Got home a little while ago, after having spent the morning teaching the last of a 2-part class for children (making a stuffed animal pillow. But not stuffed with real animals...that'd be cruel).
If you'd been looking in you would have noticed that these girls spent a good deal of time mining their noses instead of working at the project on the tables before them. Every time I turned around one of 'em had a finger strategically placed up a nostril. I was terrified to touch anything they had been working with, knowing full well I was going to draw back a handful of snot locker gems - whether they were of the crunchy or slimy variety.
I was squibbed out....feeling squiffy....nauseated....grossed out to the max....wishing I had rubber gloves.
I offered each one of them, in turn, a tissue - NOT the same tissue, mind you, and each declined saying they didn't need one. Are you kidding me?!
I just caught you (all) picking your noses, and you don't need a tissue!?!? Are you sure you don't need one? Do you WANT one?
The answer is:
Oh, YES. YOU. DO.
On the way home I drove to Kroger to return a brand new package of Thomas' Bagels, that amazingly were covered in mold! Yup. MOLD everywhere. The sell by date on the packaging stated February 21st...so why are they moldy so soon? I dunno. I only know (and cared) about getting the refund.
Stopped into a Little Caesars to pick up a pizza for Karl and myself to enjoy as a quick lunch-like treat. No cooking for me, and Karl would be satisfied and happy for a good long while (at least, that is, until dinnertime rolls around). Hey, five bucks for a pie is a deal!
The young man greeting me as I stepped through the 'za-hole door was clearing his throat and complaining about it feeling scratchy "and sorta like it's getting sore." [insert Home Alone scream here]
Instead of high-tailing it out the door (as I probably should have) I told him to go home and rest and drink LOTS of non-alcoholic fluids, along with taking an Airborne right away, and taking doses of cranberry tablets. Not juice, but capsules/pills/tablets. Ignore the label suggesting it's good for preventing/treating urinary tract infections, and start taking them with every meal and at bedtime. Works like a charm, especially so if you begin when the slightest irritations show themselves.
For the mommying advice we were rewarded with a buttered and Parmesan-covered crust on our pizza! It was extra delish! But, now I think I need to go take some Airborne and cranberry supplements.
Ish. :^b
2.17.2013
I love my sons
The best thing about coming home last evening, after having instructed a slow class of two kids, was finding that my sons had taken it upon themselves to wash the sinkful of dishes!
Yes! Most of the dishes had been washed and were stacked in boy-ordered chaos in the strainer. It was WONDERFUL! Sure, there's a bit to go before it's all done, but the fact that they thought to do it at all was a gift worth cherishing!
Thank you, boys. You made me smile.
Yes! Most of the dishes had been washed and were stacked in boy-ordered chaos in the strainer. It was WONDERFUL! Sure, there's a bit to go before it's all done, but the fact that they thought to do it at all was a gift worth cherishing!
Thank you, boys. You made me smile.
2.16.2013
Dinner last night
Yup, so I filleted and breaded chicken breasts in a mix of panko and regular, finely-ground bread crumbs. It was delicious right out of the pan, but then I turned it into Chicken Parmigiana - without mozzarella cheese. Bit of an oopsy, there.
Note: Never substitute shredded Monty Jack and Cheddar for mozzarella.
Wishing I had just heated the sauce mixture on the stove then served it over the lightly fried chicken (with the cheese - the Monty Jack and ground parm). Instead, I put it in our small crock to heat through, as though placing a pan of Chicken Parmigiana in the oven (one of which I don't currently have). If I hadn't 'crocked it', the chicken would have been enjoyable as it was right out of the pan with the light flakey panko crust, smothered in the veggie marinara sauce.
Well, now I know. Live and learn, eh?
It wasn't horrible, and it had a consistency similar to Eggplant Parm, but with meat instead. Yummy, but lacked the lovely, hefty string-i-ness of mozzarella. Served it with a nice side salad and enjoyed a nice dinner with the boys.
What's on the menu at your house tonight?
Note: Never substitute shredded Monty Jack and Cheddar for mozzarella.
Wishing I had just heated the sauce mixture on the stove then served it over the lightly fried chicken (with the cheese - the Monty Jack and ground parm). Instead, I put it in our small crock to heat through, as though placing a pan of Chicken Parmigiana in the oven (one of which I don't currently have). If I hadn't 'crocked it', the chicken would have been enjoyable as it was right out of the pan with the light flakey panko crust, smothered in the veggie marinara sauce.
Well, now I know. Live and learn, eh?
