The girls are feeling better! They really seem like they're on the upswing! :) We're not waking them every four hours for medicine and liquids. They sleep fine and wake up thirsty, but not in agony, so that's an improvement! :)
I just finished my long run for the week. Ten miles. Didn't feel great, but finished the distance. My parents are coming for the weekend, so I thought I'd get it out of the way.Nothing like Momo and her ironman this week! She will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and then run a marathon! She's awesome! :) Good luck, Momo! You'll do great!!
Still reading the Big Green Purse. Taking a lot of notes, it's very informative!
That's really all for now. Hope you are well!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Girls and books
The girls seem to be feeling better today, although ear pain is worse for them. Our youngest slept great last night and seems to be feeling better.
I finished Steve Martin's book "Shopgirl" last night. Not great. Felt anticlimactic, to me, but it just wasn't my kind of book from the get-go.
Now I'm reading a new book. I'm on page 33 of 394, I think. A long way to go, but already tons of info. It's called "Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World" It is about protecting our environment and health, and the different ways we can do that. This book talks about global warming, greenhouse gases, water and air pollution, health hazards from everyday chemicals... sounded overwhelming and depressing when I first started reading, but it has already given me tips on how to prevent some of these things, and things to watch for. I already feel more informed. For instance, on page 27 I read that a vendor can give his livestock as little as five minutes of fresh air and still call it "free range". I thought "free range chicken" was as good as organic... totally not so. The USDA is very vigilant in it's "organic" labeling, though. If it says "100 % organic" labeled by the USDA, then they've thoroughly checked it and it is. If a food item says "contains organic" peas or tomatoes, then those things are organic, but not other things in it. I've also learned that there is no governing body that decides if something is "biodegradable", "natural ingredients" or "hypoallergenic" so the company can put those on it if they want to... even if it isn't. Obviously, if it says caution, warning, danger, or poison, that's a signal.
A few sites I found interesting lately, some of which were mentioned in this book (none are meant to offend, just to be a link to information if any reader is interested...):
I finished Steve Martin's book "Shopgirl" last night. Not great. Felt anticlimactic, to me, but it just wasn't my kind of book from the get-go.
Now I'm reading a new book. I'm on page 33 of 394, I think. A long way to go, but already tons of info. It's called "Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World" It is about protecting our environment and health, and the different ways we can do that. This book talks about global warming, greenhouse gases, water and air pollution, health hazards from everyday chemicals... sounded overwhelming and depressing when I first started reading, but it has already given me tips on how to prevent some of these things, and things to watch for. I already feel more informed. For instance, on page 27 I read that a vendor can give his livestock as little as five minutes of fresh air and still call it "free range". I thought "free range chicken" was as good as organic... totally not so. The USDA is very vigilant in it's "organic" labeling, though. If it says "100 % organic" labeled by the USDA, then they've thoroughly checked it and it is. If a food item says "contains organic" peas or tomatoes, then those things are organic, but not other things in it. I've also learned that there is no governing body that decides if something is "biodegradable", "natural ingredients" or "hypoallergenic" so the company can put those on it if they want to... even if it isn't. Obviously, if it says caution, warning, danger, or poison, that's a signal.
A few sites I found interesting lately, some of which were mentioned in this book (none are meant to offend, just to be a link to information if any reader is interested...):
- Green-e "Look for the logo and reduce your impact"
- Organic Consumers Association
- Scientific Certification Systems
- Forest Stewardship Council
- Humane Farm Animal Care
- Leaping Bunny lists cosmetics that are cruelty free
- msc.org which shows where you can get seafood
- This one I got from an environmental blog. It's a bit graphic, although cartoons. I am a meat-eater, not a vegetarian, but I want my meat to come from somewhere other than this... so I'm a more informed consumer, after seeing this: http://www.themeatrix.com/
- USDA consumer home where there is information on certified organic products
Monday, June 16, 2008
My girls
My girls are having two very different days. Our oldest seems to be recuperating quite well, but the medication has attacked the youngest and her stomach has been upset all day. She's gotten sick a few times, though nothing to worry about, says the surgery center. Still she says she feels horrible and needs me to make it better. Stinks that I can't. I hate that feeling. The cool washcloth, soothing words, reading books, tucking her in... can't help her stomachache. Hopefully a good night's rest helps...
Finished the memoir book this morning, between weeding and getting the girls comfortable this morning. Was ok.
Finished the memoir book this morning, between weeding and getting the girls comfortable this morning. Was ok.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Also Reading...
"Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs" by Famous and Obscure Writers
So far, it's pretty interesting!! :) What would your 6 word memoir be?? :)
http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/
So far, it's pretty interesting!! :) What would your 6 word memoir be?? :)
http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/
Girls' surgeries and long run
Both daughters came through their surgeries, nicely. The oldest had a bit harder time with the anesthesia but seemed more like herself the next day. They are both very tired today and are complaining of sore ears (the tonsils are connected to the same nerve as the ears, apparently). The next three days should be quite painful as the scabs are forming and can be very bothersome. They have medication, that is doing well with the pain, but makes them feel "cloudy", which they do not like. I don't like that feeling, either, unless it's from a good wine. ;) (Speaking of, I can't remember if I mentioned that we tried this and really liked it?) Seriously, I know that frustrating feeling from medications, but am not sure we should stop it quite yet. Their doctor said they should stay on it until the scab-forming days, so that it will be easier for them to drink (which makes the process less painless!! As well as faster healing!!!) My mantra for them has been:"Girls, drink drink drink!" And they listened the first day wonderfully, now it's a pain for them. Our oldest used a remote and "tried to turn me off." :) Ah, a medicated comedian... :) We also have to wake them up every four hours for meds and liquids, so they don't wake up in agony from sore throats and scabs that got too dry.
I was supposed to get my long run in yesterday, but after getting up to give the girls their meds (and being worn out from Friday's worrying, which I am very good at... :)) I passed it up. It was also thundering and lighting where we normally meet the group, although in hindsight it passed about a half hour after start time. I'm betting most of the normal group went. We got up and went to church today (after celebrating the hubby's special day, of course-Father's Day) and then I went on my run. Was a hot one, but I did it. I finished my first double digit mileage for this season! Woo hoo! It wasn't a great time, but I wasn't "defeated", either.
That's all for now. Have a great week!
Oh, the "Writing Class" book: I finished it and I give it a 3/5 stars. The character development was good, and a mystery doesn't usually keep me in the dark as long as this one did, as per the identity of the criminal. However, some of the language and situations were more inappropriate than I expected which was a bummer. But, now I'm onto "Shopgirl", a novel written by comedian Steve Martin. It was a "staff pick" at our library.
I was supposed to get my long run in yesterday, but after getting up to give the girls their meds (and being worn out from Friday's worrying, which I am very good at... :)) I passed it up. It was also thundering and lighting where we normally meet the group, although in hindsight it passed about a half hour after start time. I'm betting most of the normal group went. We got up and went to church today (after celebrating the hubby's special day, of course-Father's Day) and then I went on my run. Was a hot one, but I did it. I finished my first double digit mileage for this season! Woo hoo! It wasn't a great time, but I wasn't "defeated", either.
That's all for now. Have a great week!
Oh, the "Writing Class" book: I finished it and I give it a 3/5 stars. The character development was good, and a mystery doesn't usually keep me in the dark as long as this one did, as per the identity of the criminal. However, some of the language and situations were more inappropriate than I expected which was a bummer. But, now I'm onto "Shopgirl", a novel written by comedian Steve Martin. It was a "staff pick" at our library.
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