At preschool pick-up today, one of the moms was congratulating me on the pregnancy. She already has three kids and so I asked her, as I have been asking many moms lately, if she had any advice for me on managing three. She said she had received one piece of advice that was invaluable: "Never let a day go by . . . " I'm going to stop there and note that I was nervous that she was going to end the statement with something like ". . . without telling your kids you love them"--a sentiment I totally agree with and all but not the kind of practical wisdom I was seeking.
Instead, she said, "Never let a day go by without doing at least one load of laundry." Now, that's pretty sweet advice, considering that I waste time each day finding clean/semi-matching socks for the boys, clean pants for myself (even harder when pregnant), clean washcloths for bath time, a onesie to go under Little Bit's footie pajamas, and a decent top and bottom combo for Bub to wear to school. And then there's hubby with his pesky news bulletins like "Honey, I only have two pair of underwear left." For some reason I tend to save the laundry until there's almost nothing to wear. Then, I attack the huge mound and start sorting and end up with about seven or eight loads worth. That's silly.
My life would be easier if I tried to do one load of laundry a day.
I've brainstormed a list of other things I could do that would make my life easier.
My life would be easier if I . . .
. . . put the little potty into storage.
Bub does all his bathroom business on his own these days, and I am no longer abreast of all his movements. Literally. He pees into the regular potty but prefers the little plastic one for number two. That's all fine except that he fills without emptying. And, since he does it all on his own,* I don't realize that there's been poop resting in potty until I open the bathroom door and almost pass out from the stench. I know he can use the real toilet for all his needs so I should just put the little potty into storage. But what would I use to sit on (lid down) during bath time?
. . . ran the dishwasher every night before bed.
I prefer to delay running it until I can fill every last nook, cranny, and crevice.
. . . emptied the dishwasher first thing every morning.
Then, I sometimes wait to unload it until there are so many dishes waiting in the sink that they practically fill the newly-emptied dishwasher.
. . . were stronger about removing toys that threaten my sanity.
After two or so days of picking up 300+ MegaBlocks multiple times a day, I get a little testy. I tell myself, "Tonight, when the boys are in bed, I will re-hide the MegaBlocks." Then I forget about it until the big box gets dumped all over first thing in the morning. The tunnel thing that takes up the entire living room when unfurled creates a similar state of irritation and chaos that I often fail to troubleshoot effectively. These toys are good for one or two days at a time. Then Mama needs a break.
. . . took some time over the weekend to plan my meals and grocery shopping for the following week.
. . . kept a typed piece of paper in my purse that lists ingredients for the dishes in our weeknight rotation of family favorites.
. . . developed a weeknight rotation of family favorite dishes.
. . . emptied the recycling every evening.
If I did that then Little Bit would not spend a good portion of each day scattering items from the bin--junk mail, wine bottles, pop cans, newspapers--all around the house. Had I emptied the recycling last night though, Little Bit would not have been able to entertain himself with an empty (but, unfortunately, unrinsed) gallon of milk for over thirty minutes.
. . . graded 5-10 papers each day instead of saving all 42 for the night before they absolutely need to be returned to my students (which, in my mind, is before their next assignment is due so they can "learn" from the feedback from the previous paper).
My failure/procrastination in this area is just as frustrating now as it was in the late nineties when I had 80-something papers to grade at a time.
How am I doing?
I have a load of laundry in now.
All the dishes are in the dishwasher, but it's not nearly full so I can't bear to run it.
The tunnel and MegaBlocks are both currently in hiding. The Diego puzzle may join them if I remember.
I graded two papers this afternoon.
You know where this is headed . . . what could you do to make your life easier? Or, even better, what do you do, NTB, that makes your life easier? Please share in the comments.
*You may be thinking, "But, MEP, shouldn't you be wiping him?" No lie, it's a clean break every time. Kind of amazing, NTB.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Oh, What A Peeling!
Pretend you hear Lionel Richie when your read that title, okay?
One of my wedding shower gifts was a Cutco pizza cutter and peeler set. After I wash these items (in the dishwasher, not by hand as recommended), I place them back in the navy box in which they came. Then, I put the box into a cabinet that Bub can't easily access.
Both items do their jobs extremely well. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial bimbo, I will say that using the Cutco peeler makes peeling almost fun. It's just so easy!
