Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Seven things I can do:
1. express my opinions
2. swim
3. be angry
4. say "I love you"
5. think
6. eat
7. sleep
Seven things I can't do:
1. stop using Martha's recipes even though they never work
2. barbecue
3. assemble a decent wardrobe
4. care about shopping
5. stop watching E!
6. remember stuff
7. do calculus
Seven celebrity crushes and when I had them:
1. Will Smith (1990-present)
2. Patrick Swayze (1985-present) I just watched Dirty Dancing again - it's on during the day alot for housewives like me.
3. Shawn Cassidy (1982-1982)
4. Robert Duvall (always)
5. Gene Hackman (always)
6. Steve Green (1980s - yes, the evangelical singer)
7. Andre Agassi (high school)
Seven things to do before I die:
1. raise my boys
2. love James even more
3. make more brownies
4. eat said brownies
5. write some good essays
6. read more books
Someone asked for the citation for this article:
Abuse and Religion: When Praying Isn't Enough
article edited by Anne L. Horton and Judith A. Williamson
You can buy it for $1.75 here.
Christians for Biblical Equality has good free articles, too, including Jen Lemen's article about women in the postmodern church.
Fools, all you who dared to compete with Carla in a word game! The problem with my sentence was that I paired the verb "doing" with the subject "ill-fitting suit." Regardless of what you're comparing, the word "wearing" needs to be in there. As you showed me, there were a few other ways of writing the sentence (haiku was not so helpful in an academic article, Hugo!), but Carla's made the cut.
My article is about why I don't think Christian Reformed approaches to faith-integration are helpful in cultural anthropology (I propose a pietist approach instead). I fully realize this subject is of tepid interest to about 70 people, and real interest to about 5 (not even my mother will read this one), but still, I loved writing it. Sometimes the joy of a good thesis is not in where it goes, but in the putting of it forward. And Carla's sentence will be there at the beginning.
So, I owe Carla something sweet...what should it be?
4 Comments:
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Yes, I happened by the post when there was only 1 comment on it. I thought, "Oh, this should be right up my alley," and clicked on the comment link...saw Carla's sentence and said, "Yup, that's it."
By
Josh Fuller, at 1:08 PM
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I am humbled and honored to be chosen. Those brownies you made a couple of weeks ago were swell. And I always like something with rhubarb. Or if you're up for making more of that raspberry sauce, that would suffice as well.
By
, at 1:43 PM
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Yeah, I was going to suggest those brownies, too. They were scrum-diddely-uptious!
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By
, at 4:40 PM
Monday, September 26, 2005
Thank you for all the spiritual autobiography suggestions. I'm going to begin with Sue Monk Kidd, Margery Kempe, and the local woman suggested by Pam. I'm currently updating my reading of Elizabeth Andrew (my former spiritual director).
Here's my sentence using "hard-won": Whether by pregnancy or adoption, lesbian mothers work harder than many heterosexual couples do to have children, and then organize their lives around the best interests of their hard-won family.
And, by the way, I finally finished the lesbian motherhood article. I don't like the word "hard-won", and though I used it here, I dont' think I'll add it to my vocabulary. "Won" makes it seem as if you got something for free, yet the word means the opposite. It's a counterintuitive word, in my opinion.
Contest:
Would you like to rewrite a sentence for me? I'd like to use the phrase "ill-fitting suit", but can't find a way to do it properly. Here's my draft sentence:
"Doing faith-integration with anthropology has felt like an ill-fitting suit, and writing my article was an attempt to understand why."
Rewrites are welcome - if you're from church and I use your sentence, I'll bring you something sweet. If you're not, I'll thank you here. I can't put you in a footnote because the thing doesn't have any footnotes.
Ready...set...go!
8 Comments:
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This article is essentially an attempt to understand why integrating faith and anthropology has, for me, often felt like wearing an ill-fitting suit.
