Still staying sane at home: a recap for my loyal readers and fans

Wow. I am in awe that it's been over a month since my last blog post. Not a very pleasant thing to do to my loyal readers - especially the ones who visit my blog daily wanting to read my latest thoughts an opinions of life in Red-landia. I can assure you, lack of posting is not a sign that I've had few thoughts to express or that insanity has set in at home. It is purely an indication of too much to say and some uncertainty of how to say it. And I must admit, I am more sane today than I have been in a long time :) So here is a recap and update of my recent adventures as an at-home parent.

In January, I had my tonsils removed. Many of my friends have asked if I've noticed a difference. ABSOLUTELY! I have more energy and can focus so much better. More importantly, the annoying little crackle I could hear EVERY TIME I swallowed is just about gone. I still have it throughout the day - but I am swallowing more and more without that irritating sound.

Some of my readers may remember that I was reading Uncle Tom's Cabin for my book club. It was a very tough book to get through - but I did it. The ladies of the club and I had some lively discussion about the book and it's racial/social/historical implications and significance. One even suggested that the same "reasons/excuses" that kept slavery legal are used in today's arguments/discussions of illegal immigration. I don't want to believe that anyone could rationalize away a very poor and brutal way of treating human beings. And I must admit, there is much I need to read and study before I'm comfortable drawing my own conclusion to that connection.

For anyone curious, this month's book is Madame Bovary - and it is much lighter and easier to read. But, I actually find it a little boring.

With the help of some fabulous furniture-moving elves, OAO and I were able to successfully re purpose our living room into an amazingly comfortable and roomy TV room. We had some folks over for a dinner party and for the first time since we moved into this house, people congregated in the new room and not in the kitchen. Very cool!

After 6+ years of planning, I finally reupholstered the dining room chairs. I now no longer hate the wall-paper in the dining room.

The children had ENT surgeries of their own a couple of weeks ago... and seem to be healing appropriately. Here's hoping for less ear infections and runny noses in the months/years ahead.

I've also been following some stories in the Washington Post - particularly the ones about gentrification in the DC area and the Democratic Primaries. Have my own thoughts on both that I'm still knocking around in my head. Haven't decided if I'm ready to blog about them.

Here's hoping this post gets me back on track to regular updates.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!