Catching Up: This Is Not Going to Be Pretty

Okay, I'm way behind in posts.  Between my compressed radial nerve (more on that) and all of these school snow days, there just isn't time or ability.  So, I'm going to squeeze it in bullet points here, which is a little less whole and coherent than I like my posts to be.

• Just as my hand is causing trouble, my back is doing so well and I am able to do so much more.  Last weekend was a marathon of activity: on Thursday, I drove to Girl Scout training farther than I've driven since my back and stayed for 3 hours of training in a awful chair; on Saturday, I attended a 6-hour first aid training AND then I managed to go out for dinner with friends while it was snowing; and on Sunday, I drove us to church 'cos Mama had to work and then taught, drove us home, and got lunch.  WOW!  Then I drove again to church this Sunday and taught.  In addition to all of this, I'm walking on my treadmill 45+ minutes a day faster than I have before without any troubles.  Which leads to . . . 
• I have this new pedometer thingy, a wrist band called a Jawbone Up, that measures steps.  Regular pedometers worn on my hip haven't worked for me because of my unusual gait, but this one works from my swinging arm.  I'm averaging about 7,000 steps a day, when I do my treadmill and an errand, which is more than I thought I did.  It also somehow measures my sleep--light vs. deep and how many times I wake up.  Even if it's only partly accurate, it's fascinating!  Especially because Mama has one too and we can compare our sleep--we go to bed at the same time, but she regularly gets 2 hours less than I do and most of it in light not deep sleep.  Anyway, I find the step count inspiring and encouraging--can't wait to see how many steps I take in London!
• As I said, back=good, hand=annoying.  I went to PT last night with my wonderful, magical therapist who evaluated me.  Elbow joint out of alignment, compressed radial nerve, deep bone bruising.  She wants to see me twice a week, which is a lot . . . so I must be injured!  But I knew that--it hurts all the time from dull ache to shooting pain elbow to wrist, stops me from doing most things with my right hand, and keeps me up at night.  The splint wasn't really helping, mainly because I kept trying to do so much.
• I'm not the only one with issues.  Bud had an accident at the skate rink a week ago, while I was, ironically, at official First Aid training for Brownies.  Mama didn't see it happen, but Bud must have hit the ice and bitten his lip; blood was everywhere.  And the ice rink staff were amazing.  The cleaned him up, checked for loose teeth, and even gave him a blue slushie!  They also gave him a free skate pass, good for four visits.  He was very upset and it did look awful.  And by the next day, it was infected, so we took him to the doctor and got antibiotics.  It's all better now and he's even gotten back on the ice.  So, all's well that ends well.  Just please don't mention it to him.
• Today is the kid's first full school day this week.  Monday was a snow day; Tuesday they left early for the dentist; Wednesday was a snow day; Thursday was an early dismissal.  Bud wakes up each morning asking if it's a delay or cancellation.  Poor boy is sad when it's a regular day.  Sis hasn't been feeling well all week, fighting some kind of cold or another, but no fever.  She even stayed home yesterday.   
• But we went to see Frozen with her Brownie friends, and Bud, anyway.  It was the Sing-a-long and we had a wonderful time, especially because our group was the only one there.  There was cheering and dancing in the aisles, and diva singing.  I think I loved it as much as they did.  
• But I had been very nervous about going out in the ice, so scared of slipping and injuring my back.  I realized that I can like snow and winter easily enough because I don't have to go out in it usually  But like yesterday, it's not always a feasible tactic.  Going out in the ice (like going out to dinner with friends in the snow) was an exercise in bravery for me and I'm proud.  
• Mama has tackled some nerves recently, too:  she has gone out on the ice rink to skate with the kids the last two weekend.  And she looks good!  The kids love having her out there and she is so pleased to be able to do it.  I'm inspired by her . . . but I'm not going to take up ice skating.  Yoga, maybe, or try the pool again, or maybe bicycling.  But not ice.  
