Fiddledeedee

A while back, I told y’all that I had the opportunity to step out from behind the safety of my keyboard and job as Message Board Moderator for MSN’s Mom’s Homeroom, and film a little ancillary video for an upcoming show about Homework.  And how to get and keep your kids organized.

Well.

The video is up here. (And it’s best viewed in Firefox. I have no idea why.)

And yes, I did my own makeup, wardrobe, and hair.

Which should give you an idea why I prefer to be seated behind my keyboard.  In relative anonymity. Sporting stained yoga pants and a mismatched t-shirt.  And btw, that tall beautiful blonde that they show working with her boys is my SIL, Trish.  I tried to talk them into letting me use her as my body double.

I think they did a fabulous job editing, because they were able to make me look like I was keeping all the wild gesturing, nervous laughter, and fast talking to a minimum. While still stringing together coherent thoughts when all the while I was really thinking “how much weight does the camera really add?”.

And the answer to that question, my friends, is 50 pounds.  Just sayin’.

•  Thank you so much for the Dressing recipes.  I loved hearing about your own family traditions.  Sturgmom, you totally reminded me about a family tradition I had forgotten about when I was growing up.  My mom, being the good southern woman that she was, always made ham, fried okra, cornbread, and black eyed peas on New Years Day.  I’m pretty sure she said that the black eyed peas were to be eaten on the first day of the new year for luck.

This was the same woman who loved to sing song “bread and butter” whenever we walked on opposites sides of a light pole, threw salt over her shoulder, and refused to step on a crack.  Knock on wood that I am NOT superstitious.

Anyhoo.

I’ve now amassed some amazing recipes for dressing/stuffing to try out on my trusting family.

And y’all, I’m serious, go check out Amanda’s food blog.  I giggle whenever I see the name.  And her recipes are to die for.

•  I finally got some good quality time away from this asylum/infirmary today.  Albeit in the form of a trip for the Annual Scraping of the Cervix.  You know that scene from “Cars” where Lightning McQueen speeds off down the road screaming FREEDOM!!!!  Well, that was me today.

Unfortunately I had 90 minutes to challenge myself to multiple games of iPhone Scrabble while sitting on my numb backside in the waiting room.   Without the benefit of snacks.

Still. It was quiet time. Time to contemplate what was about to happen to me while wearing a flimsy hospital gown.

I’m okay now. Don’t have to think about it for another year.

•  In completely unrelated news, Cailey finally learned how to ride her pink princess bike without the requisite  training wheels.  She’s 8. Her rotten mommy neglected to get her out and teach her when she hit the age of 6, which is generally the rite of passage age for two wheeled bike riding.

She finally took the handle bars into her own hands and just went for it.  I watched her fly down the street, wind in her blonde hair, bugs in her teeth, joy speed across her face.  Sadly, the art of turning and a small matter of braking have eluded her.

And remember, this is Cailey, who inherited her sense of coordination from me.

I’m staying well stocked in Barbie bandages.  And Amaretto.

The Amaretto is for me.  To wash down the Excedrin.

•  I learned this week that Mom’s Homeroom has been picked up for another year.  And best, they want me to continue on as Moderator for the Message Boards.  There will be some exciting changes and I look forward to sharing them with you when I’m able.

What a blessing that job has been to me and my family.

•  And I’m officially on the job as a Momspotter for BlogHer.  If you follow me on Twitter, that’s what all the #momspotting hashtags are about.  The Momspotters are roving reporters tweeting on how digital parenting is affecting our families.

I’M ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT TECHNICAL STUFF.  AND SORT OF KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING. OR AT LEAST PRETEND LIKE I DO.

A modern miracle.

BTW, has the Skype bug hit your house yet?

That’s all the bullet points I can muster.  Have a wonderful Thursday!

I shot the ancillary video for Mom’s Homeroom today.  And by ancillary, I mean that it will be a short video which will support an upcoming topic on organization.

I just like to say ancillary, because it’s a) technical sounding, and b) it took me a really long time to pronounce it correctly, so now I like to show off my newfound skill.

Nervous doesn’t even begin to describe me as the day of the shoot drew near.  I find it hard to believe that I once craved being either on a stage or in front of a camera.  I’ve said it a billion times, I love hiding behind my keyboard.  I’m a wee more articulate.

And have fewer hair issues.

I had the pleasure of working with Alba, the homeschooling Homeroom Mom.  I ADORE her.  She put me right at ease, and her enthusiasm for homeschooling is exhilarating.

A nice and welcome change from my ISN’T THERE AN INEXPENSIVE BOARDING SCHOOL THAT WILL TAKE MY CHILDREN?

