School lunch was never a really big deal to me as a kid. Mom made my lunch and I took it to school. Period. I never really thought much about it. Years later, however, I found out what a problem and hassle it was - for my dad.
In an effort to occasionally give me a nice "hot lunch", my mom would heat up a can of Spaghetti-O's and put it in a thermos for me. This was back in the "dark ages" - ie, before microwaves. So not only could I not heat up my lunch at school, my mom had to heat it up the old fashioned way - in a pot on the stove. Did I mention my favorite was the Spaghetti-O's with hot dogs in them?
To this day, nothing can nauseate my dad faster or more completely than the smell of Spaghetti-O's cooking at 7am.
Inspired by The Other Mother writing prompt: School Lunch.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
On The Group W Bench
Those of you who chatted with me last summer may remember what a stressor it was, what with one thing after another. And if you remember even part of that saga, you may understand our frustration when our one month old dishwasher suddenly quit on us the other day. Thankfully, it turned out to be a loose connection or something. And even the animal lovers among you will understand our complete and utter dismay and over reaction at finding evidence of fresh rodent activity under and behind said brand new dishwasher.
Last summer, in the interest of peaceful coexistence (you stop eating my appliances, I don't kill you), I installed two of those electronic pest deterrents that plug into the outlets. And it actually worked for about a year. It was less worrying than laying out poison that the kids or pets could get into. It was better than having to deal with rodent corpses, or a sick dog or cat who found one before us.
This year, however, DH has gone totally Alice's Restaurant on me. I have an online acquaintance who posts wonderful photos of her pet rats online. I love the expressions, and their little paws as they hold blueberries or write threatening notes to their ratty roommates.
But I think even she will forgive DH for wanting to poison the snot out of a wild, possibly diseased, monster who has been known to eat holes in my dishwasher drain hoses on multiple occasions. Not to mention the washing machine wiring.
I am conceding that more drastic measures are needed, and DH is taking over pest control. The local watering hole is under new management, and the name has been changed to the Bates Motel.
Last summer, in the interest of peaceful coexistence (you stop eating my appliances, I don't kill you), I installed two of those electronic pest deterrents that plug into the outlets. And it actually worked for about a year. It was less worrying than laying out poison that the kids or pets could get into. It was better than having to deal with rodent corpses, or a sick dog or cat who found one before us.
This year, however, DH has gone totally Alice's Restaurant on me. I have an online acquaintance who posts wonderful photos of her pet rats online. I love the expressions, and their little paws as they hold blueberries or write threatening notes to their ratty roommates.
I am conceding that more drastic measures are needed, and DH is taking over pest control. The local watering hole is under new management, and the name has been changed to the Bates Motel.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Conspiracy Theory
Princess: "Mommy, when kitty's tummy goes brrrrddttrrrrrrr that means her happy. When her tail does ← → ← → that mean her mad."
It's about time she learned this one.
Bob: "Mommy, why do doggies' feet smell like fritos?"
Huh, I never noticed this before, but have heard other bloggers and forum posters mention it. I wonder what made him think of it. And what made him smell the dogs' feet?
Since I haven't been consistent in getting my walks done in the evening, I decided to bring my old sneakers to work and leave them at my desk for walking at lunch. I'm working downtown now, so there are more places to go than just laps around the building.
First, I could not find my sneakers. I looked in the hall closet, the entryway, my closet, the living room, the office, the bathroom. Nope. Tried again the next night. Nope. I finally found one under DH's desk in the office, and the other way behind some boxes under my desk. Why? I don't know.
I tossed my sneakers in a bag this morning to bring to work and as I walk out to the car this morning - it's pouring. Clearly, I am meant to carry this baby weight forever.
It's about time she learned this one.
Bob: "Mommy, why do doggies' feet smell like fritos?"
Huh, I never noticed this before, but have heard other bloggers and forum posters mention it. I wonder what made him think of it. And what made him smell the dogs' feet?
Since I haven't been consistent in getting my walks done in the evening, I decided to bring my old sneakers to work and leave them at my desk for walking at lunch. I'm working downtown now, so there are more places to go than just laps around the building.
First, I could not find my sneakers. I looked in the hall closet, the entryway, my closet, the living room, the office, the bathroom. Nope. Tried again the next night. Nope. I finally found one under DH's desk in the office, and the other way behind some boxes under my desk. Why? I don't know.
