The Gentiles

After talking to my Dad's girlfriend we learned that the illness that hit our house came from our night spending Hanukkah with her family. It was a "How do you spell Chanukah" party and it was a blast. Lots of kids playing, awesome fried food and great company. Apparently, someone at the party was carrying the creeping crud and everyone got it. At least 20 people got sick a couple days later.
So, the question of the day is....were the Jews punished for fraternizing with the gentiles or were the gentiles punished for partying with the Jews? Since we all got sick, perhaps there's some rule about crossing party lines that I'm not aware of. Of course, it could have something to do with mixing religions.
Then again, it's possible that a party with numerous three year olds is just a recipe for the creeping ick no matter which flavor of God you choose.

Donate Blood, but I have more Christmas Shopping to Do!

From the Red Cross today:
Premature babies, cancer patients, accident victims, burn patients - they thank you too, as they could not receive critical treatment without donations from people like you.
Okay, so they know I haven't been there in a month or more, but they are better at guilt than a Catholic Mother-in-Law, aren't they?
So when are you considered safe to donate after spending two days hugging the porcelain goddess for her oh so cool comfort on your flushed forehead?
Okay, okay, I'm going already. I wasn't stalling, honest. Pushy pushy. Sheesh!

Sick

For the first time in years the creeping crud has hit our house. The stomach flu is seriously no fun, but to have it and also have a three year old to take care of is the worst. My hubby has been stellar, holding a bowl for my son while I was in the bathroom myself and going to the store feeling awful.
I was so impressed with Jake. As he's retching, I'm holding his head and as soon as he can take a breath he's saying "I'm okay Mommy, I'm okay." How does a three year old know to give comfort at a time like that?

Baby Talk

I orignally started blogging to record all the fun and minor events of my son's daily life. An online journal to remember all the little things that fill the days with happiness and smiles. I've found many other things to talk about however keeping a log of my son's exploits will always rank high on my list of reasons why.
So, that being said, I wanted to record a few things that recently disappeared from my daily life, some before I started blogging. These precious things are those words or phrases that are unique to Jake as he has learned to speak. All the other parents out there will know to what I'm refering. Every parent I've met can recall the funny little words and phrases their kids used when they were little.
I'm going to use today's post to see if I can keep track of some of the words that have disappeared recently. I so love that Jake's vocabulary skills are growing but with each stride in growth one of those precious heartwarming misspoken words diappears forever. So, here are the ones I can remember today, I may add more later.
Nuggle - This is so much more than a snuggle. Those little arms wrapped tight around my neck, those chubby cheeks pressed up against mine...pure heaven.
Mo - When Jake first started talking this was what he called cars...any cars. It comes from the noise that we do to immitate the sound of a car's engine. You know how it goes...mmmm mmmm mmmmo! A trash truck was a much revered Mo. He would run around the house on trash day, so scared of the big noise but in awe of the BIG truck. He'd have this look of rapture on his cherubic face and whisper in a low gutteral voice "Mommy.....Mo!"
Pack Pack - This is the most recent phrase to leave us, for which I grieve. Jake has several backpacks and loves to carry his comfy monkey (that's another one, the monkey's name has become Comfy Monkey) and other toys around in his 'pack pack'. The other day I noticed he had finally figured out that it is a back pack...I was heartbroken.
Smooky - Every night after dinner Jake goes around the house and turns off all the lights, saying with a mischevious grin, "I'm going to make it all smooky in here!"
As I think of other words I'll post them here, but I would also love to hear what your children's funniest or most cherished words were. They touch us in so many ways, those little voices, don't they?

The Tecate Challenge?!?

I'm on my way to a client this morning and the traffic is moving very, very, very slowly. As I pull up along side a semi-trailer carrying crushed aluminum cans, I can't help but notice that most of the cans are red.
Now, I grew up in the midst of all those rivaling commercials between Coca-Cola and Pepsi, I'm sure most of you will remember them well. It seems they've taken a break from that marketing concept lately but I imagine there is still a healthy ad campaign on both sides to cull market share. Anyhow, back to the cans. As I noticed that most of them were red, I thought to myself that Coke most definitely won the Coke vs. Pepsi Challenge.
If traffic hadn't been so slow I would never have noticed that the majority of the cans were in fact Tecate beer cans. Perusing the surface of the bricks of cans, all I saw was beer and more beer. My thought is that the cans had probably come from all the bars lining the border in Tijuana.
So, I guess the challenge is no longer between Coke and Pepsi....more accurately it would be Soda vs. Beer

