Category Archives: lists

Nymbler, and Second Chances

Choosing baby names wasn’t an easy task for me, except once, the second time, when somehow we just knew our boy’s name from the get-go.  The others, though, were tedious.  There was the pouring over the baby name books, each of us making our own first super-long list, then cutting our lists to our top picks before we shared them with each other.  

Without having to give a reason, we then crossed off any name from each others’ lists that didn’t sit well.  My husband, for example, wasn’t having anything to do with Savannah (“Because we’re from Georgia,” he asked-a bit derisively, if memory serves.  We’re not by the way.  From Georgia.) Crossed off.  I, on the other had, wasn’t going for Ann.  Without an “e” for goodness sakes!  We all have our issues, right?  Crossed off.

So here I am, all these years later, and no, no, no, not pregnant, but I found myself playing around over at Nymbler, which claims to be “your personal baby name assistant.”

I entered a few names I liked, like Anne and Grace and Kate, and here are the names it fed me:

Johanna
Amy
Susan

Really?  I like Kate and you give me Johanna?  How are these alike?

I accidentally clicked again, and it fed me a new batch:

Lily
Ella
Claire

These are names I could live with.  Lily, in fact, was on my girl-name short list every time.  Not bad Nymbler.  Another good reason to give everyone (or everything) a second chance.

The Countdown is On

So I want to do a post about this new study I read on the effects on kids of media overload.  I am not surprised.  Here’s a hint:  the effects are NOT GOOD.  But I don’t have time to do that much thinking or writing today, so I’m on to other topics.

I want to tell you about my son’s birthday party, and how much I like his friends, and how happy I am that he’s growing up and making good choices.  But I don’t have time for that, either.

I keep thinking about all of the things I really need to do, but haven’t done.  I haven’t…

  • mailed my darn book proposal, which was requested ages ago, because I am still working through final edits on the very specific format this agent requires.  Soon.  I will mail it soon.
  • finished (okay, I haven’t started) the flyer for my son’s class’s get-together.  (Yep, Room Mom.)
  • memorized the talk I’m giving to a mom’s group next week. (Close, though, I’m close.)
  • packed for my kids to go stay with friends or packed for myself to fly somewhere warm.  The countdown is on.
  • written the PTO Board meeting agenda for two days after I return (one day after my mom’s group talk).
  • been to Pilates for two weeks because I have had SICK kids.  And now I have strep.  It’s awesome, this thing called winter.
  • answered e-mails that have angry people waiting for responses and wondering why I’m not answering their questions.  See above list.
  • figured out where to get the funds to pay for:  broken garage door, crappy dishwasher, rusty refrigerator, new carpet, new life, etc, etc, etc.

So that’s the general summary of things around here.  Did you catch the bright spot?  The countdown is on.

Shaking things up…

photo credit: Duchamp
I have a love-hate relationship with routine and structure.  It goes something like this:  I love it.  And then I hate it.  See how that works?
I have a friend who mops on Wednesdays and does laundry on Fridays.  Every week.  Same old, same old.  I absolutely love that she knows her floor will be clean enough to fold laundry on by Wednesday night.  I hate that we can’t have coffee on Friday because she’s folding her darn laundry.
See, it’s the flexibility thing that gets me.  (Except on Monday nights, when I play basketball.  No flexibility there.  Sorry, I’m busy.  Every Monday.  Every week.)

It’s no different with this blog.  I love the idea of having a plan for each week, as lots of you do.  Meals on Monday, photos on Wednesday, Fabulous Finds on Friday.  But what if we go sledding on Thursday?  And I get awesome pictures that you absolutely must see?  On Friday?  Ack, the dilemmas are endless!
So here’s what I’m thinking.  I’ve cooked up a plan, a sort of schedule if you will because, you know, my blog should have a rhythm.  (Wait, isn’t that for my Catholic friends?  No, no, it’s a joke.  Don’t email me!)  But I reserve the right, on any day, in any week, to pull the old switch-er-roo.  You’ll be expecting some sage parenting tip and instead you’ll get photos from a bygone vacation, because I wish I were there right now. 
Seem fair?  It’s my blog, after all.  I can break the rules if I want to.  Right?
Should I tell you my plan?  Ohhh, that’s a big commitment, to put it out there like that.  Hmmm, not sure.  What do you think?  Will sharing my plan help me stick to it or result in the spontaneous combustion of my head from the pressure?  Do you have a plan, a rhythm, for your blog?  Other thoughts?  Do tell.  Please.