Thursday, December 29, 2011
Happy New Year 2011
Well, I haven't blogged on this site since August. However, with the motivation provided by a beer and a Bailey's Irish Creme I am going to start anew. Just to see if anyone is paying attention! ha ha. It's time to make all those resolutions. Lose weight, get a job, travel, yada yada yada. 2012 here we come!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Update
Hello to anyone out there who still checks in. As I mentioned, I have been directing all my energies toward the http://upperstclair.patch.com/ website, which I encourage you to visit, and ignoring poor kakiehokie. I was about to say goodbye to my followers and close up shop here, but as my first blog experience, kakiehokie is my baby and I'm not ready to let my baby go. After the hiatus, I plan to head in a different direction. I'll send up a flare when I am back.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Never give up!
Hello to my faithful 8 followers! I have been directing most of my energies to the other blog on http://upperstclair.patch.com/ but will get back in the swing on this one as soon as possible. I will send out an e-mail to let you know when the next post is available. Thanks for hanging in there!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Busy month
Well, you never know what life will throw at you, and most of you know what was thrown at my mom on March 26th, 2011. She was involved in a bad car accident and ended up with 2 fractured vertebrae in her neck.
However, in the tradition of seeing the "glass half full", we are very thankful that things weren't much worse and that in time my mom will be back to normal. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't give kudos to my dad for all he has done in terms of the grunt work that comes in the aftermath of an accident, such as insurance claim paperwork, picking up whatever we needed from the store and making sure we had wine to go with the many wonderful dinners that friends provided for us. :-) Cheers to good friends as well!
I am excited to have started a blog on a site called UpperSt.ClairPatch and I would love it if you will check it out. http://upperstclair.patch.com/
That's all for now except to say Happy Mother's Day, especially to my mom!
However, in the tradition of seeing the "glass half full", we are very thankful that things weren't much worse and that in time my mom will be back to normal. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't give kudos to my dad for all he has done in terms of the grunt work that comes in the aftermath of an accident, such as insurance claim paperwork, picking up whatever we needed from the store and making sure we had wine to go with the many wonderful dinners that friends provided for us. :-) Cheers to good friends as well!
I am excited to have started a blog on a site called UpperSt.ClairPatch and I would love it if you will check it out. http://upperstclair.patch.com/
That's all for now except to say Happy Mother's Day, especially to my mom!
Friday, March 25, 2011
pAss*WoRD_s
It seems you need a password for everything these days and I'm getting darn tired of having to remember the many versions of mine. You're supposed to start with a basic model that's easy to remember but that no one else can figure out. Those two things may seem mutually exclusive, but hey, the password gurus must know what they're talking about, as evidenced by the many rules about prudent password behavior or "ppb". To make your password more secure, they suggest using a combination of dashes, symbols, upper and lower case letters and numbers.
On one site, as I created a new password, they would advise me on the strength of each version. On my first attempt, when I typed in the minimum 6 characters, I was not surprised that the strength was determined to be WEAK. I added two numbers and was relieved to see that the strength had changed to MODERATE. Although I felt better, I thought to myself, "what kind of underachiever would be satisfied with MODERATE?" I changed some letters from upper to lower case and added another symbol. WHAT?? It was still classified as MODERATE! I felt as if I were back in school taking the SAT. My secure enrollment on this web site depended on the strength of my password! I finally pulled out all the stops. I used upper and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, you name it, and triumphantly earned the STRONG rating. The problem was, distracted as I had been by the creative process, I hadn't written down the 13 character password and had forgotten it! What a dilemma. The more secure the password, the harder it was to remember. Furthermore, even if I had thought to write it down, would I really want to be encumbered by this albatross everytime I wanted to access that account? I don't even remember what site it was for, but I finally decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
The subsequent problem is how to keep track of your passwords. We're told to write them down in a "safe place", but for me, the most convenient place, near the computer, is also the least safe. Ironically, no one in my family cares about my feedback profile on Etsy or what impulse purchase I just made on Amazon and the tech support person from Ebay can access most of my information from out in cyberspace, so why am I hiding my passwords in the first place?
Copyright 2011 KKR
On one site, as I created a new password, they would advise me on the strength of each version. On my first attempt, when I typed in the minimum 6 characters, I was not surprised that the strength was determined to be WEAK. I added two numbers and was relieved to see that the strength had changed to MODERATE. Although I felt better, I thought to myself, "what kind of underachiever would be satisfied with MODERATE?" I changed some letters from upper to lower case and added another symbol. WHAT?? It was still classified as MODERATE! I felt as if I were back in school taking the SAT. My secure enrollment on this web site depended on the strength of my password! I finally pulled out all the stops. I used upper and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, you name it, and triumphantly earned the STRONG rating. The problem was, distracted as I had been by the creative process, I hadn't written down the 13 character password and had forgotten it! What a dilemma. The more secure the password, the harder it was to remember. Furthermore, even if I had thought to write it down, would I really want to be encumbered by this albatross everytime I wanted to access that account? I don't even remember what site it was for, but I finally decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
The subsequent problem is how to keep track of your passwords. We're told to write them down in a "safe place", but for me, the most convenient place, near the computer, is also the least safe. Ironically, no one in my family cares about my feedback profile on Etsy or what impulse purchase I just made on Amazon and the tech support person from Ebay can access most of my information from out in cyberspace, so why am I hiding my passwords in the first place?
Copyright 2011 KKR
Sunday, March 13, 2011
unintended hiatus
To test the mettle of my intrepid band of followers, I haven't posted for about two weeks. If you're still with me, I applaud you and thank you!
I think there's an expression that "life get's in the way" and that's what has kept me from posting recently. This kind of life getting in the way is the good stuff, though. Listening to a dissertation defense, college spring break, even helping with a move to the Big Apple. Now that's livin'!
With two months of relatively uninterrupted time in my future, allow me to share with you my plan. I will make two sets of curtains, paint the hallway, re-paint the bathroom in a color that I like, organize 25 years of files, find my dream job, lose weight, clean the garage, start listing things on Ebay, take guitar lessons, and organize the shed. I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten, but I have several to-do lists floating around that need to be condensed.
By the way, in lieu of actually getting anything done, I highly recommend making a list. It is not only satisfying, it takes time that could otherwise be spent doing something on said list. It's a win-win!
Well, all for now. I will report on my progress from time to time.
Copyright 2011 KKR
"Hammer and a Nail" - The Indigo Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI2GGNFR_U
I think there's an expression that "life get's in the way" and that's what has kept me from posting recently. This kind of life getting in the way is the good stuff, though. Listening to a dissertation defense, college spring break, even helping with a move to the Big Apple. Now that's livin'!
With two months of relatively uninterrupted time in my future, allow me to share with you my plan. I will make two sets of curtains, paint the hallway, re-paint the bathroom in a color that I like, organize 25 years of files, find my dream job, lose weight, clean the garage, start listing things on Ebay, take guitar lessons, and organize the shed. I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten, but I have several to-do lists floating around that need to be condensed.
By the way, in lieu of actually getting anything done, I highly recommend making a list. It is not only satisfying, it takes time that could otherwise be spent doing something on said list. It's a win-win!
Well, all for now. I will report on my progress from time to time.
