That antiadoption grrl

There are six adorable piglets -- three solid black and three with white markings on their faces.  I have no idea which one I want to keep yet, but I am so excited. 

The piglets are here!

Pics to come!

My mom got the cutest kittens today . . . a Scottish Fold (with "long" ears, not folded ones but OMG his eyes!!!) and a grey, orange, and white calico with the most playful personality.  Rylie is spending the night with them tonight ,and I'm jealous. 

My piggy better have her babies soon so I have something to cuddle and love on.  Besides, her stomach is dragging the ground and she looks so miserable. 

Oh yeah baby!!!!  I teared up.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/03/sot.obama.delegates.cnn

We enjoyed some great weather this weekend and spent most of our time outdoors.  Saturday, we did a lot of running around in the morning, and then I rushed up to Andover for a meeting about the Emerson Lily Free School opening this fall.  Check it out, it sounds terrific.  As long as they get approved for the building they want to rent (and as long as Mike doesn't pull any kind of asshole stunt) , we will be good to go come September.  It's about an hour from home, so we will probably go 2-3 days a week.  That's enough, anyway.  Rylie is also going to be starting gymnastics at a "real" studio (rather than the YMCA), and I am looking into fall soccer for her, too.  I would also like to get Ronin involved in a weekly activity of some sort as well, so we are going to be plenty busy!

Sunday, Mike's friends came over with their quad, and my mom came over to hang out with the kids, so we went out on the four-wheeler for about an hour, riding the trails that go through the farms and wetlands around here.  It was neat to see everything that was back there!  We also made some yummy barbequed food, and pigged out.  It was just a nice day -- pretty weather, not doing any kind of work, just having fun.

Monday, we just spent time outside playing and our neighbors came over to visit for a couple hours.  Rylie smashed her finger in one of our patio chairs, and we thought it was broken for a few minutes . . . but she seems able to move it, and it didn't swell up, so I guess she's okay.  She is using it without a problem.  She screamed for almost 45 minutes thought.  Yikes.

There are kittens in our barn, baby birds in a nest right outside our door, and of course the baby goat born two weeks ago . . . it's really spring on the farm!  It's really exciting to see all the new babies!

Mike has tentatively agreed to take a trip to Florida to see my grandparents in September, so we have to start planning that.  I think we'll go by train this time . . . flying is a pain in the ass and driving would take too long.  We will probably take a couple days for Disney while we're there, and I'm excited about that.  It will have been two years since we were there last, and that's long enough for me.  I know my grandparents will be so excited to see the kids again -- Ronin was just a baby the last time we were there. 

Speaking of Ronin, if I don't go wake him up now, he's going to be up until 11pm again.  How is it possible that he's a worse sleeper than his sister was?  She was terrible, and he really is worse. 

I will try to get back on later and post pics of the baby robins in our nest; they are all beak and so cute! 

  

No, I don't need it, but I'd like to look at it anyway.

I have four skeins of peace fleece left from an MDC co-op, but I'd like to know where else you knitters buy nice wool. We have a couple local yarn stores that I plan to check out next time I have cash, but I should have paypal soon and wouldn't mind spending it on yarn.

My mom gave me the Zoe Mellor Knitted Toys book for Mother's Day (she didn't even know it was the exact book I wanted), and I'm excited to start using the patterns.

Ronin fell off the bed not once but twice last night.  I have no idea what that was about . . . every once in awhile he falls out of bed (he's in his own now), but twice in a row seems excessive.  I hate stuff like that at night -- it makes me think he might be going back to sleep with a concussion or something.  I'm such a non-worrier during the day, but at night, stupid little things like that just throw me off.

He decided to wake up at 5am, so here I am.  No, no, this is a good thing.  It means I have a chance to share pictures! 


Oh, and Rylie would like it if I told you all that she has email now.  Her address is RylieKukal@aol.com and she is looking for pen pals.  She's been emailing my mom from my account for awhile, and I always forget to give her the messages my mom sends back, so I finally got her set up with her own account yesterday.  She wrote to her other grandma, my mom, and my Nana.  She needs kid pen pals!

