The Best Chicken Recipe of the Summer

Posted on July 22, 2009 by jeannie

Since I’ve been on Twitter, I’ve only allowed one person’s tweets to go directly to my phone and that’s Maya; one, because I know she won’t abuse it, and two, I find myself completely interested in everything she’s doing, especially perhaps because she often tweets about food.

So when I got her tweet text saying that it was super hot in Joshua Tree and that she was making chicken korma to revive herself, I HAD TO KNOW WHAT CHICKEN KORMA WAS. And I started blasting her with questions. Good thing too, because everybody in the house loved it and it will definitely become a regular part of our menu.

The original recipe is from Mark Bittman’s The Best Recipes book. Here it is from memory. [Almost got the whole thing, but had forgotten the yogurt, which is important.]

CHICKEN KORMA

1 chicken cut-up (I used a bag of frozen thighs from Trader Joe’s)

2 onions, chopped

1 1/2 cups basmati rice (I used brown basmati)

1 1/2 c of yogurt

2 c hot water

1 T chopped garlic (I used 2x or 3x this)

1 T peeled chopped ginger (I cut mine into big slices so they are easily fished out by my picky teenager)

3 whole cloves

5 cardamom pods (a first for me!)

1 stick cinnamon

1 tsp cumin

1 T coriander

a pinch of saffron (come to think of it, did I remember to add saffron? don’t think I did…)

oil for frying

salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Brown the chicken meat (salt and pepper it too). (I think you might be able to skip this step if you’re in a rush.) Put it aside.

2. Saute the onions until soft. Add all the spices and fry until fragrant (2 min). add the rice and saute until glossy. Stir in yogurt and water.

3. Nestle in all the chicken pieces. Add water.

4. Cover and simmer for 30 min or until done. Simmer uncover if it’s too soupy.

So easy! So delicious! And smells crazy good!

Posted in recipes | Leave a comment

REAL Downsizing…

Posted on July 21, 2009 by jeannie

My brother Songbae got laid off months ago and is now moving to Thailand to live in our younger sister’s guest room indefinitely.

He is sorting through his things and, apparently impressed by this guy’s efforts to reduce the number of his worldly possessions to a mere 100 things, is going to do the same thing. That’s called emulation.

Just to clarify, however, the art and some of the bigger things that were originally gifted to him are being LOANED out not given away. And yes, the initials next to each item are the initials of the person claiming the item.

Here’s the email I got from Songbae this weekend (and I quote):

“hello all,

making good process on the big stuff and kitchen stuff but need to
pick up the flea market frenzy on clothes and books.  stop by saturday
late afternoon or come by during the day sunday to pick up your new
favorite yard work shirt (or that apple corer you never knew you
needed).

starting sunday everything will be first-come, first-serve (unless
arrangements have been made) and come monday the “cream” will be
dropped off at goodwill and the dregs will be left on the sidewalk
outside my apartment!

songbae

p.s. at the bottom is my running list of what i’m keeping.  list isn’t
complete but trying to keep below 100.
p.p.s. i move out of my apartment a week from today to drive down to
la to meet up with my older sister.  i fly out with her and her two
kids that thursday to visit my little sister in bangkok.  let me know
if you’re in the hood!

**************************

BEDROOM

bed (DS)
pillows (4) (DS)
duvet + sheets + pillow cases (2 sets) (DS)
blanket (DS)
wood end table (SN)
metal end table (ML)
korean blanket (KK)
bike (CM)
bike computer (CM)
bike lights (CM)
bike shoes (CM)
flat plastic storage bins (2) (CP, KJ)
wetsuit (swimming) (JD)
framed etching (large) (JL)
file cabinet (LB)
pounds sterling (SL)
Singaporean dollars (TL)
Philippine dollars (NC)
clock radios (2) (ML, K)

Venezuelan currency
lucite – kilroy bond deal
lucite – mlp private placement
lucite – ipc sellside
lucite – westfield bond deal
lucite – vno convert
lucite – amb convert

