Make Choices, Not Wishes

So Many Choices (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Make Choices, Not Wishes

Waiting and wishing for things to get better
How long are you willing to wait?

Waiting and wishing for something to change
How many wishes will you make?

Time to stop making wishes and make choices instead
Listen to your heart and also your head
The answers are there if you look within
You are all you need to win

We all have the power to make our own choices
We all have the power to use our own voices

Waiting and wishing will not make things better
I’m no longer willing to wait.

Waiting and wishing will not make a change
I’ve only got choices, not wishes to make.

Crab Legs and a Big Chicken

No, this is most definitely not a recipe. It is a sad story about the loss of a pet crab, and a big pathetic chicken – me!

We have a large aquarium in our dining room with a coral reef, some clown fish, and many other odd critters. Fairly recently, my husband brought home the biggest arrow crab we had ever seen.

Stenorhynchus seticornis (Yellowline Arrow Crab) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He was so cute and creepy too, we all fell in love with the thing. Notice his blue feet, come on how cool is that? The kids named him (her?) Crabby Patty and loved watching it walk goofily over the corals in the tank and feed itself with those ridiculously long arms.

Well, poor Crabby Patty died a few days ago. I’m guessing old age, as this critter must have been full adult size, it easily had 8 in long legs. Now the older kids already lost interest in it, like with everything else. They have not noticed it yet. I have not volunteered this information.

But my 3 year old, well, he has a habit of looking for Crabby Patty every few hours, because even though he is so big, he was a master at blending into the corals, since he knew crabmeat is delicious. So when kiddo searched the tank and could not find his pet, and declared “Crabby Patty is the best at hiding! And he must love his new home since he hasn’t come out of it today” Oh man, did my heart sink. I just could not speak up and tell this cutie pie that his pet crab died. So I just agreed with him, that yes, he is the best at hiding. I am a pathetic big chicken with a big soft heart.

So I definitely did not share what I viewed when I knew for sure that Crabby was dead, thank goodness little guy didn’t look in the tank. Like I said, Crabmeat is delicious. As soon as Crabby stopped moving, he was viciously ripped apart by his previously polite tank mates. First, the serpent star wrapped his long tentacle arms around him, and crabby could still move just a bit, so here is a closer-up view than I ever hope to have of that creepy thing – poor Crabby’s last sight – I shudder at the thought of it.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Then Birthday fish, (pictured below – he was daddy’s birthday present one year – kids named him too) darted in and ripped out his eyes and any soft parts. Poor Crabby.

Then, it got nasty. Poor Crabby stopped moving, and his body was covered by all the scavengers, all the cannibalistic other crabs in the tank came to finish him off. I didn’t realize how many were spread about the tank, but when they covered every bit of Crabby, completely concealing him, and walked over each other to get a good chunk, it was a nauseating, horrific scene.  Usually I enjoy working on my computer in front of the tank and staring into it for mental breaks, but that day I needed blinders to avoid watching the massacre, ’cause you know you have to look, you just have to.

Once the pile of crabs were done (or full?), the snails moved in and cleaned up the rest of it. All in all, I have to say it was a very efficient process. Only a few bits of Crabby’s outer shell is left from his long legs here and there in a completely unrecognizable pile of twigs. Yes let’s say it is twigs.

So, do we get a new Crabby and sneak him into the tank to avoid tears, or do we tell the truth, or just wait for little guy to stop looking for him? It has already become a boring game, since he can’t find him. I think he’ll lose interest soon.

And to be clear, it is not like we hide death from kiddo completely, he has already lost a few snails, several fish, a shrimp, and loves stomping ants. He’s also been to a few funerals. Death is unavoidable usually. (well I guess it always is – I meant the topic in conversation is usually unavoidable) He understands, really. It’s just seems pointless to bring up the death unless he asks. Plus, I’m a big chicken.

