Picky

Little Boy has a "delicate palate." A turn of phrase stolen from my brother-in-law, which I found very funny at the time. As time has gone on, it has been less amusing.

We made a decision about a year and a half ago (maybe longer) to stop making a fuss over what Little Boy would eat. His range of acceptable foods was very small. Our decision was based on the premise that we didn't want to make mealtime a battleground. We wanted it to be a fairly relaxed and pleasant time together. We always offered him some of what we were eating, but would prepare a simple dish of something he would eat (like macaroni and cheese, or a PB&J sandwich.)

Tonight's dinner was baked tilapia and a pasta and broccoli side dish. I almost fell off my chair - Little Boy ate almost AN ENTIRE PIECE OF BAKED TILAPIA. FISH. HE ATE FISH!

DH and I did some silent eyebrow raising. I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and I don't think DH did, either. But after a few minutes I couldn't stand it any longer. I excused myself and went back to the bedroom, where I called my parents. Well aware of Little Boy's food preferences, my father replied "Spaghetti-O's" when I said, "Guess what Little Boy is having for dinner." It was so fun to tell someone who has seen the situation "no, he's eating FISH. BAKED fish."

Slacking

I spent most of the day today writing. I've really been bumming around since I got home. Remember the long list of things to do I wrote before I left? Eh. Not gonna happen. At least, not before the end of the year!

We have been doing some shopping, er, buying. We bought a new back door. I've been looking at carpet. I met an internet pal, Judy, for the first time on Monday, and had a very nice visit with her family. I do make the bed more days than not, but other than than, and setting up the computer, I've been a bit of a slug. I only feel vaguely guilty about it.

Oh, I have done a very little bit of organizing in the spare room/soon to be office.

DH, on the other hand, has been busy, busy, busy. He repaired a hole in the roof of the garage, and now he is repairing a hole in the roof of the family room. Both pre-date Katrina.

Nancy has suggested that I will have gumbo on New Year's Eve. That is an interesting idea. My family tradition is something with sauerkraut, for luck. Gumbo sounds way better. I don't make very good gumbo, though. Maybe we'll have to go out for dinner!

Home Home Home Home Home

I'm home.

I'm also back to Reality. Yes, I've been single parenting for the last three months. But I've also had someone to do the laundry and the cooking, and lived in a lovely, clean house where everybody picked up after each other.

I need new carpet. The Entire House needs to be painted. I would also like new floors in the kitchen/dining area and bathrooms. All in all, there's only one room in the house that's just fine as it is - and it's a room we rarely use.

Apparently, my standards for "acceptable" changed during the last three months. It's going to be interesting to see how I adapt.

Today's Challenge

I'm trying to figure out how to put most of my clothing, my computer, little boy's clothing and toys, plus a couple of Christmas gifts, into the trunk of a Chevy Cavalier.

A Vision

An article in today's Times-Picayune describes a plan for reconstructing the city that draws from the Urban Land Institute plan, while giving residents the chance to build their neighborhoods by moving back.

One of the movers and shakers of the plan, Joseph Canizaro, is a mover and shaker in Republican politics. One of only two of Bush's "Super Rangers" from Louisiana, he raised over $300,000 for the Republican party prior to the recent election. He's also a local, a devout Catholic with deep and extensive ties to the community. He cares about the city, and he can make things happen.

The plan sounds bold and exciting and market-oriented.

Jambalaya

I made this jambalaya recipe for the Christmas potluck at work tomorrow. I used about 1/2 the cayenne called for, and it's still really, really hot. Andouille sausage is only available at specialty stores here, and it was $10 for a pound!

I've been singing the song all day. That, and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" Bush just committed another $1.3 billion for the levees. It's not enough, but it's double what we had been promised before.

Six days and I'm on the road!

Mardi Gras 2006

Here is the case for Mardi Gras 2006.

Commenters: Please suggest three practical things I can do to help rebuild New Orleans. Bear in mind that I do not actually live in New Orleans, I am politically unconnected, I have a small family and a full-time job, and am completely helpless with construction kinds of tasks. My DH could actually do useful things. Vegas Joe would be a Habitat Bonanza down here. Me...I'm all thumbs, overweight, out of shape, and lazy.

Three things. Go.

Home Sick

A couple of ways to twist that title. I miss my DH and living in my own house. I'm about as excited about leaving as my parents are about getting rid of me. They've been great. Unbelievably great. How will I ever adjust to doing my own laundry? I guess DH and I will just go back to the old routine - he washes and dries, and I fold and put away.

We have a lot to do when we get back. We have to unpack our stuff both at home and from our suitcases, and figure out what to do with the stuff we have boxed up that we're not keeping. We have to get ready for Christmas - buy food for dinner, decorate, etc. We have to stock up the larder. We need to rearrange our "exercise room" (hah) and turn it into an office for me and for DH. We need to repair the back door, figure out what to do about the ground coming up over the slab in the back yard, fix the back yard landscaping, and decide what to do about the sunken living room - either fill it in and recarpet, or just recarpet. We have to paint at least two rooms and the hallways, maybe more. None of this in the order listed, of course.

I can't wait!

Also, Little Boy and I are both Home Sick. Bad, yucky, nasty colds. I felt just terrible last night, but am much better today after a good night's sleep with a humidifier going (thank you, NyQuil). Little boy has a scratchy throat and is whiny and cuddly. No fever, though. We should both be good to go by tomorrow.

Love this quote

In the last few years, we've stumbled...When you stumble a lot you tend to look at your feet. Now we have to make people lift their eyes back to the horizon and see the line of ancestors behind us saying, "Make my life have meaning," and to our inheritors before us saying, "create the world we will live in."

I'm going home in 11 days.

More good news from the NHC: There are no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic at this time.

The 2005 Hurricane Season has officially ended with the dissipation of Hurricane Epsilon.

Nap

After I got home from work today, I had a nice dinner and read for a while. Then, I went in to watch TV with little boy. The family room was chilly, so I went and got a nice big cotton blanket and wrapped up. I kicked back the recliner and read a little.

Tired. Very Tired. So, so, tired.

I shut off the light and kicked the recliner back a little further. I hugged the blanket a little closer. I slept soundly (waking myself once or twice only slightly with my ever so gentle snoring) for 45 minutes. It was awesome.

It snowed today. It's beautiful out. Glad I didn't have to leave the house tonight, though.

Grrrr

Cranky mood. Snapping, growling, snarling. Grrr. Going to bed.