Or, it was so easy until I lost my peeler. I suspect that it got gathered up with a paper towel full of pear peelings and thrown into the garbage. I actually hope that's the case, as opposed to finding one of the boys playing with the peeler one of these days and making a bloody mess. In case you are worried for my kids, I'm 95% sure the peeler got accidentally tossed.
On Saturday, hubby and I went to Old Orchard (outdoor mall in a nearby suburb) to take my defective laptop to the Apple Store and to get him measured for a new suit during a sale that was going on. Grandma and Grandpa were visiting and happy to stay with the boys so we were out and about for almost three hours all by ourselves. NTB. I even got an Auntie Anne's pretzel and a fountain diet coke. NTB.
Giddy with the freedom and the retail environment (remember, I rarely have time to shop anywhere but Target or Kohls these days), I wondered if I "needed" anything else. Aha! A new peeler! An excuse to browse in Williams Sonoma.
We walk in the store and when greeted by the sales associate, no-nonsense-shopping-buzzkill hubby says, "Show us where your peelers are." So much for browsing.
There were two on offer. One was an OXO that looked similar to the lost Cutco peeler; it cost $14.00. I was thinking about it. Yes, I know "a paring knife can do the trick," but I am not great with a paring knife and my Bub prefers his fruit "with no outside." I prefer my fingers with no gashes.
Then, the sales associates says, "We also have the kind the chefs on the Food Network use." That got my attention. If Ina and Giada have a preferred peeler, then you better believe I want the same one (though, to be clear the associate did not name specific chefs). But, of course, how much would such a special peeler cost?
$3.50!!! That's how much. So now I have a generic looking "clearpeeler" that retails for $3.50 and seems to be getting the job done and supposedly is better at just getting skin and peel, not flesh (of the fruit/vegetable). Though using the clearpeeler did not feel as easy as the Cutco one, it definitely got the job done on the apple I peeled this morning.
So there. Do you need a peeler? There's one for $3.50 at Williams Sonoma and you can brag that it's what Food Network chefs use.
Any kitchen gadgets or bargains to recommend?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Connected/Disconnected
Today's weather turned out to be just gorgeous--a great surprise. After Little Bit's nap, we headed to the park and enjoyed an hour or so of the usual: swings, sandbox, supervision of Little Bit on the play structure, "ice cream window," more sandbox, and treasure hunting.* Warm sunshine and gorgeous autumn leaves. No complaints here.
Or maybe one. Or maybe it's more a question than a complaint. Or maybe I am being too sensitive.
Whatever the situation, I'll come out with it: I don't understand parents who bring their kids to the park and then spend the entire time talking or texting on their phones.
There, I've said it.
I'll admit that I'm not a big phone talker myself. I'm happy to chat when someone calls, but I don't make tons of calls throughout the day, especially not on my cell phone. I can't balance my cell on my shoulder, for one thing. For another, unless they are really absorbed in some activity, my kids freak out when I am on the phone and it's difficult to be really present in a conversation.
I especially don't talk on the phone at the park. I would probably answer if someone called, but my phone is usually in the stroller not on my person. Beyond that, my kids still need supervision at the park. Bub is pretty good about sharing, taking turns, and playing nice, but he's been known to throw some sand every now and again. When he pulls stuff like that, I definitely want to be there to intervene. Little Bit can't really be left for a second. He thinks he's a big boy who is ready to climb, tackle steps (up and down), slide, "borrow" shovels and pails from others, and attempt to drink from the sand and leaf-filled water fountain. Lots of the play structures have drop-offs that scare the bejeezus out of me so I like to stay close to him. I don't think I could hover as well if I were engrossed in a phone conversation. That's just me.
I'm sure plenty of parents can balance talking/texting and watching their kids at the same time.
I assume there are plenty of parents whose kids are all at Bub's stage and beyond and don't need to hover.
And I know all too well that for plenty of parents, including me, taking care of kids--despite all its many, many joys and rewards--can be a lonely, isolating, and sometimes boring job.
I know how important it is to feel connected to the world beyond kids throughout the day. I check my email more than I care to admit (on my laptop though--my phone is not fancy like that). I depend upon the daily exchanges of status updates, photos, and encouraging comments on facebook . . . little glimpses of the lives of other moms and their joys and challenges. I author this blog and take great pleasure any time a reader leaves a comment (hint hint).