• And Bud had a kung fu performance this weekend.  He looked great up there with his team, doing his "slappy" form (it involves a lot of hand slaps together and on his thighs and arms; it might be called "toombe" in Mandarin.)  Our world has come full circle--four years ago, Bud was inspired by the lion dance at this very festival by his very master's school and decided to take kung fu. And look where he is now!  (Yes, Sis was inspired, too, and took for almost two years; it's not her thing anymore.)
• ERRGGGHHHH.  The gender politics of birthday parties are so frustrating.  Sis and Bud have a friend who invited Sis to a slumber party but not Bud, not even for part of it.  Bud was as disappointed as Sis was thrilled.  And I am just frustrated.  I understand single sex parties.  But they are all friends.  Why not invite him?  Did it come from the girl or the mom?  Would I allow a mixed slumber party?  At this age, yes.  Legos and sushi helped console him.  And we'll see if he can find some friends who will do slumber parties with him.  Girls or boys.
• Sis loved the slumber party and did really well.  We had told her she could call anytime to come home or even just to chat for reassurance.  But she didn't need to--nail polishing, movies, dinner, silly string, talking about 3 a.m.--what else do you need?  And Mama, who had never been to a slumber party, did well, too.  I imagine it's the first of many.
• We've had some great snow days, filled with fun things: snow forts, snowball fights, snow ice cream, popcorn, dramatic playing of "Doctor Who" with our cat Hermione as a "Time Cat," DW episodes, computer games, painting, sewing, Legos, baking, Mancala and Shut the Box, reading, and just general fun and relaxation.  I really do like snow days and think I look forward to them as much as the kids.  Sure, I nod when other moms complain, but I really like them.
• Sis has taken up sewing, after another Brownie project.  She has made paw warmers and a cloak for her bunny Amy and has made other things.  She also is getting even more accomplished in the kitchen--she can make her own scrambled eggs and she did all the work on our last batch of cookies.  I love to watch her dance and practice her gymnastics, especially as she practices coming up from a  back bend.
• Bud is doing a lot of drawing again.  He's been focusing on flip books, animation.  He's done a few scenes from Frozen, with Olaf removing his head, and also the TARDIS going through the time vortex.  It's wonderful!
• Girl Scout cookie sales are over.  Sis sold 273, I believe.  Thanks to all of you (Gommie and Pop, Ma and Gong, Aunt Banana, Goo, and all) for your purchases and support.  She reached her goal and earned the stuffed husky/wolf mom and pup.  Yay!!  
• And they both did a wonderful job at the recent strings concert, well, "informance" or informational performance, with descriptions of what and how they were learning.  They played maybe 5 songs, all very short, less than 20 minutes, all plucked not bowed.  Sis even got to introduce one.  We couldn't see her--just her pink pants and shoes (it was a dress down day for the Super Bowl--but they didn't dress up--just their favorite bunny and penguin shirts), but we could see Bud concentrating and plucking his cello strings.  And of course, I teared up.  Looking forward to more concerts!
• We're having a party here!  Two, actually.  One for my Small Group Ministry for young families at church and another small gathering for Mardi Gras.  We used to do two annual parties, Groundhog Day and Applepalooza--I loved those (and the kids did, if they remember them.)  These two gatherings are smaller, but it feels good to entertain again.  Even if we have a lot of cleaning and prep before that.
• Luckily, this weekend, we'll be celebrating Chinese New Year at my in-laws.  More afterwards.
• And finally, some pop culture items:  
• No, I'm not caught up on Sherlock or Downton Abbey because of Mama's late nights and snow days.

• On the Super Bowl:  we talked to the kids about the issue we have with the NFL, particularly their treatment of the players' health and concussions, but also the tax-exemption and using volunteers.  I had been very interested in the NYTimes article about the immorality of the NFL and was of more than half a mind not to watch.  We did, though, deciding we wouldn't support the NFL by buying any t-shirts or supporting any of the companies whose ads we saw.  But it is a spectacle and an important cultural milestone (well, maybe culture is too strong a word) and I didn't want them to miss out.  
