Retch
What a delightful Mother's Day we had planned. First church, where we get to bask in the warm glow of freaky liberal spirituality while our kiddlings go to Sunday School, and then off to the coast for tidepooling and a gourmet early dinner. Sounds great, no?
No. Because I woke up with vertigo unlike any I've ever experienced. So bad that I couldn't bend over or turn my head without the whole world becoming a tilt-a-whirl. So intense that I barfed all the way to church. So sudden that I thanked heaven for Leelo's still be-diapered behind, and the resulting diaper disposal/barf bags I stock in my backpack.
At church, I tried to will myself into wellness, with mixed results. I remained seated during the singing so as not to fall over. I smiled woozily as we celebrated mothers, and knowingly as we celebrated women for whom this day is painful (this was me for eight years). I remained oblivious to Leelo rocketing past me out of the nursery afterwards, but thankfully Seymour noticed and retrieved him. I met the two-mom family who joined the church today, found out the excellent news that they are neighbors, and managed to call them "you guys" not once but twice. But, despite all the evidence of impairment, I somehow I figured I would be magically better upon viewing the ocean.
Not bloody likely. We arrived in HMB and I promptly started barfing again. Then I begged Seymour to take us back home. Where I slept or lay prostrate on the couch, and brooded about being sick on a day I already had off.
It is nearing midnight, and, thanks to Seymour's running herd all day, bringing me mu-shu veggies for dinner, and gifting me with a Totoro keychain and drawing techniques book, I am feeling somewhat better. Plus Iz was very sweet and Leelo had a great day. Fingers crossed for a much better tomorrow, 'cause I've got shit to do.
Hope your day was grand.
5.09.2004
5.08.2004
When the Enemy Has Your Mother
This is long, apologies. I don't believe Blogspot does that whole truncation/link to rest of blabbering thing.
My friends, partner, and I all know that our city by the Bay is part of a happy Liberal bubble. While it's nice to have everyone around you agree with your political views as ever so self-evident and justified, it also becomes perplexing (for me at least) to deal with aliens, er, conservatives like my mother.
My mother is an intelligent woman. I can't understand why she falls for the current administration's shiny pretty distractions and highly-waxed spin, every damn time. She loves to talk about how great these charlatans are. She insists on forwarding me every last drippy, faux-patriotic screed that comes through her inbox. She does this even though she knows I disagree with her, and that hearing her talk about politics drives me mad. Perhaps she carries on because, like me, she thinks that the other side has to see the light eventually.
Usually, when she starts going off, I tell her that the kids are about to jump out the window and that I really have to go. This worked earlier in the week, when she started going off about how badly and disrespectfully Rumsfield was being treated during his interrogations, and how the only one who had anything nice to say was Elizabeth Dole, who brought up how many hospitals and schools we've fixed, etc. etc. To which I couldn't help but point out that infrastructure repair is critical, but TOTALLY FUCKING IRRELEVANT to the inquest...whoops, sorry, Mom, Iz is tottering on the windowsill! Gotta go!
Then there are the days when I can't help but respond. I try to be even-handed, and to provoke her into thinking for herself. I suspect I just piss her off. But I'm trying to reach out, I really am. As I did two days ago when she sent me this:
Interesting
>
> It is amazing how the facts are unimportant to so
> many, and how soon they forget! (Read through to the
> bottom!)
>
> "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq
> the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction
> and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom
> line." - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
>
> "If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our
> purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the
> threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
> program." - President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
>
> Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there
> matters a great deal here. For the risks that the
> leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or
> biological weapons against us or our allies is the
> greatest security threat we face." - Madeline
> Albright, Feb 18, 1998
>
> "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again,
> as he has ten time since 1983." - Sandy Berger,
> Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb 18,1998
>
> "[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and
> consistent with the US Constitution and laws, to take
> necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and
> missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond
> effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to
> end its weapons of mass destruction programs." -
> Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl
> Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry (D - MA),
> and others Oct. 9,1998
>
> "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of
> weapons of mass destruction technology which is a
> threat to countries in the region and he has made a
> mockery of the weapons inspection process." - Rep.
> Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
>
> "Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building
> weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his
> cronies." >- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of
> State, Nov. 10, 1999
>
> "There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has
> invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate
> that biological, chemical and nuclear programs
> continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status.
> In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery
> systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit
> missile program to develop longer-range missiles that
> will threaten the United States and our allies." -
> Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham
> (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001
>
> "We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein
> is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of
> the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United
> Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction
> and the means of delivering them." - Sen. Carl Levin
> (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
>
> "We know that he has stored secret supplies of
> biological and chemical weapons throughout his
> country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
>
> "Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has
> proven impossible to deter and we should assume that
> it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -
> Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
>
> "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is
> seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -
> Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
>
> "The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October
> of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains
> some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons,
> and that he has since embarked on a crash course to
> build up his chemical and biological warfare
> capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is
> seeking nuclear weapons..." - Sen. Robert Byrd (D,
> WV), Oct. 3, 2002
>
> "I will be voting to give the President of the United
> States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to
> disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly
> arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is
> a real and grave threat to our security." - Sen. John
> F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002
>
> "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is
> working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and
> will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five
> years .. We also should remember we have always
> underestimated the progress Saddam has made in
> development of weapons of mass destruction."- Sen. Jay
> Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
>
> "He has systematically violated, over the course of
> the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution
> that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his
> chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear
> capacity. This he has refused to do" - Rep. Henry
> Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
>
> "In the four years since the inspectors left,
> intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has
> worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons
> stock, his missile delivery capability, and his
> nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and
> sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members..
> It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam
> Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage
> biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying
> to develop nuclear weapons." - Sen. Hillary Clinton
> (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
>
> "We are in possession of what I think to be compelling
> evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a
> number of years, a developing capacity for the
> production and storage of weapons of mass
> destruction." - Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8,
> 2002
>
> "Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein.
> He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an
> oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly
> grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to
> miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating
> America's response to his continued deceit and his
> consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ..
> So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass
> destruction is real" - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA),
> Jan. 23. 2003
>
> SO NOW EVERY ONE OF THESE SAME DEMOCRATS SAY PRESIDENT
> BUSH LIED--THAT THERE NEVER WERE ANY WEAPONS OF MASS
> DESTRUCTION AND HE TOOK US TO WAR UNNECESSARILY!
I stewed for a while. Why does she send this shit to me?
But eventually, I became pleased. Because she sent it to a big group of friends and relatives, and doesn't know how to bcc:. Because she gave me an opportunity to reach some complacent conservatives, and maybe lodge an uncomfortably nagging tickle in the back of their brains:
Hi Mom and friends,
This is indeed interesting.
While I admire the research this person did in compiling these quotes, I would have appreciated an equal amount of effort going into finding the instances in which the quotees were perceived as contradicting themselves.
The reason is that I doubt any of these people are going to deny that Saddam Hussein was a threat, and that something needed to be done.
What Mr. Bush's critics are saying, and rightfully so, is that the specific tactics and information he used to take our country to war were badly timed, misleading, and fraudulent. Not that we shouldn't have done anything. Not that we should have kept our noses out of it.
I urge each and every one of you to research this matter yourselves. It is too easy to get swept up in a calculatedly divisive wave of emotion based on skewed information, or a quick email forward.
With much affection,
=Squid
This is long, apologies. I don't believe Blogspot does that whole truncation/link to rest of blabbering thing.
My friends, partner, and I all know that our city by the Bay is part of a happy Liberal bubble. While it's nice to have everyone around you agree with your political views as ever so self-evident and justified, it also becomes perplexing (for me at least) to deal with aliens, er, conservatives like my mother.
My mother is an intelligent woman. I can't understand why she falls for the current administration's shiny pretty distractions and highly-waxed spin, every damn time. She loves to talk about how great these charlatans are. She insists on forwarding me every last drippy, faux-patriotic screed that comes through her inbox. She does this even though she knows I disagree with her, and that hearing her talk about politics drives me mad. Perhaps she carries on because, like me, she thinks that the other side has to see the light eventually.
