Friday 4 U - Tis the season!

Holly, Jolly, Good Golly, Miss Molly and Fa la la la la, la la la laaa!

Welcome to Friday 4 U, Lazy Housewife - December edition, where I ramble about mundanities and pass on tips for you to use or just chuckle about =) Plus it's interactive! With questions!

Shopping
Grocery shopping is a chore I don't mind, it just eats up a lot of time. (CAUTION! Big but ahead, followed by RANT!) BUT I cannot stand anyone else touching my food. All the stores where I used to be able to scan and bag my own groceries have folded or taken away that option =( I may have to write a letter to Kroger and offer them my services to teach a class on "How to Properly Bag Groceries" - drives me nuts when one bag weighs a ton and others weigh nothing. Equal distribution! And common sense says to put the lighter items on top! Am I asking for too much here? (rant is over, you may proceed)

Speaking of food, holiday parties and meals mean lots of yummies! Here is an easy and scrumptuous appetizer recipe for you!

Orange Cranberry Spread

Beat 8 oz softened cream cheese, 2 Tbsp thawed frozen OJ, 1 Tbsp sugar and 1/8 tsp cinnamon on medium speed until fluffy. Stir in 1/4 Cup finely chopped, dried cranberries. Refrigerate at least 1 hr. Serve with town house crackers. Also delicious on bagels!

Q1 - What is your favorite holiday treat?

Got your gift list checked off? I'm doing well. I love having a list of specific items for my nieces and nephews. Makes shopping so easy. Gift cards are easy too. I like them, but I also like a well thought out gift and that's what I'd rather give too. It's a hard call sometimes.

Q2 - How do you feel about giving/receiving gift cards?

Technology
Gift cards are great online too. You can buy books, music, games, apps, etc. And they have an app for almost everything. Here are a couple of things I wish they had an app for:

1. face matcher - I don't doubt this might happen some day soon. I imagine it to work like a barcode scanner. Scan a person's face and name it in the program, can even match to more info. Then when you see the person again, scan the face and recall it...No more, "What was your name again?"
2. lie detector - No explanation necessary. Great for parents of teens and so many other uses!

Q3 - What would you like to see an app for?

Tips!

• It's sweater weather here in the US! Where do you keep your sweaters? Folded on a shelf? They don't stay neat and tidy for long, do they. And hanging them in a closet gives us shoulder pooches from the hangers!...Here's my suggestion: For light sweaters or any knit shirts, hang them inside out - then the shoulder pooch is on the inside when you wear them!
• And since I'm running out of room, I'll leave you with 5 alternative uses for a top sheet (my boys do not like using them, try as I might to get them to...)
1. couch protector - keep germs off the couch when someone is sick =P
2. fort/tent building - the obvious one and my favorite
3. dog bedding - we have lots of spare sheets to cover the spots where our puppy likes to lie
4. toga!
5. ride for tots - when my boys were 1 & 2, my teenage niece would drag them around the living room on a sheet. they rolled off, and ran back to sit on it again, laughing hysterically. I should post it on youtube!

That wraps up (get it, wrap, xmas =) this edition of LHW! See you next year for the next installment!

Poetic Rant

Hope everyone is doing well with NANOWRIMO and NANOREVMO! I'm surviving my revisions, getting frustrated going over the same section a bunch of times. But at least I'm doing it. The support groups are soooo helpful! Join one if you haven't =)

I leave you with today's PAD #12, excess. Have a great weekend!

What’s the Point?

Technology Masters

Have too much time

On their geeky

Little

Hands

Obsoleting

My recent purchase

Making me buy

New to replace

No time to wear out

No time to figure out

Just when I grasp

A new version comes out

Too much

Too fast

Let us enjoy

Go relax!

Focus on

More useful things

Like time travel

and worm holes

and clearing garbage dumps

and less embarrassing airport security!

haven't ranted in a while

A lot has been going on. Time is slipping away from me, taken up on all the necessities. There are so many things I want to do (and so many things I don't want to do, that I need to do!) I just don't have the time! I have a mile long to do list and more is added to it daily (plus blogs to read and editing to finish, will I ever?) besides all the crevices to clean and dishes and laundry that keep piling higher and higher.