Let it Be Ugly

I rarely drink coffee but one morning this week I was working for a client whose office is in mid-remodel and hovers around 60 degrees most mornings until I put the ceiling tiles back in place after the last electrician and turn on the heater. So, I opted for coffee to warm up from the inside.
I was heavily lacing my coffee with sugar and cream. Their coffee station, a grungy cart, is in the loud machine shop section of the warehouse and without my knowing the owner was watching me. He is a kind and witty Austrian gentleman who has just enough accent to make him interesting. It seems no matter how long a European has been in the states they always have an interesting and different way of speaking. He approached and said to me "Just let it be Ugly", meaning the coffee. He went on to explain that he has high cholesterol and used to also drink his coffee the way I was. He told me, if you just "let it be ugly" for a week, you'll get used to it.
With a smile on my lips and my coffee in hand I went back upstairs thinking of his words. After pondering them awhile, I decided that is a great motto. We tend to want to gloss over the surface of things, make them pretty, hide the dirt under the rug. I think he has a point. If we just let it be ugly, be honest and look at the reality...it gets easier to face.
So, that is my philosphy for the day. Would do you think...can you let it be ugly?

The MENSA Challenge

At times I think myself rather intelligent. ((Of course, my husband will tell you I have some seriously blonde moments, too)) I've taken the MENSA home test for IQ and scored fairly high. For those who don't know about MENSA, they are a high intelligence group for those that score in the top 2% of the population on approved intelligence quotient tests. Why do I care if I qualify and why would I want to join MENSA? I only have a vague idea. The only MENSA member I know personally told me about being a member...the meetings with a group of smart people all trying to one up each other, a group that was very tight knit and gossipy. Does this happen in all small groups or does being in a group whose premise is to put themselves above others as their first tenant cultivate this attitude? Secretly, I'd always hoped it would be an enlightening experience full of great conversation and the real possibility of being with a group that can make a difference in the world.
Well, I took the home test and scored high enough but I know damned well I took waaaaayyy more time than allowed. I've toyed with the idea of going to a MENSA testing day, knowing I would probably not pass muster. Why do I say this? Well, I signed up for the MENSA Culture Question of the Day. They email trivia questions to you each day and then the answer follows with the next question. I have yet to read a question to which I know the answer! I don't live in Kuwait, I don't need to know the name of their currency. I have no idea who the third president of Botswana was...does Botswana even have a president? Unfortunately, if the question doesn't include... "Mommy, why......." there's a good chance I'm not interested enough to find out. Is it possible that once someone calls you Mommy that all your knowledge of anything other than Wiggles lyrics drains out along with your sex appeal?
So, any MENSA members out there who can shed some light on the wonders of being a member, or should I just go back to learning the lyrics to "Frosty the Snowman"?

Fire and Scabies...What!?!?!

I'm just about to Jake's school this morning and the whole block is surrounded by police and fire trucks. Smoke is rolling from the roof of the apartment building next to his school. When I say 'next to' I mean the building is in essence the back wall of the school yard. So, it seems I have the day off from work.
I decided to go to today's client, pick up the work I can finish at home and then wait until the fire department sounds the all clear. Jake was in rare form at my client's office. For two months now, every time we go somewhere...his aunt's, school, my mother's house...he tells me "I will be shy!!" and proceeds to hide next to my leg for the first five minutes. Now, Jake is nowhere near shy usually, so it's been amusing to watch this appearance of shyness. Well, today, there was no sign of the shy boy. He was full of spunk and silliness, running across their offices, dancing, pounding on the hollow floor (these offices are in portables) and generally being an exuberant three year old. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The only saving grace was that it is a high school business office, so they are used to children in some fashion.
On the way home, I called his school to get an update. Yes, the fire is now out and the children can come to school....but, oh by the way, we've had two cases of scabies! What on earth are scabies...sounds like something from WW11. Well, I found out it's not fun. Itching and scratching all night, clean everything, wash the bedsheets every morning....so, even though he can go back we're staying home. I don't need scabies for Christmas!
So, I'm home with two kids now. Jake's cousin Kyle also goes to the same school. I'm cleaning, they're pulling out every toy in the house. Oh yeah, this will be a fun day!