Good Things

Whenever something's got me down, I try to find the good things. Take, for instance, this week: I've had a rotten sinus-throat-ears cold complete with fever and chills. Couple that with a hubby whose work schedule has him out of the house 50-60 hours a week, and oy...you can see why I'd been feeling a bit down. But today I discovered the highlights--the good things--about having a cold. One, I don't smell the poopy diapers!! Yippee--if Lydia hadn't told me that Evelyn had a poopy earlier, I wouldn't have known! Let me just tell you--a break from smelling the poopy is wonderful! Two, I don't smell the cat food! Not as nice as the diapers, but right up there! I can't stand the smell of cat food--to the point that I usually make hubby feed the cat. There isn't a fishy-icky cat food smell whiff around. Three, my ears are so clogged I haven't heard hubby snore all week! I've actually gotten some sleep!
So there you have it: the three good things to come out of a rotten cold. : )

Only in the South

I have to make salad for 15 people to serve at a church luncheon tomorrow. Never having made salad for 15, I called my mother for her advice. Now let me stop here and ask you to picture--visualize--a salad. Lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, maybe cucumber and croutons, right? Yeah, me too. My mom--and I love her for it--suggested I make a "congealed fruit salad." Yep--Jello with fruit! Only in the South would anyone call that delicious, sweet treat a salad. It's not just my mom--I think it's all Southern moms--in their minds, anything made with Jello is a salad. You gotta love it! : )

Choco-nutty

As some of you readers may know, I am diabetic. Not that I am always that good about following the diabetic diet, but lately I've been trying. Primarily because my doctor fussed at me, but that's another story. So, as you know, sweets aren't really allowed. Which puts a huge crimp in my major need for the vitally important chocolate food group. I'd been craving chocolate--and sweets--something fierce the last few weeks, but I've been good and haven't had any. I still haven't, but my choco-nutty needs have been satisfied!! I have found a great new snack that I just had to share with my faithful readers--you know, in case you want some--'cause I'm not sharing my stash! It's this new flavor by Emerald Nuts (http://www.emeraldnuts.com/) called Cocoa Roast Almonds. Let me just tell ya--these are AWESOME. It's almonds--which are healthy (they lower cholesterol) and delicious--that are roasted in dark chocolate. It's not a sticky candy coating, either. It's like a cocoa powder kind of thing. They are so good--try them. There's no sugar and they're good for you AND they're chocolatey!! I'm choco-nutty in love!

The Trash Fairies

For five wonderful years we had trash fairies. I'm not kidding. Every week, we'd put out our trash, and every week it would disappear in the night. At first Jer and I thought the other one of us was paying someone to remove our trash. But we soon realized that neither of us were paying for nocturnal trash removal and neither of us ever saw our trash fairies.

The trash fairies came at a time when we most needed them. In the beginning, Jer was in school full time and I was making my piddly government wage to support us both. Then Jer was working in a piddly job of his own while I stayed home with Lydia. The trash fairies were wonderful. They never made a peep. They just efficiently removed our trash each week. We were blessed.

After Evelyn came along, Jer was finished his graduate degree and moved into better paying positions. I guess the trash fairies knew and moved along--hopefully to someone else in need of a trash fairy. I miss my trash fairies--I like my new paid trash men well enough--but the trash fairies were a wonderful mystique that I enjoyed for so long. Wherever you are trash fairies--thanks--and we miss you!

Missing Craft Gene

I am evidently missing the craft gene. That can be the only explanation. Because I have absolutely no desire, skill, or interest in most crafts. As it turns out, this causes me great difficulty in parenting. Because I have no idea how to do all of the little crafty things all of these other mothers I know do with their kids. I'm totally clueless.

I have a feeling this missing craft gene is going to cause my children much embarrassment as they progress in their scholastic careers. Because all of the other mothers out there use their craft genes to maximum effectiveness. While I stand there rather like Goofy going, "Duh-huh?"

I actually thought I could fake it somehow, but last year during my daughter's "Special Day" (don't even get me started on that corny nonsense) celebrations at her school--followed by the Valentine's Day debacle--I knew there was no hiding it. I actually followed the directions the school sent for each of these activities. For the Special Day, I came and read Lydia's favorite book to the class and gave out some stickers. Unfortunately, we went first. For the weeks following (they only did one kid per day of class--thus the specialness) all of the crafty mothers shone like the rhinestones they had glued to elaborate posters attributing their child's specialness.

To make matters worse, when Valentine's Day rolled around, again, I did as instructed. I brought in 12 plain Valentines for my daughter to give out. Yes, they were these cheap, ugly Batman cards because that's all I could find the night before Valentine's Day at the Kroger, but still--these are little kids, who cares? Well, it's the mothers who care! The crafty moms struck again with homemade cookies with each child's name in icing across the top, or the treat bags with the candy, or the treat bags with the little toys, stickers, and pencils. Or the homemade cut-out hearts on construction paper with glittering glitter. If it's like this in nursery school, what are the next dozen or do years going to be like?

In all seriousness...I'm just a little jealous...as I said, I'm missing the crafty gene. But can't you crafty moms out there give me break--maybe warn me or clue me into these crafty occasions so I'm not caught off guard?

That said...nursery school starts back up in a week or so...wish me luck (and do some crafts for me!)

The Evidence Is Against Me!

OK, so maybe I'm not that hapless and helpless. I can cook. A little. When I feel like it. : )

Check it out: http://www.penzeysone.com/cgi-bin/one/Richmond2.html

p.s. Penzey's Spices are awesome--try them out!!

Harried Haplessness

Hello, dear readers... I've been a victim of my own haplessness. I'm in the midst of potty training my 3-year-old, and, well, let me tell you, that's just not a fun job. Especially for someone who isn't fond of cleaning. I've been up to my ears in laundry (all those little girl fundies to wash) and I've been mopping up floors like mad (eegad!!) To top it off, I've also been running around with Resolve (heh...funny pun...) to keep the carpets clean. I just hope our house doesn't start smelling like an old folks' home (sorry old folks, but you know...) So that's what I've been busy with...wish me luck!