Copyright 2011 KKR
"Hammer and a Nail" - The Indigo Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI2GGNFR_U
Saturday, March 5, 2011
"What, me worry?"
I would wager that I have taken worrying to heights never before achieved. Of course I worry about "normal" things like important decisions, my children, the environment, or not having thanked the hotel manager for his assistance in reserving a room. I suspect worrying is a more common affliction to women than men, and yet, even my female friends have had to encourage me not to sweat the small stuff; to "let things go".
One of the major sources of concern is anything that comes out of my mouth. In particular, I often feel the need for a rewind button on the things I say to my boys. "Did you brush your teeth?, please don't sit on the arm of the couch, don't make fun of your brother's hair, do you have something in mind for your girlfriend's birthday?, your wife's birthday?, did you wash your hands?" A whole litany of unnecessary comments. Thankfully, most of these questions are merely a blip on their radar, forgotten moments after the last syllable has left my mouth. For other more egregious comments, since there is no rewind button, I handle such situations by apologizing for what I've said. Their way of letting me know that I hadn't bothered them in the first place is to groan. Sometimes now, they are so conditioned to expect an apology that they will save me the effort and advise me in advance that none is warranted.
It's natural to care so much about one's own family, but I worry about casual comments I make to complete strangers. I wasn't kidding about not thanking the hotel manager. Coming into town recently the night of the big blizzard, my son wasn't scheduled to arrive until 4:00a.m. There was no way for anyone to pick him up at the bus station because the roads were so treacherous. Thankfully, I was able to make a reservation for him at a nearby hotel. The two hotel employees I talked with were very accommodating despite the lateness of the hour and the number of stranded travelers trying to reserve rooms. As I finished making the reservation, the manager said "thank you" but I had slipped out of the conversational rhythm. Instead of thanking him, I just said good bye and hung up. Now, it was 4:00 in the morning, so I was too tired to lose sleep over it, but I managed to beat myself up for the blunder for a good 10 minutes.
Wise friends have told me over and over again, that unless I am purposely running roughshod over people, I shouldn't worry so much about what I say. Lately I have tried harder than ever to put this into practice. I am taking baby steps, but think I may be on the right track.
The other day I said something relatively benign to an acquaintance but immediately regretted it. Instead of calling her to awkwardly apologize for a slight she probably didn't even notice, I said to myself, "let it go". And it worked!
Copyright 2011 KKR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZSIeSsmwI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman
One of the major sources of concern is anything that comes out of my mouth. In particular, I often feel the need for a rewind button on the things I say to my boys. "Did you brush your teeth?, please don't sit on the arm of the couch, don't make fun of your brother's hair, do you have something in mind for your girlfriend's birthday?, your wife's birthday?, did you wash your hands?" A whole litany of unnecessary comments. Thankfully, most of these questions are merely a blip on their radar, forgotten moments after the last syllable has left my mouth. For other more egregious comments, since there is no rewind button, I handle such situations by apologizing for what I've said. Their way of letting me know that I hadn't bothered them in the first place is to groan. Sometimes now, they are so conditioned to expect an apology that they will save me the effort and advise me in advance that none is warranted.
It's natural to care so much about one's own family, but I worry about casual comments I make to complete strangers. I wasn't kidding about not thanking the hotel manager. Coming into town recently the night of the big blizzard, my son wasn't scheduled to arrive until 4:00a.m. There was no way for anyone to pick him up at the bus station because the roads were so treacherous. Thankfully, I was able to make a reservation for him at a nearby hotel. The two hotel employees I talked with were very accommodating despite the lateness of the hour and the number of stranded travelers trying to reserve rooms. As I finished making the reservation, the manager said "thank you" but I had slipped out of the conversational rhythm. Instead of thanking him, I just said good bye and hung up. Now, it was 4:00 in the morning, so I was too tired to lose sleep over it, but I managed to beat myself up for the blunder for a good 10 minutes.
Wise friends have told me over and over again, that unless I am purposely running roughshod over people, I shouldn't worry so much about what I say. Lately I have tried harder than ever to put this into practice. I am taking baby steps, but think I may be on the right track.
The other day I said something relatively benign to an acquaintance but immediately regretted it. Instead of calling her to awkwardly apologize for a slight she probably didn't even notice, I said to myself, "let it go". And it worked!
Copyright 2011 KKR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZSIeSsmwI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman
Thursday, February 24, 2011
OMGosh
When "texting" first arrived on the scene, I gradually embraced the idea. At first I typed everything out using an excruciatingly slow method, scrolling through each letter individually, until my sons introduced me to predictive text. It was very confusing at first. As I typed the word "good", the word appearing on my phone began with "i - n - n ... what the heck?! I finally took the leap of faith needed to let the phone figure out what I was trying to say. Now that I am somewhat of an expert, (ha,ha)* I am still amused by which words pop up first. What novice would ever guess that typing the word "look" would result in the word "Konk" (and alphabetized, no less)?
Just when I think I have it figured out, though, my phone does something more disconcerting. It has started to replace words with numbers. I have no idea what I did to cause this anomaly, nor what I must do to fix it. Probably at some point I pressed a button signaling my desire for this to happen. "I'm going to the store at noon today" translates into "I.m going 86 the store 28 noon today." Before I correct it, "call me when you get home" comes out as "call me 9436 you get good". Essentially, gibberish. I've joked with friends that we should try to decipher messages that we've sent each other without proofreading.
As if that's not enough to worry about, there's a new challenge in my conversations brought about by the advent of the keyboard phone. If I'm texting someone with that capability I can't type fast enough to keep up with them.
Sample conversation:
Friend: "What are you up to?"
Me: "Getting ready to do some errands. How about you?"
Friend: "Yes, me too. Do you have time for coffee later?"
Me: (madly typing) "Yes, but I'm not sure when I'll be.....
Friend: ...their text coming in before I can finish mine.....
Well, with time, I've become more proficient at texting and have managed to work out some of the kinks. I almost never send a text now without quickly proofreading it first. If I expect to have a pretty long conversation with a keyboard phone user I warn them to allow a delay for my responses so our conversation stays in sync.
The main reason for today's discussion, however, is an appeal to all fellow "texters" to come up with some words to replace those used by the younger generation. My three most urgent needs are alternatives for "ha, ha"* (see above), OMG, and lol. Don't misunderstand me; I have no problem with people my age using these terms. It's just that if I use any of these expressions when texting my kids or their contemporaries I get the uneasy feeling that I am trying to be "cool". For example, the other day I very reluctantly texted the term "OMG" to one of my sons because I was in a such a hurry. Typing my usual "OMGosh", would have involved an extremely time-consuming combination of scrolling, spaces and backspaces. Even before I had finished chiding myself for using the term, a text came in from my son. With the refreshing honesty that I expect from all of my boys, his text said simply "please don't say omg". Of course this made me lol. When using the term "lol" for a lack of an appropriate substitute, I feel like I am a mere belly-button ring away from turning into that mother whom everyone criticizes for acting like a teenager. Therefore, I feel we need some "grown up" ways to express certain expressions via text and even through e-mail for that matter. I have tried using one "ha" but that looks like I just forgot to type the second "ha". Instead of lol, I once typed "very funny" but that sounded like sarcasm!!
