Black Friday and holiday shopping fun, yes? This year not so much. What's with the killing of the people?The stampeding and gunfire? Are you kidding me?
Let me just say that though I have on occasion imagined myself bludgeoning someone while out rubbing elbows with people that I like to refer to as "rude, morally-bankrupt animals", I would never.... NEVER resort to violence outside of daydreaming when faced with not getting something that I want.
Is this what we have come to?
How does it make sense that a season, first and foremost named as the season of GIVING, should cause such hostility and homicidal tendencies? Oh, right. Christmas is no longer Merry Christmas... but XMAS, Happy Holidays, etc, etc, etc. 'Tis the season of give me more, because if you don't , you're a bad parent/child/sibling/grandchild and you don't really love me-me-me-me-me.
I will admit that I have been guilty of commercialism, of going over board because I want my kids to have all the things that I didn't, and I have come to realize that by doing so I have created mini monsters who play with new toys for about a week then grow bored of them. Lesson learned. We have scaled waaaaay back on gift giving for any holiday, and we donate the things no longer played with, the ones that are collecting dust.
It has been a painful process, realizing all that has been compromised... my children's egos, my wallet, and the core of our souls. No thing can make my kids love me, and no trinket can show them how much I love them. That is up to me, and up to them. I thank God that my husband and I have come to this realization before it was too late.
Oh, I'm sure we might get the "I'm looking for more presents underneath the ripped and tattered remains of what probably amounts to 3 trees" , and even a small "is that it?" look from at least one of my ankle biters... but we'll get there. Baby steps, people. ;)
But honestly? I'm not sure I want to buy into a holiday that has been tainted with sacrificial blood. Maybe I will opt out next year. Maybe the 25th of each month will be cause for celebration, and maybe, just maybe we can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas every day of every single year without killing someone.
That would be swell.
OK, I'm jumping off of my soapbox now, and I'll leave you with this thought (OK, I'm only standing with one foot on the soap box right now):
This being my first year of retail hell ( I work at the Tar-jay), I would emplore all of the lovely shoppers out there to at least try to put something back in its original spot. If you don't want it? Ya know what? Take it to the register anyway and say these eleven magical words.
"I don't want this, can you put this back for me?"
Those eleven mystical and magical words would reduce hundreds of thousands of man hours of hunting what we like to call reshops from the candy aisle and eventually returning it to the lingerie section.
What does that mean for you you might ask? Lower cost, better savings.
And me, not mentally flipping you the bird. Just a thought.
Hugs and kisses,
~mert
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, July 07, 2008
It takes a village... (OR- why my 4th of July weekend sucked)
Of idiots to ruin my 4th of July weekend. Bah.
Let me just say that normally, I am a very tolerant person. I think I'm pretty nice to the people I kind of know, very nice to the people I love (but I do rule with a stern hand- sometimes an iron fist, I must say), and polite and accommodating to most strangers -unless they fall into the idiot category, then it's so on.
I think that my polite kindness and my kind politeness may be considered my Achilles' heel, which makes me, in turn, a heel.
I guess the best place to start would be the beginning, no? My 4th of July weekend started with me working. Hooray. People need their hot dog combos and popcorn, so I suppose someone has to do it, even if it's a holiday. It was OK though, we managed to work on the monstrosity of a swing set while the kids played on it's re-composing skeleton ( re-composing IT IS TOO a word, get over it), played in the pool and sand box... and I even grilled lunch, almost melting the grill's plastic hood.
Anywho, later I had to go to work. I figured I could kick some butt and leave early since closing of Food Avenue is 8 pm and the fact that I could prep most of the work before then and leave at about 8:20 PM instead of dragging things out until 9 PM.
NOPE. The Lead Cashier needed me to walk rounds to collect the cash from the cash registers, leaving me to get off of work at, yup you guessed it... 9PM.
You would think that I would want to get off early to see the fireworks, right? WRONG. See in the ass backwards town I live in, we like have a little thing called River Boat Days on the Mississippi river. It has a small carnival and concerts near the pool. But they way we do it is that River Boat Days starts on the 3rd and ends the 5th. Fireworks are AFTER River Boat Days ends.
What? 4th of July without fireworks? I know. It sux. So the 5th I'm off and we decided to work on the swing set some more, go see Wall-e again ( because we loved it the first time we saw it)then go see the fireworks sometime between 9:30 and 10pm.
We worked on the swing set as planned. Then my snotty neighbor's obnoxious boy a year younger than Anna, but just as big as her- who doesn't listen to his mother at all- decides he is going to invite himself over to play on the swing set with his sister in tow. The sister is OK most of the time when she isn't viewing Emma as competition or a threat for some reason, and trying to sneak subtle abuse under the radar. The neighbor? She can be friendly at times, but recently has become a little snotty and condescending, and has implied that her life is harder than mine because she believed I still didn't work. Like I'm not worth as much for not working. It's not my fault she is a single mother of3 for Pete's sake. Sheesh. She implied by her tone one day that I was an idiot to think that she had a spare moment to herself, and then said she supposed she could use some of the hand me downs I had given to her for her new baby. When someone gives me a free bag of anything I say thank you, whether or not I can use any or all of it. Usually, lately- though I thought we were becoming friends in the past- we just wave to each other because I have decided that I'm not going to give her the opportunity to ruin my day by making me feel like an idiot. Last weekend she ignored me completely while her sister was in town, even though her kids were across the alley in my back yard... while her sister looked on with an expression I can only describe as"Oh. Mah. Gah. They are like totally over? in that lady's yard? Ugh, is that like a BUM shirt she is wearing? So 1990".
They have moments when they can be nice ( but usually are yelling and screaming at each other, and the older brother tends to be a bully, meanwhile the mom is too overwhelmed I think to do anything most of the time, so he gets away with it) but I'm keeping an eye on them and giving them a chance to be good instead of sending them home. I don't want to hurt their feelings by doing this even though I have dreaded this moment because the neighbor lets their kids come over whenever they want with out asking or caring if this is ok with John and me. I don't want my yard to be an amusement park for the whole neighborhood, and a free day care for the parents. Crap, it's happening, but I'm determined to handle it as best as I can. Soon, the brother and sister get bored and decide to jump in our pool. I ask him to go ask his mom if it's OK if they swim in our pool.
He comes back and says that his mom said yes. The mom comes over, suddenly very friendly, and checks to see if her children are behaving. The boy is not. The mother attempts to make him behave, but he doesn't. His mom tries to make him go home because he is being bad, but he refuses to get out of the pool. She kind of gives up and mumbles he is going to get time out if he doesn't get out while she crosses the alley back to her house, he ignores her. I tell him if he doesn't get out NOW, and listen to his mom, he won't ever be allowed back in the pool. He complains it's not fair and goes back to his house, while Anna and the sister continue to play in the pool.
