Sunday, November 22, 2009
What's Happening
Christmas Show--
Last year the kids, my mom, my friend Lisa (notice she pops up a lot on this here blog) and I went to teh Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Lisa loved it. I hate that shit, but the kids also love it. They cut the ticket price in half last year, which was great.
This year, they didn't. They knocked down the price of the Orchestra seats, but it was still more expensive than the 3rd mezzanine. The kids kept asking to go and I was feeling guilty, despite the fact that we are going to see a Christmas adaptation of Bambi (ie. no fire or gun or mommy-death), the Nutcracker (which I LOVE) and A Christmas Carol (play, not the movie). I'm an asshole when it comes to mommy-guilt, so I broke down and decided to spend the gazillion dollars on the Christmas Spectacular. The worst seats were $45 each. Then...they added over $10 per seat as a service charge. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! The tickets are right from their box office, so someone explain to me the service charge. On principle we are now not going and the kids will more than survive.
Confession--
I hate pantyhose, stocking, tights of any kind. That's why I own several pairs of high boots. I don't mind wearing skirts or dresses, so I always go bear-legged with high boots in the fall and winter. I have to shave a little more often. It's worth the pay-off.
BlogHer 2010--
I'm going next summer. It's in New York and my brother lives a few miles from Manhatten. It's one simple Path Train ride from his Condo, and I've invited myself to stay there. Isn't that nice of me?
Me Time--
Last year I was so good about planning time for myself away from the kids. Once a month I assigned a friend to me. This year I haven't had adult fun since I went to Las Vegas in August (with Lisa, again).
Christmas Shopping--
It's done. I can't even entertain going to a mall after Thanksgiving, so every year I get it done early.
My Blog--
I had to change the password on my blog because there was "suspicious activity" whatever that means. Who was trying to hack into my blog?
Book Club--
I started a book club at work. Our first book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. I no absolutely nothing about this book, but it was the selection for One Book NJ 2010, so I thought this would be a good starting point.
Health--
I have a urninary tract infection. Is that too much information? It is, isn't it? Too bad. They suck.
New School--
I've said it before, but I LOVE the new school I have my kids in. When I took Ava to the hospice social worker, she said she heard good things about their school. I told her everything she heard is true. Holding Aidan back from kindergarten this year is also paying off. It's truly what he needed.
What I'm Reading--
I finished the Red Tent, excellent read. I started Made in America by Bill Bryson. I love Bill Bryson,, but this book is just not holding my attention. I'm reading a biography of Idi Amin (my post-colonial Africa fixation), Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (just as good as Outliers), and, of course, the above-mentioned book for my book club.
Funny Story--
Ava just loves this nice man from our Fellowhship. She always wants us to sit with him and she talks his ear off. She told him once that she wished he were her daddy because her daddy died. She's also asked me why he can't be her daddy. He gets a huge kick out of her, too. Last Sunday, his daughter (his 30-something daughter) was visiting and came to services with him. Ava was so jealous she wouldn't talk to him. It was hilarious. He, his daughter, and I couldn't stop laughing.
Award--
I got this from Maureen at Island Roar:
Last year the kids, my mom, my friend Lisa (notice she pops up a lot on this here blog) and I went to teh Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Lisa loved it. I hate that shit, but the kids also love it. They cut the ticket price in half last year, which was great.
This year, they didn't. They knocked down the price of the Orchestra seats, but it was still more expensive than the 3rd mezzanine. The kids kept asking to go and I was feeling guilty, despite the fact that we are going to see a Christmas adaptation of Bambi (ie. no fire or gun or mommy-death), the Nutcracker (which I LOVE) and A Christmas Carol (play, not the movie). I'm an asshole when it comes to mommy-guilt, so I broke down and decided to spend the gazillion dollars on the Christmas Spectacular. The worst seats were $45 each. Then...they added over $10 per seat as a service charge. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! The tickets are right from their box office, so someone explain to me the service charge. On principle we are now not going and the kids will more than survive.
Confession--
I hate pantyhose, stocking, tights of any kind. That's why I own several pairs of high boots. I don't mind wearing skirts or dresses, so I always go bear-legged with high boots in the fall and winter. I have to shave a little more often. It's worth the pay-off.
BlogHer 2010--
I'm going next summer. It's in New York and my brother lives a few miles from Manhatten. It's one simple Path Train ride from his Condo, and I've invited myself to stay there. Isn't that nice of me?
