tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62180843143851752982024-03-19T05:49:09.654-07:00Grumpy Old SarahSarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-32129251440050814692011-05-11T01:31:00.000-07:002011-05-11T01:31:05.356-07:00Summer in Stockholm<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last weekend I decided to take my bike on an epic journey:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from our little municipality south of Stockholm, to a friend's municipality north of Stockholm (her daughter was turning 2 and we had some goodies for her that I wanted to drop off) - perhaps not 'epic', but with my one-gear bicycle, I figured the 16 km journey would take me approximately an hour there, and an hour back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, once the girls laid down for their mid-day nap, I packed up my stuff, said farewell to Mayu and headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the first 45 minutes, it was a lovely ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun was shining and there is no better place ot be than Stockholm in the summer;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>patios are full, frosted glasses are teeming with ice cold lager, bottles of rose are happily being downed and the hipsters - which, let's face it, is every Stockholmer - are out looking cooler than their <a href="http://dadsaretheoriginalhipster.tumblr.com/">dads</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With only a few more kilometers to go, I lost control of my bike, veered off to the side of the road, only to look down and see my busted old tire, FLAT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since bikes aren't allowed to be taken on the subway here, and we don't drive, compiled with the fact that I don't have a mobile to contact anyone to help me, my options were few:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>walk my busted old bike the 13km back home or lay down and die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I started back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since the walk back was slow going, </span>I compiled a checklist of sorts, if one is ever to move to Stockholm:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Stockholm Summer Survival Guide:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Straight hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your hair is curly, you might not even bother visiting Stockholm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals will view you as wild, unconforming, unwilling and, honestly, unsocialist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will also be unable to sport one of this season's dos:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://www.marieclaire.com/cm/marieclaire/images/tN/rb-medium-straight-hair-56-0809-de.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.marieclaire.com/hair-beauty/medium-hair-how-to-hairstyles&usg=__zkNv0cnnaIHFbxnIisIxihiXvM0=&h=500&w=375&sz=30&hl=sv&start=0&sig2=_6hzuuUazzAFVGsIIBsNuA&zoom=1&tbnid=-W8gEr_7ZyQAoM:&tbnh=164&tbnw=123&ei=kj7KTYmFGsHUtAbc37iPAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dstraight%2Bmedium%2Bwomen%2Bhair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1429&vpy=66&dur=3760&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=139&ty=187&page=1&ndsp=45&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0">long</a>, <a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://www.womensbeautylife.com/albums/women-trendy-hairstyles/Very_short_women_hairstyle_with_very_long_bang_ice_blond_hair.png&imgrefurl=http://www.womensbeautylife.com/gallery/women-trendy-hairstyles/Very_short_women_hairstyle_with_very_long_bang_ice_blond_hair&usg=__4TVM2iGWfGX7Fzm-TKOzOwNNTXs=&h=513&w=486&sz=329&hl=sv&start=240&sig2=dQxymjTIWB26N4DLQz89sQ&zoom=1&tbnid=NKgLoW7Uh-HXPM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=140&ei=Hj7KTfSaOYjpOdmwodAH&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshort%2Bwomen%2Bhair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch1%2C3398&chk=sbg&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1518&vpy=254&dur=3619&hovh=231&hovw=218&tx=133&ty=158&page=6&ndsp=48&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:240&biw=1899&bih=839">short</a> or <a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://www.outcastii.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/veneta-mens-hair.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.outcastii.net/hair-trends-for-men-hair-cuts-styles-and-colors/&usg=__LeUU2jtB8cIAt2uBr9denFSEarU=&h=277&w=400&sz=23&hl=sv&start=191&sig2=koHw-uLHWr6Fa-vlEoIXkQ&zoom=1&tbnid=9NiKdM2jnKwuoM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=194&ei=Aj3KTfO9JsOfOs3_8cYH&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmen%2Bhair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch0%2C2929&um=1&itbs=1&biw=1899&bih=839&iact=rc&dur=2153&page=5&ndsp=47&ved=1t:429,r:46,s:191&tx=156&ty=55">male</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.ray-ban.com/sweden">Ray-Bans</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other sunglasses will not protect you from the Nordic sun, there is no other way, Ray-Bans or blindness, this is what I've been told.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://www.amazingonly.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Angelina-jolie-family-03.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazingonly.com/amazing/angelina-jolie-family-photos/&usg=__GMPlsh6sJFVWIquem4H_RmWdSqA=&h=269&w=400&sz=29&hl=sv&start=0&sig2=H-gSF5cB_KifvdsPNF7vxA&zoom=1&tbnid=b6FRr3Z-LOplmM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=212&ei=yUDKTfDaEIXUsgbl_t3gAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dangelina%2Bfamily%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=306&vpy=99&dur=2995&hovh=184&hovw=274&tx=155&ty=145&page=1&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0">Children</a>, preferably babies, a lot of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Safety in numbers. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpibzimxvhnR84aCUDWqu-_wakOyOZJx3zboRl13AVL_53KbifEh-4WTkQz4Vt-RNYe2_aYLONF4AJmzw06FL7Mctv3gH6n07sS2eRR-becA89j2FoLxyP4ieydUaYh8540Af55xVX5JVB/s1600/chinos_865590w.jpg&imgrefurl=http://mode4men.blogspot.com/&usg=__NkvjrS8vE3mky5ReeBzDelBs5YU=&h=278&w=413&sz=15&hl=sv&start=0&sig2=okXVhYr_xYlfuGYqcE3rwg&zoom=1&tbnid=BNNdHfRVlzU7rM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=209&ei=2z7KTfbhEMnLtAbqpISLAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dchinos%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=484&page=1&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=99&ty=46">Chinos</a> - beige or black (although I was recently informed that if you live in Ostermalm, you must own red ones), rolled messily, and exactly 2.5 times to hit the lower shin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm guessing this has something to do with survival from lime disease - or mushroom picking, but I can't be sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_874687276"> </a></span><a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://projectcotton.blogg.se/images/2010/baby-sleeve-tattoo_109107239.jpg&imgrefurl=http://projectcotton.blogg.se/2010/september/&usg=__PJ-MSozpWrtTbf-qMgWxdxVb7FU=&h=350&w=500&sz=39&hl=sv&start=0&sig2=WPCL7ivjn4Er3OyEvnU8Ew&zoom=1&tbnid=NEDid0zulS0O9M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=213&ei=nkHKTab-N5DEtAaAw8neAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dtattoo%2Bindie%2Bsleeves%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=328&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:28,s:0&tx=90&ty=80">Tattoos</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preferably a sleeve, but something small and visible will do as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an important tribal marking to distinguish yourself as a Stockholmer, without a tattoo, in the case of a city riot, you never know what the wolves will do.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.toms.com/international">Toms</a>, white <a href="http://www.converse.com/">Converse </a>(although in recent times black and navy are being seen as acceptable) or <a href="http://www.swedishhasbeens.com/">Hasbeens</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without at least one pair of one of these, you will never out run a Swede and in a knife fight, is this what you want?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should mention that, in winter, it is perfectly acceptable to wear Sorels or Hunter wellies.