A Forgotten Book Shout-Out

My friend Danielle reminded me of another great children's book that I forgot to mention yesterday.
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

There's a little backstory here, forgive me.
In grad school, a friend of mine decided that she wanted to get a Naked Mole Rat for a pet. She thought they were pretty amazing, albeit ugly, little animals. They can apparently chew through steel. If you want to learn more about them, you can go here. Though, I'll warn you, they aren't cute. One website describes them as a mini-walrus, and another a hot dog with teeth. Neat.
Anyway, I digress.
So . . . Ashley became a huge fan of these quirkly little animals, and information was planted into my brain.
Fast-forward a few years.

While in Seattle for a conference, a few of us were taking a break from interviews and checking out downtown. To get out of a light rain, we popped into a book store, where I got Very Excited when I found the perfect book: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.
My friends, of course, thought I was a freak of nature about my excitement, but I didn't care.
I had found the perfect book for Ashley's soon-to-be-born second son.
And we know how I feel about finding the perfect book/gift.

What makes this story more amusing is that later that night, after having 1 or 2 drinks with dinner, I thought it was a good idea to read the book, out loud, to my friends.

And I found that it's very hard to say "naked mole rat."
It might have come out a time or two as "naked ROLE MAT."

And so hilarity ensued.
And I haven't lived it down.
But it IS a very cute book, with a nice moral to the story!

READ!!!!

It's been too long since I've posted. I've had to do some mourning for my teams and their losses in the recent tournament. Work has been a little crazy as well. But I just finished a pretty good book, and found a great resource to share.

I have always been a reader - as a kid I brought home stacks of books from the library.
I still do that. Except it takes me a little longer to turn the pile back in.
I love to share my love of reading with . . . well. . .  anyone I know.
So friends and family often get great reads for gifts. (Well, I think they're great reads!)
Or I pass along a recommendation or two. A week. :)
Many little people in my life often also get books.
Because I like to give individualized gifts, the books typically are specifically for a person.
My godson (and cousin), Jack, has the entire collection of Doreen Cronin books. My belief is that if you have a read a book over and over and over again, it damn well better be entertaining. And so for little ones who are being read to, or who are learning to read, I like to find funny books. My favorites of Cronin's are Dooby Dooby Moo and Diary of a Worm. I also like to give books that send messages. For a recent baby-of-a-feminist, I gave them The Paperbag Princess - LOVE this story. The princess saves the prince and herself from a dragon. Awesome. Another fun one along this line is Tough Chicks.

Can the chicks be too loud, too independant and too tough? And also play with tractors? HELL YES. [The book doesn't use this kind of language, by the way, that's just me! :)] A great message about what 'good' means and how to be yourself. Love it.
But, I have digressed. Clearly I have put a tad bit of thought into this.
So . . . to bring it back . . . I found a great resource to use, and just had to share, because I can't be the only person on earth who buys books for kids! So . . . My buddy James Patterson has put this website together.
It's called READKIDDOREAD - their goal is to make kids readers for life. How awesome is that?
I even found a book called SAVVY. You know it's going to make it's way to a savvyboy some day . . .

To find your own cool books to read or share with others, go to
I promise I haven't bought stock.
Yet.

Relaxation . . . kinda

Friday was a furlough day.
Which means I had the day off, and got no pay for it.
Yay, me!
But the timing was perfect after the really long week.
So my friend MB and I took the opportunity to schedule massages.
And I learned that I don't really relax all that well.
I suppose it's not really all that surprising. Since I don't sleep well and all that jazz.
But when I found myself paying attention to the awkward music that was playing, and thinking things like, "Wow. Someone actually 'composed' this. And decided that adding a bird call right there, at that moment, would really make this song shine." "Who does write this kind of music?" "What instruments do they use?"
Etcetera, etc.
Yep. I'm that ridiculous.
So perhaps I need a few lessons on how to shut my brain down.

Silly March Madness

I don't normally pay attention to all this madness.
Basketball isn't really my sport.
But since I filled out brackets for the men's and women's tournaments, I feel a little more invested in what's happening this year.
Though I'm finding that I'm not really consistent in who I'm cheering for.
Or maybe this is normal.
But regardless of what I have on paper, I cheer for the team that tugs at my heartstrings the most.
And the rules change, depending on the game.
So . . . if you, too, would like to follow along, here are the guidelines I am apparently following:
1. If you are Marquette, Ohio State, Wisconsin, or Michigan State, I will automatically be cheering for you. [Let's pretend that this list is in no particular order, and that these teams never play each other.]
2. If I, or someone I know, happens to have graduated from, or has some connection to a school, I will also cheer for you. For example, Indiana State, Purdue, Richmond or Gonzaga.
3. If you are an underdog, I'm your biggest fan.
4. Unless you are playing one of the teams listed in number one.
5. Even if it ruins my bracket.
6. I'm a sucker for cute stories - like the fact that there were two kids sitting on the Morehead State bench - and they were officially listed as members of the team. How cute is that? [Two of the coaches kids, in case you were wondering.]
7. There are some schools that I have a really hard time rooting for. Michigan might be one of those. But since they're part of the Big Ten, I will be supportive. Kind-of. It's hard.
8. If you beat one of the teams listed in number one, I will automatically cheer for whomever is playing you next. Unless they are Florida. Whom I have no allegiance to. And have a bit of a disdain for.
9. None of this makes any sense.
10. But I do heart me the passion that goes along with college sports. And so I am enjoying the bracket-busters and heart-wrenching last-second shots that are changing this tournament.
11. Go Bucks.
12. We Are Marquette.

