Seven Quick Takes Friday

The Parenting/Parents/Squid Edition

1. Oob is a really-o truly-o 2 1/2. You can tell because when you call his name, he answers with a cheerful, "NO!"

2. Here's an easy way to learn to control your temper. Whenever I raise my voice, Choclo pleads, "Please don't be angry, Mommy!" in a voice which sounds as if I have been beating him with chains. It's a good reminder for me that words can hurt, too.

3. Through an odd confluence of medical issues, we are in the throes of potty training Choclo and Oob at the same time. My feelings on this are not helped by the fact that Choclo constantly tells me that he is 8 years old (especially since it does feel like he's been potty training for 8 years). You might think having lots of kids makes you an expert. Nope. It just means you've survived. I did find Jen's most recent post absolutely hilarious and very encouraging!

4. I loved our visit to my folks so much, but I am really enjoying my programmable thermostat. It's easy to forget what heating the house with coal involves. If you've only done a wood fire, all I can say is that coal is much harder to start, tricky to keep going, and very, very heavy. But it is way warmer than wood, and, once you have the skill, you can keep it going over night.

5. Have I mentioned that my parents are rugged? They are. They don't have a dishwasher!! I remember begging them (as a kid) to get a dishwasher. Every single time my Mom would look at me quizzically and ask, "Why? I already have three dishwashers?" (meaning my brother, sister and me). Have I mentioned that I am now spoiled? I am.

6. Just in case I'm making it sound like my parents are Luddites, they also have laptops and cell phones. And indoor plumbing. And quirky senses of humor.

7. Speaking of quirky, I got 3 great book for Christmas: Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, Wendell Berry's Jayber Crow, and The Search for the Giant Squid by Richard Ellis. Which reminds me, If you've noticed that squids can move with equal speeds backward and forward, I'm sure you've wondered how squids can shoot forward with their legs all pointed stiffly in front of them. I mean, going "backwards" their legs trail behind them, sure, but forwards? It turns out they can stick their suckers together like snaps! How cool is that? I'll have to do a whole post (or two) about all the cool stuff I'm learning about squid.