tag:www.glchoate.com,2008://6 2008-04-25T18:25:40Z Movable Type Open Source 4.1 tag:www.glchoate.com,2008://6.2685 2008-04-23T05:32:43Z 2008-04-25T18:25:40Z

….For one thing. I look forward to saying what I’m really thinking. The truly elderly seem to get away with that. But more importantly, I’d like to figure women out. I’d like to know why we size each other up....

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ ....For one thing. I look forward to saying what I'm really thinking. The truly elderly seem to get away with that. But more importantly, I'd like to figure women out. I'd like to know why we size each other up. On a basic level, it's survival, evaluating the competition for a mate. But I have a mate, we've made 3 babies. While I'm a normal person, I don't think of myself as shallow, I'll be friends with women who are a size 2 or a 20. Why do I still do it? I should say, that when I do, **I try not to be obvious about it.** While I'm not proud of it, I know it's natural, and it probably won't last forever. When we were in Mississippi, I went into a TJMax. I found a sweater to buy, and I never find anything in there to buy. So I'm in the checkout, and I can't wait to get out of there. The Jackson, Mississippi I saw that week had a mean spirit; sorry, y'all. At first, the animosity I felt came from a couple of black women, different situations, and being a fish out of water, I didn't know what to make of it. Then the white cashier, who can see me from head to toe, turns, and very obviously looks me up and down! Whether she was looking at my clothes or my waistline I don't know, probably both. I smiled a bit to be disarming, but she didn't smile back. I know what I saw. (It occurred to me later that it might've been sexual, but that was not her vibe.) The meanness I found in the women came from other sources too: partly race, partly class rank, maybe just city living, but in the South that I know, what female peer doesn't return a disarming smile? And no run-ins with men, just grief from the women. I went to a women's retreat with our congregation this month, and I loved bunking with the old girls, they say things they wouldn't say in mixed company. I loved it. Five minutes after I'm thinking about this on my shin-splinting jog, subtle things happened with some younger women that made me wonder why I like women at all. My good friend in Connecticut, a grandmother, says sizing women up will fade with age. As we get older, survival instinct relaxes, certainly the drive for baby-making relaxes after menopause. I hope it gets easier being with women. tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2681 2007-12-23T04:23:53Z 2007-12-24T16:18:41Z

Finding ourselves “down South” again (for my Western friends I don’t mean Anaheim or San Diego :-) We were greeted by the lightening, wind, and rain that I remember in Arkansas and Mississippi. It is night, but not yet cold....

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Finding ourselves "down South" again (for my Western friends I don't mean Anaheim or San Diego :-) We were greeted by the lightening, wind, and rain that I remember in Arkansas and Mississippi. It is night, but not yet cold. The days will be grey. Got up at 3 a.m. with the kids after my worst night of sleep since college. Though now the sleep is a lot more precious. I was too nervous about sleeping through the alarm and missing our cab. But walking through airports, eating protein, and generally adjusting a downhill attitude does wonders for warding off a headache. Our childen have gotten old enough now that big trips are... dare I say, fun? tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2680 2007-11-22T23:58:59Z 2007-11-23T01:27:06Z

Since I bombed on last year’s resolutions, (I had six, maybe seven, and I’m not even sure if I could name them without looking back at my blog.) I only have one for the coming year. I started 3 days...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Since I bombed on last year's resolutions, (I had six, maybe seven, and I'm not even sure if I could name them without looking back at my blog.) I only have one for the coming year. I started 3 days ago. No eating while I'm driving. This has never been a *big* problem, but days back, as I was taking a bite of my cream cheese sandwich, I looked over at the driver next to me taking a bite of his fast food breakfast sandwich. Now, I love my cream cheese sandwich, made with the toasted sesame Ezekiel bread. (There is something so nicely subtle about the taste of sesame, dresses up just about everything.) But I wasn't enjoying it, looking for brake lights and red traffic lights turning green, filtering the children's complaints from the backseat for the more important complaints, music playing.... It seemed a little sad, people driving and eating at the same time, an obvious symbol of a hectic life. Resolving to take time for each meal actually embodies other changes that need to be made. [Publilius Syrus](http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Publilius_Syrus) said one of many witty and painfully obvious truths, "To do two things at once is to do neither." And according to a recent article in [The Week](http://www.theweekdaily.com/), multitasking is getting us no where. This is disappointing to me. In the same way, I was disappointed to learn that people who are comfortable in their clutter are often more productive than us tidy folk. (I don't like clutter, and I'm often not productive.) But I *think* I can make a greater effort to enjoy and focus on one thing at a time, then I can being productive in a trashed house. I don't know. I know I don't like looking down to see that my sandwich has disappeared and I'm wondering where it went. tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2671 2007-09-15T20:13:51Z 2007-09-16T04:35:11Z

