h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

And no, I'm not just referring to the resident toddler

Thomas and Patty came to visit--they got here Wibble night, and left Sodit afternoon (early afternoon--about 12:10) Believe it or not, no one screamed at each other I think it's a record... (Those new to my journal may have figured out that I've some in-law issues *rolls eyes*) About the only annoyance was that, unlike planned, I didn't get any driving practice with Thomas while they were here--Patty thinks the Sacramento area is too dangerous for a new/learning driver, in part because her oldest granddaughter (our niece Anna) has been rear ended badly a couple times (cars totalled, Anna OK though). I pointed out that you can be rearended if you've been driving 50 years--experience hasn't much to do with it! (Did *not* tell her that we know someone that's been driving awhile that got rearended and hurt twice in a 3-week period--why give more ammo?) So instead of insisting, I decided to just tell Thomas not to bother--seemed easier. I wonder if I can find anyone to let me practice (and teach me parallel parking) between now and the 27th, which is when my learner's permit expires? Even if we can't afford to get me insured so that I can actually drive, it'd be good to have valid ID--I've not been me since December 28, 2002!

Anyhoo, I'm glad this is a 5 weekend month--I'll actually get to see my husband 2 full weekends This weekend just past, I was in Modesto all day Doobry for the Children's Ministry Conference (I work in our church nursery). Had a good time, was utterly wiped out by the time I got home, and Faith was Velcro Baby most of Dontbry (though *she* got to go to a birthday party). This weekend, Tom'll be gone all weekend at the Men's Retreat. Weekend after that, we're both actually home. Weekend after that, I'll be in Modesto again all day Doobry--this time for the Women's Conference. And the last weekend in this month, we'll all be home again. So there's 2 Daddy-Daughter Days this month

As far as baby news--Faith woke up screaming around 6ish both Thing and Poets mornings Could *not* figure it out, until POets afternoon, Patty and I got discussing teeth, and I said Faith didn't *have* any back teeth yet, and I felt around. Turns out I was wrong--a nice big molar had broken through, which explains the screaming. Especially since she's been fine since.

What else? Oh, yes--I'm going to be watching Genevieve (the one whose 1st birthday was Doobry) Sodit through Thing while her mom's at w*rk. The extra money will help quite a bit, and I already know that the girls get along, because they've been around each other for 9 months in the church nursery It'll only be for a few months, though--the family will be moving to be closer to the dad's family.

So I'll likely be online a bit less for a while...

Amy, I get very confused when you use those Thingite names for the days of the week. (And please don't . I just can't adjust to those things. )

Now, as for parallel parking, I've heard that it's easier to do in a parallel universe.

Nobody yelled at each other? Sounds like somebody's making progress.

Oh dear, that sounds almost like RL. (Exept those Thingite names. )

Tritto on the Thingiteness.

Parallel parking is easy! Learn how in 4 unrealistically simple steps!

1. Sidle up to the car that will be in front of you
2. Back up so your car's halfway point is lined up with the back of the other car.
3. Crank the wheel and back up at a 45 degree angle until you're close wto the curb.
4. Straighten the wheel and glide backwards into place.


*is glad to not be driving anymore*

Parking is not so bad if you just move slowly and carefully.

I'm sure parallel parking's easier if you actually have functional depth perception...

*whispers--And to read this with the old-fashioned day-names, you can go to http://www.livejournal.com/users/amy_paperlady/ I'd not told anyone here that I had a lj because I was going to use it for rants that I didn't want to be public and permanent, but that's not happening... Now I use it more to keep up with/keep updated ex-h2g2 friends*

My sister has little or no depth perception, and she parks all right.

To go back to your Ma-in-law's comments about being tail-ended, that's how come I'm sitting here with one hand in a cast

But I'm glad to see you will be keeping out of trouble

You don't have to go out on the road to get in trouble, Granny.

I'd look at your LJ, but I'm more interested in screwing up my layout than I am looking at my friends page, so I notice your posts here first, my dear.

