Monday, July 11, 2011

So much for being self-sufficient

I found this interesting--strike that--frustrating.

http://bestplaces.nydailynews.com/voyeur/michigan-woman-faces-jail-time-vegetable-garden

What is it with Americans and grass? We have to pay to keep it weed free (and pour pesticides into the ground), pay to run a lawn mower across it, and pay to fertilize it (again, usually not very safe stuff).
Why are we so in love with the stuff?
Isn't it supposed to be a good idea to grow your own food? It's healthier for us and for the environment. Food eaten sooner after picking retains more vitamins. Shipping food from across the continent (or flying it in from other countries) uses tons of oil. Wouldn't we all like to have more oil for other things (like our own cars)?
I have to shake my head in disbelief. It's a sad state of affairs.

I apologize for the rant, but I just couldn't believe how ridiculous this was.

Friday, July 08, 2011

janaemarch's photostream

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The kids on their new swing set.

Chugging along

We are chugging along here. Ben is working hard, I am trying to get through school, Maddie is taking driver's ed, and the babies are just trying to stay out of our hair.

There are 44 exams in total that I have to take for school. I have 15 of them done so far. I'm way ahead of schedule, but I won't let that go to my head. I'm 3/5 of the way through Business English at the moment. This is my last gen ed before I start into the actual medical stuff. My next course is Introduction to Medical Terminology/Biochemistry. Ultimately, I would like to be done by the end of January. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can go back to work! I'm very excited at the prospect. When school work tries to tranquilize me, I remind myself what I will be getting out of it in the end.

Maddie has a couple days left of driver's ed. It's going to get real very soon. I think I might be in denial about how soon she really will have a license in her hand. It's hard to wrap my head around. Seems like just yesterday I was buckling her into a car seat. To say time flies is a real understatement.

Callie had a great birthday. We spent the day at the Mall of America. Everyone had a good day. It was happy, calm, and most importantly--peaceful! Calm and peace are not regular visitors around our household, so it was a dream come true to have a whole day of it (while out for the day, might I add).

Reese is in the middle of an aggressive growth spurt. That kid has two hollow legs and possible narcolepsy. He's either eating, asking for food, or screaming about his "tummy growling". At the same time, he's either maniacally laughing while running around hyper speed in his underwear, crying, or in a half-sleep stupor. Never a dull moment with that boy lately. In addition to his appetite, mood swings, and exhibitionism, his vocabulary is expanding. He says something funny on a near hourly basis.

Despite the long hours at work, Ben has managed to get a lot of outdoor time lately. He's been getting some sun, and no one would ever guess he's locked in a basement most of the week.

I should probably still get going and do some studying. I made kitchen curtains yesterday, hence no study time.
Take care everyone. We send our love.