Most of you know that my husband is a technical type of guy. He isn’t one of those who must have the brand new gadget right away, but, when something comes out that he wants, he usually ends up getting it. Usually after trying to convince me why we need it.
I remember arguing about getting the TIVO. I didn’t think we should get it. He ended up wearing me down. Now, I LOVE my TIVO.
He had to get a Sirius radio when Howard Stern moved over to satellite. I thought he was being silly, but again, now I love my Sirius.
I love the wide selection of stations. As a parent, I love the Kids Place Live station: fun music, funny disc jockeys, and never worrying about commercials for erectile dysfunction.
There is a wide variety of music on the Kids Place Live. There are artists that just do kid’s music, ones that hit the charts when us parents were young, songs from movies, and, of course, Weird Al.
I happen to really like Weird Al Yankovic. Mark and I have seen him in concert and stood in line to meet him and get his autograph. Weird Al is a very talented musician and lyricist.
And thanks to Kids Place Live, there are kids out there that will probably never know the words to American Pie. Weird Al uses this tune for his song “The Saga Begins.” If you’ve never heard this song, then go quickly and buy “The Essential “Weird Al” Yankovic” album.
I found myself singing a lovely mash-up the other day, “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie, maybe Vader someday later, now he’s just a small fry. Those good old boys are drinking whiskey and rye saying soon I’m going to be a Jedi.”
And so the saga of the next generation begins.
Julie thinks TV should always be able to be paused. She thinks radio stations should cater to her, commercial free, and she thinks her mom is nuts to be messing up the words to a favorite song.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
My Forgotten Brilliance
I don’t know about you, but I tend to have brilliant ideas as I am falling asleep. I put a pen and a pad of paper by my bed to record these thoughts, however, they usually happen after Mark has fallen asleep and I don’t want to turn on the light and wake him up. So I lay there and convince myself that I will remember in the morning. Of course I don’t. I am left with the vague feeling of something lost. Try as I might, it is gone forever.
Trust me. The blog I had thought of in my head last night was brilliant.
Trust me. The blog I had thought of in my head last night was brilliant.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Menu Night
In an effort to make my life easier, I have begun meal-planning. And not just for a week. Once a month, I plan it out. I use a free excel template. http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/meal-planner.html
I am able to look at what we have going on for the month and plan accordingly. I have also been able to start tweaking our diet. We’re moving away from so much red meat and toward more fish. I love that I can always answer the question “What’s for dinner?”
The fun of this, besides saving my sanity and money, has become what used to be leftover night. It is now Menu Night. I look in the refrigerator and then write out a menu with the choices. Julie gets a big kick out of eating out at home. I have so much fun playing waitress. Mark, well, I think he long ago realized that I am bit nuts.
Because of our schedule, Menu Night is usually Tuesdays. We clean out the fridge and no one has to cook. It is a fun night out, staying at home.
Menu Night is a simple thing that brings joy. I hope that you are able to find something simple to bring you joy today.
I am able to look at what we have going on for the month and plan accordingly. I have also been able to start tweaking our diet. We’re moving away from so much red meat and toward more fish. I love that I can always answer the question “What’s for dinner?”
The fun of this, besides saving my sanity and money, has become what used to be leftover night. It is now Menu Night. I look in the refrigerator and then write out a menu with the choices. Julie gets a big kick out of eating out at home. I have so much fun playing waitress. Mark, well, I think he long ago realized that I am bit nuts.
Because of our schedule, Menu Night is usually Tuesdays. We clean out the fridge and no one has to cook. It is a fun night out, staying at home.
Menu Night is a simple thing that brings joy. I hope that you are able to find something simple to bring you joy today.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Sue's Birthday
One of my sisters birthday is today.
I admire her very much. She lives her life in a way that truly reflects her values and desires.
She has not been afraid to make mistakes.
Me? Well, I am stuck in safe mode. Most of us are. It is easier to stay in the rut than it is to forge our own paths. We are taught habits early on. Some are very good. I brush my teeth every morning and every night. It is ingrained. Some are not so good. I have struggled for years to stop biting my nails. Some habits are down-right bad. I have eaten my way to obesity and my health suffers for it. Some habits are deadly. People who smoke start out saying they can quit anytime. Unfortunately, it is not just a bad habit, but it is an addiction.