It wasn't horrible, and it had a consistency similar to Eggplant Parm, but with meat instead. Yummy, but lacked the lovely, hefty string-i-ness of mozzarella. Served it with a nice side salad and enjoyed a nice dinner with the boys.
What's on the menu at your house tonight?
2.15.2013
A tad of this & a tiddle of that
Managed to finish another of the 81-piece blocks, leaving fewer than three to go before the miniature version of PQ1 is completed. My hope is to piece together another full block before I fall asleep "at the wheel" tonight. Once this mini top is done I will resume quilting Black Widow I, and go full bore on completing laying out and stitching the last quarter of a red, white and blue crazy quilt piece begun years ago. Years.
Brian is still quite snorky and congested - head and chest - and has turned down a chance to work an extra shift at his beloved game place tonight! Karl seems fine for the time being [knock on wood]. He is cloistered in his room on his PC...oblivious to everything else (as usual).
The girls are scattered around me, sleeping.
I hear from friends once in a while. Maria has returned to school, using the opportunity of a lifetime (literally), and by all accounts on her blog, she is loving it! GO, MARIA! We will absolutely need to get together very soon to catch up and look over one another's quilty things. Jean is busy finishing up another semester of her radiology program. I admire her tenacity, goodness knows. Third time was the charm!
I read people's goings on through FB, so I see what I am missing (and NOT missing) around the mitten.
Well, I am heading upstairs to make a snack for the three of us; no doubt Hobbes' food radar will go off and there will be an extra (noisy) mouth begging for her share before I can clean the counter and put things away! Dinner tonight is still a mystery, but most likely will include chicken since I bought some on sale earlier this week and need to use it up.
Enjoy your evening, and celebrate the fact that it's Friday once again. Let me know what you're up to, too.
Brian is still quite snorky and congested - head and chest - and has turned down a chance to work an extra shift at his beloved game place tonight! Karl seems fine for the time being [knock on wood]. He is cloistered in his room on his PC...oblivious to everything else (as usual).
The girls are scattered around me, sleeping.
I hear from friends once in a while. Maria has returned to school, using the opportunity of a lifetime (literally), and by all accounts on her blog, she is loving it! GO, MARIA! We will absolutely need to get together very soon to catch up and look over one another's quilty things. Jean is busy finishing up another semester of her radiology program. I admire her tenacity, goodness knows. Third time was the charm!
I read people's goings on through FB, so I see what I am missing (and NOT missing) around the mitten.
Well, I am heading upstairs to make a snack for the three of us; no doubt Hobbes' food radar will go off and there will be an extra (noisy) mouth begging for her share before I can clean the counter and put things away! Dinner tonight is still a mystery, but most likely will include chicken since I bought some on sale earlier this week and need to use it up.
Enjoy your evening, and celebrate the fact that it's Friday once again. Let me know what you're up to, too.
2.14.2013
Still cranky
Yes, I am still cranky over the (substitute) mail carrier 'creasing' my mailbox, and I know I will be EVERY time I have to use that very bent handle to attempt opening the flap to retrieve my mail.
My eldest cat has gone painfully hard of hearing (which has become very evident over the past two months), and I feel awful for her; seeing us move our mouths and looking her way, and wondering what has gone wrong. I can't imagine the grief this must cause her little brain. What cruel trick are we humans pulling on her that she has no noise to accompany the sights she is used to? Poor old dear.
Brian has been sick, but seems to have thankfully avoided the flu-ish portions of it all. He is still very stuffed up and somewhat congested, but also seems to be on the mend. Hooray!
Karl passed his second Algebra test with a 90%! He says he is feeling more confident in class, and is able to spot when he gets to a section of the homework where the instructor hasn't yet gotten to in class. [happiness]
The thrill of K's success in class is somewhat offset by the little demon she-beast who stalked him last year; who once was a friend but became quite twisted and bossy, displacing her frustration with me (long story) onto him, and emotionally hampering Karl on a daily basis. He finally got wise and cut her off, cut her loose, tuned her out and moved along. It was a hard (but good) lesson for him, and he sailed through it with a modestly small amount of discomfort overall.
However, she now seems to have found him on campus and narrowed in on his routines, haunting his route and yelling out taunts as he walks by. Odd that she wasn't in these locations for the five+ weeks of class which have passed from the beginning of the semester to now, so I have to wonder what may be next. Stay tuned.
Yesterday was sunny and enjoyable, but today is back to cold, grey, and snowy. Tomorrow is to be a mix of snow AND rain along with the low temps (WHY??), and I feel moved to admit I am quite tired of it all.