Related articles

• An aquatic paradise ~ I (wondrousbiology.wordpress.com)
• One Starfish at a Time (itsabigworld15.wordpress.com)

Nutella Nilla Banana Cream Bites

(Photo credit: beamillion)

Another blogger, Perfecting Motherhood, wrote of her love for Nutella, and I thought I would share one of our easy treats, something we simply call Banana Bites, but needed a more original name to post here, thus the Nutella Nilla Banana Cream Bites

 

Spread Nutella on Nilla Wafers,

add a slice of banana,

top with whip cream.

 

Easy and delicious.  It is perfect for a tired mommy to still get some ‘ooohs’ without spending all day baking, and it is perfectly sized for little fingers. I have no pictures of these treats because they never last long enough for me to get a camera.

These also work without the cookies, just use the banana as the base, but don’t leave out the nutella

Enjoy!

 

Related articles

• #80: Try nutella (smilekiddo.wordpress.com)
• Nutella, Double Chocolate & Banana Tart (thewhitedish.wordpress.com)
• Nutella and Banana Pies: Valentine’s Day Dessert! (createdinthekitchen.com)
• World Nutella Day: Spreading the Love Around (and on bread) (doriegreenspan.com)

Spring Cleaning Giggles

Everyone seems to be in full spring cleaning mode. I decided to start with the fridge and see how my new system of using leftovers is working. The dates I had carefully labeled each bowl/dish/container provided an exciting fresh slap in the face as I pulled out each no longer recognizable item. I may not know what it is any more, but thank goodness I put on that date so I knew exactly how long I had left it in there.

Cosmic Connections – Making Dreams come true

Lately I have been astounded by what the world has to offer me. I have been practicing living in the moment, and thinking positive, and I now seem to have a strong cosmic connection that makes my desires come true. Sound powerful? Yes I feel powerful, and hope it doesn’t all go to my head.

I’ve been debating getting my teaching license renewed, is it worth all the time and money for more (mostly meaningless) graduate classes, and where do I see myself in a few years? I don’t see myself in a typical public school classroom any more, I just can’t see going back to that world. I’ve been working in Education from home for so many years now, but only part time, not something I would call a career. So as I think over my options, I throw in a desire that my current position would eventually be full time, to have that as a serious option once the kids are all in school. Well – poof – we have a new CEO that is sending out feelers to see who would be interested in full time positions. I said maybe, if the offer was right. Now I get to wait for the offer, how exciting!

I desired to travel, just get away. I got offered a promotion with (extravagant to me) business trips to Baltimore. I get a hotel room to myself, and great food for a few days. The business part is easy when you get to return to a clean room and expensive dinners. I know many moms that just wish for a room alone once in while. No socks to pick up, no cooking, no cleaning, no constant “mom, mom, mom, mooooooom”. Yes I work on these trips, but it doesn’t feel like it.

I wished I had done more with art, and possibly teaching art – poof – someone I know is looking to hire someone with both a teaching background and artistic ability. I’ve been teaching art classes at a museum for over a year now.

I wished I knew more people in my small town, it has been difficult squeezing in to this little community. Poof – My daughter’s good friend moves practically across the street a few months ago, and my son’s friend knocks on the door yesterday with his mom, they live just around the corner and we didn’t know – I can see their house through my back yard!

I was thinking it would be good for youngest kiddo to have more preschool/daycare while I work more. Though I enjoy having him home with me, I see the benefits from good preschool programs. Before I have a chance to explore options, I get a letter from current preschool announcing next  year they will offer a 4 day program. Perfect!

So my head is spinning, I’m not used to everything going so well. And then this one was just too good. I wished I had the time/energy/skill to get my flowerbeds looking better. The unusually warm weather created some wicked weeds already. A neighbor girl knocked on my door and asked if she could do some yard work for me. I gave her $3 and she filled a trash bag with weeds from all of my front flowerbeds!

This seems so corny, but positive thinking really must work, and seems to have cosmic connections to make things happen.  Maybe if I just close my eyes, and wish hard enough – anything is possible! I’m not sure what else is in store for me, or what direction I’m headed, but I am absolutely loving this life and all the surprises.

