Heidi Chronicles

Life Almost Unmedicated: How it is right now.

Heidi — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:40:06 +0000

So, Aaron was asking me this morning when I was going to get the pictures from our trip to Torquay uploaded to Flickr. My response was “when I feel better.” He teased me a bit by saying “well I can’t wait until summer,” and then gave me a big hug.

I have been quiet here over the last year. It’s been a challenging one for a lot of reasons, most of which I am attempting to put into a thank you/2009 holiday letter…which probably won’t be done until summer. (Right. I know you’ll all be waiting with bated breath for 4th of July.) But I need to write some of it down for the record while I’m in the thick of it because it’s such a huge part of my life right now. I don’t want to forget.

The main reason it’s challenging right now is that I have been working (since we moved here basically) to get off of my antidepressant meds, which, even with increased dosages, weren’t making any difference.

I did a lot of preparation to help my brain get settled back into a baseline level before I really started cutting back. I didn’t exactly follow the directions of the program I chose to use (Potatoes Not Prozac) because my doctor was on my case to get off of one of the drugs that isn’t approved in the UK sooner rather than later, but I did follow the steps outlined in the book so that it would be easier in the long run. It took me a year to get through those steps and steady with support and then, last March, I started cutting back with the support of my friends at Radiant Recovery, whom I have lovingly dubbed, my Sugar Peeps.

I don’t know that I’ve ever done anything this difficult that requires such a strong commitment to getting better. Nothing comes to mind at the moment so if it’s not *the* hardest, it is *one of* the hardest things I have ever done. I suppose anyone struggling with an addiction feels this way. There is nothing that can prepare a brain to go from being spoon fed a pill every day for the last 12 years to having that taken away (even if slowly, bit by bit) and being asked in a not-so-polite way to please get off its ass and start doing its job. It’s a painful process at times – and brains don’t really like pain.

Before I talk about the hard times though, I should also mention that there are times it has not been hard – at least 1/2 of the time, actually. My brain seems to have a threshold. Sometimes I could do several cuts without being affected and move along in life quite nicely – and then something else would happen and suddenly, BOOM, I was on my ass and my brain was screaming.

These are the hard times.

For me, BOOM is exemplified by turning into a person that I am not. Since I started doing the Potatoes Not Prozac program, I have actually become pretty calm and patient, and a hell of a lot less of a drama queen. As a general rule, I do not cry over every little thing. Nor do I get burning hot, 0-100 angry in a millisecond and yell. But during a difficult time, those are things to be counted on if I don’t catch them before they come bubbling to the surface.

The BOOMs seem to happen after I have been taxed with prolonged or excessive stress. These are things like Aaron having major surgery, the gray winter here in London, PMS, travel, visitors, the kids on break from school, dealing with Liam’s SPD diagnosis, extended illnesses, etc. The day-to-day stuff I can handle, but anything that interrupts the basic routine of my life causes an overload in my brain. It just can’t work that hard right now.

I can feel it trying to slow me down when it gets overloaded. To cope sometimes it shuts down my body to the basic, “must-do” level. I get a “heavy, can’t move” feeling and it takes a lot of energy that I don’t really have to do the things that need to be done. It can last for several days. When this happens, we are lucky that there will be food in the house and that everyone has clean underwear. That is a good day in times of BOOM! Everything else stops. The basic activities of life are just too taxing because I can’t think. Phone calls are too difficult to make, the laundry feels like too much, being around people is hard (but helpful if they are understanding and it’s not stressful), there’s no cohesive thought process that allows me to write emails or make conversation, I don’t have the motivation to do the things that make me feel better, I’m tired, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda. I have to just sit and be still and kind of mindless, really. Sewing is good, television is ok as long as it’s not stressful. Reading something that doesn’t have to be digested is good. Solitaire will do. Staring at a wall and just letting thoughts drift in and out is perfect. Sleep is also really, really nice.

If I have to keep going despite the warning signals I’m getting from my brain (as happens often enough when one has two children), it typically ends up with me crying or get really, really angry – and *then* crying. (Always with the crying…it’s so annoying!) Fortunately I have learned (and I am completely serious) that Macey will let me know when I am about to lose it and yell, and I’ve started trying to pay attention to that and stop whatever it is and sneak away before it all comes bubbling out. Unfortunately, with kids, that’s not always possible, so I try let them know that I am angry or sad, but not upset with them in a way that warrants my behavior (Even though they do usually do the final thing that sends me over the edge, LOL). It’s the best I can do at the moment.

The good thing about it is that I know it WILL get better. I’ve been doing this for a year now and it always does. Sometimes it just takes more time.

And I do have coping skills that really do help: food is first and foremost, but the light box, fun activities, friends I can call on to make me laugh, relaxing activities, music, making space for myself, my sugar peeps, gentle exercise, quiet time in the mornings during the week, rest, and trying (sometimes really, really hard) to be positive most of the time all help. And the sun. There’s nothing like the sun to give me a boost.

It also helps me to look back at the winters when I *was* on 450 mg of Wellbutrin and 150mg of Zoloft and I was worse than I am now. I couldn’t get out of bed…Aaron had to pull me out. And we didn’t have all of the additional stuff going on that we do now! I’m definitely better now on good food, 37.5 mg of Wellbutrin, and no Zoloft than I was then!

And another really great thing? Even when it really sucks, I can still laugh and smile through tears because I know it will get better. I think that’s progress.

So, maybe more in a few days. (Hopefully on a really good day? LOL!) I think this is important for me to keep track of. Maybe here is good, maybe not. We’ll just have to see.

Gabe Does British

Heidi — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:19:34 +0000

I finally got this to upload to Flickr. Guess it was an anomaly because none of my other video will upload. Anyway, heeeeeere’s Gabe.

Happy New Year

Heidi — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:43:18 +0000

My resolution: Do more of the things I love to do.

This is going to be great for me, but unfortunately for you all it will probably mean crafty, handmade gifts.

Sighs of dismay will be interpreted as “Heidi, I LOVE it. Thank you SO much!!” and not displaying them prominently will translate as “I’m afraid to display it because it’s so wonderful and valuable someone might steal it.”

You’ve been warned.

