mighty mighty mosinski

All Grown Up!

2009-09-13T21:30:00.001-07:00

Diary of a mom on her only child's first day of school:

Lucy waits for the bus. Everyone's smiling. Mom is only a wee bit misty-eyed.

Lucy gets on the bus. Mom's eyes are tearing up.

Mom waves bravely goodbye and then promptly follows the bus to school so she can embarrass Lucy there, too!

Lucy has a friend in class! Must take plenty of pictures of Lucy and friend.

Time to line up for class -- please note that I am not the only mother present.

You'd think mom would leave after this, right? Wrong!

Lucy still waves cheerfully.

But now mom's presence is getting old. Mom is cramping Lucy's five year old style. Sigh.

Mom left, but only when forced. And I was waiting with Lucy's Schultüte when she got off the bus.

Hurrah! I made it through the first day!

My Toothless Beauty!

2009-08-17T11:01:00.001-07:00

Harvest Time!

2009-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

This week's harvest creations:

bruschetta, blackberry preserves, zucchini bread

Pluggin'!!

2009-06-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

SYTYCD nerds (or enlightened souls, as the case may be): check out my Potatoes blog:

Potatoes Unite

Garden Gone Wild!

2009-06-05T10:26:00.001-07:00

Coupon World

2009-06-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just went on my first real couponing grocery trip. Had a minor throwdown with the cashier, but otherwise I found the whole experience very satisfying (actually that throwdown was kind of fun!). Here's the loot:

Total I paid: $25 (although I am going back because they overcharged me by $2.50)
Total value: $77
Total savings: $52

I will be taking my bows all day.

Update:

Because some of you (Rachel) are not convinced of the food-worthiness of the items purchased, I will give you a breakdown:

2 5-packs Mac and Cheese
2 packages Capri Sun
2 bags Bear Naked granola
1 tube Banana Boat sunblock
3 boxes Kellogg's Mini-Wheats
1 box Raisin Bran
2 dozen Organic Valley organic eggs
2 half gallon Newman's Own Lemonade
1 box Butoni fresh linguine

Please feel free to throwdown with me regarding the integrity of these foodstuffs; if you know me, you know I'm always up for a good fight!!

Garden Progress!

2009-05-17T18:43:00.001-07:00

Finished!!

2009-05-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

If anyone else asks if this snake is a worm, I will personally climb out of your monitor and bop you over the head!

April Tragedies and Triumphs

2009-05-03T21:40:00.001-07:00

First there were freshly planted currants:

Then the beast dug them up. The beast barely avoided becoming dinner.

We replanted the currants and built beautiful garden boxes (yeah, Mathias!):

Then the dreaded beast dug up the garden boxes. I preheated the oven in anticipation of doggie dinner. But the beast somehow avoided death again. The garden was replanted and is now a beast-free zone.

And then there was the knitting. First there was the yarn:

Which then became hundreds of knitted rows. Which then, between sobs, I unraveled because the purls were wrong. Now the purls are right and the yarn is this:

Which, for all you non-observant stinkers out there, is a snake. And I can't believe I finished the knitting! Now for the sewing and stuffing.

Thank You, Shirley Campbell!

2009-03-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

When I was but a wee bonnie lass, a family friend would invite my sister and me over to decorate sugar cookies. Michelle and I always thought this was awesome, and I'm sure we drove mom nuts asking her when we were going back to Shirley Campbell's house. Thanks to Shirley I have an abiding love of decorating sugar cookies. I was thinking of this as Lucy and I decorated our cookies today. The fruits of our labors:

Lucy licking her lips after licking the sprinkles bottle.

Doctors and Dentists and Hippos: Oh My!

2009-03-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

So February was a surprisingly long, busy month, which mostly involved doctor and dentist appointments. Since my ailments are not picture-worthy (translation: disgusting pink eye), I am only posting a few photos of my brave Lucy!

First we had the dentist appointments. Lucy got to wear awesome sunglasses.

It was at said dentist that we discovered Lucy's loose teeth!

Next we had the 5-year checkup. Lucy had her vision and hearing tested first. The first round of the hearing test Lucy was feeling shy, so she didn't raise her hand at all. After I recovered from my heart attack and anguish over the amount of times I asked my poor hearing-impaired Lucy if she actually "hears me when I talk to her, or just chooses to ignore me," we redid the test and she raised her hand when she heard the beeps. Whew!

Finally we had the exam and Lucy got to wear a very neat little dress and sit on the hippo table.

Then we waited ages and ages for the nurse to come in and give Lucy her five (!!!!!) immunizations! Lucy was very brave (I am not so brave and therefore did not look) and was awarded a medal in the form of: treats, Lunchables, and snuggles from mom.

So that's February. Maybe I'll get to March next month!

I Made This!