Anyway, I'm counting on some great suggestions from anyone reading today. The only problem I foresee is that once we come up with some alternatives, we have to use them consistently enough that they become a part of general texting parlance. I can text "ctm" to my heart's content, but unless people know that I mean "chuckling to myself" my crusade will be all for naught.
Copyright 2011 KKR
Just when I think I have it figured out, though, my phone does something more disconcerting. It has started to replace words with numbers. I have no idea what I did to cause this anomaly, nor what I must do to fix it. Probably at some point I pressed a button signaling my desire for this to happen. "I'm going to the store at noon today" translates into "I.m going 86 the store 28 noon today." Before I correct it, "call me when you get home" comes out as "call me 9436 you get good". Essentially, gibberish. I've joked with friends that we should try to decipher messages that we've sent each other without proofreading.
As if that's not enough to worry about, there's a new challenge in my conversations brought about by the advent of the keyboard phone. If I'm texting someone with that capability I can't type fast enough to keep up with them.
Sample conversation:
Friend: "What are you up to?"
Me: "Getting ready to do some errands. How about you?"
Friend: "Yes, me too. Do you have time for coffee later?"
Me: (madly typing) "Yes, but I'm not sure when I'll be.....
Friend: ...their text coming in before I can finish mine.....
Well, with time, I've become more proficient at texting and have managed to work out some of the kinks. I almost never send a text now without quickly proofreading it first. If I expect to have a pretty long conversation with a keyboard phone user I warn them to allow a delay for my responses so our conversation stays in sync.
The main reason for today's discussion, however, is an appeal to all fellow "texters" to come up with some words to replace those used by the younger generation. My three most urgent needs are alternatives for "ha, ha"* (see above), OMG, and lol. Don't misunderstand me; I have no problem with people my age using these terms. It's just that if I use any of these expressions when texting my kids or their contemporaries I get the uneasy feeling that I am trying to be "cool". For example, the other day I very reluctantly texted the term "OMG" to one of my sons because I was in a such a hurry. Typing my usual "OMGosh", would have involved an extremely time-consuming combination of scrolling, spaces and backspaces. Even before I had finished chiding myself for using the term, a text came in from my son. With the refreshing honesty that I expect from all of my boys, his text said simply "please don't say omg". Of course this made me lol. When using the term "lol" for a lack of an appropriate substitute, I feel like I am a mere belly-button ring away from turning into that mother whom everyone criticizes for acting like a teenager. Therefore, I feel we need some "grown up" ways to express certain expressions via text and even through e-mail for that matter. I have tried using one "ha" but that looks like I just forgot to type the second "ha". Instead of lol, I once typed "very funny" but that sounded like sarcasm!!
Anyway, I'm counting on some great suggestions from anyone reading today. The only problem I foresee is that once we come up with some alternatives, we have to use them consistently enough that they become a part of general texting parlance. I can text "ctm" to my heart's content, but unless people know that I mean "chuckling to myself" my crusade will be all for naught.
Copyright 2011 KKR
Friday, February 18, 2011
letter to the editor
In an attempt to preserve my sanity, several months ago I pledged to stop reading the editorials in our community newspaper. The pompous drivel of certain contributors had become unbearable. Alas, some issues, such as the environment, religion, and politics draw me in like a moth to the flame. The other day I tried to scan the editorial page while squinting to avoid seeing anything provocative, but to no avail. The name of one particularly prolific writer caught my eye and against my better judgment, I began to read.
To avoid confusion, we'll call this man Thing 1. Thing 1 was responding to a letter in the previous week's paper written by a man we will call Thing 2. Thing 2 was concerned about the attempts of some members of Congress to water down (pardon the pun) the Clean Air/Clean Water Act and the potential effect this could have on global warming.
*(I give full credit to Dr. Seuss for use of the names Thing 1 and Thing 2)
Let me stress that global warming is not the main issue here. The issue is civil discourse.
To provide a context, here are a few excerpts from Thing 1's letter..... "if carbon dioxide is a pollutant, does that mean all of us are polluters when we exhale? Will we need permits (to breathe)?" The idea that we would have to stop breathing to combat global warming, while undeniably hilarious, defies logic.
Thing 1 further laments "that radical environmentalism is killing our economy." Call me a cockeyed optimist, but are a healthy economy and a healthy environment mutually exclusive? In addition, why does he feel the need to disparage Thing 2's desire to pass on a liveable planet to our children? This kind of thinking makes my brain hurt.
I suddenly came up with a novel idea. People writing an editorial could not only use common sense, they could treat those with whom they disagree respectfully. Lose the sarcasm. Take the high road. I, for one, would be more receptive to what they have to say under those conditions. Unfortunately, it's naive to think that everyone is motivated by this utopian ideal. I think some people just want to stir things up.
(And yes, I realize that I too would have to behave accordingly. For the purposes of today's post, however, sarcasm is essential.)
The editorial page of our local paper is beginning to resemble the 60 Minutes segment “Point – Counterpoint” with Shana Alexander and James J. Kilpatrick. For those too young to remember it, Wikipedia explains:
To avoid confusion, we'll call this man Thing 1. Thing 1 was responding to a letter in the previous week's paper written by a man we will call Thing 2. Thing 2 was concerned about the attempts of some members of Congress to water down (pardon the pun) the Clean Air/Clean Water Act and the potential effect this could have on global warming.
*(I give full credit to Dr. Seuss for use of the names Thing 1 and Thing 2)
Let me stress that global warming is not the main issue here. The issue is civil discourse.
To provide a context, here are a few excerpts from Thing 1's letter..... "if carbon dioxide is a pollutant, does that mean all of us are polluters when we exhale? Will we need permits (to breathe)?" The idea that we would have to stop breathing to combat global warming, while undeniably hilarious, defies logic.
Thing 1 further laments "that radical environmentalism is killing our economy." Call me a cockeyed optimist, but are a healthy economy and a healthy environment mutually exclusive? In addition, why does he feel the need to disparage Thing 2's desire to pass on a liveable planet to our children? This kind of thinking makes my brain hurt.
I suddenly came up with a novel idea. People writing an editorial could not only use common sense, they could treat those with whom they disagree respectfully. Lose the sarcasm. Take the high road. I, for one, would be more receptive to what they have to say under those conditions. Unfortunately, it's naive to think that everyone is motivated by this utopian ideal. I think some people just want to stir things up.
(And yes, I realize that I too would have to behave accordingly. For the purposes of today's post, however, sarcasm is essential.)
The editorial page of our local paper is beginning to resemble the 60 Minutes segment “Point – Counterpoint” with Shana Alexander and James J. Kilpatrick. For those too young to remember it, Wikipedia explains:
"For most of the 1970s, the program (60 Minutes) included the Point/Counterpoint segment in which a liberal and a conservative commentator would debate a particular issue. This originally featured James J. Kilpatrick representing the conservative side and Nicholas von Hoffman for the liberal, with Shana Alexander taking over for von Hoffman after he departed in 1974. Point/Counterpoint was also lampooned by the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live, which featured Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd as debaters, with Aykroyd typically beginning his remarks with, "Jane, you ignorant slut".