2009 in Status Updates

Heidi — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:58:38 +0000

Because I am crazy

1/1	11:39 AM	is trying to figure out how to make twitter talk to facebook.
1/3	5:52 PM	is feeling fine after a tasty Turkish lunch and a good chat.
1/4	10:37 AM	is getting ready to head out for another lunch date.
1/4	10:04 PM	is sad that her esthetician was incorrect in assuming that my eyebrows would “fill in” to for a “nice arch.” I finally plucked those two hairs today.
1/5	10:40 AM	is taking a break from cleaning to play Super Mario Bros…the original!
1/5	12:42 PM	is impressed that she’s only just now started a DVD for the kids.
1/6	12:25 PM	is TCB on Elena’s first day of school. Haven’t relaxed really, but the house is picked up
1/7	3:39 PM	is trying to figure out schools where Liam has a chance of being accepted so that she can throw loads of money at them in the hopes he might be considered. Ugh.
1/7	6:54 PM	is absoultely 100% ready for her night off.
1/7	9:07 PM	is calm and collected, but still probably not cool.
1/8	2:50 PM	is mentally exhausted.
1/8	6:13 PM	needs a new calculator.
1/9	2:22 PM	is listening to a guy drill a four inch hole through the wall to the outside of the house.
1/11	10:14 PM	can’t believe the weekend is over; it flew!
1/12	7:29 AM	is wondering when the rain is going to start.
1/13	8:29 PM	is listening to sad Elena crying in her room and saying “I’m not a dying elephant” over and over.
1/15	3:55 PM	is learning to appreciate rosemary.
1/16	10:22 AM	is wondering if it’s wrong to want to play Lego Indiana Jones on the Wii instead of doing laundry.
1/19	2:31 PM	would like to go back to grade school after visiting theerican School in London today.
1/20	5:54 PM	is honored to be anerican today.
1/21	5:38 PM	is frustrated.
1/22	9:58 AM	is not feeling well, damnit.
1/23	6:04 PM	is a single mom for the next 10 days.
1/23	6:07 PM	is listening to Elena say “Hi, it’s me, Mario.” Think that’s a bad thing?
1/25	12:06 PM	is building Wii Lego Indiana Jones replicas with the kids. It seems like video games have taken over my life.
1/28	4:36 PM	is high fiving Elena for pooing in the little potty.
1/28	5:30 PM	is listening to Liam sing Jingle Bells in an English accent.
1/28	9:48 PM	is seeing the effects of Aaron being gone on the kids. They are acting weird.
1/29	7:21 AM	is wondering how many blueberries Elena can eat before she turns into Violet Beauregarde.
1/29	6:11 PM	wishes she knew what made Elena think putting chopsticks in her ears was a good idea.
1/30	12:00 PM	is giving Liam medicine for an ear infection.
1/30	5:50 PM	is a little weirded out by Wyatt’s thick-soled loafers.
1/31	11:06 AM	is thinking about way too many things for twitter’s 140 character limit.
1/31	11:53 AM	just overheard Liam say, “Tractors don’t pee…uh…people just ride on them,” as he tried to justify their existence to Elena.
1/31	4:49 PM	is listening to Snowman (made of Legos), Bobby (the cop kind), and Spiderman eat cake (a UK adapter with 3 prongs as candles) at a hotel.
1/31	8:49 PM	is going to carry Liam up to bed since he fell asleep on the sofa – and then she’s going to bed.
2/1	7:21 AM	didn’t know that the superbowl was on today. Clearly I don’t live in America.
2/1	9:18 PM	is sitting in her bed staring at the computer screen with no real coherent thoughts – oh wait, there is one: I’d prefer not to be sick.
2/1	10:09 PM	loves the beauty of a layer of fluffy white snow. London is pretty this evening.
2/2	6:59 AM	is feeling like she’s in Kansas with 3+ inches of snow on the ground. Too bad it’s going to take Aaron hours to get home from Heathrow.
2/2	4:54 PM	wasn’t dreaming of a white birthday, but she LOVES it! Looks like a Kansas winter out there. 6+ inches, I’d say.
2/3	8:26 AM	is wondering what she’s going to do with the kids all day since they don’t have school.
2/3	4:40 PM	watching Elena and Macey play fetch with a snowy bucket.
2/3	7:30 PM	is dreading the next dose of eye drops for Liam’s pink eye. He hates them because they burn. It makes me so sad to have to do it 4x/day.
2/4	7:01 AM	is boring.
2/4	10:41 AM	loves that she had more than 50 happy bdays on FB…in addition to the phone calls, emails, and the appearance of her husband! Thanks all!
2/4	3:05 PM	hopes the kids sleep a little longer. She wants to put groceries away and go back to sleeping on the sofa.
2/4	8:53 PM	is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
2/4	9:18 PM	has 211 drafts in gmail. This is ridiculous.
2/5	8:33 AM	wishes it was snowing instead of raining on mushy snow.
2/6	10:16 AM	is negotiating with schools for Liam. What a hassle.
2/6	11:52 AM	is ready for a nap.
2/7	1:12 PM	is going to make homemade oatcakes…if she can find her pecans.
2/7	7:27 PM	wonders what the babysitter thinks when she comes to our house because it’s always a terrific mess.
2/8	6:18 PM	is tired from a late night out and seems to be working on another cold.
2/9	12:22 PM	is counting the minutes to nap time.
2/10	5:57 AM	is thinking the neti pot totally rocks her sinuses world.
2/10	6:15 PM	is feeling better mentally, but not so much physically.
2/11	7:51 AM	is wondering what the day will bring. I woke up with pink eye and already called poison control for E. (She’s fine.) It’s not even 8!
2/11	7:23 PM	is listening to Liam read to Elena. Too cute. I’m glad he’s doing it; I’m too tired. I guess pink eye wears me out.
2/12	5:58 AM	is taking a sick day.
2/12	9:52 PM	is eating a hot potato before bed. Mmmm…potato.
2/13	8:29 AM	is wondering if she should pick up the house before or after playgroup. I’m not doing both.
2/13	2:34 PM	sees her entire to-do list flying out the window because she feels too crappy to do it today. And I have pink eye in both eyes now. sheesh.
2/15	3:17 PM	is still alive. And the house is quiet. It is blissful.
2/15	5:51 PM	enjoying having Aaron’s mom at the house. Everyone wants her to help them! Love it.
2/16	4:54 PM	is on a walk alone. It’s actually a pretty day!
2/18	3:30 PM	is avoiding all the things she should be doing.
2/18	9:29 PM	(hearts) Wednesday nights.
2/18	9:44 PM	kind of wants to “report” the Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities group just because it would be funny.
2/19	2:14 PM	is trying to sleep in preparation for the dub pistols tonight.
2/20	5:13 PM	is making tortillas.
2/20	10:39 PM	is wondering what she did…well, not wrong really, but not exactly quite right.
2/21	7:03 PM	is looking forward to her day off tomorrow. Yippeeeee!
2/22	1:43 PM	slept ALL morning and is finally getting her crap done.
2/23	8:04 AM	is unprepared.
2/23	7:49 PM	is tired of dubbed Backyardigans. They sound terrible.
2/24	12:12 PM	loves her new Chinese massage therapist.
2/24	10:47 PM	adores her husband because he knew Mr. Ocado’s substitution wouldn’t work. No sugar…NOOO sugar!
2/25	8:59 AM	’s to do list thinks it’s Monday. Never a good thing.
2/25	12:45 PM	is taking Liam for an assessment at ASL to see if he’s socially acceptable.
2/25	8:58 PM	is glad the assessment is over. Tomorrow we’ll know which school Liam will go to. Thank god that’s done. Next I’ll start driving lessons.
2/26	12:10 PM	has decided that Liam will be going to ASL. Decison 2008/2009 DONE.
2/26	12:29 PM	keeps forgetting that not everyone knows what ASL means. It’s American School in London.
2/27	8:13 PM	is going to make lunch for tomorrow now that the kids are finally in bed.
2/28	10:01 PM	had a surprisingly nice Saturday.
3/1	10:44 AM	thinks that a clean house is overrated.
3/2	7:56 AM	isn’t doing any thing of interest to anyone at the moment.
3/3	8:59 PM	getting ready for a call to talk about going off of her antidepressants with the author of Potatoes, Not Prozac. How cool is that?
3/4	1:42 PM	thinks it’s ridiculous that she has to go in for a skin test before she can even book an appointment to have her hair highlighted.
3/4	6:44 PM	just overheard E asking L, “Liam? What are you doing?” To which L responded, “It’s a secret, Elena. So DON’T tell me.”
3/5	12:43 PM	is catching up on overdue items.
3/5	7:34 PM	watching WALL E with the kids. I love this movie.
3/6	9:16 AM	is contemplating writing a blog post and letting Facebook post it since they promise my content is my content.
3/6	3:09 PM	is preparing to call her old psychiatrist. Should be an interesting conversation.
3/6	4:25 PM	just wasted money and a phone call on a psychiatrist who had nothing worthwhile to say. Kathleen made a hell of a lot more sense.
3/6	8:27 PM	is going to start a movie with AJ – and begin folding the mountain of clothes on the sofa.
3/10	9:55 AM	is doing a really good job procrastinating instead of packing for Spain.
3/10	9:09 PM	is trying really hard.
3/11	1:36 PM	is wondering if sleep counts as procrastination.
3/12	6:55 PM	is on a veranda in Spain listening to goats in the mountains because the kids are in bed. Thanks be to the gods.
3/15	4:34 PM	is pleased that she came home to a gorgeous, spring day after four sunny, warm ones in Malaga. Yay!
3/16	2:37 PM	is sitting outside in the garden ordering groceries while Macey sleeps in the sunshine. It’s a gorgeous day here.
3/16	4:29 PM	is watching Liam chase birds at the park in his jammies. I counted 18 strollers. Popular place.
3/17	7:39 AM	wishes everyone the luck o’ the Irish. Wait…are they lucky?
3/17	6:08 PM	finds it funny that the only shamrocks she saw today were on Liam’s shirt. America digs on St. Pat far more than the UK.
3/17	7:18 PM	is ready to give her children away. Any takers? They’re free.
3/18	9:12 AM	is headed out into the sunny sun to get a cup of coffee and visit with friends…and then out tonight to visit with even MORE friends!
3/18	12:19 PM	is wondering how many years she has ahead of her of writing “tired” in her journal every day. Maybe when the kids leave for college?
3/19	7:43 AM	had a great time with the girls last night. This must happen again…SOON!
3/19	9:00 PM	is enjoying some computer time.
3/21	11:15 AM	is watching Elena swing in the garden in her yellow footie pjs with her wellies on the wrong feet and blue lopsided pigtails in her hair.
3/22	9:25 AM	is making life decisions and doesn’t want aaron reading over her shoulder.
3/22	2:12 PM	wonders why Elena takes off her jammies at nap time and then screams bloody murder about wanting her jammies on.
3/22	5:13 PM	is enjoying the yummy smell of burgers on the grill.
3/22	6:42 PM	needs a break…and is taking one. New Super Mario Brothers and Sudoku, here I come.
3/23	2:51 PM	has successfully overheated the paper shredder.
3/24	8:52 AM	is thinking there’s been too much sun in London – Elena is afraid of the clouds now!
3/24	2:28 PM	is dying her hair because she’s too lazy to have the dye test at the salon and wait 48 hrs to check for allergies. They actually care here.
3/24	3:46 PM	is sad that puppy dog Franklin isn’t going to make it.
3/24	4:04 PM	likes marmite.
3/24	6:50 PM	NEEDS to find her nintendo.
3/25	9:04 AM	is hoping for more sunshine than cloudiness today.
3/25	1:21 PM	is a little concerned that she’s never going to get to leave the house again, what with Elena screaming about the clouds and rain. Lovely.
3/25	5:25 PM	The world as we know it is over: Liam chose to play My Little Ponies with Elena rather than the Wii.
3/26	12:00 PM	is spent after a busy morning of hauling four kids, holding a baby, and driving the wrong way down a one-way street thanks to the sat nav.
3/26	6:20 PM	just found Elena in the bathroom on the toilet with a dry diaper on the floor. Wahooooo!
3/26	8:27 PM	loves that her mom is on facebook. (Thanks, Heather!)
3/27	9:05 AM	is glad to have a morning at home.
3/27	9:30 AM	really needs a Target.
3/27	12:30 PM	is more excited than one probably should be that her bread is rising!!! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it will also taste good.
3/27	4:29 PM	wishes she could use every single character that twitter gives her to tweet in every single tweet. It seems like a waste to leave them.
3/27	5:45 PM	is quite chuffed. The spelt flour bread is really good! Even A likes it. Feels more like white bread than a wholegrain bread. Nice!
3/28	3:51 PM	is alternately listening to the rain, hail, and nothing on the skylight. I’m avoiding actually looking outside. Bring on July.
3/29	8:14 AM	just heard Elena burst into song: Day Man. Does it get any better than that?
3/29	1:20 PM	wants to know how to hide everyone’s quiz results.
3/30	8:17 AM	is wondering why Elena just couldn’t go back to sleep last night. Naps by noon, me thinks.
3/30	8:41 AM	loves all of the updates from her high school classmates. It’s so much fun to hear about everyone’s lives.
3/30	11:28 AM	is watching her children pull the toys out of the boxes in the hallway that are supposed to go to the charity shop. Ugh.
3/30	2:25 PM	is wondering what Elena is doing in her room instead of napping. This afternoon has the potential to suck if she doesn’t sleep so I can too.
3/30	6:48 PM	is a little bit bitchy. Better check my food.
3/30	8:58 PM	is sure that Elena is asleep on the hardwood floor in her room, but you couldn’t pay her to open that door.
3/31	8:39 AM	thinks the new Prodigy CD is growing on her.
3/31	11:15 AM	can hear the computer humming, the faucet dripping, a bird chirping, and two clocks ticking alternately. Obviously both kids are at school.
3/31	12:27 PM	is veggie stacking.
3/31	6:44 PM	is thinking that Facebook is the new blog. I’m too busy to keep up with anything else right now!
4/1	9:57 PM	hasn’t even had time to look at Facebook today. What’s up with that?
4/2	3:33 AM	and Aaron learned the hard way that closing the door on a sleeping child means she’ll definitely wake up – and she’ll be pissed off.
4/2	9:11 AM	is wondering where the sun is. why do the forecasters even try?
4/2	11:56 AM	has a headache. I’m afraid I’m getting Elena’s cold. Ugh.
4/2	9:19 PM	forgot to clean up after dinner. It was a long day.
4/2	9:44 PM	does not want to go to school tomorrow.
4/3	2:20 PM	just cleaned Macey’s teeth with a dental scaler. I am truly amazed with myself…and disgusted by Macey’s teeth. She needs one extraction.
4/3	4:58 PM	figured out how to hide quizzes, etc. in FB. Go to the right side where the person’s name is and “hide” will come up. Hide it!
4/4	7:10 PM	thinks L is more excited about E’s My Little Ponies for pooping (on the toilet) than she is. Sunset Sweetie & Bay Breeze are his faves.
4/4	8:16 PM	cleaned Murphy’s teeth. And I thought Macey’s were nasty.
4/6	5:18 PM	is talking on da phone and doing a wotta wotta fings.
4/7	3:19 PM	is beat: morning at the park, dog bite on my ankle (Murph), Aaron back from US, messy house, grocery list, laundry…and some other stuff.
4/7	8:56 PM	would rather pay her doc than wait in a free hospital for hours. Dang dog bite on my foot won’t stay shut with a band-aid.
4/8	8:10 AM	is sitting on the sofa with a swollen heel. Have to hop on one foot & about passed out looking at it. Aaron is staying home from work.
4/8	2:53 PM	loves Paul Rudd
4/8	5:01 PM	would like to avoid the tree part of broccoli and just eat the stems.
4/8	6:09 PM	failed at finding a pair of shoes for her swollen ankle with a heel to keep it flexed the right amt so she could go out with the girls.
4/9	2:13 PM	is having a hard time keeping the house picked up with a bum foot. It’s starting to get to me. The house, I mean – the foot already did.
4/9	3:15 PM	thinks that Avery is the best sleeper she has ever met. Who goes to a friend’s house and takes a nap 30 min. after arriving??? Yep, Avery.
4/9	3:24 PM	canceled her dinner plans with Aaron tonight. Murphy should have to go get me a steak. Any other dinner ideas floating around out there?
4/11	2:35 PM	is wondering if it will be sunny tomorrow so that we can Easter egg hunt outside. Not counting on it, but still hoping.
4/11	3:28 PM	‘ to-do list is shorter than she thought, but it’s still pretty long.
4/12	9:29 AM	is cleaning up the mess that the house turned into while she couldn’t walk.
4/12	5:53 PM	had a great easter meal of kiwi burgers and chunk veggie salad. fantastic!
4/12	8:50 PM	is listening to Liam yell at her to shut his door because Elena is yelling, and Elena yelling because Liam is yelling. Should I yell back?
4/12	8:54 PM	is listening to L & E argue about whose mother I am now. “No, she’s MY mommy!” “No, MINE!” Ahh, possession.
4/13	10:29 AM	has seen Liam pee standing up about 5 times now. And Elena has gone to the bathroom by herself a number of times as well. Very impressive.
4/13	3:47 PM	just did a hard assignment that involved looking at pictures of her life. Some of them are SCARY!
4/13	4:10 PM	is feeling good about the fact that she can put her heel down today.
4/14	12:12 PM	is tired of being a slummy mummy.
4/15	2:41 PM	hates her computer.
4/15	6:51 PM	talked to the ocado man for no less than 15 minutes. it was a little weird.
4/15	9:42 PM	sure needs a lot more water when she takes Claritin. That stuff sucks ya dry.
4/16	11:37 AM	is spring cleaning. Let’s get rid of all of the crap!
4/16	4:52 PM	cleaned like mad all day but no one will know unless they open the cupboards and drawers.
4/16	9:09 PM	just checked on sad little Jackie Boy who woke up after 2 hours. Turns out he was nekkid, cold, and in need of his binky. I love that kid!
4/17	11:42 AM	is thankful that Aaron does nice things for her – like hiring her a car to the airport and making blood draw appts. for early morning. <3
4/17	12:29 PM	is going to need a nap today. too much cleaning and a headache.
4/17	2:25 PM	is not cleaning.
4/17	6:08 PM	is thinking about her dad. dinner tastes like a taco tico taco burger!
4/18	3:34 PM	likes everything about her (fashionably) lopsided new ‘do except for the teensy rat tail on the side in back. Aaron says give it a week. Hmm
4/18	7:01 PM	is reading The First Hour I Believed. Can’t put it down. Gonna have to power through the Columbine stuff though. Ten years tomorrow.
4/18	9:15 PM	just watched Elena pee into the toilet while standing on a step stool. It just streamed on in like she knew what she was doing. Amazing.
4/19	6:02 PM	laughs every time Elena goes to the bathroom now. I took the step stool away so now she scoots on and sits on it backward instead.
4/20	11:50 AM	would like to publicly thank her husband for unloading the dishwasher and taking care of the kids so she could sleep until 8.45.
4/21	11:09 AM	is wondering how it got so hard to keep up with everyone’s blogs – not to mention her own. I’m Flickring at the mo, though. Pics coming.
4/21	12:21 PM	is failing in her attempts to overachieve this morning.
4/21	12:33 PM	just ate one of her comfort meals: 2 eggs, toast, sauteed peppers, onions, and garlic with avocado and shredded cheese on the top. #rrnano
4/21	4:09 PM	is selling her soul and trying really, REALLY hard to figure out a way to get to Albuquerque on May 25 without upsetting fam and friends.
4/21	6:02 PM	just made hummus. Yummy.
4/21	7:16 PM	loves it in the evening GMT when all of her US friends get to buzzin’ on FB. I miss you guys.
4/21	7:52 PM	is listening to Elena say “he’s nonna egg” over and over as the Backyardigans jam out to the rock ballad He’s Not An Egg Any More.
4/21	8:02 PM	thinks the itchy eyes are worth every damn flower.
4/21	8:25 PM	thinks FB needs key commands.
4/22	1:39 PM	is doing laundry and cleaning up to pack for a trip to Kansas…BY HERSELF. I’ve never been this excited to get on a plane before.
4/22	3:35 PM	has had a run-in with a peeler AND a grater today. What the hell?
4/22	10:18 PM	will not be wearing deodorant tomorrow. Anyone (aside from those of you who know the answer) want to take a flying leap and guess why?
4/23	9:39 AM	is at the doctor awaiting an ultrasound for a “non sinister” feeling lump. Totally could have worn deodorant.
4/23	11:12 AM	is glad all ps well with the boobage. Home to pack.
4/23	1:16 PM	is glad that elena’s teachers also think it’s funny when she takes EVERYTHING off and lays nekkid in the sand pit.
4/24	6:41 AM	is headed to Kansas for her college roommate’s wedding. Yee haw!
4/24	7:10 AM	random security check. oh joy.
4/24	10:56 PM	enjoyed her flight. of course didn’t get her luggage, but that’s par for the course. also glad to see her fam and worried about murphy.
4/25	12:55 AM	is glad that she won’t be wearing her flying clothes to the wedding. Luggage is on its way. Whew!
4/25	3:24 PM	got to sleep in this morning and only fixed breakfast for herself. What a gift!
4/26	4:08 AM	just got back from the best farm wedding ever. Pics of the petting zoo and tractors to come.
4/26	2:51 PM	is enjoying a Kansas thunderstorm. It’s still brighter than it is in London on a cloudy, non-rainy day! I can see for miles. I miss it.
4/27	10:49 AM	thinks Murphy will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge this morning.
4/27	11:49 AM	Murphy left us at about 11:45 this morning. It was peaceful and he was ready. We will miss you, Murph.
4/27	6:11 PM	just realized that she hasn’t had a shower since she got back. Gross. Now she is wondering what the kids these days say instead of gross.
4/27	7:15 PM	is really sore from running to catch her flight yesterday. Pathetic.
4/27	7:47 PM	is pondering Liam’s question about where dogs poop in pet heaven. I’m glad he made me laugh.
4/27	9:00 PM	is pretty sure toast is the best thing since sliced bread.
4/27	11:49 PM	is just really, really sad. And still up at midnight. Not good.
4/28	9:12 AM	going back to sleep after cleaning up poop from most surfaces of Elena’s room. At least she attempted to change her own diaper, I guess.
4/28	1:39 PM	just got a reprieve…cleaning person NOT coming tomorrow! Messy the house will stay.
4/28	2:35 PM	is a terrible gift giver and she’s ok with it. Expect nothing more than a Target gift card and you’ll never be disappointed.
4/28	10:15 PM	thinks that night time leaves too much space for reflecting sometimes.
4/28	10:20 PM	needs you to make her laugh. Hard.
4/29	6:03 PM	is making dinner with “Mama, I want…. Mama, he took…. UP MAMA! NO Mama! Mama, can you…. Mama, I need….” going on in the background.
4/30	10:41 AM	is stuck in the vicinity of the US embassy between ~1 and 2.10ish. Anyone wanna grab a cup of coffee?
4/30	1:10 PM	is eating broccoli in starbucks.
4/30	2:42 PM	wishes she had a better sense of direction. Totally walking the wrong way! thank goodness for the A-Z and many Tube stops.
4/30	7:41 PM	is feeling much better. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts the last few days. I really appreciate it.
4/30	9:13 PM	has never seen Grease.
5/1	9:23 AM	is going to start packing for her next trip to Kansas (That’s “keyan-zuz” for you brits.) Aside from the flying, I’m looking forward to it.
5/2	4:16 PM	is excited for dinner: raclette.
5/2	4:58 PM	misses Murphy as the detail cleaning crew on the kitchen floor. Macey is a big picture kinda girl.
5/3	8:25 AM	has never taken a facebook quiz.
5/3	10:55 AM	is listening to pink floyd and thinking about an old friend.
5/3	6:25 PM	is very tired after being social last night and today. It’s a good tired though…I love our friends here.
5/4	7:41 AM	is known as Flying Berry (Fairy), Aaron is Sir Tyrone, Liam is Grabbing Goblin, and Elena is Knight Uniqua. Our life is Backyardigans.
5/4	8:25 AM	is trying out her new selective twitter thingy.
5/4	11:45 AM	is making meal plans for the next couple of weeks. What sounds good? #fb
5/4	6:14 PM	Per Liam: When I turn 10 and Avery turns 10…we will both be the same age…and we will get married. #fb
5/5	9:47 AM	certainly has a bunch of hookers trying to follow her on twitter these days. where do these people come from?
5/5	10:46 AM	is a leetle bit bitchy. The skin-on fries (chips) didn’t have quite enough skin on them. Lesson learned. #fb
5/5	11:52 AM	is clearly not friends with some of the people she thought she was friends with…Friend Requested…no response. Bummer. #fb
5/5	1:43 PM	is wondering what it’s like to follow – and really have faith in – a religion. #fb
5/5	7:34 PM	is sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with a pal before joining the moms from L&E’s school. The evening is good!
5/6	8:32 AM	is thinking about the seis de Mayo when she wore the same clothes she wore to work on cinco de Mayo because she never made it home!! Doh!#fb
5/6	10:03 AM	is in the mood to give shit away! #fb
5/6	12:34 PM	is thinking about sugar addiction and depression. I’m so glad I figured out the connection. Going off meds is going well. #fb
5/6	12:40 PM	wishes she didn’t hold a grudge, but when people are mean I can’t let it go.
5/6	2:18 PM	just gave Jenn some bikini undies for Jack. Get ‘em outta here!
5/6	5:59 PM	loves that when she asks Macey a question and the answer is “yes” she shakes her head “no.” #fb
5/6	9:27 PM	had a great chat with all of her internet buds this evening. I laughed REALLY hard. England just wouldn’t be the same without you! #fb
5/7	10:09 AM	is enjoying a very quiet morning. I can hear Macey snorting as she dreams on the sofa. #fb
5/7	4:11 PM	is thinking about people who’ve impacted her life in a good way who probably have no idea they’ve done anything unusual. Thanks peeps. #fb
5/7	9:06 PM	and A are waiting for The Specials and bringing the mean age WAY down! #fb
5/8	12:19 AM	had a great time dancing tonight! My feet hurt, but at least in my heels I was tall enough to see over all the men. Show was great! #fb
5/8	10:14 AM	needs to read her blogs more often than once every two months. #fb
5/8	6:16 PM	has a lot to talk about, but her lips are sealed. #fb
5/8	6:20 PM	is somehow always surprised when someone answers the phone with an American accent…even when she’s calling America. #fb
5/8	8:08 PM	is listening to Liam read Go Dog, Go. Elena is making it difficult for him. Of course she is.
5/9	8:54 AM	is relaxing in bed for a few more minutes. I love it when Aaron gets up with the kids. #fb
5/9	1:54 PM	Is headed to tea with her own little American moms club. Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow, ladies!#fb
5/10	8:23 PM	is watching the kids and the adults play with play-doh. And Jack is now nekkid. Now that’s a great party for ya. #fb
5/11	9:50 AM	is going to start putting things in suitcases today. We’ll be wearing whatever is leftover this week. No one is allowed to make fun! #fb
5/11	9:58 AM	added an extra piece of toast to bf today. Did it yesterday and went 5.5 hours between meals. Will watch journal. #rrnano
5/11	5:10 PM	is tired of packing. Only have the kids clothes done. Everything else is in progress. I just want to check something off of my list. #fb
5/11	6:53 PM	just checked many things off of her list by turning on a video for the kids sitting at the table and doing them. Yippee! Getting closer. #fb
5/12	12:27 PM	does not want to accept that there will be things that will only be planned via FaceBook and she will have to use their email interface. #fb
5/12	4:50 PM	is cleaning out the fridge before the trip. Dinner will be interesting. #fb
5/12	6:05 PM	would like to shove Liam in the Harry Potter closet for the rest of the evening. (I won’t actually do it. I just really want to.) #fb
5/13	9:01 AM	Weather people in London must be smoking crack. Forecast of partly cloudy and 10% chance of rain SHOULD = zoo. Drizzle outside says no. #fb
5/13	1:27 PM	is wondering why twitter does planned maintenance during the DAY.