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any one-gear retro bike will do, as long as it is equipped with a basket and gigantic saddle, but of course, the Stockholmers' favourites include <a href="http://www.kronan.com/">Kronan</a>, <a href="http://www.monark.se/">Monark</a> and <a href="http://www.crescent.se/">Cresent</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These last three are better equipped to fight off the <a href="http://www.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://gyllencreutz.blogg.se/images/2010/david-hasselhoff_83284018.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gyllencreutz.blogg.se/2010/april/&usg=__EFmepnRm2quWgmHrcsdgTUUd5Tk=&h=299&w=550&sz=35&hl=sv&start=0&sig2=-NhiZIASyKQpk7cmD9bK0Q&zoom=1&tbnid=gryBZWbLYnEGYM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=214&ei=OELKTaXzJcTJtAbT3ajNAw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddavid%2Bhasselhoff%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dsv%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1899%26bih%3D839%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=280&page=1&ndsp=44&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=92&ty=86">Germans</a>, if every under attack (this is only what I've been told).</span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And lastly,<a href="http://winesweden.blogspot.com/2008/11/tandarra-cabernet-sauvignon-rose-2008.html"> rose wine</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To thaw the ice-cold Stockholm persona which one might encounter during the winter months - get a few glasses of rose into a Stockholmer and you have a friend for life, or at least until the next winter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">If you follow this survival guide closely, you will not only be better off during any German attacks, or Swedish riots, but you might even be mistaken as a Stockholmer and if your Swedish won't pass, just purse your lips, breath in quickly, sort of through your teeth, making a loud sucking noise, and they'll think, at very least, you are from the South. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I finally made it home on Saturday, after 2.5 hours of walking my busted rusty Kronan home. My kids were, outside, playing, Mayu was hanging our chinos out on the line, and I poured myself a glass of rose and put my feet up. I love summer in Stockholm. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Until next time,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Grumpy Old Sarah. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">As the weather gets hotter, don't forget to take advantage and put a clothes line outside for fresh smelling, environmentally kind laundry!</span></span>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-24093478413123925552011-05-06T05:42:00.000-07:002011-05-06T05:42:31.054-07:00Dinnertime Redundancy<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A couple friends of mine and I have an ongoing thread on facebook whingeing about all the things that are driving us mad about our kids...it's not to seek pity or to consol one another, but rather to top each other's kids' disgusting and miserable behavior to get each other laughing (now that I've spelt it out, it all seems very sinister!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, for this one, I will share beyond our private thread:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dinner time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Since having kids, I've not shared in others' feelings of trepidation with new foods or understood how mealtime was difficult - in fact, we've been lucky with both our kids - they eat most things (sometimes need extra coaxing with veggies), and a lot, and we've never had to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's always been a quiet time of day - mouths full, chewing, swallowing, anywhere from 10-30 minutes of bliss...that is, until recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Recently, Olive has to decided to quickly slip into her 'I'm an asshole outfit' right before dinner time (and it fits all too well I'm afraid!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First, it's up to the table, drink madly and wildly, milk seeping from the corners of her mouth (I let this go).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it's "Spoon mamma, inte fork!" (I always have both on the table in preparation, I give her a spoon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"NEJ mamma, Olle's fork, inte spoon, hands!" (I don't let this go), "Fork or spoon Olive?".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both utensils are now on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pick them up, return them to her with no words (I'm usually too angry to calmly and patiently explain to her why this behavior is ridiculous, so I just hand them back to her).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day she loves carrots, the next she hates them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For, sometimes, 3 days in a row, she's crazy for rice and peas, then, on day four, rice and peas are a weapon to be thrown 'ping, ping' off her sister's head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SERIOUSLY?!?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>weather's been nice and we spend most of our time outside, she NEVER wants to eat - it's a big drama every time I say the words, 'Dinner Time'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"One more time slide?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Ok, Olive, 'one more time slide' and then dinner'".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She'll run in, jump up to the table, eat one bite, and then "Outside, play with kids?".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Olive, you must eat more than one bite"...and these words just throw her over the edge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And what is worse?,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have recently been told, that 3's are worse that 2's...so I'm determined to nip this behavior in the bud before we get to her 3rd birthday - but how??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've read loads on discipline, behavior, positive reinforcement, forget it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have one determined kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've thought of letting her starve...until she comes in begging to be fed, but I have to feed my youngest who, by 5pm, is getting ultra grumpy and hungry, so I can't keep an eye on Olive outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In with the masses I'm afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a few times, I've managed to feed Poppy outside while Olive plays, but then Olive claims that I'm starving her at precisely 7pm (coincidently, her bedtime might I add!)...and truthfully, I'm not interested in running a restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the end, I try telling myself, these shenanigans will be replaced by far worse shenanigans when the girls are in their teen years, which helps me not to kill the girls, but it doesn't make me any happier about the current situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Until next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Grumpy Old Sarah. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We're quickly approaching<a href="http://www-markinfo.slu.se/eng/climate/vfrost.html"> last frost</a> in Stockholm (sort of...you can't be sure until June), so get those seedlings started to enjoy your summer harvest! Feel free to check out your climate zone above. A funny blog entry I came across while searching for the last frost, read, "<a href="http://www.autumnfrost.blogspot.com/">Dear Sweden</a>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 17px;">you suck. Your spring is awful, your wine is expensi</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 17px;">ve." I like it, especially the bit about the wine!</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-4894688175411016332011-05-02T04:33:00.000-07:002011-05-02T06:04:54.976-07:00Green Thumbing It<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since I last wrote, the weather has gone from winter to summer and then back to winter (not quite, but it is damn chilly today!), my eldest turned 2, Prince William (last name: <span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 13px;">Mountbatten-Windsor</span>, if you can even believe) of the UK married, </span> Bin Laden was killed (apparently) and Donald Trump has become the next president of the United States (ok, it hasn't been quite that long, but who knows between this entry and the next...)