Usually, when she starts going off, I tell her that the kids are about to jump out the window and that I really have to go. This worked earlier in the week, when she started going off about how badly and disrespectfully Rumsfield was being treated during his interrogations, and how the only one who had anything nice to say was Elizabeth Dole, who brought up how many hospitals and schools we've fixed, etc. etc. To which I couldn't help but point out that infrastructure repair is critical, but TOTALLY FUCKING IRRELEVANT to the inquest...whoops, sorry, Mom, Iz is tottering on the windowsill! Gotta go!
Then there are the days when I can't help but respond. I try to be even-handed, and to provoke her into thinking for herself. I suspect I just piss her off. But I'm trying to reach out, I really am. As I did two days ago when she sent me this:
Interesting
>
> It is amazing how the facts are unimportant to so
> many, and how soon they forget! (Read through to the
> bottom!)
>
> "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq
> the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction
> and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom
> line." - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
>
> "If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our
> purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the
> threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
> program." - President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998
>
> Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there
> matters a great deal here. For the risks that the
> leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or
> biological weapons against us or our allies is the
> greatest security threat we face." - Madeline
> Albright, Feb 18, 1998
>
> "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again,
> as he has ten time since 1983." - Sandy Berger,
> Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb 18,1998
>
> "[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and
> consistent with the US Constitution and laws, to take
> necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and
> missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond
> effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to
> end its weapons of mass destruction programs." -
> Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl
> Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry (D - MA),
> and others Oct. 9,1998
>
> "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of
> weapons of mass destruction technology which is a
> threat to countries in the region and he has made a
> mockery of the weapons inspection process." - Rep.
> Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
>
> "Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building
> weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his
> cronies." >- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of
> State, Nov. 10, 1999
>
> "There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has
> invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate
> that biological, chemical and nuclear programs
> continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status.
> In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery
> systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit
> missile program to develop longer-range missiles that
> will threaten the United States and our allies." -
> Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham
> (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001
>
> "We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein
> is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of
> the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United
> Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction
> and the means of delivering them." - Sen. Carl Levin
> (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
>
> "We know that he has stored secret supplies of
> biological and chemical weapons throughout his
> country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
>
> "Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has
> proven impossible to deter and we should assume that
> it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -
> Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
>
> "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is
> seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -
> Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
>
> "The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October
> of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains
> some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons,
> and that he has since embarked on a crash course to
> build up his chemical and biological warfare
> capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is
> seeking nuclear weapons..." - Sen. Robert Byrd (D,
> WV), Oct. 3, 2002
>
> "I will be voting to give the President of the United
> States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to
> disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly
> arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is
> a real and grave threat to our security." - Sen. John
> F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002
>
> "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is
> working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and
> will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five
> years .. We also should remember we have always
> underestimated the progress Saddam has made in
> development of weapons of mass destruction."- Sen. Jay
> Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
>
> "He has systematically violated, over the course of
> the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution
> that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his
> chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear
> capacity. This he has refused to do" - Rep. Henry
> Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
>
> "In the four years since the inspectors left,
> intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has
> worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons
> stock, his missile delivery capability, and his
> nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and
> sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members..
> It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam
> Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage
> biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying
> to develop nuclear weapons." - Sen. Hillary Clinton
> (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
>
> "We are in possession of what I think to be compelling
> evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a
> number of years, a developing capacity for the
> production and storage of weapons of mass
> destruction." - Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8,
> 2002
>
> "Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein.
> He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an
> oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly
> grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to
> miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating
> America's response to his continued deceit and his
> consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ..
> So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass
> destruction is real" - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA),
> Jan. 23. 2003
>
> SO NOW EVERY ONE OF THESE SAME DEMOCRATS SAY PRESIDENT
> BUSH LIED--THAT THERE NEVER WERE ANY WEAPONS OF MASS
> DESTRUCTION AND HE TOOK US TO WAR UNNECESSARILY!
I stewed for a while. Why does she send this shit to me?
