tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89081272012-01-30T04:30:43.764-05:00Inhaling wonder. Exhaling gratitude.Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.comBlogger7681100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-86199413293609125992012-01-27T15:17:00.003-05:002012-01-28T08:33:50.030-05:00

I'm home from visiting family and friends in Dallas.  I flew into New York on Monday in a driving rain storm, and was reminded again that I always think of New York City in black-and-white.  And gray.  (Gray, by the way, is REALLY fun to land in while on an airplane, you betcha.) We had a tiny Dallas meet-up before I left.  It was VERY tiny--literally--since it was just Tiny Tyrant and me.  I'm

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-87801358277767935572012-01-21T18:27:00.000-05:002012-01-21T18:27:53.466-05:00

I'm visiting family in the Dallas area, and enjoying the warm weather, although, MERCY, I had forgotten about Texas allergies.  I'm all croaky.  (Which is fine, actually.  It just means that instead of sounding like a ten-year-old GIRL, I sound like a ten-year-old BOY.) Anyway, I'm in town and planning on being at The Original Pancake House at 2301 N. Central Expwy., Suite 156   Plano, Texas

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-21503966319645965572012-01-19T12:24:00.000-05:002012-01-19T12:24:36.869-05:00

I don't actually have anything really blogworthy to say, but I'm on an airplane on my way to Dallas to visit my parents for the weekend and the airplane has wifi and I just couldn't resist posting from THE SKY. Isn't that just the most amazing thing? We live in remarkable times. (Although, I did have the thought that instead of experiencing take-off in the "full and upright seat position," it

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-57000434458704617002012-01-05T14:35:00.001-05:002012-01-05T16:04:21.052-05:00

So, you know how I was all "No FEAR, baby!" in my last post?  All chutzpah and brashness, that's me in the New Year.  Not letting fear slow me down this year--I'm going to get into that yoga class and fall on my face and just be glad to be in the same room with my instructor Yvonne and her band of merry bendy people in the 9:30 Power Yoga class.  What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger--BOO YAH,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-21494834570958630842011-12-31T18:19:00.000-05:002011-12-31T18:19:36.728-05:00

I love New Year's Eve. Especially THIS year, which has been one of the most significant, hardest, and happiest years of my life. I'm telling y'all, if I keep the momentum I've gained in 2012, I fully expect that by the end 2012, I will be able to FLY.  You just watch me! To recap: I quit drinking officially on New Year's Day 2011. I found yoga and fell down a lot. I lost weight. I found

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-73309592116159092432011-12-27T15:16:00.000-05:002011-12-27T15:16:43.619-05:00

Monday, December 26, 2011 This morning, my husband went on a bike ride.  It's very cold out and windy and he really didn't want to go, but he made himself because he knew it would further his fitness, and that he would feel better afterward. It is in that same spirit that I decided NOT to go to yoga this morning. I know, what? I've been on something of a yoga binge --pushing my body in a more

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-50088767453561729682011-12-24T12:38:00.000-05:002011-12-24T12:38:25.550-05:00

This morning, I had to go have my blood drawn for my annual thyroid test. (I've been hypothyroid for almost 30 years.) Yes, I had to go on Christmas Eve. I would have gone earlier this month, but that might have meant missing yoga and you know how I feel about THAT.  (As it was, despite the fact that my forty-six year old body was screaming for a break, the twenty-year-old in my head was

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-41611179300782746402011-12-22T17:52:00.000-05:002011-12-22T17:52:31.224-05:00

I have so much to tell you.  Ana got her braces off.  We went to get our Christmas tree and decorated it. Coop had a birthday. We gave a little UN-Thanksgiving party. I ran into a Sydney doppelgänger. I finished my last freelance article of the year, all about polar dinosaurs --which was fascinating. But honestly?  All I really want to talk about is yoga. (In fact, this whole blog post is about

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-18166897335986418812011-12-18T15:54:00.002-05:002011-12-21T20:32:50.206-05:00

I know, I know, I know: where have I been?  Thanks for writing, but I'm not actually dead yet. I just kind of got sucked into the holiday/deadline/laundry vortex. I've emerged, not broken exactly, but bowed. This time of year brings out the crazy in me. When last I left you, we were still in San Francisco but had yet to take a cable car to Ghiradelli Square. Jane has totally found her

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-22062954543566661002011-11-29T12:30:00.000-05:002011-11-29T12:30:04.360-05:00

So, Day Three of our San Francisco vacation, we got up early and went to prison. (I just like saying that. I would not actually like LIVING in a prison. I'm pretty clear on that.) We headed down to catch the ferry to Alcatraz, where we miraculously found parking in a lot and ended up with time to grab a little coffee at a cafe.  This is noteworthy because of the pigeons. Any one else think

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-86949816061463759702011-11-23T00:53:00.000-05:002011-11-23T00:53:21.549-05:00

So, we're on vacation in San Francisco. I meant to tell y'all about it before we left, but the effort involved in finding a house sitter and then spoiling my pets rotten and lining the house with plastic sheeting in case one orange fur-ball chooses to express his displeasure at my absence in a manner unbecoming to one who really DOES know how to use the litter box sucked all of my bloggy words

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-73031286811187113782011-11-03T10:11:00.003-04:002011-11-04T18:57:14.210-04:00

(You don't have to watch that video. I couldn't find one of Shawn Colvin performing the song on her own.) One small year It's been an eternity It's taken all of me to get here Through this one small year Today is a very meaningful day for me.  One year ago, I took my first yoga class at Chris Gates Tae Kwon Do Health Center, which turned out to be the first step down the road that finally

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-7715519253491795382011-10-29T15:50:00.000-04:002011-10-29T15:50:25.534-04:00

Today on Long Island, the weather is freakishly cold, and...well...sleeting. Freakishly. In October. The weather station says a low of 37 degrees is predicted, although it's already 35 degrees, so what do they know? I am spending my day helping Jane (11) with her Halloween costume. Wait.  Wait, what is this?? Is it the Zombie Apocalypse? Zombies?  Hello? Ah!  Not Zombies. Radiant heat.