LIVING ROOM

sofa + chair set (KK)
pillows (3) (KK)
handmade pillow (EG)
shelf (MC)
floor lamp (MC)
rug (JL)
wall table (SN)
record player + records (ML)
golf clubs (JD)
golf shoes (JD)
Presidio driving range card (SY)
rabbit carving (KK)
guitar (DS)
guitar tuner (NC)
storage cubes (JL)
magazine holder (MC)
model rocket launcher (JW)
laundry basket (LB)
plastic storage unit (LB)
world map (LB)
framed etching (small) (ML)
plants (4) (AM, SS, JC, PK)
small plastic trashcan (MC)
walking robot (RL)

clock radio
Ansel Adams calendar
ariel print photograph of guggenheim
map of korea (from north korea)
tablecloth
shoehorn
ashtray
orange plant waterer
candle
incense holder
incense
3 legged leather stool (needs repair)
canvas tote bag with dresdner kleinwort wasserstein logo
canvas gym bag with dresdner kleinwort wasserstein logo
white canvas tote bag
canvas tote bag with bofa reib logo
neoprene knee brace
apron (spca)
swim cap
spanish flash cards
small pillow with venezuelan flag colors

KITCHEN

kitchen table (KK)
wooden chairs (2) (KK)
brown table lamp (JS)
wine glasses (YC, JL, PK, CP, AM)
frying pan (JH)
silverware (KK)
plates + bowls (KK)
large ceramic bowl (ML)
tea kettle (ML)
small pot (ML)
medium pot (ML)
large pot (ML)
rice cooker (ML)
colander (MC)
paper shredder (JL)
toaster oven (YC)
suitcase (JL)
green carry on bag (Lehman Brothers logo) (NW)
green polo carry on bag (RL)
tire chains (BM)
radio (ML)
swim googles (ML)
dvd player (JS)
sleeping bag (JL)
sleeping bag pad (JL)
stuff sack + pillow case (JL)
Lowe backpack (JL)
flashlight, compass, DEET (JL)
camping stove (JL)
camping bowl (JL)
auto compass (JL)
coasters (ML)
brita water filter (ML)
end table (LB)
power strip (ML)
sf map drawing (ML)
muni map (LB)
sharpie (HP)
zagat sf map (IL)
hair dryer (PK)
straw hat (ML)
martini shaker (ML)
small globe (RL)

umbrellas (3) (ML)
microwave (2) (JS)
black carry on bag (Bofa logo)
small bofa canvas tote bag
green canvas eddie bauer carry on
small plastic trashcan
dish rack
tupperware
corkscrew
apple corer
can opener
golf balls
rolodex (with contacts!)
canvas grocery bags (3)
canvas wine bags (3)
baseball caps (3)
cotton shoulder bags (2)
plastic garment bags (5)
small salomon ski backpack
insulated wine bottle carrier
dog leash
wicker letter basket
plastic letter holder
plastic folder holder
highlighters
pocket pen
hacky sack
power ball (wrist strengthener)
steel balls (wrist strengthener)
tv remote (only turns tvs off, e.g. in bars)
map of appalachian trail
blank CD-Rs (3)
new americans VHS series
road maps (carmel, OC, CA)
dish towels (2)
paper clip holder
HP12c
tennis racquet
tv  (left by previous tenant)

CDs/DVDs

love loves a working man
abandon ship
michael zapruder
amy anderson
treehouse
16 takes on korean society
new order – best of
squeeze – 45 and singles

BATHROOM

wooden storage unit (JS)
pyrex qtip holder (ML)

small plastic trashcan
hand towels (5)
bath towels (3)
beach towel (2)
shower mat (2)

OTHER

car (BM)
harmonica
laminated sf street map (IL)
wall street journal subscription (TB)
laminated sf map (IL)
bart card
prepaid peet’s card
prepaid starbucks card
tamarine gift card – palo alto
bette’s gift certificate – berkeley
lawrence hall of science family guest pass (PK)
wok wiz china town tour (PK)
gallon spring water (2) (extent of my earthquake preparedness kit)