But eventually, I became pleased. Because she sent it to a big group of friends and relatives, and doesn't know how to bcc:. Because she gave me an opportunity to reach some complacent conservatives, and maybe lodge an uncomfortably nagging tickle in the back of their brains:
Hi Mom and friends,
This is indeed interesting.
While I admire the research this person did in compiling these quotes, I would have appreciated an equal amount of effort going into finding the instances in which the quotees were perceived as contradicting themselves.
The reason is that I doubt any of these people are going to deny that Saddam Hussein was a threat, and that something needed to be done.
What Mr. Bush's critics are saying, and rightfully so, is that the specific tactics and information he used to take our country to war were badly timed, misleading, and fraudulent. Not that we shouldn't have done anything. Not that we should have kept our noses out of it.
I urge each and every one of you to research this matter yourselves. It is too easy to get swept up in a calculatedly divisive wave of emotion based on skewed information, or a quick email forward.
With much affection,
=Squid
5.07.2004
"Dear Friend,
The images of abuse in a U.S. run Iraqi prison couldn't be more disturbing. Disturbing too is that Donald Rumsfeld and the Department of Defense knew about this and didn't take immediate action and didn't even inform the leaders in Congress. John Kerry is calling for Donald Rumsfeld to resign because he's lost control of Iraq -- and John Kerry is also asking us to show support for his decision by endorsing his statement here:
http://johnkerry.com/petition/rumsfeld.php
I did -- and you should too."
via moveon.org
Or, rather, I did, and I hope you will, too. Not only because these abuses are inhuman and abhorrent, but also because anything we can do to knock out Bush's puppetmasters is a step towards justice, sanity, and democracy.
The images of abuse in a U.S. run Iraqi prison couldn't be more disturbing. Disturbing too is that Donald Rumsfeld and the Department of Defense knew about this and didn't take immediate action and didn't even inform the leaders in Congress. John Kerry is calling for Donald Rumsfeld to resign because he's lost control of Iraq -- and John Kerry is also asking us to show support for his decision by endorsing his statement here:
http://johnkerry.com/petition/rumsfeld.php
I did -- and you should too."
via moveon.org
Or, rather, I did, and I hope you will, too. Not only because these abuses are inhuman and abhorrent, but also because anything we can do to knock out Bush's puppetmasters is a step towards justice, sanity, and democracy.
5.06.2004
Where Does the Pollen Go?*
Sometimes, when your kid tells you that she understands what you mean when you tell her the topic of reproduction is not necessarily appropriate for preschool, she is lying. Or just so excited that she can't contain herself.
For instance, I arrived at school just in time to hear her tell her music teacher and class that "my mommy only has one fallopian tube because a pregnancy got stuck in the other one and now it's all scarred and closed down, but it's okay because she still had me and my brother."
The teacher was too stunned to say anything, so I told the class that what Iz said was true, and that I'm not embarrassed about it, but that most people consider these matters private. The teacher and students seemed okay with my explanation.
I hope so, because one of the things I am trying to convey to Iz is that it's okay to talk about pregnancy loss. I don't want to turn her into a pregnancy pessimist, but I also don't want her growing up thinking that pregnancy loss is a taboo subject, or that it's something rare that only happens to other people. It's happened to almost everyone I know. The resulting grief can be unbearable. No one should have to put a lid on that kind of sorrow just because it isn't polite conversation.
Anyhow, on the way home, we came up with a method for ascertaining whether or not it is okay to talk about sex, etc. with someone. We practiced it a lot this afternoon. I hope it sticks:
--Iz to potential information overload victim: "Are you comfortable talking about reproduction?"
--If the victim says yes, then tally ho!
--However, if the victim says "No," then Iz is to say "Okay. I'm glad I asked."
Later on as lovely Seymour was bringing plates of pizza to us two lounging couch girls, Iz announced "So, Daddy has a circumcised penis?"
I laughed, and said, "Yes, he does."
But poor Seymour, he turned both red and around, and had to go collect himself in the kitchen for a moment before he could finish delivering our dinner.
Then Iz and I once again practiced how to ask someone if they're comfortable talking about reproduction.