The interesting thing is that Shana Alexander's niece, Hannah Bentley is quoted as saying "her aunt........ and Kilpatrick were good friends off camera". This kind of civility is what we have lost in the last several years but I think we can recapture it. Let's agree to disagree, but when we're done, part with a handshake.
Copyright 2011 KKR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60_Minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7S_XWuKpHc&feature=related
Monday, February 14, 2011
❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
♥♥❤❤❤❥❥❥❥❥❥♡♡♡❥❥❥❥❥❥❤❤❤♥♥
Friday, February 11, 2011
Do you have our frequent shopper card?
It started out innocently enough. I think my first "frequent shopper card" was for a wonderful sandwich cart parked outside the Lowe's that I used to frequent. Before Home Depot sprouted up a mere 5 minutes from where I live, I was forced to drive about 20 minutes away to Lowe's for my home improvement needs. The sandwich cart outside the store was called Dominic's and they lured me in with the aroma of sausage, mushroom and onion sandwiches sautéing on their grill. The yummy food served by the personable man doing the cooking was enough to turn me into a repeat customer.
That's when it happened. As I paid for my sandwich, he asked if I had a frequent diner card. He explained that after my card had been punched a certain number of times I would be eligible for a free sandwich. Now you'd have to be crazy to turn down that offer, right? He gave me my first "punch" and I threw the card in the black hole otherwise known as my purse. The next time I bought a sandwich at Dominic's, I couldn't find the card, but the owner assured me that this was no problem. He just gave me a stamp on a new card that could be combined with the first after I found it. He obviously didn't know who he was dealing with, assuming that I would find the first card. As luck would have it, I did manage to round up the four cards I had accumulated and he stapled them together. When I reached my goal of a free sandwich it was every bit as satisfying as I had imagined it would be. Then..... he gave me a new card.
In the 6 months that this was going on I began to get offers of frequent shopper cards from all my usual haunts; the organic bread shop, Office Depot, Panera, Dick's, two local grocery stores, book stores, the discount hairdresser. Its novelty began to fade when I realized that the frequent shopper program was a double-edged sword. Sure I might receive a free haircut or loaf of bread at the end of my quest, but how hard would I have to work for it? The pile of cards I had amassed had grown big enough to need it's own little draw-string carrying case. Then, when the clerk asked for my frequent shopper card she/he would have to wait a few seconds too many while I rifled through the pile apologetically. I eventually learned to plan ahead. Before heading into the store, I would dig out the appropriate card and have it ready in my pocket.
The ordeal has become such a burden that I have decided to purge all the cards from my drawstring bag. The thing is, I am one stamp away from a free sandwich at Panera and two punches away from a loaf of bread at the organic bread store. Come to think of it, I may still have credit for a free haircut somewhere. As difficult as it will be, my plan is to cash in on the two or three free things that I have earned and when the proprietors try to give me a new card, I will resolutely say "no thanks" despite their judgmental stares.
Copyright 2011 KKR
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
where have you been, ms. kakiehokie?
I am now learning the hard lessons of the novice blogger. First of all, don't begin your blog by posting every day. Inevitably the number of ideas floating around in your head will ebb and flow and posting twice a week will seem much more sensible. If you are lucky enough to have any followers, you risk disappointing them. Then the day might come when you log onto your blog only to find that one of those little follower icons is conspicuously absent. I don't want to put pressure on any of you, but that would be devastating!!
The last week presented some time management challenges to me. Of course there was the Super Bowl, which we will not talk about. In addition, on Super Bowl Sunday, the coil in my oven burned up and I am attempting to fix it myself. I have the part in hand and have been told that it is relatively easy to replace. (normally, a sure sign that you should call an expert) I keep forgetting that the oven is broken, though, and turn the burner on several times a day to heat up coffee water. I then yell at myself under my breath for forgetting. Last night I bought all the ingredients for chicken pot pie and then remembered that I had no way of baking it. And no, a nine inch pie does not fit in the toaster oven.
Add to this mix, some extra driving to pick up and deliver my son from college and you have the recipe for a neglected blog. When I first began posting, I told my dad I would never apologize for missing a day because it seems so lame to do so. I am now faced with a dilemma. I can't apologize for not having written since 2/4/11, but I want everyone to keep the faith. So, while there may now be fewer postings, I vow to make up for the deficit by delivering a better quality product.
Umm..... this is not an apology, though, just an explanation.
Copyright 2011 KKR
The last week presented some time management challenges to me. Of course there was the Super Bowl, which we will not talk about. In addition, on Super Bowl Sunday, the coil in my oven burned up and I am attempting to fix it myself. I have the part in hand and have been told that it is relatively easy to replace. (normally, a sure sign that you should call an expert) I keep forgetting that the oven is broken, though, and turn the burner on several times a day to heat up coffee water. I then yell at myself under my breath for forgetting. Last night I bought all the ingredients for chicken pot pie and then remembered that I had no way of baking it. And no, a nine inch pie does not fit in the toaster oven.
Add to this mix, some extra driving to pick up and deliver my son from college and you have the recipe for a neglected blog. When I first began posting, I told my dad I would never apologize for missing a day because it seems so lame to do so. I am now faced with a dilemma. I can't apologize for not having written since 2/4/11, but I want everyone to keep the faith. So, while there may now be fewer postings, I vow to make up for the deficit by delivering a better quality product.
Umm..... this is not an apology, though, just an explanation.
Copyright 2011 KKR
Friday, February 4, 2011
Adam and Eve
Ok, I'm going out on a politically incorrect limb here, but there is a fundamental difference between men and women. In fact, at times I wonder why men and women spend time together at all, because their styles of communicating couldn't be more incompatible.
Having raised 3 sons, like a suburban Jane Goodall, I've had the opportunity to live with and study the male of the species in its natural habitat for 28 years. Everyone talks about boys being more boisterous than girls, but the more striking difference is in how they communicate.
Women LOVE to talk. Men DO NOT. This probably causes as much conflict in a relationship as money. In what could prove to be a major breakthrough in couples counseling, it occurs to me that women should not feel slighted when the men in their lives don't listen. This behavior should be treated as we would any idiosyncrasy. Once we acknowledge that men have little control over it, then it's easier not to be offended by it.
"My husband doesn't listen to me!" becomes "oh, isn't that endearing, he's not listening again."
Observe men and women talking to each other sometime and notice their styles. First of all, a woman's story will generally take at least 10 minutes, but a man's "listening tolerance" only lasts for about 3. If the man happens to be watching television, then you must lower that tolerance to the length of a commercial.
When I have a "fun" story to tell one of my sons, I've learned to make sure they are willing to listen to the whole thing before I begin. It's helpful to prepare them for the length of time needed to stop what they are doing and feign interest. The only problem with this is that I am doing the women in their lives a great disservice, unless the women have been made aware of the policy and, more importantly, are willing to accept it.
In order to protect their identities, I will not reveal my source, but I know a man who actually begins to walk away during conversations with his wife. This is his nonverbal clue that he is done listening. While she could take this as a personal affront and even be tempted to force him to finish the "conversation", the more powerful option is to laugh it off, knowing that she inadvertently broke the 3 minute rule.
