A Bunch of Balloons: A Social Commentary

I've decided my new go-to accessory is going to be two dozen helium-filled balloons.

I don't often walk around with them gracing my wrists, but I think I need to change that.

Last night was sports banquet night at my girls' school. I was in charge of balloons.

So, I picked up a dozen each, blue and white, on my way from the office.

You know what happened?

EVERYBODY I passed in the shopping plaza and parking lot smiled and said hello.

EVERYBODY.

Even the cool, young dude driving by  in his lo-rider had to put his window down for a "Hi, there!"

I thought this is great commentary on our society.

I mean, who can't help but smile at a giant bunch of balloons bumping around some one's head?

If that what it takes to drive the crabbies out of my life, I think I'm on it.

And, I could color-coordinate for my outfit. Or my mood.

Maybe I can get one of those silvery Mylar jobs when I'm in the mood for something less obnoxious.

I'm sure seeing me shove the gas-filled mass into the back of my car without them taking off in the wind (which HAD to pick up as I crossed the parking lot!) or popping any of them had to provide some level of amusement for others. I'm sure.

I will say:  The real entertainment came later, when I got to school. In the space of my 15-minute drive, a storm blew in. When I couldn't wait it out any longer, I made a break for it, balloons in tow.
The ribbons were SO TANGLED, it took two of us 10 minutes to get them apart!

Anybody want to join me and make this a real fashion trend?

If this had been an actual emergency...

This has been an tiring week... mentally, any way.
I--along with a WHOLE LOT of other people--have been spending the last four days living out what it would be like for a 7.7 earthquake to strike the center of the United States.
Although, I have to admit:  I had one of the cushy desk jobs.

Every year FEMA (that's the Federal Emergency Management Agency) stages a national-level disaster exercise of some type. This year, in observation of the 200th anniversary of the 1811 earthquake that struck along the New Madrid Fault, the National Level Earthquake (NLE) simulates a major quake in the Midwest.

After four days of working through the logistics of more than a million people without power (just in our state), no potable drinking water, natural gas leaks (and resulting fires), major bridge and roadway failures, and no telephone or cell service (not even 911!), I cannot emphasize how important it is for EVERYBODY to have a disaster plan at home.

Seriously.
How would you get along if you couldn't do the most basic things--like flip on a light or drink your tap water--for days, if not weeks?

There are a lot of info and tips on disaster preparedness online at:  http://www.ready.gov/.  Take a few minutes and check it out. This makes a good family project to put together a go kit.
I'm not talking anything fancy or exotic.

Look how simple this is:

 You can fit everything for a basic kit in a simple backpack. You can always use one of your kids' old ones.
(In full disclosure, our kit here at my house is in a Rubbermaid tub that we keep in the basement. This particular kit I have pictures of is a kit I recently took to an elementary school for an earthquake awareness day demonstration.)

Stock the kit with basic essentials to get you (and everyone in your family) through three days.

Some of the basics include batteries, a mini first aid kit, a foil-type thermal blanket just-in-case, glow sticks, a leatherman tool, and small hand- and foot-warming packets.

 Don't forget a crank-style radio, a whistle, a flashlight, a tarp with a rope (for temporary shelter in the worst-case scenario) and--just in case--extra toilet paper!

Don't forget to pack water and food that doesn't require cooking or a can opener (unless you pack the can opener!). These nutrition bars and water packets, which will last up to 5 years, are available online.

But you don't have to go fancy. I stock my home kit with peanut butter, crackers, canned tuna and granola bars. Just rotate them out once in a while, so they stay fresh.

Another piece of advice I learned the hard way:  Beware of bottled water in plastic jugs--the plastic can give out after a while and leak! I did a regular check of my kit a while back and found everything floating in my storage tub (except the water-logged TP). So, I had to clean it up and start from scratch.

Don't forget to include supplies for your pets in your kit, too.

The rule of thumb is to stockpile, at a minimum, everything you'll need for 72 hours.

It's better to plan now, and not wait until it's too late!



In case you want to read a little more about the NLE 2011, click here.



What Was I Thinking??

That little voice in my head kept speaking to me:

"Don't do it, gal."

"You'll wish you hadn't."

"You are an idiot in motion."

And, against my better judgement, I hushed that little voice, and I did it anyway.
I gave in.
Call it peer pressure... Wishful thinking... Losing touch with reality...
I accepted a bag full of Amish Friendship Bread starter stuff from a co-worker.

What was I thinking?
Have you ever done this before?
I haven't in quite a few years. And now I remember why.
I think I had a little moment, as I stood there in the office, that over took my sensibility when I thought, "Oh, the girls will think this is fun!"

In case you aren't familiar with it, the Amish Friendship Bread is a bag of sugar, flour, milk and yeast (maybe some other stuff if I go look at the recipe) that someone pawns off on shares with you, so you can make your own endless supply of bread.

The problem is:  It comes with a schedule that requires regular kneading and adding and burping.
Ugh.
Just what I need:  High-maintenance food. That I have to feed no less!
It's like having another pet in the house.

