Masquerade! and an update
Oct. 28th, 2007 05:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mamagotchaA few weeks ago, I read about a local historical group resurrecting a turn-of-the-century Kansas City tradition, the Priests of Pallas Ball. It sounded like fun, but the tickets were $85 a pop... so I called and asked if they needed any volunteers. I wound up helping at the ticket booth, and needed a mask for the event.
I tried a few different ideas, but the glasses were a problem. Finally, with help and encouragement from my friend Christina, I came up with this design:
It worked great, and I got to see plenty of gorgeous costumes and masks, plus quite a bit of dancing and carousing. I was there for six hours, and exhausted when I got home, but I'm glad I got to do it. It felt like a glimpse of how the upper crust (of KC, anyway) spends their time.
***********
Hmm. Let's see... the last time I posted was probably right after I came back from Denver. Three days after that, Bill's mom, Lorraine, came for a visit. She stayed with me and Linc while Bill and Clay took off to Chicago for one of his Clan Plaid LAN parties. It was Clay's first time at one of these things, and from all reports, he had a total blast. I think CP has a new member for life!
While Lori was here, we took advantage of some of the last few nice summerish days to get out and about. We took Linc to the Powell Garden's Spooktacular event (a LOT of walking, and plenty of wonderful Jack-o-lanterns and fairy tale characters to visit)... Linc was pretty cranky at first, but then gradually became enchanted with all the costumes and decorations, and was finally sold with that old toddler standby bribe, CANDY.
We also spent a whole day at the zoo. It was Sunday, and part of their Hoots & Howls celebration, so it was really crowded compared to when we usually go (when we sometimes have the whole train to ourselves!). Still, Linc didn't seem to mind sharing the train with other folks, and so we rode round and round the place. We took snack and walk breaks now and again, visiting the Discovery Barn and the carousel and the sea lions, but mostly it was all about the train. Linc got to ride a camel with his grandma, and had one little headbonk off a playground ladder. One thing that stuck with me was his empathy: when another boy, about his age, said that he was scared by the loud barking of the sea lions, Linc put his hands on the boy's ribs and said reassuringly, "It's OK, I got you, it's not scary, you're OK!" The kid actually seemed to appreciate Linc's concern, and soon they were running around like old buddies. Too cute!
It was fun cooking and knitting with Lorraine, and seeing her hang out with Linc (and Wiley, who really took a shine to her). I really managed to luck out in the MIL department this time around!
(Warning: girl stuff/TMI ahead) The day she arrived, I started a really heavy period... the first in about two months. Not only a heavy flow, but hellish cramps too. The worst was over after the first day, though, so it didn't wreck the visit. However, last week was all horrible headaches and mood swings and frustration... and today we're back at cramps again. ELEVEN DAYS! Only SEVEN DAYS from finishing the flow from the last cycle! Gaaah. Well, with some luck, once this one finishes up, I won't have to worry about anything again until right after Christmas (heh, the way things are going, I'll hit both Christmas and New Year's Eve).
I saw my doctor on Tuesday (fortunately right between Flow One and Flow Two, so she could get a clean Pap) and ran down a laundry list of things that had been bothering me. She explained or offered ideas on how to clear up each one, and it was a good visit. She spent almost two hours with me, and it was well worth the money spent (we had to pay out-of-pocket because she's not covered by our insurance, but I love her so we're sticking with her). She had an intern with her who coincidentally was also something of an expert on weights and fitness, so he had some really good feedback on why I wasn't losing weight yet with my routine. He made some suggestions that I've put into practice, and I'm hoping to see some changes (mostly he encouraged me to NOT do my cardio first, just do a warm-up to get the big muscles into a glucose-deficient state, then do the weights... mostly the big-muscle-group ones, not so much the isolation ones, and to slowly bring down the amount of time between sets, instead of waiting a full 30 seconds like the Marine told me... that working my big muscles while they were already a little tired would help recalibrate my metabolism and burn my chub faster than letting them get all rested... then go back to cardio and finish up).
