Danger Will Robinson

There was a tragedy at my house this morning.  No one was hurt but my toaster oven didn't make it.  Oh my beloved Delonghi toaster oven I will miss you so.  I know you're all probably thinking I am off my rocker but the truth is I did love that toaster oven.  I will give you the back story to the toaster oven.  I threw a little tv lingo in there.  Wonder how I am learning tv lingo?  That blog will come a little later.
Anyhow, I digress.  What a shocker!!! Please hold the collective gasp of amazement.  Now hold the collective smirk of sarcasm.  I digress again.  So, I got married at the ripe old age of 23 and subsequently got divorced at the ripe old age of 26.  When we split he took whatever had been given to us from his family or what he bought while we were married.  Which left me with a bed, bureau, couch and love seat.  I had no appliances other then the ones that came with the house.  I had no source of amusement other than books and my alarm clock.  This was obviously before the days of these smart phones that could have played music and games and whatever else you could think of.  This was also before wi-fi so it wouldn't have mattered anyway.  Soon after my court date my dad came to visit me.  He brought me a microwave that was extra at my parent's house and the toaster oven.  We then went shopping at Sears and he bought me a tv and entertainment center, I bought a DVD/VCR combo unit.  I could once again watch tv while sitting on the couch that I was able to keep.  It literally looked like someone had started moving in and hadn't finished yet.  But that was my home.  A few months later I bought my ex out for 20k and kept the house.  Best move I ever made.  Rolled my student loans, and car payment into the mortgage and I was financially stable.  Mentally stable was a whole other story.
So, that toaster oven was a gift from my dad.  It served as my main source of cooking when we renovated the kitchen in the house we are in now.  It made Jeff one meal or another at least once a day.  We had been through a lot together.  I knew the controls so well I could practically set it blindfolded.  David and I were in the kitchen this morning making breakfast.  He threw some toast in the toaster oven and went to the stove to cook some eggs.  All of a sudden I heard a snap crackling sound and I looked over to the counter.  I saw sparks shooting out of the control panel and smoke was starting to billow out of the toaster.  David rushed over and pulled the plug out of the socket right as the toaster fizzled out.  I was sad.  But grateful at the same time.  On many occasions I would throw Jeff's lunch in there then go get him from his nap as it was cooking.  That could have started a real fire.  Which would have been awful to say the least.  What the heck would I have done?? One can only wonder.
After lunch Jeff and I made the trek to Bed Bath add Beyond to purchase a new one.  Like I said I used it all the time so it had to be replaced immediately.  Much like when Jeff broke the coffee pot.  I had to go that day to replace it.  I did a little research on line and read some reviews to see what make and model had what I wanted.  I made a list to bring with me because Lord knows I would not have remembered them.  Now what irks me about BB&B is that their online selection is vast and varied.  Their store selection not so much.  They had 3 of the 6 that I had listed.  We all know that BB&B has 20% off coupons, which truthfully is the only reason I shop there.  And you can't use their coupons online.  And you have to pay shipping.  So even though I might like to purchase something from there online it goes against all my shopping principles.  Which means I have to make do with the store selection or shop on Amazon.com. 
There I am debating over whether to purchase a $99 dollar toaster oven or a $179 toaster oven.  Do I really need to spend that much?  If it lasts another 10 years it's worth it? Those controls look complicated, translation--David won't know how to use it.  Back and forth and back and forth I am tossing these options in my head all the while cursing that they don't have the other ones I wanted to see.  I made the trip to the store they should at least have the full selection on line.  Why don't you lose the whole section of Yankee candle and put in more small appliances?  Good idea, right?  I bought the $99 dollar Cuisinart.  It got mixed reviews but I have had Cuisinart coffee maker for 6 years now and have had no issues with it so I trust the brand. 
I like new things, I mean who doesn't?  But I am not crazy about new appliances.  I like the ones I have and would prefer just to replace it with the same one.  Now, I have to learn how to use the new toaster oven then show David about 40 times.  We'll see how it works out.  I'll keep you posted.  Until next time...........

Who's The Judge?