5/13	3:42 PM	is having a cuppa. Rooibos Chai. Tasty stuff. #fb
5/13	9:14 PM	is taking on a massive picture renaming project. 2007 and 2006 will show up on flickr one of these days. #fb
5/14	9:58 AM	Is sitting in the coffee shop sipping a latte waiting for her haircut next door. #fb
5/14	10:52 AM	Feels fantastic after a great haircut! Mark. Toni & Guy Golders Green. Amazing. (And cute too!) #fb
5/14	9:28 PM	is going to go crazy without her blackberry for the next two weeks. America better be worth it, that’s all I’m sayin’. #fb
5/14	10:43 PM	is absolutely prepared for her trip – and calm even. The massive one month planning checklist helps tremendously…so does the food! #fb
5/15	6:33 AM	is awake and shouldn’t be. The rooster alarm clock scared the crap outta me. Accidentally bumped it and turned it on yesterday. Oops. #fb
5/18	1:15 PM	is pleased with the 5.30 a.m. wake up this morning. Better than 5 & 3.45 the last two days Or the AWFUL 8 hour flight on Friday. #fb
5/18	6:32 PM	is listening to Elena’s high-pitched little voice talking to Emalee. Much cuter in a big house than when stuck on a plane. #fb
5/21	6:50 AM	had a great time with everyone tonight and is now wondering what the new day will bring. #fb
5/21	8:37 PM	is pretty sure she’s going to lose her mind without wireless. It exists here…but no one knows the password. It just makes it worse. #fb
5/22	9:03 PM	enjoyed playing with everyone at the birthday party! It was good to see all of you. Thanks for coming…and thanks Jeanne and Greg! #fb
5/23	1:55 AM	thinks that the water in Kansas tastes better than anywhere else she’s been in the world. Crisp, refreshing, and no aftertaste. <3 it. #fb
5/23	3:43 PM	is grateful for family and friends who are helping before, during, and after Aaron’s surgery. We are very lucky people! #fb
5/23	7:22 PM	is sitting at Neal and Ang’s with WIRELESS…and she is thrilled. #fb
5/23	10:28 PM	just fixed her computer and made it faster. The suspense waiting for pages to load was killing me. Wireless AND faster. Good life! #fb
5/24	3:22 PM	is looking forward to a fantastic day with the pals and their kids. We miss all of you who couldn’t come. It’s not quite Contente. #fb
5/24	10:03 PM	is having a day four. It sucks. I am ready to shoot two small children who are exhausted and won’t nap so their mother can nap. GRR. #fb
5/25	1:46 PM	is figuring out what needs to be done before A’s surgery on Wed. Looks like he’ll have three weeks of recovery before we go back home. #fb
5/26	10:35 PM	has just been to Whole Foods and is still high from the experience. I miss that being the norm! (Payless was a close second.) #fb
5/27	3:23 PM	is sitting in the surgery waiting room…waiting. Surgery started at 7.30. Should know something by around 10.30. #fb
5/27	3:54 PM	is enjoying watching Aaron’s dad try to feed everyone Aunt June’s brownies. He’s in his element. (I am eating cheese and oat cakes.) #fb
5/27	4:48 PM	is getting nervous because it’s been about three hours now. #fb
5/27	6:15 PM	is very very happy to report that Aaron did well. Mass was a peach sized teratoma. Looks benign…and it has hair! Will see him at 2. #fb
5/27	8:56 PM	saw A a few minutes ago. He’s looking good and eating ice chips. They have his pain managed pretty well. That makes me happy. #fb
5/28	3:09 AM	is sitting in A’s room as he does a breathing treatment. Um, it looks a little bit like a bong?? #fb
5/28	4:53 AM	A was up for about 45 minutes sitting in a chair this evening. And he’s totally rocking the breathing thingymabopper. Bedtime now. #fb
5/28	1:13 PM	woke up on a hospital sofa around 7. That’s better than I do at home! A looks good. Both at our computers. Pretty normal. #fb
5/28	9:19 PM	is listening to the guy in the other bed & watching A sleep. Benedryl for itching from the meds in the epidural is making him tired. #fb
5/28	9:20 PM	ate Indian for lunch with Joe and Angela. Company and food were both fantastic. #fb
5/29	2:58 AM	enjoys seeing the nurses’ shock when they walk in and see how young Aaron is. The last youngest person was 50 smthg! He’s doing great. #fb
5/29	3:17 AM	can’t remember what she was going to do. Typical. #fb
5/29	1:54 PM	is tired after another hospital sofa night. A may get chest tubes out today. Hope so…he’s tired of them. #fb
5/29	4:28 PM	needs a sewing kit. #fb
5/29	6:05 PM	is thrilled. Pathology report came back and everything is benign. Wahoooo!!! #fb
5/29	9:01 PM	Chest tubes removed! A is much more chipper. Going home sometime tomorrow assuming oral meds are controlling the pain. Yippee! #fb
5/29	11:34 PM	has enjoyed the quiet at the hospital today. Ready to go home tomorrow and sleep in a real bed! #fb
5/30	5:08 AM	is happy for the laughter provided by friends and fam this evening. It feels good to let it out after a stressful week. #fb
5/30	2:18 PM	is going to play some carefree Super Mario 2 and wait for AJ to be dismissed. Hoping to nap and get to Target this aft with M&D. #fb
5/30	2:42 PM	needs to get out of this shared room. A’s roommate is fuh-reaking me out. #fb
5/30	11:01 PM	Aaron is home! Yay! #fb
5/31	8:46 PM	went to bed at 6, got up at 8.45, and still needs a nap. #fb
6/1	1:46 AM	s patience is directly tied to food. Only one freak out this trip – from a subway chix sand loaded with covert sugar!! Trust no one. #fb
6/1	8:09 PM	is going to take a nap in prep. for kids coming back on Wed. The break has been wonderful. I’m feeling human again. Thanks everyone. #fb
6/2	4:34 AM	is planning a day of planning tomorrow. So much to do before we head back on the 11th. #fb
6/2	9:03 PM	is wondering where she left her camera. Time to send it in for a cleaning. Computer too. To-do list items being checked off. #fb
6/3	6:04 PM	wishes she didn’t have to reset a password every time on a card she doesn’t use very often. Why can’t I just remember it??? #fb
6/3	10:15 PM	is happy to see the kids, but tired already! #fb
6/4	2:42 PM	is headed to the dentist with Liam. Not at all interesting, but it’s what I’m doing. #fb
6/5	1:42 PM	got to play with Ang yesterday and is going to Jenny’s today. It’s just like ye olde times in OP! Having fun. #fb
6/6	3:09 PM	is tired after a fun day yesterday: baby pool, sprinklers, crazy children thrilled to see one another, & great mom friends. Good times. #fb
6/6	8:16 PM	is tired and should be sleeping with the others, but the only time to recharge is when they are sleeping. Always with the dilemma, eh? #fb
6/8	4:17 AM	is a little bit allergic to sunscreen. Perhaps living in a climate where it’s not necessary 362 days of the year will do that? #fb
6/8	2:01 PM	is forgetting things left and right. #fb
6/9	9:27 PM	Spent naptime messing around on the computer instead of napping. Probably not a good choice, but it was enjoyable! #fb
6/10	4:17 PM	is trying to tie up last minute details before leaving tomorrow. Glad we get to see the Rosses before they leave London on Mon. Sad. #fb
6/10	4:41 PM	has eaten some tasty vittles while in the US: Mi Ranchito, Korma Sutra (2x), Garrozzo’s…and more – sans desserts! I adore good food! #fb
6/10	7:31 PM	walked to walmart for last-minute items. Ran into ang there! Nice that they live just around the corner now that we live in London. #fb
6/10	11:14 PM	is trying to do Eastern to Central time conversions. Seriously…this shouldn’t be that difficult considering. LOL! #fb
6/11	3:40 AM	isn’t exactly sure if everything is going to fit into the six checked bags she has tomorrow. The other carriers on are going to hate me. #fb
6/11	3:24 PM	is shoving things in suitcases. Hope it all fits. #fb
6/12	12:08 PM	Is happy to be in a car heading home today sans luggage and five hours late rather than tomorrow. It’s good to be back. #fb
6/12	8:42 PM	is out of it and keeps forgetting which country she’s in. It’s definitely bed time. #fb
6/12	11:57 PM	doesn’t enjoy the “I slept for four & a half hours but now I’m awake screaming ‘mommy’ at midnight” aspect of returning from the states. #fb
6/13	12:39 AM	just finished a protein shake and is feeling less annoyed and much calmer. Good food makes all the difference. #fb
6/13	2:27 AM	thinks that after three hours on my lap on a plane Elena would give me a break. Then again, I also thought I’d get my bags today. Wrong. #fb
6/13	7:04 PM	is happy that her luggage arrived from San Francisco and glad that she didn’t have to travel along with it on THAT flight. Wahoooo! #fb
6/13	7:25 PM	is no longer confused about where she is. The rain on the skylight in the kitchen is definitely a “London” sound. Ahhh, I’m home! #fb
6/13	10:51 PM	is catching up, but not on sleep, unfortunately. #fb
6/14	12:39 AM	gets to go to sleep now since Heather is up with E.Thx be to Heather! #fb
6/14	9:35 AM	Ah, the sun is out! Pretty day in London again. Kind of a sad day, though. The Rosses leave tomorrow. Tears will flow, I’m sure. #fb
6/14	7:47 PM	hates saying goodbye. #fb
6/14	11:33 PM	pees just a little bit every time she sneezes and when she laughs really hard. Thank you Liam and Elena for the weak pelvic floor. #fb
6/15	12:37 PM	Bed at 2 a.m. w/ E. Up at 10.15. 12.30 now, in jammies, talking to “friends in the computer” (per L), ignoring kids. Tired. Need tea. #fb
6/15	7:14 PM	is listening to L and E pretend to run to catch a plane and thinking of Heather who is stuck in Chicago after mechanical problems. Ugh. #fb
6/15	7:33 PM	and the kids greatly enjoyed the thunderstorm. Macey however, did NOT. #fb
6/16	10:28 AM	enjoyed her walk to Belsize Park but is grateful for the Tube to take her home! #fb
6/16	4:25 PM	had a nice, quiet afternoon and is feeling pretty good. Hopefully kids will go to bed at normal time too.#fb
6/16	5:14 PM	thinks her kettle (jug) is broken. It turns on, but won’t boil water. What’s a faux-Brit to do without her tea? (Microwave I guess.) #fb
6/16	10:52 PM	is sick. No fever, but sore throat, lots of drainage, runny nose, stuffed sinuses, & headache. Just enough to be a thorn in my side. #fb
6/17	3:26 PM	There’s nothing like a warm dog by your legs to make you feel cozy on a day where you’re not feeling 100%. Good dog, Macey. #fb
6/17	3:45 PM	is wondering what time the kids will go to sleep this evening, and if it will finally be in their own beds. Anyone want to wager? #fb
6/18	12:44 PM	is walking to school again. The pedometer is motivating, as is the sunshine.
6/18	12:46 PM	will be off the zoloft next week. Thank you very much steps 1 through 7! #fb
6/19	8:49 PM	actually got a tear in my eye talking to Liam about how much I love him. What always gets me is that my parents feel this way about me! #fb
6/20	10:16 PM	spent three hours in whole foods today and LOVED it. Thanks Bexy! #fb
6/20	10:58 PM	doesn’t really know what she’s doing, but she’s pretending she does. #fb
6/21	10:59 AM	would like to be sitting on her butt, but she’s taking it on a walk instead. #fb
6/21	6:32 PM	just mowed the lawn for the first time ever. It looks good. #fb
6/22	10:11 AM	loves when A unloads the dishwasher. Really…it’s fantastic! #FB
6/22	4:05 PM	is coming to terms with the new normal. It’s not the same here without you, J&N. #fb
6/22	6:38 PM	thinks Aaron brought the devil into the house when he came home from work. Children are clearly possessed. #fb
6/23	12:29 PM	is dreading getting the kids from school. I’m hoping that they’ll leave the devil there today and it won’t be so bad this afternoon…. #fb
6/23	4:45 PM	just overheard Liam exclaim in disbelief, “Elena! Look! The sky’s ALL BLUE!” Gorgeous day here. (And kids are devil-free as well.) #fb
6/23	10:56 PM	must have gas. It feels like there’s a baby moving around in my belly! (Rest assured, there is really no baby in there.) #fb
6/24	5:58 PM	spent the day doing stuff that needed to be done. How novel is that?! #fb
6/25	10:58 AM	learned that tapering off of her zoloft too fast makes her mean.- Back on a lower dosage until further notice. Hope I’m nicer! #fb
6/26	12:51 PM	is grateful for what she knows and even more grateful to know people who know what she doesn’t. #fb
6/26	4:39 PM	Little boys playing together make me smile…and not in a dirty sort of way, Aaron. #fb
6/27	10:44 AM	is excited because she just got a new light box. My other one stopped working and they sent me a new one. Yay for Apollo goLITE M2! #fb
6/27	11:15 AM	thinks potty sticker charts for adults are pretty damn cool. #fb
6/27	1:31 PM	s first attempt at fresh whipped cream just turned into butter. So. Here we go. Whipped cream, take two. #fb
6/27	6:03 PM	will be late to the bbq b/c we are stuck home in the middle of a thunder storm downpour with water leaking through the kitchen ceiling! #fb
6/28	9:09 AM	is enjoying a sunny Sunday morning reading yahoo lists. Kids have trashed the play room, but they left me alone so I don’t even care! #fb
6/28	8:04 PM	Trimming the hedges after rain wasn’t the best idea. Soggy H stomping leaves in the big green waste bin was funny for passers-by though! #fb
6/28	10:20 PM	is planning for the family Scotland trip next weekend while Aaron plans for Amsterdam, etc. with Joe and Angela in Jul/Aug. Good times. #fb
6/29	9:39 AM	is thinking back about 5 years ago today and meeting little cone headed Liam. Happy birthday, kiddo. #fb
6/29	12:21 PM	Cupcakes baked. L is out with AJ at the Tower today. Going to have to send him out for a gift this aft. I’m thinking bike. Thoughts? #fb
6/29	2:33 PM	is happy about the heat. Water in the “pool” for after nap. It’ll be freezing, but they won’t care! #fb
6/29	6:29 PM	Wet, happy children outside, dry, happy Mama inside. #fb
6/29	9:14 PM	It still looks like 4 o’clock outside. I can’t believe how long it stays light here in the summers! #fb
6/30	3:46 PM	Long morning walk in the Heath with Mace. Accounts balanced. People contacted. Lunch. Picked up kids. Hot. Nap ruined by talking & poop. #fb
6/30	4:09 PM	Overheard Elena saying to Liam: “Wiam? Poop is NOT my favowite.” #fb
6/30	4:22 PM	Aaron just walked in and took off his pants (trousers) in the kitchen. Clearly he is hot in a sweaty sort of way. #fb
6/30	6:52 PM	Feeling bright again after a week and a half of not feeling bright. I <3 my nightly potato! #fb
7/1	2:01 PM	is avoiding packing. Harumph.
7/1	5:04 PM	just cracked the first double yolk egg she’s seen since we moved to London and went organic.
7/1	6:42 PM	Nekkid children running around being crazy. Not sure how it happened, but at least they’re inside now!
7/2	10:26 AM	packing for cool, rainy weather in Scotland. At least I don’t have to do laundry.
7/2	12:37 PM	The car is going to be 2/3 full of stuff to keep small children busy. Why do they require so much STUFF?
7/2	4:54 PM	Words I never thought I’d hear come out of Aaron’s mouth: “I want Indian tonight.” I am trying to play it cool, but cheering inside.
7/2	8:57 PM	really shouldn’t clean. Important things get lost when I clean.
7/3	8:37 AM	Liam packed his own entertainment bag. Elena did too. This is going to be interesting.
7/3	2:02 PM	motorway is down to 2 lanes for an accident. 20 mins later we reach the “accident” and there isn’t one! they forgot to clear the signs!
7/3	4:40 PM	Lakes district is gorgeous even in the rain!
7/3	5:02 PM	Heard from Elena on the backroads to Edinburgh: “There’s CHICAGO!” Uh, not quite.
7/4	9:00 AM	is irritated that she forgot the camera this morning. sun is shining. beautiful day!
7/4	10:54 AM	on the falkirk wheel. google it. liam is very impressed. many, many questions. Elena is eating a cheese sandwich. typical.
7/4	1:10 PM	is happy the car is quiet, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that there won’t be a nap for me when we get back to the house.
7/4	7:21 PM	is in bed at 7.15 hoping the kids will go to sleep so she can. Excited about Edinburgh tomorrow and meeting a friend for lunch!
7/5	8:56 AM	is allergic to the Scottish countryside in a way even Claritin doesn’t understand.
7/5	2:50 PM	Edinburgh solved allergy problem. Castle. Rain. Sun. Great lunch. AND have Fiona’s homemade oatcakes in my bag!!! I’m a lucky girl!
7/5	5:21 PM	is watching the kids roll down the hil in the back whilr Macey looks desperately for something to throw.
7/6	9:52 AM	headed to a lead mine. underground is good on a rainy day.
7/6	4:49 PM	kids are finally quiet now. thank you, whoever invented mini DVD players and math circus.
7/6	8:14 PM	driving home from lead mine, huge bird (or something) pooed on windsheild from a tree. liam asks, “are monkeys throwing nuts at us?”
7/7	11:16 AM	is wondering if this traffic is going to be for a reason or if the signs are just lying again. hopefully home around 3ish.
7/7	12:56 PM	literally parked on the M6 for 20 mins now. have moved 2.7 miles in 1 hr, 50 mins. people standing in road chatting.
7/7	1:14 PM	moving finally. again no visible reason for delays!
7/7	11:04 PM	is happy to be in her own bed.
7/8	12:32 PM	is trying to walk the greys away.
7/8	9:17 PM	is going to live in London another year! Yes, in the Double G.
7/9	10:56 AM	Listening to NiN in prep for show next week. Bringing back memories of dancing at Lucky’s with the crew. Miss you guys!
7/9	11:26 AM	is finally uploading pics from our US trip in May. Oops.
7/9	6:10 PM	Buttermilk biscuits here we go, SIFT the flour roll the dough. Clap your hands and stomp your feet, move your butt to the funky beat.
7/9	7:27 PM	is learning a lot today.
7/9	9:46 PM	loves having her sugar peeps on IM, twitter, facebook, and the like. Their shiny faces make me happy.
7/10	1:28 PM	Dear woman on the street. I took his scooter away b/c he wasn’t following directions I am a good mom…don’t look at me like I’m evil.
7/11	9:11 AM	is going to the mall with the fam because Aaron needs clam diggers. (That’s “male” for capri pants.)
7/11	10:52 AM	is trying on hairstyles to see if there’s any possibility she can grow hers out a bit. Answer: 2 possible styles. All others hideous!
7/11	3:02 PM	Evidently my hair is going to be silver and baby pink. That’s what I get for saying “do whatever you want.” Should be fun!
7/12	9:19 AM	Bedtime last night, both kids yelling for me. Me: I will come when you’re quiet. Silence, silence and then Elena: MOM, I BEED QUIET!
7/12	9:23 AM	Sick Liam watching Dora Saves the Mermaids this morning: “Murphy is DEAD, Elena!” Would love to know where that came from. Weirdo.
7/12	9:31 AM	Cooking today and having memories of Sunday lunches with my family on Jody Lane.
7/12	9:11 PM	is going to put liam to bed with a puke bowl this evening. That brings back memories.
7/13	8:24 AM	Liam is feeling better today. Now I’m just waiting for Elena to get it after she absconded with his juice cup last night. Scoundrel.
7/13	9:59 AM	…and Elena is sick.
7/13	4:11 PM	is planning meals and getting ready for Mom to come this weekend! I’m excited.
7/13	10:25 PM	is finally feeling back to normal today after almost a week of feeling low. Thank you for making me feel better beta endorphins.
7/14	10:07 AM	has the best negotiator husband ever. You want something? He’s your lawyer! He just knows he’s right. It’s nuts!
7/14	5:09 PM	is not cooking tonight. Take away curry it is!
7/15	8:56 AM	Looking fwd to NIN and Jane’s Addiction this evening!
7/15	12:57 PM	killed the dryer.
7/15	3:15 PM	is tired. Not good for an evening out. Hopefully a really good snack of shake will help. i need energy!
7/15	3:24 PM	thinks she might have sorted out why her light box wasn’t working! Certainly hope so…need it with the gray rain out there today!
7/15	9:06 PM	Waiting 4 NIN!!! JA not the best, but played what I knew, so I’ll let it slide.
7/15	9:18 PM	worth the wait
7/16	7:55 AM	has a hangover from the show…even though she drank water. Late night and too much excitement I guess. That, and I’m old.
7/16	1:41 PM	just heard Liam yelling at Elena that “Only boys go to work.” Looks like we have some work to do.
7/16	3:03 PM	Dryer is fixed!
7/16	4:40 PM	E having major sugar meltdown after much cake and no protein/uneaten lunch at school. Not pretty. Banana and cheese finally helping.
7/17	9:42 AM	At Starbucks wasting time until the school French party. Bonjour.
7/17	3:19 PM	Mama’s here!
7/18	2:37 PM	is sitting in a nearly silent room trying to upload videos of the kids. Flickr is not cooperating.
7/19	12:14 PM	At Legoland. Only one downpour so far. Not bad! L & E loving rides. I’m loving the Legos & ignoring people!
7/21	9:50 AM	Light box has to go back to be replaced again. Works when plugged in, but battery won’t work. I NEED that sucker though!
7/21	6:49 PM	Grammy leaves tomorrow morning. Am taking advantage of the last bits of loving kid entertainment. They will miss her. (So will I!)
7/21	8:07 PM	never needs to ask Liam what he said because I didn’t hear him the first time. Elena repeats it verbatim before I have to ask.
7/22	1:05 PM	loves it when pay by phone parking is the only option and they charge a service charge as if you chose to pay that way.
7/22	1:18 PM	Dare I say it? I haven’t bought diapers in two weeks.
7/23	1:01 PM	is planning for trips. Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…and Kansas.
7/23	2:27 PM	is making phone calls in the US and UK. Just called my UK vet and an American answered the phone. Totally messed with my head!
7/23	6:31 PM	is reading GQ…and she is disturbed.
7/23	10:06 PM	Elena yelling from her bed: “NO. MORE. SNOT!!!!”
7/24	11:16 AM	is contemplating a Mad Men marathon today. It’s one of the few shows I’m really into and it’s calling me. But Aaron would be very sad.
7/24	1:09 PM	feeling better about back-to-back trips after printing pack lists for each and figuring out what can actually be done in the time left!
7/24	2:35 PM	Too much thunder. Macey is sitting on my foot.
7/25	8:35 PM	had a wonderful day with Bex and the fam. First time I’ve taken a day “off” in a long time! I didn’t even do laundry (once she arrived)!
7/26	11:06 AM	Liam to Elena while playing “family” together: Elena, you are my husband and I am your wife; I am NOT your mommy!!
7/26	1:50 PM	Planning and packing. What’re you up to?
7/26	6:12 PM	Waiting for chicken curry to magically appear on my doorstep.
7/27	10:18 AM	would like to jump into a bin of colored balls with the kids. Why is that so fun?
7/27	12:12 PM	Elena: Wiam and I had fun at Swiss Cottage cheese this morning.
7/28	12:12 PM	feels weird today.
7/29	7:50 PM	Going to chat with my sugar peeps. I look forward to Wed. every week!
7/30	9:15 AM	Looking forward to Amsterdam tomorrow. No kids…just Joe, Angela, Aaron and me. Yippeee!!
7/31	6:23 AM	Amsterdaaaaaam!!
8/1	9:52 AM	Headed to Brugge this morning with our fabulous traveling companions. Vaca without small children is pretty, damn relaxing.
8/2	7:30 PM	is at a Cercle Brugge match.
8/4	10:15 AM	finally has proper internet access while Aaron eats breakfast. Amsterdam is beautiful. As was Brugge, Leiden, Ypres, etc., etc.
8/4	11:06 AM	is glad she married to Aaron eight years ago. (Also glad it’s cooler out than that day!) Happy Anniversary, AJ.
8/5	10:43 AM	Joe and Angela just sang Paula Abdul in unison. My trip is complete.
8/6	10:36 PM	likes the weather in Belgium and the Netherlands better.
8/7	6:26 AM	is in no mood for 5 a.m. wake ups.
8/7	10:04 PM	is in bed and will be going to sleep hopefully soon.
8/9	8:11 AM	is wondering if twitter is still in hack land or if it will let me post. we shall see.
8/9	8:13 AM	is doing laundry and packing for trip #2 this week. Looking forward to everything except the plane trip.
8/10	12:54 PM	would rather be watching mad men than cooking for the trip, but the trip is tomorrow, so no choice.
8/10	2:48 PM	just gave some dude from a car service directions to his destination…and set his tom tom for him. he was clueless.
8/10	9:25 PM	Facebook thinks Aaron is a girl.
8/11	4:23 AM	is up and having breakfast. See you soon, KS!
8/11	11:20 PM	made it to Kansas and it wasn’t too bad!!
8/12	11:50 AM	has already been questioned by the cops this morning at 4.30 a.m. Parked to try to see the meteor shower and looked suspicious.
8/12	1:49 PM	is headed to TARGET!!!
8/13	3:03 AM	missed chat, but L&E caught loads of fish on hot dog bait! Had a great time with Gpa, Gr8 Unc. Dan & Gmy Aunt Colleen at Pondermostly!
8/13	11:05 AM	So, 4.45 is better than 3, but it still sucks when you went to bed at 10. .
8/13	1:51 PM	Headed out to Aunt Betty’s to see the animals and play on the farm. I may need to start a Farmville plot with all this experience.
8/14	1:08 AM	had a great nap this afternoon but didn’t want to get up from it.
8/14	12:19 PM	Cousins coming with the kids to play this morning and dinner with hs friends this evening But first an early morning Walmart run.
8/14	12:38 PM	would like to know how a bunch of American rats ended up living in France. And does Remy have a work visa? Details, people, DETAILS.
8/14	8:24 PM	just put two exhausted kids to bed. Liam was perfect, but after much screaming and hitting on Elena’s part, I’m beat.
8/15	5:15 AM	had a great time with the girls this evening. I learned a lot about myself as well. Evidently at one point I owned a trench coat.
8/15	12:36 PM	M&D kept E up until 10.30 last night b/c she napped from 2-6.30 yesterday. Why is she up at 5.45? Mama is officially tired.
8/15	8:33 PM	Elena No Nap is going to be the death of me.
8/16	1:38 AM	loves her mama. She’s been secretly doing my laundry.
8/16	12:49 PM	got to sleep from 8 to 6.30. Wahoooo!! LIfe is so much better when I’m well rested.
8/16	5:02 PM	is sitting outside enjoying the warmth knowing that she can go into the air conditioning whenever it gets too hot.
8/16	7:28 PM	is hiding from everyone in the basement to recharge like the good little introvert that she is.
8/18	3:35 AM	wishes that she’d kept every cd she ever owned. .
8/18	5:19 AM	still sorting the ipod. it’s taking hours!
8/18	10:17 PM	thinks it’s dumb that the computer can’t charge the ipod. sat down to relax and sort more music and it was dead.
8/19	5:45 PM	is packing for the trip home. Looks like it’s supposed to storm in Wichita and Chicago just as we are scheduled to fly. Wish us luck.
8/20	1:02 PM	got home 3 hrs late. person got on the plane without a ticket, even though her four kids were ticketed – two on her pssport!! v. messy
8/20	11:53 PM	is sure that if everyone understoood what a bitch she is when she doesn’t get enough sleep, they’d let me sleep no matter what.
8/21	12:35 PM	huh? wha? yes, elena, i’m awake…i’m awake. yawn what time is it, anyway? noon? welly well well, 2.30 a.m. to noon…not too bad!
8/21	5:25 PM	is experiencingt the joy called “Random On the iPod.” Of course, I had to make a Random playlist to avoid the 750 kids’ songs.
8/21	9:13 PM	Keeping the kids up late so that they’ll sleep tonight. Have to be out the door at 10 tomorrow for a lunch with some of my fave peeps.
8/22	9:14 AM	in bed at 10.30…up at 7.30! perfect! now off to lunch with my sugar free and on-their-way-to-sugar-free buddies at Whole Foods.
8/22	11:53 PM	evidently missed the sleepy window. Either too much serotonin or too much Mad Men. I may never know.
8/23	11:20 PM	made gazpacho and hummus and grilled chicken today. gorgeous weather. i wore shorts!!
8/24	9:00 AM	Happy Birthday, Elena!
8/24	1:58 PM	thinks she’s not going to have the kids nap so she can go to bed at 8.
8/24	4:33 PM	There is no place in my heart for fruit flies.
8/24	6:49 PM	Birthday girl just bonked on the coffee table. Looks like she needs it glued. Off to the A&E we go….
8/25	9:24 AM	s husband is smart.
