Grace in small things
1. Orange juice. I've had a bit of a sore throat the last two days, and I brought a half gallon of OJ with me to work to nip it in the bud.
2. My son's cough did not appear at all in the night. Yay!
3. Continuing to be gainfully employed, as the news reports, again, thousands more jobs lost today. Michigan's unemployment rate is over 10% now. Sigh.
4. Weekend is close.
5. Relaxing evening last night, after a bit of a challenging week
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Sonic opened a location here within the past month or so. Neither hubby nor I have ever had Sonic, and while we were pretty sure we weren't missing anything phenomenal, we decided to try it. Plus, our son loves the opportunity to eat in the car, and we only do that about twice a year, so off we went for our first Sonic Adventure.
Hubby ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, I ordered some sort of breakfast sandwich, our son ordered a grilled cheese kids meal with string cheese and milk (he likes his dairy products), and we also ordered some onion rings and a sprite.
The person brought us the food. He handed us two bags, a cup containing Sprite, and a bottle of milk. He walked away, and we began to take the food out of the bag. There were onion rings, two sandwiches with fried chicken strips on them, a double cheeseburger and some cheese fries. So all that was right was the drinks and the onion rings. We flagged the person down, and he went back and discovered they had put our food on the wrong tray. I didn't figure he would be able to serve the food they had given us, since we had touched it, but I figured he would at least take it back. He told us to keep it. So, I ate my sandwich, hubby ate his, our son ate half of his grilled cheese, between the three of us, we ate about half the order of onion rings that we actually ordered, and brought home: 2 fried chicken strip sandwiches, a double cheeseburger, an order and a half of onion rings, cheese fries, half a grilled cheese and a string cheese. While we certainly got our money's worth, since we left with more food as leftovers than we had actually ordered in the first place, I certainly hope they don't make that mistake very often. It could get quite expensive for them.
Incidentally, the onion rings tasted like french toast to me. Hubby said it had a distinct vanilla taste. Perhaps they need different oil with which to fry onion rings and french toast sticks? They weren't unpleasant, but if given the choice, I would pass on the vanilla taste in the onion rings.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
That dog can't fetch
Grace in small things:
1. A donut
2. Continued employment for hubby and I (I'm thankful for that everyday, especially since each day lately the news reports thousands of new layoffs.
3. That I have prescription coverage, in spite of the fact that I have just been on the phone for an extended period explaining that coverage to the pharmacy and have given them my date of birth at least 3 times during the course of the call.
4. That I have new artwork that my son drew on my wall at work, featuring Transformers.
5. The weekend is near!
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Hubby and I adopted our Beagle mix dog from the Animal Rescue in 2002. He had been found as a stray, and was estimated to be 8 years old. That would make him 14 or 15 years old right now. An older dog.
He's still 100% Beagle in his mannerisms, in spite of his age. A couple years ago he tried to make a mad dash from the kennel when we were on vacation when a new employee held the gate open too long. They found him in the owner's backyard, asleep next to the owner's dog.
We had him in obedience classes when we first got him. He still remembers how to sit, lay down and heel, but he has never enjoyed toys.
Chewing, sure. He gnawed the side of our night stand, and mutilated a laundry basket, in spite of the fact that most of his teeth have been removed due to the hard living he did when he was a stray.
He enjoys his Kong, as long as it is stuffed with treats.
But fetch? Not a chance.
Last week my son asked "Why doesn't our dog fetch like friend's dog?" I told him that our dog never learned to fetch, but he likes to do other things, like run around the yard with us. My son said "But he always stops." True. Our dog is good for one, maybe two, laps around our average sized yard before he needs a break. He is about 100 years old in dog years, after all.
Hubby has mentioned before that we should get another dog now, to kind of soften the blow on our son when we have to say goodbye to our old dog. I hope we don't have to say goodbye to this dog anytime soon. But I don't want another dog right now. I am probably going to subject myself to a bunch of critical comments from other dog lovers (and I love dogs, too), but when the time comes, I would be okay with a couple of dog free years. I wouldn't mind, when the time comes, being able to leave the house for longer than 6 or 7 hours without having to worry about a mess waiting for us at home. I wouldn't mind having the bed back to ourselves. I would love a new bedspread, but hesitate to buy one because a dog would lay on it all day. I wouldn't mind being able to go out and play in the backyard without having to clean it up first. I wouldn't mind being able to go camping for the weekend without making kennel arrangements (Our dog would not like to sleep in a tent. The smells of nature would have him barking at a rabbit/deer/raccoon all night).
Don't get me wrong...I hope our dog is around for many years to come. I'm just saying...When the time comes... I'd be okay being dog-free for a while. Of course, I have a little boy, and he would probably love another dog...So I probably won't be dog free after all...and that's okay, too. :-)
1. A donut
2. Continued employment for hubby and I (I'm thankful for that everyday, especially since each day lately the news reports thousands of new layoffs.
3. That I have prescription coverage, in spite of the fact that I have just been on the phone for an extended period explaining that coverage to the pharmacy and have given them my date of birth at least 3 times during the course of the call.
4. That I have new artwork that my son drew on my wall at work, featuring Transformers.
5. The weekend is near!
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Hubby and I adopted our Beagle mix dog from the Animal Rescue in 2002. He had been found as a stray, and was estimated to be 8 years old. That would make him 14 or 15 years old right now. An older dog.
He's still 100% Beagle in his mannerisms, in spite of his age. A couple years ago he tried to make a mad dash from the kennel when we were on vacation when a new employee held the gate open too long. They found him in the owner's backyard, asleep next to the owner's dog.
We had him in obedience classes when we first got him. He still remembers how to sit, lay down and heel, but he has never enjoyed toys.
Chewing, sure. He gnawed the side of our night stand, and mutilated a laundry basket, in spite of the fact that most of his teeth have been removed due to the hard living he did when he was a stray.
He enjoys his Kong, as long as it is stuffed with treats.
But fetch? Not a chance.
Last week my son asked "Why doesn't our dog fetch like friend's dog?" I told him that our dog never learned to fetch, but he likes to do other things, like run around the yard with us. My son said "But he always stops." True. Our dog is good for one, maybe two, laps around our average sized yard before he needs a break. He is about 100 years old in dog years, after all.
Hubby has mentioned before that we should get another dog now, to kind of soften the blow on our son when we have to say goodbye to our old dog. I hope we don't have to say goodbye to this dog anytime soon. But I don't want another dog right now. I am probably going to subject myself to a bunch of critical comments from other dog lovers (and I love dogs, too), but when the time comes, I would be okay with a couple of dog free years. I wouldn't mind, when the time comes, being able to leave the house for longer than 6 or 7 hours without having to worry about a mess waiting for us at home. I wouldn't mind having the bed back to ourselves. I would love a new bedspread, but hesitate to buy one because a dog would lay on it all day. I wouldn't mind being able to go out and play in the backyard without having to clean it up first. I wouldn't mind being able to go camping for the weekend without making kennel arrangements (Our dog would not like to sleep in a tent. The smells of nature would have him barking at a rabbit/deer/raccoon all night).
Don't get me wrong...I hope our dog is around for many years to come. I'm just saying...When the time comes... I'd be okay being dog-free for a while. Of course, I have a little boy, and he would probably love another dog...So I probably won't be dog free after all...and that's okay, too. :-)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I think I made a new friend
Grace in small things:
1. It is Wednesday, and the workweek is halfway done.
2. The snow this morning was very pretty, and actually a surprise, because apparently the only thing I have been paying attention to weather forecast wise is what the temperature is going to be each day.
3. All of you who said you'd keep my family and me in your thoughts/prayers for our not-revealed-to-you concern. There's something humbling about people who will pray for you, even when they don't know what exactly they're praying for in the first place.
4. My back was bothering me yesterday, but less so today.
5. Hubby cleared the small area of snow that is about 5 feet from our mailbox (that is at the curb) so our postal carrier will stop leaving notes saying that we have to have a 30 foot clearance on either side of our mailbox. If everyone shoveled a 30 foot clearance, I'm pretty sure plows would no longer have to come down our street.