...and it's only been a month! But perhaps the most remarkable development of all, since I last wrote, is the growing season has begun...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tomatoes, sunflowers and yellow beans</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunflowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">green beans and sunflowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHd5Lh-5x3SLMLDN40TI4hgdnP5hwOkDxmaEuVBJG-DGqcHsC-mSDeaIzwglV-0BxWPtpQemjjzuJfTSBTiDnuNEeC1236n9ZLHJSJxckJOmvVw7t-7AV6B6EsXPbSVsUV-YMLDS_-asD/s1600/173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(insert appropriate 'ooooos' and 'awwwwws' here please) Mayu hates me for this time, as all of my seedlings are kept in our bedroom - if you follow his blog <a href="http://husbandfathernerd.blogspot.com/">nerdhusbandfather</a> you may remember some venting last year! <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">For those of you not interested in green-thumbing, this might not make your '<a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2035319_2034985,00.html">Top 10 Comebacks</a>', yet, this blog entry promises to be magnificent. No, I'm kidding, I can't make such promises...it will merely follow with 'fun facts' about parsley and fertilizer...oooooo, and, wait for it....GREEN BEANS! Yes, this is my new project - flowers are always on the agenda, together with herbs and peas and splicing of my sedum, hosta and rhubarb, but this year, in addition to continuing the tomato tradition (albeit last year was a disaster) I will be planting the following edible plants: green beans, yellow beans, peas, and sunflowers (mostly for the birds). Moms & dads out there - these are all very easy and fun ways keep your kids outside. Both my girls are CRAZY for our garden, which is a huge motivation to keeping it stocked (if you don't have a garden, much of what I plant and will further discuss over the season can be planted in boxes on your balcony, or even inside on a window sill). Both girls help to plant and dig outside (Poppy just eats dirt mostly, but she has a blast doing so!) and Olive has learned, quickly, which paths to take in the garden to get to the herbs and rhubarb without trampling the flowers. Every evening, following dinner, we head outside (if we've come in at all...usually we eat dinner outside and don't come in until bathtime/bedtime) to water everything. Both girls love it; Olive has her own watering can which she dumps and fills as quickly as possible, and Poppy drags herself along trying to keep up. It really is a magnificent time of year to have little ones around. In fact </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">over the Easter weekend, it wasn't just our kids helping, it was all the neighbourhood </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">kids - all little people seem to easily get into the spirit of things. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter gardening with the neighborhood kids</td></tr>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmt3L4A2d9L_-cNP4wzyiiy1Sn0LFqmb5XTVcUrT4cmSaLt2pZk9J2W3d_aJ-KSvjK4Doa7nhDLANb1OB2atgx5vEhPkiLgBMQ2ASPx7kWVbxeKiq-POKsS02V07LLlP0Yo4dRtKtAkrh/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></span></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmt3L4A2d9L_-cNP4wzyiiy1Sn0LFqmb5XTVcUrT4cmSaLt2pZk9J2W3d_aJ-KSvjK4Doa7nhDLANb1OB2atgx5vEhPkiLgBMQ2ASPx7kWVbxeKiq-POKsS02V07LLlP0Yo4dRtKtAkrh/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">And if you do take heed - </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>a great, organic fertilizer is nettles. Take a bunch of the readily available weed, chop them up into a bucket (keeping your gloves on the entire time of course), fill the bucket with water and let rot (a couple weeks is usually good - but the stinkier the better, and MAN can this concoction get stinky!). Mayu complains about my chosen method of fertilization, because of the putrid smell...but, truthfully, you only need to use about a cup diluted in a large watering can, once a week - I do it late in the evening, before bed, it smells for an hour or so but by morning there's no trace and all your plants remain KID FRIENDLY (not to mention earth-animal-etc friendly)!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive eating some garden goodies...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4rZSPUaI-bohFTQ9TE6291bxh0wyXKuN7lS59KylqBaDIpCS6QiRbwgVbLFMjTivjEzSDdyaUVQ4v-BZ04XNRo6JPSfQRjMOHyWHohBr66XJxxhLQ9ryQtM_UcdUcwHIETwmezEUfcQj/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4rZSPUaI-bohFTQ9TE6291bxh0wyXKuN7lS59KylqBaDIpCS6QiRbwgVbLFMjTivjEzSDdyaUVQ4v-BZ04XNRo6JPSfQRjMOHyWHohBr66XJxxhLQ9ryQtM_UcdUcwHIETwmezEUfcQj/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppy enjoying the sun, her snack and the daffodils (I'm only guessing)</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Until next time (and be rest assured, as you lay your head down to sleep tonight, that you will not have to wait for another savvy read for as long as you waited this time),</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">As promised: It is said that parsley goes 7 times to the Devil and back before it germinates (because of the long time it takes to grow). Moreover, because of the difficulty in growing it, it is said that only witches or evil people can grow it...some food for thought if you're planting to keep anyone away...but also to keep in mind if you choose to grow from seed (I have quickly learned, that, this is as tough as they say). </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-76845908317732087962011-03-16T05:43:00.000-07:002011-03-16T05:43:52.181-07:00Traits vs. Flaws vs. Soft Skills: What's the difference?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2011/03/15/mom-confession-i-think-i-love-my-son-a-little-bit-more/">Mom Confession: I think I love my son a little bit more</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend just posted the above article, on her fb, from Babble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read it through, and was crying by the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I give credit to the author for finding the bravery to share her thoughts, but wonder if her daughter will feel the same way when she is grown and reads it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also couldn't help but wonder how much of the author's description of her daughter was, in fact, a projection of how she feels about herself, and her own insecurities?? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom always knew that she wasn't her mother's 'favourite', in fact, my grandmother said something to her, when my mom was a young adult, that she found her 'hard to like', and 'didn't really understand her'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't know my great-grandmother well, but I've heard that she was a hard-ass, and although my mom liked her as a grandmother, I have often wondered what she was like to my grandmother, as a mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my guess, that something has trickled down my family tree, generation to generation, as my mother often told me, that she found me 'very challenging, emotional (she often calls me a cry-baby in jest), stubborn and bossy'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still sees me this way, and that's ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it wasn't always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My mom made it known that she loved me, but she also reminded me that I possessed certain character 'traits'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She always mentioned them with humour, in a 'poking fun' sort of way, but I still felt very insecure about them, feeling that by 'traits', she meant 'flaws'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a long time, I tried to hide these 'traits' from people, and attempted to change myself to be more calm, less emotional, more flexible and less bossy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out, this was impossible (surprise, surprise).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, I learned to live with these 'traits', alienating and distancing myself, slightly, from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, around the time I met my husband, I began to become comfortable with, and appreciative of, these 'traits'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the other day I was working on my CV and, with the help of Mayu, I massaged out, into words, certain 'traits' into 'soft skills' - it's a great exercise for anyone (and easiest to do with someone who loves you!