For My Children

The Mother Night

This is the night of the Winter Solstice, the night of Yule, "the Wheel."
For thousands of years, the celebrations of this season have been those of gateways, the magic of passages--journeys of the folk from one year to the next, journeys of the spirit from one world to the next, the magic of birth and death and of rebirth. And because life deserves more than mere survival and continuance, the magic of this season has always been that of peace and plenty as well.

In the North, the months we know as December and January have long been called Freyja's Nights of Darkness. The year's longest night is the Mother Night, and in darkness the Lady labors to bring the Light to birth once more. The Young Sun is born at the Winter Solstice--Freyr the Lord, the Lady's consort, who controls the work of sun and rain and brings fruitfulness to the fields. Freyja the Lady is reborn of herself at Yule. Her blessing was invoked on all birthing women. A white candle that last burned on Mother Night is a charm for safe childbirth.


In the North Yule logs were burned because they were believed to “magically” make the sun burn brighter and Minstrel poets would sings about ancient legends.

“Listen my children come gather ye round
For I have a fine story to tell
One of Vikings and Lords and mystical fjords
And woman (how appropriate), named Hel

Of the Yggdrasil tree ever pure ever green
With leaves that never wither or die
Look closely tonight, in that darkest of nights
Can you see the Norns weaver your fate in the Sky?

In honor of Freyja put a Yule log on the fire
For fallen Berserkers let them hear your proud screams
And the Bilfrost Bridge just over the ridge
Will lead you to the land of you dreams

Keep holy always the Mother night
Winter Solstice, the Return of the Sun
Why even the Christians who stole our traditions
Partake in this glorious fun.” ---Love Mom

The Phone Rings

in my office. I pick it up, "Quality. This is Becky." The voice on the other ends starts off...

"Mom, pause, what's an in-house network?" WTF? Who is this?

Jacob qualifies for health insurance at work now and he's in the Carpenter's Union so who does he call? Me. I should have told him to call his Shop Steward and hung up, but against my better judgment I told him to sign up for the HMO because I figure since HMO's don't give you many options, the phone calls might stop.

But somehow, I doubt it.

Thankfulness

I am thankful for my "motley crew" even when they drink my scotch and then think they are "scotch aficionados".

And I am thankful for the son who drove said scotch aficionado home.





I am thankful that the man I married will hug poor Blue when he is in a triptifan coma to let him know everything is alright.



I am thankful that the cat still finds my cooking appealing.



And after the turkey was cooked and the gravy was poured and the last potato was peeled, and the homemade whipping cream was on the pie, I still kicked their asses at bowling.

I bowled a 258.

I Feel Like A Fraud

To those that think I am a wonderful parent, I have a confession to make. My son Joseph is in jail. I'm not proud of it and I know he isn't either. I just needed to come clean due to the recent posts regarding my "awesomeness" as a parent.

I didn't know until I read on the internet that he had been homeless. Which I find ironic because whenever I am asked why do I associate with Arson, who is homeless, I always resonded that he's somebody's son and I would hope that if it ever happened to one of mine someone would do the same.

So, to make a long story short my parental skills are somewhat sketchy, but in the meantime, I'm waiting on that "my son was inmate of the month" bumper sticker because they've already made him a trustee.

I'm hoping that somewhere in Texarkana, over a bowl of grits for breakfast, something profound will have a "sobering" effect on Joseph, but I don't dare say it out loud because I use to wish my boys would read and I received my first letter from Joseph and at the end of his apology was a request for books.

Moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for and the first thirty years of parenthood really are the hardest.

My Little Working Man

I just couldn't resit taking this picture this morning as Jacob made his lunch for work. John gave him an old lunch box and he bought him Gatorade and Root Beer and cooked him dinner last night. Fried potatoes with fried eggs and fried sausage smothered in cheese and John's homemade salsa. Manly food.

As you can see in the background I have a pile of dishes and another load was already in the dishwasher. The boy eats like a freaking hoover.

What a Weekend!

I can remember putting my boys into the back seat and driving and them falling asleep like it was just yesterday. Oh, wait it was yesterday! John, Sean and I drove to Canoga Park to pick up Jacob's uncle and then on to Woodland Hills to watch Jacob graduate. I had to miss knit night! And being the Fruit of my Looms that he is Jacob was the ABSOLUTE LAST graduate to walk across the stage.


I know, I should be proud and bragging, but it was hot and they handed out these plasting hands for clapping and there were kids behind me and I was about to ready to go ape shit.

So, we went to dinner with his uncle and buzzin cousins Krissy and Ikaika

Then today I dive to my local coffee shop and they are having a dad gum street fair and the streets were blocked and parking was jacked up so needless to say I was quite cranky by the time I got my morning cup of coffee. And Arson was there with his bible study group, saw I was cranky and gave me a rose. And then he told the group I was his adopted mom. Is that not the sweetest thing?

Came home in a good mood and and was going to do housework and I always start with the bed and since Louis refused to move I went on strike.

A Concert with Jacob

The Kelly Richy Band concert was cancelled at the Ventura Theatre, but not to worry because Jacob, fruit of my looms, came to my rescue and serenaded me on his acoustic bass which he lovingly refers to as "his baby".

We had Lemon Drop Martinis together which was a first. He had one and we'll just say I had more than one.