By
, at 10:41 AM
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In writing this article, I attempt to understand why integrating faith and anthropology often feels like wearing an ill-fitting suit.
This article is an attempt to understand why the integration of faith and anthropology feels like wearing an ill-fitting suit.
In this article, I've attempted to integrate faith and anthropology, two elements that sometimes make an ill-fitting suit. -
"Integrating faith and anthropology has often felt like an ill-fitting suit; my article was an attempt to understand why."
I'm a sucker for semi-colons... :) -
Too often, doing the hard but necessary work of integrating faith and anthropology has left me feeling a bit as if I'm walking around in an ill-fitting suit. My hope in this article is to see if I can't adjust the fit.
Or Haiku:
Autumn article
Wearing faith and anthro
an ill-fitting suit -
Oh hang it all, I can't even count syllables. Haiku in haste, grieve in leisure.
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"I'd like to use the phrase "ill-fitting suit", but can't find a way to do it properly."
The ill-fitting suit I wore to school today gave me a bad bit of indegestion.
What may be a form-fitting suit on her would doubtless be an ill-fitting suit on me.
How am I doing? -
oh i'd love to see the lesbian mom article. i'm living in the lesbian soccer mom capital of the world right now.
-
By
, at 4:41 PM
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
The pan from the ham I cooked last night.
I was watching Ellen this morning.
Little Bunny Foo Foo lost his back leg and some intestines, thanks to Ruby. She left him near the door for my pleasure.
1 Comments:
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I think you're right on track and not many people are willing to admit that they share your views. lost show tv is an AWESOME place to discuss LOST.
By
, at 3:59 AM
This is how I found them this morning -- a much more pleasant surprise than ham, the bunny, or Ellen.
2 Comments:
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
I'm writing a new course proposal for "Women's Spiritual Experiences", which I plan to teach next fall. I'm using my sabbatical, in part, to think about the kind of teacher I want to be in the next six years (btw now and my next sabbatical). I feel strongly that I want to teach small classes with motivated students, and focus on guiding students through good books. I want to teach reading and writing. I want to offer my whole self to students (not just my brain), and be a person of wisdom for them (not just an encyclopedia of information). I also want to introduce students to Anne Lamott and Kathleen Norris. Some of that is what I've always wanted to do as a prof, but I feel a deeper sense of it. Some of that is unattainable, but it orients me and points me in a direction.
Toward that end, I'm proposing a class that will be for seniors, only 20 students, and writing-intensive. It's simple: we will read women's spiritual autobiographies, talk about the spiritual journey, and write our own spiritual autobiographies. I predict I'll get 16-17 women, and 3-4 wonderful men (the men who sign up for gender studies classes, in my experience, tend to be curious, smart, empathic, and sometimes quirky).
Here's my list of readings. Do you have any to add? My only criteria is that the books be spiritual autobiographies, written by women, and I must enjoy reading them. Unfortunately, that last point rules out Plan B. Local women are great, too - I'm hoping to get some guest speakers including Elizabeth Andrew, Mary Rose O'Reilley, and Janet Hagberg. If I can afford her speaking fee, I might ask Carla Barnhill to come talk about spirituality and mothering.
Andrew, Elizabeth. (2000) Swinging on the Garden Gate. Skinner House Books.
Armstrong, Karen. (1982, reprint 2004) Through the Narrow Gate.
Gallagher, Sally (2003) Evangelical Identity and Gendered Family Life. Rutgers.
Hagberg, Janet and Robert Guelich. (1989) The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith. Sheffield Publishing Co.
Lamott, Anne (1999) Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. Anchor Books.
Norris, Kathleen (2001) Journey: new and selected poems. Pittsburgh U Press.
Norris, Kathleen (1998) Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. Riverhead Books.
O’Reilly, Mary Rose (2000) The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd. Milkweed.
Articles from Christians for Biblical Equality website:
Lemen, Jen. Emerging Women: Are Women Leaders Finding a Place in the Post-Modern Church?
