I Hate Cows...

I don't know why...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:05:00 +0000

but I find this funny...

Things Younger Than McCain

via Wider Angle

Also, today is Bruce Chatwin's birthday. If you've never ready any of his books, let me recommend The Songlines to you- its awesome.

Totally worth it...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:54:00 +0000

Doing this was a special sort of hell, but it was totally worth it to get a picture of all the girls for my mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyfowler/2487031060/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyfowler/2486249231/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellyfowler/2486230801/

A Political Compass...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:04:00 +0000

I thought this was interesting... (its a test of your political compass).

Here are my results:

Economic Left/Right: -5.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.41

Silly people in the news...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:58:00 +0000

So one of Rora's favorite books, And Tango Makes Three, is in the news again because silly people have a problem with something that happened in real life. Silly, silly people.

Which reminds me of Rora's latest obsession- Harry Potter. The kid loves yard sales like crazy, and 'tis the season, so we've hit a few. Her first purchase was a set of cassette tapes (thank god we still have an old cassette player) of the first Harry Potter book for a dime. She has listened to one side of a tape every night since. Sometimes she will ask to go to her room just to listen to the next tape. Then a friend of mine (Hi Dami!) gave her the REST of the books on tape and CD. You've never seen such joy. She has decided she wants to go as Harry Potter for Halloween, and has named her favorite doll (it eats! it wets! it makes irritating noises!) Harry Potter (short for Harriet Alecia Potter, thank you very much) and has made me draw lightening bolts on her forehead with crayon. And just this morning she was supposed to write a sentence from her favorite book for homework, and, you guessed it, she chose "The Boy Who Lived".

Honestly I plan to milk this for all its worth. Go Harry Potter!

True Friendship -- None of that Sissy Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:04:00 +0000

To my friends, I promise:

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will try to use only little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will laugh at your clumsy ass, but I'll help you up.

This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end.

Friendship is like piddling in your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

Thanks Heather!

A day in the life...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:04:00 +0000

No matter what he says, I am forbidding Kevin from calling Calliope "Poop-a-Cabra".

If you haven't seen it, Iron Man rocks.

So does the Wii.

If you have time, and like Photoshop, these are a must!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_X5uR7VC4M

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXeZ0s8DXZ0

There are more, check out youtube and you'll find them.

Hmm, can't think of anything else.

Go Celtics!

Aurora's Sense of Style (Redux)

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:33:00 +0000

No dessert? How could it be!?

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:25:00 +0000

After dinner last night (panko encrusted chicken breast with rosemary olive oil potatoes and a nice red wine), we came to the horrific(!) realization that there was no dessert in the house.

Oh no!

Okay, I'm lying. We have copious amounts of both Easter and Halloween candy, but honestly, none of that thrills any of us. So, options were:

1. Do with out (I think not)
2. Go out an get something (we are WAY too lazy for that)
3. Raid the fridge and see what we can make (bingo!)

Our choice? Chocolate Cinnamon Gelato. Why? Gelato is one of the most delicious things ever, and you're almost guaranteed to have the ingredients on hand. Really just milk, sugar, cornstarch and a flavoring of some sort, we were able to whip this up with some bars of Hershey's chocolate (a birthday gift from Jamee and Michael to Rora) and a good dose of cinnamon.

It only took about an hour, and was a huge hit.

Another boring post of crap I did this weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:27:00 +0000

So, last week was one of the worst of my life. Really dreadful. But, I was expecting it, its over. so, whew. Anyway.

On Friday, Appa went to his first training lesson. Aurora had her camera, and took a few pictures- I like them a lot.

and Clio is still cute:

and Kevin is still weird:

Kevin and Michael went to Zabar's this weekend in NYC (they also went to a comic con, but that wasn't so important). Because of that, I have been feasting on bagels, whitefish salad, rugelach and various marinated seafood. I love my husband. Of course, he was told he couldn't come into the house unless bagels and whitefish accompanied him, so, there you have it.

What else? Well, I came home from shopping with my parents and lugged a full size mattress and box spring upstairs on my own, took apart her bunk bed, took that downstairs along with the twin mattress, then put the full bed together in her room. It took hours, but its done now, and Rora is really pleased. She spent a good part of yesterday pulling out her own comic books that she wanted to get signed. I'm growing a geek. Anyway, somehow her room appears larger now? Go figure.

Can't think of anything else...

Adventures in Childrearing...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Yesterday Kevin called me at work about something, and Calliope wrestled the phone from him. Thus ensued about 5 minutes of him cursing, various thuds, etc.

After he managed to get the phone back, we had the following conversation:

"Kev, she's only 6 months old."

"She's 7 months old! And she's wiry!"

Sigh.

Later that evening, Aurora got a card from her grandpop, which had a Ziggy sticker on the back. Aurora looked at her dad, then said, "Daddy, this sticker looks JUST LIKE YOU without a beard!"

Poor Kevin.

Hee hee.