2009-01-30T14:25:00.000-08:00

Slobber Time

2009-01-12T22:09:00.000-08:00

We got a puppy! She's a six-month old, forty-five pound canine of awesomeness named Daisy. And lest I get any suggestions that I named her in honor of my blessed Dukes of Hazzard, or Ms. Fuentes, let me put those thoughts decidedly to rest:
I was always particular to the name Daisy, and over the years I've made it clear that Daisy would be the next Mosinski daughter's name. By a cruel twist of fate my communist (excuse me, I mean socialist) husband does not share in this good taste when it comes to naming human babies (suggestion for Lucy's name: Brunhilda). Twisting fate again, no Mosinski daughters have decided to appear and let me name them Daisy. Mathias has used this time to make clear that no Mosinski daughters will be christened Daisy. I cannot fathom this reasoning, but lucky for our puppy, good taste prevailed during the naming process, and Daisy she is!

Floods (And I ain't talkin' 'bout pants!!)

2009-01-08T15:44:00.001-08:00

Let's do a timeline. Our little babbling brook last summer:

Our torrential river this morning:

Our power went out last night. When we woke up we saw this outside our bedroom window:

Those cables on the ground are power lines. Yikes!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T14:07:00.000-08:00

This year we had our first Thanksgiving sans family, so we decided to invite some friends. Before we ate, Libi led the kids in some appetite-inducing exercises:

Then we got down to the business of stuffing ourselves silly. The spread:

The menu:

Cider glazed turkey (roasted with a cedar plank, but I did not taste any difference)
Apple stuffing
Cider infused gravy
Brussels sprouts with pancetta, arugula and brioche
Mashed potatoes with leeks and sour cream
Butternut squash soup
Roasted cranberry sauce
Pumpkin pie
Tasty rolls, bean salad and a slew of beverages were provided by our lovely guests.

After days of prep, cleaning, baking pies, fighting with IKEA (that new table in the picture better last a thousand years!!), and general insanity, I finally got cooking and dinner was served at 4.40pm. This was only forty minutes later than my broadcast eat-time of 4pm! Bonus!! It was a lovely Thanksgiving!!

Yes We Did!!!!!

2008-11-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Ragin' Oma!

2008-10-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

As I made my blog-stalking rounds today, I came upon these awesome pictures on my cousin Jackie's blog. She cares for our grandmother (Oma). One night Oma came out of her room dragging a bat, looking for robbers. Recently she asked my cousin for the bat back, and Jackie told her she could have it back if she could prove she could swing it. Go Oma!!

Dress Rehearsal

2008-10-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Lucy got her hair cut, and today we worked out (pretty much) her Fancy Nancy costume for Halloween. Here's a sneak peek:

Happy Birthday Lucy!

2008-10-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, my darling baby! I can't believe you are five!

Soufflé!

2008-10-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

I made this! Yum!

The Wood Menagerie

2008-10-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my wooden animals! I cut out the shapes on a band saw, sanded them down and finished them with watercolor (for the eyes) and beeswax. I found the painting the most intimidating part!

Diana Days

2008-10-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I came across my old Princess Diana look-a-like photos today. Here's one with a comparison. What do you think?

Here's one more I just found:

Too Brilliant!

2008-10-06T11:18:00.001-07:00

I had to put this on both my blogs -- it's too awesome!

Yeeehaaawwww!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

We did a service project at Ensign Ranch right after we moved to Washington. After we were done, we did a little horseback riding.

My friend Anna took these pictures and I love them!

The Back Yard

2008-10-02T23:33:00.001-07:00

Finally, here are the before pictures:

There's a couple of deer under the apple tree here:

And after the gardeners worked their magic:

Can you believe that pathway was there that whole time? There was even a fountain and little (empty) pond out there that I'd never seen!

Forever Mighty!

2008-10-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Lucy had show and tell at preschool today; things that start with the letter S. Amidst a slew of rubber snakes was this real corn snake named Slick. I was the only brave mommy, which is just another reason why I am, and always will be, Jen the Mighty!

I Didn't Know It Was My Birthday Already!

2008-09-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Court puts temporary halt on "Project Runway" move

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A judge on Friday temporarily halted plans by film and television producer The Weinstein Co to take its hit TV program "Project Runway" to the Lifetime cable TV network from rival Bravo where it now airs.
The preliminary injunction, handed down in New York State Supreme Court, means that for now the fashion design contest starring model Heidi Klum will not jump to Lifetime Network in November 2008, as had been scheduled.
NBC Universal, the media wing of General Electric Co and the owner of Bravo, said it was pleased with the ruling, while separately privately-held Weinstein vowed to appeal.
In his roughly 40-page ruling, Judge Richard Lowe said NBC Universal had shown, among other things, a likelihood that it might eventually prove it had a right of first refusal to re-sign the show to a new cable TV distribution contract before Weinstein reached a separate agreement with Lifetime.
The program, in which contestants design new clothes each week and are judged by Klum and other fashion experts, is currently in its fifth season on Bravo. In its fourth season, it averaged 3.8 million women viewers ages 18 to 49-year-old and its finale lured 6.1 million women in the same group.
Lifetime, which targets women and is owned by Hearst Corp and The Walt Disney Co., said it was disappointed but would continue to pursue its deal with Weinstein so that a sixth season of "Project Runway" would air on its network.
Weinstein also said it remained committed to the Lifetime deal and that it was "glad" Judge Lowe required NBC Universal to post a $20 million bond as the matter proceeds in court.
That sum is 10 percent of a $200 million bond for which Weinstein Co. had asked claiming that was the amount of the deal it had with Lifetime.

