Today's Beef? Daylight Savings Time

Who the heck thought of Daylight Savings Time?
I know who thought it was a good idea for Indiana to start observing it... and I still don't get it.

I think the name alone is a big, giant fraud... what daylight are we saving?
It's the same amount---it's just shifted later, so I get to drive to work in total darkness all but two days a year!!!

That's not saving anything.
That is called annoying me. And making the headlights on my car burn out sooner.

Yeah, I'm crabbing about it again. It's become an annual tradition now.
Honestly, I think making us Morning People live in a total state of darkness is cruel and discouraging.
I also think shifting the daylight to a later time encourages sloth and laziness. Not to mention the hassle of making kids go to bed when it's still broad daylight at 10 o'clock at night.

There.
Got it out of my system.
Thought I'd share with you folks out there in the blog-o-sphere, since my family is good 'n tired of hearing me bemoan this stupid practice.

How Hard Is It, Really, to Eat a Baked Potato?

So, something really, really rare happened in our house this week.

Like a total lunar eclipse or the birth of a white buffalo, I rarely ever get home before The Husband on a week night. And, to add to the notable rareness of this occasion: He actually called me and asked if he could start dinner.

Wow.

I almost turned my car into the nearest gas station to buy a lottery ticket.

How did this happen??

Actually, I had called him earlier in the day and asked him if he could manage to leave work at a normal-human time and pick up the girls, so I could get through the grocery store a pace that would not rival Indy 500 drivers. Ever since my office moved the far side of the city, my commute has nearly doubled each way. Gone are the days of hitting the Meijer on my way to pick up the girls in after school supervision.

There's not way I can do that now--unless I want to risk turning over my entire 401K to the school because of the dollar-per-minute-per-kid late pickup fee. Or--worse yet--I pick them up and we stop at the Kroger on the way home.

Eek! Nothing says hell-on-earth to me like grocery shopping with two kids!

Well, maybe grocery shopping with two kids on a Saturday morning in Walmart. But I digress...

After I regained control of my speeding Acadia, I was able to respond to his question.

Since I was running so late (as it turned out, I even left work 30 minutes late of a meeting!) and I was in the grocery, I pickup up one of those roasted chickens they sell by in the warmer by the checkout.

Yeah, it's loaded with sodium. Yeah, it's been sitting there for 2.5 hours. Yeah, I was taking the easy way out. But, heck, it was on sale and we were facing a 7 pm dinner time, anyway.

I told The Husband a chicken was on the way (see how I still make life easy on him, even when I'm working late?), so maybe he could scrub up some spuds and throw them in the microwave, then heat up a vegetable of his choice. You know what his response was?

"Do we have to have baked potatoes?"

"What's wrong with baked potatoes?"

"They take too much effort to eat. How about mashed [out of the box, I might add]?"

"Too much effort? What do you mean?"

"Well, you have to cut them up to eat them."

"Yeah, so..."

"I'm too tired to eat a baked potato. Why don't I make mashed?"

Did I hear that right? Too tired to eat a potato?? How did he have the strength to dial the phone??

That's when I offered to stop at the store and pick up a jar of baby food chicken dinner, so he could have a complete meal he didn't have to bother to chew.

What really befuddled me was the fact that this came from a perfectly healthy grown man with all his natural teeth. And, he was talking to me, Miss "Suffering-from-26-consecutive-months-of-adult-orthodontia." Now, really, who has the right to talk about food taking too much effort to eat? I have to cut up everything I eat in to little bitty pieces and chew-pick-chew. And, that's if I haven't had an adjustment in the last 48 hours, which means I'm relegated to mushy foods like spaghetti or soup.

So, The Husband whipped up some homemade boxed spuds for supper.

The upside: They were warm and ready to eat when I walked in the door with my three gallons of milk and a week's worth of fruit and yogurt. In less than 5 minutes after walking in the door: Dinner was served.

Meet Me On Monday blog hop

Meet Me On Monday





Questions:
1. Did you watch the Superbowl?