I tossed my sneakers in a bag this morning to bring to work and as I walk out to the car this morning - it's pouring. Clearly, I am meant to carry this baby weight forever.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Gotcha!
3 years ago today
It was a Sunday morning. I had been at an overnight scout event with Bob. DH and the other kids came to pick us up. What you have to understand about this camp is that it has running water and flush toilets, but is something like 6 miles or more from the entrance to the camp down a twisty dirt road - so you are talking 15, 20 minutes sometimes.
So we were none too happy when, as we pulled out of the entrance onto the road, Giggles announced that she had to go potty. 20 minutes back into camp, or 20 minutes to town and find someplace open - we remembered the Walmart and drove to town.
As we pull into the parking lot, we see some people with a "help us, we were dumped sign" and a box. So we check it out. And see some of the cutest little puppies ever. The group was from a church. They knew almost nothing about dogs. And they found a box of 7 puppies dumped on their church doorstep when they arrived that morning. There were 3 or 4 puppies left when we got there.
There was only one little girl left. And she cried! She snuggled into us and whined and was so pitiful. And meanwhile Giggles is dancing in the parking lot as we haven't actually gone inside yet.
We decided to get the puppy. DH took pity on Giggles and took her potty in Walmart while I stayed out in the parking lot with the puppy and the other kids. DH came back out with about $100 worth of supplies for our "free" puppy. Crate, carrier for the car, water bowl, water, food, toys.
When we got home, we looked up vets in the area and found one that was only a couple miles away with Normal Office Hours from 7am to 11pm - 7 days a week!
DH took the puppy in and we found out she was only 4 or 5 weeks old. A GSD mix, possibly with lab. A few days later we came up with the name Daisy, and on looking at her and saying the name, it just fit. She's been with us 3 years today.
Happy Gotcha Day Daisy! A pox on whoever dumped 7 4-week-old puppies at a church. A praise to the gentle people who did the best they could think of to find you all homes.
And thanks to Giggles for her little bladder. :)
4 Week old Daisy:
1 1/2 year old Daisy cuddles with the Outlaws:
2 year old Daisy surprises Mommy with a kiss!
2 1/2 year old Daisy playing with Wolfie:
It was a Sunday morning. I had been at an overnight scout event with Bob. DH and the other kids came to pick us up. What you have to understand about this camp is that it has running water and flush toilets, but is something like 6 miles or more from the entrance to the camp down a twisty dirt road - so you are talking 15, 20 minutes sometimes.
So we were none too happy when, as we pulled out of the entrance onto the road, Giggles announced that she had to go potty. 20 minutes back into camp, or 20 minutes to town and find someplace open - we remembered the Walmart and drove to town.
As we pull into the parking lot, we see some people with a "help us, we were dumped sign" and a box. So we check it out. And see some of the cutest little puppies ever. The group was from a church. They knew almost nothing about dogs. And they found a box of 7 puppies dumped on their church doorstep when they arrived that morning. There were 3 or 4 puppies left when we got there.
There was only one little girl left. And she cried! She snuggled into us and whined and was so pitiful. And meanwhile Giggles is dancing in the parking lot as we haven't actually gone inside yet.
We decided to get the puppy. DH took pity on Giggles and took her potty in Walmart while I stayed out in the parking lot with the puppy and the other kids. DH came back out with about $100 worth of supplies for our "free" puppy. Crate, carrier for the car, water bowl, water, food, toys.
When we got home, we looked up vets in the area and found one that was only a couple miles away with Normal Office Hours from 7am to 11pm - 7 days a week!
DH took the puppy in and we found out she was only 4 or 5 weeks old. A GSD mix, possibly with lab. A few days later we came up with the name Daisy, and on looking at her and saying the name, it just fit. She's been with us 3 years today.
Happy Gotcha Day Daisy! A pox on whoever dumped 7 4-week-old puppies at a church. A praise to the gentle people who did the best they could think of to find you all homes.
And thanks to Giggles for her little bladder. :)
4 Week old Daisy:
1 1/2 year old Daisy cuddles with the Outlaws:
2 year old Daisy surprises Mommy with a kiss!
2 1/2 year old Daisy playing with Wolfie:
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I'm Gonna Make Him An Offer He Can't Refuse
Move over, Don Corleone. Step aside, Tony Soprano.