And I don't even have time to complain about it! I was going to suck it up - again! and not bother writing a post today. But I need to unload. Things aren't bad, they're good. It's just been one of those days for weeks now. A constant stream of little annoying tasks needing immediate attention. You don't know because I put up my posts like a good little soldier. I don't like to complain, but I've had it.

Thanks for listening. You guys always make me feel better. Just knowing you're out there.

writing a book - Where am I gonna sell it?

With the depressing news that Borders is closing all stores and Alana's post in homage to the impending fate of bookstores, I wrote a note to Barnes and Noble a few days ago with an idea for how bookstores could be transformed. After reading it over today some of these ideas seem far fetched, but I really don't want to see them all disappear! Oh, well.

Dear Barnes and Noble,

I have a suggestion...
I love bookstores and am sad to see them on the decline. I know people love to shop, peruse, sample and browse in bookstores. Unfortunately many are going home and buying their books online or doing it from their e-readers right in the store! They do this because choosing a book online is clumsy and frustrating. People like to see all the possiblities without waiting for the internet to pull up the next view. Bookstores have sections and the employees have great suggestions.

So here is my proposal:
Bookstores need a makeover. The atmosphere must cater to the new customer. Have one or two copies of books displayed for shoppers to sample. Also keep a few copies of bestsellers for sale. Keep the coffee shops and expand the seating, encourage browsing. Keep hosting author readings and signings/photo ops. Add computers stations and outlets for shoppers to charge their devices.

Here is how to make money:
Get a commission on sales of books you house. You are advertising for them, get paid for it. You can also be an outlet for hard copies of books that can be ordered. And there's opportunity to host book club meetings and reading groups. Finally, you could become a paid membership book club with discounts (like costco) with a daily admission charge for non members.

I'd hate to see bookstores go away completely. Let me know what you think!
Sincere reader,
Tara Tyler
http://www.taratylertalks.blogspot.com/

and then, a day later, one of my favorite WD bloggers, Jane Friedman, posted 4 responses/predictions about the circumstances of bookstores from actual writers. (i guess i'm just a virtual writer, ha ha)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this changing media. Maybe I'll send my next letter to Starbucks - they already sell music, they're definitely opportunists!

I know what's wrong with the world!

I haven't had a good rant in a while so here goes...
We have war, we have government problems, we have fighting and brutality, we have arguing and strikes. Do you know why? No one wants to compromise!

We believe this way and they don't so they have to do it our way or go somewhere else. No one wants to budge. They won't give an inch. I have to have everything I want and you are insignificant. ULTIMATE SELFISHNESS!

And it's not about overlooking or acceptance. There's way too much of that. It's about making sacrifices for others so things can get done. It's about showing the other side that we do care about what they want. It works in every level of strife.

• From kids fighting over a swing on the playground - take turns and share, children. 
• To teens fighting with parents - parents make the rules, but they should let the teens have input and know they are heard - how else will they learn? and they will respect them for it.
• From a couple spatting - you never do this for me, well you never do that for me.
• To the Houses arguing over legislature. I bet if they dealt with one issue at a time, they could get a lot more done. But they drag things out by adding crap on top of crap! They should try to pass a big piece of pork all by itself - that's transparency.

Then there's the world. So many differing opinions, religions and beliefs. There is a difference between evangelism (teaching) and terrorism (force by fear). Unfortunately some people cannot be reasoned with.

So now that we know what is wrong with the world, what can we do to fix it? We try to understand our history to learn from our mistakes. It's an age old problem, and still no one is willing to step up and be the first to give a little.

Spring is in the air

We're all so excited to have nicer weather and escape the dolldrums and sickness of winter.
But, wait! We forgot about the ALLERGIES!!!

Those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, thank your lucky stars! I never experienced them growing up, but now they get worse every year. It's like a month long (or longer) cold!

