Music to a Mother's Ears
Author: jill
•9:32 AM
Last night, while preparing supper, I spied a little piece of heaven. Nope, not cheesecake. The i-Pod. So, I boogied while I prepared meatballs. But the minute I put the i-Pod on, it attracts children. There was a parade of children with annoying questions; and each time, I have to turn off the song I am so enjoying. To listen to the annoying question.

"Mommy, do you know where the yellow crayon is?" Addie asks.

Marnie wants to know if she can put her pyjamas on before supper.

"Hey, want to play a couple levels of Mario with me?" Caiden wants to know.

No idea ... of course, I'm never opposed to pyjamas at any time of the day ... can't, or we won't get to have supper tonight ... These are my answers. But the thing is ... did these questions really need to be asked?

Do you have an i-Pod? The day that Jonesy walked into our house with an i-Pod, my life changed. It was about a year ago and it is just a little i-Pod Shuffle.

"Oh ... it's so cute," I said. "How many songs can you put on that thing?"

"Two hundred and fifty," Jonesy told me. Wow ... I figured that would be about all the songs I know. Don't forget, I'm a momoholic, so the majority of the music I have listened to for the last eight years revolved around Sesame Street or theme songs to TV shows like, Dora the Explorer or Handy Manny. And, I'll admit that I sing the Handy Manny song while chopping vegies because I know you do, too.

For the first three years of Caiden's life, he listened to nothing but classical music, like Beethoven and Bach, and our personal favourite, Mozart. Marnie also benefited from some classical music as an infant because Caiden loved it so much; but if given the choice she would always ask Daddy to turn up (loud) anything funky and dance-worthy. Addison has listened to a wide variety of music, none of it classical. I think Hannah Montana's Ice Cream Freeze is among the favourites at present.

I had forgotten what it was like to listen to music that I enjoy, just for fun. Not long after it entered the house, Jonesy insisted that I give our new little music maker a try while I was making supper one night. It was great. And do you know why it was great? Because I could not hear the children ... that I love so much. There was no screaming, there was no fighting, there was no whining! It was just music and in a strange way, it was quiet.

So, this became an escape, of sorts, for me. I could be off duty because I could not hear to respond. And everyone in the house knew when I was off duty because of the horrifying singing that accompanies this short break from motherhood ... or so I'm told. Between you and I, I don't think it's really that bad ... I've heard worse.

Do you know that my children are jealous of the i-Pod? I have been accused of loving the i-Pod more than a particular six-year-old little girl. I have been accused of not wanting to play Mario because I would rather listen to my i-Pod. Imagine being jealous of a machine. And, the reason they are jealous is because they do not have my undivided attention. I think it was the first time I had not been at their beck and call ... and they did not like it one bit. They like me better as a momoholic ... they are enablers.

I see the same happening with book and blogging. The minute I open a book, someone appears with a question or problem.

So, jealousy is the reason the parade of questions began last night as soon as the i-Pod was turned on. I took it off in a fit of frustration and the minute I did, the parade ended. But as I was putting the spaghetti in the pot, I heard ...

"Dude, guess what Mommy's makin' for supper? Our favourite ... spaghetti and meatballs. Yeah!!"

Now, that is music to a Mommy's ears.
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... And the Mom Read On ...
Author: jill
•12:34 PM
You know you're old when ... It's the beginning of many jokes, but this is for real. I had an eyelash in my eye, but I couldn't see it - to remove it - because my glasses were getting in the way. So I had to take them off. Then I just couldn't see. This is how my day started. From there my morning just continued on in the same manner it began.

"Stop goofin' around. We should have been in the car eleven minutes ago."

As a parent, can't you hear yourself saying the same thing over and over again? Don't answer that, it was rhetorical.  But, it wasn't me who said these words, it was my (almost) eight-year-old son. This is the same little boy, who last year at this time, would have been having a full-out panic attack because he had to spend the next six hours with "that woman." Now this little boy is anxious to get there and impatient with his mother's goofiness. Warms my heart, and I know he was actually enjoying my early morning singing and dancing because he spit the words out with the faintest little smirk across his lips.