"Abuse and Religion: When Praying Isn't Enough"
The Cost of Equality: Missionaries Choose Integrity Over Their Careers.
Kroeger, Cathy Clark. Does Belief in Women's Equality Lead to an Acceptance of Homosexual Practice?
14 Comments:
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I'll have my people see what they can do.
By
, at 3:23 PM
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Roberta Bondi's "Memories of God" could be a great one to add to your list.
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Jenell-
This is Marie, Nate's wife and sometimes I blogstalk you..anyway..I think that is a great idea for a class. I just finished "the dance of the dissonant daughter" by sue monk kidd and really appreciated it..especially from a bethel subcultureBy
, at 5:41 PM
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The Shaping of a Life: A Spiritual Landscape by Phyllis Tickle
And possibly the Book of Margery Kempe by Margery Kempe, if you're open to non-modern writers -
Dance of the Dissident Daughter, by Sue Monk Kidd.
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i would take this course!!!
if only.By
, at 9:13 PM
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Christians for Biblical Equality is awesome! :-) I'm so glad you looked up some of the books on their site.
If only I were still in college to take this course... -
I second the suggestion of The Book of Margery Kempe for a fascinating picture of a woman's spiritual experience in a world with severely restricted access for lay women to both literacy and religious institutions.
I also really enjoyed Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner, although I'm not sure it would add substantively to the list you've already compiled.
I'm looking forward to My Beautiful Loss of Faith Story by Julia Sweeney, but it looks like that won't be out in time for a class next fall.By
, at 10:02 AM
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For a local writer, you can't beat Patricia Hampl -- she teaches writing at the U. Her "Virgin Time" is a good read. And she's also written about the art of memoir, so would be a good speaker if you can get her.
Nancy Mairs is another Catholic writer who has written a lot of spiritual memoir. I haven't read any of her more recent stuff, but "Remembering the Bone House" was an interesting reflection on embodiment.
If you're going to pursue this avenue of teaching, you might check out Calvin College's annual Festival of Faith and Writing. They always get an amazing collection of writers there, including Norris and Lamott in the past. The next one is April 2006. (I'm still trying to figure out how to go with the kiddos myself.)
Pam FickenscherBy
, at 12:24 PM
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hey jenell--what about joy carrol wallis? she was the first ordained woman priest in england i believe, and she would probably be very willing to come speak. she wrote about her experience in "the woman behind the collar". she is a very thoughtful, interesting person, with an appealing way about her. and would be wonderful to have as a guest.
i would love to take a class like this. i'm sure you'll be packed.By
, at 9:13 PM
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I wish I could take the class.
I like Joan Chittester's Heart of Flesh: A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men a whole lot. It's not a memoir though, so possibly not what you are looking for.
Who is the author of the "Abuse and Religion" article?
ChristyBy
, at 1:33 AM
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How about Julian of Norwich? I second the Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner recommendation.
By
, at 1:20 PM
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I think I graduated too early! This would have been a wonderful class.
By
jenny lynn, at 3:58 PM
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Margery Kempe would definately be a great addition...
In a similar vein: Teresa of Avila - The Book of Her Life
or Esther de Waal?
or Dorothy Day?
(not sure if they have written strictly autobiographically, would you want to broaden your criteria?)
I'm printing out your list of reads now!
Friday, September 16, 2005
1. What is the proper use, both meaning and spelling, of the word "hard-won"? Let's use my doctoral degree as an example. "My doctoral degree was hard-won." Does that mean I worked hard to get it (that's what I'd like it to mean)? And does the hyphen belong?
2. I am thinking about making a creamed cauliflower deal, and am wondering what will happen if I freeze it? Have you ever steamed and then frozen cauliflower or broccoli? Does it work, or will it thaw to mush?
