She gets that evil part from me.

We are having a problem with the evil (but catchy) Backyardigaans DVDs that Grandma and Grandpa bought LM for X-mas (Gee, thanks guys.) We don't have a TV so she would watch them on our laptops and then after a while we couldn't have the stupid things out without the whining and begging and pointing with sounds that she assumes convey meaning.

So Husband and I went to Best Buy and got a portable DVD player (because the safety of my laptop was seriously undermined by all this Nick Jr. nonsense) and now she watches on that. This is all well and good (although even as I write this the machine is making some noise that I am pretty sure it isn't supposed to make - LM figured out how to open it and take the DVD out and play with the laser. You think she might be an engineer when she grows up?) but now I have to hide that from her if I don't want her watching it. I try to only let her watch it right before meals. That way when i turn it off, we are going to do something specific which she enjoys and there's not nearly as much throwing herself on the ground and screaming like I put her teddy in the garbage disposal.

However, now I have to hide the DVD's (as it is they are on the top shelf of her bookcase) because she has figured out what the cases look like and will just stand underneath the bookshelf and whine, "mem mem mem mem..." until I want to eat glass.

It's official. She's an evil genius sent to destroy me.

Why would a grown woman want a stuffed animal?....And other valentines day questions.

Valentines day confounds me. I find it amazing that corporate American has convinced the rest of us that one day a year we are supposed to buy each other things and if we don't, then they obviously don't love you and should be killed immediately (wait that sounds a lot like Christmas). Husband and I don't celebrate Valentines day (or black Thursday as I am calling it this year) or most other commercial holidays. Granted, we have x-mas with our families and I love giving birthday presents to other people (and of course to LM when s he is old enough - just for the record a birthday party for a 1 year old is not for the child....they have no idea what the hell is going on), but we don't buy each other gifts. I just don't understand why I would want someone to buy me something with my own money. Plus I am more of a spontaneous gift kinda girl.

Anyway, all of this is just besides the point. What I really wanted to write about is the stuffed animal phenomenon. Why would a grown woman want a teddy bear? Let's ponder that.

Also, why is an arrow through the heart an image that brings love to mind? Really you would just bleed to death.

Why do the stores start selling Easter candy in January? ok, that's not a valentines question, but it confuses me.

Why do we make children give valentines to everyone in their class? Yeah, yeah, I know it's so no one feels left out, but seriously people is that realistic. Don't you think we should be preparing them for the real world. Plus no one wants to give a valentine to the kid who sits in the corner and smells like pee.*

Anyway, Give me chocolate any day - or everyday, and then when I am 400 lbs you can leave me Ahhhh, love!

*Just kidding about this one folks - I don't want any hate-mail for that one.

And...we're back.

Well folks, it has been quite a while since I last posted and I apologize for the lapse. Things have been pretty crazy here. Here's a down and dirty run-down of what has been happening for the past 2 months.

Little Monster Update:
LM now:
runs mostly, sometimes walks. And is way too mobile for her own safety (or my sanity).

Says: Momma (mostly mem-me, or mim-mim-mim-mim; she's into repeating), dada, teddy,
DUCK (yes it is said like that), CAT!, Dogga, caw-caw (bird), and....George Tikae. Ok, she
doesn't really say George Tikae, but she constantly makes a noise that sounds like that
and my trekkie husband has decided she is channeling Sulu.

Must sleep with two or three teddy bears.

Turned 1 years old

Went to a birthday party

Has still yet to meet her betrothed, but hopefully a trip to San Francisco is in the near future.

As for the rest of the clan, we are living in Portland. Husband is running the kitchen of a popular bar/restaurant and loving it. I am currently still unemployed, but LM and I are having fun and I have been rather crafty (as in Martha Stewart crafty, not clever) during my time off.

Our Christmas was very low-key. My parents and sister came and stayed for a week. We didn't have a traditional x-mas given our current financial state and it was actually nice. Much less stressful.

Other than that there isn't much to tell. I will really try to write more frequently about the interesting things that happen - although now that I'm not working (or interacting with much of the general public) there isn't much.