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Yesterday when I went to pick up my son at daycare, a little girl who my son is friends with, but who we haven't seen out of school said "Hi {son's name}'s Mommy." I said hi back to her. She said "What's your name?" I told her. Then I proceeded to talk to my son. The girl said to me "Do you want to come over to my house sometime?" I asked "You'd like {son's name} to come over sometime?" She said "Yes. And you." I'm very cool in the four year old circuit, apparently.
Thanks to everyone who agreed to be interviewed. Go visit CDP and Sauntering Soul to read their great answers. Stefanie has been sent questions, as has Allie.
1. It is Wednesday, and the workweek is halfway done.
2. The snow this morning was very pretty, and actually a surprise, because apparently the only thing I have been paying attention to weather forecast wise is what the temperature is going to be each day.
3. All of you who said you'd keep my family and me in your thoughts/prayers for our not-revealed-to-you concern. There's something humbling about people who will pray for you, even when they don't know what exactly they're praying for in the first place.
4. My back was bothering me yesterday, but less so today.
5. Hubby cleared the small area of snow that is about 5 feet from our mailbox (that is at the curb) so our postal carrier will stop leaving notes saying that we have to have a 30 foot clearance on either side of our mailbox. If everyone shoveled a 30 foot clearance, I'm pretty sure plows would no longer have to come down our street.
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Yesterday when I went to pick up my son at daycare, a little girl who my son is friends with, but who we haven't seen out of school said "Hi {son's name}'s Mommy." I said hi back to her. She said "What's your name?" I told her. Then I proceeded to talk to my son. The girl said to me "Do you want to come over to my house sometime?" I asked "You'd like {son's name} to come over sometime?" She said "Yes. And you." I'm very cool in the four year old circuit, apparently.
Thanks to everyone who agreed to be interviewed. Go visit CDP and Sauntering Soul to read their great answers. Stefanie has been sent questions, as has Allie.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Interview, not job
Grace in small things:
1. I am (as yet) still gainfully employed full time, as is my husband. Hoping to keep it that way.
2. My son had quite a coughing fit in the middle of the night, the likes of which he has not had since last summer. I brought out the nebulizer and gave him a breathing treatment, and he never coughed again all night. For that I am very thankful, because he has had his share of nights full of coughs, and they aren't very restful for him. He woke up well rested and cheerful. I hope the cough keeps away tonight. My son has informed me that the cough is on a plane headed to go live in the groundhog's hole (Groundhog Day next week), so I'm very hopeful that it will be gone.
3. Warm house
4. Plenty to eat
5. My family
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There is something weighing heavily on me this morning that I don't feel at liberty to discuss. I probably won't be able to talk about it anytime soon...But if it's not too much to ask, please keep my family and I (vaguely, since I haven't said why) in your prayers, thoughts, whatever you have...I have faith that it will all come to a positive resolution...But sometimes it's the getting there that's the challenge. Thank you. :-)
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Forget about Delurking Day - What people really want to talk about is whether or not they lock the bathroom door. Thanks for all the comments. I may have to rethink my stance - Apparently I've just been lucky not to be walked in on all this time!
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Bing asked people if they would be interested in being interviewed, and I figured why not (ready made post!). Following are the questions she asked me, and my answers. If you would like to participate, leave me a comment to that effect, and your email address if I don't already have it, and I'll send you questions.
1. What was your childhood dream job, and do you actually work in that field?
In junior high/high school I took 6 years of french, 4 years of spanish and 3 years of german. I wanted to be an interpreter at the UN. I barely work in the same time zone as the UN, and having nothing to do with any language other than English...So, um, no. Last week I did find myself muttering a phrase to myself in french, so apparently I've still got it. Heh.
2. What do you like about blogging?
It's a release when I need it to be and I've "met" (never in person) some interesting people. It really is a community.
3. If you could be the richest person in the world but never find true love or the poorest person who was happy in love, which would you choose and why?
The poorest person in love. Does that really need explanation? I'm a mother and a wife. I'm a nurturer. All the money in the world would feel empty to me without my family.
4. If you could have dinner with any famous or historical person in the entire world (alive or dead) who would it be and why?
I suppose I would invite Jesus to dinner. I think I owe him. ;-)
5. If you had to cook that famous person dinner, what would it be and why?
Well, my favorite is lasagna. Do you think Jesus would like lasagna? I'd like to think so. Cannoli for dessert.
1. I am (as yet) still gainfully employed full time, as is my husband. Hoping to keep it that way.
2. My son had quite a coughing fit in the middle of the night, the likes of which he has not had since last summer. I brought out the nebulizer and gave him a breathing treatment, and he never coughed again all night. For that I am very thankful, because he has had his share of nights full of coughs, and they aren't very restful for him. He woke up well rested and cheerful. I hope the cough keeps away tonight. My son has informed me that the cough is on a plane headed to go live in the groundhog's hole (Groundhog Day next week), so I'm very hopeful that it will be gone.
3. Warm house
4. Plenty to eat
5. My family
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There is something weighing heavily on me this morning that I don't feel at liberty to discuss. I probably won't be able to talk about it anytime soon...But if it's not too much to ask, please keep my family and I (vaguely, since I haven't said why) in your prayers, thoughts, whatever you have...I have faith that it will all come to a positive resolution...But sometimes it's the getting there that's the challenge. Thank you. :-)
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Forget about Delurking Day - What people really want to talk about is whether or not they lock the bathroom door. Thanks for all the comments. I may have to rethink my stance - Apparently I've just been lucky not to be walked in on all this time!
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Bing asked people if they would be interested in being interviewed, and I figured why not (ready made post!). Following are the questions she asked me, and my answers. If you would like to participate, leave me a comment to that effect, and your email address if I don't already have it, and I'll send you questions.
1. What was your childhood dream job, and do you actually work in that field?
In junior high/high school I took 6 years of french, 4 years of spanish and 3 years of german. I wanted to be an interpreter at the UN. I barely work in the same time zone as the UN, and having nothing to do with any language other than English...So, um, no. Last week I did find myself muttering a phrase to myself in french, so apparently I've still got it. Heh.
2. What do you like about blogging?
It's a release when I need it to be and I've "met" (never in person) some interesting people. It really is a community.
3. If you could be the richest person in the world but never find true love or the poorest person who was happy in love, which would you choose and why?
The poorest person in love. Does that really need explanation? I'm a mother and a wife. I'm a nurturer. All the money in the world would feel empty to me without my family.
4. If you could have dinner with any famous or historical person in the entire world (alive or dead) who would it be and why?
I suppose I would invite Jesus to dinner. I think I owe him. ;-)
5. If you had to cook that famous person dinner, what would it be and why?
Well, my favorite is lasagna. Do you think Jesus would like lasagna? I'd like to think so. Cannoli for dessert.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Do not enter
First off, Grace in Small Things:
1. Weekend was wonderful
2. Hubby pulled some of the snow buildup off of the roof, hopefully preventing damage from the ice dams that were starting to form
3. My son woke up this morning, a month past Christmas, and one of the first things out of his mouth was "You guys and Santa got me a lot of the things I wanted for Christmas." He then proceeded to thank me individually for several items. He then thanked Santa aloud as well, and I'm pretty sure Santa can hear that sort of thing. He had already said thank you, but the fact that he was still feeling thankful a month later and wanted to say so...Well, maybe he is participating in Grace in Small Things as well. :)
4. The headache that I had for a large portion of the weekend is gone. Yippee!
5. Stopped at the grocery store on the way to work, and found a great deal on ground beef and stocked up (hey, I'm thankful when I save money!).
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We were at the house of some friends on Saturday night. Hubby had to use to bathroom. He returned to the kitchen quite quickly and asked our friend "We've been friends a while now, so I feel comfortable to ask...How do you lock the bathroom door?" She commented that it had no lock. Hubby went and did his business, and when he came back, he, our friend and I began discussing locking bathroom doors at people's houses. If it is the house of a friend or family member, I don't do it. Our friend doesn't do it. Her husband doesn't do it. Hubby always does it. End of discussion? No.
When we got home, hubby brought it up again, amazed that I would be using someone's bathroom with the door unlocked when someone could come in at any moment. I told him no one would come in. He said that there were kids there. I reminded him that our son knocks first, but he didn't buy that as logic.
He said when we were at these same friend's house for a birthday party and he had to use the bathroom, he actually put the children's stool that they use at the sink in front of the door, since there was no lock. I asked what on earth he expected that to do, and he said it would give him some warning.