Summer Pics

2008-09-16T22:50:00.001-07:00

Many of you have informed me that you don't care about my ramblings; you care about pictures of Lucy (sometimes pics of Mathias, never pics of me). So here you go, a smattering of pictures from this past summer. Enjoy.

The glory of summer was the slip-n-slides in the backyard. Even on rainy days Lucy begs Mathias and I to go with sliding with her.

We went to the lake a lot. It's awesome and only ten minutes away.

Mathias' birthday. I borrowed this behemoth to pick up the ping pong table we got for him. I fell out of it only once, thank you very much.

The victorious birthday German and fervent admirer.

Biggest burger I've ever seen.

I don't know what she was up to. Some sort of magic lobster wrangling, I suppose.

Fourth of July fireworks with Isaac.

Now the sparklers are lit and the kids seem a bit nervous.

Cameron was the most nervous of all. We literally blew up our backyard. Videos to come.

At the train museum in Issaquah in April.

It snowed THE DAY we moved here. For the record I did not take this picture: I was inside packing all of my stuff to move back to California. It was April, for Pete's sake!

The Preminger dance.

One of the many bouncy house adventures.

Short, But Soooooo Sweet!

2008-09-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

I love this one-second video. It cracks me up every time!

For My Dad

2008-09-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Lucy: I would LOVE to be a bird!!!

Me: Why is that?
Lucy: So I can poop on people!!

Sigh

2008-09-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Crazy world
Full of crazy contradictions like a child
First you drive me wild
And then you win my heart with your wicked art
One minute tender, gentle
Then temp'remental as a summer storm
Just when I believe your heart's getting warmer
You're cold and you're cruel
And I like a fool try to cope
Try to hang on to hope
Crazy world, ev'ry day the same old roller coaster ride
But I've got my pride
I won't give in
Even though I know I'll never win
Oh, how I love this crazy world

I love this song. I love to hear Julie Andrews sing it. So many times, today included, these words embody everything I feel.

Skipping Beats

2008-09-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

How is it that every time I watch this my heart skips several beats? Just writing about it makes me all misty-eyed!

Swoon! Where have all the great romances gone? Will there ever be "another" Sound of Music?? Here's hoping! But for now I'll snuggle up with Mathias and watch this scene again and again!

Laughing Out Loud!

2008-09-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Because I have to laugh at this -- otherwise I'd be crying.

Season Premieres Have Landed!

2008-09-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Potatoes Unite is coming back online! Check it out, fellow TV junkies! 90210 is first up for discussion!
Here's a pic to tantalize!

Guess Who Found the Camera?

2008-08-26T12:01:00.001-07:00

Washington Chainsaw Massacre

2008-07-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's how we roll here in Washington! I'm more awesome than ever before! Sweet!

There's Rock Bottom. . . .

2008-07-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

And then there's the hole that is dug going down below rock bottom, and when you finally end up getting to the bottom of that hole, a bumblebee stings you. Blerg.

WANTED

Status: Winged and dangerous.
Reward: 1 million dollars for the first to rip its little wings off. Stupid bee.

For Beatrice

2008-07-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

Deh peregrini che pensosi andate Forse di cosa che non v’è presente, Venite voi da sì lontana gente, Com’a la vista voi ne dimostrate, Che non piangete quando voi passate Per lo suo mezzo la città dolente, Come quelle persone che neente Par che ‘ntendesser la sua gravitate? Se voi restate per volerlo audire, Certo lo cor de’ sospiri mi dice Che lagrimando n’uscirete pui. Ell’ha perduta la sua Beatrice; E le parole ch’om di lei pò dire Hanno vertù di far piangere altrui.

Say, pilgrims, ye who go thus pensively,
Musing perchance on things that distant are,
Come ye from land and men so far away,
As by your outward mien ye show to us,

That ye weep not when passing through the midst
Of the dejected city, in her woe,
Seeming as persons who have never heard
Of the calamity oppressing her ?

If ye remain and have the will to hear,
This heart of sighs assures me ye will then
Share in our grief and weep when ye depart.

The desolate city mourns her Beatrice,
And in the tale that may be told of her
Is virtue to force every one to weep.

