7 quick takes- Dawn edition ;)

This week I'm doing the 7 quick takes on Dawn's (current) blog. If you want to answer these questions too, please feel free to do so! :)

1. Why do you read Jennifer's blog, Conversion Diary?
I subscribed to it because I read a few very pertinent articles (in case you hesitate about reading those links, both are about becoming pro life). I like to have it in my feed in case I find some new very eye opening post :)

2. Why do you participate in 7 Quick Takes? Alternately, why don't you participate in 7 Quick Takes?
I used to do the 7 quick takes, because it was short and sweet. But then I had analytics and I had crazy traffic on Fridays and it seemed weird to me, I like to have less readers but who do post a comment and who will come back. So now I don't participate. I still go on Jennifer's blog when I'm looking for new blogs to read and check out people on the 7 quick takes. I found a few great blogs this way!

3. Why do you blog? Alternately, why don't you blog? "I blog because it's fun to get my thoughts out. I also highly value feedback from like-minded people when I feel like I'm struggling with something."
Ahah can I ditto you? + because I like to read other people's life, I think it's only fair to share some of mine.

4. What is your morning drink?
Hot cocoa: with unsweetened cocoa :)

5. What is your favorite movie genre?
hmm pixar animations? Like wall-e, up.. I am not too big on movies though. I like shorter TV stuff, like home improvement shows! :) Because they are short afternoon shows and I don't like to spend all my evenings in front of a screen!

6. What kind of pets, if any, do you have?
None. I have pet ladybugs in this house. Better than spiders! I need to do a search to see if it's a bad thing for the house though... Otherwise I love cats, but maybe later on. Right now we may go for trips and I don't want to leave the poor thing alone for weeks on.

7. Why do you follow my blog? If you don't regularly follow but have taken a moment today to look around, why? What captures your attention? What do you like or don't like?
I follow your blog because I like your short posts about catholic stuff, about family life and how sometimes it's harder to figure out what to do, blogwise or parenting wise... I also really like blogs of moms who still blog from their point of view, not only describing what their kids are up to, but what they are going through themselves. This is probably what I like most in any blog. :)

7 quick takes Friday

-1-

I started a journal! :) Yesterday at Target I saw this beautiful notebook, I don't have precise plans for it. I wrote a few quotes and comments in there.. Not sure what I want to do with it..

-2-

Good resolutions with Mr L. to have a healthier lifestyle : make ice cream!
I think it's a great resolution. I realize it may sounds crazy : " oh darling, I got 2 packs of heavy cream, eggs and whole milk to make our diet ice cream!!" :)
But instead of buying and eating ice cream, we make it before we can eat it. The ice cream we make is VERY rich, but delicious! :)
And as we have to make it, then freeze it, we just can't eat quite as often.
Also as it's so rich we can't eat too much in one time. Yesterday we made chocolate. Can't wait to try it tonight!!

-3-
Tonight we go all the way north to Yonkers, for a NFP class about post-partum charting. We registered before our membership expires, and also because with the move and craziness of a new installation it might be difficult to schedule a class later. We registered a few months ago, I thought I would be pregnant by now. Maybe I am. Maybe not. I won't say I don't care but it doesn't really matter.. I know there is a time for everything, so I can be a little more patient. Right now I can't wait for my period actually... the end of breast soreness! :)

-4-The first time I saw roast beef in a can I thought : " how gross!". Let me tell you I changed my mind on this one! It does look ... hmm.. how to say it... like dog food! BUT once rinsed from its gravy it's great for many quick recipes. Here are two:
- one onion, sliced and slowly cooking in some butter. Once it's colored (golden, light brown) add the rinsed roast beef. Stir in 2 table spoons of flour. Slowly add one or two glass of red wine. Et voila! Burgundy beef ready to serve (over rice, pasta, potatoes..)
-in a pot: boil a half cabbage, finely sliced. Add a cube of beef bouillon and some salt. After 10 min add sliced carrots. Cook an other 3 min.
in a pan, cook one onion, sliced, in some butter. Once it's colored (golden, light brown) add the rinsed roast beef. Add the cooked cabbage and carrots (drained and pressed to extract juices). Stir in the pan over heat. Separate the pieces of beef so they are more uniformly spread.
It's delicious! We had some yesterday with mashed potatoes. And those recipes are cheap! :)