Then he compared it to locking a stall in a public restroom, which is completely different. Even if a stall door stayed closed on its own without a lock, there would be no way I would leave myself exposed to a potential walk in by a stranger. But when you're at the home of people you know, you know they aren't going to barge in.
So, I told hubby I'd poll the blog world. When you are at the home of a friend and have to use the bathroom, do you lock the door?
1. Weekend was wonderful
2. Hubby pulled some of the snow buildup off of the roof, hopefully preventing damage from the ice dams that were starting to form
3. My son woke up this morning, a month past Christmas, and one of the first things out of his mouth was "You guys and Santa got me a lot of the things I wanted for Christmas." He then proceeded to thank me individually for several items. He then thanked Santa aloud as well, and I'm pretty sure Santa can hear that sort of thing. He had already said thank you, but the fact that he was still feeling thankful a month later and wanted to say so...Well, maybe he is participating in Grace in Small Things as well. :)
4. The headache that I had for a large portion of the weekend is gone. Yippee!
5. Stopped at the grocery store on the way to work, and found a great deal on ground beef and stocked up (hey, I'm thankful when I save money!).
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We were at the house of some friends on Saturday night. Hubby had to use to bathroom. He returned to the kitchen quite quickly and asked our friend "We've been friends a while now, so I feel comfortable to ask...How do you lock the bathroom door?" She commented that it had no lock. Hubby went and did his business, and when he came back, he, our friend and I began discussing locking bathroom doors at people's houses. If it is the house of a friend or family member, I don't do it. Our friend doesn't do it. Her husband doesn't do it. Hubby always does it. End of discussion? No.
When we got home, hubby brought it up again, amazed that I would be using someone's bathroom with the door unlocked when someone could come in at any moment. I told him no one would come in. He said that there were kids there. I reminded him that our son knocks first, but he didn't buy that as logic.
He said when we were at these same friend's house for a birthday party and he had to use the bathroom, he actually put the children's stool that they use at the sink in front of the door, since there was no lock. I asked what on earth he expected that to do, and he said it would give him some warning.
Then he compared it to locking a stall in a public restroom, which is completely different. Even if a stall door stayed closed on its own without a lock, there would be no way I would leave myself exposed to a potential walk in by a stranger. But when you're at the home of people you know, you know they aren't going to barge in.
So, I told hubby I'd poll the blog world. When you are at the home of a friend and have to use the bathroom, do you lock the door?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Grace in Small Things
I've seen several bloggers taking part in Grace in Small Things. The idea is to post 5 things you're thankful for each day. I don't post everyday, but certainly I can manage to do that on the days I do post. If you are participating, or plan to participate, please let me know and I may set up a set of links to participants on the sidebar.
So, for today:
1. When I went in to wake up my son, he was sound asleep. I put my head on his bed near his face and watched him sleep, feeling his breath on my face. There aren't many moments of waking stillness and quiet with a four year old, and watching him sleep like that reminded me of when he was a baby. He woke up and squeezed my hand. I probably don't have many years (months) left that I can get away with doing that without him waking up and saying "Mom! You're freaking me out!"
2. The sunrise was beautiful. Blue sky, pink tinged clouds.
3. Today is Friday! We have plans to go to the house of some friends tomorrow night. My son and I are frosting cupcakes tonight to bring with us.
4. Work has been a bit busier this week. Is it possible we will get through this winter without hours being cut?
5. My family is healthy and happy and our house is safe and warm. Who could ask for more than that?
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So about those cupcakes...I go to make the cupcakes, and pull out the canola oil. Normally I am very careful about expiration dates, and I don't use anything that is expired. So imagine my surprise when I see that the oil I've been using, as recently as last week, is expired. Very expired. As in November 2004 expired!!! How does that even happen? I find it hard to believe that I haven't used an entire bottle of oil in the last 4 years. So hubby ran out and got me another bottle (thank you, thank you). It has a date of November 2009. Apparently canola oil doesn't have a very long shelf life. Meanwhile, I've been serving everyone baked goods made with very expired oil. Oops. The good news is, apparently expired oil doesn't make you sick.
So, for today:
1. When I went in to wake up my son, he was sound asleep. I put my head on his bed near his face and watched him sleep, feeling his breath on my face. There aren't many moments of waking stillness and quiet with a four year old, and watching him sleep like that reminded me of when he was a baby. He woke up and squeezed my hand. I probably don't have many years (months) left that I can get away with doing that without him waking up and saying "Mom! You're freaking me out!"
2. The sunrise was beautiful. Blue sky, pink tinged clouds.
3. Today is Friday! We have plans to go to the house of some friends tomorrow night. My son and I are frosting cupcakes tonight to bring with us.
4. Work has been a bit busier this week. Is it possible we will get through this winter without hours being cut?
5. My family is healthy and happy and our house is safe and warm. Who could ask for more than that?
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So about those cupcakes...I go to make the cupcakes, and pull out the canola oil. Normally I am very careful about expiration dates, and I don't use anything that is expired. So imagine my surprise when I see that the oil I've been using, as recently as last week, is expired. Very expired. As in November 2004 expired!!! How does that even happen? I find it hard to believe that I haven't used an entire bottle of oil in the last 4 years. So hubby ran out and got me another bottle (thank you, thank you). It has a date of November 2009. Apparently canola oil doesn't have a very long shelf life. Meanwhile, I've been serving everyone baked goods made with very expired oil. Oops. The good news is, apparently expired oil doesn't make you sick.
Stuff and nonsense
I think I'll address comments in this post, rather than comment and post...Because I'm lazy like that today.
The pies were apple and apple crumb. Apple crumb is normally my favorite, but the person who made it didn't peel the apples, which I've never seen before. It was still good, though. The peels were so soft...I had expected them to be kind of tough. I always make mashed potatoes with the peels on.
You guys made me chuckle with your "You can just tell they're crazy about each other" comments. I'm sure the first couple is totally in love. I've never doubted that. I also never doubted it about the previous first couple or most other first couples. But to say I can tell? I wouldn't say that. You can never tell what people are feeling. As I said, I'm sure they're in love, but I think people who say "You can tell they're absolutely crazy about each other" say that because they want to see that. I guarantee there are some couples out there who aren't crazy about each other at all that put on a great show, and vice versa. So yes, they are a loving couple, I'm sure, I hope...But I don't see it. I see what they want me to see.
The fact that President Obama retook the oath? All silliness. If something wasn't said quite right the first time, who cares? Isn't it technically a formality? He's President because he was elected, not because the right words were said in the right order. The fact the people put up a fuss about it or implied that he wasn't President was ridiculous.
The pies were apple and apple crumb. Apple crumb is normally my favorite, but the person who made it didn't peel the apples, which I've never seen before. It was still good, though. The peels were so soft...I had expected them to be kind of tough. I always make mashed potatoes with the peels on.
You guys made me chuckle with your "You can just tell they're crazy about each other" comments. I'm sure the first couple is totally in love. I've never doubted that. I also never doubted it about the previous first couple or most other first couples. But to say I can tell? I wouldn't say that. You can never tell what people are feeling. As I said, I'm sure they're in love, but I think people who say "You can tell they're absolutely crazy about each other" say that because they want to see that. I guarantee there are some couples out there who aren't crazy about each other at all that put on a great show, and vice versa. So yes, they are a loving couple, I'm sure, I hope...But I don't see it. I see what they want me to see.
The fact that President Obama retook the oath? All silliness. If something wasn't said quite right the first time, who cares? Isn't it technically a formality? He's President because he was elected, not because the right words were said in the right order. The fact the people put up a fuss about it or implied that he wasn't President was ridiculous.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
But can he dance?
CBS and NBC got back to their regularly scheduled prime time programming last night. But ABC? All President Obama. The coverage seemed over the top to me. So did the fact that the President has to attend 10 (TEN!) Inaugural Balls. But honestly...tell me now - Did anyone else find the President and First Lady to be very awkward slow dancers? At first I thought it was just me that thought that, but normally everybody looks pretty good slow dancing. Then one of the newscasters commented that "He could stand to add a few more moves to his repertoire." Heh. He looked better dancing fast to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered", though, and fast dancing is harder to fake, so good for him.
