Holding Still

what i've been up to, or: the duct tape mini

 

I finally created the dress form from this book (I believe it's on my sidebar, too).  My friend E came over one morning and we had a lovely time wrapping me in duct tape.  I wore one of my Obama/Biden t-shirts underneath, to further significate (I know it's not a word) the event.  It felt very intimate, I hope Michelle doesn't read this!  

I overstuffed it yesterday, unstuffed it again, then restuffed it.  Now I need to trim the arms a bit.  I think they're a bit long, I've had trouble slipping shirts over them.  I'm hoping to do some more refashioning of my tired old clothes using my trusty dressform Ducky.   I used two rolls of duct tape, and because of my re-configuring of it, will require some more.  The last thing I'd like to do is perch her atop a base so she can stand at my height, instead of laying across my chair.  In the book they recommend an old halogen lamp base or a mike base.  Believe it or not, the halogen lamp I bought from Ikea in 1990 not only still works, but is using the self-same bulb it came with.  I have very nostalgic feelings for that lamp, so he will not be dismantled.  I forget what his name, maybe Sven or something.  

The boys want me to put a head on it, one that looks like me, so it will be another me.  As if we need another one of those!

I absolutely recommend wrapping yourself in duct tape!  Even if you never sew a stitch, it was so much fun!  

99 meme

Stole this from mimiboo.  I haven't blogged in a bit, so I thought I'd ease my way in.

Things you’ve already done: bold = 49

Things you want to do: italicize = 18
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to — leave in plain font = 33

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. 
4. Visited Hawaii.
5.Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world. 
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris 
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.  (I've been to 1/2)
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (not sure if it counts, since i didn't get too far with ASL or Amharic)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I'm working on this!!!!)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job. 
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. 
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. 
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Mommy, or "The Wound-up Weirdo"

Tonight, right before he was going to brush his teeth, Lire whispered, "Mommy?"  

Me:  Yes?

L:  When I in Connecticut, I miss you.

Me:  Oh, I missed you, too, sweetie!  (Big hug and  kiss).

L:  I almost cry.

Me:  Oh!!!

The boys spent four days at my parents' house in CT after our post-Christmas weekend with the inlaws. Al and I came back here to work and to spend some time alone vegging out, being romantic, etc.

It was very nice, but a bit shorter than it was supposed to have been.  Poor little L caught a stomach virus and puked on New Year's eve morning.  Poor Nana was the next one down, and Poppy was sick with a bronchial infection.  Habtam stood strong.  He got water for all of the sickies and played alone in the snow while they watched through the window.  They came home the next day, and I only hope my parents haven't been burned too much by this particular visit.  It's much easier in the summer, when people don't get sick so easily and you can take the boys to the beach every day.

Habtam was extra affectionate when he returned, telling me that he loved me before he fell asleep.  He has NEVER done that before.  In fact, I'm not sure if he's ever said it to me at anytime.  It really threw me for a loop.  

Saturday morning:  

H:  Mommy, can I show you something very bad?

Me:  ?

L:  Habtam threw up!

Miraculously it was on his pillow and top sheet, but missed all other blankets and sheets and his person.  He was remarkably clean!

When we took a walk one of those days, Lire asked me what puke was.  I told him it was throw-up, vomit.

L:  What's vomit?

Me:  Puke.

L:  What's puke?

Me:  Throw-up.

L:  Throw-up?

It could have gone on all day, if I had let it.  Apparently my father had introduced the new word, "puke" and it was on his mind.  Lire loves words and uses them in creative ways.  Just tonight he told me I was a "wound-up weirdo."  Which I kind of am, so I laughed pretty hard.  He was so impressed with himself that he ran upstairs to tell his father.  

School is blessedly back, with Lire spending the full day for the first time.  He still needs a short nap, or he turns into a soap opera starlet at dinner, like tonight.  We missed a nap today so he could go to the library after school and play on their computer, which he loves.  He pulled a couple Ethiopian head-fakes and pushed himself away from the table twice, the third time for real.  He picked up his plate and stated, "I need time-out."  

No one told him he needed one, but something he had said or done warranted one in his mind, so off he went.  

Habtam told two lies this morning, one accusing Lire of lying about his first lie.  So he is without television for the week (it had to do with the tv) and we're reading a series of books about lying.  Today we read Sarah's Little Ghosts, which was pretty good.  I'm looking forward to Bill Cosby's My Big Lie tomorrow.

We're faring mostly well here.  H had a meltdown Sunday, the first one in a long time.  It was probably due to the enormous amount of time away from the structure of his school days, under which he thrives.  I'm dedicated to meditating daily, to try and unwind this Wound-up Weirdo self of mine.