3. I have some extra ham. What is good to do with ham (other than just eat it as is)?
7 Comments:
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Ham is yummy in all kinds of soups (split pea, tortellini, etc...) as well as in any sort of cheesy noodle concoction. I have been known to make some homemade mac and cheese and throw in a little ham and call it a dinner.
I am no help with the hard-won thing. It should probably be hard-earned anyway, because most things people work really hard for cannot be won. -
1. You have the meaning right; I think it carries the same meaning as hard-earned. You need the hyphen, because it functions as one word. I might think about using it before the noun, though, as in "My hard-won doctoral degre..."
2. When you buy frozen cauliflower and broccoli, hasn't it been steamed before freezing? I'm not sure what would happen to it within the context of a "cream deal," however.
3. I don't know much about ham.
-Kim VBBy
, at 5:00 PM
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From the Oxford English Dictionary:
In Comb., qualifying ppl. adjs., to which hard is always united by a hyphen when they are used attributively, and generally also when they are used predicatively unless the order is reversed; thus, ‘A hard-boiled egg’, ‘Do you prefer it hard-boiled?’ ‘Will you have it boiled hard?’. The advb. is used thus in nearly all its senses, and the number of combinations is unlimited.
...
c. With difficulty, as hard-acquired, -bought, -earned, -gained, -got, -learnt, -won, -wrung, etc.
So hyphenated and yes, you've got it right!By
, at 1:44 AM
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I think anonymous is right. I have always associated it with sports, imagining the term first being used breathlessly by house masters in pre-war England, referring to their boys' triumph on the rugby pitch.
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Hey Janell,
So glad to see you back in the blogosphere. I havent been around for a while, so I missed your official triumphant return when it happened, but welcome back.
RE ham - it's so good for you and fun to make green eggs and ham - just steam up some spinach and maybe some garlic (depending on if you're eating that these days - sometimes it makes the milk funky), buzz it in the blender, scramble it with some eggs. Fry up the ham in another pan. Eat it with toast. -
Make some Kumla!
By
, at 1:21 PM
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Spa-Lit-PEEE soup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Marilynne Robinson’s second novel Gilead is a letter written by an elderly pastor to his seven-year-old son. He writes quite a bit about mystery, which for him is most evident in communion and other church happenings. He says that understanding, or demystifying, mystery is not the point; rather, a person should know whether he is inside or outside the mystery.
I’m reading the book as I’m able, just a few pages each day. I was thinking about location and mystery a few days ago, and then I listened to a local pastor hosting a call-in show on the radio. The pastor asked people to call in and interpret the hurricane from a Christian point of view. One caller said that “Katrina” means “pure”, which means that God was using the hurricane to purify the earth. God killed gays because they will never be saved, and also killed those who practice voodoo and sell pornography. Innocents are also killed, but it isn’t bad because they’ll go to heaven. The pastor agreed with the caller, saying that God caused the hurricane in order to wake people up so they’ll be saved. It is better to enter heaven blind, he said, than to go to hell with both eyes. He said something like, “I hope God sends more hurricanes and tsunamis so His glory is evident and people get saved.”
I know this pastor and believe his heart is kind, though I think his point of view is heartless. I think he really wants people to be saved, and believes that he correctly understands the Bible and applies it to our world. What most struck me about his words, and the caller’s, was the lack of mystery. In this point of view, becoming a Christian means getting a set of answers. God’s ways are clear – not mysterious – to the believer. Clarity in interpreting world events, in fact, is a sign of faith.
No one said such things during the hurricane or for a day or two afterwards. No one provided crystal clear commentary on 9-11 on 9-11, except for Michael Moore. We were all in the mystery of it, and we just beheld it together. As days passed, some people stayed in the mystery, and are there still. Others stepped aside from the mystery and began to understand, to interpret, to nail it down.