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-23091888091910864622011-10-20T12:59:00.005-04:002011-10-20T13:29:59.418-04:00

It's been fast and furious here at the Cooper Bed and Breakfast. We've gotten the hot tub fully operational, had house guests from the 30th until the 12th, had to rather unexpectedly buy a new car, went apple picking, saw a Broadway show, and most importantly, celebrated Jane's eleventh birthday. (I know.  I don't believe it either.) First, my parents and my cousin-from-Germany, Robin, were due

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-953985220773135302011-10-15T14:47:00.001-04:002011-10-15T15:35:34.485-04:00

Remember this joke? There are two brothers, Sam and Dean. Sam asks Dean to to watch his house and cat while he is away on vacation. After a few days, Sam calls Dean. "Hey, how are things? House still standing? How's my cat doing?" Dean swallowed hard, "Well yeah man, your house is still standing.  Sorry to tell you this, though, but your cat died." "What?" Sam said. "You just can't tell

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-83952356341002851392011-10-13T11:54:00.000-04:002011-10-13T11:55:49.789-04:00

I have a long post in the works about my parents' visit and how we had to buy a new car and shop at Ikea and celebrate Jane's eleventh birthday (I know, I don't believe it either.) but first, I just had to show y'all our Halloween yard art. I stole the idea off of Facebook (because theft of intellectual property is totally the sincerest form of social networking.) I am lucky, because, as we

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-66940158429081075092011-09-27T20:55:00.000-04:002011-09-27T20:55:04.537-04:00

Cardboard recycling day is tomorrow!

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-16690356710721905822011-09-22T11:40:00.000-04:002011-09-22T11:40:54.663-04:00

In my former life, I worked on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged. I raised money, I created public service campaigns, I did some policy work...in the non-profit world, everyone wears many hats.  My LAST non-profit job, before I got pregnant and became a stay-at-home mom, was as the Communications and Development Director for Goodwill Industries of Central Texas -- a very large and extremely

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-54415351276482059072011-09-20T20:12:00.001-04:002011-09-20T20:12:22.279-04:00

There are still a lot of boxes hanging around from our move, but they are gradually decreasing in number. Today I hung a bunch of pictures, which made me feel really at home. I mean, I may be stepping over boxes, but at least there's something on the walls, dang it! Some pictures of our pictures: Living room. (Yes, that picture was hanging somewhere else initially.) Sun nook(?)  (I

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-67930223901705296312011-09-10T23:01:00.002-04:002011-09-11T10:53:07.925-04:00

We've been really busy. We've survived an earthquake, a hurricane, moving households and a plague of locust. (Okay, okay, so it was really just an incredibly loud cricket who chirped the entire night from up high in our living room, but still.) We really DID have an earthquake, though, all along the east coast.  The girls and I didn't actually feel it because we were outside, but Coop really

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-79327395843940975542011-08-22T08:14:00.000-04:002011-08-22T08:14:45.556-04:00

It looks as though the Coopers are moving. Our house is under contract and we have found a really nice rental house. We're just trying to lock in all of the details and timing, but we hope to be moved by the time the girls start school on September 8. Which is very soon, but I would start moving right this very second if we could. Our lease doesn't start until September 1, though, so I'm just

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-58827183292669943952011-08-14T15:09:00.000-04:002011-08-14T15:09:33.422-04:00

Okay, so, given the number of e-mails I got correctly guessing my "big" news, I guess I wasn't as subtle as I thought I was.  Y'all don't seem shocked at all. I'm freaking the frak out. Because you know that curse, "May you live in interesting times"? Apparently, someone cursed us with it. This is my life and as is usually the way things happen in it, our house, which was not on the market,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-90127273674509650712011-08-12T04:08:00.001-04:002011-08-12T06:06:16.340-04:00

I have really big news that is just burning a hole in my pocket, but I can't share it yet because I am weirdly superstitious and everything could still fall through and then I will look even more like an idiot than I usually do. SO... Instead, I give you the other big news of this summer, which is that our garden is kind of a bust this year. Well, that's not totally accurate. It's just a very

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-7902086099312548742011-07-21T18:40:00.004-04:002011-07-22T10:44:49.391-04:00

I cannot adequately describe what these cans smell like.  But I CAN tell you that I will NEVER forget it.  Ever.  Even with strong drugs. Dear Petflow.com I received my shipment of cat food today. Unfortunately, the box lacked proper packing material or had some other issue, because three of the large cans of cat food had been compromised and had leaked all over the others. The shipment

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-81161400852669564592011-07-19T11:26:00.003-04:002011-07-19T11:42:40.767-04:00

