What Do Cars Eat?

I picked up Will at daycare this afternoon, and told him that we had to stop at the gas station on the way home. My car was running on fumes! Lately his favorite question is "What Happened??" He asked as soon as we pulled up to the pump and I told him that the car was hungry.

His response? "Car hungry?? I know! A burger and milk!"

Mmmm........I'm sure my car would love a cheeseburger and a big glass of ice-cold milk. I know I would!

Quick Random Thoughts for a Saturday

--I suppose I should spend some time outside today since it's beautiful out. Instead, I decided to cook a bunch of stuff, including putting together an egg and potato strata for tomorrow's breakfast. And printing out a recipe for sweet potato mini-muffins. Am I crazy? Yes!

--Seeing pictures of Baby Nolan makes me so happy......and make me yearn for another little bundle of joy in our lives. Maybe now that all of the medical mystery saga appears to be over, we can move on to that! :)

--Wow, is the kitchen a mess!

--I wonder how much time it will take to get blueberry applesauce out of the light blue carpet. Nevermind, I don't want to think about that!

--Brian and Kim's wedding is less than a month away! Tonight is Brian's bachelor party. Hope all goes well. (and nothing too crazy transpires!)

"The Wednesday Letters" and Deja Vu

I brought home a nice little bag of books from the library the other day, among them is a book called "The Wednesday Letters" by Jason F. Wright. I'm almost finished with it, and it's a really capturing story. Jack and Laurel have been married for many years and own a bed-and-breakfast., Jack is dying of brain cancer, but it is Laurel who surprisingly dies first. Jack succumbs to his cancer the same night, and the two are found the next day, in each other's arms. As their children are planning the funeral arrangements, they discover that their father, for the past fifty-plus years, has written their mother a letter every Wednesday. Upon poring over the letters, some surprises spring up and nothing is as it seems. I hope to finish this tonight, it's really, really good!

Here's the deja vu part: I was perusing the local paper this morning. I've started reading the paper because I like to know what's going on in the City, especially in the neighborhood where I work. And, since I am my mother's daughter, I read the obituaries. (Mom taught me the importance of this!) This morning's were particularly sad, as there was a husband and wife listed with the same funeral information. I did a double-take at first, but after carefully reading them it is definitely husband and wife. I couldn't help but think that Worcester County may have their own Jack and Laurel story, and feel bad for their children, who are mourning both their parents at the same time. My heart goes out to them.

I'm Not Above Bribery...

Will's taken to throwing a fit when it's time to head out the door in the morning so Mommy can drop him off at "Auntie's." (i.e. daycare) He loves it there once he's playing with Thomas the Tank Engine and having a snack, and most nights he doesn't want me to take him home and throws another fit. This morning, however, was a bona fide meltdown!! It was already 9am, the time that I'm supposed to be at my desk, and instead I'm fighting with a toddler who refuses to stand up and put on his jacket. I'm also in a skirt and heels....not exactly wrestling attire.

So what did it take? A promise of "m-nums" (M&M's) if he got in the car. It was like turning a switch: the crying stopped, a smile appeared and he willingly stood up and let me put on his jacket. As much as I was happy that I didn't have to get down on the floor and carry him, kicking and screaming to the car, I hope I haven't started a trend!! I'll have the "m-num monster" on my hands!

Save The Libraries!

There are some things that you think will always be there.....and you take them for granted. That is, until they're threatened to no longer exist....

I found out recently that due to the economy and current budget plan for Fiscal Year 2010, my town's public library is going to cut it's services drastically. The library will only be open 30 hours per week, pare down on staffing, and eliminate computer programs, summer reading groups, story hours and activities. Also, due to the budget cuts, the library will lose it's state and national accreditations, and residents of our town will no longer be able to participate in the inter-libary loan program. The literature on the library's website said that "these changes will set the library back decades. It will become the library of the 1900's." And it's not just our town's library....other surrounding towns are severely cutting back their services and hours, merging with other towns or simply closing its doors.

I am so saddened by this news! I have always loved going to the library, ever since I got my first library card at six years old. I love books and the library allows me to read many more than I could possibly afford every year. The library has been a big part ofmy life, and I've worked to make both reading and the library a big part of my family's life as well. If I didn't work full-time, I would take Will to more activities at the local libraries in the area. They are a great place for free information, instruction, and of course, books! And not just books.....these days libraries carry movies, CD's, artwork.....my library even has Wii games. It's a shame to see this resource dwindling.