8/25	11:23 AM	has been sugar, sweetener, & simple carb free for 365 days – and zoloft free for 5!!! I am ridiculously proud of myself.
8/25	6:14 PM	is too tired to be ordering groceries, but it has to be done. Will I get to bed early tonight? I…hey, Elena’s not wearing any pants!
8/26	8:52 AM	reorganized the kids’ bookshelf and they are rediscovering their old faves…now that we can actually see them.
8/26	10:53 AM	is tired of wire shelving acting as furniture.
8/26	1:41 PM	decided to rearrange and reorganize a few rooms of the house and we have a surprise cleaning lady visit. shit!
8/26	6:29 PM	Why does Liam wait to poo until AFTER the cleaning person is here?? Is it too much to ask for 24 hours of clean commodes?
8/26	9:36 PM	is going to watch Mad Men and will finally be caught up with the rest of America. Yippe!
8/27	4:58 AM	is never pleased to be up in the morning when people in the US haven’t gone to bed yet. No thank you, Elena.
8/27	9:38 AM	might finally have a handle on all of the kindergarten stuff for L. There was a little bit of info overload last week. Doing ok now.
8/27	2:05 PM	at emergency again with Elena. she’s ok, but i can see her skull where she hit her forehead on the edge of my bed. ugh.
8/27	6:50 PM	is going to let Liam read her to sleep this evening. Hopefully The nonEnglish Patient will cooperate.
8/28	1:44 PM	is a little on the grumpy side today. Looking forward to a haircut and color tomorrow though. Pink is gone and roots look terrible!
8/29	4:18 PM	it’s a little bit purple….
8/29	6:45 PM	Feels like a crisp, Fall day in KS in London today. I’m not looking forward to Winter coming, but I do love Fall in KS.
8/30	11:59 AM	thinks there’s going to be no more of this practically shaved right side of my head next haircut. But I do love the purple.
8/30	2:26 PM	is tired of Elena proudly peeing on the floor. No amount of positive reinforcement is working – nor is getting angry. Back to diapers. .
8/30	3:51 PM	just found out that our answering machine evidently isn’t working. It just says “Call back later!” What’s the point?
8/30	10:20 PM	hasn’t talked to enough adults today.
8/31	3:54 PM	Just finished my meal plan for the week. What are you having?
8/31	7:45 PM	I’m feeling intellectually challenged because I got to proofread something. I do miss that aspect of work. Maybe I should be an editor.
8/31	8:20 PM	Elena is dipping Liam’s sunglasses in hummus and licking them. Gross.
9/1	10:25 AM	is headed to school with Liam for orientation. Tomorrow he rides the school bus all by himself. He can’t wait!
9/2	11:13 AM	is the happy mother of a Kindergartener who’s happy to be in school. E is happy to have the house to herself. It’s a happy day.
9/3	7:23 AM	Uh oh, September (calendar) is missing. It’s probably floating around on the 113 bus or swirling in the wind like a carrier bag.
9/3	11:52 AM	has to give a description of Liam’s temperament, joys, concerns, and interests for school. Anyone have any input? (Surely Noah does.)
9/3	1:15 PM	New potty training bribe: blueberries.
9/3	5:10 PM	is dog sitting for the weekend and Dexter is totally reminding me of our neurotic little Murphy.
9/4	8:32 AM	finds it amazing the things she can get done before 8 when she gets up before 8.
9/4	8:52 AM	Elena has taken to playing with Liam’s sleeping buddy when L is gone. I think she misses him just a little bit!
9/4	8:53 AM	Just joined a twibe. Visit http://twibes.com/radiantrecovery to join
9/4	1:15 PM	LOVE this: http://tr.im/xRVY Made me feel good enough about myself to go bathing suit shopping today – which I loathe more than spiders.
9/5	10:46 AM	is starting to taper off of second, and final, depression medication. Whooppeeeee! (Now you’ll know why if I’m a bitch.)
9/5	1:32 PM	Just overheard from L: Dexter! Dexter…come smell my finger!!
9/5	9:22 PM	stayed up too late and is hungry.
9/6	7:14 PM	At a b-day party in a garden surrounded by trees/paths, Liam to a little girl: “Hey, do you wanna come in the bushes with me?” Awesome.
9/7	8:12 AM	is planning meals & listening to elena “read” to herself – nice but she keeps trying to engage me like I do when reading to her. Funny.
9/7	8:53 PM	Macey has been stealing Dexter’s food at night. He eats 6 times as much as she does. She’s fat, lazy, gassy, & farting when she whines.
9/8	12:42 PM	doesn’t believe that the printer can actually clean itself and thinks it’s just making noises to placate her.
9/8	5:13 PM	obviously needs to listen to the weather. It’s hot – like shorts weather – and I sent the kids to school in long sleeves. Great mom.
9/9	3:26 PM	wants to go to Mom’s Night Out tonight, but is so, so tired from meeting today and has another meeting in the morning. School is HARD!
9/10	9:43 AM	has spent more in bus fare in the last 2 weeks than in the last year. Certainly is the easiest way to get to school though.
9/10	2:56 PM	OMG…I have 18 things open in tabs in Firefox!!!
9/10	7:58 PM	has done way too much in the last few days and is going to pay dearly for it. Glad I have tomorrow to recuperate.
9/10	8:35 PM	is making tea to wind down & will then proceed to obsess abt how she can get all the intermediate Brain Age sudoku puzzles below 15 min.
9/10	8:51 PM	is listening to Liam make weird noises to the tune of the music that the band plays in the mos eisley cantina. that kid cracks me up.
9/11	7:23 AM	is tired, as is evidenced by the scotch tape she just put in the fridge.
9/12	5:08 PM	will bet you $100 (or 1,337.74 pesos) that spring break in Mexico is going to kick spring break in London’s ass. Ole! Nacho! Fiesta!
9/13	12:33 PM	wonders how poor one’s wiping ability must be to get a “diaper rash” at the age of five.
9/14	11:35 AM	overheard Liam saying, in a VERY dramatic voice: “Ugh, these CABinets are so SMALL. Take me back to A-MER-ica.” Oops.
9/16	9:13 AM	taking a mid-walk break to sit on a park bench at the Heath and enjoy the wide open green space, lush after a good rain.
9/16	2:10 PM	knows that L gets out of school early on Wed, and that today is Wed, but didn’t connect that he’d be home early today until he knocked.
9/16	9:37 PM	Liam: I have big dreams, Mama. I want to be a president and a great artist. I have only TWO big dreams – that is why I can’t ever sleep.
9/17	11:23 AM	would like to barter with someone to be her personal shopper. Just to help me wade through the “noise” at the shops and bring me sizes.
9/17	5:43 PM	is certain that she’s never run long enough or far enough to get a runner’s high. Wonder if I ever will.
9/18	1:31 PM	is reading Little House on the Prairie to Elena. She LOVES it and I’m secretly enjoying it as well!
9/19	8:07 AM	is on a quiet, peaceful, grey walk thinking & listening to the birds & Macey’s nails on the pavement before heading to IKEA with AL&E.
9/19	5:12 PM	Much like the rest of the world, Elena is mesmerized by Beyonce’s Single Ladies video. Stopped her crying after nap. I’m all for it.
9/20	8:48 AM	IKEA – Permanent markers in the “daycare” area (age 3 and up) without a build-it-yourself smock? Seriously? Are furniture people stupid?
9/20	10:29 AM	Every time I cut a pepper and it has one of those weird growths on the inside around the stem, I think of Aaron’s teratoma. Nice right?
9/22	2:07 PM	really doesn’t feel like doing much today. School is singlehandedly sucking my energy dry. This seems wrong. Very, very wrong.
9/22	4:28 PM	Me to L&E: Guys it’s time to pick up for the cleaner tomorrow. E to me: Can you just pick it aww up and make it off wimits? Me: Damn.
9/23	8:18 AM	Lots to do to get ready for a four-day weekend without the kids, but it will be well worth it.
9/23	3:06 PM	dislikes US businesses who don’t answer their phone. Are you really going to call me back on an international number? I don’t think so.
9/24	9:24 AM	is unimpressed with the small print.
9/25	8:30 AM	is on a train headed for a weekend in Salisbury with buddies!!!
9/26	7:44 AM	had a lovely walk this morning. Cold and brisk with a friend. Just the way I like it. .
9/26	11:42 PM	is in her hotel room listening to a wedding party below her where everyone but Patrick Swayze (sp) is having the time of their life.
9/27	4:59 PM	is enjoying some down time with her friends in the lobby and ignoring everything that she has to do this week.
9/28	5:57 PM	is home and has been jolted back into reality.
9/29	9:35 AM	is experiencing Macey’s pure joy at being allowed to sniff in Hampstead. Headed to the vet and meeting up with a friend.
9/29	12:32 PM	is having a surprise lunch with Aaron!
9/29	3:05 PM	isn’t sleeping. Planning meals & a busy food weekend instead so she can make the grocery order deadline! Oh well…sleep tonight, right?
9/29	7:50 PM	is listening to E make up songs from her bed. Time for some sudoku, a good night’s sleep and hiding out at home tomorrow. YAY!!
9/30	9:04 AM	is excitedly planning for a trip to Mac for 2 days (3 w/ travel) in Oct. to celebrate M & D’s 60th bdays and 40th anniv! Crazy, but FUN!
9/30	2:36 PM	needs to order Halloween costumes for the kids to arrive in time to bring them back next weekend. eeeek!
9/30	3:19 PM	is once again legal to drive in the United States. Wish that piece of plastic would work where I actually live.
9/30	3:47 PM	is amazed that she has lived in London long enough to be the “playgroup” (read: moms getting together to yap) organizer. THAT is weird!
9/30	6:02 PM	just ate home made beef stew and cheesy drop biscuits. Jealous?
10/1	10:52 AM	is tapering Wellbutrin today as directed by K. DesMaisons, Potatoes Not Prozac author. Working on dopamine levels. Be gentle please!
10/1	2:06 PM	is getting a lesson in taking the internet for granted. my computer is worthless without it. thank goodness for my phone.
10/1	9:36 PM	is really glad she as the iGo keyboard for her phone. Now, if I could just get my FB to work properly, I’d be set.
10/2	5:44 PM	loves having internet back and lots of new FB friends after last weekend.
10/3	12:16 PM	is going to squash the people at BT. Seven phone calls later internet still isn’t resolved. I am thinking some seriously bad words here.
10/3	2:14 PM	So, I bitch about BT and they follow me on twitter! WTH? Wish their actual customer service was that efficient.
10/3	3:08 PM	Dinner Club: Winter Minestrone, Caprese Salad, Spaghetti Carbonara w/ fresh pasta, Choc Almond Gelato, lots of wine. Missing N&A & N&J.
10/4	2:22 PM	should be making a salad for dinner with friends tonight but has had internet for the last half hour. You’d be doing the same thing.
10/5	1:27 PM	is planning meals for the week and wonders what everyone else is having. Do tell.
10/5	3:19 PM	has now had consistent internet for more than three hours. everything is getting done online and nothing is getting done at home!
10/5	9:10 PM	is studying for her driving test. booooring.
10/6	7:34 AM	If I get on the bus with L, the field trip will be canceled. If I don’t, it won’t & I’ll have to run to catch the city bus. What to do?
10/6	1:13 PM	I got on the bus and the trip was canceled. Came home, took E to school, AJ to the Tube, and myself shopping – and it was FUN!!
10/7	8:30 AM	My house smells like bacon and reminds me of visiting my grandparents at Table Rock Lake. Bacon, wagon & boat rides, swimming & fishing!
10/7	3:23 PM	is laughing because she can’t read her own writing and what looked like jwezr was actually jewelry. Handwriting: needs improvment.
10/8	1:08 PM	Ok, Elena’s cool teacher said she likes my boots – & Aaron and Cheryl said I looked cute. I’m clearly doing this right..finally! Whew.
10/8	6:09 PM	totally, absolutely, 100% hearts her “potato cult” friends. Life has changed a lot in the last (almost) two years! Thanks peeps!
10/8	7:55 PM	is in bed at 7.45 in preparation for this weekend. 4 am is going to kick my ass, but it’s worth it for the par-tay. Thanks M & D!
10/9	7:19 AM	Extra security screening again today. I must look sketchy without the kids.
10/10	1:52 AM	made it, but it was a loooooong haul. Glad to be here though!
10/12	7:41 AM	In spite of London traffic, it’s good to be back. Clear sky, sunny, and NOT 34 degrees!
10/13	10:44 AM	was only gone for a weekend, but it’s going to take a week to recover. Slept most of yesterday and would like to do the same today.
10/13	10:27 PM	How many times do I have to have Mad Men mess up my ability to fall asleep to quit watching it before bed? Evidently at least once more.
10/14	12:21 PM	is singing “lookin’ for love in all the wrong places” and has absolutely no idea why. I don’t know all the words and it’s getting old.
10/14	6:11 PM	New, unofficial, boring, non-FB-sexy-fied poll: Who eats the leftovers at your house? Here, it’s moi.
10/15	9:52 AM	refuses to use microsoft office, but wishes open office didn’t crash so damn often and make the computer so freaking slow. Can’t win.
10/15	5:56 PM	Elena just told me that her “abocado tastes wike wubbiss.” For those of you needing translation, that’s “avocado tastes like rubbish.
10/16	2:29 PM	thinks that Gap, Banana, and Old Navy should send out their emails on different days of the week. Spread the love, dudes!
10/16	3:05 PM	Think good thoughts for my mom. Kidney stone blasting happening at noon today. Wish I could be there.
10/16	9:10 PM	Mama is out of surgery and all went well.
10/17	9:51 AM	It’s Macey in her new not-so-super-hero role as Duwali Dog! Faster than a speeding bullet when hiding in bed with me from fireworks.
10/17	2:30 PM	thinks a $50 Halloween costume should NOT require an hour and a half of additional work to fix its problems. $25 maybe, but not $50.
10/18	4:58 PM	Pasta with the Knippenburg neighbors tonight! Good times!
10/19	5:31 PM	has been neglecting social media. I doubt it’s missed me!
10/19	6:32 PM	Liam and Elena are singing in Italian. Thank you American School in London. You teach L and he’ll teach E. We’ll keep 2nd tuition.
10/20	11:33 AM	just saw that the time changes this weekend and was filled with a sense of dread. So, more potato and more light box it is.
10/20	3:01 PM	Listening to Liam playing with his friend makes me happy.
10/20	3:37 PM	Mom is in the hospital again for another blast. Obviously she’s not happy about it. More thoughts sent her way, please.
10/21	12:34 PM	keeps boiling water and then forgetting to make tea. Three times now this morning!
10/21	2:07 PM	Guess who forgot to put the taekwondo uniform in Liam’s backpack this morning. He will be so, so sad. I’m sorry, buddy.
10/21	6:09 PM	totally made chicken gravy this evening to go with the roasted chix, mashed pots and steamed broc. Gravy makes everything taste good!!
10/21	6:52 PM	s husband is wonderful for coming home early so she can go out with the ladies. The ladies, the ladies. He’s all mine girls (& boys)!!
10/21	9:44 PM	ADORES her friends.
10/22	10:02 AM	is headed to help at Elena’s Halloween party. Pumpkin carving and roasting pumpkin seeds with 2 and 3 year olds is ALWAYS funny!
10/22	3:39 PM	really doesn’t need to be bombarded with diet ads every time she checks her email or does basically anything online. Enough already.
10/22	7:20 PM	is sick. Hope I’m not joining the 50K+ new cases of H1N1 this week in the UK. Hot tea, clean hands, Neti pot, rest, & vitamin C for me.
10/23	5:39 PM	They don’t seem to be related, but somehow becoming a mom also increased my tolerance for “hotter than shit” hot water. Anyone else?
10/23	6:20 PM	Elena is singing The Hokey “Cookie.” Really loud. Over and over. She is 100% my kid. A song about cookies. That’s what it’s all about.
10/25	8:01 AM	and the kids are looking forward to carving pumpkins and having lunch with Bexy! I don’t speak for Aaron.
10/26	10:00 AM	Half Term = toilet training. Seems to be working so far. Hope it sticks this time.
10/26	12:01 PM	is having a study day today: Driving License, Microsoft Office 2007, Al-Anon, being wheat free, and Elena in general.
10/26	6:44 PM	L: “Count to 11, Elena.” E: “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12.” Technically it is 11 numbers, but seriously?
10/27	1:17 PM	received reassurance this morning during L’s conference that he is, in fact, Aaron’s and my child. Clearly he was not switched at birth.
10/28	8:09 AM	has a driving lesson this morning with Mohammed Ali.
10/29	6:07 PM	went to the zoo today and saw penguins mating. Nice.
10/30	11:54 AM	is wearing jeggings. Elastic waists aren’t just for maternity any more ladies.
10/30	6:35 PM	went to L’s Halloween parade. Tinkerbell slept through the whole thing and Stormtrooper L refused to wear his mask. It was pretty funny.
10/31	7:48 PM	Halloween in St Johns Wood is crazier than Halloween in America. Seriously, there were lines at almost every house.
11/1	7:15 AM	ate not one bite of Halloween candy for the second year in a row. You may think I’m crazy, but life is pretty good this way!
11/1	10:51 AM	just cleaned up a room upstairs so that Jen, Elias, Gabe, and Sadie can come for a visit in March. So, who’s next??
11/2	10:20 AM	is wondering what she should do with Elena today. School tomorrow is looking really good after a week of half term!
11/2	3:07 PM	is listening to the sounds of three little boys playing Playmobile and Lego. Music to my ears.
11/3	1:21 PM	L to E after E was bossing him around: “You’re NOT the Darth Vader of the world!”
11/3	9:46 PM	Today Elena ran to the bathroom, climbed up on the toilet to pee and after she’d peed, realized she’d forgotten to lift the lid.
11/4	11:33 AM	is pretty much spent after a morning of driving lessons. But, I do know how to do a three point turn now.
11/4	6:45 PM	bought new undies and they kick (and also cover nicely) ass. Better body image and acceptance are welcome after almost 15 years w/o.
11/5	8:20 AM	Poo or Poop? Go!
11/5	4:05 PM	I smell like bacon.
11/5	5:11 PM	just figured out that she is brave!
11/5	8:09 PM	just super glued the super cool police semi legos together. I am sick of picking up the pieces – literally and figuratively.
11/6	12:12 PM	Llywelyns pub at 151st & Metcalf in OP is engaged in credit card fraud. Don’t use a card to pay. We did!
11/7	11:50 AM	is a mother of four this weekend. Hannah, Ava, Liam & Elena are running around in the garden screaming. I’m glad it’s sunny!
11/7	5:50 PM	already loves the glued Lego effect. Two days have passed, the stuff is still play-with-able, and I haven’t stepped on any rogue Legos.
11/8	1:44 PM	is tired. Boring, I know, but it’s true.
11/13	9:15 PM	is back in black with wireless. Can’t believe how mad i got at BT this time. If they’re gonna follow me on twitter, I expect a hook up.
11/16	8:00 AM	is enjoying a Monday morning at home with Mama.
11/17	2:41 PM	is extremely jealous of all of her Kansas friends who woke up to white stuff this morning. I just love the first snow!
11/18	9:31 AM	has a driving lesson this morning. On the docket: two hours of dual carriageways, big roundabouts, and reversing around the corner.
11/18	10:23 AM	s driving instructor is stuck on a one-way street with a fallen tree ahead and cars behind him. Maybe I’m not having lessons today.
11/18	12:58 PM	is thinking good thoughts for Aaron as he’s taking his practical driving test right now.
11/18	2:02 PM	Aaron passed!
11/18	5:18 PM	is struggling with the grow-out process. I wonder, will it be worth it in the long run or will I just cut it all off again?
11/19	2:23 PM	learned too much yesterday and her brain is full. Lots of introvert processing going on today.
11/19	3:15 PM	only wants to do what she wants to do today.
11/19	10:49 PM	went to the party and it was fun.
11/20	1:28 PM	The Universe loves me. Just when I thought I’d never see the sun today, here it came – with blue sky to boot!
11/20	3:53 PM	just made ghee.
11/20	6:42 PM	This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test.
11/21	7:52 AM	wants to stick a sock in Liam’s mouth to stop the noise. It wouldn’t help though and I’m sure someone would turn me in.
11/21	2:52 PM	Indian Experiment Day: Beef Korma – good. (With that much butter it BETTER be good!) Rice – good. Cucumber Salad – eh. Naan – flat like a tortilla, so…bad.
11/22	7:27 PM	Less than 48 hours to Egypt and SUNSHINE!!!
11/23	6:48 PM	’s brain is off duty. I just put the milk cap on the olive oil, the juice in the pantry & the olive oil in the fridge-after fixing the lid.
11/29	4:59 PM	is listening to a tired Liam whine about not getting milk. Boring, but Twitter asked.
11/29	5:46 PM	Home is bittersweet. Nice to be back, but definitely missing the warm and sunny weather!
11/30	9:42 AM	keeps waiting for an Egyptian dude named Mohammed to swoop in and clean up her mess. Was a great holiday!
11/30	7:24 PM	really doesn’t want to follow through with the kids today. Too tired. But if I don’t, it’ll take days to undo. Ah motherhood!
12/1	12:16 PM	Jet lag really doesn’t agree with me at all. E, however, seems to think it’s just fine.
12/1	6:49 PM	is in the holiday spirit…sort of. Tree is up so I guess I better start shopping!
12/2	8:17 AM	is wearing her jeans tucked into her socks so they stay down in her boots. It is reminiscent of those tummy sucker inner things worn under nice dresses to “smooth” things out. Neither is sexy when viewed in parts, but as a whole…SO much better.
12/3	12:26 PM	got lost this morning trying to find a friend’s house that was probably like 4 blocks away from where I was. Oops. Headed into C. London sans sat nav and made my way towards Kings Cross while silently wondering if I’d ever get home. Fortunately I found a place where I’d been lost once before and got home from there without calling A for help. I am an awesome driver.
12/3	1:53 PM	needs a post-it note. Why do I find them scattered everywhere when I don’t need them and can’t locate a single blessedly restickable little yellow/orange/green/pink square when I do? Why, people? WHY?
12/3	3:48 PM	would rather be painting and glittering christmas tree decorations. Unfortunately I have to wait for the kids.
12/3	7:03 PM	Elena: It’s not nice to eat people’s eyeballs…but it’s nice to eat people’s gum.
12/4	7:49 PM	has two sick kids. L threw up (no other symptoms) and I had to go get him from school and E has a temp and a cold. Poor A has them all by himself tomorrow (I really am sorry.) while I take my driving test and have lunch with my sugar (less) buddies.
12/5	7:16 AM	is headed to theory test & lunch with friends. A home with sick kids. E has temp & cold & L “had a vomit” @ school yesterday. Poor fam.
12/5	8:54 AM	passed her theory test.
12/6	5:13 PM	really just needs every one to be quiet NOW.
12/7	2:33 PM	has booked her driving test for Jan 7th!
12/7	3:07 PM	Oh crap. Now it’s booked for THIS SUNDAY!!! Let’s get LEGAL!
12/7	6:00 PM	thinks it’s fab that when asked where in the world there are volcanoes, L’s first response was Kuwait.
12/8	8:18 AM	is on the school bus and one of the kids said out of the blue: “I am SOOOO Jewish.” Kids are funny.
12/8	6:44 PM	is slightly distressed that she can’t find her favorite pencil.
12/9	7:54 AM	Elena just brought me a potato, “because you need it, Mommy.” And I may today. Going out to drive with or without my puking driving instructor.
12/10	2:59 PM	is tired of roundabouts and sick kids.
12/10	10:48 PM	After reading about roundabouts for an hour and a half, I have determined that even the people who know how to do them can’t do them properly because of the people who don’t know how to do them driving in them.
12/10	11:27 PM	is unimpressed with the sore throat, headache, and chills and will now be sipping some tea to try to go to sleep and not dream about roundabouts.
12/12	9:14 PM	finally saw the X-Factors neighbors on TV, b/c A made me watch. Go back to your own Starbucks, I say. And take your crazy, screaming fans from the middle of the street with you!
12/13	8:22 AM	Test Day. Elena just threw up. Better her than me though, right?
12/13	12:19 PM	PAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!
12/13	12:20 PM	I passed!! And I didn’t have to do the difficult roundabout. Life is GRAND!
12/13	5:26 PM	is really, really tired and glad today is over. On to the next thing: packing for our 10-day US trip to Aaron’s fam’s, Omaha, and N&A’s next weekend. Looking forward to it, but sad there’s no Mac love this time.
12/13	9:19 PM	has always been distracted by shiny objects. Glitter is no different.
12/14	1:35 PM	is struggling today. ugh.
12/14	3:06 PM	is an ambidriver.
12/14	7:06 PM	wishes we didn’t have to wear clothes for the next five days so I wouldn’t have to keep up with the laundry before we leave.
12/15	7:21 AM	made Yorkshire pudding last night and it was a hit. I even impressed me!
12/15	11:57 AM	enjoyed a trip to the grocery store and a cup of tea with a friend this morning. What a lovely surprise!
12/15	1:57 PM	If you are looking for a place to make donations this holiday season, this is a great one. Happy Holidays Shannon, Matt, Waverly, and Oliver. You guys are always in my thoughts!
12/15	5:54 PM	is headed out with A to see Inherit the Wind. It’s freaking cold out there, but it’ll be a fun night anyway!
12/16	8:59 AM	it’s snowing!
12/16	3:28 PM	does not want to be doing any of the things she’s supposed to be doing.
12/16	6:21 PM	Word on the street is that we are definitely staying in London summer 2011! Bring on the visitors.
12/17	6:45 AM	needs to go to bed every night at 7.30. Maybe her grammar will be better today as well.
12/17	12:40 PM	thinks it’s time that the world decides on a single voltage. I own one of each of everything, so I don’t care who wins – just DECIDE.
12/18	11:19 AM	is channeling her Grandma B: leftovers made into a completely different lunch today. And fridge is cleared out for the trip tomorrow.
12/19	8:29 AM	got props for festive socks in airport security.
12/21	8:22 PM	Walmart at 4 a.m.
12/21	9:49 PM	is only functioning on a very basic level and can’t be counted on for conversations, answers, or anything that requires thought.
12/22	1:23 PM	Is headed to O town today!
12/22	5:01 PM	is not feeling 100% and would like some chicken and rice soup for the road.
12/22	11:07 PM	made it to Omaha and is sitting in Megan’s beautiful house waiting for Mia to wake after greeting George and Stan.
12/23	9:58 PM	misses her sister and wishes we could be together sometime this trip.
12/23	9:58 PM	My new favorite christmas carol: White Wine in the Sun.
12/24	9:22 PM	is crafty.
12/24	10:45 PM	is listening to the ice fall and watching Yo Gabba Gabba. It is a cozy afternoon.
12/24	10:45 PM	is listening to the ice fall and watching Yo Gabba Gabba. It is a cozy afternoon.
12/27	12:27 AM	is happy to be relaxing with her parents, Neal and Ang, and the kiddos.
12/27	12:28 AM	is happy to be relaxing with the parental figures and N&A in the warmth of a cozy house as the snow continues to fall!
12/27	9:53 PM	really should have used a sewing machine, but hand sewn isn’t looking too bad – just taking a long time.
12/28	1:40 AM	is in a silent house and it is heavenly.
12/30	9:37 AM	is glad to be home.
12/30	9:13 PM	Elena has a new name for Macey: Honkey. She will not stop saying it.
12/31	9:12 PM	My resolution: Do more of the things I love to do. This is going to be great for me, but unfortunately for you all it will probably mean crafty, handmade gifts. Sighs of dismay will be interpreted as “Heidi, I LOVE it. Thank you SO much!!”
12/31	9:25 PM	Happy New Year from those of us going to bed by 10.