(I'm going to apologize right here for this blog post. As I was putting the finishing touches on it, I realized that I had written the entire thing as a vehicle for the link to the exploding patio furniture, which I thought was hilarious, in an "I need therapy" sort of way. I sincerely hope I haven't bored anyone to death.) We've been shopping for patio furniture. For, um, three years now. We

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-22938485573873910032011-07-15T13:58:00.003-04:002011-07-16T08:35:33.786-04:00

So, it was with fear and trepidation that I posted my last post about how I had lost my faith in Lance Armstrong. I was honestly worried that I would get hate mail from Lance supporters. I posted it once and then took it down, let myself sleep on it, and then posted it again. As it turned out, you didn't much care about Lance. "Lance who?" you seemed to ask. "Lance is so LAST DECADE." It

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-46905264252224174672011-07-09T21:09:00.019-04:002011-07-10T13:35:02.444-04:00

I haven't written about the Tour de France in a long time. Long-term readers will remember that I am a huge professional cycling fan--it's really the only sport I follow. I just love those cyclists.  I think they are so valiant and I think their sport is INCREDIBLY punishing and yet they do it, day after day, largely because of their love for the sport. I guess I'm kind of a sucker for boys and

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-45235138756193334912011-07-08T06:58:00.002-04:002011-07-08T09:15:49.687-04:00

Yesterday was interesting. (Well, to me--some of you may want to just shake your heads and hit "delete" now.) My mother-in-law left in the morning, early.  While I was waiting for my lovely daughters (Ana (13) and Jane (10)) to get up, I checked in on Facebook (Oh, go on, friend me.  It'll be fun!) and a friend had posted THIS (a site where you sit completely still for two minutes) --which I

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-44967030610781577712011-07-05T10:17:00.002-04:002011-07-05T10:20:39.220-04:00

(Quick, name that 80's movie!) (As always, you can click on the photos and they will magically embiggen in a new window.) The girls started swim lessons. And as you can see, Jane was really happy about it.  The sombrero adds a nice touch, no? My father-in-law came for a visit and left again: I seem to be challenged when it comes to taking photos when my father-in-law is here.  I don't know

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-24465298798481745422011-06-27T10:28:00.002-04:002011-06-27T12:53:11.463-04:00

Summer has officially started and we have house guests.  I'm finding it hard to keep up with everything, get the kids to their respective activities AND write on my beloved blog. I'll try to get more organized.  After 13 years as a mother, you'd think I would be prepared for the Summer Chaos, but it sneaks up on me every time. One really wonderful development is that it looks like Ana (13) is

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-69202092681000040932011-06-20T09:16:00.002-04:002011-06-20T09:20:01.932-04:00

Yesterday was Father's Day. After the traditional breakfast (breakfast tacos): Jane Cooper is in SUCH a Daddy Phase with her father these days. It's adorable, even if it means she would throw me under the wheels of a bus for a chance to sit next to him. he opened presents. (For those of you keeping score at home, I managed to keep my streak of giving Coop "Near Gifts" completely intact.  Once

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-60837953493741763032011-06-18T13:17:00.000-04:002011-06-18T13:17:35.396-04:00

Remember this? It's coming along: Look how calm I am.  "It's coming along," I say.  But what I really mean is SQUEEEEEE!!!! (Ahem.) And remember...well, this entire post: This is Totally Not My Fault (Maybe) Why yes, that's a tomato.  Yes, it is. I'm totally calm about it (and its brethren) because I am so Zen about these things. You'd never, for example, catch me jumping up and

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-72248273353303231702011-06-13T09:30:00.001-04:002011-06-13T09:32:26.159-04:00

So, I've become increasingly ...I wouldn't say MILITANT but...um, ENTHUSIASTIC about organic foods and feeding them to my children.  It seems like the more we learn about how we're poisoning our food supply with pesticides and additives, the more dangerous it seems to feed my girls meat and produce and dairy that isn't organic. Really, I draw the line at saying I'm MILITANT about it because...

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-72053176539102778682011-06-09T08:32:00.000-04:002011-06-09T08:32:53.979-04:00

I am struggling. My book about my experience with chronic pain just isn't coming together. In fact, the effort I am putting into fermenting it has caused a total drain on every single creative aspect of my life. I've never felt so...dry.  I can't even knit. I can't even COOK. I never understand my own creative process, and each project seems to have it's own gestation period but, as with yoga,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-42907804940366185752011-05-30T09:36:00.001-04:002011-05-31T06:48:30.673-04:00

One of the most annoying things about being a woman of a "certain" age (that age would be 46) is that you can't confess to being too warm or to being forgetful --even if these are lifelong traits of yours--without someone bringing up the dreaded M word --Menopause. I have not yet reached that part of my life, but I am already really sick of it.  It just seems like another demeaning way to dismiss

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-27421466434530436742011-05-26T18:02:00.000-04:002011-05-26T18:02:13.136-04:00

Sarah, from the third comment on the Arbitrary New Year post, is the winner of the giveaway! (After assigning everyone who commented on the post a number, I used Random.org to generate a random number: 3.)   I loved, loved, LOVED her comment and was going to donate a can of worms in her name anyway, so now she gets not only worms, but an entire vegetable garden donated in her name! She said:

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-61123846086136193332011-05-25T09:51:00.000-04:002011-05-25T09:51:27.532-04:00

Today is a really busy day for me, including needing to be two places at once between 7:00 and 8:00 tonight, but I wanted to send a final reminder about the giveaway, which closes tonight, no matter if I manage to clone myself or not. (I just almost typed "CLOTHE myself."  Yeah, it's that kind of day.  I just spent valuable time out of my day (that I will never get back) trying to find two pounds

