4:10 comes early, or, statistics

I have an advanced statistics class in my M.Ed. program during summer session. I laugh when I say this because I've never taken "basic" statistics. I've never taken a class like this anytime, anywhere. Oh, I rocked it in FIT (Federal Income Tax) in law school, and I was the queen of Real Property too, so I've taken some pretty esoteric and challenging coursework. But statistics? What? Me? But sometimes, you just have to go with the flow. The guy who sits behind me does not have Zen about this. He keeps mumbling, "I don't have time to study for this. I need to talk problems out. This symbology doesn't mean anything to me." Well, Mr. Middle School Adminstrator, I have news. 1. No one has time to study for this. That's why I got up at 4:10 on a Saturday morning to work on my problem set. 2. Everyone needs to talk problems out but class is not time to do it. Two words: study group. 3. You need to find a way to move past sigma and mu and just roll with the big picture. Statistics have meaning. And in a small way, beauty. As long as you don't fight it, it can be a very profound experience.

In Honor of Memorial Day

To all our veterans--

this sweet little pudge wants to thank you!

Crap, Crap, What is this Crap? Or, Nuts

I ordered some storage baskets (is there any other kind) from Pottery Barn Kids and here's what I had to contend with when I opened the box. Let me just say that I loathe packing peanuts. I don't despise Fisher-Price's so much, because they are made of spun corn starch and melt away in the sink when you run warm water on them (I kid you not). Bonus: children don't die if they eat them, they just have popcorn breath for a few hours. But these were bona fide styrofoam, and I just take umbrage at that. They are staticy, they are a disaster to try and clean up, The People's Republic of Cleveland Heights doesn't recycle them, and Helen would give her eyetooth to eat one. You see my dilemma (and Pudge's left arm trying to get at them).

I called PBK and essentially said, Chuck Williams has enough resources that he doesn't need to use these. He can get the corn starch kind. The rep responded, well, hardware stores take these back, and so will UPS. As if that was an answer.

I am not schlepping to Dunn Hardware with this stuff! I can't take three kids into a UPS store! There is no excuse for not using the meltable kind. Their crush resistance is the same and, oh by the way, THEY MELT.

Demand more from your vendors. Call and complain about packing peanuts. There is an alternative. They should use it.

Oh, Thank God.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/gohome.do

I don't know what y'all will be doing the weekend of August 15, but I'll be drinking a Mai Tai and getting friendly with some blue parrotfish in the Bahamas. Will send postcards.

Mother's Day Musings, or, An Ordinary Day

I still washed clothes, made and cleaned up meals, organized snacks, and scrubbed the bathroom sink today. Do other women do this too? Take the one day that is culturally designated towards my happiness and tranquility and use it for activities like laying down a rug or crawling around on all fours looking for a binky?

In other news, we have a rug in the family room, Pottery Barn Kids SWEARS our last two pieces of furniture will be here by the first week in June, Bill is making progress on the trim in there, and we apparently live with two supermodels. Who knew.

Well, That's Over With, or, Break!

My spring course is finally finished, so now I have a couple of weeks before summer session starts to organize my office, catch up projects that I have been neglecting, and make my lists.

1. Girls' baby books.
2. Ellie's visual calendar--I just need to get it to office max for lamination.
3. Purchases--baskets from PBK for the girls' toys (the hutches will be here before long, I hope), summer pajamas for everybody, I think the twins need nice sandals (not their LL Bean "velcros" which are just getting wrecked, which is fine with me), dress for Lisa's wedding.
4. Vacation--God willing we are going to the Bahamas in August on a 3 day cruise. I_cannot_wait.
5. Plan playground exursions with Mrs. (Dr.) Koops and Mrs. Smith.
6. Wave goodbye to Mrs. Hicks, which will break my heart.
7. Are we painting the house this year or not? We need to decide.
8. Plan my impatien color theme for this year. I am thinking of going with all red and white, and the double-flower African variety if I can find it.
9. Make nicey with new neighbors across the street.
10. Plan Ellie's birthday party.

Too much? Who knows?

Peas in a Pod, or, Two Little Old Women

Helen and Emma are so totally different and so totally in sync. Look at them. Pudge is bigger, gentler, an easier spirit, so pretty. Emma is compact, assertive, a squealer, the boss. They are so unique, and yet so completely the same. They have always had each other. They knew each other before I knew them. While Ellie's birth was my most perfect moment, finding out about the twins was my most breathtaking. They never fail to absolutely stun me, every single day.