The worst of it is:  You have to do all this stuff on a schedule and, inevitably, the day I'm supposed to add lots more ingredients and divide it four ways, then bake one portion, is the day we get home late because oldest daughter has a track meet (in the rain) and everyone has homework (including me!). And I couldn't care less about baking some bread.
Now, I've just added Bread Guilt to the baggage in my life.

Let's just say it didn't happen again this time. And now I have a five-day-over-due bag o' goo loitering on my counter top.
My question to any of you out there who has done this:  It is too late? Can it be revived/saved?
Or should I just give up and throw it out?

Great. Now I have Food Waster Guilt on my baggage list.

Working Mom Wednesday Blog Hop

Hadn't done the Working Mom Wednesday link up lately, so thought I'd particpate this week:

Questions:
#1 - Set one goal for yourself this week. What will you do to accomplish it?
My goal is to get the camper ready for summer trips. We have a travel trailer that is our home-on-wheels for weekend trips and usually one week-long (on rare ocasion two!) adventure. It's usually out by now, but with all the soggy weather we've had this spring, I haven't been real motivated to go camping. (Because muddy kids and a dog at home is plenty to deal with, let alone in the camper and in the truck!)

I have a day off this week, so that's what I'm doing with it. (Along with a few other household projects that have been falling by the way side... like cleaning the fridge.)

#2- Do you enjoy reading? What are some of your favorite books?
I enjoy reading when I find a really good book. If it's assigned reading, and I'm not "into" it, I find it painful.
Right now I'm reading "Pox: An American History" by Michael Willech. It's about the hitory of smallpox in the United States.

Honestly, I don't feel like I get a lot of time to read. When I get the chance to check out the offerings at the library, I get books on CD to listen to on my 90-minute each way commute. This week, I've been listening to Freakanomics.
My favorite books are usually biographies. One of my favorites was "Into Thin Air," about a group scaling Mount Everest.

Goin' To the Movies--On a Week Day?!?

Guess who actually went to the movies before the show hit the cheap joint second-run theatres?!
Yes, me.
And, during the week no less!

Actually, I took my Girl Scout troop to see Soul Surfer after school today.
We meet twice a month and I adjust my work schedule to leave a little early those days for our meetings.
But, today, I just felt like I was playin' hookie or something. When do I ever go to the movies?

Actually, I needed this. A couple relaxing hours without my Blackberry and no one demanding asking anything of me. It's been a stressful three weeks.

Here's my review:

This is the true story of Bethany Hamilton and her come-back after a shark attack that took her left arm.

It was really a great movie to see with my Girl Scouts. I'm not saying it was the most compelling acting I've ever seen, but the message in the movie was great for this age group.

(I admit I was a little distracted by how much Helen Hunt had aged since I'd seen her last. I almost didn't recognize her. Not that she looked bad--she's still beautiful. She's just an older version.)

The movie is good material for mom-daughter discussions about what's important in life, faith, attitude, courage, how to treat others and trying your best. Bethany is a way-better role model than that Miley Cyrus.

BabyD declared the movie "great". One of my Scouts announced, "This is in the top 3 movies I've ever seen." (How's that review from a 13-year-old when the show has no vampires?)

The shark attack scene happened very quickly, and with only minimal gore if you have a weak stomach. Not too icky at all.

If you have a teen or pre-teen in your house/life, I'd recommend it.

Now, here's my editorial on the TOTAL RIP-OFF prices at the concession counter:

Explain to me how 3 slurpees, 2 popcorn tubs (yeah, large), a water, a Sprite and 2 boxes of M&Ms can cost as much as the nice Italian dinner for four we had for our anniversary last night?!?!?! (Granted, we didn't order any alcohol at the restaurant. But, I had to save my money for the comparably priced fruity shaved-ice drink at the movie theatre!!!!)

And, I'm not even including the cost of the tickets... Which were matinee-priced, but still ridiculously high.

No wonder people sneak snacks into the theatre. I should've recieved free M&Ms with what I paid!

(Please note:  I did NOT sneek candy in on this trip, as I did not want to set a bad example for the impressionable youth accompanying me. Can you hear the choir of angels behind me praising my virtues?)

I'm betting the profits of one Regal Cinema on a busy opening weekend of a hit show could rival the gross national product of a small Pacific island nation.

Want a way to fund education? Replace the gym with a movie theater. At the goin' rate, they could replace yellow buses with stretch limos.

And that's my commentary on going to the movies.

I say wait until it's out on video, but watch Soul Surfer with your favorite kid.

And pop your own corn.

Easter Treasures: Eggs, Candy, and Mushrooms

Happy Easter to all.
It's really about supper time, but NO ONE in our house is hungry... not that anyone could expect more than left-over ham and mashed potatoes. (I'm hoarding what's left of the green bean casserole to myself... disguised in the opaque storage container in the bottom of the fridge that my lazy family will never see... Admit it:  You do that, too. Don't you? But I digress...)

Easter really started yesterday when my brother, his wife (aka Stalker-In-Law, as in blog stalker who won't make a profile and comment---I'm calling her out right now!) and their two wild daughters came down and stayed over.