The sister decides that she will take out some of her frustration from being bullied all day long by her brother on Emma, but splashing her in the face. I give her "the look" and quietly tell her to knock it off.
She knows I mean business and plays very nicely with the girls, except for the parts where she still views Emma as a threat/competition and refuses to play with her. *SIGH*
The girls are hungry, I feed them, including the neighbor's daughter, and they decide they want to play in my girls' room. I go over and ask the neighbor if that is OK, she says yes. She stays for awhile. The girl gets bored and goes home.
My girls decide they want to dry off so they play inside for awhile.
Phew. Good. An hour later the girls decide they want to get their swimsuits on (even though Emma just likes to play outside of the pool, occasionally getting her hands wet). While they finish getting dressed I go outside and remove the pool cover... then come back inside to see the boy in his swimming trunks, peeking inside our back door. I groan and wait a few minutes, hoping he will leave. He doesn't so i tell the girls to go out I'll be right behind them. Before Anna even gets out the back door, the boy is in MY POOL. Anna tells me, I become exasperated and go outside.
"Did you ask your mom if you could get in?"Hiding my fangs, I tell him he needs to go ask his mom if it's ok if he gets in the pool because I don't want her unaware should he get hurt.
No, he says, he'll go ask. I stop him. "NEXT TIME, you need to ask me first before you jump in my pool." He avoids eye contact. I ask him if her heard me, he says yes.
He comes back and says that his mom said yes.
He slaps Anna and his sister with a pool toy. I tell him no hitting or he will have to leave. he stops for a bit, then continues to jump in and out of pool (getting leaves and grass in the pool I just spent 20 minutes cleaning with a net), like he did when his mom was over, I tell him to knock it off. He leans over the side of the pool, letting gallons of water out, I tell him to knock it off.
Finally I have had enough. "There is one thing you are going to learn while over in my yard... If you don't follow my rules, you're out of here," I say while jabbing a thumb in the direction of his house, across the ally. He ignores me, I ask him 2 times if her heard me, he finally says yes.
He waits a few minutes, then tries to blow water at Emma through a pool noodle, I yell"Don't you dare." He dumps 3 buckets of water over Anna's head, despite her yelling stop and she screams because he got a lot of water in both of her ears, I tell him enough and before I can even finish, he starts slapping Anna on the head "trying to help her get the water out of her ears" then slaps his sister and Anna again with the pool toy, the noodle.
"OK, that's it, you're outta here."
He gives me a blank stare.
"Go on.. GET out. Go home."
He gets out and goes home.
They play for a bit and get out because they are cold. The boy comes over and asks if the sister is staying at my house because he is going somewhere with his mom and their baby brother. I say no, we are going in side.
He says, "Mom said she can stay here while we leave."
"No she can't, we- meaning me and my girls- are going inside. You have to go home now," I say to the girl, not trying to be mean so I soften my tone, though I am angry that the mother seems to think I'm her free day care, "I'm sorry, you have to go home." Grrrrrr!
Later, I go outside to put the pool cover on, and she pokes her head out her kitchen door, "Thanks for letting my kids play, were they good?"
Pfffft. "No," I say, "HE wasn't, that's why I sent him home."
Oh, she says, she asked him why he was back home and he told her he just wanted to come back home. She said she asked him if he was bad, and he lied.
I explain that he was slapping the girls with the pool toy, so I sent him home. She says nothing.
Then I decide that since I'm clearing the air, "He got in my pool without even asking. We were coming outside and he was already inside the pool". She mumbles something I can't hear over my air conditioning unit. I tell her that I told him "There is one thing you are going to learn while over in my yard... If you don't follow my rules, your out of here", she says OK, then says sorry.
I wave good bye over my shoulder and go back inside.
What really makes me angry is that her kids are running around and she has no clue where they are, or if she does see them in my yard doesn't care that they just invite themselves over... why? because again, she is overwhelmed? Not my problem. To top it off? This happened while she had a "male visitor" over at her house.
To make matters worse (if you are even still reading this rambling rant), later we go a little early to see the fireworks to make sure we get a good spot. We get down to the river front just after 9pm. We wait, and wait and wait. And what do we hear? Are you kidding me? The last concert act , The Blue Oyster Cult starts their lasp part of the show late, and still no fireworks because the fireworks don't start until River Boat Days is officially over. It's freaking quarter to 11pm, and no fireworks. We decide to follow the hundreds of people that are leaving the area and go home, very disappointed. And would you believe? They started the fireworks shortly after we left. Forgive me if I'm wrong but fireworks are really for kids and you're starting at 11pm? IDIOTS!
Not only do we not have fireworks on the 4th , like every other NORMAL town, but we wait the next day in vain, for almost 2 hours.
The next day... the neighbor's daughter invites herself over just minutes after we get outside, and immediately jumps on a swing. *2 and half SIGHS, while noticing her mother isn't paying attention that her kid is in my yard, and deciding that I need to nip this ALL in the bud because I refuse to be free day care, especially to someone who has so openly despised me*
"You're going to have to go home."
"Why?"
Choosing my words carefully, I say, "Because I don't want you guys over here today [as in: because I am very tired and would like to spend my day not having to discipline someone else's kids]."
Still refusing to get off the swing," WHY?"
"Because I said so, that's why," I say, exasperated.
"Well, we were going to play in our (baby) pool, ANYWAY," she says in a snotty voice, while walking away.
"Good for you. Bye."
She must have told her mother what I said because later last night they came over to ask what John and I were doing to our pool ( adding shock), and the mother called them back over immediately. I hope she got the message because though I'm nice, I don't let people walk all over me. Not anymore. Why? Because people suck, says the pessimist.
It's so irritating to me, and the reason is that we went through something similar when Anna was a toddler. There is a girl that lives a few houses down that was 3 or 4 years older than Anna, and she didn't seem to have any friends. So we had a really small pool and she would see Anna and I playing in it , then show up minutes later at my back yard, slowly creeping towards the pool while asking me questions... eventually getting in the pool without asking. Her mother would say to me, "OH, I noticed she was in your pool..." and I would say, yeah she just showed up in her swim suit and just jumped right in. "oh, she invited herself over," she would laugh,"She does that all the time."
Yeah, well... you might want to do something about that, I mean sheesh! Do you even care where you child is? Once, she invited herself over to play with Anna, and her father, who was supposed to be watching her while his wife was out of town... just drove off and left her at my house without even asking me. He didn't even acknowledge that she was in my yard as he drove by my yard , through the alley! NICE.
