A Moveable Feast

Huh.

2006-03-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Has it really been almost a year and a half since I've posted anything? I guess I'm just not a diligent blogger.

If anybody should happen across this page, for some reason, I'll post a nutshell of what's going on.

I've been taking martial arts for over a year. It has the simultaneous effects of putting me in the best shape I've ever been (at 35 yet) and making me feel my age (oh, my arthritic knees and ankles).

I quit smoking a month and a half ago.

Husband and I are going to Europe to see my brother marry a Belgian woman I have only spoken to and their new son (to be born any day now - I can't believe it's really happening). We are going to hang out in Amsterdam fo a couple days, meet my dad there (he's never been to Europe), take the train to Antwerp for the festivities, and a couple days later, take the train to Paris for a few days. Very exciting.

We are also talking seriously about moving to Japan. Cool, scary.

bah.

2004-12-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

OK, Noelle, you asked me for an xmas blog, and because you are aptly named, here it is. Just remember, you asked for it.

When I was a teenager, despite my Jewishness, I wore ornaments as earrings and jingle bells on my shoes at holiday time. When I married a Christian, and had kids, I was thrilled to make up for lost time by getting a real tree and trimming it while drinking mulled wine, decorating the inside of the house with pretty candles and pine-scented boughs, insisting we have lights on the outside, hanging stockings from the mantel (also my first mantel ever), piling presents under the tree on xmas eve, all the commercial trappings of the holiday season. I never got into the religious aspect of it, earlier because of my Jewishness and later because of my general contempt for religious-stories-as-fact.

This year, however, I am the least xmas-spirited I have ever been in my life. I'm not sure why.

Is it because my contempt for such stories is growing? I've always been a student of mythology, but this past year I've read a lot more about the whole of mythology, the ideas behind and evolution of western religion (Joseph Campbell, for instance). The early Christians were so sneaky in their attempts to convert the pagans! They said, well, you're already celebrating the Winter Solstice around now anyway, so why not just take this symbol of it --it's the SAME THING anyway--and celebrate it instead? Jesus wasn't born on Dec 25! Nobody really knows when--it was just a convenient date. (Past presidents did the same thing with Thanksgiving, you know--it has been all over the calendar. And FDR tried to make it 2 weeks earlier to extend the xmas shopping season). And if it's all about the birth of Jesus, why is it celebrated with totally pagan symbols? What does a tree or stockings have to do with it? And where does Santa fit in all of this? Whose holiday is it, anyway?

Not that Chanukah is any better for me. We all know that it's to celebrate the miracle of the oil, right? That they had enough in the temple to burn for one night and it burned for eight? OK, somehow I always missed (because I've never been a very observant Jew) the fact that the oil was in a mostly-destroyed temple, from the war the Jews fought against whoever the latest oppressors were--and won. So it was really a celebration of a war victory. Last night I watched a movie called Esther. I vaguely remember a Purim play about Esther in my Jewish nursery school (funny how they call em PREschools now). I wore a Queen Esther mask and we all spun those noisemankers around. ANyway, in this movie, the Persian king had been tricked by his chancellor into making a decree that all Jews were to be destroyed on the 13th of whatever month. Esther, his queen and originally a Jew, brought this to the king's attention and convinced him that they should spare her people. Unfortunately, the Persians have this law: a royal decree can never be revoked. Seems like a pretty dumb law, but I get the sentiment behind it: a king is infallible, etc. SO, their clever way around it is to issue another decree, directed at the Jews, that they should defend themsleves with whatever weapons they can lay their hands on. (Personally, I think it would've been much more clever to decree that the 13th of whatever month be skipped that year, but thousand of years ago, people weren't so clever, I guess). So there was a war, and a bunch of people died on both sides, but the Jews were, for the most part, saved from annihilation, and the holiday of Purim was declared to commemorate the occasion. So it's another Jewish holiday to point out their persecution by somebody and to celebrate their subsequent victory in war. No wonder the Jew-Palestinian thing is never-ending. They LIKE war.

So maybe some of my disaffection with holidays is based on new knowledge, knowledge that makes me think the holidays are either too bogus or too disturbing for me to want to celebrate them.