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-65983827050397430542011-05-23T06:10:00.004-04:002011-05-24T07:42:03.969-04:00

When I woke up Sunday morning, everything hurt.  The FULF (Effed Up Left Foot,) of course, but sometimes it takes a while to wake up and remember that it's not supposed to hurt anymore. But my hips were KILLING me, too.  They kept waking me up at night.  My acupuncturist thinks that after four years of limping, my hips moved into a new alignment. I don't limp anymore.  (Much.) My hips are

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-77300798472779975392011-05-19T12:34:00.004-04:002011-05-20T09:49:24.115-04:00

This is just amazing. Look: Isn't it spectacular?? It really IS a miracle when you consider that it spent six months in my basement, deprived of food and water and with only a tiny bit of sunlight.  I guess it was safe from freezes and parasites, but otherwise, it had to wait for the Spring to overcome its winter of deprivation. And there it is, now, blazing forth in its loveliness.  Not

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-56946914812890362452011-05-16T10:13:00.001-04:002011-05-16T10:17:48.161-04:00

I have a tendency to just make stuff up as I go along.  Stuff like...um...calendars and holidays and words.  Recipes.  Family rules. Paint colors.  Really, it's kind of an illness with me. I guess you knew that. So it should surprise no one that I'm ready to wish you a Happy New Year.  Today.  On Tuesday, May 17th, 2011. (Yes, I'm post-dating this entry.  Because right now?  It's a rainy Monday

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-9811654412684820212011-05-09T12:18:00.004-04:002011-05-10T10:22:52.101-04:00

So, yesterday I was in some serious pain from my messed up foot.  I overdid it during the week and got lazy with doing the exercises that keep my foot supple. Don't worry; although it is still tender today, I took it fairly easily yesterday so it's not near as bad today. But I was thinking about a man I saw take a fall at my daughter's Tae Kwon Do class on Thursday. He has a history of back

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-79345060697442807122011-04-26T20:01:00.001-04:002011-04-26T20:24:30.122-04:00

This is totally NOT my fault. This is really mostly not my fault. I might have to accept some responsibility for this. It could be that this is slightly my fault. (Actually, the dog in the picture really IS my fault.) Okay, this is mostly my fault. This is totally and completely my fault. Sue me.

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-47785231765276992892011-04-26T09:59:00.000-04:002011-04-26T09:59:01.960-04:00

I ordered my mom a photo book of the photos from the Dallas portion of our Texas Vacation 2011. Mostly, the photos consisted of us (surprise!) eating at various establishments but there's also some pictures of the Easter Egg Hunt and then the family feast, starring all three of my siblings and me.  (I don't know what it says about me that people often assume that I'm an only child.) Anyway,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-62994699532827862812011-04-21T23:16:00.010-04:002011-05-04T18:09:45.533-04:00

The Coopers are traveling in Texas this week for our annual visit to see friends and family and I am TRYING to do a bit of a travelogue.  The problem, really, is that I get in this mode of...um... vacation sloth and then nothing gets written.  Read the first part here: Austin Trip, Part One On our second day in Austin, my husband's old cycling gang reconvened for a bike ride.  I think he enjoyed

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-43819334280295142062011-04-18T04:23:00.003-04:002011-04-18T04:30:45.975-04:00

(I should probably mention that it's 2:00 in the morning as I'm writing this because today was incredible and I'm so moved by the outpouring of love and friendship from our Austin friends and family that I can't sleep.) The Coopers are traveling in Texas this week for our annual visit to see friends and family.  I had written this funny (no, seriously, it was FUNNY) blog post riffing on the

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-88281843052333412622011-04-07T09:38:00.003-04:002011-04-07T10:23:36.671-04:00

It's been a very frustrating time. THUNK. My daughter Jane, 10, has been sick.  She came home from school last Tuesday with a low-grade fever and then on Wednesday, when she was still congested and miserable, I took her to the Minute Clinic, thinking she had a sinus infection. We've never seen the same nurse practitioner twice at the Minute Clinic and the one we had on Wednesday seemed very...

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-21713023603184433112011-04-01T09:43:00.002-04:002011-04-01T16:33:10.701-04:00

Every April 1st, I wage a little battle with myself.  On one hand, I HATE April Fool's Day.  But on the other hand, I'd sort of like to play a really good joke. Sometimes I think about writing a blog post complaining about how, as I was driving my dang kids to school I had to slam on my brakes, thus causing my lighted cigarette to fall into my morning beer, which made me say a string of curse

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-72016572947711330042011-03-28T18:29:00.000-04:002011-03-28T18:29:07.216-04:00

It's probably a sin to be this proud of my kid. I don't care. This is my thirteen-year-old performing in her middle school's production of Fame. The kid ROCKS. Literally.

