Keurig

I am not a coffee drinker. The idea of drinking hot, bitter liquid with a propensity to stain my teeth and make my breath stink has never been particularly appealing to me. But while in grad school, my husband discovered a cup of coffee, regardless of its ill taste, would give him a boost of energy that would help him stay sharp, focused, and awake in the wee hours. This lead to semi-frequent coffee drinking. We had no coffee maker, so he would usually just stop and grab some at a fast-food place, claiming again that he wasn't drinking it for the taste, so cheap fast-food coffee was just as capable of doing the job as the expensive stuff. But when he started drinking coffee 2-3 times a week, it started to add up. So when I saw this on sale in one of my FB selling groups:

I got really excited and sent Rick a text. Obviously it was not something we were planning to buy, but it was cheap, his mom has one (which even I love because you can make hot cocoa and cider), and it sure would be convenient to make your own coffee at home. So we sprung for it. I drove all the way out north to retrieve it. We brought it inside and crowded around to watch the magic. (Charlie thinks lifting the lid makes the machine look like a spaceship, so there truly was some magic involved.)

Only...it didn't work. Like, at ALL. Lights flashed and it made noise, but nothing worked. We tried turning it off and back on. We tried pressing various buttons and sequences of buttons. Rick even took the thing apart to make sure something wasn't clogged. In the end, I sent a message back tot he girl we bought it from asking if she had any tips to get the things to work. Bless her, she didn't, but she was mortified that it didn't work and assured me it had worked for her and that she would NEVER knowingly sell something defective. I told her I understood and would try the number in the manual.

At this point, I'm pretty irritated. It's taken up more than two hours of my weekend to retrieve and mess with this thing and it doesn't work, and now I have to CALL AN 800 NUMBER which I try to avoid at all costs. I waited until Sunday afternoon when the kids were in bed and called. I spent 40 minutes on the phone flushing water, rinsing, rattling, shaking, clearing, etc. to no avail. I started to lose hope because when the guy asked where and when we bought it, I of course had to say we didn't have a receipt and we hadn't even bought it from a store but gotten it used. I was sure he was going to tell me sorry, there's nothing I can do.

But instead, he said: "Ma'am, if you give me your address, we can have a brand new brewer shipped to you within the week. I'm sorry for your trouble."

Seriously? That's it?

That's AWESOME.
CUE HAPPY DANCE.

It came on Thursday and this morning, Rick enjoyed a cup of Kureig coffee and declared it delicious. :)

Randomness

1. It's been nice outside.  In 3 days I logged 11 miles.  Or I would have logged it if my Nike app hadn't totally drained my phone of battery.  I managed to snap this pic before it died completely.  Yes, those are my children reading books on our walk.  We were out for almost three hours.  I brought reinforcements. 

2. This part of the school year is always hard.  Kids quit caring, co-workers get impatient, and you can see the finish line, yet it's still so far away.  Last week I caught some kids cheating - good kids, too - and I was devastated.  My head knows they are in 7th grade and they are still learning, but my heart really wanted to keep believing that they were good, solid kids who would never do such a thing. #bummed

3. I'm starting to get REALLY stoked about summer.  Lucy can walk now, and I've got Charlie signed up for T-ball (a first!), swim lessons, VBS, and possibly gymnastics.  We've also got a family vaycay to the Ozarks on the books, and possibly another with just us.  Still working that one out.

4. Jennifer and I are going to lead a connect group at church on motherhood.  It started out as me thinking, "I really wish they would do a support group for moms" and then, as those things often do, I ended up realizing that I could and should do it.  Jennifer is going to help me and we are kicking it off the first Saturday in May and finishing at the end of July.  The group's aim will be basic - to provide moms with scriptural and corporate encouragement as they seek to be the best moms they can be.  More to come on that score.

5. Rick got a promotion!  That's right - he's now a project manager for one set of their stores.  The downside: he has been working late every night this week.  I just got off the phone with him an hour ago and he said "Hopefully I'll be out of here by 10." That's PM.  Poor guy.

