Artemis

Warming debate shifts to ‘tipping point’ . Is it really too late for us to do something about global warming? And what aren't scientists telling us about it? A NASA scientist that suggested 2005 was the warmest year on record was told not to give that information to the public. What else don't they want us to know? Is it worse than we think? This all terrifies me.

Yesterday I was watching baby S2 while she was playing. She turned 4 months old today. She is now able to support her head, so she can sit in this saucer thing with toys all around it. She really wanted this bee that is soft, rattles and makes crinkle sounds. However, it is connected to the saucer and she has not figured out how to lean forward to get it into her mouth. She can grab it with her hands, then she pulls on it with her mouth wide open. She worked on it like this for about ten minutes. She would pull, then let go and stare at it. Then she would try again. Then she would stop, let go, take a deep breathe, stare some more, then try again. Sometimes instead of a breathe, she would scream. She kept trying and trying. She wasn't going to give up. Finally, she got frustrated, let go and started crying. Exhausted by it all, she fell asleep while sitting up in the seat. I was impressed by her determination. I know ten minutes doesn't seem like a long time as adults, but to a...

States bypass Bush on enviro regulations and Ex-heads of EPA blast Bush on Global Warming It's about time we take matters into our own hands! And finally the states are, good for them! Yesterday I overheard a lady in a store say she took 3 ticks off her dog, it is JANUARY! Long time from tick season. This weather is freaking me out. I have been wearing long sleeve shirts and no coat for the past few days. This is supposed to be the coldest month in Connecticut. I will continue to talk about this topic because I feel it is the most important issue we are dealing with, so get used to reading about it on my blog.

I am asking for your advice. I am presented with a problem that I am not sure how to handle. It is about S. She listens to me wonderfully all day, with her normal child mistakes and occasional warnings and time-outs. As soon as her parents come home, that is out the window and I am reaching my breaking point. It really has to do with the fact they don't discipline her AT ALL! For example, the other day S was sitting on the back cushion of the couch and was squishing it. Her mom told her to get off, but S didn't listen (as usual). The mother then pulled the cushion out from her and S just sat there and watched her. No telling her not to do it again. No time-out. Nothing. I discipline S. I feel that it is a very important. So all the things I tell her not to do, she does them THE SECOND her parents walk in the door. I tell her not to sit on the arm of the couch, she looks at her mom, then at me and stays there. I tell her not to go in the baby's seat (with its 30 lb. limit an...

I am lonely. I am not depressed or sad about it, I am just stating a fact. And I am not looking for sympathy, it was just something that needed to be said. I realize how lonely I am when my computer and the television are my confidants, my views to the outside world. While watching the Golden Globes, Sandra Oh just won and I was so happy for her that it felt like my best friend just won an award. I am lonely in different ways. I am lonely for my family. I am lonely for my friends. I am lonely for a relationship. My family is so far away, so there isn't much I can do about that. The only friends I have here are my employer (when I want to get away with a friend, she is not an option) and my friend from photography school (who is still two states away). It has been so long since I have been in a relationship, I am not sure what it even is, so I certainly don't know how to find someone acceptable. When it comes to meeting people here, friends or otherwise, I am not sure how to do ...

I have had a shitty day, so I am taking this opportunity to bitch. A million things have gone wrong, such as the little girl (let's call her S) was sick today, at least in the morning. She stayed home from school, which threw off my day. Then the dog poops and pees on the most expensive carpet in the house, so I had to clean that up. The baby (S2) is spitting up like crazy, but I am starting to think it is no longer spit-up since some of it is projectile. Then S decides she want to go to school at 11 am and I talked to her mom and she said it was okay. The teacher is not happy about it when we get there, saying she should come to school no later than 10 am. Then I get home, feed S2, who won't eat and is crying like crazy. Then the teacher calls saying S has no lunch. I tell the teacher that S ate at home, so she didn't need lunch. But S is so hungry, so the teacher takes food out of the snack box and tells me that this will never happen again. Then I decided to be nice and ...

I watched Gilmore Girls tonight. Rory was upset because she ran into her ex-boyfriend (who broke up with her via his sister... they are not high school people, they are 21). She was on her way to the school psychologist, which she had to attend because she missed a semester of school. She broke down while at the psychologist saying how she didn't hear from her ex for weeks and then he tells her he loves her. She says how she can't handle running into him, in the halls, at the paper, at the coffee stand. Rory: "I might have to give up coffee!" (grabs handful of tissue, puts to face, looks up crying) "I really love coffee". I died of laughter. Not only was it a great line ( When Harry Met Sally -like as bdoc pointed out), it also made me think of something jdoc would say in a moment like that. Maybe that is why I enjoy the show so much, all the great one liners make me think of my sister.

I saw Brokeback Mountain last night. First let me say what a wonderful love story and an amazing movie it is. If you have seen the movie, you have seen the beautiful scenery. It made me realize how much I love the mountains. I always thought of myself as an ocean girl, but now I think I am equally a mountain girl and need to find a place with both. I have always loved the mountains, my sister has lived in Montana for a long time, but it wasn't until this summer that my heart went to them. I don't know if it was the experience, or the people I was with or just that I lived in them for 3 months, but I love them more than ever. I was just in Montana over Christmas, but I already want to go back and be among the mountains. The music they played in the movie was Montana music, at least what I think Montana music is. With the music and the scenery, I would forget that I was watching a movie. And for a moment, I was there, lost in the montains, back in Montana. Mmm mountains... Mmm M...

My work expectations (actual version): take care of children, including feeding, playing, bathing, etc.; occasional laundry for children; occasional dinner for parents (if asked); running some errands i.e. groceries, gas, post office, etc.; cleaning up after kids; taking to school, doctor, playdates, etc. My work expectations (Grandmother's version): putting kids to bed at night (I am done with work 6:30/7 pm); help make dinner every night (I don't even need to eat with them if I don't want to); run her errands (buy her groceries, etc.); help take care of ailing grandfather (granted, he just had major arm surgery, but still not the person I need to be taking care of, she can handle it). While I do like that she loves me and feels like I have always been part of the family, I wouldn't mind if she liked me less if it meant that she would expect less of me. I am not a 24 hour a day 7 days a week nanny, I am not here to serve her; I am a 12/13 hour a day nanny 5 days a week...