Which brings me to my looooong day yesterday. These happen once in a while and this one was a doozy. And it's always when my hubby has to be out of town. Oh, well! Here is how it went:

• I was going to work so I had to wake up the 3 princes at 6 AM. Not pleasant, but not bad.
• The oldest has the worst allergies and has been getting worse for the past week, coughing a lot. He didn't want to go to school.
• I talked him into it and vowed to pick him up early.
• Dropped boys at neighbor's to put on bus and when I got to school they asked me to cover an extra class, so much for picking him up early.
• Worried about him all day. Emailed teachers, called nurse to check on him. He was fine.
• Since I didn't hear from him I went home, there was less than an hour left anyway.
• I walked the dog. When I came back in there was a message - "Mom, come get me."
• So I picked up sons 1 & 2 five minutes before the bell rang. I promised after all.

Now here is where the fun starts.

• Drop off older boys.
• Go pick up youngest for orthodontist appointment, 3rd wire broken in as many months.
• Run endless errands. Bring McD's home. (got something to say about it?)
• After dinner, oldest decides it's time to go to Dr.
• Pile into car and go to urgent care.
• Yep, bronchitis. 7:45 PM
• Hike across town to 24 hour pharmacy (of course I know where it is and that it's the only one - they greet me, "Tara!").
• Visit Walmart to kill time while prescription is filled (2nd trip there that day).
• Finally home by 9. Showers and bed. Whew!

The boys were very good, considering. Writing it all down is therapeutic and it doesn't seem as bad as it was at the time. The most stressful part was the driving, back and forth, over and over, and dealing with traffic. AAHHH!

It was time for a good stress-relieving cry or laugh or something.

PS - a few other items that added to my day:

• when I got home from work, there were 13 large boxes on my front porch to deal with
• 2 more lights blew out in my kitchen (so I replaced the one that's been out for over a week with the last new bulb)
• my youngest is getting tonsils out Friday but also has a cold - might have to reschedule. Dr. called me back and I missed call.

You could probably top me with one of your days...
We only get thrown at us what we can handle and that was my limit yesterday. I think I'm coming down with the cold now...It never ends =)

As Wisconsin goes, so goes the country?

I don't go political very often, but this is getting ridiculous! And it only seems to be getting worse.

What a mess! The GoVERNments of our country, states and cities have taken our money and squandered it. Flushed it into their own schemes, not being held accountable and now we're stuck paying more to fix it!

We scrimp and save and take pay cuts and layoffs. We pay more taxes and pick up the slack for our own kids' educations when the tax money runs out. Don't ask me to buy girl scout cookies this year - I can't afford it! (I'll never find $3.50! the couch cushions.)

So across the nation we have elected new faces. We are so hopeful that someone new will have an answer.

Then we don't like the answer. "Sorry we wasted all your money. Now we have to cut, cut, cut and tighten 'OUR' belts so we can function."

Now turn to Wisconsin. Governor Walker was elected by people who wanted a change. (Sound familiar?) The state legislature majority was also converted and the majority support the Governor. (Again, this really rings a bell!) The Governor seems to want his state to succeed and has worked with the congress to come up with a solution - he has found a way to cut spending, but it happens to be from his opposition's purse.

I had to look really hard to find out what exactly this bill does that is causing such a fuss. From my extensive googling, most of the articles just ranted and raved and emphasized, "Look at all the protestors, they're camping out, they have quippy signs," etc. Not much facts about the bill.

I really don't think the protestors (and possibly the people reporting about them) understand fully WHY they are against this bill, other than - "Darn that governor for trying to mess with my union."

Unions are not the same as they were when they started. They were necessary at their inception and made many outstanding improvements. But today, their membership is on the decline. And Ohio is the next in line to amend the Government/Union liaison. Then Indiana and more? It's a relationship that needs updating.

To show I'm not trying to be biased about the bill, I give you The Huffington Post, a liberal paper. At the bottom of a lengthy article dramatizing the protests, I found their description of the contents of the Wisconsin bill. I highlighted the good parts.