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-54685995560111889212011-03-24T12:14:00.002-04:002011-03-25T08:35:11.618-04:00

I had to quit Facebook cold-turkey this week. I was seriously addicted and it had become this enormous time suck.  I was checking it every time I got on the computer and posting mobile updates from my phone.  I even found myself thinking in terms of status updates! Plus, you know,  Facebook gives the ILLUSION of real connection with people, but it's not really connecting at all, at least for me

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-71773929959946444062011-03-21T17:30:00.004-04:002011-03-21T20:17:49.054-04:00

It seems to me like there has been an epidemic lately (epidemic meaning two) of people asking me what I do all day and why I'm not working at a paying job.  It took me aback, actually, because, A) the question seemed a throw-back to a less enlightened time when few people saw the value in a person staying home to raise children and B) I didn't really have a clear, concise answer. I confess that

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-73210723641429437372011-03-11T20:23:00.024-05:002011-08-07T08:27:59.797-04:00

Dear Ana, Today you became a teenager. I would do my normal, "WOW, how did that happen?  I JUST brought you home from the hospital!" routine but I'm kind of... well, stunned. Dude, I JUST brought you home from the hospital!  You were the most perfect, beautiful, calm baby--I was just madly in love with you from the first instant I saw you. I guess some things don't change, even in thirteen

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-30912362996543900592011-03-01T21:31:00.001-05:002011-03-02T08:55:47.716-05:00

(Before I forget, I have the results for the Smelly Lotion Giveaway.  anash and TruBrooklyn, you have both won smelly lotion and/or yarn and/or my book. E-mail me at barb@sothethingis.com with your addresses and preferences for gift items.  Thanks for playing, everyone.  Y'all are so fun!) I have been quiet.  Thanks to everyone who wrote in asking if I was okay or if I'd managed to, you know,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-8955239732773033242011-02-18T10:38:00.000-05:002011-02-18T10:38:52.393-05:00

At the beginning of every yoga class, my yoga instructor suggests that we "set our intentions" for our practice.  It's not really the same thing as setting goals --it's more like aiming yourself in a certain direction. I really like the idea of just aiming yourself because it doesn't lock you into the hard-and-fast track of having a goal and going after it with a single purpose. There's value in

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-19242102129926732962011-02-11T22:33:00.002-05:002011-02-12T09:21:52.345-05:00

I am sorry for the radio silence. It's been quite the week.  AND, I've suddenly been beset by the mid-Winter Blarg, as my friend Shirley calls it. One thing that no one tells you when you move from the South to the North is that, along with eventually getting tired of the snow (people DO tell you about that), there will be a day, usually in February, when the mid-Winter blues set in with such a

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-7463701132824236362011-02-05T13:17:00.002-05:002011-02-07T09:32:34.909-05:00

I stepped on the scale this morning and I had lost 19 pounds. I KNOW--that's what *I* said!  What? But...um... yeah.  Really. Nineteen pounds. Actually, I don't think it's that noticeable.  I probably have another 20 to lose so this first twenty isn't so noticeable, maybe.  I barely noticed it myself-- when I stepped on the scale, I was shocked.  I had to weigh myself another six times to make

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-46366139067761276012011-02-02T16:13:00.000-05:002011-02-02T16:13:26.518-05:00

Yes, we had another "Snow" Day today.  Except it's not really because of snow, it's because of ice.  Ice, ice everywhere and not a gin-and-tonic to drink. School was cancelled. Work was cancelled. Yoga was cancelled. The cleaners cancelled, at which point I started to lose the will to live. We got a little bored. A little bitter. A little stir crazy. So, we started weighing the pets. (

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-47548524443114377412011-01-31T13:06:00.000-05:002011-01-31T13:06:53.154-05:00

This is an actual personal ad from the Austin Chronicle, which I have had  taped to a card at the back of my Rolodex for at least 20 years.  It reads: "Bitter, disillusioned SWM seeks cynical SWF for mutual disappointment."  Kind of sums up much of my dating experiences, now that I think about it. My husband and I went on a Date Night on Friday night. I hesitate to call it a "date" night per

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-31718620769448530162011-01-25T19:45:00.002-05:002011-01-26T08:23:32.808-05:00

So, I got sick. I had a little cough on Sunday morning that got worse as the day went on and then overnight became one of those "you might soon see your lungs up close and personal" kinds of coughs. Monday morning, after I got the kids off to school, I went back to bed with a fat orange cat and, wow, the weight of the covers made me seriously doubt whether I could get back up. But I had a date

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-88403571807764895782011-01-22T13:51:00.002-05:002011-01-23T07:40:02.854-05:00

Last night, both of my daughters promoted to higher belts in Tae Kwon Do. Jane (10) had her first belt promotion--going from white belt to yellow belt. This was Ana's (12.85) third promotion--going from orange belt to green.  Both girls did amazing jobs, conquering their fears and breaking boards and, in general, exuding the self-confidence earned when you give something your best effort. I

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-4407819287010791852011-01-20T22:27:00.002-05:002011-01-23T07:43:59.212-05:00

So, I've been falling down a lot lately. I told you of my experience with the black ice. And I told you of falling down in yoga (which continues, actually. If I didn't love it so much, I'd just give up and stay home.) (Well, okay, that's a lie.) I also had a really tremendous fall off of my bicycle trainer --and y'all, that is not easy to do. I mean, you know that scene in PeeWee's Big

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-89911574722424338612011-01-17T11:52:00.000-05:002011-01-17T11:52:11.257-05:00

I'm currently taking a web seminar based on Brené Brown's book The Gifts of Imperfection. It's not going all that well, actually.  I can't seem to get out of my head, which, lets face it, has a significant raspberry-blowing, snarky, cynical, show-me-the-money side. For example, on Wednesday, the first exercise we were invited to do involved writing ourselves letters from our wisest and kindest

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-51902970110698159132011-01-15T09:31:00.003-05:002011-01-15T10:15:59.064-05:00