The other thing my doc recommended was to start on Omega 3 again. I had tried that a while back, but HATED the fishy burps I got for the entire day following. She pointed me towards a liquid kind that didn't do that, and sure enough, it doesn't. It's expensive as heck, but if it helps out with what it's supposed to do (support my joints and help my poor wracked wrist heal) it will be worth it. She also said that she thought I had some sort of post-traumatic arthritis or tendonitis in the wrist, but that I probably hadn't reinjured it (she did a bunch of bendy tests on it). That was a relief to hear... I was nervous that I was going to have to stop the weights.
Other than my questions, everything is fine. Blood pressure, heart, lungs, skin, eyes, ears, all look great (though she said she could do a hearing test, she didn't have time that day... I'll probably find someone on our insurance to do that, though, and save a few bucks). Also, she pointed out some docs on our plan who could help me get a sleep study done, and she seemed to approve of how I'm using the Provigil (not on a daily basis, and at half-dosage).
Other news: Linc is in the midst of potty training. Our method was mostly nudity, but now that it's FINALLY getting chilly, he's put on the toddler-sized boxers (today for the first time, yay!). Very few accidents, though he asks to put on a diaper now and again. I really need to get another potty for the first floor. He also needs some more long pants; no way can he wear any from last year! He's a solid 4T, if anyone out there has hand-me-downs for sale...
He's doing pretty well in Monday gymnastics (like his big brother!), and also enjoys the little UU playgroup we go to on Thursdays. There's a tumbling thing he likes on Wednesday afternoons at the Y, and he's doing the kidcare for about an hour or 90 minutes on M-W-F at the Y while I work out. We do the pool at the Y on most Fridays, and he also asks to go to the zoo and/or the train museum (Union Station) at least once a week, so we keep pretty busy.
He refuses to wear a costume for Halloween, although he's intrigued by the pumpkins and lights and decorations. So I guess he'll be a toddler this year. Clay wants to be a starving artist, and is planning on doing one more year of trick-or-treating. He's taller than me, though, so maybe he should take Linc along as bait...
Clay seems to be doing OK in his classes. He's loving the art class (that's my boy!), enjoying the psychology, but struggling a bit in nutrition. We're talking about whether he'll take classes next semester or not. I'm toying with the idea of hitting the road again, this time doing advance PR for braiding classes and trying to earn gas money as we go. It would be easier if Clay came to help with Linc during classes, but if he wants to stay in school then that's what he'll be doing. It's up to him, and we're going back and forth on it. I'd love to see more of Canada, but it would be winter and possibly not a great time to take a road trip there. Really, though, anywhere will do!
If we do leave, we'll have to arrange something for Bill to drive... we're heading into cold-and-ice season, and he hasn't even been wanting to bike on the sunny days... I can't expect him to start when it's nasty out. I've seen some long-term rentals (or short-term leases, depending on the site) and maybe if I'm earning money on the road, we could do that.
Bill's got some job applications out, and we're keeping our fingers crossed. You know I'll tell you more the second I hear anything!
He'll be heading off to the Board Game Geek convention in Texas this November (an early Christmas present), and then again to Spokane (and Seattle, I hope) right after Thanksgiving to see his folks with Lincoln. Hmm, that means I'll have a few days in late November/early December with just me and Clay. We'll have to do something fun!
I'm missing Cord and Julia a TON these days. Thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the little things we do around the fall: make leek and potato soup, carve pumpkins, rake leaves, put up the window covers, hang out in the living room with the fire going, plan road trips... this place is so much quieter and less chaotic, but it's also got less excitement and good energy. Hearing Julia tell about her super-busy days at school, or what goofy thing happened at work, or watching Cordell teach Japanese, or play with the cat... I know they're still doing lots of cool stuff, I just really miss hearing about it on a daily basis. Julia's Internet connection is gone, and although Cord will talk to me when I see him on AIM, it's not the same as having them here. I don't think either one is planning to come back to KC during the holidays, either. I guess it's good that neither of them need me, but jeez... sometimes it's hard.
