My Life – Page 4 – Her Green Life

Halloween weekend

The weather was lovely on Friday night, so we kicked off the weekend with a family bike ride to check out the neighborhood Halloween decorations. The forecast for Saturday night looked less than ideal for trick-or-treating, so I wanted to make the most of it, and we did. All was well, despite the fact that I didn’t realized my rear bike lights weren’t on until four blocks into the ride — oops!

Saturday dawned drizzly and gray, as promised. We made the most of it by baking bread (Matthew) and making chickpea dumpling soup (me). My food lab instructor mentioned chickpea flour dumplings last week in class (I was probably the only one in the room who had every actually consumed them), and I realized I’d completely forgotten about that recipe, which is quite tasty. Fun to bring it back!

After some post-lunch quiet time, Matthew and Gabriel got into full tiger costume.

I’ve got the two cutest tigers in town, and that’s no lion!

After a quick visit to Nana and Papa’s, we returned home for dinner (something nice and healthy before all that candy!). Despite my fears, the weather mostly cooperated for trick-or-treating. It was damp when we headed out, but no active precipitation. We walked a few blocks to a street that is very active in trick-or-treating. There were some great decorations, including this kid dressed up as a creepy jester who looked like a statue until he jumped at you. The house with what had been G’s favorite decorations added an animated werewolf for Halloween night, and it was too creepy for my little tiger. About halfway through, it started spitting, and there was a very light drizzle just as we finished.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend shared Ellyn Satter’s recommendation for handling Halloween candy, basically putting the child in charge (at least to some degree) to help him/her learn self-regulation. I really like a lot of Satter’s work (mentioned in my “Avoiding Pitfalls in Raising a Healthy Eater” post), so, despite some qualms about these particular recommendations, I decided to give it a try that first night.

I told G he could pick out what he wanted, and also that if he was hungry for something else (we don’t usually do a snack before bed, because bedtime is so close to dinner, but we were up late and he had done a lot of walking), he could have a piece of the [fresh-baked] bread. In the end, G picked 4-5 pieces of candy and then asked for a piece of bread.

I’ll admit that after each piece of candy, I was wondering, “Will this piece be the last one?” and I wouldn’t have minded if he’d chosen even less candy (yes, I might have some control issues), but as a “sometimes” thing, this was not at all unreasonable.

We’re now doing a bit more direction with the candy, and I’m not going for the “as much as he wants at snack time” thing. Mostly I feel like there’s SO MUCH candy for a 4-year-old, and I’m wishing we’d visited fewer houses, as neither Matthew nor I are particularly interested in helping consume the candy stash (we’d prefer our sugar and fat calories from our homemade treats!). Looking ahead to next year, I think it might be more fun (and lead to less candy) if we host a Halloween party, which would include some trick-or-treating for the kids, but would also include games and Halloween-themed food items.

Saturday’s rain delayed gardening until Sunday (yes, the garden is still alive and kicking!), and my tigers worked in the garden while I stayed home and did homework. They returned as I was finishing dinner preparations, and G happily munched on some extra kohlrabi before showing me the big ol’ kohlrabi that Matthew had just harvested.

G with kohl rabi — “Make it quick, Mom. This is heavy!”

And that’s a wrap on our weekend! I have a number of other posts in the works, including one on my no-longer-so-new bike commute, but I also have lots of school-related writing due in the next few weeks, so no promises!

Suddenly September

Some parents complain that August just drags on — seemingly endless summer days until school starts again, with frequent complaints of “I’m bored” from the peanut gallery. That wasn’t our experience. Between dealing with G’s broken leg and finalizing plans for my return to school, the month of August flew by.

In the first meeting of one of my dietetics classes, the professor asked us to go around and introduce ourselves by stating our name and the most fun/exciting thing we’d done over the summer, and I drew a complete blank. A big ol’ nothing. The two-and-a-half weeks since Gabriel had broken his leg were so intense and draining that everything prior to that (i.e., June and July) was just a blur, a faint and distant memory.

So here we are in September. I am two weeks into the semester and feeling pretty good about pursuing dietetics as a profession. I enjoy the material and the science and math that go along with it.

I am also enjoying the challenge of increased bicycle mileage. I am pretty sure that I’ve been on my bike every day for the past 15 days (there’s one Saturday morning that I don’t quite remember whether or not I ran errands), for a total of 133 miles. That’s quite a bit more than I’d been doing, and it’s apparently enough bike time that I’m now doing bikey things while OFF the bike, like almost using an arm turn signal when walking through a building on campus yesterday — that wouldn’t have looked weird at all, right?

We had another check-up with G’s surgeon yesterday, and everything looks good. He’s been completely off of pain meds for almost a week now. We are just over 4 weeks out, and G is finally starting to walk, with a lot of assistance/support (holding onto our hands plus furniture), though most of the time he still just scoots around on the floor. He’s also enjoying riding his tricycle.

We go back for another check-up in a month, at which point the doctor might recommend some PT (depending on G’s gait), and we’re hoping to have the nails removed in December.