Brad just asked for the third time if I’d used the Movable Type feature of blogging from my iPhone. No, I haven’t, I say. Being a captive audience and no excuse but a Rachel Ray magazine…… We are going down...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Brad just asked for the third time if I'd used the Movable Type feature of blogging from my iPhone. No, I haven't, I say. Being a captive audience and no excuse but a Rachel Ray magazine...... We are going down to investigate what this Mystery Spot is all about. All the minivans in Pleasanton seem to be sporting the Mystery Spot bumper stickers, and I've been curious for three years what this means :-) So, when will I be able to cross post to VOX from my fancy phone? ;-) tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2658 2007-06-13T20:08:17Z 2007-07-28T22:41:26Z

Cliches are the only thing I collect, well, did collect. I use them more in my head than out loud. There are 2 or 3 that I use in response to something Brad says, and I’ve been so faithful in...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ did collect. I use them more in my head than out loud. There are 2 or 3 that I use in response to something Brad says, and I've been so faithful in saying them, that he knows when they're coming and can often beat me to it. For instance, whenever Brad says, "Might as well..." I have to say, "Can't dance." My mother said it, "I might as well, I can't dance." (To get her Arkansas correct though, you have to use the long "a" sound for "can't".) Pretty nonsensical; I've even asked her the meaning. Just something to say. It's still amusing between me and Brad. He's very longsuffering. But I've started to annoy myself inside my head with cliches. When Savannah was "reasoning" with me into getting her way, I gave my final opinion by saying, "That's the bottom line." Then I had to explain the meaning to her, which I kept short for a 7 year old. Perhaps this originated from an accountant filing taxes. But if the meaning isn't obvious or easily deduced, I wonder how much difficulty does it cause 2nd language English speakers? The only effort I've put into the kind of listening they do is in translating thick accents, where I fail miserably. One of the first things I noticed about this coast is a lot more and broader immigration than there was on the East Coast. In simplifying cliche expressions for foreigners, I worry about talking down to them. It seems like a very "Michael Scott" thing to do. I could just use my normal speech, rife with "how come?" instead of just "why?", and much more, but I'm sure they nod understanding when they have little idea what I mean. I would too if I were in China or Laos. It must get exhausting, always listening extra hard. I'm also wondering if thinking this way in my vocabulary is what's kept my vocabulary from growing. I have a habit of not committing to memory very obscure words. I assume the big 50 cent words aren't practical, so I find myself looking them up 3 and 4 times. But I'm quitting with the cliches, which will take time, mostly because of the annoyance and the confusion caused, hopefully making room for a better vocabulary!]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2652 2007-06-06T22:17:45Z 2007-08-24T20:12:56Z

Today, Brad and I have been married 15 years. Our plans are waiting for the weekend. But I did dress up today :)...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Today, Brad and I have been married 15 years. Our plans are waiting for the weekend. But I did dress up today :) tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2642 2007-05-26T15:31:05Z 2007-06-01T04:34:45Z

Our landlord mentioned getting new windows 2 1/2 years ago. Well, we got them in Tuesday! The install crew says we’ll be able to feel the difference in temperature this summer as well as the difference on our bill. Those...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ feel the difference in temperature this summer as well as the difference on our bill. Those two weeks of ridiculous heat last summer have not left my mind. Even with a good window unit running, the thermostat still read 95F in the house. When I relayed to Brad what the window man said, I nearly started crying at the thought of a better summer. In preparation for getting the windows, they asked that we move the furniture 4 feet away from all the windows. When Brad rearranged the kids' rooms, they were ecstatic. Arwen's room looked the most different. She jumped up and down saying, "Dats a great idea!" It always blew my mind a little when I was young and a room got rearranged. Reminds me of staring into the mirror at the room behind me and how it looked like a completely different room. Brad did a lot of moving that night in our tv room. It looks awesome, his design. Seems like such a minor thing to rearrange but, creatively speaking, it really gets one out of a rut. And the garbage one finds! Not all of it garbage really, just things that belong elsewhere, mostly cds and notebooks that got shoved into our bookshelves. I enjoy vacuuming now that we have a Dyson, so it was a bonus to see all the fuzz and popcorn kernels get sucked up, and my lovely housewife nerves felt much better once I could easily walk across the floor. Then I realized that this must be what is meant by spring cleaning. I don't remember my mother's spring cleaning. She deep cleaned year round, the tiles, the tub, the walls, the cabinet doors, but she is minimal is her home making, so there's not a lot getting pushed around and continually organized. I'd like to rearrange every spring, if Brad's up to it, 'cause I don't care to do it by myself. It was a fun thing to share with him. He actually suggested we get a small sofa for extra seating, and with new electronics to buy he rarely suggests we spend on new furniture :)]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2636 2007-05-05T05:35:15Z 2007-05-14T06:43:17Z

