A Homemaker's Day Book

March 27, 2009

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Cold and blustery and very un-spring like. Last week it was in the 70's!!!! Tonight it's 18. What happened?!

I AM THANKFUL FOR: I'll tell you what I'm not thankful for. Bras. There, I said it, it's out there. I've hated bras for as long as I've had "assets" requiring the use of one. Now, I know what you are saying. But bras can be our friends! They can make the ladies perky and sexy, they can protect them when we exercise, they can give shape where there once was no shape, er...maybe an unwanted shape. The alternative would be stuffing the ladies into into the waist bands of our pants. Well, no one ever thinks of the shoulders. Let me tell you that these shoulders have bore twin burdens for twenty three years and I think I have permenant indentations in my shoulders from lugging the fun bags around. I think I have nerve damage in my shoulders, shooting down my arms and into my wrists. I suppose one would ask if I've ever been properly fitted for a bra. I think I was once, but I couldn't find any bras that were wearable. I probably should be fitted again, but again, I can't ever find my size. Did I mention I don't like bras.

FROM THE KITCHEN: Spanish! Curtis and I made a jelly roll/swiss roll/gypsy arm for his Basement Dweller's Potluck lunch today. I wouldn't know what it tasted like because someone ate that last two slices. But dinner was leftovers from the lunch and the spanish rice and smoothered burritos were delicious.

I AM READING: Emma Smith. I would love to get a hold of Judge Me Not, Dear Reader, which is also about Emma Smith, but as of late, I'm stuck with the library or what I can borrow from friends.

I AM HEARING: My electric heater I turn so it warms up the cubby hole where my legs are under my desk. AAAHHH!!

I AM CREATING: Lewis and Clark homeschool curriculum for next year. Still.

I AM GOING: To look for creative meals in all my cookbooks.

I AM HOPING: That I get some money in the mail. :)Stil.

AROUND THE HOUSE: We've officially designated Saturday morning as our Cleaning Party. I told the kids that, giving them a chance to get a headstart (I don't know WHY they balked at that), and Jesse complains that he doesn't like Cleaning Parties. Why? "'Cuz all you do is clean at a Cleaning Party!" Hmmm...did I miss something in the invite to those parties that said to bring my dancing shoes and a present?

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Learning. Today we stuffed probably 800 eggs at MOPS for the community Easter Egg Hunt next week. While we stuffed, we talked about gluten free, dairy free, and allergen free diets. Wow! Sometimes I so marvel at people that I'm introduced to or that I break out of my shell and start up a conversation with. These ladies had so much information to give! Just when I needed it too.

One more thing. I had to change out the quilt on my bed for a heavier comforter because the cat had been sleeping on our bed. Can I just say how good of sleep I got last night? My mom gave me this comforter 6 years ago. It's white and I don't like to use it a lot because cherry juice or chocolate milk just don't come out of it real well (dang leaky sippy cups!), but when I do use it, I always feel like I'm laying in the lap of luxury. This morning I woke up in the perfect temperature, the perfect position, I had slept wonderfully and all the way through the night (thanks, Ammon!). I've been thinking about my bed all day.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Catch up on laundry. (Is that ever done?!)Scrub the floor under my fridge and stove and in the corners under the cabinets. Cleaning the carpet in the boys' room and Hannah's room. Yeah..sounds like so much fun, right?

A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: This picture pretty much sums up my feelings lately of day to day life, crammed in a house with six wiggly, active, cabin feverish children. I can only do so much on Farm Town on Facebook. Need.sun.light. warmth. fresh.air.

Food Service Horror Stories

When I was in the military I worked in the dining hall for the majority of my enlistment. It was a love-hate relationship. I liked bakery and the breakfast meal. After a couple of years, I liked the grill too. I didn't see it so much as a punishment after I started getting several compliments and started to pride myself on my omelet making abilities. I did not like lunch hour, the busiest hour, and it seemed like that was when the jerkiest of customers arrived. When I worked on bakery, which was a shift done over the midnight meal, I found it reather theraputic. I could zone out while making 400 cookies and found some creative outlet in how I poked holes in the pie crusts. I still find some comfort in baking now. Not necessarily eating them (although the products are pretty tasty), but the comfortableness of routine, I suppose. My sister is now a waitress and told me a horrifying, yet, unbelievable story tonight, and well, since I really don't have anything better to do at 10:33 p.m. while my husband is WOW'ing (see previous post), I figured I share some of these stories.