In case August didn’t have enough excitement, we ended the month with a bit of activity on the house-hunt front. We made an offer on a house, but failed (so far?) to reach an agreement with the seller. Then, last Thursday, I took a different route to school, and saw a For Sale sign in front of a [previously off-market] property that we’d been interested in for awhile. It seemed like fate — I’d just happened to take that route right after negotiations on the other property had ended, and, as it turned out, just five days before bids on this property were due.

We soon discovered that this latest property was a bit of an odd-ball, not really set up for standard home buyers. After a bit of back and forth with our Realtor and a third party, we figured out a round-about way to get our foot in the door on the bidding. We have no idea how many people we’re competing against or what those other offers will look like, so now we just wait.

Adding moving to what already feels like a crazy next few months is not exactly my idea of a good time, but after house hunting for over six years, we can’t really pass up a good opportunity due to “inconvenience.” Moving will likely be a pain whenever it happens, and we’ll just have to deal with it when the time comes. And, in reality, there’s a decent chance that that time will NOT be now.

So, now that we’re in September, what’s the most fun or exciting thing YOU did over the summer? Or what are you most looking forward to with fall approaching?

Brain and body boot camp

So much to say, so little time! I just completed my first week of dietetics classes. My career exploration over the past 6 months (and really over the past year, if you count the PA school detour) led to this point. I’m about as sure as I can be that this is a good decision, maybe 98% certain (and yes, that 2% unsure is really scary for me!).

Anyhow, I am enrolled part-time at Fontbonne University. Over the next three years, I will be completing the junior- and senior-level dietetics coursework (9-11 hours/semester), followed by a year-long internship (unpaid and you pay for the privilege) before I can sit for the R.D. exam.

I plan to continue working part-time, so classes plus paid work will be a full-time job. My current coursework is pretty basic, which is okay, because getting back into the swing of being a student, and balancing work, school, and home, will be enough of a mental challenge for now.

On the physical side of things, I am on campus three days a week, and I plan to bike for as many of those trips as possible. The 15-mile round-trip bike ride is much more than I’ve been doing recently, since most of my weekly “errand” rides are within a two- to three-mile radius of our home. Fortunately, the weather gods have been smiling on St. Louis, which has made the bike commuting quite pleasant, if not entirely easy (so far, the trip home always seems easier than the trip there).

In case the additional 45 miles of biking a week weren’t enough, Matthew and I just started another aerial silks class. It took us awhile to find something that worked with our schedules, but after a 5+ month hiatus following the Intro Silks class, we began Silks 1 last week. I was pretty nervous going into it, but Intro Silks, plus some open gym sessions, evidently drilled things into our brains and muscles fairly well.

Our first Silks 1 class also marked the first time we traveled to Bumbershoot by bike. Despite being a perfectly bikeable [just a hair over] four miles away, the timing and weather conditions during the winter session consigned us to car trips (or walking plus bus for me, a couple of times). So in addition to the extra biking to school, I’ll be getting an additional 8.5 miles on the bike with this.

This sudden increase in activities will leave me less time for writing, but I am using Twitter and Instagram more (yes, I may be a bit addicted to my four-month-old smart phone), so follow me there if you haven’t already!

The couch conundrum

That title sounds like the name of a Big Bang Theory episode, but unlike Sheldon in the t.v. show, neither Matthew nor I have a favorite spot on our couch, because it has become decidedly uncomfortable.

To review, this is the estate sale couch that we bought in late 2010 and had re-stuffed in the fall of 2011. What seemed like a good purchase now seems much more questionable — we have gotten five years of use our of it, but I’m afraid it’s time has come.

The Issues

Too narrow: While we loved the length of the couch from the beginning, it quickly became clear that this couch was not the best for lounging around or cuddling.
Not ergonomic: For over a year now, we’ve noticed that we get head, neck, and/or backaches when sitting on it for any extended period of time (by which I mean more than five minutes). It used to be comfortable for sleeping, but I’ve noticed that that is no longer the case.
The upholstery: The light color, while great for brightening a room, is quite the dirt magnet. It looks pretty grungy in general. We now keep a sheet over the cushions to hide the oily stains from the hydrocortisone ointment we put on the back of G’s knees for eczema. If not for the other issues, I would consider having it cleaned and/or getting a slipcover, but at this point, it’s not worth it.

All-in-all, it’s time for this couch to go. The question is, what next???

The problem with couches

Used couches: In the end, this couch was a bit of a lemon. I’m not sure how we’d avoid that again if buying used. Plus, a couch feels more personal than, say, a chest of drawers — I’d be pretty particular in the used realm. Our current couch came from the formal sitting room of the previous owner and was all but wrapped in plastic — “like new” despite being 40+ years old — not sure what the odds are of finding something similar again. Also, bed bugs.
New couches: Our standards would be pretty high, at least for our ideal — ergonomically sound (which may be an oxymoron for a couch), and built to last, with sustainability in mind. At this point, we’re talking a LOT of money.
Moving: Then, there’s the fact that at some point, we’ll be moving. Hopefully only one more time, but maybe more. Couches are a beast to move, and you risk damage with every move. Not a huge deal for a <$200 Craigslist couch, but a big problem for more of an investment. And that’s if the couch even fits in the new space.

