London, good friends, the Beatles...happiness.Seriously, going on that study abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Day 7: A picture that makes you happy
London, good friends, the Beatles...happiness.Seriously, going on that study abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Day 6: Whatever tickles your fancy
Oh, motherhood.
Last night Livia and I were in her bedroom, cleaning up her toys before she went to bed. I started picking up her books and asked her to clean up her play food. Soon, that plastic food was the only thing left on the floor, and she had yet to even touch it. "Livia," I said, getting stern, "you need to clean up your food. You can do this, you've done it before."
After 5-10 minutes of fruitless persuading, I very literally made her start cleaning up. I held her in my arms and carried her back and forth from the pile of plastic food to the bin in which they belonged. This was working, and the job was halfway done, but it was tiring and well, rather ridiculous. So I told her to finish up.
It was a full half hour from the time we began that 3/4 of the food was put away. I was quickly losing my patience, but trying not to show it. At this point it had become a battle of wills, and there was no way that I, as a parent, was backing down. Suddenly Livia looked at me, a glimmer of defiance in her eye, and then promptly kicked over the mostly-full bucket. And THEN, when the food didn't actually spill out, she picked it up and dumped out every single piece! Oh, the cheek of it all!
There are no treats or tv shows in the Baldwin household today.
As I bathed her, just after this event, I couldn't help but think that were my parents able to see it, they would have burst out laughing and told me I had it coming. Because, you see, I was exactly that kind of toddler. And the parent curse--you know, the one where "i hope you have children just like you"--well, it works.
It would be kind of nice if motherhood was all about keeping your children happy, wouldn't it? But it's not. You have to teach them, too. And some lessons are just hard to learn.
Last night Livia and I were in her bedroom, cleaning up her toys before she went to bed. I started picking up her books and asked her to clean up her play food. Soon, that plastic food was the only thing left on the floor, and she had yet to even touch it. "Livia," I said, getting stern, "you need to clean up your food. You can do this, you've done it before."
After 5-10 minutes of fruitless persuading, I very literally made her start cleaning up. I held her in my arms and carried her back and forth from the pile of plastic food to the bin in which they belonged. This was working, and the job was halfway done, but it was tiring and well, rather ridiculous. So I told her to finish up.
It was a full half hour from the time we began that 3/4 of the food was put away. I was quickly losing my patience, but trying not to show it. At this point it had become a battle of wills, and there was no way that I, as a parent, was backing down. Suddenly Livia looked at me, a glimmer of defiance in her eye, and then promptly kicked over the mostly-full bucket. And THEN, when the food didn't actually spill out, she picked it up and dumped out every single piece! Oh, the cheek of it all!
There are no treats or tv shows in the Baldwin household today.
As I bathed her, just after this event, I couldn't help but think that were my parents able to see it, they would have burst out laughing and told me I had it coming. Because, you see, I was exactly that kind of toddler. And the parent curse--you know, the one where "i hope you have children just like you"--well, it works.
It would be kind of nice if motherhood was all about keeping your children happy, wouldn't it? But it's not. You have to teach them, too. And some lessons are just hard to learn.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Day 5: Favorite Quote
To be honest, I don't really have a favorite quote. So I got online and found one. It's by Abraham Lincoln, and he simply said, "Whatever you are, be a good one."
I like that.
I like that.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Day 4: Favorite book
To quote dear Danielle (from another great movie), I could no sooner pick a favorite book than "choose a favorite star in the heavens."
Like many of you, I love to read. It was my favorite past time as a child. I remember being 7 years old and going to the library with my mom. I'd pick out a whole stack of chapter books and the librarian would always kind of eye it and ask my mom, "Is she going to be able to read all those?" My mom would immediately reply, "She'll be done with them by the end of the week."
And I was. I LOVED to read. I would get in trouble for reading too much. My allowance almost always went to a new book from the bookstore. And one of the few things I remember lying to my parents about as a child was that a book I was reading was "for homework." A bit nerdy? Um, yeah. But if I had to have an obsession as a child, I'm glad it was books.
So having read a lot of books in my time, it's really quite hard to pick a favorite. I like a lot of the classics: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, etc. I also love a good mystery, Agatha Christie probably being my favorite because she still manages to suprise me with the endings. Some books are significant for the message they convey, others are simply delightfully entertaining. I've gone through sci-fi kicks, fantasy kicks, historical fiction and non-fiction kicks, but if I absolutely had to pick a favorite, I would probably have to say....Jane Eyre.
The first time I read it my older sister was reading it for a school assignment and, being the bookworm that I've now confessed to be, I read it too. I read a lot of books that way. I loved Jane Eyre. I found the plot rather fascinating and enjoyed Charlotte Bronte's writing style. A few years later I was then in the class where I was required to read it, and was pleasantly surprised to note that even knowing the ending, I enjoyed the book as thoroughly the second time. That's not always the case with books, you know? It was--is--simply a great work of literature.
So if you by chance haven't read it--well then, I think you should.
Like many of you, I love to read. It was my favorite past time as a child. I remember being 7 years old and going to the library with my mom. I'd pick out a whole stack of chapter books and the librarian would always kind of eye it and ask my mom, "Is she going to be able to read all those?" My mom would immediately reply, "She'll be done with them by the end of the week."
And I was. I LOVED to read. I would get in trouble for reading too much. My allowance almost always went to a new book from the bookstore. And one of the few things I remember lying to my parents about as a child was that a book I was reading was "for homework." A bit nerdy? Um, yeah. But if I had to have an obsession as a child, I'm glad it was books.