Long time no see.  I guess the heat has gotten to my brain.  I have been very absent indeed.  I really have no excuse.  There is A/C in the room where my computer is.  I guess I am just kind of tired when I am running after Jeff all day that in the afternoon I like to kick my feet up and relax.  I have been trying to get through Pride and Prejudice without feeling like a complete moron, and there are some new summer time shows on TNT and USA that I have dvr'd.  I know, I know none of these things is more important than my readership.  Alas, my will power lags as the humidity rises.  Yet, let's not dwell on things of the past and just enjoy each others company now.  Says the one who has been absent.  Pish posh, let's move on.
So, I was talking to an acquaintance of ours today.  Back story is his wife left him and their child a while ago.  Like almost a year ago, a while ago.  Recently I saw a moving van in front of their house.  Using my best spy tool, which is taking Jeff for a walk, I managed to overhear the child saying that she was back.  Now I try very hard not to be judgmental and the truth is I fail more than I succeed.  Here is this guy looking happy, and talking about trying to work things out and I am thinking "What the hell is he doing?????"  Of course I didn't say that to him but I was thinking it the whole time I was talking to him.  I don't know if I could do it.  I don't know if I could take that person back.  I mean do you just forget all the heartache and not to mention what is it doing to the kid?  She's left before, what if she does it again? Obviously it is not my place to interject my opinions into anyone's relationships.  I have learned the hard way not to do that even if asked because the truth is that person just wants to vent not get your advice.  Even if they say, "I want your advice".  They already have a preconceived notion in their head and really they are just hoping that you agree with that notion.  Am I right or am I right?
I would like to be less judgmental of others.  Even if its simply to not comment on the atrocious outfit I see or behavior I witness.  It's a lot harder than it looks.  For now I am working on not letting my judgment show on my face.  I am a very expressive person so this is a monumental task for me.  I can only get better if I try.  So I try and try and the try some more.  Probably why I am too tired to blog.  Maybe not but it sounds like a good excuse.  Hey, don't judge me!  Ha ha.  Til next time........(and who the heck knows when that will be)

Quiet But Not Always Peaceful

I got some unexpected quiet time this morning.  David was heading out the door and Jeff was having a little fit because he wanted to be with his daddy.  This scene usually ends with David having to leave and Jeff waving bye bye daddy through tear stained cheeks a I try to distract him.  All while avoiding spilling my hot coffee on him because I am usually holding my I love mom mug when all this transpires.  But today David said put his shoes on and he can come with me.  I don't think anyone could get a pair of sandals on a toddler faster.  Don't get me wrong, I adore my son.  But morning quiet time is a precious commodity and I will not waste any opportunity to get it.  I get Jeff's sandals on and bring him out to David's truck and say, "Here you go.  He wanted to be with his dad.  Thanks!" David says to me, "Yeah he's sick of you."  Of course that leads me to ponder the question can your kids get sick of you. I will wait for all of you with older kids to get up from the floor when you fell there laughing and finish my thought.  Can kids this little really get tired of their parents?  I think it has more to do with the dad being the "fun"one out of the pair of us.
Anyway, I didn't spend too much time dwelling on it.  I liked the answer I came up with and I was alone so did I really care how I got that way?  Ummmm, no.  Ahhh, peace and quiet.  What shall I do?  Well the dishwasher needs to be emptied.  I can do that a lot quicker with Jeff gone.  Ok, that's done.  Now I can clean up the breakfast dishes and wipe down Jeff's high chair tray.  That's a lot easier without a toddler pulling on your legs or trying to push you away from the sink so you won't stand there.  That's always funny when he tries that one.  If only the dishes would magically do themselves.  Now off to change the sheets in Jeff's crib.  But I don't have time to wash his blanket before nap time and the spare is in the laundry too.  Shoot-guess that will have to wait.  Back downstairs to make my Target list.  Gotta figure out when to get there.  Probably Thursday since Jeff has his 18 month checkup tomorrow.  Ok, let's sit and enjoy your coffee now.
Damn, its gotten cold.  Dump that one out and make a fresh cup.  It doesn't taste as good if you warm it up in the microwave.  Now, let's sit and have a nice cup of oh the boys are back.  My quiet time is done.  And I didn't manage to sneak any peaceful time in there.  Oh well, at least I got some things done.  Now to get Jeff down for a nap and hop in the shower so I can scoot out to acupuncture.  Whoever said stay at home moms have it easy should have their own comedy central special.  Yeah, they are that funny.  Note the heavy sarcasm.  Until next time.......