Busily working on a number of projects; my intentions are to have one - if not two - items to enter into the next AQS event for 2013. Also have another Sewing 101 class added to my calendar for the very beginning of March, but if I have not received payment for the remaining 9 classes I have lead since mid-January up to now, I will be turning down anything further. Perhaps this will light a fire under their payroll department (and anyone else who needs to keep up-to-date in making my payments appear in a more timely fashion).
One can dream.
More another time, at present I am feeling muddled and need to step away from the keyboard. Ciao!
My eldest cat has gone painfully hard of hearing (which has become very evident over the past two months), and I feel awful for her; seeing us move our mouths and looking her way, and wondering what has gone wrong. I can't imagine the grief this must cause her little brain. What cruel trick are we humans pulling on her that she has no noise to accompany the sights she is used to? Poor old dear.
Brian has been sick, but seems to have thankfully avoided the flu-ish portions of it all. He is still very stuffed up and somewhat congested, but also seems to be on the mend. Hooray!
Karl passed his second Algebra test with a 90%! He says he is feeling more confident in class, and is able to spot when he gets to a section of the homework where the instructor hasn't yet gotten to in class. [happiness]
The thrill of K's success in class is somewhat offset by the little demon she-beast who stalked him last year; who once was a friend but became quite twisted and bossy, displacing her frustration with me (long story) onto him, and emotionally hampering Karl on a daily basis. He finally got wise and cut her off, cut her loose, tuned her out and moved along. It was a hard (but good) lesson for him, and he sailed through it with a modestly small amount of discomfort overall.
However, she now seems to have found him on campus and narrowed in on his routines, haunting his route and yelling out taunts as he walks by. Odd that she wasn't in these locations for the five+ weeks of class which have passed from the beginning of the semester to now, so I have to wonder what may be next. Stay tuned.
Yesterday was sunny and enjoyable, but today is back to cold, grey, and snowy. Tomorrow is to be a mix of snow AND rain along with the low temps (WHY??), and I feel moved to admit I am quite tired of it all.
Busily working on a number of projects; my intentions are to have one - if not two - items to enter into the next AQS event for 2013. Also have another Sewing 101 class added to my calendar for the very beginning of March, but if I have not received payment for the remaining 9 classes I have lead since mid-January up to now, I will be turning down anything further. Perhaps this will light a fire under their payroll department (and anyone else who needs to keep up-to-date in making my payments appear in a more timely fashion).
One can dream.
More another time, at present I am feeling muddled and need to step away from the keyboard. Ciao!
2.13.2013
2.09.2013
Grrrrr...just grrrr (& expletives)
The substitute couriers for our regular mail person are without a doubt UNQUALIFIED for this duty.
Today was the worst experience to date, as the driver made contact between my mail box and her vehicle mirror, bending the handle used to open the flap on the mailbox.
After contacting someone at the postal office, I was told it wasn't possible the damage was caused by the substitute postal driver since this particular carrier "is honest...and would have called in to say she had had an accident."
R-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
All carriers are so honest, nothing by way of an accident would ever happen and [they] wouldn't just drive off without saying something.
Uh-huh.
They are all so honest, right?
That would explains why there have been SO many complaints and arrests for dishonesty of postal workers stealing items from their customers, not delivering mail (hording it in their homes, etc), poorly delivering items in a less than decent manner - tossing them over fences, shoving over-sized packages into too small a box, etc.
Yup, I am supposed to just sigh and accept the newest damage to my mailbox of this latest deliverer because "that's the way it goes." Because I didn't stand out there and "witness the impact" it didn't happen...because of an accident on the deliverer's part.
Yup, that's their policy.
I'm not stating the courier did it intentionally, but yesterday we had a huge snowfall, and the only tracks out there showing contact with (or proximity to) the mailbox SINCE YESTERDAY are that of the delivery vehicle. So.....how else did this damage happen?
I would like an apology and culpability taken on behalf of the USPS, because I am the one who will have to deal with the rusting which will now ensue.
Yes, I have also had MORE than my fair share of mangled mail here at the house - most of which I have documented with (dated) photographs. So to have my mailbox abused and no one owning up to it (when it is obvious how and when it happened) is truly appalling.
I tried leaving a complaint on the USPS site, which ended up tossing my note because I didn't check the appropriate boxes to let 'them' know of my issue. THERE WEREN'T ANY APPROPRIATE BOXES TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MY BOX! Hello!!!!
Way to go, USPS system. Way to go.
Today was the worst experience to date, as the driver made contact between my mail box and her vehicle mirror, bending the handle used to open the flap on the mailbox.
