2011 February | I Should Be Folding Laundry

Archive for February 2011 – Page 3

Yes. This.

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

By Beth

A friend is hurting and it hurts me, too. I want to take away the pain, I want to grab it in my hands and sit on it, keeping it from heading into your heart. It doesn’t work that way.

I hate that it doesn’t work that way.

I’m reminded, again, how fragile life is. How one moment can be so delightful and beautiful and the next … just the opposite.

I think, the only thing I can really do, is cherish the delightful. Observe the beautiful. And be there, ready, for when she needs me.

love

My new favorite flower from my old favorite Valentine

oldish

my girl

much

so many favorite things in this photo

daddy's boy

He sparkles. (and his ready for his surgery tomorrow!)

stuff-I-love

favorite things on my desk

Categories: Being a Mama, Family

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, February 11th, 2011

By Beth

I’m sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee, Eli is in his highchair, he’s eating cheerios and fake coughing, he does that so I’ll say “goodness!” He loves it when I say “goodness!”

Soon, I’ll give him his yogurt. I love the way he eats, he usually eats like he’s never going to eat again, he shovels handful after handful in his mouth. There is always food in both his hands, his mouth and in his neck. All at the same time.

Time is moving so quickly with him.

On Monday, Eli will have his surgery. If you recall, he was supposed to have it done in November but became sick the day before so we had to reschedule. I’m going to take him in today to make sure we have the all clear from our pediatrician and if we do then we are heading to Indianapolis on Sunday. (also, if you recall, I’m not sharing the details of the surgery but it’s not life threatening, so you need not worry.)

(I’ll worry enough for all of us.)

witto

legs

want

downward

face

Can you even believe how big he is?

Categories: Being a Mama, Friday Morning Coffee

Idol Chat with Adam and Beth

Friday, February 11th, 2011

By Beth

Hollywood Round #1

I love auditions and I love the Top 24 and beyond but I’ve never really enjoyed Hollywood week. It’s the drama that kills me and probably the crying. Way too much crying.

Adam: I totally agree. The Hollywood round is the cold, cruel hand of reality that smacks the spirit right out of the show. Why everyone gets so excited when they hear, “You’re going to Hollywood,” I have no idea. When they get their golden tickets, they should say, “Congratulations, you’re going to be forced into a team with annoying divas, leave crying, and watch your dreams die in a week.” And these shows are 90% drama, 10% singing. I’m really here for the singing.

Adam? Who’s your favorite judge? I just have to ask. My favorite is Randy. And then Steven and then Jennifer but not necessarily in that order. Needless to say, I am so happy with the judges this year.

Adam: Jennifer is my favorite. I don’t know why. I’m sure it has nothing to do with her flawless beauty and effervescent charm. I’m warming up to Steven as a judge. He actually seems to have a good ear for melody, he’s not afraid to be direct, and he’s functionally insane. I do like Randy, though, but I’m impressed with the new blood.

The first contestant, Brett, is up and he’s a great singer but I am having such a hard time not calling him Carrot Top. Carrot Top ruins everything.

Adam: Good call. I was thinking Kenny G and Bette Midler had a baby, but his carrotness is undeniable.

I’m seriously appreciating the speed at which people are being eliminated. Victoria, the really spunky girl, well, she didn’t make it through and as much as her spunkiness made me twitch, when she saw her Mom, hugged and said “I love you,” I thought, “you know, I need her to be a role model.“

Adam: She’s a nice girl. She’ll probably be back next year. And the next. But she’s too sweet for this show . . . and for my ears.

Idol seems to be hitting on all of the contestants whose stories made us weep during auditions, right now, Chris is up. Chris, the guy who was to be married when his fiancee was in a terrible car accident. You know what story I’m talking about, right? The one where Steven got up and hugged her and said “that’s why he sings so good cause he sings to you” which made the entire nation fall into a collective emotional mess and then we pressed rewind and cried again. (okay, we pressed rewind one more time and cried, once again.)

Adam: I don’t remember this. I certainly don’t remember crying like a baby. Twice. But you’re right about the weepy-story contestants. Some of them have me worried, particularly James, with Tourette Syndrome. Great voice, I just hope he can keep his wits and emotions in control. Idol’s pretty unforgiving.

Oh, Steven.

Anyway, What’s the first thing Steven does? Ask how Juliana is. And now I want to cry and I want to give Chris a free pass to the final twelve. And he’s through and now Idol is playing Coldplay and why does Idol want to kill me?!

Adam: Nope. Not crying. I don’t know what you mean. My allergies are killing me, though.

And that big boy, Jacee? Adam? Hello? HE CAN SING.

Adam: Word.

I love the way this panel of judges is willing to share the appreciation for good singers this year. They’re not so stoic, they’re more joyful. And also, Kara is gone and that is more joyful.

This couple that is no longer a couple? Man, they have such great voices.

And that dude is in such denial. Trying way too hard to act like he doesn’t want to get back together. We see through you, Rob. You love Chelsea. Congrats.

And the couple that is really cheesy and smiley and in love? They make me throw up a little in my mouth and I they both waaaay over sing. If they let them through … I’ll put a fork in my eye. If they separate them, well, I’m not going to lie, I’d be pretty much okay with that.

oooooh, the drama.

Adam: Isn’t it delicious? If only their shmoopieness hadn’t robbed me of my appetite. Oh, hey, his desperate departing attempt to stay made me hungry again . . . for their sweet crash and burn. Mmm, tasty. I’m so glad they got split up. This is good for them.

And the baritone voice of Scotty? Beautiful. LOVE IT. Adam, can you sing like that?