After reading all about the proposed budget cuts, I did the only thing I could think of that I could possibly help out: I wrote a check to the library. Just a little something to help this wonderful place keep going. I just can't believe that it's come to this. I hope that I could make a little bit of a difference.

Wordless Wednesday: Lookin' Sharp

Give Peas a Chance

Today is Patriot's Day in Massachusetts, also known as "Marathon Monday" for the Boston Marathon. I'm a lucky duck that gets the day off. I haven't been to the marathon, since I was a girl, when my dad would round us up in the car and go to Framingham to hand out water and orange slices to the runners.

Instead of taking Will (by myself, since Daddy is working today) to the Marathon, we went to an Earth Day-themed playdate at my friend Ro's house. We played on her swingset, made a caterpillar out of an egg carton and even saw a HUGE earthworm! (I'd be lying if I said I wish he'd been more interested in it. The days of being interested in creepy-crawlies are around the corner, I'm sure.) We also planted little plastic pots of sugar peas. It's my hope that if he's involved in taking care of the peas and helping them grow, that he might be interested in eating them. I'm not holding my breath, though!

Tax Time!

It's that time again, folks. Time for all the scrambling to get the taxes done by midnight and to wait in ridiculously long lines at the post office!

Every April, I am thankful for two things:

1. I'm married to a man who's fanatical about getting our taxes done on time, often as soon as the W-2's hit our mailbox!

2. I never had an aspiring dream to be an accountant.

I can't help but feel overly smug when I drive by the tax place with the silly pink gorilla wearing a Statue of Liberty costume, holding a sign saying "Come in! Last day!" :)

Wordless Wednesday: I See You!!

Trouble Spot

I like to think that my house usually is in pretty good shape. Sure, there's plenty of clutter, and I'm not as good about washing the kitchen floor or shampooing carpets as other people. But usually if I have short notice I can still plow through the house in fifteen minutes with a laundry basket and the vacuum if really necessary to make it guest-friendly.

Ever go to a party and one room is closed off? NEVER open that door! So much random crap will fly out at you, stuff that your gracious host/ess has stashed to make the house cleaner and festive for the party. Some people even go as far as throwing a laundry basket filled with clutter in the tub and pulling the shower curtain around the mess. Out of sight, out of mind!

Nevermind the tub, or a closet. My problem is the guest bedroom. It's the perfect place to stash stuff we don't know what to do with. I have an obsessive habit with craft items, especially yarn these days. Guest bedroom. My bookcase, crammed with books? Guest bedroom. Bed covered in stuff that I bought "for later" like baby gifts, old clothes, etc? GUEST BEDROOM!! Usually this isn't a problem. However, for two weekends in a row I'm going to have a guest. It's just my mom, who saw my bedroom growing up, so she's not going to care so much. But still, I have to at least clean off the bed! I have no idea where I am going to put all of this stuff, yet I don't want to part with any of it.

I guess all of this begs the question: What am I going to do when I have to face the music someday? Someday that room will be Will's room, and we'll have a second child. What am I going to do then?? Augh!

Friday Night Movie

Tonight we're watching Toy Story. Well, I'm supposed to be cleaning, and Will's watching Toy Story but I'm procrastinating. I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! And it's really fun to experience it through his eyes.

Presents in the Mail

Does it really count as a present in the mail if you ordered it yourself? I say ANYTHING in the mail that's not from a bill collector is a gift!
New Yarn in the mail today! I ordered the yarn to make this tote:

Hopefully it will be as easy as the pattern makes it look. Mine is going to be sage and cocoa. I have no idea yet if this is something I'm making for me, or as a gift. Can't wait to start!

Easter Candy!!

Will got two little Easter baskets yesterday from daycare. Of course there's some chocolate, but there's a stuffed blue bunny and some play-dough as well. Brian and I caught him in the family room today with one of the baskets, munching on chocolate. Needless to say, he was really bummed about getting caught in the act!

In the News...

