%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
Sometimes it's easy to get lost in the shuffle around here ... |
|
Best quote to describe me (Anonymous): "Do not think you are on the right road, simply because it is a well-beaten path." I am what I am. Learn to live with it. And realize that comment is as much directed to myself as any reader who ventures here. Tempest arrived 31 March 2009 - changing everything, but she's pretty awesome. Dogbert arrived 13 January 2012 and is working on making the rules change again. I have two writing personas, Ransom Noble and Sheta Storm. Each has goals, and I work on them slowly. Both are published, and will continue to strive toward bigger and better things. I finally figured out how to describe myself in three words: Creative, Determined, Ambitious. It doesn't have anything to do with how I relate to others, but I do use all of those in my many relationships as well as my career goals. I know others use words sometimes like "kind" or "caring" but I think that list is the most accurate if only using three words. Cast... Sesheta: Me Dilbert: My Husband Tempest: My Darling Daughter Dogbert: My Hungry Son Sheer, Nemo, EyeKandy(K), Diego: Friends/Brothers Sugar, Wolvenwings, Mrs. Light, Jori, Trillium (others will be added): Friends It's a start, anyway. Off-Site Blogs: http://ransomnoble.wordpress.com/ http://sheta-storm.blogspot.com/ Upcoming Events: Beaverdale Books signing for Art of Science - TBD Other Items about Me: "Invalid Item"  "Invalid Item" "Failing is a part of success. To make goals effective, you have to fail at them 50 percent of the time, or they didn't stretch you far enough." Chip Wilson, courtesy of an article by Ella Lawrence called Set Your Course from Yoga Journal |
Yes, I am shamelessly stealing the title from Brandiwyn🎶  's blog post when she finished the series. I finished. And I read Side Jobs as well, which makes me think I'm one-up on her. I'm sure she'll disabuse me of that notion sooner or later. But it does make me bring myself back and think about the things I've been neglecting. Which seems to be a long list, and I'm going to have to think about that and bring it back into control, reassert my goals, and start plugging away. Yesterday, Dogbert's first tooth emerged. He's working hard on the next one. And standing. And walking. Gah. Tempest has spent most of her time with watercolors for the last two days. She painted Dogbert on the face and head. Whoops. Seriously, I watch them! They seem to be fascinated with each other at times, and sometimes they want to be alone. It's hard to figure out, but it's also fun to watch. Several of her watercolor masterpieces are entitled "math problem" and the first one she brushed against the paper and said "That's true" and then "that's false" for the next one, and repeated. Just like from Math Curse. It amused me greatly. She's made progress on her little exercises to do daily. She's also stubborn and doesn't want to do them every day, but she repeated the four syllable phrase verbatim. Of course, I'm also inflecting each of the syllables so I know she can hear them, and I'm not sure if that is part of the test or not. *sigh* I'm not a professional here, and I don't even play one on TV. I want to start reading her a real book, so I am going to try the first chapter or so of Charlotte's Web. Been to two yoga classes in the last two days, and plan another one this evening. Hoping that can make up for not getting to the one tomorrow that I'd like to visit (sigh) as we have a playdate with a girl from gymnastics. I suffer through this, because she's not my favorite person and it seems like half her conversation revolves around her daughter and her potty habits. Maybe that's the other reason Tempest isn't potty trained yet. It simply is not my entire focus. And it is a contest of wills with the little girl and she's stubborn. Wonder where she got that? Swim lessons soon, then yoga, sometime a call from Dilbert (who is in NC this week and returns tomorrow). It's been a packed week. Was at Sheer's house last night for dinner (and missed another potential yoga class, but that one I didn't mind to hang out with people I like!). Have to see my parents Saturday morning. Dilbert withdrew his support of me switching Tempest in gymnastics, and I couldn't get a guarantee from her teacher that she would get the class together for her to go up next time. But i'll figure out something by next time. We can't keep doing parent-tot. And I will figure out what that other thing will be. Just... not yet. I suppose Dilbert does have a point, plus the only opening is too far on the same night as my possible yoga class at the Y in the opposite direction from my home. And Tempest really does love the class. This week she remembered - all on her own - to put her legs on the outside of her hands when doing bar work, and she did it by herself. No help! I'm so proud. |