You want them to be independent, and then when it turns out that they are, you want them home again!
I guess that's about it for now. Nothing earthshaking, just plodding along day by day here in Cowtown.
I tried a few different ideas, but the glasses were a problem. Finally, with help and encouragement from my friend Christina, I came up with this design:
It worked great, and I got to see plenty of gorgeous costumes and masks, plus quite a bit of dancing and carousing. I was there for six hours, and exhausted when I got home, but I'm glad I got to do it. It felt like a glimpse of how the upper crust (of KC, anyway) spends their time.
***********
Hmm. Let's see... the last time I posted was probably right after I came back from Denver. Three days after that, Bill's mom, Lorraine, came for a visit. She stayed with me and Linc while Bill and Clay took off to Chicago for one of his Clan Plaid LAN parties. It was Clay's first time at one of these things, and from all reports, he had a total blast. I think CP has a new member for life!
While Lori was here, we took advantage of some of the last few nice summerish days to get out and about. We took Linc to the Powell Garden's Spooktacular event (a LOT of walking, and plenty of wonderful Jack-o-lanterns and fairy tale characters to visit)... Linc was pretty cranky at first, but then gradually became enchanted with all the costumes and decorations, and was finally sold with that old toddler standby bribe, CANDY.
We also spent a whole day at the zoo. It was Sunday, and part of their Hoots & Howls celebration, so it was really crowded compared to when we usually go (when we sometimes have the whole train to ourselves!). Still, Linc didn't seem to mind sharing the train with other folks, and so we rode round and round the place. We took snack and walk breaks now and again, visiting the Discovery Barn and the carousel and the sea lions, but mostly it was all about the train. Linc got to ride a camel with his grandma, and had one little headbonk off a playground ladder. One thing that stuck with me was his empathy: when another boy, about his age, said that he was scared by the loud barking of the sea lions, Linc put his hands on the boy's ribs and said reassuringly, "It's OK, I got you, it's not scary, you're OK!" The kid actually seemed to appreciate Linc's concern, and soon they were running around like old buddies. Too cute!
It was fun cooking and knitting with Lorraine, and seeing her hang out with Linc (and Wiley, who really took a shine to her). I really managed to luck out in the MIL department this time around!
(Warning: girl stuff/TMI ahead) The day she arrived, I started a really heavy period... the first in about two months. Not only a heavy flow, but hellish cramps too. The worst was over after the first day, though, so it didn't wreck the visit. However, last week was all horrible headaches and mood swings and frustration... and today we're back at cramps again. ELEVEN DAYS! Only SEVEN DAYS from finishing the flow from the last cycle! Gaaah. Well, with some luck, once this one finishes up, I won't have to worry about anything again until right after Christmas (heh, the way things are going, I'll hit both Christmas and New Year's Eve).
I saw my doctor on Tuesday (fortunately right between Flow One and Flow Two, so she could get a clean Pap) and ran down a laundry list of things that had been bothering me. She explained or offered ideas on how to clear up each one, and it was a good visit. She spent almost two hours with me, and it was well worth the money spent (we had to pay out-of-pocket because she's not covered by our insurance, but I love her so we're sticking with her). She had an intern with her who coincidentally was also something of an expert on weights and fitness, so he had some really good feedback on why I wasn't losing weight yet with my routine. He made some suggestions that I've put into practice, and I'm hoping to see some changes (mostly he encouraged me to NOT do my cardio first, just do a warm-up to get the big muscles into a glucose-deficient state, then do the weights... mostly the big-muscle-group ones, not so much the isolation ones, and to slowly bring down the amount of time between sets, instead of waiting a full 30 seconds like the Marine told me... that working my big muscles while they were already a little tired would help recalibrate my metabolism and burn my chub faster than letting them get all rested... then go back to cardio and finish up).
