Andrea's Adventures in Binkyland

Conversations During Bathtime

Matt: Maya, what does a cow say?

Maya: No.

Matt: No, a cow says Moo. Moo!

Maya: Moo!

Matt: Moo!

Maya: Moo! Moo!

Matt: Moo!

Maya: Moooo!

Matt: So do you know what a cow says?

Maya: No.

Save Reading is Fundamental

It's come to my attention that the Reading is Fundamental program, which has provided disadvantaged children with free books since the mid 1960s, is in danger of having its funding cut.

My life has been incredibly shaped by the power of the word, and it would be a damn shame if a child missed out on the kinds of opportunities I've enjoyed because his or her mother was smart enough to know that buying a book isn't as important as buying the milk. Please contact your congressional representation and ask them to preserve the funding for this venerable and well-regarded initiative.

Project Snacktime

Amount of weight Maya has gained over the last six months: 5 ounces

Calorie-dense foods she has eschewed so far today: Cheese cubes, fried bean and cheese taquitos, spaghetti

What she has actually eaten: Melon, strawberries, cheerios, clementines, sesame crackers, peas and corn, soy milk

At least the sesame crackers have a little fat and protein in them? Right?

My kitchen is: Grim and getting grimmer. Floor recently mopped but the dishwasher needs cycling in the worst way.

Is this thing on?

Yeah, sorry I've been quiet lately. I've got a lot going on (well, when don't I?) and blogging here is generally a low-priority personal project. When I have that kind of time, I'm usually doing some writing or editing, or cleaning, or, you know, whatever.

But I'll share with you this little gem from today:

Sasha: Mommy? I want to buy a zucchini.

Matt: A zucchini? Do you even know what a zucchini is?

Sasha: No...

Matt: It's like a cucumber.

Sasha: No, I want a zucchini swimsuit.

Matt: Um, OK.

(Later)

Sasha: Remember I want a zucchini!

Me: Sasha, a zucchini is a kind of vegetable.

Sasha: Oh. Well I mean, I want a zucchini swimsuit.

Me: OK, I guess we'll look for one. ...What is it, anyway?

Sasha: It's a swimsuit!

Me: Do you know what they look like?

Sasha: Well, um, it's got something on top and... (rubbing her belly) nothing here.

Me: Ohhhhhhhh. You mean a BIKINI.

Sasha: Oh! OK. I want a zucchini...bikuni... bikini swimsuit.

Me: Well, they aren't very good for swimming because it's hard to get them to stay on right. Let's go look for a one-piece swimsuit for you instead.

Sasha: Hurray! I want a one-piece swimsuit!

Talk Hard

A dear friend of mine has introduced Talk Hard, a blog intended to help teens with some of the really difficult questions in their lives about sex, drugs, school, racism, and all kinds of other stuff it's hard to talk about... but that could really use the attention.

If you don't mind, give a little link love, specifically under the phrase "teen sex blog" or "sex blog for teens" or "blog about teens and sex" or something, to help drive up page rank for an important search phrase that today will only get you porn.

Twitter

You may notice over on the side a little yellow box. This box is my Twitter feed, and it features random stuff that I happen to have to say throughout the day. It updates with much greater frequency than my full blog (which, yeah, I know.)

I've been a busy bee lately, and digging myself out of a lot of accumulated stuff what needs attending to. But I'm getting closer to having all of the balls in the air again, so maybe... just maybe... I'll be updating here a little more often. Also: I need to take some pictures of Maya. Anyway, no promises, but I'll see what I can do.

My kitchen is: Clean except for the dire need for a dishwasher cycle. Also a mop.