• Similarly, I'm disturbed by the Olympics in Sochi.  From the LGBT issues to the dog exterminations, I'm disturbed by many facets of these Olympics (while the hotel issues are bothersome, they are not immoral . . . though, ignoring the difficulty of the snowboard freestyle? track might be.)  So do we watch?  Another spectacle, this one international and elevating the importance of amateur sport.  But is it amateur really?  So much money.  And, ugh, NBC. They both want to see the ice skating and I always like the Opening Ceremonies, so maybe minimal watching . . . an no buying stuff from either the IOC or NBC.
•  On JK Rowling's Hermione-Harry admission:  I never understood why Hermione had to end up with anyone.  Is it really the point of high school to fall in love?  Why couldn't all of them, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny be on their owns, stay friends??  But if I had to choose, I liked Harry better than Ron for Hermione and never did care much for Ginny and Harry, either.
• Philip Seymour Hoffman.  I don't think I ever saw any of his movies, but I'd heard of him, surely, and it's been hard not to hear of his death by overdose.  I especially appreciated Russell Brand's take on PSH and especially on addiction.  It's not quite the same--alcohol and drug addiction, even tobacco--but I see that the stigma of addiction is similar to the stigma piled on people who are overweight or obese--the belief that they are weak-willed, selfish, immoral, unworthy, deserving of any and all bad that comes their way--all the bullshit piled on by moral people.  Where's the compassion?  Similarly, I wonder if we recognize food issues as a disease instead of a character flaw (and not just the big ones of bulimia and anorexia), people might find the help and strength and tools then need, not just the shame and disapproval and self-hatred.  Those don't help anyone.  Just like PSH.
•  Amy Chua, the "Tiger Mom," has a new book out, about the three important traits of the most successful groups in America.  I haven't read the book, didn't read the first one. Don't want to put money in her "I-like-divisive-controversy-but-will-say-I-didn't-mean-to-upset-anyone" pocket. But I've read some of the articles (and here) about it.  And I think that Chua's priorities and values are not my own. I will go a step forward--her glorifying of certain groups as "successful" (Chinese, Jews, Mormons, Iranians, etc.) while decrying the softening (and failure) of America because of the decline of the older "greatest" generations, defines achievement in a way that is ruining our country. Many of the problems with education, environment, healthcare, guns and violence, unemployment/poverty, hostility to (certain) immigrants, etc are the outgrowth of the very corporate/business values she esteems, those that are attuned only to status and wealth and individual achievement to the detriment of compassion, generosity, creativity, and the like.  She claims she was being ironic in Tiger Mom and that her second book isn't being read thoroughly (we're missing/misunderstanding the parts where she talks about the downside of these immigrant traits and he discussion of the problems of the groups who don't succeed.)  So maybe it isn't her ideas but her style of writing that's a problem?  But ideologically, I believe there are problems.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm one of the declining white Americans who isn't successful by her standards and is raising kids who aren't either (though, yes, that does get under my skin.)   She says she's not being racist because the traits aren't genetic or inherent to groups--but isn't the very grouping of people as "Chinese" or "Jewish" and extrapolating the traits of some to all a form of racism?  At the very least a dubious essentialism?  Not all Chinese people are academic overachievers; Mormons have high rates of poverty.  I wouldn't want to talk about "Chinese" or the like any more than I believe there is a category of "men" or "white people" or "lesbians" or "Unitarians."  And what good does the book do, besides exploring these ideas?  What actual help does it do?  Is it some kind of guide to make "Americans" (another dubious group) more like the successful groups?  And what about the groups that don't succeed by her definition?  What help or encouragement or even analysis of them?  And though I should probably give it a fair shake by reading it, or at least myself the mental exercise in arguing with it, in the end, I find the premise disturbing and don't want to engage any more with it than I have here.   
• Yes, I've skipped my bit on recent books on Buddhism, self-help, etc. and the like.  I'll talk about my search for a mantra later.