Jupiter and Island Cycling

The last couple of days we've managed to give our Wiifit board a workout again. Jupiter has discovered the island cycling game. I bought the Wiifit plus disc for her birthday thinking she would enjoy the skateboarding game. Not so much. But now she's into Island cycling.

She's still on the beginner course. So there are big red barriers up every so often indicating that the flags you are supposed to find are not beyond that point. Jupiter, to my great suprise, spends most of her time trying to get around the barriers. LOL!!! When she's not trying to get into forbidden territory, she is driving her bicycle madly down hills (seems to give her a rush even if she's just standing on the wiifit board) and crashing off cliffs into the water. Yes, on purpose.

Today riding went an extra 15 minutes. The regular instructor is in Mexico (coming back tomorrow, just in time for the great blizzard, although we're only getting four inches up here in Maine. It's a miss for us.) and the fill in instructor forgot it was only a 45 minute lesson. So Jupiter and Abbi got an extra 15 minutes mounted time. Whoohoo!!! Today Jupiter was frequently reminded to "Use your words BEFORE you kick the horse." Hmmm. I've been saying variations of that for four years now. The girls have moved off their ponies to bigger, taller, more cooperative mounts. And Jupiter swiped a pair of only slightly too big riding pants which she wants to wear everywhere "because they make me feel proud." That's what she told me when she wanted to wear them to the Christmas concert. We compromized on a pair of kakhi's because she had literally been ON the horse in the riding pants before we went to the concert. I told her regular instructor last week about the proud thing.

Now I'm trying to get her OFF the wiifit (some beach segway game at the moment) so she can get ready for bed. But maybe she will sleep past six thirty in the morning which I will enjoy immensely.

Good night, all.

Still here

We are still still here....December is entirely too busy. I can't wait for the weekend after Christmas..we have two whole days of not having to be anywhere or doing anything specific.

Jupiter is in a destructive phase. Her clothes, mostly. She has shredded all of her nylon tights. She got a hole in one pair one day at school and discovered how much fun and how much muscle work she got out of destroying them. The next time she wore nylon tights...ripped them up. She only has her ballet tights left. I told her I wouldn't buy anymore tights. She ripped a pair of jeans at school too. She ripped the sole off a boot. Yesterday she ripped a pair of black leggings.

However, yesterday she was also very lovey. To me. She offered to share her snack with me. She wanted to snuggle at bedtime. She also snuggled with me tonight. She was talking away, then all of a sudden she put her head on the pillow and fell asleep. I'm not sure she meant too...she just couldn't stay awake anymore. She picked up her ceramic unicorn off the shelf yesterday and said that she was giving it to me for Christmas and I should pretend to be surprised.

I figured out that some of her behavior lately is reacting to me, or my inability lately to deescalate things the way I should. I figured out that since my job function changed, I am more drained at the end of the day than I used to be. Not in as good a place when I get home. And not Jupiter's fault at all. And that I need to be conscious of that and leave work feelings at work. Or at least put them away until later. Easier said than done, but easier when I'm consciously aware of it.

Still don't like work. The actual function is getting a little easier as I get more familiar with it. Getting along with the people in my new department isn't going very well. They didn't all get along before I showed up with one other new person....and we all don't get along now. Today I left annoyed with two co-workers and one supervisor. It takes a lot out of anyone when it goes on day after day after day. And at least in loss prevention, it felt like my job mattered. Not so much anymore. I wish I could win the lottery and become independently wealthy and not have to work. But that's not likely to happen, so I guess I'd better learn to deal. Or find a new job. Also easier said than done. I don't want to leave the bank. Not because I like working there, but because I have 11 years of service, four weeks vacation, and a $5000 adoption benefit available to me. These are not things which come easily in today's job market. So I continue to hope for improvement. And at least my liberal PTO allows me enough days and half days off to lessen the stress somewhat.


On Sunday at my mother's cookie party, I was sitting on her couch with my brother's St. Bernard pupply snuggled on one side of me, and Jupiter snuggled on the other side of me, patting the dog. I could have sat like that for hours. Even though it only lasted ten seconds, it was my favorite minute of the week. I think I'll use it at my zen place tomorrow at work.

BRING ANYA HOME!!!

http://bringanyahome.org/


Please Please Please go here!! My blog buddy and awesome mom Keri has been trying to bring home her adopted daughter's bio sister from Russia since 2005..just when they thought Anya would be home this weekend the embassy denied the visa and Anya is currently stuck. Keri is looking for any and all support, aid, and prayers. Even though Anya lives halfway around the world at the moment, Keri is truly this girl's mother and the sisters just want a chance to be together.

http://www.facebook.com/clgeiger?v=feed&story_fbid=189756314519#/group.php?gid=187383332849&ref=ts




http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2009/12/02/Mass-family-seeking-to-adopt/1259790454.html


If there's anybody out there who can make this story go national...go to it :).