Me Time--
Last year I was so good about planning time for myself away from the kids. Once a month I assigned a friend to me. This year I haven't had adult fun since I went to Las Vegas in August (with Lisa, again).
Christmas Shopping--
It's done. I can't even entertain going to a mall after Thanksgiving, so every year I get it done early.
My Blog--
I had to change the password on my blog because there was "suspicious activity" whatever that means. Who was trying to hack into my blog?
Book Club--
I started a book club at work. Our first book is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon. I no absolutely nothing about this book, but it was the selection for One Book NJ 2010, so I thought this would be a good starting point.
Health--
I have a urninary tract infection. Is that too much information? It is, isn't it? Too bad. They suck.
New School--
I've said it before, but I LOVE the new school I have my kids in. When I took Ava to the hospice social worker, she said she heard good things about their school. I told her everything she heard is true. Holding Aidan back from kindergarten this year is also paying off. It's truly what he needed.
What I'm Reading--
I finished the Red Tent, excellent read. I started Made in America by Bill Bryson. I love Bill Bryson,, but this book is just not holding my attention. I'm reading a biography of Idi Amin (my post-colonial Africa fixation), Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (just as good as Outliers), and, of course, the above-mentioned book for my book club.
Funny Story--
Ava just loves this nice man from our Fellowhship. She always wants us to sit with him and she talks his ear off. She told him once that she wished he were her daddy because her daddy died. She's also asked me why he can't be her daddy. He gets a huge kick out of her, too. Last Sunday, his daughter (his 30-something daughter) was visiting and came to services with him. Ava was so jealous she wouldn't talk to him. It was hilarious. He, his daughter, and I couldn't stop laughing.
Award--
I got this from Maureen at Island Roar:
I need to pass it along to someone else, so it goes to Kim at Yellow Trash Diaries. She ALWAYS makes me laugh.
Labels: Life
Saturday, November 21, 2009
More Facebook Stuff
Don't get me wrong. I like Facebook. I've reconnected with old friends from high school and college and it's been great. But the key word is "friends". I haven't gone randomly poking anyone I ever said "hi" to. I'm pretty discerning with friend requests and who I friend. I've had people I don't know friend request me. WTF? For some people, though, it seems to be a popularity contest. It's all about the numbers--kind of like having a wedding and inviting 300 people. No one really "knows" 300 people.
Then I had to "unfriend" someone...not because I don't like her. I like her a lot. We work together, have gone out with our kids together. I had to unfriend her because a virus was being sent through her profile to all her Facebook friends. Thankfully, I never opened it, but this is the second virus that has gone around since I joined Facebook in the summer.
I have another friend that is now in the midst of a family feud because of Facebook. It seems a family member, who is one of those people who is all about the numbers and has like 500 "friends" kept posting pictures of my friend's kids. She as asked to stop and didn't. I'm sorry, but that is waaayyy overstepping your bounds, posting pictures of someone else's child on your wall. I'd be pissed, too.
It's not Facebook that's the problem, it's just some of the idiots that use Facebook.
Then I had to "unfriend" someone...not because I don't like her. I like her a lot. We work together, have gone out with our kids together. I had to unfriend her because a virus was being sent through her profile to all her Facebook friends. Thankfully, I never opened it, but this is the second virus that has gone around since I joined Facebook in the summer.
I have another friend that is now in the midst of a family feud because of Facebook. It seems a family member, who is one of those people who is all about the numbers and has like 500 "friends" kept posting pictures of my friend's kids. She as asked to stop and didn't. I'm sorry, but that is waaayyy overstepping your bounds, posting pictures of someone else's child on your wall. I'd be pissed, too.
It's not Facebook that's the problem, it's just some of the idiots that use Facebook.
Labels: Life
Friday, November 20, 2009
There Is Hope for the Future
I hear people complain all the time about kids today. I hear a lot of thoughts and observations that can be summed up in the following quote:
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt forauthority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in placeof exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of theirhouseholds. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up daintiesat the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
Funny thing is, that quote was from Socrates, around 400 B.C.
What I witnessed today, however should dispel those beliefs. We are running a food drive at our school. Today, my homeroom alone brought in almost 250 food items for the drive and collected almost $60--all of the money was their own, not their parents'. One student's parents told him they would match whatever he chose to donate (and what a wonderful lesson and example that is).
