OK, I did give in and watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. My husband has been waiting 43 years for this game. I was running late with the food so I missed the first 30 minutes and a lot of the commercials and let him be a couch potato (after all, 43 years is a long time).
I did note, however, a number of commercials involving Chickens!! So what is with the chickens anway? I wish I could tell you that I remember what they actually did in the commercials or what product they were actually advertising, but like I said, I was too busy being the Kitchen Wench.
What is it about the chickens?
IN fact, Chickens are the symbol of ADHD (in fact, there are shirts for ADHD people that say, "Look! A Chicken!") People who are ADHD and ADD are easily distracted, like by chickens on the side of the road. They move rapidly from one unfinished project to another. Come look at my house and you will get the idea.
One of our daughters is ADHD or at least ADD, but we have decided that we are actually ALL ADD or ADHD here in the Wilson home. It just manifests itself differently in all of us. Some of us are more competent than others at hiding their disorders; however, mine is in full view. There is a stack of fabric in the living room next to a big SCA pile of stuff for Ministry of Children and Gulf Wars. There is a pile of unfinished leatherwork in the bedroom (well, it used to be an unfinished kumihimo loom and a bunch of beebees and a scale, so things are improving). There is still a Barbie group on a table in the foyer although it is getting smaller. There are pieces of snowmen on the scrapbooking table that are starting to get dusty as they have been there for two weeks. There are scrapbook bags and things all over the dining room, which is also home to Girl Scout Thinking Day materials. There are bins of DI materials all over the family room and garage, which is also home to DI despite the cold and rain. There are bins of consignment materials in the downstairs office. The Beanie Baby bins just went back upstairs--I'm not dealing with them right now.
In other words, it looks like a bomb exploded and left crap all over the house instead of shrapnel. Other than the fact that it doesn't smell like cats, you walk in and say, "Oh, SCA house!" But then the SCA folks don't usually have all the consignment and kid crap and Destination Imagination and Scrapbooking and Scout Crap and....Yikes! It's actually WORSE than an SCA house. At least the toilets are clean. Well, at least the toilet that guests use is clean.
It's a good thing I can't afford a maid right now because I could never get the house picked up enough right now for her to clean it. If you are planning on visiting us, please give us at least 30 days notice. I'm not kidding. If you want us to entertain, 45 days notice would not be unreasonable.
This is not a scientific dianosis and I don't mean to make fun of those of you who have such a diagonsis. bu we really are an ADHD House. Well, Amelia actually has the diagnosis, but I wanted her to get it it so that she could get extra help and accomodations in school. It wasn't hard-I just filled out the questionnaire honestly, and about 50% of all kids could qualify. However, after reading about three or four books on ADHD as I usually do when I need to learn about something new, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. If you are very smart you are probably ADD or ADHD.
2. If you are very creative you are probably ADD or ADHD.
3. If you are productive sometimes and other times, it's just a CF (email me privately if you don't know what I mean), then you are probably ADD or ADHD.
4. If you have a lot of energy sometimes, and then you just don't, you are probably ADD or ADHD (unless you are manic-depressive, of course!)
5. If some days you are firing on all cylinders and on other days you can't remember your own name, you are probably ADD or ADHD.
6. If you are a perfectionist you also are probably ADD or ADHD but no one may ever know it, and you may be able to avoid being medicated. In other words, you overcompensate for your disorder.
So in other words, I expect that most of you reading this fall into one of the above categories, if not more than one. Welcome to the Chicken house!
We have not designed our devices for the SCA yet but we are thinking that my husband needs a Rooster on his (he is also born in the Chinese year of the Rooster) and then the girls and I need Chickens in some form or another. So he's the Rooster in the Henhouse, so to speak. (Of course if you are an official SCA hearald, please disregard this and believe that we would never pull such a foolish stunt on our official insignia, of course.)
So, here's to all you chickens and roosters out there! And if you can't be a chicken or rooster, hug one today!
Showing posts with label Ministry of Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ministry of Children. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Texas Revolution in a Can, and Thoughts on Ken and Barbie
I am a former east coaster who has been transplanted to the great Republic of Texas, which as you may not know is almost it's own separate political entity. Or would like to be.
When I was in fourth or fifth grade I vaguely recall reading a few paragraphs about the Alamo and Sam Houston (anybody else remember that??) But now that I am in the Great State of Texas, the Alamo is a HUGE deal. Fortunately we saw it this summer when we were in San Antonio for an SCA event. And we saw it in detail, because that's the kind of people my husband and I are.
I mean, we spent three or four hours there. Who else does that? We took the tour, we saw the museum, we visited the tree,we saw and photographed the monuments, we read all the plaques, and we spent major bucks in the gift shop. We even counted up the number of Alamo soldiers who came from Scotland (oudr presumed ancestral home). Did you know there are remnants of original decoration in the buildings? Did you know that the church building was never finished (not until later when it became a memorial)? I even bought one of the books on the Alamo, signed by the author who was there at the gift shop that day. Although I admit I haven't read it yet. In fact, I wouldn't let anyone buy any cheap souveniers on the Riverwalk (well, almost none) because I wanted to wait and spend the money at the Alamo gift shop (the money supports the historical group that maintains it). I guess you would say we are hardcore when we visit historical sites.