I'm starting a political parenting blog.  I finally got around to it today . . . just a place to ramble about politics and parenting . . . probably stealing topics that come up on MDC and booju.  Maybe it'll take off.  I'm going to try and make use of it a few times a week at least.

I am so sick of being stuffy and sneezy.  We spent hours and hours outside last week, and I've been paying for it for the past three days.  I even considered taking Zyrtec or Claritin . . . but the pharmacist said they were a no-no for nursing (not what kellymom says . . . I may cave in and try something if this goes on much longer).

On a more positive note, I finished knitting this owl and just need to add it's eyes.  It came out great -- my most complicated project so far and I just love him.  I'm going to make one for my mom, too.  I also have to post pics of the gnomes I knitted (knitted?  is that right?) for the kids for Easter.   They are much loved, but were very simple to make so I don't feel very impressed by them.

I have been googling for free stuffed animal patterns lately, and finding quite a bit . . . but if you know of any good sites, please comment with them so I can check them out.  Even if they're not for stuffed animals . . . I'd try other stuff too, knit shorts or skirts for the kids, whatever.  I'm going to need another week on my mom's owl, and then I'll be looking for something else to make. 

I need to go fold laundry now since we're going to Mike's parents' house in a little while. 

Maybe my head will unstuff at some point today. 

Anyone in Canada want to receive a package for me?  And then send it on?  I'll reimburse you or pay you beforehand if needed.

When I was in Montreal, I bought this cute stuffed owl at the Biodome.  He was really cute and cuddly, but Mike ripped his leg off in a playful pillow fight . . . not so bad, right?  While we continued to play, Rylie (helpful little being that she is) took him and went at his leg with the nano glue.  He quickly turned into a sticky, now crusty and hard, mess. 

The Biodome won't send anything to the US, and I cannot find this guy anywhere.  If you can find it in your heart to help, I'll love you forever . . . and so will Mike.  He feels terrible about my owl. 

In the midst of trying to pack up the house and get ready to move, we're also trying to get a paintball field up and running on our property.  We've had quite a few inquiries since we first put that page up, so I guess it's working . . . I'm not at all into paintball, but I'm proud of that site.  I think it's the most professional-looking one I've done so far.

Aside from the guy who was running games off our field (who has been inconsistent and stood people up a few times in addition to owing us money), we will be the only paintball game in Flemington, NJ.  We're hoping to get a good group of players assembled so that we can afford insurance and proper referees (part of having/keeping the insurance), and then we'll run games a couple weekends a month.  There are a ton of people around here who play, so coming up with a crowd shouldn't be too hard.

i am hoping this doesn't turn out to be just another one of our crazy plans to make a little money, and that we don't end up doing a crazy amount of work for nothing.  Personally, I'd rather concentrate on breeding the goats and pigs.  

Last night, on the way back from Blockbuster and the Japanese restaurant, we drove past McDonalds.  The sign out front, which previously read "TRY AN ANGUS BURGER" had been edited . . . someone more clever than I had changed it to say:

TRY AN ANUS BURGER.

Aren't you in the mood for McDonald's now? 

I brought  my camera back there this morning to take a pic, but  they had already fixed it.  The sign is so low to the ground that I've little doubt it will happen again.  Regardless, that was just what I needed yesterday, after I spent something like 8 hours working on my presentation for McGill.

And now I leave you with a cool pic of my farm, from above.  The property extends into the woods, too, but this is the main chunk, where we do most of our living:


ETA:  Some slightly outdated close up house pics and indoor pics are here:  http://www.motoxfarms.com/houseforrent.html. 

 OMG this cracked me up -- no easy feat at 4:30 in the morning.  I must find out who is behind it.

Medical Adoption -- Adopt an Orphan to Get an Organ

Going to see Obama tomorrow at the Meadowlands.  I really hope we get in and that Ronin isn't too crazy.  I am dragging my mom . . . she finally says she is going to vote for him in the primaries, so she might as well see that he's a good guy, too.  

Ronin peed in the potty!!! 

Also, farting without a diaper on is the funniest thing ever, according to him. 