The other thing my doc recommended was to start on Omega 3 again. I had tried that a while back, but HATED the fishy burps I got for the entire day following. She pointed me towards a liquid kind that didn't do that, and sure enough, it doesn't. It's expensive as heck, but if it helps out with what it's supposed to do (support my joints and help my poor wracked wrist heal) it will be worth it. She also said that she thought I had some sort of post-traumatic arthritis or tendonitis in the wrist, but that I probably hadn't reinjured it (she did a bunch of bendy tests on it). That was a relief to hear... I was nervous that I was going to have to stop the weights.
Other than my questions, everything is fine. Blood pressure, heart, lungs, skin, eyes, ears, all look great (though she said she could do a hearing test, she didn't have time that day... I'll probably find someone on our insurance to do that, though, and save a few bucks). Also, she pointed out some docs on our plan who could help me get a sleep study done, and she seemed to approve of how I'm using the Provigil (not on a daily basis, and at half-dosage).
Other news: Linc is in the midst of potty training. Our method was mostly nudity, but now that it's FINALLY getting chilly, he's put on the toddler-sized boxers (today for the first time, yay!). Very few accidents, though he asks to put on a diaper now and again. I really need to get another potty for the first floor. He also needs some more long pants; no way can he wear any from last year! He's a solid 4T, if anyone out there has hand-me-downs for sale...
He's doing pretty well in Monday gymnastics (like his big brother!), and also enjoys the little UU playgroup we go to on Thursdays. There's a tumbling thing he likes on Wednesday afternoons at the Y, and he's doing the kidcare for about an hour or 90 minutes on M-W-F at the Y while I work out. We do the pool at the Y on most Fridays, and he also asks to go to the zoo and/or the train museum (Union Station) at least once a week, so we keep pretty busy.
He refuses to wear a costume for Halloween, although he's intrigued by the pumpkins and lights and decorations. So I guess he'll be a toddler this year. Clay wants to be a starving artist, and is planning on doing one more year of trick-or-treating. He's taller than me, though, so maybe he should take Linc along as bait...
Clay seems to be doing OK in his classes. He's loving the art class (that's my boy!), enjoying the psychology, but struggling a bit in nutrition. We're talking about whether he'll take classes next semester or not. I'm toying with the idea of hitting the road again, this time doing advance PR for braiding classes and trying to earn gas money as we go. It would be easier if Clay came to help with Linc during classes, but if he wants to stay in school then that's what he'll be doing. It's up to him, and we're going back and forth on it. I'd love to see more of Canada, but it would be winter and possibly not a great time to take a road trip there. Really, though, anywhere will do!
If we do leave, we'll have to arrange something for Bill to drive... we're heading into cold-and-ice season, and he hasn't even been wanting to bike on the sunny days... I can't expect him to start when it's nasty out. I've seen some long-term rentals (or short-term leases, depending on the site) and maybe if I'm earning money on the road, we could do that.
Bill's got some job applications out, and we're keeping our fingers crossed. You know I'll tell you more the second I hear anything!
He'll be heading off to the Board Game Geek convention in Texas this November (an early Christmas present), and then again to Spokane (and Seattle, I hope) right after Thanksgiving to see his folks with Lincoln. Hmm, that means I'll have a few days in late November/early December with just me and Clay. We'll have to do something fun!
I'm missing Cord and Julia a TON these days. Thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the little things we do around the fall: make leek and potato soup, carve pumpkins, rake leaves, put up the window covers, hang out in the living room with the fire going, plan road trips... this place is so much quieter and less chaotic, but it's also got less excitement and good energy. Hearing Julia tell about her super-busy days at school, or what goofy thing happened at work, or watching Cordell teach Japanese, or play with the cat... I know they're still doing lots of cool stuff, I just really miss hearing about it on a daily basis. Julia's Internet connection is gone, and although Cord will talk to me when I see him on AIM, it's not the same as having them here. I don't think either one is planning to come back to KC during the holidays, either. I guess it's good that neither of them need me, but jeez... sometimes it's hard.
You want them to be independent, and then when it turns out that they are, you want them home again!
I guess that's about it for now. Nothing earthshaking, just plodding along day by day here in Cowtown.
