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December 2009 Blog Posts (16)

For those of you playing at home. . .

I finally got an appointment with a pain clinic! January 6! That makes it, oh, 19 months since I've been to a specialist other than my geneticist, but she doesn't do much other than be the gatekeeper to get me into the right offices.

I'm guardedly optimistic about this clinic. They have a variety of specialists, including a psychiatrist on staff, because pain *really* is all in your head.

Once I get some pain control, I can start physical therapy. Woo Hoo!

Added by Mamawho on December 28, 2009 at 6:24pm — 18 Comments

Fun family times...

I know everyone is out having fun with their families for whatever reasons today, religious or otherwise, but I just had to vent because I am pissed off and if I don't do it here, I might actually say this out loud.

I could slap my MIL for creating drama and making my husband feel like shit. One of these days I am not going to be able to contain myself. Apparently, we "forgot" to tell her about the plans for Christmas Day, not that we haven't been talking about it for months, and the… Continue

Added by TommysMommy on December 25, 2009 at 3:22pm — 7 Comments

The Junky's Christmas

This is my favorite Christmas story. I like that there is real meaning behind it, even if it is presented in an unusal fashion. I posted it last year, but perhaps this is becoming my holiday tradition.

IT WAS Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the street junksick and broke after seventy-two hours in the precinct jail. It was a clear bright day, but there was warmth in the sun. Danny shivered with an inner cold. He turned up the collar of his worn, greasy black… Continue

Added by Diggy on December 22, 2009 at 9:25am — 1 Comment

Pandolfo Roy Obnoxious Holiday Update, V. 2009

Hi Offsprungers: I've missed you. Suffice it to say that I've taken on too much, and the start of the school year till now has left me with little time to ponder, reflect, observe, analyze, or appreciate, and without doing those things, I don't have all that much to say. And you know how it goes: the longer you stay away from something, the harder it is to dive in again. But NotClooney feels very strongly that my writing, provided I keep sharpening my skills, is much more conducive to his… Continue

Added by Hausfrau on December 22, 2009 at 6:34am — 7 Comments

Chasing the New Year's Eve Dream

Happy early New Year! Here's a post in which I reflect on this holiday and its culturally mandated fun. See you in 2010...

Chasing the New Year's Eve Dream

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Added by Floor Pie on December 20, 2009 at 3:00pm — 7 Comments

The Inevitable Avatar Post, Part 2: the Review (spoiler free)

Let’s just say this right up front: Avatar will not meet the extraordinarily lofty expectations that have been placed on it. I don’t think that any movie truly could. But it comes close. Avatar is a beautiful, groundbreaking spectacle that instantly sets a new bar for computer animation.

It's clear that James Cameron’s main goal with Avatar is to transport the viewer into a new world. He does this through jaw-droppingly real looking computer animation. In the… Continue

Added by Reeling on December 19, 2009 at 10:30pm — 9 Comments

Inked

Since I was old enough to know what tattoos were I declared that I could never get one. It wasn’t because of the needle - (DID I MENTION THERE WAS A NEEDLE AND SOME DRAGGING OF THE NEEDLE AND SOME MORE DRAGGING OF THE NEEDLE OMG) it was because I couldn’t imagine coming up with anything that I could get behind strongly enough to have it PERMANENTLY SEARED onto my flesh. I mean, there have been occasions in my life where I have driven to seven different stores searching like a fiend to find just… Continue

Added by racher on December 18, 2009 at 6:05pm — 6 Comments

Heather Has a Good Laugh

Somewhere, a pair of penguins is snickering. (Thanks,… Continue

Added by Mombian on December 17, 2009 at 1:33pm — 4 Comments

Shark Jumps and Scandals: A Decade of Quality Preschooler Programming - Part I

This is my version of one of those “Decade In Review” lists. Yes, yes, I’ve only been a parent since 2004. But we’ve consumed so very much preschooler television in those six years, I think I’ve got at least one foot to stand on here. Besides, all the cool pop culture writers are doing it. Take a look, and feel free to add your own if you like!

Cast Changes, Derivatives, and Shark Jumps

It wouldn’t be television without them. Here are some of my… Continue

Added by TykeGeist on December 17, 2009 at 12:39pm — 5 Comments

Shark Jumps and Scandals - Part II

Here’s Part II of my little stab at one of those “Decade In Review” pieces. Part I covered “Cast Changes, Derivatives, and Shark Jumps.” Now let’s move on to those memorable scandals that rocked a decade of preschoolers. Sort of.

Falls from Grace

Won’t someone please think of the children?

Baby Einstein

Turns out that watching spinning toys and puppets on TV to a… Continue

Added by TykeGeist on December 17, 2009 at 12:39pm — 8 Comments

The Inevitable Avatar Post, Part 1: Expectations

Expectation plays a huge role in the movie going experience. Whether or not you think you’re going to like a movie has a direct impact on whether or not you actually do like a movie. It’s nice to be pleasantly surprised by a flick you thought was going to suck, but it’s awful to be disappointed by something that seemed like it was going to be great. But what creates these expectations?

Rabid fanboys feed on any scrap of information about an upcoming movie, then make a snap judgment… Continue

Added by Reeling on December 13, 2009 at 2:00pm — 15 Comments

If Only The Transformers Looked Like This

My disdain for Michael Bay is well known throughout the interwebs. I find his disregard for coherent storytelling insulting, his constantly moving camera and super-quick edits disorienting, and his attempts at humor cheesy.

These days it seems that he's pretty much becoming a parody of himself.

Take, for instance his latest endeavor, a commercial for Victoria's… Continue

Added by Reeling on December 10, 2009 at 12:00pm — 5 Comments

Need some good thoughts - nevermind! It's OK!

UPDATE - She's home. Seems to have been a major miscommunication, but given the history, definitely reason to panic. Thanks for the good thoughts, y'all. I will now go dissolve into a puddle.

It seems my mom has gone missing. It may not be a big deal - may be just a miscommunication. I've called all the hospitals, the various law-enforcement agencies both in and out of jurisdiction, the place she was, and the relevant law enforcement agency for there. It's tribal, and they're… Continue

Added by Mamawho on December 9, 2009 at 8:00am — 11 Comments

Big Three

Reflections on our daughter turning 3 as my "baby window" closes...in a good way!

Big Three

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Added by Floor Pie on December 9, 2009 at 12:56am — No Comments

Sing We Joyous All Together

When The Boy told me, with a great sense of importance, “On December 17, we’re having a performance,” I immediately started clearing my mental calendar. “Everyone will have a job to do,” he went on happily. “And my teacher said you can come!” I have to admit, I’m way more excited about this than, perhaps, I should be. He’s only in kindergarten and… Continue

Added by TykeGeist on December 6, 2009 at 10:38pm — 13 Comments

French classes for kids in center city Philadelphia--start next week, register today and tomorrow!

Philadelphia parents---My son took a French class at the Alliance Francaise in Philadelphia for the past few months and LOVED it. Now, it looks like the next session may not happen if enough kids don't sign up, so I am posting information about it EVERYWHERE. Please read:

It's never too early to start studying a second language!

The Alliance Francaise of Philadelphia will be offering French classes for children ages 5-10 on either Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 4:00… Continue

Added by ol tex on December 3, 2009 at 9:32am — 1 Comment