CLOTHES (9-9.5 shoe size, 15-32 dress shirt, med tshirt, 32-30 pant)

black overcoat – britches (ML)
dark blue trench coat – burberry (ML)
orange fleece pullover – gap (RL)
black wind breaker (bofa logo)
suit – hugo boss (grey pin stripe) (ML)
suit – britches (dark blue)
blue blazer (2) (HP)
brown corduroy blazer – h&m (ML)
dress shirts (worn) (10+)
white undershirts (32)
white bath robe (brand new, burke williams)
triathlon shorts (bike + swim)
levi belt (ML)
black leather belt
handkerchief (4)

TIES

red – brooks brothers
blue -  brothers (HP)
blue – burberry
squiggles – burberry
stripped – burberry
red
red – dkny
blue – frangi
blue + grey prep
pink
yellow diamonds – britches
jerry garcia
dogs
coffee beans
seals – ferragamo
elephants – jim thompson
butterflies – ferragamo

SHOES

vasque hiking books (CM)
sno seal leather protector
suede bucks  (silsby’s wedding) (ML)
brown dress shoes
black dress shoes  – ferragamo (ML)
black dress shoes  – kenneth cole
tennis shoes – new balance (ML)
running shoes – asics

CAMPING + SKIING + COLD WEATHER

pvc rainpants
pvc raincoat
windpants – northface
ski gloves
black fleece gloves
black leather gloves (2 pair)
ski goggles
purple fleece hat
black thinsulate hat
blue cotton hat
long underwear top + bottom
ski boot carrier
black wool scarf
blue bandana
wrist sweat band
sunglasses – oakley

PANTS

wool dress pants (5)
houndstooth – banana republic
dark blue – raj
khaki pants (5)
corduroy green pants – dockers
khaki shorts – banana republic
red shorts

LONGSLEEVE

sweat shirt (vermont) (RL)
golf pullover
green flannel – britches
blue cotton – ralph lauren
button down cowboy shirt – levis (ML)
argyle wool sweater
1995 DC jingle bell run
burgundy pullover – brooks brothers

DRESS SHIRTS

white – brooks brothers (2)
white – britches (2)
white – raj (2)
white – nordstrom
white – h&m
blue – brooks brothers
blue – ermenegildo zegna (HP)
blue – raj (3)
white with blue stripes – raj (4)
white with blue stripes – brooks brothers
white with red stripes – brooks brothers
white with blue stripes – kenneth cole
white with grey stripes
white with tan stripes – hugo boss
blue with white stripes – hugo boss
blue with dark stripes – raj
dark blue – dkny
cross striped – ike behar
blue – britches
traditional philippine

DRESS SHIRTS (slightly frayed)

dark blue – brooks brothers
dark blue striped – brooks brothers
light blue – brooks brothers
black and white checkered – brooks brothers
blue striped – raj
white striped – raj

POLOs + SHORT SLEEVE BUTTON DOWN

white with green stripes – banana republic
brown with white stripes – banana republic
white with meristar logo – lands end
grey with nakasec logo
dark blue with white stripes
hawaiian (2)
green – callaway golf
blue with white stripes

T-SHIRTS

bridge to bridge run 2008
wms
khmenlnitsky 2000
gourds
montana aids ride
working families
heart walk
soutwest airlines
kycc
kiwa
northern guest casino
ice breaker triathlon 2009 – wicking
HEI (2)
wonder woman has a posse
team flambongo
imbeciles of america
hoopers crabhouse
mug & mallet
boston nyc aids ride
uvm where the wild things are
bethany beach house
shp (2)
meristar
uvm ’96 reunion
apala
bay to breakers ’08
SAE bob andrews 5K ’91
loka
neighborhood services
gecko marathon
help the homeless walkathon

WORN AND/OR WITH HOLES (i.e. some of my favorites that i couldn’t throw away)

khaki shorts (2)
jeans (3)
tan corduroy pants
red & green flannel
green oxford – brooks brothers
white striped oxford – j crew
blue striped oxford – brooks brothers