-Dante

Uninspired

2008-07-08T15:19:00.001-07:00

Lately I've been watching a show called Kitchen Nightmares. The premise is this: Gordon Ramsey goes to a restaurant that is on the brink of failure and has one week to turn it around. Typically the owner of the restaurant is coo coo for Cocoa Puffs and has to be brought to reality.
Then there are the chefs. Within minutes of observing a chef, Gordon can pinpoint the problem, which usually boils down to the chef's loss of inspiration and passion.
After watching a number of episodes, I realized that I am like these chefs: I have lost my passion for food.
And now that I am aware of this, I realize that I miss it.
Where did my inspiration go? How do I regain it?

Ps. If one of you dear readers happens to know Gordon Ramsey, feel free to send him my way with some advice!

The Score

2008-07-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Mosinskis: 6
Mice: dead

The Yard

2008-06-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

I finally transferred pictures from my camera to the computer. Now I have some pictures to share with you, starting with Mathias and Lucy in the backyard. In the garden before you get to the shed I rediscovered a patio today. I totally forgot it was there. The field beyond the shed is also part of the property.

The creek that runs along the yard (in the fall it will be full of spawning salmon):

Where Am I?

2008-06-26T12:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, while I was driving Lucy to a dentist appointment, a bald eagle flew right over my car. The scene looked pretty much exactly like this:

Where on earth do I live?! This is crazy!

Love! Compassion! Validation!!!

2008-06-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

How come no one is commenting on my Potatoes site? I'm not feeling the love! When I said I was probably my only reader, I was just saying that in a funny, self-deprecating way -- Not for realsies! Comment on my Potato!

-- insert any middle child jokes here --

For Brenda

2008-06-23T21:08:00.001-07:00

Bren -- I'm so glad you're out of jail! Here's a pic just for you!

Potatoes Unite!

2008-06-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

So I've created a new blog (that's right, I'm that awesome!). Check it out:

http://potatoesunite.blogspot.com

Bask in my starchy glory!

Almost Midnight

2008-06-09T23:52:00.001-07:00

Roasting marshmallows over the embers in my fireplace. Possibly pathetic, yes. But I know you're jealous.

Tragical Historie, Act II

2008-06-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

The Tragical History of
LG and SubZero
Fridges of Mosinski

Act II

May 20, 2008: 3:45pm

Sears Delivery Man: Hey.
Jen: Hi, the fridge is in here.
Sears Delivery Man: That's a SubZero.
Jen: Yes, I realize that.
Sears Delivery Man: I can't take a SubZero.
Jen: But we paid extra and cleared it with two managers.
Sears Delivery Man: I can't take a SubZero. It's attached to the wall.
Jen: No, it's not. You can roll it right out.
Sears Delivery Man: You'll have to talk with my manager, cause I won't take it. Dials number. Hey, we're at the house and they have a SubZero. Can you tell her we can't take it? Hands phone to Jen.
Jen: Hello?
Orlando: Hi, my name is Orlando, I hear that you have a SubZero. We can't remove a SubZero from the wall.
Jen: But it's not attached to the wall. You can just roll it right out. And we already cleared this through two managers and have placed several calls.
Orlando: Well, we just can't take it. We don't take SubZero fridges. I can have the delivery guys leave your new fridge in a convenient location and you can arrange for someone to pick up your old fridge.
Jen: The owner of the house will be here in a moment. You'll have to explain this to him.
Orlando: Okay.
Jen: Why won't you take the fridge exactly? It's not attached to the wall, we paid extra, and all of the managers said that it was okay.
Orlando: That's something you'll have to take up with your sales associate.
Jen: But why would they say they'd take the fridge knowing that you can't?
Orlando: SubZeros have a compressor with freon in it. We can't have the freon on our trucks. If the compressor were removed --
Jen: -- So you do take SubZeros?
Orlando: Well, yes, but only if the compressor is removed.
Jen: So remove it.
Orlando: A technician needs to do that.
Jen: So where's the technician?
Orlando: You'll need to take that up with your sales associate. Right now I can have the guys set up the new fridge in a convenient location for you and then you can have the compressor removed later. Once the compressor is removed, we can come back and pick up the fridge free of charge.
Jen: Of course it will be free of charge, this is your mistake.
Orlando: Well, that's not entirely clear.
Jen: The owner is almost here, you're going to have to speak with him about this. You can't leave here without taking the old fridge.
Orlando: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Jen: No. The owner will be calling you in a minute. Hangs up.
Manish, the owner, arrives.
Jen: Hey Manish, they won't take the fridge.
Manish: Yes, they will.
Jen: I just got off the phone and the manager said that they'll take the fridge if the compressor is removed.
Manish: So let's take off the compressor.
Sears Delivery Man: Look, I don't have time to wait for you to remove the compressor.
Jen: Listen, I just waited two and a half hours for you. Now you can wait for me.

