Extending this blog is the perfect Mother's Day gift. I check it at least once a day and it is almost as good as a real a hug, a good way to connect. And I am not the only one to benefit from this connection. Your Dad often lets me know there is a new blog because he checks it at least as much as I do. I know that your grandparents have appreciated this gift too. Nana told me just today that it is the best Mother's Day present I ever got from her point of view.
I absolutely agree with her except for the three special people that have given me the honor to celebrate this special day as their mother. Those are the real gifts that have given back to me more than I could ever give to them. Keep being the great people that you are and I will always have reason to celebrate this day.
And a special Happy Mother's day to Betty Sequin who produced such a wonderful man and to Fran Swanson who gave us such a special woman. Cheers to us mothers.
Nana (and Papa) and Grama, you have been such wonderful support for us in our early years and hard times. We are so lucky to have you around to continue to celebrate your incrediable grandchildren.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
You know what is lame?
Spending Mother's Day without your Mom. What day makes you want to cozy up in homey comforts and give your Mom a hug more than this? And since I can't hug her myself, I spend a lot of energy trying to envisions the perfect (well, practically that good) gift to make up for it. But if you can't spend time with her, what do you give the woman who gave you everything in life from a college education to your smile and a love of fantasy novels and... oh yeah- life itself ? Is there an e-card for that?
To really put the pin in the feeling of "I wish I could hug my own Mom right now," I ran in the Race for the Cure this morning. I mentioned that in Pittsburgh, this is qualified as a MAJOR event, with an estimated 40,000 people turning out to cheer on the Mother's, sisters daughters and survivors that battle breast cancer. Many people wore signs on their back saying "I race for ____." Which kinda makes you a little teary. The family I raced with (my ceramics partner's large, Pittsburgh, BRAC1 positive family) wore signed Celebrating Mom, Two Aunts and One Uncle, In Memory of Grandma and One Cousin. How powerful that they could all race together, really supporting each other, and just be present? It makes me feel a little like I've abandoned my own mother- even if she insists that she doesn't need a trio of children tending to her every need at Virginia Mason for a fairly routine procedure.
The longer I live away from my mother, the more I miss her- but the more I value the connection that we can have as adults, despite the distance. It also makes me treasure the impact that she has had on my life in helping to sculpt me as the goofy-logical-caring-chef-scientist I like to think that I am. So here is to you Mom (someone get her a mimosa!), I hope that you find this mother's day that you already have everything a Mother could ask for, minus a hug.
*****
In parallel news: Happy One Year Anniversary to the Preecs Place. As Dad put it, no Mother's Day gift can top the blog- so this year, to celebrate we are going to KEEP BLOGGING! Please enjoy the Mom-centric new slideshow in the sidebar. And extra Happy Mother's Day to Grandma and Nana- thanks for giving us great parents!
To really put the pin in the feeling of "I wish I could hug my own Mom right now," I ran in the Race for the Cure this morning. I mentioned that in Pittsburgh, this is qualified as a MAJOR event, with an estimated 40,000 people turning out to cheer on the Mother's, sisters daughters and survivors that battle breast cancer. Many people wore signs on their back saying "I race for ____." Which kinda makes you a little teary. The family I raced with (my ceramics partner's large, Pittsburgh, BRAC1 positive family) wore signed Celebrating Mom, Two Aunts and One Uncle, In Memory of Grandma and One Cousin. How powerful that they could all race together, really supporting each other, and just be present? It makes me feel a little like I've abandoned my own mother- even if she insists that she doesn't need a trio of children tending to her every need at Virginia Mason for a fairly routine procedure.
The longer I live away from my mother, the more I miss her- but the more I value the connection that we can have as adults, despite the distance. It also makes me treasure the impact that she has had on my life in helping to sculpt me as the goofy-logical-caring-chef-scientist I like to think that I am. So here is to you Mom (someone get her a mimosa!), I hope that you find this mother's day that you already have everything a Mother could ask for, minus a hug.