The kiddies used to run to the ice maker, which is on the bottom of our fridge, whenever they heard it filling with water. They were trying to see the water before it finished filling. Of course, we haven’t used...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ not a candy day, Mama was digging into the cabinet. I have my own stash. The cabinet creaked and they came running round the corner squealing for candy. How did they know, out of all our kitchen cabinets which one I was sneaking into? When Seth and Arwen get chocolate milk, I mix milk with Trader Joe's Midnight Moo straight into their "spill proof" cups. They love to stir it themselves. We sing our Spanish mixing song. But I'm often in a hurry in the mornings and try to mix it quietly. But they're on to me. Two rooms away, one will hear the spoon tapping the inside of the plastic cup, and since they're practically joined at the hip, for better or worse, they both come running to the kitchen to have a turn. A couple of weeks before Easter, for the second year, I put out a basket of chocolates on the front stoop. It's intended for anyone who wants them, including the kids, the mailman, the neighbor, Jehovah's Witnesses... and every time I checked the mail, the kids heard the front door open and came running. It was wild, the mad dash for sugar. !You'd think I never gave them any! So deprived, I know.]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2622 2007-03-23T17:34:07Z 2007-05-14T07:00:13Z

This morning I gave the heels to Seth and Arwen for their morning toast. They never said a word, just ate it up. How many loaves’ worth of heels have I wasted up ‘til now?...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ This morning I gave the heels to Seth and Arwen for their morning toast. They never said a word, just ate it up. How many loaves' worth of heels have I wasted up 'til now? tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2612 2007-02-07T21:00:08Z 2007-05-15T22:54:47Z

Today in Trader Joe’s, Seth caught me in a yawn. I was tempting myself with those little single serving apple dumplings. Seth said, “I just saw your gold tooth.” Which reminded me that I’m finally finished with the dentist for...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Today in Trader Joe's, Seth caught me in a yawn. I was tempting myself with those little single serving apple dumplings. Seth said, "I just saw your gold tooth." Which reminded me that I'm finally finished with the dentist for a while. Because of baby sitting issues, and a pinch of laziness, I let a filling turn into a root canal. After crowning that, my dentist, who is a perfectionist, also gave me a white porcelain crown to replace another gold crown that had gotten damaged. He's been trying to get me to replace my second gold crown. (But it only showed up in one photo from 3 years ago.) My dentist likes a perfect smile, and of course, he has a living to make. He's pitched the teeth whitening, but after my covering what the insurance wouldn't pay for, I'd much rather pay $15 at Target for whitening strips. Well, I've been waiting to do that because I was afraid the dentist would notice I'd gone the layman's route. I didn't want to be scolded. He set my last crown, hopefully forever, two weeks ago. I looked over at him. He pulled his goggles down and whipped out the tooth shaver to give me an even bite. I saw the cord swing around, very Tarantinoesque. I have a lot less tolerance for the dentist. They look at me in the chair, and they seem worried. They can tell I hate it, my face scrunched in a permanent scowl, flinching at those metallic sounds and strange smells. They're very apologetic. I like my gold tooth. I also scratched someone's car in that rotten Trader Joe's parking lot. Arrrggh. I left a note though. tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2605 2007-01-10T06:59:20Z 2007-05-02T00:42:07Z

I’ll be 32 next month, and I’ve thought here lately that it’s shameful I don’t speak a foreign language. About the time I graduated college, I realized I should’ve studied linguistics. I’ve come across language detail on wikipedia. Just tonight...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Fresh Apples by Rachel Tresize. Hence the wiki search. That's when I realized that I like the underdog languages and feel a need to learn them, Gaelic, Welsh, Yiddish.... (I love the throatyness of Gaelic and, on appearance, Wales's consonant combinations and the frequent use of the letter "y". I find people use Yiddish when they're trying to be amusing, and I like to be amused.) My problem with learning a language is the impracticality. I tried languageexchange.com , but it's not so helpful with obscure languages. I really don't believe I'll ever truly learn a language if I don't have anyone to use it with. (I've tried Spanish and Scottish Gaelic, both on tape.) The most practical 2nd language for me to learn, being in California, is Spanish. I have a friend who speaks it fluently, but she's a full-time working mother of 3. Hmmm. Any suggestions? Do I go back to school? That's a big one. ]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2600 2007-01-02T05:19:45Z 2007-02-07T04:16:04Z