Sears Delivery Man goes outside and starts swearing. Returns with Manager Orlando on the phone. Hands phone to Manish. Manish leaves with phone, returns and begins moving refrigerator from the wall. After a while it's determined that the old fridge will be moved to the garage and the new fridge will be installed. Sears Delivery Man and Associate take old fridge out to driveway on a dolly.

End Act II

Bring on the Greeks! There's a tragedy afoot!

2008-05-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers, this opening act and forthcoming second and third acts come amidst actual controversy and tragedy. Everything is, depressingly enough, quoted from actual conversations that I had with Sears' pathologically incompetent customer service and their knuckle-dragging, sharp-as-tacks ambassadors to my home: Sears Home Delivery personnel.

The Tragical History of
LG and SubZero
Fridges of Mosinski

For never was a story of more wo
Than this of Jennifer and her SubZero.

Act 1

May 19, 2008: 3pm

Sears Customer Service: Thank you for calling Sears, how may I help you today?
Jen: I need to schedule the delivery of my new fridge – I am the renter of the property where it’s going to be delivered.
Sears: Do you have the purchaser’s phone number?
Jen: No, I have the address where the fridge is to be delivered. I also have the owner’s name and address.
Sears: Do you have the purchaser’s phone number?
Jen: No. . . . I have the delivery address and the owner’s name and address.
Sears: Do you have a sales receipt number?
Jen: No, I have the delivery address and the owner’s name and address. The purchaser of the fridge called earlier to make sure that it was okay that I call. Can’t you just enter his name?
Sears: That’s not how we look things up here.
Jen: Seriously? Are you sure you can’t just type in the name?
Sears: Yes. I am sure. We need a phone number to look up an order.
Jen: Really?
Sears: Well, let me see. What was the owners name?
Jen: Manish Smith [actual name changed to protect innocent parties]
Sears: Oh, yes, the refrigerator.
Jen: Yes.
Sears: I can’t schedule that delivery now. Someone will call you between six and eight this evening.
Jen: They will call me?
Sears: Yes. Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Jen: No.
Sears: Thank you for choosing Sears.

May 19, 2008: 8:30pm

Sears: Thank you for calling Sears, how may I help you?
Jen: Yes, I need to schedule delivery of my new refrigerator. I have a sales receipt number, a phone number, a name and delivery address.
Sears: Do you have the phone number?
Jen: Yes, it's (555) SEARSSTINKS [actual number protected to say that Sears stinks]
Sears: I don't see that number in the database.
Jen: I have a sales receipt number.
Sears: I can't look it up by the sales receipt number.
Jen: I have a name and delivery address.
Sears: I can only look up the item by phone number.
Jen: I went through this earlier today. They were able to look up the fridge by the last name.
Sears: No, we can't do that.
Jen: Yes, you can.
Sears: No, we need a phone number.
Jen: I just gave you one, and it didn't work. Can you please look up the name Manish Smith?
Sears: Well. . . (typing). Okay, an LG refrigerator?
Jen: Yes.
Sears: That will be delivered to you tomorrow between 12:45 and 2:45pm.
Jen: Thank you.
Sears: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Jen: No.
Sears: Thank you for choosing Sears.

May 20, 2008: 3:30pm

Sears (this representative was obviously in a foreign land, and female): Thank you for calling Sears, my name is Josh, how may I help you today?
Jen: Hello Josh, I am waiting for some delivery people to come with my fridge, and they are not here. They should have been here like forty-five minutes ago.
Sears: Can you give me the phone number?
Jen: No, I can't. It didn't work yesterday. I will give you the name and delivery address.
Sears: I can't look up the transaction without a phone number.
Jen: Yes, you can. The name is Manish Smith.
Sears: Okay.
typing
Sears: Good news ma'am: your refrigerator is still scheduled to arrive today!
Jen: Of course it is. When will it be here?
Sears: It will be there today!
Jen: Yes, but when?
Sears: Your refrigerator is scheduled to arrive today!
Jen: Anytime between now and the end of the day?
Sears: Yes, ma'am, that's correct!
Jen: Are you going to refund the delivery costs because you are so late?
Sears: I'm sorry, what item are you referring to?
Jen: The LG refrigerator.
Sears: Yes ma'am, it's scheduled to be delivered today.
Jen: Are you going to refund the delivery costs because you are late?
Sears: I'm sorry, you'll have to speak to your sales representative about that. I can only tell you scheduling information. Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Jen: No.
Sears: Thank you for choosing Sears.

End Act 1

Driving Around

2008-05-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

The last few days I been thinking about the reality of moving here and what that means for me and my family. I get a bit ponderous, then eventually distracted by the sheer volume of things I have to do during the day. The other night, after a day of cleaning and organizing and general parenting, the house felt warm and a bit lonely, so I opened the sliding doors and I sat down and listened to the creek and felt the cool air come in. Today, driving to a friend's house, I took a different route and when I came out onto the highway I gasped out loud. It is beautiful here. Just stunning.