My brother in law has now added me as a friend on Facebook, and I couldn't sign on if I wanted to, because there is no password or whatever, since I haven't signed up. Oddly, Hubby is the one that's closer to giving in to the pressure: "Well, I don't want to be the guy 15 years ago that said 'Internet? I don't want to be a part of that.'" Of course, a few years ago Myspace was what everyone is using, and we didn't give in to that pressure, and that seems to be fading as well.
The way this whole issue came up with family is that my sister in law who lives out of state had a baby this month, and we didn't hear about it until 2 weeks after the fact. She told me they had notified everyone via Facebook. Well...I refuse to think that without Facebook we'll never know if a sibling has given birth, and I'm not entirely sure Facebook is the way to notify siblings that you've given birth. Whatever happened to the good old phone tree?
Anyway, so I sounded 100 years old there. The funny thing is, the phone tree is kind of annoying. But so is the idea of having to check Facebook to find out important family info. Also - We don't usually go online on the weekends. Are people going to expect us to react immediately to information they post on Facebook?
Also - One of hubby's coworkers brought pie yesterday and told him to take the leftovers home. Yum, right? Then we get home and hubby's mom had left a bag with a pie hanging on our front door as a late birthday treat. Two gifted pies. In one day. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?
My brother in law has now added me as a friend on Facebook, and I couldn't sign on if I wanted to, because there is no password or whatever, since I haven't signed up. Oddly, Hubby is the one that's closer to giving in to the pressure: "Well, I don't want to be the guy 15 years ago that said 'Internet? I don't want to be a part of that.'" Of course, a few years ago Myspace was what everyone is using, and we didn't give in to that pressure, and that seems to be fading as well.
The way this whole issue came up with family is that my sister in law who lives out of state had a baby this month, and we didn't hear about it until 2 weeks after the fact. She told me they had notified everyone via Facebook. Well...I refuse to think that without Facebook we'll never know if a sibling has given birth, and I'm not entirely sure Facebook is the way to notify siblings that you've given birth. Whatever happened to the good old phone tree?
Anyway, so I sounded 100 years old there. The funny thing is, the phone tree is kind of annoying. But so is the idea of having to check Facebook to find out important family info. Also - We don't usually go online on the weekends. Are people going to expect us to react immediately to information they post on Facebook?
Also - One of hubby's coworkers brought pie yesterday and told him to take the leftovers home. Yum, right? Then we get home and hubby's mom had left a bag with a pie hanging on our front door as a late birthday treat. Two gifted pies. In one day. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Always excused, never a juror
So, I was supposed to have Jury Duty tomorrow. After checking the website, per the instructions, I have discovered that I have been called off. I do not need to report.
This is the third time ever I have been summoned for Jury Duty. The first time I was called off. The second time, my presence was requested. I sat for 4 hours reading a magazine, watching news and drinking free cappuccino before I was excused. This time, obviously, I was called off.
The day I spent four hours there? People griped and complained. Not me. I was perfectly content to chill out for a few hours, and actually secretly wished to be put on a jury. It is something I would like to experience.
I actually was looking forward to Jury Duty tomorrow. I had the book picked out that I would be bringing with me, was looking forward to chilling with my book and some coffee for a while, and hoping this would be my chance to be on a jury.
I suppose I am in the minority here. But, it's my civic duty, and I'd be glad to do it. Maybe next time.
This is the third time ever I have been summoned for Jury Duty. The first time I was called off. The second time, my presence was requested. I sat for 4 hours reading a magazine, watching news and drinking free cappuccino before I was excused. This time, obviously, I was called off.
The day I spent four hours there? People griped and complained. Not me. I was perfectly content to chill out for a few hours, and actually secretly wished to be put on a jury. It is something I would like to experience.
I actually was looking forward to Jury Duty tomorrow. I had the book picked out that I would be bringing with me, was looking forward to chilling with my book and some coffee for a while, and hoping this would be my chance to be on a jury.
I suppose I am in the minority here. But, it's my civic duty, and I'd be glad to do it. Maybe next time.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Stalked by Facebook
I don't mean to overshadow post number 400 by jumping into 401, but I am officially being stalked by Facebook.
A month or so ago a parent of one of my son's friends invited me to join. I thought about it, and decided heck no.
Today a sister in law who doesn't particularly like me (but admittedly likes me more than a couple of my other sisters in law - I have 6 of them) sent me an invitation. Again, no.
A few minutes ago, I get a - wait for it - friend request for Facebook from my favorite sister in law. Um, that would be great, but I'm not on Facebook!!!
So I asked someone to search me under their account. I show up. No picture, no friends, but I show up.
So either
1. Facebook decided I should officially be a member because 3 people have put my email address in on there
2. Hubby (who is a joint user on that email account) clicked the link to join, which is so unlike him and I would be willing to bet he did not, except perhaps from the fact that the first invitation today was from his sister...
So what gives, Facebook? I'm not joining just because you signed me up without permission.
A month or so ago a parent of one of my son's friends invited me to join. I thought about it, and decided heck no.
Today a sister in law who doesn't particularly like me (but admittedly likes me more than a couple of my other sisters in law - I have 6 of them) sent me an invitation. Again, no.
A few minutes ago, I get a - wait for it - friend request for Facebook from my favorite sister in law. Um, that would be great, but I'm not on Facebook!!!
So I asked someone to search me under their account. I show up. No picture, no friends, but I show up.
So either
1. Facebook decided I should officially be a member because 3 people have put my email address in on there
2. Hubby (who is a joint user on that email account) clicked the link to join, which is so unlike him and I would be willing to bet he did not, except perhaps from the fact that the first invitation today was from his sister...
So what gives, Facebook? I'm not joining just because you signed me up without permission.
If I've told you once, I've told you four hundred times...
This is my 400th post! In some ways, that seems like a lot. In some ways, it seems like a little, since I've been at this for nearly 4 years. Of course, that doesn't count the posts to my now private Ebloggy blog, so I don't know what the actual count is.
Anyway, 400 posts! I should celebrate! Maybe I will have leftover birthday cake of hubby's at lunchtime...Maybe I will just eat my PB&J sandwich and think of birthday cake.
In any event, it was a great weekend. My son had his first swimming lesson, which he enjoyed very much, after insisting that he did not want to do it after looking at the pool. Once he got in (thank you, wonderful instructor) he loved it, and he can't wait until next week.
Unfortunately, my son's playdate was canceled. The child got a mysterious rash and the mom decided not to bring it into our home. I appreciate that, though my son was disappointed. Actually, after his swimming lesson and lunch at McDonalds, he never mentioned it again all weekend.
So, 400 posts. I suppose 400 comments would be too much to ask, but what if everyone who read this commented? While that is a similar request to last week's delurking request, only one person actually delurked (read: only one person who doesn't consistently comment commented on that post).
Who knows - Maybe I'll even get through another 400 posts in this blog...maybe even sooner than 2013!
Anyway, 400 posts! I should celebrate! Maybe I will have leftover birthday cake of hubby's at lunchtime...Maybe I will just eat my PB&J sandwich and think of birthday cake.
In any event, it was a great weekend. My son had his first swimming lesson, which he enjoyed very much, after insisting that he did not want to do it after looking at the pool. Once he got in (thank you, wonderful instructor) he loved it, and he can't wait until next week.
Unfortunately, my son's playdate was canceled. The child got a mysterious rash and the mom decided not to bring it into our home. I appreciate that, though my son was disappointed. Actually, after his swimming lesson and lunch at McDonalds, he never mentioned it again all weekend.
So, 400 posts. I suppose 400 comments would be too much to ask, but what if everyone who read this commented? While that is a similar request to last week's delurking request, only one person actually delurked (read: only one person who doesn't consistently comment commented on that post).
Who knows - Maybe I'll even get through another 400 posts in this blog...maybe even sooner than 2013!
Friday, January 16, 2009
I blame high school
So I've made it clear that I don't want to join Facebook? Yes? The main reason? I blame high school.
I went to a high school with over 400 people in my graduating class. That's plenty of people to fill the various cliques. The popular kids, the jocks, the nerds, the freaks, the quiet kids...(stereotype much?).
I managed to be one of the oddballs that didn't fit into any group. For some kids, that's a good thing. They were friends with a few kids from every group. It didn't really work like that for me.