A: No, which is why I'm doing this blog hop on Sunday--I'm checking out this weekend's blog posts while watching Nature on PBS with the girls. The Husband snagged the big TV downstairs, so we're sitting on the bed with our feet under the covers. Just fine by me. When Nature is over, we're going back to our The Brady Bunch Collection: Complete First Season. (No that is not a lie. Snagged Season 1 and 2 at Target this afternoon for only 12 bucks!)


2. What is the last book that you read?

A: Politics of Food. I'm mid-way through "Ticket to the Circus" right now. Don't have a clue why I picked it off the shelf, but it's been pretty good so far. I tend to gravitate toward biographies. I guess I'm just nosey about other people's lives.


3. What is your favorite kind of cake?

A: Black Forrest. Nothing like cherries and chocolate to me!


4. Do you snore?

A: Yeah. I'm suprised you can't hear me from here. But only when I'm sleeping heavily... which is almost every night, in all honesty. (Check out my post about the tree falling down this past week.)

I will endorse Breathe Right strips. They work well for me--or so I'm told. I'm too busy sleeping to notice. Or even give a hoot.


5. Do you play an instrument?

Not any more. I had many years of piano--which my parents said I'd thank them for some day.

They're still waiting...

I played oboe in high school concert band and tenor sax in marching band.

I took fiddle lessons in high school, too. Had a lousy teacher. I always vowed I'd take them up again someday. I really should. That was on my "to do" list for 2010, after I completed a two-year class commitment. But I didn't get it done.

If A Tree Falls When You're Sleeping, Does It Make A Sound?

I'm a very heavy sleeper.

Here's my proof:

Last night's ice and wind took down this big ol' maple in our front yard about midnight--and I totally slept through it!

The Husband, who was watching TV in the basement, thought we were having an earthquake.
Even our neighbor heard it at his house.

It didn't just fall over--it was uprooted.

This big beauty was really a landmark in our front yard.
Our house is never going to look the same. The itty-bitty one we planted a few years ago to be its successor just hasn't earned the glory of a tree with a 4-foot diameter.

How are you fairing in the ice and snow?

We hunkered down and stayed home today. I'm blessed (?) to be able to work from home. So, I've done about 4 hours worth today. Beyond that, we played Wii and worked out and napped. Might be able to get used to this pace!

I just hope this doesn't go one for many more days!


I had the foresight to stock up on milk and fruit and stuff. I filled water jugs so we'll have water if the power goes out. We have plenty of gas for the generator, which will get the well pump going again, if we need it. We also have plenty of dry firewood stock-piled. (Obviously, we'll have even more come spring!!)

My only real concern is running out of toilet paper.

Now that would be a family emergency!!

Sometimes Less is More

Thanks to everyone passing along thoughts and prayers for LittleD, after the sudden death of her friend.
It's been so encouraging to see how the seventh grade girls at school and church have really pulled together to support each other. And the staff at our school has been so amazing and supportive. I'm so thankful my kids are surrounded by a network of Christian teachers who can pour on the love when they really need it.
Even with heavy hearts, the kids pulled of three performances of the school musical, dedicated to the memory of their friend, who was part of the drama team. I, and a lot of others, wondered if they could do it. But it seems the kids needed to do it to let off some steam and emotion.
We hit rock-bottom over the weekend when we went to the viewing. I think everyone in two counties showed up. It's so hard to see a 12 year-old girl lying in a casket.

This week has gone much, much better. In spite of a mighty busy work schedule the last few days. Emotionally, we had to shift gears because BabyD turned 11 this week.
Or, as she tells me, "officially pre-teen now."

We did dinner out during the week, then Party Day came Friday evening.
She invited just three friends over. The big, crazy girl party is just not her style. Unfortunately, only two of her pals could make it, but that was okay.

They were undeterred.
The girls made their own pizzas. Add strawberries, a little cake, ice cream and a Wii, and you've got the makin's for a great party.
At least that's what my guests told me.

Friend 1, eating ice cream: "You know, this is really nice."
Friend 2: "Yeah, it is."
Me: "What's nice?"
Friend 1: "Just us. Not a bunch of crazy kids running around."
Friend 2: "Or girls screaming."
BabyD: "Or acting crazy."