My sister's stories are as follows:

She works at an Olive Garden. Earlier this week a lady showed up for a TO GO order, but at the last minute, added a dessert and extra bread sticks. While they went back to ammend the order, she got impatient, mentioned she was having her carpets cleaned and she needed to get going. When they got her order complete, she snapped that they took too long and so no tip for them preparing the order and stomped out of the restauraunt. Two days later this same lady was back, in the TO GO line again, and USED THE SAME EXCUSE!! Only this time it was a different waitress. My sister's advice: if you are in that big of a hurry, use a fast food drive through.

This reminds me of a dining out experience with my ex. He would gulp down a glass of water as soon as it was served and time the waitress for a refill. If it took longer than a minute, she didn't get a tip. That's sabotoge.

Today my sister was working again. Two ladies were seated and insisted on being next to a table of three ladies that they knew. The waitress asked for their order, which was something like this:
L "We want to split an entree. Do you have lasagne?"
W "We do. Do you want a lunch portion or a dinner portion? The lunch portions are smaller."
L "Well, do you have a kid's meal with lasagne?"
W "No."
L "Ok, well, we'll just do soup. Do we get a salad with that?"
W "No, that actually comes separate with just a soup."

The woman actually turns around to the table near them with the 3 ladies and asks if they are going to finish the refill salad on their table! The ladies knowing these two women let them have the salad. Because of the loud talking this woman did, her situation started to become apparent to other patrons. This continued on. Eventually the two ladies managed to get a left over appetizer, an extra soup (one of the 3 ladies wasn't going to finish her soup refill), and a half eaten dessert!! For the dessert, she got up and approached the table after the 3 ladies had left and took it off the table, remarking "They looked clean enough."

By now, the other patrons were horrified and disgusted and starting to complain. Evenutally the management asked them to leave. Their tab came to 8.00, and after being asked to leave, they exclaimed they would not be leaving a tip. The three ladies had already left a large tip when they checked out, explaining they were ashamedly acquainted with these two women but embarassed for their behavior and knew they wouldn't leave a tip and knew they were trying to pull a scam.

A more gracious person would sum this up to possible economy downfalls, but I think this is just in a category of pure ignorance and misbehavior. They got out of Olive Garden with a 3 course meal for 8.00! Does anyone realize that most waitresses work for about 2.13 an hour, plus tips? My sister walks about 6 miles a day just doing her waitressing, plus carries up to 60 pounds on a tray, with one hand and her shoulder. It is not easy work, and not just physically when one would have to deal with customers like that.

My ex was one of those types. Denny's was his prime target. If his eggs, ordered as over easy, were served with a trace of browness, he threw a fit. He would make waitresses cry, he'd get the manager involved, and I don't know how many times he got away with a free meal from Denny's. More than he should have, that's for sure. I think it is one thing to be served a bleeding steak when you ordered it well done, or bread that is raw in the middle, or a salad with slimy, frozen leaves, but I'm sure a little bit of politeness goes a long way for a waitress/waiter to WANT to serve you, correct mistakes, or earn a tip. I don't want to think of how many times he might have been served food that had "special ingredients" added or "alterations" made for being a being a major jerk. It was like he made it his purpose in life to criticize all food service workers. Of course, it was never a job he had held.

Some other stories I've heard might be urban legends. In the dining hall before they got the protective glass barriers, customers would line up waiting for their grilled items. Bacon, pancakes, eggs, and french toast were cooked on an open grill. Sometimes customers would reach in and snitch a taste. Knowing that one, that can contaminate the food, and two, they could get burned, it irked the cooks to no end. One day as a guy reached in to sample some bacon, the cook flattened his hand to the grill and asked politely if he could help the guy. I don't think he sampled anymore after that. I'm going to assume the cook probably got in some major trouble for that.

