The Sandwich Life

Snakes, Comcast and Children in Disgrace...

1. Friday afternoon a snake in the yard bit Ernie.

2. Later that evening my two beloved children misbehaved so badly at someone else’s house that I could barely speak or function I was so aghast. I am making them write apology letters to our hosts and they have been stripped of playstation/tv/computer privileges for the entire weekend....and they were sent to bed as soon as we got home.  Ohhhh....this will take me a LONG to forgive. I’ve never been so embarrassed by my children in my life and I know everyone understood and just felt bad for Ernie and me but suffice to say it was NOT a pleasant car ride home. 

3. My Saturday morning was kind of shot because I was still filled with fury but I dragged the whole family to Farm and Fleet and Menard’s.  Owen then proceeded to have a jumping up and down tantrum in the parking lot at Menard’s because I wouldn’t buy another bottle of water for him because I had just bought a drink for him at Farm and Fleet that he didn’t drink. WTF?

4. Once we got home it was hot so Ernie and I got in the pool and sat while the boys went inside and played with Lego.  We pondered our poor parenting skills and splashed a little.  My productive goals for the day faded away.  We were tired….we hadn’t slept well and fury can wear you out.Ernie cooked ribs and we used the last of our Ragin’ Raven Zinfandel BBQ sauce.  He has checked at Schnuck’s and another store or two in town and hasn’t found it.  I've looked online but nothing yet.... The search begins….

5. So now it’s Sunday and Monday morning and a very busy week ahead loom way too large.  I need to go buy more shoes for the guys as the last purchases were not terribly successful.  It’s because I brought them with me and measured their feet….it’s much better when I just pick up a shoe, squint at it and throw it in the shopping cart at Target.

6. So Comcast cares but evidently not enough...yet.  A couple of posts ago as I whined about my Comcast service and a kind Comcast customer service person contacted me.  He had Comcast people out the next day and they worked here for quite awhile.  They my personal Mac guru came over and updated/tweaked  my computer and I had great hopes.  Alas, this weekend it has been on and off service again.  I've barely been able to be on today although right now it seems fine.  Another phone call I guess and then I give up....

7. Here is a band that Owen built out of Lego.  I particularly like the drum kit.  He was QUITE proud of it. The drummer used to have drumsticks....not sure what happened to the.  Perhaps he flung them out into the crowd....

8. Beautiful homegrown tomatoes from my Mac guru....it's so good to have the right friends....

9. Owen came outside wearing this t-shirt and I just shook my head and thought, "did my husband REALLY wear that t-shirt when I first met him?"  Guess we were BOTH smaller!!!  I asked Owen if he knew who was on that shirt and first he said, "Adam Schmitt?" and when we said no then he guessed John McCain.  When we stared at him blankly he got flustered and said, "oh no, that's not what I meant."  Then we told him it was Kenny and he lit up and said, "the guy that sang while I was on the stairs?"  Yes we said and he smiled and gave us a thumbs up.

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1. Woke up to just a light layer of fluffy snow this morning. Why does snow make me so happy?

2. My car stinks.  Yup.  Remember when I had water in my basement?  Well, our end of the street flooded so badly that the floorboards of my car got soaked.  So whenever the temperature gets warms enough for things to thaw.....it stinks.  There's so much moisture in the car that the inside of the windshield constantly freezes and somehow scraping the inside of your windshield is just damned hard...and damned irritating.

3.  O.K.....is Rob Arrol the nicest guy in the world?  Possibly.  After my plea for more Adam Schmitt videos he dug out a video he had from Pop the Balloon Days, an audio disc of the same and a disc of Paul Chastain stuff and sent it to Owen...all with a letter addressed to Owen.  You should have SEEN Owen's face.  (What was I thinking not to photodocument this?)  We watched a bit of it before he went up to bed last night and he sat there proudly clutching the cds and very carefully retrieved the video when we stopped it and put it back in its case.  He'd carefully smoothed the paper that had the list of songs  and point out the words on it that he knew.  Thanks Rob.  You made our day.