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt forauthority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in placeof exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of theirhouseholds. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up daintiesat the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
Funny thing is, that quote was from Socrates, around 400 B.C.
What I witnessed today, however should dispel those beliefs. We are running a food drive at our school. Today, my homeroom alone brought in almost 250 food items for the drive and collected almost $60--all of the money was their own, not their parents'. One student's parents told him they would match whatever he chose to donate (and what a wonderful lesson and example that is).
Labels: Life
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Recipe of the Week
I have decided to add a "Recipe of the Week" feature to my blog. This is a recipe that was passed around work and I have no idea who the originator was or I would give him or her credit. This is good if you like spicy food (which I do):
Chicken Taco Meat
Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 onion finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspons cumin
1/2 teaspon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
(mix chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper together)
Put the chopped onion in the bottom of a crock pot. Add 1/2 of the chili powder, etc. mixture on top of the onion. Place the chicken breasts on top of this. Sprinkle the rest of the mixture on top of the chicken. Add the chicken broth. Cover and cook on "low" for 4- 5 hours. When it's done the chicken will shred.
I make this almost once a week and just heat up some shells and garnish with black olives and tomatoes. You can also add shredded cheese, taco sauce or whatever else you use on your tacos. This is also good in a taco salad.
Chicken Taco Meat
Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 onion finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspons cumin
1/2 teaspon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
(mix chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper together)
Put the chopped onion in the bottom of a crock pot. Add 1/2 of the chili powder, etc. mixture on top of the onion. Place the chicken breasts on top of this. Sprinkle the rest of the mixture on top of the chicken. Add the chicken broth. Cover and cook on "low" for 4- 5 hours. When it's done the chicken will shred.
I make this almost once a week and just heat up some shells and garnish with black olives and tomatoes. You can also add shredded cheese, taco sauce or whatever else you use on your tacos. This is also good in a taco salad.
Labels: Life
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Mammograms at 50: A Female Doctor Speaks Out
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There is no pressure for finding gifts or shopping and it's all about the food. It helps that I LOVE turkey (what the hell do vegans and vegetarians do on Thankgiving?), along with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and I usually squeeze in a non-starchy vegetable just for good measure.
Then there's desser, apple pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate cream pie, ice cream--and of course I have to try a "little bit" of each dessert.
We ususally eat early (around 1), so around 5 or 6 pm is round 2 of all the above-mentioned food. That's why I need a pair of these:
My youngest brother and his girl-friend are hosting their first Thanksgiving this year. My other brother gave him very sound advice: Keep a bunch of frozen pizzas in your freezer just in case.
Labels: Life
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
House Episode 7
House gets to treat a porn star this week! The symptom that gets him admitted to Princeton Plainsboro Hospital is sensitivity to light. Hey, I have a splinter on my index finger, can I get admitted, too?
So House and stupid Foreman are arguing over which case to take, the porn star or a sick baby, and you know House wants to treat the porn star, but Foreman is still in charge. Oh, wait, Cuddy walks in, in her best stylish hooker clothing, and hands House an envelope containing his medical license. Ha! Ha! Forman, you suck. You ruined your relationship with Thirteen to take charge and now you have no relationship AND you're not in charge anymore.
Then Chase and Cameron walk in and quit. Cameron has decided they need a fresh start being that her husband is a murderer and all, and Chase has no balls, so he will do whatever she says. House decides to go visit Taub and get his opinion and try to woo him back and Foreman preys on Chase's guilt to get him and Cameron to help him with the case before they leave.
I like Taub. He is the only person who stood up to House and he's actually a decent doctor. I hope he comes back. He offers House some insight into the case and then locks House out of his office.
Next we see House running the case by someone else and oh Jesus Christ Mary and Joseph it's fucking Thirteen and I scream louder than I did earlier in the evening when I heard little footsteps creeping up behind me and thought it was my 5-year-old sneaking out of bed in his feetie jammies, only to turn around and find a full-grown 38-year-old man standing in my kitchen (it was my brother, but boy did he scare the shit out of me). Why couldn't someone have approached Thirteen at the airport when she went to Thailand and asked her to carry a package for him and then get searched and have it be drugs and spend the rest of her life in a Thai prison like in that Claire Danes movie?
Back at the land of misdiagnosis, Cameron gets all judgemental on Mr. Porn and his porn-star wife and geez, Cameron, is doing porn really worse than murdering someone and you're a doctor, try to show some objectivity.
