Don't let me in the kitchen, part 2

Today's cooking casualty was my plastic colander, which I (tried) to use to steam some veggies. I melted it.

And the part that really sucks is that, as I was setting it on top of the pot of water, I thought to myself, "Haha! Wouldn't it be just the thing if it totally melted the colander?" Heh. I'm going to listen to that little voice next time.

And for those who have asked what I was attempting to cook in the pot from the last post--I had poured n some Soy Vey teriyaki sauce with some Asain chicken dumplings from Trader Joe's. I don't like the sauce they came with, and I thought, "Hey, this will make them super yummy!" Which, with the second batch, it did. However, with the first batch, I left the heat too high and the skillet on the stove for too long. When I came back, the sauce had turned to tar and the dumplings were little undercooked islands anchored firmly to the bottom of the pan. Live and learn.

This is why I should never cook.

Have you entered the contest?

If you're a subscriber to my bi-monthly newsletter, then you know there's an awesome contest going on right now--and if you're not a subscriber, then you're going to want to sign up right now. Because three winners will be announced in the April issue, and those winners will be naming some of the characters in my upcoming David C. Cook release, Reinventing Rachel! (Or whatever the title is by the time it releases.)

Signing up is free and easy--just check out the right-hand sidebar of the blog and put your email addy in the email field. I'll send you a link to the current (and past) issues of the newsletter, and you can send in your contest entry anytime before April 16th.

Can I interest you in a little pandemic with that flu vaccine?

Reports are out revealing that Baxter Pharmaceuticals has admitted that it accidentally contaminated various vaccine batches with Avian Flu viruses. These batches were shipped to 18 countries.

Accidentally? Give me a flipping break. I find it hard to believe that the "highly contagious, possible beginning of a pandemic" viruses are kept on the same floor, much less the same building as the "keep you nice and healthy" (hardy-har-har) vaccines. No one is this stupid. This was deliberate because that doggone avian flu wasn't cooperating by mutating and jumping species like it needed to to cause serious harm. Big Pharma just has no patience, I swear.

So now what? Certainly we'll be hearing soon that, for the good of the planet, we all need to hustle down to the nearest jab center and get ourselves hopped up on the new avian flu vaccine. And for those of us who view vaccines as harmful and decide not to get one? The detainment centers await.

Read more here, and petition Congress to pass a civil rights act protecting Americans from forced medical treatment, including forced vaccination. Even if you are not opposed to vaccinations, you should be worried that the government thinks it should have the right to tell you that you MUST be medically treated a certain way, injected with whatever they want, etc. regardless of whether or not you want it. That's the kind of thinking that will lead to a ban on homeopathy, natural medicine, supplements, etc. And if you think I'm reaching too far with that, then check out this to see that they're already trying to.

How cool is this?

First of all, thank you to everyone who is praying for Baby Ike. The surgery he had the other day ended with a tracheotomy. Kari hasn't said yet what exactly this means for him, if it's permanent, if it's a stopgap measure, or what, but it sounds like it's "permanent for now," if that makes sense. He's still struggling, though; his heart rate keeps dropping and they still don't know why. So the prayers are still very much needed.

For those of you in Austin, there are some awesome events being planned to help raise money for the family. Today there was a bake sale that netted over $700!!! But for those of us who aren't in Austin, we have a way now to a) help raise money for the Roy family, and b) get a little somethin'-somethin' for ourselves. Susan Beal is a crafter who does lots of beading stuff, and she has an etsy.com shop where she sells kits for beginners to make their own earrings and bracelets. She's currently donating *all* the proceeds from her etsy shop to this family. The kits are not expensive at all, either! So, think ahead to the rest of the year. What women in your life will be having a birthday, or a baby, or an anniversary, or whatever? How great would it be to be able to give her a gift that you not only made yourself, but that also benefited this family? Head over to Susan's etsy store and stock up!

Tuesday, 2/17, 11AM CST

Ike will be having surgery tomorrow. No details yet, sorry. Please pray!

Just found out...

...there's an online prayer vigil for baby Ike. Time slots are 30 minutes. Please take one, even if you can only pray for a few minutes during that slot. This family needs to be covered in prayer right now.

Pray for Ike-a-saurus

My heart is breaking right now. Baby Issac, affectionately known in the blogosphere as Ike-a-saurus his mama's blog, is one sick little boy. For those of you who've never checked out Kari's blog, Ike was born at 28.5 weeks after a very scary pregnancy and a lot of bedrest, and then continued to have one health issue after another. He recently had croup, but the stridor (whistling breathing that typically indicates a blockage of some kind in the airway) never went away, and yesterday was rushed to the ER with dangerously low O2 saturation levels. You can read the whole story here, but the bottom line is that this family is in serious need of our prays and our help because--oh yeah, forgot to mention--Ike daddy lost his job last month and all they have is COBRA, which we all know doesn't cover a whole lot.

Ike and his family live in Austin, TX, and Kari is part of a fantastic community of moms there who are pulling together to raise money for this family to help offset the medical bills. Yes, money is tight for everyone, but if you can spare *anything*, please donate, because we all know every little bit counts, especially when lots of people give a little bit. And if you live in or near Austin, keep an eye on the update website to see where fundraisers are being held so you can swing by and buy a cake or whatever happens to be for sale. And of course, if you have something you think might fetch a little cash for the family, be sure to talk to the mamas in charge on that site about donating your wares or services.

The internet is a weird thing. I've never met Kari, but I've been reading her blog for a while now, and she and I have talked a bit via Gmail chat and played a few games of Scrabulous. And even though we've never been face to face, I consider her a friend, and honestly, it's killing me that I'm not in Austin and can't *be there* to do something, you know? So I'll do what I can from here, and pray, and maybe someday I'll have the chance to give that sweet baby face a kiss.