I spruced up the yarn room and started to place my new yarn snugly in its' new home.

I went and bought an antique Chinese Knitting basket and then I received a phone call from a woman and she is coming next week to CLEAN MY HOUSE. John, love of my life and sneaky devil to boot, has been working on his nephew's patio cover and got the number of their maid.

I feel absolutely decadent, but I better start cleaning house.

I Think I Might Have Joined a Cult

I started my CPH this weekend. I started it initially last week, but my gauge was off so I was bummed and then Terry showed up at the store, and knitting genius that she is, she told me to just knit two (2) sizes bigger. I never would have thought of that.

So, Friday night while the girls were over, I started on it, which was a bad thing to do because I still have my sleeves to finish on my Elsbeth Lavold's Ruth sweater. Oh, and Friday over wine and food, Cheryl finished her Elsbeth Lavold Sweater. The picture I took doesn't begin to do the cables justice. It's just gorgeous.

So, after much wine and gumbo, (my equivalent to tea and sympathy) we looked at porn. I'M KIDDING. We just chatted and what not. I must admit I feel rather impotent as my homemade french bread did not rise so I had to make cornbread to go with my seafood gumbo. Which is a major faux pas. You have to have bread with gumbo and cornbread with hoppin' John. Any who we had a little get together because, as you all know, Laura is going off to college and in my family food is how we express love. So much love was poured into my Seafod Gumbo for Laura as she ventures off and we definitely need to plan a road trip to Portland, ladies!

Well, I better tidy up the house and dispose of the wine bottles before John gets home from San Diego. I have to admit it sure is cool having the house to myself on the weekends. Jacob even visited Friday (he owed me money) so he ate with us and opened the wine bottles and waited on the girls. I'm not naming any names, but one of the knitster sister was quite smitten with him BACK OFF LADY! He's my baby and he just barely got his braces removed. Hmmmm, maybe she has a thing for teeth.

PS Thank you Sophia for fixing the date on my camers.

Mother's Day 2007

I woke up to the sound of barking dogs at 6 AM. I could hear a sound at the back door like someone was trying to break in. I went to investigate and there was Jacob standing at the back door, juggling a bouquet of pink roses and a card while trying to fight the dogs off. They were so excited to see him.

I called off the hounds and let him in, eventually. I put the roses in water and went to brush my teeth and came out to find him fast asleep in my bed. Hank guarded him while I went to get coffee. I made him breakfast (sausage and eggs) while listening to Green Day.

He ate and showed me how to work the DVD player, again, and then it was time for him to leave for work. We sat in the garden for a moment, my head on his shoulder, and watched the hummingbirds flutter about and talked a bit. He told me how he rememberd when I taught him how to play catch, how we use to lay on the grass and watch clouds, and when I taught him how to roll down a grassy hill. We even laughed about the time I chased him with an axe.

And then he really had to go. I came back into the house and rearranged my flowers and read my card. and I bawled like a baby.

It's the best cry I've had in a long time.

I Am Technologically Retarded

I have had the television on mute for the last 45 minutes (Note to self: Have Laura teach me how to use DVD player.) listening for a fucking beep. That's right. A beep. I thought it was the microwave. Nope. Then I checked the smoke detector only to discover it's not there. (scary music plays in background)

So I'm all alone on a Saturday night (John is staying in San Diego until tomorrow) and I am going insane because I cannot locate a beep. I stand in the hallway with my arms acrossed my chest lying in wait like a stalker and then I hear it again! It's coming from the office area. I probably looked like Barney Fife when I turned that corner and saw the computer and the printer were both on. Aha! So I check them both and no beep. And then I look down and to my horror I discover it is my new fucking phone. It beeps? (scary music gets louder)

How retarded am I? Apparently Jacob called again! He left a message to see if I was okay while John was gone.

My child had the ability to do a good deed and PISS ME OFF in one shot.

Damn, he's good.

Family Time

Took the boys to dinner at Olas. Sean (that's him in the hat) had three days of liberty from San Clemente Island. Jacob and Sean haven't seen each other in six months, so naturally as brothers they had to catch up on important issues. Jacob just completed school. Sean is now going to be an Instructor at the Hueneme base. Strangely these events were not discussed.

This is how their dinner conversation went and you have to picture the conversation was going on behind napkins so I couldn't hear the content" Sean to Jacob "So, you seeing anyone?" Jacob to Sean, "Yeah". Sean to Jacob,"what's her body like?" Jacob to Sean, She has pretty big B*&^s, not the kind that hang, though." Sean to Jacob, "You wearing a raincoat, right?" At this point I interjected, "I can HEAR you. My little Einsteins! I can't believe they actually thought I could not hear them across the table because they used NAPKINS. Is what the United States Navy teaches him?

In the presence of the enemy, AKA your mother, to muffle your conversation always use a napkin. She will be so pleased at your display of manners it will render her deaf.

So, I hosed the boys off and we all went to the new Camarillo Library where Eli got his first library card. He picked out The House at Pooh corner for is first book to check out.

But I have the sneaky suspicion that Eli is going to grow up and talk behind napkins.

Joseph

Here's a picture of my hell-raising-middle-child Joseph. You can tell he's the middle child as he is covered in scars. He's giving me the thumbs up on a scarf I made him for Christmas.

Joseph was here last week visiting from Texas.

See Roni, I told you they love anything their mama makes.