6.  I have been having "knock-down-drag-outs" as my mother would say with my son over getting dressed in the morning.  The kid HATES to get himself dressed.  I don't know if it's the early hour or what, but it is a battle nearly every morning.  He does it because I make him, but he whines like a baby, and there is nothing that irks me more than whining.  So most of the time I just tell him he's not allowed to talk.  Then he just cries silently.  Which would be heartbreaking if I weren't so annoyed.

7. I turn 30 one month from today.

Silver Lining...?

I'm sick.  I left school yesterday after 4th hour and headed straight for the doctor. An hour later I was picking up a prescription for STREP THROAT.

Yep...that's right.  I don't ever remember being nauseated with strep before, but as it's been more than a decade since I've had it, I may have forgotten.  I ate saltines and drank 7UP in the hopes that my stomach would calm, but it didn't.  I puked.

I don't want to belabor this most disgusting of topics, but I have always been rather fascinated by the way my body prepares itself for upchucking.  My face starts to sweat, spit starts filling my mouth, and tears start squirting out of my tear ducts about 15 seconds before it happens.  It is the worst. thing. ever.  Every time I do it, I think how crazy people must be to do this on purpose.

However, there is some silver lining.  (I've been looking for silver lining since Rick and I watched Silver Lining's Playbook over the weekend.)  I stepped on the scale this morning and voila:

Let me assure you there is NO potential to embrace this as a weight-loss tactic, but it is probably the only plus to being sick.

A silver lining.

Nerd Alert

Lindsey tagged me on Facebook in a post with this link and wrote "Randi, do you know this song? It's really popular right now."  Can we have a moment for how well Lindsey knows me?  Because, let's get real, if it's popular, I probably don't know it.  But, as it happens, they play this one at yoga.  So I do.

Boom.

If you have 3:16 minutes, it's pretty incredible.  If you don't, quit reading this and watch it.  Immediately.  Because Ohhhhhmyyyyyygooooooooooooodnessssssss.

I started to write a comment on the Facebook post.  And then I deleted it and broke my response into multiple comments, and then I decided to just write a post about it.  (It did, albeit briefly, enter my mind that this is really going to make my nerd-ness come out.  But let's get real.  It's truth, people.

"Moving on.")

People who are not vocalists often do not understand the RIDICULOUS challenges that are posed with a capella music, so let me try to break it down just a bit:

1. NO MUSIC - a capella is singing without musical accompaniment.  You don't have to be a vocalist to get this part, but JIC you didn't know. :)
2. PITCH - pitch is one's ability to sing the correct note, well, correctly.  It's also referred to as "intonation."  If you've ever heard someone say "He's flat," about a vocalist, they are referring to his pitch, and "flat" means he's just the slightest bit too low.  "Sharp" is the converse, but if someone is having intonation problems, they are ten times more likely to be flat than sharp.  Pitch comes from the musical accompaniment, but if you don't have the music, you've got to have pretty good very good pitch to start out in one key and then finish in it.  Often, vocalists will drift even just the tiniest bit.  It's not noticeable to the untrained ear, but by the time the piece is finished, it may even be a half step lower than where it started.  If you don't have good intonation (you might rethink this whole singing thing), you really should stick to music with accompaniment.
3. MULTIPLES -  So, building on pitch, when you add other voices into the mix, you require that they all, in turn, have very good excellent pitch.  If one person has the slightest inclination to sing even a fraction below the note, you've got a problem, because, as is true in life, it's easier to bring someone down than pull them up.  So you've got to have SERIOUS skill.
4. BLEND - This is one thing I struggled with when I was young.  Blend is the ability to match volume, quality, dynamic, enunciation, intonation - all of it with everyone in your group.  I know it might be hard to believe, but I was a little loud. :/ And the fewer people, the bigger the challenge.  With a song like this, there are several moving parts.  In this group, I count around 20 women, and at any given time, they may be singing 3-6 different parts, words, beats, etc.
5. DYNAMICS - The use of dynamics is the ability to vary the volume and intensity with which one sings.  It's a pretty powerful thing to hear a group of people slowly cresendo (get louder) or decresendo (get softer) at the same time in the same rate.  The ability to do so is why you get those goosebumps... And when you don't have accompaniment to help with this, you're left entirely to your voice.
6. BREATH - Breath support is one of those things people never hear about, but it's the first thing you learn in vocal training.  My first voice teacher made me lay down on the ground, place a hymnal on my stomach and keep it up for 64 counts.  I dare you to try this unless you are a vocalist or a swimmer, in which case, it's cake.  But breath with a group means you either have to coordinate your breathing, or do what we call "staggering" your breathing, which is where you sneak out and sneak back in. This is, again, harder to do the fewer people you have.

