My Level of Awareness

I am working on one of those deep, thoughtful posts, but I just had a quick announcement I wanted to make:

I am in love with Corinne Bailey Rae.

If she weren’t much younger than me, totally out of my league, and, well, female, I would totally have her children - I mean, if I could still HAVE children, but it’s the thought that counts, right?

Sigh.  And I thought I was too old for girl-crushes.

This news, as expected as it was, sent a shock through me.

I was a Cold War baby.  Fidel Castro has been in control of Cuba since five years before I was born.  Condemnation and distrust of the nations listed in the Communist Roster was instilled in me from my earliest awareness - on the news, in school, over the dinner table.

And yet, there’s a twisted sad nostalgia at the news…

I have been following this story in Galveston since this baby boy was found.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for little Alijah:

http://texascitysun.com/story.lasso?ewcd=70a90518d422dfae&-session=TheDailyNews:45936D61050e422A22Ykw28671AA

 Because I am speechless with sadness at the world.

Because I was intrigued, I stole this meme from Midlife Mommy.  Obviously, some of the answers for my son are projected based on current plans.  Someday maybe I will show this to my son, so he knows how good he has it.  The things are true are in bold.

 The meme from my parent’s perspective (8/34):

1. Father went to college

2. Father finished college

3. Mother went to college (Dad’s mom went to “Normal School” for teaching)
4. Mother finished college (Dad’s mom got a “Normal School” certificate (teaching))

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home. (Dad lived on a farm - no TV, only books)

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children’s books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (my mother had figure skating lessons)

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (Mom was an only child, Dad was only boy)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them. 

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child (Mom did - only child.  Dad did (only boy))
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16

31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

The meme from my perspective (8/34)
1. Father went to college (community college - associate’s program)
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children’s books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18. (I worked for Macy’s, so I had an employee card)
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp (one summer - Girl Scouts)
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (I was the oldest)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child (only girl in the house)
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.(Dad did)
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

The meme from Harry’s perspective (22/34)
1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college (twice!)
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor (okay, PhD, but not professor)
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers(when he gets there, likely so.)
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home (did pre-Katrina, and likely again soon)
9. Were read children’s books by a parent. (Every night)
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (We are starting him in music lessons)
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 (Likely)
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 (not if I can help it)
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. (We have a 529 for him, if he doesn’t get scholarships)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.
16. Went to a private high school (possibly, but I doubt it.)
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (most, with some hand-me downs from cousins)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them (Oh, hell, no!)
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home (we hope, maybe not)
25. You had your own room as a child (only child)
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18. (He’ll likely have a cell)
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school (No plans for it)
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college (born too late - need OUR retirement)
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 (already has - three times)
31. Went on a cruise with your family (hopefully)
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. (If I can help it, he will never worry about this like I did).

The Days Inn in Van Ness - Not fancy - in fact the rooms are decidedly spartan, but clean, cozy, EXTREMELY convenient, and reasonable.  And, free wireless.  Of course.

Tesoro Italian Restaurant in Van Ness - The food was incredible, and the service was five-star.  The prices were not - a combination that makes this place irresistable.

The Washington Metro - God.  I love the Metro.  I want Metros everywhere.

Dinner with Jodi - She’s funny.  She’s incredibly cute (and I am incredibly jealous of it).  She knows great Indian restaurants.  And she shares my views on childrearing - which are that everybody is entitled to their OWN VIEWS.  I love it.

All in all, it was a perfectly satifactory trip to the Nation’s Capitol City - despite the disappointment of missing Potter’s Violins in Bethesda and a walk down the Mall, because it was too cold, dark, and rainy when my meeting finished.  And, of course the fact that I had to MISS MY FAMILY for three days.

(whine, whine, whine)

But that’s okay. 

I’ll be back in February.

Sigh.

And I mean the WAY past.

Millions of years past.

After a bit of trepidation regarding his two-year-old sensibilities, my husband and I took our son to his first “live show”.  Harry went “Walking with the Dinosaurs” at Alltel Arena this past Sunday afternoon.

We were a little worried that life-sized dinosaurs roaring with life-sized sound effects would be a bit much for a toddler to handle.

The answer would be, ah, NO!

Harry LOVED it.  He was in little boy heaven, transfixed for the entire two hours (including intermission). 

He was a little too young to understand the narration, which was a excellent balance between fact and public palatability.  But the spectacle he understood perfectly.  It was big.  It was loud.  It was colorful.  It was DINOSAURS!  From the perspective of a little boy - what wasn’t to love?

But, peace of mind is at stake.

I know you read my site.  They’re called IP loggers - look it up.  Mine’s a paid service, it’s very, very good.  I can get down to square blocks if I spend enough time on it.

This is also an open site.  I don’t password protect and I don’t plan on starting.

 But…

Our life is no longer your concern.  Focus on your own and leave us alone.

(PS - You know who you are.  And if you are in doubt, it isn’t you.)

Whymommy grew up in the same city, just across town from my husband.

Jodifur lives but two miles from my parent’s old house in the DC suburbs.

And,

Trixie is now working for me.

 So if you read things about her crazy boss on her blog:

Lies.  It’s all Lies.

I have been a bad, bad blogger in so many ways.  In addition to my complete inability to form coherent words on my own webpage, I have even ceased being able to come up with two word comments for the many bloggers I read every day and who inspire me.

But, the most unforgivable thing is that I have neglected to thank a couple of sweet people who thought enough about my slack-ass self to present me with two very nice blogging awards.  So - better late than never.

Thanks to WhyMommy - my favorite fellow scientist-mom - who presented me with a  ”You Make Me Smile” award.

She has inspired me to start running again, so that someday I will run in a Susan G. Komen “Run for the Cure” event with her name and my mother’s name on my back.   I only hope my old knees hold out.

And AGES ago, Jodifur gave me a “Power of Schmooze” award for helping her find a new keyboard for her laptop. 

We got to commiserate about the hazards of toddlers and unattended laptop keyboards, and she has been a blog-friend ever since.  And, even cooler, I GET TO MEET HER!  She is picking me up for breakfast next week when I am in DC on business.  How cool is that?!

I will try and pass on the love a little later this week.

While I am prostrating myself - thanks to everyone who has come by and left your well-wishes in the last few weeks.  I have appreciated every word, even when I was too wrapped up in self-pity to respond.  You stayed with me until I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am more grateful than you will ever know.

And thanks to everyone that keeps reading despite my pitiful output.  Hopefully I will have something worth the attention.

My horoscope for today says:

Pleasant conversations with highly energetic people can make today delightful. You should, however, prepare yourself for more honesty than is comfortable. It’s not that you don’t like the truth, but you still go out of your way to avoid being hurtful to another person. Your consideration is noble, but it may be better to stop protecting others from who you really are.