If you are going to try to shove your kids off on other people so you can have a break? Please do us all a favor and don't bother to procreate anymore.
OK, rant over.
And now you know why my 4th of July sucked.
The end.
Let me just say that normally, I am a very tolerant person. I think I'm pretty nice to the people I kind of know, very nice to the people I love (but I do rule with a stern hand- sometimes an iron fist, I must say), and polite and accommodating to most strangers -unless they fall into the idiot category, then it's so on.
I think that my polite kindness and my kind politeness may be considered my Achilles' heel, which makes me, in turn, a heel.
I guess the best place to start would be the beginning, no? My 4th of July weekend started with me working. Hooray. People need their hot dog combos and popcorn, so I suppose someone has to do it, even if it's a holiday. It was OK though, we managed to work on the monstrosity of a swing set while the kids played on it's re-composing skeleton ( re-composing IT IS TOO a word, get over it), played in the pool and sand box... and I even grilled lunch, almost melting the grill's plastic hood.
Anywho, later I had to go to work. I figured I could kick some butt and leave early since closing of Food Avenue is 8 pm and the fact that I could prep most of the work before then and leave at about 8:20 PM instead of dragging things out until 9 PM.
NOPE. The Lead Cashier needed me to walk rounds to collect the cash from the cash registers, leaving me to get off of work at, yup you guessed it... 9PM.
You would think that I would want to get off early to see the fireworks, right? WRONG. See in the ass backwards town I live in, we like have a little thing called River Boat Days on the Mississippi river. It has a small carnival and concerts near the pool. But they way we do it is that River Boat Days starts on the 3rd and ends the 5th. Fireworks are AFTER River Boat Days ends.
What? 4th of July without fireworks? I know. It sux. So the 5th I'm off and we decided to work on the swing set some more, go see Wall-e again ( because we loved it the first time we saw it)then go see the fireworks sometime between 9:30 and 10pm.
We worked on the swing set as planned. Then my snotty neighbor's obnoxious boy a year younger than Anna, but just as big as her- who doesn't listen to his mother at all- decides he is going to invite himself over to play on the swing set with his sister in tow. The sister is OK most of the time when she isn't viewing Emma as competition or a threat for some reason, and trying to sneak subtle abuse under the radar. The neighbor? She can be friendly at times, but recently has become a little snotty and condescending, and has implied that her life is harder than mine because she believed I still didn't work. Like I'm not worth as much for not working. It's not my fault she is a single mother of3 for Pete's sake. Sheesh. She implied by her tone one day that I was an idiot to think that she had a spare moment to herself, and then said she supposed she could use some of the hand me downs I had given to her for her new baby. When someone gives me a free bag of anything I say thank you, whether or not I can use any or all of it. Usually, lately- though I thought we were becoming friends in the past- we just wave to each other because I have decided that I'm not going to give her the opportunity to ruin my day by making me feel like an idiot. Last weekend she ignored me completely while her sister was in town, even though her kids were across the alley in my back yard... while her sister looked on with an expression I can only describe as"Oh. Mah. Gah. They are like totally over? in that lady's yard? Ugh, is that like a BUM shirt she is wearing? So 1990".
They have moments when they can be nice ( but usually are yelling and screaming at each other, and the older brother tends to be a bully, meanwhile the mom is too overwhelmed I think to do anything most of the time, so he gets away with it) but I'm keeping an eye on them and giving them a chance to be good instead of sending them home. I don't want to hurt their feelings by doing this even though I have dreaded this moment because the neighbor lets their kids come over whenever they want with out asking or caring if this is ok with John and me. I don't want my yard to be an amusement park for the whole neighborhood, and a free day care for the parents. Crap, it's happening, but I'm determined to handle it as best as I can. Soon, the brother and sister get bored and decide to jump in our pool. I ask him to go ask his mom if it's OK if they swim in our pool.
He comes back and says that his mom said yes. The mom comes over, suddenly very friendly, and checks to see if her children are behaving. The boy is not. The mother attempts to make him behave, but he doesn't. His mom tries to make him go home because he is being bad, but he refuses to get out of the pool. She kind of gives up and mumbles he is going to get time out if he doesn't get out while she crosses the alley back to her house, he ignores her. I tell him if he doesn't get out NOW, and listen to his mom, he won't ever be allowed back in the pool. He complains it's not fair and goes back to his house, while Anna and the sister continue to play in the pool.
The sister decides that she will take out some of her frustration from being bullied all day long by her brother on Emma, but splashing her in the face. I give her "the look" and quietly tell her to knock it off.
She knows I mean business and plays very nicely with the girls, except for the parts where she still views Emma as a threat/competition and refuses to play with her. *SIGH*
The girls are hungry, I feed them, including the neighbor's daughter, and they decide they want to play in my girls' room. I go over and ask the neighbor if that is OK, she says yes. She stays for awhile. The girl gets bored and goes home.
My girls decide they want to dry off so they play inside for awhile.
Phew. Good. An hour later the girls decide they want to get their swimsuits on (even though Emma just likes to play outside of the pool, occasionally getting her hands wet). While they finish getting dressed I go outside and remove the pool cover... then come back inside to see the boy in his swimming trunks, peeking inside our back door. I groan and wait a few minutes, hoping he will leave. He doesn't so i tell the girls to go out I'll be right behind them. Before Anna even gets out the back door, the boy is in MY POOL. Anna tells me, I become exasperated and go outside.
"Did you ask your mom if you could get in?"Hiding my fangs, I tell him he needs to go ask his mom if it's ok if he gets in the pool because I don't want her unaware should he get hurt.
No, he says, he'll go ask. I stop him. "NEXT TIME, you need to ask me first before you jump in my pool." He avoids eye contact. I ask him if her heard me, he says yes.
He comes back and says that his mom said yes.
He slaps Anna and his sister with a pool toy. I tell him no hitting or he will have to leave. he stops for a bit, then continues to jump in and out of pool (getting leaves and grass in the pool I just spent 20 minutes cleaning with a net), like he did when his mom was over, I tell him to knock it off. He leans over the side of the pool, letting gallons of water out, I tell him to knock it off.
Finally I have had enough. "There is one thing you are going to learn while over in my yard... If you don't follow my rules, you're out of here," I say while jabbing a thumb in the direction of his house, across the ally. He ignores me, I ask him 2 times if her heard me, he finally says yes.