I am certainly outside the mystery of the hurricane – I pray and watch TV, but mostly I’m consumed with my own daily responsibilities. I know what it is, however, to be inside the mystery of tragedy. It is a sacred place, and when we encounter it, we should just take off our shoes and be quiet. People on the outside should not explain or make it all plain to the people inside. People on the outside should be thankful to get a glimpse of something real, even if the thing is horrifying. People on the outside should listen, not talk; be in awe, not explain. People on the inside have the hardest work of their lives to do - to survive, to become more human instead of less, to dig deep and find that they are very strong. Though it can sound smart and holy, talking too much about the whys of events and the ways of God can just be a distraction from the real work. People on the outside shouldn't add insult to injury.
Perhaps I am still shaken from my own experiences – surely there are things about the world that we can understand and know (like where is Ollie’s pacifier??? such a question must be answered, and quickly). But from where I stand, I can see the life of faith as moving from mystery to mystery. I’m living in joy. I can’t explain to you how a bereaved mother can ever be happy again. It shouldn’t be, but it happens. I’m living in grace -- I don’t deserve my sons, and I’m just hobbling along trying to figure out how to care for them. I fail every day, but here’s this great gift. Though I’ve known the awful mystery of tragedy, and though I am a Christian, neither my experience nor my religion embolden me to interpret God’s ways to people suffering in the South. Instead, they make me open my eyes, shut my mouth, listen up, care, pray, and hope for better days.
If every person who has died from terrorism, tsunami, and hurricane has someone mourning them, then the earth should just collapse from the weight of all that sorrow. How life goes on, I do not know. But it does – the mystery of survival.
7 Comments:
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This is beautiful and poignant.
It has been difficult for me to contain my anger at the "Christian" interpretation of the hurricane. I am consumed right now with all the tragedy in the world and it all feels like too much sometimes. -
The truth is that we all likely deserve these events; and as you state it is by the grace of God that we are saved. We are not saved from the events but from the devestation that follows. Healing, not condemnation or revenge, should be the Christian response. You will see a lot of beauty come from this tragedy.
DaveBy
, at 9:17 PM
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(Janell you might remember me from teaching CWC together. Laura S. sent me to your blog awhile back, in fact, before she was Laura S.)
I have to respond to this post...but all I'm gonna say is...
yep. -
Hello. I'm new to your blog. It's nice to meet you.
Having grown up in the greater evangelical Christian church I'm a relative newcomer to entering into the mystery of God, of knowing God through the mystery of his love and his person.
I really enjoyed reading your blog... and your ass blog killed me! (I'm pregnant with #3) -
Jenell,
You always have a way of taking an issue or experience to which I want to tell hard-hearted or narrow minded Christians "You're stupid. Just stop talking" and make it seem understandable. Even if it means to understand that you cannot understand.By
Solomon's Girl, at 1:44 PM
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Cool Blog, I never really thought about it that way.
I have a Hurricane Katrina blog. It pretty much covers hurricane related stuff.
Thank you - and keep up the thoughts! -
For the next hurricane charley ; the easy way to keep going.
By
, at 5:15 AM
I see that you have dropped an inch or two over the last year. It’s understandable, given that three of us were laying on you for months, and no one took you for walks. I’ve joined Lifetime, mostly for your sake. Oh, the fun we’ll have together! I’ll take you swimming, mostly, and I promise you’ll be raised up within a few months. The babies will go to childcare, so we can just be alone together.
Legs, you’ve done very well, and I have no complaints with you. I’m confident that you’ll take care of your soft spots on your own.
Belly, let’s declare a truce. I’ll fill you with brownies and whatever else you want, and you can just reduce at your own pace, or not. The babies like to fall on you and stand on you. If you were small and hard, they’d hurt themselves. You’ve done a very, very good job in recent months -- the whole team is proud of you -- and sugar shall be thy reward.
Shoulders, you are gaining in strength daily, from lifting babies night and day. Saggy underarms, we will strengthen you in no time with the crawl stroke.