 

 

A play, a party, a perfect day

From the day my 2 year old got on top of an old tree stump at a family picnic and belted out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – I knew she was bound to be a performer. My now 8 year old daughter is playing Tinkerbelle in a children’s theatre group and we had the first peformances Friday and Saturday. My little diva is so cute, and I’m so proud of her for learning so many lines –  she had a big part for a little girl. All 85 kids in this major production worked so hard and did so well, it brought tears to my eyes sitting in the audience and seeing it all come together after months of rehearsals. I am so proud of them and happy to be part of this amazing group of dedicated parent volunteers! I helped out by painting some of the background scenery and had a blast.

Stage left - my happy tree in the enchanted forest. Stage right - my old tree up front. Other panels painted by a wonderful group of parents

 

An aunt, several cousins, and grandparents sat in the front row to support my little star. They brought a grand bouquet of flowers and a sparkly Tinkerbelle necklace amidst the showers of praise for my girl.

Some of my favorite parts of the play were: the evil sorceress singing a version of “Hard days night, working like a dog” as she explains how tiring it is to be so evil, and the Big Bad Wolf singing his version of “Do you really want to hurt me, do you really want to make me cry, in the stories I am so mean, but no one ever asks me why”. These talented kids make us laugh and cry – I just love them all! And the director is just amazing at her casting and handcrafted scripts to fit each kid’s strengths.

After the play, we had a surprise birthday party for my father-in-law, who is 70. He loved my comment that he is twice my age! Really, he did. All his kids (and kids-in-laws) chipped in and bought him a super nice new fishing pole and reel, and a case of Killians. It was St.Patty’s day!

I just love these days full of love and surprises, family and friends. Just love it.

More info on Little Theatre Troupe: http://www.starklibrary.org/littletheatretroupee

http://www.youtube.com/user/scdlltt

What’s a Geek to Watch?

Is Homer average now?

My DVR is getting less and less use these days. I can’t find anything worth recording. When it comes down to choice, I have so many other things I’d rather do than watch current TV shows.

I’m pretty sure I haven’t gotten smarter, so TV must have gotten dumber. Each show is a dumbed down version of a different show. Even shows with geek appeal in the title end up disappointing fluff. Like Brain Games on NatGeo. Sounds geeky, and although it has some interesting topics and entertaining parts, it is still not geeky at all in the simplified, non-scientific explanations it offers.

House used to fit the bill, when it was new and fresh. Now the writers are stuck with the same 4 diseases they rotate each week. And then they experiement with point-o-view in the filming and that is just annoying. And the plot has gotten so predictable and dull. I moved on.

So You Think You Can Dance is my favorite reality-type show. I like watching talented performers get more talented. (I don’t like watching non-talented people stay non-talented) I also assume the auditions are set-up, and that the street performers with no training, actually are trained dancers but they sneak that in to make it exciting. But I don’t care – the performances are generally fresh and new and quite good.

Warehouse 13 is pretty fun. I like how it creatively intertwines old inventions into (a completely unbelievable ) adventurous plot. I don’t expect to learn from these shows, just for fun, so no trouble when it is a bit fluffy.

CSI and Law and Order type shows are just boring. Same plot. Same disgusting close-ups of computer generated evidence to show off their special effects. Whatever. Next.

And then, adult cartoons? OK, King of the Hill is pretty funny, at least it was years ago, but I don’t get the others, at all. Bad acting and scripts are hard enough to handle with real live bad actors, let alone animated ones.

Every new series that I think will have potential, gets cancelled after a few shows.  And yet we go year after year with reality shows, that offer only eye-candy and emotional drama. Now I do enjoy some eye-candy on occasion, but not paired with the dramatic nonsense and predictable set-ups. Those shows can be on mute.

Problem is I still have the nightly habit of unwinding by the TV, searching my DVR list, and coming up empty. Sure, I can search netflix or hulu for something new, but after an hour of searching thousands of random titles, I give up and go to bed.