My Canadian friend Kathy read a bunch of my Facebook posts on Wednesday and commented, "Man, and I thought CANADIANS talked a lot about the weather!" She's totally correct. I am SLIGHTLY obsessed with the snow and we had a huge snowfall on Wednesday. Most of my friends in New York are DONE with the snow, thank you. They've seen it, they've lived it, they've shoveled it and now they would like

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-23937275757039737672011-01-11T10:27:00.000-05:002011-01-11T10:27:29.381-05:00

One of the things I love the most about snow is that each snowfall has its own personality.  The snow that fell Friday was an indolent, drifting snow, with no damaging wind, and flakes that were almost two inches in diameter.  The flakes stuck to everything, dusting the world in the finest silvery lace. I took these pictures at sunrise on Saturday and caught the reflection of the sun on the snow

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-78821796107641040972011-01-06T17:24:00.000-05:002011-01-06T17:24:43.165-05:00

So, our house is on the market. (We have made no firm plans as to what we are going to do if it sells because it may never sell and we’re all cautious like that.) We’ve had a few offers, but nothing close enough to what we paid for the dang thing back in 2008. We had a house showing in early December. Our realtor called and said that a lesbian couple wanted to see the house. I stashed the

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-39187437724467851942011-01-02T09:05:00.001-05:002011-01-02T13:09:02.895-05:00

(I deleted this entire post once already.  I just want you to know that the first draft was brilliant--BRILLIANT, I tell you! Blogger really needs an "undo" button.  OR a way to stop the trigger-happy autosave.  OR, I need my husband to materialize and tell me to hit Command Z.) (Sigh.) In early 2007, after a lifetime of running and fitness and aerobics and teaching dance to little kids, I woke

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-43211972277499333452010-12-28T11:17:00.000-05:002010-12-28T11:17:39.566-05:00

We all have our own ways of dealing with the blizzard. Adults Children (Almost) Teenagers Cats Scout Austin

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-86993335187124537712010-12-26T14:32:00.000-05:002010-12-26T14:32:37.473-05:00

And please don't tell anyone. But I so love the snow. I love it. IloveitIloveitIloveit. I swear, I didn't get my Christmas spirit until the snow started coming down today. The official sources say it's a blizzard outside. I'm not sure what makes a snowfall a blizzard, exactly, but it might have something to do with the fact that it's snowing SIDEWAYS. Here's my Ana (12.75), who does not

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-53512716562579726152010-12-23T12:04:00.001-05:002010-12-26T19:09:02.489-05:00

I'm so excited. For one thing, I slept through the night last night, after weeks of insomnia. It's just amazing how bright and beautiful the world is on a full night's sleep. For another thing, I've had some kind of breakthrough. You know how I've been struggling lately? Well, maybe you didn't know that. But I have--on just about every front: creatively, physically, in my relationships, as a

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-71935010914338818262010-12-20T19:40:00.000-05:002010-12-20T19:40:24.742-05:00

Last night, my husband and I took our two daughters to see what we thought was going to be the Story of Christmas--you know, the birth of Jesus and the nativity-- at a local Mega Church.  It turned out to be the entire life story of Jesus, complete with a really bloody and realistic crucifixion.  It was well done --very dramatic-- if not what what we were expecting. (And also? Jesus kind of had a

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-83395479383219213892010-12-16T13:29:00.002-05:002010-12-16T13:33:00.554-05:00

I was over at One Crafty Mother's blog the other day. I read her blog a lot.  She's a woman in recovery who writes with a heart-breakingly honest and vulnerable voice.  Although our circumstances are vastly different, I really resonate with her struggle for balance and the way she applies the lessons of recovery to the way she lives her life. I think the lessons from recovery are ones that we

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-38033880436580246632010-12-08T10:24:00.005-05:002011-01-07T21:26:10.593-05:00

It's very cold here on Long Island right now, although we haven't had any snow yet.  There's a deep biting wind that goes right through me and I've taken to dressing in at least three layers--in my own house!  I've decided my winter coat, bought fifteen years ago in Austin, isn't up to the task of keeping me warm and I will be hitting the after holiday(s) sales for a new, down-filled one.  It's

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-63871706997253694682010-12-03T12:42:00.005-05:002010-12-03T20:30:21.887-05:00

My parents were here visiting for a week and a half and we, as usual, packed an awful lot into their visit. First, my nephew (who lives in Manhattan) came out for Thanksgiving and there was a truly ferocious Chinese Checkers tournament: My dad is the reigning champion and apparently unbeatable at the game, but we do like to give him a run for his money every so often. (Note that Jane is deep

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-23362603826824412752010-11-23T11:19:00.000-05:002010-11-23T11:19:10.091-05:00

(Thank you all so much for your positive response about the clicking through to see the blog.  The things you wrote about me and my writing had me floating around all day yesterday with this beatific smile on my face. Thank you so much. The response has been overwhelmingly positive so I will continue to do the short feeds and ask you all to click on the title to take you to the full blog.  I

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-8825563518297716232010-11-21T18:53:00.002-05:002010-11-22T06:16:31.091-05:00

(Still experimenting with the feed thing. Would you all hate it if you had to click to read the blog? Would you actually do it? Tell me honestly because I don't want to make things less convenient for you.  I'm trying to get some quantifiable numbers just in case I ever want to allow advertising or, um, get a book deal and need to prove my vast readership.) There has been a flurry of activity at

