Yesterday, I started to tell Larry I was going to spend half an hour neatening our bedroom and ironing (in other words, keep the kids away!), but I only managed to get out the words, "I'd like to spend..." when he interrupted with a beleaguered "Money?"
Gee, financially stressed much, or what?
So I made it worse by going to IKEA today with a friend. Nothing like piling on, right? I snapped up a Tullsta armchair (without the slipcover) in the "as is" section for half price. It was meant for Anna's room; but as she's not in my good graces right now, I put it in my room instead. Will my love affair for the affordable Ektorp line never cease?
Hello, IKEA? Are you listening? Toss me some freebies, will ya? Thanks.
I recently instructed Theo to do schoolwork on the computer as much as possible whenever Larry is home, in an effort to make him aware of our need for another computer. Apparently my evil machinations worked. Larry spent all day yesterday researching different laptop options, which made me practically agog with anticipation. Oh, the future looked bright indeed!
Unfortunately, we came to our senses and decided to spend the money instead on a futon and frame for Theo's room (which doubles as the guest room), as my beloved sister-in-law informed me that she just may pay us a visit next month. Seeing as how the twin mattress currently on the floor might discourage Auntie Kate from ever returning, we felt we should cough up the dough for some decent sleeping accommodations for her. Especially since she is forgiving enough to return after the slashed suitcase incident from last time...
[Newbies, that last link is definitely worth clicking on.]
But I'm afraid I still need a few days to mourn the laptop I never got to know. It was so close...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Old As The Hills
I had the kids watch Obama's acceptance speech last night (I do love how Michelle dresses, don't you?) and afterwards Theo was asking me some questions about the election. After I had explained some of Obama's positions on the issues and why people wanted to vote for him, Theo asked, "Well, why do people want to vote for McCain, then?"
Being an even-minded (read, undecided) voter, I listed some of McCain's strong points, ending with "He's an older man, which makes a lot of people feel that his judgment on important issues can be trusted."
"Yeah," said Theo, "but Obama's really old, too - he's in his 40's already!"
At which point I ended the discussion and dragged my ancient self up to bed.
[I have a post up at MidCenturyModernMoms, explaining why "Back To School" may not be greeted with much enthusiasm by my teen daughter and giving an important link to a new Nebraska law that seems to understand how we parents of teens feel at times. Check it out. I mean, if you feel like it. No pressure.]
Being an even-minded (read, undecided) voter, I listed some of McCain's strong points, ending with "He's an older man, which makes a lot of people feel that his judgment on important issues can be trusted."
"Yeah," said Theo, "but Obama's really old, too - he's in his 40's already!"
At which point I ended the discussion and dragged my ancient self up to bed.
[I have a post up at MidCenturyModernMoms, explaining why "Back To School" may not be greeted with much enthusiasm by my teen daughter and giving an important link to a new Nebraska law that seems to understand how we parents of teens feel at times. Check it out. I mean, if you feel like it. No pressure.]
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Knit Me A River
Wow! I should have quizzes more often. I got almost as many comments about the mummified bananas as I had on the bra post. (There's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not going to go for it.)
Yes, the unidentified object was (were?) 2 bananas, looking as though they had been bought sometime in the Pleistocene Era. I can't understand how they reached the petrified stage they were in without their oozing all over my counter first. Usually, it's the oozing that tips me off.
So, thanks to everyone who played! And a special thanks to "A," the first commenter, whose comment made me go over to YouTube looking for a rendition of "Yes, We Have No Bananas." I knew the song existed, but I had never heard it until today. And now I can't get that darn tune out of my head.
As I said, thanks. Thanks a lot.
I managed to attend Knit Night last night; essentially, I walked out the door as Larry walked in from his 3-day management retreat, saying, "Retreat this, buddy!" (Okay, no, I didn't; but I wanted to.) There I was able to discuss with other women a problem that I didn't realize many of us married knitters share: a spouse who thinks that, when he speaks, he should have our full, undivided (i.e., not knitting) attention.
In other words, all those evenings I spent sitting cosily in the den with Larry, knitting away on some project or another and listening to him talk about what is screwed up at work? Didn't count. Because I was knitting. Even though I was conversing with him throughout, asking questions, and only occasionally interrupting the conversation to pick up a dropped stitch or search for a lost needle...