My SIL took pity on my holiday table woes that I posted about last week and surprised me with a beautiful center piece that she made, and I'll be enjoying for weeks to come. Check it out...

After a kid-friendly movie last night, my daughters, who are 11 and 13, each got a cousin roommate for the night, ages 5 and 6. We all couldn't fit in one vehicle, so I got a report on the "sleepover" on the way to church. I think it's so funny that my kids don't see themselves at all in their cousins. LittleD and BabyD have no clue that they talk as much as their little cousins. My girls marvelled at the quiet in our car. Ha! That's a couple of pots calling the kettles black!

All the girls got plenty sugared-up when Grandma and Grandpa showed up with chocolate bunnies for all and the Favored Aunt arrived with, no kiddin', 8 packages of Peeps for the girls!

The indoor egg hunt only added to the hyperactivity. While the weather cleared up in the afternoon, we opted to hide eggs in the house to avoid turning the girls into green monsters from the soggy grass clippings that coated the yard.

As you can see, with guys hiding eggs, the obvious isn't always the first choice of hiding places...

Mom, Dad and one of my sisters came for lunch. The discussion turned to morel mushrooms--the much-storied fungi that many Hoosiers and other Midwesterners seek out each spring. Sister had scored quite a load on some recent expeditions and had brought them along for Mom to cook up later, since Sis refuses to allow fungus to pass her lips.

Now, I have to admit, I've known my fair share of passionate morel hunters and I guess I just don't get it. I enjoy a good shroom as much as the next guy. But I've never been driven to forage for my food. Nor have I been willing to risk my liver by eating something that I'm not quite totally sure wouldn't poison my family and me. I really haven't ever known what to look for.

When questioning my sister's knowledge of what she's looking for she went on to describe the rights and wrongs of mushroom hunting and the value of seeking out these precious morsels that are pulling down more than $60 a pound from the die-hards who are seeking their fill via eBay. The Husband said he just ran over some in the yard yesterday that sounded just like that. A bunch of them, in fact. Only bigger.
Yeah, right.

So, he high-tailed it out of the house and came back with a fist-sized specimen that had survived the mower only because of its close proximity to a tree.
That was it, Sister said. Only a lot bigger.
While the one she was gathering were the size of a pinkie finger, this one was the size of your fist.

Dinner was winding down, so most of the family changed into jeans and  boots and headed outside to take a look and get a lesson on morel mushroom hunting.

We struck gold. I had no idea these things were growing so close to our house.

It was a bit like a "Where's Waldo?" hunt... Can you spot the mushroom?

We did a lot of picking through the brambles and the undergrowth.
I was grateful it wasn't snake season...

The soggy morning didn't exactly turn sunny, but we did have some fun in the (relatively) warm weather and fresh air that had finally dried out a bit.

Even my brother scored some shrooms. (Note:  He's going to sue me for not getting a signed photo release consent before this post...)
 

With a little stomping and pushing aside some foliage along our wood line, we ended up with nearly two pounds of morels!

Now, I'm looking for cooking tips and recipes. We found two types--the tall spongy-looking Christmas trees and the "snake heads" (which I guess is the more family-friendly name for this variety).

 

Please share if you have any.

I'm working up the nerve to cook them, as I squelch the thought that I could poison my kids if my sister mis-identified anything.

In that case, instead of recipes, I'll be looking for a new liver.

 

Happy Easter!

Do you decorate for holidays?

I know lady in my town, Pat, who goes all-out for holidays. She decorates for everything--Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, all of them. And by decorate, I mean does a complete accessory remodel of her home.

From the front porch to the bathroom, every inch of her house and every flat surface is covered with something "festive". You can't set a glass of tea down because of the ceramic eggs, plastic bunnies and silk flowers this time of year. And it's like this for every season!
Whenever I've graced her home, I get totally distracted by one, single thought:

Where does she store all this stuff???

Anyway, now Easter is just around the corner and the family will be gathering at my house for a big ol' ham. (With apologies to all you sheep producers out there, I must say I detest lamb--and ain't no amount of mint jelly is going to cover that up!) As I did one final cupboard inventory today, to avoid going to the grocery store on a Friday before a holiday, I started thinking about how to doll-up my table.

I saw a Better Homes and Gardens piece with Easter table decorating ideas. So, once again, I'm feeling like a holiday hostess failure.

Yeah, I'll get out one of my good table clothes, and the gold-trimmed china my mother-in-law gave me. But I really don't know what to do beyond that. I saw a really fancy dessert I was thinking of serving, but it seems out-of-place on my plain old table and my non-festive family.

The fact that my family doesn't appreciate such things--or the effort behind it--makes me feel like I live amongst wolves. I'm sure the girls will dress up for Easter Sunday at church. They'll look lovely sitting beside The Husband in his good jeans, I'm sure.

Am I the only one with a husband who thinks anything beyond the usual is silly?
I think we're living at the intersection of boring and why bother.

But, that's okay, I guess. The important thing is we'll have a fun time watching the daughters and the nieces run around the yard (weather-permitting) searching for eggs.