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write down a list of all of your, so called, character flaws or 'traits' or less-desirable qualities:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lazy, slow, takes on too many projects, talks too much, loud, etc,</i> and, in turn, make your list into a list of 'soft skills':<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">enjoys taking time with projects, careful, thoughtful and meticulous, thrives when multi-tasking, extremely social and co-operative, charismatic, etc.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband, very kindly, describes me as having boundless energy, empathetic and passionate, committed and a born leader (he is the master of 'soft-skilling').<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, my youngest daughter, Poppy, is a miniature version of my husband:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>calm, cool, low maintenance and even-tempered - always has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are two peas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, just as I love, adore and admire Mayu for all of these qualities, I love, adore and admire Poppy for them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first born, Olive, on the other hand, is a miniature version of me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very opposite</i> of Poppy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me a long time to get comfortable with, and understand the worth of, my 'traits', but because I am and do, I LOVE all of these, very same, 'traits' in Olive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I hadn't come to love myself and be confident in who I am, I don't believe I could love Olive the way I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I could give any advice to a parent, it would be:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be happy with, love and appreciate yourself, and your partner, as it is very, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">very</i> likely, you will see all of you and your partner's 'traits' in the faces, expressions and actions of the little people who live with you (it's like a house of mirrors being a parent!)...this makes it easy to love your children - equally, wholly, and unbiased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olive will be the president of the world one day (and Poppy her diplomatic, mediating, peaceful vice-president), I'm sure of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she will do great things, in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her own way</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I will make sure just as my mom did, and her mom, and her mom, that she realizes that there is a line, where certain character 'traits' can, in fact, be character 'flaws', but unlike my mom, and her mom, and her mom, I hope I will make sure that she realizes the potential of these 'traits', is able to view them as 'soft skills' and appreciates their worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">Until next time,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN-GB">Grumpy Old Sarah</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">And don't forget folks, <a href="http://www.growdelicioustomatoes.info/tips-for-growing-tomatoes-soil-tomato-plants/">tomato time is near approaching!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DO IT, it's so fun</a>!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"></div></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-12600506193612805892011-02-23T05:40:00.000-08:002011-02-23T05:40:51.014-08:00Mom knows best?? WHO knows best??<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a strange fear that one of my girls, one day, will show signs of being autistic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn't an all-consuming fear, just a small neurosis, which, from time to time, when one of the girls bobs their head one too many times, or sways back and forth for an extended period of time (with or without music), I find myself, at the computer, googling symptoms of autism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know why, and I know I'd love either one of them just as I do now, but perhaps it's one of the more unimaginable diseases to cope with as a parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case, I was recently googling some strange head jiggling Poppy was doing, and found the following in a slew of advice for parents of autistic kids:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://autism.about.com/od/newtoautism/p/dontdothis.htm">Don't Assume You Always Know Best:</a></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Parents are usually good at observing, describing and understanding their children. Parents also, of course, need to advocate for their children in school and elsewhere. But even mothers don't always know what will work for their child and often a teacher or therapist will discover a talent, need, ability or challenge that surprises you. In short, maternal instinct is wonderful, but it has its limits. And by insisting that you always know what your child needs, you may limit the options available to him or her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are so many websites for parents of "normal" children advocating, the very opposite, that 'the parent knows best', but then, to read the above??...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ACTUALLY?? I think more websites should pass on the above advice to parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm very tired of hearing that 'only mom knows best' or 'only the parents can decide what is right for their children'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is it that parenting is a job where instincts rule, formal education, training or licensing is not required (even frowned upon) and criticism, input and advice from others can seem intrusive and offensive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine any other job you've held where the above criteria or attitude was OK?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, you can't, because no one assumes in formal employment, that you <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are perfect or were just 'born to do it' (except, maybe, Doogie Howser - but even he had a supervisor)...there is always learning to be done, advice to be taken, mistakes to be made and criticism to be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, personally, felt several times since becoming a parent that I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During these periods, I do not assume that some 'killer instinct' will kick in and magically I will acquire all the advice and knowledge of every parenting expert, book author or pediatrician out there - no, these are the times where I google, I read, I listen, I spend countless hours poring over parenting advice from experts, friends and family - and not just the ones that share my beliefs...because, really, what gives me the right to barricade my children off from the world and opinions I may not share?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"A person's a person no matter how little" (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dr Seuss), </i>and the last time I checked, you can't own a human being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, since I don't own them, yet have great influence over them, I, therefore, have a great responsibility to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your children are not your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kahlil Gibran<em>, The Prophet</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I realize that the above is a tad ideological; that my kids will, likely, have many, <em>many</em> traits that Mayu and I have inadvertently passed on through subtle brainwashing, but I'd like to think, that it is my responsibility to bring all sides of the coin into our house, attempt to humble myself, and listen, even try some of those 'expert opinions' on for size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want my kids to do well, not just in this family, but in society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to be better than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To perform better, sleep better, be more adventurous eaters (I like nearly everything, but eyeballs, toes, brains and some organs still test my limits) and be happier than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want all things for them, many of which I do not know...so, I remind myself that, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"The more that you read, the more things you will know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more that you learn, the more places you'll go" again, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dr Seuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"You have brains in your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have feet in your shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can steer yourself, any direction you choose."