I don't want to say that I was a misfit of any sort, because that really wouldn't be true. Most people didn't dislike me, although I admit with shame that there were a few kids in junior high that I actually picked on. Back in that time, some kids picked on me, whether for my glasses, being a little chubby, not having the coolest clothes, or one time (and I remember this) for biting my fingernails. Apparently projecting the nastiness of making someone feel small onto someone else made me feel a little bigger. When I think back on it as an adult, it makes me feel as small as a grain of sand to think that I treated anyone that way.
But, I digress. By high school there wasn't much picking on people going on, at least not to their faces. The town I grew up in was kind of an elite place. There were lots of fancy people, and lots of fancy houses, and lots of fancy society. There were also projects. Any town that has the richest of the rich will also have the poorest of the poor. We were probably in the minority to actually be middle class.
So, there were the popular kids with their parties and their designer jeans and their cheerleader uniforms. They meshed well with the jocks. Some people actually fell into both categories. But those two groups rarely associated with other groups. I had no place in either of those groups, and quite honestly rarely spoke to a member of those groups (and vice versa) unless grouped together in class.
The nerds. That totally could have been me, but for fear of making myself stand out, I often kept my hand down when I knew the answer and avoided oral presentations at all costs (oddly, except in French class. I remember eagerly being part of a group that traveled across the state to be in a contest where I recited a passage from Cyrano de Bergerac). I nearly did not graduate, despite being in the top 10% of my class, because I skipped the last week of English because I did not want to give an oral presentation. I turned in the written part, and stopped going to class. The teacher called my dad at work after finals and told him if I didn't give the presentation I wouldn't pass English, and thus wouldn't graduate. I showed up that day, gave a great presentation...I think I actually got an A. Somehow I was just that self conscious and intimidated by my peers. Oddly, in a college English class, I remember giving an oral presentation that had some discrepancies. The teacher wrote on the assignment "Some incorrect information...But you were extremely at ease in front of the group." I'm not insecure anymore.
Not to say I didn't have friends. There were a handful of people I spoke with everyday and had lunch with, and I had two "best friends". They were both very artsy (I was not), so I didn't really fit in with their circle of friends.
Back to Facebook. Those two best friends and I lost contact years ago. One of them got a degree in ceramics, and makes some really unusual pieces. I've googled her. Unusual as in made with things like fingernail clippings. Ok? 'Nuff said. The other best friend is very liberal. As in, when I google her I find an article and photo about how she and her husband wept and pondered moving to Canada with the mother in law when they found out Bush had been re-elected. Yes, I know lots of you are liberal, and maybe you felt equally as passionately. But the fact that she is in a news article with that reaction kind of makes me think we wouldn't have much to talk about.
So, for fun (and I use that word loosely) I perused Facebook on someone else's account. I looked up the names of various high school folks, and looked at their friends. What did I discover? The popular kids are still friends with the popular kids, but they also have names of people from other groups on their friend list. When did everyone get to be friends? Are they reminiscing the elementary school days when we were all friends, before one person discovered they were cooler than another? Or is it simply the connection that after all these years "Hey - That person went to my high school!", regardless of whether or not you were truly friends?
So, my feelings remain. I don't have interest in Facebook. I am in touch with the people from my past that I want to be in touch with, and I'm not interested in being in touch with the others. Did high school leave me a bit jaded? Perhaps. I am confident that my son's school experiences will be far more positive than mine, and for that I am glad. But Facebook can keep the high school "friends". And the people with whom I am in regular contact? Why do I need a Facebook page for those people? I'm not going to join Facebook, and I think the world is okay with that.
In other news, It's delurking week. Please let me know you were here.
I went to a high school with over 400 people in my graduating class. That's plenty of people to fill the various cliques. The popular kids, the jocks, the nerds, the freaks, the quiet kids...(stereotype much?).
I managed to be one of the oddballs that didn't fit into any group. For some kids, that's a good thing. They were friends with a few kids from every group. It didn't really work like that for me.
I don't want to say that I was a misfit of any sort, because that really wouldn't be true. Most people didn't dislike me, although I admit with shame that there were a few kids in junior high that I actually picked on. Back in that time, some kids picked on me, whether for my glasses, being a little chubby, not having the coolest clothes, or one time (and I remember this) for biting my fingernails. Apparently projecting the nastiness of making someone feel small onto someone else made me feel a little bigger. When I think back on it as an adult, it makes me feel as small as a grain of sand to think that I treated anyone that way.
But, I digress. By high school there wasn't much picking on people going on, at least not to their faces. The town I grew up in was kind of an elite place. There were lots of fancy people, and lots of fancy houses, and lots of fancy society. There were also projects. Any town that has the richest of the rich will also have the poorest of the poor. We were probably in the minority to actually be middle class.
So, there were the popular kids with their parties and their designer jeans and their cheerleader uniforms. They meshed well with the jocks. Some people actually fell into both categories. But those two groups rarely associated with other groups. I had no place in either of those groups, and quite honestly rarely spoke to a member of those groups (and vice versa) unless grouped together in class.
The nerds. That totally could have been me, but for fear of making myself stand out, I often kept my hand down when I knew the answer and avoided oral presentations at all costs (oddly, except in French class. I remember eagerly being part of a group that traveled across the state to be in a contest where I recited a passage from Cyrano de Bergerac). I nearly did not graduate, despite being in the top 10% of my class, because I skipped the last week of English because I did not want to give an oral presentation. I turned in the written part, and stopped going to class. The teacher called my dad at work after finals and told him if I didn't give the presentation I wouldn't pass English, and thus wouldn't graduate. I showed up that day, gave a great presentation...I think I actually got an A. Somehow I was just that self conscious and intimidated by my peers. Oddly, in a college English class, I remember giving an oral presentation that had some discrepancies. The teacher wrote on the assignment "Some incorrect information...But you were extremely at ease in front of the group." I'm not insecure anymore.
Not to say I didn't have friends. There were a handful of people I spoke with everyday and had lunch with, and I had two "best friends". They were both very artsy (I was not), so I didn't really fit in with their circle of friends.
Back to Facebook. Those two best friends and I lost contact years ago. One of them got a degree in ceramics, and makes some really unusual pieces. I've googled her. Unusual as in made with things like fingernail clippings. Ok? 'Nuff said. The other best friend is very liberal. As in, when I google her I find an article and photo about how she and her husband wept and pondered moving to Canada with the mother in law when they found out Bush had been re-elected. Yes, I know lots of you are liberal, and maybe you felt equally as passionately. But the fact that she is in a news article with that reaction kind of makes me think we wouldn't have much to talk about.
So, for fun (and I use that word loosely) I perused Facebook on someone else's account. I looked up the names of various high school folks, and looked at their friends. What did I discover? The popular kids are still friends with the popular kids, but they also have names of people from other groups on their friend list. When did everyone get to be friends? Are they reminiscing the elementary school days when we were all friends, before one person discovered they were cooler than another? Or is it simply the connection that after all these years "Hey - That person went to my high school!", regardless of whether or not you were truly friends?
So, my feelings remain. I don't have interest in Facebook. I am in touch with the people from my past that I want to be in touch with, and I'm not interested in being in touch with the others. Did high school leave me a bit jaded? Perhaps. I am confident that my son's school experiences will be far more positive than mine, and for that I am glad. But Facebook can keep the high school "friends". And the people with whom I am in regular contact? Why do I need a Facebook page for those people? I'm not going to join Facebook, and I think the world is okay with that.
In other news, It's delurking week. Please let me know you were here.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
And so it goes
I talked to the other mom. She was fine with it. She said she asked her son if he wanted to, and he did, so he's going. Then I felt bad. I didn't want my son to miss out, and I'm pretty sure the host will say something to my son like "You're invited but you can't come." But to change our minds based on that is like adults giving in to peer pressure.
I told hubby I wanted to set up something else fun for our son to do, so I was planning to invite another friend over. Hubby said to wait until I talked to the host's mom, in case she said I could stay if I'd be more comfortable. I didn't want to do that. I set up the visit with another friend before calling the host's mom back, and I told her "We really only have a few close friends that we are comfortable doing kid's only playdates with at this point, so we're going to have to decline this time. Maybe we can get the kids together to go sledding or something sometime." She said "Oh. Okay." We chitchatted for a few minutes, but she never suggested that I could be comfortable to stay, so apparently it was that important to her to not have other parents there. Oh well. Meanwhile, my son has a friend coming over Saturday afternoon, so if he hears anything about this missed gathering, he won't feel like he's missing anything.