Talk about not being on the same page, huh? Larry doesn't understand that the only way I can listen to him (or anyone else, for that matter) for an extended period of time is by knitting. If my brain isn't focusing on the knitting, it darts around thinking about laundry that isn't done, the kitchen that needs to be cleaned, meat that needs defrosting for the next day, etc. And when it does that, I am really not paying attention.
This misunderstanding stems from the fact that men don't seem able to do two things at once. For instance, when Larry is on the phone, he needs to retreat to a perfectly quiet room and focus on his phone conversation. Isn't that cute? Ya wanna know what I do while I am on the phone?
Going bananas here, can you tell?
(And, yes, I have noted that Audrey Hepburn is most definitely not knitting as she chats and laughs flirtatiously with Humphrey Bogart. But they don't have 6 kids together, either.)
Yes, the unidentified object was (were?) 2 bananas, looking as though they had been bought sometime in the Pleistocene Era. I can't understand how they reached the petrified stage they were in without their oozing all over my counter first. Usually, it's the oozing that tips me off.
So, thanks to everyone who played! And a special thanks to "A," the first commenter, whose comment made me go over to YouTube looking for a rendition of "Yes, We Have No Bananas." I knew the song existed, but I had never heard it until today. And now I can't get that darn tune out of my head.
As I said, thanks. Thanks a lot.
I managed to attend Knit Night last night; essentially, I walked out the door as Larry walked in from his 3-day management retreat, saying, "Retreat this, buddy!" (Okay, no, I didn't; but I wanted to.) There I was able to discuss with other women a problem that I didn't realize many of us married knitters share: a spouse who thinks that, when he speaks, he should have our full, undivided (i.e., not knitting) attention.
In other words, all those evenings I spent sitting cosily in the den with Larry, knitting away on some project or another and listening to him talk about what is screwed up at work? Didn't count. Because I was knitting. Even though I was conversing with him throughout, asking questions, and only occasionally interrupting the conversation to pick up a dropped stitch or search for a lost needle...
Talk about not being on the same page, huh? Larry doesn't understand that the only way I can listen to him (or anyone else, for that matter) for an extended period of time is by knitting. If my brain isn't focusing on the knitting, it darts around thinking about laundry that isn't done, the kitchen that needs to be cleaned, meat that needs defrosting for the next day, etc. And when it does that, I am really not paying attention.
This misunderstanding stems from the fact that men don't seem able to do two things at once. For instance, when Larry is on the phone, he needs to retreat to a perfectly quiet room and focus on his phone conversation. Isn't that cute? Ya wanna know what I do while I am on the phone?
- Cook
- Clean
- Wipe butts (not mine, though)
- Settle fights
- Change diapers
- Answer e-mail
- Knit (but, of course)
- Fold laundry
- Correct math homework
- Yell at kids
Going bananas here, can you tell?
(And, yes, I have noted that Audrey Hepburn is most definitely not knitting as she chats and laughs flirtatiously with Humphrey Bogart. But they don't have 6 kids together, either.)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
As The Food Turns
Can you believe it? Look at this picture - I found only three items worthy of immediate disposal in my refrigerator this morning. Three! Can it be that this weekly exercise in public hu
miliation is finally bearing fruit? Or could it be that when we got back from vacation on Sunday, I was so aghast at the state of my refrigerator (when compared to the pristine condition of the one at our vacation cottage) that I had to dump things right then and scrub out the bottom shelf and the vegetable bins?
The second scenario, of course, would be the correct one. I should have taken a picture on Sunday, but Larry was there and I felt silly. Still, in order to make up for the fact that I have only 2 bottles of yucky salsa (but, of course) that no one will eat and half a dried-up red onion to share with all of you, I added to the picture a very special something that I found yesterday in a basket on my counter, trapped beneath 2 spaghetti squash that I've been meaning to cook for several months now.
Incidentally, does anyone know how to tell if the spaghetti squash are still good? Just wondering...
Anyway, that black something ensconced (for display purposes only) on the paper towel - anyone care to guess what it is? You may want to think twice about clicking on the photo to enlarge it - it looks sort of scary that way. The answer will be in tomorrow's post (or maybe I should wait until next Wednesday?)...
Oh, and don't worry - just today I placed yet another sacrificial egg sandwich (half, that is) in the refrigerator after lunch. The tradition has been preserved. I'm sure next week's picture will feature the sandwich and several other interesting items. I mean, look at the potential.
