Whitney Gaskell: February 2005 Archives

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Ring-A-Ding-Ding!

Check out our new kitchen chairs . . .

I don't know if George and I are hip enough to own something so freaking cool.

Well, actually, I'm pretty sure I'm hip enough . . .

Link | 25 February 2005 at 01:30 PM | | Comments (0)

Friday Morning Haikus

Today's Subject: Children's Nutrition

Instant Mac n' Cheese
Made with whole organic milk:
Now it is healthy.

* * *

Green beans are ignored
I will not eat broccoli
Eschewing the peas

* * *

So what if I loved
Pasta and sauce yesterday?
Today I hate it.

Link | 25 February 2005 at 11:38 AM | | Comments (0)

The Sound of Silence . . .

. . . usually means that Sam's doing something bad.

Link | 25 February 2005 at 11:25 AM | | Comments (0)

New Digs

So what do ya'll think?

Link | 25 February 2005 at 07:57 AM | | Comments (0)

Paranoia Strikes Deep In The Heartland

Sam and Kate are following me around the house, looking at me expectantly.

It's freaking me out, man.

Even worse, I've got some stupid Wiggles' song stuck in my head:

Quack, quack, quack, quack, Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Bunch of Aussie sadists. That DVD is going back to the library, tout fucking suite.

Link | 23 February 2005 at 05:40 PM | | Comments (0)

Puppy Love

Kate has a crush . . . on my new shag area rug.

It must be true love, because she peed on it yesterday.

The carpet is made from the wool of Greek sheep (no, I'm not kidding . . . you should smell it when it gets wet), so I'm thinking that maybe it's about time I have a sit-down with Kate and go over the birds and the bees (the dogs and the sheep?) with her.

Thank God she's been spayed so I don't have to have the birth control talk with her . . . that would just be embarrassing.

Link | 22 February 2005 at 04:21 PM | | Comments (0)

Life With A Toddler, Part 8

As I've mentioned here before, one of Sam's favorite new words is dirty. If that alone weren't bad enough, he's now become deeply attached to the Swiffer mop. He trots around the house pushing it front of him, while singing, "Dir-ty! Dir-ty!" like some sort of a Stepford Baby.

I know he didn't get this from my side of the family.

Link | 21 February 2005 at 10:08 AM | | Comments (0)

Friday Morning Haiku

Today's theme: Calgon Take Me Away

Laundry – I despair
Towering mountain of clothes
Which then I must fold

* * *

What is that I smell
From yonder child's bottom?
We're out of wet wipes . . .

* * *

O! Baby Einstein
I fall on my knees with thanks
A moment of peace

Link | 18 February 2005 at 08:56 AM | | Comments (0)

Don't Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

A cautionary tale of what happens to a rock star who has an inflated sense of self-importance but hasn't had a hit song in over a decade: George Michael bids farewell to pop world.

Say it ain't so. Next you're going to tell me the guys from Right Said Fred of "I'm Too Sexy" fame are calling it quits.

*sob*

Link | 17 February 2005 at 08:34 AM | | Comments (0)

Weird But Funny

A star is born.

Link | 17 February 2005 at 08:21 AM | | Comments (0)

She Runs Like The Wind

Or maybe "she runs like a soft breeze on a still summer day" would be more accurate.

Kate's racing record (she's The Dog Formerly Known as Bob's Cape).

Her great-granddads I'm Slippy and P's Rambling have quite impressive stats, though, so as I stroke her pretty head, I can tell Kate with complete honesty that she's descended from champions.

Link | 15 February 2005 at 02:51 PM | | Comments (0)

You've got to ask yourself one question: do I feel lucky?

Well, do ya punk?

Today, I almost had to get all kung fu with a librarian.

It all started when I placed the books I was returning on the counter . . . just where one of the librarians told me to put them the week before. A different librarian -- decked out in the standard officious librarian garb of steel gray hair, a long flowing dress, and bifocals hanging around her neck on one of those jeweled cords -- hurried over to stop me.

Officious Librarian: Returns go in the slot in the hallway. If you leave them there, they might not get entered back into the system correctly.

This was said with no small amount of condescension.

Me: Oh, I'm sorry. This is where one of the librarians told me to put them last week.

OL: I seriously doubt that.

Say what? Did she just call me a liar? Liar, liar pants on fire?

Me: I'm happy to put them in the return slot, but actually, yes, I was told to put them here last week.

The Officious Librarian then muttered something under her breath that I didn't catch. Which was probably just as well. Because I may look like your typical soft suburban mom/writer, but I could've have taken that librarian down.

At least, I'm pretty sure I could have . .

Link | 15 February 2005 at 01:17 PM | | Comments (0)

Like, Omigod!

Carolyn Murphy, who graces the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, says of the weight that she gained during her pregnancy, that it was, like, totally worth it, 'cause, like, you know, her daughter came out all healthy and stuff.

