QA Engineer Recalibrator

This would have been a good one for Wordless Wednesday...

My co-workers (developers) decided I needed a QA Engineer Recalibrator (i break things)... to beat them over the head (apparently, I can be tough on them sometimes, lol).

So,they got me this new tool:




Yep. That's a sledgehammer. ;-) Bet'cha that you've never gotten one of those at work!!

Peace.

Channeling my Grandmother

So, the past few weeks... I've been baking. And baking... and baking. :) I think I'm channeling Mommaw. She was a great cook, and I loved her baking.

Tonight, specifically, I made 4 loaves of pumpkin bread, some muffins, a pumpkin pie and, now, a transparent pie. Transparent pie is one of Mommaw's pies... and it has the flavor of chess pie or pecan pie, but the texture is different and there are no nuts. I'm hoping the pies turn out OK. It's the first time in years I've attempted home-made pies...

The bread, on the other hand, is great. :) That I do know!

Why so much baking? Well, I had a large pumpkin and 3 butternut squash that I got from our jaunt to the Pumpkin farm last month. I wanted to use it. So, I did. :) Someone will eat it. I might even try to freeze one of the loaves of bread and see how it handles when it defrosts later. I was very pleased with the bread recipe.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!!! May you be safe and blessed.

Peace.

The Big Giant Movie

Lil M and I went to see The Blind Side yesterday, at the movie theatre. She called it the Big Giant Movie. Overall, she did fantastic sitting through the whole thing (except fidgety for about the last 10-20 minutes)...and she didn't care for it being so LOUD. (covered her ears more than once)

The movie was great. It is about Michael Oher (an NFL football player for Baltimore) and his move into a white family during his teen years. It was inspiring, yes. It was inspiring because of his attitude and of his new family and their attitude, too. Very interesting, actually. So many people say that white families shouldn't adopt black children. And, while, I understand the argument, I do believe that it is more a case by case situation rather than a blanket one. In this case, it didn't seem to matter what "color" either Michael or his family were. It seemed more a situation of the right place, right time... to help them all learn and help him to succeed. And, by that, I don't mean NFL. I just mean, in general.

I can't wait to read the book, and have put it on my wish list (from Sis) for Christmas. The movie made me cry, of course. And you know the end when you go in... he's a success story (from an NFL perspective), of course. But he seems to be a genuinely beautiful person. I like that.

Tiny spoiler, but not really ... One thing I thought was cute was when they asked if Michael would like to join their family, and he said he thought he already had. :) (of course, i am not sure if they officially adopted him or not, or just became his legal guardians... they didn't use the word adoption. I need to look that up). Oh, and when he called LeeAnn... Mama. Awwww. And how she sought out his Mom. Really, the whole dang movie... great. I really hope everyone sees it!! :)

I just might have to start watching football. On a 'big giant' tv, just for Lil M... but with the volume turned down!! :) Of course, that'd require buying a big giant tv...

Peace.

Toddler Bed

Lil M has been sleeping in her crib up until tonight... tonight, she's in her new (to her) toddler bed, thanks to my friend at work! Her son, who is 5, just graduated to a big bed... and so she gave me his toddler bed! :)


My baby is growing up! Let's see how she does tonight. :) Her very first-ever night in her big-girl bed!! I guess I should get her something cute to make her bed look special, huh? She seemed pretty excited, so I hope this goes over well!

I think we're going to see the new movie The Blind Side tomorrow. This is still National Adoption Month... and tomorrow, the 21st, is National Adoption Day!! The Blind Side is the movie with Sandra Bullock that is about a successful older child adoption. Please go see it!! :)

Peace.

Sensitive

So, I've been told for a long time by certain people that I'm "too sensitive" when it comes to my daughter (race, adoption). And all I can say to this is... I'd rather be too sensitive than not be sensitive enough. Of course, you wish you could be perfect... but that I'm not.

I do care when people make racial comments (Chinese or other). I think in today's world it is completely inappropriate and rude. I don't really care if you're old and/or not in the know. Learn how to be nice.

I do care when people make adoptive families out to not be 'real' families... (like that new show called "find my family"... that infers that the family you've been with your whole life isn't important.

I do care when people say insensitive things, and while I realize I can't always be there to protect my daughter... and it isn't my responsibility to educate the whole world... It still bothers me, and I can't help but to react.

So there. I'm sensitive. Whatever. Sue me. What's YOUR issue? Surely, you're not perfect either.

Of course, that's just my opinion... and, I'm entitled to it.

Peace.

Piece of advice

When someone you know has adopted from China (and you sit 3 cubes away from them at work)... don't LOUDLY proclaim you don't want to go to the Chinese restaurant for your company Christmas luncheon because "You're Not Chinese". It's rude.