Adam: Pretty much exactly.

So, I imagine I should probably bring up Tiffany (girl with the silver stars on her boobs) even though I do not want to because she is AN-NOY-ING. I like sparkly but her hair is over-sparkled and her clothes are over-tight and her attitude is over-the-top and I really want her to go bye-bye.

Adam: And she’s on the express train to Crazytown. I kind of want to see what happens when it crashes into the station.

DAMMIT.

Adam: Trust me, you’re going to enjoy how this ends.

And the end song is a favorite of mine, it’s called Duet by Rachel Yumagata, it is so amazing. You should all listen to it, unless you don’t like to cry, then don’t listen to it.

Adam: I love her rendition of “Jesus Was a Crossmaker,” from the Elizabethtown soundtrack, too. Also a must-listen, but for the dry-eyes crowd.

Before we close for the night, I need to ask Adam two important questions: If you had to choose between one of these three

runners-up to have lunch with, who would you choose? David Archuleta, Clay Aiken or Justin Guarini? (by the way, the lunch is on you.)

Adam: Archuleta. That kid can’t eat much. Also, I need to know if what I see is really what I get with him. I think I know Clay and Justin well enough as it is. They’re open books. David? I think I could get him to snap, and I want to see the beast explode out of that marshmallow exterior.

Sanjaya. Yay or nay? (if you say yay, we will have to seriously reconsider our collaboration or at least move our cubicles away from each other.)

Adam: Nay, BUT, I’ll always appreciate that he brought us screaming Sanjaya girl. And his effect on Simon was outstanding theater. So, there’s some yay there that I can’t den

Categories: American Idol, Idol Chat

Who’s Adam?

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

By Beth

I have this friend named Adam. I’m not going to pretend like it’s not a complicated friendship because it is but really it isn’t but it is but it’s not. Adam and I have known each other for a few years (sorta), thanks to social media. We used to live in the same neighborhood (but did not know each other, yet) and now we live about three miles apart. Our sons are in the same first grade class, his son came to my son’s birthday party. Twitter was mainly how we communicated, when we saw each other in public, like at school orientations, it was a little awkward because, well, I don’t know about him, but my social media life isn’t necessarily public knowledge.

It takes a long, long time for me to tell people that I have a blog or that I’m “@foldinglaundry” on twitter. Not that I’m embarrassed, it’s just so complicated, especially when having conversations with people who say “BLAWG” or “ON THE TWITTER.” So, I’d just assume we pretend I don’t have this online life because it’s easier that way.

Until Adam came along and I was all confused.

But things work themselves out and now, well, we’re good friends. So this collaboration makes sense. Yes, Adam and I are doing an Idol collaboration each week called Idol Chat with Adam and Beth. Adam works from home as a freelance writer, I pretend to work from home as a freelance writer, he’s always done Idol recaps on his blog I’ve always done Idol recaps on mine, so basically, we’re kind of like co-workers. In different locations.

In our pajamas.

With totally different opinions but also very similar opinions, like we both think ice cream is the answer to everything and we both think it’s crazy that you have to teach kids to sleep and also, we both have five brothers and sisters. And we think that starting a sentence with “and” is perfectly okay, in fact, it’s preferred.

Anyway.

This is Adam, his words, his brief introduction:

I’m a husband, a father of two boys, a freelance writer, and a terrible dancer. I write about faith, family, and the Chicago Cubs (and a never-ending random string of trivialities). I’m a bit of a dreamer, and those dreams usually involve, but do not revolve around, cinnamon rolls. Beth and I used to be neighbors, so naturally we met through the blogosphere after she moved.

I’m notorious for creating and abandoning blogs, but the two I update faithfully are my personal blog v34.adamkellogg.com and my Cubs blog andcounting.adamkellogg.com. And I tweet. A lot. (I’m @adambuckled.)

________

Tonight will be the first installment of Idol Chat with Adam and Beth, so come back later tonight. And as always, this is a conversation with all of you, so feel free to chime in!

Categories: American Idol

You Capture | Cold

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

By Beth

important announcement below.

Honestly, it’s like I like to torture myself. Why in the world would I choose to capture something as horrible and evil as cold?

But, I did and I’m hoping you did, too. Someday, when it’s 104 degrees outside (can’t wait) and I’m dripping with sweat just from getting the mail (can’t wait) and the only thing that makes me feel better is putting my feet in a pool full of cool water and grass clippings and probably some pee (can’t wait), I’ll look back on these photos and think “WINTER IS SO DUMB, SUMMER WINS.”

This morning. We actually saw it drop down to -8 but I was driving when that happened and well, driving and taking photos is frowned upon, of course.

a-negative-negative

ISO 200 | F/4.0 | 1/200

This is only my 6,129th sighting of a snow plow. This week.

plow

ISO 200 | F/11 | 1/500

and a cold farm. I like this farm, I pass it everyday and they use a clothesline. I love clotheslines.

freezing-farm

ISO 200 | f4.0 | 1/5000

That’s enough of this cold talk. I’VE HAD IT UP TO HERE. (raises hand to eyebrows.)

Now it’s your turn to share!

*IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING YOU CAPTURE : beginning next week, You Capture will show up earlier in the week, either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning and resume on this schedule until further notice, this is so I can resume my American Idol recaps which is way more important than anything EVER. Also, I have something new for you this year. Hint: AWESOME.)

Before linking up:

PLEASE READ THIS GUIDELINES, especially, yes, especially if you have never linked up!
1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)
5. You MUST link back to You Capture in your post.
6. I encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends!
{more You Capture info can be found here.}