packing and planning

tomorrow we drive to oktoberfest!  so excited!

task clearing

a couple of weeks ago kimmo pointed out that my task organizing, which is supposed to help me do a lot of things but not be stressed out about it, is actually a source of stress in itself.  that thought really stuck with me, so i resolved to remove a lot of the 'should do' items from the list that don't really stand a chance with the current priorities (family happiness, making and keeping friends, work success, etc).  and so i am giving up on a few of my goals for 2012:

1. going on a number of hikes.  we had said 6.  and we do go for long-ish city walks, but we just haven't gotten there on actual hikes in the wilderness.  

2. learning some czech.  i know maybe 5 czech words.  but we don't plan to stay here forever and my higher priority is to learn finnish.

3. install different linux on home pc.  i'm on the work computer most of the time anyway.

book club

today i got an invite to join the exclusive IWAP Evening Book Club!  most IWAP (int'l women's association of prague) events are during the work day, and women who work outside the home can't join.  i have been wanting to join this group since i found out about it in january, but they try to keep it small enough to meet at people's homes, so there is a finite number of people permitted to join.  i finally made it to the top of the waiting list! 

of course, there's always the question of reading tastes.  the first book is "the marriage plot", which i had been interested in anyway, so that bodes well.

also: this marks the first time i am branching into contemporary books on the kindle, since i'm normally too cheap to buy anything but copyright-expired titles.  i reasoned that making some local friends would be worth the $10 per month for the book.

zoo

we went to the zoo again today.  lumi was super-psyched about all the primates.

and we went into the 'indonesian jungle' exhibit and they have bats flying around in a really low-ceilinged cave.  it was freaky!  they fly sort of right at your face.

another factory done

i just finished another 2-week factory class.  these are tiring classes!  i enjoy the actual work, but when i'm in the middle of these classes, i wonder if it's worth being seemingly unable to do anything else during that time.  i can even see a difference in lumi's language skills -- her english takes a dip.  it's depressing.  but i guess having a career i don't like would also be depressing, right?

pants

lumi hits the 20-month mark soon, which is when they say you can start actual potty training and not elimination communication.  i would like to really start then, and try to be diaper-free.  but we have some issue because lumi still can't really put on or take off her own pants.  her motor skills are on the whole pretty great, so i don't know if this is because we haven't been practicing this or what.  or maybe i'm missing the point and you still have to help with the pants at 20 months.

annoying

i have had two finnish kids' songs in my head all damn day.  and since they're finnish, i only know/remember a few words.

teaching with a new colleague

i'm teaching with a new colleague today.  presenting this material for the first time is hard, and he seems obviously nervous.  it's really hard to listen to, because i know i sound similar (as compared with the most experienced instructors).

humor

the onion's still got it.

Democrats abroad

I went to a voter registration party tonight held by democrats abroad. It was enjoyable - lots of interesting people and fun conversation!

Toys

We bought a gift for Nova today and the toy store was really fun.

wasabi

lumi ate some sushi today.  it wasn't her first time with sushi, but it was her first time feeding herself.  she loved it, and was picking up salmon rolls and putting them in her mouth, and taking a fork and eating rice.  and then she ate a forkful of wasabi.

we saw it happen -- dip fork, fork to mouth, put fork down.  during that little delay between the wasabi hitting the tastebuds and then hitting the sinuses, i took the fork from her and offered water.  then she started coughing really hard and looked really unhappy.  she didn't cry, which was impressive.  then i taught her the word 'spicy'.  and now she knows.

thursday

i currently use a backpack-style laptop bag, but it feels not less professional and more student-like.  i am considering shifting to a shoulder bag.  isn't lifting heavy things part of the 'primal blueprint' anyway?

ernie and burp

lumi enjoys sesame street characters a lot, and she can say 'elmo' and something close to 'the count' and also 'Ernie and Burp'.  

game of thrones

we're watching season 2 now, and it is quite wildly diverging from the book.  in a way, the large differences make it more enjoyable for me.  then i can stop worrying about how "that's not how it happens!" and can just enjoy it.

Teaching again

A long day teaching. I made a dumb mistake near the end of the day, which soured the otherwise pleasant return to work.

home

and we're back in prague.  it was a lovely wedding and it was good to see the in laws, and i think everyone is a little annoyed to be back in prague.

Nakkilassa

We are in Nakkila today. Heading to Pori in the afternoon for a wedding, and Lumi is going to spend the night at Mummu's place (her first night away from both parents!).

guilt

my mom left this morning.

it was a better visit than i'm used to having with her, because she had lumi to distract her.  but of course there are always challenges, and every time we say goodbye i feel guilty that i am not more patient.  

she lies (perhaps that's a strong way to say it because there is rarely malice involved, but how else do you describe saying untrue things?) and says and does crazy things that are not socially acceptable.  on one hand i can't seem to bring myself to respond positively toward them, because that feels like i am encouraging that kind of behavior and communication.  but on the other hand, since she's been like this for as long as i can remember, and she is over 60 years old, so i am resigned to the fact that she's not going to learn anything from my negative responses, or reflect on how her behavior affects her relationships, or change how she acts.  so our interactions are a major source of stress to me because i spend huge amounts of energy trying to control my temper, and after a few days of this all i am left with is exhaustion and anger and guilt and i can barely be civil to her.

so is there another way of dealing with this?

last day with grandma

today is the last full day with grandma.  it's been good, but i'm exhausted.

zoo

this afternoon we went to the zoo.  the usual favorites weren't very interesting today (wtf, lemurs?) but we went to the children's section and lumi loved riding the little train and petting the goats and riding a pony.

cesky krumlov

we just got back from cesky krumlov.  what an adorable town!  we visited the castle and the eggenberg brewery, and wandered around town quite a bit.