A Long Week . . .

This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
Life continues to be stressful for most state workers, especially as people figure out how the new paycuts are affecting their personal budgets (To do the math, you can go here).
On Monday we had a long conversation about staff morale, and what to do about it.
No great solutions, except to continue to be thoughtful and caring and supportive.
On Tuesday, we lost a staff member.
He died by suicide.
On Wednesday morning, we all found out.
We pulled the staff together to officially share the news, offer resources, and remind people that they will grieve in their own way, and to please continue to be good to each other, and to themselves.
We also had our March Madness Kick-Off Event.
We chose to still hold the event; and the timing, while seemingly awkward and ill-timed, actually was kinda perfect. Because the staff was mostly together in the community center gym, eating lunch (the chili got a thumbs-up, in case you were wondering!), playing basketball, and just being together.
The alternative would have been that people would have gone about their day, and mostly been by themselves throughout the community.
Instead, they spent time with each other, shared a meal, talked a bit about how shocked they were, and played a game of Horse.
I can't really play basketball, so my participation in the game gave everyone a few great laughs.
Which we all needed.
Today we ordered flowers and wrote cards to the family, and continue to check in with each other.
While people are clearly stressed and tired and now, grieving, they are still finding the time to be kind and take care of each other, and that makes me so very happy.
Also?
On the potluck table I added a bowl of "I Am Loved" pins with a sign that said "Just a reminder . . . please take one."
And people did, and are actually wearing them.
It's surprisingly powerful to see that little pin on a tough/gruff/old/maintenance-like guy.
Totally makes my day.
And now the rollercoaster ride is complete.
For now.

A Hot Mess

I don't really cook.
Most of you know that if I could survive on cereal alone, I totally would.
When I participate in potlucks, I typically bring a baked good, or a tasty appetizer.
Tomorrow, my office is hosting a March Madness Kick-Off event. It will include a H-O-R-S-E tournament (including yours-truly) and some fun food.
I have (poorly?) chosen to bring chili.
I thought it was time I participated like a grown-up.
And brought a main dish.
I also decided to double the recipe, since we could get anywhere from 40 - 60 people to play.
This is the only one I can make - thanks to my dad's recipe.
I started by shopping - AKA a workout, carrying all these cans of beans and tomatoes.

It barely all fit in the pot.

Thank goodness spices don't take up much room!

I had to stir very, very carefully. (Which, if you check out the splotches on the stove, you'll note I didn't really do a great job at).
I tried to be patient.
Which I'm also not great at.
Three hours later, I felt comfortable taking the chili off the burner to start cooling.
I then took the advice of my friend, who also happens to be our director of dining, and I poured the chili into "smaller" bowls to cool.

She said I have "EXCELLENT safe food handling" skills.
While I appreciate this, I am also concerned about two things:
1. Will this ever cool? And will I ever get to bed tonight?
2. How in the hell am I going to get all this to work tomorrow?
3. I lied. Apparently I have more than two concerns.
4. This was a pain-in-the-arse to get out of the pot and into these bowls (there was a lot of chili-splatter in the area).
5. I envision a Bigger-pain-in-the-arse to get back into the pot.
6. But I'm afraid that's the only way to get this all into the refrigerator tonight.
7. I hope it tastes okay.

Invigorating

I'm so glad I got out of bed this morning.
Well, to be more exact, I'm glad I got up early and left the house this morning.
I went to a scrapbook gathering with some women from work, who kindly invited me to join them.
Especially since I hadn't actually ever met most of them.
I thought I'd spend a couple of hours working on the photos from my South Africa trip, and then head home to spend the rest of the day on my couch, resting and watching basketball.
I stayed for almost 12 hours - that's 2 meals and 4 1/2 scrapbook pages later, in case you're wondering.
I also learned how to use the Cricut.
I got one for Christmas, and haven't taken it out of the box, until tonight.

It's pretty awesome.
Also?
I spent the day hanging out with some really cool women. They're smart, funny, and kind. They curse, read great books, talk about politics, and share their crafting supplies. They'll also take time out from their projects to help you decide how to organize a page layout.
In other words, they're my kinda people.
And it's nice to meet more of those.
I know a lot of them, but they mostly don't live where I do right now, so it's nice to meet some who do.

They've also inspired me to take the Cricut out of it's box.
Tomorrow I'll actually use it to make my first card.
Check your mailbox.
It could be for you.

Speechless

I haven't blogged in awhile.
Life has gotten a little crazy here.
And every day, it just gets a little crazier.
I can't even sum it up.
I tried.
And gave up.
;)
BUT - despite all this junk going on at the capital, my (mostly union) staff continue to come to work, every day. And work hard.
And thank us for the supportive work environment.
That feels pretty good.
Because the rest of this is just so absurd, I can't even begin to wrap my head around it.
It's surreal to watch your town, and capital - a place that is within walking distance from where I work, and people who I care about and work for daily, on the nightly news.
The national kind.
Crikey.
So .  . . I'm mostly speechless.
But I'll share the photos of my passive support that I wear.
Not all of them every day.
It depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going.
But it's something, just the same.

I know . .. kinda hard to read the little ones. Which are my favorite. From my friends at Anthology.

Yay craftiness and creativity and freedom of speech.