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-9820511482472197412010-11-10T18:11:00.001-05:002010-11-13T14:36:06.058-05:00

If you are a subscriber of my blog, you received what is called a "Short Feed" via e-mail today. I'm experimenting with the concept in order to send people to my blog website so that I can get an idea of my actual readership numbers. I know that sounds very organized and self-promotional, but just put it down to the whole body-snatching, zombie thing taking over my life (I swear, it's the YOGA --

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-82182556166960666502010-11-10T09:59:00.003-05:002010-11-10T12:33:14.424-05:00

I'm on the couch again, having a bad pain day and kind of bummed about it. HOWEVER, this does allow me to get y'all all caught up on our pumpkin picking, visitor, Halloween madness. (Click on the pictures to embiggen and appreciate my HTML coding prowess!) First, we had Fall color.  I do so love the seasons.   (These photos were taken out my front door.  Isn't it amazing??) Ana (12)

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-32683941887094427482010-11-04T17:27:00.002-04:002010-11-13T14:35:49.033-05:00

I was in the middle of a very detailed blog post about October and autumn and pumpkins and Halloween when, oops, I ran out of space in my Blogger account and was denied any more picture-uploading privileges until I paid a small fee and waited ever-so-patiently for my privileges to be restored. So I muttered some choice words and went to take a yoga class. My first yoga class since we moved to

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-29267423729258517212010-10-22T13:18:00.000-04:002010-10-22T13:18:46.102-04:00

For those of you who receive the blog only via e-mail, there are several YouTube videos embedded in this post.  To see them just click on the title and it will take you to the blog and you can click and play. Among the many really fun things going on at the Cooper Clubhouse, I have decided to take a break from my antidepressants.  I've been on them (this time) since October 2008 when the chronic

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-91857922148489135352010-10-17T13:24:00.001-04:002010-10-17T16:13:14.632-04:00

Okay, I know I owe y'all about a hundred blog posts and I've been writing and writing (mostly in my head but it counts.  No, it does.) (Hush.) but I can't seem to get anything that makes me happy and meets my desire to be deep and meaningful after a year of... navel gazing.  (And not the kind that Sue does, which is DANG entertaining.  Mine is more like reading a dissertation on Lint.) Anyway,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-66624795161479947892010-10-06T09:59:00.000-04:002010-10-06T09:59:19.079-04:00

I allowed myself to get really, really mad at myself. I know what you're going to say and yes, I was THAT mad.  I thought I might never speak to myself again. See, here's the thing about the past two years: I messed up.  I messed up badly. I got lulled into thinking my daughter Jane (almost 10) was being, you know, TAUGHT things in school.  She brought home perfect report cards.  We met with

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-63741470734258541422010-09-23T11:35:00.004-04:002010-09-23T22:30:55.465-04:00

Again and again, I am reminded that the readers of this blog are the most compassionate and articulate and wonderful group of friends I have ever had.  Even when we disagree, the tone is always of mutual respect and kindness.  I consider you all among my greatest blessings. Thank you. You humble and uplift me. I received a LOT of correspondence on my last blog post about Jane's school situation

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-4071252451068450592010-09-20T13:42:00.001-04:002010-11-22T06:13:19.078-05:00

When Ana was tiny --REALLY tiny--like maybe not even a year old, I worked with her to identify her emotions by name.  One day, she was angry when I put her down for a nap and when I came back in to get her up several hours later she looked right at me and said, "ANGER." She was still mad! I feel like maybe I should have some sort of flashing red sign right now that says that. ANGER! This

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-70516632905624183892010-09-17T11:46:00.001-04:002010-09-17T16:47:45.113-04:00

Yesterday, Jane (9) had a play date with a little girl who came to our house.  They were engaged in completing their homework so I left them alone for about 20 minutes while I ran to pick up my older daughter, Ana (12), from school. While driving back from Ana's school, I got a call from the little girl's mom who was noticeably upset that her daughter was home alone with Jane at my house. I

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-69882218602387324222010-09-06T21:12:00.000-04:002010-09-06T21:12:39.196-04:00

Remember in The Princess Bride* when the Six-Fingered Man says to Inigo Montoya, "Good heavens, are you still trying to win?  You have an over-developed sense of vengeance."?  (Here's the link if you want to see it, but be forewarned that outside of the context of the movie, it's a bit violent.)  I think that's my problem.  I have an over-developed sense of needing to be Right. (You didn't

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-51821446097763869652010-09-02T18:19:00.000-04:002010-09-02T18:19:43.209-04:00

My kids can't possibly be starting seventh and fourth grades, right? Right? What? Oh. Well, darn.