4.  If you read this with any regularity you'll know that I normally go to bed at the crack of dusk....last night however Ernie was tired and I KNEW that he'd fall asleep before Ray Davies was on Letterman.  So through sheer love and a couple of glasses of wine I forced myself to stay up.  Ray Davies is to Ernie what Ian Hunter is to me.  Oh man....he looked older...not bad....just older.  Well, so do we all I guess.  While he playing I thought "ehhh" but you know what....the song really stuck with me as I went to bed.  Definitely a Ray Davies melody.  I gotta say though....I swear  when Letterman thanked him he called him Ray Davis.  ugh.  But when Ernie watched him he did that little half smile he does when he's really happy.

5.  Last night was Day One of the new mealtime/eating rules at our house.  It was as exhausting as I thought it would be.  I won't even tell you what the new rules are because you will understandably judge me and think why the hell HAVEN'T you been doing that?  All I can say is.....you have not lived with Leo.  Normal approaches with Leo can backfire and I have learned this the hard, hard, HARD way. He's softening a bit though as he grows up though.  So I made the kid-friendliest meal I could think of and about an hour or so later Leo actually ingested a speck of chicken and a speck of a carrot.  We had to leave the room.  Now if Owen did that I would know he'd just hidden the specks somewhere but Leo I can trust and I know he ingested them...even though he said they were terrible. This is a big step for Leo though....he's come a long way in dealing with things he doesn't like. Even a year ago this would have led to complete bedlam and anarchy.  We made it through however and he happily devoured the blueberry cobbler... whew.

Owen loves helping cook:

6. I've been looking at old pictures of my Dad lately.  Here we are when Leo was a baby.  Uh, well, not a baby exactly....will you LOOK at the size of that child? We were at Judi's house in Iowa City...2000 maybe.  Not that long ago really....

Random Pictures from the Sandwich Life

1.  I am ashamed to admit that I forgot to report that the Big Boy is here.  Leo saved his money and then on his birthday he got money from Aunt Debbie and his grandparents towards the Big Boy.  Well, every time I sat down to order it online I got confused....this model train thing is a whole new world...and let's face it...my fall was a bit busy...  We finally ordered it however and it arrived in all its glory:

Leo told Owen that he could own 5% of it.  Owen looked at me in puzzlement and said, "He says he hates me but then he's nice to me.  I don't get it."

2.  Owen expressed concern that Adam Schmitt had died.  I assured him he hadn't.  I think he feels that if he were alive he should have met him by now.  This is the only video I can find of Adam.  Anyone?

3.  Stopped at the grocery store last night and there were.....GARDEN SEEDS.....  Just buying some zinnia seeds made me feel better!

4.  I love cooking with my husband....

5.  My father ate his cereal out of the cat's food dish yesterday.  At least he washed it first.

6. As Owen was excitedly looking at some Playmobil toys at the train store he studied this one, thought for a minute and said, "I think that one is Kathleen Jones."  As I stared at it trying to figure out why the little figure by the volcano reminded him of my friend he piped up, "or is that Indiana Jones?"

7.  Had a late lunch at Fries and Peanuts with the guys....and what's up with all these pictures of my curmudgeon smiling????

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  It’s January 2nd so it’s back to work today.  I’ve read a number of posts looking back at 2007 or ahead to 2008 and I find myself wanting to do neither.  I didn’t like some of what 2007 brought and I fear what 2008 may bring.  Being sick over much of the break left me in a state of suspended animation and now it’s back to real life and I’m not so thrilled.  The worries came streaming in yesterday: worries about Owen and school, small worries about Leo and school, tiny worries about Ernie’s PSA, big worries about my parents and more worries about my sister….all on top of a busy month at work. I felt overwhelmed by it all but Ernie talked me through it and we watched some more Gilmore Girls and snuggled with the guys.  I’ll muddle through.

