It can't do that, Dave....

So for those of yup who may have been wondering if I was devoured by a pack of raptors or sonething, I can safely say I haven't been.
The reason I've been totally AWOL isn't because of raptors, wild dogs or the bubonic plague, it's because of the damn laptop. For reasons we can only guess at... Well... I think we have a particularly reasonable guess... The charger port on the lap top no longer functions. At all.

We're going to have to go get a whole new lap top, and we haven't done so yet, so I am posting using an iPad, which while lovely for browsing, does get a bit awkward in the typing department. Especially since it really likes to autocorrect me, and I don't always notice when it's done so, leading to interesting substitutions.

We finally have our new queen sized bed and an awesome new mattress, which is awesome. Unfortunately, after the super delays, they followed up by being short the pieces that attach the head and foot board, so the bed is mostly complete, but not all the way.

MiniMonster as a result ended up accidentally dismounting between the bed and the wall, and needed a rescue. I've barked ankles and hamstrings on the handles for the storage drawers, but I'm getting used to them being there, and it Gives us some extra space.

We also finally got to repaint the bedroom, so it's no longer blue. Thank heavens!

MiniMonster is growing like a weed! He can, and does, handle his own spoon and eat yogurt, making happy sounds the whole time, and he needs another shopping trip for shirts that don't take a major war to get on over his head. This makes me nervous of the sweater I'm making for him, but if he can't wear it, I'll save it for NomNom.

He still doesn't use a lot of words, but he's getting a lot better at communicating, and arching him at all makes it pretty obvious that his small vocabulary doesn't indicate a small brain, and he's probably driving his Grandpa P nuts. Grandpa P tends to treat him sort of like a slow minded family pet. This is really annoying, but understandable in a way if you consider that he grew up in a situation where as a father figure he really didn't interact with his children much until they were older, so MiniMonster might as well be an alien life form for all my father understands him.

MiniMonster notices very much how he's being treated, and refuses to say hello to Grandpa P, though he gleefully says hi to Grandma S and her dog. He tends to be similarly recalcitrant with Nana J, who, I've noticed, is reluctant to surrender the idea that he can, and wants to, do things for himself, and tends toward putting him in situations where he has no control, like pushing his stroller through high grass, (I did check him for ticks), or panicking and taking away a plastic spoon (unbroken) which she'd earlier given him to play with, which left him both bored and stuck, and resultantly furious.

Must be kinda frustrating to be in those shoes, trying to convince the huge people around you to respect your mind. No wonder toddlers go through the terrible twos trying to remind people of this.

Don't play Poker with mommy

 And today's fun lesson for the MiniMonster is: Mommy doesn't Bluff.

 When she says you WILL get a time out if you touch the glasses on the side table, you will get a time out when you touch the glasses on the side table, because she doesn't want to clean her lemonade off the floor, or off the yarn for your blanket.

 You will get a time out even if you think it's hysterical to move your hand a little.... tiny... tiny bit closer every time she looks at you until you poke the glass with one... single... finger.

 Cause mommy isn't bluffing even if it was amusingly wiseass of you.

Another Miss

It's starting to feel like Mother Nature might have something against someone, because we spent part of yesterday under an Tornado Watch. We were fortunate again and we only saw a few short, intensive downpours, but other areas took the brunt of the storm, including areas of Massachusetts. I've only seen a couple photos so far but the damage done is... impressive. This after all the flooding from last time.

((The first person who mentions Global Warming, Climate change or any other related theory gets a smack in the head, thank you.))

 Anyway I'm glad it missed us. I kind of remember that we actually had a Tornado go through once when I was really little. We went out on the porch with my mother briefly during the calm and looked around. It was kind of eerie, but pretty cool. We were all fine, by the way. Just very fed up by the time it was definitely passed of sitting in the basement wearing sweat-clothes because Mom insisted we should, just in case.

A little Damp

 Those of you who know I'm a New Englander may (or may not) be pleased to hear that were we live was NOT hit with the insane flooding and storms that claimed some lives, and apparently from the pictures. some vehicles as well.

 ((Apparently a nineteen year old young man was killed by a falling tree while outside trying to clean debris from his driveway. ))

 We did have some rain, and even some thunder, but it was nothing as severe as what apparently hit areas not actually that far from us. I'm extremely grateful for this, because we DO have several large pine trees in the side yard that could -actually- come down on the house. And that would be really bad.

 Otherwise there's not tons to report. I got some fun new pictures of the Monster that I'll post for peoples enjoyment. He's growing like a weed and loves to go outside, which makes it a shame that it's been wet and gross, and therefore alive with mosquitoes and blackflies. It's also unfortunate for Tilmani, who is a buffet for blackflies, and they make him sick. Litteraly. He reacts very badly to being bitten. 

 MiniMonster has been re-introduced to crayons and has discovered that they are WAY FUN. He now has a coloring book and a blank drawing pad, and he actually seems to like the blank pad better. (I don't blame him.) The only problem we're really having is that he tends to drop the crayons he's not using on the floor, then he gets mad when he wants them back and can't reach them. ((His artistic endeavors are limited to his high chair and tray because... well... white paper... large white blank living room walls..... 1 + 1 = Mom Doesn't want to Scrub crayola off the paint.