I know and understand that it means a lot to talk with, text, and otherwise connect with friends and family throughout the day. I get that. I really, really get that.
But here's the thing. If everyone at the park is connected to someone who's not at the park but instead on the other end of the phone line, then it's kind of tough for the people at the park to connect with one another. (You can replace "at the park" with "at any public/community space.")
When I say "connect," I'm not talking about trying to recruit new best friends, engage in obligatory small talk out of a sense of politeness, gossip about preschools or bad nannies, or drill the person you've just met with nosy neighbor questions. I'm just talking about acknowledging that the other people at the park are real, breathing human beings with at least one thing in common with you (the care of small children) and that it doesn't hurt to disconnect the phone for a bit so that you can at least be open to making some connections with the people breathing the same air as you.
Especially when I was a new mom, the conversations and exchanges I had with other moms--those in the same boat as me and those moms with more wisdom and experience--helped me through a lot of tough days. Even if the exchange was brief, I treasured that feeling of shared sympathy and understanding. I liked being reminded that I was not alone in the boat. All it takes is a "How old is your son?" or "I love her little jacket" to get the ball rolling.
Maybe you don't need to talk to anyone new. Maybe you can get most everything you need from your phone.
But maybe the other people in the park need you.
*Bub hunts for "treasures" (rocks) which he presents to me with a description of its shape ("looks like a triangle" and "this one's a turtle" etc.) and then stores in my pockets.
Or maybe one. Or maybe it's more a question than a complaint. Or maybe I am being too sensitive.
Whatever the situation, I'll come out with it: I don't understand parents who bring their kids to the park and then spend the entire time talking or texting on their phones.
There, I've said it.
I'll admit that I'm not a big phone talker myself. I'm happy to chat when someone calls, but I don't make tons of calls throughout the day, especially not on my cell phone. I can't balance my cell on my shoulder, for one thing. For another, unless they are really absorbed in some activity, my kids freak out when I am on the phone and it's difficult to be really present in a conversation.
I especially don't talk on the phone at the park. I would probably answer if someone called, but my phone is usually in the stroller not on my person. Beyond that, my kids still need supervision at the park. Bub is pretty good about sharing, taking turns, and playing nice, but he's been known to throw some sand every now and again. When he pulls stuff like that, I definitely want to be there to intervene. Little Bit can't really be left for a second. He thinks he's a big boy who is ready to climb, tackle steps (up and down), slide, "borrow" shovels and pails from others, and attempt to drink from the sand and leaf-filled water fountain. Lots of the play structures have drop-offs that scare the bejeezus out of me so I like to stay close to him. I don't think I could hover as well if I were engrossed in a phone conversation. That's just me.
I'm sure plenty of parents can balance talking/texting and watching their kids at the same time.
I assume there are plenty of parents whose kids are all at Bub's stage and beyond and don't need to hover.
And I know all too well that for plenty of parents, including me, taking care of kids--despite all its many, many joys and rewards--can be a lonely, isolating, and sometimes boring job.
I know how important it is to feel connected to the world beyond kids throughout the day. I check my email more than I care to admit (on my laptop though--my phone is not fancy like that). I depend upon the daily exchanges of status updates, photos, and encouraging comments on facebook . . . little glimpses of the lives of other moms and their joys and challenges. I author this blog and take great pleasure any time a reader leaves a comment (hint hint).
I know and understand that it means a lot to talk with, text, and otherwise connect with friends and family throughout the day. I get that. I really, really get that.
But here's the thing. If everyone at the park is connected to someone who's not at the park but instead on the other end of the phone line, then it's kind of tough for the people at the park to connect with one another. (You can replace "at the park" with "at any public/community space.")
When I say "connect," I'm not talking about trying to recruit new best friends, engage in obligatory small talk out of a sense of politeness, gossip about preschools or bad nannies, or drill the person you've just met with nosy neighbor questions. I'm just talking about acknowledging that the other people at the park are real, breathing human beings with at least one thing in common with you (the care of small children) and that it doesn't hurt to disconnect the phone for a bit so that you can at least be open to making some connections with the people breathing the same air as you.