Yes, I'm bitter.

Link | 15 February 2005 at 07:56 AM | | Comments (0)

My Sister ROCKS!

My sister, Courtney, is an exceptionally talented artist (while I, on the other hand, struggle to color in the lines in a coloring book). Yesterday she sent me one of the best birthday presents I've ever gotten . . . a painting she did of Madeline, our late pug.

Isn't she amazing? Our sweet girl is now hanging on the living room wall, keeping watch over us.

Link | 15 February 2005 at 07:15 AM | | Comments (0)

So Our New Alarm System Works . . .

. . . as I learned in the pre-dawn hours when I forgot all about it, and opened the back door to let Kate out.

Link | 15 February 2005 at 07:10 AM | | Comments (0)

Kate Gaskell, Guard Dog

We're going to have to work on Kate's door etiquette. The UPS man came, and Miss Lazy Bones didn't even get up off her bed to come menace him. The bed is extra-comfy -- I stuffed it with an extra layer of egg crate, because I didn't think it was plush enough -- but even so. No self-respecting dog should laze about when a potential intruder is at the door, even if he is just delivering packages. I don’t expect snarling, but you’d think it would at least arouse enough interest to get her to stand up. Or let out a half-hearted yip.

One of the things we worried about in getting a new dog, and in particular a new adult dog, was how patient she'd be with Sam. Puppies are silly hearts, and perfectly happy to roll around with toddlers, but not so for most adult dogs.

Thus far, Kate has been endlessly patient in enduring Sam's attentions. Even so, I panicked when I turned around and saw that while Kate was eating her dinner, Sam had planted himself under her belly and was reaching between her front legs to pull kibble out of her dog dish. Maddy, our late pug, would have reacted to such treachery with the baring of her fangs and a feisty growl . . . but not our Miss Kate. She just continued eating, completely unfazed.

Kate exists in some kind of a Zen state . . . I don't know how she does it, but I want to join her there.

Link | 14 February 2005 at 08:30 PM | | Comments (0)

She, Myself & I

I just got a glimpse at the cover for my new book, and I LOVE it. I'll post an image when I can . . .

Link | 14 February 2005 at 08:24 PM | | Comments (0)

Comments

Argh! I erased comments again by accident . . . I'm sorry Kimber, Heidi and Margge!

Link | 14 February 2005 at 08:23 PM | | Comments (0)

How Unfair Is This?

For the very first time, I am neither pregnant nor breastfeeding during an Amazing Race casting call, and they've gone and changed the format. For season 8, they're dropping the teams of two, and instead racing families of four.

SO unfair. George and I would have kicked Amazing Race ass, what with his calm, methodical personality and my skill at making airline reservations.

And is it just me, or does the idea of an Amazing Race Family show pretty much blow? It's going to ruin the whole franchise, the same way Trading Spaces started to tank when they launched Trading Spaces Family.

Phil, I have to say, I'm disappointed in you.

Link | 14 February 2005 at 05:28 PM | | Comments (0)

Amazing Race Finale

Television Without Pity wraps it up.

Freddy points out to Princess Kendra that they have to go in where it says "Entrance" and not where it says "Exit," not that he's not kind of an insufferable snot about it. She gripes about how he shouldn't be talking to her like that. He voices over that he's "more aggressive," and he's "seeking answers immediately," and sometimes he thinks this is off-putting to Kendra. I think not getting her way immediately is off-putting to Kendra, but that's just me. And she calls him "buddy" in that motherly kind of way, and you just know that's having a deleterious effect on his testicles.

Link | 14 February 2005 at 02:05 PM | | Comments (0)

Valentine's Day is CHD Awareness Day

Valentine's Day and hearts are eternally linked. But what most people do not know is that this "heart" holiday has been proclaimed as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day."

Each year, an estimated 1 in 100 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect (CHD). CHDs are the most common birth defect and the number one cause of death from birth defects during infancy. Nearly twice as many children die from congenital heart defects as from all childhood cancers combined, yet research for cancer receives five times the funding. This is due in large part to the lack of awareness most people have about congenital heart defects.

There are so many families out there affected by CHDs. Some have children that have simple defects that may or may not need surgery, while others have children with complex defects that will need to endure several surgeries and years of medicines and doctor visits. And sadly, some will not make it through surgery or even to surgery.

Raising national awareness about Congenital Heart Defects is important on many levels—it will provide hope for families of CHD survivors and comfort to those whose loved ones have lost their battles; it will inform the general public about the symptoms of CHDs and possibly save lives; and it will affirm the need for researchers and medical professionals to continue their work to improve the outlook for CHD patients.