Well, I'm so glad we did! The kids had to do TWO Alamo projects this week, an colored Alamo booklet shaped like the Alamo that opened up and had essays in it from the different characters, and Texas Revolution in a Can. I have to admit, this is a really cute little project, and it could be adapted for any type of historical event. I am thinking for my SCA reinactment and recreation group that "Norman Invasion in a Can"" or "Bayeaux Tapestry in a Can" (Which depicts the Norman Invasion) might be a really cool little project for the Ministry of Children to do. So I am going to start saving cans! I don't know if this will work at our Warlord event in May, where the kids are mostly outside, but we could possibly do it at our Artisan event in August (which is inside).
So, how do you make a Texas Revolution in a Can? Well, the kids had to create paper dolls representing several figures that they had studied, coloring them and writing information on the back (Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Santa Ana, Susannah What's her name). Remember I went to school when things were not so politically correct, so I didn't learn about her. They also had to write letters (which they even crumpled up and distressed) from actual or pretend Alamo soldiers. They decorated the can with paper, crayons and markers and they had a map of the major battles, colored and color-coded. All of it rolled up to fit inside a small can with a lid. So all you need is a can with a lid, white typing paper, crayons, pencils and markers. In other words, if you have kids, and maybe even if you don't, you probably have everything you need already. The smallest size coffee cans or even oatmeal boxes with plastic tops work well, and we also used a toffee can that was left over from Christmas. If you don't have one, buy an oatmeal box and dump the oatmeal into another container or ziplock bag.
So, the pithy and sarcastic comments about this project are just not forthcoming today! I thought it was a cute and creative idea for them to use to learn about history. And I don't even like their history and social studies teacher. But then it's probably in the general curriculum and not her personal idea.
Although yes, I am still washing Barbie hair and dressing naked Barbies. I have a Barbie assembly line on a table by my front door. But I have about 5 Barbies for every Ken. I hope my Kens are heterosexual. If so, they have got it made. And most of them are Princes, but like in the real world, lots of beautiful women are fighting over a few hot, sexy, fabulously wealthy Princes. Of course, how hot and sexy can Ken be? He is missing a few key pieces of anatomy.
And another thing. I know Barbie now sometimes wears little flesh colored underpants but she never wears a flesh-colored bra, even a strapless. A strapless would not show under her strapless gowns, so why not? She just has these big, nippleless breasts. Yes, that's right, Barbie has no nipples. I guess they would show through the clothes and the censors would get upset. I am OK with her having no nipples (after all, 2 year old girls play with Barbies and I don't think they need the anatomy lesson at that age). But why no bra? Amelia commented yesterday (hard not to notice with ten naked Barbies laying around) that "she sure has big breasts." I mentioned that in actuality, no one who is as thin and tall as Barbie has breasts that big in real life unless they have been cosmetically enhanced. It's true, guys, sorry!
Those of us who have had large breasts all our lives are either short (so it makes us look dumpy) or overweight (so we actually ARE dumpy). The one gal I have seen, in my whole life, who really looked like a living Barbie Doll was wearing a tight pink shirt advertising a plastic surgery clinic. Seriously. And she did look awesome, if you like those rounded boobs that don't bounce. Like Barbie's!!!
Most of our Barbies are blonde. I am not sure how this happened. They look like a Tri Delt convention. In fact, many of them have the same face. Oh, sorry, that's just like out here in the suburbs!!!
My daughter Miranda said I could get rid of the Barbie palace as long as I kept the Barbie minivan. Now that's one kid who has her head on straight. She knows that a lot of us may have to get rid of our palaces one day, but the minivan or SUV will be the last to go!
(We have a Barbie minivan because it seats more than the Barbie SUV; when you have more than 25 Barbies these things become important).
Signing off now. I really want to go read Tolkien (just finally got Children of Hurin) but I really ought to tag some clothing for consignment. I was going to sell these Barbies but they are just too damn much fun to mess with. Maybe I could do a display for Arts and Sciences in the SCA: Medieval fashion through the ages, Barbie style (I am thinking it would take a hell of a lot less fabric!) Of course, that would mean I have to learn to sew Barbie clothes but there are worse things in life.
I wouldn't win any awards but I would get some laughs.
Pleasant Valley Mom
When I was in fourth or fifth grade I vaguely recall reading a few paragraphs about the Alamo and Sam Houston (anybody else remember that??) But now that I am in the Great State of Texas, the Alamo is a HUGE deal. Fortunately we saw it this summer when we were in San Antonio for an SCA event. And we saw it in detail, because that's the kind of people my husband and I are.