Especially when I was a new mom, the conversations and exchanges I had with other moms--those in the same boat as me and those moms with more wisdom and experience--helped me through a lot of tough days. Even if the exchange was brief, I treasured that feeling of shared sympathy and understanding. I liked being reminded that I was not alone in the boat. All it takes is a "How old is your son?" or "I love her little jacket" to get the ball rolling.
Maybe you don't need to talk to anyone new. Maybe you can get most everything you need from your phone.
But maybe the other people in the park need you.
*Bub hunts for "treasures" (rocks) which he presents to me with a description of its shape ("looks like a triangle" and "this one's a turtle" etc.) and then stores in my pockets.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Anti-Fever Fervor
I'm not sure how to categorize my level of concern regarding H1N1.* Most mornings, I am concerned enough to call for the few vaccination time slots that our pediatrician's office offers each day even though it is a seemingly futile process of redial, busy signal, redial, two rings that trigger hope followed by a automatic message about all circuits being busy, redial, busy, and on and on.
I am not yet so concerned that I have taken the boys and I to one of Chicago's free vaccine clinics. I can't make the two clinic days during the week due to teaching and have been assuming that the ones on Saturdays are a hot, crowded mess. Plus, I am not that familiar with the neighborhoods where the clinics are held. Also, I am not clear on what kind of vaccine they have. If it's only the mist, Little Bit is too little and Bub had his seasonal flu mist too recently to get the H1N1 mist.
My ob's office has it but they're only giving it to third trimester patients right now. I call and check in there every three days or so for me.
One of my precautions is to use hand sanitizer around the house and pretty much every time we get in and out of the car . . . before and after school, the grocery store, music class, etc. Another precaution is to avoid unnecessary outings that may expose us to unwanted germs (no Target Cafe just to kill time, no Children's Museum even though Bub keeps asking, no McDonalds Playplace, none of the places where you pay to play). Music class (only seven people involved), swim lessons (doesn't chlorine kill everything?), grocery shopping, and preschool are still on our agenda. I'm not saying no to play dates, but I have not been doing much to arrange any. Am I being too paranoid? Not enough? I have no idea.
My other precaution is to get out the "butt gasoline" (Bub's phrase for vaseline) and take the boys' temperatures every time I have the slightest concern that one of them may have a fever. Though we have been fever free so far, I think I may be overdoing it on the temperature taking.
Please see the photo of Bub below. I was able to take the picture because Little Bit and I were invited to attend the last thirty minutes of his preschool Halloween party. We watched Bub make his craft, do the Monster Mash on the colored carpet for a couple of seconds, and then leave the dance party to become absorbed in the Pet Hospital set-up in the creative play corner of the room.
What was he doing in the Pet Hospital? Taking the rectal temperature of a teddy bear, of course. Note his precision and enthusiasm.
What precautions are you taking for H1N1? Do you think I am overdoing it? Or, do you think I should get my butt in line for the Chicago vaccine clinic? Please share in the comments.
Also, remember that I am participating in National Blog Posting Month and posting every day in November. Please keep checking back!
*I thought we were supposed to call the virus H1N1 now, but I am hearing it called swine flu more and more now. Did something change?
I am not yet so concerned that I have taken the boys and I to one of Chicago's free vaccine clinics. I can't make the two clinic days during the week due to teaching and have been assuming that the ones on Saturdays are a hot, crowded mess. Plus, I am not that familiar with the neighborhoods where the clinics are held. Also, I am not clear on what kind of vaccine they have. If it's only the mist, Little Bit is too little and Bub had his seasonal flu mist too recently to get the H1N1 mist.
My ob's office has it but they're only giving it to third trimester patients right now. I call and check in there every three days or so for me.
One of my precautions is to use hand sanitizer around the house and pretty much every time we get in and out of the car . . . before and after school, the grocery store, music class, etc. Another precaution is to avoid unnecessary outings that may expose us to unwanted germs (no Target Cafe just to kill time, no Children's Museum even though Bub keeps asking, no McDonalds Playplace, none of the places where you pay to play). Music class (only seven people involved), swim lessons (doesn't chlorine kill everything?), grocery shopping, and preschool are still on our agenda. I'm not saying no to play dates, but I have not been doing much to arrange any. Am I being too paranoid? Not enough? I have no idea.
My other precaution is to get out the "butt gasoline" (Bub's phrase for vaseline) and take the boys' temperatures every time I have the slightest concern that one of them may have a fever. Though we have been fever free so far, I think I may be overdoing it on the temperature taking.