Here are some signs and symptoms to watch for:

*Tires easily during feeding (i.e. falls asleep before feeding finishes
*Sweating around the head, especially during feeding
*Fast breathing when at rest or sleeping
*Pale or bluish skin color
*Poor weight fain
*Sleeps a lot - not playful or curious for any length of time
*Puffy face, hands, and/or feet
*Often irritable, difficult to console

Some children with CHD's may not have any symptoms until later in childhood. Things to look for include:

*Gets out of breath during play
*Difficulty "keeping up" with playmates
*Tires easily/sleeps a lot
*Change in color during active play or sports (looks pale or has a bluish tint around mouth and nose)
*Frequent colds and respiratory illnesses
*Slow growth and weight gain/poor appetite
*Complains of chest pain and/or heart pounding

If your child has two or more of these symptoms, talk to your pediatrician about a referral to a Pediatric Cardiologist. More information can be found at www.tchin.org.

Please take time on February 14 to honor families of children and adults with congenital heart defects and the professionals who work with them, and to help remember the memory of lives lost.

In loving memory of Allison, Noah, Luke, Luke and Ryan.

Link | 14 February 2005 at 10:45 AM | | Comments (0)

Love At First Sight

Introducing the newest addition to our family . . . Miss Kate!

Isn't she a pretty girl?

We adopted Kate from the wonderful organization Gold Coast Greyhounds. She's a four year-old retired racer, and is an absolute cream puff. I've never met a sweeter, more mellow dog. All she's done since she's gotten here is to laze around on her bed, and occasionally wander over for a good head/belly scratching. And Kate and Sam are already fast friends . . . they've bonded over their mutual love of stuffed animals.

In fact, we're a bit perplexed about what to do with a dog that doesn't bark, bite, scratch, throw temper tantrums, act like a diva or beg for food. When we sit down to eat Kate goes and lies down on her bed . . . without being told! And -- bonus! -- she's completely housebroken.

We took her to the Farmer's Market this morning, and someone stopped and asked if she was a rescue. We said yes, and the woman leaned over to pet Kate, and said, "What a lucky girl to have such a nice family."

I shook my head and said, "No, I think we're the lucky ones."

Link | 13 February 2005 at 01:18 PM | | Comments (0)

Meh

That's how I feel about stupid Freddy and Kendra winning the Amazing Race last night.

Link | 09 February 2005 at 08:38 AM | | Comments (0)

You Say It's Your Birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah.

Today is the first day of the last year I can officially claim to be in my early thirties. That's right: today I turn 33.

What does the day hold for me? Story hour, poopy diapers, sticky baby kisses, work on my new book, dinner with my sweetie, the Amazing Race finale, cake and -- hopefully -- presents!

Sounds like a perfect day to me.

Link | 08 February 2005 at 08:18 AM | | Comments (0)

ICK!

Sewage just backed up in our shower.

Did you hear me?

SEWAGE. JUST BACKED UP. IN OUR SHOWER.

Clearly, we are now going to have to move.

I handed George the bleach and a sponge, and reminded him that I gave birth to his son. He tried to argue back that it was just a c-section and should hardly count. My voice became a bit more highly pitched as I reminded him how I couldn't stand up straight for three weeks after the surgery, and how I'd sobbed with pain while bending over to change Sam's itty-bitty diaper, etc, etc.

Long story short -- he's now cleaning the shower. Heh. That pregnancy card works every time.

Link | 07 February 2005 at 09:18 PM | | Comments (0)

Amazing Race

I know I haven't done an AR update in awhile, but this season has left me cold. Sure, like everyone else in America I'm rooting for Kris and Jon to win tomorrow night . . . but that's only because they're the only remaining team that doesn't have at least one awful person on it. And at this point, all of the models/actors/Fear Factor contestant wannabes are pretty much interchangeable to me. Who cares? Now that Jon and Victoria are gone -- and hopefully engaged in divorce proceedings -- there isn't even anyone left to root against.

Next season, it's going to get even worse . . . they've cast Rob and Amber from Survivor as one of the teams, thus probably ruining the show completely.

Link | 07 February 2005 at 03:19 PM | | Comments (0)

DIY

I love how pretentious Ralph Lauren is when naming its paints.

We ended up choosing Portrait White for our living room, but only after trying (and rejecting):

Riviera Terrace
Sail White
Egret
Edwardian Linen
Tennis Court White
Storm Lightning
Candelabra White
Polo Mallet White

What's next? Old Money Green . . . Mercedes Silver . . . Hermes Brown . . . Trust Fund Aubergine?

Link | 07 February 2005 at 01:23 PM | | Comments (0)

You know it's a bad sign when . . .

The people who work in Home Depot begin to recognize you. Even worse when they're able to greet you by name.

I do have a limit though . . . no more than two (2) Home Depot trips per day. Because sometimes you just have to draw a line.

Link | 07 February 2005 at 08:39 AM | | Comments (0)

My Guys