BOOKS

english patient (JP)
eat, pray, love (JL)
kite runner (MC)
baby proof
poisonwood bible (left by previous tenant)

short history of nearly everything (A)
guns, germs and steel (SL)
people’s history of the US
bowling alone (CS)
fast food nation (ML)
the gift (about being an artist in a capitalist society -  have not read)
death and life of great american cities (LB)
urban problems and community development (ML)
crossing the class and color lines
four arguments for the elimination of tv
amusing ourselves to death
koreans in america
asian american dreams (ML)
country in the city (greening of sf) (ML)
o’reilly factor (gift from dad)
this many miles from desire – poems

man without a country (JP)
secrets of millionaire mind (LB)
what shamu taught me about life, love and marriage (SL)
10 things men do to mess up their lives (gift from female friend)
driven to distraction (about adhd – gift from close friend)
five secrets you must discover before you die (CS)
real rules (another gift…)
it’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be (airport buy)
getting past ok (written by ex-microsoft guy – from hs friend)
please understand me  (left by previous tenant!)
forgive and forget (left by previous tenant!)

be my guest (bio of conrad hilton)
historic hotels of america
Peak (by founder of JdV hotels)
cheap hotels (JP)
the real estate game (LB)
real estate investment trusts – strategies
real estate investment trusts – structure
call of the mall
house lust

accidental investment banker (JW)
house of morgan
predators ball
global bankers
merchants of debt
hedge hogging
competing in the investment banking industry
the new market wizards

webster dictionary (ML)
idiots guide to football (ML)
spanish for dummies (ML)
cartoon history of the universe (JL)
korean language books
russian language text
drawing on the right side of the brain
sketch book
read the bible in a year
great wine made simple (CS)
rapid math tricks (SL)
hit every golf shot (prize for last place!)
dog lovers companion to bay area
portable curmudgeon
korean favorites cookbook (ML)
conquering carpal tunnel
tail talk
101 magic tricks (ML)
US road atlas (ML)
museums of sf

marching powder (about british coke smuggler in bolivian prison)
sex lives of cannibals (JD)
confessions of an economic hitman (interesting idea, so-so story)
blackwater (mercenary company)
brothel
sf tenderloin (JS)
a crack in the edge of the world (sf earthquake)
dharma punx
three cups of tea (IL)
aquarium of pyongyang
devil in the white city (LB)
catfish and mandala
river’s tale
7 years in tibet
video night in kathmandu

audiobook (on CD)
welcome to the monkey house
bushworld
celestine prophecy
pursuit of happyness
everyone worth knowing

killing machine

*****************************

0

digital watch
travel clock
meditation timer
small buddha statue
book of daily meditations (from dad 1988)

5

2009-2010 at-a-glance calendar
five year journal (urban outfitters)
moleskine journal (from kimetha)
extra journal (from joss)
extra moleskin journal (bought in tucson)

10

laptop (jeannie hand-me-down)
pen (zebra F-301)
mechanical pencil (zebra M-301)
eraser (staedtler mars plastic)
bose headphones

15

toothbrush
razor
nose hair clippers
mouthguard
wristguards

20

roller bag
backpack
shoulder bag
running shoes – new balance
wallet

25

blue rain coat – moonstone
hoody – american apparel
orange sweater – brooks
blazer – polo (silsby’s wedding)
x

30

blue oxford – brooks brothers
striped wrinkle free oxford – eddie bauer
blue striped oxford – brooks brothers
oxford – ike behar
brown wrinkle free oxford

35

b&w stripped polo – brooks brothers
hokulia polo (golf)
blue hawaiian shirt (sue’s  wedding)
x
x

40

yellow wicking shirt  – north face
red wicking shirt – north face
black wind pants – north face
green swim shorts – patagonia
x

45

black jeans
blue jeans
khakis pants – raj
khaki shorts – gap
baseball cap (yerba buena)

50

tshirt – outward bound
tshirt – jim
tshirt – bolder boulder
tshirt – weclome to north korea
tshirt – kwangju uprising

55

tshirt – asian american film fest chicago 2004
tshirt – khmenlnitsky 1999
tshirt – nova kahovka 2000
tshirt – leones campeones
tshirt – don’t touch my truck

60

tshirt – i speak english
tshirt – soi dog rescue
underwear
undershirts
socks

65

book – diamond cutter
book – constructing a life philosophy
book – consilience
book – what color is your parachute
book – ghost wars

70

book – purpose driven life
book – three simple rules
book – freedom of simplicity
book – wounded healer
book – what should i do with my life

75

book – blood of flowers”

Posted in says Songbae | 8 Comments

Resist the usual

Posted on July 19, 2009 by jeannie

Of course creativity works!!