Please see the photo of Bub below. I was able to take the picture because Little Bit and I were invited to attend the last thirty minutes of his preschool Halloween party. We watched Bub make his craft, do the Monster Mash on the colored carpet for a couple of seconds, and then leave the dance party to become absorbed in the Pet Hospital set-up in the creative play corner of the room.
What was he doing in the Pet Hospital? Taking the rectal temperature of a teddy bear, of course. Note his precision and enthusiasm.
What precautions are you taking for H1N1? Do you think I am overdoing it? Or, do you think I should get my butt in line for the Chicago vaccine clinic? Please share in the comments.
Also, remember that I am participating in National Blog Posting Month and posting every day in November. Please keep checking back!
*I thought we were supposed to call the virus H1N1 now, but I am hearing it called swine flu more and more now. Did something change?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
You know it's hard out there for a hard drive . . .
So it took three adults around seventy-five minutes to get one sugar saturated elephant to bed tonight. Bub pulled out all his stops, finding every excuse to come back downstairs. He had to kiss daddy again. He needed to go potty. He needed to hide the Halloween candy from trick or treaters (this after some loud-knocking and tardy trick-or-treaters got his attention), and then he needed to ask me to make some signs. One sign was supposed to say, "No more candy. This candy is for Bub." The other was supposed to say, "Go to a different house." I promised him to make both signs, but it was still thirty minutes until he was settled. I haven't made the signs yet, but I may go with the alternate plan of telling Bub that mommy and daddy hid the candy really well so that no one could steal it (not even Bub!). Just an idea.
I've got lots of cute Halloween photos of our elephant and our alien/sea monster (still not sure what to call Little Bit's costume--the only one for toddler boys left on the rack at Children's Place last week--unidentifiable, but 50% off, NTB). I also have plenty of details to report about our various holiday happenings -- moldy, moldy pumpkins . . . a gas-leaking generator that shut down the bouncy castles at our neighborhood's Halloween fest last weekend, prompting many tears and a visit from the fire department . . . Little Bit's confident belief that he is a "big kid" now as he raced down the street after his costumed big brother . . . a preschool Halloween party where the temperature was around 95 degrees inside.
These posts would all be better with pictures. The pictures are all on my camera. I would upload them to my computer, but I can't because my computer seemed to die on Tuesday morning.* When I turned the MacBook on, all I saw was a grey screen and a flashing question mark superimposed on top of a file folder. Not encouraging.
We knew the laptop was on its last legs and had even begun strategizing some solutions and a potential new purchase. All week I held out hope that when we took it to the Genius Bar on Saturday, they would at least be able to recover my data.
Alas, no dice. The hard drive was completely shot. Who knows how. Who knows why.
The good news is that most everything that matters is backed up elsewhere. Some photos on our separate hard drive. Some on Kodak Gallery. Music on the hard drive upstairs and on my ipod. All my important academic stuff and dissertation on a remote hard drive storage system thing that I subscribe to.
I've lost some personal writing that I might miss a little, some recipes I typed up, a list of all the books I read in 2009, and a bunch of little stuff, most of which I can live without or won't ever remember having.
I'm okay about it, except when I think about the loss of the hundreds of pictures that we have taken using the Photo Booth feature of the MacBook. We started taking these photos when Bub was about seven months old. Sometime last year, he learned how to take them himself. I always wanted to do something with these little shots. A bunch of random glimpses of life as we really live it every day. My heart hurts quite a bit thinking about three plus years of this kind of photo history lost. But, we can start again when the Photo Booth is back in business. We can capture the moments when Little Bit learns how to take his own photos. We can try to cram the whole family into shots when number three joins us in April.
How do I know the Photo Booth will be back in business? Because even though my warranty and Apple Care extension plan had both expired, Apple is still fixing my computer. Our genius today, Rich, came back from the secret back room at the store and gave us the bad news that all that protection stuff had expired, but then said, "But we can cover those repairs for you." So I say, "Do you mean 'cover' as in you know how to fix it, or 'cover' as in you are fixing it for free?" They are fixing it for free. Seems my MacBook was not the only one to have this kind of problem, which kind of pissed me off in the sense of "Hey, could you have emailed me a warning so I would have been a good girl about backing stuff up." But mostly, I thought, "Woo hoo!" They are giving me a new hard drive, double in size from the old one, and promised to fix my wonky, child-damaged space bar to boot.
