In the past month, 162 people have searched for Chris Gaines, and and viewed this previous post about him on my site. Question: Why are so many people searching out Chris Gaines this month? The post was from October, and literally zero people performed a search for Chris Gaines prior to this month. Does anybody know why this is?
About 80 people have also searched out another October post that they hadn't before, but I understand the reasoning behind that. It was the one where I reviewed No Strings Attached.
But what is all this Chris Gaines stuff about? I don't get it. Does anybody have any ideas? Please help clue me in.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Moving to Moorhead???
A couple of weeks ago, I had mentioned that there would be an announcement on where we were going to live (more on that later). And before that, the last I had mentioned it (in this blog) was on December 8, when I said that it was between White Bear Lake and St Louis Park.
Well, a lot has happened since December 8.
When we were in Moorhead over Christmas, Vernon checked out some office properties there. He found some that he liked, they sent him back proposals... there was one that looked like a really good opportunity (free rent for 6 months, they'd cover build-out costs, etc.).
Vernon and I decided that it might be really nice to move to Moorhead. My mom lives there, so we started imagining what it would be like to go out together, with each other, on a regular basis, having my mom babysit. It seemed like a lovely idea.
They drew up a lease.
Last Tuesday (January 25), we went to Moorhead to look at the space again, doing a walk-through and looking at the layout for the build-out that was about to occur.
But then Vernon and I got to talking, and something didn't feel right about the whole thing (the space, moving to Moorhead, etc.), so we called it off.
We were literally *THIS* close to signing the lease. Four days ago, we were looking at carpet samples, people. WE WERE LOOKING AT CARPET SAMPLES!
So, the announcement was going to be that we were moving to Moorhead. But now, we're not.
I'm actually glad we got so far in the process to realize what it is that we really want. We want to live in the Twin Cities. I guess it took thoroughly looking into Moorhead in order for us to come to that conclusion.
We're going to make our life somewhere in the Twin Cities. Still not (entirely) sure where yet, but it's not going to be St Louis Park or White Bear Lake either. It's kind of like we're back to square one, but we're not (even though we kind of are), because we have learned and grown so much in the process.
We're in a good place.
Well, a lot has happened since December 8.
When we were in Moorhead over Christmas, Vernon checked out some office properties there. He found some that he liked, they sent him back proposals... there was one that looked like a really good opportunity (free rent for 6 months, they'd cover build-out costs, etc.).
Vernon and I decided that it might be really nice to move to Moorhead. My mom lives there, so we started imagining what it would be like to go out together, with each other, on a regular basis, having my mom babysit. It seemed like a lovely idea.
They drew up a lease.
Last Tuesday (January 25), we went to Moorhead to look at the space again, doing a walk-through and looking at the layout for the build-out that was about to occur.
But then Vernon and I got to talking, and something didn't feel right about the whole thing (the space, moving to Moorhead, etc.), so we called it off.
We were literally *THIS* close to signing the lease. Four days ago, we were looking at carpet samples, people. WE WERE LOOKING AT CARPET SAMPLES!
So, the announcement was going to be that we were moving to Moorhead. But now, we're not.
I'm actually glad we got so far in the process to realize what it is that we really want. We want to live in the Twin Cities. I guess it took thoroughly looking into Moorhead in order for us to come to that conclusion.
We're going to make our life somewhere in the Twin Cities. Still not (entirely) sure where yet, but it's not going to be St Louis Park or White Bear Lake either. It's kind of like we're back to square one, but we're not (even though we kind of are), because we have learned and grown so much in the process.
We're in a good place.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Boots Off
I was at the library today and Peace had her boots and socks off because she associates going inside with taking off her boots and socks. I let her do this because it is just easier this way. WAY easier. (She also does this in church, at playgroup, wherever.)
Anyway, so the library lady tells me that I need to have something on her feet. (We had done this several times before at this library and never got caught before.) I made an attempt at putting them on her, but it ended up as I knew it would... with Peace crying and screaming, flailing around and kicking her legs.
I didn't get the boots on.
So I told the kids, "Let's just get our books and get out of here." I scrambled to pick out an audio book for myself, the kids, and a chapter book. Meanwhile, Ocean keeps trying to get Peace to put on her boots, saying loudly, "You have to put on your boots, Peace," and Peace keeps wailing.