December in Tweets

Heidi — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:30:50 +0000

12/1	12:16 PM	Jet lag really doesn’t agree with me at all. E, however, seems to think it’s just fine.
12/1	6:49 PM	is in the holiday spirit…sort of. Tree is up so I guess I better start shopping!
12/2	8:17 AM	is wearing her jeans tucked into her socks so they stay down in her boots. It is reminiscent of those tummy sucker inner things worn under nice dresses to “smooth” things out. Neither is sexy when viewed in parts, but as a whole…SO much better.
12/3	12:26 PM	got lost this morning trying to find a friend’s house that was probably like 4 blocks away from where I was. Oops. Headed into C. London sans sat nav and made my way towards Kings Cross while silently wondering if I’d ever get home. Fortunately I found a place where I’d been lost once before and got home from there without calling A for help. I am an awesome driver.
12/3	1:53 PM	needs a post-it note. Why do I find them scattered everywhere when I don’t need them and can’t locate a single blessedly restickable little yellow/orange/green/pink square when I do? Why, people? WHY?
12/3	3:48 PM	would rather be painting and glittering christmas tree decorations. Unfortunately I have to wait for the kids.
12/3	7:03 PM	Elena: It’s not nice to eat people’s eyeballs…but it’s nice to eat people’s gum.
12/4	7:49 PM	has two sick kids. L threw up (no other symptoms) and I had to go get him from school and E has a temp and a cold. Poor A has them all by himself tomorrow (I really am sorry.) while I take my driving test and have lunch with my sugar (less) buddies.
12/5	7:16 AM	is headed to theory test & lunch with friends. A home with sick kids. E has temp & cold & L “had a vomit” @ school yesterday. Poor fam.
12/5	8:54 AM	passed her theory test.
12/6	5:13 PM	really just needs every one to be quiet NOW.
12/7	2:33 PM	has booked her driving test for Jan 7th!
12/7	3:07 PM	Oh crap. Now it’s booked for THIS SUNDAY!!! Let’s get LEGAL!
12/7	6:00 PM	thinks it’s fab that when asked where in the world there are volcanoes, L’s first response was Kuwait.
12/8	8:18 AM	is on the school bus and one of the kids said out of the blue: “I am SOOOO Jewish.” Kids are funny.
12/8	6:44 PM	is slightly distressed that she can’t find her favorite pencil.
12/9	7:54 AM	Elena just brought me a potato, “because you need it, Mommy.” And I may today. Going out to drive with or without my puking driving instructor.
12/10	2:59 PM	is tired of roundabouts and sick kids.
12/10	10:48 PM	After reading about roundabouts for an hour and a half, I have determined that even the people who know how to do them can’t do them properly because of the people who don’t know how to do them driving in them.
12/10	11:27 PM	is unimpressed with the sore throat, headache, and chills and will now be sipping some tea to try to go to sleep and not dream about roundabouts.
12/12	9:14 PM	finally saw the X-Factors neighbors on TV, b/c A made me watch. Go back to your own Starbucks, I say. And take your crazy, screaming fans from the middle of the street with you!
12/13	8:22 AM	Test Day. Elena just threw up. Better her than me though, right?
12/13	12:19 PM	PAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!
12/13	12:20 PM	I passed!! And I didn’t have to do the difficult roundabout. Life is GRAND!
12/13	5:26 PM	is really, really tired and glad today is over. On to the next thing: packing for our 10-day US trip to Aaron’s fam’s, Omaha, and N&A’s next weekend. Looking forward to it, but sad there’s no Mac love this time.
12/13	9:19 PM	has always been distracted by shiny objects. Glitter is no different.
12/14	1:35 PM	is struggling today. ugh.
12/14	3:06 PM	is an ambidriver.
12/14	7:06 PM	wishes we didn’t have to wear clothes for the next five days so I wouldn’t have to keep up with the laundry before we leave.
12/15	7:21 AM	made Yorkshire pudding last night and it was a hit. I even impressed me!
12/15	11:57 AM	enjoyed a trip to the grocery store and a cup of tea with a friend this morning. What a lovely surprise!
12/15	1:57 PM	If you are looking for a place to make donations this holiday season, this is a great one. Happy Holidays Shannon, Matt, Waverly, and Oliver. You guys are always in my thoughts!
12/15	5:54 PM	is headed out with A to see Inherit the Wind. It’s freaking cold out there, but it’ll be a fun night anyway!
12/16	8:59 AM	it’s snowing!
12/16	3:28 PM	does not want to be doing any of the things she’s supposed to be doing.
12/16	6:21 PM	Word on the street is that we are definitely staying in London summer 2011! Bring on the visitors.
12/17	6:45 AM	needs to go to bed every night at 7.30. Maybe her grammar will be better today as well.
12/17	12:40 PM	thinks it’s time that the world decides on a single voltage. I own one of each of everything, so I don’t care who wins – just DECIDE.
12/18	11:19 AM	is channeling her Grandma B: leftovers made into a completely different lunch today. And fridge is cleared out for the trip tomorrow.
12/19	8:29 AM	got props for festive socks in airport security.
12/21	8:22 PM	Walmart at 4 a.m.
12/21	9:49 PM	is only functioning on a very basic level and can’t be counted on for conversations, answers, or anything that requires thought.
12/22	1:23 PM	Is headed to O town today!
12/22	5:01 PM	is not feeling 100% and would like some chicken and rice soup for the road.
12/22	11:07 PM	made it to Omaha and is sitting in Megan’s beautiful house waiting for Mia to wake after greeting George and Stan.
12/23	9:58 PM	misses her sister and wishes we could be together sometime this trip.
12/23	9:58 PM	My new favorite christmas carol: White Wine in the Sun.
12/24	9:22 PM	is crafty.
12/24	10:45 PM	is listening to the ice fall and watching Yo Gabba Gabba. It is a cozy afternoon.
12/24	10:45 PM	is listening to the ice fall and watching Yo Gabba Gabba. It is a cozy afternoon.
12/27	12:27 AM	is happy to be relaxing with her parents, Neal and Ang, and the kiddos.
12/27	12:28 AM	is happy to be relaxing with the parental figures and N&A in the warmth of a cozy house as the snow continues to fall!
12/27	9:53 PM	really should have used a sewing machine, but hand sewn isn’t looking too bad – just taking a long time.
12/28	1:40 AM	is in a silent house and it is heavenly.
12/30	9:37 AM	is glad to be home.
12/30	9:13 PM	Elena has a new name for Macey: Honkey. She will not stop saying it.
12/31	9:12 PM	My resolution: Do more of the things I love to do. This is going to be great for me, but unfortunately for you all it will probably mean crafty, handmade gifts. Sighs of dismay will be interpreted as “Heidi, I LOVE it. Thank you SO much!!”
12/31	9:25 PM	Happy New Year from those of us going to bed by 10.

November in Tweets

Heidi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:30:06 +0000

11/1	7:15 AM	ate not one bite of Halloween candy for the second year in a row. You may think I’m crazy, but life is pretty good this way!
11/1	10:51 AM	just cleaned up a room upstairs so that Jen, Elias, Gabe, and Sadie can come for a visit in March. So, who’s next??
11/2	10:20 AM	is wondering what she should do with Elena today. School tomorrow is looking really good after a week of half term!
11/2	3:07 PM	is listening to the sounds of three little boys playing Playmobile and Lego. Music to my ears.
11/3	1:21 PM	L to E after E was bossing him around: “You’re NOT the Darth Vader of the world!”
11/3	9:46 PM	Today Elena ran to the bathroom, climbed up on the toilet to pee and after she’d peed, realized she’d forgotten to lift the lid.
11/4	11:33 AM	is pretty much spent after a morning of driving lessons. But, I do know how to do a three point turn now.
11/4	6:45 PM	bought new undies and they kick (and also cover nicely) ass. Better body image and acceptance are welcome after almost 15 years w/o.
11/5	8:20 AM	Poo or Poop? Go!
11/5	4:05 PM	I smell like bacon.
11/5	5:11 PM	just figured out that she is brave!
11/5	8:09 PM	just super glued the super cool police semi legos together. I am sick of picking up the pieces – literally and figuratively.
11/6	12:12 PM	Llywelyns pub at 151st & Metcalf in OP is engaged in credit card fraud. Don’t use a card to pay. We did!
11/7	11:50 AM	is a mother of four this weekend. Hannah, Ava, Liam & Elena are running around in the garden screaming. I’m glad it’s sunny!
11/7	5:50 PM	already loves the glued Lego effect. Two days have passed, the stuff is still play-with-able, and I haven’t stepped on any rogue Legos.
11/8	1:44 PM	is tired. Boring, I know, but it’s true.
11/13	9:15 PM	is back in black with wireless. Can’t believe how mad i got at BT this time. If they’re gonna follow me on twitter, I expect a hook up.
11/16	8:00 AM	is enjoying a Monday morning at home with Mama.
11/17	2:41 PM	is extremely jealous of all of her Kansas friends who woke up to white stuff this morning. I just love the first snow!
11/18	9:31 AM	has a driving lesson this morning. On the docket: two hours of dual carriageways, big roundabouts, and reversing around the corner.
11/18	10:23 AM	s driving instructor is stuck on a one-way street with a fallen tree ahead and cars behind him. Maybe I’m not having lessons today.
11/18	12:58 PM	is thinking good thoughts for Aaron as he’s taking his practical driving test right now.
11/18	2:02 PM	Aaron passed!
11/18	5:18 PM	is struggling with the grow-out process. I wonder, will it be worth it in the long run or will I just cut it all off again?
11/19	2:23 PM	learned too much yesterday and her brain is full. Lots of introvert processing going on today.
11/19	3:15 PM	only wants to do what she wants to do today.
11/19	10:49 PM	went to the party and it was fun.
11/20	1:28 PM	The Universe loves me. Just when I thought I’d never see the sun today, here it came – with blue sky to boot!
11/20	3:53 PM	just made ghee.
11/20	6:42 PM	This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test.
11/21	7:52 AM	wants to stick a sock in Liam’s mouth to stop the noise. It wouldn’t help though and I’m sure someone would turn me in.
11/21	2:52 PM	Indian Experiment Day: Beef Korma – good. (With that much butter it BETTER be good!) Rice – good. Cucumber Salad – eh. Naan – flat like a tortilla, so…bad.
11/22	7:27 PM	Less than 48 hours to Egypt and SUNSHINE!!!
11/23	6:48 PM	’s brain is off duty. I just put the milk cap on the olive oil, the juice in the pantry & the olive oil in the fridge-after fixing the lid.
11/29	4:59 PM	is listening to a tired Liam whine about not getting milk. Boring, but Twitter asked.
11/29	5:46 PM	Home is bittersweet. Nice to be back, but definitely missing the warm and sunny weather!
11/30	9:42 AM	keeps waiting for an Egyptian dude named Mohammed to swoop in and clean up her mess. Was a great holiday!
11/30	7:24 PM	really doesn’t want to follow through with the kids today. Too tired. But if I don’t, it’ll take days to undo. Ah motherhood!

October in Tweets

Heidi — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:30:33 +0000

10/1	10:52 AM	is tapering Wellbutrin today as directed by K. DesMaisons, Potatoes Not Prozac author. Working on dopamine levels. Be gentle please!
10/1	2:06 PM	is getting a lesson in taking the internet for granted. my computer is worthless without it. thank goodness for my phone.
10/1	9:36 PM	is really glad she as the iGo keyboard for her phone. Now, if I could just get my FB to work properly, I’d be set.
10/2	5:44 PM	loves having internet back and lots of new FB friends after last weekend.
10/3	12:16 PM	is going to squash the people at BT. Seven phone calls later internet still isn’t resolved. I am thinking some seriously bad words here.
10/3	2:14 PM	So, I bitch about BT and they follow me on twitter! WTH? Wish their actual customer service was that efficient.
10/3	3:08 PM	Dinner Club: Winter Minestrone, Caprese Salad, Spaghetti Carbonara w/ fresh pasta, Choc Almond Gelato, lots of wine. Missing N&A & N&J.
10/4	2:22 PM	should be making a salad for dinner with friends tonight but has had internet for the last half hour. You’d be doing the same thing.
10/5	1:27 PM	is planning meals for the week and wonders what everyone else is having. Do tell.
10/5	3:19 PM	has now had consistent internet for more than three hours. everything is getting done online and nothing is getting done at home!
10/5	9:10 PM	is studying for her driving test. booooring.
10/6	7:34 AM	If I get on the bus with L, the field trip will be canceled. If I don’t, it won’t & I’ll have to run to catch the city bus. What to do?
10/6	1:13 PM	I got on the bus and the trip was canceled. Came home, took E to school, AJ to the Tube, and myself shopping – and it was FUN!!
10/7	8:30 AM	My house smells like bacon and reminds me of visiting my grandparents at Table Rock Lake. Bacon, wagon & boat rides, swimming & fishing!
10/7	3:23 PM	is laughing because she can’t read her own writing and what looked like jwezr was actually jewelry. Handwriting: needs improvment.
10/8	1:08 PM	Ok, Elena’s cool teacher said she likes my boots – & Aaron and Cheryl said I looked cute. I’m clearly doing this right..finally! Whew.
10/8	6:09 PM	totally, absolutely, 100% hearts her “potato cult” friends. Life has changed a lot in the last (almost) two years! Thanks peeps!
10/8	7:55 PM	is in bed at 7.45 in preparation for this weekend. 4 am is going to kick my ass, but it’s worth it for the par-tay. Thanks M & D!
10/9	7:19 AM	Extra security screening again today. I must look sketchy without the kids.
10/10	1:52 AM	made it, but it was a loooooong haul. Glad to be here though!
10/12	7:41 AM	In spite of London traffic, it’s good to be back. Clear sky, sunny, and NOT 34 degrees!
10/13	10:44 AM	was only gone for a weekend, but it’s going to take a week to recover. Slept most of yesterday and would like to do the same today.
10/13	10:27 PM	How many times do I have to have Mad Men mess up my ability to fall asleep to quit watching it before bed? Evidently at least once more.
10/14	12:21 PM	is singing “lookin’ for love in all the wrong places” and has absolutely no idea why. I don’t know all the words and it’s getting old.
10/14	6:11 PM	New, unofficial, boring, non-FB-sexy-fied poll: Who eats the leftovers at your house? Here, it’s moi.
10/15	9:52 AM	refuses to use microsoft office, but wishes open office didn’t crash so damn often and make the computer so freaking slow. Can’t win.
10/15	5:56 PM	Elena just told me that her “abocado tastes wike wubbiss.” For those of you needing translation, that’s “avocado tastes like rubbish.
10/16	2:29 PM	thinks that Gap, Banana, and Old Navy should send out their emails on different days of the week. Spread the love, dudes!
10/16	3:05 PM	Think good thoughts for my mom. Kidney stone blasting happening at noon today. Wish I could be there.
10/16	9:10 PM	Mama is out of surgery and all went well.
10/17	9:51 AM	It’s Macey in her new not-so-super-hero role as Duwali Dog! Faster than a speeding bullet when hiding in bed with me from fireworks.
10/17	2:30 PM	thinks a $50 Halloween costume should NOT require an hour and a half of additional work to fix its problems. $25 maybe, but not $50.
10/18	4:58 PM	Pasta with the Knippenburg neighbors tonight! Good times!
10/19	5:31 PM	has been neglecting social media. I doubt it’s missed me!
10/19	6:32 PM	Liam and Elena are singing in Italian. Thank you American School in London. You teach L and he’ll teach E. We’ll keep 2nd tuition.
10/20	11:33 AM	just saw that the time changes this weekend and was filled with a sense of dread. So, more potato and more light box it is.
10/20	3:01 PM	Listening to Liam playing with his friend makes me happy.
10/20	3:37 PM	Mom is in the hospital again for another blast. Obviously she’s not happy about it. More thoughts sent her way, please.
10/21	12:34 PM	keeps boiling water and then forgetting to make tea. Three times now this morning!
10/21	2:07 PM	Guess who forgot to put the taekwondo uniform in Liam’s backpack this morning. He will be so, so sad. I’m sorry, buddy.
10/21	6:09 PM	totally made chicken gravy this evening to go with the roasted chix, mashed pots and steamed broc. Gravy makes everything taste good!!
10/21	6:52 PM	s husband is wonderful for coming home early so she can go out with the ladies. The ladies, the ladies. He’s all mine girls (& boys)!!
10/21	9:44 PM	ADORES her friends.
10/22	10:02 AM	is headed to help at Elena’s Halloween party. Pumpkin carving and roasting pumpkin seeds with 2 and 3 year olds is ALWAYS funny!
10/22	3:39 PM	really doesn’t need to be bombarded with diet ads every time she checks her email or does basically anything online. Enough already.
10/22	7:20 PM	is sick. Hope I’m not joining the 50K+ new cases of H1N1 this week in the UK. Hot tea, clean hands, Neti pot, rest, & vitamin C for me.
10/23	5:39 PM	They don’t seem to be related, but somehow becoming a mom also increased my tolerance for “hotter than shit” hot water. Anyone else?
10/23	6:20 PM	Elena is singing The Hokey “Cookie.” Really loud. Over and over. She is 100% my kid. A song about cookies. That’s what it’s all about.
10/25	8:01 AM	and the kids are looking forward to carving pumpkins and having lunch with Bexy! I don’t speak for Aaron.
10/26	10:00 AM	Half Term = toilet training. Seems to be working so far. Hope it sticks this time.
10/26	12:01 PM	is having a study day today: Driving License, Microsoft Office 2007, Al-Anon, being wheat free, and Elena in general.
10/26	6:44 PM	L: “Count to 11, Elena.” E: “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12.” Technically it is 11 numbers, but seriously?
10/27	1:17 PM	received reassurance this morning during L’s conference that he is, in fact, Aaron’s and my child. Clearly he was not switched at birth.
10/28	8:09 AM	has a driving lesson this morning with Mohammed Ali.
10/29	6:07 PM	went to the zoo today and saw penguins mating. Nice.
10/30	11:54 AM	is wearing jeggings. Elastic waists aren’t just for maternity any more ladies.
10/30	6:35 PM	went to L’s Halloween parade. Tinkerbell slept through the whole thing and Stormtrooper L refused to wear his mask. It was pretty funny.
10/31	7:48 PM	Halloween in St Johns Wood is crazier than Halloween in America. Seriously, there were lines at almost every house.