After contacting someone at the postal office, I was told it wasn't possible the damage was caused by the substitute postal driver since this particular carrier "is honest...and would have called in to say she had had an accident."
R-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
All carriers are so honest, nothing by way of an accident would ever happen and [they] wouldn't just drive off without saying something.
Uh-huh.
They are all so honest, right?
That would explains why there have been SO many complaints and arrests for dishonesty of postal workers stealing items from their customers, not delivering mail (hording it in their homes, etc), poorly delivering items in a less than decent manner - tossing them over fences, shoving over-sized packages into too small a box, etc.
Yup, I am supposed to just sigh and accept the newest damage to my mailbox of this latest deliverer because "that's the way it goes." Because I didn't stand out there and "witness the impact" it didn't happen...because of an accident on the deliverer's part.
Yup, that's their policy.
I'm not stating the courier did it intentionally, but yesterday we had a huge snowfall, and the only tracks out there showing contact with (or proximity to) the mailbox SINCE YESTERDAY are that of the delivery vehicle. So.....how else did this damage happen?
I would like an apology and culpability taken on behalf of the USPS, because I am the one who will have to deal with the rusting which will now ensue.
Yes, I have also had MORE than my fair share of mangled mail here at the house - most of which I have documented with (dated) photographs. So to have my mailbox abused and no one owning up to it (when it is obvious how and when it happened) is truly appalling.
I tried leaving a complaint on the USPS site, which ended up tossing my note because I didn't check the appropriate boxes to let 'them' know of my issue. THERE WEREN'T ANY APPROPRIATE BOXES TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MY BOX! Hello!!!!
Way to go, USPS system. Way to go.
2.08.2013
Better luck this time 'round
So I hear Josh Groban has a new 'album' out.
I certainly hope this one is better than the last one. Whoo...what a dog!
His last musical publication was horrible - and I always expect something good from Mr. Groban, but his last offering was a stinker. A REAL stinker.
I believe I will wait quite a while before I attempt to listen to anything new from him - and I most certainly won't be buying it without lots of testimonials and quite a bit of sampling. Thank goodness for Spotify.
Good luck, JG.
I certainly hope this one is better than the last one. Whoo...what a dog!
His last musical publication was horrible - and I always expect something good from Mr. Groban, but his last offering was a stinker. A REAL stinker.
I believe I will wait quite a while before I attempt to listen to anything new from him - and I most certainly won't be buying it without lots of testimonials and quite a bit of sampling. Thank goodness for Spotify.
Good luck, JG.
2.07.2013
It's winter in the mid-west
Oh, yes, it is most definitely winter.
'They' are predicting a massive snow storm, and depending upon one's location (north or south of M-59), snowfall could get beyond 8"-10"! Of course, it could be more or less when it's all said and done, and the ambiguities (and whims) of Mother Nature could swing the snowfall amounts further north or south. Of course, she could also dump more (or less) snow than predicted totals....because she can.
There really is no accurate way to forecast, but reporting after the fact is almost always spot on.
"They" have also gone the extra mile in suggesting folks prepare for power outages. The later-falling snow is to be wet and heavy, possibly bringing down power lines. If it happens for us, we will have to seek refuge elsewhere.
Yeesh!
No matter what the goofy groundhog's shadow foretells, I do know that spring will eventually arrive, and that means these wretchedly cold temps and endless snow and ice storms will be vanquished.
I, for one, cannot wait.
'They' are predicting a massive snow storm, and depending upon one's location (north or south of M-59), snowfall could get beyond 8"-10"! Of course, it could be more or less when it's all said and done, and the ambiguities (and whims) of Mother Nature could swing the snowfall amounts further north or south. Of course, she could also dump more (or less) snow than predicted totals....because she can.
There really is no accurate way to forecast, but reporting after the fact is almost always spot on.
"They" have also gone the extra mile in suggesting folks prepare for power outages. The later-falling snow is to be wet and heavy, possibly bringing down power lines. If it happens for us, we will have to seek refuge elsewhere.
Yeesh!
No matter what the goofy groundhog's shadow foretells, I do know that spring will eventually arrive, and that means these wretchedly cold temps and endless snow and ice storms will be vanquished.
I, for one, cannot wait.
2.06.2013
2.05.2013
My cat's insane
...and I have free time!
Woohoo! Just realized I can begin something that I won't have to stop doing to leave for tonight's class.
Merry Christmas and happy birthday to me!
Oh, yeah...and my cat is a raving loon.
Woohoo! Just realized I can begin something that I won't have to stop doing to leave for tonight's class.
Merry Christmas and happy birthday to me!
Oh, yeah...and my cat is a raving loon.
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