On a completely different note, I found the best picture to illustrate what I was writing about the other day. I wrote about the power of the media to decide. To decide what they investigate, what to make interesting, what details to reveal. (Click on the image to see it in its entirety)



I don't think I need to say any more. I hope it makes you think and question everything you see, understanding their power.


On a much lighter note my morning did improve because after I dropped my kiddies off at school, I made my way over to Chapters. I picked up a couple of things from my list. I am a girl who needs immediate gratification. Get your mind out of the gutter ... I mean, I cannot wait for books to arrive in the mailbox. I have done it, and it is a great day when you pop over to pick up the bills mail, and they are there waiting. Instantly turns the day around for me. But I enjoy looking around and touching the books and being drawn in by the marketing. For instance, I picked up the cutest little notepads made by a company called, ecojot. I just love the designs and would like to have one of everything!! They are a company based out of Scarborough ... gotta love supporting a Canadian-based eco-friendly company! I love little notepads and journals and agendas ... oh my!!

I bought And the Band Played On (#86 on The List) today ... it is ... intimidating is the only word I can come up. It is 605 pages long, it has an index at the back and a dermatis personae (whatever that is) at the beginning. I saw the movie a few years ago, so I am familiar with the story. And the one other little problem is that it is printed in very small type ... which brings me back to my problem of being old ... or feeling old. You know you are old when ... you keep talking about all the things that are deteriorating on your body. Promise - no more on that subject!

Meanwhile, still working on The DaVinci Code ... so love this book. Trying not to get caught up in the details. Discussion coming soon....
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Back in Routine
Author: jill
•11:38 AM
"The less routine, the more life."
Amos Bronson Alcott, 1799- 1888


Once again the house is quiet. One little girl does not make very much noise ... there is no one to fight with, there is no reason to compete for attention. So, the house is quiet. The quote by Alcott is something I should embrace a little more. But it is difficult for me ... I enjoy routine and schedules ... so, for me, I'm a "Woo-Hoo: It's Quiet Girl!!"

When everyone is here, and there is yelling and crying and squealing and laughing and goofing, I long for the quiet. I mean, sometimes I go in the bathroom and lock the door and pretend it is quiet. Pretend there are no voices in the distance fighting over Barbies or screaming because a new high-score was not achieved. But once the quiet is here, I ache for them - the noise makers. I guess that old saying is true - you always want what you cannot have.

There were tears last night and this morning. It is hard to get back into routine for my little ones. Caiden will always struggle with change and transition - it is who he is. I think Marnie has learned it from her brother; by observing his reluctance to go to school. She has learned to dwell on the negative instead of embracing the positive. She was worried the kids would squish her because they all want to sit next to her during "carpet time." When I had a break from school, I can remember feeling nervous because I was afraid nobody would want to play with me. We should all be as lucky as Marnie ... imagine going to a meeting, and arriving to find your fellow colleagues arguing and pushing each other out of the way to get the chair next you. Jonesy and I often entertain ourselves by imagining children's behaviour in adult situations ... try it sometime ... like crying at the office because you did not get the last doughnut! Or, throwing a temper tantrum because your boss picked someone else. Or, wearing a princess costume into the office - this would be my favourite.

But the tears passed and they ran into the playground eager to see friends they haven't seen since way back in 2009.

And, Mommy returned to her last load of laundry, a very large pile of ironing and a dirty house that has not been cleaned in two weeks. Many things of her own to face ... not the least of which is a book, started yesterday afternoon and calling my name. It is difficult to ignore because it is so quiet in here. Cleaning can wait ...
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One Down, Ninety-Nine To Go
Author: jill
•11:33 PM
America (the Book) by Jon Stewart is not what I expected. It was funny ... I expected that. But what I did not expect is that it really was all about politics and democracy. It was actually a funny history textbook. The kind of history textbook my Dad would like. I thought that it would be more of a gossipy, funny look at politics. There was some of that, I guess, but not enough for a non-politico, like me.