He waits a few minutes, then tries to blow water at Emma through a pool noodle, I yell"Don't you dare." He dumps 3 buckets of water over Anna's head, despite her yelling stop and she screams because he got a lot of water in both of her ears, I tell him enough and before I can even finish, he starts slapping Anna on the head "trying to help her get the water out of her ears" then slaps his sister and Anna again with the pool toy, the noodle.
"OK, that's it, you're outta here."
He gives me a blank stare.
"Go on.. GET out. Go home."
He gets out and goes home.
They play for a bit and get out because they are cold. The boy comes over and asks if the sister is staying at my house because he is going somewhere with his mom and their baby brother. I say no, we are going in side.
He says, "Mom said she can stay here while we leave."
"No she can't, we- meaning me and my girls- are going inside. You have to go home now," I say to the girl, not trying to be mean so I soften my tone, though I am angry that the mother seems to think I'm her free day care, "I'm sorry, you have to go home." Grrrrrr!
Later, I go outside to put the pool cover on, and she pokes her head out her kitchen door, "Thanks for letting my kids play, were they good?"
Pfffft. "No," I say, "HE wasn't, that's why I sent him home."
Oh, she says, she asked him why he was back home and he told her he just wanted to come back home. She said she asked him if he was bad, and he lied.
I explain that he was slapping the girls with the pool toy, so I sent him home. She says nothing.
Then I decide that since I'm clearing the air, "He got in my pool without even asking. We were coming outside and he was already inside the pool". She mumbles something I can't hear over my air conditioning unit. I tell her that I told him "There is one thing you are going to learn while over in my yard... If you don't follow my rules, your out of here", she says OK, then says sorry.
I wave good bye over my shoulder and go back inside.
What really makes me angry is that her kids are running around and she has no clue where they are, or if she does see them in my yard doesn't care that they just invite themselves over... why? because again, she is overwhelmed? Not my problem. To top it off? This happened while she had a "male visitor" over at her house.
To make matters worse (if you are even still reading this rambling rant), later we go a little early to see the fireworks to make sure we get a good spot. We get down to the river front just after 9pm. We wait, and wait and wait. And what do we hear? Are you kidding me? The last concert act , The Blue Oyster Cult starts their lasp part of the show late, and still no fireworks because the fireworks don't start until River Boat Days is officially over. It's freaking quarter to 11pm, and no fireworks. We decide to follow the hundreds of people that are leaving the area and go home, very disappointed. And would you believe? They started the fireworks shortly after we left. Forgive me if I'm wrong but fireworks are really for kids and you're starting at 11pm? IDIOTS!
Not only do we not have fireworks on the 4th , like every other NORMAL town, but we wait the next day in vain, for almost 2 hours.
The next day... the neighbor's daughter invites herself over just minutes after we get outside, and immediately jumps on a swing. *2 and half SIGHS, while noticing her mother isn't paying attention that her kid is in my yard, and deciding that I need to nip this ALL in the bud because I refuse to be free day care, especially to someone who has so openly despised me*
"You're going to have to go home."
"Why?"
Choosing my words carefully, I say, "Because I don't want you guys over here today [as in: because I am very tired and would like to spend my day not having to discipline someone else's kids]."
Still refusing to get off the swing," WHY?"
"Because I said so, that's why," I say, exasperated.
"Well, we were going to play in our (baby) pool, ANYWAY," she says in a snotty voice, while walking away.
"Good for you. Bye."
She must have told her mother what I said because later last night they came over to ask what John and I were doing to our pool ( adding shock), and the mother called them back over immediately. I hope she got the message because though I'm nice, I don't let people walk all over me. Not anymore. Why? Because people suck, says the pessimist.
It's so irritating to me, and the reason is that we went through something similar when Anna was a toddler. There is a girl that lives a few houses down that was 3 or 4 years older than Anna, and she didn't seem to have any friends. So we had a really small pool and she would see Anna and I playing in it , then show up minutes later at my back yard, slowly creeping towards the pool while asking me questions... eventually getting in the pool without asking. Her mother would say to me, "OH, I noticed she was in your pool..." and I would say, yeah she just showed up in her swim suit and just jumped right in. "oh, she invited herself over," she would laugh,"She does that all the time."
Yeah, well... you might want to do something about that, I mean sheesh! Do you even care where you child is? Once, she invited herself over to play with Anna, and her father, who was supposed to be watching her while his wife was out of town... just drove off and left her at my house without even asking me. He didn't even acknowledge that she was in my yard as he drove by my yard , through the alley! NICE.
If you are going to try to shove your kids off on other people so you can have a break? Please do us all a favor and don't bother to procreate anymore.
OK, rant over.
And now you know why my 4th of July sucked.
The end.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Help me!
This Mary mert reporting from underneath 6 inches of freshly fallen snow in Eastern Iowa. You may have been wondering where I have been for the last week, and I am about to tell you harrowing tales, so put the kiddies in another room folks.
My captors forced me to do manual labor last night, in which I was made to go out in the cold in the dark and press together large clumps of snow. My dinner was stolen from me and placed on the smallest of the clumps, as were the buttons on my pants. Notice the gleeful smiles. Oh how they love to torture me!
I have just now dug my way out of a snow tunnel and am making my escape back into the house
where I must then be interrogated, most likely with questions such as " Where is my HOT COCOA!", and "Why are there only 8 marshmallows and not 10?"
You may have been wondering why I haven't posted in a while, and I'll be honest. My captors have been keeping me under lock and key and only allowing me small meals in between making their meals.
About 4 days before Christmas I stayed up all hours of the night making ginger bread for the the tyrannical dictators that are my captors. "Gingerbread, when will you make the gingerbread!?!" We spent the next day putting together a miniature replica of this house they hold me in, but mostly they gorged themselves on chocolates and candies.
Most recently they had me scrubbing their toilets on Christmas Eve. Though I wouldn't wish this fate on anyone, I am just glad to be alive. My cell mate is severely ill, he is coughing and shivering and luckily they aren't quite as hard on him... but they do make him sit for hours playing a Winnie The Pooh video game, the same game they have forced him to play for months now. They are slowly breaking him down mentally I think, with constant images of rotund yellow bears and tiny pink piglets. Oh the horror.
On Christmas I got up at the crack o' to make the angry mob breakfast of their traditional holiday coffee cake, then was forced to endure over an hour of the sound of ripping paper and shrieking.
My captors forced me to do manual labor last night, in which I was made to go out in the cold in the dark and press together large clumps of snow. My dinner was stolen from me and placed on the smallest of the clumps, as were the buttons on my pants. Notice the gleeful smiles. Oh how they love to torture me!