There are more, but I've got to get to the laundry, and let's face it, you skipped to the bottom anyway. 

Bottom line?  This is RIDICULOUSLY hard.  It looks easy and effortless, but behind this are hours and HOURS of preparation.  And, ridiculous skill.  I have a secret life dream to be a part of a group like this, (I LOVE LOVE LOVE a capella!) but the truth is that I'd need a LOT of work before I'd be up to par.

Parting thought: A capella music really is the unsung hero (pun intended) of vocal music.  I really wish it was more popular.  And I wish The Singoff hadn't gotten cancelled.  It was the one TV show I actually watched on TV.

Family Pics: What to DO??

I can't believe how stressed out I am about getting our family pictures taken next week, but I am.

Maybe it's because, traditionally, my son refuses to look at the camera, will not smile, and usually ends up in BIG trouble afterward.

Maybe it's because I still don't have a color scheme or outfits picked out and I'm down to the weekend before.

Maybe it's because we are using a new photographer...though I don't think so - she's a friend from high school who knows what she's doing.

Maybe it's because I've lost 40 lbs and, danget, I want these pics to be good.

Maybe.

Here is a preview of past family pictures - the ones that made the Christmas card:

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2012

The last two were professional (as you could probably tell), and that's the route we decided to take from now on.  Our kiddos are growing up, and we want a good, solid family photo!

Now I just need to find the perfect outfits. :/  Taking suggestions.

What. A. Week.

Rick has been gone all week.

Monday night Charlie woke up screaming because his ear hurt.  Sure enough, fluid was literally gushing out of his ear.  Had to go see a specialist and received ear drops from a $150 1 oz dropper.  Great.

I've yogaed once and only done 7 miles.  Feeling decent about this.

I have eaten bread, ice cream, granola, peanut butter, and beef and noodles.  Also had two small glasses of (DELICIOUS) cow's milk.  At the moment, I am stuffed (beef and noodles were tonight) and really regretting that second helping. (Yes, I had a second helping.)

And, on the way home tonight, my daughter somehow missed her diaper entirely and crapped out the side of her diaper into her car seat.  And got it all over both her legs.  The cherry on top of my week.

I am so exhausted.  I don't know how single parents do it.  Thankfully, Rick's flight got moved up because they finished early, so he'll be home soon.

Which is good...because I feel like I'm about to LOSE IT.  Bring on that 3-day weekend!

Day 26: Something I Read Online

I read this article after a friend posted it on Facebook.  If you care to read it, try to get past the poor prose...go for content.  If you don't, the basic gist is this:

A couple attended a wedding and gave the newlyweds a basket of foods - jolly ranchers, marshmallow creme, balsamic vinegar, etc. with a card that said, "Life is delicious...enjoy."  Soon after, they received a text from the newlyweds asking for receipts so they could return the items, as one of the brides was intolerant of gluten.  A texting dialogue ensued and quickly bypassed casual to uncomfortable, and escalated into an all out war from there.  The givers were told by the newlyweds, "I'm not sure if it's the first wedding you have been to, but for your next wedding, people give envelopes. I lost out on $200 covering you and your dates plate, and got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return. Just a heads up for the future :)"  This was the last smily face that was exchanged.  The whole texting battle can be found in the original link.