Ok... now that I got that out.... besides the ex-bil thing... we're doing OK here. :) Now, if only I could figure out how to get all the laundry put away (i get it washed, dried and folded, mind you)... and the furniture dusted and floors vacuumed... oh wait, get off your lazy arse silly and just do it...

Couldn't I just hire a Maid Service?

Nope. Money don't grow on trees around here, chick-a-dee. ;-)

Lil M helped me bag up about 9 bags of leaves last night. (i didn't actually count, but it was a ton) She was super helpful! I would have taken pics ('cause you know I always do!), but we were in a time crunch (since I refused to work on them this past weekend, LOL)

I also baked the huge pumpkin we got at the pumpkin patch last month. It will make some yummy treats. I started off with a pumpkin/raisin custard... and that turned out pretty good. Next, maybe oatmeal-pumpkin cookies...

See, that's why I haven't gotten the more boring, mundane, ALWAYS there, normal chores done yet! ;-)

Peace.

At it again

(rant)

Well, Jacka$ is at it again. He's filed an appeal against Sis winning the divorce hearing. OMG. It won't ever end, I guess. I have no idea his chances of winning, but let me say this... he's still LYING his ass off.

It makes me so mad, I could spit.

I don't feel like I can write much about it, and he's insinuated he has read my blog (and supposedly what Sis writes about somewhere...?)... I'm almost to the point of locking my blog down for awhile, or forever... or moving it. :( And I don't want to do that, really.

(end rant)

Peace.

3 YO Pics... kinda late

So, Lil M turned 3 in August... well, I didn't have any official pics taken then, but we did today. Here are a few.





Peace.

Where I am today

I went out with someone last night that I've known for several years, and one of the first things he said was - You haven't changed (aged) a bit! How is that possible? (not a direct quote, but pretty close, i think). It had been 4 years since we'd last seen each other in person.

That was a compliment... I think. I don't think I look like a freak or anything! LOL (i know he meant it as a compliment, and i took it as pleasant surprise that i didn't look old and decrepit)

When I told him I avoid the sun, I think he was surprised... he thought I just meant I work indoors. Nope. I use sunscreen, every single day (in my face lotion)... I even try to use real sunscreen if I'm going to be out for any real length of time. Or I stay in the shade. Or both. ;-)

Anyway, I don't do anything super special... and I do thank God that I have always had good skin. I try to take care of it as best I can.

On another note...while I had a good time last night, I'm still mourning the loss of what was just a few weeks ago. And I wish I didn't have to work today... I might even try to get out of here a bit early. Pensive today, and it won't likely go away on it's own.

Peace.

Appreciation

I really appreciate and love my family and friends. Especially some of you... you know who you are... you are the ones who always have my back. Checking on me... reassuring me when I'm feeling down. Rallying behind/beside me when I want to do something crazy. ;-) I just wanted to give you all a shout out... well, 'cause I can. :)

I'm off tomorrow for Veteran's day. I am glad for the time off, but I'm also thankful for our Veterans. Without them... we wouldn't be "free". God Bless America.

Let's see... I leaf-blew my leaves last night... and need to get them bagged. So, praying it doesn't rain... I'll do that tomorrow. I also need to get some laundry done... well, put away. And, of course, house cleaning. Specifically...the floors, oh boy.

Lil M was funny tonight... I went to go upstairs and she kept telling the dogs... That's MY Mommy. Don't touch MY Mommy... Stay away from MY Mommy.... that's MY Mommy's coffee, Skippy... it's not yours... LOL very cute, and protective she is.

Peace.

Orphan Sunday

Part of National Adoption Month this year includes a day to prayerfully consider our world's orphans; that day is today. Today is Orphan Sunday.

To me, this means thinking about and praying for all the children in need here at home, and abroad. Is there something you can do to help even just one?

Family reunification?
Adoption?
Foster care?
Sponsoring?
Big Brother/Big Sister?
Volunteering?
Supporting a friend who is a Social Worker?
Praying?

Please consider all children in need today!

Cry of the Orphan event in Nashville at 4pm CST as a Webcast! We can all be a part of this event...

Peace.

Emotions

I'm having a bit of a rough night... thankfully, the days are getting a little better, but for some reason today's been worse. Having one of those poor-pity-me evenings... you know, when you don't feel like you can ever do anything right?

So, let's see, here are some general thoughts I've had today:

Why am I here again? I mean... alone. What is my problem? Why can't I seem to get it right?

Thank God that Mia hasn't been asking about Scott. Not in a few days, anyway, so that has been a little comforting. I know she will say something at some point, but I'm just glad she isn't for now. That's right. She'll get over him, too. Frankly, I can't wait, because I think he was a real asshole how he ended things.