Overall, I believe we look like a woman who has recently given birth after a hard pregnancy, and another hard pregnancy before that. I promise to be slow and gentle as we get back in shape. I know we can do it.
5 Comments:
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An Open Letter to Jenell's Ass:
Dear Jenell's ass:
I must admit, this feels slightly uncomfortable. We really should not be talking. We've never spoken before, and will not do so again. I'm sure you are looking forward to all the fun you will be having at Lifetime, swimming, etc. . . .Good times. I hope you have fun, though I must admit to having no knowledge of why you need firming up. I haven't heard anyone talking about you if that's what you were thinking.
Well, i know we don't know each other, but I wish you the very best seats that life has to offer.
Jimmy -
open letter to jenell's blog from kp's blog-
thank you for taking a piece i stole from mcsweeney's, and doing a good job with it. i trust that you will keep the flame a burnin' when i finish blogging.
ktotheppower. -
To Jenell's brain:
After all the highs and lows that body biochemistry can sling at you, you're still -- obviously -- magnificently intact. -
Oh how I can relate.
By
, at 11:05 PM
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I enjoyed you blog about repressed memory. I also have a site about repressed memory which makes me appreciate this one even more! Keep up the good work!
By
, at 1:14 AM
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
I'm taking a Buddhist perspective on the crying tonight. If suffering is located not in the event itself, but in one's perception of it, then I choose to perceive this double screaming as not a problem. Actually, I'm just rested enough to not be upset. It should stop within an hour.
Snaps: If I do and undo around 100 snaps a day (10 snaps per outfit, 3 per onesie, about 8 diapers per day and 3 outfits), that's 3500 snaps per year. Two babies, two years in snappy clothes = 14,000 snaps. I bet Carla's heading into 20,000 or so. Stacey, at least 30,000. Lots of snaps.
Slacks: My mom bought me some pants from Kohl's. They are a light navy blue, with elasticized waist, front pleats, and tapered legs. They were $24.99 full price (outrageous!), but were on sale for 70% off of $5 - about $1.50. For $1.50, should I wear blue elastic-waist slacks with pleats and tapers? Please advise.
17 Comments:
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well, my friend - i'd be happy to find a different pair for you minus the elastic, straight-leg and pleats!
go figure - i'm the only one to comment on the pants (but then again, you may not want to listen to me as i wore leather pants and sneakers during my pregnancy!) -
how do you feel in those pants? if they make you feel like the kind of woman who wears elastic waistbanded pants, that's not worth $1.50.
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They should be paying you to wear those pants.......don't do it!!!!
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So many snaps--- I like the jammies that are basically floor-length dresses for babies that have elastic around the bottom. If you need some of those, I have lots and Maddie is close to outgrowing them.
As for the pants, if you wear them, you should probably throw on a sweatshirt with an airbrushed picture of cardinals on it for good measure.By
, at 10:49 AM
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Does anyone have such an airbrushed cardinal sweatshirt I can borrow? I do have one with snowmen on it (also from my mom), but it's not winter yet.
I also think that commenters should refer to the pants as "slacks", because they really deserve their own genre.
Sarah raises an interesting dilemma. If Kohl's offered me $1.50 to wear the slacks, would I? -
They might be those slacks that you only wear when you are going to see your mother, or when you want to look particularly frumpy, or better yet, when you want to eat a huge meal and not mess with a button and zipper.
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can we refer to them as "a dressy pant"?
By
, at 4:31 PM
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i think an airbrushed sweathshirt would be just fine with those "slacks", but CARLA - what were you thinking when suggesting cardinals? they are, what - red and black? come on, a blue jay in there or at least a puffy rainbow needs to be added to the picture!!!
we need to be matchy, matchy, sisters!!!!
i would also add dark blue, orthopedic walking shoes with a light blue sole and a white pleather handbag with chocolate stains. -
after you slip into your new slacks make sure and hang up a personalized cloth wall calendar or some beaded macrame!
shelleyBy
, at 11:32 PM
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Slack certainly has a air about it. I think "slack" tries to make itself "sleek" or "silky" but when I think of slack I think "slouch" or "schelack" which gets dangerously close to "slop" or "sloop" which makes me think of "droop"--I guess I'm trying to say don't do it if it's a slack.