I didn't read the whole conversation, but I did read the article to my husband.  We were actually driving to a wedding as I was reading it out loud from my phone.  His reaction was the same as mine.  And here is what we would say to them:

Dear Newlywed Brides,

Are you serious?  Are you SERIOUS?

Before we address the utterly ridiculous prospect of actually telling someone that they owed you a better gift for your wedding, let's review the purpose of a wedding.  I feel somewhat qualified to address this topic, as I have been involved in over 100 weddings (no joke) over the course of my life, including my own.  The purpose of a wedding is to celebrate the union of two people who love each other with the ones they love.  It is not, as you say "to make money for your future."  A wedding should be the most glorious day of your life.  It's not about decorations.  It's not about pictures.  It's not about gifts, and it is certainly not about money.  It's a day to celebrate one of the most important decisions you will ever make with people you love and who love you.  Gifts are an added bonus.

I don't know how much money the gift-givers have.  They may have been loaded.  Millionaires.  Zillionaires.  Let's pretend for the sake of conversation that they were zillionaires.  It might be okay for you to think, "Huh, I know they have a ton of money, and it seems like they would have given us something a little nicer."  That might be okay.  BUT YOU SURE AS HECK DON'T SAY IT!  Geesh, people!  Now the far more likely situation is that these were average folks with an average income.  They may have gotten the idea for a picnic basket full of food from Pinterest, or maybe even their own creativity.  It was kind and thoughtful even though the you were unable to use it.

And I have ground-breaking news for you.  Are you ready?  Everyone gets gifts they don't want or need at their weddings.  But, as you seem to be lacking in this thing called tact, let me give you a few pointers by telling you what all the kind, considerate, and polite folks do:

1. Regift - this is a great practice.  If you know someone who can use this gift, give it to them. 
2. Donate -  your gift was food!  Donate it to a local food pantry or drop-in center.
3. Garage Sale - sell it at your next garage sale 
4. AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT!  Surely you've heard the old adage, "It's the thought that counts" (or maybe not...as you don't appear to have an abundance of manners, and therefore may not have had a very respectable upbringing).  Well, it's true.  These people obviously cared enough to give you something, and even if it's not something you wanted, it was time, energy, and money spent.

Your wedding should be joyful.  So joyful, in fact, that something as small and insignificant as this should be just that - small and insignificant.  I sincerely hope that you have come to your senses and gotten back to the reason you got married in the first place.  Surely it wasn't to make money.  If it was, I'm afraid to say you have a long and difficult marriage ahead of you.

Sincerely,

Someone who would never have the guts to actually say any of this to you, but totally thinks it

I Have A Problem

I am really good at not spending money.  I've had to be because I'm married to a 10th year student. :)  I buy things used at garage sales, thrift stores, and online.  I accept (and in some cases, request) hand-me-downs, and to be honest, my little boy is just as cute in his second-hand name-brand stuff as the other boys are in their first-hand name-brands.

Enter my girl.  Oh, my goodness.

I cannot believe how many adorable things there are for little girls.  We went to Target the other day and made the mistake of "just looking" at the girl's clothes. We ended up with the two 3-piece outfits pictured above, two onsies, and a pair of pants.  To be fair, we are a little short on clothes that fit her (my 5-month-old is officially in 6 months!), but not that short.

And, since we're going on a mini-vaycay next week, I ordered this little swimming suit for Lucy (with gift cards, so I wasn't really spending money).  Isn't it so adorable?  I can't wait to see her chubby little arms and legs sticking out of it!


Oh well - I'm calling it the rest of my Christmas money and deciding to enjoy it. :)

Grammar Lesson

(Warning: Severe Type A-ness follows)

Alright, folks, let's get one thing straight. We are all educated individuals. We are blessed to live in a country where we are taught how to read and write. Why, then, do we insist on doing it incorrectly? It's one thing to see it from a 7th grader, but quite another to see it from adults.  I pride myself in my ability to find mistakes and fix them.  And, if you know me, you know I enjoy doing it.