Saw this clip by following a link on my friend John’s tweet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd6-n7MhVg8]

Posted in Jeannie's Stamp of Approval, youtube | 2 Comments

No Cause for Alarm

Posted on July 18, 2009 by jeannie

No need to worry, my  politics have not u-turned in the middle of the night. I am not a supporter of Sarah Palin.

A day or two ago I posted about Penelope Trunk’s blog admiring a post or two of hers upon the recommendation of a friend. Come to find out that she thinks Sarah Palin is “brave” and “smart” and a few concerned people (including my rather shocked husband) asked me what the heck I was thinking when I sent them over to her site.

For this I apologize and issue a complete retraction of that post. It’s been deleted. Can we put it behind us now?

Posted in blogs | Leave a comment

Waldorf Playgroup Songs

Posted on July 14, 2009 by jeannie

These are the lyrics to all the songs Devana Came sang during the course of her two-hour demo Waldorf Parent-Toddler Playgroup. We’re going to be practicing and learning them tomorrow at the park. (Devana runs a home-based Waldorf kindergarten and preschool in Corona called The Garden of Enchantment.)

Some of these songs are specifically geared towards springtime, so a few of them will be changed out for the fall.

In general the songs in the circle before playtime will follow this pattern:

Follow follow me (walking into home from outside to form ring)

Now Look Around, we’ve made a ring (standing)

1 – seasonal (sitting)

Rinka Ranka Rosy Ray (standing)

3 – seasonal (standing, sitting, standing)

Crisscross applesauce (sitting)

Follow, follow me
To the ring of the fairies
Follow, follow  me,
Where the fairies dance and sing.
Gather with now
All the magic you can carry,
As we circle ‘round the dancing fairy ring.

Now look around
We’ve made a ring
By holding hands you see.
Yes, here I am,
And there you are,
Together we are we.

Fishes like wishes
Are magic you see,
They slipses and swishes
Thru waters so free.

A little flower lays asleep in his bed.
A warm sun is shining over head.
Down came the rain dancing to and fro.
The little flower awakens,
And now begins to grow.

Rinka ranka rosy ray.
Welcome, welcome, golden day.
I can skip and I can hop.
I can turn and I can stop.
I can dance and I can sing,
With my friends we form a ring.

Ring around the roses,
A pocket full of posies.
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down.
The cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
Ashes, ashes
We all stand up.

On my head my hands I place,
On my shoulders, on my face.
On my lips and by my side,
Quickly behind me they will hide.
I can hold them way up high
And let my fingers gently fly
I can hold my hands in front of me
And clap 1-2-3.

Here is a beehive
Where are all the bees?
Hidden inside
Where no one can see
Here they all come
1-2-3-4-5 buzzzzzzzzz – They’re alive.

Dot, dot, dot
And a big question mark.
Little spiders crawl up your back
Little spiders crawl down your back
Little spiders crawl up your arms
Little spiders crawl down your arms
Cool breeze, tight squeeze.
Egg on the head and the yolk drips down.
Creepy crawlies, creepy crawlies…
Gotcha.

OR

Crisscross applesauce
Spiders crawling up your back
Spiders crawling down your back
Oops, one bit ya
Tight squeeze,
Cool breeze.
Now you’ve got the ticklies.