You're Eating What??

I was flipping through the channels the other night and a show on TLC caught my attention.  It's called Freaky Eaters.  It followed right after the show My Strange Addiction.  It's like a two hour glimpse into a world our mother's cautioned us about.  The kinds of people we were told not to stare at when we saw them in public.  Yet somehow it's ok to make a tv show about them.  On the strange addiction show people have tendencies to a menagerie of oddities.  This particular show I found myself watching had one woman who ate couch cushions, yes the foam inside the cushions, one woman who ate ajax, and one woman who ate toilet paper.  It was sickening but fascinating at the same time.  The ajax lady lost all her teeth from eating the cleaner.  She had been doing it for 30 years.  The cushion eating lady refused to stop even after seeing a therapist and being rushed to the ER.  She simply switched from couch cushions to the less obvious eating the padding in her bras.  She had eaten 2 couches and a chair since she started eating the cushion.  The toilet paper lady would open a package in the store of a brand she hadn't tried and would eat it right there!
As if this wasn't weird enough, then I got sucked into the show freaky eaters.  Its one of those things where you want to stop looking but you just can't.  It's akin to rubber necking at a traffic accident or looking at the bearded woman in your local supermarket.  You know you should look away but a morbid curiosity that is stronger than us takes over and keeps our eyes glued.  So, the definition of a freaky eater per the show is someone who obsessively consumes a certain food to the detriment of their health.  This particular episode featured a lady who put tartar sauce on everything.  EVERYTHING!!  She put it on her cereal in the morning, she put it on her sandwich at lunch, she put it on her cheetos, she drank it out of the bottle.  Yes, she was drinking out of the squeeze bottle.  She kept a bottle in her purse at all times.  She consumed a bottle a day of tartar sauce.  Now don't get me wrong.  I find no fault with tartar sauce.  I enjoy partaking in this delicious condiment myself.  In the right context of course.  Which is fried seafood.  I will dip any french fries or onion rings in it as well that accompany the seafood but that is where I draw the line.  As I think most people would.  Many people think I am weird for dipping my french fries in the tartar sauce, but you need to keep the flavor going.  To dip the fries or rings in ketchup breaks up the flavor and just makes it all messy.  Easier to keep with the one.  Damn, now I want fried seafood for dinner and I have pork chops marinating to be grilled!  Oh, well some other time.  And we all know I will get it because now I am thinking about it.
This freaky eater show got me to thinking about any other weird flavors I may enjoy.  I have to say that I may have some peculiar tendencies but nothing that would warrant a spot light on the show.  I mean is dipping steak in thousand island dressing that strange?  Some roast beef sandwiches come with it on it.  Is it that far of a stretch from steak to roast beef?  It's all beef right?  I think I am far more strange with my texture issues than any tendency towards one particular food item.  And I sure as heck would not be able to eat the same thing to that excess.  Well, maybe pizza but even that I couldn't eat all day every day.  Hmm, good thought to ponder.  Til next time........