By
Solomon's Girl, at 12:00 AM
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, at 3:16 PM
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It pretty much covers Replica related stuff.
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, at 5:16 AM
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blog/site that is full of really nice **handbag** deals. The name of the
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answer-man, at 8:47 AM
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, at 1:24 PM
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, at 6:03 AM
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, at 9:48 AM
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How would you like to know about a Muscles resource, that displays all the Muscles information on one website? Check out
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Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Their sleep: midnight-4, 4:45-7:30
My sleep: midnight-4, 4:45-7:30
That’s nothing to complain about - I’ve managed to make dinner, bathe them, and feed them twice so far today. That’s a great morning!
This is so much work, but such precious weeks. Eventually, they will require less physical work from me. But then I won’t be holding them, touching them, smelling them, as much as I do now. And they feel so good.
Being an enneagram 1, I strive for perfection and have a strong inner critic. I’m grateful for the blog and for e-mail, because I don’t do anything for or with my friends anymore. Going for a walk with Rachel last week was a major exception, and I’ve reflected on it many times because I haven’t done anything else with an adult since then! I’m glad you stop by to see how I’m doing (my comment wasn’t intended to start a blog rollcall, but thank you anyway). And apologies to KP! My hit counter on parisbabies.blogspot.com shows 35 regular readers over there - some extended family, some friends. I know that in one sense, my babies are just babies – no cuter, cleverer, or more amusing than anyone else’s – people just stop by and see them because they care about our family. It makes me feel loved – thank you.
A new blog feature: "I'm just saying." James and I went to a bed-and-breakfast two years ago, and the woman who ran it said things like, "This is a great small town, I'm just saying." "You might want to go over to the casino, I'm just saying."
I'm just saying
There is a lot of human excrement sitting around my house. I'm just saying.
3 Comments:
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You mean sitting in diapers, right? :) I need to invent some kind of diaper incinerator to solve the whole poopy diaper problem. The Genie, the pail, etc... never really did much for the odor or the dilemma of what to do with all that poo.
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Here's me with my pom poms out and all kinds of respect for the hugeness of what you're doing. May these weeks pass slowly enough for you to savor them and quickly enough for you to survive well. Rah rah, you!!! :)
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Hey nice info you posted.
I just browsing through some blogs and came across yours!
Excellent blog, good to see someone actually uses em for quality posts.
Your site kept me on for a few minutes unlike the rest :)
Keep up the good work!
Thanks!Adult PersonalsBy
, at 10:07 AM
I spoke too soon. After my beloved night of five hours sleep, last night was terrible. Only three hours sleep altogether. Tonight is looking hard, too. Ollie is asleep, but Wesley is howling. I've tried rocking, shushing, music, bouncy seat, stomach, side, back, recliner chair, walking, over shoulder, driving in car. Now I'm trying the "you lay on the chair and cry while I blog" approach. It doesn't seem to be working, either, but probably isn't any more or less effective than anything else. He's such a dear boy, even when in a fury.
It's 11:30 now - I'll try feeding him and see if that works. If not, it could be another long night. Why blog about it? Somehow it just feels better to express myself. Very few people read this blog anymore, so it's a nice way to let Rachel, Rachel, Jimmy and Carla know what's up.
7 Comments:
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Count Doug in as one of the readers.
I am suffering with you, as much as one can, or as much as I can anyway.By
, at 12:42 AM
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I'm a reader, too, and for all the good they do, my sympathies are still with you.
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ahem.
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I regularly read your blog too. Really hope you got some sleep last night. Btw, your babies are beautiful. Congratulations.