The Story Song
Anything can happen
In a fairy tale or rhyme
When you say the magic words
Once a upon a time

OR I like this one from raw mom’s blog:

BE QUIET YOUR FACES, BE STILL EVERYONE

FIX DEEPLY ON ME YOUR EYES

AND OUT OF MY MIND A STORY WILL COME

THAT IS OLD, AND LOVELY AND WISE

Handwashing Song (sung in the mood of the 5th)
Time to wash our hands,
Time to wash our hands

Welcome, welcome
Welcome to our table
Welcome, welcome
We all join hands together. (We sing this until every one is sitting)
Snack Time Blessing
Earth who gives to us this food.
Sun who makes it ripe and good.
Sun above and earth below,
Our loving thanks to you we show.
Blessings on our meal.

Clean-up Song
I met a little dusty gnome
Who says it’s time to clean our home
Clean our home
Clean our home

Goodbye Circle
Who will come to my wee ring?
My wee ring
My wee ring
Who will come to my wee ring?
And make it a little bit bigger?

The earth stands firm beneath my feet. The sun shines high above. Here I stand, so straight and strong – all things to know and love

I can turn myself and turn myself and stop me when I will. I can reach high on my tippy toes and hold myself quite still.

Goodbye now, goodbye now.
We leave you now
And off we go
Goodbye now
Goodbye to all of you.
Thank you for coming.

Rainbow Bridge Song
Goodbye, goodbye
Blessing on your way.
May the sun shine bright
In your hearts today.

**See clips of Devana singing most of these songs here**

Posted in waldorf | 2 Comments

Thumb's Up

Posted on July 14, 2009 by jeannie

That new website, Paperbackswap.com, I joined last month has turned out to be a winner.

Well, in terms of getting books for free anyway. I’ve only diminished my own pile of books by three so far, but I’m hopeful more will go. I’m scouring my shelves for more books to post.

I got both of Bella’s AP summer reading books: The Adventures of Huck Finn and The Narrative Autobiography of Frederick Douglass.

And I ordered two of the three books my sister wanted at Christmas but was not able to find at Barnes and Noble: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman. (The third one was that Lessons Shamu Taught Me – where Shamu’s trainer applies her whale training techniques on her husband with great success – I just ordered through amazon.)

Five books that I wanted/needed for free in one month is pretty good I say.

Posted in books | Leave a comment

At Least We Got Mooned

Posted on July 12, 2009 by jeannie

Saturday morning, by Bella’s account, was not the smooth morning we had planned. Bella had a mandatory field trip to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena for her Art Appreciation class, so I had carefully planned out a day to finally take Bella (and her friend) up to LA via train, then Chinatown by Metro for dimsum, and then up to Pasadena to the museum. The train I normally take at 10:20 wouldn’t give us enough time to get to the Norton Simon by noon, so we were stuck taking the 7:05 am train to LA Union.

Chad was skeptical, but I tell you that we were half an hour early and feeling pretty perky about it. Christian was going whooo-whooo, because he LOVES the train.

I saw the trainlight coming up in the distance, so I said to Bella, “Be sure to grab my water bottle.”

She was like, “Huh?”

And I realized that when I had pulled my beloved $20 Kleen Kanteen out for her at the ticket booth, that she had never noticed it.

I shouted for her to please RUN AND GET MY WATER BOTTLE!!!

And despite my frantic shouts and waves to the conductor, by the time Bella and her friend came huffing and puffing back, the train was pulling away. (She had thought I had wanted her to run all the way back to the car…) Perhaps I should have known better – the train never stops for more than 40 seconds – but I couldn’t bear to lose my Kleen Kanteen.

So we four stood on the platform, a bunch of boobs who missed their train.

Bella watched the train get smaller and turned to look at me and said, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?” Rightfully so, I mean we had all gotten out of the house by 6:15 am on a Saturday morning.

The worst part was that I had bought a Family 4-Pack deal, which allows four adults to travel for $30 roundtrip, anywhere in the Metrolink system. Since we were only three, I had given the fourth ticket to a nice  Filipino nanny who was standing behind us at the ticket booth. I figured she could sit with us or near us and travel for free. The tickets were only valid used together, and she, well, she made it on the train and we didn’t. I hope she didn’t get in any trouble with the conductor. I didn’t mean to con a nice little old lady yesterday.

