morning. Now, when I'm onto the 3rd cup, I've got a decision to make -- are those carbs going to be worth it?? I get to make the choice, though -- I'm not tied to a number of points or boxes -- so I choose to drink a third cup black (on those days when I need a 3rd cup).
I enjoy adding up what I've eaten, but I'm doing it to get the trend, not to nitpick. So far, so good.
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. It or they can be part or all of your post, but your post must include a haiku. What's a haiku, you ask? Hint: 3 lines, and count syllables, 5-7-5. The best haiku evoke a feeling of place or emotion. (Unlike mine which are often factual.) More info: Click here. Or here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). Don't sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.
3. Please leave a comment after linking, thanks! (Eventually the Mr Linky links go away, I think, so they only way we'll find you in the future is via your comment.)
4. if you'd like, pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top of this post.
REMEMBER: Do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week.
Friday, January 8, 2010
A Hairy Haiku Friday
This is my son's hair,
hanging down off of his head
soft, golden, messy
Took upside-down pix
because when he's standing up,
we can't see his eyes!
We got DB's hair trimmed about a week after this photo was taken -- so at least his bangs are above his eye level now -- but his hair is still pretty long.
Adults either love or hate his longish hair. He has raving fans, and people who can't imagine why I'd let him have it so long. He likes it to cover his ears, so I get it cut to that length and have the stylist make it short enough in the back so it's not too snarly when we comb it. After that, it's fine with me.
She left it long in the back this week, so after his haircut I noticed in the bathtub that his hair is long enough I could put it in a little ponytail ... now THAT is not my thing for boys. (Db showed no signs of being interested in it either.)
Would you like to join Haiku Friday? Just follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. It or they can be part or all of your post, but your post must include a haiku. What's a haiku, you ask? Hint: 3 lines, and count syllables, 5-7-5. The best haiku evoke a feeling of place or emotion. (Unlike mine which are often factual.) More info: Click here. Or here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). Don't sign unless you have a haiku this week. (But you're welcome to leave a comment without a haiku!) If you need help with this, please let me know.
3. Please leave a comment after linking, thanks! (Eventually the Mr Linky links go away, I think, so they only way we'll find you in the future is via your comment.)
4. If you'd like, pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top of this post.
Would you like to join Haiku Friday? Just follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. It or they can be part or all of your post, but your post must include a haiku. What's a haiku, you ask? Hint: 3 lines, and count syllables, 5-7-5. The best haiku evoke a feeling of place or emotion. (Unlike mine which are often factual.) More info: Click here. Or here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). Don't sign unless you have a haiku this week. (But you're welcome to leave a comment without a haiku!) If you need help with this, please let me know.
3. Please leave a comment after linking, thanks! (Eventually the Mr Linky links go away, I think, so they only way we'll find you in the future is via your comment.)
4. If you'd like, pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top of this post.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Scourge of Second Grade
Guess what DB has that got him sent home early from school today?
Hint: they're small and live on heads and are hard to get rid of ...
Find out here ...
It's not severe; the nurse said he can probably come back tomorrow.
It's my library volunteer day at school tomorrow ...
but do I really want either one of us to be there all day???
Hint: they're small and live on heads and are hard to get rid of ...
Find out here ...
It's not severe; the nurse said he can probably come back tomorrow.
It's my library volunteer day at school tomorrow ...
but do I really want either one of us to be there all day???
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hamster on Her Front Porch
I'm proud of myself for capturing a photo of Supergirl ... Chinese dwarf hamsters are FAST!
I like to think of this as her "front porch." The blue end cap has air holes in it (as do the tubes themselves, mind you), and from time to time she stops here and hangs out as if she's checking out what we're doing in the room.
The tubes are in the shape of an ellipse, and she long ago picked one spot where she sleeps. It's close to the opening between the tubes and her cage, but 99 percent of the time she chooses to run around the long way to get in and out. So she always runs past this spot.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year, New Haiku!
Out with the old year
like a trash bag that
tumbles down ... KA-THUNK
Welcome the new year
with a martini or two
then write some haiku
Wrestle with Facebook
click off the twink'ling tree lights
Lie on the cool sheets.
Look back on the day ...
DB's friend, sister's email
of her son's success...
And turn my face to
what God wants me to look at
in year Twenty Ten...
like a trash bag that
tumbles down ... KA-THUNK
Welcome the new year
with a martini or two
then write some haiku
Wrestle with Facebook
click off the twink'ling tree lights
Lie on the cool sheets.
Look back on the day ...
DB's friend, sister's email
of her son's success...
And turn my face to
what God wants me to look at
in year Twenty Ten...
Would you like to haiku today? To participate in Haiku Friday, just follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. It or they can be part or all of your post, but your post must include a haiku. What's a haiku, you ask? Hint: 3 lines, and count syllables, 5-7-5. The best haiku evoke a feeling of place or emotion. (Unlike mine which are often factual.) More info: Click here. Or here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). Don't sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.
3. Please leave a comment after linking, thanks! (Eventually the Mr Linky links go away, I think, so they only way we'll find you in the future is via your comment.)
4. if you'd like, pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top of this post.
REMEMBER: Do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week.