Lend Me Your Eyes

Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ear.  Or in my case lend me your eyes.  Not for too long.  Just long enough to read today's edition then they are all yours again.
I had to go to the dermatologist today.  I made the appointment a couple of weeks ago when I found a troubling spot on my head.  Ok, that's a slight bending of the truth.  This spot had been bothering me for a couple of days.  I will spare you the details of how it was bothering me.  I said to David, "Take a look at his would ya.  You think I need to go see the doctor?"  He took one look at it and said, "Yes!!!"  So, I called and made the appointment.  I knew I needed to go to the doctor but yet I waited until I asked David to see what he thought.  Isn't it funny how we do that?  Like we need to have someone else say ooh that looks bad before we acknowledge what we already knew.  I mean would we even be asking someone to look at it if we didn't already know that it was abnormal?  So, like any dermatologist it is so hard to get an appointment.  The only exception I have ever found was when I made an appointment for Jefferson.  He got in right away.  
I spent the next two weeks after I made the appointment alternating between hoping it stayed as bad as it was and hoping it went away so I didn't have to go at all.  I mean how many times do you make an appointment to see the doctor and by the time you get there your issue is resolved?  Then you just look like a hypochondriac.  And who wants to have their doctor thinking they're crazy.   I knew it would probably have to come off.  What was worrying me was how we was going to do it.  
The morning was crazy.  I needed to get to the grocery store and get back home before I had to get Jeff over to David.  David's schedule is so crazy that some days just giving me an hour to run to an appointment takes a lot of finagling.  So, I get it all done and get to the doctor's office a whole 15 minutes early.  Hmmm, what should I do?  I play a couple of hands of words with friends( the new game I am addicted to) and then head inside.  They have a Rachael Ray cooking show playing so I spend my time between gazing at the tv and reading on my phone.  Did you know that kindle has free books??  I just discovered that the other day.  And I think it is pretty cool.  I am reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  What is ironic is that I have had the actual book sitting on my bookshelf for probably 4 years and all it took was for it to be free on my kindle app for me to read it.  What's good is that I can flick back and forth from reading on my phone and reading the actual book.  Best of both worlds I say.
Then the little old lady calls me to my room.  This lady is a real hot ticket.  I have seen her there before.  All she really does is bring people to their exam room and clean up after they leave.  I just think it is great that she is always put together.  She has her hair done and make up on and trendy clothes.  Today was a sweater and jeans.  She has got to be in her 80's and there she is.  I think its great.  So, as she is bringing me to the room she stops and says to me that I have the "loveliest face".  I can't make this stuff up.  So I say thank you and smile.  Then she goes on and says, "When you smile your whole face lights up and it's just lovely.  I don't say that to many people but with you it's true."  So, I tell her that she has just made my day.  Is there any better way to make your day fabulous?
The doctor comes in and we attempt at small talk.  This doctor of mine does not have the best bedside manner but he is a great doctor.  That's a sacrifice I am willing to make.  We aren't friends, he is there to treat me.  I don't need the chit chat and small talk.  So, I show him my problem and he says, "Oh yeah, we need to take that off."  So, of course now I am trying to stay cool but my heart is pounding and my mind is racing.  How is he going to do that?  Is it going to hurt?  Don't forget to ask him the questions you had about after care.  See, I had questions about how to care for it prepared.  I knew it would be coming off.  I was worried he was going to burn it off with liquid nitrogen.  Now, it's been a while since I have had that done but I clearly remember it not being pleasant.  I am trying to prepare myself when he says the golden words of I will numb it with lidocaine and cut it off.  Most people would be freaking out about that.  But not me.  I am so happy I can barely contain myself.  All the while trying not to let my relief and happiness show so he thinks I am a freak who likes pain.
It all works out well.  I remember my questions.  It's not complicated to take care of it.  All in all it was a successful visit.  Well, if you consider leaving with a hole in my head success.  Til next time......

How Hard Is It?

