Hi, my name is Ellie and it has been approximately five months since I last watched Buffy.
For about three months the show was my life. I watched it daily and invited people over to re-watch episodes and to sing along karaoke style to the special features DVD. We discussed the show over wine and dinner, and longed to spend time with Joss to find out whether our theories and questions were “Buffy-Worthy.” But then I hit a wall. So much Buffy in such a short period of time is bound to have an impact on your life. No time for exercise, reading, or even human interaction; everyday I had to get home so I could watch my show. So, I stopped cold turkey. No more Buffy for me. I had made it all the way up to the very first episode of the last season, and I had to let it go. This happened in February.
Last night, after my evening of exercise, playing with BB, and reading my requisite one hour of Foreign Service reading materials, I pulled out season seven again. You know, just to have a look. As I read through episode synopses I started to feel that old excitement again. That need to find out what was going to happen next! So, after five months of Buffy hiatus, last night I loaded up season seven and sat down to watch the final chapter.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Beautiful Pacifier
Okay, so I am that mother. I am the mother who before her child was born said things like,
“Oh, when my child starts eating food, I will only give her ORGANIC food.”
And
“Oh, my daughter will never drink juice! Only water and soy milk!”
And
“I will NEVER let my daughter have a pacifier!”
But then the reality of raising a happy healthy child in the midst of having a career and limited monetary funds set in. I try to stick with healthy food, fruits and vegetables and the like. But keeping everything ORGANIC is difficult and pricey and for goodness sake, we all survived and even grew healthy on the stuff we were raised on.
And come on, a little juice isn’t going to kill the kid. Plus, it’s nice to mix things up sometimes: juice, water, milk.
And I was really adamant about the pacifier thing. People told me,
“Watch out, she’ll get attached and then it is hell trying to break the habit!”
And
“It will ruin her teeth; her bite will be thrown off for ever. It will cost you thousands in future orthodontia bills.”
But I’ll tell you what. The first time you are out in public, and your child is just screaming her head off with no end in sight like an evil and extremely loud Banshee and you stick that pacifier in her mouth and suddenly she turns into the cutest little angelic cherub you’ve ever seen, you know the pacifier is here to stay.
“Oh, when my child starts eating food, I will only give her ORGANIC food.”
And
“Oh, my daughter will never drink juice! Only water and soy milk!”
And
“I will NEVER let my daughter have a pacifier!”
But then the reality of raising a happy healthy child in the midst of having a career and limited monetary funds set in. I try to stick with healthy food, fruits and vegetables and the like. But keeping everything ORGANIC is difficult and pricey and for goodness sake, we all survived and even grew healthy on the stuff we were raised on.
And come on, a little juice isn’t going to kill the kid. Plus, it’s nice to mix things up sometimes: juice, water, milk.
And I was really adamant about the pacifier thing. People told me,
“Watch out, she’ll get attached and then it is hell trying to break the habit!”
And
“It will ruin her teeth; her bite will be thrown off for ever. It will cost you thousands in future orthodontia bills.”
But I’ll tell you what. The first time you are out in public, and your child is just screaming her head off with no end in sight like an evil and extremely loud Banshee and you stick that pacifier in her mouth and suddenly she turns into the cutest little angelic cherub you’ve ever seen, you know the pacifier is here to stay.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Itchy Morning
If having one child is difficult then it stands to reason that having two should be double the amount of work. But in reality, two kids are much more than double the work. Now I want to know, what is three kids like, or maybe I should ask my cousin, what is having seven children like?
This morning was insane. First of all, I am completely covered in poison ivy. One whole side of my face is swollen and puss-filled, my left eye is closing ever so slightly, both arms are covered, and both legs are covered. Last night I soaked in Calamine but it still itches like crazy. So, this morning, I was itchy and irritable, Dan was sleepy, Piper was throwing up, and Bronwen was throwing food. Piper was yelling at me that it was my fault that she threw up. Bronwen was wiggling out of her clothes, Dan was blindly putting in contacts, and I was spreading anti-itch cream all over myself. It was a mad house. But, I guess it could be worse, and really it wasn’t too bad. It makes work feel positively relaxing though.
This morning was insane. First of all, I am completely covered in poison ivy. One whole side of my face is swollen and puss-filled, my left eye is closing ever so slightly, both arms are covered, and both legs are covered. Last night I soaked in Calamine but it still itches like crazy. So, this morning, I was itchy and irritable, Dan was sleepy, Piper was throwing up, and Bronwen was throwing food. Piper was yelling at me that it was my fault that she threw up. Bronwen was wiggling out of her clothes, Dan was blindly putting in contacts, and I was spreading anti-itch cream all over myself. It was a mad house. But, I guess it could be worse, and really it wasn’t too bad. It makes work feel positively relaxing though.
Bronwen's First Birthday
I can't believe that it has almost been a year since I was lying in the hospital, very uncomfortable, and anticipating the arrival of the most beautiful little girl in the world. There are so many things that happen in the first year of life, it is amazing. I mean, when we brought her home she was entirely dependent on us for survival. She couldn't even lift her head, or roll over, and she slept all of the time. But now, she is taking her first steps, saying her first word, cracking herself up (she is a little comedian), and chasing the cats around the house. She feeds herself and drink froma straw now. I can't help but be amazed every day.