Somehow whenever I think about watching the kids all the time to keep them out of trouble, the little clip of Professor Moody who was not Moody screaming this is Defense Against the Dark Arts runs through my head.  Yesterday, therapist. Not too bad. I can get along with her, I think. Late yesterday more things got interesting - Tempest counted past 20. We talked about what 21 was about a handful of times, and I think twice I counted to 25 with her, but it has been since before we moved into this house. But she decided to count yesterday, and she got to 20-11 before dilb and I turned around and tried to explain 30 to her. Woot for the counting concept!!! She also initiated the fun little games for her testing, but she still has some issues with the one piece per number above 5 pieces. Dilb drove me nuts. I was downloading Ghost Story and I somehow checked it out twice on two computers (why can't things just work???) and I was working to return one, and it wasn't going the way I wanted when he walked in my office with a million questions: what did you do? Why did you do it other way? (after the first annoying 'what are you doing?) gee, if I could tell you that, I could fix it faster. Go away!! You know? When it doesn't work as expected, you don't want someon ever your shoulder who has ne'er done it and doesn't know what you are doing. *kick* Today, in half an hour, I have an appt for wellness coaching at the Y. First of five sessions. See what she thinks of my more sculpted deltoids. |
| Reading Changes. After that, all I gotta do is find Ghost Story and I finish Dresden. I have been expending too much energy into that, but oh well. mom will return Tuesday. Dilbert's leaving town Tues-Fri. Tempest and Dogbert have recovered from their illnesses (except, perhaps, teething) and I have managed to get Dogbert to sleep a little better after his damn two-hour-sprints and then waking for a few weeks. And I've been hanging at the Y a lot - I might be able to get on there to teach in September, but I wanted to visit all the yoga classes. Next week looks better, but ouch. Also have a wellness coaching appointment. Whee. Dilbert blames me for the dead grass outside. I'm still trying to dredge up my give-a-damn on that one. It's too much for me in the morning between breakfast, baths, getting dressed and trying to get outside every twenty minutes to move sprinklers for two hours. Don't forget nursing Dogbert and that Tempest often needs a referee to keep from hurting him the way she plays. And my wrists won't handle taking him out with me, and I can't handle bringing her out there because then I can't get her back inside. And don't even ask about taking both. Gah. 750 = 8 day streak. i might be fleshing out a new idea, and I might just be driving myself nuts. No one knows. Tempest is in the swim class this time with one of her best friends. Very cute to watch them. Will find out Tuesday if we're going to switch gymnastics studios. I am aflutter - I hope it's the right decision, but I do think she needs to stay challenged. And potty training going badly, still, and preschool starts next month. Managed to see Wolvenwings on Friday night, despite spending Thursday entirely convinced she was trying to shut me out along with another friend. And in a way, it's kindof true. but it also isn't. So I'm trying to tell myself not to be irrational and looking forward to the therapist on Monday (tomorrow?) and i have to drag both kids. Dang. It's not good to be me. |
| Dogbert recovered sufficiently from his ear infections to get his 6 month shots last Monday. But that meant he was gonna want to nurse much more and not eat solids. Tuesday Tempest had a horrible fever and wouldn't eat - strep throat. That's fairly serious for a 3 year old, and we missed swim lessons and gymnastics. Oy. But she didn't really want to eat any solids until Friday. And she really only wanted to drink milk, despite trying to feed her gatorade like the doc said she could have. Tuesday Dilbert was also sick, and having all three of them not feeling well and around was a lot to handle. At 4:30 I was lightheaded and somewhat sick to my stomach, so I ate - 3 pieces of pizza and a carton of yogurt. An hour later I had dinner - two chicken sandwiches with cheese and a banana. At least that helped the lightheaded. The nausea has persisted here and there over the past few days. I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd think I was pregnant or something. Luckily, I know better. Finished White Knight and then Side Jobs. Got the notification that I'd received Dresden Files 7-12 from library and downloaded them to iPad, so I started Small Favor. Reading all of Side Jobs left me with 4 known spoilers into the next three novels, but that was my fault. I still don't know how it's all going to happen, so that's something. And I'm making notes in my head on things to remember when I write. Then again, I keep hoping I'm going to get back to seriously writing. Only two more days to July. Perhaps August will be better. On the upside, I did have a nice meeting with the lady at the Y about what it will take to get me a yoga job there. They