I have just now dug my way out of a snow tunnel and am making my escape back into the house
where I must then be interrogated, most likely with questions such as " Where is my HOT COCOA!", and "Why are there only 8 marshmallows and not 10?"You may have been wondering why I haven't posted in a while, and I'll be honest. My captors have been keeping me under lock and key and only allowing me small meals in between making their meals.
About 4 days before Christmas I stayed up all hours of the night making ginger bread for the the tyrannical dictators that are my captors. "Gingerbread, when will you make the gingerbread!?!" We spent the next day putting together a miniature replica of this house they hold me in, but mostly they gorged themselves on chocolates and candies.
Most recently they had me scrubbing their toilets on Christmas Eve. Though I wouldn't wish this fate on anyone, I am just glad to be alive. My cell mate is severely ill, he is coughing and shivering and luckily they aren't quite as hard on him... but they do make him sit for hours playing a Winnie The Pooh video game, the same game they have forced him to play for months now. They are slowly breaking him down mentally I think, with constant images of rotund yellow bears and tiny pink piglets. Oh the horror.
On Christmas I got up at the crack o' to make the angry mob breakfast of their traditional holiday coffee cake, then was forced to endure over an hour of the sound of ripping paper and shrieking.
"High School Musical 2!"
"Elmo!"
"More High School Musical 2!"
"Dora!"
"Even MORE High School Musical 2!"
Heh, heh... little do they know, I have my own tricks! Subliminal auditory suggestions via Disney music. ;)
"Elmo!"
"More High School Musical 2!"
"Dora!"
"Even MORE High School Musical 2!"
Heh, heh... little do they know, I have my own tricks! Subliminal auditory suggestions via Disney music. ;)
Today my captors plan to have me hauling more clumps of snow in the cold, hopefully after I have had at least one cup of coffee. Stay tunes for more messages from the snowy trenches... I hope I last until the New Year.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Gobble.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am blessed to have so many blogging buddies and I know I am very thankful for all of you.
Remember to be safe! Here are a few important safety tips:
Buttons on pants can be dangerous. To avoid having your button put out someone's eye, go ahead and unbutton before the meal starts.
The drumstick is not worth losing a knife fight over.
Don't be the first person to help yourself to the gravy, chances are it's hot enough to take a layer of taste buds off your tongue. Pass it to the left and let it come full circle back to you. ;)
If you do burn your tongue, soak it in a tub whipped cream. Not only will it sooth your tongue (because you just couldn't liten about the gravy, could you?)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Frisk the 15th
*** Sing to the tune of Deck The Halls***
'Tis the season to get crazy
Falalalalalalala
When you brain gets tired and hazy
Falalalalalalala
And while your singing all these LaLas
Falalalalala la la la!
Don't forget to Frisk your Ta-Tas!
FA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LAAAAAA!
OK, now put your boobs down and please pass the biscuits!
Falalalalalalala
When you brain gets tired and hazy
Falalalalalalala
And while your singing all these LaLas
Falalalalala la la la!
Don't forget to Frisk your Ta-Tas!
FA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LAAAAAA!
OK, now put your boobs down and please pass the biscuits!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
Here are my girls, who usually are monkeys... As a Cheetah and Eeyore. :D Click them to enlarge :)
I really love the shot of their tails!
On November 2nd Kailani at An Island Life will be having a contest to judge:
I really love the shot of their tails!
And here is Emma inviting herself in to our neighbor's house...
She just pushed right on past Kim and made herself comfy. I was laughing and my hands were shaking so hard that I was surprised the shot even came out.
On November 2nd Kailani at An Island Life will be having a contest to judge:
- Best Child Costume
- Best Adult Costume
- Best Pet Costume
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day
For all the moms who are perfect
and not-so-perfect,
The content and the exhausted,
The happy and the frazzled...
For all the moms who gave life
and chose to give it away,
And all the moms who prayed for a
child and gave a child a home...
For the moms who cry, love,
mourn, laugh, worry, sacrifice,
I hope that you know that you have
made a difference in the world,
and that you have a beautiful Mother's day.
and not-so-perfect,
The content and the exhausted,
The happy and the frazzled...
For all the moms who gave life
and chose to give it away,
And all the moms who prayed for a
child and gave a child a home...
For the moms who cry, love,
mourn, laugh, worry, sacrifice,
I hope that you know that you have
made a difference in the world,
and that you have a beautiful Mother's day.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Mother's Day is just around the corner, you know....
My bud Michelle sent me the link to this really cute site that has something that I would- uhhh... I mean my girls would really love. Check it!
While I was browsing the site, I found some dish towels, pot holders and coffee mugs I would just die for, and adore. So many choices, what to do!
Make a list for the hubs, that's what!
"A clean house is a sign of a wasted life."
"Being unstable & b#tchy is all part of my mystique."
"I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning. Just not as it applies to me."
"Drink coffee - do stupid things faster with more energy." *Heh heh, that one is sooooo me.
Here is the mug version.
"Inside me is a thin woman screaming to get out...I can usually keep the b#tch quiet with chocolate." ***SO naughty, but so funny***
"You can't scare me. I have children."
"Put On Your Big Girl Panties and Deal With It"
"Both of us can't look good at the same time. It's either me or the house."
"Housework can't kill you but why take the chance?"
"I haven't had my coffee yet, don't make me kill you."
You know you want one ;)
Which is your favorite?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
This year, as every year, I resolve...
To not make any resolutions. There , I said it. I mean really- why set myself up for failure? You are probably wondering why I have such a pessimistic point of view. I prefer to think of it as being realistic. I know, I know... isn't changing my thoughts, behaviors and beliefs the point of this blog?
I would rather set goals for myself (in the privacy of my own brain), than lay it all out there and probably embarrass myself when my grand schemes disintegrate, possibly even explode in my face- just as the bell tolls for the next New Year. I might even write it down on paper, setting a goal date, and at the very most share my ambitions with the Male Income Support Unit, but that's a stretch.
Now that we have that out of the way, New Year's day was nothing out of the ordinary for my family. We had 2 sick, cranky and just plain mean kids on our hands, making us sarcastic and unusually jaded about parenthood.
That being said, I about to admit something potentially humiliating. Please don't take *anything you are about to read out of context. As I said, my children were in particularly vicious moods yesterday, causing the sarcasm in us to bubble forth- mostly for sanity's sake.