So, we all dashed to the car and tried to catch the train in Irvine. I should have known it was fruitless, but it did make us all feel better. When we called Chad to confirm where the train station was, he told us that the train was supposed to have gone through Irvine 8 minutes ago. Sure enough when we got there, there was nobody about. At this point, I pulled over in a shade spot to think and nurse my irate baby who was pretty mad about being tired and not on a train.

The part where we salvage our day:

After much apologizing on my part, we decided to go for the 10:30 train. With about three hours to kill, I decided to take the girls and Christian out to breakfast at The Original Pancake House in lieu of dim sum. We were much refreshed after homemade corned beef hash, potato pancakes, mushroom omelet, and spinach crepes and lots of delicious coffee.

Then we went home and changed into shorts and fussed about the house for another hour. We made it to the train station in plenty of time. There were loads of cops around, even trailers and tents and a semi-truck.

We had time to make a few friends on the platform. All of us were talking to different people on the train platform because yesterday, of all days, happened to be Moon-the-Train Day. (However, because of last year’s tremendous mooning success – over 10,000 people, many drunk and rowdy – there was a large police presence at the station. The people we met were all people with cameras LOOKING for mooners. None were to be seen.)

We finally got on our train. That felt great and Bella and Maddie were duly impressed by the being on the train. As we started moving along, Bella said “Hey, you can see into everybody’s backyards!” That comment made me chuckle, because being able to see into people’s backyards is one of the best parts about riding on the train – you really see some unusual things on a train ride to Los Angeles.

And then I shouted. But by the time I had found words it was too late. I had just been mooned by about twenty people along the fence!! Bella and Maddie were sitting on the opposite side of the car and sadly, missed the mooners. I’m glad that some mooners made it past the police.

The rest of the day was less eventful, but pleasurable.

We made it to Pasadena, but late. Then trying not to be late, Bella and Maddie ran all the way from the Holly Street train station to the museum. I got there a bit later,  and then spent a very nice couple of hours chatting outside with my friend Ellen by the waterlilly pond under the shade of a large tree.

Then I wandered a while in the galleries, looking at the 20+ paintings and sculptures that were part Bella’s assignment. We had a more leisurely walk through the shopping district, back to the Metro stop, and back to Union Station. we got there with just enough time for me to show the girls the station and to buy snacks for the trip home.

Bella and Maddie were very vigilent about watching for mooners this time around and they were rewarded by being mooned too. Just a small handful, but enough to feel like we’d fully participated in the (non) event.

Posted in local entertainment, los angeles | 1 Comment

EC Update

Posted on July 9, 2009 by jeannie

So, the elimination communication.

It’s been going. Not terrifically well, but like all other aspects of parenting, sometimes smoothly and sometimes painfully.

I once had a wishful thought that Christian would be graduated by the age of one (as babies often were, even in this country, just a century ago), but he’s well into his fourteenth month now and I’ve still not even achieved a single completely diaper-free day (day=24 hours).

That’s okay. Christian has had many, many dry nights, to the point where I sometimes let him sleep nudie. That’s to say, he does go pee during the night, but NOT in his diaper; almost always in his potty and then falls back asleep. Ditto for his nap. He usually wakes up to pee once during his nap and then continues sleeping.

We also had two days in a row last month where we had only two misses each day. That was exciting. More typical was yesterday: he’s been dry all night and all day, and then his  sister and dad will come home, I’ll get distracted, and then miss seven pees in a row…

Our greatest success has been catching his poos. In all of 2009, I think I’ve missed about a dozen poos, meaning every other poo has been in a potty, either his little Baby Bjorn or in the regular toilet (with a seat reducer). I got REALLY excited when Christian pooed in the regular toilet, but while he loved the novelty of the big potty, he’s since shifted back down to his little potty where he can hang out and look at books more easily. It’s gotten to the point where when I have to deal with a poopy diaper I get all flustered because I don’t have a system for handling them anymore.

I figure that since Christian poops every day (approx. 180 poos so far this year), my poo catch rate is 94%. Not bad at all!