*If you get this quote, then you either must have horrible taste in movie musicals, or were forced to watch the film in question Clockwork Orange-style.
Sometimes, when your kid tells you that she understands what you mean when you tell her the topic of reproduction is not necessarily appropriate for preschool, she is lying. Or just so excited that she can't contain herself.
For instance, I arrived at school just in time to hear her tell her music teacher and class that "my mommy only has one fallopian tube because a pregnancy got stuck in the other one and now it's all scarred and closed down, but it's okay because she still had me and my brother."
The teacher was too stunned to say anything, so I told the class that what Iz said was true, and that I'm not embarrassed about it, but that most people consider these matters private. The teacher and students seemed okay with my explanation.
I hope so, because one of the things I am trying to convey to Iz is that it's okay to talk about pregnancy loss. I don't want to turn her into a pregnancy pessimist, but I also don't want her growing up thinking that pregnancy loss is a taboo subject, or that it's something rare that only happens to other people. It's happened to almost everyone I know. The resulting grief can be unbearable. No one should have to put a lid on that kind of sorrow just because it isn't polite conversation.
Anyhow, on the way home, we came up with a method for ascertaining whether or not it is okay to talk about sex, etc. with someone. We practiced it a lot this afternoon. I hope it sticks:
--Iz to potential information overload victim: "Are you comfortable talking about reproduction?"
--If the victim says yes, then tally ho!
--However, if the victim says "No," then Iz is to say "Okay. I'm glad I asked."
Later on as lovely Seymour was bringing plates of pizza to us two lounging couch girls, Iz announced "So, Daddy has a circumcised penis?"
I laughed, and said, "Yes, he does."
But poor Seymour, he turned both red and around, and had to go collect himself in the kitchen for a moment before he could finish delivering our dinner.
Then Iz and I once again practiced how to ask someone if they're comfortable talking about reproduction.
*If you get this quote, then you either must have horrible taste in movie musicals, or were forced to watch the film in question Clockwork Orange-style.
Off to Coffee
With the Bad Moms. Except I gave up drinking coffee at the end of March (which explains a lot of the recent grouchfulness herein).
So, off to steamed soy milk. If you laugh at this drink as more evidence of my being a wanker from California, then you've obviously never bothered to drink of this nectar, and your life is that much the more pleasure-impoverished. Poor you and your prejudices. And no, I'm not being defensive, so fuck off.
I am supposed to be writing the newsletter for Iz's school, and delivering it by noon. I should have written it yesterday. But I am disorganized, and chose to bake chocolate chip cookies with the kids instead. Then Therapist L got stuck in traffic and was almost an hour late this morning. But I'm not going to fret or stay home--I am going to have not-coffee with my nasty little friends, and turn the newsletter in this afternoon. Sue me.
With the Bad Moms. Except I gave up drinking coffee at the end of March (which explains a lot of the recent grouchfulness herein).
So, off to steamed soy milk. If you laugh at this drink as more evidence of my being a wanker from California, then you've obviously never bothered to drink of this nectar, and your life is that much the more pleasure-impoverished. Poor you and your prejudices. And no, I'm not being defensive, so fuck off.
I am supposed to be writing the newsletter for Iz's school, and delivering it by noon. I should have written it yesterday. But I am disorganized, and chose to bake chocolate chip cookies with the kids instead. Then Therapist L got stuck in traffic and was almost an hour late this morning. But I'm not going to fret or stay home--I am going to have not-coffee with my nasty little friends, and turn the newsletter in this afternoon. Sue me.
5.05.2004
5.04.2004
Delivery Mechanisms
Iz, loudly and while sitting in a crowded lobby waiting for Leelo to finish his occupational therapy session: "I really love the part of the book about testicles, and how they're the heart of the whole sperm machine!" Once again I draw strength from not knowing a single person in the room.
We've decided to take Leelo off his separate dose of magnesium glycinate, since he was taking a magnesium megadose specifically to complement his B6 megadose. His remaining multivitamin supplement contains sufficient magnesium to balance its B6/P5P.
I am so very excited about his super-simplified new dosing schedule that I am posting it for all to enjoy.