Case in point: Emma and Anna had already started off the day with shouting, tug of wars, scratching, hissing and screeching- which continued through lunch (which were followed by parental shouting, threats, and jaw clenching):
Now, replace dirty tissue with: barf bowl, bracelet, toy kitty, pillow, blanket, spot on couch, drink, sanity... You get the picture. In between scratching and hissing, there came periodic pleas/demands from the other side of the safety gate, while John worked on his computer and I worked on Anna's "Princess Chores" Chart (which later I realized is ironic because princesses don't have chores, but I will keep that tidbit to myself).
1.Anna:
a.Owwwwww-ow-ow, my nose hurts.
b.I can't stop coughing. (shortly after refusing cough medicine)
c.I'm cold. Can you turn up the heat? (but refuses to go put sweats or robe on)
d.I will only eat lunch if you let me wrap a blanket around myself while I sit at the table. (followed by our refusals, and threats to eat her lunch)
e.*sitting at the table, sans sweats, robe and blanket* I will only eat if you let me use a blanket!
2.Emma:
a.I wan mulk (milk), now.
b.I wan hnack (snack), now.
c.I wan momma, now. I wan dada, now.
Now I will give you our responses *read as sarcastic mutterings under our breath, causing each other to giggle like 6 year olds*
1.
a. Maybe if you wold actually blow it instead of dabbing at it every 2 seconds, it wouldn't hurt.
b. Too bad for you.
c. Put some clothes on! *mutter* ya freak.
d. Mmm, these chicken nuggets taste good.
e. Not gonna happen
As a bonus, here is Emma's response to e:
Eat!*pointing at Anna's plate*
While John chides Emma, he tells her, "Emma, no, no. That's my job, and mommy's job."
To which Emma says, "An ME!"
Meanwhile mommy makes no effort to disguise that fact that she is laughing so hard she is about to fall off the chair.
2.
a.Say please.*mutter* ya freak.
b.smack?
c.*John mumbles as he makes his way to the kitchen* I want you to kiss my butt.
Emma's response to 2c (which by the way is surprising since John said it so low, I barely heard it):
No butt *kissing noise*. No butt diss.
Again, my response was to collapse into a shuddering, gasping heap on the floor.
I think John and I are both perfect candidates for Christian Parent's of the Year.
All in all, a promising glimpse of what the new year will bring. :O)
*No children were harmed in the making of this post, and no permanent or long term emotional scarring is evident at this time.
I would rather set goals for myself (in the privacy of my own brain), than lay it all out there and probably embarrass myself when my grand schemes disintegrate, possibly even explode in my face- just as the bell tolls for the next New Year. I might even write it down on paper, setting a goal date, and at the very most share my ambitions with the Male Income Support Unit, but that's a stretch.
Now that we have that out of the way, New Year's day was nothing out of the ordinary for my family. We had 2 sick, cranky and just plain mean kids on our hands, making us sarcastic and unusually jaded about parenthood.
That being said, I about to admit something potentially humiliating. Please don't take *anything you are about to read out of context. As I said, my children were in particularly vicious moods yesterday, causing the sarcasm in us to bubble forth- mostly for sanity's sake.
Case in point: Emma and Anna had already started off the day with shouting, tug of wars, scratching, hissing and screeching- which continued through lunch (which were followed by parental shouting, threats, and jaw clenching):
Anna: Give me my dirty tissue back! NOW!
Emma: NO! Miiiiiiine! *as she runs away*
Anna: Now, Emma!
Emma: No! I need dat!
Now, replace dirty tissue with: barf bowl, bracelet, toy kitty, pillow, blanket, spot on couch, drink, sanity... You get the picture. In between scratching and hissing, there came periodic pleas/demands from the other side of the safety gate, while John worked on his computer and I worked on Anna's "Princess Chores" Chart (which later I realized is ironic because princesses don't have chores, but I will keep that tidbit to myself).
1.Anna:
a.Owwwwww-ow-ow, my nose hurts.
b.I can't stop coughing. (shortly after refusing cough medicine)
c.I'm cold. Can you turn up the heat? (but refuses to go put sweats or robe on)
d.I will only eat lunch if you let me wrap a blanket around myself while I sit at the table. (followed by our refusals, and threats to eat her lunch)
e.*sitting at the table, sans sweats, robe and blanket* I will only eat if you let me use a blanket!
2.Emma:
a.I wan mulk (milk), now.
b.I wan hnack (snack), now.
c.I wan momma, now. I wan dada, now.
Now I will give you our responses *read as sarcastic mutterings under our breath, causing each other to giggle like 6 year olds*
1.
a. Maybe if you wold actually blow it instead of dabbing at it every 2 seconds, it wouldn't hurt.
b. Too bad for you.
c. Put some clothes on! *mutter* ya freak.
d. Mmm, these chicken nuggets taste good.
e. Not gonna happen
As a bonus, here is Emma's response to e:
Eat!*pointing at Anna's plate*
While John chides Emma, he tells her, "Emma, no, no. That's my job, and mommy's job."
To which Emma says, "An ME!"
Meanwhile mommy makes no effort to disguise that fact that she is laughing so hard she is about to fall off the chair.
2.
a.Say please.*mutter* ya freak.
b.smack?
c.*John mumbles as he makes his way to the kitchen* I want you to kiss my butt.
Emma's response to 2c (which by the way is surprising since John said it so low, I barely heard it):
No butt *kissing noise*. No butt diss.
Again, my response was to collapse into a shuddering, gasping heap on the floor.
I think John and I are both perfect candidates for Christian Parent's of the Year.
All in all, a promising glimpse of what the new year will bring. :O)
*No children were harmed in the making of this post, and no permanent or long term emotional scarring is evident at this time.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
2007
Happy New Year!
May all of your
resolutions be fulfilled,
and may all of your wishes
for the new year come true.
May all of your
resolutions be fulfilled,
and may all of your wishes
for the new year come true.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Merry Christmas
To all of my readers and
friends in the blogoshpere,
I am wishing you a happy,
healthy, and beautiful Christmas!
I hope your holidays are
filled with joy and peace,
and that you are
surrounded by the ones you love.
*"The Virgin With Angels" was painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1900.
friends in the blogoshpere,
I am wishing you a happy,
healthy, and beautiful Christmas!
I hope your holidays are
filled with joy and peace,
and that you are
surrounded by the ones you love.
*"The Virgin With Angels" was painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1900.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Heartwarming holiday memories
I about spit my French Roast all over myself when I heard this story the other day on Regis and Kelly. I feel so bad for that woman, but I am happy that they at least didn't publish her name. How humiliating! If you are offended at the mere mention of bodily functions, stop reading right about here.
I'm not kidding... it's not too late to turn back!
OK, you asked for it...