Backfire

I introduced Abby to the concept of a sticker chart yesterday. Given she adores stickers, I thought it would be a good plan to help us smooth out some of the rough patches of our day. It worked pretty well with the face washing and tooth brushing. But one of the items is going all day without her paci, and it's such a habit for her that she kept popping them in her mouth. At one point Dan said, "Honey, you've got a paci in your mouth--take it out so you can get your sticker tonight!" She looked at him, thought a moment, then said, "I don't want the sticker."

Ah well. At least the kid's got boundaries.

Teetering on the edge...

...and trying not to fall off the face of the earth. I certainly fell of the face of the blogosphere, though, didn't I! I've been desperately trying to keep all the plates spinning, and this one just didn't make it. My apologies. I have two book deadlines in March, have been sorting and organizing and decluttering in preparation for a relocation that could happen at any time, and two kids who require more mommy-time every day, it seems. I just haven't had the energy to blog on top of it.

My latest newsletter will be releasing on Friday, and if you aren't yet a subscriber, I encourage you to sign up, because I'll be announcing a big contest that you don't want to miss!

Also, if you're a Facebooker (and who isn't these days?) I hope you'll look for my fan page and "become a fan." There is a discussion board there where I've posted a few questions, and I'd love to read your opinions!

So long, farewell...

Today is our last full day in Colorado. The bags are as packed as they can be for still having 20 hours left in the hotel, and somehow, though I still don't know how, I managed to fit it all in the bags we came with, despite a productive trip to the REI flagship store in Denver for me and the Castle Rock Outlet Mall for Abby. It's about 60 degrees outside right now, and windy, which is perfect to help dry the clothes Penny Jane spilled Dan's Coke on and that I washed with shampoo in the bathroom sink. Though the open window keeps rattling the bedroom door where Penny Jane is sleeping--her second nap actually inside the hotel this whole vacation. (The other one was this morning, and all the other naps were in the car. Poor kid. Though I think the trip has helped her transition to one nap a day! Woot!)

We really love it here. Really love it. It's hard to go. But I'm eager for my own bed (this one sucks) and for Abby to go back to her own bed (she is a tornado when she sleeps, I swear) and for play dates with our friends.

But as the sun sets (or the moon rises, as the photo from our hotel room shows) on our trip, our minds are awhirl with possibilities for our future here. Can't wait to come back...

Look what we woke up to...

Good idea, bad execution

Yet another example of overreaching government is now threatening to put thousands of crafters, artisans, WAHMs (and WAHDs), and small business owners out of work. Because of all the recent toy recalls due to lead contamination, a law was passed that goes into effect next month requiring the testing of ANY child-related article--toys, clothes, etc.--for lead. Sounds great, until you realize that this law applies to consignment and second-hand stores and folks like the ones I feature in my newsletter every other month. From what I understand, some changes have already been introduced in Congress which will modify the law as it applies to consignment shops and the like, but independent toymakers are still being left out in the cold. Please contact your representatives and senators and ask them to support changes to the law that will protect these folks. A sample letter can be found here, and more information can be found here.

Please vote!

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/health_freedom

Today is the last day to vote for the priorities you think Obama should have when he gets into office. Go to this site, sign up, confirm your account through the email they send you, and then PLEASE vote for health freedom!!! We need 1200 votes to move into the next round. I just cast vote #512.

The issue of socialization

Dan and I decided long ago our girls would be homeschooled. I'm active on a few parenting boards where a number of other moms homeschool, and I get loads of great ideas and tips from them. Once in a while someone will post a vent about the issue of socialization. We homeschooling moms and dads don't have any concerns about socialization, but it often seems that everyone else in the world gets concerned about it when you tell them you're homeschooling. "But how will your children be socialized if they're not in school?" they ask. Well, someone posted this today and honestly, I wish I could print it on little business cards and hand it out to people who question our children's socialization when we mention homeschooling.

Public School Socialization

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home
schooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about
socialization? ' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive
the same socialization that government schools provide.

"On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the
bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money. On Tuesdays
and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not
being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any
physical abnormalities. Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure
Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most
expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car.

"Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and
swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with
alcohol and immorality. And we have asked (our kids) to report us
to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try
to bring up morals and values."

From the Kolbe Little Home Journal, Fall 2005

Why

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas!!!! Happy Birthday Jesus!

More from the portfolio

Found some more great Abby photos on the Photo Booth program today:


For those of you familiar with the series by Beverly Cleary--doesn't she totally look like Ramona Quimby here?



The other day at Target Abby said she wanted to get Penny Jane a teddy bear for Christmas. It took her ten minutes to choose from 5 different types of bears. The poor child has my decision-making ability. Anyway, this was her final choice.

A couple weeks ago Abby wanted to do a little portrait session with PJ and me. She set up the computer on the ottoman next to the couch and would run back and forth, pushing the button to take the picture and then racing back to get in the frame. Here are some of the good ones:

Done and done!

What do you get when you put 112,185 words in just the right order over 236 pages? MY COMPLETED FOURTH NOVEL!

*insert Snoopy dance here*

BOO-YA

Awwwww yeah! Fifty-thousand words completed--I have won my first NaNoWriMo! I told Dan less than 48 hours ago that I was giving up because I only had 41,000 words and didn't think there was any way I'd find the time to get 9,000 more by tonight. But something happens--I haven't yet ruled out divine intervention--and voila, here I am staring at a word count of 50,024. This puts me about 2/3 of the way done with the book and right at the spot where the action really picks up. I can hardly believe it, but I might actually finish this thing by the end of the year as planned.

The plot thickens

Wow.

http://polarik.blogtownhall.com/

Your thoughts?