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Still a reader here too, and also check in at parisbabies regularly for new photos. It's just that I don't feel I have anything particularly ground-breaking or helpful to say most of the time.
Just think of that 5-hour night as a preview of rest to come. Eventually. I remember that first night of long(er) sleep too -- I woke up in a bit of a panic, hoping that Audrey was still breathing after all that time.
And the blaming-the-husband-for-not-being-the-mom thing -- I'm still there, and trying to figure out how to deal with it. I'm praying for you and your babies regularly. Keep writing about them, and about motherhood. It's good to have you in the ranks.
-Kim VBBy
, at 11:44 AM
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Still reading!
XO -
hey Jenell.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
My new Jerusalem is here. All things are made new. I slept for 5 hours.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
I’ve been more tired this week than I can ever remember being. Legs trembling when I walk, muscles going weak, crying…I visited my mom’s house last weekend, and took a nap in my old room. I sobbed and longed to move back home where my mom would take care of me. That was the pathetic thought in my mind – “Who is ever going to take care of ME again?” She has come over a few times this week to help in the evenings. I now can’t imagine wanting to live in my old room, or with my parents, which is a sure sign I’m feeling better.
In exhaustion, I turn first on my husband. I say horribly bitchy things, and that’s only after filtering out the even worse thoughts in my mind. The truth, however, is that no one loves my babies like I do…except for him. He does more baby care (and all the laundry!) than nearly all of my friends’ husbands. And he holds them, and loves them, and tracks the minutae of their daily existence with me. But I need sleep, and if the person most committed to me can’t help me get it, then perhaps no one can. Anger at him is the last defense against accepting that reality. The reality is that because I’m committed to nursing the babies, I can’t sleep more than a few hours at a time. Sleep deprivation is the price to pay for nursing them, and it’s a very short-term cost for a long-term gain. It’s just that I’m in the middle of the short-term, and it’s hard to see the view.
Am I the only one who does this? I’m not beating myself up over it, but it really seems evil – undermining of true love.
2 Comments:
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lord no you are not the only one. I have often been so angry at Jimmy for "making" me have babies. I have sworn at him when he has to wake me up from my coma to feed the baby. I have wanted to boot him out of the house when he hands me a hungry baby and then goes about his business because he has that choice and I don't. I promise you it will get better sooner than you think.
By
, at 3:07 PM
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how did i miss this post?
yes, i do it too. i don't know why my sleep deprivation is always directed at dave and not my bed where i could finally catch up, but i think carla is on to something--it's the feeling that you don't have another choice and the envy of the other's "freedom" even if they are superdad that makes it all worse.
i'm still trying to figure out how to own my choices and be proud of them instead of feeling oppressed by the costs they sometimes exact. it doesn't help that the most intimate tasks of motherhood are invisible and without regular societal validation or recognition. it's hard when you've been socialized to think of productivity and freedom in particular ways.
hmmm...more to say on this one!
i agree, sleep helps everything and self-care is a magic art. yay for mothers--at least you have yours and an old bed to cry on! :)
peace,
jen
5 Comments:
Sigh. Dirty Dancing. Every woman I have ever been married to, lived with, dated, what have you -- as different as they all were -- they all loved it. I mean, I teach women's studies, and thus could explain the appeal of the film's conceit, but jeez...
If it weren't for Jerry Orbach, the film would be utterly useless to me. Fortunately, his presence redeems it... just enough.
By
Hugo, at 5:31 PM
hackman and duvall? you are way too young for those crushes.
By
kp, at 6:14 PM
i agree with the duval crush! i've also got a thing for anthony hopkins (minus silence of the lambs). what about paul newman, robert redford, gregory peck (oops, dead), michael caine, cary grant (dead, too).
yummmmmmy.
By
mama2duke, at 9:13 PM
I hear you on Cary Grant. I'd add Jimmy Stewart, Paul Newman, and Ed Harris.
By
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