Your results:You are Mystique Mystique 60% Venom 54% Apocalypse 53% Dark Phoenix 50% Dr. Doom 47% Poison Ivy 43% The Joker 43% Magneto 43% Mr. Freeze 41% Lex Luthor 40% Juggernaut 36% Kingpin 33% Riddler 32% Green Goblin 28% Catwoman...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ You are Mystique

Mystique 60% Venom 54% Apocalypse 53% Dark Phoenix 50% Dr. Doom 47% Poison Ivy 43% The Joker 43% Magneto 43% Mr. Freeze 41% Lex Luthor 40% Juggernaut 36% Kingpin 33% Riddler 32% Green Goblin 28% Catwoman 26% Two-Face 20%

Sometimes motherly, sometimes a beautiful companion, but most of the time a deceiving vixen.

Click here to take the "Which Super Villain am I?" quiz...
]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2007://6.2599 2007-01-02T05:11:41Z 2007-01-02T05:12:39Z

Your results:You are Spider-Man Spider-Man 70% Hulk 65% Wonder Woman 63% Supergirl 53% Superman 50% Batman 45% The Flash 45% Green Lantern 45% Robin 40% Catwoman 25% Iron Man 25% You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 70% Hulk 65% Wonder Woman 63% Supergirl 53% Superman 50% Batman 45% The Flash 45% Green Lantern 45% Robin 40% Catwoman 25% Iron Man 25%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test
]]> tag:www.glchoate.com,2006://6.2596 2006-12-16T00:21:32Z 2006-12-16T00:25:34Z

Three sets of teeth must be brushed. Brad and I play tag, depending on who has more energy and which child is having the most selective hearing. I’m currently enjoying some silence and trying to finish off some food in...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Three sets of teeth must be brushed. Brad and I play tag, depending on who has more energy and which child is having the most selective hearing. I'm currently enjoying some silence and trying to finish off some food in the house, even though I'm not hungry, to keep it from going bad, namely avocado and hummus. The avocado is the only thing at Trader Joe's that I have to complain about. Squeeze one the next time you pass it. Sometimes they're nothing but mush from the rot. I should say something. I've no idea what to fix for supper and since I'm probalby ruining my supper's appetite, I'll probably wind up making something easy. I like finding things that need finishing up and making a conglomerate meal. Yes, the Conglomerate Meal. It should get it's own recipe book. It would go on and on and on.... Tonight I think it's scrambled eggs and chicken salad sandwiches, although Brad had a sandwich for lunch, unless Byrne talked him into Indian again. I do love those leftovers. There's nothing like that first taste of curry off my plate. We also have some yummy pork tamales from Costco that I just discovered. So much better than the canned tamales I made when we first married. Anyway, back to my nights, I've gone to bed at 10 o'clock for TWO nights in a row! Aren't I the picture of self-discipline? A few year's ago, a girlfriend told me that the best thing a mother can do for her children is get a good night's sleep. It took a few year's to sink in, but I've put it to practice. I feel better and realize that I'm really not missing that much, just extra googling. tag:www.glchoate.com,2006://6.2595 2006-12-14T00:43:11Z 2006-12-14T00:44:48Z

Well, I just ruined my supper by scarfing down 1/3 of a bag of those veggie chips from Trader Joe’s, on the hunt for other Georgias on VOX, and finding them, getting a lot done in my house, painted and...

Georgia http://www.glchoate.com/ Well, I just ruined my supper by scarfing down 1/3 of a bag of those veggie chips from Trader Joe's, on the hunt for other Georgias on VOX, and finding them, getting a lot done in my house, painted and hung a shelf (spinach green) and even added some chachkies to it, which I typically use sparingly. I'm in a nesting mood, which is hard when you refuse to pay high prices for everything. I can be cheap sometimes. But at the same time, I love good quality. That's a problem. I'm going to get a newspaper soon, and look for yard/estate sales. I like the idea of haggling; I learned some of that in Connecticut.