I'm glad we did what we felt was right. Like I said, there are several friends we would be comfortable leaving him to play with because we are comfortable with the parents, their parenting style, and the level of supervision the children would receive. This was not one of those cases, and I'm glad we stood our ground.
I told hubby I wanted to set up something else fun for our son to do, so I was planning to invite another friend over. Hubby said to wait until I talked to the host's mom, in case she said I could stay if I'd be more comfortable. I didn't want to do that. I set up the visit with another friend before calling the host's mom back, and I told her "We really only have a few close friends that we are comfortable doing kid's only playdates with at this point, so we're going to have to decline this time. Maybe we can get the kids together to go sledding or something sometime." She said "Oh. Okay." We chitchatted for a few minutes, but she never suggested that I could be comfortable to stay, so apparently it was that important to her to not have other parents there. Oh well. Meanwhile, my son has a friend coming over Saturday afternoon, so if he hears anything about this missed gathering, he won't feel like he's missing anything.
I'm glad we did what we felt was right. Like I said, there are several friends we would be comfortable leaving him to play with because we are comfortable with the parents, their parenting style, and the level of supervision the children would receive. This was not one of those cases, and I'm glad we stood our ground.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Kids only
My son has a friend he has known since he was a baby. We used to get together socially with the child and both parents (the parents are split up). As the kids have gotten older, we have gotten together less and less (once last year, for example). The mom has remarried and gave birth to two babies a couple months ago. There are teenage stepchildren we've never met, and we don't know the new husband that well. The boy is the most rowdy of all my son's friends, and tends to try to goad other kids to do the things he is doing that he shouldn't be doing. The parental supervision has been less than stellar in our experiences with them.
I am always willing to get together with him and his family, because I know it makes our son happy.
We are generally not to the point where we drop our son off to play at someone's house without us being there. We have one friend with whom we have done that, but we get together socially with that family on pretty much a monthly basis, and we know them well and the way things work at their house. There are two other friends I can think of that we would be comfortable doing that with, but we haven't. Generally we are friends with the parents, too, so it works out as a social gathering for everyone.
Over Christmas break, a friend of my son's invited him to play. I know the mom casually. She said I could leave and do whatever I wanted while he was there. I asked if it was okay if I just stuck around, and she said that was fine. We had a nice chat while the kids played.
Back to this particular friend. We had a message from the mom yesterday that I was rather put off by. She said her son would really like to have our son and another mutual friend (one of the ones I said I would be comfortable with my son alone with them) over on Saturday, so she would like to invite him for a kids only playdate. She said what time we could drop him off, what time we should pick him up, to bring snow pants so they could play outside and a particular type of toy her son would like our son to bring.
These kids are four years old. I find it presumptuous to assume that we would be comfortable leaving him there, to the point where it is designated a "kids only playdate". I would find it more appropriate for her to say we could leave while the kids played if we wanted to. I actually called and left a message for the other mom to get her take on it, as they aren't generally the type to drop their son off at people's houses, either. Their son goes to the same daycare, and his grandparents drive 40 minutes to watch him if the parents go out.
I am very open to our son getting together with the boy, but not under those circumstances. We could meet somewhere, they are welcome to come to our house...
I get that we are nearing the age where the kids will get together to play without the parents, but I would always welcome the parents to stay, if that's what they are more comfortable with, or even just to get to know them better.
I doubt that the kids will be well supervised, since the parents weren't all that attentive before there were two infants in the house. Who exactly would be watching them if they went outside to play in the unfenced yard? Is the mom going to bundle up two infants to come out and watch them? The stepdad we barely know? The teenage stepchildren?
They don't need to entertain us if we were there, but I would feel more comfortable as a parent to be there. Heck, I would bring a book. Don't even talk to me while I'm there, if that's your preference.
I'm waiting to talk to the other mom to call the mom who offered the invitation back. If the other child is going to do it, I guess I will just decline and find something extra fun for my son to do that afternoon. If the other mom is uncomfortable, I may suggest an alternative gathering with the three boys.
I am always willing to get together with him and his family, because I know it makes our son happy.
We are generally not to the point where we drop our son off to play at someone's house without us being there. We have one friend with whom we have done that, but we get together socially with that family on pretty much a monthly basis, and we know them well and the way things work at their house. There are two other friends I can think of that we would be comfortable doing that with, but we haven't. Generally we are friends with the parents, too, so it works out as a social gathering for everyone.
Over Christmas break, a friend of my son's invited him to play. I know the mom casually. She said I could leave and do whatever I wanted while he was there. I asked if it was okay if I just stuck around, and she said that was fine. We had a nice chat while the kids played.
Back to this particular friend. We had a message from the mom yesterday that I was rather put off by. She said her son would really like to have our son and another mutual friend (one of the ones I said I would be comfortable with my son alone with them) over on Saturday, so she would like to invite him for a kids only playdate. She said what time we could drop him off, what time we should pick him up, to bring snow pants so they could play outside and a particular type of toy her son would like our son to bring.
These kids are four years old. I find it presumptuous to assume that we would be comfortable leaving him there, to the point where it is designated a "kids only playdate". I would find it more appropriate for her to say we could leave while the kids played if we wanted to. I actually called and left a message for the other mom to get her take on it, as they aren't generally the type to drop their son off at people's houses, either. Their son goes to the same daycare, and his grandparents drive 40 minutes to watch him if the parents go out.
I am very open to our son getting together with the boy, but not under those circumstances. We could meet somewhere, they are welcome to come to our house...
I get that we are nearing the age where the kids will get together to play without the parents, but I would always welcome the parents to stay, if that's what they are more comfortable with, or even just to get to know them better.
I doubt that the kids will be well supervised, since the parents weren't all that attentive before there were two infants in the house. Who exactly would be watching them if they went outside to play in the unfenced yard? Is the mom going to bundle up two infants to come out and watch them? The stepdad we barely know? The teenage stepchildren?
They don't need to entertain us if we were there, but I would feel more comfortable as a parent to be there. Heck, I would bring a book. Don't even talk to me while I'm there, if that's your preference.
I'm waiting to talk to the other mom to call the mom who offered the invitation back. If the other child is going to do it, I guess I will just decline and find something extra fun for my son to do that afternoon. If the other mom is uncomfortable, I may suggest an alternative gathering with the three boys.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The things we do for chocolate
Those of you who have been reading this blog for any period of time know that I am very anonymous, mostly at hubby's request. When he first learned I had a blog, he thought it was weird. In turn, he thought people who read it, comment on it, and have blogs of their own must be even stranger.
I've been blogging for nearly 4 years (!) now, and he has grown grudgingly accepting of it. He has occasionally asked me to consult the blogging community with answers to pressing questions, and I can discuss something I read on a blog without getting an eye roll every time.
Sometime last year I asked hubby something along the lines of what if I wanted to send something to a blogger or vice versa. His response? "You're not going to meet them, are you?" I said no, so he said "I don't care."
Really, and most of you all already know this, because you've met/called/mailed to your blog friends, but in reality, none of us are going to show up at each other's doors uninvited, and if any of us did, we could just not answer the door. Giving out your real name and address to a blogger isn't any different than buying something on Ebay and giving the same information to that internet stranger.
So, when I saw a link that Bren had a contest that involved several different giveways, including chocolate and coffee, I figured why not enter. Little did I know I would win something! The first time I ever stopped at her blog. I almost feel guilty - I'm sure she has many longtime readers who were more worthy, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
The thing about winning? I had to give her my actual name (gasp!) and address (gasp!). Typing that information via my blogging email address was very strange, but I did it, and sometime soon I am going to be the proud and thankful recipient of some chocolate ganache.
If any of you have some interesting ideas of how I should consume it, other than straight from the container with a spoon, please let me know! Thank you Bren!!!
(Oh, and don't expect me to start posting photos of my son or anything on here now. Even though a friend of mine actually has some pictures of him with her son on her blog. My logic isn't necessarily logical.)