Or maybe it's my general mood this winter. My husband pointed out that I went into 'hibernation mode' almost the same instant the clocks went back (daylight savings time also really annoys me with its anachronism - are we a primarily agricultural nation still? Hell, no). I decided that I have too many friends, and that most of my friends are either alcoholics or crazy or both. I would rather stay home and read or watch movies in my nice cozy bed than go to yet another bar, show, or party in which I have to listen to my friends whine about their loneliness or pain or turn into deperately 'fun' and/or maudlin drunks, thank you. One at a time, please, in the psychiatrist's office. Who the hell deemed me qualified to listen to all this energy-leeching crap, anyway? I already HAVE kids. It may be the perpetually low, grey skies talking, but only I think it's only partly their fault. The lack of sunshine definitely makes me less tolerant, because my batteries aren't getting recharged.

Plus, the having-too-many-friends thing becomes a problem around xmas time. I no longer have a job, and even if I did, I could't afford to buy everyone a present. And I don't have time to make everyone a present. And I don't have the mental real estate to think of what to get everyone. If I see something that I think so-and-so might really like, I might get it for that person. But does that mean I have to then feel guilty about not having something for another good friend? Where do I draw the line? Same goes for xmas cards. There's a few old friends back home I send cards to, and if I generally get them from certain people annually, I'll send them one, too. They take the time, so I can, too. But I'm not going to send them to everyone I know. Especially local people I see all the time, to whom I can say 'Happy Holidays' in person.

But today, despite all this, I had a smile on my face. I spontaneously went xmas shopping for my immediate family (when I realized I only had 2 days in which to do it before one or both kids would be around constantly until the new year). You know what? Buying stuff for kids is really fun! All these toys that'll be broken or ignored within 2 months bring a lot of smiles and 'aw, COOL!'s on xmas morning. And I think I got at least one present my husband will love.

And, wow, I just remembered what the xmas spirit is supposed to be all about. Whaddya know. 'Sokay, Marley, no need for your services; I figured it out on my own.

Child Abuse

2004-11-29T15:55:00.000-08:00

We were throwing rocks in a river yesterday, and as we were leaving, my youngest decided to throw one last rock. He didn't see me standing in front of him, apparently, because before I saw it coming, I heard a horrible 'THOK' noise and saw a blinding flash as the rock hit me in the head. It dropped me to my knees with a hand over my eye. When I pulled my hand away, it was covered with blood. Eeew! Scared the shit out of everyone with us (and me, too). I had a nice gash above my eye and I was totally freaked out as we walked back up the trail to our car, holding a napkin to my head. We almost went to the hospital for stitches, but by the time we got back to the car, it had pretty much swelled itself shut. Poor kid was apologizing to me all night. I just have a butterfly strip and a slightly swollen eye, and if it scars, it will just make my eyebrow look a little bit longer.

I look tough. I loved the looks I got when I went to pick up the other kid at school today. And it's even better when my husband is next to me, with his wounded eye (a whipped cream wrestling match, don't ask). We're telling everyone we've got it worked out now, thanks.

Proud Parent

2004-11-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

My son, for his fifth birthday, asked for a pet rat. We got a white one, a female. When I asked what he was going to name her, he considered for a moment, and said Sin. No kidding.

I'm so proud.

And now for something completely different

2004-11-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

In the interest of hiding my head in the sand, I've gone on another quest for trivial, yet interesting, knowledge.

History of "Rain rain go away" poem
The origin of the lyrics to "Rain rain go away" date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this period of English history there was constant rivalry between Spain and England culminating in the launch of the Spanish Armada. The armada consisted of many Spanish galleons and was sent to invade England. This attempt failed, not only because of the swift nature of the smaller English ships but also by the stormy weather which scattered the Armada fleet. Hence the origin of the "Rain rain go away" Nursery rhyme!

Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!

Who knew? More fascinating nursery rhyme origins can be found at www.rhymes.org.uk

She's Gonna Blow!?

2004-10-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Lava dome continues to grow at Mount St. Helens

Part of the lava dome in Mount St. Helens' crater has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday but earthquake activity remained low, indicating molten rock is moving upward with little resistance, scientists said.

Seattle is so desperate for news (as usual) that they air an hour lecture by a geologist who's obviously never been in tv before and is really excited about it.

Nothing's really happening, but I have my gallons of bottled water in the garage nonetheless.

Finally

2004-09-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am now officially a Freelance Writer. I am having my first article published!

Mind you, it's in a trade magazine, but it's 2200 words and the editor (a renewed aquaintance) says "it's one of the best pieces I've read" and I'm getting paid. It's pretty exciting for me.

And I'm going to be in a local art show, in November. Maybe generate some business from the upper-middle-class parents.