Wow. This is all it takes to make 11 year-olds happy?
No more Mom Guilt for me!
So I don't throw big, giant parties for my kids with bounce houses and entertainment.
Looks like less can be more!
Lesson learned.
I do still feel guilty for getting BabyD a store-bought cake this year. But the way my work week played out, there was no getting one made. I did put my own candles on it...

Tough Week at Our House

No one has ever accused me of being an emotional person.
But this week is really taking it's toll on me.

LittleD lost one of her friends this week.
It finally made the news last night and this morning, and it's about to do me in seeing it recounted again and again.
She had flu-like symptoms all weekend and her parents couldn't wake her up Tuesday morning.
She was only 12. And a really, really sweet girl.

LittleD is coping with the first loss of someone her age. She's working her way through it... gradually.
I'm thankful for a great, great set of teachers and counsellors who are there to help her and her classmates cope.
Meanwhile, as a mom, I'm hurting for LittleD and her friends.
And the the family of this child. I wish I could take away the hurt for all of them.
And I'm trying like heck not to think "that could be my family".

So, I'm hanging in there until next week--which has got be better.
We just have to get through a funeral first.

"But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the
children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God”. (Luke 18:16)

.

Another Parenting Milestone

It came without much fanfare, considering the milestone that has finally arrived:

LittleD is now officially a teenager.

So, now I'm officially further along in motherhood than I ever imagined.

Does this make me old?

For some reason, when I pictured myself having kids, my mental image got the child up to about the age of 5. Six, maybe.

But teenager?

Just didn't quite picture it.

I don't know how this happened so quickly, either.

Seems like just yesterday that I brought home my dark-haired baby girl in the aftermath of a snow storm. It freaks me out a little to think that in another five years she'll be heading off to college...

Although, I must say, there's a strong chance we just might kill each other before that happens!

Along with this milestone has come the hormones. And mood swings. And yelling. Followed by slamming doors.

It ain't pretty.

But I am determined.

I will prevail.

So what do modern 13-year-old girls want for their birthdays?

Let's see... a pedicure, a manicure, a Nook, (given up on the cell phone), a Facebook account... just to name a few.

So what do discerning parents who are determined not to raise an over-indulged spoiled brat give said 13 YO?

A checking account.

When the list got out of control (and out of budget!), The Husband and I opted to take LittleD over to our local Chase Bank and open a new account.

They have a no-fee student account option that we (the 'rents) can magically control via the web. (And, yes, I declined to give her overdraft protection. When that card pops up "insufficient funds" it will stop working. Good habits are formed early.)

She's had a savings account forever, but this is one that she'll be responsible for, including the debit card.

And--here's the bonus--she can buy her own birthday gift(s).

I decided it's time we put the lessons about living on a budget into action. And, when she decided to take back the ugly birthday sweater Grandma sent and found two sweaters she liked, my response was, "Buy it yourself; you've got birthday money."

That was not the answer she was expecting. Or wanting.

Nor was that the answer LittleD wanted when she wanted some candy.

But my kid is no dummy!

Three days later, LittleD plops down on the couch and asks,

"So, is this bank account a present or a punishment?"

I think the gleam is already fading from that debit card.

Meanwhile, I think my devious plan is starting to work. She's hardly spent any of the money. (Funny how you don't need certain things when you pay for them yourself!)

She's decided to save up for a Nook. Which makes me think she might be growing up even faster than I think!

Meet Me On Monday

1. Have you (only you..not a group) ever won first place in anything?

A: I won a jar of candy corn in third grade when I guessed how many.

I also won Best Halloween Costume once, where I used to work. I dressed as Jackie Kennedy at the funeral. Tacky. But it paid off.

2. Are your toes always painted (sorry guys...this question for girls only)?

A: No. It's winter, so all my toes care about are wool socks!

3. What color eyes do you have?

A: Blue. Little bloodshot, after how I slept last night!

4. Look to your left....what do you see?
A: Empty bed where The Husband will be hogging the covers in a couple hours. (Surprised there's not a kid there, wanting bedtime cuddles.)

5. Soft cookies or crunchy cookies?

A: Depends: Chocolate chip--soft. Thin Mints--crunchy.