pay decently, unlike the gym in DSM (which is probably why they can't replace me), and there is a good chance there will be a spot for me in the fall (talking September). But I have to make it until then, and since the ear infection or so Dogbert has been waking up every 2 to 3 hours, all night long. No wonder I'm irritable, cranky, and generally not very patient. Had to take a step back for Tempest's little exercises leading up to her next evaluation during her illness. Also got a bit of backlash from the doctor for "treating her symptom" (the fever, with Tylenol) when she "acted like she was feeling well" (Sure, right when the doctor stepped in the room, before that she had glazed eyes and simply stared into space) instead of letting the fever do its job.  Her fever was still 101 with the Tylenol. It went between 103 and 104 without. And it's not like I was trying to just treat the fever with the Tylenol/Ibuprofen thing everyone seems to advocate. I let her have a slight fever. I just can't handle when she's simply staring off into space and not responsive. Esp not with Dogbert to also keep occupied. The last week has also been hell on my wrist. I've strained it. I did the right one when Tempest was a baby, and now it is the left. Luckily I can still do yoga, since most of the poses either do not aggravate it or can be modified to be ergonomic. On the other hand, I still have to carry Dogbert, Tempest generally shows disapproval by going boneless and hanging from my hand or arching back and yanking on the wrist, and Dilbert has it in mind to move furniture. Dilbert was also attempting to send the glass cabinet down the stairs by setting it down and letting it slide down, not realizing that it had a 1 inch lip that would catch on every single freaking stair. GAH! So we carried it down. C'mon, you're supposed to be smart, Dilb. *shakes head* Then we rearranged the toys. Then he took us out to dinner (Mexican), then he wanted to go look at stuff in the mall. Did he say anything? No. And I was holding Dogbert on the weak wrist all the way through the mall, finding the stupid store. Then we went too far, and doubled back to find it. And I entertained first Tempest, then both kids, while he shopped. And on the way back, he held the artwork (didn't switch me for the kid even though I said he needed to take Dogbert back to the car), and Tempest switched sides on me and I had to hold her hand... so I carried Dogbert the length of the mall and over halfway back on the bad wrist side. Wrist is twinging still this morning, even though I had it on ice. I hurt. Also this month, I purchased a duplicate to the partylite lamp that had been damaged by the movers. The seller not only sent it to my old house (to my verified PayPal address rather than the one I changed on eBay) but sent it UPS instead of USPS as I requested. USPS would have caught my forward and sent it to me. UPS took it directly to the door and the bastards appear to have kept it. Still attempting to get a phone number, and will send them a letter to try to recover the lamp. [Incidentally, I feel like I'm trapped in an Aladdin story.] I contacted the seller, who says they used the proper address, even though I explained about the problem to eBay people and to seller. Seller said I was wrong, that they sent it to proper address, even though my eBay screen order details specific my current address. I called in after I'd opened a case and the seller escalated it, to give further information about UPS vs USPS mixup and how it would have gotten here, and the lady found the case in my favor (and in the seller's not-favor). So I'm getting a refund. And I asked that it be brought to eBay's attention to avoid future mixups (the entire reason I opened the case). I still feel bad that seller doesn't get anything out of this, but sounds like it really was her(?) fault. And it will be something I definitely double-check when I'm selling stuff. But it was still a headache to get through all of that. And yesterday I also broke my 750 word streak. I was at 384 days Friday. But between moving the toys around, the mall trip, and my general exhaustion and wanting to finish the stupid Jim Butcher book... I forgot it despite remembering at a couple different times. *kicks self, not Self* Dammit. So today I'm reading my critique partner's stories and seeing about not injuring myself further. Also just trying to generally figure out where I am. At the moment, I'm really not sure. [Monday also marked my second visit to this therapist. And she seems ok.] |
| For toddler light (preschooler light?) was a success. Poor mrs light is so huge with six weeks to go. Tempest doesn't want to do what I want with the exercises for her evaluation. Tough on me, but trying anyway. Checked out my first book from Wilbor (ebooks) from my library. Woot! (partly because I finished proven guilty today) Dogbert is almost almost crawling. He can get to hands and feet now, almost a downward dog. Very mobile, and more to come. Dang! |