Fairs

2004-09-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

I went to the Puyallup Fair, our big yearly old-fashioned county fair, this weekend. I think my romantic ideas of the county fair are over. While I enjoy the charm of prize-wining livestock and blue-ribbon agricultural displays (I saw the cutest little Button Quail chicks, one week old and the size of large hopping bumblebees), the kids were into the rides. The rides were all 4 tickets each (meaning $4), and over in about 30 seconds. 2 kids, 3 rides each = $24 for a minute and a half of fun and 4 hours of whining 'I want to go on another ride!' Not to mention that I didn't get to go on any because I couldn't deprive my children of their 30 seconds. Really yummy elephant ears and kettlecorn, tho, and the kids both passed out on the ride home, so not a total loss.

But today I treated myself to a matinee of Vanity Fair. It was quite beautiful, if slightly anachronistic. The hair, the costumes, the sets were really very stunning, and gave me some great ideas for the painting I'm working on. And maybe Halloween.

May You Live In Interesting Times

2004-09-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

You know that supposed Chinese Proverb?

I've come to the conclusion that I'm insane.

I set these really expectations on what my life should be, what I should accomplish, what talent I should pick up and hone, how nice my house should be, how sound my children, what new things I should learn, basically, how interesting my life should be, and then, when I get it, I freak out becasue it's too much. Sometimes, for just a second, I wonder if it would be better if we moved to te burbs and I got a normal job and my husband got a normal job and we just went to work, picked up the kids , had the same scheduled dinner (macncheese on Mondays, Tacos on Tues, Weiners on Weds), and watched tv until bed. But the thought of really doing that makes me want to slit my wrists, so instead, I snap at my husband, have a crying fit, and then I pick up where I left off.

It's chaos, but at least it's interesting.

Kickball!!!

2004-09-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

I played kickball with a bunch of elementary school kids (and a preschooler) this afternoon. I kicked ass!

Funny, I hadn't done anything much physical in months, and I could feel it in my body: a weakness, a feeling of total atrophy. Then I danced my ass off last Friday (at a wedding) and Sunday (80s-goth night), and tho my calves hurt for 2 days afterward, it felt so good! It gave me the energy to climb around the jungle gym and play kickball today, when I would have normally just sat and watched. I didn't play for a long time, mind you, as I was 1 of 3 kickers/runners at first and then the pitcher and sole defense against half-a-dozen kids, but I actually worked up a sweat and breathed heavily. Pretty lame how seldom that happens, but for today, I feel awesome!

I know all that stuff about the natural high of endorphins, but I'm so naturally lazy that I forget.

ADD

2004-09-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Is ADHD getting more prevalent, or do they just want us to think everyone has it? Can you classify my hereditary leaping from interest to interest as ADD? The fact that I have to try doing all this different stuff, attempting different instruments, devouring books like a glutton, making too many friends, making something different for dinner every night--speak of a short attention span? Is my son ADHD because I have to tell him 8 times to feed the dog because he gets distracted in the way by a Pokemon card, a shoe, a video game or is he just being a normal 7 yr old?

I've seen the awesome South Park episode where all the kids get ritalyn and start liking Phil Collins. I have always said that ADHD is a bullshit diagnosis aimed at soothing the parents who can't handle that their kid is acting like a KID. Ritalyn is being used just like laudanum was used in the Victorian era, to create sweet, well-behaved, calm, speak-when-spoken-to, glassy-eyed, listless children. It's sick.

But then again, consider what MTV has done to movies and tv. We now require constant motion, weird camera angles, frenetic music, random dancing graphics in the corner, and a tickertape across the bottom of the screen to keep us entertained. That way of looking at the world caught me at the beginning of my teens, or late adolescence. Kids today were born looking at the world that way. Now they're being born into the world of the instant gratification, the at-your-fingertips wealth of information and entertanment of hi-speed internet, digital cable, cell phones, and i-Pods. So would it be impossible that ADHD is on the rise? Not really.

Is there anything we can do about it besides getting kids hooked on stimlants at an early age (I know people who swear they later became coke addicts or speed freaks because their parents gave them Ritalyn). Is there anything we should do? Is it going to be a requirement to be ADHD to learn in this fast-paced, info-packed world? Or will it interfere with the ability to learn? I don't really have any scientific bg on the subject, so I should just stop theorizing, probably, until I do some research, but honestly, I've already lost interest in the subject...I think I'm going to go look for one of those internet sites that teach you how to play piano.