For contrast, here is his old dosing schedule.
Iz, loudly and while sitting in a crowded lobby waiting for Leelo to finish his occupational therapy session: "I really love the part of the book about testicles, and how they're the heart of the whole sperm machine!" Once again I draw strength from not knowing a single person in the room.
We've decided to take Leelo off his separate dose of magnesium glycinate, since he was taking a magnesium megadose specifically to complement his B6 megadose. His remaining multivitamin supplement contains sufficient magnesium to balance its B6/P5P.
I am so very excited about his super-simplified new dosing schedule that I am posting it for all to enjoy.
For contrast, here is his old dosing schedule.
Kiddie Dispatches
What's going on with Leelo:
We've got him off of vitamin B6 now, since, according to Seymour's research, the P5P in his multivitamin is equivalent. This vitamin and supplement regimen is scaling down to a non-gripe-worthy simplicity.
His diet is becoming much simpler, too, even though he's still off gluten, dairy, meat, peanuts, and sugary items. The addition of soy makes a world of difference. I'm sure the people near me in the grocery store last night were wondering what the hell all those yelps and yippees! were about, but I couldn't help giving a whoop each time I discovered something else he could eat (margarine! ready-made gluten-free waffles! soy milk!).
We also added in bananas at the end of last week. Just a few bites at a time, so as to not push the sugar envelope. He loooooves them. I am going to make him some banana bread this week (I tried making it with rice milk, and while it tasted good, the rice milk wasn't rich enough and it came out all crumbly).
None of these dietary changes are affecting his behavior or bowel movements adversely (sorry, queasy-tummied readers, but that is how we track his progress or regression).
He is doing well with the yesses and no's, generally. Although he's started to do his standard overgeneralizing in the wake of a major breakthrough, and gets the two confused on occasion.
His sleep patterns, on the other hand, just suck. I think we're still dealing with the aftermath of Daylight Saving Time. He won't go to bed. Sometimes for up to two hours. I think we'll just have to start waking him up earlier in the morning.
---
What's Going on With Iz:
I got her a wonderful book about reproduction, families, and sexuality of all types. I figured we'd read it together this weekend. So imagine my surprise when I came back in the house after an early morning gardening sanity break, and found Iz not only awake, but most of the way through the book already. I guess I didn't put it up high enough.
She was not at all grossed out or worried...quite the opposite. She is thrilled that she already has eggs in her ovaries, and, as soon as she hits puberty and starts releasing the little buggers, she wants to have quintuplets.
One more reason why it's fun for American kids to read lots and lots of classic English children's literature; then they start talking to you like this: "Mommy, would you kindly make me a doll's dress, just as I have described?" That is verbatim, I shit you not. Good thing she was in the back seat of the car, so she couldn't see Seymour and me turning red in our attempts to NOT LAUGH.
What's going on with Leelo:
We've got him off of vitamin B6 now, since, according to Seymour's research, the P5P in his multivitamin is equivalent. This vitamin and supplement regimen is scaling down to a non-gripe-worthy simplicity.
His diet is becoming much simpler, too, even though he's still off gluten, dairy, meat, peanuts, and sugary items. The addition of soy makes a world of difference. I'm sure the people near me in the grocery store last night were wondering what the hell all those yelps and yippees! were about, but I couldn't help giving a whoop each time I discovered something else he could eat (margarine! ready-made gluten-free waffles! soy milk!).
We also added in bananas at the end of last week. Just a few bites at a time, so as to not push the sugar envelope. He loooooves them. I am going to make him some banana bread this week (I tried making it with rice milk, and while it tasted good, the rice milk wasn't rich enough and it came out all crumbly).
None of these dietary changes are affecting his behavior or bowel movements adversely (sorry, queasy-tummied readers, but that is how we track his progress or regression).
He is doing well with the yesses and no's, generally. Although he's started to do his standard overgeneralizing in the wake of a major breakthrough, and gets the two confused on occasion.
His sleep patterns, on the other hand, just suck. I think we're still dealing with the aftermath of Daylight Saving Time. He won't go to bed. Sometimes for up to two hours. I think we'll just have to start waking him up earlier in the morning.