And there's something else, too. I can't define it. It's this feeling that I have, sitting, listening to the creek. Something in my stomach that flutters when I see the trees against the road; when I glimpse the Cascades behind them. Driving over Mercer Island and seeing Seattle's skyline against the Olympic backdrop. Even when it's rainy, coming home to our little valley, watching the mist swirl up against the mountains. I would say that it takes my breath away, but really it doesn't. It gives me new breath, new life, every time I look outside.
Further definition eludes me right now, so I leave with an invitation: Come sit with me and hear the creek. We'll have some tea and enjoy the weather, rain or shine, because both are beautiful here. Bring your own teacups, though, because I'm still unpacking mine.

Hubba hubba!

2008-04-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

To my Mathias on our 8th (yowsers!) anniversary: You are my dearest friend, a fabulous father, and still my sweetheart after all these years! I love you, babe!

Glurp! Lifetime Project Runway!

2008-04-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so is this just a horrible horrible joke that Project Runway is moving to the Lifetime network? I mean, I will be the first to admit that I have frequented Lifetime in the past, but only for shameful shows like The Nanny (so funny it still makes me cry!), and Mathias occasionally stops for the Golden Girls (*sigh* -- I don't know what to do about that: accept it and move on, I guess). But super awesome Project Runway?!?!?!?! Blerg! What will happen to my yummy Runway goodness? Here are some of my nightmare episodes which, alas, could very well come true:

Celebrity Client: Joanna Kerns and Tracey Gold reunite to launch their new fashion line Growin' Paynzz 2008!
Challenge: Fabulous "I'm Over It!" outfit for going to meet your Ex and his new boyfriend, who is really that pregnant dude from Oprah. Drama!
A Very Special Confessional: Nina Garcia admits to Blossom that she really wears black socks with Birkenstocks, all with her favorite pair of hot pink stirrup pants. Intervention!
Double Your Pleasure: Fraternal twins seperated at birth, both abusive drug addicts, discover that they are married to each other and expecting triplets! Design the mutant inbred baby outfits before grandma makes an appearance and confesses that she sold one of the twins to support her Diet Coke habit! This is one episode you can't afford to miss!
Shunned in the City: An Amish girl defies her family and moves to the big city to be with her tatoo artist boyfriend. Design an outfit for a newly "shunned" Rachel as she flees to Cleveland. No more bonnets for this baby!
Sweet Poison: Your husband is drugging you to keep you from finding out that he's also poisoning you -- what do you wear to escape (Based on actual events. Seriously!)? Gulp!
9-0-2-1-Oh No You Didn't: Christian reunties the fierce cast of 90210 to host an intervention for Andrea. And you know she's a tranny mess!
Finale: Design an outfit for Heidi Klum to wear to the grave, because her life in fashion is gonna be OVER! Aufwiedersehen, Heidi, cause you are soooooo out!

Project Runway say it ain't so! I will miss you and your fabulous Bravo ways!

SYTYCD

2008-04-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last night after I put Lucy to bed I snuggled up with a bag of Mike and Ikes (don't judge -- it was a loooooooooong day) to watch American Idol. Boy did my frown turn upside down when I realized that I recognized several of the dancers in the opening number! First I was like: "Hey! That's Cedric!" And then it quickly turned in to me having a total heart attack and rapid firing the names to my poor Mathias: "Melody! Nick Lazzarini! Dom! Hok! Donyelle! Lacey! Pasha! Travis! Benji and Lacey! Oh my gosh is that Dmitry?!?!" After rewatching the opening segment approximately fifteen times, I jumped up to call everyone I know, which depressingly took very little time. Where are you, my SYTYCD buddies??? Especially you Angie, Anne and Amy???!!!

I am SO EXCITED for the upcoming season of So You Think You Can Dance, and I just wanted to let the world know! Yipppeeeeee! Shooby shooby dooby doo (sing that and it makes sense)!!!!

My heart skips beats just watching the video again!

On the Grid Again

2008-04-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Let this day be marked in history: the Mosinskis are now cell phone owners! After years of being "off the grid," I'm not so sure how I feel about my new accessible status. Between a cell phone and a GPS, it's a little unnerving to have someone know where I am at all times. We'll see how it goes. In the meantime, let me tantalize your optical senses with a picture of my newest accoutrement:

Issaquah

2008-04-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we arrived in Issaquah, our residence of the next several weeks. We were greeted by, of course, rain, and then all of a sudden it was snowing! This evoked a highly acidic gastro-esophageal reaction on my part, which then in turn led me to ask every person I encountered whether snow at the end of March is commonplace. Not so. It would seem that Washington rolled out the "white" carpet just for us! Mathias was unnaturally excited about the snow and announced in church on Sunday that we "looooooooove the weather here." I would have refuted this blatant disregard for the truth, but my jaws were clenched in a sort of chattering frozen vise.
Blizzards aside, this place if gorgeous! We really love Issaquah and so far have not gotten lost, contrary to what some of you lurkers have predicted in my near future (Johanna). I am currently fighting the battle of no GPS, but when Mathias sees a new gizmo in his future, there's no stopping him! I foresee losing that battle. . . .
Naturally I didn't pack the cable for the camera (but I did pack my Tivo!) so I can't show you all the beautiful pictures I've taken, but I promise I'll do that soon. Bis dann!

