Thoughts about Parents

I've started reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It is far more captivating and thought provoking than that silly Jane Austen book I was reading yesterday (sorry, Katie! I'll probably pick it back up soon though.)

Gilead is a letter written by a dying minister to his son. I'm only several pages in and I've had so many thoughts. First I thought how neat it would be if, one day, my parents had written me some letter telling me how they really feel about life and the world and all the lessons they learned. How candid and sweet it would be. But then I thought about my relationship with my parents. They are pretty candid now. I decided I would not like to wait to learn all that they had to teach me. I'm very glad that I can call my mom about any problem and she can help me see some reason.

I have a lot of friends who are parents, and while Jacob and I aren't quite ready to start a family yet, I do think about it. I think I want to be the kind of parent who talks openly with my kids. I'm a real, flawed person. I have opinions and desires and experiences. I hope that I'll have the sort of candid and constant relationship with my child that I don't need to write a letter for when I'm gone. I hope my children will cooperate with this plan. :)

Mom and Dad, thanks for putting up with all my whining, disobedience, and bad decisions over the years. Now that I'm turning into a grownup, I'm starting to realize just how amazing you are and have been to me over the years. Love you guys.

Exciting news!

So very exciting news for two very dear friends (and bridesmaids!) got engaged to their respective mans over the holidays!


Megan and I have been friends since we were two years old. Although she moved away in elementary school and our penpal-ship has been... rocky at best over the years (it was totally my fault!), we have stayed very close and since freshman year in college have learned just how similar we still are. She and her honey, Matt, are looking to get married this July (and I get to be the matron of honor!! I'm so excited!)



Grace and I met when we were in middle school, and ended up living together for 3 years in college. She and I have seen each other through all our crazy times learning who we were, how to be grownups, and how to survive this awful thing they call "classes". She and her man, Nathaniel (who I studied with in undergrad) are also looking forward to a summer wedding. I know it will be beautiful!


On a totally different note, I recently asked many friends via facebook for book suggestions and I'm starting to slowly make my way through the list. Which you can look at here

So far I've read:

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho,
• 2 short stories by William Faulkner (The Evening Sun Go Down and A Rose For Emily)
• I'm about 6 chapters into Jane Austen's Persuasion.

I am actually really enjoying trying new things. It's not like I have any expectations out of reading these books, or that I am trying to finish them in any sort of reasonable time-frame, but somehow it makes me feel less sad while my husband does super smart academic things like learn his 5th language (English, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and now Latin) or do research on topics that I can't even understand! (Fyi - He and his friends blog about these endeavors here).

If you have any other book suggestions for me, feel free to comment. :)

A Christmas Survey

Taken from Lauren's blog ;)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

wrapping paper. It's cheaper!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

artificial. It's cheaper! lol. Also, I hate tree needles all over the floor. Ugh. I hate sweeping. Why create extra work? Light a candle for the smell, sheesh.

3. When do you put up the tree?

As soon as we possibly can after thanksgiving. (This year, it was 1am on the day after)

4. When do you take the tree down?

Around New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog?

I never had it growing up, but yes, in small quantities.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Hmmm... I don't know, I had so many wonderful gifts given to me.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My Brother in Law. What do you buy for the man who has everything?

8. Easiest person to buy for?
This year, I think it was my sister. But it varies.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

No

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Um, neither yet.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

That's a terrible question.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

I absolutely HATE christmas movies. I cannot think of a single good one. They are all cheesy.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Planning... Early October. Shopping... Black Friday.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Only for the annual white elephant party

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Um, mom's ham biscuits? Or occasionally she makes monkey bread.

16. Lights on the tree (colored or clear)?

CLEAR CLEAR CLEAR

17. Favorite Christmas song?

any hymn or Johnny Cash song. We listen to Johnny Cash incessantly at Christmas.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Stay in town.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Doner and Blitzen, but do you recalllllll the most FAAAMOOUUSSS RAINDEER OF ALLLLLL. Rudolph! (and Olive, of course.)

20. Angel, star or ribbon on top of tree?

Star! I love it.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

A couple on Christmas eve. (christmas pjs and my sister and I usually exchange on Christmas eve.) But mostly on christmas day.

22. Favorite children's Christmas song?

I always associate "I said the cow all white and red" with kids and Christmas.

23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Christmas movies? I don't know. I really love this time of year.

24. Favorite ornament theme or color?

my tree has silver and red christmas balls, but otherwise, it's kinda a mismatch. i hate themed trees.

25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day?

Um, I don't have any idea. I guess ham?

26. What do you want for Christmas this year?

Just to celebrate. I find it exciting, regardless of what's in the package. Although, I did ask for some clothes and house stuff and fun things that I wouldn't otherwise be able to buy for myself. :)

27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa?

No. Although one year, he did rip his pants on my parents fireplace and leave sooty footprints. :) That was a fun year.