2.  Owen…..that’s right….my baby Owen is going to be SIX this Friday.   BABY Owen.  SIX years old.  Ohhhhhhh.   Shouldn’t he still look like this?

3.  One of the only constructive things I did (if you can call it that) over the break was finally put some Adam Schmitt on Owen’s little oPod.  He was thrilled.  I also bought the supplies to make the Adam Schmitt shirt for his birthday.  I hope it works.

4.  The other night Ernie came to bed late and I was sound asleep.  I woke just enough to start talking crazy talk from my dream to him.  I don’t really remember much of it but I remember him getting exasperated with me and I reached over and double clicked his arm.

That right….I double clicked my husband’s arm. I don’t know if I thought a little screen was going to pop up explaining what I was trying to say or what. 

Methinks I’ve been on my new laptop a bit too much over the holidays…..

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1. I did something somewhat unusual for me last night.  I was invited to a get together of a group of women and I actually went.  I am really bad about things like that.  Even though I know I need to do those things for myself....I wimp out most of the time.  However I was pleased that I had been invited and if I didn't go I was going to have to go to the Dr. Howard Ice Cream Social.....so off I went....and of course had a great time. I tried to put my normal intimidation factors about everyone being thinner than I am and having bigger and cleaner houses, etc., etc. aside and enjoy myself.  I'm going to try to make the one next month too....

2. Due to the incredible kindness of a couple of very sweet people I am getting to go to Mitch Easter Night tonight.  I don't  know why it amuses me to call it Mitch Easter Night but it does and these small pleasures get me through the day.  The boys are WAY excited...Owen has already drawn a picture of Don and Will (I don't know why poor Chloe got ignored) and fell over in shock and excitement when reminded that Don had played with Adam Schmitt.....

3.  Still don't know what's going on with my sister.  Say a prayer or make a wish or drink a toast to her getting well soon.

4. I am  VERY happy that it is Friday. I definitely need a weekend after this week....haven't spent enough time with my folks this week but they seem to be hanging in there.....

Off to school

Man, I love my sweet peas.  And it's a damned good thing because school mornings may be the death of us now that young Master Owen is involved.  Owen and I aren't crazy about getting up in the morning and let's just say that he does not respond well to being urged along.....and is in fact wont to collapse to the floor in misery when being told things like it's time to go even if he hasn't finished the ravioli he chose for breakfast....

Given that my camera battery was dead on Monday---the first official day of school for both of them----I attempted to take a 'first day of school picture' today.  Unfortunately, Leo deemed this request TOTALLY BEYOND THE PALE.....so you'll have to look carefully into the arbor---where you see a bit of red---that's Leo.

Let's just talk for a minute  about how grown up my baby looks.  Look at him.  Just look at him.  He's practically a MAN for God's sake.....although hopefully by the time he's truly a man he will have gotten over rolling his socks down like that....

sigh.

I managed to snap one as Leo emerged from the arbor.....my little curmudgeon.....

On a side note....Owen wants a shirt with a picture of Adam Schmitt on it....if anyone has any suggestions.....

Karma will get you

I should know better than to tempt karma.  On Tuesday I really wanted to stay home and watch Gilmore Girls as opposed to taking a school bus to Squeakapalooza.  So I stayed home with Owen while Ernie and Leo went to Squeakapalooza.  I watched Gilmore Girls....which was good....but I MISSED BON JOVI NIGHT ON AMERICAN IDOL.  Karma will get you every time.

Farmboys

Look what Ernie snagged at the WILL Vintage Vinyl sale for only a quarter......an official Farmboys cassette.  Adam Schmitt and Don Gerard in the same band, and Steve Scariano producing.....life is good, huh?

The rest of my weekend and blue dipping sauce

O.K., I'm not feeling quite as bleak and foul as I was this morning.  The kind words people leave here always help.  Rough weekend overall.  Our Easter dinner was good but my mother was exhausted and pretty shaky and my father, well, I asked him to say grace before dinner as I always do on holidays and he couldn't remember it.  Then he forgot we had a bathroom downstairs and when he wasn't at the dinner table he sat on the couch and dozed.  However he admired the guys' new train set up and enjoyed himself I think. It's just that every time you think you're dealing with things and kind of adapting there's another step down.  I shouldn't be surprised but it is just so terribly painful to watch.

