Playing at Being Cerebral

My husband and I love Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. When it was announced that a Lego display was coming, we knew what we had to do. For Checkered and me, what we had to do was find a day where no one had any other time obligation. What our daughter knew she had to do was find something, anything to do that didn't include being dragged through the museum and village AGAIN. For our boys, it meant begging and hounding and planning until their parents actually agreed to go.

We walked in and found this glorious Lego display of downtown Detroit. It was detailed and had moving components. It was so wonderful that we couldn't wait to find the actual exhibit. When we did, we were disappointed. There were a few smaller but detailed castles, but overall, a mighty weak display.



Fortunately, we found a pretty tree.


My son's favorite "hippy" van.


And my favorite mode of transportation.



The boys agreed: the Lego exhibit at the Henry Ford wasn't worth the visit.

During the day, I learned that my vest was insufficient protection against the weather, and chivalrous Checkered gave me his jacket. That was a very sweet and sexy move. Too bad the pockets turned my fingers yellow - even if the photo didn't capture the color so well.

What's Good About Christmas?

Today's Tuesday meme is 10 great things about Christmas.

• work goes away for a few days, but we know (hope) we have jobs to return to afterward
• my parents will be here!!
• my children's moods and behavior are exceptionally lovely
• lots of fires to sit by and warm-up
• new recipes to try
• board games
• hugs from most every friend I see
• the music
• the joy my children have in giving to me
• the way my child insists that we start the day by singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

Now, what have I left out? Any ideas, SITStas?

Drowning in Pharmaceuticals

Sometimes it doesn't matter how pretty or smart or creative you are. If you have asthma and it collides with bronchitis, life gets pretty yucky for a few days.

Feel better quickly, sweet girl.

FF: All Over the Place with this Post

My daughter's choir is performing at the Detroit Opera House today. I deeply regret not spending the $75 to be there. She balked at the idea of holding a little recorder for me. Go figure.

Why would a doctor rely on a one-page survey to diagnose and allow that survey to override social evidence? Why don't any of these doctors want to hear what the teacher with her 25 years of experience and two years with my child has to say?

Checkered loves those new dark blues, purples, and greens so popular in Christmas colors. They evoke something dear from his childhood. The only thing he remembers in that color is a bowl of dark blue bulbs. But, boy, what a strong emotional reaction when he sees those colors.

Guess what color lights are on our tree this year...?

I wonder what will take my own kids back to their childhoods when they're grown.

Last Sunday during church, my 12 year old got my wedding ring stuck on his finger. After spending the first two sermon points getting the ring off, he gave it to my youngest son who ... yes, who put it on HIS middle finger where it got really stuck. I really am not sure what the sermon was about.

That same younger son told me he doesn't believe now. I worried that he meant Santa, but then was stricken with guilt and wondered if he meant God. What he meant was Rudolf because a red nose really couldn't help someone see in the fog now, could it?

The Good Life

Her master says there are very clear parameters governing where Pepper may and may not be.

The other people who live in the house are a bit more indulgent.

Commuting with my Girl

6:36 am and we're late. She tells me as we fly through the neighborhood that her throat is raw and she might throw up. I glance her way and lovingly say, "But you can't get sick; your ortho appointments have taken all your absences."

With one eye on teen-agers dressed entirely in black and walking down the middle of the darkened street and the other eye on the bus that might already be at the stop and a third eye checking to see if her prophecy of throwing up has been fulfilled, I add, "Besides that, I have a mammogram today so I won't be home most of the morning."

"A what?" she begins, "Oh... ewwww. Why do you always have to talk about stuff like that?! It's 6.30 in the morning. You're sick!" And the car door slams shut.

Pondering her question during my drive back home, I decide that I "always have to talk about stuff like that" because:

I am a woman
I am of a certain age
I enjoy her reaction.

Now, the decision is what to discuss tomorrow morning. Gyn visits or colonoscopies?

What I'm Not Getting This Year

The meme theme today is 10 things I want but will never buy for myself. How to do this without sounding entire self-indulgent?

How about:

world peace

the end of poverty

a cure for all things...?

Okay, fine. I will get a bit more honest. The real list starts now.

a Kindle or some such thing

new furniture for the family room

jewelry

tickets to somewhere sunny and tropical

dinner that doesn't involve WW or ground turkey, beans, or high fiber

lumineers

a little nip and tuck

a new floor for the kitchen

someone to finish my botched bathroom remodel

and

a really fast boat.

What's on your non-list this year?