I can pick it up tomorrow.
In honor of this good news and despite the fact that I have been the worst poster in the world lately, I'm thinking of participating in NaBloPoMo, which is National Blog Posting Month. If you sign up for it, you commit to posting every day in the month of November. I'm going to give it a try. Some of the posts will surely be crap, but I need to get back into the habit of making time for blogging.
Please stay tuned. Also, go back up everything on your own hard drives RIGHT NOW!
*I will add that this past Tuesday was already shaping up to be a pretty tough day when that occurred.
I've got lots of cute Halloween photos of our elephant and our alien/sea monster (still not sure what to call Little Bit's costume--the only one for toddler boys left on the rack at Children's Place last week--unidentifiable, but 50% off, NTB). I also have plenty of details to report about our various holiday happenings -- moldy, moldy pumpkins . . . a gas-leaking generator that shut down the bouncy castles at our neighborhood's Halloween fest last weekend, prompting many tears and a visit from the fire department . . . Little Bit's confident belief that he is a "big kid" now as he raced down the street after his costumed big brother . . . a preschool Halloween party where the temperature was around 95 degrees inside.
These posts would all be better with pictures. The pictures are all on my camera. I would upload them to my computer, but I can't because my computer seemed to die on Tuesday morning.* When I turned the MacBook on, all I saw was a grey screen and a flashing question mark superimposed on top of a file folder. Not encouraging.
We knew the laptop was on its last legs and had even begun strategizing some solutions and a potential new purchase. All week I held out hope that when we took it to the Genius Bar on Saturday, they would at least be able to recover my data.
Alas, no dice. The hard drive was completely shot. Who knows how. Who knows why.
The good news is that most everything that matters is backed up elsewhere. Some photos on our separate hard drive. Some on Kodak Gallery. Music on the hard drive upstairs and on my ipod. All my important academic stuff and dissertation on a remote hard drive storage system thing that I subscribe to.
I've lost some personal writing that I might miss a little, some recipes I typed up, a list of all the books I read in 2009, and a bunch of little stuff, most of which I can live without or won't ever remember having.
I'm okay about it, except when I think about the loss of the hundreds of pictures that we have taken using the Photo Booth feature of the MacBook. We started taking these photos when Bub was about seven months old. Sometime last year, he learned how to take them himself. I always wanted to do something with these little shots. A bunch of random glimpses of life as we really live it every day. My heart hurts quite a bit thinking about three plus years of this kind of photo history lost. But, we can start again when the Photo Booth is back in business. We can capture the moments when Little Bit learns how to take his own photos. We can try to cram the whole family into shots when number three joins us in April.
How do I know the Photo Booth will be back in business? Because even though my warranty and Apple Care extension plan had both expired, Apple is still fixing my computer. Our genius today, Rich, came back from the secret back room at the store and gave us the bad news that all that protection stuff had expired, but then said, "But we can cover those repairs for you." So I say, "Do you mean 'cover' as in you know how to fix it, or 'cover' as in you are fixing it for free?" They are fixing it for free. Seems my MacBook was not the only one to have this kind of problem, which kind of pissed me off in the sense of "Hey, could you have emailed me a warning so I would have been a good girl about backing stuff up." But mostly, I thought, "Woo hoo!" They are giving me a new hard drive, double in size from the old one, and promised to fix my wonky, child-damaged space bar to boot.
I can pick it up tomorrow.
In honor of this good news and despite the fact that I have been the worst poster in the world lately, I'm thinking of participating in NaBloPoMo, which is National Blog Posting Month. If you sign up for it, you commit to posting every day in the month of November. I'm going to give it a try. Some of the posts will surely be crap, but I need to get back into the habit of making time for blogging.
Please stay tuned. Also, go back up everything on your own hard drives RIGHT NOW!
*I will add that this past Tuesday was already shaping up to be a pretty tough day when that occurred.
Monday, October 19, 2009
No time to make excuses for not blogging . . .
