Parenting Skills

My wonderful husband got to work from home today. Snow + travel + ice = one man working the computer keyboard around the orange-ish, furry lump on his lap. And do you know what wonderful husband (WH for short), mentioned above, said after the cat jumped into his lap for the fifth time?

"She wouldn't be doing this if you didn't let her."

Me: "I beg your pardon?"

WH: "You heard me. She wouldn't insist on jumping in my lap while at the computer if you didn't let her do it with you."

Me: "Oh. So what you're saying is that it's my parenting skills that are instilling bad habits in our adorable baby?"

WH gave me the look that can only be described as 'if-I-agree-I'm-screwed; if-I-disagree-I'm screwed.' Rightly so. Is it my fault if the furry product of our love wants to show her Daddy some attention? He shouldn't be insulted; he should feel honored. Enough said.

Check

Rainy weather? Check

Cold temperatures? Check (didn't get out of the mid-50's today)

Clean, warm polartec blankie? Check

Lack of initiative to do anything in this weather? Oh, yeah. In spades.

That's OK. I think our three member family needed the rest after a very busy (but highly productive) week.

Krafty Kitty

As if my days weren't filled by searching for a job, starting my fall bread-baking season, trying to make new friends and enjoying AGCC days, I've got a few crafty projects going on. I'll show finished projects in the coming weeks, but wanted you to know that I have some scrupulous supervision.

Ah, Grasshoppa!

In this household, it is all about the kitty. Kitty's comfort, kitty's emotional state, kitty's education, kitty's entertainment, etc, etc. Keeping such a fickle, scholarly, brilliant kitty engaged is very challenging to her bi-ped parents. So, when DJ found this HUGE grasshopper on Sunday, his first thought was 'sharing' his find with the kitty. Did y'all know grasshoppers can spit? Ask DJ.

Considering that Ginger has never seen a grasshopper that could eat small children, it was quite the experience for her. She found his antics amusing, but soon grew weary when she realized all he could do was chirp and jump. Ugh. Now how do we broaden our 'furry' child's horizons? Any suggestions?

PS No animals or insects were harmed in the process of taking these photos. Mr. Grasshoppa was released into the wild shortly after these pictures. This time, without the addition of bodily fluids.

Quote of the Day (and a Daily Dose of Cute)

"To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness."

--Bertrand Russell

Does your office furniture include a fuzzy orange paperweight?

DJ and I decided that we want 'grown up' office desks in our new place. So, we decided to sell our two current home office desks. Both of them are that compressed wood/particle board from Sauder furniture company. This decision makes sense since it will decrease the weight load of 'stuff' to move, thus decreasing our moving costs; and the moving company made us sign a waiver that said they were not responsible if the pieces of the desk did not go back together correctly in their new location. Hmmm . . . Having to sign the waiver did not instill a boatload of confidence in me. . . . . .

I listed the desks on craigslist.org (great site, check it out) and, much to my delight, they sold in less than one week. Just one problem . . . My husband's office is in total chaos (and we know how he likes his order . . . .). He has his office computer on a filing cabinet, the keyboard in his lap, the home computer is set up on two shelves of a bookcase and the two printers on the other shelves.

But, being a good 'daddy,' he made sure to leave one-half of a shelf open for the kitty. So, using some ingenuity, we've ensured that my husband's 'assistant' can still keep an eye on him while he works.

Sunday Ritual

In times of turmoil, even the simplest of rituals is comforting. For example, take our Sunday morning 'production' of changing the sheets. Yes, 'production' is the correct description.

Removal of the old sheets is a three part process.

1. One of us picks her up off the bed (which is about as easy as holding onto water)
2. The second person pulls off the flat and fitted sheets while the first holds the squirming kitty above.

3. Then, we drop the kitty back onto the bed so she can 'dig' into the mattress cover for a few minutes.

Putting clean sheets on? Oh, yeah. Real production . . . . as you can see from the pictures above. Why only three pictures? Because they are the only ones that didn't come out as creamsicle colored blurs.

Chaos and Calm

I got boxes and packing material all over my house. Half of what should be in drawers and cabinets are on counters and table tops. Looking at the chaos has led my husband to experience an all time high anxiety level. The Zen-Serenity candle I got him doesn't seem to be doing the job. Too bad it didn't come with a money back guarantee . . . .

And, through this entire chaotic process, there is one little furry bundle of calm.

Without dwelling on this too much, I do worry about the toll this move will take on my furry baby and my family. How do I continue to be a good Mommy and a good wife during this move? The best answer I can come up with is communication and honesty. . . . . but, at this time, I happily solicit advice from those who have it to offer.

Daily Dose of Cute

As most of y'all are aware, spring cleaning in our household also means changing fall/winter bedding to spring/summer bedding. Ginger just gets all a twitter about this! Not only because she LOVES to help make the bed, but she adores the matelasse bedspread and its nubby texture. It is so funny to watch our little declawed kitty, jump on the bed and just dig into it in an attempt to 'sharpen' her phantom claws!

In the picture above, she is just all tuckered out! She had just assisted in dressing the bed and completed her sharpening exercises.

It's almost time!

When I told y'all I was going to volunteer at an orphanage, how did you picture said orphanage? Maybe a big dorm like structure? At most, a handful of buildings? That's what I had pictured. Honey, was I wrong.

All volunteers received some additional information last week that gives us more details about our volunteer program. Puericultorio Perez Aranibar (PPA), the orphanage, is like a college campus. There are over 30 buildings set on a piece of land one kilometer long and a half kilometer wide. For those of us who have trouble remembering the metric-english conversion, here it is: one kilometer is equivalent to 0.621 miles. No wonder the pre-program information emphasized that volunteers had to be flexible to time/schedule. Classes rarely start at the appointed hour. No wonder! It ain't easy moving a class of 4, 5, 6 years old (or even older) children. The best analogy I've heard is that moving a group of young children is like herding cats . . . only the kids are bigger and can talk back. Yes, this will definitely be an exercise to demonstrate flexibility of one's mental self.

Even after three pages of emailed details on the program, which contained "be flexible" in every other sentence, I am not deterred. Nervous? Yes. Who wouldn't be? Single female, traveling to a South American country with a reputation that a tourist can not leave unless they get the please-just-let-me-die bout of diarrhea or pick pocketed. I'll be sure to update you on which option was given to me.

Oh, don't worry about my husband. He has a freezer full of homemade bread and meals. I'm more worried about my little, furry, orange shadow, Ginger. This cat is so funny. She even partakes in our pre-trip preparations by napping in open suitcases, leaving a toy mouse in my husband's suitcase, becoming super-shedder-kitty leaving telltale orange fur all over our clothes and giving us those you-really-really-don't-want-to-do-this-to-me eyes. My husband tells me that when I'm traveling, she roams the house calling for me. How's that for a guilt trip?

In closing, I should have internet access while in Lima. If that is the case, I'll try to post at least two short updates on the volunteer program.