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dr Seuss</i> (WHAT A GUY!) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-30514089167109474852011-02-22T01:50:00.000-08:002011-02-22T03:00:46.719-08:00Dumb Luck<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Currently, Mayu earns the monies & I do the book keeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a major problem for a couple of reasons:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm terrible at budgeting; I don't know the first thing about it; I can't keep track of my receipts, nor do I know, really, how much money our household spends & (2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm an impulsive, online shopaholic, so when I sit down at the computer, go online to Handelsbanken.se to pay bills, I also open a tab (or two) to one of my favourite online stores - currently one of the following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.brandos.se/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">brandos</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">, </span><a href="http://www.ikea.com/se/"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">ikea </span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">or </span><a href="http://www.bygghemma.se/?gclid=CIzIt-u8m6cCFQmMzAodugyGdQ"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">bygghemma</span></a><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since Mayu works fulltime, and I'm home with the girls, we agreed that I would take on all duties involved with the "house" (plus, Mayu's a far more extravagant impulsive shopper than I am!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together, financially, we're a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the thing is???, we never, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really,</i> suffer any consequences (financial ones, that is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I can chalk it up to, is dumb luck - the key word being dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let me explain. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I took out some MAJOR student loans for my undergrad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since, when we left Canada, Mayu was being deported, we always figured we'd apply for the necessary visas and return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time of deportation, we changed our permanent billing address to my mom's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So 3 countries later, 4 apartments and a few hostels, we ended up here, in Sweden, and bought the place we live in now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently acknowledged the unlikelihood of, ever, returning to Canada to live, and contacted the appropriate lenders (the Canadian Government) to give them my new permanent address in Sweden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conversation went a little like this:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since you are living outside of Canada & the United States, you will have to pay your student loans in full, today.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ummmm, $30,000?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me just check...ummmm....actually, $32,463.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's ridiculous, I can't do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can't I keep on making my monthly payments?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because our current system cannot make these arrangements.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you mean, 'make these arrangements' - I would just keep on paying as I do, from my Canadian bank account, I don't understand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's just how it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if you cannot pay in full, current foreign law prevents us from taking any measures to collect this money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if I can't pay today, I don't have to pay ever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This all seems pretty dumb, no?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I must apologize now, as I will have to call you at this number a few more times.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, thank you and have a nice day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loan shark:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bye.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">SERIOUSLY?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and folks, I am not kidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I understand, getting deported and moving continents to dodge student loans might be extreme, but at least you know it's an option!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lol!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We faced another dumb collection as a consequence of Mayu's deportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We owed money to a telecommunications company in Canada for mobiles which we could not use anymore because we were leaving the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We called to cancel our contract, but they wouldn't let us out of our 5 year contract (with 4 years remaining) - despite Mayu's deportation - and they wanted us to pay for the mobiles in full!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them no, that was ridiculous and that I would return the mobiles, and pay our bill up to that date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, they wouldn't budge on the matter, so we just didn't pay them, period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we might have, even, smashed our phones in the Toronto airport as a big f-you to the company (dumb, I know).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A year later, the telecommunications company was bought by an American company, and our names were taken off their 'customer list'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- we never heard from them again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Now, don't get me wrong, Mayu & I are by no means, unconscientious borrowers, nor do we test this so called dumb-luck theory - but because we're so shitty at budgeting and spending, and our lives keep taking us on unexpected journeys, we just keep happening upon this dumb luck (knock on wood!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, before you wish this dumb luck on yourself, please realize, there are consequences, maybe not financial, but other.</span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Case in point, this morning:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have stocks that vest every year, for the next 5 years, and I thought a bunch were vesting this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's terrible when they do - it's about 8000kr or $1000 we're out that month, and because Mayu and I are so shitty at budgeting, we usually only manage to save about half that in preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I was bracing myself for a bad month, when Mayu tells me today that he's getting paid MORE this month - what? why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>talk about DUMB luck - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">because he didn't take all his vacation time from last year</b>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Had I </span>not completed a Masters in June, had we not had a second baby June 20 (with a 15 month old toddler at home), renovated a kitchen (including tearing down walls and laying new floors!) and taken a 1 month holiday over Christmas, I could <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">POSSIBLY</i> understand Mayu having vacation time 'left-over', but, with all the chaos that happened last year, he definitely should have taken ever millisecond of vacation time owed to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, although, without planning, this month will be a good one, do not believe for a second that we will not suffer the consequences: stress-related heart attacks by the ripe old age of 35 - cause of death? dumb luck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Until next time,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">'Only fill the kettle with the water you need' - if everyone in the UK did this, they would have enough electricity to power all the street lights in the country. cool right?