But I am also blessed to teach across the hall from the grammar Queen of the Universe. I get to stand in her presence nearly every day and regularly think about how I aspire to be as good as she.  If you could make a job out of finding mistakes in professional publications, I would apply (sounds like a DREAM), but Chelsea would too, and they would hire her.  They would be right to do so.  She is good.  She is better.  She is best.

I put this on her wall on Thursday, December 20th:

 

I was delighted to see this post from her on Thursday, December 27th:

She is so good.  So good.  I sometimes get confused with the last few - even have to look them up - but here she is spouting them off like the real professional.  I am posting this so you can bookmark them if you have trouble, too.

Props, Chelsea, props.

The Little Things

The last three months have been rough.  Here are some little things in which I have found joy:

• watching movies from my childhood
• climbing into a bed with freshly changed sheets
• club crackers
• online shopping
• adorable little baby girl clothes
• sleeping past 6 AM and not feeling guilty about it
• snuggling a sweet, sleeping baby girl
• spending the whole day in my PJs
• eating food other people have cooked
• peanut M&Ms
• knowing things are exactly as they were meant to be

Bed Rest Discovery - Downton Abbey

I have not watched much TV since I've been on bed rest, mainly because I'm not much of a TV person.  I hate the idea of spending time in such a productive-less pursuit.  I don't have this problem with movies (not sure why), but TV feels different.  Unless I am watching it with my husband (which feels like a productive investment because we are spending time together ;), I really don't watch much.

(photo credit)

Enter Downton Abbey.  It's no secret that I love anything British and am a fan of Jane Austen movies and the like.  I had heard for some time that this was a great show I should watch, but for some reason I didn't get around to it until my friend Kristin suggested we watch it on an evening Rick wasn't home.  We watched the first two episodes together and then I finished the season the next day - the whole thing in less than 24 hours.  Here are a few reasons I like it:

• It was only a century ago--the first episode commences immediately after the sinking of the Titanic. It's cool to see how different life was, even just a hundred years ago!
• The characters--they are witty, believeable, and human.  And they have cool British accents.
• The hierarchy--there is a very established class system, and even though the Grantham household treats its servants well, there are still moments of serious discrimination toward the servants and "lower classes"
• The scenery--this show is filmed in an actual British mannor (with the exception of basement kitchen and servants quarters, which are filmed on a soundstage) and it is beautiful

Season 2 is not on Netflix (GRRR), but I think I found it for free through Amazon.  My husband has a student membership which entitles him to the benefits of Amazon Prime at a discounted rate.  So my next week is going to be full of Downton Abbey, Season 2!

Accidental New Look

Confession: I really don't know that much about the technical side of blogging.

I've been up since 4 AM and have been blog-surfing.  In a fit of cool blog-design envy, I started trying new layouts, not realizing that I didn't know how to change it back to the original layout.  After 20 minutes or so of trying, I have still not figured it out and it's time to start getting ready for church.  I'll have to tackle this later.  So watch for a new design in the near future!

For Fun

I've seen this on a few other blogs...and it's summer.

Obsessing over::
Wearing whatever I want.  WHATEVER I want.  No making sure laundry is done or that my outfit is set out the night before.  I can wear whatever I want.  And flip flops.


Working on:: 
-getting a big-boy bed for my son
-studying the book of James
-preparing to start my maternity lesson plans :/

Thinking about::
How summer is nearly half over :(


Anticipating::
Finding out on Thursday whether we are having a boy or a girl

Listening to::
Doctor Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog - what the heck is this show? I don't get it...


Munching on::
These.  I remember eating them at daycare as a kid...and I couldn't help it when I saw them in the store the other day.  They. Are. Delicious.

(photo credit)

Thankful for::
My husband being home all summer.  We are having a great time together. :)