Our Wiki Wonka House
No doubt you've been wondering why I haven't weighed in on the Obama tax proposal, the Ryan Roadmap, or the Debt Commission report. But the computer was sick. It caught a common cold. That’s the best I can figure. For the past week, it would simply shut down after 3 or 4 minutes of work. Freeze up.
But the computer is fine today. It got gradually better over the past few days and now it’s fully functional. Go figure. The only support we called for was from above, and, in the end, our prayers were answered. Miraculous recovery. I sure hope our little computer wasn’t somehow being used as a zombie-drone in the great Wikileaks cyber-war. There’s nothing like 2,000 photos of babies to peak the interest of hackers, right?
In lieu of spending time on the Internet, I cooked, cleaned and went to lots of doctors’ appointments. I don’t have thyroid cancer. That’s good news. My daughter probably has celiac disease. Not so good news. The co-pay for her endoscopy on Monday is $200. Horrible news. I got a sudden request for a little contract education work this weekend. Relief.
My oldest (6) came home from school yesterday and asked, “Why don’t we have a cleaning lady?” I could have smiled sweetly and said with a wink, “But we have a cleaning mommy! Isn’t that better?” Instead I gave a long lecture in an irritated voice about how things cost money and it’s a tough time of year, etc. etc. Her eyes glazed over.
Lying in bed last night I wondered what might have inspired this question. Was the house looking exceptionally messy when she arrived off the bus? How would something like this just “come up” in first-grade circles? Is having a cleaning lady today what having the Barbie Dream House was in my day? This same little one ended the evening by melting down into tears and a few dramatic “you don’t care about what I think!” pronouncements after her father put the toilet paper on the roller “the wrong way.”
“They do it at school for me differently!” she insisted.
Well.
The queen must have what she must have. Sawdust in the toilet, too, m’lady?
(Long ago, my mother worked at a non-profit which was honored to have a visit from Princess Anne. The toilets had to be filled with sawdust before her arrival. I suppose there’s nothing less royal than an echoing tinkle.)
My middle child (4) threw herself into the “no media” theme of the week by tossing her drink at the television this morning and breaking the flat screen. Now, we have fluorescent pink, red, and green stripes permanently blocking the right half of the frame. Paules? Peter? Bill? Is there anything handy to be done about this?
Finally, my little guy (2) has started to turn a few phrases on momma. Including, “Calm down,” and “Relax.” If he wasn’t also imitating my exasperated-mommy voice when he said it, I’d be more apt to listen. It’s good advice.
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May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Flat screen or cleaning lady? Clearly you made the wrong purchase decision there. My latest bout of computer cooties led to an annoyingly antiseptic and anemic apartment. I've been going around unstraightening the pictures to restore some semblance of tattered aristocracy.
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Yes, that's a good point. But by "flat screen" i mean a 15-inch little guy that sits on a little stand. I guess that's just a TV, not a flat screen. And, oh boy, do I know what you mean about the tidy house. This place is tidy, fridge is stocked, and laundry is clean.
May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Ursula, if the image engine still works (so that you are seeing a picture), and it is an LCD TV, you can probably fix it by replacing the glass cover and polarizer. It is likely that what broke is the glass protector, but they may have laminated the front polarizer onto the glass as a cost-reduction scheme. If it is a plasma TV, I don't know the answer (most 15" are LCD). The colors suggests that this is a polarization issue (and LCD has no picture with no front polarizer).
An ordinary piece of clear glass with the polarizer snug against it (no air bubbles) should work OK if your Big Guy is handy and reasonably meticulous in assembly/disassembly of electronic stuff so he doesn't break the LCD while messing with this. There are a bunch of ways to find a replacement polarizer- for example, the film here:
http://www.polarization.com/polarshop/
You can also just buy a non-workinbg 15" LCD TV off of E-Bay and cannibalize the front glass and polarizer.
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Duane Oyen: Ursula, if the image engine still works (so that you are seeing a picture), and it is an LCD TV, you can probably fix it by replacing the glass cover and polarizer. It is likely that what broke is the glass protector, but they may have laminated the front polarizer onto the glass as a cost-reduction scheme. If it is a plasma TV, I don't know the answer (most 15" are LCD). The colors suggests that this is a polarization issue (and LCD has no picture with no front polarizer).
An ordinary piece of clear glass with the polarizer snug against it (no air bubbles) should work OK ... You can also just buy a non-working 15" LCD TV off of E-Bay and cannibalize the front glass and polarizer.
How soon can you get here, Duane?
Seriously, though, thanks for the detailed answer. The thing cost prob. $250/$300 or so, new. Is this something that we should try hard to fix? It does sound like you diagnosed it correctly. Or should we live with it (it's possible) for several months until $300 doesn't seem so difficult to part with?
Jul '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
The good news about celiac is that it's much easier to live with now than it was even five years ago, especially for someone so close to a major urban center. In fact, if you and your husband are in the city often (I believe one of you is daily, no?), there's a lot of grocery stores with sections catering towards gluten-free customers. There probably are in your area too, but if not...there definitely are here. There's also an excellent restaurant called Risoteria on Bleecker Street just north of 6th Ave where you can pick up the most wonderful pre-made gluten-free desserts to pick up her spirits, and they're not very expensive at all. I know it must be exhausting to think about, but...there's some great options, at least.
May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
I'm with you. My boys awoke early on Tuesday (like 6am), went downstairs to the family room, and dumped every toy they own onto the floor. The only small spot of carpet left exposed was covered in various shades of green marker. Did I mention the night before I spent over an hour organizing all their toys? Hang it there. These are wonderful years (at least that's what I tell myself while I inhale deeply). A clean house is a relative concept to me. And I think the legos are reproducing. They're everywhere! I have a few friends who have had great luck finding gluten free options for their kids, even cookbooks. And just buy a new TV. Good luck!