</span>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-46519159548798725672011-02-18T09:39:00.000-08:002011-02-18T09:39:44.140-08:00The Countdown it on…<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I began the ultimate test of a mom of two on Tuesday – Mayu’s gone away, for work, to California for a week, well, in truth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5 days, or rather, 4 sleeps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all of you parents who have done it alone for a night, or two, or three, or several, or God-forbid, are single parenting, you are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ridiculous</i> (and I mean this with great admiration)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take my hat off to you, HELL, our whole damn family is taking off ALL our hats!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">06:15 – Mayu and I enjoyed our last cup of coffee together, in peace and quiet, as the girls were still sleeping – he was out the door by 06:45, anxious, sad, it was horrible – we embraced as if he was going off to war (although, we all know who was really left in the trenches!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">07:30 – Olive yells out “MAMA!” and Poppy sweetly coos…my coffee was done and I was feeling good and rested, I went, got the girls…diapers, breakfast, a quick play, clothes on, out the door…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">09:00 – dropped Olive at school (she’s overjoyed, ‘bye-bye Mama, bye-bye Poppy’)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">09:15 – Poppy was popped in her cot for nap #1, I began to install a kitchen backsplash (a surprise for Mayu that I’ve been planning for some time..it's no easy feat to hide 30kg of adhesive and grout in an 89sqm place!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10:15 – Poppy’s up, sweetly cooing away in her cot, I went, got her up, diapers, play, lunch...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12:00 – Poppy’s back in her cot for nap #2, I finish adhering the backsplash</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14:30 – Poppy & I arrive to pick up Olive, she was happy to come home, we played the day away, ate, hung out, and I had both girls into their beds by 18:45</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I put my feet up, have a glass (or two) of wine, admire my handy-work in the kitchen and have a chat with my sister</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22:00 – good night</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I KNOW, I KNOW, you're thinking, "Wtf Sarah, you want us to continue reading an hourly account of your mundane life over the next 3 days?"...I wish, keep reading... </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plays out nearly exactly the same as Tuesday - minus the farewell to Mayu and I didn’t work as hard on the backsplash, cleaned up the tiles and set up my work station to begin the job of grouting the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also spent the afternoon and had dinner with our friends Anna, Clint, Mona & Hugo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olive was terrible company, whinging all afternoon – I chalked it up to being a toddler who had a shitty nap.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, both girls in their beds by 18:45, I with my feet up by 19:00, wine in hand and 2 newly downloaded Gossip Girl episodes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In bed by 21:00.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WELL, just when I thought the next 3 days would be a breeze, and life would carry on as it was…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23:00 – I hear Olive, FREAKING out, coughing, spastic, I go in, she’s a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want her to wake Poppy, so I brought her into bed and WHAT A MFNIGHT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not shitting you – I have NEVER had such a night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not when the girls were brand-spanking new and were super annoying, not through one of their sicknesses; NEVER have I had one of the girls up for such a time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olive cried and coughed all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple times, she coughed so hard, she puked, and another time, her coughing fit was so bad, I wondered how the fuck I’d get to the hospital with both girls in tow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Olive woke Poppy a couple times, then Poppy went crazy and by 03:00, she, herself, had a cough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh man!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometime after 03:00, both girls managed to suppress their coughs and we all got a little shut eye, but like clockwork, were all at the breakfast table by 07:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>COFFEE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OMG, I forgot to get cat food...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were at the doctors by 10:00, filled a prescription by 11:00, and picked up cat food and lunch and were all in bed for naps by 12:00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The afternoon was very sad – both girls were super tired and clingy and we all just laid on the couch for the afternoon watching a mix of Despicable Me, Project Runway and AFVs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here it is folks, I’m halfway there – I pray tonight will be easier, and with that I’m off to get some sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m disappointed that my tiles won’t be grouted to surprise Mayu with, however, at this rate, I’ll be lucky to surprise him with 3 humans:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alive, and 2 cats:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But seriously, if you never hear from me again, I have failed this test, and my cats are eating my carcass (don’t worry, Olive has carried Poppy to safety and is telling the neighbours what an ordeal the past 2 days have been without her dad around)…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time, IF there is a next time,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grumpy Old Sarah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"In the 16th century, melancholia was the elective illness of the exceptional man, of he who had nothing above him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the Romantic period, it stood at the crossroads of creative genius and madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, it is the situation of every individual in Western society."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alain Ehrenberg<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, The Weariness of the Self</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And remember folks, shop locally.</span></div>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-13691138002440841622011-02-16T01:24:00.000-08:002011-02-16T01:24:11.561-08:00Valentines and all that...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hello all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I'm sorry for dropping of the earth, it's not for a lack of material, but rather, I've been experiencing some technical difficulties over here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per usual, my phone is dead and lost, Mayu won't let me touch his precious Iphone (probably because of witnessing the treatment of my own phone) and we left our camera in Canada on our last visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I needed some photos taken for an entry I had written, titled "shit my kids have eaten",<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and </span>Mayu had agreed to take the photos, for me, with his precious Iphone, but then before he got a chance, went away for work for the week!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here we are....in the wake of Valentine's Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My sister works at a really busy restaurant in Toronto, <a href="http://www.kalendar.com/">Kalendar</a>, (as they don't take reservations, it's not unusual, on the weekends, to wait for over an hour for a table).