 We'll also be joining my In laws for a Memorial Day BBQ at their place, and getting to see the work they've had done on their kitchen, now mostly finished. Man what an adventure they've had on that front. First the contractor 'neglected' to order the cabinets when they were selected, in spite of having all required measurements and the like, and since he didn't order them, lost that chance when they abruptly stopped making them, requiring my poor Mother in law to go pick NEW cabinets because he didn't order them. They also destroyed THREE microwaves ((the contractors)) by slamming them into things, and last I heard had made the brand new stove stop working, because after installing it, they pulled it BACK out to do something, and when they put it back it didn't work. Given the microwaves... one suspects poor handling. Sounds like they DO have water back in the kitchen though after months. This makes me extremely nervous of what it's going to be like if we ever decide to remodel the kitchen. X_X

 Granted I tend to be a little more ready to share my displeasure when I feel like someone needs to fix the mess they made, so maybe things would go a little differently, but who knows.

 Oh and MiniMonster should be all excited, his Auntie is now the Manager of the Candy store where she works. Go Auntie Roo!

 And now pictures! One of them has a link to an appropriate song. ;)

MiniMonster and Nana J.

Crayola, Crayola

Visiting the Neighbors

Helping out Daddy

The Strong Men

Hoisin Chicken or Ho-Sh-- chicken?

 We had our rpg game again for the first time in a few weeks yesterday. MiniMonster spent a fair amount of it relegated to his playpen or to his room because he absolutely could not/would not stay out of trouble.

 Game was fun, and the Dice-Gods decided to show me their great favor at some pretty opportune times, resulting in some really amazing results and a fair amount of Out-Of-Character hilarity.

 We served up some Honey-Hoisin chicken made in the crock pot, a pretty straight forward recipie from a new cook book I picked up. Turtle and Bear really liked it, Tilmani and I thought it was decent, but not the most amazing thing we'd had.

 NomNom apparently thought it was one of the most vile substances ever to grace the earth, waking me up in the night with general nausea and plenty of gas, and a nice round of revenge of NomNom when I got up this morning. 

 Needless to say I don't think I'll be making Hoisin Chicken again any time too soon. X_X

 MiniMonster seems to be coming down with a bit of a cold, dripy nose, reduced appetite and general cuddly blahs, poor guy. I gave him a little breakfast, some snuggles, and tucked him back to bed, wouldn't mind doing the same myself but I've got things to do today.

 Now if I could just find the motivation.

Picture Spam Again

 Yep it's that time again, the time when I sit back, cuss a blue streak at Photobucket, and use Blogger as the means with which to upload AWESOME THINGS PEOPLE HAVE MADE.

 Fayth struck again, this time deciding she had a yen to draw some fine uh.... Jeans. Yeah. C_C Fine Jeans. Very fine Jeans. *cough*Apparently she plans to color this one at some point so I'd be prepared to see it again possibly, since Photobucket really doesn't like me. Or maybe it likes some people out there with an appreciation for 'Fine Jeans'.

 The charm on his phone is a lions head ((Relevant to the character on several layers)), and the thing in his hand is a game-relevant pen.

 ...It's a Henshin Pen. He's a Sailor-Scout. It's a Sailor Moon game. But it's awesome. C_C
     ...Yes he's a boy Senshi/Sailor Scout and no he doesn't transform into a girl or wear a skirt. 

I'm gonna go back to geeking out and loving this picture now.

Ghandi

 Ghandi said "Be The Change you wish to see in the world"
  I'm inclined to think that's a pretty smart philosophy, but then I tend to be the sort of person who likes to take some form of action if I think there's a problem, even if it's just making it clear that there is, by god, a problem. Unfortunately, and maybe it's just a temporary trend, I tend to run into clusters of people who have this infuriating policy of going: "Why bother to do anything, it won't matter, nothing will change."

 I've seen it applied to literally every walk of life, and, it just kills me. Every time I see it in action I have to fight not to fly off the handle, because it makes me -that- angry. If people had gone with that theory with ME when I was newly emerged from the emotionally and occasionally physically abusive horrors inflicted on me by other children during High-school and Grade school, I don't know that I'd even be here today. I mean after all, under that theory, why would anyone reach out to me? I was angry, nervous of people and extremely withdrawn! Reaching out to me wouldn't have done any good, nothing would change, so why should they bother?

 Fortunately people did, and it helped change my entire life. Hell, my husband was among those who reached out to me, and to some extent, vise versa. If we hadn't tried to change things up, we wouldn't be here now, and MiniMonster wouldn't exist, and NomNom wouldn't be working hard to go for round two.

 This particular rage fit wasn't inspired by anything so dramatic as ignoring someone suffering from emotional scars, it actually came up regarding role play, and weather or not it was worth the effort to give people your thoughts, opinions and questions on their 'work in progress' characters when they asked for it. I argue, (no surprise here) that it is worth it. Not everyone is looking for real crits even if they say they are, since some people really just want a pat on the back and to be validated, but far more players than that really really are looking for the opinions of other players who already have active, successful characters. Why? Because you've got an active, successful character, they WANT an active, successful character, and they want, very likely, to be active WITH YOU. Therefore they want your thoughts and opinions to help them flesh out their characters and make them something you would like to interact with.

 Same goes for anyone asking for an opinion. Not all of the people who ask REALLY want it, but some of them REALLY do, and by assuming that no one does, and that it's not worth your time to reach out and make even the smallest effort, you could really be hurting someone.

 Use your best judgement, giving people a chance doesn't always mean you'll hurt in the end.