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Ah, you are lovely, Jonathan. I have been avoiding the actual research of the diet, simply because they need us to keep her on her usual stuff through the test on Monday. However, she has the antibodies, which is almost a sure bet that she's got it. Anyway, I did see something about celiac restaurants in NYC and that will certainly be my (and her) dream destination! And desserts! She will love herself a gluten-free brownie, you can bet your boots. Poor thing doesn't know what comin'. Thanks again.
May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Ursula, I'd never throw away such a thing- worst case, cannibalize it for parts. The electronics simply never wear out.
15 inch is such a common LCD size (half of the flat screen monitors in the world, for example, though there is a scan resolution incompatibility with most of those video drivers; even there you can often find used 15 inch monitors on E-Bay that have video inputs) that this one need never be wasted.
Some day if I am in Connecticut, I'll stop by..... but I usually go to Baltimore instead to see our daughter. Too far South!
Aug '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
About the celiac...
Had a good friend in college with the problem -- he managed, even in the dining hall (thought it was tough and he eventually started cooking for himself). Ate lots of rice...
You might find a magazine called "Living Without" helpful. If you can't afford a subscription, your local library can probably get it for you. They seem to provide some free info on their website, too. Recipes... free e-mails of "recipe of the week"...
If you're not afraid of coconut -- and eggs -- you might want to try this cookbook. (I got it because my husband, who is a better statistician than I, looked into research on the beneficial effects of coconut to the immune system and believed it. I haven't yet tested the recipes, though I meant to by now. But they do sound pretty tasty.)
Jul '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Ursula - Wonderful, wonderful news about you not having thyroid cancer.
If it's at all possible, would love to talk with you about your daughter's diagnosis of celiac disease. My son was diagnosed with it as a baby. He's 39 now, and Jonathan is right -- it was a lot harder back then! Anyway, we had a marvelous pediatrician and I'd like to share what he recommended -- which turned out to be literally a miracle. Think a chat could be arranged?
May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Ursula - practical tips and best wishes on your health.
1. Back up your PC as IT problems do not just go away, the lurk in wait for a deadlines, or in my case a tax return to be lodged.
2. Not sure about the Television, but you could repair it as part of your Christmas present to your recalcitrant 4yo, as a lesson in how to care for property. I would have not sat for a week had I done that as a boy, but times change.
3. Coeliac disease with your daughter - sorry to hear it, but hopefully it can be managed for the moment. It is likely such diseases will be curable in her adult life given medical advances.
4. Congratulations on the diagnosis, you have been stoic about it to date. Now gather the family round and Rejoice You Are Not Going To Die. You get to see your children grow up with your love. Also, you miss out on the radiation therapy, chemo etc, and the hideous damage it can cause. (I assume that the thyroid issues is leaving you rather exhausted though, hopefully that is treatable)
TV's are replaceable, Mothers are not.
May '10
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
BTW - Reinemachfrau .... From when Steve was funnny.(16s in) It helps when you have seen all the other instances of the same line previously
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1oFnWHDPg0
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Midget Faded Rattlesnake: About the celiac...
Had a good friend in college with the problem -- he managed, even in the dining hall (thought it was tough and he eventually started cooking for himself). Ate lots of rice...
You might find a magazine called "Living Without" helpful. If you can't afford a subscription, your local library can probably get it for you. They seem to provide some free info on their website, too. Recipes... free e-mails of "recipe of the week"...
If you're not afraid of coconut -- and eggs -- you might want to try this cookbook. (I got it because my husband, who is a better statistician than I, looked into research on the beneficial effects of coconut to the immune system and believed it. I haven't yet tested the recipes, though I meant to by now. But they do sound pretty tasty.) · Dec 10 at 3:51pm
Thanks, MFR. Both links were helpful.
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
barbara lydick: Ursula - Wonderful, wonderful news about you not having thyroid cancer.
If it's at all possible, would love to talk with you about your daughter's diagnosis of celiac disease. My son was diagnosed with it as a baby. He's 39 now, and Jonathan is right -- it was a lot harder back then! Anyway, we had a marvelous pediatrician and I'd like to share what he recommended -- which turned out to be literally a miracle. Think a chat could be arranged? · Dec 10 at 11:57pm
Oh, Barbara, I'd love advice from a wise mom. Thanks. As I said, it's not a definite yet, but by next Friday I should know for sure. By all means, email me any info. My address is my first initial + last name on gmail. (I'm writing it this way so no computer program can scan this page and send me garbage.)
Re: Our Wiki Wonka House
Talleyrand:
4. ... Now gather the family round and Rejoice You Are Not Going To Die. ...
TV's are replaceable, Mothers are not.
What a lovely, thoughtful comment, Talley. I read it early this morning and it made me happy all day. Only now responding. You are absolutely correct on backing stuff up. The precious photos are saved; a few other things need to be protected -- my dad's eulogy, some article ideas I've started and plan to go back to, etc. As for the TV, we have decided to wait until January (at earliest). We keep getting hit with odd bills this month -- on top of our already unusual store spending for Christmas -- and so we simply can't afford it. I am not too fearful/troubled by the celiac. Mostly anxious to help soothe some of her chronic stomach woes -- if indeed caused by celiac. Finally, the thyroid thing was odd. No symptoms, no pain. Just changes/odd growth in my thyroid (+ some family history). However, biopsy got me the "all clear." As you say, any such worries bring to light the great joy I feel spending all day with my dear children. Thanks, again.