It's the...

exchange

wantonness
ache
anticiption
crave
writhing
levitation
surrender
savor
burn
linger

....that keeps....

Painted Lady Butterflies - An Exploration of Science

I love the word metamorphosis. I love even better the meaning of the word. It has many layers both literal and figurative.

My kids love butterflies. Since we speak Spanglish in my house, it's not uncommon for us to say "mariposa". Something about "mariposa" that rolls more melodically off the tongue than "butterflies", which is filled with such hard consonants.

A gift that My Eldest received for her post-surgery recovery was a Butterfly Habitat. I've always been jealous of her because each year of school so far, her teachers have had this in the classroom. Each year, My Eldest raves about how cool it is to watch, and she would give me daily updates.

Now, it's our turn to have one in OUR house! I might be more excited about it that My Eldest is! Shhhh.

So, with that being said, I thought you might like to follow along with us as the caterpillars pig out, wrap up, and eventually blossom.

Day 1, July 10th

This morning, Day 4

The silk is webbing the inside of the container. It's hard to tell by this picture, but they're eating and pooping a lot (the sand-like specks are poo)! They are also longer, fatter and fuzzier!

I'll post pictures over the next two to three weeks as the Painted Lady butterflies develop.

(I'm going to photograph the next few at the window where Day 1's is taken. Day 4's has a screen on the window and doesn't allow for as much highlighting inside their home. )

Privacy, Please

I wonder why the term "private" has turned into the pejorative of "secretive".

Funny Strange, Not Funny Ha-Ha

I've been thinking lately -- weeks...no...months now -- how much time I devote to the computer. I've tried to limit it as of late because of the newfound awareness.

I've started downsizing my online life to some degree. I killed my MySpace account, unregistered myself from several websites such as reunion.com and the like. I've felt free, both time-wise, and of "chains". Admittedly, the habits of going to certain websites are harder to break than I anticipated.

Another step I took was to delete and uninstall many software programs from my laptop. Computers come pre-loaded with so much CRAP that I never use. This weekend, I tore into my laptop and started hammering away. No more Windows Media Player since I use iTunes, got rid of some kid software games that will go on the new computer my children are about to inherit from my mother (thanks Mom!). You know -- THAT kind of stuff.

In doing my cleanup, I must've deleted something I really DO need because my laptop doesn't like me right now. I spent the better part of the weekend, at times when my family didn't need or want me, trying to fix the darn thing. Wish me luck.

Thank goodness work is pretty liberal and I have the ability to tap in online from the office. I'm grateful for that employee perk.

~Whoosh!

KBD Gets Published!

Yay for my friend KB Dallas! Operation Nice has published a personal experience that KBD wrote and submitted.

How NICE! (click "NICE" for KBD's story.)

~J

S'mores

My Eldest asked last night if our family could have s'mores for dessert tonight.

Today, My Eldest and my mother-in-law went to the grocery store to purchase the ingredients to make s'mores.

According to My Little One, who was busting at the seams through supper tonight, one drop of water is an ingredient when making s'mores.

Anyway... This is what s'mores looks like in my household:

She even drew a face with the melted chocolate. Notice how pleased she is with herself. Also notice the 'drawings' up and down her hands and arms. I hope this artistic streak produces much fruit when she's an adult.

Whoosh!

Crack-Fil-A

I'm freakin' addicted to those damned things!! I really need to break the addiction. I need to surrender the power they have over me to something greather than myself.

It doesn't help that on the way to work daily, I drive past TWO of them!

Those delicious chicken minis have melodic, hypnotizing voices that beckon me. I am allured by their sweetness, the warmth and the comfort they provide.

Seriously. I buy chicken minis at least twice a week. And I order a medium sweet tea. Trying to eat gluten free does not agree with my addiction to these pillow pieces of Heaven.

Make them go away!!

Maybe by writing publicly about my penchant for the greatness of Chick-Fil-A and chicken mini's, their power over me will be diminished and I can draw on the strength of a good, healthy breakfast that is equally satisfying.

Maybe if I start saying in my mind, "chicken minis are made of poop", I'll gross out enough to avoid them all together.

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

Chicken minis are made of poop

...................

Strep, Anyone?

Even though My Eldest has just had her tonsils & adenoids removed, it looks like we're going to have strep around this house for quite a while. Thanks to our cousin, My Eldest has been given strep -- through the mail!


This is a picture of My Eldest and her strep....


Clever, huh? You can get your own Giant Microbe here.

And thanks KM for the CUTE recovery gift! What a great idea!! xo

Another Sleeping Escapade

She brings us so much humor, even while she's sleeping.

Bye Bye Strep!

This is a picture of My Eldest's mouth. It's filled with the bacteria most commonly known as 'strep'. See that pasty white tongue? Yeah -- it smells like ass when she has strep. It's gross to see it all white like that. And swollen.

On Friday, she's going in for surgery; a surgery that, God willing, will terminate her bout with chronic strep. Please pray for her, us and all the medical staff involved. Although Tonisllectomy and Adenoidectomy are both fairly common procedures, I'd like to buy the insurance, please (prayer).

I'll keep you updated accordingly. In the meantime, let's all partake of some Xanax, shall we?