How to Beat the System

With my sister Rosemary doing some daytime babysitting, I had the opportunity to get some errands outside the house done without the children. I decided to renew my license at the Motor Vehicle Administration for Maryland and get a hair cut at least. It made sense to go the MVA first to deal with the notorious long wait and see if I had enough time left for other errands.

Arriving at the MVA at 12:40 p.m., I got my ticket at the self-service kiosk and saw that my number was B135. The monitor on the wall listed the current B number as 104. The place was packed with people, some loitering in the vestibule and two even standing outside. I had a book with me, which is a good way to pass the time.

Guessing my wait would be at least an hour, I decided to get back in the car. My favorite barber is across town, about a 10-15 minute drive.  Having a book also seems to guarantee that I will not have to wait at the barber shop. The book worked its magic there and I immediately sat in a chair upon arrival at the barber's. The haircut was swift and efficient. As I paid, I discovered a "buy ten get one free" card from Rita's Ice Custard that had ten stamps on it. Rita's was in the same shopping center, so I enjoyed a chocolate custard and banana ice gelati for free. I even ate it on a bench out in front of the stores. Then I headed back across town.

I returned to the MVA at 1:35. I saw the number B129 on the screen. Sitting down to read, I had an eight minute wait before my number was called. I was done by 1:50 and able to get home in time to write this blog before the children even woke up! It's a happy day.

They used to get my sweat and tears, now just blood

Today I tried something new: donating platelets at the American Red Cross blood donor center here in Columbia. I received a call about two weeks ago asking if I'd be interested in donating platelets. Why not? With no objection springing to mind, my appointment was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 14 (today, at least as I write).

My sister said that they provide the donor with a DVD player and movies to make the time pass. So I brought Sunset Boulevard, a Netflix movie that's been waiting to be watched for quite a while. When I arrived, I forgot to bring the DVD in with me. If only it'd fit in my pocket!

Friends from church were volunteering that day, so checking in was extra pleasant. The medical assessment was almost entirely the same as the whole blood assessment. I did have to sign a special form for permission to use my platelets. The technician explained the process and said it would take about 90 minutes the first time. He sent me off to the bathroom before we started. I used the opportunity to call my wife and let her know I'd be late.

I came back to pick a DVD from their collection. I almost took Rooster Cogburn (I must have seen it but can't remember at all) but then saw Sunset Boulevard. Figuring I'd watch this copy and then finish it at home, I was set. I sat in the chair. He marked both arms and stuck them with needles. The blood came out of my right arm, into their machine for separating, and red blood cells with a saline solution were put back in my left arm. The time went by quickly (thanks to a fabulous movie). I never freaked out like I thought I might and I was able to keep my arms still. The donation experience was quite good.

Once free of the needles (yay two bandages!) I had the usual juice and cookies. The thank you gift was some Red Cross flip flops especially designed to leave ads in the sand! Check them out:

I may have to go to a park with a sand box to check these out in action.

Jacob's favorite part of the trip

Tonight at dinner, we asked Jacob what was his favorite part of our trip to see Uncle John and go to the CNMC and visit Leslie in Boston this past weekend. He concentrated on Uncle John's house: "I liked cutting fruit, playing piano, going downstairs to the basement." Uncle John has a basket of plastic fruit in his living room which Jacob would pretend to cut up and feed to all of us. John also has a piano which Jacob tried to play, with halfway decent results for a two-and-a-half year old with no training at all.

I take requests! (and tips)

 And the basement is home to the big movie screen. We watched the beginning of many fun movies with Jacob. It's not that he fell asleep while watching but his attention span needs to grow longer. During the trip, we watched the beginnings of Finding Nemo and The Lion King many times. Someday, we'll make it to the end of one or the other, I'm sure.

On a side note, visiting Leslie was lots of fun and I had a lot of new inspirations and encouragements at the Catholic New Media Celebration.

Cry Room Chronicles IX

Jacob was extra-enthusiastic about misbehaving this week at church. I don't know if he wanted to show off for Granny (who is visiting) or he's discovered that we haven't come up with any negative consequences applicable at church. Angie tried giving him a time out after he drummed too long and too loudly for the second time. He enjoyed it so much that he asked for another time out when Mommy brought him back into the Children's Chapel. Yikes! We can't take away toys or videos since there aren't any. We are in quite a quandary.

Lucy did her usual crawling around and playing with books. She didn't do anything too naughty until she went to another row and filched the hymnal from under some one's chair. A dad with two well-behaved sons was the victim of purloining Lucy. Afterwards, Angie and I couldn't figure out what they were doing with us. The did a little coloring and a little wandering around but seemed pretty quiet and easy to manage.

Today's sermon, based on the parable of the rich man who stored up treasures for himself so he could live the easy life while his life would be forfeit that very night (check it out here), was all about being detached from material things. The stuff we own might give us pride in accomplishment or security from fear but the whole value system such attitudes are based on is not guided by the Christian perspective. The true Christian is grateful for material possessions and is generous in using them because they are not the final end. Material goods are for the greater end of working towards God's glory.