So having read a lot of books in my time, it's really quite hard to pick a favorite. I like a lot of the classics: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, etc. I also love a good mystery, Agatha Christie probably being my favorite because she still manages to suprise me with the endings. Some books are significant for the message they convey, others are simply delightfully entertaining. I've gone through sci-fi kicks, fantasy kicks, historical fiction and non-fiction kicks, but if I absolutely had to pick a favorite, I would probably have to say....Jane Eyre.
The first time I read it my older sister was reading it for a school assignment and, being the bookworm that I've now confessed to be, I read it too. I read a lot of books that way. I loved Jane Eyre. I found the plot rather fascinating and enjoyed Charlotte Bronte's writing style. A few years later I was then in the class where I was required to read it, and was pleasantly surprised to note that even knowing the ending, I enjoyed the book as thoroughly the second time. That's not always the case with books, you know? It was--is--simply a great work of literature.
So if you by chance haven't read it--well then, I think you should.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Day 3: Favorite Television program
Over the past three years my favorite show has been Monk. I got so attached to all the characters, and was so sad when the series ended last year. Luckily, the show that USA network replaced it with is White Collar, which is probably my new favorite. AND, even more luckily for me, it's on Tuesday nights! 
You see, Chase and I decided that watching t.v. had become a huge time-sucker for us. We would sit and channel surf, and it wasn't too hard to find something to watch, though we always kept a special eye out for Iron Chef America. So we decided that we were tired of wasting time, and came up with the idea of TV Tuesdays. So after Livia goes to bed we're free to watch t.v. as much as we want that night. That means Biggest Loser (and American Idol during commercials) and then White Collar (once the new season starts back up again). And then sometimes Psych, too. I get the most out of my night of television. Ü 
And then that's it! Sometimes we cheat if there's a special sporting event on (ahem, march madness), or on the weekneds, but overall we stick to it, and it's been great! I was never much of a tv watcher through high school or college, and I really wanted to get back to that again. It's freed up our time for reading, projects, and playing games together. Speaking of which, I think I'll propose a rousing game of Ticket to Ride tonight...
Friday, April 2, 2010
Day 2: Favorite movie
I like a lot of movies, but I didn't even have to think twice about which is my favorite. The A&E Pride and Prejudice is hands down, no contest, my very favorite movie. I've seen it countless times, and yet every time I hear the opening music I find myself feeling a little giddy.
I like movies where dialogue matters. You can't talk during Pride and Prejudice. The wittiness and character development in P&P make the 5 hours both vital and wholly enjoyable.
I love that Mr. Collins is revolting. I love that Mary makes me feel horribly awkward. I love that Mr. Darcy first makes my blood boil and then makes me swoon. I love that Elizabeth is a wonderful but imperfect character. I love that Jane's happiness makes me feel incredibly happy myself. And I love that one conversation between Elizabeth and Lady Catherine, when Elizabeth refuses to back down and Lady Catherine doesn't get her way (for probably the first time in her life).
I. Love. This. Movie.
And I don't even care if it's cliche.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Count me in
A few of my friends are writing a blog a day for the month of April on the following topics:
I hesitated at first, because some days just get crazy and I may not actually get around to blogging. But hey, at least I'll get some of them in. Ü
So today's topic is all about you favorite song. Hello, hard! Not only do I love music and listen to it all the time, but favorite songs change a whole lot more than say, a favorite book or favorite movie, because you do listen to them repeatedly, and sometimes you get sick of even the best songs. However, there is one song that I have yet to tire of, even though I first heard it 8 years ago. And that would be These Days by Rascal Flatts (It's kind of a cheesy music video, so feel free to shrink it and just listen to the music). LOVE Rascal Flatts. They were the first country I ever listened to and liked, and since I afterwards became quite the country fan, they will always have a special place in my music heart.
This would be easier if a genre was specified. I worked in a music and dance library for 4 years, and since I often worked at a computer where I could wear headphones, and was in a place that carried over 16,000 cds, I listened to a wide variety of music. One of the most musically interesting bands I like is Sigur Ros--Olsen Olsen is probably my favorite song--they're an Icelandic group, and really ethereal, but the music is beautiful and I love the way it just washes over you.
Another classic favorite? Garth Brooks' Wrapped Up in You.
Okay, I'm cheating. I'll stop now.
I hesitated at first, because some days just get crazy and I may not actually get around to blogging. But hey, at least I'll get some of them in. ÜSo today's topic is all about you favorite song. Hello, hard! Not only do I love music and listen to it all the time, but favorite songs change a whole lot more than say, a favorite book or favorite movie, because you do listen to them repeatedly, and sometimes you get sick of even the best songs. However, there is one song that I have yet to tire of, even though I first heard it 8 years ago. And that would be These Days by Rascal Flatts (It's kind of a cheesy music video, so feel free to shrink it and just listen to the music). LOVE Rascal Flatts. They were the first country I ever listened to and liked, and since I afterwards became quite the country fan, they will always have a special place in my music heart.
This would be easier if a genre was specified. I worked in a music and dance library for 4 years, and since I often worked at a computer where I could wear headphones, and was in a place that carried over 16,000 cds, I listened to a wide variety of music. One of the most musically interesting bands I like is Sigur Ros--Olsen Olsen is probably my favorite song--they're an Icelandic group, and really ethereal, but the music is beautiful and I love the way it just washes over you.
Another classic favorite? Garth Brooks' Wrapped Up in You.
Okay, I'm cheating. I'll stop now.
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