When my sons used to come home from friends' houses we would engage in conversations similar to the following:
Me: "So, "did John decide who he is taking to Homecoming?"
Son: "I don't know, we didn't talk about that".
Me: "Did you hear that Dan's family is going away for spring break?"
Son: "No, we didn't talk about that"
Me: "Do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Son:"Not yet........
On the flip side, I once gave a friend's daughter (in the same grade as my son) a ride home and I found out more information in that 10 minute ride than I had from my son in a month.
It's common knowledge that women thrive on communication, whereas men communicate through actions. I suspect that more serious discussions between men take place on the basketball court or golf course than anywhere else. Therefore, I'd like to suggest that whenever possible, women save lingering conversation for their female friends, but if they want to talk with their sons or significant others, they should join them in the driveway for a game of "Around the World".
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Having raised 3 sons, like a suburban Jane Goodall, I've had the opportunity to live with and study the male of the species in its natural habitat for 28 years. Everyone talks about boys being more boisterous than girls, but the more striking difference is in how they communicate.
Women LOVE to talk. Men DO NOT. This probably causes as much conflict in a relationship as money. In what could prove to be a major breakthrough in couples counseling, it occurs to me that women should not feel slighted when the men in their lives don't listen. This behavior should be treated as we would any idiosyncrasy. Once we acknowledge that men have little control over it, then it's easier not to be offended by it.
"My husband doesn't listen to me!" becomes "oh, isn't that endearing, he's not listening again."
Observe men and women talking to each other sometime and notice their styles. First of all, a woman's story will generally take at least 10 minutes, but a man's "listening tolerance" only lasts for about 3. If the man happens to be watching television, then you must lower that tolerance to the length of a commercial.
When I have a "fun" story to tell one of my sons, I've learned to make sure they are willing to listen to the whole thing before I begin. It's helpful to prepare them for the length of time needed to stop what they are doing and feign interest. The only problem with this is that I am doing the women in their lives a great disservice, unless the women have been made aware of the policy and, more importantly, are willing to accept it.
In order to protect their identities, I will not reveal my source, but I know a man who actually begins to walk away during conversations with his wife. This is his nonverbal clue that he is done listening. While she could take this as a personal affront and even be tempted to force him to finish the "conversation", the more powerful option is to laugh it off, knowing that she inadvertently broke the 3 minute rule.
When my sons used to come home from friends' houses we would engage in conversations similar to the following:
Me: "So, "did John decide who he is taking to Homecoming?"
Son: "I don't know, we didn't talk about that".
Me: "Did you hear that Dan's family is going away for spring break?"
Son: "No, we didn't talk about that"
Me: "Do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Son:"Not yet........
On the flip side, I once gave a friend's daughter (in the same grade as my son) a ride home and I found out more information in that 10 minute ride than I had from my son in a month.
It's common knowledge that women thrive on communication, whereas men communicate through actions. I suspect that more serious discussions between men take place on the basketball court or golf course than anywhere else. Therefore, I'd like to suggest that whenever possible, women save lingering conversation for their female friends, but if they want to talk with their sons or significant others, they should join them in the driveway for a game of "Around the World".
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Monday, January 31, 2011
computer glitch
More often than I care to admit, if I try to e-mail a picture to someone or recommend a web site I forget to attach the picture or include the link. I just did it again this morning! Usually the person receiving it is kind enough to blame their computer for not being able to open the attachment, even though I'm 98% sure they know whose fault it really is.
Scary things can happen in the fickle world of computers. (I know, computers can't be fickle, but humor me here.) One of the worst things I can think of is sending an e-mail to the wrong person. I've heard quite a few horror stories about this, ranging in gravity from catty gossip to job-ending e-mails to one's boss. The show Modern Family (Wednesday nights at 9:00p.m. EST) recently addressed this problem in classic Modern Family fashion; with utter hilarity.
The link below shows Gloria's reaction when she mistakenly sends a scathing message to her husband's grown daughter, Claire. It's not surprising to me that Gloria and Claire have a love/hate relationship, although it seems to be more love than hate.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
"The show revolves around three families that are interrelated through Jay Pritchett and his children, Claire Dunphy and Mitchell Pritchett. Jay Pritchett (Ed O'Neill), the patriarch, is currently in a May–December marriage with Gloria (Sofía Vergara), a passionate[21] mother, who with help from Jay raise their son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez II). Claire (Julie Bowen) is a homemaker mom married to Phil (Ty Burrell) a self-professed cool dad; they have three children: Hayley, the stereotypical teenager,[22] Alex, the smart middle child[23] and Luke, the offbeat only son.[24] Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and his partner Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) have adopted a Vietnamese baby"., Lily -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Family
Scary things can happen in the fickle world of computers. (I know, computers can't be fickle, but humor me here.) One of the worst things I can think of is sending an e-mail to the wrong person. I've heard quite a few horror stories about this, ranging in gravity from catty gossip to job-ending e-mails to one's boss. The show Modern Family (Wednesday nights at 9:00p.m. EST) recently addressed this problem in classic Modern Family fashion; with utter hilarity.
The link below shows Gloria's reaction when she mistakenly sends a scathing message to her husband's grown daughter, Claire. It's not surprising to me that Gloria and Claire have a love/hate relationship, although it seems to be more love than hate.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
For those of you who have yet to discover this amazing show, the following synopsis from Wikipedia explains the main characters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Family
Sunday, January 30, 2011
sometimes a song is all you need
enjoy this fun song and video....
"Fireflies" by Owl City - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO3gg2cVfxg
"Fireflies" by Owl City - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO3gg2cVfxg
Saturday, January 29, 2011
where is my dining room table?
Part I in a series on clutter......
As soon as I was old enough to walk, I realized how useful horizontal surfaces could be for storage of miscellaneous items. The floor was my first discovery. If you have a large toy box, it's very difficult to find the Barbie who has scheduled an appointment for a dramatic short haircut. However, if you dump the toys on the floor, they are all easily accessible. Taking the logical next step, I realized that putting the toys back is simply a waste of time if you plan to play with them again the next day. In case you suspect that I learned this behavior from my parents, you will be sorely mistaken. I grew up in a house that was always spotless and clutter free. I believe this behavior is not learned but possibly a genetic characteristic that skips a generation.
By the time I was in high school the increase in autonomy merely fueled my cluttering addiction. And, as long as I kept my door closed the clutter didn't affect the rest of the family. Ironically, my closet and drawers were the epitome of organization. Only the visible part of the room resembled the aftermath of a crime scene. A psychologist could probably have a field day with that.
For awhile, after I moved away from home, things got a bit better, but by the time my first son was born, the clutter returned with a vengeance. I had every new parent's built-in excuse of less time and more "stuff", and yet, against all evidence to the contrary, I assured anyone who would listen that I was on the verge of getting my act together.
The one thing that comforts me is that I am not alone. People have confessed to me that they struggle with the same horizontal surface dilemma, but no one can come up with a solution. I may have to clean the dining room table off periodically for family dinners, but slowly things begin to migrate back there. Yesterday's mail, a roll of duct tape, the camera, sunglasses, an Ipod, you name it. The allure of that huge empty space is just too much to bear.