I've been blogging for nearly 4 years (!) now, and he has grown grudgingly accepting of it. He has occasionally asked me to consult the blogging community with answers to pressing questions, and I can discuss something I read on a blog without getting an eye roll every time.
Sometime last year I asked hubby something along the lines of what if I wanted to send something to a blogger or vice versa. His response? "You're not going to meet them, are you?" I said no, so he said "I don't care."
Really, and most of you all already know this, because you've met/called/mailed to your blog friends, but in reality, none of us are going to show up at each other's doors uninvited, and if any of us did, we could just not answer the door. Giving out your real name and address to a blogger isn't any different than buying something on Ebay and giving the same information to that internet stranger.
So, when I saw a link that Bren had a contest that involved several different giveways, including chocolate and coffee, I figured why not enter. Little did I know I would win something! The first time I ever stopped at her blog. I almost feel guilty - I'm sure she has many longtime readers who were more worthy, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
The thing about winning? I had to give her my actual name (gasp!) and address (gasp!). Typing that information via my blogging email address was very strange, but I did it, and sometime soon I am going to be the proud and thankful recipient of some chocolate ganache.
If any of you have some interesting ideas of how I should consume it, other than straight from the container with a spoon, please let me know! Thank you Bren!!!
(Oh, and don't expect me to start posting photos of my son or anything on here now. Even though a friend of mine actually has some pictures of him with her son on her blog. My logic isn't necessarily logical.)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Stay tuned
I get the point of "teasers" during news shows - It's to keep you from changing to a different show during the commercial. But when you tell me "Two brands of peanut butter are being recalled due to salmonella concerns, stay tuned to find out which ones", and then go to commercial right when I have to turn the TV off to finish my getting ready activities and hubby and I both have peanut butter sandwiches packed for lunch...Well, that's not cool. Maybe be a little more concerned about my well being than whether or not I change the channel.
Incidentally, I looked it up on the internet this morning, and King Nut and Parnells are the brands being recalled. I've never heard of those, so it won't affect me...But maybe it affects you. Aren't you glad I didn't ask you to stay tuned to find out which ones? Maybe I should have done that to keep you from moving on to another blog... ;-)
Incidentally, I looked it up on the internet this morning, and King Nut and Parnells are the brands being recalled. I've never heard of those, so it won't affect me...But maybe it affects you. Aren't you glad I didn't ask you to stay tuned to find out which ones? Maybe I should have done that to keep you from moving on to another blog... ;-)
Friday, January 09, 2009
The mouse is calling to us
My son's friend recently took a trip to Disney World. We received a postcard from him this week, which is the sweetest thing in the world because I never think to bring people's addresses along on a vacation to send them a postcard. I will now, though, because the joy he got in receiving that postcard and the fact that he wanted to keep it somewhere special is enough for me to want to provide that same joy for one of his friends next time we take a trip.
Next time we take a trip. My boss made a casual comment yesterday that "We're all going to have to go to 4 days a week", and then changed the subject quickly.
Shocking? No. Our workload is practically non-existent, thanks to the down economy and Michigan in general. Other local companies in the same industry have had their employees fully laid off for a couple of months, so to lose 8 hours a week? Still pretty lucky. It's not official yet, and if I ignore it maybe it will go away...
But anyway, yeah, a trip? Not such a good idea.
But last night our son asked if we could go to Disney World sometime. I told him maybe. I've been talking to hubby about it for quite some time, actually. Hubby is kind of anti-Disney. Says it's too commercial. Is it commercial? Heck, yeah. But it would be a dream vacation for a young child, and we would have fun, too, so I'm going to try to squirrel some money away and maybe next year we'll be able to. Of course a lot of that depends on this 4 day work week. When it starts, when it stops...
Disney or not, it's going to be a strain on our family to lose 20% of my income, but we'll be okay...I'm just hoping it's a short term thing if and when it happens.
Next time we take a trip. My boss made a casual comment yesterday that "We're all going to have to go to 4 days a week", and then changed the subject quickly.
Shocking? No. Our workload is practically non-existent, thanks to the down economy and Michigan in general. Other local companies in the same industry have had their employees fully laid off for a couple of months, so to lose 8 hours a week? Still pretty lucky. It's not official yet, and if I ignore it maybe it will go away...
But anyway, yeah, a trip? Not such a good idea.
But last night our son asked if we could go to Disney World sometime. I told him maybe. I've been talking to hubby about it for quite some time, actually. Hubby is kind of anti-Disney. Says it's too commercial. Is it commercial? Heck, yeah. But it would be a dream vacation for a young child, and we would have fun, too, so I'm going to try to squirrel some money away and maybe next year we'll be able to. Of course a lot of that depends on this 4 day work week. When it starts, when it stops...
Disney or not, it's going to be a strain on our family to lose 20% of my income, but we'll be okay...I'm just hoping it's a short term thing if and when it happens.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Adopting Giraffe
Our neighbor has been on a waiting list for domestic adoption for a while now, and every once in a while when we see her outside she will say something like "I'll find out Thursday if we're getting a baby." I explained to our son that they are adopting, and that sometimes a mommy and daddy can't take care of a baby, so the baby gets a new mommy and daddy who adopts them.
We were playing house with stuffed animals last night and our son handed me a giraffe and said "He's our baby now. His mommy couldn't take care of him." I asked "Are we adopting him?" He said yes. I was impressed with the giraffe adoption. A few minutes later he said "His family got a new baby, so we adopted him." I told him that usually when a family has a new baby, they still keep their other kids (he's had a lot of friends get new baby siblings lately; I didn't want him worrying that they would get new families - or thinking that they would join our family). He said "I know, but they didn't." It's probably just as well we got giraffe out of that home situation. :-)
We were playing house with stuffed animals last night and our son handed me a giraffe and said "He's our baby now. His mommy couldn't take care of him." I asked "Are we adopting him?" He said yes. I was impressed with the giraffe adoption. A few minutes later he said "His family got a new baby, so we adopted him." I told him that usually when a family has a new baby, they still keep their other kids (he's had a lot of friends get new baby siblings lately; I didn't want him worrying that they would get new families - or thinking that they would join our family). He said "I know, but they didn't." It's probably just as well we got giraffe out of that home situation. :-)
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Look alike cars
Have you ever accidentally thought a car in the parking lot was yours, but it was just one like yours? I have. As a matter of fact, last month I parked behind a car exactly like mine at the post office. By the time I came out, I forgot I had parked behind a car like mine, and was shocked to see there was a big scratch and dent on the bumper. I went so far as to touch the dent. Then I clicked the lock open and pulled the handle, and it didn't open. Then I realized it wasn't actually my car. Whoops.
But this morning - This was even better. At daycare, I parked next to a car where a mom was taking her two young children out of her car. One on the driver's side, then as I got out of my car, she was helping the child on the passenger's side when suddenly I heard "This is my car." While she was actually standing on the passenger side of her car, helping her daughter out of the car, a woman tried to open the driver's side door. When she realized her error, she was clearly flustered "I'm sorry - I have a blue car; I thought this was my blue car." She then walked to her car, 2 cars away (she had actually walked past it to get to the wrong blue car) and said "See, I have a blue car, too!" so the other woman wouldn't think she was completely off.
I happened to walk out of the building with the woman whose car had been mistaken, and she said "Can you believe that? I saw her walk up to it, then she actually started pulling on the handle, and I was standing right there, and I was like 'Is she kidding?'"
I'm not sure how you make that mistake when there is another person actually standing there helping a child out of the car....Unless she thought the woman was the one mistaken, in which case I probably would have said something if I were her before attempting to open the door...I guess she was just too distracted to notice a person standing there. I hope she cleared up her distraction before she started driving.
But this morning - This was even better. At daycare, I parked next to a car where a mom was taking her two young children out of her car. One on the driver's side, then as I got out of my car, she was helping the child on the passenger's side when suddenly I heard "This is my car." While she was actually standing on the passenger side of her car, helping her daughter out of the car, a woman tried to open the driver's side door. When she realized her error, she was clearly flustered "I'm sorry - I have a blue car; I thought this was my blue car." She then walked to her car, 2 cars away (she had actually walked past it to get to the wrong blue car) and said "See, I have a blue car, too!" so the other woman wouldn't think she was completely off.
