Heptadecagon

The best thing about Facebook, in my humble opinion, is catching up with people you really want to know about, but haven't a clue as to where they might be. Carol is one of those people. Last year, I happened to look her up on Facebook and to my delight, there she was. It has taken almost a year to see her, but with our trip to Michigan, she and I finally caught up. Carol was one of just a handful of people that actually spoke to me on my first day of ninth grade. I was a newcomer to the city, and a poorly dressed one at that. What I mean to say is that, just like now, I was fashion challenged. To this day I remember the blue skirt and shirt, and white cotton sweater I wore. I felt uncomfortable in it, which probably made the whole ensemble even worse. If you feel awkward in what you are wearing, there is absolutely no way that you can pull it off, you know? Well, that first morning, when I walked into the cafetorium (Cafeteria and auditorium all in one? What the heck is ...

That isn't meant the way it looks. Remember the thermometer I bought Tim for Christmas? It is an infrared one, and it has a laser. The laser can be turned on and off, and is really only there to show you what you are aiming the thermometer at. (I just ended that sentence with a preposition, AND I will not correct it.) This week, we've pretty much measured the temperature of everything (all in degrees Fahrenheit). The inside of Tim's mouth? 94 degrees. The backsplash in the kitchen? 65 degrees. The tile floor in the kitchen? 68 degrees. Zoe's forehead? 97 degrees. Aaron's eyeball? 88 degrees. The scrambled eggs? 87 degrees (and cooling quickly). The ice cream in the freezer? Zero degrees. The metal back of the oven (preheated to 300): 313 degrees. I could go on. The kids have had a blast, although both Tim and I have had to remind them that it isn't a toy. (Isn't it, though?) And, this thing is so handy. This evening, I was making Naan and needed t...

We received pictures of the kids in the mail the other day from the orthodontist. The orthodontist documents everything , and uses many pictures and x-rays in their quest to help our kids get the best mouths possible. I know I already posted about the girls getting their braces off. This one isn't about braces. It is about the pre-teen children I now have living in my house! I about fell over when I looked at the pictures. Here are the before pictures, the ones in which my girls look (to me) still like babies. And here are the after pictures.

We're back. You might not have known we were gone, and that is as it should be. I often wonder about the people that broadcast via blog, Facebook, or any other social media that they have vacated the premises for a week. Isn't that just an invitation to the malicious to come over? Anyway, we made it to Michigan and back with very little fanfare. In between those driving days, there was very little fanfare. And with 6 young cousins all mixed in, little fanfare is a very good thing. In short, we all had a good time, and it was nice to see both of my sisters and their families. Tim and I don't usually exchange very large presents. This year, is no exception, considering we will likely be giving each other a kitchen makeover next year. Or a new computer. Or any number of things that will likely go wrong with our house in the next couple of months. He got me a set of cookie cutters shaped like laboratory equipment, and I got him a thermometer. It is a pretty cool on...

Yesterday was the kids first day off for the Winter Break. They woke up late, played a bit together, and watched a movie with lunch. We didn't have too much to do until the afternoon, when we needed to get to an orthodontist appointment. So, we waited to do our errands until then. The girls each were fitted with their new retainers. Zoe's is a dark bluish/purple color, while Talia's is clear with sparkles. And I can say that we are all grateful for the girls choosing two completely different colors for their retainers. The alternative, and what can happen, kind of gives me the shivers. On the way back from the orthodontist, and en route to the gas station, the kids were talking about Santa. I think just about everything was said with respect to the jolly man in Red. The Belief is strong here, and I'd like to cultivate that just a bit longer, if possible. The funny thing is, kids notice things, you know? Melina's school had a Christmas party on Tuesday. (Ye...

The first part in fixing a problem is admitting you need help, right? I helped with Aaron's holiday party yesterday. Unlike last year, Aaron's class this year is almost begging for help! While we had an abundance of parents at the kindergarten parties, this year, that is not the case. Therefore, the homeroom mom had asked me to bring in some pretzels, juice, and chocolate chips, and then to also be a helper while the party was happening. Melina and I had planned on attending anyway, so it wasn't any trouble. Luckily, Mrs. H (the homeroom mom) had decided to make the party very low-key. Instead of a craft and a snack, she made the craft the snack. The kids each had a sugar cookie, some frosting, a few chocolate coated candies and some chocolate chips. We bravely gave each child a plastic knife, and let him or her go to town decorating. While that was going on, we passed out pretzels and juice. At some point, Mrs. H asked that I help pass out bananas. The "Welln...

We just had the electrician here to install fluorescent lighting in the basement. Our basement was old and dark, and while we will probably never have it finished, the kids like to play there sometimes, and we have a desk there for the kids to do their homework. Up until now, it really has been too dark for the kids to do their homework (what homework, right?), and with my eyes, I have always complained about not being able to see down there. Hence, the call to the electrician. I just went down there to put away some boxes, and my first thought was, "Wow!" I really am not a fan of fluorescent lighting in stores or elsewhere in the home, but these lights really lit everything up! I can now see anything I want: the top of the box at the top of the shelf, the crevice behind the air hockey table, and the corner shelf that houses the cat litter. If the kids are looking for something in the toy bins, they should now be able to find things without my assistance. Unfortunately...