I mean, we spent three or four hours there. Who else does that? We took the tour, we saw the museum, we visited the tree,we saw and photographed the monuments, we read all the plaques, and we spent major bucks in the gift shop. We even counted up the number of Alamo soldiers who came from Scotland (oudr presumed ancestral home). Did you know there are remnants of original decoration in the buildings? Did you know that the church building was never finished (not until later when it became a memorial)? I even bought one of the books on the Alamo, signed by the author who was there at the gift shop that day. Although I admit I haven't read it yet. In fact, I wouldn't let anyone buy any cheap souveniers on the Riverwalk (well, almost none) because I wanted to wait and spend the money at the Alamo gift shop (the money supports the historical group that maintains it). I guess you would say we are hardcore when we visit historical sites.
Well, I'm so glad we did! The kids had to do TWO Alamo projects this week, an colored Alamo booklet shaped like the Alamo that opened up and had essays in it from the different characters, and Texas Revolution in a Can. I have to admit, this is a really cute little project, and it could be adapted for any type of historical event. I am thinking for my SCA reinactment and recreation group that "Norman Invasion in a Can"" or "Bayeaux Tapestry in a Can" (Which depicts the Norman Invasion) might be a really cool little project for the Ministry of Children to do. So I am going to start saving cans! I don't know if this will work at our Warlord event in May, where the kids are mostly outside, but we could possibly do it at our Artisan event in August (which is inside).
So, how do you make a Texas Revolution in a Can? Well, the kids had to create paper dolls representing several figures that they had studied, coloring them and writing information on the back (Sam Houston, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Santa Ana, Susannah What's her name). Remember I went to school when things were not so politically correct, so I didn't learn about her. They also had to write letters (which they even crumpled up and distressed) from actual or pretend Alamo soldiers. They decorated the can with paper, crayons and markers and they had a map of the major battles, colored and color-coded. All of it rolled up to fit inside a small can with a lid. So all you need is a can with a lid, white typing paper, crayons, pencils and markers. In other words, if you have kids, and maybe even if you don't, you probably have everything you need already. The smallest size coffee cans or even oatmeal boxes with plastic tops work well, and we also used a toffee can that was left over from Christmas. If you don't have one, buy an oatmeal box and dump the oatmeal into another container or ziplock bag.
So, the pithy and sarcastic comments about this project are just not forthcoming today! I thought it was a cute and creative idea for them to use to learn about history. And I don't even like their history and social studies teacher. But then it's probably in the general curriculum and not her personal idea.
Although yes, I am still washing Barbie hair and dressing naked Barbies. I have a Barbie assembly line on a table by my front door. But I have about 5 Barbies for every Ken. I hope my Kens are heterosexual. If so, they have got it made. And most of them are Princes, but like in the real world, lots of beautiful women are fighting over a few hot, sexy, fabulously wealthy Princes. Of course, how hot and sexy can Ken be? He is missing a few key pieces of anatomy.
And another thing. I know Barbie now sometimes wears little flesh colored underpants but she never wears a flesh-colored bra, even a strapless. A strapless would not show under her strapless gowns, so why not? She just has these big, nippleless breasts. Yes, that's right, Barbie has no nipples. I guess they would show through the clothes and the censors would get upset. I am OK with her having no nipples (after all, 2 year old girls play with Barbies and I don't think they need the anatomy lesson at that age). But why no bra? Amelia commented yesterday (hard not to notice with ten naked Barbies laying around) that "she sure has big breasts." I mentioned that in actuality, no one who is as thin and tall as Barbie has breasts that big in real life unless they have been cosmetically enhanced. It's true, guys, sorry!
Those of us who have had large breasts all our lives are either short (so it makes us look dumpy) or overweight (so we actually ARE dumpy). The one gal I have seen, in my whole life, who really looked like a living Barbie Doll was wearing a tight pink shirt advertising a plastic surgery clinic. Seriously. And she did look awesome, if you like those rounded boobs that don't bounce. Like Barbie's!!!
Most of our Barbies are blonde. I am not sure how this happened. They look like a Tri Delt convention. In fact, many of them have the same face. Oh, sorry, that's just like out here in the suburbs!!!
My daughter Miranda said I could get rid of the Barbie palace as long as I kept the Barbie minivan. Now that's one kid who has her head on straight. She knows that a lot of us may have to get rid of our palaces one day, but the minivan or SUV will be the last to go!
(We have a Barbie minivan because it seats more than the Barbie SUV; when you have more than 25 Barbies these things become important).
Signing off now. I really want to go read Tolkien (just finally got Children of Hurin) but I really ought to tag some clothing for consignment. I was going to sell these Barbies but they are just too damn much fun to mess with. Maybe I could do a display for Arts and Sciences in the SCA: Medieval fashion through the ages, Barbie style (I am thinking it would take a hell of a lot less fabric!) Of course, that would mean I have to learn to sew Barbie clothes but there are worse things in life.
I wouldn't win any awards but I would get some laughs.
Pleasant Valley Mom
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