| Doesn't get him out of my living space. Neither does wondering how he got there and why he died. I keep thinking of myself as a complete failure, a waste of space, no better than the garbage. I am cranky, irritable, and I often wander lost through my home trying to figure out what to do, where to start, and if it is even worth the trouble. Tempest Testing: update soon. We're getting a referral from our pediatrician (Dr Sheer) to Iowa City for a full day of exhausting evaluation. Dogbert Drooling: and it's probably teeth on top of nearly crawling (which mom called crawling, but he can't get more than about a foot without complete re-positioning) and double ear infection I yelled at Dilbert while kids were screaming this morning about how he slept through it all for an hour. He said he wasn't sleeping. Then why the hell didn't you get your ass out of bed to help? Instead he asked what I was doing, from bed, and I said I was going to shower. Sure, right when I was going to shower. Seriously, dude? GET OUT OF BED AND DO SOMETHING. I'm trying to do too much. I can't handle all the things I'm half-assedly attempting and the failure is piling up on me. And Dilbert doesn't see that I'm depressed, because he doesn't acknowledge that depression exists. Mom is being even more manipulative than usual and her back-handed comments make me more defensive and then she complains that i'm defensive. And I got to deal with her for TWO mornings this week - Mon and Wed. Going to (formerly)BabyLight's 3rd birthday party this weekend. Hoping to relax and not lose my mind. If there's anything left of it. The flooring is finally done and it looks nice. My wrist throbs here and there from strain by holding Dogbert and Tempest doesn't help. Need to go sweep the floor to get rid of all the lovely crumbs from lunch. It's another long day, and it's only half over. |
| And Dogbert caught some kind of virus. Poor guy. Might have gotten a little better by late afternoon, but hard to say. He loved watching Dilbert and Tempest playing outside - with bat and ball, then handheld lacrosse things, then frisbee. [Or whirly disk] So much fun. But still so much to do around here. Dilbert said something about the lawn needing watering, but DAMNIT, today is Saturday and he can water his own damn lawn on the weekends. Esp if he can spend naptime playing stupid video games while I'm calming kids and doing laundry and cleaning up. Thought things might be almost improving with Mom. Told her about Tempest's testing and about being overwhelmed and Tempest stayed with her for a day and a half. It helped me some... Then Mom dropped Tempest off and she had a crazy-icky diaper mess. I called Mom to make sure none of it was in her car. To which she replied "No, I don't see any" and I knew she was driving, so that was weird. You can't see the bottom of the car seat when you're DRIVING?! Then she emailed me about how she fed Tempest only nutritious foods and on and on. [And she thinks *I* am the defensive one?] I just didn't know when it happened. Lately I can't smell a damn thing, and I wanted to warn her before she had her car parked in the sun all day and it stank. I didn't need three paragraphs of the "good food" she fed Tempest while she was gone. So tired. Finished World War Z last night. Also read Obama's Blackberry this morning. Seriously sick of Dilbert mentioning that Obama might raise taxes so much I have to go back to work if he gets re-elected. Also sick of him thinking I have to do all the crap around the house and then not wanting to give me time to do it, or help me with the kids so I can do it. Seriously brushed him off when he tried to entice me to spend time with him while kids napping. I showed him the laundry piled on the coffee table that was going to drive him nuts soon and he'd nag me about it. Plus other stuff. So he went back to playing his video games. And worried poor Dogbert won't sleep well tonight, either. And he kept me up a lot last night. If I don't get to rest, all I get is more and more irritable. I made birth announcements for Dogbert, but I haven't gotten them printed yet. At least it is progress. |
| The flooring guys were here. The trim was wrong - oak quarter round instead of painted white, and the store only had primed white. The reducers did not work as expected, because the tile was too high - there's a sharp edge plus there is worry they'd crack within a few months. They left tackboard (and exposed nails) when they left and I didn't get them to fix it. Dilbert called and they'll be back tomorrow. People do a lot of things once Dilbert talks them into it. He talked them into taking back the old reducers because they weren't right. He talked to them about the quarter round. He took back a lot of the extra material (probably more than he should have, but we're just not worrying about that now). I went to play with a friend and her kid with my kids. We needed to get out after being cooped up in the basement most of the day and not being able to leave or even play where we usually do. And I had to check on them periodically. It just isn't easy. But it looks really nice with the dark "soft plum" laminate flooring rather than the icky carpet. Can't wait until it's finished. But it also means all my stuff that I wanted to put away is still in limbo. Most of it that had actually been put away. I had been almost done. This delay sucks. Then someone emailed me about the 55 word contest and if I had picked a damn winner yet. Yeah, that's what I was supposed to be doing Sunday instead of taking care of kids and moving around crap in my house to get ready for floors that were supposed to be finished today. |