It's my conclusion that we're approaching the problem from the wrong perspective. Maybe we should embrace the chaos instead of resisting it. It's not our fault anyway. Isn't this an example of a natural phenomenon called entropy?
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
"Good Intentions" - Toad The Wet Sprocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2Mz0G52Yg
As soon as I was old enough to walk, I realized how useful horizontal surfaces could be for storage of miscellaneous items. The floor was my first discovery. If you have a large toy box, it's very difficult to find the Barbie who has scheduled an appointment for a dramatic short haircut. However, if you dump the toys on the floor, they are all easily accessible. Taking the logical next step, I realized that putting the toys back is simply a waste of time if you plan to play with them again the next day. In case you suspect that I learned this behavior from my parents, you will be sorely mistaken. I grew up in a house that was always spotless and clutter free. I believe this behavior is not learned but possibly a genetic characteristic that skips a generation.
By the time I was in high school the increase in autonomy merely fueled my cluttering addiction. And, as long as I kept my door closed the clutter didn't affect the rest of the family. Ironically, my closet and drawers were the epitome of organization. Only the visible part of the room resembled the aftermath of a crime scene. A psychologist could probably have a field day with that.
For awhile, after I moved away from home, things got a bit better, but by the time my first son was born, the clutter returned with a vengeance. I had every new parent's built-in excuse of less time and more "stuff", and yet, against all evidence to the contrary, I assured anyone who would listen that I was on the verge of getting my act together.
The one thing that comforts me is that I am not alone. People have confessed to me that they struggle with the same horizontal surface dilemma, but no one can come up with a solution. I may have to clean the dining room table off periodically for family dinners, but slowly things begin to migrate back there. Yesterday's mail, a roll of duct tape, the camera, sunglasses, an Ipod, you name it. The allure of that huge empty space is just too much to bear.
It's my conclusion that we're approaching the problem from the wrong perspective. Maybe we should embrace the chaos instead of resisting it. It's not our fault anyway. Isn't this an example of a natural phenomenon called entropy?
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
"Good Intentions" - Toad The Wet Sprocket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT2Mz0G52Yg
Thursday, January 27, 2011
made in China
People often complain that everything is made in China, but I'm happy that my "Mini Bonsai Kit" was made there. And before you purists tell me that Bonsai is a Japanese tradition, according to Wikipedia, "similar practices exist in other cultures, including the Chinese tradition of penjing and the miniature living landscapes of Vietnamese hòn non bộ.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsai
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
memory issues
Since almost everyone I talk to these days complains that they have trouble remembering things, I have come up with a few helpful tricks. For those of you who are prone to leaving your grocery list on the kitchen counter, begin reciting the list as soon as you realize that you don't have it. For instance, the other day I needed coffee, juice, bananas and butter. Coffee, juice, bananas, butter...coffee, juice, bananas, butter. Luckily I didn't have to converse with anyone as I walked through the aisles and it worked like a charm. The only sticking point was that I picked up the things based on their location in the store, not the order in which I was reciting them. I had to keep looking in my basket to confirm what was already there. Actually, that's not sounding like such a good trick after all.
Many people have told me they've gone to get something from another room only to forget why they're there. This happens to me almost every time I go to the basement. Again, a variation on the above mentioned repetition is helpful. "I'm going downstairs for scissors, scissors, scissors." As long as you don't get distracted by putting a load of laundry in the dryer, you should be fine. Please don't ask why the kitchen scissors are downstairs. That's a topic for another day.
The last problem I'd like to address is forgetting someone's name. Volumes have been written about how to overcome this challenge, but here is my suggestion. You need to have a list of people whose names you routinely forget stored in your cell phone or in a tiny notepad that you won't leave on the kitchen counter. If, despite this precaution, you can't remember the name of the person coming your way, simply do the courageous thing and run as fast as you can in the other direction.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
"Forget About It" by Alison Krauss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMmpBsIzaB8
Many people have told me they've gone to get something from another room only to forget why they're there. This happens to me almost every time I go to the basement. Again, a variation on the above mentioned repetition is helpful. "I'm going downstairs for scissors, scissors, scissors." As long as you don't get distracted by putting a load of laundry in the dryer, you should be fine. Please don't ask why the kitchen scissors are downstairs. That's a topic for another day.
The last problem I'd like to address is forgetting someone's name. Volumes have been written about how to overcome this challenge, but here is my suggestion. You need to have a list of people whose names you routinely forget stored in your cell phone or in a tiny notepad that you won't leave on the kitchen counter. If, despite this precaution, you can't remember the name of the person coming your way, simply do the courageous thing and run as fast as you can in the other direction.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
"Forget About It" by Alison Krauss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMmpBsIzaB8
!!!!!!
I have always been a huge fan of the exclamation point. In e-mails particularly, I overuse them to the extent that I have to proofread before pressing "send" to remove the unnecessary ones. I laughed when I read a quote from the very helpful site eHow stating that "The often overused exclamation point can add punch to a sentence when used judiciously." Yeah, no kidding!! This is why I love the internet. You can find out ANYTHING there!
I realized the other day how powerful punctuation can be. I had just finished writing and noticed that after clicking PUBLISH POST it said "Your blog post published successfully!" That little exclamation mark made me feel so proud. "They're right, I DID just successfully publish my post!" I said to myself. It was so satisfying, like a virtual high five.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Enjoy the link below...
http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=exclamation+point&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=_xtATdSwDM_2gAfg_ZjtAg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CD0QsAQwAQ&biw=1323&bih=851
I realized the other day how powerful punctuation can be. I had just finished writing and noticed that after clicking PUBLISH POST it said "Your blog post published successfully!" That little exclamation mark made me feel so proud. "They're right, I DID just successfully publish my post!" I said to myself. It was so satisfying, like a virtual high five.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Enjoy the link below...
http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=exclamation+point&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=_xtATdSwDM_2gAfg_ZjtAg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CD0QsAQwAQ&biw=1323&bih=851
Monday, January 24, 2011
Here we go!
Just as they have championship hats at the ready for each team before their feet even touch the field, I tried to be mentally prepared for either outcome in Sunday's game. I can't tell you how happy I am to shout "Pittsburgh's goin' to the Super Bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
We may only take a couple of days to bask in the glow of victory and then it's time to get ready for the big game. The team knows what they have to do to prepare, and as fans, so do we. There are so many things to buy at full price.......Terrible Towels™, jerseys, flags, jewelry, and yard decor, inflatable and otherwise. Just pay a visit to the official Pittsburgh Steeler merchandise web site and click on "Novelties" in case you think you already have everything you could possible need. Do you have a Steeler Mr. Potato Head™, a Steeler shower curtain? How about Steeler salt and pepper shakers?
This is no time for complacency. I'm counting on each and every fan out there to give 110% in order to bring home a win! Here we go!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
We may only take a couple of days to bask in the glow of victory and then it's time to get ready for the big game. The team knows what they have to do to prepare, and as fans, so do we. There are so many things to buy at full price.......Terrible Towels™, jerseys, flags, jewelry, and yard decor, inflatable and otherwise. Just pay a visit to the official Pittsburgh Steeler merchandise web site and click on "Novelties" in case you think you already have everything you could possible need. Do you have a Steeler Mr. Potato Head™, a Steeler shower curtain? How about Steeler salt and pepper shakers?