Bob decided that he wanted a lanyard like his brother. His school does not require IDs yet, so he gave Stringz $1 to buy one for him. (This was evidently paid in coins.) Stringz returns home from school, but has forgotten or neglected to buy the lanyard. Bob requests his money back, but Stringz can only find 55 cents.
Bob: "You owe me a dollar."
Stringz: "But I can't find it."
Bob: "If you can't give me $1 today, tomorrow it's $2."
Yes, that's 100 percent interest compounded daily. I think Stringz needs his own private bailout plan!
Thank goodness for good schools
Over the years we've worked closely with the school to be sure that our Giggles is challenged. Not only is Giggles extremely bright and reading at a level beyond her years, her birthday is only 2 weeks after the grade cut-off, making her one of the oldest in her grade every year. As of mid-Sept, she is now an 8-year-old 2nd-grader.
Her school district is generally good at differentiation, and their gifted program is integrated within the curriculum, so that the gifted students are not separated into different classes. This year, I think Giggles's teacher finally gets it, and has at least started down a path that will finally challenge her.
This week's spelling words include: homonyms, moccasin, endangered, population, and monument. Her Optional words (which she always learns for the challenge of it) came from the "Shark" list and include: cartilage, buoyancy and denticles.
I have always been a good speller, but even I had trouble with a couple of those. :)
Woot! There he is!
Stringz has been playing viola for just over a year, and so far he still seems to like it. This year, as a 7th grader, he is eligible to try out for what the teacher called an "Honors Orchestra" event. The students learn the music on their own time, attend a day-long practice/rehearsal, and perform together that night.
This event is completely optional, and Stringz decided to try. He rehearsed for 5 1/2 hours in 4 days the week of the audition, when his normal practice schedule is only 30 minutes a day. He was one of 4 violas auditioning for the 3 viola positions available.
He got in! He was so excited he called me at work with one word - "YES!!!" I love seeing my kids so excited about learning. I love that Stringz and Giggles in particular go out of their way to find new things to learn.
This is him getting ready for his first concert last Spring. He looks so grown up and handsome!
Kit and wordart from Altered Melody by Irene Alexeeva
Bob decided that he wanted a lanyard like his brother. His school does not require IDs yet, so he gave Stringz $1 to buy one for him. (This was evidently paid in coins.) Stringz returns home from school, but has forgotten or neglected to buy the lanyard. Bob requests his money back, but Stringz can only find 55 cents.
Bob: "You owe me a dollar."
Stringz: "But I can't find it."
Bob: "If you can't give me $1 today, tomorrow it's $2."
Yes, that's 100 percent interest compounded daily. I think Stringz needs his own private bailout plan!
Thank goodness for good schools
Over the years we've worked closely with the school to be sure that our Giggles is challenged. Not only is Giggles extremely bright and reading at a level beyond her years, her birthday is only 2 weeks after the grade cut-off, making her one of the oldest in her grade every year. As of mid-Sept, she is now an 8-year-old 2nd-grader.
Her school district is generally good at differentiation, and their gifted program is integrated within the curriculum, so that the gifted students are not separated into different classes. This year, I think Giggles's teacher finally gets it, and has at least started down a path that will finally challenge her.
This week's spelling words include: homonyms, moccasin, endangered, population, and monument. Her Optional words (which she always learns for the challenge of it) came from the "Shark" list and include: cartilage, buoyancy and denticles.
I have always been a good speller, but even I had trouble with a couple of those. :)
Woot! There he is!
Stringz has been playing viola for just over a year, and so far he still seems to like it. This year, as a 7th grader, he is eligible to try out for what the teacher called an "Honors Orchestra" event. The students learn the music on their own time, attend a day-long practice/rehearsal, and perform together that night.
This event is completely optional, and Stringz decided to try. He rehearsed for 5 1/2 hours in 4 days the week of the audition, when his normal practice schedule is only 30 minutes a day. He was one of 4 violas auditioning for the 3 viola positions available.
He got in! He was so excited he called me at work with one word - "YES!!!" I love seeing my kids so excited about learning. I love that Stringz and Giggles in particular go out of their way to find new things to learn.
This is him getting ready for his first concert last Spring. He looks so grown up and handsome!
Kit and wordart from Altered Melody by Irene Alexeeva
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