Ok all of you pervs get your minds out of the gutter.  The title of this blog is in no way a reference to anything like that.  It is in fact a valid question.  One that I find myself asking several times a day.  Actually said more times than I can count today.  So, I am in the mood to gripe.  I certainly hope you are all in the mood to listen.
First, how hard is it to rearrange shelves at a store when the store is closed?  Seems like a simple fix right?  I was at Target today picking up some items on sale that we regularly use. Good time to pick up such things.  I'm so smart.  Jeff and I are maneuvering around the store gathering the items off my list when one of the items that I wanted was not where it is usually located.  Hmm, that's odd I think to myself.  It's usually right here.  Then I take a good look at my surroundings and realize nothing in that section is where it usually is.  So, I ask an associate where they put it.  Now, I have two bumbling idiots( I know that's kind of harsh but let's call a spade a spade) Looking around and scratching their heads.  Then they proceed to start looking through boxes while mumbling I know I saw it in here.  Finally to put them out of their misery I just ask when the shelves will be done so I can come back.  I get the exasperated look and the I have no idea response.  So, I ask are we talking about days here or what?  He says hopefully by tomorrow afternoon.  I walk away talking to Jeff like I always do when we are out and say to him, "Why can't they do this when the store is closed?"  A lady not too far from me voices her agreement.  It really is ridiculous when you think about it.
How hard is it to find kids sneakers that aren't incredibly overpriced?  I don't want to pay $40 for a pair of shoes that he will wear for a couple of months.  I also refuse to buy him any character sneakers.  I also refuse to buy him pieces of junk that look cute but will probably be bad for his feet.  I have been to so many stores looking for said sneakers only to leave each one with a growing sense of frustration.  It seems like every kid in a 5 mile radius of me is a size 6.  Either that or there was a sale and some extreme couponer bought every last pair.
How hard is it to let someone cross the street when they are IN A CROSSWALK?  This happens to me every time I am out for a walk or run with Jeff.  I am considerate enough to go out of my way to use them.  Foolishly thinking that it will protect me somehow.  It's like people speed up when they see you entering the crosswalk.  Like if they just go faster they will be able to avoid letting you cross.  Wtf people.  They are there to let people safely cross the street.  I usually end up yelling at them and then get the subsequent look.  Who cares if I look like a crazy person.  I am in the right on this one.  Isn't it always great when one side lets you cross but the other side doesn't want to?  Then you have one side glaring at the other.  You can just see their faces going "why are you letting her cross".  I got places to go.  Well, so do I people.  And I am the idiot standing there jogging in place while you debate over whether or not to do the right thing.  Which is the law by the way.
So, that's my how hard is it list for today.  Once again all you pervs stop snickering.  Eh, go ahead.  I knew what I was doing when I typed that title.  Til next time.........

What Was That!

Hello my fans and followers.  Are you getting ready for the heat?  It's a coming.  Thankfully it will only be brutal for a couple days before it goes back to an acceptable hot.  I don't know how people survived before ac.  I guess you had to if you didn't know any better, right?
So, I skipped the grocery store yesterday and opted for a longer run.  What's nice is that I have made my route pass by the rehab David is working on so I get to say Hi on my way by.  What I may want to do is alter my route slightly on trash day.  Especially in this heat.  Wow, that is an unpleasant aroma to say the least.  Since I skipped the store yesterday, Jeff and I made the trek today.  I have had a hankering for steak tips on the grill so I needed to pick those up with some marinade.  We had to go today because we were out of milk.  Both skim and whole so neither of us could steal a little from the other to get by.  When I have a hankering for a particular food I usually envision a particular flavor.  Makes sense right?  So, I pondered the choices of marinade in front of me and made what I thought was a good choice.  The key word there being thought.  I got home, put all the perishables away and got out my Ziploc bag ready to marinate the steak tips.  It was a shock to me when I opened the bottle.  Thankfully I took a sniff out of it first before I dumped it into the bag.  WOW-- it smelled just awful!!  Not bad, awful.  Now I am in full panic mode because what am I going to do?  So, I call David and tell him I NEED his help.  That got his attention, haha.  I threw some ingredients into the Ziploc bag that David said to use and am hoping for the best.  I have been thinking about these steak tips for a few days now and I will be oh so disappointed if they don't taste like I am expecting them to.  How much does it suck though to buy a full bottle of marinade and now that you're just going to throw it out?  I can't return it because there is nothing wrong with it other than that its flavor doesn't appeal to me.  I hate wasting.  It really makes me crazy.
Other than the horrible bottle of marinade I bought my trip was otherwise uneventful.  There was your usual parade of crazies and old ladies googling over Jeff's blue eyes.  I tell you it is such a treat to get in and out of Market Basket in a timely fashion with no major snafoos.  Gotta love it.  I'll let you know how my slap dash marinade works out.  Til next time........