-5-
Ok yesterday I watched wifeswap. I was not desperate. But I was ironing. That gives me excuses ;) So anyway I watched it. Someone else said it better than me:
"Nothing makes me fear for my life more than the ignorance of some of the other folks I share the planet with. On a scale from 1 to 10, Wife Swap showcases these people at a saturation level of 25. Religious zealots, right and left wing extremists, people who eat raw food diets, and just about every other fringe you can imagine are represented in the most harsh of lights. The sad part is that sometimes I agree with many of the things that some of the folks have issue with in each others families, but they just take everything they are into way too damn far. Really, there are never any middle of the road folks in here, but I guess that wouldn't make for an interesting show, eh?"
I have watched a few shows so far (disorientation I guess, this is why I'll make sure I don't take a shift job again!) and I realized that some ideas sound good on paper, like the family who lives in the countryside and grow their own food, but then the parents were a little nuts and extreme (like eating ONLY organic home grown food) and I felt bad for such narrow minded people... In yesterday's edition I was surprise to see a very smart mom. Not the one I would have expected to be the smart one. One of the mothers was an artist, making sure everyone can express their creativity. And the other was a biker, living for her biker family. Well let me tell you I had a big prejudice in favor of the ecolo-artist mom. But by the middle of the movie I just wanted her to open her mind a little. She was so busy with herself she couldn't see her own family's needs. She was so busy trying to "open the minds" at her swap's guests that she didn't share with them. The other mom was way smarter. Not as educated but waaaaay smarter. Instead of imposing HER lifestyle, she saw the needs and try to address them. She was sincerely trying to give the kids a good time, and to provide means for her swap's guests to keep those new activities despite their tight budget.
Bravo mama! :)

-6-
Sunday night I walked to Central Park with my husband. It was just gorgeous! It was evening and by the time we got there it started getting darker, people were leaving, and the firelies came out. It was like magic! :)

-7- I really want to finish that review about the first years of forever.. :) for one I liked it, and second I could really use to be more patient with hubby.

7 quick takes Friday

1- I have started reading The Screwtape letters, CS lewis. It's a collection of "letters" from an old demon to his young nephew... It's really funny AND makes you take a look at your own spiritual life. Great read!


2- MY kids first communion is tomorrow :) I'm almost as excited as them! Maybe even more actually! I found Bibles for them, and I'm making bookmarks with a prayer on it.

3-I'm going to a French party Sunday! It's like a tea, hosted at a friend's house, but she is going to France in July so she wants us to speak French only :) I'll bring my tarot, I miss playing this game.

4- My sister is coming in 2 weeks!! Whoo! Her birthday is today. I don't know too much about sleeping arrangements yet... So many things to figure out. But the most important is: she comes for 10 days, with her husband and baby, and we have so many things we can do!! We'll get a little pool for the kiddo. I'm very excited about hosting a toddler for 10 days!


5- We started to receive vegetables from a community garden. I went Wednesday to do my voluntary hours (we have to do 4 hours but they also gently remind you that if everyone keeps it to 4 hours not more it won't work. Then why don't they require 12 hours? or more?? At least we would know what we get into...) Anyway I received kohlrabi, swiss chards, collard greens, radices, lettuce and cilantro. I had never heard of "cool rabbit" before! It tastes like turnip, only softer, like not much taste. It's funny to get vegetables in a community garden because then you have to look for recipes. I would NOT buy cool rabbit, or chards, or collard greens, but now that I have them I might as well do something with it.. :) It's like visiting a new country, trying new foods, getting used to weird habits (like how to prepare collard greens).
kohlrabi is the little light green veggie in the middle.