My sweet peas had a wonderful day though---a more successful egg hunt, presents from Grandma  and Grandpa and in the evening we recreated a science experiment with milk and food coloring that we had seen at the Science Share and that was most exciting, particularly if you were 5 and 7.  Then Owen announced he wanted to do an experiment with cooking.  I tried to leave the room but Ernie told me I had to stay.  I suggested perhaps following a recipe but he said no (and no smart comments about 'like mother, like son').  He started assembling ingredients.  The final recipe included flour, cheese, hard boiled eggs, milk, yogurt, fresh basil and eggs.  He mixed it up in the kitchen aid mixer and then poured it into a pie pan and we baked it.  He sat and patiently (or impatiently) waited for the half hour it baked and then served it with a dipping sauce of blue food coloring.  I could have done without the blue food coloring but actually it was pretty good.  Ernie thought it was a bit heavy on the basil but I say you can never have too many fresh herbs.  Leo drew rating sheets that we had to hold up.  Owen gave it a 50 but Ernie and I both gave it a 100.  Leo of course just coordinated the judging, he doesn't actually eat food.

Then Owen took a bath and finally washed off the face of Adam Schmitt, which he'd drawn on his knee.

I'm trying to cheer up and keep things in perspective.  Today my father walked to the store to buy something they already had in their cupboard but he was home within the hour and managed not to tip over despite the lack of shillelagh.  I do love my father.  A lot.  I can't imagine what my mother is going through.

I just bought a shillelagh on ebay...not that we could afford it.  I hope he likes it---still can't find his and he won't use a regular cane. 

Oh---and Katrina asked about my aerogarden----it has been amazing.  I just cut the plants way back because they were getting too big and I had a big bowl of cuttings.  The only problem is that it keeps blinking 'add more water' no matter how much I put in but that's o.k.  Although I may not use it in the summer when I have an herb garden outside I'll definitely keep using in the fall, winter and spring. It's been great and nothing beats fresh basil.

There...I'm ending on a gardening note.....that's a good sign....

 

it's only Saturday

I had Friday off unexpectedly due to the kindness of my boss.  OH what a difference three days make.  It was rainy yesterday so after enjoying Ernie's homemade muffins that we never seem to have time for in the morning these days we scooped up the boys and went antiquing.  Didn't buy a whole lot but had a good time.   Much to Leo's hyperventilating delight and our financial dismay, turns out Hobbyland, with a huge model railroad set up, is right next to one of the shops we went to.  A few $ later we headed back home to a late lunch at Fries and Peanuts. As we walked up, Owen wondered aloud if Adam Schmitt would stop by when we were there.  I told him that the odds weren't too good but he merely ignored me and said, "if he comes and he doesn't know how to play pool, I could show him."  I did tell him that was awfully nice of him....

 

Today was a big day because it was the lat day we could go to Carmon's before the current owner sells it.  The boys are devotees of his pancakes, and his friendliness, so there was much sadness in the house.  They both drew pictures for him---Leo's was of a freight train full of pancakes and Owen's was of a firetruck shooting syrup and was the most phallic looking image I've ever seen.  Ernie turned bright red trying not to laugh and I assured Owen it was beautiful but asked if maybe he wanted to draw another.  nope.  So he brought it and when he gave it to him I explained what it was--despite other possible interpretations.  He laughed and thanked the boys.  They were quite pleased with themselves.

Here they are waiting outside on the sidewalk (longgggg wait today):

You'll notice fewer pictures of Leo these days as most of them look like this:

We also broke down and bought cel phones today.  Yes, I know, I know, most people got them years ago but I hate phones.  This IS the modern world however, as The Jam said.....