Memories from college...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:35:00 +0000

I went to theatre school initially, and there was a big to-do about Barbara Streisand possibly being cast as Evita... and I remember everyone singing this song:

(to the tune of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina')

It had to happen
The cast had to change
For how long can a girl do a show?
A year and a half and enough is enough
It wasn't easy
Even without matinees it got really rough
I'd go to the theatre just fine
But then I'd be worn out by nine
And what then of my future
And my career?
For although Broadway show offers are few
I can still do nightlubs and small movie roles
And when they film Evita
Oh, I will certainly keep myself free
Though, the chances are likely to be
They won't want to film it with me
Don't cry for me Barbra Streisand
The truth is I never liked you
You'll do the movie
And what a bummer
When you sing Eva
Like Donna Summer
How would you've liked it
In '68, if they'd filmed Funny Girl without you?
And MGM bought the film rights
And they'd wanted a star with no protrusion
So they rewrote the role
And cast...Doris Day!
You would have gone crazy and cried
But me, I'll just snicker and say
Don't cry for me Barbra Streisand
The truth is you bought the film rights
Though you're a belter, and very shrewish
You'll ruin the movie
Cause you're too Jewish
Have I said too much?
And you're to big a star to be lectured to
But all you have to do is look in a mirror
To know that every word is true

Agh! Busy!

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:35:00 +0000

Okay, so, an update.

Where to start...

Well, the item on the top of my mind is Aurora. Background is that the last report card period, she got all good marks, but also an "at risk" notice. To which my mind screamed "AT RISK? AT RISK?" for the two weeks I had to wait to meet with her teacher. This was so bad that I actually went to the school a week earlier than the appointment, sat there trying to figure out why I was the only one in the parking lot, swatted myself upside the head and left again.

Anyway.

The gist is that under Georgie's "No Child Left Behind", they have standardized tests (I know, I know- duh), even for the kindergarten set. Rora passed the math one, but was having trouble with the reading one. Apparently, when asked to point out a letter, instead of Just saying "C", she would say "C! C is for Calliope! Calliope is my sister, but we call her Clio. She cries a lot!", etc. Therefore, she wasn't passing this (timed) test. And so they keep testing her, telling her to HURRY!, which means that she started getting nervous about the test, since she knew she was doing something wrong, which makes her little shoulders bunch up about her ears and her stubborn streak rear up, which causes her to be recalcitrant about doing anything. So, her teacher and I talked, and she said Rora knows all the material, but until she passes this test, she is "At Risk", and maybe she will "never test well". And maybe she should go to summer school.

Sigh.

Summer school.

Certainly not the party the movie would have you believe. And at first, I was like, "she likes school, what could it hurt", but after talking to a few people who mention the stigma that can follow you forever (I had to move too often during school to have ANYTHING follow me), and really, she's 6, its summer, she should be having fun. I mean, when I was in kindergarten, I know I wasn't reading. Or adding. Especially not spontaneously like Rora does.

And really, if being in kindergarten 5 days a week, 8 hours a day doesn't do it, how will summer school help?

So, we are considering (very initial stages though) homeschooling her. This would be primarily a Kevin decision, as he would be home most of the time and do most of the teaching. But it is tempting. He is a GREAT teacher. And I don't want her to be left behind because of "No Child Left Behind".

In other news..

I was talking to my grandmother today, and was astounded to have a discussion with her in regards to sex, lesbianism, politics, Obama, Clinton, Roosevelt and of course, pineapple upside down cake. My G is pretty cool (and I think I convinced her to vote for Obama- yeah!).

And I am turning 36. Thirty-six. THIRTY-SIX. Somehow this seems a lot older than 35. I don't know why. Maybe I will need to start acting like a grown-up.

Nah.

To celebrate, we will be eating southern food, with angel food cake for me (better be homemade Ma!) and devil's food cake for Kevin (he'll be 38! Hah!), which WILL be homemade. And will take about 19 ounces of fine chocolate. Over a pound. Egad.

On the Appa front, he is a really good dog, though he does have an unusual liking for my yarn. And he licks himself clean, and has an unnatural fascination with the cat. Damn it, I think the dog is just an exceedingly ugly cat. Poor thing. We left him on his own for a while last night, and came home to the living room- with toys and shoes scattered all about it. But get this- none of them was chewed up. Apparently, he just took everything he fancied and put them in the living room to be with him. Weird.

We were out at the circus, which was fun. I have a lot of misgivings about a circus with animals, to be honest, but there's a nostalgic part of me that wanted Aurora to have that experience, so we went (and I can't afford Cirque du Soleil anyway). It was good- though different from what I remember as a kid. There was a storyline for one thing, and singing, which I thought was a bit weird. The best part though, as far as I'm concerned, was that for an hour beforehand they let kids and parents just wander the stage, and allowed them to meet the performers, try on costumes, practice tight-rope walking, see elephants up close, etc.