6- My summer shoes smell bad. Like really bad... :( Is it because I wear them without socks? I tried the baking soda thing. But they don't smell much better after a night of treatment...
Any tips to get rid of bad smells in shoes?

7- Yesterday night I had an improvised date with Mr L. I came out of work late, and he wanted pizza... We ended up in a nice local Peruvian restaurant for cevice and jalea. Yum! And not crazy prices like in Manhattan. Then we walked to a Dunkin Donut for a coffee. This is my favorite walk. I love going to that specific DD. Usually it rains, and Mr L. has something on his mind... But by the time we get to the coffee place we are laughing and enjoying a great time together. :) I love it. There is such a contrast between the place and weather and our moods. It's like the atmosphere affects us when we are at home, then we get easily worried and "rainy" but when we go out, breathe the fresh air, walk a little bit , talk a lot and get a cup of coffee, we are the happiest people in the world, because we have each other. :)

7 quick takes Friday

1-I think I'm a man inside.. Well not really. But when I read psychologic tests and articles about men and women and what differences there are.. I'm always the man!!

2-Also my husband and some of his friends started a new tradition, its called BroDay. Basically they do guy's stuff: grilling and smoking food, going to home depot to check out chains and tools, brewing beer, watching action movies, and just hanging out.
And of course I like all of it. Tell me now: isn't it a girl's day too? I mean obviously it's not a boys only day, but they pretend these are activities girls don't like too much... What? Which girl doesn't like a great steak and a good beer? Well I stay away from beer until I know whether I'm pregnant or not, but I still enjoy making some and smelling it ;)
I must say also that i'm not big on WWII movies either, but that's probably more to do with being French, when EVERY SINGLE wednesday night you can watch a documentary about WWII...
Oh and Home depot? A guy thing? where you can do HOME improvement projects? and buy FLOWERS and garden stuff? really?

3-Work is driving me nuts. I love charity work, and I believe in what I do and what I work for. But we're SO disorganized.. And too few people trying to do too much work... And working crazy hours when you have a family life is not good...
I was asked to reduce my hours more, but I still have to be there almost every freaking day of the week! So frustrating! I'm glad I live close by.



4- We are moving to Chicago in August! I'm so happy and excited about it!! I probably mentioned it already, but it's now 100% sure! Yeah for moving!

5- I feel proud because I found a good graduation present idea for a new pastor in my hubby's church. :) I suggest that we give her a present, as thank you for all she did these past two years, and people were really enthusiastic about it. (Like they didn't think about it??) First liturgical clothes were suggested (as catholic people often get for ordinations), but the main pastor said her home church is taking care of it. We decided on luggage, so she can go on missionary trips :)
Luggage is the best present I received. I think luggage are great graduation of anything present, you know all the "moving on" stages of life.. :)
High school grad: luggage to travel the country.
Pastor grade: luggage to spread the word.
Retiring: luggage to travel the world.
graduating a program: luggage for a new beginning.. :)

6- Also about the new pastor.. Someone asked me if, as catholic, I'm upset to see a woman preaching. Nope. :) I know MANY preachy women.. not always for the best... I love the graduating girl, she is really good: as a person, as an orator etc. I think she'll do a great pastor IMO.
Now a woman priest would be way more confusing to me. I believe Jesus was serious when he said " this is my body" (especially the part where he says :"eat my flesh" because there is not much room for interpretation and figurative talk in that one...) Anyway I believe priests represent the person of Jesus, they are consecrated to give us sacraments, particularly eucharist and reconciliation. I think it's important that priests are men, not just humans, male humans. I have no problem with getting counceling with a sister, or any lay person man or woman, but I would have a hard time hearing a woman saying " This is my body" in the name of Jesus.
I believe there is a feminine way of giving your body, and a masculine way. And I will never know how it is for a man. It's part of the mystery.
The same way a man can't be a mother. He can be a wonderful parent as a father, he is still not a mom.
Anyway just saying that to clarify: I'm thankful and glad about Charlene's graduation because she is a wonderful pastor. This doesn't mean I would understand women's priesthood in the catholic church.