With all of that in mind, we’ve been considering some other options.

Couch alternatives

Japanese inspired: Tatami mat plus pillows
Yoga/meditation inspired: yoga mat base with jumbo zabutons plus bolsters and pillows
Twin-sized wooden platform bed frame (i.e., doesn’t require a box spring or foundation) plus mattress (or plus tatami mat)
Daybed
Recliners

Any of these set-ups, done nicely, would be a noticeable investment, but much, much more affordable than the fabled ergo-eco-couch.

The first two options are floor-based, which would be a little tricky due to the large baseboard air-return along the wall where we currently have our couch. We’re also not certain we’d like the floor-based option for sitting. We would ideally try out a tatami mat before going this route, and I’m not sure that’s possible, locally.

The bed or daybed options would be plenty comfortable for prone positions, but again, maybe not so much for sitting. The recliner is probably the best sitting option, but not so great for cuddling.

Is there something that is decent for reading and watching t.v. in both sitting and prone positions? Maybe combining two or more of the above ideas? Whatever we get, I want both a color that hides dirt and has some kind of removable cover for easy, regular cleaning.

Have any of you experimented with couch alternatives? What is/was the set-up, and how did it work for you?

All the biking

I just returned from my first (of many?) bicycle trips to Fontbonne University. I am in the process of enrolling in their dietetics program, though it’s not yet a done deal.

Anyhow, it would have been 15 miles round-trip, but on my way home I went an extra mile out of my way to bypass a stopped-on-the-tracks train (see reality of delay). Definitely farther than I’m used to riding these days, especially in warmer temps, and very full sun on the way home!

The past week has been all about the biking (78 miles total, which is a lot for me these days). Last Thursday, I biked to the store to get some supplies for Saturday.

On Friday, G and I biked to his school for some end of summer school festivities. After seeing him take to this [much too small] bike on the school playground, I joked that maybe we just needed to get him a pink bike.

It was pretty hot when we biked home (he was on the tag-along), but he was a trooper. He took a great nap that afternoon!

Saturday was a scorcher, which made it perfect for the World Naked Bike Ride. I decided that after two years of the blue tutu, I needed to change things up a bit.

“Lady of the Lane” refers to lane control, as I explained to a few inquiring minds throughout the course of the evening.

‘Twas another great WNBR in StL — always sad to see the ride come to an end! We did continue the festivities at a lovely after-party hosted by some friends, where we were joined by additional bikey friends, some who rode, and some who didn’t participate in the ride.

We probably covered 25 miles in the course of getting to the ride, the ride itself, and then back home, and on Sunday, I was okay with having a little bike break.

It wasn’t a complete break, though. On Saturday afternoon, I assembled the Hooptie for Big Blue, and we installed it on Sunday morning (the installation was MUCH easier than the assembly).

Unfortunately, we discovered a big oil stain under the rear wheel — for whatever reason, the internal hub was leaking. I decided riding the bike in that condition might damage the hub (maybe equivalent to driving a car around without any transmission fluid?), so other than a tiny Hooptie test ride, Big Blue is out of commission.

We removed the rear wheel (thank goodness for YouTube tutorial videos!), and I dropped it off at The Hub yesterday. I’m hoping we have it back in time for my family’s upcoming visit — I have big plans for all of us to go on a bike ride, but Big Blue is an important part of being able to accommodate the whole group (five adults and two kids).

On Tuesday, G and I covered a good bit of ground, including a lab visit for routine blood lead testing. He did great and was all smiles afterward.

That afternoon marked G’s first trip to Tower Grove Park (~3.5 miles away) on “Green Bike” (i.e., the tag-along). He was very excited because it also marked his first time riding Green Bike on Kingshighway — we just used it for a short stretch, during which he pedaled along singing, “We’re flying; we’re flying!”

Last night, Matthew and I biked to the second-to-last Whitaker music fest at MoBot. (Next week, we are hosting a Cycling Social ride for the final concert of the season.)

And that brings us up to my morning adventures. I was a might disappointed to arrive on the Fontbonne campus and, after a bit of searching, find this less-than-inspiring bike rack:

You have to weave through parked cars and then traverse the rocky surface to access it.

The longtail might have been in danger of getting hit by car doors. After my appointment, I did stumble across some nicer racks . . .

. . . though clearly they are not expecting too many bicycle commuters. There is a covered walkway to the left in the above pic, and I would love to see the bicycle parking covered as well. Secure, convenient, and well-designed bike parking is an important piece of encouraging bicycling as a mode of transportation.

On my return trip, I was plenty ready to be back home and out of the sun. All was well until I encountered this:

Not only did the train come to a stop, it actually started rolling backwards for a bit (we were also delayed here on the way to G’s school last week). After walking up to the tracks and confirming that the end was NOT in sight, I resigned myself to lengthening my trip a bit. Fortunately, as a savvy cyclist, I had the skills I needed to easily navigate the reroute (east on Manchester to south on Kingshighway to west on Shaw), which included construction-related lane closures and the oh-so-special gutter bike lane on Manchester (I chose the travel lane and motorists were able to easily pass me using the center turn lane).

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