One time when I was on an annual tour, the civilian cooks pulled some pork chops from the refrigerator. Ugh...we could smell them before they were even cooked. They were green and fuzzy. MOLDY! We tried to convince them that they needed to throw them away and we could come up with some other recipe. Nope, they insisted they could wash them off and cook them up and they would be just fine, and they did. That day a couple of us insisted on serving on the line. When people would come up and order a pork chop:

Customer: "Yes, I'll have a pork chop..."
Us: "No, you won't."
C: "But, their sitting right there."
U: "No, how about some chili mac?"
C: "I want a pork chop!"
U: "No, you don't." By that time we are staring at them with big eyes and shaking our heads, trying to convey a message in code that YOU DO NOT WANT TO EAT THESE PORK CHOPS OR YOU WILL BE SICK!
C: "Oh. Well, uh...I guess I'll have that, what is it? Meatloaf?"
U: "Oh, wonderful selection! Here you are! Enjoy your meal"...and send them off with a big smile.

In the back we could hear the civilian cooks questioning why the pork chops just didn't seem to be selling that day. I wonder why.....

I guess my thoughts tonight are to be kind to your servers. I have never been able to understand why someone would think they would get great service acting like a psycho-maniac. Is there really some kind of trophy to be won by making a server cry, or seeing how many meals you can scalp for free by complaining or being ignorant?
Listening to my sister tonight talk about her experiences makes me cringe. Partly on her behalf, partly on behalf of what COULD happen if you make the wrong server mad, if you get my drift.

Life as a WOW Wife

WOW:World of Warcraft
Level 80: Highest level of achievement so far.
Northrend: Where my husband is fighting in Ice Crown killing Scurge. Barron Rivendare is the last boss in Strathlome in Eastern Plaguelands, which is where the Death Knights start out. The Lich King is the Lord of the Scurge and Lord of the Death.

Do I know what I'm talking about? No. This is a game that has taken over my husband's computer. Talk of the latest missions, characters (or "'toons", as I recently learned) or what skill has been honed is common dinner talk. Never mind that I'm blathering on about my sister's lost 20.00, or Ammon's latest tricks, or that the cat barfed up a huge hairball. All that is going on is the active conversation about what happened, where they're at in the game, who's on the guild tonight, and...and....blah, blah, blah. Do I care? No.

I've been watching this evolve over the last three years. Curtis' participation has been like a roller coaster. Too much game and I complain about time he's spent hiding behind his computer. Too little time and he's all up in my business, not that I'm complaining about him being up in my business but when I get used to him being occupied in the evening on his computer, I've gotten used to my own nightly computer routine. Now my oldest boys are involved too. They help develop characters, crowd around the computer to watch him play, give advice (Jesse is very good at this),step in to play for him when a poopy diaper calls. All the information at the top of this post was dictated to me by Isaac and Jesse, who corrected me on spelling. Jesse's mission this afternoon: find the WOW Log Plume ride. Isaac's mission: Look up Plaged Protodrakes. Today at lunch I watched Curtis and Jesse hunch their shoulders, fold their arms in and stick their elbows out so they could show me how cool the Protodrake is. What the heck is a protodrake?! And, did they realize how goofy they looked in sync, acting out what protodrakes were? It was like a bad game of charades. Look! Nerds, and their nerdlings! I really do love them though.

Unless I'm dragging Curtis out to social events, he really doesn't go looking for them, so WOW has become his social network. The basement dwellers at his work are involved in WOW, so now they have "guild night", which is Friday night at 6:00 p.m. sharp, that they network together in the game and play. They have headphones so they can communicate with each other. They help each other out with gold. They "roll" for mount drops. Again, I have no idea what any of this means. I'm wondering how many of them actually have small snack appliances sitting on their desks to supply them with actual manna?