Finally, damn this kid can talk! 

But if anyone would like to check in on our babies, I've set up a blog for them:  Fantastic Fainters Myotonic Goats.

We are sending in the forms to join the Myotonic Goat Registry, and we needed a website so that people could view the goats and contact us online.  Hopefully we can think about selling the babies in a few months.  And now I don't have to clog up my journal with goat pictures!

This actually made Mike laugh out loud, and he is not a joke person at all. 

Proud mama moment . . .

I brought home dirt cake from my mom's today -- she made it for me for my birthday and I didn't want to lug it home last night.  So it was sitting on the counter after we walked in, and I ran to the bathroom and did a few other things before Ronin called my attention to it being there.  He was standing in the kitchen, pointing up at it, saying SOMETHING I couldn't decipher over and over.  I told him no, it was almost dinner time and he could have a little after, and I put it in the fridge.  He opened the fridge door, continued saying the same word, and I finally got it . . .

PLEASE.

"Pleesh." 
"Are you saying 'please' Ronin?"
"Uh-huh" (said with emphatic nod)

Yeah, the kid had dirt cake before dinner tonight.

We went to see Ani in Philadelphia last night.  She is so fucking awesome!!!  I really can't even put it into words, but the crowd was great . . . I guess because she is so political, it's a good feeling knowing that you likely have a ton in common with everyone else there.  I had Mike take a couple pictures on my phone . . . not the greatest.  We were about three rows back.  Not having seats was hard on Rylie and Mike, so Rylie and I are going to try and go again when she performs at a venue that has actual reserved seating -- it's one thing to stand during the music but standing there for an hour and a half before it started was rough on the kid.

Anyway, pics:



Rylie at Ani:

When you walk in your front door, which room do you enter?
The living room, once you wade through the mess we call a porch.  It needs to be redone, but is storage right now.  We use our back door.

Do you have a dishwasher?
Yes.  Ronin slammed my hand in it tonight and I jumped around cussing and bleeding for awhile. 

Is your living room carpeted or does it have hardwood floors?
Hardwood . . . we tore out the carpet a couple years ago.  

Do you keep your kitchen knives on the counter or in a drawer?
On the counter.  

House, apartment, duplex or trailer?
House

How many bedrooms is it?
Three sorta, really two.

Gas stove or electric?
Gas

Do you have a yard?
I'll say

What size TV is in the living room?
32", or 29", I don't know.  

Are your plates in the same cupboard as your cups?
Yes

Is there a coffee maker sitting on your kitchen counter?
No, we don't drink coffee.

What room is your computer in?
Mine is in the living room (a laptop), Mike's is in the rec room, and Rylie's is in Ronin's room/the walkthrough sorta bedroom with no bed in it.  

Are there pictures hanging in your living room?
Yes . . , one moose pic, one snowman and moose pic, and one winter plaque with . . . you guessed it, a moose on it.  

Are there any themes found in your home?
Ummm, that would be moose.  And ducks in the bathroom.  

What kind of laundry detergent do you use?
7th generation

Do you use dryer sheets?
No.  I've got balls, though.  

Curtains in your home?
In the living room -- I made them.  

What color is your fridge?
White

Is your house clean?
Clean enough.  

What room is the most neglected?
The rec room, and Rylie's room.  

Are the dishes in your sink/dishwasher clean or dirty?
Dirty in the dishwasher, but there aren't any in the sink.  

How long have you lived in your home?
six years this month/this weekend.

Where did you live before?
Martinsville.  Snooty rich people ville.  Don't miss it.

Do you have one of those fluffy toilet lid covers on your toilet?
No, but there is a duck one I want to match our theme.

Do you have a scale anywhere in your house?
Yes, in the bathroom.  

How many mirrors are in your house?
Two in the main bathroom, one in the downstairs bath, one in our bedroom, and one set of mirrored closet doors.

Look up. What do you see?
My ceiling fan with a fish Rylie made three years ago hanging from it.  

Do you have a garage?
Detached, yes. We rent it out to a guy who parts out cars and sells them on ebay.

That's it?  Damn . . . I'm still bored.