How do I obtain courage of my convictions? What motivates my sister to forge her own path instead of compromising herself and taking the easy way? Her desire to be true to herself shines through.
I let fear stand in my way. The world will not crash if I decide to forge my path. I know this. Yet, I know my rut better
Happy Birthday Sue! I hope to be more like you.
I admire her very much. She lives her life in a way that truly reflects her values and desires.
She has not been afraid to make mistakes.
Me? Well, I am stuck in safe mode. Most of us are. It is easier to stay in the rut than it is to forge our own paths. We are taught habits early on. Some are very good. I brush my teeth every morning and every night. It is ingrained. Some are not so good. I have struggled for years to stop biting my nails. Some habits are down-right bad. I have eaten my way to obesity and my health suffers for it. Some habits are deadly. People who smoke start out saying they can quit anytime. Unfortunately, it is not just a bad habit, but it is an addiction.
How do I obtain courage of my convictions? What motivates my sister to forge her own path instead of compromising herself and taking the easy way? Her desire to be true to herself shines through.
I let fear stand in my way. The world will not crash if I decide to forge my path. I know this. Yet, I know my rut better
Happy Birthday Sue! I hope to be more like you.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Gloves
Gloves are a good gift. Several years ago, my sister gave me a pair of warm and practical and beautiful gloves. I enjoyed them every winter. Until this past Saturday when events transpired that caused one to be lost forever. Today, the puppy destroyed the remaining glove.
Of course, it snowed yesterday and it was rather cold wiping off the car this morning with no gloves. How does being cold build character? Calvin’s dad (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) was fond of saying that being cold or wet or dealing with an unpleasant situation would build character. Calvin never quite believed him.
In my current gloveless state, I am inclined to agree with Calvin, not his dad. Being prepared is much better. Which is why I am buying 2 pairs of gloves. So I will have a back up. And I’ll never be in this situation again.
Being cold just makes me miserable. Being around someone miserable is not fun. I suppose if you can find a way to be pleasant in a miserable situation, then you would have shown yourself how to build character. Most people don’t do that.
I am watching the Winter Olympics. These athletes have character. How’d they get it? By having a dream, making a plan, and working hard. Not by be stuck outside in the cold with no gloves.
It has been more than a month since I made my New Year’s resolutions. My dream of making myself into a better person. My plans to be more organized and lose weight are in place and I am working toward those goals. I still need to work on my plans to yell less, watch less TV, spend less, save more, and stop procrastinating so much.
So I will build my character by not being miserable. I will keep you updated on how my resolutions are going. I will help my daughter and my husband build their characters by encouraging them to reach for their dreams.
And if you are miserable, try a pair of gloves. They may help. :)
Of course, it snowed yesterday and it was rather cold wiping off the car this morning with no gloves. How does being cold build character? Calvin’s dad (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) was fond of saying that being cold or wet or dealing with an unpleasant situation would build character. Calvin never quite believed him.
In my current gloveless state, I am inclined to agree with Calvin, not his dad. Being prepared is much better. Which is why I am buying 2 pairs of gloves. So I will have a back up. And I’ll never be in this situation again.
Being cold just makes me miserable. Being around someone miserable is not fun. I suppose if you can find a way to be pleasant in a miserable situation, then you would have shown yourself how to build character. Most people don’t do that.
I am watching the Winter Olympics. These athletes have character. How’d they get it? By having a dream, making a plan, and working hard. Not by be stuck outside in the cold with no gloves.
It has been more than a month since I made my New Year’s resolutions. My dream of making myself into a better person. My plans to be more organized and lose weight are in place and I am working toward those goals. I still need to work on my plans to yell less, watch less TV, spend less, save more, and stop procrastinating so much.
So I will build my character by not being miserable. I will keep you updated on how my resolutions are going. I will help my daughter and my husband build their characters by encouraging them to reach for their dreams.