"But when voters elected Walker, an outspoken conservative, along with GOP majorities in both legislative chambers, it set the stage for a dramatic reversal of Wisconsin's labor history.

Under Walker's plan, state employees' share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent. The changes would save the state $30 million by June 30 and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

In exchange for bearing more costs and losing bargaining leverage, public employees were promised no furloughs or layoffs. Walker has threatened to order layoffs of up to 6,000 state workers if the measure does not pass.

Wisconsin is one of about 30 states with collective bargaining laws covering state and local workers.

Walker has argued the concessions are modest compared with those suffered by many other Americans. Democratic opponents and union leaders say his real motive is to strike back at political opponents who have supported Democrats over the years."

Leave it to opposition (no matter who it is) to fabricate ulterior motives. "Their REAL agenda is to GET US!" Get over yourselves! Be part of the solution!

It looks to me like the Unions are blindly leading their members out of fear to protest. The democrats in this instance are hiding out like fugitives. These cowards are holding back democracy. They should be ashamed of themselves. They aren't standing up for anything. Their stubborn, misconceived example reminds me of a six-year-old, "If I don't get my way, I'm gonna run away or cry about it." Let's see how long they can hold their breath!

The Pity Party is Over

Sometimes I curse the sign of Scorpio I was born under. I am soooo dramatic!

But hold on...Did you know astrological signs might have changed? or not...? I don't know who I am anymore.

Either way I had a bad day yesterday. Looking back, I wanted to slap myself! Wah wah - What was my problem!? So I can't work (and am not again today). Maybe I'm not supposed to. Then I got obsessed with blogging. I made a mistake and I fixed it but still worried about it all day! What a waste! Everything I touched turned to "arrgh!"

So I am vowing to be positive today. I have a backup plan. I cannot control some things in my life, so I will just deal with it.

Have a good day!!! Or else!!

Unproductive

I hate not going in to work. That means I have to do chores around the house. I'd rather be writing! And in my procrastination of daily cleaning duties and grocery shopping I waste time blogging wisely promote myself by searching other sites, making comments and looking for contests (which I don't have time to enter)

I am a substitute teacher and it looks like everyone is well for a change. That's good! (I keep telling myself) I don't wish ill on anyone, but I yearn to work...

So with Spring on the horizon I must face the facts. It's time to set some goals for staying productive and getting everything done on those lazy, still in the pj's days that I won't be getting called.

Ah, life. Why must you get in the way!

Deal with it

I wasted spent a lot of time today reading about the whiny blogging teacher. I've read many responses as well. Most opinions similar to mine. She has a point, but she shouldn't have complained about it to the world. She made a bad move to publicly voice her private inability to deal with the apathetic students that we all have to deal with. She must not have thought or cared about the consequences. Since a teacher is a prominent example to the very youth she despises, that makes her unacceptable as a teacher.

Being a high school teacher myself, I know where she is coming from. I have posted about similar topics concerning the overly pampered next generation and parents' inability to speak up and make tough calls - and be the parent! grow up and too big for our britches (and it's not all parents, but the few bad ones leave the lasting impressions.)

And then I found another article, proving the point - this is scary! where are their parents?
I've heard this from fellow teachers all over, "We should get hazard pay!"

the fine print

I can't believe my eyes!

The words on everything are getting smaller and smaller...cooking instructions, forms, bills and especially medicine containers and warnings and directions. They are trying to fit too much on those tiny little labels.
The people printing these things must be under 40, because even with my glasses on I have trouble reading it all.

Yea, yea. I know. Guess I need to strengthen my prescription...Stop laughin, younguns!

little hackers

Does anyone remember taking typing? in high school? on a typewriter?!

I subbed for a 5th grade technology class today. 5th grade! Not only are they on the computers "keyboarding," practicing math and playing logic games, some of them look for ways to hack the games. I don't think they are actually doing the hacking but they search for ways to beat the games.

Why is it cool to be bad? What are we teaching them?

Recycling anyone?