I happened to walk out of the building with the woman whose car had been mistaken, and she said "Can you believe that? I saw her walk up to it, then she actually started pulling on the handle, and I was standing right there, and I was like 'Is she kidding?'"
I'm not sure how you make that mistake when there is another person actually standing there helping a child out of the car....Unless she thought the woman was the one mistaken, in which case I probably would have said something if I were her before attempting to open the door...I guess she was just too distracted to notice a person standing there. I hope she cleared up her distraction before she started driving.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Playing politics
Been awhile since there has been anything remotely resembling a political post here. This isn't really a political post, either.
Roland Burris. It's possible that he would be the best senator ever - We don't know. But he was appointed under suspect circumstances. Really, I was surprised to learn that governors appoint senators when needed...I was sure an emeergency election would be in place.
Anyway, this guy just showing up in Washington DC and expecting to be welcomed? Does he not watch the news? The appointment is not going to go through smoothly, if at all, because the governor of Illinois is under intense scrutiny.
Offically, the appointment did not go through because the Illinois Secretary of State did not sign off on it. And now? Mr. Burris is playing the "race card". Shame on you for that, Mr. Burris.
First of all, you would be replacing an African American Senator, who as of two weeks from today will become the first African American President of the United States.
Second of all, the secretary of state who has not signed off on your appointment? Um, yeah - He's African American, too. He's probably not against you because of your race.
Everything is not about race. This is not about race. You may just be a victim of unfortunate circumstances here, but surely you understand why we can't just rush to welcome you into the senate with open arms. If it were someone else receiving the hasty appointment, wouldn't you feel the same way? Please keep your race card in your pocket, and let justice serve its course for your governor, and maybe there will be an election to fill the open senate seat, and maybe you'll even win.
Roland Burris. It's possible that he would be the best senator ever - We don't know. But he was appointed under suspect circumstances. Really, I was surprised to learn that governors appoint senators when needed...I was sure an emeergency election would be in place.
Anyway, this guy just showing up in Washington DC and expecting to be welcomed? Does he not watch the news? The appointment is not going to go through smoothly, if at all, because the governor of Illinois is under intense scrutiny.
Offically, the appointment did not go through because the Illinois Secretary of State did not sign off on it. And now? Mr. Burris is playing the "race card". Shame on you for that, Mr. Burris.
First of all, you would be replacing an African American Senator, who as of two weeks from today will become the first African American President of the United States.
Second of all, the secretary of state who has not signed off on your appointment? Um, yeah - He's African American, too. He's probably not against you because of your race.
Everything is not about race. This is not about race. You may just be a victim of unfortunate circumstances here, but surely you understand why we can't just rush to welcome you into the senate with open arms. If it were someone else receiving the hasty appointment, wouldn't you feel the same way? Please keep your race card in your pocket, and let justice serve its course for your governor, and maybe there will be an election to fill the open senate seat, and maybe you'll even win.
Monday, January 05, 2009
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Not the song...the recap. Courtesy of my son's daycare being closed, I get the week off between Christmas and New Years every year. This year that amounted to a record 12 days. What a wonderful 12 days it was...We couldn't have packed much more local fun into 12 days if we tried.
Day 1: Christmas Eve. Hubby was off. He spent a few hours running errands (last minute shopper, anyone?) while our son and I hung out. We visited Hubby's mom and attended our Catholic Christmas Eve service. It was a family service. Very nice, unusually short. During Communion our son questioned why he couldn't have bread (all ages are welcome to open communion at our Methodist Church). I told him that was a good question for Daddy. :-)
Day 2: Christmas. It was great. Our son was thrilled with each of his gifts (the majority of which were Transformers, and he liked it that way). My dad and his wife and my mom gave him a duplicate gift, but he's so enthusiastic - His response? "Another one of these! Cool!" We had to convince him to let us exchange it for something else.
Day 3: Day after Christmas. Visited Hubby's mom again, then stayed put for the rest of the day. It was very icy out.
Day 4: General fun at home.
Day 5: Saw Bedtime Stories. We all enjoyed it. It got a scathing review on the Today Show, and I didn't understand that. It was meant to be a family movie, and it was - Not a typical Adam Sandler movie.
Day 6: Hubby worked. My son and I went to the library and hung out at home.
Day 7: Hubby off. Went to C huck E C heese to meet one of our son's friends.
Day 8: New Year's Eve. Hubby worked. Had one of our son's friends over to play in the morning, went to the house of some friends in the evening. Adults played Scattegories and Wii, kids played with toys and Wii. Stayed there until a little after 11:00 (people with preschoolers normally don't make it until midnight, sorry to disappoint you party people). Our son fell asleep on the 5 minute ride home, then when he went to bed at 11:30, complained that he didn't get to see the ball drop. Solution: We recorded it for him.
Day 9: New Year's Day. We went to an inflatable bouncer place and bounced around for an hour, went out to lunch and to the museum.
Day 10: Hubby worked. Our son and I made cookies and went to a friend's house.
Day 11: Went out to breakfast and met a friend to play.
Day 12: Went bowling and made pizza.
Peppered in were many games of Hungry Hungry Hippos and Uno Spin and sleeping in every day except the three days Hubby had to work. Those days I woke up the "regular" time, but our son still slept in.
Every year it's so hard to go back to work after this precious time with my son. This year was even more bittersweet, because I know that next year he will be in Kindergarten, and the days of there being an "option" of staying home with him during the day will have passed. Me working has been a choice our family has had to make to provide well for our family, and my son has the greatest daycare, and has made so many friends...I can't complain. Plus, this year I'm lucky to have a job to which to return with the economy as it is.
I hope you all had wonderful holidays and I wish you all a blessed 2009.
Day 1: Christmas Eve. Hubby was off. He spent a few hours running errands (last minute shopper, anyone?) while our son and I hung out. We visited Hubby's mom and attended our Catholic Christmas Eve service. It was a family service. Very nice, unusually short. During Communion our son questioned why he couldn't have bread (all ages are welcome to open communion at our Methodist Church). I told him that was a good question for Daddy. :-)
Day 2: Christmas. It was great. Our son was thrilled with each of his gifts (the majority of which were Transformers, and he liked it that way). My dad and his wife and my mom gave him a duplicate gift, but he's so enthusiastic - His response? "Another one of these! Cool!" We had to convince him to let us exchange it for something else.
Day 3: Day after Christmas. Visited Hubby's mom again, then stayed put for the rest of the day. It was very icy out.
Day 4: General fun at home.
Day 5: Saw Bedtime Stories. We all enjoyed it. It got a scathing review on the Today Show, and I didn't understand that. It was meant to be a family movie, and it was - Not a typical Adam Sandler movie.
Day 6: Hubby worked. My son and I went to the library and hung out at home.
Day 7: Hubby off. Went to C huck E C heese to meet one of our son's friends.
Day 8: New Year's Eve. Hubby worked. Had one of our son's friends over to play in the morning, went to the house of some friends in the evening. Adults played Scattegories and Wii, kids played with toys and Wii. Stayed there until a little after 11:00 (people with preschoolers normally don't make it until midnight, sorry to disappoint you party people). Our son fell asleep on the 5 minute ride home, then when he went to bed at 11:30, complained that he didn't get to see the ball drop. Solution: We recorded it for him.
Day 9: New Year's Day. We went to an inflatable bouncer place and bounced around for an hour, went out to lunch and to the museum.
Day 10: Hubby worked. Our son and I made cookies and went to a friend's house.
Day 11: Went out to breakfast and met a friend to play.
Day 12: Went bowling and made pizza.
Peppered in were many games of Hungry Hungry Hippos and Uno Spin and sleeping in every day except the three days Hubby had to work. Those days I woke up the "regular" time, but our son still slept in.
Every year it's so hard to go back to work after this precious time with my son. This year was even more bittersweet, because I know that next year he will be in Kindergarten, and the days of there being an "option" of staying home with him during the day will have passed. Me working has been a choice our family has had to make to provide well for our family, and my son has the greatest daycare, and has made so many friends...I can't complain. Plus, this year I'm lucky to have a job to which to return with the economy as it is.
I hope you all had wonderful holidays and I wish you all a blessed 2009.
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