(Please note how clean the bottom of the refrigerator is - I am very proud of that. Oh, and the jar of salsa in the center of the top shelf? We bought that on vacation. I mean, we wouldn't want to go an entire week without any salsa, right?)
miliation is finally bearing fruit? Or could it be that when we got back from vacation on Sunday, I was so aghast at the state of my refrigerator (when compared to the pristine condition of the one at our vacation cottage) that I had to dump things right then and scrub out the bottom shelf and the vegetable bins?The second scenario, of course, would be the correct one. I should have taken a picture on Sunday, but Larry was there and I felt silly. Still, in order to make up for the fact that I have only 2 bottles of yucky salsa (but, of course) that no one will eat and half a dried-up red onion to share with all of you, I added to the picture a very special something that I found yesterday in a basket on my counter, trapped beneath 2 spaghetti squash that I've been meaning to cook for several months now.
Incidentally, does anyone know how to tell if the spaghetti squash are still good? Just wondering...
Anyway, that black something ensconced (for display purposes only) on the paper towel - anyone care to guess what it is? You may want to think twice about clicking on the photo to enlarge it - it looks sort of scary that way. The answer will be in tomorrow's post (or maybe I should wait until next Wednesday?)...
Oh, and don't worry - just today I placed yet another sacrificial egg sandwich (half, that is) in the refrigerator after lunch. The tradition has been preserved. I'm sure next week's picture will feature the sandwich and several other interesting items. I mean, look at the potential.
(Please note how clean the bottom of the refrigerator is - I am very proud of that. Oh, and the jar of salsa in the center of the top shelf? We bought that on vacation. I mean, we wouldn't want to go an entire week without any salsa, right?)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Save Our Sweets
[Don't you German au pairs have anything better to do than look in my fridge? I believe the post you may be looking for is here. Plus, there have been regular refrigerator updates almost every Wednesday.]
Well, I'm sitting here tonight waiting for Hillary to address the DNC; I'm hoping she raises the all-important chocolate issue. I can't believe how many speeches I've listened to already this evening; the waves of bombast are starting to seep into my brain...
And in the meantime, Mom On The Verge has alerted me to yet another alarming confectionery trend - the gentrifying of traditional chocolate favorites. Picture it, folks - no more candy shell on your M&M's? A "...marbleized, almost metallic-looking finish in bright colors" instead? And at a much higher price? Is that where we want our country to go, chocolate-wise?
According to the article, Mars "hopes to attract a young, fashion-conscious consumer to the product..." Now, what is up with that? Are those trendy twenty-somethings eating their candy, or wearing it? And could this be yet another instance of middle-aged women being dissed by society?
I'm begging all of you, do not go gently into that dark night. The vibrant candy shell of traditional M&M's should not be tossed carelessly aside for the equivalent of a confectionery strumpet. Sure, M&M Premiums might look new and improved; but can they meet the high standards set by their predecessors? In other words, will they melt in your mouth, but not in your hand?
I think not. I, for one, will stick with the M&M's of my youth. As they have stuck with me...on my hips and on my waist and on my thighs...but never, ever on my hands.
Thank you. It is an honor being here tonight.
Well, I'm sitting here tonight waiting for Hillary to address the DNC; I'm hoping she raises the all-important chocolate issue. I can't believe how many speeches I've listened to already this evening; the waves of bombast are starting to seep into my brain...
And in the meantime, Mom On The Verge has alerted me to yet another alarming confectionery trend - the gentrifying of traditional chocolate favorites. Picture it, folks - no more candy shell on your M&M's? A "...marbleized, almost metallic-looking finish in bright colors" instead? And at a much higher price? Is that where we want our country to go, chocolate-wise?
According to the article, Mars "hopes to attract a young, fashion-conscious consumer to the product..." Now, what is up with that? Are those trendy twenty-somethings eating their candy, or wearing it? And could this be yet another instance of middle-aged women being dissed by society?
I'm begging all of you, do not go gently into that dark night. The vibrant candy shell of traditional M&M's should not be tossed carelessly aside for the equivalent of a confectionery strumpet. Sure, M&M Premiums might look new and improved; but can they meet the high standards set by their predecessors? In other words, will they melt in your mouth, but not in your hand?
I think not. I, for one, will stick with the M&M's of my youth. As they have stuck with me...on my hips and on my waist and on my thighs...but never, ever on my hands.
Thank you. It is an honor being here tonight.
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