weapons of massdistraction

We’ve had another good day. The little man’s paternal grandma agreed to watch the lad for a few hours, so that his Auntie D and I could catch a movie. We headed to Har Mar for a showing of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. What can I say about it? I’m still thinking it through. It’s been described as “a zany soap opera at sea” but that doesn’t quite cover it for Wes Anderson’s latest funny-sad film. I’ll agree that it “makes little sense but is still fun to watch” and just say it’s something to behold. And I’ll admit to a bit of a crush on Brazilian singer Seu Jorge (who plays Pelé dos Santos, one of Steve’s minions). Yeah. Now as the year is winding down I’ve got to get back to work. Client work, getting the house ready for our annual New Year’s Eve potluck, visiting with family from out of town, setting up play dates for the little man…and keeping myself away from Katamari Damacy.
Bonus: Onomatopoeia around the world (from MeFi).

Last night I had an odd dream. In it Paul Westerberg told me, point blank, that I was getting fat and should lay off the baked goods. Wtf? I mean, he’s not wrong, but still. There was also something about a party in a moving house, but that’s another story. Now it’s time to get in gear for our whirlwind weekend. Christmas Eve is always spent with my Dad so we’re headed over there shortly. Tomorrow morning we’re booked with the in-laws, then on to the little man’s bio-Dad’s parents’ house (confusing enough?) for the afternoon. The last stop in the evening sees us off to the airport, to retrieve Dave and Huey-Ling (who aren’t related to us by blood or marriage, but are family nonetheless). That adventure includes the possibility of takeout from Evergreen. Except Sunday we’re slated to have lunch there with Delia Jane. Oh well. On the homefront, I’ve got a husband who doesn’t believe in obligatory gifts (or holidays), so I’m going to pretend the three cases of soy milk he brought home are just for me. Actually, he did make some apple galettes for me, while I was sleeping last night. But only because it’s all he could think of to appease his riled up wife (but like Mr. Westerberg said, that’s the last thing I need). Tensions can run especially high during the holidays, for some of us. I’m surprised the little man hasn’t commanded me to “slettle down” yet.
Bonus: These Christmasbots are the best-looking cookies I’ve ever seen.
Plus: Yay, Lane is back, and in newly revamped style. And just check out the craziness of his hockey-playing adventures with Avril Lavigne. I couldn’t make this up. Seriously.

And so it begins. So much to do. So many places to be. There have already been some good times this week. The little man created the most beautiful xmas cards, mostly on his own (with just a very little help from me). But I loved them so much I couldn’t possibly give them away. If it’s hard to discern the subjects, they are, starting clockwise: a train; a teddy bear/snowman hybrid; an ostrich-like bird; a house; and an xmas tree.

Last night we went to the neigbhors’ house for a lovely little holiday party. Our hermitude began in earnest when the temperatures plunged, so even though our yards are connected, it had been weeks since we’d seen any of said neighbors. From here on out we’re going to make concerted efforts to hang out on a more regular basis.

Then this morning an old friend came over. It was the first time we’d seen each other in two years, as she’s hardly been in Minnesota since we graduated from high school. The little man didn’t remember her, but they bonded over a mutual love of Pee Wee’s Playhouse and French Toast (special secret tip: the latter is really tasty, and easy, when made with Silk Nog). But there have been some bad times this week as well. A migraine knocked me on my ass for more than two days, and I’m still feeling the after effects…flashing lights in the corner of my left eye, general queasiness, and an achey neck. What the heck? Hopefully ibuprofen will help me get by for the rest of this week’s work and festivities.
Bonus: Congratulations to Chuck, whose Blogumentary scored a favorable review in Mother Jones magazine.
Plus: Bearskinrug gets redesigned, and Danny Gregory fulfills his last resolution for ‘04. If I could only follow through in the same way.

I’ve added an item to the list of things Sharyn should not do: baking while sleep deprived. Bad idea. But the little man and I were jonesing for more christmas cookies last night. I thought it would be an easy thing, to make more of a recipe that worked out so well for us the other day. Except that I started mixing the dry ingredients and realized it was the wrong recipe. And I couldn’t find the right one, written down or online. Naturally I decided to boldly, and badly, forge ahead. I just kinda winged it. The end result was a half batch of sad little brick-like cookies that aren’t just dry, they aren’t very sweet either. And I didn’t add enough food coloring so they came out a pukey seafoam green, which reminds me of my grandmother’s bathroom. How very appetizing. Still, the little man is scarfing them down with no complaints.
Plus: The wind chill is down to 11 degrees below zero. So while I may just make it out of my pajamas today (eventually), I’m certainly not going to make it out of the house. Besides, there will be enough of that in the coming week with all the holiday gatherings, and a rock&roll rollerskating party to boot.

My head is going to implode. Too much to be done, and too many ideas to take in. And more important than impending holidays and looming deadlines is the question of the little man’s educational future. The husband is currently reading The Underground History of American Education by former schoolteacher, John Taylor Gatto. The idea of homeschooling the little man has come up before, and reading this book is only making that option more appealing. But I’m already counting down the days (17) until the lad goes back to school. So the question isn’t just am I capable of teaching my son, but also, could I handle taking him on, one and one, 24/7? Still, part of me is seriously considering the idea…and there are secular homeschooling support groups out there. But first we’ll have to consider the results of next month’s neuropsych assessment. On the lighter side, we made it to the Children’s Museum this morning in time for the Fabulous Fridays World Music program. Unfortunately the guys weren’t as interested in the Taiko drumming as I was, so I took in the performance alone. Afterwards we regrouped and had ourselves a pleasant little visit, as the museum was only moderately crowded.

When we returned home I feared we’d find one of those dreaded notices from a delivery driver. Instead we found one of the long-awaited packages itself, rather unceremoniously dumped upon our doorstep. A little while later the doorbell rang and another package arrived. Each contained at least one gift for the little man, which I had to make scarce in a hurry. But one box also contained gifts for me. Oops. Specifically a Jolly Roger sticker for my Powerbook, and a package of pirate bandages, with hidden treasure (a miniature monkey wearing a Fez).
Bonus: I couldn’t agree more with Receptionista’s post about “schizoid holiday madness” but at least she’s currently out bowling with her work boyfriend…while I shudder to think what my impending visit to the post office has in store for the little man and I. Chin up, old girl, chin up.