I do have to say that computer gaming has always been Curtis' hobby. I have actually uttered the words "You love the computer more than me!"...when I was much younger and much more immature ****cough* last year *cough****. I have read articles and forums in which the game has taken over people's lives, an addiction, and ruined relationships. Some throw up their hands and join up with their significant other so they can spend time together. Others go separate ways. For us, I have chosen to not become involved so that at least one of us is remembering to feed the kids. I looked at it like this: If I was involved heavily in scrapbooking, leaving every Saturday to spend in crops and projects, and living, eating, and breathing scrapbooking, and my best friends were there with me on that one day, how is that any different than what Curtis is doing with his game? With the exception of a few instances, usually Curtis will put down the headphones and mouse and join me in whatever I have requested his presence for.

However, I can't help but wonder why he gets so excited at the thought of being snowed in by a blizzard, or rained out of a picnic. Those stars in his eyes are not for me. (Well, maybe later they are..but not immediately). Do I want a happy husband or one bored out of his mind watching 14 hours of Smallville?

Besides, look at the graphics. I've been asked several times "Isn't this gorgeous?"
Compared to the barren landscape of Nebraska: yes.



I should just be grateful I don't have a keyboard in some kind of WOW language, or an actual doll figure of his character taking up space on my piano, or that he left the house dressed as a "something" from the game.



So, life as a WOW wife isn't too bad. I'm starting to find some humor in it now. Maybe it's making fun of him and his basement dweller friends that play that make it easier. Maybe I should make a forum for wives of WOW addicts. We can ask questions like "What happens if they leave the game in an "unsafe" place? Dinner is burning!" "Why do they sometimes wear clothes that look like something from a bad 1980's rock concert?" "Is anyone concerned about the adolescent boys telling your husband they think he looks hot as a girl dwarf?" You know, things like that. Important things.
At least he's home with us though. I know there are much worse things out there he could be doing.

*Modified to clarify: The reference I make to "basement dwellers" is in reference to Curtis' friends and him in his work place. Because they actually do work in a basement. On Friday's they have "The Basement Dweller's Potluck" lunch. One of his friends pointed out he does not play the game in his basement. He plays in his living room that has a couch. So, they aren't actually basement dwelling gamers, only basement dwelling workers. There. Clarified.

How to Survive an Economy Collapse

I found this article and the guy that wrote it is living in a country whose economy collapsed in 2001. He is giving advice for survialists: food, protection, black and grey markets, weapons, water, etc. Not trying to freak anyone out, but if you have been storing away food, maybe you want to think about a few other things as well. I got this from frugalsqirrels.com. I know that some of you may read this as a doomsdayer type thing, but really, this is some good stuff to know. The article is very long, but very interesting. I hope you take the time to read it.

A Must Read for All Squirrels

A Homemaker's Daybook

March 22, 2009

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Birds are singing, sun is shining, 67 degrees, all the kids in teh neighborhood were playing outside and some were even playing in a sprinkler. Tomorrow's forcast: blizzard.

I AM THANKFUL FOR: That there are angels protecting our little ones. I watched Joshua almost get hit by a car today and the guy stopped just in time, within 6 inches. I've never had my heart stop like that before in my life.

FROM THE KITCHEN: Leftovers. MMMM. We had lasagne. Three of the kids had a tuna sandwich and fruit and tomato soup. Ammon ate bread.

I AM READING: Follow the River. (Still) Bleed, Blister and Purge: Medicine on the Frontier. I don't know why I love this book, but I'm re-reading it again.

I AM HEARING: Nothing. All is quiet.

I AM CREATING: Lewis and Clark homeschool curriculum for next year.

I AM GOING: Nowhere this week. Our focus is on finishing up our school year and getting that out of the way and then I am free and clear to wrok on Lewis and Clark's.

I AM HOPING: That I get some money in the mail. :)

AROUND THE HOUSE: Books are everywhere. I let the kids go to the library every week and this week they found some really good books but the downside is that they are spread everywhere! Laundry is caught up, the cat box is clean, the kitchen is spotless and the kids' rooms are mostly clean. Pretty good, I say.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Good, long chats with best friends. And, (I have to add this), we have been sick for the last week. Tonight I'm feeling so much better and I always marvel at what 100% well feels like after you have been sick.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Finish this week's lesson plans. Wash bedding. Clean out the car. Make some healthy bread and cookies.