So, we are going to celebrate all of those firsts on the day that marks her first whole year alive. It is going to be great. Dan designed a wonderful invitation. And since Sam, our next door neighbors' son, was born the day after Bronwen, we are going to combine our parties and have a throw-down. So, if you are reading this and would like to come to the party, see the invitation at Bronwen's Blog to find out more information.
So, we are going to celebrate all of those firsts on the day that marks her first whole year alive. It is going to be great. Dan designed a wonderful invitation. And since Sam, our next door neighbors' son, was born the day after Bronwen, we are going to combine our parties and have a throw-down. So, if you are reading this and would like to come to the party, see the invitation at Bronwen's Blog to find out more information.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bronwen's First Word
Last night, Dan and I finally got to go on a date, alone, without the baby. Hooray! As we were getting ready, Chris was holding Bronwen and we were scurrying around the house, Fay jumped up onto the dishwasher. Before I had a chance to shoo him away, Bronwen raised her hand and reached out to Fay and said "Cat." Chris, Dan and I all looked at each other in amused surprise. We weren't sure we had heard it right, but sure enough last night Bronwen spoke her first word and it was Cat. Not really a surprising first word since those three cats have been circling her since the day she came home from the hospital, but still exciting none the less.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Parenting Lesson, #682
I learned a valuable parenting lesson this weekend. Here’s the story.
I had to go to a work event on Saturday morning. We recently opened a new store in Greensboro and to celebrate we were going to have a huge event in the parking lot in front of the store. There was a huge raffle with awesome prizes, and a local restaurant cook off, and vendor tastings and a kids tent with a clown and balloons and face painting and a cupcake decorating table. I had to make and appearance and asked Dan if we should go as a family. He readily agreed so Saturday morning we packed up the kids and headed out to the event. The evening before Piper had been dropped off by her mother and in a foolish attempt to get her excited about the weekend I described the work event as a little “festival” with a fun kids tent.
Well, we arrived, Piper got a balloon hat, met my co-workers, and designed and ate half of a giant cupcake. Then she wanted more fun. So, we walked through the tasting areas munching on grilled peaches stuffed with goat cheese and grilled steak and fresh watermelon, and mini key lime tarts, and salmon. Now, as you all know, this is Ellie’s kind of fun, but unfortunately, Piper was under whelmed. She demanded we leave, so after saying all of my hellos and goodbyes (everyone wanted to meet Bronwen), we headed home. The drive home taught me my lesson.
“That was not fun. You said it was going to be fun, but it was boring. I want to have fun. When are we going to have fun? When? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FUN?”
Piper whined.
I guess I couldn’t resist myself and responded,
“I know! Getting cool balloons, eating cupcakes and lots of other great food is probably the worst thing you have ever had to do. I hope we can find a way to make it better.”
That didn’t help and for the next hour I was admonished repeatedly for having lied to her; and she demanded that I “never take her there again!”
So I guess the moral of the story is: Keep the expectations low and kids will not be disappointed. If I had told her I was taking her to a work event because I had to go, and she got there and there was a clown and cupcakes, the response would have been different. Or maybe not. When you have a precocious and intelligent 5 year-old, it is hard to put anything past her.
I had to go to a work event on Saturday morning. We recently opened a new store in Greensboro and to celebrate we were going to have a huge event in the parking lot in front of the store. There was a huge raffle with awesome prizes, and a local restaurant cook off, and vendor tastings and a kids tent with a clown and balloons and face painting and a cupcake decorating table. I had to make and appearance and asked Dan if we should go as a family. He readily agreed so Saturday morning we packed up the kids and headed out to the event. The evening before Piper had been dropped off by her mother and in a foolish attempt to get her excited about the weekend I described the work event as a little “festival” with a fun kids tent.
Well, we arrived, Piper got a balloon hat, met my co-workers, and designed and ate half of a giant cupcake. Then she wanted more fun. So, we walked through the tasting areas munching on grilled peaches stuffed with goat cheese and grilled steak and fresh watermelon, and mini key lime tarts, and salmon. Now, as you all know, this is Ellie’s kind of fun, but unfortunately, Piper was under whelmed. She demanded we leave, so after saying all of my hellos and goodbyes (everyone wanted to meet Bronwen), we headed home. The drive home taught me my lesson.
“That was not fun. You said it was going to be fun, but it was boring. I want to have fun. When are we going to have fun? When? WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE FUN?”
Piper whined.
I guess I couldn’t resist myself and responded,
“I know! Getting cool balloons, eating cupcakes and lots of other great food is probably the worst thing you have ever had to do. I hope we can find a way to make it better.”
That didn’t help and for the next hour I was admonished repeatedly for having lied to her; and she demanded that I “never take her there again!”
So I guess the moral of the story is: Keep the expectations low and kids will not be disappointed. If I had told her I was taking her to a work event because I had to go, and she got there and there was a clown and cupcakes, the response would have been different. Or maybe not. When you have a precocious and intelligent 5 year-old, it is hard to put anything past her.
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