As much as I can get upset at random gender attribution (like beer or home depot being more "manly") I think the gender difference is important when it comes to the way of giving your life for others. As much as there is a difference between motherhood and fatherhood.

7- I would love to announce something great like I'm pregnant... But no way to know.. :( Just have to wait...
I joined a website called 2 weeks wait (Yes for real) some ladies are a little fanatic about pregnancy tests... I have no idea where I am in the cycle because mucus and temperature are contradictory and BOTH are not very clear.
All I can do is wait. wait and see. :)

7 quick takes Friday

-1-
I have a serious (but not so rare) condition.
It's been going on for a few months.
I think it came with the marriage...

I got the baby obsession.

I try to not talk about "when can we try for a baby?" more than once every other day. And trust me it's hard... Not that I'm totally out of it yet, but I think about it so much, so much. My husband is so amazing I can't but imagin him with little ones, and if I think about how cute they would be with his red hair and blue-green witty eyes.. I'm melted. So here's what's on my mind at least 20 times a day:


-2-
Thinking of babies, we're planning the future.. well as much as planning can go for the future.
Today I sent a few emails to former teachers to ask them for advices and contacts. I would love to go to the university of Chicago. Linguistics anyone? :)

-3-
I'm getting so good at paperwork!! I got my non-driver licence in the mail when we got back from France. What a nice surprise. The less nice surprise was my hair on the picture, we had such a laugh!! I had been waiting since 7 AM in the rain on the line outside, so I look tired, mean and hirsute...
Now on to applying for green card, GRE, TOEFL, scholarship and university... long is the road.

-4-
weight loss: none. I'm back to 165lbs. Of course I'm back from a nice vacation where I didn't control too much the quantity of delicious food that entered my mouth.. I'm actually quite happy that I'm not back to a higher weight... And I can now get back to my walking at home program, and double it with some outside walking and jogging :) My main motivation (after the doctor's strict warning) is to get a good health condition, related to #1 here :)

-5- Man I could do a whole post about how badly I want those little kids... (at least one to start).
So let's focus on why I'm happy I'm not yet pregnant:
-more time to work on #4
-more time to drink coffee without restriction, or to keep trying to reduce consumption of..
-be one more statistic on how efficient NFP is for postponing pregnancy
-no pressure to look for a good daycare in the Bronx (good luck!)
-I will be able to carry boxes for the moving (wait, am I happy about that??)
-did I mention coffee?

-6-
I went to EMC thursday, they were a few girls but I didn't talk with them, other counselors were there and I needed time to adapt again. Just a week in France was a total change of mind.. It seems to me that things get more drama around here, more struggles and passion.. Like religion, being pro-choice or pro-life, etc. It's like everything is on war and you have to chose your camp..
Or maybe it's just that I have different experiences in France and in the US...

-7-
Teen group: OMG!! Those kids are so negative, and waiting for things to happen. We tried to have them talk about role models... about being pro-active... about standing up for what you want in life... There was a lot of marshmallow going on in their attitude.. and not much will. It was sad. I really hope we are so boring that we killed all the life out of them.. because it was very frustrating to see those young teenagers complaining about "everything", it was like they're too lazy to think. I optimistically think most of it is being shy, or want to look cool in front of the others...