And if you are miserable, try a pair of gloves. They may help. :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Voting
A co-worker of mine was commenting about the energy at the polls yesterday. How exciting it was to see such a high voter turnout despite the snow and rain. She mentioned a little old lady who remarked that she was voting because she knew her vote was going to count this time.
I have a problem with that comment.
I believe that EVERY vote counts EVERY time.
Not just in special elections. Not just in close races.
I am happy for a high voter turnout, but that shouldn’t be newsworthy. Every race deserves a high voter turnout.
It is a privilege to vote. It is our civic duty. It is our right.
We honor those who died for our rights when we vote.
There are 4.1 million eligible voters in the state of Massachusetts. 2.2 million voted on Tuesday. Just over half the eligible voters. What happened to the other 1.9 million?
The official results:
Brown (GOP)
52%
1,168,107 votes
Coakley (Dem.)
47%
1,058,682 votes
Kennedy (Lib.)
1%
22,237 votes
Senator-elect Brown, 48% of the voters who bothered to vote did NOT vote for you.
We will be watching what you say and do.
I have a problem with that comment.
I believe that EVERY vote counts EVERY time.
Not just in special elections. Not just in close races.
I am happy for a high voter turnout, but that shouldn’t be newsworthy. Every race deserves a high voter turnout.
It is a privilege to vote. It is our civic duty. It is our right.
We honor those who died for our rights when we vote.
There are 4.1 million eligible voters in the state of Massachusetts. 2.2 million voted on Tuesday. Just over half the eligible voters. What happened to the other 1.9 million?
The official results:
Brown (GOP)
52%
1,168,107 votes
Coakley (Dem.)
47%
1,058,682 votes
Kennedy (Lib.)
1%
22,237 votes
Senator-elect Brown, 48% of the voters who bothered to vote did NOT vote for you.
We will be watching what you say and do.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
Too quickly my tomorrows turn into my yesterdays. Which is why they say never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Sometimes ‘they’ are right.
I am sitting here putting off doing things that I need to do and thinking about the upcoming year. 2010 seemed so far away once upon a time. The flying car is getting closer to reality. http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/30/smallbusiness/flying_cars/index.htm
So what shall I resolve for 2010?
USA.gov has a list of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
Parent Center has given a good list of possible New Year’s Resolutions. http://www.babycenter.com/0_new-years-parenting-resolutions_67169.bc?scid=bigkid_20091229:2&pe=eZ2LE2
The FLY Lady made 2 New Year’s Resolutions several years back that not only changed her life, but that changed the lives of thousands of those who follow her. http://flylady.net/pages/column4909.asp
All of these suggestions are good. Most are completely applicable to my life. (I don’t smoke, so I don’t need to quit.)
Many, many years of breaking resolutions leads me to wonder ‘why resolve anything’? The optimist in me believes that I can change into a better person. And as a creature of habit, I hereby resolve to be a better person in 2010; to be more organized, lose weight, yell less, watch less TV, spend less, save more, and stop procrastinating so much.
Wish me luck!
Sometimes ‘they’ are right.
I am sitting here putting off doing things that I need to do and thinking about the upcoming year. 2010 seemed so far away once upon a time. The flying car is getting closer to reality. http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/30/smallbusiness/flying_cars/index.htm
So what shall I resolve for 2010?
USA.gov has a list of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
Parent Center has given a good list of possible New Year’s Resolutions. http://www.babycenter.com/0_new-years-parenting-resolutions_67169.bc?scid=bigkid_20091229:2&pe=eZ2LE2
The FLY Lady made 2 New Year’s Resolutions several years back that not only changed her life, but that changed the lives of thousands of those who follow her. http://flylady.net/pages/column4909.asp
All of these suggestions are good. Most are completely applicable to my life. (I don’t smoke, so I don’t need to quit.)
Many, many years of breaking resolutions leads me to wonder ‘why resolve anything’? The optimist in me believes that I can change into a better person. And as a creature of habit, I hereby resolve to be a better person in 2010; to be more organized, lose weight, yell less, watch less TV, spend less, save more, and stop procrastinating so much.
Wish me luck!
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