We did see our friends Luke, Kim and Timmy after Mass. We all hung out at the church's playground for a while. Chatting with them is always fun. I wonder if we could threaten Jacob with no playground time for misbehaving. Unfortunately, the consequence is probably too distant from the behavior to create the desired effect.

Crafts at the Library

Jacob has wholeheartedly embraced making crafts at the library. Tuesday night he went with Mommy to Pajama Time at the Savage branch. This week's program included an ocean theme and a craft. Consider the result, dubbed "Jellyfish #1" by the artist's wily PR department:

It's a fine piece of work if you ask me, not even considering the two and a half year old nature of the artist. Consider the undulations of the tentacles and how the eyes follow you where ever you go in the room. The masterwork has already found its place on the highest shrine of pre-school art, the refrigerator. Jacob was quite enthused about the results as well:

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever--J. Keats

On Thursday, Jacob went with Daddy to Pajama Time, again at Savage library with the ocean theme and craft included. Here is his second effort, captured from the artist's own perspective:

The highchair may not have had the best angle

Lacking inspiration from his Oahu t-shirt and the guiding hand of Mommy, this work is considered less accomplished and thus is named "Jellyfish #2." Notice the muted colors in the tentacles and how the eyes follow each other. Nevertheless, he swims with his older brother on the refrigerator.

The time has come, I suppose, to expand Jacob's craft experiences beyond the library and onto other venues. Lowe's and Trader Joe's awaits. Recommendations are welcome.

Fun at and after play date

This week's play date was a big one for Lucy, even though it is Jacob's play group. She showed off her walking skills both outside on the grass (why did I forget to bring shoes for her!!) and inside on the hard wood floors. She also got to ride on the big kids' swing and down the slide (both with daddy constantly holding on to her). Jacob was rather aloof, hanging out by the rocks or watching from a distance. He became more enthusiastic when we went inside.

Inside plenty of toys waited for us to enjoy them. Lucy and Jacob loved Caroline's play kitchen. Jacob even microwaved a cucumber for me. I pretended to enjoy eating it. What will happen when he starts cooking for real at home!?! Lucy dropped a lot of the dishes on the floor. Chloe was quick to pick them up. Lucy also climbed up to the top of a toddler picnic table, presumably to get to the dishes Chloe had stacked there.

The real action was afterward during lunch at Pasta Blitz. I ordered a couple of slices of pizza and a lemonade. I brought some lunch for Lucy: Gerber peas, Cheerios and a banana. I cut up some pizza for Jacob and offered Lucy a piece. She loved it. I could barely get any spoonfuls of peas in her and not one Cheerios. All she wanted was cheese pizza. Jacob was too busy looking out the window to focus on eating. Lucy might have eaten more pizza than Jacob did. Jacob finally ate the banana along with a lot of my lemonade. Lucy totally amazed me. It may be time to give up the Gerber.

Cry Room Chronicles VIII

As we drove in to church, we thought we were late because a lot of cars were parked by the playground. We've started parking near the playground so we don't have to walk as far after Mass when the kids are done playing. We were not late and no children were at the playground, so it must have  been some sort of fluke.

Walking into church we saw Father and the acolytes getting ready to go in, so we knew we weren't late. We were the first to arrive at the children's chapel as usual. Jacob turned on the lights and I turned on the TV. Lucy wore shoes to church for the first time. She practiced walking around with help. She'll be walking on her own in no time at all.

Jacob decided to repeat some lines from the second reading a few times as he was looking at his own book. His favorite was "forgiven us to God" which strictly speaking is not accurate but certainly heartfelt. He did a lot of chattering during the sermon also. Lucy wasn't as distracting. She wandered around a bit and tossed books on the floor, but not too many or too loudly.

Timmy and his dad Luke came in during the gospel. Timmy was pretty good, just wandering all over every now and then. Timmy and Jacob both wanted to go upstairs after the sign of peace. They pushed on the door together to no effect. Eventually when the parents were ready, we helped open the doors and head upstairs. Jacob took off like a shot while Lucy tried out walking again. I ran to catch up with Jacob. He was in tactile mode, so every light switch, door handle, banister and sign within reach was touched. Walking up to receive communion, he stroked each pew. And also on the return trip.

I saw Colin, James and their parents in the vestibule but didn't get a chance to talk to them. I wonder why they didn't come down to the children's chapel. I hope they aren't concerned with their boys pestering our kids. I think it's been okay the past couple of weeks.

After Mass we headed to the playground which was pretty warm and fun. Timmy and parents didn't join us this week. Hopefully we'll get to see them next week.

In spite of Jacob's chatter, I could follow a good bit of the sermon. In the gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples about praying, including the Our Father and the famous line about "ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Pulling out an old cell phone, Father asked us how great it would be if we could text with God. Prayer should be that way--talking with God, building friendship with Him which we bring to our communal prayer at Mass. None of us have as good a prayer life as we should. Too often we go to God just when we want something. We think it's good for us and often God doesn't respond in the way that we want. He really knows our needs and will take care of us. We need to be open to what He wants for us. We could figure it out if we paid more attention to the petitions in the Our Father.