So what’s a geek to watch? I’m dying for some quality shows. Something entertaining, but also clever. Do I ask too much?

Maybe I’m too picky. Maybe I’m stuck-up. Maybe I just think too much.

I think I see Me

Gone are the days of gazing in the mirror endlessly
I remember that silly girl’s fears 
She thought that she’d live her life friendlessly
if flaws were seen in those mirrors

But now I see that reflection
And I think I see me
Not an image of imperfection
But me, just me

I see those dark circles and just have to grin
I’ve been working so hard
No time to sleep in 

Those little lines don’t bother me
they show that I laugh
with friends and family

The hair that has gone wild is fine without a brush
A remnant of tickle fights and playgrounds
squeezed into the daily rush

So don’t feel bad for my tired eyes
and don’t judge my mussed up hair
My life is amazing! Pure joy! you must realize
I no longer need to ask mirror who is most fair

————————–(C) 2012 Amanda Balough ———————————

Wii gonna be Fit plus balanced

Wii are not yet fit or balanced. Wii are using the balance board daily, and Wii are working towards our goal of being more active, more toned, and more balanced.

Yes, it took us this long to join the Wii bandwagon, thanks to my very generous brother, we finally have a Wii. The balance board in incredible, and I think will be just what I need to get my sluggish right leg to listen to me. The constant feedback on the screen provides such important clues to me to straigthen, relax or flex various muscles that I was not aware even worked together.

I can feel my core muscles responding, which is amazing, because I was not entirely sure they were still in there.

And unlike my treadmill, which waits sadly in the corner collecting dust, I look forward to Wii exercise. The treadmill just mocks me, as I can not get the speed past slow-warm-up and have never made any progress. But Wii gives me points, tracks my progress, scolds me for snacking, encourages me to get on daily. I have already improved my mind-body connection and reaction times the slightest bit. Plus we have some friendly family competitions going. I wear the crown in many categories (just completed the entire skateboard arena!). Yay me!

And if you’re in a grumpy mood, ask a child to do the hula hoop game, and you’ll all be giggling!

I’ve been trying to get on Wii every time I feel sleepy. Well, not at night, I go to bed then. But those daytime crashes, when I used to lay down for a rest, I now get on Wii instead, and get recharged!

Last year I did things I never thought possible for me and my weak leg, by dancing on stage for the first time in my life. This year I’m going to top that somehow!

Go Mii!

Leapin’ Lizards The Sun Did Come Out

I have always loved Annie’s optimism and courage. And apparently her hair, since my first perm made me look just like her in 1989. 

But here it is, Leap Day in 2012, and oh wow is the sun out. It is 61 degrees, and sunny. In Ohio.

It really does feel like anything is possible today. The world could be mine! Too bad all I want to do is nap. Too bad all I’m going to do is work and then household chores. No leaping here.

But I’m OK with that. I don’t have any leaping dreams left undone, No regrets of missed past leaps, none of that. I’m content to limp along steadily towards the goal of raising healthy, happy kids and towards my own currently unknown goal. Many doors seem to be opening for me, and I have no idea which path to take. I’m afraid if I leap, I just may go too quickly and even overshoot my goal, missing it completely. So I will continue forward bravely, yet tentatively, peeking around corners before I enter those doorways.

Just as exciting is watching doors open for my kids. They are still young, but I love that they also peek in the doorways before entering, and bravely enter the ones that lead to growth. My kids are also not blind leapers.

We all try to live in the moment. Of course we make plans and goals, but we experience each moment fully, not hastily leaping from one to the next. It is peaceful and satisfying. And exhausting. But if life isn’t exhausting, you may not be challenging yourself enough.

At this moment, I am exhausted, fully challenged, definitely not leaping, and not going to make a point anytime soon. Just could not pass up a chance to say “Leapin’ Lizards” in a somewhat more appropriate setting than usual.