The patient gets a nose bleed and then they see his legs are bleeding under the skin. Oh hell, things just get worse and worse for this poor bastard until they decide it's lymphoma--shocking, they went with lymphoma. Later, when it turns out lymphoma is wrong (yeah, this show is just so unpredictable), they go with Leukemia. Well, at least they skipped lupus and sarcoidoma.
Then we see Cuddy with her new boyfriend, Lucas the private investigator and she might as well just date House because the guy is very Houseque.
And off the subject a bit here, but how pissed must Foreman be at Chase? He finally, in seven seasons, diagnosed someone right and Chase goes and kills him anyway, and now he can't tell anyone he got one right.
Eventually, Taub and Thirteen solve the case and ask for their jobs back. So does Chase, without Cameron (yay!) because he finally grew a set of balls.
Cameron is gone and can I just see this girl has serious intimacy issues. Let's review. She fell in love and married a man she knew was terminally ill. Then she fell in love with House and talk about a guy who is emotionally unavailable and never going to make relationship work (and kudos to Cuddy for knowing that). Then, when she finally finds an emotionally available man who is not going to die, she leaves him because he killed one of the most horrible men in the world.
Maybe now that all that's over, Chase will wash his hair.
Good news--no more annoying Cameron.
Bad news--more annoying Thirteen.
So House and stupid Foreman are arguing over which case to take, the porn star or a sick baby, and you know House wants to treat the porn star, but Foreman is still in charge. Oh, wait, Cuddy walks in, in her best stylish hooker clothing, and hands House an envelope containing his medical license. Ha! Ha! Forman, you suck. You ruined your relationship with Thirteen to take charge and now you have no relationship AND you're not in charge anymore.
Then Chase and Cameron walk in and quit. Cameron has decided they need a fresh start being that her husband is a murderer and all, and Chase has no balls, so he will do whatever she says. House decides to go visit Taub and get his opinion and try to woo him back and Foreman preys on Chase's guilt to get him and Cameron to help him with the case before they leave.
I like Taub. He is the only person who stood up to House and he's actually a decent doctor. I hope he comes back. He offers House some insight into the case and then locks House out of his office.
Next we see House running the case by someone else and oh Jesus Christ Mary and Joseph it's fucking Thirteen and I scream louder than I did earlier in the evening when I heard little footsteps creeping up behind me and thought it was my 5-year-old sneaking out of bed in his feetie jammies, only to turn around and find a full-grown 38-year-old man standing in my kitchen (it was my brother, but boy did he scare the shit out of me). Why couldn't someone have approached Thirteen at the airport when she went to Thailand and asked her to carry a package for him and then get searched and have it be drugs and spend the rest of her life in a Thai prison like in that Claire Danes movie?
Back at the land of misdiagnosis, Cameron gets all judgemental on Mr. Porn and his porn-star wife and geez, Cameron, is doing porn really worse than murdering someone and you're a doctor, try to show some objectivity.
The patient gets a nose bleed and then they see his legs are bleeding under the skin. Oh hell, things just get worse and worse for this poor bastard until they decide it's lymphoma--shocking, they went with lymphoma. Later, when it turns out lymphoma is wrong (yeah, this show is just so unpredictable), they go with Leukemia. Well, at least they skipped lupus and sarcoidoma.
Then we see Cuddy with her new boyfriend, Lucas the private investigator and she might as well just date House because the guy is very Houseque.
And off the subject a bit here, but how pissed must Foreman be at Chase? He finally, in seven seasons, diagnosed someone right and Chase goes and kills him anyway, and now he can't tell anyone he got one right.
Eventually, Taub and Thirteen solve the case and ask for their jobs back. So does Chase, without Cameron (yay!) because he finally grew a set of balls.
Cameron is gone and can I just see this girl has serious intimacy issues. Let's review. She fell in love and married a man she knew was terminally ill. Then she fell in love with House and talk about a guy who is emotionally unavailable and never going to make relationship work (and kudos to Cuddy for knowing that). Then, when she finally finds an emotionally available man who is not going to die, she leaves him because he killed one of the most horrible men in the world.
Maybe now that all that's over, Chase will wash his hair.
Good news--no more annoying Cameron.
Bad news--more annoying Thirteen.
Aidan's Third Birthday