28. Age you discovered who Santa was?

5

29. Eggnog, hot chocolate, or apple cider?

ohhh... Probably apple cider lately. Although I love a good hot chocolate as well.

30. Traditional colors (red and green) or other colors?

Everything is red, green and silver.

31. Do you have any Christmas decorations on your roof?

no. We don't have any outside this year. Hoping to buy lights in the after Christmas sales. *Fingers crossed*. But i don't think I'm a "decorations on the roof" kind of girl.

32. How does Santa get into your house?

He doesn't come right now. maybe when there are kids. And since there's no fireplace... I guess we'll have to crack open a window. lol.

33. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards?

Either. :)

34. Favorite children's Christmas Cartoon?

Hm, maybe Rudolph claymation one, but idk. Christmas movies are LAME.

35. Favorite Christmas Memory?

I love christmas eve. The candlelight service, the luminaries all over, driving around to see lights, eating, singing... So... I guess every Christmas Eve ever.

Who Am I?

I've been a little depressed lately. Who am I? Why do I spend all my free time cooking? Am I turning into a mindless domesticated woman? What is it that I actually like to do?

I had a conversation this morning at church with a friend about this subject as well. I mean, work takes up most of my time, but then I just come home and... do nothing! So what's wrong with me? It doesn't help that my sweet husband is ALWAYS studying. He certainly knows what he wants to do with his free time.

Jake and I were talking about this on the way home from church today and it was clear that he didn't quite understand. He said that I am a strong woman with a great career. I enable him to do all the things that he does. I enjoy eating yummy foods and find satisfaction in that... so what exactly was I being so hard on myself about?

I kinda think he's right. Sometimes I choose to be unhappy because I think that things aren't the way they *ought* to be, or weren't the way I expected them to be. But that doesn't make them... not wonderful. Sometimes you just have to take some time and enjoy life.

So today, I choose to be extremely content, because I have fresh flowers on my table, and delicious homemade-from-scratch ice cream. I choose to happily crawl under a giant quilt with some apple cider and a very silly book. Today, I choose to be content with who I am. And not worry so much about defining it.

The Main Difference

Last night, I was at a little get together with some married friends. Two of us had kids. Two of us did not. We were all sitting around chatting and it fell into the "Oh, is Junior sleeping through the night now?" "Well, little JoJo is a good eater, but a terrible sleeper." At which point, us two non-moms chimed in with "Well, little Fido is really a troublemaker."

I was thinking about how terrible it is to compare someone's children to your pets... and I had a revelation in the main difference between pets and kids.

Sure, Fluffy probably won't cry all night, and Fluffy won't grow up and start to hate you, and Fluffy doesn't need a college fund... but when it comes right down to it: We want our pets to be stupid, but we want our kids to be smart.

I feel like this explains a lot. Feel free to subscribe to this blog for other such brilliant words of wisdom! :p

Just some random thoughts...

So a lot has been going on lately... I'm considering going back to grad school part time while I work... Best to do these things while you're young, right? Before there are children and so many responsibilities... I just hope I can get in to the school I want... We'll see...

And then work has been a little crazy lately. I guess I'm finally just getting a real world picture of my industry. It just takes a little adjustment.

I've been thinking a bit lately about why I only write about my "domestic" endeavours on this blog. I guess there are a few reasons.

1 - work is fun and I am certainly passionate about what I do, but I cannot figure out a single way to describe what I do on a day to day basis to a non-programmer without getting a look like I'm a crazy person. And maybe I am. ;) Still. Makes for a boring read.

2 - Programming is puzzles. Puzzles which I love, but it's extremely important for me to actually take break when I get home. My mind subconsciously works on these puzzles while I am baking bread, taking a walk... and most frequently in the shower or while I'm napping! It's just the way my brain happens. So if I come home from an 8 hour day of staring at a software bug, and then write all about it on my blog, well... I'm pretty much guaranteeing I won't have it figured out by tomorrow.

3 - The name of the blog, after all, is DOMESTIC Diva. Not Awesome programming lady diva.

I guess all I wanted to say is that I love blogging about my crazy mishaps in the kitchen. I really enjoy all these little hobbies I'm picking up lately. But I do my job not just because it supports us, not just because I'd be bored without it, but because I really do love programming. I just need some hobbies too.

Domestic Endeavors

Well, I just had to write a post to brag about my first domestic diva win!! I made a wreath!! Entirely out of a metal coathanger, some flowers from the dollar store, and packing tape! And it looks awesome! I'm hoping to find a wreath hanger tonight, but in the mean time:


And then we had birthday cake situation. You know what, I'm going to call it a win. Sure, the cake was a box mix. Sure, the frosting came from the store. And yeah, the cake did have a giant gap in the side between the layers.. but for the first time ever, I made a cake, leveled it (or attempted to), and decorated it, without crying, throwing a temper tantrum, or needing Jake to come rescue me and the cake! And how diva is it, if you're always falling apart anyway?

So see, friends? If even I can have an occasional success, so can you.