Up, Up and Away!

2008-03-19T17:25:00.001-07:00

So it's official! We're moving to Seattle! After several suspense-filled (for me!) interviews with Amazon (my cyberhome away from home), Mathias got offered a job! We love it here in the Bay Area soooooo much, but after a lot of thought, discussions, and prayer we felt like this is the best step for our family. We are sad to go and also excited for our adventures in the Pacific Northwest!

Last weekend we went up to Seattle to visit friends and scope out the city. We had a great time. First, on the way to the Space Needle, Mathias drove over a bump whilst I was munching on a Ritz cracker. Now I have a gaping wound in my tongue (seriously-- complete with profuse bleeding). Then, after dinner at J's (who is scary similar to her sister Z, with the extra bonus of being a Wiiiiiiiiii fan!), Lucy couldn't get the car door open and finally pulled so hard it knocked her in the face. Mathias, as usual, came away from the weekend sans injury.
Meanwhile, we really did have a dandy time. And, for all of you stinkers and your predictions of constant rain, the sun came out several times! For more than just a few minutes, too! And we took pictures to prove it:

As you can clearly see that is the Space Needle and beautiful blue sky in the background! And, following up on a previous post about my friends who don't believe in bike helmets, I came across this science exhibit at the Pacific Science Center:

If you can't read the text, here it is: Look at the difference between the thickness of your skull and the thickness of the helmet. Which is thicker, the helmet or the skull?
Now to my dear dear friends who don't wear helmets and are nervously reading this post knowing exactly who they are: I know that you think your skulls are thick enough, but no matter what kind of blockhead you are, you still need a helmet!
And that's all, folks!

Finally, back to my old self!

2008-03-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

374 words

Speed test

Finally I am back to my speedy ways! Gina, you can practice all you want, but it'll be a looooong time before you beat that, baby!

Getting Better

2008-03-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

80 words

Speed test

Okay, so I can't stop doing this speedy test. Somebody please help me!

Slowing in my old age, but still respectable!

2008-03-10T17:41:00.001-07:00

77 words

Speedtest

The Goose

2008-02-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

So today is a stressful day. Many things are going on right now and so I have all sorts of tension and anxiety, so much so that I actually forced Z to rub my poor aching shoulders at the park yesterday (by the way, Z, you must finish what you started!). Anyhow, while meandering aimlessly through my cyberworld just now, I came across this picture of my little girl. It cheered me up so much that I thought I should post it. I don't see that it is possible to remain grouchy when there is such a beautiful munchkin right here in my own home! Thank you Lucy!

SUPER Jen the Mighty!

2008-02-15T14:50:00.001-08:00

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Today, for the first time ever, I beat Super Mario Bros 3! Yes, I know it's about twenty years late, but thank goodness for my Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Rock on!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

If you have spoken with me in the last few days you are most likely aware of my newest rant (and if you are not aware, how come you don't listen when I'm talking to you?!?!). I've been doing my taxes and there is a new section for California Use Tax. This lame, smelly law states that if I buy something from an out of state retailer (like Amazon, my favorite cyberhome away from home), and said retailer does not charge me sales tax (again, like my beautiful, wonderful Amazon), then I am obliged to pay a tax for USING the purchased items in smelly, stinky California. Of all of the crooked, stinky laws!

So now I stand at a moral crossroads. Reporting out of state purchases is on the honor system. So do I:

a. Support a ridiculous law and report my purchases
b. Silently protest these outrageous tax laws by remaining silent about my purchases
c. Relocate to New Zealand and start a mini-horse farm

Please vote for one of the above. Whoever guesses correctly what I did (I just now, in this last minute, sent in my taxes) can pay my $200 use tax. Sigh.

Yes We Can

2008-02-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

I Can Still Feel My Severed Limb

2008-02-04T16:43:00.000-08:00

I have no phone. After days of worsening static, the line is totally gone. This is insanely depressing, and if F & Z were able to contact me they would be telling me that this is why I need a cell phone.

Argh. If you are in my neighborhood, stop by and you will see me steal longing glances (through the shower of tears) at my beloved telephone.

Wear Your Helmet!

2008-01-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

Argh! In the wake of an excruciatingly frustrating conversation with a dear friend regarding bike helmets, I feel compelled to broadcast the following:

WEAR YOUR BIKE HELMETS! MAKE YOUR KIDS WEAR THEM!