This is no time for complacency. I'm counting on each and every fan out there to give 110% in order to bring home a win! Here we go!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
GO STEELERS!!!!!
You would have to be a hermit living in a cabin not to know that the Steelers play the NY Jets tonight in the AFC championship game. If you live within a 30 mile radius of Pittsburgh there is no escaping this fact because the whole town turns black and gold. The thing is, this is not just a play-off state of mind. Sure, the excitement amps up during the play-offs, but you will encounter this phenomenon on any game day throughout the season.
Although the grocery store and parking lot will be inundated with people buying party food for the game, I must venture out for the coffee that I am addicted to. Nearly every person there will be wearing Steeler gear and displaying their paraphernalia. There will be little flags flying from car windows or decals on the bumpers. All of the store employees will be wearing jerseys and 9 out of 10 customers will be similarly attired. There will be couples of all ages holding hands, babies in strollers, and teenagers each wearing something to show their devotion. I once saw a young couple shopping for a Steeler shirt for the 1½-year-old that they had in tow. They obviously knew that children need to be taught the important things as early as possible. Someone from a less rabid football town might walk around bewildered at the sight. The allegiance to our team bridges every barrier; politics, race, age, gender, religion, EVERYTHING.
There will be an ocean of tailgates in the stadium parking lot today no matter how cold it is. Bars will be packed and there will be parties at people's houses where more flags will fly. Plug "Steeler songs" into your computer's search bar and you will find 13,900 listings for Steeler fight songs, 5430 listings on YouTube.
I've always known that the "Steeler Nation" extends across the country. There are Steeler bars in many cities for those displaced from their homeland either by choice or necessity. However, I was amazed to find out from my son, who had the great fortune to travel with a friend to the Bahamas this year, that the small island they stayed on was full of Steeler fans!
This got me thinking about the idea of "belonging". We start out as part of a family and then, as we go through life, we become part of larger spheres through church, teams, clubs, colleges, and companies. I'm proud to be part of the Steeler family.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
I have to go with two songs today-how could I possibly choose just one?
"Here We Go Steelers 2010" -
1978 Steelers Fight Song by Jimmy Pol
Saturday, January 22, 2011
the scariest words in the English language
"What's for dinner, Mom?" Let's face it, I am a pretty bad cook. My family is well aware of this fact, as are all of my friends. There is not one aspect of the process that I enjoy. First of all, I'm not known for planning ahead, which is integral to success in cooking. Most of my friends are great cooks and they plan their meals ahead, sometimes days in advance. I guarantee that if I call one of them around 4:00 p.m. on any given day they will be starting to cook dinner. They know you can't start most recipes at 5:25 when your family will be hungry by 6:00.
Another hurdle, grocery shopping, is something best avoided until almost everything is gone, including two of the most important food groups, peanut butter and ketchup.
Once I have some ingredients to work with, I only have 3 or 4 "go to" meals. These include spaghetti, "Old El Paso Gorditas", chili, steaks on the grill (no matter what the thermometer says) and the recently added chicken parmesan.
The funny thing is, when I begin cooking, the thought occurs to me that "this isn't so bad after all". However, you can't rest on the laurels of a single meal. This cooking thing has to happen every day! As for my expertise in the kitchen, I suffer from extreme anxiety. My sons really like the new chicken parmesan recipe, but browning the breaded chicken is always a crap shoot. Will it burn this time, or worse, will I not cook it long enough and thus poison my whole family?
The endearing thing is that my sons continue to give me the benefit of the doubt by asking "what's for dinner, Mom?", perhaps hoping that the answer will be chicken parmesan!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Another hurdle, grocery shopping, is something best avoided until almost everything is gone, including two of the most important food groups, peanut butter and ketchup.
Once I have some ingredients to work with, I only have 3 or 4 "go to" meals. These include spaghetti, "Old El Paso Gorditas", chili, steaks on the grill (no matter what the thermometer says) and the recently added chicken parmesan.
The funny thing is, when I begin cooking, the thought occurs to me that "this isn't so bad after all". However, you can't rest on the laurels of a single meal. This cooking thing has to happen every day! As for my expertise in the kitchen, I suffer from extreme anxiety. My sons really like the new chicken parmesan recipe, but browning the breaded chicken is always a crap shoot. Will it burn this time, or worse, will I not cook it long enough and thus poison my whole family?
The endearing thing is that my sons continue to give me the benefit of the doubt by asking "what's for dinner, Mom?", perhaps hoping that the answer will be chicken parmesan!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Friday, January 21, 2011
SNOW DAY!!!!!!
No matter how old I am, I always feel like a kid on a "snow day" when waking up to a driveway completely hidden beneath several inches of snow. Of course if you have to shovel out to go to work it lessons the excitement, but if you're like me it may be the only exercise you get. Instead of cursing the shovel as it gets caught in every crack, grab a handful of really clean-looking snow and taste a little of it (acid snow be damned). While it melts on your tongue you will recapture the memories of snow days, sledding and hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows. Going out to shovel!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
song for today- "Crash Years" by The New Pornographers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZANuDcRO4
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
song for today- "Crash Years" by The New Pornographers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZANuDcRO4
Thursday, January 20, 2011
scattered thoughts
You know how you lie in bed sometimes and thoughts pop into your head? Well, in no particular order, these are the thoughts that made their way into my head last night........ in this unstable economy, why are there so many mattress stores per capita?.......I wonder if Jesus would have been a proponent of universal healthcare....I'm so excited that there's a Target coming to my neighborhood....did I set my alarm?
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I missed an appointment today.
I finally went back to my contractor helper's job today after a month off. The change in routine really threw me. I was 7 minutes late and forgot to take my tool belt, goggles and gloves which I needed for my most favorite of tasks, demolition. Luckily, my boss doesn't mind loaning me the necessary equipment. I'm happy to report that the demo of a wall that had suffered water damage from a burst pipe went smoothly.
When I got home, one of the messages on my answering machine was from a doctor's office wondering if I'd like to reschedule the appointment I had missed. Ugh!! You see one of my organizational shortcomings is that I never write things on my calendar. I just try to keep them in my head, or write the information on whatever loose envelope happens to be laying on the kitchen counter. Obviously, this method has it's drawbacks. I called the office expecting to be met with a chilly reception and possibly even the expectation that I would pay for the missed appointment. The woman who answered couldn't have been nicer and she commiserated with my ramblings about just not being able to get my act together since the new year began. After assuring her that I would not forget it a second time, I hung up thinking how differently I would have felt if she had been a jerk. She had the power to either make my day or ruin it and she chose the former. So thank you, (nice person whose name I forgot to ask), and I will try to "pay it forward".
