What’s up?
Sorry for the paltry post, but we are driving up from Orange County after a long weekend with Erika’s family. I’ll make sure to post pics, but we went to Maya’s birthday party on Saturday and then Erika and I ran the Tinkerbell half marathon on Sunday.
How goes it this Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend? Do you have any plans?
In case you missed it, First Lady Michelle Obama sported a new hairdo for her 49th birthday. I love it!
What else is in the news? What’s up with you?
Wait Michelle Obama is 49? Dang! I look older than her at 32.
I want to talk to ds about Martin Luther king jr and read him a book, but on Friday one of the older kids on the bus told him he sandy hook story, which he hadn’t heard yet. So I’ve been hearing things from him like “I wonder what it feels like to get shot.” He seems to have accepted our promise that he is safe, but I am just laying low on the mlk story this year.
Also I fear for the obamas safety. As always.
Look for a kids version of “I have a dream”. S loved that when he was littler.
I’m having a bit of trouble with my brain replaying Anne Hathaway singing Fantine’s lament every time I see a reference to the “I have a dream” speech this weekend.
Oh great. Now I do too.
You’re welcome.
My kids’ preschool did a thing for MLK day every year, and read a book about him, but of course the part that made the biggest impression was his death. I remember DS1 coming home and saying, “Martin Loover King was shot!”
I grew up Lutheran and was very disappointed when I realized Martin Luther King Jr was not, in fact, the father of our denomination.
LOL!
Yeah. the whole safety thing is very much in my head today. Watching the speech and all the security…it’s amazing that they keep them safe.
Loved the speech though- and I think this is the first inaugural poem I’ve actually liked.
I liked it too. It surprised me that one of the first things I saw after the ceremony was one of my FB friends complaining about how bad and cliche-ridden it was. I admit that it says basically the same thing that the last inaugural poem said, but I think that sort of comes with the territory, and I liked the Whitmanesque, concrete crowding of this poem better than the more abstract notions from last time.
Holy carp I broke mothertalkers. I hate mobile wp! I’ll get the tech guy to fix it
Haha! I thought, 8 comments already? People are up and at em early today!
Trying to figure out which office at my university to send the $100 bill for my sitter today. Public school is closed, Clara’s daycare is closed, my DH’s nonprofit runs a day of service…and I have a packed full, can’t skip day at work. Makes no sense why an academic institution that purports to be all about promoting social justice has business as usual today. Grumble grumble gripe.
Ugh! I thought everyone had MLK off…it’s a federal holiday. Even non-profits that have only 5 or 6 days off have this one. Phooey on your Uni!
My DH doesn’t get today off either. He gets Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas Eve through New Years Day. They are very generous at Christmas so I can’t complain, but it’s kind of weird to me.
Were I at work – which I’m not because I’m on leave – I’d be working today. The thing that mystifies me is.. we mostly service schools and other businesses who ARE off. It makes no sense to drag us into work when we just sit on our backsides and read because there’s nothing for us to do.
Boo on them! Surprising that they don’t take a federal holiday off.
My university doesn’t have MLK Day off either (which I tend to feel is a little disrespectful, especially since the U has a black president). I can’t remember if the big U where I got my MA had MLK Day off either. It’s weird timing for academia–the students are starting back tomorrow, but I don’t know if faculty are still technically on break or not. I think having the extra day off would just throw everybody off schedule. Still–wasn’t happy leaving DH home in bed this morning!
Every year I’m caught off guard when our trash collectors show up just like it’s any other random Monday (and my trash is still tucked in my garage).
That’s just wrong. The man was killed helping garbagemen.
Exactly. And they have to hurry around a bunch of clueless about MLK kids running around the streets because they’re off school.
While I’m at it, I have to vent about the HS groups going to the inauguration. About half the parents involved emailed or posted some of the nastiest carp about Pres Obama/FLOTUS. Now they’re all over FB with photos and “look at my baby at the inauguration!”
puke
I think you could find an MLK story for kids that focuses on his message and movement and doesn’t end with him being shot.
That’s a good idea. I’m sure there are some stories or lessons online.
I think “Martin’s Big Words” fits that bill – but I’m only basing that on what my minister friends say about it.
Very glad for a three-day weekend….both DS and I are fighting colds. He’s been running a fever (which seems to be down this morning – via the forehead kiss test) and both of us are coughing. One more day of chilling will be good.
H has a cold- not a bad one- but DH is driving me crazy with the infectious protocols. Seriously dude, it’s a cold. Not smallpox. My hands are sore from all the washing.
you know if i were there I’d say it…
Yeah, the cranky in this house is going to kill me. I’m so ready to go back to work tomorrow.
OMG, I am SUCH a baby. DH found a small leak from the dishwasher and then discovered it’s gotten into the walls. This happened a few years ago, except by the time we found it we had black mold growing like gangbusters in DS’s room.