I check the books out, and then carry Peace with her boots, socks, and coat out of the library doors and into the library entryway. Peace is still crying while I put on her boots, but then I say something about getting a drink of water (because there is a drinking fountain there and she likes getting drinks out of them), and she stops crying and lets me put on her stuff.
But then Ocean and Ezra open the door to go outside, Peace follows them, and forgets all about getting a drink of water or that she was ever unhappy in the first place.
END STORY
Anyway, so the library lady tells me that I need to have something on her feet. (We had done this several times before at this library and never got caught before.) I made an attempt at putting them on her, but it ended up as I knew it would... with Peace crying and screaming, flailing around and kicking her legs.
I didn't get the boots on.
So I told the kids, "Let's just get our books and get out of here." I scrambled to pick out an audio book for myself, the kids, and a chapter book. Meanwhile, Ocean keeps trying to get Peace to put on her boots, saying loudly, "You have to put on your boots, Peace," and Peace keeps wailing.
I check the books out, and then carry Peace with her boots, socks, and coat out of the library doors and into the library entryway. Peace is still crying while I put on her boots, but then I say something about getting a drink of water (because there is a drinking fountain there and she likes getting drinks out of them), and she stops crying and lets me put on her stuff.
But then Ocean and Ezra open the door to go outside, Peace follows them, and forgets all about getting a drink of water or that she was ever unhappy in the first place.
END STORY
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Moorhead Community Education
We were in Moorhead yesterday taking care of some complicated business (I'm not going to talk about it yet. Later.) and stayed at my mother's. While there, I noticed she had a booklet for Moorhead Community Education where some pages were thumbmarked, and classes of interest were marked with an X.
Here is what she had:
But then she had:
Here is what she had:
- Walk It Off Wednesday
- Volkssport
- Decadent Desserts Made Simple
But then she had:
- Understanding Fibromyalgia: A Holistic Approach to Chronic Pain and Fatigue
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Retirement Has Changed: What's Your Next Move?
- Preplanning Your Funeral
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Choices (Sex, Drinking, Birth and Dora)
In my post about Dora the other day, my friend Kristin left this comment:
This is good practice for letting go in life - we cannot control what our kids love, and they will grow to resent us in trying. Just like I accept that Alma might grow up to be a fundy Christian or love Disney princesses, all I can do is love her and keep my end of the relationship open.
I tend to lose track of the bigger picture (like Kristin talks about) in times of stress (ahem), and I want to cling close to my ideals in an attempt to feel comfort from them.
I was talking with some friends the other week about what it might be like when our children get older, when they become teenagers. Somebody asked me how I would feel if my kids have sex and drink when they're teenagers (because those are things that I never engaged in as a teen... or now, really).
I don't know how I would feel.
I would like my kids to make good choices. And I guess I feel that the choices I made (not to drink or have sex as a teenager) were good ones, so I would want them to have the same.
Kind of like how they would give birth... Like, what if my daughters wanted to have elective cesareans? I wouldn't think that was the best choice either. But all that I can do (both now and later) is to educate them in making good decisions... about giving birth, drinking, sex, Dora... everything.
And what they do with that is up to them. After which, I'll have to step back, let go, and love them unconditionally no matter what they choose. Right, Kristin?
This is good practice for letting go in life - we cannot control what our kids love, and they will grow to resent us in trying. Just like I accept that Alma might grow up to be a fundy Christian or love Disney princesses, all I can do is love her and keep my end of the relationship open.
I tend to lose track of the bigger picture (like Kristin talks about) in times of stress (ahem), and I want to cling close to my ideals in an attempt to feel comfort from them.
I was talking with some friends the other week about what it might be like when our children get older, when they become teenagers. Somebody asked me how I would feel if my kids have sex and drink when they're teenagers (because those are things that I never engaged in as a teen... or now, really).
I don't know how I would feel.
I would like my kids to make good choices. And I guess I feel that the choices I made (not to drink or have sex as a teenager) were good ones, so I would want them to have the same.
Kind of like how they would give birth... Like, what if my daughters wanted to have elective cesareans? I wouldn't think that was the best choice either. But all that I can do (both now and later) is to educate them in making good decisions... about giving birth, drinking, sex, Dora... everything.
And what they do with that is up to them. After which, I'll have to step back, let go, and love them unconditionally no matter what they choose. Right, Kristin?
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