September in Tweets

Heidi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:30:18 +0000

9/1	10:25 AM	is headed to school with Liam for orientation. Tomorrow he rides the school bus all by himself. He can’t wait!
9/2	11:13 AM	is the happy mother of a Kindergartener who’s happy to be in school. E is happy to have the house to herself. It’s a happy day.
9/3	7:23 AM	Uh oh, September (calendar) is missing. It’s probably floating around on the 113 bus or swirling in the wind like a carrier bag.
9/3	11:52 AM	has to give a description of Liam’s temperament, joys, concerns, and interests for school. Anyone have any input? (Surely Noah does.)
9/3	1:15 PM	New potty training bribe: blueberries.
9/3	5:10 PM	is dog sitting for the weekend and Dexter is totally reminding me of our neurotic little Murphy.
9/4	8:32 AM	finds it amazing the things she can get done before 8 when she gets up before 8.
9/4	8:52 AM	Elena has taken to playing with Liam’s sleeping buddy when L is gone. I think she misses him just a little bit!
9/4	8:53 AM	Just joined a twibe. Visit http://twibes.com/radiantrecovery to join
9/4	1:15 PM	LOVE this: http://tr.im/xRVY Made me feel good enough about myself to go bathing suit shopping today – which I loathe more than spiders.
9/5	10:46 AM	is starting to taper off of second, and final, depression medication. Whooppeeeee! (Now you’ll know why if I’m a bitch.)
9/5	1:32 PM	Just overheard from L: Dexter! Dexter…come smell my finger!!
9/5	9:22 PM	stayed up too late and is hungry.
9/6	7:14 PM	At a b-day party in a garden surrounded by trees/paths, Liam to a little girl: “Hey, do you wanna come in the bushes with me?” Awesome.
9/7	8:12 AM	is planning meals & listening to elena “read” to herself – nice but she keeps trying to engage me like I do when reading to her. Funny.
9/7	8:53 PM	Macey has been stealing Dexter’s food at night. He eats 6 times as much as she does. She’s fat, lazy, gassy, & farting when she whines.
9/8	12:42 PM	doesn’t believe that the printer can actually clean itself and thinks it’s just making noises to placate her.
9/8	5:13 PM	obviously needs to listen to the weather. It’s hot – like shorts weather – and I sent the kids to school in long sleeves. Great mom.
9/9	3:26 PM	wants to go to Mom’s Night Out tonight, but is so, so tired from meeting today and has another meeting in the morning. School is HARD!
9/10	9:43 AM	has spent more in bus fare in the last 2 weeks than in the last year. Certainly is the easiest way to get to school though.
9/10	2:56 PM	OMG…I have 18 things open in tabs in Firefox!!!
9/10	7:58 PM	has done way too much in the last few days and is going to pay dearly for it. Glad I have tomorrow to recuperate.
9/10	8:35 PM	is making tea to wind down & will then proceed to obsess abt how she can get all the intermediate Brain Age sudoku puzzles below 15 min.
9/10	8:51 PM	is listening to Liam make weird noises to the tune of the music that the band plays in the mos eisley cantina. that kid cracks me up.
9/11	7:23 AM	is tired, as is evidenced by the scotch tape she just put in the fridge.
9/12	5:08 PM	will bet you $100 (or 1,337.74 pesos) that spring break in Mexico is going to kick spring break in London’s ass. Ole! Nacho! Fiesta!
9/13	12:33 PM	wonders how poor one’s wiping ability must be to get a “diaper rash” at the age of five.
9/14	11:35 AM	overheard Liam saying, in a VERY dramatic voice: “Ugh, these CABinets are so SMALL. Take me back to A-MER-ica.” Oops.
9/16	9:13 AM	taking a mid-walk break to sit on a park bench at the Heath and enjoy the wide open green space, lush after a good rain.
9/16	2:10 PM	knows that L gets out of school early on Wed, and that today is Wed, but didn’t connect that he’d be home early today until he knocked.
9/16	9:37 PM	Liam: I have big dreams, Mama. I want to be a president and a great artist. I have only TWO big dreams – that is why I can’t ever sleep.
9/17	11:23 AM	would like to barter with someone to be her personal shopper. Just to help me wade through the “noise” at the shops and bring me sizes.
9/17	5:43 PM	is certain that she’s never run long enough or far enough to get a runner’s high. Wonder if I ever will.
9/18	1:31 PM	is reading Little House on the Prairie to Elena. She LOVES it and I’m secretly enjoying it as well!
9/19	8:07 AM	is on a quiet, peaceful, grey walk thinking & listening to the birds & Macey’s nails on the pavement before heading to IKEA with AL&E.
9/19	5:12 PM	Much like the rest of the world, Elena is mesmerized by Beyonce’s Single Ladies video. Stopped her crying after nap. I’m all for it.
9/20	8:48 AM	IKEA – Permanent markers in the “daycare” area (age 3 and up) without a build-it-yourself smock? Seriously? Are furniture people stupid?
9/20	10:29 AM	Every time I cut a pepper and it has one of those weird growths on the inside around the stem, I think of Aaron’s teratoma. Nice right?
9/22	2:07 PM	really doesn’t feel like doing much today. School is singlehandedly sucking my energy dry. This seems wrong. Very, very wrong.
9/22	4:28 PM	Me to L&E: Guys it’s time to pick up for the cleaner tomorrow. E to me: Can you just pick it aww up and make it off wimits? Me: Damn.
9/23	8:18 AM	Lots to do to get ready for a four-day weekend without the kids, but it will be well worth it.
9/23	3:06 PM	dislikes US businesses who don’t answer their phone. Are you really going to call me back on an international number? I don’t think so.
9/24	9:24 AM	is unimpressed with the small print.
9/25	8:30 AM	is on a train headed for a weekend in Salisbury with buddies!!!
9/26	7:44 AM	had a lovely walk this morning. Cold and brisk with a friend. Just the way I like it. .
9/26	11:42 PM	is in her hotel room listening to a wedding party below her where everyone but Patrick Swayze (sp) is having the time of their life.
9/27	4:59 PM	is enjoying some down time with her friends in the lobby and ignoring everything that she has to do this week.
9/28	5:57 PM	is home and has been jolted back into reality.
9/29	9:35 AM	is experiencing Macey’s pure joy at being allowed to sniff in Hampstead. Headed to the vet and meeting up with a friend.
9/29	12:32 PM	is having a surprise lunch with Aaron!
9/29	3:05 PM	isn’t sleeping. Planning meals & a busy food weekend instead so she can make the grocery order deadline! Oh well…sleep tonight, right?
9/29	7:50 PM	is listening to E make up songs from her bed. Time for some sudoku, a good night’s sleep and hiding out at home tomorrow. YAY!!
9/30	9:04 AM	is excitedly planning for a trip to Mac for 2 days (3 w/ travel) in Oct. to celebrate M & D’s 60th bdays and 40th anniv! Crazy, but FUN!
9/30	2:36 PM	needs to order Halloween costumes for the kids to arrive in time to bring them back next weekend. eeeek!
9/30	3:19 PM	is once again legal to drive in the United States. Wish that piece of plastic would work where I actually live.
9/30	3:47 PM	is amazed that she has lived in London long enough to be the “playgroup” (read: moms getting together to yap) organizer. THAT is weird!
9/30	6:02 PM	just ate home made beef stew and cheesy drop biscuits. Jealous?

August in Tweets

Heidi — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:30:43 +0000

8/1	9:52 AM	Headed to Brugge this morning with our fabulous traveling companions. Vaca without small children is pretty, damn relaxing.
8/2	7:30 PM	is at a Cercle Brugge match.
8/4	10:15 AM	finally has proper internet access while Aaron eats breakfast. Amsterdam is beautiful. As was Brugge, Leiden, Ypres, etc., etc.
8/4	11:06 AM	is glad she married to Aaron eight years ago. (Also glad it’s cooler out than that day!) Happy Anniversary, AJ.
8/5	10:43 AM	Joe and Angela just sang Paula Abdul in unison. My trip is complete.
8/6	10:36 PM	likes the weather in Belgium and the Netherlands better.
8/7	6:26 AM	is in no mood for 5 a.m. wake ups.
8/7	10:04 PM	is in bed and will be going to sleep hopefully soon.
8/9	8:11 AM	is wondering if twitter is still in hack land or if it will let me post. we shall see.
8/9	8:13 AM	is doing laundry and packing for trip #2 this week. Looking forward to everything except the plane trip.
8/10	12:54 PM	would rather be watching mad men than cooking for the trip, but the trip is tomorrow, so no choice.
8/10	2:48 PM	just gave some dude from a car service directions to his destination…and set his tom tom for him. he was clueless.
8/10	9:25 PM	Facebook thinks Aaron is a girl.
8/11	4:23 AM	is up and having breakfast. See you soon, KS!
8/11	11:20 PM	made it to Kansas and it wasn’t too bad!!
8/12	11:50 AM	has already been questioned by the cops this morning at 4.30 a.m. Parked to try to see the meteor shower and looked suspicious.
8/12	1:49 PM	is headed to TARGET!!!
8/13	3:03 AM	missed chat, but L&E caught loads of fish on hot dog bait! Had a great time with Gpa, Gr8 Unc. Dan & Gmy Aunt Colleen at Pondermostly!
8/13	11:05 AM	So, 4.45 is better than 3, but it still sucks when you went to bed at 10. .
8/13	1:51 PM	Headed out to Aunt Betty’s to see the animals and play on the farm. I may need to start a Farmville plot with all this experience.
8/14	1:08 AM	had a great nap this afternoon but didn’t want to get up from it.
8/14	12:19 PM	Cousins coming with the kids to play this morning and dinner with hs friends this evening But first an early morning Walmart run.
8/14	12:38 PM	would like to know how a bunch of American rats ended up living in France. And does Remy have a work visa? Details, people, DETAILS.
8/14	8:24 PM	just put two exhausted kids to bed. Liam was perfect, but after much screaming and hitting on Elena’s part, I’m beat.
8/15	5:15 AM	had a great time with the girls this evening. I learned a lot about myself as well. Evidently at one point I owned a trench coat.
8/15	12:36 PM	M&D kept E up until 10.30 last night b/c she napped from 2-6.30 yesterday. Why is she up at 5.45? Mama is officially tired.
8/15	8:33 PM	Elena No Nap is going to be the death of me.
8/16	1:38 AM	loves her mama. She’s been secretly doing my laundry.
8/16	12:49 PM	got to sleep from 8 to 6.30. Wahoooo!! LIfe is so much better when I’m well rested.
8/16	5:02 PM	is sitting outside enjoying the warmth knowing that she can go into the air conditioning whenever it gets too hot.
8/16	7:28 PM	is hiding from everyone in the basement to recharge like the good little introvert that she is.
8/18	3:35 AM	wishes that she’d kept every cd she ever owned. .
8/18	5:19 AM	still sorting the ipod. it’s taking hours!
8/18	10:17 PM	thinks it’s dumb that the computer can’t charge the ipod. sat down to relax and sort more music and it was dead.
8/19	5:45 PM	is packing for the trip home. Looks like it’s supposed to storm in Wichita and Chicago just as we are scheduled to fly. Wish us luck.
8/20	1:02 PM	got home 3 hrs late. person got on the plane without a ticket, even though her four kids were ticketed – two on her pssport!! v. messy
8/20	11:53 PM	is sure that if everyone understoood what a bitch she is when she doesn’t get enough sleep, they’d let me sleep no matter what.
8/21	12:35 PM	huh? wha? yes, elena, i’m awake…i’m awake. yawn what time is it, anyway? noon? welly well well, 2.30 a.m. to noon…not too bad!
8/21	5:25 PM	is experiencingt the joy called “Random On the iPod.” Of course, I had to make a Random playlist to avoid the 750 kids’ songs.
8/21	9:13 PM	Keeping the kids up late so that they’ll sleep tonight. Have to be out the door at 10 tomorrow for a lunch with some of my fave peeps.
8/22	9:14 AM	in bed at 10.30…up at 7.30! perfect! now off to lunch with my sugar free and on-their-way-to-sugar-free buddies at Whole Foods.
8/22	11:53 PM	evidently missed the sleepy window. Either too much serotonin or too much Mad Men. I may never know.
8/23	11:20 PM	made gazpacho and hummus and grilled chicken today. gorgeous weather. i wore shorts!!
8/24	9:00 AM	Happy Birthday, Elena!
8/24	1:58 PM	thinks she’s not going to have the kids nap so she can go to bed at 8.
8/24	4:33 PM	There is no place in my heart for fruit flies.
8/24	6:49 PM	Birthday girl just bonked on the coffee table. Looks like she needs it glued. Off to the A&E we go….
8/25	9:24 AM	s husband is smart.
8/25	11:23 AM	has been sugar, sweetener, & simple carb free for 365 days – and zoloft free for 5!!! I am ridiculously proud of myself.
8/25	6:14 PM	is too tired to be ordering groceries, but it has to be done. Will I get to bed early tonight? I…hey, Elena’s not wearing any pants!
8/26	8:52 AM	reorganized the kids’ bookshelf and they are rediscovering their old faves…now that we can actually see them.
8/26	10:53 AM	is tired of wire shelving acting as furniture.
8/26	1:41 PM	decided to rearrange and reorganize a few rooms of the house and we have a surprise cleaning lady visit. shit!
8/26	6:29 PM	Why does Liam wait to poo until AFTER the cleaning person is here?? Is it too much to ask for 24 hours of clean commodes?
8/26	9:36 PM	is going to watch Mad Men and will finally be caught up with the rest of America. Yippe!
8/27	4:58 AM	is never pleased to be up in the morning when people in the US haven’t gone to bed yet. No thank you, Elena.
8/27	9:38 AM	might finally have a handle on all of the kindergarten stuff for L. There was a little bit of info overload last week. Doing ok now.
8/27	2:05 PM	at emergency again with Elena. she’s ok, but i can see her skull where she hit her forehead on the edge of my bed. ugh.
8/27	6:50 PM	is going to let Liam read her to sleep this evening. Hopefully The nonEnglish Patient will cooperate.
8/28	1:44 PM	is a little on the grumpy side today. Looking forward to a haircut and color tomorrow though. Pink is gone and roots look terrible!
8/29	4:18 PM	it’s a little bit purple….
8/29	6:45 PM	Feels like a crisp, Fall day in KS in London today. I’m not looking forward to Winter coming, but I do love Fall in KS.
8/30	11:59 AM	thinks there’s going to be no more of this practically shaved right side of my head next haircut. But I do love the purple.
8/30	2:26 PM	is tired of Elena proudly peeing on the floor. No amount of positive reinforcement is working – nor is getting angry. Back to diapers. .
8/30	3:51 PM	just found out that our answering machine evidently isn’t working. It just says “Call back later!” What’s the point?
8/30	10:20 PM	hasn’t talked to enough adults today.
8/31	3:54 PM	Just finished my meal plan for the week. What are you having?
8/31	7:45 PM	I’m feeling intellectually challenged because I got to proofread something. I do miss that aspect of work. Maybe I should be an editor.
8/31	8:20 PM	Elena is dipping Liam’s sunglasses in hummus and licking them. Gross.

July in Tweets

Heidi — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:30:41 +0000

7/1	2:01 PM	is avoiding packing. Harumph.
7/1	5:04 PM	just cracked the first double yolk egg she’s seen since we moved to London and went organic.
7/1	6:42 PM	Nekkid children running around being crazy. Not sure how it happened, but at least they’re inside now!
7/2	10:26 AM	packing for cool, rainy weather in Scotland. At least I don’t have to do laundry.
7/2	12:37 PM	The car is going to be 2/3 full of stuff to keep small children busy. Why do they require so much STUFF?
7/2	4:54 PM	Words I never thought I’d hear come out of Aaron’s mouth: “I want Indian tonight.” I am trying to play it cool, but cheering inside.
7/2	8:57 PM	really shouldn’t clean. Important things get lost when I clean.
7/3	8:37 AM	Liam packed his own entertainment bag. Elena did too. This is going to be interesting.
7/3	2:02 PM	motorway is down to 2 lanes for an accident. 20 mins later we reach the “accident” and there isn’t one! they forgot to clear the signs!
7/3	4:40 PM	Lakes district is gorgeous even in the rain!
7/3	5:02 PM	Heard from Elena on the backroads to Edinburgh: “There’s CHICAGO!” Uh, not quite.
7/4	9:00 AM	is irritated that she forgot the camera this morning. sun is shining. beautiful day!
7/4	10:54 AM	on the falkirk wheel. google it. liam is very impressed. many, many questions. Elena is eating a cheese sandwich. typical.
7/4	1:10 PM	is happy the car is quiet, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that there won’t be a nap for me when we get back to the house.
7/4	7:21 PM	is in bed at 7.15 hoping the kids will go to sleep so she can. Excited about Edinburgh tomorrow and meeting a friend for lunch!
7/5	8:56 AM	is allergic to the Scottish countryside in a way even Claritin doesn’t understand.
7/5	2:50 PM	Edinburgh solved allergy problem. Castle. Rain. Sun. Great lunch. AND have Fiona’s homemade oatcakes in my bag!!! I’m a lucky girl!
7/5	5:21 PM	is watching the kids roll down the hil in the back whilr Macey looks desperately for something to throw.
7/6	9:52 AM	headed to a lead mine. underground is good on a rainy day.
7/6	4:49 PM	kids are finally quiet now. thank you, whoever invented mini DVD players and math circus.
7/6	8:14 PM	driving home from lead mine, huge bird (or something) pooed on windsheild from a tree. liam asks, “are monkeys throwing nuts at us?”
7/7	11:16 AM	is wondering if this traffic is going to be for a reason or if the signs are just lying again. hopefully home around 3ish.
7/7	12:56 PM	literally parked on the M6 for 20 mins now. have moved 2.7 miles in 1 hr, 50 mins. people standing in road chatting.
7/7	1:14 PM	moving finally. again no visible reason for delays!
7/7	11:04 PM	is happy to be in her own bed.
7/8	12:32 PM	is trying to walk the greys away.
7/8	9:17 PM	is going to live in London another year! Yes, in the Double G.
7/9	10:56 AM	Listening to NiN in prep for show next week. Bringing back memories of dancing at Lucky’s with the crew. Miss you guys!
7/9	11:26 AM	is finally uploading pics from our US trip in May. Oops.
7/9	6:10 PM	Buttermilk biscuits here we go, SIFT the flour roll the dough. Clap your hands and stomp your feet, move your butt to the funky beat.
7/9	7:27 PM	is learning a lot today.
7/9	9:46 PM	loves having her sugar peeps on IM, twitter, facebook, and the like. Their shiny faces make me happy.
7/10	1:28 PM	Dear woman on the street. I took his scooter away b/c he wasn’t following directions I am a good mom…don’t look at me like I’m evil.
7/11	9:11 AM	is going to the mall with the fam because Aaron needs clam diggers. (That’s “male” for capri pants.)
7/11	10:52 AM	is trying on hairstyles to see if there’s any possibility she can grow hers out a bit. Answer: 2 possible styles. All others hideous!
7/11	3:02 PM	Evidently my hair is going to be silver and baby pink. That’s what I get for saying “do whatever you want.” Should be fun!
7/12	9:19 AM	Bedtime last night, both kids yelling for me. Me: I will come when you’re quiet. Silence, silence and then Elena: MOM, I BEED QUIET!
7/12	9:23 AM	Sick Liam watching Dora Saves the Mermaids this morning: “Murphy is DEAD, Elena!” Would love to know where that came from. Weirdo.
7/12	9:31 AM	Cooking today and having memories of Sunday lunches with my family on Jody Lane.
7/12	9:11 PM	is going to put liam to bed with a puke bowl this evening. That brings back memories.
7/13	8:24 AM	Liam is feeling better today. Now I’m just waiting for Elena to get it after she absconded with his juice cup last night. Scoundrel.
7/13	9:59 AM	…and Elena is sick.
7/13	4:11 PM	is planning meals and getting ready for Mom to come this weekend! I’m excited.
7/13	10:25 PM	is finally feeling back to normal today after almost a week of feeling low. Thank you for making me feel better beta endorphins.
7/14	10:07 AM	has the best negotiator husband ever. You want something? He’s your lawyer! He just knows he’s right. It’s nuts!
7/14	5:09 PM	is not cooking tonight. Take away curry it is!
7/15	8:56 AM	Looking fwd to NIN and Jane’s Addiction this evening!
7/15	12:57 PM	killed the dryer.
7/15	3:15 PM	is tired. Not good for an evening out. Hopefully a really good snack of shake will help. i need energy!
7/15	3:24 PM	thinks she might have sorted out why her light box wasn’t working! Certainly hope so…need it with the gray rain out there today!
7/15	9:06 PM	Waiting 4 NIN!!! JA not the best, but played what I knew, so I’ll let it slide.
7/15	9:18 PM	worth the wait
7/16	7:55 AM	has a hangover from the show…even though she drank water. Late night and too much excitement I guess. That, and I’m old.
7/16	1:41 PM	just heard Liam yelling at Elena that “Only boys go to work.” Looks like we have some work to do.
7/16	3:03 PM	Dryer is fixed!
7/16	4:40 PM	E having major sugar meltdown after much cake and no protein/uneaten lunch at school. Not pretty. Banana and cheese finally helping.
7/17	9:42 AM	At Starbucks wasting time until the school French party. Bonjour.
7/17	3:19 PM	Mama’s here!
7/18	2:37 PM	is sitting in a nearly silent room trying to upload videos of the kids. Flickr is not cooperating.
7/19	12:14 PM	At Legoland. Only one downpour so far. Not bad! L & E loving rides. I’m loving the Legos & ignoring people!
7/21	9:50 AM	Light box has to go back to be replaced again. Works when plugged in, but battery won’t work. I NEED that sucker though!
7/21	6:49 PM	Grammy leaves tomorrow morning. Am taking advantage of the last bits of loving kid entertainment. They will miss her. (So will I!)
7/21	8:07 PM	never needs to ask Liam what he said because I didn’t hear him the first time. Elena repeats it verbatim before I have to ask.
7/22	1:05 PM	loves it when pay by phone parking is the only option and they charge a service charge as if you chose to pay that way.
7/22	1:18 PM	Dare I say it? I haven’t bought diapers in two weeks.
7/23	1:01 PM	is planning for trips. Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…and Kansas.
7/23	2:27 PM	is making phone calls in the US and UK. Just called my UK vet and an American answered the phone. Totally messed with my head!
7/23	6:31 PM	is reading GQ…and she is disturbed.
7/23	10:06 PM	Elena yelling from her bed: “NO. MORE. SNOT!!!!”
7/24	11:16 AM	is contemplating a Mad Men marathon today. It’s one of the few shows I’m really into and it’s calling me. But Aaron would be very sad.
7/24	1:09 PM	feeling better about back-to-back trips after printing pack lists for each and figuring out what can actually be done in the time left!
7/24	2:35 PM	Too much thunder. Macey is sitting on my foot.
7/25	8:35 PM	had a wonderful day with Bex and the fam. First time I’ve taken a day “off” in a long time! I didn’t even do laundry (once she arrived)!
7/26	11:06 AM	Liam to Elena while playing “family” together: Elena, you are my husband and I am your wife; I am NOT your mommy!!
7/26	1:50 PM	Planning and packing. What’re you up to?
7/26	6:12 PM	Waiting for chicken curry to magically appear on my doorstep.
7/27	10:18 AM	would like to jump into a bin of colored balls with the kids. Why is that so fun?
7/27	12:12 PM	Elena: Wiam and I had fun at Swiss Cottage cheese this morning.
7/28	12:12 PM	feels weird today.
7/29	7:50 PM	Going to chat with my sugar peeps. I look forward to Wed. every week!
7/30	9:15 AM	Looking forward to Amsterdam tomorrow. No kids…just Joe, Angela, Aaron and me. Yippeee!!
7/31	6:23 AM	Amsterdaaaaaam!!