*****
In parallel news: Happy One Year Anniversary to the Preecs Place. As Dad put it, no Mother's Day gift can top the blog- so this year, to celebrate we are going to KEEP BLOGGING! Please enjoy the Mom-centric new slideshow in the sidebar. And extra Happy Mother's Day to Grandma and Nana- thanks for giving us great parents!
Party Time!
We're about to throw a houswarming party, except that it's not a housewarming party because if we call it that, people will bring us fondue sets and salad tongs and we don't need any of those, thanks you.
We're telling people it's a Rock Band party, because rock band is awesome and everyone likes music. We've got chips and munchies everywhere, and the cats are in a spare bedroom because they will eat anything we leave out. And they don't really like strangers overmuch.
Will post later with stories and pictures. Ciao!
-N
We're telling people it's a Rock Band party, because rock band is awesome and everyone likes music. We've got chips and munchies everywhere, and the cats are in a spare bedroom because they will eat anything we leave out. And they don't really like strangers overmuch.
Will post later with stories and pictures. Ciao!
-N
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
A big trip?
We have all been throwing around trip ideas lately, would you be interested in going to the 2010 Olympics in BC? I thought I might pair this with a trip to my mother-in-law, but this is a fairly public event. Cogitate on that...
Yet More Adventures in Home Ownership
I received a call on Sunday from the company doing our roof. They said that they'd be out on Monday and wanted to verify that the materials were already there. I looked out on the driveway to double check but...nope, no shingles. The guy said he'd take care of it, though he may have to reschedule.
Lucky us, though, it all got worked out. When we came back home after work on Monday, our house was swarming with workers, busily banging away and tearing off old shingles. Very exciting, though a little loud. They finished off the work today, and we have ourselves a brand new roof! I've taken some pictures, but I'll have to put up those later.
They did leave one bag in our tree branches, though, and I wanted to get it down. Well I tried throwing a broom up at it to knock it down and I know you've heard this joke before, but it got stuck up there too. Well we had just purchased a ladder, but it wasn't tall enough. Ever the engineers, we taped two hockey sticks together to get the reach necessary to get down both the bag and the broom. Take that, altitude!
On Saturday, we were sitting around and planning a shopping trip (full of new, experimental crockpot recepies) when we heard something banging around downstairs. Well it wasn't either of the cats, and a thorough search of the house revealed it also wasn't in any of the rooms. It was in the wall. In our laundry room. So I saddled up my man-clothes, put on some gloves, and pulled the appliances away from the wall. I took the output hose off the the drier and sure enough was greeted with a burst of lint as whatever had gotten itself stuck in there thrashed around and tried to scrabble back up. On the plus side, it did manage to clean a lot of lint out of the output tube.
Uncertain of what we were dealing with, (Squirrel? Bird? Mouse? Rat?) we first tried to look up with a mirror, and then poked with a coat hanger. Eventually, I just put some peanut butter in a couple of plastic grocery bags and started duct taping it to the vent. Well no sooner had I started, but something fell in. I grabbed the bag off the wall, and we went outside to let it go. We have some video, but both Jess and I got an unexpected surprise when we opened up the bag and a bird flew out. Starling, I think.
Never let it be said that home ownership is boring.
Regardless, I felt very manly and productive, and as a bonus, I don't have anything rotting in the walls, which is usually a downer.
We've also gotten a couple of neat packages in the mail. One, Jess got her plaque for her patent, which is awesome, and we also got a gps unit. We've been playing around with it for a while and I think we've settled on a female, English voice. Very soothing.
Jess's team had a game on Sunday that Jess sat out due to her shoulder being sore. She still attended, though, still walked out during the intro, arm in sling, and I even saw her offering up a couple more signatures to some fans after the game. Not even injury can stop fame.
-N
Lucky us, though, it all got worked out. When we came back home after work on Monday, our house was swarming with workers, busily banging away and tearing off old shingles. Very exciting, though a little loud. They finished off the work today, and we have ourselves a brand new roof! I've taken some pictures, but I'll have to put up those later.
They did leave one bag in our tree branches, though, and I wanted to get it down. Well I tried throwing a broom up at it to knock it down and I know you've heard this joke before, but it got stuck up there too. Well we had just purchased a ladder, but it wasn't tall enough. Ever the engineers, we taped two hockey sticks together to get the reach necessary to get down both the bag and the broom. Take that, altitude!