It opens with a hilarious, laugh-out-loud Foreword by Thomas Jefferson. The rest of the book reads like a magazine; there are sidebars and little boxes with fun facts. It reminded me of Maxim magazine and if you have never picked up a copy of Maxim, you should because it is very funny ... if you can laugh along with the boys. If you are easily offended or find boys and their prickish sense of humours distasteful, then avoid it all costs. I stuck a copy in my suitcase when I went to the hospital to give birth once. It was nestled inbetween my crochet and foodie magazines, but don't tell Jonesy. Wait until there is someone on the cover you can tolerate, but be warned - her name is usually attached to a stupid catch phrase, like "Wet n' Wild (insert name here)." Try to see past it and toss it in your shopping cart for your husband, like any considerate and thoughtful wife would. That's what I do anyway.

America (the Book) has tons of fun things like instructions for a C-SPAN Drinking Game that we should all try at some time in our lives. There are several fun activities like the Game of Presidency, making your own flag, determining whether something is news-worthy, dressing the naked Supreme Court Justices, and matching the top news anchors to their hair styles. And how to formulate your journalist pseudonym ... more on that later. I love those name generators ... I am sucker every time. My Jersey Shores nickname is J-Pop; my Smurf name would be Killdozer; my Star Wars name is Abric Burkan; my pirate name is Smelly Fish Bluebeard. Okay, enough already. The computer ones are entertaining, but I really like the ones that take some thought. Like your porno name ... take the name of your first pet and add the street name that you grew up on ... mine is Missy Chippewa. Caiden had a book called, Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants by Dav Pilkey. Professor Poopypants changes everyone's name so that we all have ridiculous names like his ... mine is Poopsie Monkeyfanny; my son, Buttercup Monkeyfanny laughed until he cried when we read this book. We generated a new silly name for everyone we knew - grandparents, teachers, friends, neighbours, people we saw on the street - probably even you. By the way, if you have young boys, the Captain Underpants series is a must for your home library!!

In America (the Book) there is a whole chapter on the Judicial Branch of the US government, and I really enjoyed it. I love the law and how it works, or doesn't work. Did you know that cameras have never been permitted inside the Supreme Court? And those who enter it, must take a sacred oath not to reveal what they have seen. What could be in there? Do they preside in hot tubs? Landmark decisions by the Supreme Court were reviewed - the Miranda Warning came to be in 1966, and Roe v. Wade took place in 1973. You know, for some reason I thought abortion rights were not proclaimed until the 1980s. One case that the book did not mention, although in my opinion was a huge legal decision, was the case of Baby M. You remember it, right? Baby M. was conceived with a surrogate through artificial insemination. After the baby's birth, the surrogate refused to relinquish the baby and a much-publicized legal battle followed.

Speaking of publicity, my favourite chapter in the book is dedicated to the Media, and more specifically, the role of media. The media, as an entity, fascinates me almost as much as the law; and not just in respect to politics or democracy. Some say that the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. Not me ... the media has more power than any of us realize. The role of the (free) press is to be the eyes and ears of the public, providing information and access and insight. But the problem is that they also decide which stories will be granted their eyes and ears. And sometimes, after they have sniffed around and uncovered some interesting information, they are persuaded not to release said information to the public. I read about this just recently with regards to Tiger Woods. Apparently, in 2007, the National Enquirer snapped some photos of Tiger in a parking lot with an alleged mistress. Tiger, or more specifically his legal team, struck a deal with American Media Inc., who owns both the National Enquirer and Men's Fitness. He agreed to appear on the cover of Men's Fitness in exchange for the photos. Now, I understand that whether or not Tiger Woods is revealed to be an adulterer is really not going to change the world as we know it. However, it does make me question what other stories are squashed or paid off so that they do not go public. The media has the power ... to be paid a great deal of money. A true journalist would never sell out. Ever. But his/her boss might. There is some great insight in this book, revealing how the holdings of a corporate television company can mean a new negotiating power that Stewart has termed synergy. The media is powerful.

So, my first book is done and without much ado. Actually, there was a lot of laundry a-done while I read this book. I'm glad to move forward to a piece of fiction. I will be jumping around a little ... just because. I have started The DaVinci Code and look forward to sharing what I know ... or learn.

For now, this is Jyl Joneseryl, reporting for Taken Out of Context ... Good night and good reading ...
 
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