Most importantly, Christian retains a keen awareness of his elimination – often yelling for me just before or after peeing – and then pointing at the puddle. He’s even run over to the diaper pail and grabbed a diaper to mop up his mess. And practicing elimination communication has certainly heightened the level of awareness between the little guy and myself.

From what I see among the other EC’s I know, most kids seem to graduate between 20 and 26 months. They are often mostly dry, in trainers sometimes, and diapers sometimes, long before that. And while other cloth-diapered kids may potty train around the same age, I hear that most conventionally disposable-diapered kids potty train around three years old.

We’re good with it. I only wish I had started when he was born, instead of when he was three months old…

Posted in elimination communication | 2 Comments

Craft and Game Booths

Posted on July 8, 2009 by jeannie

Back a few months ago I attended a May Day Faire at the Waldorf School of Orange County; I was so inspired by that family event that everything I’ve been doing to help with the World Breastfeeding Week Picnic has been to try and recreate that experience for others as closely as possible. (I promise to post about May Day separately – because it really deserves it.)

We won’t have a May Pole, live music, or dancing but… there were several well-attended craft and game booths there for the children – so we are offering one of each at our picnic.

The craft booth, Sew-Your-Own-Bean Bag, will be just like one of the ones offered at the May Day Faire. In a shaded spot there will be a helpful adult sitting at a table with pincushions with threaded needles, bowls filled with beans, spoons for scooping, and partially sewn bean bags. For the cost of one ticket ($1/ticket or $5/ 6 tickets), the child can pick a beanbag fabric, fill it with beans, and stitch it closed.

The game booth will be a Potty Toss, and sponsored by the local diaper-free group. I’m pretty proud of this silly game idea, so I hope it works. I picture 9-12 baby potties on the ground or on a table and kids standing behind a line tossing pingpong balls into the (brand new – purchased with a donation fund from my brother) potties. Depending on how hard it is to get the pingpong balls into the potties, I think one ticket gets you three tosses and three wins (you can buy more tosses) wins you a potty.

If somebody wins a potty, we write the child’s name on a potty in fabric pen or sharpie. He or she can pick up the potty at the end of the picnic.

The only glitch in the plans so far, has been to find enough people to tend the booths, but that problem may have been solved today as we’ve decided to find SPONSORS.

Posted in do some good, waldorf | 1 Comment

Mark Your Calendars!

Posted on July 7, 2009 by jeannie

What: World Breastfeeding Week Family Picnic

When: August 1, 2009 11:00 AM

Where:
Alta Laguna Park
3250 Alta Laguna Blvd
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Hi All,

SAVE THE DATE!

We’re in full swing gearing up for our World Breastfeeding Week Family Picnic! We’ve been working really hard and have scored some AWESOME donations for our raffles and silent auctions and family gift bags. We’re even going to have 9-10 booths with local businesses that have donated items and will be showcasing and selling their products (Steph Fowler Photography on-site photobooth, Balboa Baby Slings and Nursing Covers, Sherrie Williams Discovery Toys, Envirobaby Store, Arbonne from Hannah, AllBabyandMom.com, Baby UR Precious, Oasis Child, and Monica the Handprint Lady, with the possibility of a couple more).

We have donations from Earthroots School, Ellen Steel Photography, Happy Baby, Doubletree Dana Point, Milkalicious, Red Robin, Maunder Law, A Child’s Dream, Gia Anderson Yoga, Motherlove, Storksak, Bravado, Glamourmom, JuJuBe, Beco Baby Carrier, St. Regis Monarch Beach, Gypsy Mama, Traditional Medicinals, Suzie Bennett infant massage classes, and more…

August 1, 2009, 11am-2pm
Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach (PCH to Laguna Ave, which turns into Park and you take Park to the top of the world and turn Left on Alta Laguna, the park is on the right). Bring your sunscreen, sun umbrella, and blankets or chairs.

We hope to see you there; it will be great fun for the whole family. We’ll be having a BIG bake sale, all natural hotdog sales, and a craft and game for the kids. Please pass this info along to all your friends.

See you soon!
Sierra and Kimberly- LLL Leaders
and core volunteers Jeannie and Hope

Posted in La Leche League, local entertainment | 2 Comments