Fifi Island

A long time ago, for a project my sister had, I created an island online called "Fifi Island." It's a poodle-shaped island in the middle of the ocean and it's overrun by wild poodles.

I think it's time we started raising funds to build Fifi Island. I know what I would do with it.

Fifi Island would be a place where I could gather all the people I love, and create a new society of my choosing. We would have bonfires every night and start awesome traditions. Everyone would get a decent sized home with all the amenities they needed, and we would make sure we got the population up to around 1000 people. It would start with my loved ones, of course. Only the ones who want to come. My family, Jeff's family, and any of my friends who wanted to come. I would also allow my family to bring their friends as long as they passed the entrance interview.

Fifi Island would be a democracy, and should we have a 50/50 tie, we would choose two people with opposing views to arm wrestle it out. I would start the island with a tax-less economy. We would simply trade services and goods, and the government would all be on a volunteer basis. There would not be pointless meetings because the population would be very small, and if someone commits a crime, we would have a trial. If that person is found guilty, they are either voted off the island, or given a punishment befitting the crime. Most of the worst crimes would be an instant deportation.

We would have cool traditions on Fifi Island. We would always have community activities, and we would make sure that everyone got the chance to make friends with everyone on the island. No visitors would be allowed onto Fifi Island without a permit given by a citizenship comity. Fifi Island would be the first solar roadway system, and solar-powered houses. At night, torches would be lit, but light pollution would be minimal. Instead of street lamps, we would have our solar roadways lined with glowing lane markers. Homes would be far away enough that we wouldn't annoy our neighbors if we decided to have friends over, but close enough that we could walk to each other's homes. In fact, cars would be a very limited commodity on Fifi Island. Instead, bicycles, walking, and scooters would be the main modes of transportation.

Religious freedom would reign, but no formal church buildings would be built. Instead, church would be practiced in homes or on the beach. Nature is more conducive to worship anyway right? That would always be up for a vote, though.

If there is a disagreement between families or people on Fifi Island that they cannot resolve themselves, it would be taken to a quick 3 day trial and a vote.

We would make sure to have doctors, nurses, and other medically trained people on the island. We would have a hospital (probably small) that would be centrally located. Also available would be a fitness center. We would have farms that would either be communally worked (in rotations) or farmed by expert farmers. It would all be non-GMO and organic.  We would raise chickens, but if you want beef or any other meat, you have to hunt for it yourself. I do not believe in raising an animal for slaughter. So there would be wild cows, possibly pigs, and turkeys. No cages for the chickens, though, they would get to roam around the farms.

We would have cows and goats for the sole purpose of milking, but they would be treated with great kindness, and the amount they were milked would be very closely controlled.

Dogs and Cats would be permitted as pets, but any animal abuse is an immediate deportation. Also, all pets must be neutered or spayed unless given a breeding permit by the Fifi Island committee.

It would be glorious. I know I put a little too much thought into this but it's like my impossible dream. Wouldn't it be nice to just start over? I often just get so tired of our broken government, and I think... wouldn't it be nice to just start from scratch, do things right, and not over-complicate things? I would love just living with people who are awesome and feeling like a part of something awesome, part of a real community.

Anyway.. this was fun for me. Blog Out.

Happy 16 Months

Sonja is now 16 months old!

It seems to be going faster and faster. I can't keep up.

We just went for her "15 month" checkup last week (we are a little behind) and she's doing well. She keeps going from a little under the 50th percentile in height and then shooting up into the 60th or higher, and her weight will go up and then shoot back down... so I think we are prepping for another growth spurt because she's 48th percentile in height and 58th in weight right now.

Sonja is a beautiful and sweet child still. She is very busy and likes to always be on the move. She loves harassing Puppy and eating Pizza (which brings me great joy as well).

Recently I have noticed that she can get her feelings hurt, like when her cousin Rex hits or shoves her (he's a baby... he doesn't really do it with negative intentions I hope)... she will get this really heartbreaking look on her face and her lower lip will stick out and then she bursts into tears. Oh man.. breaks my heart.

She has also grown fond of hitting recently (something I am desperately trying to break her of). She goes "Dat!" and then smacks me, or the cat, or any object really. I don't know why she started doing it but I don't like it.

But the good parts (and there are so many) definitely are worth the bad.

Honestly, being Sonja's mom is very very rewarding for me. Recently I was looking back through old facebook posts trying to remember when Jeff switched jobs and I found myself hating myself from that time. I just seem so douschy... self-involved, braggy, I don't know.. I just cringed a lot.

I think having her grounds me and it makes me see that a lot of the little things are not as important as I thought they were, and that I can enjoy life without feeling like I have to prove myself or my greatness or anything else.. because really it's not about me much anymore. There is a bigger picture. And I honestly enjoy myself a lot more often because I get to experience life with such a wonderful little girl.

Sonja now knows how to blow kisses and gives kisses and it is adorable. She also has "bye bye" down and is starting to learn "Hello." She says it when she holds my phone up to her head.

She can "brush" her hair, and likes to do it herself. She is also starting to get the hang of spoons and forks and does not like to be helped.

Sonja's Favorites:

- Puppy
- Her singing teapot
- drinking from a cup
- milk
- cereal
- trying new foods (she gets sick of stuff if we give it to her too often)
- going to the park and gymboree
- singing "chomp chomp chomp goes the crocodile"
- playing chase, peekaboo, and any other game where she can scare us or we can scare her
- playing with her cousins
- going to Nana's house
- Auntie Em babysitting
- Balls
- Snuggles
- Making faces at each other
- books

Sonja continues to learn new words, try new things, and get better and better at all sorts of things. She's getting pretty fast, she's starting to master climbing things, and she is pretty strong for a baby.

She loves singing, and will sing and twirl on command. She hates the word "no" and gets visibly angry when I say it. Usually because it accompanies her not getting to do what she wants.

We also recently purchased a sheep backpack with a leash on it and it has changed my world. I love it. It's the best way to give her a little freedom while keeping her from doing major damage to herself.

I love this sweet girl. I love seeing her grow and learn and just enjoy life.