The whole thing still makes me completely sick to my stomach. And angry. And sad. And, I'm trying to work through it... because, well, I have to. So, this is just another general vent about the whole situation.

On the other hand, let's see... Lil M is just as sweet as ever. I already posted the pics from today. I think her wanting to sit in her swing tonight (for the first time in months) was kind of what brought up some of these emotions for me. He bought her that swing... at the same time. It is just a swing. And I'm trying to take the emotional part away from it, because it isn't worth all that effort.

On the potty front... she's been doing well. She had a daytime accident for the first time in MONTHS the other day, but it was the only one. It was just a little accident. Overnight, she's been doing well, too. She had two wet nights this week, so far, so that's not too bad. :) I know she "gets it" mostly... and it's going to take time to be 100% dry. I actually think she's doing great!

Now, let's hope for another dry night and no talking about you-know-who anytime soon. Oh, and sleep. I slept for crap last night. :( I really need to get back on track with that. I haven't been doing so well for awhile now, and this situation hasn't made it any better. So, here's to less stress and more sleep.

Peace.

Lil M and her swing

Lil M and her BFF MK2... they were playing with "her" phone this morning...
Ok, Lil M cracks me up. I have left her baby swing sitting in the family room for months... and she's getting kind of big to swing in it.... I mean, technically, she still weighs under the max weight for the swing... but she is 3 now!! I just hadn't put it in the shed... Here's the proof. ;-)



Oh, and the mark on her face was from a fall on the sidewalk at daycare. :( But, of course, she's fine!

Peace.

Asian American Perspective

I've often wondered just how much "culture" I was/am supposed to incorporate/teach to my daughter... of course, I really have no idea. And I believe culture is not something learned like the ABC's, but more instilled in us... And don't get me wrong, even though I haven't tried too much yet, due to my daughter's age, I do plan to take her to Chinese school, FCC events, and any type of cultural events I can find. Well, that's the plan. Sort of feels superficial to me, but it can't hurt to try. Right?

This article written by an adoptee, tells me that some adoptees might feel the way that I thought they might... that being Asian American is what should be looked at more closely (not saying to not try to incorporate cultural identity).

Still, I'm willing to bet that many adoptees - if they are anything like me - will end up relating more to the Asian American experience than to the traditions in a far-off land that they have no memory of.

When I was a teen I had no interest in Taiwan or my Chinese birth family. As a young adult, I met my birth family. I bonded with my biological sisters, felt intoxicated with the bustling city of Taipei and learned Mandarin. Still, I came to understand I don't "fit in" completely. For me, the language, cultural and emotional barriers are simply too great.

Parents who ask me "how much culture" they think they should "give" their children must remember: culture is not inborn. It's organic and must evolve over time. While it's important to embrace where a child comes from, it is also essential to recognize that their current experience as an Asian in America is just as authentic and interesting as the one they might have had in the land of their birth.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/06/2009-11-06_its_dangerous_to_push_culture_on_adopted_kids.html#ixzz0W6Ssa8MB - Hopgood is a journalist and author of "Lucky Girl" (Algonquin Books), a memoir about her relationship with her birth parents.

Anyway, just more thoughts for National Adoption Month. :) I certainly want and will try to the best of my ability to help foster my daughter's identity. However she wants to look at herself and our situation, and her own life story.

Peace.

National Adoption Month

So, November is National Adoption Month. I've been posting on FB different links and ways to participate in this month as an advocate for adoption. I will continue to do that here, too, for the rest of the month.

Today - I ask anyone who reads this to please send up a prayer for all the children who need homes, for whatever reason. To think that we have 143 million children in the world (i'll double-check that, but not right this second) that are orphans or in need of a family is just beyond terrible.

God bless the children. Please move our hearts to help them wherever, however, whenever we can.

For me, I didn't adopt to save a child. But I do realize that there are so many children in need, and I can see how that would be a reason to adopt. But even if you sponsor a child or an adoption agency... those things are helpful, too! The link and picture to An Orphan's Wish is one such agency that you can sponsor an individual child with special needs. And...make a difference.

Peace.

Weekend Update

Lil M had fun last night going trick or treating with Aiyee Mimi and Geempa (grandpa). I let her wear her costume all day yesterday and she really seemed to enjoy that, too.

Here's the one pic I liked from the pumpkin patch that I didn't get posted before.

Lil M and grandpa went trick or treating...

Lil M and Aiyee Mimi go trick-or-treating...


I'm still having a rough time this weekend, but I guess I'll have to figure how to get over it at some point.

Peace.