. . . but enough time to let you know that:
* from 8:58-9:05 a.m. this morning I was furiously dialing and redialing the same number on my home phone and my cell phone. At the same time, I was being pelted by full packages of wipes from the multi-pack just purchased at Costco. I played through and kept dialing like a champ. Was I trying to secure U2 tickets or be the 100th caller on a radio show that was going to pay me lots of money or give me a brand new car? No. I was trying to secure a flu shot for my oldest son. As of 11:15 a.m., Bub has been flu-misted. Little Bit will be clear to receive his second dose of the baby flu shot in two more days. So, I get a break from crazy dialing until Wednesday morning.
* have rediscovered Bit-0-Honey and, honey, there won't be any left for our trick or treaters (not that I would pass them out for trick or treat anyway--they contain peanuts)
* forgot to complete Bub's Scholastic book order by the due date (thrown off because there was no school on Friday and was planning to use the new online ordering feature). This slip-up is stinging more than it should. When will I have another opportunity to secure a hardcover of When You Give a Pig a Party for only eight dollars? I really am disappointed.
* also forgot to pay my Visa bill last month. I had the funds, but I did not pay it. Just plain forgot. This kind of forgetfulness is not like me. Really, really annoyed at myself earlier in the day, but I have recovered.
* have to report that the little shits who first started calling us way back then just called again five minutes ago. Seriously?! It's getting creepy.
* also forgot how annoying it is to wear maternity pants. I spend half the day hoisting the pants up as they continue to slip, but not too far up since most maternity pants do not come in lovely tall styles. I spend the other half of the day pulling down the non-maternity shirts that I try to wear for as long as possible. Wait?! Why are you wearing maternity clothes, MEP? Oh, did I forget to tell you?
More and better later, I promise.
* from 8:58-9:05 a.m. this morning I was furiously dialing and redialing the same number on my home phone and my cell phone. At the same time, I was being pelted by full packages of wipes from the multi-pack just purchased at Costco. I played through and kept dialing like a champ. Was I trying to secure U2 tickets or be the 100th caller on a radio show that was going to pay me lots of money or give me a brand new car? No. I was trying to secure a flu shot for my oldest son. As of 11:15 a.m., Bub has been flu-misted. Little Bit will be clear to receive his second dose of the baby flu shot in two more days. So, I get a break from crazy dialing until Wednesday morning.
* have rediscovered Bit-0-Honey and, honey, there won't be any left for our trick or treaters (not that I would pass them out for trick or treat anyway--they contain peanuts)
* forgot to complete Bub's Scholastic book order by the due date (thrown off because there was no school on Friday and was planning to use the new online ordering feature). This slip-up is stinging more than it should. When will I have another opportunity to secure a hardcover of When You Give a Pig a Party for only eight dollars? I really am disappointed.
* also forgot to pay my Visa bill last month. I had the funds, but I did not pay it. Just plain forgot. This kind of forgetfulness is not like me. Really, really annoyed at myself earlier in the day, but I have recovered.
* have to report that the little shits who first started calling us way back then just called again five minutes ago. Seriously?! It's getting creepy.
* also forgot how annoying it is to wear maternity pants. I spend half the day hoisting the pants up as they continue to slip, but not too far up since most maternity pants do not come in lovely tall styles. I spend the other half of the day pulling down the non-maternity shirts that I try to wear for as long as possible. Wait?! Why are you wearing maternity clothes, MEP? Oh, did I forget to tell you?
More and better later, I promise.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Brown paper packages tied up with string . . .
. . . These are a few of my favorite things (right now):
Books
Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- this book was recommended to me by Mrs F with 4 in the comments section of this NTB post. The novel traces early-onset Alzheimer's disease from the perspective of a fifty year-old woman who has the memory disease. I came away with a new perspective on just how traumatic the disease is on the patients. I feel bad admitting it, but before I had always thought more about the struggles of caretakers of those with Alzheimers. This novel would be a FANTASTIC book club selection. There's a lot of talk about, especially questions of quality and sanctity of life. Please read it.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins -- A few months ago I posted about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and noted that it was so awesome that it made me want to teach ninth grade English again. Catching Fire is the sequel, and I loved it just as much or more. Totalitarianism. Revolution. Reality Television. Again, would be a great book club selection. So, go read The Hunger Games, then go read Catching Fire, and then join my hurry-up-and-finish-the-next-book-please-Suzanne-Collins club.