It reminds me of a vacation, a long time ago... My husband and I decided at the last minute to travel to Maryland to see my mother for Christmas. I have this thing, this idiosyncrasy where I dislike using public toilets for- how should I say... pooping. As quoted from Thursday Thirteen #2, 13 things that annoy me:
So, this would make feeling light and fluffy while on vacation almost impossible, unless confined to the safety of my childhood bathroom. After almost 2 weeks of the the "train reluctantly leaving the station", we were on the first flight from Baltimore to Chicago, returning to Oakland, California.
We were on a large plane, and our seats were 2 rows ahead of a plane partition so that the row behind us was right smack dab, next to the partition- preventing them from being able to recline. Though this may seem like a trivial detail, you will understand it's importance later on. :O)
Anyway, I already had had a bit of a stomach ache, and only moments after take off I was riddled with perspiration-inducing cramps. Lucky me, perfect timing as per usual. I tossed and turned in my seat about as much as a person can sitting in a 2x3 foot area. Nearly doubled over, I gasped and groaned as little and as quietly as I could, my husband looking over occasionally with concern.
Finally, the agony was too much to bear. Ever so gently I lifted a cheek, and silently shared what I can assure you was one of the most vile and embarrassing moments of my life with about 20 people around me.
I waited. With clenched teeth, sitting stiff as a board, but relieved- I waited. Moments later, the row behind me burst into shouting and muttering.
"Oh my god, that's disgusting!"
"Oh, that's just horrible!"
" I think I am going to die!"
I pride myself on being quick thinking at least half of the time, and knowing that everyone around me was gasping for air and I wasn't made me realize very quickly that if I didn't chime in, they would know it was me. So I joined in the shouting and exasperated mutterings (fighting back nervous laughter the whole while), "Oh my god, that's awful! Who would do such a thing?"
After the angry mob behind me settled down, my husband turned to me and said it had smelled like someone had died from food poisoning, and again I stifled the nervous laughter. Just barely. I broke out into a sweat again.
***On a side note, I have a penchant for giggling at bodily functions. It is an unfortunate fact and character flaw, one that I am not proud of. This is a close second to laughing at people tripping or falling on stairs... and just typing this has given me a giggle fit. It can't be helped. I suppose you are wondering why I am admitting this, but I figure I have just shared an embarrassing story that never fails to haunt me this time of year (mostly because my husband enjoys watching me squirm when he shares the story every other year).***
As we left the plane, the people behind me mumbled to each other that this indeed had been the worst flight ever, and that accepting seats right in front of the partition for a reduced price was not a mistake they were about to make any time soon. I felt relief once more, but only after finally leaving the boarding area and heading to our next flight.
Just as we were out of ear shot from the other passengers of our flight, my darling husband turned to me and asked a single, solitary "not so much of a question but more of a declaration" question.
"That was you, wasn't it."
In my defense, I would never resort to lighting a match, nor the casual flick of a lighter while on an airplane. That would be stupid.
Then they would know it was me. :O)
I'm not kidding... it's not too late to turn back!
OK, you asked for it...
It reminds me of a vacation, a long time ago... My husband and I decided at the last minute to travel to Maryland to see my mother for Christmas. I have this thing, this idiosyncrasy where I dislike using public toilets for- how should I say... pooping. As quoted from Thursday Thirteen #2, 13 things that annoy me:
13. The dreaded "back splash" while using public toilets. Who knows who used the potty before you... I just want to hose myself off with hand sanitizer!
So, this would make feeling light and fluffy while on vacation almost impossible, unless confined to the safety of my childhood bathroom. After almost 2 weeks of the the "train reluctantly leaving the station", we were on the first flight from Baltimore to Chicago, returning to Oakland, California.
We were on a large plane, and our seats were 2 rows ahead of a plane partition so that the row behind us was right smack dab, next to the partition- preventing them from being able to recline. Though this may seem like a trivial detail, you will understand it's importance later on. :O)
Anyway, I already had had a bit of a stomach ache, and only moments after take off I was riddled with perspiration-inducing cramps. Lucky me, perfect timing as per usual. I tossed and turned in my seat about as much as a person can sitting in a 2x3 foot area. Nearly doubled over, I gasped and groaned as little and as quietly as I could, my husband looking over occasionally with concern.
Finally, the agony was too much to bear. Ever so gently I lifted a cheek, and silently shared what I can assure you was one of the most vile and embarrassing moments of my life with about 20 people around me.
I waited. With clenched teeth, sitting stiff as a board, but relieved- I waited. Moments later, the row behind me burst into shouting and muttering.
"Oh my god, that's disgusting!"
"Oh, that's just horrible!"
" I think I am going to die!"
I pride myself on being quick thinking at least half of the time, and knowing that everyone around me was gasping for air and I wasn't made me realize very quickly that if I didn't chime in, they would know it was me. So I joined in the shouting and exasperated mutterings (fighting back nervous laughter the whole while), "Oh my god, that's awful! Who would do such a thing?"
After the angry mob behind me settled down, my husband turned to me and said it had smelled like someone had died from food poisoning, and again I stifled the nervous laughter. Just barely. I broke out into a sweat again.
***On a side note, I have a penchant for giggling at bodily functions. It is an unfortunate fact and character flaw, one that I am not proud of. This is a close second to laughing at people tripping or falling on stairs... and just typing this has given me a giggle fit. It can't be helped. I suppose you are wondering why I am admitting this, but I figure I have just shared an embarrassing story that never fails to haunt me this time of year (mostly because my husband enjoys watching me squirm when he shares the story every other year).***
As we left the plane, the people behind me mumbled to each other that this indeed had been the worst flight ever, and that accepting seats right in front of the partition for a reduced price was not a mistake they were about to make any time soon. I felt relief once more, but only after finally leaving the boarding area and heading to our next flight.
Just as we were out of ear shot from the other passengers of our flight, my darling husband turned to me and asked a single, solitary "not so much of a question but more of a declaration" question.
"That was you, wasn't it."
In my defense, I would never resort to lighting a match, nor the casual flick of a lighter while on an airplane. That would be stupid.
Then they would know it was me. :O)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
I'll be seeing you...
I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces all day through
In that small café, the park across the way
(from my recliner, through the bay....
....window) The children's carousel, the chestnut trees, the wishing well
(Awww, it's gonna hurt like hell!)
I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day
(I wish! But winter is here to stay...)
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
( blogging in the mornin' is so much fun)
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
(could be the Darvocet is kicking in too soon)
But I'll be seeing you
(in drug induced hallucinations too)
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you...