DH has been really vigilant since then so I don’t think there’s any mold, although there is definitely moisture IN the walls. Shudder. Meanwhile, there are people coming in and out to look and test but the worst is there are huge, really loud dehumidifiers strewn around. The noise is making me mental, even while hiding in another room with the door closed. I don’t even understand why that is, since I can’t really hear it. Maybe a distorted reaction to last time, when we had to move out, felt really guilty for DS being sick and us not knowing why? They will be here until at least Thursday.
DH asked the insurance lady if they would put me up in a hotel since I’m such a basket case, and she said yes! But, I don’t wanna go. I do not know what is wrong with me. Inertia.
Anyway — next time any of you start to feel like wusses for one reason or another, you can think of me paralyzed by — a fan. In another room. And feel really, really good about yourselves and your coping skills!
Aw honey- Hugs. So sorry that you’re having to deal with this!
I had three of those ‘fans’ in my house when we had the ice dam issues a few years ago and they are NOT just ‘fans’ –they’re GD windtunnells that sound like a plane is taking off in your house. I reacted in much the same way… except I was alone.. with an anxiety prone 9 year old and I had to cover it up… sigh…
go to the hotel…. you’ve earned it.
We all have our things. I was petrified the entire drive up the mountain, even though realistically the road was about as scary as the road to the grocery store (we stopped before getting near the summit). Then this morning I got about 15 minutes into the drive back and had to pull off the road to check the air pressure in the tires. Just because I had a sudden need to check the air pressure in the tires. Which I’d checked and filled before the drive up, and also looked at before getting in the car on the way back. But better to just get off the highway and check the darn things again than let it ferment in my brain the entire way down. So coping skills, to some degree, but perhaps not ones I feel terribly proud of.
This whole thing has turned out to be a good talking point with my kids. They see that I have fears that are real, if a bit silly in places, and they can see how I approach and struggle with these fears.
You’re not being a wuss, for the love of Bob. Now honey, you go and get that hotel room. Mental health is a good reason to go to a hotel room. And then you can do me a favor and order something decadent from the room service menu and enjoy it on my behalf.
I’ll bet it’s louder than you think or, perhaps has a hummmmm at some odd threshold. Some things just go through you. I’m with the others who say you deserve a break.
If it’s not too late, go to the room, turn on the TeeVee and pour some wine!
You’re not a wuss. Go to the hotel! They’re covering it. Live it up!
Hmm, in my experience, insurance companies don’t give you anything unless it is tripple justified – so you are absolutely not a wuss! And lyn is right: we all have our things – apparently, this is yours. I really hope you took the wise MTs advice and took the hotel room. meanwhile, you ave cyberhugs coming your way. I hope this is dealt with soon and well.
I vote for the hotel – and I’m late to this so I hope you did go and get some rest. We fear what we fear. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
What a gorgeous first family we have! Just thought I would throw that out. And I loved all of their outfits and hair.
I love how the girls were busy being themselves during the parade. I watched a short segment from just before it started. They were taking pictures of their parents and generally basking in the glory that is technology in the hands of a teenager
I enjoyed watching Flotus interact with them, let them take her picture, elbow the Prez (hey, the kids want your picture) and, after review giving the “delete it” look.
I know! I just luuuuuuuurved it. They’re gorgeous and just so loving and affectionate with each other.
When do we see Michelle’s dress, now?!?!
We’re waiting for that, still! C’mon now!
hmmm…what do we think about the red dress? I’m not loving it, I don’t think?
I love it. So swishy and the color is lovely on her. What don’t you love about it?
I don’t think it’s very flattering on her. I think I don’t like how it hangs. Love the color on her, though.
And my judgement is kind of wishy washy. Her hair has grown on me and maybe her dress will, too.
Agreed – not loving the way the front comes together somehow. It seems to diminish the power of those gorgeous shoulders.
They are fabulous – maybe it’s just because they’re parents with kids roughly my kids’ ages that makes me think we could be buds (and I know how stupid that sounds…).
You mean, you’d want to have a beer with them?
Actually, yes! Snort!
I swear to Bob, I’m blissing out on this Inauguration stuff. Totally drunk the Kool-Aid, gone true believer, etc. Al Roker! Joe Biden! The girls! Give me moooooore photos, NOW!!!
What was up with Chuck Schumer? He was in every picture I saw of yesterday?
Why am I ending every sentence with a question mark? What is my damage?
snort?
he was the chairman of the Inauguration committee hence his Waldo-like inclusion in every photo
Ooo- “Waldo-like.” Must add that to my lexicon.
He just doesn’t blend. Maybe if he had a striped hat….
Chuck Schumer in a tooooque would be a marvellous piece of performance art, I think.
I think this screams for a Tumblr. “Where’s Chuck?” We could hide him in all kinds of real and freakish settings.
If I knew how to do that I would be all over it. Plus if I knew what Tumblr was.
Think Texts from Hilary. That was a tumblr.