On Saturday, we were sitting around and planning a shopping trip (full of new, experimental crockpot recepies) when we heard something banging around downstairs. Well it wasn't either of the cats, and a thorough search of the house revealed it also wasn't in any of the rooms. It was in the wall. In our laundry room. So I saddled up my man-clothes, put on some gloves, and pulled the appliances away from the wall. I took the output hose off the the drier and sure enough was greeted with a burst of lint as whatever had gotten itself stuck in there thrashed around and tried to scrabble back up. On the plus side, it did manage to clean a lot of lint out of the output tube.
Uncertain of what we were dealing with, (Squirrel? Bird? Mouse? Rat?) we first tried to look up with a mirror, and then poked with a coat hanger. Eventually, I just put some peanut butter in a couple of plastic grocery bags and started duct taping it to the vent. Well no sooner had I started, but something fell in. I grabbed the bag off the wall, and we went outside to let it go. We have some video, but both Jess and I got an unexpected surprise when we opened up the bag and a bird flew out. Starling, I think.
Never let it be said that home ownership is boring.
Regardless, I felt very manly and productive, and as a bonus, I don't have anything rotting in the walls, which is usually a downer.
We've also gotten a couple of neat packages in the mail. One, Jess got her plaque for her patent, which is awesome, and we also got a gps unit. We've been playing around with it for a while and I think we've settled on a female, English voice. Very soothing.
Jess's team had a game on Sunday that Jess sat out due to her shoulder being sore. She still attended, though, still walked out during the intro, arm in sling, and I even saw her offering up a couple more signatures to some fans after the game. Not even injury can stop fame.
-N
Monday, May 4, 2009
My Amazing Burger Recipe
The weather here has been downright pleasant lately, so we've had the grill out and been eating outside when ever possible.
I've tried this recipe twice now, and since Matt thinks it completely changes the nature of a turkey burger, I thought I owe it to you to share.
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
1/4- 1/3 c rolled oats
one clove crushed garlic
chopped cilantro (many table spoons)
- mint and basil if you have it
~1/4 c teriyaki sauce
black pepper or hot pepper to taste
Mix all ingredient together by hand. Form into 5 or 6 little patties and grill. Serve in a lettuce leave or bun.
I've tried this recipe twice now, and since Matt thinks it completely changes the nature of a turkey burger, I thought I owe it to you to share.
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
1/4- 1/3 c rolled oats
one clove crushed garlic
chopped cilantro (many table spoons)
- mint and basil if you have it
~1/4 c teriyaki sauce
black pepper or hot pepper to taste
Mix all ingredient together by hand. Form into 5 or 6 little patties and grill. Serve in a lettuce leave or bun.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Mom on the Rebound
So we talked to the GI specialist this morning and he agreed that Mom's symptoms appeared to be the same issue of a plugged sphincter at the end of her bile duct. The MRI/x-rays showed no stones, just a distended tube that backs up into her liver and pancreas making unwelcome congestion and pain. The plan was to go back in with the tube and put a stretchy balloon to open up the presumed scar tissue. Well, it turns out that the sphincter muscle in fact was not completely cut the first time this was done 3 years ago, so all he had to to was tweak that a little more, then everything started draining again just fine. She is doing well tonight and we hope to be out and about tommorrow, though going slowly.
I spent my time reading an excellent history about the Great Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and listening with one ear to swine flu reports on the news. So far, no remote comparison to the stories. The book has a long introduction about the state of medical study and the development of medical research at the turn of the century. Suffice it to say my profession at one hundred years ago was tragically primative and poorly regulated. We have come a long way to the place my daughter now stands.
love, dad
I spent my time reading an excellent history about the Great Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and listening with one ear to swine flu reports on the news. So far, no remote comparison to the stories. The book has a long introduction about the state of medical study and the development of medical research at the turn of the century. Suffice it to say my profession at one hundred years ago was tragically primative and poorly regulated. We have come a long way to the place my daughter now stands.
love, dad
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