Does anyone else have trouble getting their family to recycle?
I think my family has had the cards stacked against us from the beginning.

• We used to live in Michigan where they force you to recycle by charging you a deposit on cans and bottles - then you have to collect them and take them in and put them into the machine to get your money back. We did not enjoy that so we rebelled and enjoyed throwing away recyclables for a while.
• Another thing is that when we moved we never got a recycle bin. Not that we cared at the time. But not having one was a good excuse to keep us from getting motivated.
• I finally got one. But now I seem to be the only one in the family who attempts it. Rinsing out trash, not knowing what they will take, collecting it, etc - it's a big pain in the booty! Not to mention, sometimes when it gets piled up by the sink I get lazy and just throw it in when I take out the rest of the garbage. I don't have three hands!

I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle...any suggestions?

Winter blues

I don't mind winter. I like snow and refreshing sweater weather.
But there are a couple of things I'm very over.

Sickness, I can't stand. It never seems to end until the sun creeps back to warm our side of the world.
Two out of three, sick again! At least it was just one day and at the same time. So I only had to sanitize the house once. I'm still working on the mountain of infected linens...

The other thing I hate is STATIC! It's like a living thing. It cries out when you try to separate your hair from your neck or your but from a chair!

Other than that, winter is going pretty well.

Mark Twain say WHAT?

I believe in free speech. Even when I don't like what others may say, as long as it's legal. That is one of the founding principles that makes us a great nation.

Today, it seems like you can't say anything without offending someone. People are way too soft, taking everything personally, getting their wittle feewings hurt (was that insensitive?). I know some people are just mean and want to hurt and that ain't right. But that isn't what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about nit picking and revising to make things sound nicer.
And rewriting history is not going to help.

I call it Extreme Politically Correctness. If you haven't heard, there is a new edition of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn being published with the "N" word being removed, which he used about 200 times. Apparently someone thinks the schools shouldn't expose students to it. "That word doesn't exist, children." Why don't we just remove all the offensive and disgusting things that have happened?

Once again the extremists are leading the apathetic masses. Reality is unpleasant. Life is messy. There is evil in this world!

It is our job to teach children how to deal with it, not sweep it under the rug!
Part of growing up is admitting past mistakes and learning from them - in history and personally. We need to stop trying to make everything nice and pleasant and perfect - LIFE ISN'T PERFECT!

I love Stephen Colbert, I don't always agree with him, but he takes the extremes and shows people how ridiculous they are. Here is Colbert on the revised Huck Finn, the rest of the article is the proponent of the revision.

i've been scrooged

This Christmas season has been exhausting.
The snow, sickness and stress have been relentless. I'm really tired of clorox, lysol and rubber gloves. I've washed way too many loads of sheets and towels - and the rest of the housework has been piling up.
And why does it seem that a million other things are added onto my to do list at this time of year besides presents and cards and decorating?

• Someone or two in my house has been sick at least every other weekend - everyone but me and it's been making me paranoid to get sick.
• We got our growing boys new furniture, shopped around, made arrangements for the old furniture, unpacked the drawers, delivery at different times so dealt with stress of partial rooms, finally restocked drawers and put everything back.
• Our car lease is up next month so we had to go test drive - which we kept putting off because of all the sickness and travel.
• We've had unexpected doctor, dentist and orthodontist appointments come up.
• The kids have already had two snow days, which means I don't have to work, but I also can't get anything done - and it's only December!
• My husband has been out of town a bunch - he never goes out of town in December. So I've been running ragged with practices and games. And whiners.

 

I'm not complaining. I'm venting. I'm dealing with it all. It's just exhausting. And I feel bad that I haven't kept up with all I need to. I didn't get some gifts I wanted to and now it's too late. And there's more that I probably won't get to. I finished putting together our last minute donation for the end of the year (which has to be on the porch by 7:30 AM) and was up late wrapping another round of presents tonight, so I figured I'd add my daily blurb... How bout that, it's 3 AM.

 

Things will slow down after the first, right? Wishful thinking.