*sung by Bing Crosby, and the bold print is me, of course :D
Hey, tomorrow is my out patient surgery and though I will probably be jonesin' for my blogging fix after about 4.5 hours, I won't be on for a few days. I am having a mass removed from my right bicep and 2 from my right thigh at 0945 in the AM.
They had rescheduled me for 2PM, but now I am back to 0945. I hope they don't change me again, it's a little nerve wracking having to call my MIL to reschedule with her.
We will see how desperate I become before I try to mouse with my left hand. Any bets? I am thinking a day, LOL! Until then, au revoir mes amis!
Until we meet again... enjoy some photos!We have gone "rustic" this year with mostly handmade ornaments in whites, black/red, red, and clear (snow flakes and icicles). We decided to only put a 3rd of the ornaments we have because our tree was so heavy that it almost tipped least year, and the fact that the less we put out the less we will have to put away. Having an incision on my right arm has affected my decorating choices this year. I actually like it... for once it doesn't look like Santa exploded in my living room. Minimal is good.
Here are pics of the finished tree, sans pine comb- as Willow tree put it!
Some of our homemade ornaments...
And the Little People we have set up under the tree for the kids.
Finally, our Little People Nativity before Emma...And After Emma.
That this heart of mine embraces all day through
In that small café, the park across the way
(from my recliner, through the bay....
....window) The children's carousel, the chestnut trees, the wishing well
(Awww, it's gonna hurt like hell!)
I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day
(I wish! But winter is here to stay...)
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
( blogging in the mornin' is so much fun)
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
(could be the Darvocet is kicking in too soon)
But I'll be seeing you
(in drug induced hallucinations too)
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you...
*sung by Bing Crosby, and the bold print is me, of course :D
Hey, tomorrow is my out patient surgery and though I will probably be jonesin' for my blogging fix after about 4.5 hours, I won't be on for a few days. I am having a mass removed from my right bicep and 2 from my right thigh at 0945 in the AM.
They had rescheduled me for 2PM, but now I am back to 0945. I hope they don't change me again, it's a little nerve wracking having to call my MIL to reschedule with her.
We will see how desperate I become before I try to mouse with my left hand. Any bets? I am thinking a day, LOL! Until then, au revoir mes amis!
Until we meet again... enjoy some photos!We have gone "rustic" this year with mostly handmade ornaments in whites, black/red, red, and clear (snow flakes and icicles). We decided to only put a 3rd of the ornaments we have because our tree was so heavy that it almost tipped least year, and the fact that the less we put out the less we will have to put away. Having an incision on my right arm has affected my decorating choices this year. I actually like it... for once it doesn't look like Santa exploded in my living room. Minimal is good.
Here are pics of the finished tree, sans pine comb- as Willow tree put it!
Some of our homemade ornaments...
And the Little People we have set up under the tree for the kids.
Finally, our Little People Nativity before Emma...And After Emma.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Our first snow day...
We have our first official snow of the season... and Anna had her first official snow day today. I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures of it! It was interesting, I have never heard it thunder during a snow storm before as it did last night. Anna has been dying to go outside, and I have been trying to hold her off until her daddy gets home from work but it's been something. I could have taken her out, but I would have had to take Emma out too. Poor Em, being a peanut and a little under weight since having pneumonia a month ago... I just don't think it's the best idea to take her outside- for what would be forever, because I know that Anna wold want to stay out for awhile.
Several times she declared that she was bored, and usually I would have found something for her to do, but not this time. I knew that despite my efforts, nothing I could ever come up with would be as good as feeling new snow crunch beneath your boots, or throwing the first snowball. At your oblivious parent. :O)
So here we are, trying to fill the day... but nothing is quite good enough to stay the snow bunny blues. I made us a typical snow day lunch of grilled Cheddar and provolone cheese sandwiches and chicken and stars soup. I had never actually made grilled cheese with real cheese before, usually I use the "sandwich" cheese variety. Anna had previously said that she hated grilled cheese, to which John and I guffawed.
"Bread, cheese and butter... what's not to like?"
She ate it all, which made me a proud mama.
After lunch I noticed that Anna had gotten a little ahead of me, decorating the tree. Even though the tree is up, we haven't gotten any further that the lights, ribbon, and a star. We plan to finish the tree this week end, and it's #1 on my list of things to get done before my surgery on Wednesday. ANYWAY, this is what I noticed as I walked into the living room...
and if you can't make it out...
Which makes realize why she had such a satisfied smile on her face. It wasn't the grilled cheese at all.
.
Several times she declared that she was bored, and usually I would have found something for her to do, but not this time. I knew that despite my efforts, nothing I could ever come up with would be as good as feeling new snow crunch beneath your boots, or throwing the first snowball. At your oblivious parent. :O)
So here we are, trying to fill the day... but nothing is quite good enough to stay the snow bunny blues. I made us a typical snow day lunch of grilled Cheddar and provolone cheese sandwiches and chicken and stars soup. I had never actually made grilled cheese with real cheese before, usually I use the "sandwich" cheese variety. Anna had previously said that she hated grilled cheese, to which John and I guffawed.
"Bread, cheese and butter... what's not to like?"
She ate it all, which made me a proud mama.
After lunch I noticed that Anna had gotten a little ahead of me, decorating the tree. Even though the tree is up, we haven't gotten any further that the lights, ribbon, and a star. We plan to finish the tree this week end, and it's #1 on my list of things to get done before my surgery on Wednesday. ANYWAY, this is what I noticed as I walked into the living room...
and if you can't make it out...
Which makes realize why she had such a satisfied smile on her face. It wasn't the grilled cheese at all.
.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
TT #9, 13 things I love about November 1st to January 1st
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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*** Aunt Issy's PB & Jam Coffee Cake***
2c Bisquick
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c creamy pb (I usually use 1/2 c and it comes out more moist)
3/4 c milk
1 egg
1/2c jam (I use apricot, but you can use your favorite)
- Preheat oven to 400
- Grease round or square pan.
- Mix Bisquick and sugar.
- Cut in PB.
- Beat together in separate bowl milk and and egg.
- Stir milk/egg it into the Bisquick PB mixture, dont over mix. You still want to have clumps of PB.
- Pour into pan, and spoon jam in rows over top of mixture
- Bake at 400 for 25 minutes, or until browned.
- Drizzle the top with glaze.
Glaze:
1c sifted confectioners sugar (I am too lazy to sift, I never do)
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp water (1 at a time to thin, repeat until you get the desired coconsistency)
Remember that the glaze will melt and run on the warm/hot coffee cake. I usually make it about the consistencyf honey. I usually double the glaze recipe and leave a bowl out as extra glaze for whoever wants it. This helps in case it comes out a little dryer than expected.
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