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-88168659929035821632010-08-31T10:50:00.001-04:002010-08-31T11:07:40.919-04:00

We have four pets. And now, a pictorial of how I spent every spare moment of daylight this summer: I do this until the puppy lays down in the grass in what Jane calls the "Starfish Puppy" pose and won't bring the ball back anymore. I do this at least three times a day. (My right arm looks like Babe Ruth's at this point.) If I DON'T do this, the puppy becomes the whiniest, paw-iest,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-60787763613151659912010-08-29T12:20:00.004-04:002010-08-29T16:17:13.836-04:00

(Well, that sound was either whooshing or FLUSHING, I'm not sure which.)  In retrospect, it's clear that there were several distinct themes to this summer. Let me 'splain.  No, is too much; let me sum up: (I know, I know...I'm sorry! I'm sorry.  I couldn't help it.  How often does the chance happen to quote some dialogue from "The Princess Bride?") (Unless, of course, your name is Inigo

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-64763952170881697962010-08-14T14:51:00.000-04:002010-08-14T14:51:25.361-04:00

Hello from vacation!!  Hello, hello, hello!  Why yes, we're at the beach.  In Florida.  ON VACATION. VAY-KAY-SHUN! YEEHAW! (I apologize for the excessive use of capital letters.  I will try to contain myself.) So, anyway, here we are ON VACATION (sorry.) This is the view from our balcony here ON VACATION. The condo we rented is pretty fancy, except, apparently, it was previously rented by

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-72274176290432901812010-08-03T10:58:00.000-04:002010-08-03T10:58:46.200-04:00

Okay, okay, I know it's been forever since I've written.  We're having a very busy summer and it's hard to find computer time.  I have a long post in the works about this summer and the happy things we've done and the people we've seen and the blanket I am knitting. (Because doesn't everyone knit a blanket in the summer?) But before all of that, I have to show you this: For those of you keeping

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-78080843949631731192010-07-18T14:46:00.000-04:002010-07-18T14:46:39.333-04:00

  It's my first tomato sandwich of the season, made with my very own homegrown tomatoes, which are starting to come in.  I wish I could share it with you.   I know your mouth is watering.  I'm sorry.

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-77232404495339556092010-06-27T07:17:00.001-04:002010-06-27T07:18:20.717-04:00

My girls took a three-day refresher swim course this past week at the YMCA. Initially, my husband and I signed them up and picked their classes based on what we know about their swimming abilities.  They are both strong swimmers but need work on their various strokes. After the first day in swim camp, both girls were sort of "demoted" and put into classes with much younger kids. On the third

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-60998004396893154172010-06-23T20:30:00.000-04:002010-06-23T20:30:28.243-04:00

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-5401198079337939752010-06-22T10:33:00.001-04:002010-06-22T10:39:20.337-04:00

I am having a MOMENT. Well, okay,  I've BEEN having a few moments and now I must express myself and get this off my chest so that I can go back to obsessing over my own failures, which is what I normally spend my time doing. Here's the thing: the nice weather has arrived and I see more and more kids on the roads on bikes, biking to school or for fun or with friends. It breaks my heart how few

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-74236928873363755222010-06-20T10:36:00.001-04:002010-06-20T10:39:09.898-04:00

So, remember THIS? Feast your eyes on this: And this: And, um, THIS: And, well, this, this and THIS: (Why, yes, I DID just break into dance in my garden. I have to give the neighbors SOMETHING to talk about!) Happy Father's Day to all. Coop got a special breakfast and is out fishing with Jane at the moment. A special shout out to my Step-dad, Jerry, who continues to add love and fun to

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-71799402015910456292010-06-18T10:43:00.002-04:002011-01-07T07:53:19.892-05:00

I spent yesterday scrubbing my house and getting ready for my neighborhood's Civic Association meeting, which I was hosting.  I was expecting between 10-15 people--and who better to talk up my house to everyone they know who is looking than people who already live in the neighborhood?  I prepared as if it was an Open House but with food.  I went grocery shopping and made my own gorgeous

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-28797836137754707782010-06-14T08:52:00.000-04:002010-06-14T08:52:03.298-04:00

I have been scarce. Coop and I have been wrestling with big decisions lately, borne largely out of our dissatisfaction with the school district the kids are currently attending.  It's a good school district in many ways but it just doesn't compare with the school district we left behind in Texas.  We are concerned that our daughters have lost ground academically and that they are not being

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-22707655929112344792010-06-08T10:36:00.000-04:002010-06-08T10:36:23.969-04:00

My children (Ana (12) and Jane (9)) are plotting something.  I know this because I have found little clues lying about the house, including a draft of the following letter. (Click to enlarge if you can't read it.) (I had to bribe Jane to let me post this letter because she doesn't want anyone thinking that she and Ana are bad kids, plotting to run away from home.)

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-42536724485269375062010-06-01T10:05:00.003-04:002011-01-02T07:44:22.772-05:00

We have two dogs. Our older dog, Scout, is a Border Collie mix. Scout is an interesting animal because, although for a long time I complained that he was dumber than dirt, he's really not.  Actually, he's probably too smart.  He's just so fearful and nuerotic that he is his own worst enemy. Take, for example, the game of Fetch. Scout really loves the game of Fetch.  I mean, REALLY, REALLY

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-46304221099849157282010-05-25T09:35:00.000-04:002010-05-25T09:35:00.071-04:00

So, play this one loud. (There is a YouTube video embedded here of Ruthie Foster singing "People Grinnin' in Your Face." (If I may just start with an aside (why, of course, you can, Barb!  How would that be any different than how you usually start??) have I ever told y'all my theory of how I got my voice and not, say, the voice of Ruthie Foster? Here's my theory: When Aretha Franklin was born,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908127.post-14474811904049791492010-05-24T09:20:00.001-04:002010-05-24T12:13:04.073-04:00

Due to an inordinate amount of stupidity in my life at the moment (not all of it on my part), I have temporarily lost my sense of humor. I think I feel it coming back, which why I think this is only temporary. Anyway, I have many posts in the works, including imaginary conversations between my "anonymous" neighbors and me, and the Texas School Board discussing things amongst itself (because,

Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469997012394334517noreply@blogger.com2