Bike helmets are so inexpensive and accessible these days, and the benefits are so obvious, that I cannot comprehend any reasons not to wear one! Also, in the state of California, it is the law:

A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

further:

The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.

If you want to read more about this, go to:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21201.htm

Would you refuse to put your child in a car seat because it was inconvenient or unglamorous? I didn't think so! We ALL know someone who has been in some sort of bike or skateboarding accident. My husband has cracked more than one helmet and I am soooooooo grateful that his helmet cracked and not his noggin!

Whew! Thanks for staying true through my rant. Now do something about it -- strap helmets on those heads!

Best Joke Ever!

2008-01-22T15:52:00.001-08:00

Well, best joke of this moment until I hear the next best joke ever!

q: How much do you pay a mohel?

a: Nothing; he just collects tips!

Hahahahahhahahaha! Good thing I have my Depends handy now -- that joke kills me every time!

Thanks Becky! Your skillz at Boggle and joke telling are unmatched!

Heartbeats

2008-01-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

So, can someone please explain how, in what seems like fractions of fractions of seconds, this:

has morphed into this:

My sweet girl is SO big! AND she's a fantabulous gymnast!!

Of all the NICU's in all the world. . .

2008-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Weirdness has ensued: I signed Lucy up for gymnastics the other day. There are five kids in her class, with one set of twins. I got to talking with their mom, and as it turns out, they were born in the same hospital in San Diego as Lucy. Not only that, all three kids were in the NICU ward together. In addition, the mom and I had the same OB. Now seriously, folks, what are the chances that out of the 10 kids that were in that NICU four years ago, 3 of them would be in the same gymnastics class in Menlo Park (which is like 500 miles away)?

2007 Top Ten

2008-01-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

So 2007 was a tough year, but instead of focusing on the sinkhole that it was, I have decided to post my Top Ten 2007: Things That Rescued My Sanity from the Dark Abyss. Bon Appetit!

10. Vegas! Sparring, Wolfgang Puck's, Bouchon, and then finally, wonderfully, Daniel Bouloud's. Heaven help me, it was all I could do to keep myself from running into the kitchen and stealing their bacon after I found out charcuterie was done on site. I am still plotting my raid of their fridge. Thank you, Rosalie!
9. Books! Of course the most awesome mention goes to Harry Potter. Most excellent. After that, there were several tomes that more than captured my imagination: Pope Joan, Pride and Prejudice (never, ever gets old!), The Invention of Hugo Cabret, No Reservations, Heat, Suite Francias, and darn it all if I didn't enjoy those lame vampire books! Argh!
8. Trash talk, primarily Boggle and Settlers of Catan oriented. A shout out must be for Becky and her skillz in the category of Boggle and trash talk. Also a shout out to Carrie, but only for her skillz in trash talk. I would give her props for her skillz at Settlers, but she doesn't have any.
7. Britney Spears. No matter how lame life gets, Britney Spears' will always be lamer. Thank you, Britney for your devotion to mediocrity and crazy!
6. So You Think You Can Dance live tour. SO MUCH FUN! Amy, Anne and Angie -- you made the night so awesome. I'm glad that I wasn't the only 30-something there cheering for Neil and Sabra!
5. Hysterical stories! Darn it all if I don't laugh while writing just the blurbs of these: Annie Mac's description of herself in high school (head-gear, home-school, side ponytail with six scrunchies, and the t-shirt she got at the dentist's office). Sufi's tragic tale of rabies in Turkey (find the dog that bit you and cut of its head). My dear mother's accounting of her gutted bathroom and her dismay that the cleaning ladies refuse to dust there. I need to start wearing Depends when I speak with such funny ladies! Hilarious!
4. F & Z. Two disco balls of awesome that I would never survive without. How I ever survived before without you is a mystery to me. Thanks for being the grooviest!
3. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!
2. Other people's babies. Thanks for letting me hold your kids and not pressing charges when I run away with them (Lys-An).
1. My Mathias and Lucy. Although these two drove me to the edge of sanity many times, they get top billing. Mathias, my sweetheart (me: "Mathias, I want to go on a date." Mathias' response: "With who?"), and my dear beautiful Lucy ("I love you the mostiest first, mama."). My heart practically explodes with joy from these two wonders in my life.

There you go, my top ten. If you didn't make the list this year and are feeling disappointed, please feel free to send bribes to me at any time in 2008. If you have any complaints, please email them to me at:

jen@idon'tcareaboutyourlamecomplaint.com

Happy New Year!

The Maiden Voyage

2008-01-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

I discovered today that I already have a blog when I thought I did not. So here it is, my maiden voyage into the blogiverse. If I had a bottle of Champagne, I would now be breaking it against my computer monitor.

Wish me luck, world! Here I go!