Do the iPod Shuffle

Heidi — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:04:50 +0000

This is for Noah.

Shuffle all songs on your ipod. Write down the first 25. No cheating by taking out the uncool songs, or adding some in to make you appear sensitive.

Now that I’ve laid out the rules, I should say that I did sort of cheat. I skipped songs that AJ put on my ipod (because he’s really nice and thought I’d like them, but I don’t know the bands) and kid music.

Here ’tis.

The Promise – Tracy Chapman
Over Again – Dance Hall Crashers
Requiem for a Dream (Leana’s Dream Mix) – Paul Oakenfold
Sin – Nine Inch Nails
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
If You Want It – Edna’s Goldfish
Stand Your Ground – Rancid
Love Comes Tumbling – U2
Walking In My Shoes – Depeche Mode
Half a Person – The Smiths
Will You Teach Me? – Shine Soundtrack
The Cottage – Circle of Friends Soundtrack
Skylined – The Prodigy
My Way – Sinatra
Othello – Dance Hall Crashers
Won’t Talk About It – Fatboy Slim
The Long Way Home – Norah Jones
Think Again – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
On the Waterfront – Dem Brooklyn Bums
Green Day – Green Day
Eclipse – Paul Oakenfold
Sabotage – Beastie Boys
Who Knows – The Slackers
Believe – Chemical Brothers
Noah’s Dove – 10,000 Maniacs

June 2009 in Tweets

Heidi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:58:18 +0000

Heidi…

’s patience is directly tied to food. Only one freak out this trip – from a subway chix sand loaded with covert sugar!! Trust no one. #fb1:46 AM Jun 1st from web
is going to take a nap in prep. for kids coming back on Wed. The break has been wonderful. I’m feeling human again. Thanks everyone. #fb8:09 PM Jun 1st from web
is planning a day of planning tomorrow. So much to do before we head back on the 11th. #fb4:34 AM Jun 2nd from web
is wondering where she left her camera. Time to send it in for a cleaning. Computer too. To-do list items being checked off. #fb9:03 PM Jun 2nd from web
wishes she didn’t have to reset a password every time on a card she doesn’t use very often. Why can’t I just remember it??? #fb6:04 PM Jun 3rd from web
is happy to see the kids, but tired already! #fb10:15 PM Jun 3rd from web
is headed to the dentist with Liam. Not at all interesting, but it’s what I’m doing. #fb2:42 PM Jun 4th from web
got to play with Ang yesterday and is going to Jenny’s today. It’s just like ye olde times in OP! Having fun. #fb1:42 PM Jun 5th from web
is tired after a fun day yesterday: baby pool, sprinklers, crazy children thrilled to see one another, & great mom friends. Good times. #fb3:09 PM Jun 6th from web
is tired and should be sleeping with the others, but the only time to recharge is when they are sleeping. Always with the dilemma, eh? #fb8:16 PM Jun 6th from web
is a little bit allergic to sunscreen. Perhaps living in a climate where it’s not necessary 362 days of the year will do that? #fb4:17 AM Jun 8th from web
is forgetting things left and right. #fb2:01 PM Jun 8th from web
Spent naptime messing around on the computer instead of napping. Probably not a good choice, but it was enjoyable! #fb9:27 PM Jun 9th from web
is trying to tie up last minute details before leaving tomorrow. Glad we get to see the Rosses before they leave London on Mon. Sad. #fb4:17 PM Jun 10th from web
has eaten some tasty vittles while in the US: Mi Ranchito, Korma Sutra (2x), Garrozzo’s…and more – sans desserts! I adore good food! #fb4:41 PM Jun 10th from web
walked to walmart for last-minute items. Ran into ang there! Nice that they live just around the corner now that we live in London. #fb7:31 PM Jun 10th from web
is trying to do Eastern to Central time conversions. Seriously…this shouldn’t be that difficult considering. LOL! #fb11:14 PM Jun 10th from web
isn’t exactly sure if everything is going to fit into the six checked bags she has tomorrow. The other carriers on are going to hate me. #fb3:40 AM Jun 11th from web
is shoving things in suitcases. Hope it all fits. #fb3:24 PM Jun 11th from web
Is happy to be in a car heading home today sans luggage and five hours late rather than tomorrow. It’s good to be back. #fb12:08 PM Jun 12th from web
is out of it and keeps forgetting which country she’s in. It’s definitely bed time. #fb8:42 PM Jun 12th from web
doesn’t enjoy the “I slept for four & a half hours but now I’m awake screaming ‘mommy’ at midnight” aspect of returning from the states. #fb11:57 PM Jun 12th from web
just finished a protein shake and is feeling less annoyed and much calmer. Good food makes all the difference. #fb12:39 AM Jun 13th from web
thinks that after three hours on my lap on a plane Elena would give me a break. Then again, I also thought I’d get my bags today. Wrong. #fb2:27 AM Jun 13th from web
is happy that her luggage arrived from San Francisco and glad that she didn’t have to travel along with it on THAT flight. Wahoooo! #fb7:04 PM Jun 13th from web
is no longer confused about where she is. The rain on the skylight in the kitchen is definitely a “London” sound. Ahhh, I’m home! #fb7:25 PM Jun 13th from web
is catching up, but not on sleep, unfortunately. #fb10:51 PM Jun 13th from web
gets to go to sleep now since Heather is up with E.Thx be to Heather! #fb12:39 AM Jun 14th from web
Ah, the sun is out! Pretty day in London again. Kind of a sad day, though. The Rosses leave tomorrow. Tears will flow, I’m sure. #fb9:35 AM Jun 14th from web
hates saying goodbye. #fb7:47 PM Jun 14th from web
pees just a little bit every time she sneezes and when she laughs really hard. Thank you Liam and Elena for the weak pelvic floor. #fb11:33 PM Jun 14th from web
Bed at 2 a.m. w/ E. Up at 10.15. 12.30 now, in jammies, talking to “friends in the computer” (per L), ignoring kids. Tired. Need tea. #fb12:37 PM Jun 15th from web
is listening to L and E pretend to run to catch a plane and thinking of Heather who is stuck in Chicago after mechanical problems. Ugh. #fb7:14 PM Jun 15th from web
and the kids greatly enjoyed the thunderstorm. Macey however, did NOT. #fb7:33 PM Jun 15th from web
enjoyed her walk to Belsize Park but is grateful for the Tube to take her home! #fb10:28 AM Jun 16th from web
had a nice, quiet afternoon and is feeling pretty good. Hopefully kids will go to bed at normal time too.#fb4:25 PM Jun 16th from web
thinks her kettle (jug) is broken. It turns on, but won’t boil water. What’s a faux-Brit to do without her tea? (Microwave I guess.) #fb5:14 PM Jun 16th from web
is sick. No fever, but sore throat, lots of drainage, runny nose, stuffed sinuses, & headache. Just enough to be a thorn in my side. #fb10:52 PM Jun 16th from web
There’s nothing like a warm dog by your legs to make you feel cozy on a day where you’re not feeling 100%. Good dog, Macey. #fb3:26 PM Jun 17th from web
is wondering what time the kids will go to sleep this evening, and if it will finally be in their own beds. Anyone want to wager? #fb3:45 PM Jun 17th from web
is walking to school again. The pedometer is motivating, as is the sunshine.12:44 PM Jun 18th from mobile web
will be off the zoloft next week. Thank you very much steps 1 through 7! #fb12:46 PM Jun 18th from mobile web
actually got a tear in my eye talking to Liam about how much I love him. What always gets me is that my parents feel this way about me! #fb8:49 PM Jun 19th from web
spent three hours in whole foods today and LOVED it. Thanks Bexy! #fb10:16 PM Jun 20th from web
doesn’t really know what she’s doing, but she’s pretending she does. #fb10:58 PM Jun 20th from web
would like to be sitting on her butt, but she’s taking it on a walk instead. #fb10:59 AM Jun 21st from web
just mowed the lawn for the first time ever. It looks good. #fb6:32 PM Jun 21st from web
loves when A unloads the dishwasher. Really…it’s fantastic! #FB10:11 AM Jun 22nd from web
is coming to terms with the new normal. It’s not the same here without you, J&N. #fb4:05 PM Jun 22nd from web
thinks Aaron brought the devil into the house when he came home from work. Children are clearly possessed. #fb6:38 PM Jun 22nd from web
is dreading getting the kids from school. I’m hoping that they’ll leave the devil there today and it won’t be so bad this afternoon…. #fb12:29 PM Jun 23rd from web
just overheard Liam exclaim in disbelief, “Elena! Look! The sky’s ALL BLUE!” Gorgeous day here. (And kids are devil-free as well.) #fb4:45 PM Jun 23rd from web
must have gas. It feels like there’s a baby moving around in my belly! (Rest assured, there is really no baby in there.) #fb10:56 PM Jun 23rd from web
spent the day doing stuff that needed to be done. How novel is that?! #fb5:58 PM Jun 24th from web
learned that tapering off of her zoloft too fast makes her mean.Â Back on a lower dosage until further notice. Hope I’m nicer! #fb10:58 AM Jun 25th from web
is grateful for what she knows and even more grateful to know people who know what she doesn’t. #fb12:51 PM Jun 26th from mobile web
Little boys playing together make me smile…and not in a dirty sort of way, Aaron. #fb4:39 PM Jun 26th from web
is excited because she just got a new light box. My other one stopped working and they sent me a new one. Yay for Apollo goLITE M2! #fb10:44 AM Jun 27th from web
thinks potty sticker charts for adults are pretty damn cool. #fb11:15 AM Jun 27th from web
’s first attempt at fresh whipped cream just turned into butter. So. Here we go. Whipped cream, take two. #fb1:31 PM Jun 27th from web
will be late to the bbq b/c we are stuck home in the middle of a thunder storm downpour with water leaking through the kitchen ceiling! #fb6:03 PM Jun 27th from web
is enjoying a sunny Sunday morning reading yahoo lists. Kids have trashed the play room, but they left me alone so I don’t even care! #fb9:09 AM Jun 28th from web
Trimming the hedges after rain wasn’t the best idea. Soggy H stomping leaves in the big green waste bin was funny for passers-by though! #fb8:04 PM Jun 28th from web
is planning for the family Scotland trip next weekend while Aaron plans for Amsterdam, etc. with Joe and Angela in Jul/Aug. Good times. #fb10:20 PM Jun 28th from web
is thinking back about 5 years ago today and meeting little cone headed Liam. Happy birthday, kiddo. #fb9:39 AM Jun 29th from web
Cupcakes baked. L is out with AJ at the Tower today. Going to have to send him out for a gift this aft. I’m thinking bike. Thoughts? #fb12:21 PM Jun 29th from web
is happy about the heat. Water in the “pool” for after nap. It’ll be freezing, but they won’t care! #fb2:33 PM Jun 29th from web
Wet, happy children outside, dry, happy Mama inside. #fb6:29 PM Jun 29th from web
It still looks like 4 o’clock outside. I can’t believe how long it stays light here in the summers! #fb9:14 PM Jun 29th from web
Long morning walk in the Heath with Mace. Accounts balanced. People contacted. Lunch. Picked up kids. Hot. Nap ruined by talking & poop. #fb3:46 PM Jun 30th from web
Overheard Elena saying to Liam: “Wiam? Poop is NOT my favowite.” #fb4:09 PM Jun 30th from web
Aaron just walked in and took off his pants (trousers) in the kitchen. Clearly he is hot in a sweaty sort of way. #fb4:22 PM Jun 30th from web
Feeling bright again after a week and a half of not feeling bright. I <3 my nightly potato! #fb6:52 PM Jun 30th from web

May 2009 in Tweets

Heidi — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:10:15 +0000

Heidi…

is going to start packing for her next trip to Kansas (That’s “keyan-zuz” for you brits.) Aside from the flying, I’m looking forward to it.9:23 AM May 1st from web
is excited for dinner: raclette.4:16 PM May 2nd from web
misses Murphy as the detail cleaning crew on the kitchen floor. Macey is a big picture kinda girl.4:58 PM May 2nd from web
has never taken a facebook quiz.8:25 AM May 3rd from web
is listening to pink floyd and thinking about an old friend.10:55 AM May 3rd from web
is very tired after being social last night and today. It’s a good tired though…I love our friends here. 6:25 PM May 3rd from web
is known as Flying Berry (Fairy), Aaron is Sir Tyrone, Liam is Grabbing Goblin, and Elena is Knight Uniqua. Our life is Backyardigans.7:41 AM May 4th from web
is trying out her new selective twitter thingy.8:25 AM May 4th from web
is making meal plans for the next couple of weeks. What sounds good? #fb11:45 AM May 4th from web
Per Liam: When I turn 10 and Avery turns 10…we will both be the same age…and we will get married. #fb6:14 PM May 4th from web
certainly has a bunch of hookers trying to follow her on twitter these days. where do these people come from?9:47 AM May 5th from web
is a leetle bit bitchy. The skin-on fries (chips) didn’t have quite enough skin on them. Lesson learned. #fb10:46 AM May 5th from web
is clearly not friends with some of the people she thought she was friends with…Friend Requested…no response. Bummer. #fb11:52 AM May 5th from web
is wondering what it’s like to follow – and really have faith in – a religion. #fb1:43 PM May 5th from web
is sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with a pal before joining the moms from L&E’s school. The evening is good!7:34 PM May 5th from mobile web
is thinking about the seis de Mayo when she wore the same clothes she wore to work on cinco de Mayo because she never made it home!! Doh!#fb8:32 AM May 6th from web
is in the mood to give shit away! #fb10:03 AM May 6th from web
is thinking about sugar addiction and depression. I’m so glad I figured out the connection. Going off meds is going well. #fb12:34 PM May 6th from web
wishes she didn’t hold a grudge, but when people are mean I can’t let it go.12:40 PM May 6th from web
just gave Jenn some bikini undies for Jack. Get ‘em outta here!2:18 PM May 6th from web
loves that when she asks Macey a question and the answer is “yes” she shakes her head “no.” #fb5:59 PM May 6th from web
had a great chat with all of her internet buds this evening. I laughed REALLY hard. England just wouldn’t be the same without you! #fb9:27 PM May 6th from web
is enjoying a very quiet morning. I can hear Macey snorting as she dreams on the sofa. #fb10:09 AM May 7th from web
is thinking about people who’ve impacted her life in a good way who probably have no idea they’ve done anything unusual. Thanks peeps. #fb4:11 PM May 7th from web
and A are waiting for The Specials and bringing the mean age WAY down! #fb9:06 PM May 7th from mobile web
had a great time dancing tonight! My feet hurt, but at least in my heels I was tall enough to see over all the men. Show was great! #fb12:19 AM May 8th from web
needs to read her blogs more often than once every two months. #fb10:14 AM May 8th from web
has a lot to talk about, but her lips are sealed. #fb6:16 PM May 8th from web
is somehow always surprised when someone answers the phone with an American accent…even when she’s calling America. #fb6:20 PM May 8th from web
is listening to Liam read Go Dog, Go. Elena is making it difficult for him. Of course she is.8:08 PM May 8th from mobile web
is relaxing in bed for a few more minutes. I love it when Aaron gets up with the kids. #fb8:54 AM May 9th from web
Is headed to tea with her own little American moms club. Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow, ladies!#fb1:54 PM May 9th from web
is watching the kids and the adults play with play-doh. And Jack is now nekkid. Now that’s a great party for ya. #fb8:23 PM May 10th from web
is going to start putting things in suitcases today. We’ll be wearing whatever is leftover this week. No one is allowed to make fun! #fb9:50 AM May 11th from web
added an extra piece of toast to bf today. Did it yesterday and went 5.5 hours between meals. Will watch journal. #rrnano9:58 AM May 11th from web
is tired of packing. Only have the kids clothes done. Everything else is in progress. I just want to check something off of my list. #fb5:10 PM May 11th from web
just checked many things off of her list by turning on a video for the kids sitting at the table and doing them. Yippee! Getting closer. #fb6:53 PM May 11th from web
does not want to accept that there will be things that will only be planned via FaceBook and she will have to use their email interface. #fb12:27 PM May 12th from web
is cleaning out the fridge before the trip. Dinner will be interesting. #fb4:50 PM May 12th from web
would like to shove Liam in the Harry Potter closet for the rest of the evening. (I won’t actually *do* it. I just really *want* to.) #fb6:05 PM May 12th from web
Weather people in London must be smoking crack. Forecast of partly cloudy and 10% chance of rain SHOULD = zoo. Drizzle outside says no. #fb9:01 AM May 13th from web
is wondering why twitter does planned maintenance during the DAY.1:27 PM May 13th from web
is having a cuppa. Rooibos Chai. Tasty stuff. #fb3:42 PM May 13th from web
is taking on a massive picture renaming project. 2007 and 2006 will show up on flickr one of these days. #fb9:14 PM May 13th from web
Is sitting in the coffee shop sipping a latte waiting for her haircut next door. #fb9:58 AM May 14th from web
Feels fantastic after a great haircut! Mark. Toni & Guy Golders Green. Amazing. (And cute too!) #fb10:52 AM May 14th from web
is going to go crazy without her blackberry for the next two weeks. America better be worth it, that’s all I’m sayin’. #fb9:28 PM May 14th from web
is absolutely prepared for her trip – and calm even. The massive one month planning checklist helps tremendously…so does the food! #fb10:43 PM May 14th from web
is awake and shouldn’t be. The rooster alarm clock scared the crap outta me. Accidentally bumped it and turned it on yesterday. Oops. #fb6:33 AM May 15th from web
is pleased with the 5.30 a.m. wake up this morning. Better than 5 & 3.45 the last two days Or the AWFUL 8 hour flight on Friday. #fb1:15 PM May 18th from web
is listening to Elena’s high-pitched little voice talking to Emalee. Much cuter in a big house than when stuck on a plane. #fb6:32 PM May 18th from web
had a great time with everyone tonight and is now wondering what the new day will bring. #fb6:50 AM May 21st from web
is pretty sure she’s going to lose her mind without wireless. It exists here…but no one knows the password. It just makes it worse. #fb8:37 PM May 21st from web
enjoyed playing with everyone at the birthday party! It was good to see all of you. Thanks for coming…and thanks Jeanne and Greg! #fb9:03 PM May 22nd from web
thinks that the water in Kansas tastes better than anywhere else she’s been in the world. Crisp, refreshing, and no aftertaste. <3 it. #fb1:55 AM May 23rd from web
is grateful for family and friends who are helping before, during, and after Aaron’s surgery. We are very lucky people! #fb3:43 PM May 23rd from web
is sitting at Neal and Ang’s with WIRELESS…and she is thrilled. #fb7:22 PM May 23rd from web
just fixed her computer and made it faster. The suspense waiting for pages to load was killing me. Wireless AND faster. Good life! #fb10:28 PM May 23rd from web
is looking forward to a fantastic day with the pals and their kids. We miss all of you who couldn’t come. It’s not quite Contente. #fb3:22 PM May 24th from web
is having a day four. It sucks. I am ready to shoot two small children who are exhausted and won’t nap so their mother can nap. GRR. #fb10:03 PM May 24th from web
is figuring out what needs to be done before A’s surgery on Wed. Looks like he’ll have three weeks of recovery before we go back home. #fb1:46 PM May 25th from web
has just been to Whole Foods and is still high from the experience. I miss that being the norm! (Payless was a close second.) #fb10:35 PM May 26th from web
is sitting in the surgery waiting room…waiting. Surgery started at 7.30. Should know something by around 10.30. #fb3:23 PM May 27th from web
is enjoying watching Aaron’s dad try to feed everyone Aunt June’s brownies. He’s in his element. (I am eating cheese and oat cakes.) #fb3:54 PM May 27th from web
is getting nervous because it’s been about three hours now. #fb4:48 PM May 27th from web
is very very happy to report that Aaron did well. Mass was a peach sized teratoma. Looks benign…and it has hair! Will see him at 2. #fb6:15 PM May 27th from web
saw A a few minutes ago. He’s looking good and eating ice chips. They have his pain managed pretty well. That makes me happy. #fb8:56 PM May 27th from web
is sitting in A’s room as he does a breathing treatment. Um, it looks a little bit like a bong?? #fb3:09 AM May 28th from web
A was up for about 45 minutes sitting in a chair this evening. And he’s totally rocking the breathing thingymabopper. Bedtime now. #fb4:53 AM May 28th from web
woke up on a hospital sofa around 7. That’s better than I do at home! A looks good. Both at our computers. Pretty normal. #fb1:13 PM May 28th from web
is listening to the guy in the other bed & watching A sleep. Benedryl for itching from the meds in the epidural is making him tired. #fb9:19 PM May 28th from web
ate Indian for lunch with Joe and Angela. Company and food were both fantastic. #fb9:20 PM May 28th from web
enjoys seeing the nurses’ shock when they walk in and see how young Aaron is. The last youngest person was 50 smthg! He’s doing great. #fb2:58 AM May 29th from web
can’t remember what she was going to do. Typical. #fb3:17 AM May 29th from web
is tired after another hospital sofa night. A may get chest tubes out today. Hope so…he’s tired of them. #fb1:54 PM May 29th from web
needs a sewing kit. #fb4:28 PM May 29th from web
is thrilled. Pathology report came back and everything is benign. Wahoooo!!! #fb6:05 PM May 29th from web
Chest tubes removed! A is much more chipper. Going home sometime tomorrow assuming oral meds are controlling the pain. Yippee! #fb9:01 PM May 29th from web
has enjoyed the quiet at the hospital today. Ready to go home tomorrow and sleep in a real bed! #fb11:34 PM May 29th from web
is happy for the laughter provided by friends and fam this evening. It feels good to let it out after a stressful week. #fb5:08 AM May 30th from web
is going to play some carefree Super Mario 2 and wait for AJ to be dismissed. Hoping to nap and get to Target this aft with M&D. #fb2:18 PM May 30th from web
needs to get out of this shared room. A’s roommate is fuh-reaking me out. #fb2:42 PM May 30th from web
Aaron is home! Yay! #fb11:01 PM May 30th from web
went to bed at 6, got up at 8.45, and still needs a nap. #fb8:46 PM May 31st from web