A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: I love to get roses from Curtis. This time he brought me multi colored roses, which I was thrilled with. When you know the meanings of them, it was a perfect gift from him. Read about them here

Everyone Needs a Laugh

I happened upon this blog tonight: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ . I finally finished wiping the tears from my eyes long enough to share one with you.

A Homemaker's Day Book

March 12, 2009

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Cold, light snow but with sunshine. Spring is not getting here soon enough.

I AM THANKFUL FOR: Modern day conveniences. Things like a hair dryer, a heater in the car, a car, a heather in the house, paper plates and towels, computers and internet that link you to the outside world.

FROM THE KITCHEN: Pumpkin and cranberry risotto. I got this from www.oceanspray.com. It was pretty good!

I AM READING: Follow the River. (Still)

I AM HEARING: The baby laughing playing in the dog water. Little Einstein's and Simeon singing along. Jesse snoring (he got a huge molar pulled at the dentist this morning, poor guy). Joshua playing with blocks. Isaac....better go find him.

I AM CREATING: Lewis and Clark homeschool curriculum for next year.

I AM GOING: Walmart later today. I'm doing better! I've manage to cut our visits to Walmart down to once a month. A few other errands, but probably not until later today. Did I mention it's cold outside?

I AM HOPING: To go to a Homeschool Conference in Colorado this weekend, but I've never been to one and so I don't know what to expect.

AROUND THE HOUSE: Legos. Legos everywhere. I let them take the box down that has been hibernating on top of the extra refrigerator in the basement. Lurking...waiting...plotting it's revenge....calling to Isaac every time he walked by. Everyone of us has sustained an injury now because of the Legos. They're evil, I tell you!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: We are almost done with our school year! It's a great feeling knowing that I've actually completed something all the way through! We won't get a long break though. We'll get about a month and then start up again. We will work through the summer this year.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Not much. I'm glad it's slowed down. February seemed to be filled up before it was even begun, so it's nice to have some down time.

A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU: I get such a laugh out of this picture. They are all together but all separate, you know? Just like life...all going in different directions together.

Trauma in the Neighborhood

Today was one of those days you feel like you should have either never left the bed or turned around and climbed back into bed. Sunday mornings are always hectic and today was no exception, only this morning we forgot about Daylight Savings Time, so we woke up running late to begin with. Outside was frozen, icy, snowy roads, foggy and cold. After one meltdown after another, we decided that Hannah, Ammon and Joshua would stay home with me and Curtis and the other three would go to church. After sliding through three stop signs and unable to get up the via-dock, Curtis came home. We missed church and for me, this was the second Sunday in a row.

We had a quiet morning of movie watching, game playing and napping. By lunch time, the weather had cleared and the roads and snow had melted. It was actually quite nice.

Isaac, the animal lover, took Bella out to do her business. Our next door neighbor feeds about four stray cats in the evening and they mill around our houses the rest of the day. Two of them were in the road, and then a car approached. Isaac starts to signal that there was a cat in the road and while the guy was looking at Isaac, he ran over one of the cats, smashing his head but not killing the cat immediately. Isaac is horrified, runs in to tell Curtis and they run out there to see if they can help the cat, but he died and in the meantime, Bella took that opportunity to take off down the road. Curtis sends Isaac to chase the dog down and then buried the cat in the back yard. Isaac was crying and upset, horrified, and probably a little bit in shock.

On one hand I'm a little grateful for this event because they have been thinking it's funny (maybe it's getting annoying now) when Bella slips her collar and runs off down the road. She has had several close calls with cars, and neighbors have yelled at the kids. Isaac got to see first hand, unfortunately, what happens when animals are hit by cars.

Of the number of people we talked to today, almost all of us have had traumatizing cat death situations. I saw one hit, much like Isaac did today, when I was about 15. Her name was Sugar, and she was all white with blue eyes. Curtis slammed one in the door. My friend from church found one in her dryer. My grandma recounts this story in her memoirs:

"I killed three kittens in one day. One in the screen door, one slammed in the car door and the other one under the fender." She said my dad and aunt stood on the front steps crying "Murderer!!"

