Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

We did some exciting egg coloring yesterday and we'll be having egg salad for breakfast today as a a result! We used a PAAS kit, a Dudley kit, and regular food coloring. And its Masters weekend so we went with the plastic grass tablecloth to control our messes!

This morning at the crack of dawn I was up icing that egg cake. Couldn't pull it together this year to make that spectacular chocolate bunny that we had last year. Plus, no one in this house needs a cake made with 3 pounds of butter. So, the egg cake is from a box and in a flavor that Connor will love (strawberry) but that Bob and I can resist.

I Gave Her My Heart. She Gave Me A Pen.

Every year at Easter I look forward to the Peep extravaganza that occurs. The Washington Post has a peep diorama contest and they'll publish it tomorrow. You can see a slide show of past winners here and here. If you look at this and it doesn't make you smile and wonder at the creativty and imagination of human-kind, you might have a problem.... I'm just saying.

Though this one is by far one of the least complicated, its my favorite. You simply have to love any "Say Anything" cultural reference. As Lloyd would say: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that." Excellent!

Spring Training

The Blue Claws had their first practice today..finally. The first few were rained out. It was windy, but sunny. And Coach Bob was really organized. And judging by the outfits we might be working on a Buckeye farm team.

Midnight Snack

You Can't Play On Broken Strings

Can't write tonite--a mani, a pedi, and a big vodka sour has done me in. But I can share this song with you.

http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?artist=2380946&vid=339901

So beautiful. His voice. The lyrics. Nelly. Exquisite songwriting and performance. Where do people get this gift?

I've Come To Realize

You might have noticed that I'm here a bit more. Its my Q2 2009 resolution. I've come to realize that writing here is important to me and to those of you who miss me when I don't post. I don't know how long I'll sustain it, but here are my other realizations:

1. I've come to realize that my job...is my drug.

2. I've come to realize that when I'm driving...I love to sing and I'd better not be disturbed.

3. I've come to realize that I need....more muscle tone.

4.I've come to realize that I have lost...so much of my creativity.

5. I've come to realize that I hate it when...the phone rings at home.

6. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk...its a rare and priceless occurance.

7. I've come to realize that money...needs to come in just the right amounts. Not too much, not too little.

8. I've come to realize that certain people...don't understand the faces I make and are frightened of me.

9. I've come to realize that I'll always...be a "faller" and a klutz.

10. I've come to realize that my mom...made me what I am and protected me so well.

11. I've come to realize that my cell phone...is critical to my happiness.

12. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...I was disproportionately happy to be alone to go work out and watch a show.

13. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep...my husband still had the TV on and I can't believe I fell asleep- that being the case.

14. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking...about why I can't go on more vacations.

15. I've come to realize that my dad...though, flawed, possesed much of what I find attractive in men--contradictions. He could kick some ass but he cried at weddings. He was from Maine but he wore cowboy hats. He loved that I could stand on my own two feet, but he was ready to catch me. He was obsessive, but could let it go.

16. I've come to realize that today...was non-stop.

17. I've come to realize that tonight....I can't wait to wash my face.

18. I've come to realize that tomorrow...could be good.

19. I've come to realize that I really want to...be a better friend.

20. I've come to realize that life...is a total crapshoot. "Man plans, God laughs."

21. I've come to realize that my friends...like to move to Germany.

22. I've come to realize that this year...is flying by.

23. I've come to realize that maybe I should....get a housekeeper.

24. I've come to realize I love...T-ball.

25. I've come to realize that I don't understand...people who spend too much time planning and not enough time doing and trying.

26. I've come to realize my past...is pretty boring. But that's OK.

27. I've come to realize that parties...are horrible.

28. I've come to realize that I'm totally terrified...of socialism.

29. I've come to realize that my life...is spectacular.

Swift As The Coursing River

Before I begin: Irony Pinot Noir Monterey 2006--not so good.
______________________________________________________
I am the mother of a son. I am the mother of a boy-child. I am the mother of a future man.

Yeesh. This is hard. I don't know how to be a man, so how do I teach him to be a man?

Okay, so, his father has some of that responsbility. But that's for him to figure out in his own way. I've got to figure out how I do it as his mother. And I have to figure it out fast. Its becoming critical. Up until this age, I don't think it required much material difference than loving and nurturing a girl. Sure, I'd be playing Barbies alot more than Storm Trooper attack, but the parenting probably isn't much different. But the paths are diverging and I'm slamming into trees.

He's amazing. He is so smart, charming, clever, and creative. He's intuitive. And he's a natural leader. I just worry that he'll be the leader of a band of surfing bank robbers rather than an CEO. How do I channel those things? How do I nuture them in the right way?

He called a kid at school "stupid" today. And so tonight he has to write "I will not call my friends names" 5 times.I'm struggling with it because 1) the kid is stupid, and 2) the whole thing is so mamby pamby. This is a kid who constantly hits and verbally abuses Connor (I've seen it live and in action) and I'm not clear on what punishment he gets. Its just that Connor hardly ever lashes out--no hitting, no pushing--but he clearly snapped today. Apparently he was doing a floor puzzle with his friend Nathan and he was being a bit too "leader-y" (read: bossy--and I don't know where he gets that) and the other kid came and got Nathan and told him to come play with him instead. To which Connor said "Sam, you are so stupid!" So, I have the great joy of doing all this miserable writing with him tonight and acting all concerned. Ugh. Seems pretty normal 6 year old name calling to me. And this other kid is such a nasty brat that I really, really want to tell Connor to just kick his little ass. But, I can't. Refer to my earlier concern of bank robber vs. CEO. I'm also making him write an apology note to Sam--but it is violating every cell of my body. I am trying to rise above.

At any rate, there's been lots of whining and crying around here tonite. And all the way home in the car. And I'm tired. And I'm kind of sick of whiny people. So, its all piling up. And what do I do? The woman who want's to raise a good man? A strong man? A manly man? SHOW TUNES! That's what I do. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? He's crying at the desk in the kitchen, body folded over and limp, and I finally snap and break into "Make A Man Out of You" from Mulan. He covers his ears and yells "MOM. STOP" but I carry on regardless and sing it like my life depends on it. He was not pleased.

Okay, not very effective. But the message is on-point, at least. And it made me feel better.