April 2009 in Tweets

Heidi — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:41:45 +0000

This is for you, Jenny.

Heidi…

1-Apr	9:57 PM	hasn’t even had time to look at Facebook today. What’s up with that?
2-Apr	3:33 AM	and Aaron learned the hard way that closing the door on a sleeping child means she’ll definitely wake up – and she’ll be pissed off.
2-Apr	9:11 AM	is wondering where the sun is. why do the forecasters even try?
2-Apr	11:56 AM	has a headache. I’m afraid I’m getting Elena’s cold. Ugh.
2-Apr	9:19 PM	forgot to clean up after dinner. It was a long day.
2-Apr	9:44 PM	does not want to go to school tomorrow.
3-Apr	2:20 PM	just cleaned Macey’s teeth with a dental scaler. I am truly amazed with myself…and disgusted by Macey’s teeth. She needs one extraction.
3-Apr	4:58 PM	figured out how to hide quizzes, etc. in FB. Go to the right side where the person’s name is and “hide” will come up. Hide it!
4-Apr	7:10 PM	thinks L is more excited about E’s My Little Ponies for pooping (on the toilet) than she is. Sunset Sweetie & Bay Breeze are his faves.
4-Apr	8:16 PM	cleaned Murphy’s teeth. And I thought Macey’s were nasty.
6-Apr	5:18 PM	is talking on da phone and doing a wotta wotta fings.
7-Apr	3:19 PM	is beat: morning at the park, dog bite on my ankle (Murph), Aaron back from US, messy house, grocery list, laundry…and some other stuff.
7-Apr	8:56 PM	would rather pay her doc than wait in a free hospital for hours. Dang dog bite on my foot won’t stay shut with a band-aid.
8-Apr	8:10 AM	is sitting on the sofa with a swollen heel. Have to hop on one foot & about passed out looking at it. Aaron is staying home from work.
8-Apr	2:53 PM	loves Paul Rudd
8-Apr	5:01 PM	would like to avoid the tree part of broccoli and just eat the stems.
8-Apr	6:09 PM	failed at finding a pair of shoes for her swollen ankle with a heel to keep it flexed the right amt so she could go out with the girls.
9-Apr	2:13 PM	is having a hard time keeping the house picked up with a bum foot. It’s starting to get to me. The house, I mean – the foot already did.
9-Apr	3:15 PM	thinks that Avery is the best sleeper she has ever met. Who goes to a friend’s house and takes a nap 30 min. after arriving??? Yep, Avery.
9-Apr	3:24 PM	canceled her dinner plans with Aaron tonight. Murphy should have to go get me a steak. Any other dinner ideas floating around out there?
11-Apr	2:35 PM	is wondering if it will be sunny tomorrow so that we can Easter egg hunt outside. Not counting on it, but still hoping.
11-Apr	3:28 PM	‘ to-do list is shorter than she thought, but it’s still pretty long.
12-Apr	9:29 AM	is cleaning up the mess that the house turned into while she couldn’t walk.
12-Apr	5:53 PM	had a great easter meal of kiwi burgers and chunk veggie salad. fantastic!
12-Apr	8:50 PM	is listening to Liam yell at her to shut his door because Elena is yelling, and Elena yelling because Liam is yelling. Should I yell back?
12-Apr	8:54 PM	is listening to L & E argue about whose mother I am now. “No, she’s MY mommy!” “No, MINE!” Ahh, possession.
13-Apr	10:29 AM	has seen Liam pee standing up about 5 times now. And Elena has gone to the bathroom by herself a number of times as well. Very impressive.
13-Apr	3:47 PM	just did a hard assignment that involved looking at pictures of her life. Some of them are SCARY!
13-Apr	4:10 PM	is feeling good about the fact that she can put her heel down today.
14-Apr	12:12 PM	is tired of being a slummy mummy.
15-Apr	2:41 PM	hates her computer.
15-Apr	6:51 PM	talked to the ocado man for no less than 15 minutes. it was a little weird.
15-Apr	9:42 PM	sure needs a lot more water when she takes Claritin. That stuff sucks ya dry.
16-Apr	11:37 AM	is spring cleaning. Let’s get rid of all of the crap!
16-Apr	4:52 PM	cleaned like mad all day but no one will know unless they open the cupboards and drawers.
16-Apr	9:09 PM	just checked on sad little Jackie Boy who woke up after 2 hours. Turns out he was nekkid, cold, and in need of his binky. I love that kid!
17-Apr	11:42 AM	is thankful that Aaron does nice things for her – like hiring her a car to the airport and making blood draw appts. for early morning. <3
17-Apr	12:29 PM	is going to need a nap today. too much cleaning and a headache.
17-Apr	2:25 PM	is not cleaning.
17-Apr	6:08 PM	is thinking about her dad. dinner tastes like a taco tico taco burger!
18-Apr	3:34 PM	likes everything about her (fashionably) lopsided new ‘do except for the teensy rat tail on the side in back. Aaron says give it a week. Hmm
18-Apr	7:01 PM	is reading The First Hour I Believed. Can’t put it down. Gonna have to power through the Columbine stuff though. Ten years tomorrow.
18-Apr	9:15 PM	just watched Elena pee into the toilet while standing on a step stool. It just streamed on in like she knew what she was doing. Amazing.
19-Apr	6:02 PM	laughs every time Elena goes to the bathroom now. I took the step stool away so now she scoots on and sits on it backward instead.
20-Apr	11:50 AM	would like to publicly thank her husband for unloading the dishwasher and taking care of the kids so she could sleep until 8.45.
21-Apr	11:09 AM	is wondering how it got so hard to keep up with everyone’s blogs – not to mention her own. I’m Flickring at the mo, though. Pics coming.
21-Apr	12:21 PM	is failing in her attempts to overachieve this morning.
21-Apr	12:33 PM	just ate one of her comfort meals: 2 eggs, toast, sauteed peppers, onions, and garlic with avocado and shredded cheese on the top. #rrnano
21-Apr	4:09 PM	is selling her soul and trying really, REALLY hard to figure out a way to get to Albuquerque on May 25 without upsetting fam and friends.
21-Apr	6:02 PM	just made hummus. Yummy.
21-Apr	7:16 PM	loves it in the evening GMT when all of her US friends get to buzzin’ on FB. I miss you guys.
21-Apr	7:52 PM	is listening to Elena say “he’s nonna egg” over and over as the Backyardigans jam out to the rock ballad He’s Not An Egg Any More.
21-Apr	8:02 PM	thinks the itchy eyes are worth every damn flower.
21-Apr	8:25 PM	thinks FB needs key commands.
22-Apr	1:39 PM	is doing laundry and cleaning up to pack for a trip to Kansas…BY HERSELF. I’ve never been this excited to get on a plane before.
22-Apr	3:35 PM	has had a run-in with a peeler AND a grater today. What the hell?
22-Apr	10:18 PM	will not be wearing deodorant tomorrow. Anyone (aside from those of you who know the answer) want to take a flying leap and guess why?
23-Apr	9:39 AM	is at the doctor awaiting an ultrasound for a “non sinister” feeling lump. Totally could have worn deodorant.
23-Apr	11:12 AM	is glad all ps well with the boobage. Home to pack.
23-Apr	1:16 PM	is glad that elena’s teachers also think it’s funny when she takes EVERYTHING off and lays nekkid in the sand pit.
24-Apr	6:41 AM	is headed to Kansas for her college roommate’s wedding. Yee haw!
24-Apr	7:10 AM	random security check. oh joy.
24-Apr	10:56 PM	enjoyed her flight. of course didn’t get her luggage, but that’s par for the course. also glad to see her fam and worried about murphy.
25-Apr	12:55 AM	is glad that she won’t be wearing her flying clothes to the wedding. Luggage is on its way. Whew!
25-Apr	3:24 PM	got to sleep in this morning and only fixed breakfast for herself. What a gift!
26-Apr	4:08 AM	just got back from the best farm wedding ever. Pics of the petting zoo and tractors to come.
26-Apr	2:51 PM	is enjoying a Kansas thunderstorm. It’s still brighter than it is in London on a cloudy, non-rainy day! I can see for miles. I miss it.
27-Apr	10:49 AM	thinks Murphy will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge this morning.
27-Apr	11:49 AM	Murphy left us at about 11:45 this morning. It was peaceful and he was ready. We will miss you, Murph.
27-Apr	6:11 PM	just realized that she hasn’t had a shower since she got back. Gross. Now she is wondering what the kids these days say instead of gross.
27-Apr	7:15 PM	is really sore from running to catch her flight yesterday. Pathetic.
27-Apr	7:47 PM	is pondering Liam’s question about where dogs poop in pet heaven. I’m glad he made me laugh.
27-Apr	9:00 PM	is pretty sure toast is the best thing since sliced bread.
27-Apr	11:49 PM	is just really, really sad. And still up at midnight. Not good.
28-Apr	9:12 AM	going back to sleep after cleaning up poop from most surfaces of Elena’s room. At least she attempted to change her own diaper, I guess.
28-Apr	1:39 PM	just got a reprieve…cleaning person NOT coming tomorrow! Messy the house will stay.
28-Apr	2:35 PM	is a terrible gift giver and she’s ok with it. Expect nothing more than a Target gift card and you’ll never be disappointed.
28-Apr	10:15 PM	thinks that night time leaves too much space for reflecting sometimes.
28-Apr	10:20 PM	needs you to make her laugh. Hard.
29-Apr	6:03 PM	is making dinner with “Mama, I want…. Mama, he took…. UP MAMA! NO Mama! Mama, can you…. Mama, I need….” going on in the background.
30-Apr	10:41 AM	is stuck in the vicinity of the US embassy between ~1 and 2.10ish. Anyone wanna grab a cup of coffee?
30-Apr	1:10 PM	is eating broccoli in starbucks.
30-Apr	2:42 PM	wishes she had a better sense of direction. Totally walking the wrong way! thank goodness for the A-Z and many Tube stops.
30-Apr	7:41 PM	is feeling much better. Thanks for everyone’s thoughts the last few days. I really appreciate it.
30-Apr	9:13 PM	has never seen Grease.

March 2009 in Tweets

Heidi — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:08:06 +0000

Heidi…

Mar 1st	10:44 AM	thinks that a clean house is overrated.
Mar 2nd	7:56 AM	isn’t doing any thing of interest to anyone at the moment.
Mar 3rd	8:59 PM	getting ready for a call to talk about going off of her antidepressants with the author of Potatoes, Not Prozac. How cool is that?
Mar 4th	1:42 PM	thinks it’s ridiculous that she has to go in for a skin test before she can even book an appointment to have her hair highlighted.
Mar 4th	6:44 PM	just overheard E asking L, “Liam? What are you doing?” To which L responded, “It’s a secret, Elena. So DON’T tell me.”
Mar 5th	12:43 PM	is catching up on overdue items.
Mar 5th	7:34 PM	watching WALL E with the kids. I love this movie.
Mar 6th	9:16 AM	is contemplating writing a blog post and letting Facebook post it since they promise my content is my content.
Mar 6th	3:09 PM	is preparing to call her old psychiatrist. Should be an interesting conversation.
Mar 6th	4:25 PM	just wasted money and a phone call on a psychiatrist who had nothing worthwhile to say. Kathleen made a hell of a lot more sense.
Mar 6th	8:27 PM	is going to start a movie with AJ – and begin folding the mountain of clothes on the sofa.
Mar 10th	9:55 AM	is doing a really good job procrastinating instead of packing for Spain.
Mar 10th	9:09 PM	is trying really hard.
Mar 11th	1:36 PM	is wondering if sleep counts as procrastination.
Mar 12th	6:55 PM	is on a veranda in Spain listening to goats in the mountains because the kids are in bed. Thanks be to the gods.
Mar 15th	4:34 PM	is pleased that she came home to a gorgeous, spring day after four sunny, warm ones in Malaga. Yay!
Mar 16th	2:37 PM	is sitting outside in the garden ordering groceries while Macey sleeps in the sunshine. It’s a gorgeous day here.
Mar 16th	4:29 PM	is watching Liam chase birds at the park in his jammies. I counted 18 strollers. Popular place.
Mar 17th	7:39 AM	wishes everyone the luck o’ the Irish. Wait…are they lucky?
Mar 17th	6:08 PM	finds it funny that the only shamrocks she saw today were on Liam’s shirt. America digs on St. Pat far more than the UK.
Mar 17th	7:18 PM	is ready to give her children away. Any takers? They’re free.
Mar 18th	9:12 AM	is headed out into the sunny sun to get a cup of coffee and visit with friends…and then out tonight to visit with even MORE friends!
Mar 18th	12:19 PM	is wondering how many years she has ahead of her of writing “tired” in her journal every day. Maybe when the kids leave for college?
Mar 19th	7:43 AM	had a great time with the girls last night. This must happen again…SOON!
Mar 19th	9:00 PM	is enjoying some computer time.
Mar 21st	11:15 AM	is watching Elena swing in the garden in her yellow footie pjs with her wellies on the wrong feet and blue lopsided pigtails in her hair.
Mar 22nd	9:25 AM	is making life decisions and doesn’t want aaron reading over her shoulder.
Mar 22nd	2:12 PM	wonders why Elena takes off her jammies at nap time and then screams bloody murder about wanting her jammies on.
Mar 22nd	5:13 PM	is enjoying the yummy smell of burgers on the grill.
Mar 22nd	6:42 PM	needs a break…and is taking one. New Super Mario Brothers and Sudoku, here I come.
Mar 23rd	2:51 PM	has successfully overheated the paper shredder.
Mar 24th	8:52 AM	is thinking there’s been too much sun in London – Elena is afraid of the clouds now!
Mar 24th	2:28 PM	is dying her hair because she’s too lazy to have the dye test at the salon and wait 48 hrs to check for allergies. They actually care here.
Mar 24th	3:46 PM	is sad that puppy dog Franklin isn’t going to make it.
Mar 24th	4:04 PM	likes marmite.
Mar 24th	6:50 PM	NEEDS to find her nintendo.
Mar 25th	9:04 AM	is hoping for more sunshine than cloudiness today.
Mar 25th	1:21 PM	is a little concerned that she’s never going to get to leave the house again, what with Elena screaming about the clouds and rain. Lovely.
Mar 25th	5:25 PM	The world as we know it is over: Liam chose to play My Little Ponies with Elena rather than the Wii.
Mar 26th	12:00 PM	is spent after a busy morning of hauling four kids, holding a baby, and driving the wrong way down a one-way street thanks to the sat nav.
Mar 26th	6:20 PM	just found Elena in the bathroom on the toilet with a dry diaper on the floor. Wahooooo!
Mar 26th	8:27 PM	loves that her mom is on facebook. (Thanks, Heather!)
Mar 27th	9:05 AM	is glad to have a morning at home.
Mar 27th	9:30 AM	really needs a Target.
Mar 27th	12:30 PM	is more excited than one probably should be that her bread is rising!!! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it will also taste good.
Mar 27th	4:29 PM	wishes she could use every single character that twitter gives her to tweet in every single tweet. It seems like a waste to leave them.
Mar 27th	5:45 PM	is quite chuffed. The spelt flour bread is really good! Even A likes it. Feels more like white bread than a wholegrain bread. Nice!
Mar 28th	3:51 PM	is alternately listening to the rain, hail, and nothing on the skylight. I’m avoiding actually looking outside. Bring on July.
Mar 29th	8:14 AM	just heard Elena burst into song: Day Man. Does it get any better than that?
Mar 29th	1:20 PM	wants to know how to hide everyone’s quiz results.
Mar 30th	8:17 AM	is wondering why Elena just couldn’t go back to sleep last night. Naps by noon, me thinks.
Mar 30th	8:41 AM	loves all of the updates from her high school classmates. It’s so much fun to hear about everyone’s lives.
Mar 30th	11:28 AM	is watching her children pull the toys out of the boxes in the hallway that are supposed to go to the charity shop. Ugh.
Mar 30th	2:25 PM	is wondering what Elena is doing in her room instead of napping. This afternoon has the potential to suck if she doesn’t sleep so I can too.
Mar 30th	6:48 PM	is a little bit bitchy. Better check my food.
Mar 30th	8:58 PM	is sure that Elena is asleep on the hardwood floor in her room, but you couldn’t pay her to open that door.
Mar 31st	8:39 AM	thinks the new Prodigy CD is growing on her.
Mar 31st	11:15 AM	can hear the computer humming, the faucet dripping, a bird chirping, and two clocks ticking alternately. Obviously both kids are at school.
Mar 31st	12:27 PM	is veggie stacking.
Mar 31st	6:44 PM	is thinking that Facebook is the new blog. I’m too busy to keep up with anything else right now!
Mar 31st	9:41 PM	is grateful for the quiet bedtime this evening. E’s door is wide open and she went to bed peacefully after i checked on her several times.