Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

A little of this, a smidgeon of that

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Babies, (She said with a Ukrainian accent)

I have been very busy:
Reading American history and watching it unfold.
Cleaning (OK not as busily) and watching that unfold (not dramatically like history but messily like laundry) as well.
Neducating Christopher, helping with the neducation Lydia is getting at school and keeping Eden from becoming the first Kindergarten dropout in our family history – some historical firsts aren’t so grand.
Today it is cold and grey, here in Michigan.  Christopher and I are going to Eden’s school today to celebrate Chinese New Year.  There will be a little bit of singing and then a sort of carnival, although I used that term very carefully because Eden scoffed when she found out there wasn’t going to be any inflated plastic jumping things.  There are going to be little stations where the kids can walk around and do different things to win tickets which can be turned in for little prizes.  Some of the stations are Chinese language related and I was assigned to one of those.  With another parent who is Chinese speaking we will give the kids a chance to name the Chinese characters they know.  Christopher is going to escort Eden to all the different stations.
This is an avoidance of a self-imposed deadline.  I hope everyone is well and coping with the winter the best they can.  
We are happy and well, though some of us are a bit fragile because not all of us are here – if you know what I mean.
I don’t know what I am going to do about January though.  You give a month some loving praise and then it’s right back to its nasty ways.  
I’ll keep you posted.

Is this thing on?

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Yes…ish.

Having children is time consuming.

I have been sick as well as experiencing the vertigo stuff that might just be too much coffee, not enough water.

I am going to begin to record the books I read. Record. That’s it. No reviews or pontifications, just an acknowledgment, a sort of belly rub after the last swallow.

Yesterday I read, “The Underneath” by Kathi Appelt. It made me weep…not just cry. It’s a seductive, beautiful read. Hassan like.

Eden had an all Kindergarten Gingerbread concert Friday and it was FANTASTIC. Pictures to follow. My computer is struggling, so I’m posting on Paul’s.

Hope everyone is well.

Labor Relations Update

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I don’t have time to give the details.  In summary, it’s gone from bad to worse.

I spoke yesterday and am heading to Lansing in a couple hours to speak again tonight.  I will spare you the details, suffice it to say I am not well.  
Remind me to tell you about:
  •  the two teams here at OTJ
  • conferences – nature vs. nurture vs. birth order vs. WT…!
  • the lunchroom – oh adolescence!

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Started a post today, but didn’t finish it.

I’m busy.  Paul has extra work and a trip looming.  The girls still go to different schools and I still neducate Christopher…sort of.
I’ve exercised a so much today and I’m so tired, but I have raised my standards, so I need to go spruce the house before passing out.
Also, I’m working on a stand up bit for the writer’s conference, my writer’s group sponsors.  I don’t feel the angst of last year, my first time doing  it, probably because I didn’t schedule another speaking gig on an entirely different subject the week before, like I did last year.  I don’t feel stressed, but I need to knuckle down so that what I have to say is tight and entertaining.  It is so fulfilling making people laugh.  Last year I was completely strung out under the stress of “doing stand up” since I am not a comedian.  Now I know that my task is to just tell funny writing stories.  That I can do, whatever you call it.
Today was a really good.  I accomplished a lot and not very much depending on what categories you you might be counting.  And if you had a bird’s eye view of me, depending on when you were looking you might have thought I was wonder woman or the laziest lady in the world.
I was in the cross hairs of grace and works and let me tell you it’s a wondrous place to be.  
I want to live there.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2008/10/380/

Happy Tuesday

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It is cold and grey.

When will some weather get the idea that it is Just. Not. Welcome.
Paul is sick.  This has not prevented him from going to work.  When I called him this morning he told me he was sweating.  I said this means he’s contagious and that, if I sent my children to school, I would not in this condition. He murmured something unintelligible and then we got off the phone. Aren’t you glad you’re not his co-worker.
We have the day off school as Lydia has her environmental school and Christopher has a class.  
He is trying to instruct Eden on Super Mario Galaxy while jumping on the trampoline.  Whether or not they are allies today has not been established.  This is a topic of discussion almost every morning.  The alliances are constantly shifting.  
I am doing a bit of laundry and a little pick up of the house, between kid runs.  
It is quiet and a little dull, but I’m happy.