At the end, Aurora asked if we could go to the Circus every night.

Um, hell no.

Calliope

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:40:00 +0000

Calliope
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

Sick, but cute.

Clio

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:40:00 +0000

Clio
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

She looks happy, but she was miserable all weekend...

Ella, Clio and Alex

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Ella, Clio and Alex
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

Clio and her cousins, Easter 2008.

Aurora and Calliope

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Aurora and Calliope
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

Both my girls, at their Nonna and Grandpop's house, Easter 2008.

So...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:34:00 +0000

What happens when I'm left to (somewhat) my own devices?

I got a puppy.

A shar-pei puppy!

For those of you who don't know, shar-peis were bred to be bull-baiters once upon a time in China, so we told Aurora he was a Chinese dog. She therefore decided he should have a Chinese name, and since Avatar is so near and dear to her heart, and the new pup has the same coloring, she decided to name him Appa. Its quite appropriate actually.

Those who know me, are not surprised.

See, we've just gotten Clio to start (pretty much) sleeping through the night, so we need more chaos in our lives.

And what happens to Kevin when he is left to his own devices?

Well, if you tell him before you leave that there is a TUPPERWARE container of (delicious homemade by my sister) mac and cheese in the fridge for him, he will go into the fridge at lunch time and grab the first piece of tupperware he sees that has vaguely white stuff in it. He will not question the fact that there appears to be no noodles, tomatoes or cheese in this container. It is TUPPERWARE, therefore, it must be the right one. He will then microwave that container, and when the white stuff oozes out (very much NOT like mac and cheese), he will call me, and ask if mine oozed out as well. I say no. He will then shrug, and take a big bite of the warm, white, gloppy mess with no noodles, cheese or tomato in sight. He will then spit out the microwaved butter cream frosting, and call me so that he can BLAME me for telling him the mac and cheese is in a TUPPERWARE container, when in fact it was in a GLASS BOWL.

I, apparently, am a bad person who deliberately deceives her husband with cleverly disguised butter cream frosting.

And of course, Happy Birthday Mom. You're psycho, but we love you anyway. And remember- you didn't win the Craziest Mom award! You came in 2nd!

The promised post...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:26:00 +0000

My daughter's favorite curse is "What the HOLEY-MOLEY!"

I find that hysterical.

The other night, we were watching Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerman, when he held up a guinea pig. Now, if you watch that show, as I do, you know that that means NOTHING GOOD for the guinea pig. Aurora didn't, and since she has been lobbying for a pet for a while now, she started going on about how she LOVES guinea pigs and has ALWAYS wanted one... and then they skinned the damn thing and put it on a spit, along with several of its little rodent compadres.

You cannot even begin to imagine the look on Aurora's face.

She is turning 6 in less than a week- we're having a party at the local movie house, probably going to see Enchanted. A good time will be had by all, and I have already started baking. For her school party she wants coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and flowers. Her birthday party is Saturday, and she has requested cake balls. I've never made these, and I refuse to use cake mixes or canned frosting, so they will be a little bit more time-consuming than the recipe mentions, should be cool anyway though.

Oh, and we finished bottling our first homebrew in our new house last Saturday (we've only been here two years, what slaggards we are). I was pretty concerned about it, as it didn't seem to bubble as it should have, but we popped open a bottle today and it was good. Not a stout, which is what I was going for, but a very hoppy dark ale with chocolate notes. I liked it a lot. Thanks much to Brian for his help- beer is coming your way...

What else... hmmm...

Some company called schmap decided to include one of my Chicago photos in their set, which is sort of cool...

I am down 5 lbs in the weight loss thing (2 months for 5 lbs. Sigh.), which I guess I should be happy about considering all the margaritas I had last night.

This is Tilda (my niece) at the Mexican restaurant we went to- she would eat a spoonful of the (hot!) salsa, make a terrible face, wipe it off her tongue, and then eat more of it.

Margaritas were had because we helped my parents move into their giant house. You can see their "butler's pantry" (egad!) below. I stuck my kid in the sink, 'cause I'm loopy that way.

My sister was having a GREAT time moving furniture:

And I made pumpkin swirl cheesecake today with a gingersnap crust for FOAM night. That will NOT help my weight loss goals.

This is great...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:11:00 +0000

And I promise a real post this week...

Oh, that's how is supposed to be done...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:23:00 +0000

Baby How-to

via dooce.

Static

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:45:00 +0000

Funny Hair
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

Either that, or her hair is trying to escape her head.

Booties!

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Booties!
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

I made these! By myself! After trying, only about a hundred times! Yeah me!

Don't ask me if they actually fit the baby's feet, or I'll punch myself in the head. Again.

Egad

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Egad
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

So Rora decided Clio needed a tattoo. On her forehead. Now she looks like Mini-Manson.

Cool Calliope pic...

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:55:00 +0000

Calliope
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.

Newest Rora Pic!

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Rora
Originally uploaded by vapidcat.