Bad depth perception? No offence, but should you be driving at all in the first place?

Waits for answer.

Well for one thing, it'd get (almost) everyone off my in' back about not driving at 30!

And I'd be able to go somewhere cheaper than Albertson's, and I'd be able to get more groceries than I can squeeze under the stroller... Once we can afford the extra insurance, that is... Besides, there's one-eyed people that drive, and they sorta have no depth perception, since by definition they can't have stereo vision...

See (hehe), I would have thought that people with only one eye would certainly not be allowed to drive. *shrug*

It depends on the laws of the state where you live. I know it's legal in Massachusetts. Even with one eye, you can sort of tell distance (though not as well as with two). When I had shingles in my right eye, I had to drive to the HMO using only my left eye. I had to pay extra attention and be super-careful, but it all worked out fine.
When my sister-in-law heard that I had been doing this, she scolded me. Of course, she lives 100 miles away, and has way too busy a life to come down and drive me around. At some point, you *remember* distances, even with only one eye. My sister, who has little or no depth perception, has driven safely for about 40 years. If you have a safe driving record, and you've worked out some accommodations to your condition, why shouldn't you continue driving?

::sings:: Baby you can drive my car....

Take me for a ride in your car, car,
Take me for a ride in your car, car,
Take me for a ride, Take me for a ride,
Take me for a ride in your car, car.

Hey Amy, can I ask, how well is Faith walking and talking by now? Just wondering ... my sister's boy Christiaan will be one year old on 28 November. We saw him a while ago, when he was about ten months old. He was crawling well and on the verge of walking ... but no signs of talking yet! At least, not Afrikaans ... he actually said a lot of stuff but I honestly don't know what language that was ...

Faith's walking like a pro--she's *this* close to running, but I'm in no hurry for her to get there She's up to, oh, a half dozen words, possibly a couple more that I don't quite know what they mean yet Lots and lots of gibberish,though--she talks more than I do. Which isn't really all that difficult to do

Had Genevieve (who, although 3 months younger, is developmentally pretty much where Faith is--maybe less actual words, though) 2 days this week. The first day was absolutely horrible. Not only was it Genevieve's first day with a new sitter (though at least she knows me from the church nursery) but she had the tail-end of a cold, and is teething Faith spent most the day looking at her like 'What's *your* problem?!?' But since Genevieve's 2nd nap ended up coinciding with Faith's only nap, I got some quiet time. THe next day was much better--no fussiness except just before the nap, and when I'd leave the room (hey, a girl's got to go to the loo sometime!) Hopefully soon there won't be any problems with that--it's sort of impossible to transfer both girls to different rooms at the same time--especially as I need both hands to put each in a highchair to eat... And Alicen will be bringing G's big playpen thing, as G can get out of Faith's! Toddler chasing's hard enough when there's just 1--going in 2 directions at once is more than a little difficult

Hey Amy! Thanks for the info. Baby stuff is really interesting to me!

Little Christiaan is now at the stage where he's taking a few steps. No talking though but making the sorts of noises that *might* soon become words.

We'll probably see him again on his first birthday. What a big event! I *think* I remember my own first birthday ... I thought that making it to Year One is pretty much all that life is about ... when I was One, it meant I had 'arrived'!!

Do you ever dream of Faith, being older, for instance, able to talk well and so forth, and being excited about how much she's grown? I get dreams like that about Christiaan. Just yesterday I dreamt of him ... first, he was walking! He was sitting on the floor, and then suddenly stood up in the weirdest way ... his knees were bent and his upper body going backwards like somebody dancing the limbo ... and he took a few 'limbo steps' in that position and then straightened up and walked around. Then he spoke and said a number of very long and complex phrases and I thought, 'well, you are quite a clever kid! You could have spoken all the time but you waited until you had something really clever to say.' I can't remember what he said, though! In my dream I was surprised because he looked different from how I remembered him from the last time I saw him, as well ...