I'm sure you are all waiting with bated breath to see if I finished the FAFSA form yesterday and the answer is a resounding and frustrated NO. When I went to the site, I was informed that my browsers were either not compatible or not updated. I then tried to update them to no avail. This is where computers and I just don't see eye to eye. I follow the prompts and things happen, like downloads or uploads or whatever, but the initial problem still remains. I'm still hoping the whole thing will magically resolve itself, but I think the FAFSA deadline is in February, so I can safely put that off until the night before it's due.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Song for today - "I Got You" by Split Enz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv6oOxn1axw
When I got home, one of the messages on my answering machine was from a doctor's office wondering if I'd like to reschedule the appointment I had missed. Ugh!! You see one of my organizational shortcomings is that I never write things on my calendar. I just try to keep them in my head, or write the information on whatever loose envelope happens to be laying on the kitchen counter. Obviously, this method has it's drawbacks. I called the office expecting to be met with a chilly reception and possibly even the expectation that I would pay for the missed appointment. The woman who answered couldn't have been nicer and she commiserated with my ramblings about just not being able to get my act together since the new year began. After assuring her that I would not forget it a second time, I hung up thinking how differently I would have felt if she had been a jerk. She had the power to either make my day or ruin it and she chose the former. So thank you, (nice person whose name I forgot to ask), and I will try to "pay it forward".
I'm sure you are all waiting with bated breath to see if I finished the FAFSA form yesterday and the answer is a resounding and frustrated NO. When I went to the site, I was informed that my browsers were either not compatible or not updated. I then tried to update them to no avail. This is where computers and I just don't see eye to eye. I follow the prompts and things happen, like downloads or uploads or whatever, but the initial problem still remains. I'm still hoping the whole thing will magically resolve itself, but I think the FAFSA deadline is in February, so I can safely put that off until the night before it's due.
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Song for today - "I Got You" by Split Enz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv6oOxn1axw
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
FAFSA hell
It's that time again, tax season, Valentine's day, and time to fill out the dreaded FAFSA form. For the uninitiated, FAFSA stands for Free Application For Student Aid. College students must fill it out each year in order to apply for financial aid. They even have seminars at high schools to help first timers negotiate their way through the process, and thankfully, it's less complicated than it was 10 years ago.
Anyway, I've been avoiding filling out the form for days now. (For anyone thinking that my son should be doing it instead of me, see my post from yesterday.) Actually, he would be happy to do it, but that would involve gathering all the pertinent information for him in some intelligible form and by then the deadline would be long gone. Organization is not my strong suit.
Writing this post, however, is giving me sweet respite from the task for just a few more minutes. I think many people suffer from avoidance of things like this, so I take comfort in this knowledge. I could really use a personal assistant to keep me in line, but that's a luxury I can't justify since I am only marginally employed as a contractor's helper.
Hmm......... I guess I have to go to the FAFSA web site now. Wish me luck!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Oh, one more thing; a nice song for you called "Gentle Arms of Eden" by Dave Carter
and Tracy Grammer ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejon5osePqU
Anyway, I've been avoiding filling out the form for days now. (For anyone thinking that my son should be doing it instead of me, see my post from yesterday.) Actually, he would be happy to do it, but that would involve gathering all the pertinent information for him in some intelligible form and by then the deadline would be long gone. Organization is not my strong suit.
Writing this post, however, is giving me sweet respite from the task for just a few more minutes. I think many people suffer from avoidance of things like this, so I take comfort in this knowledge. I could really use a personal assistant to keep me in line, but that's a luxury I can't justify since I am only marginally employed as a contractor's helper.
Hmm......... I guess I have to go to the FAFSA web site now. Wish me luck!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
Oh, one more thing; a nice song for you called "Gentle Arms of Eden" by Dave Carter
and Tracy Grammer ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejon5osePqU
Monday, January 17, 2011
The universe of the 3-year-old
Well, it didn't take long to see an example of parenting gone awry. At our local home improvement store this evening I saw a poor man pleading with his 3-year-old to "go pay for our things". The child was sitting on the floor in front of the plumbing aisle and he looked pretty comfortable and not at all in a hurry. As I walked past, I heard the dad calmly say again "let's go pay for our things, O.K.? Don't you want to go pay for our things?.... PLEASE????" I'm sorry to say that this pathetic scene is repeated many times each day across our great nation. And, I think it's time to spread the word to all young parents that they have the right, if not the duty, to take back their lives.
I was dying to see what tactic the dad would resort to in order to encourage his son to comply, be it the classic bribery of ice cream/ extra TV time/ latest popular action figure, or the empty threats of NO ice cream/ TV time/ latest popular action figure. However, not wanting to embarrass the man and possibly risk an escalation of the stand-off, I walked discreetly away toward the back of the store. I spent about 7 minutes looking around, but just had to see if they were still there. Much to my relief, they were nowhere in sight upon my return. My only regret is that the means by which the toddler was convinced to leave will forever remain a mystery.
Believe me, I can empathize with parents hoping to avoid a "scene" while out in public. However, I think there is nearly universal agreement among professionals that children of all ages need limits to be healthy and happy. So, "PLEASE!!!!!" all young parents out there, give your children the best parenting in the world by letting them know you're in charge. One or two "scenes" could be infinitely preferable to a lifetime of caving in to your child's whims. In fact, if you give your child healthy limits from birth, you may not have to worry about a "scene" at all!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
I was dying to see what tactic the dad would resort to in order to encourage his son to comply, be it the classic bribery of ice cream/ extra TV time/ latest popular action figure, or the empty threats of NO ice cream/ TV time/ latest popular action figure. However, not wanting to embarrass the man and possibly risk an escalation of the stand-off, I walked discreetly away toward the back of the store. I spent about 7 minutes looking around, but just had to see if they were still there. Much to my relief, they were nowhere in sight upon my return. My only regret is that the means by which the toddler was convinced to leave will forever remain a mystery.
Believe me, I can empathize with parents hoping to avoid a "scene" while out in public. However, I think there is nearly universal agreement among professionals that children of all ages need limits to be healthy and happy. So, "PLEASE!!!!!" all young parents out there, give your children the best parenting in the world by letting them know you're in charge. One or two "scenes" could be infinitely preferable to a lifetime of caving in to your child's whims. In fact, if you give your child healthy limits from birth, you may not have to worry about a "scene" at all!
Copyright 2011 K.K.R.
I'll get to that right after I.......
I have opinions about everything, but not everyone is as interested in what I have to say as I think they should be. So I said to myself, why not share my thoughts with a broader base and maybe one or two people will be amused or at least temporarily relieved of boredom? Knowing that one should be passionate about one's blog, I thought about my interests, but couldn't zero in on one topic. Consequently, you will find everything here. Rants about clutter, politics, environmental issues, or really stupid commercials. As the mother of 3 grown boys, I will surely give advice (that I should have followed) on parenting. You see, at age 53, I am an "expert-through-hindsight" on just about everything. Although it was purely by chance, I am pleased to have started writing on the day dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., whose message of tolerance and non-violence continues to be relevant. That's enough for my first time out. Hopefully some of my meanderings will strike a chord.
As often as possible I would like to share a favorite song with you..... below you'll find the link for "Big Wheel" by Tori Amos I read that this video was the winner of a "green-screen contest" Tori Amos held in May of 2007
Copyright 2011 K.K. R.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpRlPyfLaU&feature=related
As often as possible I would like to share a favorite song with you..... below you'll find the link for "Big Wheel" by Tori Amos I read that this video was the winner of a "green-screen contest" Tori Amos held in May of 2007
Copyright 2011 K.K. R.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpRlPyfLaU&feature=related
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)