7 quick takes Friday

1- Lenten resolutions:
My resolutions were:
-pray with consistency the complies. And if possible do it with DH.
- eat oatmeal for breakfast, no snacks and light dinners
-save money from outing and pick a charity to give it to
-no crap TV during lunch break
- + read the book of proverbs
well resolutions... lost somewhere...
-DH was gone for a week last week, and we haven't prayed together since!
- I eat oatmeal OR cheerios. ;)
- still not too much going out, only cheap places on Sunday. Last Sunday we went sushi, to celebrate Mr. L. coming home :) It may be a small donation anyway..
- no crap TV during lunch break. More or less kept this week. :) Only I turn on the TV in the afternoons sometimes (like around 5PM)
- book of Proverb 2 more chapter.
Actually this is not tooooooo bad.

2- Also I decided to spend more time with DH in the mornings, sometimes instead of getting up and going to church I stay home with him, cuddling and sleeping in.. It feels nice, it's a good time to be together and to start the day.
But I also realize how much I miss morning mass when I don't go for several days in a row. It's not that easy to be joyful and thankful... Also I go to a very private mass, just 5 people on big days, and there is no homely or anything, it's 20 min max, but we spend 10 min in silence before the last prayer, and that is a very good time for praying. :)
So now my next resolution would be to find a better balance between family life and morning mass!

3- I may work in the morning. For the afterschool program they could have tutoring at... 7:00 AM! The school is litteraly 2 blocks away from my house, and they kids are there anyway, waiting for school to start. Man, these are long days for the children!! We have them in the afterschool program from 2:30 PM to 6:00 or 6:30 PM. It's almost a 12 hours day! No wonder they are tired, impatients and not focused... I would do tutoring....hmmm I think I'll look into homeschooling ideas to make it fun. At least they could see it as a game :)

4- I lost 1 pound. Not much but still in the right direction. :) That's 5 pounds so far. :) 15 more to go! Today I saw a dermatologist (for my myriad of moles), I told her about the regular doctor telling me to lose weight, she said "oh yes, that would be good for you!!" Like duh! Yes you need to loose A LOT!
I was quite surprised.. I don't feel I'm that big... Sure I have some padding on the behind, but this is my personal reserve for winter and recession...

5- Tomorrow we go on with the art project. Finishing "Solomon Temple", and the sky, and a tree to hung all prayers... I'm really happy about it!

6- Thursday we start the discussion group with the teens. The teens in our program are awfully rude, disrespectful and crude. So we're going to give a try to the theology of the body for teens. Actually it's very broadly inspired, because we also want to include a lot about optimism, positive critism and responsabilities. These kids should be upset at all the injustice in the world, ready to rise and make a change, instead they are whining, complaining and insulting. Let's try something, can't get much worse right now. Sometimes all you need is a little thought provocation... Crossing fingers and praying hard!

7- I didn't report about EMC yesterday. I saw only one girl. We talked a lot (by we I mean she, I mostly listen and ask a few question to help her consider all options). And more than ever I try to follow 2 guide lines:
first Love. As simple as it sounds it's difficult for me to not look down at some people who make several poor decisions. It's very humbling to realize that I'm not better and to see how human and limited we all are...
second is that when you face a crisis-pregnancy, the problem is the crisis, not the child.
So I listened to that girl, and I pointed that out to her. Even if you get your abortion, what is going to happen? You're just going back to where you come from!
When her "boyfriend" found out she was pregnant he broke up with her. Good riddance. (I agreed). Her problem is that she has 2 other little ones and she has problem to have them cared for when she works. My point is that this new little one already helped her get rid of that awful guy, now he could also be a great motivation to find a better solution to her working and day care schedule..
As bad as your situation is, "terminating" the baby is not going to help you, it just sends you right back where you come from. Whereas as a pregnant woman you can get much more help, and you get the motivation to get yourself out of bad situation...
Sometimes I get really upset at some unknown entity called media, or "society", or "culture", especially when I hear a mom telling me how hard it is to get food for her children, and how difficult it is to pay the bills: rent, electricity, cable, cell phone, nails... I mean since when the last three have become necessities ? Seriously? Your nails are on the list BEFORE feeding your children???
waouh. Just waouh.