The poor cats. They seem so strong and yet are so fragile. I've had a number of cats over the years and I don't think there's one I haven't cried over when they have left us. Yes, if I'm not careful, I could become the Crazy Cat Lady.

Grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears
but laugh and talk of me
as if I were beside you..
I loved you so---
'twas Heaven here with you.

- Isla Paschal Richardson

A Homemaker's Day Book

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW: Windy, but warm and beautiful. I'm soooo ready for spring.

I AM THANKFUL FOR: Warm weather. Clean laundry. Healthy children. Dish soap. A running vehicle. A good husband. A good book. Good friends.

FROM THE KITCHEN: Ugh. New recipe tonight: it was a chicken casserole and was blander than bland. Even after I tried to spice it up. Now I'm hungry.

I AM READING: Follow the River.

I AM HEARING: Dryer, heater, and the hum of my computer.

I AM CREATING: Lewis and Clark homeschool curriculum for next year.

I AM GOING: Nowhere. I spent three days at home, and plan to until Sunday when we go to church. A few of us are still feeling under the weather. Oh, we have a dentist appointment this week. Well, that's not my favorite thing to do.

I AM HOPING: To clean out a closet under the stairs, finish up some loose ends for a section with homeschool, and get back on track for exercising.

AROUND THE HOUSE: This week I took the huge pile of stuff from decluttering to the thrift shop. That was a great feeling.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Warm weather. I love spring and summer when it's warm, hot, humid and the sun is shining and you can hear lawn mowers and smell BBQs. I love to sit outside on the porch and enjoy the kids playing and the sun making my hair hot.

A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK: Mostly just sticking close to home. I'm still working on some organization in the house (schedules, chores, decluttering). I don't have to be anywhere until Thursday. It's nice to take it easy for awhile.

A PICTURE THOUGHT TO SHARE WITH YOU:
Simeon is in love with penguins. He recently found that the library has books on them so he's reading the penguin books, playing penguin games on the computer, watching penguin movies. I even made him a penguin lapbook (that has since been mauled and destroyed). I like this picture because it looks like he is having a serious discussion with them. Later that day we found the penguins in a mud puddle. They also took some rides in the car and rolled around in the grass. I'm not sure which is cuter: a stuffed animal you know is well loved, or watching the boy love on the favorite stuffed animal.


March 5, 2009

Classical Music: Johann Strauss

Johann Strauss II (October 25, 1825 – June 3, 1899; German: Johann Baptist Strauß; also known as Johann Baptist Strauss, Johann Strauss, Jr., or Johann Strauss the Younger) was an Austrian composer famous for having written over 500 waltzes, polkas, marches, and galops. He was the son of the composer Johann Strauss I, and brother of composers Josef Strauss and Eduard Strauss. He is also the most famous member of the Strauss family. He was known in his lifetime as "The Waltz King", and was largely responsible for the popularity of the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century. He revolutionized the waltz, elevating it from a lowly peasant dance to entertainment fit for the royal Habsburg court.

I recently purchased "Johann Strauss Jr Most Famous Waltzes". What a beautiful compilation of his works. It contains over and hour's worth of music that is invigorating and makes you want to dance.

We listened to it again last night while I was cooking dinner. The younger girls were so inspired that they all dressed up in their ballerina outfits, tutus and all and danced around the house. We love all of his music. Our absolute favorites are:

"Tales from the Vienna Woods"
"Roses from the South Op. 388"
"Fruehlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring)"


May I also say he was quite a LOOKER! ;)

Listen to it, I promise you'll love it!!! Johann Strauss was a genius of a musician!



*Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Strauss_II

A Princess Wardrobe

Hannah informed me today that when she grows up she is going to be princess.

"Why?"

"Because they get to wear dresses. And I'm going to have lots and lots of dresses."
Her eyes shift to the left as she envisions herself in her dresses. She continues: "And I'm going to have dresses like Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks too."

"They weren't princesses. Why Little Red Riding Hood?"

"I like their dresses." She twirls around in her imaginary dresses.

I find I sometimes wish I could dress like a princess too. With the long dresses and the crowns. Would I be completely off my rocker to indulge myself like that? *eyes shifting the left*

Some Days Feel Just Like This.....

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