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since she works as a hostess, she has to deal with fuming people, pacing the front, waiting (im)patiently for a table and sometimes being, well, total dick-heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me that she worked Valentine's, and I asked her (assuming so), if it was a total nightmare - and she said, 'no, not at all'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All 'tables for two', every couple ordered a glass of wine, entree, dessert and, then, left shortly after paying the bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The turnover was quick, and the couples kept coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No couples lingered over wine or conversation, everyone, dutifully, ate and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weird, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, perhaps not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mayu and I, sadly, forgot the day, until I asked him what the date was, while I examined a carton of sour milk I was thinking of giving Olive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it dawned on us, of course, we hugged, kissed, said, "no gifts" and then made plans to have some wine and hang out in the evening (but this is every evening for us - we put the kids down at 7, grab a glass of wine, and lay together, in the aftermath of the day, on the couch).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lame?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>perhaps, but great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't get me wrong!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make a point of getting a sitter once a month and going out for dinner or beers, and of course, would love to do it more often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But really?, we're just too tired to do it more often!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once, we found ourselves out on a "date", in a pub, and we were too tired to carry on a conversation, instead we just sat side by side watching 'Swedish Idol' (which we could have just as easily done at home).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is it, when life, jobs, kids, ALL OF IT, gets in the way...it's tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we figure, if you keep on making time, ALL THE TIME, not just on one day of the year, you'll end up with something a bit better in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I asked an accountant friend some budgeting advice (hoping to get some material for an upcoming entry), and she said, well, get a sitter once a month and go out on a date!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lol!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Claire, but I'm afraid that's the opposite of what I was looking for...albeit, far better advice than 'save for a rainy day' or some load like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, for all of you who know what I'm talking about, this one's for you - hope you had a great day loving the one you're with, or grocery shopping. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And to prove I AM a romantic, not a cynic, here's one of my favorite fun facts:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Paul and Linda McCartney's entire marriage, they only spent one week apart - cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Oh, and don't forget to give blood and register yourself as an organ donor! </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-68446035886149697062011-02-03T04:29:00.000-08:002011-02-03T04:29:15.331-08:00don't expect to raise your cauliflower up and receive rubies!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My husband kindly shot me over an article on a <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/932571--ottawa-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-internet-billing?bn=1">reverse ruling on usage-based Internet billing in Canada</a>, after telling him of the original bull-shit imposition by the <a href="http://www.crtc.gc.ca/">CRTC</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you for that Mayu!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows that I'm fuelled by small feats against The Man, and that a win, for what is right and just, totally makes my day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em><a href="http://www.adbusters.org/">"Those who are right are the rebels, not the snitches and those who bow down"</a>. </em></span></span>I have one small complaint, however, from the above article that spoiled by jubilation...it's the part where Industry Minister, Tony Clement, is quoted saying "This is a bread-and-butter issue".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I detest this kind of talk (just about as much I detest the word detest)...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">...barking up the wrong tree, smooth sailing, man up, through the barrel of a gun, this ain't my first rodeo son, no dog ever peed on a moving car, that dog don't hunt, don't expect to raise your cauliflower up and receive rubies, a baby crying is a duck whingeing in space, when your mamma gives you some spinach be sure to turn to the cactus...</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok, so the last three are mine...but you know what I'm talking about: nonsensical idioms or sayings and the likes of, what I call, Doctor-Phil-talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>uggggghhhhh!</span></div><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I'm, currently, illustrating a grammar book written by my mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She mentioned to me, recently, that she might include a section on idioms...I told her that I didn't think it was a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Idioms and Doctor-Phil-talk are difficult to decipher, are a bit old fashioned (or dare I even say, 'hick') and, truthfully, dumn down the English language (people who speak other languages, other than English, already think that English is dumned down, let's not give them more cause!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why teach idioms to foreigners, already struggling, with learning a new language?? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What people are, often, looking for when they use them, is <em>a little something called 'vocabulary'</em>...or perhaps, we may even say that, <em>one is searching for the correct 'synonym'</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had read, some years back, that the average newspaper is written for the reading level of an 8 year old...and with expressions like "bread-and-butter issue", I can understand why...there is no need to expand your vocabulary beyond grade 3, simply babble away in strange, difficult to decipher riddles and you'll be fine, you may even become the Industry Minister in Canada!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is it, I don't want to decipher advice (especially clinical, thanks for that Doctor Phil), or news articles (World or Local), or, quite frankly, any piece of non-fiction that should be delivered as a matter-of-fact and for greater knowledge purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please keep your idiot, woops, idioms to yourself!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Until next time...</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">By putting a piece of foil behind your radiators, you can, not only be kinder to the environment, but save on heating costs!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #343434; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The third link in this blog (but here it is again) will take you to a super awesome website: <a href="http://www.adbusters.org/">http://www.adbusters.org/</a>. Enjoy! </span>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-26948177638434113482011-02-02T05:24:00.000-08:002011-02-02T05:24:37.486-08:00Home is where the heart is...I guess?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Where are you from?" an elderly Brit asked me a few years back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While I sipped on my stout in the dank pub in my favorite seaside village, Doolin, I thought, then answered, "Canada, and you?" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Connecticut", he replied back in a thick English accent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hmmm, something is going on here that I'm not privy to it seems..."You mean, Connecticut, in the United States, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> Connecticut?" I asked, smartly, and to clarify. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Yes" he kept on, without pause, "how long are you here for?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ok, I don't get it, either my stouts been drugged, or, well, that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must </i>be it...my beer has been drugged!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Well, how long am I in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Doolin</i>?...only until the end of the weekend, but in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ireland</i>?, well, I live in Dublin, soooo...and you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When do you return to "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Connecticut</i>"" I asked, slowly, making the appropriate hand gestures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Oh," he said in a bit of tone, "you're not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from </i>Canada at all then, you're from Dublin". </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayu and I had an ongoing joke after this encounter, that whenever we were asked "Where are you from", we'd reply with the location we most recently came from (we figured this was better than the alternative: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Planet Earth, the Mothership").<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Where are you from?" he asked. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"The basement" I answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"The basement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where's that?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Oh, about 3 meters yonder" I answered, pointing to the basement, of the bar, where the toilets were located.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But in all seriousness, when you've moved a lot, and have been nowhere in particular longer than somewhere, or have taken up residence in a location which is not your parents', or for that matter, have never lived in the place where your parents reside, nor have spent any time in your birthplace...where do you say you're <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the above are true for, both, me and my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His parents moved between various places in Central America and Berlin, and my dad played football when I was young, and after his retirement, my parents seemed to just keep moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To complicate matters, we've moved around a lot as adults and have taken up shop in Sweden, where neither us were born, nor speak the language, yet both our girls were born here, and our oldest daughter, Olive, says more in Swedish than the languages spoken, to her, at home (English and German).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we learn more about the culture and customs in Sweden, although some weird (Crayfish parties), some annoying (cutting in line, as if the queue of people with groceries overflowing from their baskets is invisible), some wonderful (dagis/subsidized daycare & föräldrapenning/generous parental leave), some crazy-fun (Midsummers) and some peculiar (black clothes, black prams and white walls), we fall more and more in love with the country and all of its peculiarities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when, if ever, will we say that we are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from </i>here...and if we never say such a thing, as time goes on, where will we be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Although I'm not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">from </i>Sweden (yet?), I can say one thing for sure, since returning from a month in Canada, I felt more at home this morning on my walk, with Olive, to dagis, when I passed a neighbor saying "Welcome back", than I did the entire time I was in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps home really is where the heart is, or, at very least, can help to explain where you are from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I just have to learn Swedish! </span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Until next time...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Grumpy Old Sarah</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you'd like to eat organic and/or be kinder to the earth, but can't justify/or afford the cost, Eco milk is a good place to start - you'll be doing your bit and it has a relatively big impact on the environment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And, since I'm a mom of 2 under the age of 2, I just can't justify enough, that a </span><a href="http://o5.com/7-reasons-to-drink-wine-everyday/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">glass of wine each evening</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is good for me, so, drink up!</span>Sarah Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17037728482403461758noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6218084314385175298.post-59661740910866031322011-02-01T11:13:00.000-08:002011-02-01T11:13:40.900-08:00To blog or not to blog, this is the question...<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">After having had posted the above on my fb and receiving support from friends to go forth and conquer, I nervously sat down, last night, and began hacking away trying to structure my future blog. I vacillated between an online-diary and attempting to produce a great think-tank which would encourage thoughtful insights from friends and family - but this is it: I don't KNOW what this blog will be or become, or if I'll last much longer than a couple entries before I can't stand it any longer (I've already been told by friends that I'll have to carry around my mobile, ugggh, and maybe even have to keep it charged, ugggggggh, in order to get pics while I'm out to make things more interesting!! ;)) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Although I cringe at the thought of reading back on 'Dear Diary' entries 20 years from now (I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">luckily</i> - major sarcasm here- saved my diaries from my teenage years...what a muppet!! ), I won't be able to help but yammer on about my 2 girls: Olive & Poppy, and my partner in crime: Mayu. I'll, also, likely complain about the old ladies who live in our closets: Ata & Minuet (don't worry, we don't keep old human ladies tucked away, Ata & Minuet are cats). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I also love sharing my two (sometimes unwelcomed) cents with the world , and will likely bitch a lot about day-to-day annoyances and behaviors - God willing, this will remain humorous, but you must understand that I was brainwashed as a child, by my parents, into believing that most people are idiots...I just can't help but think and express this. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hopefully, in addition, there will be some discussion on parenting, gardening (yes, it's true, come spring, I will likely talk a lot about tomatoes - and, I think, I’ll try planting some root veggies this year...just to save something to talk about come fall), renovations (Mayu's very favorite topic, I'm sure), travel/culture/being part of a family in a foreign country, health and the likes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">But lastly, I just want to exercise my right (aka, test my ability and technical savviness), dammit, to blog...so, here we are, and welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Grumpy Old Sarah<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(my husband has kindly pointed out, that at the ripe old age of 30, I qualify for the <a href="http://www.grumpyoldwomenlive.com/">BBC's Grumpy Old Women</a> series)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Until next time: 'Instead of discarding the water you've used to cook your vegetables in, save it to water your plants' and, for the ladies with boys... <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.babble.com/toddler/toddler-behavior-and-learning/raising-boys-fathers-parenting-advice/">Raising boys</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">and, lastly, for all the parents...please meet a couple, the really fantastic founders of <a href="http://www.babble.com/">www.babble.com</a>, whose website I frequent and will likely share and post for discussion ...watch this...</span></div><br />
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