I started getting the local paper delivered recently because with my new-ish job, I suddenly have more interest in what's going on in the city. Really, I'm just making sure my new building isn't in the Police Bulletin, but I am enjoying reading the paper every day. Especially on Sundays, while Will eats and watches Clubhouse Disney, Mommy and Daddy drink coffee and peruse the paper.

Anyway, I came across this story about a case of road rage: a man was driving down a local route and started to get annoyed at the truck in front of him. He tried to pass him several times, but the truck kept pulling back out. He was cursing and waving a wrench, totally pissed that he couldn't get this guy to pull over. Finally, he flies in front of the truck, making the truck stop. He decides that the truck's headlights are just too bright and gets out of the truck with the wrench and the intention to smash the headlights. Out of the truck comes......the Police Chief and his wife! Oops! Arrested on the spot. Guess that was a bad idea, huh buddy!

"The Next Thing on My List"

I just finished a book yesterday, "The Next Thing on My List" by Jill Smolinski. The basis of the story: Two girls meet at Weight Watchers. June offers Marissa a ride home, they get into a big accident and Marissa is killed. After the funeral, June finds a list in Marissa's purse named "Twenty Things to Do before I Turn Twenty-Five." Just two things are crossed off the list: "Lose 100 lbs, and Wear Sexy Shoes." June keeps the list, and, as the synopsis states: starts having the Adventure of Someone Else's Lifetime."

It wasn't a great book by any means, I gave it a tepid review on Goodreads. But the message of getting out there and living your life and being adventurous has hit me hard. It got me to thinking about my own list that I kept of things I wanted to do in my lifetime. I'm a serial list-maker, though my lists tend to have the same things on them every week: get groceries, pick up watch at jewelers, vacuum/dust, laundry, etc etc etc....... Very mundane.

The difference with my "Lifetime List" as I will call it, was that there was no time limit. I wrote it a long time ago, probably around 2000. I don't even have a copy anymore, but I still remember a couple of things on it. I clearly remember putting "Learn to drive a stick shift" and was pretty proud to cross that off in 2001. (After the mess of trying to learn to drive one with my new learner's permit at 16, I'm still pretty proud that I finally did it!) I also vaguely remember writing something silly about seeing Aerosmith in concert again and cooking a huge dinner and entertaining my friends. I can cross both of those things off, and I think it was kind of a silly thing to write.

So, in honor of the book, I am going to start a new list. I am going to keep "Learn to drive a stick shift" on there because I still consider it an item that should be there and I can cross it off. This is also just a partial list, as time goes on I will add more things. And if you have a list, I'd like to hear about it. I already know one of my friends out there (who shall remain nameless) had a list at one point and was disappointed by it and burned it. Is there anyone out there actively working on a list like this, and what's on YOUR list?

Ginny's Lifetime List

(Italicized items with dates can be considered "accomplished.")

1. Learn to drive a stick shift. (2001)

2. Speak Spanish fluently. (I am pretty close. If it was a different stage in my life I'd study abroad for a year or something and totally immerse myself in the language and culture)

3. Participate in live theatre. (One of my greatest regrets is not getting involved in theatre in college.)

4. Learn to play the flute.

5. Volunteer to help Sato dogs.

6. Dive off a diving board.

7. Learn to sew.

8. Travel cross-country.

Branching Out

More progress on the knitting front....I've moved up from making scarves! I know, I know, it's about damn time. I had made five or six, and though they were fun I got really bored. So for my Knitting Group's "Spring Swap" I tried my hand at this felted coin purse.

I originally bought this multi-colored pastel wool to make a purse, a small square one that could hold my keys and cellphone in the summer when I don't want to carry a big purse. But after several attempts to cast on and lots of cursing, I found this pattern on Lion Brand Yarn. It took a couple of days, and I got a little short on time at the end and didn't felt it. I like the size of it, though.

We have a few new skills here, folks. A bunch of Firsts, like following a pattern, for starters. Also, it's done in Stockinette Stitch instead of Garter Stitch. I also learned to decrease, which was tough at first, and this is the first knitted item I've ever sewn together. Hopefully the surprise recipient at the Swap tonight will really like it!

Now that I've done something different and it wasn't hard like I expected, I have my eye on another pattern. It's a striped tote bag, and I think I"m ready!