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What's Going on With Iz:
I got her a wonderful book about reproduction, families, and sexuality of all types. I figured we'd read it together this weekend. So imagine my surprise when I came back in the house after an early morning gardening sanity break, and found Iz not only awake, but most of the way through the book already. I guess I didn't put it up high enough.
She was not at all grossed out or worried...quite the opposite. She is thrilled that she already has eggs in her ovaries, and, as soon as she hits puberty and starts releasing the little buggers, she wants to have quintuplets.
One more reason why it's fun for American kids to read lots and lots of classic English children's literature; then they start talking to you like this: "Mommy, would you kindly make me a doll's dress, just as I have described?" That is verbatim, I shit you not. Good thing she was in the back seat of the car, so she couldn't see Seymour and me turning red in our attempts to NOT LAUGH.
5.02.2004
African Dispatches
The Fates were watching over us last night. We hadn't decided on a specific Ethiopian restaurant, but then Ms. Jane spied one on our left, and an open parking spot (miracle!) on our right. We ceased thinking and surrendered ourselves.
The signs from on high continued. Not only did this place serve my favorite vegetarian combination (red lentils, yellow lentils, collard greens), but they made their own T'ej. I was thereby transported to heaven, leaving Jo and Ms. Jane bewildered as to where I'd gone.
After I descended back to earth and drove home, I finished off P. Therrroux's latest Africa travelogue. The man may be a grouchy cuss, but he's got a flinty-sharp mind, and knows exactly who to goad. His slow, exacting eviscerations of the do-gooders he meets along the way, and his analyses of how these closed-minded ninnies usually compound the problems they seek to remedy, are a pleasure to read. My hands are now itching to bludgeon each and every one of the misguided with a copy of Patrick Marnham's Fantastic Invasion.
It's been a while since I read a travelogue. I used to adore them, but after a couple of years I realized that few strayed beyond the wacky natives/goofy traveler/was-THAT-the-wrong translation formula. The locations ceased to matter, and the books started to make me angry. So much so that I now believe Bill Bryssson and Stuart Stevvens should be tossed off a tuna boat, bound together and smeared with fish guts.
I can still tolerate a few travel writers, including Mr. Therrroux. He, Barrry Lopez, V. S. Napalm, and Pico Iyeer--when focused--are able to weave history and their own meditations through their narratives. The books become more than just comically illustrated passports. A reader actually learns something. That's all I ever ask, really.
The Fates were watching over us last night. We hadn't decided on a specific Ethiopian restaurant, but then Ms. Jane spied one on our left, and an open parking spot (miracle!) on our right. We ceased thinking and surrendered ourselves.
The signs from on high continued. Not only did this place serve my favorite vegetarian combination (red lentils, yellow lentils, collard greens), but they made their own T'ej. I was thereby transported to heaven, leaving Jo and Ms. Jane bewildered as to where I'd gone.
After I descended back to earth and drove home, I finished off P. Therrroux's latest Africa travelogue. The man may be a grouchy cuss, but he's got a flinty-sharp mind, and knows exactly who to goad. His slow, exacting eviscerations of the do-gooders he meets along the way, and his analyses of how these closed-minded ninnies usually compound the problems they seek to remedy, are a pleasure to read. My hands are now itching to bludgeon each and every one of the misguided with a copy of Patrick Marnham's Fantastic Invasion.
It's been a while since I read a travelogue. I used to adore them, but after a couple of years I realized that few strayed beyond the wacky natives/goofy traveler/was-THAT-the-wrong translation formula. The locations ceased to matter, and the books started to make me angry. So much so that I now believe Bill Bryssson and Stuart Stevvens should be tossed off a tuna boat, bound together and smeared with fish guts.
I can still tolerate a few travel writers, including Mr. Therrroux. He, Barrry Lopez, V. S. Napalm, and Pico Iyeer--when focused--are able to weave history and their own meditations through their narratives. The books become more than just comically illustrated passports. A reader actually learns something. That's all I ever ask, really.
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