How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely -- Hilarious, satirical novel about today's publishing industry and readers. The novel's protagonist basically tries to write a bestselling novel by consciously writing the worst novel ever. Laughed out loud several times. Those of you who read a lot, check out book reviews, and pay attention to what's on the Bestseller list and the book table at Costco will especially enjoy this one.
Eats
Extra sharp cheddar cheese sliced and placed on my beloved Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits
Cherry Cordial Ice Cream -- I'm eating the Edy's brand right now which is actually called "Cherry Chocolate Chip" but the point is that the combination of bright pink cherry ice cream, small chunks of chocolate, and pieces of maraschino cherry is freaking irresistible.
Dominos American Legends Pizza -- Dominos is less than half a mile from my house. If I call, it is delivered in under 20 minutes and thus we eat our fair share of Dominos. I am a master of the Dominos online ordering system with coupon codes, NTB. The two varieties of American Legends pizzas I have sampled are excellent. Do yourself a favor and try the salty and delicious Philly Cheese Steak Pizza or the Pacific Veggie one (request thing crust for that one--yes, Dominos has thin crust and it is quite lovely).
Shows
Jim and Pam are getting married. I have cried during every episode of The Biggest Loser this season (plus enjoy the train wreck that is crazy Tracey). Joel McHale and Community are hilarious. This season's Top Chefs are kicking ass (love Kevin from Atlanta, intense Jen from Philly, and the non-twin Voltaggio brothers -- not a fan of the Greek guy). And, I am Gleeful.
Weather
Love the cooler temps (but winter, don't get any ideas about arriving early, especially since you tend to overstay your welcome in these parts). Love the smell of Fall, especially when it's windy out. Love that the leaves are changing.
Okay, what are your favorite things right now?
Books
Still Alice by Lisa Genova -- this book was recommended to me by Mrs F with 4 in the comments section of this NTB post. The novel traces early-onset Alzheimer's disease from the perspective of a fifty year-old woman who has the memory disease. I came away with a new perspective on just how traumatic the disease is on the patients. I feel bad admitting it, but before I had always thought more about the struggles of caretakers of those with Alzheimers. This novel would be a FANTASTIC book club selection. There's a lot of talk about, especially questions of quality and sanctity of life. Please read it.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins -- A few months ago I posted about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and noted that it was so awesome that it made me want to teach ninth grade English again. Catching Fire is the sequel, and I loved it just as much or more. Totalitarianism. Revolution. Reality Television. Again, would be a great book club selection. So, go read The Hunger Games, then go read Catching Fire, and then join my hurry-up-and-finish-the-next-book-please-Suzanne-Collins club.
How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely -- Hilarious, satirical novel about today's publishing industry and readers. The novel's protagonist basically tries to write a bestselling novel by consciously writing the worst novel ever. Laughed out loud several times. Those of you who read a lot, check out book reviews, and pay attention to what's on the Bestseller list and the book table at Costco will especially enjoy this one.
Eats
Extra sharp cheddar cheese sliced and placed on my beloved Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits
Cherry Cordial Ice Cream -- I'm eating the Edy's brand right now which is actually called "Cherry Chocolate Chip" but the point is that the combination of bright pink cherry ice cream, small chunks of chocolate, and pieces of maraschino cherry is freaking irresistible.
Dominos American Legends Pizza -- Dominos is less than half a mile from my house. If I call, it is delivered in under 20 minutes and thus we eat our fair share of Dominos. I am a master of the Dominos online ordering system with coupon codes, NTB. The two varieties of American Legends pizzas I have sampled are excellent. Do yourself a favor and try the salty and delicious Philly Cheese Steak Pizza or the Pacific Veggie one (request thing crust for that one--yes, Dominos has thin crust and it is quite lovely).
Shows
Jim and Pam are getting married. I have cried during every episode of The Biggest Loser this season (plus enjoy the train wreck that is crazy Tracey). Joel McHale and Community are hilarious. This season's Top Chefs are kicking ass (love Kevin from Atlanta, intense Jen from Philly, and the non-twin Voltaggio brothers -- not a fan of the Greek guy). And, I am Gleeful.
Weather
Love the cooler temps (but winter, don't get any ideas about arriving early, especially since you tend to overstay your welcome in these parts). Love the smell of Fall, especially when it's windy out. Love that the leaves are changing.
Okay, what are your favorite things right now?
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