| Gah. I was running in so many directions this morning I don't know what was going on, but I did make it to everything. Late. [Random thought: Ever think we need an {e:skull}?]  Researched online to find pull-ups for Tempest that did the cool-alert thing rather than learning designs.  Could not find them at Wal-mart, though the website said they stocked them. Ended up late dropping Tempest at Dilb's boss's wife's house. Went to new therapist for beginning appointment, and she seemed pretty all right. We'll see, in time. She called me organized and independent. Heh. Plus she seemed impressed by my list of career achievements. Late picking Tempest up (left because we had another place to go...) Arrived 10 minutes into Tempest's first swimming lesson at the Y. And we missed last week... so not great. Even I had trouble listening to the directions in the pool. Glad I signed her up for the parent tot class, rather than the one by herself. Met most of the other parents and chatted with them in the kiddie pool after the formal lesson. Nice people, nice kids. Semi-late arriving home, but managed lunch and naps. Dogbert slept on the floor of my office, because he kept throwing a fit and kept Tempest up. Tried to stagger in exercises, but Dilbert arrived home shortly after Tempest woke and he turned the TV on for her, and interrupted my plans. Emptied the master bedroom of a lot of things, and Dilbert and Sheer finished the work while I watched kids. Have to sleep in my office tonight. But the floors are ready for the Lowe's guys to put in laminate tomorrow in the living room and the master bedroom. It's going to be lovely. That seems to be enough for a strike, huh? Back to World War Z, then bed... After I clear a space for us to sleep, that is. And depending on how the little guy manages, I might end up sleeping on his floor tonight. Tomorrow we can move everything back except the armoire, and Sheer promised to return to help. Little Caesar's Hot'n'Ready pizza for dinner. And I keep thinking about watching Sheer's kid during the daytime. And wondering if I could manage three seats in my car. |
| 1. I have to water the lawn. I'm sure I'm doing it "wrong" because it didn't take me as long as it took Dilbert. Whatever, it is done. And I have to do it again tomorrow. And the next day. For who knows how long. Why can't he do it at night when he gets home from work? OH, right, I stay home ALL DAY. I can't be busy. 2. Gave both kids baths and washed their hair. 3. Got myself ready for the day. 4. Gathered up everything I needed for my morning, including addresses and lists (that I have not yet purchased) and got the kids ready to go. 5. Took Dogbert to Dilbert's boss's wife's home so I could focus on Tempest. 6. Tempest had her re-test for language comprehension. *Details to follow. 7. Picked up Dogbert and had lunch with Dilb's boss's wife. Really nice lady. 8. Put the kids down to naps. 9. Did my 750 words - today was day 366. I am officially a Pegasus there. 10. Let in Dish guy. Tempest met me at the door last night after yoga. She could hear I was home, so she told everyone else. She said she was proud of me. Made me feel good, but I'm not exactly sure about that meaning what I think it ought to mean. She said it again this morning. So I hug her and smile. The retest went both good and bad. The good news - we improved her score from 54 to 70 (of 100). 16 points in 3 months is great progress. The bad news - there are certain skills that are virtually unchanged from 3 months ago. 55 is the cutoff point to get help, but the tester is going to fight for Tempest because she has some skills that have not been changed in that period of time. She also sent me home with exact things to do - keep up giving choices, because that is good and going well. But also giving me five specific directions and telling me to record my progress in a notebook. We have approximately six weeks before getting another evaluation. She says she has to really work for it, so I'm going to do everything I can to get Tempest ready. Yay for more stuff to do, right? I hope it works. I hope she doesn't need whatever this evaluation is going to be about. But, if she does need it, dammit she's going to get it. 11. Let out Dish guys. 12. Talk to Mom. Now it's time to set up my new notebook for notes on her progress until the next evaluation. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
PassKey Override Available