Oh.  I jest.

Boarding schools are never inexpensive.

Anyhoo.  My hair wasn’t cooperating so I had to wear it up.  Accentuating my pointy head.  I had not choice.  The static electricity in the air was making me look like a science experiment from the neck up.

We shot at Trish’s house, because we’re still dealing with flooring issues at the House of Fiddle.  Trish’s house was IMMACULATE when we arrived.  And I must have forgotten to inform her that when a film crew comes into your home, it’s gonna get redecorated.

She and her family were VERY good sports about the whole thing.  I so owe her.  Not just for opening up her home, but for wrangling all the kids and dogs.  And yes, that does include Jensen.

The crew could not have been nicer.  And they were still speaking to me when I finished the shoot, so you know THAT THEY ARE REALLY REALLY NICE FOLKS.

I suppose I did okay.  What with all the FAST TALKING THAT INCLUDED A LOT OF WILD GESTURING.  And I may have uttered the popular phrase “pimp my ride” but I’m hoping that can be fixed in editing.

We talked about organization, and the Workbox System, and how INVALUABLE the online community is in their support of one another.  And boy oh boy can I ever vouch for that!  You guys are the BEST whenever I come to you needing ideas and help!

All in all, it was a fun day and it’s always good for me to be blasted from my comfort zone and to wear my big girl bra out in public.

And now I’ll happily slide back behind my keyboard, wearing my bunny slippers and red rhinestone eye glasses.

Where I hardly ever get nervous and say inappropriate stuff.

And yes, I’ll warn you all when (and if) my little ancillary video airs on Mom’s Homeroom.

I was on the playground yesterday with the girl’s American Heritage Girls scouting troop.  While the little women were working on their badges with their groups, the moms were congregated by the playground, watching younger siblings frolic.

And btw, BC (before children) I envisioned trips to the park with my children in tow to be relaxing moments of respite.  While I sat on a park bench, surrounded by trees and flowers, and my children explored the wonders of the playground equipment.

I’ve since learned that sitting at the park only happens when I have wrestled Jensen to the dirt, after giving chase when has taken off in the general direction of the freeway.

Thankfully this didn’t happen yesterday, only because he is now enamored with the joys of the swing.  Which he managed to fall out of.  Twice.  And both times he simply looked dazed, dusted himself off, and got back in the saddle.

There is nothing like the sense of joy and freedom spread across a 4 year olds face as he swings into the air, with the greatest of ease.  Until he falls off onto his head.

But whatever.

Where was I?  Oh yes, the park.

The moms (many of which homeschool) were deep in conversation about math curriculum.  Math is a hot topic around our house lately since multiplication has entered the fray.  Wherein a certain 4th grader would spit on the ground in disgust if her mother would allow her.

And by happy coincidence, Mom’s Homeroom just launched a new episode on building Math skills.

So, here’s my question to you all.  Homeschoolers and parents with kids in school.

Do you all have any creative ideas to help with the learning of the multiplication tables? A few years ago, I wrote about how I used tossing a ball to aid in skip counting.  But clearly I need some fresh ideas!

I’m going to be filming an ancillary video for an upcoming episode of Mom’s Homeroom next week.  Which is AWESOME since I lost my mind and gave my bangs a little self trim yesterday.  Before coffee.  While in the throws of a fever.

I get my best ideas when I’m feverish.  And uncaffeinated.

I’ve been comfortably seated behind the scenes of Mom’s Homeroom moderating the message boards.  A job I love.  And not just because I can do it in my camo pjs, without makeup, when my hair is doing its best Rosanne Rosannadanna impression.

I’m more than a little nervous to step in front of the cameras again.  Since we’re filming at my SIL, Trish’s house, I have considered hiring her as my body double.

No one will know.  Except that she’s a good foot taller than I am.  And younger.  And skinnier.  And she doesn’t cut her own hair.  But other than that, we could be twins.

They’ve asked me to do the video as a homeschool mom to discuss creative ways to help kids stay organized.  And we’ll be discussing the workbox system, I’m sure.

And my use of bribery and threats of boarding school in a really harsh climate.

Oh, just kidding.  Sort of.

To prepare I’m going to go to the beauty parlor tomorrow morning.  To see if anyone can fix my bangs and cut off some of the unfortunate layering that has plagued me since my last visit to a different beauty parlor.

Oh yeah, and I’ll get myself nice and organized so that I can intelligently discuss organization.

And pray that I don’t get an eyebrow pimple.

I ain’t skeert.  Really…