This morning I was teaching the last day of a three-day class when my phone rings. “Whoops, sorry about that,” I apologize as I silence my ringer. Thirty seconds later I see my phone flashing silently — it’s the same number, trying again. It’s a local number but I don’t recognize it, so I let […]
Author Archives: Carrie
kitchen complaints, episode nine
For dinner tonight we were all sitting down to a lovely spread of pork tenderloin and rice, one of the few dinners the kids will actually eat for the most part. Sam still isn’t a fan of rice since the whole FPIES thing. As Sam is thoughtfully chewing, it begins: “Mom, did you . . […]
christmas eve update
Sam is having an Arthur moment. _________________________________________________ Times the cat has eaten the tree and barfed: 0! This count is just no fun without Renton. Times the cat has launched off the tree skirt and irritated the stew out of Mom: 26 How many ornaments the kids have broken: 1 How many ornaments Mom has […]
the sum is greater than the equal of its parts
So I have been keeping up with this blog for a long time — since 2003. That’s over 14 years! But outside of one single post I haven’t touched very much on one of my life’s cornerstones: band. From middle school through high school to college, band was my life. If you couldn’t find me, […]
the tree + two, 2017
And now I present to you The Tree, 2017: Lydia is in charge of the smaller tree and Sam is supposed to be in charge of the smallest tree . . . but he would rather me do it. Total lights on the tree: 2,880; surprisingly less than last year. Total number of incandescent lights: […]
parental supervision
During dinner last night Sam slowly chewed on his hot dog while staring into space. I wave my hand in front of him until I catch his attention. “What’re you thinking about, buddy?” Steven asks. “Ohh, I’m just trying not to think about a video I saw,” Sam replies. “Why don’t you want to think […]
kitchen complaints, episode eight
In the past year the kids have been more willing to eat the food Steven and I cook for ourselves, but it’s still a 50-50 shot. This evening we went simple with some chicken thighs. “Hmmm,” Sam mused while poking at his chicken, “You know, I don’t like this chicken very much. I like it […]
access denied; an end-user’s lament
In the Harry Potter books there is a potion called Amortentia. A complicated potion, it smells different to each individual according to what attracts them. Were I to magically be transported to Hogwarts and come upon Amortentia, I always imagine it would smell like Steven after he’s mowed the lawn, old books, and the computer […]
chemistry in action
Yesterday I found some neat little cordial glasses at a consignment shop. After I brought them home, I had to create some space for them. This led to a lot of cabinet shuffling and dragging out a bunch of kitchen knick knacks. As I was rearranging, Steven joined in the fun by fiddling with the […]
stuck in a rut
Our little town of Chelsea has grown over the 11 years (11 years!!!) we’ve lived here. In 2006, there were some 4,000 people — now it’s a bustling town of some 11,000 residents. Sometimes, it seems all 11,000 people are on County Road 47 at the same time. For the past few years, Chelsea has […]